(Shark World) The Aqua-Sphere (Submarine-City)

Tonguez

A suffusion of yellow
"After the Great cataclysm all was chaos, all the land shook and cities fell. The Waves rose up to destroy the Land and all was sorrow. Though we had lived peacefully within the burrows of the Highcliff it did not matter and even those who we once called friends -the dwarfs - even they turned against us.

But we were not without hope, for we were a wise and clever people and we looked around at what had become of our world and knew what had to be done. Holy Deceor saw this and he sent a vision to Ogwald the Great Engineer and to his companion Shisek the Blue and led them away from the terror of the Dwarfs. Ogwald lookdown upon the the Highcliff and saw what had to be done. He called all the gnomes together and comanded that they excavate the Highcliff shaping it into a mighty sphere. Shsek did call unto the Goblins to assist in these labours for though they had been our enemies now they would join us for our mutual salvation.

And though many fell and many did not beleive still some were faithful and soon the whole of the Highcliff and far into the land had been carved out into a mighty sphere.

And Ogwald the Great Engineer did slice through the final holding and the mighty sphere did roll out into the sea and low and behold it was able to float for Ogwald had seen what noone else knew that the Highcliff was formed of Pumice and would float upon the sea.

And even as the Dwarfs sort to destroy us so we fled and found save haven in the Aqua-Sphere and were cast out upon the waves.
Shisek it was who called for all the openings to be sealed and so we were set free
"
- The Teachings of the Book of Measures

The Aquasphere is a marvel of technology and magic. The Gigantic sphere was crafted from pumice, and sealed with magic and stone. Its outerhull has long since become encrusted with barnacles, coral and all manner of sealife and debris masking its origin as a perfectly formed pumice sphere.

Inside the Aqua-sphere is a warren of chambers and tunnels where its inhabitants live out their lives.

The lower decks are given over to Goblins who farm rats and cockroaches which serve as the main meat supply for the Aquasphere. Moreover the droppings of these creatures form excellent fertiliser for the growing of the various fungi and other crops which form the vegetable component of their diets

In the upperdecks the gnomes dwell and maintain the ballists and air filters which provide air for the Aquaspehere and also allow the great bulk to be submerged and raised as desired. Although well sealed it is known that the Aqua-Sphere contains two cisterns and a system of pipes which allow water to be pumped in and out of the Sphere.

Other secrets lie in various chambers around the Sphere include the secrets of the Airfilter system and the Drylock which allows access to the exterior of the Aquasphere even when submerged underwater.

... preliminary ideas, more to come



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by CrothianThe dwarves managed to take control of many of the once tropical islands. They had to exterminate the gnomes, kobolds, and goblins to do it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by XCorvis
5. A floating city under the sea. A giant stone sphere, 1 mile in diameter has been hollowed out by dwarves (derro, or maybe gnomes) and serves as their transportation/protection. The inhabitants are hydrophobic (not rabies, they hate water) and wear diving suits if they need to go out. The city has an advanced magic or mechanical balast system that lets them change depth, but mostly they float along with the current. In hostile territory, the stone shell protects them. They are xenophobic and raid, but only when they can't scavenge from the lost cities.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Originally posted by Tonguez
However your idea of a submarine city controlled by the uneasy alliance of gnomes and goblins (and gnomblin halfbreeds) who hate dwarves and only wish to seek final vegeance provides a good plothook and a chance to do a SeaQuest DSV or Capt Nemo type scenario.

Harpoon using Goblins in diving suits and gnomes with small sleek persoanl submarine attackpods cool!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 

log in or register to remove this ad



The AquaSphere
Colossal Construct (Aquatic)
Hit Dice: 32d10 (176 hp)
Initiative: -3 (Dex)
Speed: 5 ft.
AC: 18 (-8 size, -3 Dex, +12 natural +7 deflection)
Attacks: Slam +25 melee, Ectoburst
Damage: Slam 4d6+13
Face/Reach: 40 ft. by 80 ft./15 ft. (long)
Special Attacks: Psionics
Special Qualities:Construct Immunities, Psychoactive Skin, Damage Reduction 15/+2, Power/Spell Resistance 18, Regeneration 1
Saves: Fort +10, Ref +7, Will +5
Abilities: Str 28, Dex 4, Con -,Int -, Wis 1,Cha 1
Climate/Terrain: Aquatic
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating:
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral

Construct Immunities: A construct is immune to mind-influencing effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects) and to poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning, disease, death effects, and necromantic effects.
A construct is not subject to critical hits, subdual damage, ability damage, ability drain, or energy drain
Constructs cannot heal damage, though they can be healed. They can be repaired in the same way an object can.

Psychoactive Skin: The Aquasphere is sealed within a living psychoactive skin which serves to keep the Sphere watertight and also grants 7 power points per day and power resistance 18.
This skin serves as an excellent medium for the growth of marine life and has caused mutation in the coral living on the Aquasphere.
As a living material the Skin can heal 1 point of damage to itself and the Aquasphere every hour

The Coral living in symbioisis with the Aquasphere is able to manifest various psionic powers including

Ectoburst (Su): in response to attacks made against the Aquasphere the coral can release a targeted ectoburst . The burst is a ranged touch attack against the attacker with range increment 10 and causes 3d4 points of electrical damage, the Ectoburst does not invoke AoO

Smack Down (Su): Once per day the coral of the Aqua Sphere can make a attack to deal additional damage equal to its HD.

Concussion (Sp): manifest concussion as a free action (3d6 damage once per round).

Extra Buff (Ex): gain 10d10 temporary hit points

Superheavy Armor (Ex): +7 deflection bonus to AC.
 
Last edited:

About the Stats

I suspect this needs work and welcome all suggestions.

I'm not entirely familiar with Psionics rules but like the Blue and so borrowed it for my 'non-psionic campaigns (hence the inclusion of Shisek above)

Anyway I was thinking about how the AquaSphere was sealed and decided since I had introduced a Blue I would check out Psionics in the SRD and therein stumbled across Psychoactive Skins (and Astral Constructs)

The Concept is that the AquaSphere is sealed in a living Skin which keeps it airtight. This skin has latent psionic power and has mutated the coral polyps living in symbiosis with it so that the Coral becomes a Psionic crystal (Drojue?)

The Skins I adapted were Psion (7 pps and PR 18), Skin of Striking (Extoburst) and Skin of Troll (Heal 1 per hour)

The other Abilities -Smack Down, Concussion, Extra Buff and Super Heavy Armour are adapted from the Astral Construct.

I threw in Damage Reduction to account for the Hull/Coral Hardness.
 

It looks good. I am not a psionic expert either. ACtually, I know very little excpet hte system basics.

Doesn't regeneration imply that there needs to some attack that isn't regenerated?
 

GReat work!

I have some questions:

Does the sphere move?

How deep is it?

WHy do the goblins/gnomes leave? What else do they need?

HOW many guys live in there?


Are the receptive to visitors?

How is the place lit?

DO other creatures know about it? Above and below water?

Are the submarines and diving suits coming?

What is the generall alignment of the inhabitants?
 

trentonjoe said:
GReat work!


Thank you I'm stil working on the details of the inhabitants and ANY HELP would be appreciated especially on exactly what a Submarine City would include. So any Sci-Fi DMs who can think up good deckplans for space colonies here's an open call:)

I have some questions:

Does the sphere move?

I'm still thinking about this - should it have a means of self propulsion or just 'float' with the waves and current. Hmmm either way its speed is 5 so slow and ponderous if at all. It does have balast however allowing it to rise and/or sink as the inhabitants require. Perhaps the Balast could be used to turn the Sphere too

How deep is it?

The Balast allows it to rise and fall I can imagine it sitting just under the surface and being mistaken for a reef at first glance. Alternatively it could sink deep and explore the unknown regions of the deep sea

WHy do the goblins/gnomes leave? What else do they need?

See above - still working on this:)

HOW many guys live in there?

A City and enough free space for rat and cockroach farms, labs, huge balasts, Air docks and an engine room (with the air filters et al)

Are the receptive to visitors?

Not really and few visitors could get through the coral/skin. Because of history they dislike dwarves of course and as air breathers they don't have much in common with the aquatic races. But maybe a few contacts have been made - still to develop

How is the place lit?
Candle Anemones! I was considering this and hit on the idea of various bioluminescent anemone like creatures which cling to the pumice interior of the walls. Its not full light but gnomes and gobs can both see in lowlight/dark so its all thats required

They're edible to thus providing a bit of variation to the diet of rat, cockroach and fungus....

DO other creatures know about it? Above and below water?

I'd say for Aquatic creatures it would be a bit hard to miss! A collosal spherical coral reef and all. Thats one reason why I gave it some psionic defense mechanisms in case its attacked by Sahuagin raiders.
As for surface dwellers I'd tend to say no

Are the submarines and diving suits coming?

Yes they are. For diving suits I thinking of staying with the psychoactive skins theme and hit on the idea of the goblins maintaining huge vats where they grow the skins as an algae 'film' and then process them for use.

For submarines think personal Kwalish Devices.

What is the generall alignment of the inhabitants?

I don't really do Alignments (imc all races are neutral) - so this is open for any taker:)
 

Remove ads

Top