JollyDoc's Shackled City
- Thread starter JollyDoc
- Start date
JollyDoc said:
I have been reading your story hour for about 2 weeks now and can i just say... wow! Its been great.
I am about to start running my own version of the adventure path in the Forgotten Realms and would love a place to discuss plot elements and such. I have followed your lead to mapping of deities except the vecna = Kiarnasalee I was going to be going vecna = Velsharoon.
Having a thread to discuss this sort of thing and get others opinions would rock!
Joachim
First Post
Ilmyryn said:
Welcome to the club! Kiriansalee was the choice because she has been a major influence to the campaign (see Gfunk's High Level Story Hour). Personally, Velsharoon is kind of a wuss deity anyhow. Sort of a "I'm want to be evil and mean, but my mother Mystra won't let me be bad..."
Kiriansalee has become a butt-kicking type of deity in our version of Faerun (thanks to CotSQ and Entropy), making her much more relevant to the overall campaign.
"Caine leveled again! Yay! Mystic Theurge here I come!
(Major changes underlined)
Caine (Sorcerer 9/Apostle of Peace 2/Mystic Theurge 1)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medium Humanoid (Augmented)
Hit Dice: 12d4+33 (67 hp)
Initiative: +6
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 29 (+2 Dex, +10 armor [exalted], +3 natural, +4 deflection), touch 16, flat-footed 27
Base Attack/Grapple: +5/+4
Attack: Quarterstaff +3 melee (1d6+1) [subudal only]
Full Attack: Quarterstaff +3 melee (1d6+1) [subudal only]
Space/Reach: 5 ft/5 ft.
Special Attacks: Spells, pacifying touch
Special Qualities: Exalted benefits (Vow of Poverty/Nonviolence), calming aura, weapon immunity, endure elements, exalted strike, sustenance, mind shielding, DR 5/magic, greater sustenance, sign of the smoking eye traits, imbued with evil, lie in state, morphic potential
Saves: Fort +11, Ref +10, Will +16
Abilities: Str 8, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 17, Cha 20
Skills: Concentration +16, Spellcraft +15, Diplomacy +27, Speak Languages +6 [Abyssal, Celestial, Draconic, Giant, Infernal, Undercommon], Knowledge (Arcana) +10, Knowledge (Religion) +8
Feats: Celestial Familiar [Exlated], Heighten Spell, Holy Radiance [Exalted], Improved Initiative, Nimbus of Light [Exalted], Nymph's Kiss [Exalted], Sacred Vow [Exalted], Vow of Abstinence [Exalted], Vow of Nonviolence [Exalted], Vow of Peace [Exalted], Vow of Poverty [Exalted], Vow of Purity [Exalted]
Environment: Vilhon Reach
Organization: Solitary (with Lantern Archon Familiar)
Challenge Rating: 13 (XP=68,634)
Treasure: Goods
Alignment: Lawful Good
Dressed in simple robes and leaning on a well-used quarterstaff this man is a jumble of contradictions. One one hand, his left eye appears to be on fire as it gives off wisps of bitter smoke that smell like brimstone. On the other hand, he is suffused in a golden aura that marks him as a champion of good and favored by the powers of the Upper Planes.
Caine was a former War Wizard in service to Cormyr when the drow invaded the forest nation. His subsequent capture and torture by the dark elves for years was finally ended when the forces of Queen Alusair prevailed.
However, the mage's psyche had been irrevocably changed. He finally recoginzed the cycle of pain and suffering wrought by violence. To escape this he took the vows of an ascetic and left Cormyr. Over the next several months he travelled down the Dragon Coast, finally making his way to Vilhon Reach and the small town of Cauldron. Here, he hopes to quietly convert people to his philosophy while providing them with any aid he can.
Caine sacrificed himself during the Test of the Smoking Eye, a trial made by the fallen Solar Adimarchus to grant lordship over the Abyssal plane Occipitus. Through celestial intervention, he was reborn with his memories and alignment intact, though he remains forever scarred.
Combat
Having taken vows of nonviolence and peace, Caine will never inflict lethal damage, ability damage, or energy drain on any living creature. However, he has numerous special abilities that often make violence unecessary or cause already militant foes to lose their resolve to fight.
Exalted Benefits (Vow of Poverty): Caine has taken an oath never to own more than the bare necessities of life, including his quarterstaff, clothes, and spell component pouch. Although others may cast magic on him and he may use temporary magic items (potions), he may never don or use any magic items, even temporarily. In exchange for this severe penance, Caine has been gifted with numerous special abilities:
a) Exalted AC bonus +8
b) Seven bonus exalted feats
c) Endure Elements (Ex): Caine is immune to the effects of being in a hot or cold environment. He can exist comfortably in conditions between -50 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit without having to make Fortitude saves.
d) Exalted Strike (Su): Any weapon that Caine wields is considered a +2 magic weapon and is considered good-aligned, so that it can bypass the damage reduction of some evil outsiders.
e) Sustenance (Ex): Caine does not need to eat or drink.
f) Deflection AC bonus +2
g) Resistance bonus to saves +1
h) Ability score enhancement +4 (Charisma), +2 (Wisdom)
i) Natural Armor AC bonus +1
j) Mind Shielding (Ex): Caine is immune to detect thoughts, discern lies, and any attempt to discern his alignment.
k) DR 5/magic
l) Greater Sustenance (Ex): Caine does not need to breathe.
Exalted Benefits (Vow of Nonviolence): The saving throw DC for spells or other special abilites Caine uses against humanoids or monstrous humanoids is increased by +4 if the spell does not deal damage, bestow negative levels, or cause death. The bonus granted by this feat does not stack with the bonus granted by the Spell Focus feat.
Exalted Benefits (Vow of Peace): Caine has taken severe penances and will never willingly harm a living creature, regardless of alignment or disposition. In exchange, he gains numerous special abilities:
a) Calming Aura (Su): A 20 foot aura constantly surrounds Caine and all within it must make a Will save (DC 21) or be affected by a calm emotions spell. Creatures who leave the aura and reenter it receive new saving throws. A creature that makes a sucessful saving throw and remains in the aura is unaffected until it leaves the aura and reenters. The aura is a mind-affecting supernatural compulsion. The save is Charsima based.
b) Weapon Immunity (Su): If a creature strikes Caine with a manufactured weapon, the weapon must immediately make a successful Fortitude save (DC 19) or shatter against his skin, leaving him unharmed. The save is Constitution based.
c) +2 bonus to Exalted AC , Deflection AC, and Natural Armor AC (stacks with Vow of Poverty)
d) Pacifying Touch (Su): Caine has gained the ability to pacify hostile or angry creatures by touch. The effect is similar to a calm emotions spell. Caine can affect only a single target with each use of the ability and must touch the target. A touched creature receives no saving throw and spell resistance does not apply. The pacifying touch does not suppress postivie emotions, just anger, rage, and hostility. Caine can make a level check as if casting dispel magic, using his character level (12) as his caster level, to dispel certain mind-affecting spells affecting the target. The pacifying touch can only dispel spells that incite violent emotions in the target such as fear or rage.
Sign of the Smoking Eye (Template): After willingly giving up his own life during the Test of Sacrifice, Caine received this template (+1 ECL) that provides a host of special abilities:
a) Sign of the smoking eye traits: Caine gains a +1 insight bonus on all attacks as the power of Occipitus subtly guides his blows. He also gains a +1 insight bonus on all saving throws -- it's almost as if the layer of Occipitus is looking out for him. Caine's effective caster level is increased by 1, as the power of Occipitus makes his spells last slightly longer, reach slightly further, and deal slightly more damage.
b) Imbued with Evil: Regardless of Caine's actual alignment, spells and spell-like abilities with the evil descriptor treat him as if his alignment were evil. Spells and spell-like abilities with the good descriptor treate Caine as if his alignment were good. Magic items are similarly fooled. An unholy blight, for example, won't damage Caine.
c) Lie in State: When Caine dies, his body disappears after a number of rounds equal to his base Hit Dice (12). The body reappears dead but intact in the Skull's eye socket on Occipitus. Any equipment Caine was carrying, holding, or wearing at the moment of death is likewise transported to Occipitus -- and it's likewise reconstituted if it was destroyed at the moment of death. Each time this ability is used, there's a 20% chance that Caine loses the Sign of the Smoking Eye template. Dimensional anchor, dimensional lock, and similar spells delay the body's transportation in this manner, but once the spell effect ends the body transports to Occipitus immediately.
d) Morphic Potential: Caine has the potential to change the landscape of Occipitus through conscious effort, provided he is powerful enough to do so. Details of how this ability can be used are up to the DM, but in any case, no creature of 20th-level or lower can wield such power consciously. Over time, even a lower-level character exerts a subconscious influence on Occipitus, however, and the landscape and the essential nature of the plane changes to conform to Caine's alignment and desires.
Spells: Caine's caster levels are as follows: Sorcerer 11, Apostle of Peace 8. Note that spells cast by Caine that do not deal lethal damage, bestow negative levels, or cause death have their DCs increased by 4 against humanoids or monstrous humanoids.
Sorcerer Spells known (6/8/7/7/6/4; DC 15 + spell level): 0--detect poison, detect magic, read magic, mage hand, open/close, prestidigitation, arcane mark, ghost sound; 1st--eyes of the avoral, shield, enlarge person, charm person, grease; 2nd--invisibility, yoke of mercy, false life, rope trick; 3rd--fly, haste, slow; 4th--otiluke's resilent sphere, greater invisibility; 5th--telekinesis
Typical Apostle of Peace Spells memorized (5/4/2/1; DC 13 + spell level): 0--create water (x2), purify food and drink, mending (x2); 1st--ray of hope (x2), divine inspiration (x2); 2nd--glorious rainment, shield other; 3rd -- protection from energy
(Major changes underlined)
Caine (Sorcerer 9/Apostle of Peace 2/Mystic Theurge 1)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medium Humanoid (Augmented)
Hit Dice: 12d4+33 (67 hp)
Initiative: +6
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 29 (+2 Dex, +10 armor [exalted], +3 natural, +4 deflection), touch 16, flat-footed 27
Base Attack/Grapple: +5/+4
Attack: Quarterstaff +3 melee (1d6+1) [subudal only]
Full Attack: Quarterstaff +3 melee (1d6+1) [subudal only]
Space/Reach: 5 ft/5 ft.
Special Attacks: Spells, pacifying touch
Special Qualities: Exalted benefits (Vow of Poverty/Nonviolence), calming aura, weapon immunity, endure elements, exalted strike, sustenance, mind shielding, DR 5/magic, greater sustenance, sign of the smoking eye traits, imbued with evil, lie in state, morphic potential
Saves: Fort +11, Ref +10, Will +16
Abilities: Str 8, Dex 14, Con 16, Int 12, Wis 17, Cha 20
Skills: Concentration +16, Spellcraft +15, Diplomacy +27, Speak Languages +6 [Abyssal, Celestial, Draconic, Giant, Infernal, Undercommon], Knowledge (Arcana) +10, Knowledge (Religion) +8
Feats: Celestial Familiar [Exlated], Heighten Spell, Holy Radiance [Exalted], Improved Initiative, Nimbus of Light [Exalted], Nymph's Kiss [Exalted], Sacred Vow [Exalted], Vow of Abstinence [Exalted], Vow of Nonviolence [Exalted], Vow of Peace [Exalted], Vow of Poverty [Exalted], Vow of Purity [Exalted]
Environment: Vilhon Reach
Organization: Solitary (with Lantern Archon Familiar)
Challenge Rating: 13 (XP=68,634)
Treasure: Goods
Alignment: Lawful Good
Dressed in simple robes and leaning on a well-used quarterstaff this man is a jumble of contradictions. One one hand, his left eye appears to be on fire as it gives off wisps of bitter smoke that smell like brimstone. On the other hand, he is suffused in a golden aura that marks him as a champion of good and favored by the powers of the Upper Planes.
Caine was a former War Wizard in service to Cormyr when the drow invaded the forest nation. His subsequent capture and torture by the dark elves for years was finally ended when the forces of Queen Alusair prevailed.
However, the mage's psyche had been irrevocably changed. He finally recoginzed the cycle of pain and suffering wrought by violence. To escape this he took the vows of an ascetic and left Cormyr. Over the next several months he travelled down the Dragon Coast, finally making his way to Vilhon Reach and the small town of Cauldron. Here, he hopes to quietly convert people to his philosophy while providing them with any aid he can.
Caine sacrificed himself during the Test of the Smoking Eye, a trial made by the fallen Solar Adimarchus to grant lordship over the Abyssal plane Occipitus. Through celestial intervention, he was reborn with his memories and alignment intact, though he remains forever scarred.
Combat
Having taken vows of nonviolence and peace, Caine will never inflict lethal damage, ability damage, or energy drain on any living creature. However, he has numerous special abilities that often make violence unecessary or cause already militant foes to lose their resolve to fight.
Exalted Benefits (Vow of Poverty): Caine has taken an oath never to own more than the bare necessities of life, including his quarterstaff, clothes, and spell component pouch. Although others may cast magic on him and he may use temporary magic items (potions), he may never don or use any magic items, even temporarily. In exchange for this severe penance, Caine has been gifted with numerous special abilities:
a) Exalted AC bonus +8
b) Seven bonus exalted feats
c) Endure Elements (Ex): Caine is immune to the effects of being in a hot or cold environment. He can exist comfortably in conditions between -50 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit without having to make Fortitude saves.
d) Exalted Strike (Su): Any weapon that Caine wields is considered a +2 magic weapon and is considered good-aligned, so that it can bypass the damage reduction of some evil outsiders.
e) Sustenance (Ex): Caine does not need to eat or drink.
f) Deflection AC bonus +2
g) Resistance bonus to saves +1
h) Ability score enhancement +4 (Charisma), +2 (Wisdom)
i) Natural Armor AC bonus +1
j) Mind Shielding (Ex): Caine is immune to detect thoughts, discern lies, and any attempt to discern his alignment.
k) DR 5/magic
l) Greater Sustenance (Ex): Caine does not need to breathe.
Exalted Benefits (Vow of Nonviolence): The saving throw DC for spells or other special abilites Caine uses against humanoids or monstrous humanoids is increased by +4 if the spell does not deal damage, bestow negative levels, or cause death. The bonus granted by this feat does not stack with the bonus granted by the Spell Focus feat.
Exalted Benefits (Vow of Peace): Caine has taken severe penances and will never willingly harm a living creature, regardless of alignment or disposition. In exchange, he gains numerous special abilities:
a) Calming Aura (Su): A 20 foot aura constantly surrounds Caine and all within it must make a Will save (DC 21) or be affected by a calm emotions spell. Creatures who leave the aura and reenter it receive new saving throws. A creature that makes a sucessful saving throw and remains in the aura is unaffected until it leaves the aura and reenters. The aura is a mind-affecting supernatural compulsion. The save is Charsima based.
b) Weapon Immunity (Su): If a creature strikes Caine with a manufactured weapon, the weapon must immediately make a successful Fortitude save (DC 19) or shatter against his skin, leaving him unharmed. The save is Constitution based.
c) +2 bonus to Exalted AC , Deflection AC, and Natural Armor AC (stacks with Vow of Poverty)
d) Pacifying Touch (Su): Caine has gained the ability to pacify hostile or angry creatures by touch. The effect is similar to a calm emotions spell. Caine can affect only a single target with each use of the ability and must touch the target. A touched creature receives no saving throw and spell resistance does not apply. The pacifying touch does not suppress postivie emotions, just anger, rage, and hostility. Caine can make a level check as if casting dispel magic, using his character level (12) as his caster level, to dispel certain mind-affecting spells affecting the target. The pacifying touch can only dispel spells that incite violent emotions in the target such as fear or rage.
Sign of the Smoking Eye (Template): After willingly giving up his own life during the Test of Sacrifice, Caine received this template (+1 ECL) that provides a host of special abilities:
a) Sign of the smoking eye traits: Caine gains a +1 insight bonus on all attacks as the power of Occipitus subtly guides his blows. He also gains a +1 insight bonus on all saving throws -- it's almost as if the layer of Occipitus is looking out for him. Caine's effective caster level is increased by 1, as the power of Occipitus makes his spells last slightly longer, reach slightly further, and deal slightly more damage.
b) Imbued with Evil: Regardless of Caine's actual alignment, spells and spell-like abilities with the evil descriptor treat him as if his alignment were evil. Spells and spell-like abilities with the good descriptor treate Caine as if his alignment were good. Magic items are similarly fooled. An unholy blight, for example, won't damage Caine.
c) Lie in State: When Caine dies, his body disappears after a number of rounds equal to his base Hit Dice (12). The body reappears dead but intact in the Skull's eye socket on Occipitus. Any equipment Caine was carrying, holding, or wearing at the moment of death is likewise transported to Occipitus -- and it's likewise reconstituted if it was destroyed at the moment of death. Each time this ability is used, there's a 20% chance that Caine loses the Sign of the Smoking Eye template. Dimensional anchor, dimensional lock, and similar spells delay the body's transportation in this manner, but once the spell effect ends the body transports to Occipitus immediately.
d) Morphic Potential: Caine has the potential to change the landscape of Occipitus through conscious effort, provided he is powerful enough to do so. Details of how this ability can be used are up to the DM, but in any case, no creature of 20th-level or lower can wield such power consciously. Over time, even a lower-level character exerts a subconscious influence on Occipitus, however, and the landscape and the essential nature of the plane changes to conform to Caine's alignment and desires.
Spells: Caine's caster levels are as follows: Sorcerer 11, Apostle of Peace 8. Note that spells cast by Caine that do not deal lethal damage, bestow negative levels, or cause death have their DCs increased by 4 against humanoids or monstrous humanoids.
Sorcerer Spells known (6/8/7/7/6/4; DC 15 + spell level): 0--detect poison, detect magic, read magic, mage hand, open/close, prestidigitation, arcane mark, ghost sound; 1st--eyes of the avoral, shield, enlarge person, charm person, grease; 2nd--invisibility, yoke of mercy, false life, rope trick; 3rd--fly, haste, slow; 4th--otiluke's resilent sphere, greater invisibility; 5th--telekinesis
Typical Apostle of Peace Spells memorized (5/4/2/1; DC 13 + spell level): 0--create water (x2), purify food and drink, mending (x2); 1st--ray of hope (x2), divine inspiration (x2); 2nd--glorious rainment, shield other; 3rd -- protection from energy
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