diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'src/DND')
-rw-r--r-- | src/DND/Background.orig.png | bin | 4791704 -> 0 bytes | |||
-rw-r--r-- | src/DND/Background.orig.small.png | bin | 1302911 -> 0 bytes | |||
-rw-r--r-- | src/DND/Background.png | bin | 2403525 -> 0 bytes | |||
-rw-r--r-- | src/DND/DND.scss | 54 | ||||
-rw-r--r-- | src/DND/PsionicSchools.org | 220 | ||||
-rw-r--r-- | src/DND/Psionist.md | 1504 | ||||
-rw-r--r-- | src/DND/SpellGauntlet.org | 683 | ||||
-rw-r--r-- | src/DND/Tastavi.md | 1965 |
8 files changed, 0 insertions, 4426 deletions
diff --git a/src/DND/Background.orig.png b/src/DND/Background.orig.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index 837ce8c..0000000 --- a/src/DND/Background.orig.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/src/DND/Background.orig.small.png b/src/DND/Background.orig.small.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index becc4c1..0000000 --- a/src/DND/Background.orig.small.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/src/DND/Background.png b/src/DND/Background.png Binary files differdeleted file mode 100644 index c932f67..0000000 --- a/src/DND/Background.png +++ /dev/null diff --git a/src/DND/DND.scss b/src/DND/DND.scss deleted file mode 100644 index fcb258c..0000000 --- a/src/DND/DND.scss +++ /dev/null @@ -1,54 +0,0 @@ -/* This bit is taken from the defaults of org-mode export */ - -body > article { font-family: Times, serif; font-size: 12pt; -.title { text-align: center; } -.todo { color: red; } -.done { color: green; } -.tag { background-color: #add8e6; font-weight:normal } -.target { } -.timestamp { color: #bebebe; } -.timestamp-kwd { color: #5f9ea0; } -.right {margin-left:auto; margin-right:0px; text-align:right;} -.left {margin-left:0px; margin-right:auto; text-align:left;} -.center {margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; text-align:center;} -p.verse { margin-left: 3% } -pre { - border: 1pt solid #AEBDCC; - background-color: #F3F5F7; - padding: 5pt; - font-family: courier, monospace; - font-size: 90%; - overflow:auto; -} -table { border-collapse: collapse; } -td, th { vertical-align: top; } -th.right { text-align:center; } -th.left { text-align:center; } -th.center { text-align:center; } -td.right { text-align:right; } -td.left { text-align:left; } -td.center { text-align:center; } -dt { font-weight: bold; } -div.figure { padding: 0.5em; } -div.figure p { text-align: center; } -div.inlinetask { - padding:10px; - border:2px solid gray; - margin:10px; - background: #ffffcc; -} -textarea { overflow-x: auto; } -.linenr { font-size:smaller } -.code-highlighted {background-color:#ffff00;} -.org-info-js_info-navigation { border-style:none; } -#org-info-js_console-label { font-size:10px; font-weight:bold; - white-space:nowrap; } -.org-info-js_search-highlight {background-color:#ffff00; color:#000000; - font-weight:bold; } -} -/* Andrew wrote the following */ - -body { - background: url(Background.png) repeat-y; - background-size: 100%; -} diff --git a/src/DND/PsionicSchools.org b/src/DND/PsionicSchools.org deleted file mode 100644 index 91f84a1..0000000 --- a/src/DND/PsionicSchools.org +++ /dev/null @@ -1,220 +0,0 @@ -#+TITLE: Schools of Psionics
-#+HTML_HEAD_EXTRA: <link rel="stylesheet" href="DND.css">
-#+TAGS: ES HB
-
-From what I've seen, the most recent few 5e Unearthed Arcana dealing
-with "Psionics and the Mystic" have been getting somewhat mixed
-reviews. I don't think this is because of the mechanics--or rather
-not COMPLETELY because of the mechanics. Mechanics for psionics have
-always been weird, and the 5e style is good for D&D, so maintaining
-that is good and won't get any gripes from me.
-
-But I think that no matter what purely mechanical tweaks the UA team
-has planned for the Mystic, the general lukewarm reception isn't going
-to change unless we get something else squared away first. Something
-a little deeper--something that helps us grasp Psionics in the same
-way we grasp Magic: with a complete and intuitive system.
-
-With Weave-based magic there are schools which somewhat delineate
-magical effects (conjuration, divination, etc), but that's not exactly
-what I mean. Not to bash the magical schools (any system will have
-inconsistencies--mine notwithstanding), but few people really
-understand what it means to be a wizard by what school of magic they
-specialize in. An enchantment wizard isn't fundamentally different
-from an evocation one. But a wizard is different than a bard or a
-warlock. These "Schools of Psionics" are as much about the state of
-mind of the manifester and the method for manifestation as they are
-about the outcome of the manifestation (there are several of my
-Psionic "schools" that may each manifest effects in the transmutation
-school of magic for instance, but each according to its own particular
-rules).
-
-What I mean is this:
-
-| | Introvertion (a) | Extroversion (b) |
-|-----------+------------------+------------------|
-| Mind (1) | Cogitation | Domination |
-| Body (2) | Sympathy | Manifestation |
-| Time (3) | Prescience | Anticipation |
-| Space (4) | Metapsionics | Apportation |
-
-There are eight categories split into two primary focuses and four
-topical domains, and each of the eight describes HOW a power is
-manifested. It tells us what our character is DOING to get the
-blasted power to work. As a D&D culture, we know how wizards do it,
-careful study and recitation, memorization, etc. We know how Bards do
-it, they hear the music of creation and wrap their words in it. All
-these effects are propagated through Mystra's Weave and are bound by
-it's limitations. But nobody has a clue how Psionics works. Or
-rather, we all have half-baked ideas that don't jive.
-
-In order for this to work, we need to know in canon, what it means to
-BE A PSIONIST and manifest powers. I'm probably no different than
-anybody else in my half-baked understanding, but as a Physicist and an
-editor I feel it is my duty to try to make sense of this mess.
-
-First off, since we don't have a Weave, but all magic needs a medium,
-lets make one. Lets call it the Psionic Field. Created spontaneously
-from the first thinking being (or Source), the Psionic Field exists on
-any plane containing thought. Some sources of psionic power are
-stronger than others, but all thinking things produce some connection
-to the field (some might wonder if magic and the Weave itself is
-naught but an echo of Mystra's or Auppenser's mind--and in that light
-perhaps the Psionic Field is not so foreign after all).
-
-With that medium in place, the world of Psionics slowly falls into
-place as well. Detailed descriptions of the eight schools follow:
-
-1a) Cogitation - Clarity of thought, memory, action, and connection to
-the Psionic Field.
-
-Cogitation is often one's first exposure to Psionics. It's a
-clear-mindedness that opens up your own mind to see itself for the
-first time, and beyond that, to sense the edges of the minds of
-others. It includes the stereotypical bloody-nosed mind reading,
-mimicry, and perfect recall.
-
-Examples of Cogitation include "Detect Thoughts" and "Mind Meld" and
-the ability to learn or borrow skills and proficiencies directly from
-the minds of others.
-
-1b) Domination - Exert dominating willpower over other minds.
-
-Once you've encountered sources outside yourself it is only natural to
-try to influence or even dominate them. Exerting your will into the
-minds of others isn't the same as reading their thoughts, you might
-not know what your target is thinking, only that it will succumb.
-
-Examples of Domination include "Command", "Suggestion", and "Dominate
-Person".
-
-2a) Sympathy - Exerting influence upon sympathetic objects.
-
-The Psionic Field is produced by thinking creatures, but it can leave
-an imprint on even mundane objects and materials. Objects may be
-imbued with Psionic energy to produce a variety of effects, and may
-soak up ambient energy by just sitting within the Psionic Field which
-can be later be discerned by a Psionist to know about an object's
-history. This is done by expanding your sense of self outward from
-your mind and body and into the object.
-
-Examples of Sympathy include "Psychometry", "Animate Objects", and
-"Guards and Wards".
-
-2b) Manifestion - Creating both illusory and physically manipulable
-constructs of pure thought.
-
-By focusing and condensing ideas down to their most concrete forms,
-Psionists can manifest the essence of a thing as either an illusion or
-as a real physical object made of Astral matter (ectoplasm). Astral
-matter is most commonly associated with the Astral plane (or plane of
-thought) where it occurs naturally, but can exist anywhere with a
-sufficient psionic field for a Psionist to conjure it.
-
-Examples of Manifestation include "Mage Hand", "Conjure Astral
-Construct", and "Programmed Illusion"
-
-3a) Prescience - See and feel other places and times.
-
-Because the actions of thinking things (sources of psionics) are not
-stagnant, their movements create ripples in the Psionic Field.
-Births, deaths, and exchanges of knowledge leave their marks. By
-studying these echos and patterns, Psionists can discern events that
-occurred in distant parts of the world or even in the past or future.
-
-Examples of Prescience include "Detect Poison and Disease", "Scrying",
-and "Foresight".
-
-3b) Anticipation - Solidify expectation and possibility into reality.
-
-In many ways the Universe itself is just composed of the interactions
-of groups of sources of psionism and the objects being pulled in their
-wake (albeit a rather large number of each). With an awareness of the
-way ripples propagate in the Psionic Field and by using the techniques
-of Sympathy but directing them outwards, a Psionist can begin to
-subtly manipulate expectation and the laws of Physics themselves.
-
-Examples of Anticipation include "Heat Metal", "Telekinesis", "Reverse
-Gravity", and "Time Stop".
-
-4a) Metapsionics - Manipulating sources of Psionism and their direct
-effects.
-
-The way that thinking creatures interact with the Psionic Field is
-complicated and diverse, just as the creatures which produce it are
-themselves. By studying how the minds of Psionically-attuned
-creatures create Psionic and even Magical Weave-based effects, a
-Psionist can learn to imitate or manipulate psionic effects as they
-see them (and sometimes use what they've learned to imbue limited
-psionic potential into others).
-
-Examples of Metapsionics include "Detect Magic", "Counterspell", and
-"Awaken"
-
-4b) Apportation - Pulling and pushing on planar boundaries with the
-Psionic Field.
-
-Since the material plane is not the only one with thinking creatures,
-some far-minded Psionists can detect the Psionic Field existing on
-other planes of existence and pull on these remote fields of power.
-Doing so can banish alien creatures, abjure harmful elemental effects,
-or even tear open portals to distant planes and places.
-
-Examples of Apportation include "Dimension Door", "Banishment", and
-"Whitefire Portal"
-
-== Post Script ==
-
-Q: Specifics (where do these fit in?) - A: Answer
-
-What about Soul Knives??? - A soul knife is just an adept who uses a
-combination of Manifestation and Sympathy to conjure a blade and imbue
-it with different Sympathetic effects. In a similar way, you can use
-these eight to extend specific domains on to different classes.
-Psionic warrior? Uses Sympathy to strengthen his body and Prescience
-to predict the strikes of his enemy. Psionic rogue? Apportation to
-teleport around or Cogitation to read minds to cheat at cards (or
-memorize the deck). Once the system is in place, the variations build
-themselves because you know what's possible and what isn't.
-Restriction breeds Creativity. You gotta know the rules to use them.
-
-What's all this about "Psionist?" Isn't it "Psion" - In my
-understanding a "Psion" is a mystic who uses metapsionics to
-manipulate her own mind into casting spells with the Weave. It is
-also a term that gets some use for a general practitioner of psionics.
-It is also one of those 4e tattoo addicts... just a really overloaded
-term really. Psionist sounds the best to me as a general term like
-"mage."
-
-What's the difference between Sympathy and Anticipation when
-moving/lifting things? - In Sympathy, you convince the object to move
-by extending your sense of self into it and lifting it yourself, in
-Anticipation, it moves because you trick the Universe into thinking
-the object should already be moving and so the Universe does it for
-you. Expanding self is all monk-like vs. essentially casting Luck
-Bending spells.
-
-Apportation includes an allusion to "Whitefire Portal". What's that? -
-Oh, just this cool thing I made:
-
-*Whitefire Portal*: You burn a temporary hole through the Astral Plane
-and into another plane of your choice. Once per long rest, centered on
-a point within 300 ft of you, you summon raw Astral ectoplasm which
-burns with hellish, white-hot fury. Any creature standing within 20
-feet of the whitefire must make a Dexterity saving throw or take 12d10
-fire damage or half on a successful save. Inanimate objects in the
-area also take the damage and flammable objects may catch on fire. A
-portal then opens to the chosen plane as with a Gate spell and remains
-open for 1 minute as the planes slowly knit themselves back
-together. Alternatively, instead of a specific location on a plane of
-your choice, you may choose to have your portal open into a generally
-inhospitable location in one of the elemental planes or the planes of
-positive or negative energy. If you do so, creatures who enter or
-begin their turns within 20 feet of the portal take 6d10 damage of the
-appropriate elemental or energy type.
-
-I'm actually working on an entire Psionist class for eventual
-publication on the Dungeon Master's Guild (or as part of my
-"MagnumOpis-MagicOfTheMultiverse" which covers EVERYTHING magical as I
-understand it). Of course if somebody #wotcstaff wants to buy it
-and/or hire me, I'd be totally up for #theorycrafting for a living.
diff --git a/src/DND/Psionist.md b/src/DND/Psionist.md deleted file mode 100644 index 1c7b9e5..0000000 --- a/src/DND/Psionist.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1504 +0,0 @@ ---- -title: "Psionist" -updated: "2016-07-16T21:01-0400" -html_head_extra: "<link rel=stylesheet href=DND.css>" -tags: ES HB ---- - -<div id="table-of-contents"> -<h2>Table of Contents</h2> -<div id="text-table-of-contents"> -<ul> -<li><a href="#sec-1">1 Introduction to the Psionist Class [5e]</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-2">2 The Psionist</a> -<ul> -<li><a href="#sec-2-1">2.1 Hit Points</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-2-2">2.2 Proficiencies</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-2-3">2.3 Equipment</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-2-4">2.4 Psionist Class Progression Table</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-2-5">2.5 Mind Powers</a> -<ul> -<li><a href="#sec-2-5-1">2.5.1 Psi Points</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-2-5-2">2.5.2 Psionic Ability</a></li> -</ul> -</li> -<li><a href="#sec-2-6">2.6 Thought Sensitivity</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-2-7">2.7 Psionic Blast</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-2-8">2.8 Spellmind</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-2-9">2.9 Psionic Disciplines</a> -<ul> -<li><a href="#sec-2-9-1">2.9.1 Inquisitor</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-2-9-2">2.9.2 Kineticist</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-2-9-3">2.9.3 Metapsionist</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-2-9-4">2.9.4 Mind Master</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-2-9-5">2.9.5 Ascendant</a></li> -</ul> -</li> -<li><a href="#sec-2-10">2.10 Perfect Mind</a></li> -</ul> -</li> -<li><a href="#sec-3">3 Mind Powers</a> -<ul> -<li><a href="#sec-3-1">3.1 Basic Mind Powers (Cantrips)</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-3-2">3.2 First Level Mind Powers</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-3-3">3.3 Second Level Mind Powers</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-3-4">3.4 Third Level Mind Powers</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-3-5">3.5 Fourth Level Mind Powers</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-3-6">3.6 Fifth Level Mind Powers</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-3-7">3.7 Sixth Level Mind Powers</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-3-8">3.8 Seventh Level Mind Powers</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-3-9">3.9 Eighth Level Mind Powers</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-3-10">3.10 Ninth Level Mind Powers</a></li> -</ul> -</li> -<li><a href="#sec-4">4 Thanks</a></li> -</ul> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-1" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-1"><span class="section-number-2">1</span> Introduction to the Psionist Class [5e]</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-1"> -<p> -Because the power of psionics is vast but strange, over the eons many -have learned to harness its power in wildly different ways. From -warriors who use it to strengthen their blades to conjurers who pull -matter from astral plane, psionic characters have always been the -exception to the rule. As such, it is no surprise that it is difficult -if not impossible to encompass all possible psionics users in a single -class. -</p> -<p> -That said, a common archetype for a user of psionics is that of the -"Mind Mage" or Psionist, a highly skilled and intelligent adept who -typically engages in combat by evoking psionic powers in a similar way -that a Weave-based spellcaster would.<sup><a class="footref" name="fnr-.1" href="#fn-.1">1</a></sup> -</p> -<p> -The following is a complete 5th edition class with options for -creating the most common archetypes of psionic manifesters.<sup><a class="footref" name="fnr-.2" href="#fn-.2">2</a></sup> -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-2" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-2"><span class="section-number-2">2</span> The Psionist</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-2"> -<p> -A robed man watches the bar from a dark corner, carefully reading -minds and waiting for a certain noble to step past the line of -treason and arrest him. -</p> -<p> -An invisible thief moves silently through the night. She approaches a -locked and warded gate, looks around for guards, and then phases -silently through it and into the estate, floating up to the second -story window and continuing inside. -</p> -<p> -A gnome sits hunched over a block of stone meditating deeply and -tracing lines along its surface. Slowly he opens his eyes and marvels -as the golem rises to its feet, rubs its chin thoughtfully, and bows -before its master. -</p> -<p> -A blue goblin bends a giant to her will, sending him running into the -sea bound for faraway lands. -</p> -<p> -An old man clad in white robes and an impish smile dismisses an -inclement fire ball into the Plane of Fire and escapes into a -glimmering portal bound for the outer planes. -</p> -<p> -Each of these people are Psionists, a diverse class of psionic -manifesters, who use their minds to interact with the world around -them. Some are born with the abilities, some are awakened by strange -alien forces, and some come to Psionic power after years of exhaustive -meditation and training. Regardless of how they came into their -powers, Psionists are generally intelligent and motivated individuals -whose strange abilities invariably set them upon roads bound for -adventure. -</p> -<p> -As a Psionist, you gain the following class features. -</p> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-2-1" class="outline-3"> -<h3 id="sec-2-1"><span class="section-number-3">2.1</span> Hit Points</h3> -<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-2-1"> -<ul> -<li><b>Hit Dice</b>: 1d6 per psionist level -</li> -<li><b>Hit Points at 1st Level</b>: 6 + your Constitution modifier -</li> -<li><b>Hit Points at Higher Levels</b>: 1d6 (or 4) + your Constitution modifier per psionist level after 1st -</li> -</ul> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-2-2" class="outline-3"> -<h3 id="sec-2-2"><span class="section-number-3">2.2</span> Proficiencies</h3> -<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-2-2"> -<ul> -<li><b>Armor</b>: Light armor -</li> -<li><b>Weapons</b>: Simple Weapons -</li> -<li><b>Tools</b>: None -</li> -<li><b>Saving Throws</b>: Intelligence -</li> -<li><b>Skills</b>: Choose two skills from Arcana, History, Insight, - Investigation, Medicine, Perception, or Religion -</li> -</ul> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-2-3" class="outline-3"> -<h3 id="sec-2-3"><span class="section-number-3">2.3</span> Equipment</h3> -<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-2-3"> -<p>You start with the following equipment, in addition to the equipment -granted by your background: -</p> -<ul> -<li>(a) a spear or (b) a mace -</li> -<li>(a) leather armor -</li> -<li>(a) light crossbow and 20 bolts or (b) any simple weapon -</li> -<li>(a) a scholar's pack or (b) an explorer's pack -</li> -</ul> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-2-4" class="outline-3"> -<h3 id="sec-2-4"><span class="section-number-3">2.4</span> Psionist Class Progression Table</h3> -<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-2-4"> -<table border="2" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6" rules="groups" frame="hsides"> -<colgroup><col class="right" /><col class="right" /><col class="left" /><col class="right" /><col class="left" /><col class="right" /><col class="right" /> -</colgroup> -<thead> -<tr><th scope="col" class="right"></th><th scope="col" class="right">Prof.</th><th scope="col" class="left"></th><th scope="col" class="right"></th><th scope="col" class="left">Max</th><th scope="col" class="right"></th><th scope="col" class="right"></th></tr> -<tr><th scope="col" class="right">Level</th><th scope="col" class="right">Bonus</th><th scope="col" class="left">Features</th><th scope="col" class="right">Psi</th><th scope="col" class="left">Power</th><th scope="col" class="right">Cantrips</th><th scope="col" class="right">Powers</th></tr> -<tr><th scope="col" class="right"></th><th scope="col" class="right"></th><th scope="col" class="left"></th><th scope="col" class="right">Points</th><th scope="col" class="left">Level</th><th scope="col" class="right">Known</th><th scope="col" class="right">Known</th></tr> -</thead> -<tbody> -<tr><td class="right">1</td><td class="right">+2</td><td class="left"><a href="#sec-2-5">Mind Powers</a>, <a href="#sec-2-6">Thought Sensitivity</a></td><td class="right">4</td><td class="left">1st</td><td class="right">3</td><td class="right">2</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">2</td><td class="right">+2</td><td class="left"><a href="#sec-2-7">Psionic Blast</a>, <a href="#sec-2-8">Spellmind</a> 1</td><td class="right">6</td><td class="left">1st</td><td class="right">3</td><td class="right">3</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">3</td><td class="right">+2</td><td class="left">Psionic Discipline Feature (1)</td><td class="right">14</td><td class="left">2nd</td><td class="right">3</td><td class="right">4</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">4</td><td class="right">+3</td><td class="left">Ability Score Improvement</td><td class="right">17</td><td class="left">2nd</td><td class="right">3</td><td class="right">4</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">5</td><td class="right">+3</td><td class="left"><a href="#sec-2-8">Spellmind</a> 2</td><td class="right">27</td><td class="left">3rd</td><td class="right">4</td><td class="right">5</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">6</td><td class="right">+3</td><td class="left">Psionic Discipline Feature (2)</td><td class="right">32</td><td class="left">3rd</td><td class="right">4</td><td class="right">6</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">7</td><td class="right">+3</td><td class="left">-</td><td class="right">38</td><td class="left">4th</td><td class="right">4</td><td class="right">7</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">8</td><td class="right">+3</td><td class="left">Ability Score Improvement</td><td class="right">44</td><td class="left">4th</td><td class="right">4</td><td class="right">7</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">9</td><td class="right">+4</td><td class="left"><a href="#sec-2-8">Spellmind</a> 3</td><td class="right">57</td><td class="left">5th</td><td class="right">4</td><td class="right">8</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">10</td><td class="right">+4</td><td class="left">Psionic Discipline Feature (3)</td><td class="right">64</td><td class="left">5th</td><td class="right">5</td><td class="right">9</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">11</td><td class="right">+4</td><td class="left">-</td><td class="right">73</td><td class="left">6th</td><td class="right">5</td><td class="right">10</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">12</td><td class="right">+5</td><td class="left">Ability Score Improvement</td><td class="right">73</td><td class="left">6th</td><td class="right">5</td><td class="right">10</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">13</td><td class="right">+5</td><td class="left"><a href="#sec-2-8">Spellmind</a> 4</td><td class="right">83</td><td class="left">7th</td><td class="right">5</td><td class="right">11</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">14</td><td class="right">+5</td><td class="left">Psionic Discipline Feature (4)</td><td class="right">83</td><td class="left">7th</td><td class="right">5</td><td class="right">12</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">15</td><td class="right">+5</td><td class="left">-</td><td class="right">94</td><td class="left">8th</td><td class="right">5</td><td class="right">13</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">16</td><td class="right">+5</td><td class="left">Ability Score Improvement</td><td class="right">94</td><td class="left">8th</td><td class="right">5</td><td class="right">13</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">17</td><td class="right">+6</td><td class="left"><a href="#sec-2-8">Spellmind</a> 5</td><td class="right">107</td><td class="left">9th</td><td class="right">5</td><td class="right">14</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">18</td><td class="right">+6</td><td class="left">Psionic Discipline Feature (5)</td><td class="right">114</td><td class="left">9th</td><td class="right">5</td><td class="right">15</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">19</td><td class="right">+6</td><td class="left">Ability Score Improvement</td><td class="right">123</td><td class="left">9th</td><td class="right">5</td><td class="right">16</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">20</td><td class="right">+6</td><td class="left"><a href="#sec-2-10">Perfect Mind</a></td><td class="right">133</td><td class="left">9th</td><td class="right">5</td><td class="right">17</td></tr> -</tbody> -</table> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-2-5" class="outline-3"> -<h3 id="sec-2-5"><span class="section-number-3">2.5</span> Mind Powers</h3> -<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-2-5"> -<p> -All Psionic abilities except those that cast spells are mind -powers. Intelligence is your psionic ability for your mind -powers. Your intellect determines the strength of the psionic effects -you manifest. In addition, you use your Intelligence modifier when -setting the saving throw DC for a mind power or when making an attack -roll with one. Manifesting mind powers does not require verbal, -somatic, or material components unless those components have an -explicit cost associated with them or are consumed. -</p> -<ul> -<li>Psionic Powers of sixth level and higher take a drastic mental toll - when manifested. You may only manifest one sixth, one seventh, one - eighth, and one ninth level power per day. -</li> -</ul> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-2-5-1" class="outline-4"> -<h4 id="sec-2-5-1"><span class="section-number-4">2.5.1</span> Psi Points</h4> -<div class="outline-text-4" id="text-2-5-1"> -<p> -Psi points represent a Psionist's pool of mental energy. It expands as -she gains levels in the Psionist class and becomes more powerful. When -manifesting powers, she uses a number of psi points according to the -table below. -</p> -<table border="2" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6" rules="groups" frame="hsides"> -<colgroup><col class="right" /><col class="right" /> -</colgroup> -<thead> -<tr><th scope="col" class="right">Power Level</th><th scope="col" class="right">Point Cost</th></tr> -</thead> -<tbody> -<tr><td class="right">1</td><td class="right">2</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">2</td><td class="right">3</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">3</td><td class="right">5</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">4</td><td class="right">6</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">5</td><td class="right">7</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">6</td><td class="right">9</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">7</td><td class="right">10</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">8</td><td class="right">11</td></tr> -<tr><td class="right">9</td><td class="right">13</td></tr> -</tbody> -</table> -<p> -All spent psi points are recovered after a long rest. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-2-5-2" class="outline-4"> -<h4 id="sec-2-5-2"><span class="section-number-4">2.5.2</span> Psionic Ability</h4> -<div class="outline-text-4" id="text-2-5-2"> -<p> -<b>Mind Powers Save DC</b> = 8 + your proficiency bonus + your Intelligence -modifier -</p> -<p> -<b>Mind Power Attack Modifier</b> = your proficiency bonus + your -Intelligence modifier -</p> -</div> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-2-6" class="outline-3"> -<h3 id="sec-2-6"><span class="section-number-3">2.6</span> Thought Sensitivity</h3> -<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-2-6"> -<p> -As a Psionist, you are attuned to the thoughts and feelings of -others, as well as the concentration of psionic energy in an area. -</p> -<ul> -<li>You have disadvantage on Concentration checks and Intelligence - saving throws if the number of thinking creatures within 10 feet - of you is greater than or equal to three times your Psionist - level. -</li> -<li>It is more difficult for a group of people to surprise you. If - you enter an area with a group of five or more hidden creatures, - you feel their presence and cannot be surprised by them. You can - not determine their location relative to you or where they are - hiding. -</li> -<li>Also, as an action you can examine an object or creature within - 10 feet of you to psionically determine whether or not it has a - mind. You cannot determine this if it is shielded or immune to - having its mind read. -</li> -</ul> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-2-7" class="outline-3"> -<h3 id="sec-2-7"><span class="section-number-3">2.7</span> Psionic Blast</h3> -<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-2-7"> -<p> -As an action, you may attempt to use your mastery of psionics to deal -psychic damage to a living target you can see within 60 feet of you. -</p> -<p> -If you do so, your target must make an Intelligence saving throw or -take psychic damage as determined by the Psionic Blast column of the -Psionist table. In addition, if your target rolls less than your Mind -Power Attack Modifier on this saving throw they are stunned until your -next round. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-2-8" class="outline-3"> -<h3 id="sec-2-8"><span class="section-number-3">2.8</span> Spellmind</h3> -<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-2-8"> -<p> -By interacting with magic in the world, and the knowledge of those who -manipulate it, you learn to alter your state of mind to allow yourself -to cast spells through the Weave. -</p> -<p> -Whenever earn a rank of Spellmind (levels 2, 5, 10, 14, and 17) you -may choose a spell from another class' spell list of a level equal to -the number of times you have this feature (for example, at level 10 -you choose a third level spell in addition to the first and second -level spells you have already chosen). Once per long rest, you may -cast this spell as if you were of the appropriate spellcasting class -except that it does not require vocal or somatic components (material -components are still required unless using an appropriate -focus. Material components requiring a cost are always required) and -it uses your Mind Power Save DC and Intelligence modifier for -determining saving throws or spell attack rolls. Casting spells with -the feature uses the Weave and can be countered or dispelled. Each -time you level up, you may choose to replace a spell you learned with -Spellmind with another spell of the same level (it doesn't have to be -from the same class spell list). -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-2-9" class="outline-3"> -<h3 id="sec-2-9"><span class="section-number-3">2.9</span> Psionic Disciplines</h3> -<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-2-9"> -<p> -Psionic Disciplines represent the ways in which Psionists interact -with the Psionic Field and manifest their powers. You select a -discipline at 3rd level and it grants sequential access tiers of -abilities at 3rd, 6th, 9th, 14th, and 18th levels. -</p> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-2-9-1" class="outline-4"> -<h4 id="sec-2-9-1"><span class="section-number-4">2.9.1</span> Inquisitor</h4> -<div class="outline-text-4" id="text-2-9-1"> -<p> -Inquisitors read thoughts and auras, learn skills, and draw power from -the minds of others. A master Inquisitor in a crowd of people is -capable of spectacular feats of power, will, and skill. -</p> -<p> -At 3rd level when taking the Inquisitor Discipline, you gain access to -all abilities under the Detective Tier. You likewise gain abilities in -Melder, Mimic, Tactician, and Imperator Tiers upon reaching -6th, 10th, 14th, and 18th levels respectively. -</p> -<p> -<b>Bonus Proficiencies</b>: Insight, Investigation, double your proficiency -bonus for Intelligence saving throws. -</p> -<ul> -<li id="sec-2-9-1-1"><b>Detective</b><br/> -<p> -<b>Improved Thought Sensitivity</b>: You no longer are disadvantaged by -swarming crowds of people, in fact, you have grown to excel in such -areas of high density Psionic Field. The first part of your Thought -Sensitivity ability now reads "You have advantage on concentration -checks and intelligence saving throws while within 10 feet of 2 or -more thinking creatures." -</p> -<p> -<b>Detect Strike</b>: You sense when an opponent decides to strike you and -can mentally prepare yourself. When you are attacked by a creature you -can see, you may use your reaction to get a +2 bonus to armor class -against that creature until your next turn. At 14th level, this -increases to a +4 bonus. -</p> -</li> -</ul> -<ul> -<li id="sec-2-9-1-2"><b>Melder</b><br/> -<p> -<b>Mind Meld</b>: As an action, you may touch a creature with an -Intelligence of 5 or greater and attempt to meld your consciousnesses -together. Doing so can be dangerous. If you attempt to meld with an -unwilling creature, it makes a Wisdom saving throw to block the mental -intrusion, otherwise a link is established. While the link is active, -thoughts, emotions, and memories are shared freely between yourself -and the creature. During a mind meld, since your minds are linked, it -is more difficult to lie or to hide information. To do so requires a -Concentration (Intelligence) contest for each lie or omission. Either -party may attempt to leave the mind meld by repeating the wisdom -saving throw (if you attempt to leave, you must also make a wisdom -saving throw against your Mind Power save DC). If the link is broken -in this way, or in any other way (such as the death of one of its -participants or being physically torn from touching one another) -before both parties explicitly agree to do so, both parties take 10d6 -psychic damage. You may only use this feature once per long rest. -</p> -<p> -<b>Touch of Tongues</b>: If a creature speaks at least one language, as an -action you may concentrate to translate their intentions, though not -their exact wording, into a language you know. This uses your -concentration for manifesting mind powers or casting spells and the -effect ends when you cease concentrating on it. -</p> -</li> -</ul> -<ul> -<li id="sec-2-9-1-3"><b>Mimic</b><br/> -<p> -<b>Mimic Skill</b>: You tap into the minds of those around you to -temporarily learn skills and proficiencies. You may target a creature -within 30 feet of you. An unwilling creature makes an wisdom saving -throw or is affected. You may learn a skill, armor, weapon, or tool -proficiency from the targeted creature for 1 hour. Additionally, you -may use this feature during a Mind Meld. When doing so, you retain the -proficiency for up to one week. You may use this feature once per -short rest. -</p> -</li> -</ul> -<ul> -<li id="sec-2-9-1-4"><b>Tactician</b><br/> -<p> -<b>Tactician</b>: You learn to relay sensory information and plans to and -from those around you. When determining if you can see a creature or -object, whether for a spell, mind power, or other ability, or -otherwise, you may use the senses of any creatures within 60 feet of -you instead of your own. You may extend this ability to willing -creatures in range by expending a psi point for each creature you -target. In addition, you may freely exchange thoughts or images with -any creatures to which you have extended this ability for the -duration. The shared effect ends if you are incapacitated or after one -hour. -</p> -</li> -</ul> -<ul> -<li id="sec-2-9-1-5"><b>Imperator</b><br/> -<p> -<b>One With All</b>: You thrive in areas of high density psionic -energy. Once per long rest, if you are within 60 feet of 20 or more -people you gain proficiency in all skills, languages, and saving -throws, automatically succeed concentration checks, and any psionic -abilities that you manifest or spells you cast are considered to be -manifested or cast from one level higher. This effect lasts a number -of minutes equal to the number of people within 60 feet of you when -you manifest it (maximum 1 hour). -</p> -</li> -</ul> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-2-9-2" class="outline-4"> -<h4 id="sec-2-9-2"><span class="section-number-4">2.9.2</span> Kineticist</h4> -<div class="outline-text-4" id="text-2-9-2"> -<p> -Kineticists alter the physical world by extending the conception of -self to encompass their surroundings. A master Kineticist can lift a -weapon without touching it and walk up the side of a building by -simply willing it so. -</p> -<p> -At 3rd level when taking the Kineticist Discipline, you gain access to -all abilities under the Enhanced Self Tier. You likewise gain -abilities in Extended Self, Kineticist, Master Kineticist, and Kinetic -Avatar Tiers upon reaching 6th, 10th, 14th, and 18th levels -respectively. -</p> -<p> -<b>Bonus Proficiencies</b>: Acrobatics, Dexterity saving throws. -</p> -<ul> -<li id="sec-2-9-2-1"><b>Enhanced Self</b><br/> -<p> -<b>Wall Walk</b>: You may travel up vertical surfaces as if they were -difficult terrain. -</p> -<p> -<b>Force Repulsion</b>: As an action you may have target creature within 60 -feet of you makes a Strength saving throw. If it fails, it is pushed -up to 30 feet away from you and requires spending twice its movement -to approach you until your next turn. -</p> -</li> -</ul> -<ul> -<li id="sec-2-9-2-2"><b>Extended Self</b><br/> -<p> -<b>Kinematics</b>: You learn the Minor Kinematics Cantrip with the slight -differences noted below. It does not count against the number of -Cantrips known. The number of objects or creatures that can be -levitated is doubled. The maximum weight of an object or creature that -can be levitated is doubled. When lifting objects with the Minor -Kinematics psionic cantrip, you may attempt to attack a creature in -range that you can see with those objects. An attack can be made as -either an action or a bonus action or both using your Int modifier + -your proficiency bonus to hit. You are considered proficient with -these attacks and their damage is determined by the statistics of the -objects being levitated (e.g. a longsword would deal 1d8 + your -Intelligence modifier slashing damage and a levitated boot would deal -1 + Intelligence). Floating objects can be attacked or pulled -downwards, which causes the cantrip's effect holding them aloft to -fail. If you attempt to make a ranged attack with a floating object, -it must have the loading property and be loaded and such an attack may -not be performed as a bonus action. You cannot load a weapon or -activate a magic item using the Minor Kinematics cantrip. -</p> -</li> -</ul> -<ul> -<li id="sec-2-9-2-3"><b>Kineticist</b><br/> -<p> -<b>Improved Levitation</b>: You may manifest the second level psionic power -Levitation at will without expending psi points. -</p> -<p> -<b>Psychoportation</b>: Your movement speed is doubled. -</p> -</li> -</ul> -<ul> -<li id="sec-2-9-2-4"><b>Master Kineticist</b><br/> -<p> -<b>Phasing</b>: Once per short rest, as an action on your turn, you may -spend a psi point to become intangible until your next turn. You may -pass through solid objects and are invulnerable to nonmagical -bludgeoning, slashing, and piercing damage, but not structures, -boundaries, or weapons created by magical force. Your gear may become -intangible with you. On subsequent turns, you may spend a psi point at -the beginning of your turn to remain intangible. If you start your -turn inside an object and cannot spend a psi point to remain -intangible, you are merged bodily with that object. If your body -cannot continue to function or your brain is destroyed, you die. -</p> -</li> -</ul> -<ul> -<li id="sec-2-9-2-5"><b>Kinetic Avatar</b><br/> -<p> -<b>Kinetic Avatar</b>: You extend your sense of self into the world around -you, animating and controlling objects and structures in your -vicinity, then pulling them around you in a swirling cocoon of -armor. The effect lasts for 1 minute. -</p> -<ul> -<li>You gain a flying speed equal to your normal speed for the - duration. -</li> -<li>Your armor class increases by 10 for the duration, though this - bonus decays as parts of your Avatar armor are destroyed. -</li> -<li>You gain a number of temporary hit points equal to your Psionist - level for the duration. Whenever you take damage your bonus armor - class decreases by 1 as part of the armor is sheared away. -</li> -<li>At any point you may shed 5 points of bonus AC to manifest the 5th - level psionic power Animate Objects without spending psi - points. The animated objects can fly. -</li> -</ul> -</li> -</ul> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-2-9-3" class="outline-4"> -<h4 id="sec-2-9-3"><span class="section-number-4">2.9.3</span> Metapsionist</h4> -<div class="outline-text-4" id="text-2-9-3"> -<p> -Metapsionists can alter minds and bodies to concentrate or disperse -psionic energy and effects. A master Metapsionist can shapeshift, -grant spellcasting and psionics, and disrupt the spellcasting and -psionics of others. -</p> -<p> -At 3rd level when taking the Metapsionist Discipline, you gain access -to all abilities under the Awakened Tier. You likewise gain abilities -in Empowered, Metapsionist, Living Mind, and Psionic Soul Tiers upon -reaching 6th, 10th, 14th, and 18th levels respectively. -</p> -<p> -<b>Bonus Proficiencies</b>: Medicine, Constitution saving throws. -</p> -<ul> -<li id="sec-2-9-3-1"><b>Awakened</b><br/> -<p> -<b>Psionic Blade Ward</b>: You learn to ready your body to withstand -damaging strikes. As a bonus action, you may spend a psi point to -manifest the psionic cantrip Blade Ward (you don't have to be able to -manifest that cantrip normally). -</p> -<p> -<b>Psionic Recovery</b>: Once per day when you finish a short rest you may -regain a number of psi points equal to your Psionist level (up to 9). -</p> -</li> -</ul> -<ul> -<li id="sec-2-9-3-2"><b>Empowered</b><br/> -<p> -<b>Psionic Restoration</b>: Once per long rest at the start of your turn, -you may remove a mind-altering condition from yourself. Alternatively, -you may use an action to end a mind-altering condition from a creature -you touch. These may be Charmed or Frightened. -</p> -</li> -</ul> -<ul> -<li id="sec-2-9-3-3"><b>Metapsionist</b><br/> -<p> -<b>Grant Psionics</b>: Once per long rest as an action you plant a seed of -psionic ability in a willing creature you touch. For 24 hours they -gain the ability to manifest a psionic power of your choice of 2nd -level or lower and gain 6 psi points. If you manifest this ability on -the same target every day for a month (30 days), the change becomes -permanent and the creature is considered to be able to innately -manifest that ability. You may not grant more than one ability to a -creature, nor can you target a creature that already can manifest -psionic abilities. -</p> -</li> -</ul> -<ul> -<li id="sec-2-9-3-4"><b>Living Mind</b><br/> -<p> -<b>Spell Mimicry</b> When you observe an arcane spell being cast by an -individual within 10 feet of you, you may use your reaction to attempt -to read the mind of its caster and create a psionic imprint of the -spellcasting in your mind. To do so, make a spellcraft Intelligence -(Arcana) check against 10 + the spell's level. You may not make this -check against a spellcaster who is shielded from psychic intrusion -(such as under the effect of a Mind Blank spell). Additionally, the -psychic intrusion is not subtle. An unwilling caster may make a wisdom -saving throw against your Mind Powers Save DC to prevent you from -reading the details of the spell and determine your location. You may -store up to two spells in this way, none of which are above fifth -level. You may not imprint more than two spells in a day. Casting an -imprinted spell requires the use of whatever components, including -material, are normally required in its casting or an appropriate -arcane focus, however, spells cast in this way use your Psionic -Ability, Save DC, and Attack Modifier when relevant. They also require -you to expend a number of psi points as if you were manifesting a Mind -Power of that level. You must cast the spell at its lowest -level. Spells cast in this way are magical and can be countered and -dispelled. Once you have cast an imprinted spell in this way, you lose -the imprint. -</p> -</li> -</ul> -<ul> -<li id="sec-2-9-3-5"><b>Psionic Soul</b><br/> -<p> -<b>Diminish/Enhance Psionics</b>: You have learned the deep secrets of the -Hidden Art. When you or a creature you can see manifests a psionic -power or you encounter an existing psionic effect, you may choose to -apply one of the following effects to modify it as a reaction. -</p> -<ul> -<li><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Fork/Merge</span>: You may increase or decrease the number of effected - creatures by 1. -</li> -<li><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Expand/Contract</span>: You may enlarge or reduce the area of effect by 5 - feet. -</li> -<li><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Extend/Curtail</span>: You may increase or decrease the duration by 1 - minute. -</li> -<li><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Shape</span>: You may change the shape of the area of effect (but not - the direction). -</li> -<li><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Counter</span>: You may make an Intelligence (Psionics) check against 10 + - the power's level to end the effect. -</li> -<li><span style="text-decoration:underline;">Splice</span>: You may choose a psionic power of 2nd level or lower and - add its effects (choosing targets separately if applicable) to the - manifestation (this only applies to powers you manifest or see - being manifested). -</li> -</ul> -<p> -You may use this ability once per short rest. -</p> -</li> -</ul> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-2-9-4" class="outline-4"> -<h4 id="sec-2-9-4"><span class="section-number-4">2.9.4</span> Mind Master</h4> -<div class="outline-text-4" id="text-2-9-4"> -<p> -Mind Masters exert their will directly upon the minds of others. A -master Mind Master can dominate and imprison the minds of others and -even move their consciousness from mind to mind at will. Mind Masters -tend to be neutral or evil in alignment. -</p> -<p> -At 3rd level when taking the Mind Master Discipline, you gain access -to all abilities under the Powerful Mind Tier. You likewise gain -abilities in Dominating Mind, Transcendent Mind, Mind-Slaver, and -Imprisoner tiers upon reaching 6th, 10th, 14th, and 18th levels -respectively. -</p> -<p> -<b>Bonus Proficiencies</b>: Persuasion, Wisdom saving throws. -</p> -<ul> -<li id="sec-2-9-4-1"><b>Powerful Mind</b><br/> -<p> -<b>Deep Suggestion</b>: You may manifest the second level mind power -Suggestion once per long rest without expending any psi points. When -you do, the creature you target has disadvantage on the saving throw. -</p> -</li> -</ul> -<ul> -<li id="sec-2-9-4-2"><b>Dominating Mind</b><br/> -<p> -<b>Impose Will</b>: Once per short rest, you may cause a creature making a -saving throw against one of your mind powers, abilities, or your -psionic blast to have disadvantage on that saving throw. You must do -so before the roll is made. Once you've used this feature on a -creature, you may not do so again on that same creature until you -finish a long rest. -</p> -</li> -</ul> -<ul> -<li id="sec-2-9-4-3"><b>Transcendent Mind</b><br/> -<p> -<b>Psychic Potency</b>: When you deal psychic damage to a target that is -stunned, you deal an additional amount of damage equal to twice your -Intelligence modifier. -</p> -<p> -<b>Psychic Entity</b>: When you die, you may attempt to force your way into -another creature's body to continue living. To do so, a target -creature within 30 feet of you makes a Charisma saving throw. On a -success, you die, otherwise, you take control of the target's body and -force their consciousness into dormancy. You gain their physical -features (Strength, Dexterity, Constitution) but retain all of your -other traits. Once every 24 hours, or whenever you take damage greater -than 50% of your max hit points, the dormant consciousness may attempt -to resume control of the body by making a Charisma saving throw. On a -success, you are forced out of the body and must either attempt to use -this feature again on a different target or die. -</p> -</li> -</ul> -<ul> -<li id="sec-2-9-4-4"><b>Mind-Slaver</b><br/> -<p> -<b>Enslave</b>: Once per long rest as an action you may target a creature -you can see within 30 feet of you. The target must succeed on a Wisdom -saving throw or be charmed by you until you die or are on a different -plane of existence from it. The charmed target is under your control -and can't take reactions, and you and the target can communicate -telepathically with each other over any distance. Whenever the charmed -target takes damage, it can repeat its saving throw. On a success, the -effect ends. No more than once every 24 hours, the target can also -repeat the saving throw when it is at least one mile away from you. -</p> -</li> -</ul> -<ul> -<li id="sec-2-9-4-5"><b>Imprisoner</b><br/> -<p> -<b>Imprisonment</b>: You learn the 9th level Wizard spell Imprisonment as a -ninth level mind power. It does not count against the number of powers -known, but costs the normal number of psi points to manifest. As a -Mind Master, Imprisonment gains an additional option: Mind Prison. You -may choose to Imprison the creature directly in your mind. There is no -material component needed for this option. If you die or your -consciousness leaves your body for a period longer than 8 hours (as -with an Astral Projection spell), the prisoner is released. While -imprisoned in your mind, the creature may sense what you allow it to -sense and you may read the creature's surface thoughts as with a -Detect Thoughts spell. No more than one creature may be imprisoned -this way at a time. -</p> -</li> -</ul> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-2-9-5" class="outline-4"> -<h4 id="sec-2-9-5"><span class="section-number-4">2.9.5</span> Ascendant</h4> -<div class="outline-text-4" id="text-2-9-5"> -<p> -Ascendants feel the pull of psionic energy from other planes and -dimensions and can learn to manipulate the fabric of reality. A master -Ascendant can open portals and doorways to distant places, summon -inanimate objects and creatures from their home planes, and banish -creatures from other planes back to whence they came. -</p> -<p> -At 3rd level when taking the Ascendant Discipline, you gain access to -all abilities under the Astral Apporter tier. You likewise gain -abilities in Planar Adept, Ascendant, Shaper, and Master of the Planes -Tiers upon reaching 6th, 10th, 14th, and 18th levels respectively. -</p> -<p> -<b>Bonus Proficiencies</b>: Arcana, Charisma Saving Throws. -</p> -<ul> -<li id="sec-2-9-5-1"><b>Astral Apporter</b><br/> -<p> -<b>Astral Armor</b>: As an action, you may conjure a coating of astral -matter which covers the skin. This coating lasts for 1 hour and -radiates dim light. Your AC becomes 13 + your Dexterity modifier for -the duration. As a reaction, you may explicitly harden the coating, -which temporarily increases your AC to 15 + Dex, but destroys the -armor in a flash of bright light. Creatures within 5 feet of you when -the armor is destroyed must make a Constitution saving throw or be -blinded until your next turn. -</p> -</li> -</ul> -<ul> -<li id="sec-2-9-5-2"><b>Planar Adept</b><br/> -<p> -<b>Call Energy</b>: You feel the cosmic pull of the planes of Positive and -Negative Energy. Once per long rest, as an action you may cover an -20-ft radius sphere centered at a point you can see in planar -energy. Choose either a) the Positive Energy Plane or b) the Negative -Energy Plane. The covered area is either a) bathed in a dull glow or -b) shrouded in a misty shadow which a) heals each living creature in -range by 1 hp at the end of each creature's turn or b) deals 1 damage -per turn to all living things in range and the end of each creature's -turn. Maintaining this effect requires concentration and may last no -longer than a minute. -</p> -</li> -</ul> -<ul> -<li id="sec-2-9-5-3"><b>Ascendant</b><br/> -<p> -<b>Planar Abjuration</b>: As a reaction to a spell or effect within 30 ft -of you that would deal fire, cold, lightning, thunder, radiant, or -necrotic damage, you channel the powers of the elemental and outer -planes to reduce the damage dealt by that spell by an amount equal to -your Intelligence modifier + your Psionist level. If the spell or -effect has an area of effect, the damage each affected creature takes -is reduced by this much. Damage reduction is applied before applying -resistances. -</p> -<p> -<b>Banishing Blast</b>: When a creature native to a different plane of -existence than the one it is on fails its saving throw against your -Psionic Blast it makes a Charisma saving throw. If it fails this -saving throw, it is banished to its plane of origin with a faint -popping sound for 1 minute. While there, the target is -incapacitated. When the minute is finished, it returns to the nearest -unoccupied space from where it left. -</p> -</li> -</ul> -<ul> -<li id="sec-2-9-5-4"><b>Shaper</b><br/> -<p> -<b>Conjure Astral Construct</b>: Once per long rest, as an action, you may -create an Astral construct from Astral matter pulled from the Astral -Plane. -</p> -<p> -Though you may customize the exact form of the construct to your -liking, the statistics for the Astral Construct are the same as that -of the Helmed Horror (page 183 in the Monster Manual) with the -following exceptions: -</p> -<p> -It gains up to three additional options from the list below (you may -choose the same option more than once): -</p> -<ul> -<li>Extra Attack -</li> -<li>See Invisibility -</li> -<li>Flash and Bellow Attack (Creatures within 30 ft make DC 15 Con - saves or are blinded and deafened for 1 minute. They may repeat the - saving throw at the end of each of their turns. Once a creature - succeeds, it cannot be affected again.) -</li> -<li>5d8 (22) Extra Hit Points -</li> -<li>Extra Spell Immunity (Two additional spells) -</li> -<li>+3 Damage on Hit -</li> -<li>+1 AC -</li> -</ul> -</li> -</ul> -<ul> -<li id="sec-2-9-5-5"><b>Master of the Planes</b><br/> -<p> -<b>Whitefire Portal</b>: You burn a temporary hole through the Astral Plane -and into another plane of your choice. Once per long rest, centered on -a point within 300 ft of you, you summon raw Astral ectoplasm which -burns with hellish, white-hot fury. Any creature standing within 20 -feet of the whitefire must make a Dexterity saving throw or take 12d10 -fire damage or half on a successful save. Inanimate objects in the -area also take the damage and flammable objects may catch on fire. A -portal then opens to a plane of your choice as with a Gate spell and -remains open for 1 minute as the planes slowly knit themselves back -together. Alternatively, instead of a specific location on a plane of -your choice, you may choose to have your portal open into a general -location in one of the elemental planes or the planes of positive or -negative energy. If you do so, creatures who enter or begin their -turns within 20 feet of the portal take 6d10 damage of the appropriate -elemental or energy type. -</p> -</li> -</ul> -</div> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-2-10" class="outline-3"> -<h3 id="sec-2-10"><span class="section-number-3">2.10</span> Perfect Mind</h3> -<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-2-10"> -<p> -Over years of study and experience in the Hidden Art, you have -mastered the use of your most powerful psionic powers. The restriction -on manifesting high level powers no longer applies to sixth and -seventh level powers. -</p> -</div> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-3" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-3"><span class="section-number-2">3</span> Mind Powers</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-3"> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-3-1" class="outline-3"> -<h3 id="sec-3-1"><span class="section-number-3">3.1</span> Basic Mind Powers (Cantrips)</h3> -<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-3-1"> -<p> -At first level, you learn three basic mind powers (cantrips) of your -choice from the following list. If a mind power shares the name of a -spell then it produces a psionic effect is identical to that spell, -otherwise, an asterisk follows the power's name and it creates a new -or different psionic effect that is described in greater detail below -the list. -</p> -<table border="2" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6" rules="groups" frame="hsides"> -<colgroup><col class="left" /> -</colgroup> -<tbody> -<tr><td class="left">Blade Ward</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Dancing Lights</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Friends</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Light</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Mending</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Message</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Minor Illusion</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Minor Kinematics*</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Prestidigitation</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Resistance</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">True Strike</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Vicious Mockery</td></tr> -</tbody> -</table> -<p> -<b>Minor Kinematics</b> - <i>Psionic Evocation Cantrip</i> -</p> -<p> -<i>Casting Time</i>: 1 action -</p> -<p> -<i>Range</i>: 30 ft -</p> -<p> -<i>Duration</i>: 1 minute -</p> -<p> -As an action, you may levitate an object or creature within 30 feet of -you weighing less than 10 pounds. On each of your turns, you may use -an action or a bonus action to mentally command it to move up to 30 ft -in any direction. The effect ends if the object or creature is ever -more than 30 feet away from you, falling to the ground. An unwilling -creature must succeed on a Constitution saving throw against your Mind -Powers Save DC or be affected. It may repeat this saving throw at the -end of each of its turns. You may levitate multiple objects or -creatures in this way by manifesting this power again, but no more -than a number of times equal to your Intelligence modifier. If you -attempt to manifest it more times than that, then all items regain -their normal weight and fall to the ground. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-3-2" class="outline-3"> -<h3 id="sec-3-2"><span class="section-number-3">3.2</span> First Level Mind Powers</h3> -<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-3-2"> -<table border="2" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6" rules="groups" frame="hsides"> -<colgroup><col class="left" /> -</colgroup> -<tbody> -<tr><td class="left">Aura Reading*</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Charm Person</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Command</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Compelled Duel</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Comprehend Languages</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Detect Magic</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Detect Poison and Disease</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Disguise Self</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Dissonant Whispers</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Expeditious Retreat</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Faerie Fire</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Feather Fall</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Find Familiar</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Heroism</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Identify</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Illusory Script</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Jump</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Longstrider</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Lock Mind*</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Mage Armor</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Shield</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Silent Image</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Sleep</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Tasha's Hideous Laughter</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Unseen Servant</td></tr> -</tbody> -</table> -<p> -<b>Aura Reading</b> - <i>2nd Level Psionic Divination</i> -</p> -<p> -<i>Casting Time</i>: 1 action -</p> -<p> -<i>Range</i>: 10 feet. -</p> -<p> -<i>Duration</i>: Instantaneous -</p> -<p> -You may target a thinking creature you can see within range, reading -its psionic aura, and you may manifest one of the following options: -(a) <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Detect Falsehood</span>: you may determine whether the target believes -that its most recent statement is true, (b) <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Detect Alignment</span>: you -may determine the target's alignment, (c) <span style="text-decoration:underline;">Detect Disguise</span>: you may -determine if the target is wearing a magical or physical disguise. -</p> -<p> -<b>Lock Mind</b> - <i>1st Level Psionic Enchantment</i> -</p> -<p> -<i>Casting Time</i>: 1 action -</p> -<p> -<i>Range</i>: Self -</p> -<p> -<i>Duration</i>: 1 hour -</p> -<p> -For the duration, your mind cannot be read without your permission and -you have resistance to psychic damage. At higher levels: when cast -from a higher level, the duration increases as follows. 2nd level: 2 -hours, 3rd level: 4 hours, 4th level: 8 hours, 5th or higher: 24 -hours. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-3-3" class="outline-3"> -<h3 id="sec-3-3"><span class="section-number-3">3.3</span> Second Level Mind Powers</h3> -<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-3-3"> -<table border="2" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6" rules="groups" frame="hsides"> -<colgroup><col class="left" /> -</colgroup> -<tbody> -<tr><td class="left">Alter Self</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Arcane Lock</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Blindness / Deafness</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Blur</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Calm Emotions</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Crown of Madness</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Darkvision</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Detect Thoughts</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Enhance Ability</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Enlarge / Reduce</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Enthrall</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Heat Metal</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Hold Person</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Find Traps</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Invisibility</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Knock</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Lesser Restoration</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Levitate</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Locate Object</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Mirror Image</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Misty Step</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Phantasmal Force</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Psychometry*</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Rope Trick</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">See Invisibility</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Silence</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Spider Climb</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Suggestion</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Warding Bond</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Zone of Truth</td></tr> -</tbody> -</table> -<p> -<b>Psychometry</b> - <i>2nd Level Psionic Divination</i> -</p> -<p> -<i>Casting Time</i>: 10 minutes -</p> -<p> -<i>Range</i>: Touch -</p> -<p> -<i>Duration</i>: Instantaneous -</p> -<p> -When thinking beings touch the world around them, they leave a psionic -imprint of their actions behind. You attune to an object you can -touch. Doing so allows you to see the last person to hold the object, -no matter how long ago, and its immediate surroundings while being -held, including sounds. You may follow and replay the events occurring -near the object but cannot move away from the point of view of the -object. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-3-4" class="outline-3"> -<h3 id="sec-3-4"><span class="section-number-3">3.4</span> Third Level Mind Powers</h3> -<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-3-4"> -<table border="2" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6" rules="groups" frame="hsides"> -<colgroup><col class="left" /> -</colgroup> -<tbody> -<tr><td class="left">Bestow Curse</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Blink</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Clairvoyance</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Daylight</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Fear</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Feign Death</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Fly</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Gaseous Form</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Haste</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Hypnotic Pattern</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Leomund's Tiny Hut</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Major Image</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Meld Into Stone</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Mind Bolt*</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Nondetection</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Sending</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Slow</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Tongues</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Water Walk</td></tr> -</tbody> -</table> -<p> -<b>Mind Bolt</b> - <i>3rd Level Psionic Evocation</i> -</p> -<p> -<i>Casting Time</i>: 1 action -</p> -<p> -<i>Range</i>: 300 ft -</p> -<p> -<i>Duration</i>: Instantaneous -</p> -<p> -You manifest psionic energy as an invisible bolt that deals damage and -can stun a target. Target creature you can see in range makes an -Intelligence saving throw or takes 6d8 psychic damage and is stunned -for 1 minute. This creature takes half damage on a successful save and -is not stunned. A stunned creature may repeat the saving throw at the -end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. -</p> -<p> -<i>At Higher Levels</i>: For each level above 3rd, the damage increases by -1d8. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-3-5" class="outline-3"> -<h3 id="sec-3-5"><span class="section-number-3">3.5</span> Fourth Level Mind Powers</h3> -<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-3-5"> -<table border="2" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6" rules="groups" frame="hsides"> -<colgroup><col class="left" /> -</colgroup> -<tbody> -<tr><td class="left">Arcane Eye</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Banishment</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Compulsion</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Confusion</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Conjure Minor Elementals</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Dimension Door</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Dominate Beast</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Empower Object*</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Evard's Black Tentacles</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Fabricate</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Freedom of Movement</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Greater Invisibility</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Hallucinatory Terrain</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Locate Creature</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Phantasmal Killer</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Polymorph</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Stoneskin</td></tr> -</tbody> -</table> -<p> -<b>Empower Object</b>: <i>Fourth Level Psionic Transmutation</i> -</p> -<p> -<i>Casting Time</i>: 1 action -</p> -<p> -<i>Range</i>: Touch. -</p> -<p> -<i>Duration</i>: 1 minute. Concentration. -</p> -<p> -You may imbue an object you touch with psionic energy. It glimmers -faintly with stored power. At any point during the duration you may -harmlessly release the energy which ends the effect. When you cease -concentrating on this mind power, whether by choice or by a failed -concentration check, the stored energy is released suddenly. Any -creature within 10 feet of the object makes a Dexterity saving throw -or takes 8d8 force damage or half as much on a successful one. A -creature carrying the object has disadvantage on this saving throw. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-3-6" class="outline-3"> -<h3 id="sec-3-6"><span class="section-number-3">3.6</span> Fifth Level Mind Powers</h3> -<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-3-6"> -<table border="2" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6" rules="groups" frame="hsides"> -<colgroup><col class="left" /> -</colgroup> -<tbody> -<tr><td class="left">Animate Objects</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Awaken</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Conjure Elemental</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Contagion</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Contact Other Plane</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Creation</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Dominate Person</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Dream</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Geas</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Hold Monster</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Mislead</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Modify Memory</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Passwall</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Planar Binding</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Rary's Telepathic Bond</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Scrying</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Seeming</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Telekinesis</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Teleportation Circle</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Wall of Force</td></tr> -</tbody> -</table> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-3-7" class="outline-3"> -<h3 id="sec-3-7"><span class="section-number-3">3.7</span> Sixth Level Mind Powers</h3> -<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-3-7"> -<table border="2" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6" rules="groups" frame="hsides"> -<colgroup><col class="left" /> -</colgroup> -<tbody> -<tr><td class="left">Arcane Gate</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Blade Barrier</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Contingency</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Flesh to Stone</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Guards and Wards</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Magic Jar</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Mass Suggestion</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Otto's Irresistible Dance</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Programmed Illusion</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">True Seeing</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Wind Walk</td></tr> -</tbody> -</table> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-3-8" class="outline-3"> -<h3 id="sec-3-8"><span class="section-number-3">3.8</span> Seventh Level Mind Powers</h3> -<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-3-8"> -<table border="2" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6" rules="groups" frame="hsides"> -<colgroup><col class="left" /> -</colgroup> -<tbody> -<tr><td class="left">Etherealness</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Forcecage</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Mirage Arcane</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Plane Shift</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Project Image</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Regenerate</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Reverse Gravity</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Simulacrum</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Teleport</td></tr> -</tbody> -</table> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-3-9" class="outline-3"> -<h3 id="sec-3-9"><span class="section-number-3">3.9</span> Eighth Level Mind Powers</h3> -<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-3-9"> -<table border="2" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6" rules="groups" frame="hsides"> -<colgroup><col class="left" /> -</colgroup> -<tbody> -<tr><td class="left">Antipathy/Sympathy</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Clone</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Demiplane</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Dominate Monster</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Feeblemind</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Ghostform*</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Glibness</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Kinetic Barrier*</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Mind Blank</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Telepathy</td></tr> -</tbody> -</table> -<p> -<b>Ghost Form</b> - <i>8th Level Psionic Transmutation</i> -</p> -<p> -<i>Casting Time</i>: 1 Action -</p> -<p> -<i>Range</i>: Self -</p> -<p> -<i>Duration</i>: 1 hour -</p> -<p> -You become a ghost for the duration of the spell. Your DM can supply -you with the statistics of the ghost and you take on all of these -statistics, forsaking your own for the duration except Wisdom, -Intelligence, and Charisma. When your ghost form is reduced to 0 hit -points or the duration ends, you return to your normal form. Items -you carry enter ghost form with you, though none of their magical -properties will function for the duration as if suppressed by an -Antimagic Field. You may exit the ghost form as an action. -</p> -<p> -<b>Kinetic Barrier</b> - <i>8th Level Psionic Evocation</i> -</p> -<p> -<i>Casting Time</i>: 1 Action -</p> -<p> -<i>Range</i>: Self -</p> -<p> -<i>Duration</i>: 1 minute -</p> -<p> -Concentration. -</p> -<p> -You enact a shimmering Kinetic Barrier around yourself for 1 minute -with a number of temporary hit points equal to your maximum hit -points. If you would take bludgeoning, piercing, slashing, or force -damage while the Barrier exists, the barrier takes the damage -instead. If the barrier is broken by taking damage equal to or greater -than its hit points or its duration ends, then it implodes dealing the -entire damage to you. While half of the Barrier's hit points or more -are gone, you may make an unarmed attack at a creature or object -within range to cause the barrier to explode and deal the stored -damage to that creature or object. While the Barrier surrounds you, -you may not take any other actions, but can move normally. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-3-10" class="outline-3"> -<h3 id="sec-3-10"><span class="section-number-3">3.10</span> Ninth Level Mind Powers</h3> -<div class="outline-text-3" id="text-3-10"> -<table border="2" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6" rules="groups" frame="hsides"> -<colgroup><col class="left" /> -</colgroup> -<tbody> -<tr><td class="left">Astral Projection</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Foresight</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Gate</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Shapechange</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Time Stop</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Transfer Wounds*</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Unstoppable*</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Weird</td></tr> -<tr><td class="left">Wish</td></tr> -</tbody> -</table> -<p> -<b>Transfer Wounds</b> - <i>9th Level Evocation</i> -</p> -<p> -<i>Casting Time</i>: 1 Action -</p> -<p> -<i>Range</i>: Touch -</p> -<p> -<i>Duration</i>: Instantaneous -</p> -<p> -You have learned to use other's life force as a conduit for your -psionic powers. You and one creature you are touching are restrained -until the end of your turn. The creature takes necrotic damage equal -to your number of missing hit points. You gain hit points equal the -damage dealt, but no more than the creature's hit point maximum. -</p> -<p> -<b>Unstoppable</b> - <i>9th Level Psionic Transmutation</i> -</p> -<p> -<i>Casting Time</i>: 1 action -</p> -<p> -<i>Range</i>: Self -</p> -<p> -<i>Duration</i>: 1 minute. -</p> -<p> -Concentration. -</p> -<p> -You harness the raw power of Kinetics to enter an Unstoppable state -for 1 minute. While in this state you have advantage on strength -checks to break through doors or other barriers. Also your movement -speed cannot be reduced below your maximum speed, you may only move in -straight lines, and you reflect from barriers you cannot break in a -direction of your choice. Creatures or objects in your path must make -dexterity saving throws (if applicable) or be crushed for 10d6 points -of force damage. You are immune to nonmagical bludgeoning damage while -Unstoppable, but running into traps or dangerous areas may still hurt -you. -</p> -</div> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-4" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-4"><span class="section-number-2">4</span> Thanks</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-4"> -<p> -I'd like to thank all of the creators of proper D&D Psionics from -every edition, as well as contributors to other systems like -Pathfinder and (GURPS) Traveler. -</p> -<p> -I'd like to thank N. Foy, Alex L., Sam S., and Joey A. for playtesting -all of the crazy incarnations of this. -</p> -<p> -Also thanks to Nathan R., Luke S., Jacob C., Marcus S., Jay B. and -many many others for listening to me rant about psionics for certainly -longer than what is socially acceptable. -</p> -<p> -For example, the mind flayer as presented in the Monster Manual has -the Innate Spellcasting (Psionics) feature. This feature allow the -mind flayer to cast a set of spells using psionic energy. These spells -can be countered with counterspell or dispelled with dispel magic and -similar effects. -</p> -<p> -First, we brainstormed the available options, then divided them into -distinct categories, built the spell/power lists, divided the features -vertically by level awarded, compared similar features across classes, -revised, revised, revised, and finally playtested it. Now we bring it -to the public for large-scale testing. -</p> -<div id="footnotes"> -<h2 class="footnotes">Footnotes: </h2> -<div id="text-footnotes"> -<p class="footnote"><sup><a class="footnum" name="fn-.1" href="#fnr-.1">1</a></sup> Mechanically, what is worth noting is that psionics and Weave-based -magic are two distinct forces. In general, an effect that alters or -affects a spell has no effect on a psionic effect and vice -versa. There is one important exception to this rule. A psionic effect -may allow a creature to cast a spell by teaching them to manipulate -the Weave. -</p> -<p class="footnote"><sup><a class="footnum" name="fn-.2" href="#fnr-.2">2</a></sup> In designing this class, the key design ideals were 1) -Flavor, 2) Fun, 3) 5e Rules and Design Consistency, and 4) Balance. -</p> -</div> -</div> -</div> -</div> diff --git a/src/DND/SpellGauntlet.org b/src/DND/SpellGauntlet.org deleted file mode 100644 index cb97497..0000000 --- a/src/DND/SpellGauntlet.org +++ /dev/null @@ -1,683 +0,0 @@ -#+TITLE: Spell Gauntlet: Practical Spellcasting -#+HTML_HEAD_EXTRA: <link rel="stylesheet" href="DND.css"> -#+TAGS: FF SS WP - -* Teleport - -** Wizard - ft. Ula Mindis -The young Wizard Ula Mindis awoke to the smell of steeping tea. - -She sighed, opened her sleep-encrusted eyes, and yawned. Another day. -Another attempt. She rolled out of bed and drifted over to the -window. It was cracked open, but she threw it wide to welcome the -morning air and golden sunrise into her bedroom, or study rather. -She'd recently moved her most used bookcases in here for easy access. -Her spellbook sat open at its usual spot, turned to the page she'd -most recently been studying. This particular spell she'd attempted -half a dozen times to no avail, but this morning felt somehow -auspicious for it. - -Ula looked over the first line. The elven letters were written in her -own hand. She had copied the carefully penned italic espruar letters -from an old scroll recovered from a captured pirate ship no more than -a tenday ago and had tried to cast the spell immediately. When she -failed, she had rechecked the writing a dozen times against every -source she could find, so she was sure that the letters weren't the -problem, she was. - -The tea arrived, cup wobbling in midair, held by a construct of pure -magical force, whom she thanked politely. The morning breeze caught -the bay spray and filled the room with the smell of salt and sorcery. - -Perhaps she could not cast the spell, Ula mused, because she was -perfectly happy exactly where she was. - -Emboldened by the tea, she shook away the thought and dove again into -the spell. Just imagine what was possible! No longer would she have -to send away for expensive spell components. She could just say the -words and pick them up herself. She could visit her family back in -Mulmaster or take a vacation on the shores of some exotic beach -island. - -She finished the first line, an anchoring, and began on the second. -While the first had been filled with words of permanence and -stability, the second was quite the opposite, using words of whimsy -and transcendence. She had gone over this before, even looking up -words and pronunciation from the deepest parts of her library. - -This time though, the spell began to make sense. Like a distant blur -on the horizon solidifying into a ship, but that didn't mean that she -could sail upon it. No, the spell would likely take another tenday to -work through at this rate. - -She moved to the next line, back to permanence, repetition, solidity, -before turning again to shifting sand and billowing wind. The salty -sea-spray began to blow against her spellbook, almost flipping the -page mid-sentence. She nearly cursed, but a mage learns to be careful -with errant words early in her education, and she remained silent. -She reached for her tea, but it had grown cold. She absent-mindedly -heated it with a cantrip and brought the near-boiling mug to her lips. - -Ow! - -She set it down again and sent her unseen servant for an ice-block for -the tea. - -She thought about ice, about water, then again about the spell. - -Permanence. Transience. Solidity. Liquidity. - -That was it! - -By the time the ice-cube arrived the tea was long forgotten. - -"Of course! The key isn't thinking about location at all, it's about -matter! I'm solid right now. I need to be liquid! A solid cannot -move, but a liquid flows, through time, through space, it doesn't -matter!" - -Ula poured herself into the spell and the teacup clattered to the -floor as she used her full concentration on the spell at hand. She -focused on the market down below her. Fish-mongers barked their -catches to the passersby and coin flowed freely. - -The words came one after another perfectly, Ula could almost predict -them. Permanence. Transience. Solidity. Liquidity. - -And suddenly she was in the marketplace. - -The surprised merchants around her started then blushed as she cheered -"I did it! I did it!" and jumped up and down. - -Only after nearly a minute of excited and likely bewildering -explanation to the surprised fellows did Ula realize she had not -changed from her slip and nightgown yet. - -Oh well. She needn't be that embarrassed. She could always move; now -the world was at her fingertips. - -** Sorcerer - ft. Saffron Dayl'asaar - -Saffron looked at the picture of the remote village. - -"You've got to be kidding me." she stated in deadpan. - -"No, I assure you that is the location of the disturbance!" said the -thin old actuary. He stooped over the table with a lens held to one -eye peering at her as if he expected her to pop out of existence at -any second. - -Which, admittedly, she was likely to do, assuming of course that she -could locate the stlarned place to disappear to. - -"No, I mean, this is the best information you have?" - -"Oh yes. Absolutely positively the best. The mine is just right by -the village you see. That is where Betrice, our informant that is, -recovered the clues. It's just luck that she thought the mine pretty -and drew it for us in such exquisite detail." - -/Exquisite detail my arse./ thought Saffron. - -The eldest child of the now-esteemed Dayl'asaar family of Aglarond, -Saffron had always been the adventurous one, even more so than her -trio of older brothers. So when the Institute came knocking three -years ago, Saffron was the one to take up the call, not her father, -not her brothers, but little Saffron spell-touched. Plus, she was the -only one of them capable of the kind of magics that the Institute -really lacked, even though the spells didn't always go off exactly as -she planned. - -"Okay. It will have to do." She snatched up the paper and her -traveling gear and concentrated on the picture and on her breathing. - -The mine was rather typical, but the old actuary, the elder one of the -Minster Brothers who ran the Institute for the Recovery of Rare and -Dangerous Artifacts, had supplied her with an atlas of remarkable -detail and enough stories to feel as if she knew the place intimately. -Or perhaps at least enough to try to translocate to it. - -Saffron felt her breath go out into the world and spread out -impossibly far. The world shift beneath her. She felt connected to -the strands of the Weave around her, following them like a cart along -a track, but moving impossibly fast. Her mind raced across the land, -across the sea, to where the atlas had shown her. She hesitated above -the island for a moment gauging the possibilities. Then suddenly she -was plummeting into the jungles. This was no divination, so she could -not actually see any details, only what she imagined the jungles to -look like based on the dark greens and browns of the atlas. Suddenly -a mine was in front of her. There was no saying if it was the right -one, or if it really was a mine or not, but Saffron was tired of -waiting. She drew up the power within her and stepped through the -world itself. - -She stepped through the Weave and out into a monsoon. She snagged a -strand of loose magic on the way out and an explosion of cold air -burst forth from where she was standing, instantly freezing raindrops -into mini-hailstones which pounded her mercilessly. - -"Ugh, Mystra you're working with Talos now to make my life violent and -unpredictable? Is it too much to ask for--I don't know--a normal -casting every once in a while?" - -Her curses as she trudged through the rain would have made her -ancestors, the Day'lasaar pirates of the Sea of Fallen Stars, proud. - -** Bard - ft. Orryn Raulnor - -"You mean you're the third Raulnor with that name?!" the sellsword -asked incredulously. - -"No, no. Where I'm from that means that I'm the third oldest son." a -gnome in gilded leathers replied. - -"I see. Still too long for my tastes, I'm not for knowing what yer -parents was for thinking, but nobody needs a name that damn long. And -what about that 'sonoviches' part?" - -"Well, that's a bit complicated: it roughly translates to something -somewhere between 'indefatigable one who spits on witches' and -'largely punctual' ... it's a family name." - -The table erupted in laughter. - -Soon thereafter, the group seated around the table parted company and -the gnome made his way into the street. - -He wasn't nearly as drunk as his companions had been, but he only -barely noticed the shapes in the alley before he'd walked into them. - -Orryn licked his lips and looked over at the subtle shapes of his -soon-to-be assailants. - -There were perhaps eight of them now, arrayed in a semicircle around -him in the darkness. He should have known better than to flaunt his -gold around the tavern as he'd done. But them again, it wasn't all -bad. It had been far too long since he had a chance to live a good -story instead of simply tell one. - -"Excuse me gentlesirs, how can I help you this fine night?" the -gnomish bard, twirling a strand of his green beard around his finger -in a gesture of mock-nervousness, asked the group of local toughs. - -One of the larger of the group stepped forward into the alleyway and -quickly botched whatever ready line he'd been prepared to say. They -evidently hadn't realized the gnome has seen them before he'd spoken. - -"Halt there, uh, sirrah. It looks like you've, uh, forgot to pay the -toll." - -"Hmm, I hadn't taken ye to be trolls, but now in the light I do see -the resemblance." - -The group was not particularly disciplined, most likely coming -together recently at the smell of gold and lacking for a real leader. -About half of them were silent and nearly shaking with anticipation. -The other half were blustering fools. - -"Did'ja he just call Cratch t'be a troll?" one asked. - -"He is a troll!" another joked. - -"Your mother's a troll." Cratch replied. "Now little one, hand over -your money or you'll wish I's a troll." - -"All right, all right. No need to be hasty. I'm sure you're all -upstanding gents and just want to use the money to pay off your debts -and buy your mothers veiled carriages. Here, take the money." - -Orryn pulled at a pouch on his waist, snapping the straps, and tossed -it on the ground in front of Cratch and the others. It fell open and -several dozen large gold coins rolled from the sack. - -The octet dived for the spilled coins and struggled with one another -to snatch them up. - -"Of course, this sum is just a trifle compared to what I keep at -home." - -The novitiate robbers looked up with various states of doubt, -incomprehension, and greed. This had been the plan, but somehow it -was far too easy. The smart thing to do would be to grab the gold and -flee. But these were not particularly smart men, less so when blinded -by the fortunes of gold held in their hands. - -"Take us there." - -"As you wish..." The rest of Orryn's sing-song sentence danced in the -wind to distant places and forgotten ages. The eight bullies found -their thoughts taken far away as the strange music lifted them up and -carried them upon a journey. The true names of places are powerful -things, most strange and unpronounceable, most lost to time immortal. -But the bard's magic remembered them. His words were not an -incantation as much as a call-and-response. His voice echoed through -the world, and the world responded. - -Orryn and the eight were suddenly elsewhere. A very far away -elsewhere. Snow billowed through the air and covered the icy ground -in heaps. - -Orryn's captives reeled and screamed in terror. - -"Where are we?? Curse you wizard!" - -"Fear not. Everything is under control. We are in the middle of a -northern glacier, where a small expedition settlement once existed. I -hadn't planned on the blizzard, but I suppose you're familiar with the -adage 'we take what we are given.'" - -Cratch lunged at the diminutive bard, but Orryn was already in the -midst of another spell. He spoke words that felt like rushing air and -drifted lazily into the sky, just out of reach of the huddled mob. He -extended his arms, recited the lightly tingly words that covered his -body with bright red faerie fire, and then spoke with a voice that -boomed through the icy plain. - -"Hear me well, I am Orryn Maye Sylvester Miles Felix Hectacre Notin -Jiles Bulron Sysil-Sisler Klif-Wistler Anasto'tofande Sonoviches -Overton Sennison Johnnyson Raulnor the Third, Bard of Faerun, Walker -of Worlds, Smiter of Evildoers and Annoying Backwater Pricks, and -I. AM. NOT. A. WIZARD." - -The group cowered and shivered before a spectacle of magical prowess -unlike any they had ever seen or were ever likely to see again. - -"And if you would give me back my coin, I would appreciate it." - -A few hours later, the eight would-be robbers staggered into a -tavern, each holding a single gold piece and a story. - -None of them would ever rob again. - - -* Prestidigitation - -** Magic Initiate Feat - Wizard - ft. Harvey Hoban Harpell -"Whadd'ya mean cutof?" - -"I mean, cut off. You, Mr. Harpell, are cut off. No more drinks -tonight. Sit, enjoy the fire, rest. Do nothing to rouse the ire of -my other patrons. Especially none of that odoriferous weed of yours!" - -"Whadd'ya mean rows the ira!" Here, turning to a hooded man nursing a -half-pint of dark liquor beside him. "Do I rows ya ira?!" The man -turned to face him, grim faced, and in a motion dumped the glass' -contents over the young man's dirty matted head of hair and set the -empty glass upon the counter before the frowning bartender. - -"That's a waste of good liquor, Malcom." - -"Just wanted to give'im one last drink is all. I'll pay." - -The bartender sighed and reluctantly poured the man another glass. - -"How come 'e gets some!?" - -"Go. Sit... Now." - -The dripping cleric, robes which had successfully avoided the downpour -now dripping with a darker rain, wobbled over to the fire and landed -upon a cushion with some measure of practiced grace, or luck. - -"Oh, Mal-com gets another drink. Sure." He looked to give the man an -evil-eye but noticed for the first time that he was not alone. "Oh, -ladies, my apprologries." He attempted to stand but finding -extracting himself from his seat more difficult than anticipated, -simply half-bowed to the pair of dripping maids. Straining for words, -he offered, "I see you're wet! I can help you with that!" - -As he struggled with gaining control of his faculties to remember the -blasted name of that cantrip, the sound of broken glass from across -the room cut through the lively atmosphere. - -The Selune's Smile was rather crowded with weary travelers looking for -rest or for revel. Twin fireplaces bookended the common area, giving -a warm glow to the ancient decor. Gristly trophies bequeathed to the -tavern adorned the walls: dragon scales, naga fangs, and owlbear heads -among them. A few quiet tapestries hang from the rafters, heralding -the ancient Lords of Waterdeep who frequented the tavern in times long -since past. - -It is said that every adventurer of the Sword Coast eventually finds -her way to the City of Splendors, but rarely do so many of them come -to a particular tavern all at once. - -Seated across from the most recent blackfish of the Harpell family, -sat a pair of ladies wearing drenched leathers and scowls. - -Harvey seemed not to notice the latter as he inventoried his magical -repertoire. - -/Prefeguritat?/ - -/Pregnanitato?/ - -/Presdogranado?/ - -/No. That'd jus worse./ - -The room grew instantly silent at the spilling glass and subsequent -trading of blows. - -/No, youse keep talkin, gotta thing./ he silently berated the floor. - -/Prestangerition?/ - -One of the combatants fell to the floor and then laboriously dragged -himself back up and slumped into a nearby chair. Harvey thought he -heard one of the two women, the shorter one, say something, "Need -some... mumble mumble Moose?" - -/Moose?/ - -/His mind joined his liver, slowly churning through the facts of the day./ - -/Animal. Forest. Green. She's kinda greenish. I wonder if she's -from a forest? Ew, she's probaly dirty if she came from a forest. Eh, -nothin a little Prestidigitation couldn't fix./ - -/.../ - -"Prestidigitation!" He shouted over the now-returned din. Magic leapt -from his fingers, but not exactly with the effect he had originally -intended. Reminded of the magical pranks from his childhood, his most -common retaliatory strike was that of the "foul wind." This came -unbidden to him now, and the magic unleashed the foul smelling breeze -from his fingertips. - - -* Cure Wounds - -** Bard -** Cleric - ft. Harvey Hoban Harpell - -The minor scuffle in the tavern had turned to outright chaos. Harvey -struggled to look unassuming beside the fireplace. The two furious -women had stomped off for some reason and then suddenly returned, -except... one of them had a thick moose pelt thrown up over her arm -like a shield and had grappled away a sword from an unfortunate fellow -behind her, and... - -Oh no, now there were three of them. The wet woman, the moose woman, -and a new woman... who could probably lift a moose. And despite his -best efforts, his "gusts" had spread to even the outer tables. People -were taking notice. Through it all, came the deep contralto of what -he could only assume was a giantess, standing now, teeth clenched and -nearly trembling with rage. - -"What is the meaning of this?" - -Even drunk, even stupid, there was no mistaking that tone. - -Stumbling with words, with mental images, and especially the literal -stumbling involved when attempting to slink backwards from fear of a -large angry Goliath woman, at first Harvey could do little more than -whimper. - -Stopping just short of the fire, it's tongues licking the edges of his -trailing sleeves, he composed himself as well as he could in the face -of possible crushing death, closed his eyes, and sputtered "Excuse my -casting m'lady. My name is Harvey Hoban Harpell, 'eric'a Eldath. I -only meant to help." Then peeking carefully from one eye he added, -"Please don' crush me." - -He was inadvertently saved by another man. The drunken merchant lost -his footing as he approached the bar for another bottle of stsass and -stumbled into the goliath maid's firm buttocks. He might as well have -walked into a wall for all the good it did him. Actually, he most -certainly would have preferred to walk into a wall, as walls don't -seize you by the collar, hoist you over their heads and fling you at -their true sources of rage. - -Layers of fat flapped in the wind, terrified by their unnatural -acceleration. Equally terrified, the eye Harvey had dared to open -flinched shut. He could hear the sounds of the fireplace mantle above -him abruptly stopping the man-boulder's flight. And a moment later he -could feel the crushing weight of the man-boulder's fall, the hard -coolness of the wooden floor against his face, and the uncomfortable -warmth and wetness of a terrified unconscious man letting go after a -long night of drinking. - -In that moment, he felt that the only proper thing to do was to join -him. - -Minutes passed and Harvey was more than satisfied with resting -stupidly beneath his boulderous brother, surrounded by the incontinent -smells and the tumultuous clatter of battle... wait. Battle? - -/Oh no. What have I done?/ - -Harvey tried to stand, to lift his face from the hard pearwood -floorboards, to see what was going on. Red blood splattered down -beside his cheek. It was warm and fresh. He managed to lift his -shoulders and turn. A bloody maw lolled above him, the jaw obviously -broken, tongue bit, nearly severed. Bruising was already beginning to -settle in between the voluminous folds of fat around the face and neck --- black and blue and red. - -Suddenly what was the proper thing moments ago seemed foolish. This -whole night seemed foolish. Eldath, what have I done? This man is -hurt because of me. I started a brawl. I'm not worthy of serving -you. - -In Harvey's frantic heart, beside the furious pounding and self-pity, -came a shiver. It raced along his chest, along his limbs, his spine a -roadway, his bumbling extremities the destination. A familiar sense -of peace, contentment, and quiet perfection, washed over him like a -gentle flowing stream. The sensation reached his head, starting from -the base of the skull and rushing forward to envelop him, to hold him, -to wrap him tightly in a warm stillness. All was silent. - -And yet from in that perfect silence, Harvey could almost hear a quiet -voice, a whisper of a whisper upon the wind breathe to him. - -/I know.../ - -The silence abated and the bustling lights and sounds of the taverns -returned. - -Thank you, m'Lady. Harvey mouthed deferentially. Then squeezing a -hand beneath his torso and the floor and taking up his holy symbol -from around his neck, he gently turned his body into a sitting -position against the wall, the large man laying across his lap, and -allowed the Peace of Eldath to flow through him and into the man. - -He spoke words, though he knew them not, and the symbol of the rushing -waterfall and the still pool gleamed with a quiet silver and blue -light. The unconscious man's wounds were bathed in the light, and his -clotting blood staunched, his bruises soothed, his avulsed tongue knit -together, and jaw gently returned to place. He opened his eyes, -wonderstruck, then promptly grimaced at the smell in the air and in -his trousers. - -"Oh, right!" Harvey waved away the effect of the cantrip and helped -the man to his feet. - -** Druid -** Paladin - ft. -** Ranger - - -* Power Word Kill - -** Wizard -** Warlock - - -* The Fugue - -The orcs pulled you down. - -They beat you. You could feel the blood in your mouth, and leaking -beneath your skin. You could feel their clubs break you. You felt -your spine snap, one, two, three places. Frantic, try to focus on the -spells your patron left you. But you know there is nothing there. So -you flex the fingers on your right hand, where your brand is--the -deep, red burn which you know will never heal. You feel the bitter -the connection to Nine Hells, in some ways it feels like a fishing -line pulling you back there, and in other it just feels like a part of -your body, like a gland. Pulling on the connection feels like crying, -but tears of sulfur and of smoke. Soon hot, sticky, bruised-looking -energy responds to your call and leaks from the brand like pus. An -orc stands over you, a battleaxe held high above his head, and you -fling it at him with a roar of defiance. He takes it full in the face -and his brain explodes out the back of his head. - -But he wasn't the only orc, and the hits keep coming, You know that -you are going to die. - -Soon the blows stop hurting. The world stops spinning and everything -is very very quiet. - -... - -You don't open your eyes. There's no moment of focusing, blurred -vision, bright light. You just see. You just are. - -You're standing on a desolate plain. The sky is a dull shade of dark -gray, the same color as the thick dirt which covers the ground like -dusty snow. You can see ahead for hundreds of miles, but it doesn't -seem to strike you as odd. - -You aren't alone. - -Others, mostly humans, but a half-orc here, a half-elf there, move -through the dirt, knocking up clouds of dust in their wakes. They -move so slowly. - -You are standing. - -You look down at your hand, there is no brand. You flex the fingers, -but there is no burning sensation. In fact, there's barely any -sensation at all. It doesn't seem to strike you as odd. - -As you turn the hand over to put it back at your side, you notice that -where the brand was, on the back is a small red patch of dried ink. -Perhaps some rune or letter? It doesn't seem important. - -You drop the arm to your side, slowly, quietly, and begin to walk. - -Nearby is a small hill. Several men and women are gathered on it. -They seem to be singing. - -A light opens above them and a creature with wings of fire and a -shield emblazoned with the symbol of an upright gauntlet appears. -With a circular motion of his arm and a smile, the light becomes a -whirlwind and the faithful are lifted up into the shining gateway and -disappear in an anti-climactic non-flash of light. For as suddenly as -the herald appeared, he is gone and the plain is returned to stoic -grayness. You notice that even the hill is gone. But it doesn't seem -important. - -You spot a woman along your path, old, wrinkled, dirty, as grey as the -dust and sky. She is sobbing softly, clutching at her knees. She -wears the low-cut rags of a Luskan whore. Her eyes grow wide with -fear as you approach. But you hear a voice call out "do not be -afraid." Your eyes follow the voice, to a woman standing nearby. She -radiates beauty. Calling her beautiful is like calling the sky -overcast. It is like calling the air stale or the dirt dirty. She -reaches out a hand to the woman, her long red hair flowing in a wind -that isn't there. The old woman bounds to her feet. She falls, but -stands and tries again, every step growing stronger until she grasps -the hand of her goddess and is clothed in the beauty and vitality of -her youth. She cries with joy, collapsing into the breast of the -goddess, and the pair step through the planes together leaving behind -the scent of strawberries and freshly cut grass. - -The scent dissipates quickly and you continue walking. - -You see others wandering aimlessly like yourself. - -You all seem to be walking in the same direction. - -In the distance is a circle of lights around an impossibly thin silver -line disappearing into the sky. - -Your approach takes many hours, perhaps days or months or years, but -eventually the lights become a city. A huge city. The walls rise -over a mile high, and moan softly, though you can't tell how or why. - -From a large gate, hooded figures approach the aimless walkers, -including yourself. One stops before you and removes her hood with a -look of vague, forced, curiosity. She isn't exactly human, she has -scales across her face and bright yellow eyes which are difficult to -follow. - -She speaks, but the words are distant, muffled, "Guarded Faithless or -Bargained Soul?" - -A deep, resonating, but scratchy voice answers from somewhere behind -and above you. - -"The first. Perhaps next time... the second." - -After a moment of consideration she nods deferentially, raises her -hood, and turns towards the city, ushering you forward. - -The walls continue to grow as you get closer. They must be ten miles -high. This city must house millions. Around you is a crowd, closely -packed among each other, though most give you a wide berth. Now -devils mingle among the humans, whispering, promising. They lead away -many. - -As you approach the wall, the whimpering grows louder. The wall has -faces. Bodies are stuck together with rotting mortar, which dissolves -them like a giant stomach. - -Suddenly jagged rifts open beside and before you, along the wall. -Creatures with the faces and tusks of pigs, but the bodies of great -apes rush through, crushing or tossing aside both wandering Faithless -and cloaked guides. - -Horns blare clearly through the otherwise muted scene of violence. - -The guides throw aside their cloaks and brandish sickles and shields. -Devils howl war cries and abandon their bargaining to do battle with -their hated foes. - -The demons flow through the rifts in a great horde and begin to tear -at the wall, dragging huge chunks back through with them into the -Abyss. Some moaning souls cry out as many are ripped asunder, torn -from a slow non-existence of centuries to one of instants. The rest -disappear into the Abyss, their forms already being twisted into those -of the demons that abducted them. - -A giant six-armed demon with fangs like a viper rushes at you. You -raise your hand to call down fire upon it, but you have no power on -which to call. - -A bony whip-like barbed tail shoots out from behind you, striking the -creature and sending it writhing to the ground. A massive bone devil -steps over you, it's skeletal spider-like limbs moving to propel it -impossibly fast through the slow-motion battlefield. It hefts a -greatclub that was probably once the femurs of one of those huge -pig-ape-devils and smashes the six-armed serpent into a blackish -pulp. The blood splashes up into your face, leaving a line of acidic -muck running down your nose, between your eyes. - -Then the fighting stops as suddenly as it started. An angel, clad in -flames the color of the sky shuts the portals with a pointed word and -outstretched finger and surveys the damage to the wall before flying -off towards the great spire of Kelemvor, the god of the dead. - -The bone devil turns and looks you over. "It is time. The vessel has -arrived." He then leaves you and cuts a thin line in the air with his -tail. He steps through it and disappears, leaving behind the familiar -scent of sulfur and brimstone. You hear the distant sound of a faint -chime. It's probably not important. - --- - -You open your eyes. There's a moment of focusing, blurred vision, and -bright light. You take a breath and feel the cold morning air fill -your lungs. A horned tiefling with a pitch black bell and a scroll is -standing over you. Your whole body burns, but especially your hand -and a strip running from your forehead down between your eyes. - -Everything is blurry, especially your memory. Standing around you are -your adventuring companions. It feels like you just saw them moments -ago? Was there a battle? What's going on? You can't remember -anything... it's all just indistinct and gray. - -Faust and the Fugue Plane --Andrew Murrell diff --git a/src/DND/Tastavi.md b/src/DND/Tastavi.md deleted file mode 100644 index 0f7eb12..0000000 --- a/src/DND/Tastavi.md +++ /dev/null @@ -1,1965 +0,0 @@ ---- -title: "Tastavi D'Maelnor of Llolethane" -updated: "2016-08-30 Tue 23:56" -html_head_extra: "<link rel=stylesheet href=DND.css>" -tags: SS ---- - -<p> -When I DM, I try to allow players to have as many options for -character creation as I can. Usually, this manifests in pretty -interesting, but stable, characters. And other times… you get -Tastavi. -</p> -<p> -Tastavi D'Maelnor of Lolathane-Mael'na'rath is not what I'd call a -stable character: a CN half-(drow)-elf half-(black)-dragon ftr/rog/war -hybrid sworn to an evil demigod who wants to swallow your dreams (and -possibly the sun and all life) and fleeing one hell of a custody -dispute. -</p> -<p> -But I fell in love with the idea. I had to write it up. It -started out as a three paragraph synopsis, but quickly devolved into -the micro-epic below. He was only played for three sessions before -dying to the most viscious and demanding opponent of all: sports -season. Enjoy! -</p> -<div id="table-of-contents"> -<h2>Table of Contents</h2> -<div id="text-table-of-contents"> -<ul> -<li><a href="#sec-1">1. Ik'lithslaelith</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-2">2. The Drowess</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-3">3. The Tunnel</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-4">4. High Priestess Destiny</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-5">5. Soup for Dinner</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-6">6. Hunger and Possibilities</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-7">7. [CENSORED]</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-8">8. Visions</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-9">9. Visitations</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-10">10. Voices</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-11">11. jal'Bror-noloth</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-12">12. The Hold</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-13">13. The Pits</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-14">14. The Return</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-15">15. Tastavi</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-16">16. Trials</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-17">17. Transformations</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-18">18. Training</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-19">19. The Leader</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-20">20. The Contest</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-21">21. The Cell</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-22">22. Motherly Love</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-23">23. The Will of Lolth</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-24">24. Doom</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-25">25. Destruction</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-26">26. Dreams</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-27">27. The Surface</a></li> -<li><a href="#sec-28">28. Credits</a></li> -</ul> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-1" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-1"><span class="section-number-2">1</span> Ik'lithslaelith</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-1"> -<p> -A dark form slithered though the deep, black against black in the -sunless place. The form pulled its girth across the smooth stone of -its cavern, uncoiling itself and scraping eons of accumulated filth -from its obsidian hide. Too long had it slumbered here, content with -its wealth and glories of days long past. A yellow eye appeared inside -the chamber, burning with a delicate and powerful inner light. -</p> -<p> -The dragon Ik'lithslaelith was awake. And he was hungry. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-2" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-2"><span class="section-number-2">2</span> The Drowess</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-2"> -<p> -She walked nude across the parapet. Her onyx skin still glistened from her -bath and her long white hair hung loose about her shoulders. She eyed -the servants gathered along the tower's edge, daring them to look. -</p> -<p> -Most simply bowed humbly before her, inches from oblivion, knowing -full well the punishment. She reached the stair and snatched a -loose-fitting robe from the extended hand of her favorite butler. His -empty and scarred eye sockets heaved involuntarily at her -proximity. It has been too long since she'd had a real excuse to user -her power. Too long. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-3" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-3"><span class="section-number-2">3</span> The Tunnel</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-3"> -<p> -<i>This was not here when last I was.</i> mused the dragon. -</p> -<p> -He peered at the worked stone. Beneath his lair, along one of his -favorite underground flying paths, a circular tunnel disappeared into -the cliff face. Below him, the chasm loomed, threatening to consume -any that strayed too far from the path's narrow ledge–and could not -fly–to be burned to fiery cinders upon a lake of boiling stone -below. -</p> -<p> -He had always found the cavern poetic: no matter how hard the little -climbers tried to rise, this was not their place. Their place was -among the ashes. -</p> -<p> -The newly hewn tunnel was far too small for him to squeeze into of -course. But one does not reach advanced age as a dragon without -learning a few tricks along the way. -</p> -<p> -<i>And one does not keep it by being over-curious either</i> he thought to -himself. -</p> -<p> -<i>But I suppose it cannot be helped.</i> -</p> -<p> -Ik'lithslaelith breathed a deep echoing sigh, closed his eyes, and -began to shrink. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-4" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-4"><span class="section-number-2">4</span> High Priestess Destiny</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-4"> -<p> -The family estate was vast, and by all accounts, grand. Nestled in a -isolated corner of the massive complex of linked caves that comprised -the southern drow 'city' of Mael'na'rath, the layered structure -resembled a spiked claw rising from on oozing wound. -</p> -<p> -Grand, but hideous. -</p> -<p> -Grotesquely complicated, but functional. -</p> -<p> -In a word: Chaotic. -</p> -<p> -From the single gate at the base of the claw to the tips of the -fingers, every staircase was a spiral. Most with an open center so -that the priestesses and noble family could levitate from floor to -floor, but commoners or household slaves would have to climb the steep -steps to get anywhere, and so guards could fire upon intruders the -entire way up. Intruders who, would first need to bypass the acid -pools which surrounded the fortress. -</p> -<p> -High Priestess Ul'Ilindith D'Maelnor of the Second House of -Llolethane-Mael'na'rath decended through the main stair upon a cloud -of authority. Any walking the stairs prostrated themselves before her, -and any family members floating up quickly stepped aside and bowed as -she passed. Her name meant "destiny" and she knew it. She reached the -floor she wanted and halted her descent. It was almost time. She was -expecting someone. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-5" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-5"><span class="section-number-2">5</span> Soup for Dinner</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-5"> -<p> -From the darkness, expectant eyes scanned the palace walls. The acidic -no-man's land glowed an eerie green from the pools which dotted the -cavern floor. But the eyes were not concerned with the -defenses. Instead they clutched at one distant parapet and -waited. Minutes passed, but there was no activity from the palace. The -eyes closed. Impatiently, a dark form slid from its hiding place in -the mouth of the abandoned tunnel to nowhere, and approached the -nearest pool of acid. The bubbling glow cast flickering splotches of -light over its distinctly feminine form, and she bent over the pool, -moving one hand in intricate spellcasting and clutching something -hanging from around her neck with the other. She felt at ease with it -near her, a rare feeling for a drow, but she had been experiencing all -kinds of rare feelings recently. Her divination spell failed, as they -were oft to do since she had fallen in love. Terrified of her own -feelings, she knelt in fervent prayer to the Spider Queen. -</p> -<p> -Behind her from the tunnel, another dark figure crept close, -unnoticed, a silent hand of death in the land of silent death. -</p> -<p> -Perhaps her prayers were answered, or perhaps the Queen of Spiders -simply thought it amusing, but with a gasp and a rush of power, the -beautiful drow woman felt the impending danger. She spun around, -calling upon years of training and the will of her goddess to meet the -threat. A whip appeared in her hands almost instantly, its twin -heads, each a living snake, hissed and spat. Smiling coolly, she struck -out against her assailant, the snake heads reaching, mouths wide to -bite deep into its flesh. A loud crack and hiss echoed through the -chamber, but when she pulled back the whip for another strike, both -heads lay limp and dead in her hands. A scaled form, black as onyx, -stood before her wearing only a billowing cloak and a practiced look -of grim amusement. The fangs had only barely scratched the surface of -his scales, and though sticky splotches of thick acidic pus covered -the point of impact, he seemed entirely unconcerned. -</p> -<p> -He responded in kind, spitting a line of black acid into her eyes and -face. She reeled backwards, clutching at her dissolving eyes, and fell -backwards into the bubbling pool. -</p> -<p> -The form approached the shallow pool. -</p> -<p> -"Looks like I'm having soup for dinner" mused Ik'lithslaelith. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-6" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-6"><span class="section-number-2">6</span> Hunger and Possibilities</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-6"> -<p> -She couldn't believe it! A dragon! And a powerful one from the looks -of it. High Priestess Ul'Ilindith smiled coolly from her invisible -floating vantage point, and watched him feast. Though the -'opportunities' she had been pursuing with the High Priestess of House -Undros were most definitely ended, perhaps even greater power than -simply controlling a minor house was in her reach. She nearly shook -with excitement at the thought of an ancient black dragon raining -death upon her enemies. But as always, she was to be careful in -this. A dragon, even a male dragon, was dangerous and difficult to -control. She mused for a moment on the dangers, she could see them -clearly before her even, the fate in store if she made a wrong move, -or if he still hungered. But the possibilities… -</p> -<p> -And perhaps, she mused, he hungered for drow in a way that could -benefit them both… -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-7" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-7"><span class="section-number-2">7</span> [CENSORED]</h2> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-8" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-8"><span class="section-number-2">8</span> Visions</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-8"> -<p> -She saw a city burning. -</p> -<p> -She saw people screaming in pain and rolling upon the ground, trying -to wipe away the tar that ate at their fingers, at their faces. -</p> -<p> -She saw clerics casting frantic spells, only to have them fail in -their time of greatest need, abandoned by their goddess, and likewise -be consumed. -</p> -<p> -She saw her son. -</p> -<p> -Standing in the midst of it, unharmed, and smiling, wiping blood from -his blades. When the fires died, his yellow eyes were all that -remained in the darkness. -</p> -<p> -The vision departed and the brazier bore once again the droopy-eyed -oozing visage of a Handmaiden of Lolth. The priestess bowed and the -messenger disappeared into the flames of the Demonweb Pits. -</p> -<p> -She looked down upon her pregnant belly. He would become her -weapon. It was the will of Lolth. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-9" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-9"><span class="section-number-2">9</span> Visitations</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-9"> -<p> -<b>Ik'lithslaelith</b> -</p> -<p> -The name woke him from his renewed slumber. He lay upon his -newly-heaped hordes of gold and pools of melted bones. The echo of the -name roared in his mind like a tempest. Like a wildfire. Like the roar -of ten thousand dragons. -</p> -<p> -The ancient Ik'lithslaelith, the proud Ik'lithslaelith, the noble -Ik'lithslaelith, the silent hand of death in the merciless Underdark, -Winnower of Worlds, and many more names long forgotten, cowered in -fear before his goddess. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-10" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-10"><span class="section-number-2">10</span> Voices</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-10"> -<p> -An ancient laughter hissed in the Abyss. -</p> -<p> -<i>The night is filled with voicess, so it seemss.</i> -</p> -<p> -She mused. -</p> -<p> -Time stretched out naked, and the darkness prophesied: -</p> -<p> -<i>Two minds.</i> -</p> -<p> -<i>Two goddesses</i> -</p> -<p> -<i>of mixed intent</i> -</p> -<p> -<i>and muddled vows.</i> -</p> -<p> -<i>Scheming over one</i> -</p> -<p> -<i>neither shall have.</i> -</p> -<p> -<i>The Nightmare smiled.</i> -</p> -<p> -<i>For even gods must sleep.</i> -</p> -<p> -<i>And neither see the</i> -</p> -<p> -<i>choices made when</i> -</p> -<p> -<i>nightmares reign.</i> -</p> -<p> -<i>Or hear the calls</i> -</p> -<p> -<i>of the forgotten</i> -</p> -<p> -<i>or the bound.</i> -</p> -<p> -Dendar smiled at the ironic cost of freedom. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-11" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-11"><span class="section-number-2">11</span> jal'Bror-noloth</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-11"> -<p> -The pregnancy was a wicked affair. Any news of it among the common -folk was quickly discredited, and to speak of it openly, even among -the family, was dangerous. Lady Ul'Ilindith spent her days under the -care of her most trusted subordinates in the priestesshood: the ones -with no ambition to speak of, whom she ruled with fear. She craved -meat, and so she feasted upon the flesh of exotic animals, taken from -both deep within the Underdark and from far above it, scoured from the -surface. Every day, the burden in her belly grew more intense, the -child growing much larger than any drow child. Every night the pain in -her abdomen became almost unbearable. But she bore it. She bore it to -term by force of will and the whispers of Lolth, promising her power -beyond her wildest imaginings. -</p> -<p> -Her time arrived quickly and with little warning. Appropriating a -hidden chamber deep beneath the complex–aptly, one often used for -summoning creatures from lower planes, and shielded against unwanted -magical intrusion–Ul'Ilindith labored for six days and nights. Every -second, the unborn child tore at her. She used up every spell of -healing from every priestess within the complex and more besides, -calling upon the aid of magical items and elixirs to keep the child -from tearing her apart. And the pain only heightened her -determination. -</p> -<p> -When the child was finally born, it was amid a spray of blood. The -child poured forth wrapped in stinking muck, an acidic darkness that -mirrored the hearts of its parents. His parents. Even with all of her -powers of healing, it was weeks before Ul'Ilindith recovered. She -named the boy jal'Bror-noloth, the Sudden All-Encompassing Darkness, -and kept him hidden from the world. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-12" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-12"><span class="section-number-2">12</span> The Hold</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-12"> -<p> -A sudden rush of fresh air and the sounds of grinding stone attracted -a small huddled group of kobolds to the cavern entrance. Large eyes, -well-adjusted to the darkness, peered towards the unblocked hatchway -and waited. From the other side of the hole in the cavern ceiling red -and purple faerie fire cast an eerie glow into the chamber. Usually, -if someone had rolled away the blocking stone and ventured into the -cavern, the kobolds would know if it, but these were dark elves, in -their domain, and fully prepared for stealth. All the kobolds saw was -a vague hint of motion and the sudden glint of steel at their throats. -</p> -<p> -They prostrated themselves before their cruel masters and whimpered -despite their better sense. Or rather all but one of them whimpered. A -young female, untested, but strong, remained unbowed. This was her -first encounter with the dark elves, and through either willpower or -through ignorance she stood and stared into the eyes of the drow -soldier that held her captive, brandishing a knife and scowling at the -ambush. -</p> -<p> -The soldier's face became a mask of rage. She was ibluth, a worthless -slave, a worthless kobold. He had certainly killed avenging lesser -slights. He moved quickly and knocked away her blade, pressing his own -in the space between her legs, preparing to cut her from stem to -stern, but a commanding voice held him at bay. From behind, a -weathered face, drained, but dangerous and beautiful, approached the -soldier and the kobold maiden. She carried a small bundle in her arms, -breastfeeding. -</p> -<p> -She stared down at the scaled creature, regarding her cooly. Then she -carefully lifted the baby from her breast. He began to cry. -</p> -<p> -"You. Raise this iblith." -</p> -<p> -She roughly handed the child to the now-wide-eyed kobold and stalked -away, the rest of her guard following her. -</p> -<p> -The boulder ground back into place and the cavern returned to -darkness… but not silence. -</p> -<p> -The sound of a baby's cry echoed through the halls. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-13" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-13"><span class="section-number-2">13</span> The Pits</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-13"> -<p> -The smack of sweaty flesh upon hard rock, and the crack of breaking -bones, and shattered maws, and the echoing bloodthirsty cheer brought -kobolds from all parts of the hold to witness the spectacle in the -pits. A pair of fighters were sprawled upon the ground, clubbing and -beating on each other with their claws or hands or whatever tools were -available. It was over quickly, the opening salvo of the contest. The -winner was cheered, the loser tossed aside to make way for the next -fight. This was the way of kobolds: fast brutal victory or slow -agonizing defeat. -</p> -<p> -A large kobold, round, his puffy skin bulging from around his scales -like fishnet tights, sat atop a large boulder overlooking the pit. He -called out for the next pair to enter the pit. Cheers erupted at the -first volunteer, a tall specimen, muscular, and well-endowed. His -reddish scales flickered brutally in the dim torchlight. He stood -proudly waving a spear to the adoring crowd, so he did not note his -challenger until the cheers turned to anxious whispers. A small boy -stood squarely in the center of the ring, head downcast. Few could say -the moment that he had arrived, but none could deny his presence now, -nor what it signified. The challenge had been issued. The boy's scales -contrasted greatly with the proud fighter that stood before him. Where -the champion's scales gleamed in the torchlight, the boy's seemed to -swallow it completely. Black. As the darkest night or deepest cave. -</p> -<p> -From the crowd, an adopted mother gasped as she saw her son standing -in the ring and not at her side. It was no secret that she had been -commissioned to raise the boy by the drow themselves, and the sudden -silence in the stands all but confirmed it. None knew for sure which -would win out, their customs: the right of challenge in the pits, or -their fear of the drow should anything happen to the boy. -</p> -<p> -Their internal war was ended by the sudden motion of the -challenger. He lifted his spear and lunged at the champion. The strike -was short, but the damage was done, the fight had already begun. The -champion returned the strike, only to have his spear deftly deflected -as it came down. The young half-dragon took this opportunity to charge -at the kobold before him, getting within the range of the spear and -clawing at the hands holding the weapon. Long thick lines of blood -appeared on the champion's forearms and he released the weapon in -order to block the continued onslaught and return the favor. He led -with a left hook that connected right under the boy's eye and sent him -sprawling backwards, and quickly followed it with a kick to the boy's -side, right beneath the shoulder-blade. The youth hit the ground and -dove into a roll to come back to his feat. He had no more completed -it, when another powerful kick knocked him back again, this time -against the cavern wall. More punches followed and the boy fell back -again and again against the wall and the floor, for support. His eyes -were swollen, his hands and knees bloody, his body aching from the -thrashing, but he did not signal his surrender. Instead he peered into -the champion's eyes with determination and smiled, a bloody broken -thing amid a silent crowd. The champion shook his head, but stalked in -one more time to finish it. -</p> -<p> -He never got a chance. -</p> -<p> -The only sound that could be heard for miles was his scream. Not a -person gathered breathed, nor heart beat for several moments, as their -champion writhed pitifully upon the ground clutching the wreck that -was once his face. Acid melted down into his skull and soon he could -no longer draw the breath to scream and just shivered upon the ground. -</p> -<p> -Jal'Bror'Noloth wiped the spittle from his mouth and looked up to -regard the assembled, but from his vantage point, could see but one, -the puffy chieftain upon the rock, as all bowed down to worship the -dragon-blessed. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-14" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-14"><span class="section-number-2">14</span> The Return</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-14"> -<p> -The hatchway was open and once again, the proud kobold mother stood -before dark elves. Though this time, she did not stand alone. Her -adopted son, nearly her height, stood, hands balled into fists, at her -side. He glanced protectively from his mother and the kobolds -cowering on the ground to the strange dark-skinned woman standing -before him, who began to speak. She spoke slowly, as if to a very -young child, and with an unfamiliar and decadent accent. -</p> -<p> -"You appear to have raised him well. Does he speak Undercommon?" -</p> -<p> -"Aks him yerself." his mother spat back. -</p> -<p> -The drow priestess held out a hand to halt one of her guards who had -stepped out of the darkness brandishing a knife. He stopped with a -quizzical look, and slipping his dagger back into his piwafwi cloak, -disappeared again. -</p> -<p> -"Do you know your name, little one?" -</p> -<p> -The boy looked to her suspiciously, but answered proudly "The others -call me Nightshade." -</p> -<p> -She smiled coolly. -</p> -<p> -"A fitting name I'm sure, but a child's name, a disguise at best." She -stalked closer to the boy, peering deeply into his eyes, and reached -out with a hand to trace the pattern of his scales. -</p> -<p> -His mother attempted to interpose herself, to shield her child from -the foreign touch, but instead found herself frozen in place -mid-step. Wide-eyed she tried to cry out, but found no words. The -paralyzing poison of the trio of small darts protruding from her back, -neck, and leg had done its task. -</p> -<p> -"I see it in your eyes little Nightshade. This place has made you a -killer, as I knew it would, but you shall become so much more. Follow -me, and rise to conquer nations! And you shall earn your true name! -Jal'Bror'Noloth!" -</p> -<p> -Jal stood dumbfounded at the revelation. He looked to the -ground. Silence fell upon the empty chamber and all eyes upon the -young half-dragon. He closed his eyes. Though he could almost feel a -thousand heartbeats all around him, the one in his chest was the -faintest. Here among the kobolds, he was revered, some kind of god to -the dragon-loving fanatics. Could the same be true of wherever this -woman would take him? -</p> -<p> -No, he decided, his place was in the caverns. And he didn't like this -stranger and her band. He took a deep breath and opened his eyes. -</p> -<p> -"I already have a mother." he stated flatly. "I have no need for -another one, nor your names for me." -</p> -<p> -Ul'Ilindith smiled, unperturbed by his response. She leaned down to -his ear and whispered "You do indeed already have a mother. But soon, -you'll have a goddess." -</p> -<p> -A hundred drow warriors appeared from the shadows, blades -spinning. Kobold blood splattered the ceilings, the floors, it -splattered the pair standing undisturbed in the midst of it. Jal found -he could not move his body, he could not open his mouth again to send -acid into the faces of the attackers. -</p> -<p> -It was over quickly. The cowering kobolds were all dead, cut into morbid -ribbons that covered the walls and floors. As were all the kobolds -that stayed in the darkness and thought themselves safe from the -spectacle. Any that saw the return of the drow or the fate of their -beloved dragon-blessed were left to feed whatever monsters that would -inevitably take up residence in the food-rich cavern. The Underdark -is not a place of wastefulness. -</p> -<p> -Jal watched as the only other survivor, his adopted mother, was put -into chains and levitated up through the drow hatchway. Still groggy -from the poison, he barely noticed when his own fetters were locked -into place. Ul'Ilindith leaned over his shoulder and whispered once -again, -</p> -<p> -"You shall know your destiny my little iblith. And you shall know the -futility of defying me." -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-15" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-15"><span class="section-number-2">15</span> Tastavi</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-15"> -<p> -The aging Master of Arms, Elderboy Tastadraa D'Maelnor, looked over -the boy's head to his sister Ul'Ilindith. -</p> -<p> -"This? This is the one you bring to me?" -</p> -<p> -The boy appeared unremarkable in every way. Average height, build, -skin tone, hair style, musculature, almost a mockery of normalcy. -</p> -<p> -"He is." -</p> -<p> -"I take it then, he is some prodigy with a blade?" -</p> -<p> -"I doubt he's ever touched one." -</p> -<p> -Tastadraa sighed and slicked back his receding hairline. Despite his -position in the family, one can never take a demand from a High -Priestess lightly. He nodded his head, -</p> -<p> -"I will train him…" -</p> -<p> -"Very good." -</p> -<p> -Ul'Ilindith turned to leave. -</p> -<p> -"…assuming he passes the trials of course." -</p> -<p> -Ul'Ilindith stopped. Slowly turning around, venom oozing -from her gaze, she asked -</p> -<p> -"Trials?" -</p> -<p> -"Just a formality I assure you, since he does not appear to be -of… noble birth. I shall train him if he proves himself superior to -my most recent student." -</p> -<p> -Ul'Ilindith smiled. She looked across the room to the gangly youth -attempting to lift a glave twice his size and nearly chopping himself -in twain as the weapon fell to the ground with a clatter–her sister's -son would prove no challenge. -</p> -<p> -"All right. He shall fight then." -</p> -<p> -But to her surprise the weapon master called out, "Tastavi! Come hither." -</p> -<p> -From behind a weapons rack, a lithe youth looked up and walked -over. His gait was one of practiced grace and noble refinement. -</p> -<p> -"This is my son Tastavi, he came of age just yesterday to start -training with the group. Tastavi, you will be fighting this one to -determine if he is fit to train against you." -</p> -<p> -Tastavi glanced at the new boy and smirked. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-16" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-16"><span class="section-number-2">16</span> Trials</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-16"> -<p> -Both fighters panted for breath. They dripped with sweat. From -opposite sides of the perfect circle drawn upon the floor, they stared -into each other's eyes, waiting. Tastavi licked blood from his -battered lip. -</p> -<p> -He had expected to finish the match quickly. He held his sword -delicately but firmly, gently gliding it into thrusts and parries, as -opposed to this stranger who held his sword like a club, and used it -like one. But he quickly discovered that what the newcomer lacked in -technique he made up for with ferocity. He looked so small and -unspectacular, but possessed the raw strength of someone much larger, -and the split-second reflexes of a master. The force and savage speed -of his swings was jolting. Tastavi was able to stay ahead of each of -them, but barely. -</p> -<p> -Tastavi had then moved to the center of the ring, expending as little -effort as he could, dodging as much as deflecting, to tire out his -opponent. Eventually the frustrated and slowing newcomer simply -started swinging out as a distraction and using his body to push -Tastavi towards the edge of the ring. Several times only his training -in gymnastics had kept him from being bowled over out of the ring, and -the last rush had been the closest yet. -</p> -<p> -Tastavi had to adjust, and began to counter the charges with precise -blade thrusts, forcing his aggressor back, but took a few flying elbows -to the face while perfecting it. -</p> -<p> -Now mutual respect and more than a little exhaustion had the pair -circling. Almost an hour had passed, with neither side backing -down. His father, the Weapon's Master, stood by the wayside trying to -look disinterested to Ul'Ilindith, while nonetheless remaining intent -on every second of the fighting. The other students held no such -reservation and watched the display with open wonder. -</p> -<p> -As the two dragged themselves around they ring they knew that whatever -happened here, it would be the last clash between the two. Tastavi -hefted his blade and focused on his breathing and his feet, on his -years of training with his father, and on his enemy: nearly collapsed -on the ground, hands clenched upon the hilt of his broadsword, knuckles -as white as the hair upon his head. -</p> -<p> -And suddenly upon him. -</p> -<p> -Tastavi stepped to the side, barely avoiding the downwards strike and -stabbed out, piercing flesh and striking against bone. The newcomer -fell past him landing with a dull thud against the floor, jutting out -halfway from the ring and retching in pain. His blood bubbled from the -wound on his side. Tastavi heard a strange sizzling sound and looked -to his blade, the blood was slowly eating away the metal! -</p> -<p> -The crowd cheered, but Master Tastadraa silenced them with a harsh -reprimand and they reluctantly began to disperse. Tastavi nearly -collapsed, but held his feat and his honor. Then nearly collapsed -again as Ul'Ilindith surprised him by personally moving forward to -tend to the boy. Tastavi found himself dumbfounded before Ul'Ilindith, -who reached down and touched the boy, instantly healing him and -vaporizing the bubbling blood before it burned into the ground. -</p> -<p> -The conversation between his aunt and father echoed far away. -</p> -<p> -"I shall teach him." -</p> -<p> -"But, didn't he lose your little challenge?" -</p> -<p> -"I shall teach him." -</p> -<p> -The tip of his blade fell to the ground with a loud clatter as the -acid ate cleanly through the steel. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-17" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-17"><span class="section-number-2">17</span> Transformations</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-17"> -<p> -He awoke to a Sending message in his mind. -</p> -<p> -<i>Jal, it is time to train with Master Tastadraa.</i> -</p> -<p> -<i>Yes Mother.</i> he replied. -</p> -<p> -Jal lay upon a thin bisected cot, the center of which was cut away -so that he could lay on his back without the ridge on his spine -cutting at the fabric. -</p> -<p> -He looked to the three other belongings his mother allowed him: a pair -of clothes for training at blades and bows, a small key, and a thin -mask of white velvet. -</p> -<p> -He reached for the key, but changed his mind at the last second and -went for the mask instead. -</p> -<p> -He carefully set it place upon his face and grimaced beneath it as -its magic began subtly changing him. He shrank, his thick arms and -legs shriveling into the spindly appendages of the drow. The ridges on -his spine disappearing into his back. His hair remained roughly the -same, resulting in an almost comical effect if anyone were -watching. However, if anyone were watching, they would almost -certainly be dead by now. His room was one of the best guarded places -in the complex. -</p> -<p> -He left his chamber fully drow–there was no illusion, his entire body -was changed–and made for the training complex. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-18" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-18"><span class="section-number-2">18</span> Training</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-18"> -<p> -Tastadraa leaned against a trident and watched Jal and Tastavi -spar. He marveled at the progress they made in such short time. Given -years, these two would surely become the best fighters in House -D'Maelnor, if not the best fighters in Llolethane-Mael'na'rath. But -which would predominate? -</p> -<p> -Tastavi represented perfection in discipline and form. He learned -every technique: line, parry, block, feint, it didn't matter, after a -few repetitions he would master them, and he followed orders to the -very punctuation. -</p> -<p> -Jal on the other hand, represented pure natural talent and -improvisation. He could find his way in any situation with no -preparation whatsoever. He always tested his opponents, challenging -their careful techniques and reactions, throwing them into -unpredictable patterns and unfamiliar lines. He was dangerous and -cared nothing for orders. -</p> -<p> -Only time would tell. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-19" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-19"><span class="section-number-2">19</span> The Leader</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-19"> -<p> -Flames billowed into the sky. -</p> -<p> -The sky. -</p> -<p> -Bright and blue, horrid and happy. -</p> -<p> -Ul'Ilindith shuddered. -</p> -<p> -"Why do you show me this?" -</p> -<p> -A caped rogue peered from the crystal ball to the priestess. -</p> -<p> -"We all serve the Queen according to her will." -</p> -<p> -He motioned for her to continue watching the silent scene unfold below -in the glassy sphere. The sky came into view once again and then -shifted to a quiet village in the middle of a great yellow plain. -</p> -<p> -From the south a sweeping army of darkness crept upon the unsuspecting -village, at its head an imposing warrior. Arrayed in thick armor, not -much could be seen of his face, or much beyond the massive broadsword he -carried upon his back. With an unheard bellow he hefted the sword with -two hands and led the the charging army to battle. -</p> -<p> -A charge that faded from her view as the scene changed -subtly. Suddenly the army was on the road, traveling by the new -moon. Then they were at the gates of a great city, then inside it, -slaying indiscriminately. Then there was a throne, obsidian and -bearing the mark of the Spider Queen, and an ancient drow upon it, -casting traitors into the flames. -</p> -<p> -Ul'Ilindith struggled with the vision. -</p> -<p> -"We shall take to the surface? An army?" -</p> -<p> -"Not we, but see the mark upon the leader?" -</p> -<p> -"D'Maelnor!" -</p> -<p> -"Yes, he carries your crest. And another, of the first house." -</p> -<p> -Ul'Ilindith smiled. "Then it's true, the union shall take place?" -</p> -<p> -"Yes, but keep in mind" said the rogue, "there is but one leader -prophesied… not two." -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-20" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-20"><span class="section-number-2">20</span> The Contest</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-20"> -<p> -Tastavi held his bow carefully and exhaling suddenly, sent a perfect -shot into the deep-rothe's eye. -</p> -<p> -"Twenty-three" Jal sighed dramatically, his face emotionless. -</p> -<p> -"If you hadn't wasted your shot on the bull you would be tied with -me. Next time." Tastavi patted Jal on the shoulder mockingly. -</p> -<p> -"I've got one shot left." Jal pulled the arrow from his dimensional -bag. -</p> -<p> -"Even if you somehow managed to kill two of them with that, you'd only -match me." Tastavi gave him a superior look and started packing his things. -</p> -<p> -Jal stared out across the cavern floor at the grazing rothe. Slowly a -half-smile spread across his face. -</p> -<p> -"I've got one shot left." he reiterated. -</p> -<p> -Tastavi stopped and just watched. He knew that look well enough after -all. It usually preceded something worth watching. -</p> -<p> -Jal lifted his bow, nocked the arrow and held out his hand encasing a -rothe in purple flames. -</p> -<p> -Tastavi gave him a disapproving look, "Now that's cheating!" -</p> -<p> -"No, that's not the target, watch." Jal replied. -</p> -<p> -At first the rothe seemed not to notice, and Jal lifted three fingers. -</p> -<p> -Two fingers. -</p> -<p> -One. -</p> -<p> -The rothe looked up and seeing the illusory flames encasing it, began -to panic. It let out a mooish-roar and bolted for the water. -</p> -<p> -It would have made it too, except for the very agitated bull rothe -standing directly in its path with an arrow protruding from its -hindquarters. The bull had almost come to accept the nagging itch in -its backside, but being bowled over by a frantic, and apparently -burning, female on her way to the water was not a good way to arrive -at acceptance. -</p> -<p> -He reared up and charged, looking to gore anything in its path. A -couple of plump females stood nearby and he charged at them -blindly. They looked up in time to see the horns, and bolted to the -side. -</p> -<p> -Jal fired. -</p> -<p> -His arrow whisked past the enraged bull, peeling flesh from his face -and changing his course to plow, horns-first into the escaping females, -skewering both of them before himself, crumpling to the ground. -</p> -<p> -"Ok, well that's just Twenty-three then. We're tied." Tastavi managed -to stammer. But Jal turned to him and smiled. -</p> -<p> -"Look again." -</p> -<p> -Tastavi traced the arrow's flight from where it had been -deflected… into the water. The startled rothe, no longer in faerie -fire, floated on her side, bleeding dark blood into the water from an -arrow between the ribs and into the heart. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-21" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-21"><span class="section-number-2">21</span> The Cell</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-21"> -<p> -Jal opened his eyes and realized that for the first time in several -years, his mother had not called him to training. His room was dark, -but there was no mistaking the time. She should have called by now. -</p> -<p> -He donned his mask and hesitantly took up the tiny golden key. -</p> -<p> -If she called, he would answer, but it was not often he had the time -he needed, and he decided that he would not waste it. -</p> -<p> -He dressed quickly and left his chamber, racing through the levels of -the palace to the great stair. He usually descended the stairs on -foot, but who knew how long he had to spare. He activated his house -insignia and levitated down the center. -</p> -<p> -Near the bottom, he jumped to the side and followed a narrow corridor -to the cell block. He counted his steps and arrived at the correct -door. He slid in his key and opened the lock. -</p> -<p> -Inside the room was a small cell, only a few inches taller than he and -only a few feet wider. It was empty. -</p> -<p> -"No." He said. -</p> -<p> -He had to have made a mistake. Where was she? He looked around, but -found no signs of escape, nor of capture. -</p> -<p> -"No!" He exited the room and looked both ways down the narrow -hallway. -</p> -<p> -He tried the adjacent doors, but could not open them. -</p> -<p> -"NO!" he screamed, the sound echoing in the long metallic corridor. A -second passed, then thirty. His head ached and his gut clenched and -burned. A sending arrived from his mother. -</p> -<p> -<i>Jal, come to the throne room immediately.</i> -</p> -<p> -Jal's rage flared inside him. The truth he suspected burned his lungs -and throat. He tried to be calm, to tread carefully, but couldn't help -but scream back <i>Where is she?! What have you done with her?!</i> -</p> -<p> -No response was forthcoming. -</p> -<p> -He screamed. An echoing anguish mixed among the cell-block moans. He -ran, dashing through the archway to the stair. He took no heed of -those around him as he raced fate to the throne room at the top of the -complex. -</p> -<p> -He arrived at the doors out of breath, and furious. Guards attempted -to bar his way to announce him, but Jal rushed deftly past them and -stormed into the throne room without announcement. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-22" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-22"><span class="section-number-2">22</span> Motherly Love</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-22"> -<p> -Ul'Ilindith reclined upon the throne. A drooling zombie stood guard -beside it, once a powerful priestess, she was now cursed to forever -stand as a reminder of what may happen to those who lose the favor of -the Spider Queen. -</p> -<p> -Guards lined the walls armed with hand crossbows. Tastadraa and his -son stood before the dais, waiting for the final addition to their -ranks. -</p> -<p> -It burst into the throne room. -</p> -<p> -"Where is she?! What have you done with her?!" Jal screamed. -</p> -<p> -Ul'Ilindith remained seated and unaffected. -</p> -<p> -Jal screamed again, "WHERE IS SHE?!" The volume and the timbre -contrasted dramatically with the unimpressive image of the drow -youth. An aura of fear radiated from him, slowly affecting the nearest -guards who stiffened and stood frozen beside the open door, mouths -agape. -</p> -<p> -"My my, Mother, what am impudent little pup I've raised." Ul'Ilindith -lamented to the zombie beside her. It responded to the attention by -lolling its head slightly towards the sound. -</p> -<p> -Jal looked to the pair standing before the throne with suspicion. -</p> -<p> -"Where is my mother." he stated. -</p> -<p> -"Jal, Jal, do calm down. I have liked your 'mother' from the moment I -saw her. I believe that we share a certain… bond. But display an -attitude again in my presence, and I promise, she'll soon resemble -<i>my</i> mother more than yours." Ul'Ilindith casually gestured to the -guard zombie. -</p> -<p> -Jal deflated. The fire in his throat cut off any further words, and -tears threatened to well behind his eyes. But his anger wisely turned -to caution. He looked around the room and took in the situation, then -wandered to his spot beside the other two males. -</p> -<p> -Ul'Ilindith was not sure about what she'd seen foretold, and thought -about the rogue's warning. She had worried about the course set before -her, but Jal's continuing insubordination left no room for doubt. -</p> -<p> -She put aside her contemplation and said with a plastered smile, -</p> -<p> -"A special opportunity has come to my attention. The first house has -shown to me a great vision of the future. A great warrior, a son of -D'Maelnor, shall join with the first house and lead an army of -darkness across the surface world." -</p> -<p> -Master Tastadraa's mouth fell agape, Tastavi focused on calming his -excitement, Jal just strained against his rage, though there was dull -curiosity there too. Tastavi was the only "son of D'Maelnor" he knew -who could possibly wear the description of 'great warrior.' -</p> -<p> -Ul'Ilindith just watched their reactions to be sure. Yes, the choice -was obvious, but perhaps it should still be best left in Lolth's -hands. -</p> -<p> -"Brother, you're a bit too old to be our warrior. Step away from the -dais. I will address the boys." -</p> -<p> -Tastadraa bowed and stepped back into a line of guards at the side. -</p> -<p> -Jal felt isolated upon the dais. He looked to Tastavi uncertainly, but -Tastavi looked at his aunt with expectancy, ambition gleaming in his -eyes. -</p> -<p> -Ul'Ilindith addressed the room. "Before me stand two great sons of -D'Maelnor:" -</p> -<p> -A dull question thumped in the back of Jal's mind. <i>What?</i> -</p> -<p> -"Tastavi, son of Tastadraa D'Maelnor." -</p> -<p> -<i>Two great sons? Tastadraa isn't up here, just Tastavi and…</i> -</p> -<p> -"and Jal'Bror'Noloth, my firstborn son," -</p> -<p> -Jal almost fell from the dais. No, she had been his 'Matron Mother', -but he'd never believed that… -</p> -<p> -"whom I carried and delivered." -</p> -<p> -Jal's rage flared, but his voice was nowhere to be found it in. He -stood stone-faced and looked to the ground. -</p> -<p> -Tastavi looked to his newfound cousin with surprise, and sudden -jealousy. All this time, and Jal had never told him? There he stood, -embarrassed to have his secret revealed. Were they ever friends, or -only rivals? -</p> -<p> -"Both of you have surpassed my expectations with regard to fighting -prowess. But… There is but one great warrior." Ul'Ilindith stated -clearly. -</p> -<p> -She let the statement sink in. -</p> -<p> -Tastavi turned. -</p> -<p> -Jal broke from his focused denial and turned to look at his friend. He -shook his head, slowly in disbelief. -</p> -<p> -Tastavi reached his hands slowly to the hilts of his swords. -</p> -<p> -Jal made no move to match him. He looked to Ul'Ilindith. She smiled -wickedly. He looked to Tastadraa. He looked lost, a mixture of caring -father, and greedy coward. -</p> -<p> -He threw off his sword belt. It fell with a clatter to the ground. -</p> -<p> -"Tastavi can go. He can be your warrior." -</p> -<p> -Tastavi looked quickly back and forth between Jal and Ul'Ilindith. -</p> -<p> -Ul'Ilindith's smile became a sneer. -</p> -<p> -A muffled screaming came from somewhere behind the throne and an aging -kobold, bound and gagged, naked and bleeding, was brought before -it. The zombie drooled at her and strained at its magical restraints. -</p> -<p> -"No. You shall fight, my little iblith." She held out her hand before -her with an open palm. In it lay a small scrap of white velvet. Slowly -fire rose from her fingers and ignited it. -</p> -<p> -Immediately Jal was wracked with pain as if his face was being torn -off. He screamed, a primal roar, a dragon's roar. Guards around the -room stiffened. Tastavi's eyes grew wide. -</p> -<p> -Ul'Ilindith turned her hand over into a fist and crushed the ashes. -</p> -<p> -The polymorph spell of the mask was ended. Jal knelt on the -ground. He breathed heavily and shivered. His clothes were tatters. He -held the thin mask in his hands–his clawed hands. He looked up, his -white hair falling over his yellow eyes. -</p> -<p> -Tastavi looked upon him with a mixture of disgust, betrayal, and fear. -</p> -<p> -Jal shook his head, dropped the mask, and held his hands up -defensively, waving away the accusation in Tastavi's eyes. -</p> -<p> -"Kill him." Ul'Ilindith commanded Tastavi. -</p> -<p> -Tastavi drew his swords. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-23" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-23"><span class="section-number-2">23</span> The Will of Lolth</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-23"> -<p> -Though years had passed since their first fight, Jal found the whole -scene familiar. Tastavi would stalk forward blades drawn and execute a -perfect series of textbook thrusts and faints. He'd win. He usually -did, but this time he wouldn't stop. This was no practice spar; this -was life and death. -</p> -<p> -Jal snatched up his weapon belt, pulling his blades from it–a rapier -and a dagger–kicked it into Tastavi's face, and retreated. But -Tastavi responded by slashing down in a brutal 'X' with his scimitars, -cutting the tossed belt and bag into four even pieces. Jal tried to -reason with him, but couldn't get out more than a word against the -determination in Tastavi's eyes, and speed of his routine. -</p> -<p> -Tastavi came on in full. Emotions flooded his mind, betrayal was -nothing new or exotic to a drow, but this was something more than -that. Jal was a half-breed, a disgrace. He would put an end to this -traitor, this ibluth masquerading as a D'Maelnor. Only a true D'Maelnor -could lead an army of drow to bring justice to the surface world. Not -this abomination. Tastavi thought back to every fight against the -traitor, to the times he had beaten him. His training had always won -out in the end. He couldn't help but think of the good times as -well. But he violently rejected them. Lies, they were all lies. -</p> -<p> -Tastavi lunged forward, his whole body extending, uncoiling like a -viper. Jal managed a half-hearted parry, sending Tastavi's thrust out -wide, but lost space, as Tastavi dropped his blade below, tapped the -tip of Jal's rapier harmlessly upwards with the strong of his blade -and re-engaged. Jal managed to parry the first few blows of every -line, but barely held on as the sequences progressed. He was never as -good as Tastavi at feeling the parries and teaching his arms to -remember them. Jal relied on the space afforded by his greater -height, backing away, disengaging, dodging, and doing anything to -break Tastavi's muscle memory. Several times he tried to flee, but -whenever he came close to the guards, their crossbows forced him back -into the fight against his friend. -</p> -<p> -Jal looked into Tastavi's eyes, but saw nothing but pain there. Deep -welling emotion. Not regret, but pure righteous hatred. The look -festered like a wound on his conscience. He felt the bile welling in -his throat, preparing to send forth a blast of acid to burn away that -look. But he choked it back and continued to parry. -</p> -<p> -There had to be another way. -</p> -<p> -Jal felt strong. Free from the polymorph, he was able to stand to his -full height, the chamber, the columns, even the other drow all seemed -so much smaller now. The passing thought gave him an idea. But he had -to act quickly. -</p> -<p> -Jal flexed his thick legs, turned, back to the enemy, and rushed -headlong into a pair of guards. He felt the wind of Tastavi's blade -barely miss impaling him. The guards paled at the sight of a large -black half-dragon barreling at them, and dodged behind a pillar, firing -crossbow bolts at him as they fell. But they were poorly aimed and -glanced off of his hard black scales. He followed them around the -pillar, screaming. Then silence filled the chamber. -</p> -<p> -Tastavi soon followed, breathing heavily from his furious assault, but -found nothing around the pillar but the pair of guards unconscious on -the ground. He darted around the other side of the pillar to find -nothing there either. He looked around behind him in frustration and -caught a glance at another guard from the other side of the room -staring dumbfounded at the ceiling. He turned to the pillar and found -deep scratches on the intricately carved relief. His eyes followed -them up, to find Jal climbing, tearing chunks of the porous stone free -with his claws to use as handholds. -</p> -<p> -Ul'Ilindith held out a hand to keep the archers at bay, amused by the -tactic. -</p> -<p> -Tastavi put away his swords and carefully followed him up. -</p> -<p> -The chamber's ceiling was crisscrossed with the webs of thousands of -spiders. Moths and flies, bats and even larger specimens struggled in -freshly wrapped cocoons or lay very still. Drow-made archways that -provided places for the webs to attach jut from odd angles. -Crisscrossing struts connected them in intricate patterns. Jal leaped -from the top of the pillar to one of these, sending its occupants -scurrying away. -</p> -<p> -He moved from strut to strut, displacing as few spiders as -possible–it was bad luck after all–running where he could, climbing -where he could not, and constantly dodging the think and sticky -strands. He reached the end of one strut and turned to see Tastavi -racing after him, swords drawn, hacking at whatever strands got too -close. Jal looked around and dove into the thickest part of the -webbing, directly over the throne. -</p> -<p> -In the confined space it would be much more difficult to dodge, and -impossible to run, but Jal took comfort in knowing that if he could -find the right spot, it would also be impossible to lunge. His greater -range combined with the sticky walls could then keep any advance at -bay. He found a large strut, disconnected from the one he was on, -probably two feet think, and curving from the ceiling like a -hook. Tastavi was nearly on him. This would have to do. -</p> -<p> -He took a deep breath, coiled like a spring and jumped. He tossed his -rapier into the air, spun around, back parallel to the ground, and -threw his dagger out behind him. He continued his rotation and found -the strut at the same time the rapier bounced against it. The blade -followed the curve upwards and then fell off to the side. Jal reached -out with his legs and caught it with his foot. -</p> -<p> -Tastavi turned the corner quickly, moving to follow him, but had stop -to knock aside the dagger inches from his face. He glared across the -gap. -</p> -<p> -Jal pulled himself up with a deep groan and the heavy rumbling breaths -of a dragon. More than forty feet below him from the throne chamber, -Ul'Ilindith smiled wickedly. -</p> -<p> -Jal watched as Tastavi's furious glare turned into a look of panic. -</p> -<p> -Several web strands twinged near Jal's head and a slight clicking -sound came from somewhere disturbingly close by. -</p> -<p> -"It's a spider isn't it?" -</p> -<p> -Tastavi's silence was telling. -</p> -<p> -"It's right behind me isn't it?…" -</p> -<p> -"…" -</p> -<p> -"Right." -</p> -<p> -Jal dropped to the strut just in time for the spider's jowls to snap -shut where he stood. He turned and sliced out with his rapier, tearing -away a thick strand of webbing. He wrapped it around his leg, then -jerked left and right, barely dodged the spider's next two rapid -attempts to capture him. He kicked out against it, not to hurt it, but -to use it as a springboard. He jumped back across the gap, sword -leading his way. -</p> -<p> -Tastavi saw the move coming and instead of falling back, he leaped -from the ledge as well in order to push Jal back into the line of attack -from the giant spider. They collided in midair and struggled over a -tiny ledge before both losing their footing and plummeting towards the -ground. -</p> -<p> -A sickening crunch echoed in the chamber. -</p> -<p> -Tastavi groaned upon the ground. Jal hung from the thick strand of -webbing just above him. They had fallen towards the center of the -room, nearby the spot where the fight had begun, before the throne. -</p> -<p> -Tastavi opened his blurry eyes to find Jal standing over him, or -rather, hanging over him, rapier at his throat. -</p> -<p> -"Very good, Jal. Now end it!" Ul'Ilindith cheered. -</p> -<p> -Tastadraa looked at her with disbelief. -</p> -<p> -Jal lifted his rapier, pressing it deep, drawing blood. Tastavi pulled -away, but winced at his multiple broken bones, some of which protruded -grotesquely and spouted little fountains of blood. He closed his eyes, -ready to accept his defeat if that was the will of the Spider Queen. -</p> -<p> -But instead, Jal shifted his weight to swing himself towards the -throne, brought his sword around, cutting the line holding him aloft, -and flipped over towards the dais. He landed with a roll, dodging the -lazy lunge of the zombie guarding the throne and sprang forward with -the grace of a cat and the speed of a scorpion. -</p> -<p> -A deep thunk and sudden rushing of air shattered the sudden -silence. Jal's rapier dug deeply into Ul'Ilindith's chest and blood -spurted from the wound. A second later, two dozen crossbow bolts hit -Jal in the chest and paralysis seeped into his muscles from each tiny -pinprick. -</p> -<p> -Ul'Ilindith's voice came through ragged slurping breaths, a spell of -some kind, and Jal found himself sprawling backwards, teeth chattering -and sword shattered into shrapnel in his hands. He landed roughly upon -the dais steps a few feet from the broken Tastavi who looked at him -aghast. -</p> -<p> -Ul'Ilindith's eyes changed to a deep black, and raven flames engulfed -her. She chanted with otherworldly power. Her wound closed. She began -to levitate and ripped off her stained clothes with revulsion. -</p> -<p> -"Once again you disappoint me my son. Watch what is borne of your -failings!" -</p> -<p> -Ul'Ilindith turned ruefully towards the bound kobold and sent forth -waves of necrotic energy that quickly tore her apart. Jal tried to -scream, but his mouth refused to open and his voice left him silent in -his agony. -</p> -<p> -Ul'Ilindith was not finished though. -</p> -<p> -"I'll show you the cost of your weakness! Watch as I cut it out." -</p> -<p> -Instead of turning her wrath on Jal, she turned on Tastavi, pointing a -rueful finger and chanting. Soon lightning arced between her fingers, -gathering for discharge. -</p> -<p> -"Noo!!" Tastadraa screamed, breaking ranks and standing between his -son and his sister. He held aloft a glowing shield emblazoned with -the lightning symbol of the surface god Talos, and in his other hand a -broadsword wreathed in black flames. -</p> -<p> -"I shall not allow this!" He called to her. -</p> -<p> -"This is not yours to decide, Elderboy." she spat back. -</p> -<p> -Ul'Ilindith let fly her spell, and lightning shot from her finger to -the waiting Tastadraa. Electricity sparked and crackled as the shield -focused and contained it. What little hair remained on Tastadraa's -balding head stood straight but his look of determination and -concentration disrupted whatever mirth could be garnered from the -sight. He brought around his sword and rapped it against the crackling -shield and then with a wave of his arm, released the energy at the -ground beside him. Lightning arced into the stone and it exploded with -a deafening blast. -</p> -<p> -Tastadraa stalked slowly forward towards Ul'Ilindith. -</p> -<p> -"I'm sorry, Sister, but this is not how the D'Maelnor line shall -end–with an abomination." -</p> -<p> -Guards swarmed from beside the throne and drew swords–drow that -Tastadraa had taught. But he had not taught them everything. Two moved -forward to engage him. Their heads fell to the floor and corpses -turned to ash beneath his wicked blade. -</p> -<p> -The rest of the guards looked to the powerful siblings and decided to -refrain from allowing their duty decide their deaths. -</p> -<p> -Ul'Ilindith sneered. She began to chant again, her eyes rolling up -into her head. The air grew dense inside the throne room, thick and -stifling, beads of sweat began to form and run down Ul'Ilindith's -naked body. -</p> -<p> -Tastadraa stalked forward with the shield of Talos held high. -</p> -<p> -Beside the throne, the twisted and battered form of Jal's adopted -mother began to twitch. -</p> -<p> -She finished her incantation, but waited to unleash the spell to -gloat, "Lets see your blasphemous surface god save you from this one." -</p> -<p> -Her hand jerked spasmodically and green bile erupted from the air -around it in a stream and blasted Tastadraa to the ground. Contagion -spread across his body wherever the stuff touched and ate away his -skin. At the same time the kobold skeleton began to slowly shift into -place, ligaments forming, muscle growing upon the shifting bones. -</p> -<p> -But Tastadraa was not finished, he pushed with his rotting limbs and -triggered the levitation on his amulet. He rose, blade poised to end -the conflict with a single vorpal strike. Then his body fell limp and -he hung awkwardly in the air, his head crushed from behind by the maw -of a giant spider. -</p> -<p> -Tastavi cried out in anguish. -</p> -<p> -Paralyzed by more than just the drow poison, Jal watched the scene -progress in horror. Tastadraa was nothing more than a decaying pile of -flesh, Tastavi lay broken by his fall, his adopted mother under the -throes of some insidious magic. -</p> -<p> -Only Ul'Ilindith seemed unharmed, floating above them all cherishing -the moment. -</p> -<p> -The ground began to shake. -</p> -<p> -"Fool, don't you see? A traitor and his son are revealed and Lolth has -shown me favor! The dead rise. Even Toril trembles! This is the will -of Lolth!" -</p> -<p> -She continued, addressing the guards, "Now. Do as I commanded." -</p> -<p> -A crossbow bolt zipped past Jal's frozen face. The whole world seemed -to stop. But the bolt was not indented for him. Beside him, Tastavi's -scream became a gurgle as the crossbow bolt in his throat quickly -drained him of both the air and the blood needed to circulate it. -</p> -<p> -Jal retched involuntarily, and could taste the poison on his lips. -</p> -<p> -The shaking intensified in the chamber. A column came down in dozens -of jagged pieces. Guards ran about, dodging falling debris and -spiders. -</p> -<p> -Tastavi breathed his last, slumping against the broken stone. -</p> -<p> -Ul'Ilindith, levitating, but stationary in the air was pelted with -rock fragments and quickly began her descent. -</p> -<p> -Jal's anger flared within him, but fear helped him keep his head and -push away the worst effects of the poison. What was going on? -</p> -<p> -Ul'Ilindith reached the ground and began to hurry towards Jal, still -paralyzed upon the dais steps, but a curious laugh stopped her. -</p> -<p> -"Hahaha, 'da will a Lolth you say?" The scratchy voice became clearer -by the second. Ul'Ilindith turned to the living kobold slowly standing -up where her corpse should have rested. Her scales grew back in -patches, and she peered at the Matron Mother with one regenerated eye. -</p> -<p> -"No my dear, this…" she gestured to the chaos around her. -</p> -<p> -"…is the will of Tiamat." -</p> -<p> -The ceiling collapsed. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-24" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-24"><span class="section-number-2">24</span> Doom</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-24"> -<p> -Often a dragon's roar precedes its breath, but Ik'lithslaelith was too -cautious and too clever for that. When he roared over the shattered -second house of Llolethane-Mael'na'rath, it was a roar of victory. He -watched the wreckage from the shadows for a time, but his instructions -had been clear: leave nothing behind–and then leave. He disappeared -into the forgotten tunnel and was gone. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-25" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-25"><span class="section-number-2">25</span> Destruction</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-25"> -<p> -The palace fell. -</p> -<p> -A lone drowess rose from the ashes at the edge of the desolation. The -acid dripped from her hands, from her hair, and fell sizzling to the -ground leaving her unharmed. Lady Lolth had long ago given her a -defense against such poison, when she carried it in her womb. -</p> -<p> -Ul'Ilindith stood alone in the rubble and followed the only other pair -of footprints leaving the shattered homestead: her son's. -</p> -<p> -Jal limped through the wreckage, dragging Tastavi's body behind -him. It had to be around here somewhere. He hefted a door-sized piece -of slate from a shimmering object sticking out from underneath it. A -drained and blistered hand held fast to a broken sword, but what -attracted Jal's eye was a thin piece of white velvet. Jal took the -mask and dropped the slate back into place, reverently. -</p> -<p> -He turned to the body and rasped, "It doesn't look like either of us -will be leading any armies today. Please forgive me." He placed the -velvet mask on Tastavi's face and began the attunement ritual. He left -the cavern once again fully drow, wearing the face of his friend, and -carrying his inheritance, a silver shield of a strange surface god, -upon his back. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-26" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-26"><span class="section-number-2">26</span> Dreams</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-26"> -<p> -Three Years Later… -</p> -<p> -Jal lay on his back on a roof overlooking a bustling marketplace and -stared dreamily at the cavern ceiling. It had been years since his -flight from the shattered D'Maelnor estate, and he had managed to find -some semblance of normalcy in Llolethane, the central cavern of the -drow city of Llolethane-Mael'na'rath. He rested his head on his -shield, now mostly painted black to blend in with the shadows, and -wondered what life would be like without a thousand tons of rock above -your head. He wondered what it would be like to fly. -</p> -<p> -Below him he heard the telltale laughter of the fat merchant leader he -had followed to this inn. He picked up his bow and his shield and -stalked to the edge of the roof above a window. He carefully dipped -the inner edge of the shield below the overhang and watched the party -descending the staircase in the cool golden reflection. Then he pulled -it back up, turned with his back to the alleyway, and counted -dramatically, with a familiar half-smile. -</p> -<p> -Three. -</p> -<p> -Two. -</p> -<p> -One. -</p> -<p> -Then he flipped from the roof, dropping below the lip and firing an -arrow through the window. He landed on the cavern floor with a roll -and disappeared into the shadows–just another renegade drow in a city -of renegades. He did not stay to confirm his success or failure, but -fled to where he could most easily disappear: the bustling -marketplace. -</p> -<p> -He strolled easily through the crowded streets. Though his appearance -was quite a bit more handsome than that he had grown up with, he could -still blend in with a crowd if he so desired. But then again, where -was the fun in that? He was dressed in fine silks and jewels, not -rags. And with a small lump beneath his throat, unquestionably -covering a house insignia, he was obviously a noble and was given a -wide birth by the lesser folk. He casually examined the merchandise of -a few carts, but exuded little outward care for the whole venture, -particularly when several guards burst from the inn and sent rogues -into back alleys to seek an assassin. -</p> -<p> -He eventually made his way into this same inn, and dodging guards -carting some new lordling's inherited possessions from an upper room, -was addressed cordially by a concierge, "Ah, welcome back Sir! It -appears that you are in luck, a room has just opened up for you." -</p> -<p> -Jal smiled to himself and turned to dismiss the man with a "Thank You." -</p> -<p> -He never finished that thought. -</p> -<p> -The man was dead. -</p> -<p> -He stood, smiling pleasantly in demure house leathers with half of his -face melted off to the bone, dripping tar-like blood upon his fine -padded vest. A spider crawled out from where his ear should have been -and snickered at him. -</p> -<p> -Jal backed away slowly aghast, but everyone else went stoically about -their business, unperturbed. The room grew dark and Jal turned to the -window. A thick spiderweb had covered it with a hand-sized spider -hurriedly wrapping a struggling shape. A tiny dragon's wing jut from -the bundle. -</p> -<p> -Jal ran. -</p> -<p> -He sprinted from the inn and disregarding caution, fled through the -black alleys and twisted honeycomb and spiderweb streets. It was like -the passages were built to be confounding, and yet somehow mercilessly -efficient. In a matter of moments he was back amid the ruins of the -old city, broken homes and discarded people. Screams from behind him -followed, the sounds of the guards seeking an assassin. But much -worse, the sounds of shattering stone and a deafening roar echoed -through the cavern. Jal scurried through the final alleyway and dove -into his hideout in an abandoned sewer tunnel. He dropped his rich -clothes in the muck and crawled away on hands and knees. -</p> -<p> -He remembered the frantic cries of his mother being torn apart and -then her defiant laugh as the walls fell. Her last words echoed -through his mind, "the will of Tiamat!" Another vicious roar sent -ripples through the water and shivers through the very stone. He heard -the clicking of spiders in the distance, drawing nearer. Closing in. -</p> -<p> -He was being hunted. Franticly he drew the shield from his back and -over his head and grasped a small dagger in his hand. He was once -again a child, in loose-fitting kobold rags and with weapons he could -barely use. He huddled terrified in a dark corner. He closed his eyes -and begged whatever gods could hear him to escape. -</p> -<p> -A faint hiss cut through the clamor. Not a god, but a tiny snake, the -size of a little worm, crawled from the loose stones and looked up at -Jal, flicking its tongue inquisitively. The hiss grew louder, drowning -out the skittering of the approaching swarm and rumble of the -searching dragon. The serpent grew, coiling and stretching, always -watching. Jal found that he was no longer afraid, but curious. The -serpent grew to immense proportions filling the tiny sewer tunnel, -which became a great cavern, yet it still barely contained the -powerful creature. -</p> -<p> -Dendar, the Night Serpent, the Eater of the World, loomed over the -boy. She laughed with the might of thunder and the promise of -disaster. Jal found he could not move. -</p> -<p> -"Jal'Bror'Noloth, your dreamss are deliciouss." -</p> -<p> -Her huge tongue flicked in and out of her mouth, creating wind eddies -that buffeted Jal against the stone. Greasy spittle and half-devoured -bones–remnants of nightmares long forgotten–dripped from her -cavernous maw. Jal could not speak, not even think, as the stench of -nightmare overwhelmed him. -</p> -<p> -"Your nightmare though… tastess unique. Because it is true. And -closer than you think. Evil godss have planss for you it seemss." The -serpent hissed. -</p> -<p> -Jal shuddered. -</p> -<p> -Dendar laughed–a terrible rasping hiss. -</p> -<p> -"And yet… perhapss their planss are merely dreamss. Join me, little -drow-gon and while the godss fret for your fate, we shall feassst!" -</p> -<p> -Suddenly the world returned and Jal awoke from his reverie. What a -dream! What a nightmare! The details faded, chewed away from his mind, -but the image of the serpent and her strange offer lingered. -</p> -<p> -The quiet dripping of sewer water and occasional scurrying of rodent -or insect were the only sounds to be heard besides the dull pounding -of his heart. -</p> -<p> -He sat in the muck for hours. -</p> -<p> -They were never far behind. Staying in one place for too long was -dangerous, but something held Jal in place. Could he actually escape -it all? -</p> -<p> -Soon a distant splash alerted him to company. Heavy footsteps, -confident and strong, echoed through the tunnel. Throngs of rodents -scurried away from the sound, fleeing in terror they trampled on one -another. A light breeze blew through the stinking place from the -opposite end of the tunnel and the insects stopped their chattering, -frozen and reverent. Jal couldn't think. They'd found him. They'd both -found him. It was too late. -</p> -<p> -A lightning bolt streaked through the tunnel past him and a barbaric -roar answered it. -</p> -<p> -The wind began to howl through the tunnel like a cyclone and the -sounds of crumbling rock assailed him from both sides. -</p> -<p> -Jal grimaced and hesitated. But as the twin forms came into view, he -shouted into the clamor, "ENOUGH! Dendar! We are bound, now free me -from this place!" -</p> -<p> -<i>Wissse Choissce…</i> -</p> -<p> -Instantly a portal opened before him like a tear in reality and -brilliant light beamed through. Jal rushed into it and was transported -many miles away in an instant. A startled yell and the renewed sounds -of battle followed him through, but then there was nothing but -silence, the gentle breeze, and the burning light of the midday sun. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-27" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-27"><span class="section-number-2">27</span> The Surface</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-27"> -<p> -The blinding light of the Shaar's Summer Sun left Jal helpless. -</p> -<p> -He lay upon the ground thinking it maybe better he have died quickly -in the tunnels or upon his own blade. But such musings held no real -power, and with the setting of the Sun, and the rising of the lesser -evils of the moon and of the stars, he wept freely. For though he was -bound–and nightmares would indeed become routine while in service to -their master–for the first time in his life, he was free. -</p> -</div> -</div> -<div id="outline-container-sec-28" class="outline-2"> -<h2 id="sec-28"><span class="section-number-2">28</span> Credits</h2> -<div class="outline-text-2" id="text-28"> -<p> -[Thank you for Reading! I'm Andrew Murrell, an aspiring D&D author and -dedicated DM. Check out my blog at <a href="http://AndrewDM.me/">http://AndrewDM.me/</a> [WIP] for -updates or if you'd like to see more stuff like this!] -</p> -</div> -</div> |