JoeGKushner
Adventurer
Secrets of the Ancients is the third vignette book by Eden Studios. This book has been in the wings of Eden’s production list for quite a while now, a book that was supposed to be out around the same time as the first two vignette books, Akrasia, Thief of Time and Wonders out of Time.
Like those books, it doesn’t provide real depth or pages and pages of background and detailed encounters, but rather, ideas and some suggestions on how to use them along with the rules that allow the GM to either take the material whole or use it piecemeal.
The background of the book involves two races, the first, the Logheir, are an ancient elf variant race that ruled the lands over 2,000 years ago before they were toppled by the gods. These beings used silversteel and sunstones that powered their empire and still power small pockets of Logheir civilization today. The section on silversteel introduces new weapon properties, as well as methods of reducing the outlandish cost of such weapons. See, here, they provide brief rules on binding elemental spirits which grants the market value a negative value like a major bound elemental spirit is –3 bonus to the market cost.
The Tlacamoc seem loosely based on ancient Aztec tribes that sacrificed victims to their blood thirty gods who eventually turned on them when the Tlacamoc didn’t provide the prisoners from the last war to them. These beings actually look somewhat like Halflings and provide the GM with a good one trick pony that the players will never be expecting. “Ah, what a sweet Halfling village this is eh? I think I’ll go rest now…” Of course, said character may be resting on a stone slab with his chest about to be cut open eh?
In addition to the background, there are a number of useful elements in the book. For example, Ervand the Learned is an NPC that can act as patron for characters and depending on which version the GM decides to use, can be one who deals honestly and fairly with the characters or one who sends them on death traps and tries to cheat them of their earnings. This is a nice touch repeated elsewhere in the book where multiple options are provided so that the GM can get the most benefit from the book. One more example of this are the Plot Points where minor options are listed for using one vignette with another.
The vignettes involve a few different subjects. For example, the Haunted Blade puts the characters in possession of a silversword that’s bound to it’s former Logheir master, an undead being who won’t know rest until he gets his sword back. How about a near epic level adventure where the characters are guests of the Sun King himself and bear witness to the awesome power he wields while in his demi-plane?
Not all of the vignettes focus on the Logheir. For example, the party can be put into a village of the Tlacamoc and since these beings look fairly like Halflings, well, danger is around at every corner. Another short encounter can happen when the party, in the course of hunting Roden’s Raiders, unleashes a fearsome monster from Tlacamoc history, unearthing a buried temple.
In addition to the ideas presented, there are numerous new monsters like the blood daemon sub-race that includes both the ape like Hazetac and the four-legged Malatoc in addition to the Tazetoc, the foot soldiers of the blood goods. For those wondering what else the crystals of the Logheir are useful for, how about Crystal Guardians, powerful constructs fashioned of living crystal?
Those wishing to play either a Logheir or a Tlacamoc have to look through the monster write-ups. Here you can find the traits, racial abilities and ECL.
Like previous books in the Odyssey line, there are also new magic items including the Obsidian Blood Swords, good old wooden swords studded with obsidian and a full section of Sunstone Shards ranging from small to large with each one granting more power depending on its size.
The Seeker prestige class isn’t really a true fit here though. With two ancient civilizations, I can understand why it’s included; the PrC represents a class that seeks out new knowledge of the old and unknown. However, where are the prestige classes of the Logheir and the Tlacamoc?
Outside of the sourcebook, it almost forms a small campaign if combined with the other two books as both the Merithians from Wonders out of Time and the Goddess Akrasia are represented in the book. Perhaps in the future if there are any other books in this vein, more can be done to tie it to the material from the Liber book?
In terms of production, white space use is good for the most part. I was a little disappointed that the interior covers weren’t used and that there’s a two page ad for the Fields of War sourcebook. This is space that would’ve been better off providing spells for the Logheir race or more specific PrCs to the races or perhaps even new feats specific to them. I can see the Tlacamoc having “Fast Eater” an ability that allows them to consume one humanoid body per day.
The book provides solid entertainment value for the dollar and even if the adventures themselves aren’t used, the GM should get some value out of the monsters, magic items, and the prestige class.
Like those books, it doesn’t provide real depth or pages and pages of background and detailed encounters, but rather, ideas and some suggestions on how to use them along with the rules that allow the GM to either take the material whole or use it piecemeal.
The background of the book involves two races, the first, the Logheir, are an ancient elf variant race that ruled the lands over 2,000 years ago before they were toppled by the gods. These beings used silversteel and sunstones that powered their empire and still power small pockets of Logheir civilization today. The section on silversteel introduces new weapon properties, as well as methods of reducing the outlandish cost of such weapons. See, here, they provide brief rules on binding elemental spirits which grants the market value a negative value like a major bound elemental spirit is –3 bonus to the market cost.
The Tlacamoc seem loosely based on ancient Aztec tribes that sacrificed victims to their blood thirty gods who eventually turned on them when the Tlacamoc didn’t provide the prisoners from the last war to them. These beings actually look somewhat like Halflings and provide the GM with a good one trick pony that the players will never be expecting. “Ah, what a sweet Halfling village this is eh? I think I’ll go rest now…” Of course, said character may be resting on a stone slab with his chest about to be cut open eh?
In addition to the background, there are a number of useful elements in the book. For example, Ervand the Learned is an NPC that can act as patron for characters and depending on which version the GM decides to use, can be one who deals honestly and fairly with the characters or one who sends them on death traps and tries to cheat them of their earnings. This is a nice touch repeated elsewhere in the book where multiple options are provided so that the GM can get the most benefit from the book. One more example of this are the Plot Points where minor options are listed for using one vignette with another.
The vignettes involve a few different subjects. For example, the Haunted Blade puts the characters in possession of a silversword that’s bound to it’s former Logheir master, an undead being who won’t know rest until he gets his sword back. How about a near epic level adventure where the characters are guests of the Sun King himself and bear witness to the awesome power he wields while in his demi-plane?
Not all of the vignettes focus on the Logheir. For example, the party can be put into a village of the Tlacamoc and since these beings look fairly like Halflings, well, danger is around at every corner. Another short encounter can happen when the party, in the course of hunting Roden’s Raiders, unleashes a fearsome monster from Tlacamoc history, unearthing a buried temple.
In addition to the ideas presented, there are numerous new monsters like the blood daemon sub-race that includes both the ape like Hazetac and the four-legged Malatoc in addition to the Tazetoc, the foot soldiers of the blood goods. For those wondering what else the crystals of the Logheir are useful for, how about Crystal Guardians, powerful constructs fashioned of living crystal?
Those wishing to play either a Logheir or a Tlacamoc have to look through the monster write-ups. Here you can find the traits, racial abilities and ECL.
Like previous books in the Odyssey line, there are also new magic items including the Obsidian Blood Swords, good old wooden swords studded with obsidian and a full section of Sunstone Shards ranging from small to large with each one granting more power depending on its size.
The Seeker prestige class isn’t really a true fit here though. With two ancient civilizations, I can understand why it’s included; the PrC represents a class that seeks out new knowledge of the old and unknown. However, where are the prestige classes of the Logheir and the Tlacamoc?
Outside of the sourcebook, it almost forms a small campaign if combined with the other two books as both the Merithians from Wonders out of Time and the Goddess Akrasia are represented in the book. Perhaps in the future if there are any other books in this vein, more can be done to tie it to the material from the Liber book?
In terms of production, white space use is good for the most part. I was a little disappointed that the interior covers weren’t used and that there’s a two page ad for the Fields of War sourcebook. This is space that would’ve been better off providing spells for the Logheir race or more specific PrCs to the races or perhaps even new feats specific to them. I can see the Tlacamoc having “Fast Eater” an ability that allows them to consume one humanoid body per day.
The book provides solid entertainment value for the dollar and even if the adventures themselves aren’t used, the GM should get some value out of the monsters, magic items, and the prestige class.
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