tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29591930523365764162024-03-12T19:41:13.754-07:00Numinous GloomThis is my place. Where I put stuffDan Voycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800819738941911145noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2959193052336576416.post-16057686662974765552016-09-18T05:36:00.001-07:002016-09-20T14:04:03.854-07:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />PANDA DEMONS</span></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rLdfj1UnNUo/V91RrJO8RhI/AAAAAAAAApI/X4gK0-XIGWYHJy1XjHojMPyODaoHG9-IwCLcB/s1600/panda%2Bdemon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rLdfj1UnNUo/V91RrJO8RhI/AAAAAAAAApI/X4gK0-XIGWYHJy1XjHojMPyODaoHG9-IwCLcB/s320/panda%2Bdemon.jpg" width="233" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">HE'D LIKE YOUR STUFF</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE IT TO HIM</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fat as a distillery pig, lazy as a bear in winter, the morals of a psychotic cat. This is the Tao of panda demon, avatar of slothful malice. It dallies with all manner of other sins, or course - chiefly gluttony, greed and lust - but not too much mind you, it can’t really be bothered. Of all demons, its soul is perhaps the most relateable: It just wants to be <i>comfortable</i>. It just wants people to do things for it, it wants <i>everyone </i>to do <i>everything </i>for it, and it wants to be <i>very comfortable indeed</i>. That's reasonable, right?</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Panda demons much prefer the mortal realm to their native sub-world hell, where they feel overworked and oppressed by more vigorous and dedicated demons. The mortal realm has freedom and an abundance of malleable victims. Once here they are happiest eating and drinking and smoking opium in luxury, their every whim catered for by ensorcelled followers. They prefer persuasion and bribery to brute force, and in the face of determined assault will try to cut a deal. Few can resist the lure of easy money through crime, although clever panda demons maintain a modicum of respectability. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Its typical tactic is to masquerade as some minor divinity or genius loci, exchanging offerings for psychosomatic blessings and snippets of dubious wisdom, carefully administered; they prefer servants to victims and if they work hard at anything (which is really to say work hard at all), it is to build a cult of luxury and hedonism with which to satiate their bon vivant appetites.</div>
</span><br />
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
The set up typically begins with promises of religious or philosophical enlightenment, but as its desired offerings become more elaborate, it swiftly expands into an aggressive multi-level marketing organisation and pyramid scheme. Its not easy to get to the cult leader once things are decently underway.. <br />
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">
<h3>
Into the Odd</h3>
<b>STR </b>18 <b>DEX </b>7 <b>WILL </b>12; <b>HP </b>16<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">DRIVEN TO SEEK LUXURY AND EPICUREAN EXPERIENCES</span>. Its honeyed tones damage the listeners' WILL (D6), its breath brings fatigue (roll STR and DEX tests with disadvantage)<br />
Cult Detachment: 6 HP, various hand weapons (D6)<br />
D4 arcana of expensive appearance<br />
Gourmet Restaurant (D6G <i>Income</i>)<br />
Pyramid Scheme (D8G <i>Income</i>)<br />
<br />
<h3>
Black Hack / General OSR</h3>
<b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">HD</b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> 4, </span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Armour </b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">1 (hide armour), </span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Move </b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">slow human, </span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Attacks </b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">aura of fatigue (save vs. Paralysation)</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">;</span><b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"> </b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">suggestive </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">voice</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">; </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Morale</b> 5</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
And now the full, 5th edition version in all its bloated and unnecessary glory:<br />
<br />
<h3>
5th Edition</h3>
</div>
<div>
<b style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;">PANDA DEMON</b><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Large Fiend (Yao), Neutral Evil </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>AC </b>14 (natural armour), <b>HP </b>68 (8dl0 + 24)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Speed </b>20ft., climb 20ft. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>STR </b>18 (+4) <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>DEX </b>7 (-2) <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>CON </b>16 (+3) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>INT </b>15 (+2) <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>WIS </b>12 (+1) <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><b>CHA </b>20 (+5) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Saving Throws </b>Wis +4, Con +6 </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Skills </b>Perception +4, Deception +8 </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Damage Resistances </b>cold, fire, lightning</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Damage Immunities </b>poison Condition Immunities poisoned </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Senses </b>Darkvision 120ft., passive Perception 14 </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Languages </b>Celestial, Infernal, telepathy 120 ft. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Challenge </b>5 (1,800 XP) </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Epicurean Senses:</i></b> Panda demons have advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell or taste.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Aura of Sloth:</i></b> Anyone within 20ft of the panda demon must succeed at a DC 16 CON save every minute or gain one level of exhaustion, </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">to a maximum of unconsciousness. </span></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;">They often surround themselves with sleeping innocents.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b>Too Cute: </b></i>Anyone who meets the panda demon’s gaze must make a DC 16 Wisdom save or be charmed for one hour.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Silver Tongue:</i></b> Anyone who hears the panda demon speak must succeed at a DC 16 Wis save or obey any reasonable-sounding suggestion it makes. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><i>Spirit Craft:</i></b> A panda demon is equally adept at persuading spirits as it is mortals. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 16). </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;">It can innately cast <i>druidcraft </i>any number of times per day. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;">Once per week it may summon spirit guardians (the type depends on the genius loci of the place) and commune with nature.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>ACTIONS</u> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Multiattack:</b> When absolutely necessary, panda demons can attack with two claws and a bite. They loathe this level of exertion. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Bite:</b> +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d4 + 4) piercing damage. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Claws:</b> +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (2d6+ 4) slashing damage.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px; white-space: pre;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Yawn:</b> Sends creatures into a magical slumber. Roll 8d8; the total is how many hit points of creatures this spell can affect, beginning with the lowest HP in range. </span></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span></div>
Dan Voycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800819738941911145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2959193052336576416.post-84308965074348349752016-09-06T09:11:00.001-07:002016-09-10T03:05:48.723-07:00<br />
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Fire Koi</span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jli_7ISp4OM/V87qmjcG-0I/AAAAAAAAAoQ/G2RkrvBPBrkO1pkOVelv3S4WrDDLjdpqQCLcB/s1600/Horizontal%2BKoi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jli_7ISp4OM/V87qmjcG-0I/AAAAAAAAAoQ/G2RkrvBPBrkO1pkOVelv3S4WrDDLjdpqQCLcB/s320/Horizontal%2BKoi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Absurd and impossible, the fire koi hunts on land, leaping through the deep mountain snow. Part koi carp and part lungfish, it has thick yellow-red scales, permanently erupting in bursts of flame, usually surrounded by a lake of slush and a cloud of scalding steam. It kills by crashing into its prey, latching on with its jaws and thrashing atop them with its searing scales. In summer months, when they sometimes emerge in snowless lowlands, they dry up springs, stampede yak herds and conflagrate </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">villages. Know them by the scent of saltpetre and ashes on the wind.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Mandarins and other potentates prize the fire koi as the ultimate status symbol among fighting fish - massive and dangerous and difficult to keep, captured by desperate adventurers cajoled into service as hunters using nets of woven steel. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The body has many uses for the brave and fire-retardant alchemist: Its meat remains warm for days after its butchered. Its ground scales make serviceable gunpowder. Its blood is prized as a potent unguent to heal frostbite and ward off biting cold. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Black Hack /OSR </span></h3>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>HD</b> 2, <b>Armour</b> chain (1), <b>Move </b>human, <b>Attacks</b> Bite D6, then Thrash 2d6, <b>Morale </b>8. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Into the Odd </span></h3>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>STR </b>14 <b>DEX </b>12 <b>WILL </b>10, <b>HP</b> 6, <b>ARMOUR </b>1 </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">DRIVEN TO LEAP UPON PREY AND LOCK ITS JAWS ON THEM</span>. Attacks with its latching bite, then thrashing and flames. Big enough to damage regiments.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">D&D 5e</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>FIRE KOI</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Large elemental, unaligned</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>AC </b>14 (natural armour) <b>Hit Points</b> 114 (12d10 + 36), <i>Swim </i>40ft.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>STR </b>17 (+3) <b>DEX </b>14 (+2) <b>CON </b>16 (+3)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>INT </b>2 (- 4) <b>WIS </b>11 (+0) <b>CHA </b>5 (- 3)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Skills </b>passive Perception 14</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Challenge </b>5 (1, 800 XP)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Beacon: </i>The fire koi’s flames shed bright light in a 30-foot radius</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Steams in Snow: </i>The Fire Koi’s flames turn snow and ice to mush and a cloud of blinding steam. Creatures within 10ft. of the fire koi.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Flameheart: </i>The fire koi burns hotter when it’s exposed to water, eventually turning itself to ash rather than be doused. If submerged for a full round, it takes 1D10 damage. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><u>ACTIONS</u></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Bite:</b> Melee Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) fire damage</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>Thrash: </b>The fire koi jumps up to 40 feet as its movement, landing on one or more other creatures. Each creature must succeed on a DC 16 Strength or Dexterity saving throw (target's choice) or be knocked prone and take 14 (2d6 +3) bludgeoning damage plus 10 (2d6 + 3) fire damage. On a successful save, the creature takes only half the damage, isn't knocked prone, and is pushed 5 feet out of the koi’s space into an unoccupied space of the creature's choice. If no unoccupied space is within range, the creature instead falls prone instead.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"></span></div>
Dan Voycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800819738941911145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2959193052336576416.post-71951569473034565342016-09-03T11:34:00.004-07:002016-09-04T01:46:37.836-07:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">DUNGEONS AND DISPLAY CASES</span></h2>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ExY4dSnv2JQ/V8sWCYPAl3I/AAAAAAAAAnk/9peWY5B6HbMMMcNI9EgMl4NthKEh5rXrACLcB/s1600/Archie%2BMine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ExY4dSnv2JQ/V8sWCYPAl3I/AAAAAAAAAnk/9peWY5B6HbMMMcNI9EgMl4NthKEh5rXrACLcB/s400/Archie%2BMine.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have marvelled at antediluvian things.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I have flown through the nasal passages of a hammerhead shark and coveted amethysts stained with blood and dishonour; a jar full of dead monkeys, an owl with a pencil in its ear, and the oldest dust in the known universe. Yes, I have spent three days in that cathedral of science, the veritable Vatican of evolution and platonic ideal of curatorship that is London’s Natural History Museum. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Stop reading and go there now. Seriously. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I've also been to the Victoria and Albert museum, which bills itself as the world’s leading museum of art and design but actually feels far more viscerally like a temple to Beautiful Things Britannia’s Glorious Empire Plundered, back when it ruled the earth. This gives me uneasy feelings of guilt, swiftly drowned by a kind of secular numinous awe. There’s no finer way to understand at a glance why empires work. But I digress.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are many gameable things there, so the national history museum is now a dungeon:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Reptile Lichdoms</span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Reptile Lichdoms<b> </b>are a subworld crushed beneath the infinitesimally slow, unending pressure of sedimentary layers. Their ancient civilisation is a world of pillars and Atlas-like upheaving, an exercise in defiance of crushing stone. They are patient and careful and never far from crushing obliteration or permineralization. Their gods are the Stone and the Black: It’s unclear whether these are philosophical metaphors or genuine divinities. Perhaps both. Stone represents death, timelessness, the order of things. The Black is darkness, the unknown and potential, transformation and memory; a liquid deity, a hive mind of psychic petroleum. Balancing these forces, and the analysis of choice and consequence, is the basis of their society. They debate and weigh decisions in a way that even ents would find longwinded and overcautious. They are waiting for the death and weathering of the world, when there is no more sky to press upon them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The halls are labyrinthine cathedrals of interlocked dry bones - HR Geiger in mottled yellow-grey and white. Everything is ab-dead, fleshless but animate, although many skeletons sleep, lost in reverie and dreams encoded into their bones. The reptile dead measure slumber in geological time, and so ever practical, many have been repurposed into the lichdoms’ architecture. They can be slowly woken by sufficient damage or spells like speak with dead, but since their packed hordes hold the ceiling up, disturbing them is not a good idea. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">More philosophically-minded reptilian monsters sometimes venture down to join them in undeath. So on occasion a dying dragon or other potentate of scales will bind human adventurers to transport its corpse below. Human and human-like life is otherwise treated as a minor, brief irritation. The main hostility comes from the habit of necromancers and subworld creatures sneaking in to get high on bone dust or the titanic skeletons slowly accreted oil of liquid time. These substances provide users with visions of antediluvian ages or a skewing of their temporal senses.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-56IgXljW8w4/V8sXWbGKKcI/AAAAAAAAAnw/4asFe764WFEu0Nu3Vsr8iEnR0DIC6nnswCLcB/s1600/Halls%2Bof%2BReptile%2BLichdoms.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-56IgXljW8w4/V8sXWbGKKcI/AAAAAAAAAnw/4asFe764WFEu0Nu3Vsr8iEnR0DIC6nnswCLcB/s640/Halls%2Bof%2BReptile%2BLichdoms.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>MAP KEY</b></span></div>
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Suspended dragon bones give off a slow, musical drip of elemental oil into glass vases. The bones are explosively flammable, like osseous dynamite.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Defrosting kraken. Its stench is awful beyond description and powerful enough to permeate through six whole dungeon levels. Its flesh tastes of ammonia. Desiccated scavenger corpses surround it. Awaiting the taxidermy lich from room </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Huge sarcophagi of titanic beasts, faint skittering sound of flesh-eating beetles within. The swarm’s race memory knows every creature they have devoured for a million years, but can only describe things based on taste, scent and relative chewiness. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Area previously wrecked by earthquake. Now perilously tottering. A skull here wants the rest of its plundered bones back.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A great chalice of yellow marble, its rim carved with unfamiliar serpents. Their fangs drip with the oil of coagulated time, a drop perhaps every 1D100 years. A taste allows you to experience your whole life this far with perfect clarity. Your mind is not designed for that.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A glass dome housing a delicate petrified tree full of tiny mummified archaeopteryxes, which animate and fly upon command. Dust billows up when they take flight, enough to blind and choke those nearby.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Skeletal giant sloth dealing with infestation of bioluminescent scorpions that fire streams of acid from their tails. Could use a hand.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A vein of copper interrupts the endless bone architecture. Desiccated trees were placed here aeons ago, and mineral seepage has turned them to solid copper. Someone has mounted fruits and leaves carved from precious metals upon them.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Albino vampire bats, gorged on the blood of extinct species, they waddle like fattened penguins and explode in gore if wounded. They crave the sanguine fluids of creatures long dead. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Gnarled fish of living stone, normally able to pass through minerals, they are trapped in a room knee deep in living insects. Hard and black as cannonballs, their beautiful geode stomachs contain gemstones. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Dinosaur skeletons loom sinisterly, in midst of brief century or so pause. Diplodocus is in endless debate with tyrannosaurus on the dichotomy of predator and prey.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Library of deeply carven tombstones-like tactile mnemonic devices (lukasa). They recount the history and philosophy of a sightless subterranean culture - caress them long enough and their ancient cultural traits begin to overwrite your own. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Rebellious triceratops grafting undead flesh to its bones. It’s just a going through a phase. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Skeletal tortoise oracle, its shell is engraved with a map of the complex. Hates intruders, but slow and non-violent. Will seek to impede them cleverly within those limits.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Arch of ichthyosaurs guards long dry underground sea. The ghosts of deep sea fish swim silently through the air. Angler fish dangle eerie witch-light lures that attract undead. On the ocean floor far below, a psychic giant brain coral considers submarine philosophy and psionically co-opts any other mental organs it encounters for additional processing power.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Iron monkeys guard taxidermy-obsessed lich, busy stuffing a two-horned narwhal amidst her many delicate creations. Wants more specimens. You’ll do in a pinch. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Bottled collection of rare species, preserved in highly flammable dragon bone oil. The mindflayer brain and tentacles keeps instinctively escaping its jar in search of prey.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Hall of untethered memories drift invisible to the naked eye. They latch onto passing minds, leaving them a confused patchwork of alien recollections.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Overproud, honour-obsessed mummified naturalists demand matched pair of narwhal horns as duelling weapons to continue their fight. Mind your manners.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Oily sea of yellow-black oil, perpetually quobbing and quivering amid tidal swells and undulations. Viscous, protean heads half form if intruders bring an offering. It contains the liquid souls of millions of creatures and greatly desires to consume all organic matter in creation. Extremely flammable, but far too large to kill.</span></li>
</ol>
Dan Voycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800819738941911145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2959193052336576416.post-38371197176372768822016-08-28T13:12:00.000-07:002016-08-29T12:24:29.421-07:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Cicada Lovers</span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvMaSuQKr4w/V8SL0tZcuHI/AAAAAAAAAnI/EhtHPxO5kgIzwB61w4xTlt5M_Vn-Mv7AQCLcB/s1600/Cicada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ZvMaSuQKr4w/V8SL0tZcuHI/AAAAAAAAAnI/EhtHPxO5kgIzwB61w4xTlt5M_Vn-Mv7AQCLcB/s320/Cicada.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">As the metamorphosis of caterpillars to butterflies supplies a great spiritual metaphor to the west, so the cicada furnishes the Widdershin Kingdoms with an abundance of parables and similitudes. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They are icons of rebirth and immortality, their discarded exuviae uneasy reminder of the futility of sin and material advancement amidst the endless cycles of reincarnation.
Their image is carved on everything from temple statues to bone spatulas, jade ornaments to pills and yak-butter sweets. They have ontological weight. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">C</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">icada lovers are insect spirits, though they walk like men. They have power over lust and fertility, rebirth, and abundance. They arise from the earth every 4, 16, or 256 years. Although immortal in the subworlds, their surface lives are brief and tumultuous: When not pulsing with metamorphosis, frantically feeding or mating, they war with the mantis queens, who find their lives offensive but their flesh delicious. </span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">What are they doing? (1D6) </span></h3>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Emerging from subterranean hibernation, new carapaced and naive </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Securing the area, harvesting life force </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Metamorphosis, shedding. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Seeking mates</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Warring with hunting mantises </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lingering bachelors, awaiting death</span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The apparent abiogenesis of cicada lovers is a spiritual but chaotic time. Like many demons, they earn the name for both their morals and the deleterious results of their interactions with humanity. They are sin eaters, whose touch absolves guilt and inspires new beginnings, but their karmic significance does not reduce the mayhem they incite. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When first they swarm, they are hungry for transmogrifying life force. In time they transform into a winged, slightly more human form, ripe with the swollen genitalia of both genders, and pheromones that enslave and addict. They can both conceive and impregnate, and are talented lovers, protective of their concubines. Humans become intoxicated, drawn inexorably to join the swarm. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">In their final cycle, both human and insect with child go willingly beneath the earth to incubate the next generation. The few ‘widowers’ who remain guard the nest or linger on the surface, bereft of purpose until they die. Few reach their all too swift dotage. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Alchemists of course, prize the cicada lover’s glands as an irresistible aphrodisiac. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Black Hack /OSR</b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>HD</b> 2, <b>Armour </b>1(leather), <b>Move </b>fast human (fly), <b>Attacks </b>mandibles or claws 2D4, pheromone <i>charm</i>; <b>Morale </b>10. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Into the Odd </span></h3>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b>STR </b>14 <b>DEX </b>12 <b>WILL </b>10, <b>HP </b>6, <b>ARMOUR </b>1 </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">DRIVEN TO MATE WITH HUMANS AND DEVOUR BAD KARMA. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Attacks with claws and mandibles, sexual pheromone does Will damage. </span><br />
<h3>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1D8 Expeditions </b></h3>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Tortured by unbearable guilt at his iniquities, mandarin Jade Neck requires a cicada lover to assuage his conscience. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">See to it, immediately.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They have taken the Weeping Weaver’s wife.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The Lowly Poet must have the love of aloof Lady Moi. Bring him an enslaving love gland, undamaged, and he will immortalise you in verse. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Potion Po needs freshly-shed </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">exuviae</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">, so he might brew the elixir of renewal. Only the freshest will do. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The sinister Gentlemen Swami is studying the swarm. Find out why.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Vulgar Prophet requires escort to so he may safely learn their tantric sex techniques. Payment upon his safe and un-impregnated return.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Vulgar Prophet is keen to see his offspring of his last visit to the nest. See that the father safely visits his ‘sons’ </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">They took the Dashtaar Master’s wife and daughter when last they came. He seeks iron swords to destroy them once and for all this time… but do his family’s souls live on in the unusual violet eyes of this generation?</span></li>
</ol>
Dan Voycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800819738941911145noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2959193052336576416.post-37596155847788396182016-08-25T14:39:00.005-07:002016-08-25T14:41:00.962-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></h2>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Preliminary Mutterings</span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TTdZNlJlY1s/V736LIZ0AmI/AAAAAAAAAl4/6UYIpy3hCx8QK-9G62wgeZ71L2ZaWj19QCLcB/s1600/kal%2Bel%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TTdZNlJlY1s/V736LIZ0AmI/AAAAAAAAAl4/6UYIpy3hCx8QK-9G62wgeZ71L2ZaWj19QCLcB/s320/kal%2Bel%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">"...AND THESE ARE MY FIRST EDITION BOOKS, KAL EL </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">DON'T EBAY THEM."</span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is really just a writing exercise, a warm up so to speak. I'll get better at this.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So, a first post then - soon to be swallowed by a treasure trove of gaming goodness and nerdish proselytising. As the pages grow hardly anyone will wade widdershins through time to reach here. Perhaps one day our future AI overloads will discover this in their data archaeology of the strange flesh-monkey time. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For their benefit</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, I assure you all that I was a benevolent ruler of the earth, firm but wise, and much beloved, and gave up my throne when utopia was perfected.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My name's Dan, and </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I like roleplaying games, possibly a bit too much. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I'm English (somewhere near Winterfell) and so life in the largely Americanocentric OSR blog-sphere is a delightful game of bleary-eyed catchup. I've been gaming since 1989, when I migrated from Fighting Fantasy to </span><i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">White Dwarf</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">, to </span><i style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Warhammer, </i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">to eventually to D&D. I remember playing Fate of Istus. I remember we killed off bards.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F539XXx7MkM/V79XG9DBc0I/AAAAAAAAAmc/DC9MjRjWATMlOllrcnjK-3NdokmLnO4nwCLcB/s1600/Trail.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="98" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-F539XXx7MkM/V79XG9DBc0I/AAAAAAAAAmc/DC9MjRjWATMlOllrcnjK-3NdokmLnO4nwCLcB/s320/Trail.PNG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Back in 2008, I wondered if I had it in me to write something the way professionals did, to translate the notes into something usable by others. The result was <i>Desire & the Dead:</i> A hideously overwritten 90s-style adventure and mini-setting, and introduction to the <i>Planescape </i>setting, which I let loose, with transcendental timing, in the very week that 4th edition D&D was announced. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">You can get it from </span><a href="http://planewalker.com/" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Planewalker.com</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> for the price of 0 gold pieces.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://mimir.planewalker.com/sites/default/files/Desire_And_The_Dead.pdf"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4CL0tBy5-Mw/V79ivpF9rcI/AAAAAAAAAmw/epqjKhhoZ3QPs-7865sL022H_wwv2CeuACEw/s1600/Desire%2BSmall.png" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://mimir.planewalker.com/sites/default/files/Desire_And_The_Dead.pdf">CLICK ME</a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It's painful for me to read, to look back at what I thought was good. I think t</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">here are good nuggets though, amidst the hand holding and setting fetishism, and the player agency is good. And a nice map or two. It features neither dungeons nor dragons.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One day I'll talk about it more.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Dan Voycehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03800819738941911145noreply@blogger.com0