[PF-1e] Parabellum Games

[triedtherest]

If we take a Trade Tradition, does that replace or add to your class skills?

What about existing skill points?

[Ermine]

Replaces class skills. Trade traditions don't interfere with how many skill points you have. The opposite, actually: skill points determine whether you're competent or adroit trade rank. If you take a trade tradition later than 1st, you just get a talent from vocation sphere (and if it's a trade talent, it adds to your class skills).

Edit: If you take the trade tradition and talents as the pseudogestalt thing, I would assume it would add? That I'm not sure on. Typically in gestalt it would give you additional class skills, but I would assume it's just a Vocation sphere talent with this option.

[AximusLokar]

Name: San-Gi Cova
Race: Shingami (Exile)
Class: Armorist
Archetype: Martial Armorist, Bloodbinder
Alignment: Neutral Good
Primary Party Role: Ranged Damage, Buffer
Secondary Party Role: Slow Heal

Home Kingdom: San-Gi incorporated her body in Jukai but was forced to leave.
Campaign Trait: Glutton for War - Many claim that they are forced to kill in order to live. For San-Gi, this is a literal fact of her existence.
Physical Description: San-Gi looks mostly human, her pallid tone generally attributed to a lack of sunlight and her more exotic features assumed to be the norm in Jukai. She does resemble a woman from Western Jukai but minor features stand out to natives of that nation. Her face is a bit too sharp, she stands just a little too tall, and her eyes are an unnatural metalic gold with subtly diamond shaped pupils. Not enough that the average citizen would immediately call her out but enough to look...off.

From her frequent travelling San-Gi maintains a healthy physique, tall and lithe but with well defined arms, and she moves and dresses in short cuts and sleeveless outfits to accentuates what she considers her best features. While working or on the road she favors well-fitted but simple leathers cut for maximum comfort and mobility, but she owns several stunning silk Jukai dresses for nights out. A nigh-everpresent soft smile makes what otherwise could be a cold and cruel visage warm and inviting, and absolutely terrifying when it turns malevolent.

When moved to violence San-Gi manifests a blackened gauntlet that extends up and over her shoulder before flaring outwards and a bone-white hunting bow with traces of blood in the 'grain' of it's material. The whites of her eyes flood with vivid red blood, overflowing into tear tracks flowing down her cheeks when manifesting the fullness of her power. A subtle mist surrounds her as all warmth is pulled from the air into her skin until it is consumed by the endless void of her blood.

Personality: Casual interaction with San-Gi would lead one to assume the woman to be carefree and perhaps a bit irreverent. This is not entirely untrue, as it is what she strives for in life. To live, let live, and for everyone's day to be just a bit better than it could have been. She loves to travel and meet new people, and is always on board for new experiences. A frequent saying of her's is "I'll try anything twice". She often ends up ingratiating herself into local taverns as a novelty, both in her personage and her magic-infused brews, as a way of earning her keep and putting herself in a prime position to join or enable anything fun that might crop up. In the absence of anything interesting going on she will begin to draw people into her orbit for something as simple as sharing a few drinks and talking about absolute nonsense hypotheticals, or to begin an impromptu pseudo-festival of semi-organized competitions and singing. To her, life isn't wasted if it was enjoyed or at least improved the lives of those around her.

Part of the reason for her drive to live is the everpresent knowledge of her impending demise. While most people are consciously aware of the fact that they will die, shinigami are literally aware of this fact in the same way that humans are aware of where their feet are without having to look down. The nature of a shinigami's need to reap has given her a simultaneously rosey and pragmatic outlook on the idea of life, death, and killing. Those that lead a peaceful life deserve to have that life protected. Those that threaten that peace are fair game for slaughter. San-Gi has managed to maintain some distance from her eventual end through the unwise decision of bandits and other roadside monsters to prey on a seemingly unarmed woman travelling alone, even going so far as to take a proactive stance and hunt down threats in an area she'll be staying in for some time, but without making the ending of life her day-to-day occupation she knows that the looming non-existence she feels growing closer every day will eventually catch up to her.

Backstory:

 

San-Gi spent the first ten years of her existence as a Reaper, nearly from the moment of inception handed a weapon and expected to process the endless ranks of souls passing through purgatory and occasionally sent out into other planes to hunt and kill those that tried to evade the End that all mortal beings must face. And for ten years she did so, not happily or unhappily, but thoughtlessly and without passion. Her mission and purpose was all she knew and she excelled at it. She had hunted and reaped dozens, perhaps hundreds, in that time. Most raged and screamed, some wept and pleaded, and they all blend together in the monotony her early memory. But there was one...just the one...that she recalls vividly.

She found the escaped spirit possessing the body of a young man sitting alone in a tavern after closing. She expected the usual response and prepared to defend herself, already writing off the life of the possessed human as a necessary cost. Instead the borrowed face merely looked up at her with a wry smile, raised the drink in it's hand in a cheers, and after draining it in one pull left the body to fall asleep at the table. The confusion on her face must have been evident for without prompting the spirit explained itself. The youth had been a willing and gracious host for one last hurrah, and letting him get killed fighting the inevitable would have been a poor way to repay such kindness.

"I have lived a full and fair life, Reaper, and a few good nights on top of it. Should you ever stare down your end I hope only that you can say the same."

Unresisting the spirit was laid to rest, leaving only a sleeping human, one empty drink, and one seemingly placed across from him in front of her. A spark of curiosity lit up inside of her for the first time and, without really knowing why, she lifted the drink up and returned the spirit's earlier motion before downing it. If asked today what the experience of her first drink was she would truthfully and gleefully tell you it was the worst drink she'd had before or since, an afront to alcohol in all it's forms, and she'd never regret it.

It wasn't long before those few overseers among them noticed San-Gi taking on more excursions into the living realms and those trips taking longer and longer to complete. The idea of living life was practically heresy for a proper shinigami and they saw only abberation, quickly sentencing her to exile and mortality. While no one called upon her for any final words she delivered them nonetheless as the ritual of banishment neared completion.

"I have lived a few good nights, so I suppose it's time I got working on the rest."

 

Following her banishment from purgatory San-Gi awoke in the mortal realm in a forest. While Exiles were uncommon the broad concepts were known to shinigami, shared more as warning and example than with any expectation of the knowledge being useful down the line. And so San-Gi opted for skipping past the nearest settlement to avoid the chance of her new body having too much resemblence to the deceased mortal from which she'd built it and being noticed or questioned. She'd inherited the language and snippets of the culture were still settling into her memory but there was no way she would be able to pass herself off as whoever the girl had been, nor did she want to.

As it turned out what she knew about the culture would prove insufficient to the task of remaining unnoticed in this new land, Jukai. Her lack of specific knowledge, unusual features, and seeming lack of origin drew people to suspect her of being the thing she'd once tracked down, a malevolent spirit possessing another's body. Unknown to her nearly every place she left immediately sent word to the Onmyoji, the priests and warriors tasked with protecting the nation from roving spirits and malevolent monsters. The band dispatched to hunt her grew closer with every village she passed through and six months after being reborn she was finally surrounded and captured, the lack of deaths surrounding her movements convincing the band that she was potentially the type of spirit one could enlist the services of.

As luck would have it the priest in charge of the region she was in was familiar with her kind, and able to confirm that she'd neither killed the woman whose body had made her own nor anyone else since her arrival. However, the laws of the land being what they were, she was still considered an outsider. Fresh off of being exiled from her home plane she now faced exile from her new land of origin...unless. Unless she were willing to join his organization. To dedicate her life to protecting the people from roving spirits, to serving the Golden Emperor, and safeguard his nation. She would be idealy suited to the task, able to sustain her life through the spirits banished, and be given a position of honor in her new home. With such an offer San-Gi could only smile and respond, 'So does this exile come with a ritual, too? Or should I borrow a horse?'

She was in no hurry to pledge herself to a never-ending war against the displaced dead so soon after escaping the first one, even if the benefits were notably better. And so, blind-folded and handed off to an outgoing merchant for transport, she found herself in yet another unfamiliar land before her seventh month. Although at least this time the separation was more amiable, with the priest implying that the offer would stay on the table 'for quite some time'.

Since leaving Jukai San-Gi has traveled quite extensively, predominantly across Lukae and Baalreisan, and while a short stint in Arrhakor was certainly an experience (and a boon to her lifespan) it isn't a place she would choose to settle down. While mostly a wanderer she occasionally stays in a promising area for a few months, usually to learn a bit of a new trade (her infused drinks, often sold as 'mana bombs', are always a hit in a new tavern) or explore interesting new experiences (and people). Inevitably, though, that sense of dwindling time pushes her onward.

She's maintained travel funds and lifeforce fending off attackers on the road, rediscovering and refining the skills from her previous existence. And more and more she'd become convinced off an oddity to shinigami reaping. While conventional doctrine always told that the amount of lifespan regained was directly, and only, related to the amount of 'natural time' the reaped soul had remaining...she could swear that the few times when a particularly vicious monster had attacked her had set back that sense of inevitability far more than weaker, presumably more long lived beings like the occasional elf that took up with brigands. She began to suspect that every act of killing left traces of mortal energy in the killer, not just shinigami. And if so then strong monsters, with larger kill counts, could present a much more efficient means of sustaining herself long term.

But it's not like anyone was just gathering up maneating monsters and inviting complete strangers to enter into a life-or-death battle with them, right?

RP Scenario:

San-Gi stood behind the counter of the Wanderer's Rest, cleaning a few glasses and getting ready to put away her supplies. The big rush for the night had passed and it was unlikely she would need any more pre-mixed solutions before Johan closed down the bar and kitchen. As she set out a few pieces to dry a wisp of conversation caught her ear. "-killed three teams last time one showed up, and good money says it takes more this year. Brutal way to go." Wiping off her hands she slipped out from behind the bar and drifted closer, spotting one of her regulars with a mostly empty Mana Bomb in front of him. "Dakon, did I hear right? Some kinda beast in the area causing trouble? Anyone called for a Hunter yet?" The native Baalreisan looked up at the sound of her voice, returning a smile and a lifted drink in greeting. "Nah, nah, Sashi." She ignored the mispronunciation, Dakon at least tried and got closer than most. "It's the Games! The Games!" She fixed him with a bemused look. "Alright, so let's pretend for a moment I didn't grow up around here and know the festival calendar?" Dakon waved his drink-filled hand in a dismissive motion. "Oh come on, it's The Games! The Parabellum Games! World famous, gotta be, we get all kinds coming round. Even a few people from your corner poke their heads out to come fight in it. Big event, twice a decade, monsters like you wouldn't believe. Saw a huge dragon my first time as a kid, and that's just the start. The Hunters bring in all kinds of weird creatures, really gives a sense of what they're doing out there, y'know? Makes ya proud, them standing between good honest folk and a Froghemoth." San-Gi shook her head, nearly laughing. "Okay now that sounds made up." "Honest truth, frog monster big as this building, tentacles everywhere, only reason they ain't a bigger problem is they ain't subtle and the Hunters make good time." "Well what was the thing you were talking about before, killing teams?" Dakon looked both excited and somber somehow. "They found...a blob!" The deadpan look he got for that prompted him to abandon theatrics. "A Carnivore Blob, it's like them acid oozes but all made of meat and blood. They kill and eat ya, then split off into more. One of them hits a village and you can be looking at a rampage across the countryside. I hear they caught one over by Lanjur, and with the Games coming up no way they aren't throwing it in there." "So you're saying these things have killed a lot of people? And they just throw anyone willing to fight them into a pit with it?" San-Gi was torn between revulsion at the practice and a bit of growing excitement at the prospect. 'This could be what I was looking for...' "Them and more! People come from all over! It's big money, too. You can set yourself up for life getting far enough into the big events." 'Possibly in more ways than one...' San-Gi thought to herself, the ever-present thrum of mortal doom hovering in the back of her thoughts. "Well, I was planning on checking out the capital at some point anyways. Maybe I'll find the time to watch a round or two..." ~ Two weeks later, at the front office of the Volker Macht Colosseum ~ "Hello, I have come to kill your monsters!" San-Gi stood in front of the desk advertising sign-ups for the Games. The bored looking scribe took a long look at her and sighed, an expression that loudly communicated 'fantastic, another crazy one', and turned a paper around to place in front of her. "Please read this in it's entirety and sign. If you cannot read balreisan a translator can be provided. Volker Macht is not responsible for participant's failure to complete due diligence and safety measures, and provides no assertion as to your chance of survival before, after, or during any event associated with our Colosseum."

Monster Encounter Encounter Name: Sacrificial Lambs Difficulty Rating: Medium-high Monsters: Carnivorous Blob*, Goats* x6 Monster Strategy: This fight is always the third for a day. Note the place of death of all non-undead flesh-based creatures during previous rounds, and previous rounds will preference such creatures. Goats that die from being hit by the Blob do not leave behind a corpse, and sufficient fire, acid, or cold damage may also render any corpse unusable. The Goats/Lambs always act first at the top of the initiative (effectively they had readied actions to dash upon the gates opening). They will always use their movement to move as far from the Blob as possible, but if the only available path would move them within reach of another creature other than another Goat they will use Powerful Charge to chase them off. If cornered by a wall they will attempt to flee, with the same direction/attack tactics as earlier (Bullrushing if doing so could clear them a path). The Blob's first action will always be to move into the arena and grab a Goat, constricting and draining it to showcase the signature ability Absorb Flesh. All of it's actions are instinctual and hunger-motivated, preferring moving towards the nearest living creature to eat and attacking the most recent nearby creature that harmed it, but it will actively avoid persistent areas of extreme cold. If it cannot reach living prey by charging then it will attempt to consume a corpse within range. It may also do this if particularly injured (<25% HP) and there are corpses within immediate reach but no living prey. Special Ability: This Blob is accustomed to having to snatch up it's food quickly, and it isn't picky about freshness. It can use Absorb Flesh on dead, flesh-based corpses consuming the corpse and healing it as though the target had taken Con damage as normal. Doing so causes it to be Sickened until the end of it's next turn (exception: Goats killed by the players are fresh enough not to incur this penalty), and consuming additional corpses extends the duration by 1 round. If Sickened has 3 or more rounds left the Blob is also Nauseated. Sickened/Nauseated duration is retained by both when the Blob splits. When it would make a But not a SplitReactive Strike it may instead immediately Slam/Absorb Flesh a corpse within it's range as an attack of opportunity. This attack automatically succeeds. Variable Difficulty: Difficulty can be lowered slightly by starting the Blob below it's maximum health, or imposing Exhausted on it due to starvation. If you really want to kill some folk the difficulty can be raised by starting the Blob with one or two Absorb Flesh rolls during the 'surprise' round (the Goats were used to lead it into the arena. Not all of them made it), potentially starting the fight with one Split in effect.

[Eviltedzies]

Originally Posted by triedtherest

If we take a Trade Tradition, does that replace or add to your class skills?
What about existing skill points?

I had not considered how Trade Traditions would interact with our non-gestalt setup.

If you gain a Trade Tradition by choosing the free Journeyman progression you do not replace your existing class skills. You may instead add any new class skills gained from the tradition to your normal class skills. Your skill points per level will remain the same as your base class.

If you gain a Trade tradition through another method such as choosing a Spheres of Guile class or trading away some class features/feats to gain a Trade tradition you must follow the normal rules on Trade Traditions including them replacing existing class skills.

[AximusLokar]

Oh man, I had not even looked at Trade Traditions. I'm glad I did, because despite the arena setting I'm building my character as though it were for a normal campaign (including side-skills for fleshing out downtime activities like splashing ranks in civilian-level-skills like enjoying dancing, and absolutely taking a few ranks of Style!) and the armorist's skill list is definitely meant more for a warrior than a scout.

Requesting the following Trade Tradition

Wandering Exile
Base [Craft, Perception, Perform, Profession]
Undead Slayer (trade) [Intimidate, KnRelig, KnPlane, Survival; Intimidate undead]
Dilettante (trade) [Acrobatics, Sense Motive, Stealth, Composure]
Body Control sphere (Incredible Stamina drawback) [Escape Artist]

Side note, intent to replace: [Planes/Survival -> Style]

[Ermine]

I considered trading mine for a trade tradition, then realized Prodigy loses a TON of class skills doing that. That's why I only took Body Control with a feat. (Endurance Training is going to be useless in this one except maybe RP purposes between matches, to sleep less and RP more, maybe, but I mean...I LIKE Body Control sphere)

[triedtherest]

Brewmaster Borkin's Sheet is all done apart from his Languages (he gets over 20).

What Languages exist in this setting?

[AximusLokar]

Originally Posted by triedtherest

Languages (he gets over 20).

Languages: Yes.

[Eviltedzies]

A minor reminder for those dabbling in Trade Traditions, but also to those curious about my Homebrew skill rules. Do not forget that I am allowing anyone to exchange two of their classes existing class skills for any two of my Homebrew skills. If you possessed a skill that was rolled into one of my new skills you automatically gain the new skill as a class skill without needing to exchange for it.

If you gain a Trade Tradition by taking the free Journeymen talent progression your Trade Rank is considered Competent for calculating the Trade Tradition benefits you gain. [See the Trade Rank section of the Trade Traditions page]

Originally Posted by AximusLokar

Trade Tradition
Wandering Exile
Base [Craft, Perception, Perform, Profession]
Undead Slayer (trade) [Intimidate, KnRelig, KnPlane, Survival; Intimidate undead]
Dilettante (trade) [Acrobatics, Sense Motive, Stealth, Composure]
Body Control sphere (Incredible Stamina drawback) [Escape Artist]

Side note, intent to replace: [Planes/Survival -> Style]

Approved

Originally Posted by triedtherest

What Languages exist in this setting?

You just had to make me stop and think about how I wanted to do languages didn't you Tried? *furiously starts typing up some hombrew language stuff because he is too OCD to use the bare bones Pathfinder languages as they are*

Added a new section under the Homebrew Mechanics section called Homebrew Languages. I've also updated the "Kingdoms of Kairinina" section to include the national languages of each major kingdom.

Have fun!

[LeoByron]

Application Name: Lucius Nox Race: EcclesiarumCustom Race; Offshoot of Aasimar* Classes: Ecclesitheurge Sphere Cleric 1 / Incanter 6 / Swarmheart Wraith 3 Alignment: Chaotic-Good Primary Party Roles: Battlefield Controler (via Conjuration Companion), DPS, Tank, Healer (single target only) Character Sheet: Link Home Kingdom: Soul Terra (Born to Magic Regional Trait) Campaign Trait: Right of the Strong   In the dim twilight of the realm of Baalreisan, strides Lucius Nox, a sentinel born of the Ecclesiarum, an enigmatic offshoot of the celestial Aasimar. Cloaked in an ethereal pallor, his skin whispers of the grave’s cold embrace. His brow is wide, casting shadows over dark, pitted eye sockets. His features are striking yet spectral—a grand Roman nose, and large, burning orange eyes that pierce the gloom with an unsettling intensity. Thin lips, devoid of life’s color, complete his visage, a visage devoid of any hair, sculpted by fate’s cruel hand. Lucius' form towers tall and gaunt, an eerie silhouette against the twilight. Emaciated to the point of spectral frailty, he teeters on the edge of the living and the dead. Though strength and agility evade him, a peculiar resilience courses through his sinews, a testament to the silent fortitude of his lineage. Adorned in the tattered remnants of priests' robes, each tear and fray tells tales of bygone oaths and an unyielding past he refuses to discard. Haunted eyes, ever adrift, seem to peer beyond the veil of the present, into realms unknown and uncharted. Unarmed, yet his hands bear the scars of toil—calloused from his youth’s labor in the fields, now twisted and gnarled by the relentless march of time. Lucius Nox is more than a guardian; he is a living relic, a harbinger of wisdom and woe, caught forever in the twilight between the ephemeral and the eternal. In the shadowed echoes of Lucius Nox strides his daughter, Livia Nox, a child born of deception and dark allure. Her presence is a symphony of beauty and danger, a testament to her half-demon heritage. Livia’s long, luscious red hair cascades like molten lava, framing a face marked by the same Roman nose and blazing orange eyes as her father’s. Yet, her eyes harbor an ancient wisdom, an unsettling gleam that betrays her mischievous and malevolent spirit. At the center of her forehead, a hooked cross mars her pale skin, an eternal reminder of her demonic lineage. Clad in scarlet priestly robes, their deep color reminiscent of blood stains that have soaked them through, Livia’s attire speaks of a forgotten sacrilege. The robes are tattered and torn, revealing glimpses of her svelte form and the overly feminized chain armored shirt beneath, which offers little modesty. Her musculature, impressive and starkly contrasting with her father’s frailness, suggests a strength born of both her demonic blood and relentless training. Though she is shorter than Lucius, she commands an aura of sinister grace. A wicked whip coils at her waist, a dark serpent ready to strike, moving with a fluidity that echoes her own lethal elegance. Livia Nox, barely eighteen in years, exudes a timeless malevolence. She is the living embodiment of allure and menace, a dark shadow cast upon the legacy of her father.   Lucius Nox, a figure of stern stoicism, carries the weight of wisdom etched into his very being. His eyes, ever watchful, see beyond the mere physical, delving into the depths of his own contemplations. Once a humble farmer and caretaker of bees, he embodies the patience of the seasons, his demeanor a testament to the quiet resilience of nature. His voice, a mere rasp, seldom breaks the silence, for he finds little reason to share his thoughts with the world. Pain has shaped him, yet he does not dwell in its shadow. It lingers in the set of his eyes, the curl of his thin lips, but he refuses to let it define him. A good man, tainted by the rage that still smolders within, he feels a detachment from the living, save for his daughter, Livia. Her hatred wounds him deeply, and he longs for her forgiveness, though he has never been able to bridge the chasm between them. In his desperation, he resorts to dark magics, believing he does so for her own good and the world's safety. Driven by a desire for revenge and a hope to reach Livia's heart, he seeks to save her from the infernal fate that looms over her. Livia Nox, on the other hand, is a tempest of hatred and resentment. She blames Lucius for her cursed existence and the life of perceived slavery he has imposed upon her. The violation she feels when he possesses her form is a torment she cannot escape, leading her to compulsively cleanse herself in the rare moments of privacy he grants. Cruel and quick to mock, she delights in the humiliation of others, wielding her whip with a sadistic glee. Her sharp tongue is as dangerous as her weapon, cutting deep into those who cross her path. Livia's intellect may not be her strength, but her inability to understand Lucius only fuels her rage. She yearns to unleash her fury upon the world, punishing it for the harsh light it casts upon her. Yet, in the rare moments when her anger subsides, a softer side emerges. She cherishes the flowers her father gifts her and secretly giggles at the sight of bees, a fleeting connection to the man she both despises and longs to understand. The one thing she does share with Lucius, however, is her burning hatred for her mother. The Sucubus who spawned her unleashed her upon the world with a carelessness born of spite and devastating indifference towards the daughter she birthed on a careless whim. Livia feels abandoned and unloved, and would like nothing more than to whip the smirk off her mother's face forever.   Catastrophe The young man’s hand cradled the delicate flower as he leaned in, his face almost touching the petals. His lips curled into a soft smile when he noticed the bee nestled in its center. The insect, startled, shook its plump, pollen-dusted body and took flight in a clumsy arc away from Lucius Nox's face. Rising slowly, Lucius turned his gaze westward, where the sun was painting the sky with strokes of red and orange. The fiery spectacle caused his sensitive eyes to water, yet he basked in the warmth on his pale skin. Tonight, Lucius felt unusually buoyant, his spirit lifted by the garden's serene beauty, a place where he often sought solitude. He had made it. After years of rigorous study and countless trials, Lucius had ascended from acolyte to full-fledged Priest in the Promethean order. As he strolled past the meticulously groomed hedges, his mind wandered to the mission he had just embarked upon, the culmination of his long journey. Giorgio had urged him to join the other acolytes in celebration, but Lucius preferred this moment of solitude, to savor the transition alone in this sanctuary. His eyes followed the bee as it lumbered back towards its hive, one of many tended by his brethren. The contrast between the fiery sunset and the garden's tranquility struck him as profound—Fire and Life, the very essence of his order. “I hear you, Lord Prometheus. I thank you for this portent in this, my time of ascension into your service,” he whispered, his voice barely a murmur in the quiet evening. Then, the first scream shattered the peace. The sound jolted Lucius from his reverie, his heart skipping a beat. He initially thought it might be some jest among the new initiates, but a second, more desperate scream tore through the temple's usual tranquility. A loud crash from a nearby rectory window snapped him back to reality. “What is happening?” he muttered, his voice a mix of confusion and concern, as he quickened his pace towards the garden's boundary fence, his feet now careless of the thorns that snagged at him. Pressing his face against the cold, black metal bars, Lucius peered into the courtyard. His breath caught in his throat as he watched the rectory door burst open, expelling Brother Giorgio with such force that he tumbled down the stone steps, his neck a grotesque fountain of blood. Lucius's mind reeled in disbelief. “Giorgio...” The name choked in his throat. Another scream redirected his gaze skyward just in time to see another brother hurled through the second-story window, blood trailing behind him like a grim banner before he fell to his death. The horror rooted Lucius to the spot, his sanctuary now a scene of terror. As darkness claimed the day, more screams pierced the night, the sanctuary he cherished now a stage for slaughter. As the last light of day succumbed to the encroaching night, the atmosphere turned from the warm hues of the setting sun to a chilling, moonless darkness. The garden, moments before a place of peace, now bore witness to an unthinkable horror. Lucius, still rooted by the fence, his heart pounding, watched as the scene unfolded with a surreal clarity. From the very window that had just claimed another life, a figure emerged, not human, but something far more sinister. A female demon tore through the air, her form enveloped in black, blood-soaked robes that billowed like the darkest storm clouds. Her magnificent leathery wings, vast and terrifying, beat against the night, each motion sending ripples through the fabric of twilight. Her red hair, flowing and wild, seemed to catch the last vestiges of the sun's dying light, igniting it into a fiery cascade around her. In her hand, she wielded a terrible weapon—a Scorpion Whip, its barbed end writhing with an unnatural life of its own. As she soared higher, the whip cracked with a sound that echoed like thunder through the compound, a herald of doom. Lucius's eyes followed her ascent, his mind struggling with the mixture of horror and an inexplicable awe at the sight before him. The demon's face turned away, her features obscured from his view, yet an unsettling sense of familiarity gnawed at Lucius's heart. It was as if he should know this creature, as if her presence was not entirely alien to him, though his rational mind rebelled against such a notion. Then, with a grace that belied her monstrous appearance, she dove towards the dormitory, her wings folded back, her form cutting through the air like a blade. The movement jolted Lucius from his stupor, his shock giving way to a surge of adrenaline. "By the light of Prometheus..." Lucius whispered, his voice barely audible over the chaos. The contrast could not have been more stark; from the serene beauty of the sunset to this nightmare that now unfolded before him. His mind raced, searching for action, for reason, for anything to combat the terror that had so suddenly besieged his sanctuary. From within the dormitory came the cacophony of suffering—shouts, the crash of furniture, and the sickening thud of bodies falling. The night, now fully in command, seemed to amplify every sound, turning the once sacred grounds into a theater of horrors. Then, as if fleeing from the very jaws of death, another of Lucius's friends burst from the dormitory, his face and arms lacerated, the cruel marks of the whip's stings evident. Lucius's heart sank as he recognized Cassian, a brother in arms and spirit. Cassian, driven by fear, stumbled and fell, his eyes wide with panic. Behind him, with a grace that seemed almost theatrical, the succubus landed, her wings folding with a predatory elegance. The demon's landing was marked by a lazy flourish, a stark contrast to Cassian's desperate scramble for safety. As she turned towards Cassian, her face was finally revealed to Lucius. In that instant, the seed of recognition that had been planted in Lucius's mind blossomed into full, horrific bloom. Lucius' mind reeled as time stopped and his moment was cast back to a time long ago... The Folly of Youth “Lucius, come on, let’s live a little!” Giorgio's voice was full of laughter and mischief as he shoved Lucius playfully. “You can’t spend all your days with your nose buried in scrolls. There’s a whole world out there, ripe for the picking!” he said as he bit down on his apple dramatically. Cassian, always the mediator, chimed in, “He's right, Lucius. The tavern at the edge of town is where all the fun happens. And who knows, you might meet someone special.” The trio approached the tavern, the boisterous sounds of revelry spilling out onto the cobblestone street. Lucius, despite his reservations, felt a thrill at the prospect. They were no longer mere boys; they stood on the threshold of manhood, where adventure and perhaps love, awaited. Inside, the atmosphere was thick with the scent of ale and the warmth of bodies close in dance and conversation. Giorgio and Cassian were quickly drawn into the crowd, soon each finding a girl with whom to flirt and jest. Lucius, ever the observer, hung back, watching the world with a mix of curiosity and caution. That's when she appeared, as if conjured by his longing for something more than the monastic life. Her red hair was like fire, her eyes a deep, captivating green, and her smile promised secrets only she could share. Lucius felt his resolve weakening, his will slipping away like smoke as she approached him. Her voice was like honeyed wine, and with a gentle tug on his arm, she led him through the crowd, up the stairs, and into a room where the noise of the tavern faded to a distant murmur. What followed was a haze, a feverish dream where Lucius felt both lost and found. Her touch was intoxicating, her whispers intoxicating, and before he could grasp the full gravity of his actions, morning light found him alone in the embrace of an empty bed. Defeat The memory hit Lucius like a hammer blow as he returned to the horrifying present, the realization that the demon before him was none other than the enchantress from that night at the tavern. The woman who had seduced him with her unearthly charm was now a harbinger of doom, wielding the Scorpion Whip that had already claimed so many lives. No...” Lucius whispered, the word a mix of denial and horror, as the present catastrophe unfolded before him. As Lucius peered through the iron bars of the garden fence, his silhouette cast into shadow by the flickering fires now consuming parts of the temple, the succubus's gaze finally found him. A smile, wicked and sweet, stretched across her face, her eyes lighting up with recognition. "Lucius, my dear, there you are," she purred, her voice a silken taunt as she began to saunter towards him, her steps deliberate, mocking his entrapment. Images cascaded through Lucius's mind like physical blows—flashes of their night together, the intoxicating fog that had clouded his judgment. He staggered back, the bars of the fence clanging as he stumbled over the roots of a tree. As she reached the fence, her slender, powerful fingers wrapped around the bars, pulling her face close, her breath mingling with the night air. "You have a daughter, Lucius. From our little tryst. I've unleashed her upon the world, a spawn of our union to torment you. She will wreak havoc, and she will hate you, always..." Her laughter, cruel and resonant, filled the air, but it was cut short as Tiberius, the High Priest of the Promethean Order, clad in his fiery golden robes, emerged from the chapel, his presence commanding the attention of all. He wielded a golden mace, its surface etched with holy symbols, which now glinted menacingly in the firelight. "Demon, your reign of terror ends here!" Tiberius declared, his voice echoing with righteous fury. The succubus turned from Lucius, her last words to him a taunt, “Farewell, my love. Enjoy our progeny’s wrath.” The battle that ensued was fierce, a clash of divine light against infernal darkness. Tiberius, with his blessed weapon, pushed the demon back, his movements fueled by faith and vengeance. Yet, the succubus was cunning and fierce. Her whip wrapped around Tiberius's neck in a final, desperate strike, and with a violent yank, she severed his head from his body, blood gushing like a fountain under the moonless sky. Now wounded, the succubus staggered towards Lucius, her strength diminishing. With a casual, cruel gesture, she bent the metal fence aside with a squeal of protest, opening a path to him. Lucius, driven by survival instinct, turned to run, but the whip, still dripping with Tiberius's blood, snaked out, coiling around his neck, stopping him cold. Her laugh was tired as she pulled him back, her fingers brushing his face as he choked, tears streaming down his cheeks, his end seeming certain. "I couldn't let you live, Lucius. Loose ends and all. House Jaeger would not abide it." With a final, brutal yank, the whip tore through Lucius's throat, spinning him into a nearby bee hive. The bees, disturbed and angry, swarmed out, covering Lucius in a buzzing, vengeful cloud. As his life ebbed, he felt an odd connection, his soul merging with the hive, becoming one with the bees. From within the swarm, Lucius unleashed his fury. The bees attacked the succubus, their stings like holy retribution. Wounded and now overwhelmed, she was forced to flee, her laughter replaced by cries of pain. When the night calmed, Lucius found himself not dead, but transformed, able to shift at will into the swarm that had saved him. As he walked among the ruins of his beloved temple, he came upon Marcus, another priest, struggling amidst the flames. Lucius reached out, and in a moment of connection, found himself in Marcus's body, experiencing his dying agony before being violently cast back into his own form. It was then Lucius knew what he must do. Revenge was his path, but first, he had to find his daughter, to understand the legacy of that cursed night. His journey for vengeance and redemption had only just begun. Reunion Days had passed since the inferno that had consumed his life's sanctuary. Lucius, now clad in his torn and ash-caked robes, stood solemnly as he built the pyre for his fallen brethren. The fire was a beacon, meant to guide their souls to the embrace of Prometheus. "Great Prometheus, receive these souls into your light. Grant them the peace they deserve and lend me your strength for the journey ahead. Guide my steps, that I may fulfill my oath of vengeance and redemption," Lucius intoned, his voice steady but heavy with the weight of his losses. His quest led him back to the Honeyed Bee Inn, the place where his own fate had been irrevocably altered. Inside, his presence drew wary glances from the patrons, his appearance a stark reminder of the tragedy that had befallen the Promethean Order. At the bar, Lucius's voice was low, almost a growl, as he inquired, "Tell me of a woman with long red hair, who frequents this place." The barkeep, his eyes reflecting a mix of curiosity and fear, responded, "Livia? Yeah, she's here. She's occupied right now, though." "Where?" Lucius pressed, the urgency in his voice unmistakable. The barkeep hesitated, then whispered, "She's upstairs..." Lucius ascended the narrow stairs, the sounds of intimacy guiding him like a macabre melody. At the door, the memories of his encounter with the succubus surged forth, draining his already weakened strength. The door was locked, but Lucius called upon his newfound power. The buzzing within him grew, and he merged with the bees, flowing under the door in a dark, living cloud. Inside, he saw her. Not the demon of his nightmares, but a figure eerily similar yet unmistakably different. This was his daughter, Livia, in the midst of an act that mirrored his own past folly. As she slit the man's throat with a swift, practiced motion, Lucius recoiled in horror. Livia noticed him, her eyes widening in recognition and fear, as she leaped from the bed, her form still dripping with the blood of her victim. Lucius, driven by a mix of paternal instinct and revulsion, threw himself at her. She anticipated violence but not this—his spirit enveloped hers, fighting her for control. With her body now under his command, Lucius forced Livia through the window, glass shattering as they took to the air, her demonic wings unfurling to catch the midnight breeze as the soared. The night sky was momentarily blotted out by her form as they flew towards the ruins of the temple. Upon landing amidst the charred remains of the chapel, Lucius compelled Livia to draw sacred symbols with a charred piece of wood from the pews. His voice echoed in her mind, "You will be my instrument, Daughter. You will be the tool for my vengeance against the Demon who spawned you." Her inner struggle was palpable, her resistance fierce but futile against Lucius's overwhelming will. Yet as he felt her pain, the abandonment she had suffered, his resolve wavered. "No... I did not know..." he tried to explain, but Livia's sobs drowned out his words. His control faltered, the ritual incomplete. As the last syllable of the incantation left Livia's lips, Lucius was violently expelled from her body. Her screams turned from anger to despair as she attacked him with a ferocity that rivaled her mother's. Lucius transformed into a swarm of bees again, this time the struggle for dominance was brief. He reasserted control, her sobs returning as he rummaged through the ruins, finding the crimson robes of the acolytes to cover her. It was a strange sensation, dressing her body, but Lucius knew he would have to adapt. His mission was clear now, not only vengeance but also redemption for both himself and the daughter he had unknowingly left to a cruel fate. "House Jaeger," Lucius said from Livia's mouth. "Looks like we are traveling to Baalreisan. I've always wanted to see Vlastheim" he said, the mouth feeling strange as he shaped the words with her mouth. He walked out into the courtyard, leaving the strange circle of symbols behind him as he moved his daughter's shapely legs to walk. It felt different. His center of gravity aas too low and everything swayed too much. He felt the wings unfurl from Livia's back as he reached the courtyard gazing up into the sea of stars and galaxies above. "Let's see if we can fly," he said, leaping into the air. They could.   Valstheim The journey to Valstheim was set by the docks of Soul Terra, where Lucius, now inhabiting Livia's form, approached a ship named the Gale's Whisper. The captain, a burly man named Captain Grimhold, with a weathered face and a glint of mischief in his eye, eyed Lucius—or rather, Livia—with interest. "What brings a beauty like ye to these waters, lass?" Captain Grimhold asked, his voice rough like the sea itself. Lucius, through Livia, smiled sweetly, allowing a hint of allure to lace his words. "We seek passage to Valstheim, Captain. Can we count on your ship to take us there?" Grimhold laughed, a sound not unlike the creaking of his ship's timbers. "Aye, but passage ain't cheap. Fifty gold pieces for the trip, or..." His eyes roamed Livia's form, "... We could negotiate another way." Livia's voice, laced with a teasing note, whispered in Lucius's mind, "Oh, how charming you are when you're playing the coquette." Ignoring her jests, Lucius leaned in, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper, "Perhaps, Captain, you might lower your price for a promise of... future favors?" He let the innuendo hang in the air, knowing well the promise would never be fulfilled. After a moment's deliberation, Grimhold's grin widened. "Thirty gold, then, and we have a deal. But I'll be holdin' ye to that promise, lass." The sprawling metropolis of Valstheim was a revelation to Lucius. The docks were a cacophony of life, vibrant with the colors of foreign sails and the calls of merchants. While Lucius marveled at the sights, Livia's voice teased, "Don't gape at the city like a country bumpkin, Lucius. We've work to do." "Let me enjoy the moment, Livia," Lucius chided quietly, though he knew she was right. Securing a room at a modest inn, Lucius ventured into the common room, his inquiries about House Jaeger met with shrugs or suspicious looks. Days turned into weeks, his search yielding little until one fateful encounter. A young urchin, swift as a shadow, bumped into Livia. Lucius, ever vigilant, checked for his coins but found them untouched. Instead, there was a note, simple and foreboding: 'A meeting. House Jaeger. Warehouse district.' The warehouse was dim, the air thick with the scent of old wood and the faint tang of the sea. Lucius allowed his form to return to his own, Livia walking beside him, her presence a comforting shadow. They waited, the silence heavy around them until the door creaked open. A man with an air of authority, flanked by two imposing figures, entered. His name was Brennar, his voice smooth yet commanding. Beside him, a vision of ethereal beauty stepped forward, her silver hair cascading like liquid moonlight. This was Alisha, her presence almost overwhelming, her eyes holding a depth that seemed to see through to one's very soul. Alisha's smile was both inviting and slightly predatory, her noble attire doing little to hide the sharp, predatory glint in her eyes. She moved with a grace that seemed to dance with the shadows, her beauty a mask for the danger she exuded. "Welcome," Brennar began, his gaze shifting between Lucius and Livia, "House Jaeger has been expecting you." The warehouse's dim light cast long shadows, setting the stage for the clandestine meeting. Brennan, with an air of authority, broke the silence first. "Lucius of Soul Terra, your inquiries have not gone unnoticed. You've been looking for someone, haven't you? A red-haired lady with connections to House Jaeger." His eyes flicked between Lucius and Livia with a knowing look. Lucius, feeling the weight of the moment, spoke cautiously, "Indeed. My search has led me here." Alisha stepped forward, her presence commanding yet unsettling. Her smile was enchanting, yet there was something predatory in her gaze. "You're quite the amateur sleuth, aren't you? But your companion here," she glanced at Livia, "she's quite the charmer. I'm Alisha, by the way. Your questions about our red-haired friend have reached the right ears. She's become a problem for us, and it seems you might share our interest in... resolving her influence." Brennan nodded, continuing, "House Jaeger stands to benefit from her removal. However, it must be done delicately. She's in the Lord's highest favor. We cannot be seen to act directly against her." Alisha's voice took on a softer, almost conspiratorial tone, "The Lord hasn't been himself lately. Ridding him of this... demon might just bring him back to his senses." Lucius felt Livia's amusement in his mind, "Looks like we're getting involved in politics, Lucius. How thrilling." Brennan's voice cut through the whispers, "We propose an official wager in the Parabellum Games. Should you prove victorious, Lucius, we'll present the Red Lady as our champion in a one-on-one duel with you. By law, Lord Jaeger cannot back out of such a wager." Alisha, with a playful tilt of her head, added, "And I'll be joining the games as well. For my own reasons, of course. It's been a while since I've had the chance to stretch my legs in such a... public setting." Her eyes gleamed with a mix of excitement and a hint of the predator within. Lucius considered their words, aware of the gravity of what was being asked. "And if I win, House Jaeger will handle the political aftermath?" "We'll ensure Lord Jaeger sees the necessity of your victory. The house will find a way to make it... palatable," Brennan assured, his gaze steady. Livia's voice echoed in Lucius's mind again, "Oh, how noble of them, to clean up after our mess. You're really stepping into a viper's nest, aren't you?" With a nod, Lucius agreed, "Very well. I'll enter the games. But I need assurances that my daughter and I will be protected from any... repercussions." Alisha's laughter was light, almost musical, "You have my word. And trust me, Lucius, I'm very good at keeping my promises... or at least, I'm very good at making sure my enemies can't complain about me breaking them." Her eyes sparkled with a dark humor, her smile never reaching those hauntingly beautiful eyes. The meeting concluded, Lucius and Livia emerged from the warehouse into the cool embrace of the night. The city's cacophony was a distant murmur, a world apart from the gravity of their conversation. Lucius turned to Livia, his voice carrying the weight of his resolve, "I will need you to fight for me in the games, Livia. The prize will be a chance for revenge, for both of us. Can I count on you to keep your shenanigans to a minimum?" Livia's response was light, her tone almost mocking, "Of course, Daddy, I am always a good girl for you." Her words were laced with an obscene playfulness, her smirk wide. With a suddenness that surprised them both, Lucius grabbed her arm, his grip firm but not harsh. Livia laughed, her eyes dancing with mischief, but as she looked into Lucius's eyes, her laughter waned. There was something in his gaze—fury, pain, perhaps redemption—that stilled her jest. "Yes, Lucius," she said, her voice now earnest, her smirk fading, "I want her dead as badly as you do. I promise, I will keep my antics to a minimum." A playful look lingered in her eyes, the edges of her mouth twitching as if fighting against the sobriety of the moment. Lucius released her arm, his touch lingering for a moment before he turned away. He walked into the night, his steps purposeful, his heart lighter with the anticipation of facing his nemesis, of ending the cycle of terror that had begun in a garden under a setting sun. Livia watched him go, her own thoughts a tumultuous sea. She might have served darkness, but now, for this man, her father, she would fight in the light of the arena, for a chance at vengeance, at peace, at perhaps something akin to redemption. The games awaited, and with them, the promise of an end to a chapter of suffering that had begun years before in the whispers of lovers and the screams of the damned.   Monster Encounter Template The Sentinel's Riddle Difficulty Rating: High Setting: The Arena is setup so that a large iron statue of a Romanesque warrior stands majestically on a dais at one end of the arena, with marble steps leading up to it. The arena is lined with eight stone statues, each standing solemnly on either side. The ground before the dais is open, and there are small pedestals near each of the statues. Behind each stone statue, there are various scenes arranged, and near the front of the arena where the characters enter, there is a small pedestal with a piece of parchment resting on it. The characters should advance to the pedestal, to read the Parchment. It reads: Originally Posted by The Parchment Adventurers, heed this ancient decree. Within this arena of stone and shadow, eight guardians stand in silent vigil. Scattered amidst trials unseen lie eight sacred relics: Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, Topaz, Amethyst, Diamond, Onyx, and Opal. Each guardian holds a secret, locked within the heart of these gems. Some paths will reveal the prize, while others may rouse the ire of the silent sentinels. Your wisdom and courage shall illuminate the way. Remember, the balance of serenity and strife rests upon your choices. Embrace the trials, for only the perceptive shall prosper. Enter, and let your journey be marked by clarity and caution. -The Sentinel   Puzzle Elements: The Iron Statue is actually an Iron Golem. The 8 stone statues are a mix of 4 Stone Golems and 4 animated Stone Statues, as per Animate Objects of the Enhancement Sphere. The players must solve a puzzle, and depending on how they do, they can reduce the difficulty of this encounter. The object of the game is to find the 8 gems which are hidden in the arena, and place them in the indentations in the appropriate pedestals. In front of each stone statue, there is a challenge which the players must overcome. The challenges should be arranged randomly in front of each statue, but should not necessarily correspond with the pedestal nearest to it.. 1st Pedestal: Ruby (Red): An inscription, which must be deciphered using a Linguistics check DC: 30, reads Clue: “The heart of flame that burns eternal.” The Ruby Gem must be placed in this pedestal. The challenge here is to find the Ruby, which should be elsewhere in front of another random statue. In front of one of the statues, there is a large round basin made of wrought brass, about 10 feet in diameter. The Basin is full of lamp oil. There is an unlit torch in a sconce nearby. There are no further clues. The players must light the torch and use it to light the lamp oil in the basin. When they do, it will catch fire and burn very hot, inflicting 6d6 fire damage to anyone within it, no save. A Perception check DC: 30 will reveal the location of the Ruby, which appears in the basin only once the flames are lit. The fuel will burn for 5 rounds, after which they will be magically extinguished and the gem will disappear forever. A Character must brave the flames to retrieve it. If no one spotted the Ruby, a character can venture into the flames and attempt a new Perception check every round until they find it. 2nd Pedestal: Sapphire (Blue): An inscription, which must be deciphered using a Linguistics check DC: 30, reads: Clue: “The depths of the ocean, tranquil and fierce.” The Sapphire gem must be placed in this pedestal. The challenge here is to find the Sapphire which should be elsewhere in front of another random statue. In front of one of the statues is a well, about 15 feet in diameteter. The well is very deep. A Perception check DC: 30 will reveal the location of the Sapphire, which is hidden in a small cubby near the bottom of the well. One of the characters must dive into the basin and find the gem hidden at the bottom. However, once a character submerges himself under water, the waters will begin to churn violently, creating a veritable whirlpool. The character must succeed at a series of 3 Swim checks to reach the bottom of the pool, each with a DC of 25. The whirlpool is not actually dragging the character down, but rather up towards the surface. A failed Swim check merely means he will surface and can begin again. Once the whirlpool begins, the characters have 10 rounds before the sapphire disappears forever, ending the whirlpool. 3rd pedestal: Emerald (Green) An inscription, which must be deciphered using a Linguistics check DC: 30, reads: Clue: “The verdant life that grows unseen.” The Emerald Gem must be placed in this pedestal. The challenge here is to find the Sapphire which should be elsewhere in front of another random statue. In front of one of the statues is a small garden containing a plethora of different plants. All the plants in the garden are extremely poisonous, save one. A DC: 30 Knowledge (Nature) check will revveal which one is not poisonous. Uprooting this plant will reveal the emerald woven into its roots. If a player fails the check, or if they decide to touch random plants, roll 1d6. 1- Fort Save DC: 25 or take 1d6 Str dmg; 2- Fort Save DC: 25 or take 1d6 Dex dmg; 3- Fort Save DC: 25 or take 1d6 Con dmg; 4- Fort Save DC: 25 or take 1d6 Int dmg; 5- Fort Save DC: 25 or take 1d6 Wis dmg; 6- Fort Save DC: 25 or take 1d6 Cha dmg; Once 5 plants have been touched, all the plants will wilt and die and the gem will disappear forever. 4th pedestal: Topaz (Yellow) An inscription, which must be deciphered using a Linguistics check DC: 30, reads: Clue: “The brilliance of the midday sun.” The Topaz Gem must be placed in this pedestal. The challenge here is to find the Yellow Topaz, which should be elsewhere in front of another random statue. In front of one of the statues is a large rock garden, 25' x 25', with all manner of pretty rocks and stones aranged in a pleasing manner. Beams of light shine upon the little garden, creating beautiful corruscating effects. The Yellow Topaz is hidden in the rock garden. This area is bathed in powerful bright light which will blind characters with light sensitivities or function as sunlight for those vulnerable to it. Characters must look under the rocks to find the Topaz. The garden is separated in 25x 5 foot squares in a 25' by 25' formation. Each square is clearly marked with a number from 1 to 25. Characters must search each square to find the topaz, naming the square they are searching, requiring a Perception check dc 30 to find it. Roll 1d25. The Gem is in the corresponding 5 foot square. Once a character begins to look under the rocks, the lights will begin to dim and the sound of a ticking clock will become audible. The players have 5 more rounds after this before the lights go out and the gem disappears. They should probably all search to find the gem. 5th pedestal: Amethyst (Purple) An inscription, which must be deciphered using a Linguistics check DC: 30, reads: Clue: “The twilight sky’s final whisper.” The purple Amethyst Gem must be placed in this pedestal. The challenge here is to find the Yellow Topaz, which should be elsewhere in front of another random statue. In front of one of the statues is a large table. On the table is a plethora of tuning forks. The Gem here is actuallly quite obviously inside a large glass ball. An inscription on a note on the table clearly reads: "Do not touch the glass." The characters must sing to activate the tuning forks at the right frequencies to set of a chain reaction which will break the glass without touching it. One of the characters must attempt a series of 3 Perform (Singing) checks DC: 25 to initiate the chain reaction to break the glass. After 9 failed attempts, the tuning forks fall over and the gem disappears. 6th pedestal: Diamond (White) An inscription, which must be deciphered using a Linguistics check DC: 30, reads: Clue: “Pure as the driven snow.” The Diamond must be placed in this pedestal. The challenge here is to find the White Diamond, which should be elsewhere in front of another random statue. In front of one of the statues is a large glass box. The Diamond is clearly visible at the top of the box, resting on a glass shelf. Below this shelf is a series of other glass shelves, each thicker than the last. There are a total of 4 shelves. Once a character approaches within 30 feet of the box without succeeding at a DC: 30 Stealth check, the shelf holding the diamond will shatter, allowing it to fall onto the next shelf. This should warn the characters to be quiet. The bottom of the box has a large gaping hole, and it should be obvious with a DC: 15 Int check that if the diamond reaches this hole, it will be lost. The ground around the box is covered in broken shards of glass, dry leaves and other fragile and loud materials which will make getting any closer while remaining quiet somewhat challenging. A character must cross the landscape of debris, attempting a DC: 30 stealth check for every 5 foot square he crosses. Every failure destroys another shelf. It is most likely that the challenge will start with only 3 shelves since it is not likely characters will approach this area quietly. Once all 6 squares are crossed without losing the diamond, a player may simply reach into the top of the glass box and take it. Attempting to fly or levitate will still require stealth checks to approach. 7th pedestal: Onyx (Black) An inscription, which must be deciphered using a Linguistics check DC: 30, reads: Clue: “The void of night, swallowing all.” The Black Onyx must be placed in this pedestal. The challenge here is to find the Black Onyx, which should be elsewhere in front of another random statue. In front of one of the statues is a long table, 20 feet by 10 feet. At one end of the table is a strange contraption with metal rings which are arranged to hold a wand in the middle of them. The rings serve to pivot the wand up and down or side to side. At the other end of the table is the Black Onyx, encased in a cube of pure force. The task here is to use the wand, but the only way to activate it is with a DC: 25 Use Magic Device check. Activating the wand fires a Disintegration ray which will damage the cube of force. After 3 hits, the box of force shatters, allowing the characters to grab the Black Onyx Gem. Failing the UMD check by more than 5 causes a misfire. There are only 5 charges in the wand. If the wand misfires more than twice, it will become impossible to retrieve the Black Onyx Gem. 8th pedestal: Opal (Multicolor)[/B] An inscription, which must be deciphered using a Linguistics check DC: 30, reads: Clue: “A dance of light in a gemstone’s embrace.” The Multicoloured Opal must be placed in this pedestal. The challenge here is to find the Black Onyx, which should be elsewhere in front of another random statue. In front of one of the statues is a small table with the bust of a fool with a large mouth. A DC: 20 Perception check will reveal that the mouth is hinged and seems to open, somehow. The Bust has one hand extended holding an iron weight. In his other hand, there is an empty pouch. The task here is to fill the puch with enough sand to match the iron weight and swap them. The weight can then be attached to the fool's beard, opening his mouth to reveal the Multicoloured Opal. Putting the correct amount of sand in the pouch requires a DC: 25 Int check. Swapping the pouch for the Iron Weight requires a DC: 25 Dex check. Puzzle Consequences Once all the gems in the characters' possession have been placed, the Iron Golem will activate and fight the characters. Every pedestal that has an incorrect gem, or that is empty, will activate the statue nearest to it. Statistics Iron Golem 4x Stone Golem 4x Large Animated Objects The Animated Objects should have the following Contruction upgrades Durable (Ex; 1 CP): The animated object is exceptionally durable. It gains 5 additional hit points for each size category it has beyond Tiny, to a maximum of 30 additional hit points for Colossal animated objects. This can be applied multiple times, and its effects stack. Armed Object (Ex, 2 CP): [3PP] One of the animated object’s slam attacks is replaced with a weapon or shield you are proficient with. The weapon or shield is appropriately sized for the animated object and they are considered proficient with it. The animated object can be disarmed of this weapon or shield, but the weapon or shield vanishes when the animation effect wears off. For one additional CP, you may replace any number of the animated object’s natural attacks with weapons or shields. The animated statues are armed with Greatswords and deal 3d6+9 dmg.

[Eviltedzies]

Update: 12 days left until application closing folks!

I see a lot of folks who have posted interest have put a placeholder app with some details but only a few people have gone back to edit said details. Remember, I don't need a full character sheet for your app to be considered completed. I just want the fluff plus your monster encounter.

That said, I am liking what I am seeing so far. Almost everyone has gone out of their way to include some of my homebrew lore into your characters as well as making use of my campaign traits for your backstories. Some folks are even going above and beyond when it comes to creating new lore for their character which I love.

If you feel your application is complete please say so here in the thread and I will mark it as pending review. I will look over the app to confirm it has the basics of what I asked for and then mark it as complete. I will not give detailed reviews per application because I feel that can create a sense of false hope. The only exceptions are if I notice a mechanical detail or glaringly obvious fluff hole in your app that contradicts your mechanics.

[Ermine]

I mean, I already said mine is done (except the sheet)...

[Eviltedzies]

Originally Posted by Ermine

I mean, I already said mine is done (except the sheet)...

My apologies. I missed you line about being done. I will update your app as Review in Progress and change it to Completed once I get time to look it over.

[AximusLokar]

Still fiddling with some mechanics stuff but the application itself is ready.

[triedtherest]

I said that mine was done subject to review as well.

I'm going to have a look at the Language Rules to sort out what Borkin can speak/read.