Candlekeep Forum
Candlekeep Forum
Home | Profile | Register | Active Topics | Active Polls | Members | Private Messages | Search | FAQ
Username:
Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

 All Forums
 Forgotten Realms Journals
 General Forgotten Realms Chat
 Crown of Earlann?
 New Topic  New Poll New Poll
 Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Previous Page | Next Page
Author Previous Topic Topic Next Topic
Page: of 3

AJA
Senior Scribe

USA
747 Posts

Posted - 26 Mar 2020 :  14:58:33  Show Profile Send AJA a Private Message  Reply with Quote
George, I think we all need to accept that Eric has been lost to the depths of madness and Sage-Time(™), doomed to only interact with us by randomly poking at books scrolls on the shelves. Like a slightly less-chiseled version of Matthew McConaughey in Interstellar.


AJA
YAFRP

Edited by - AJA on 26 Mar 2020 14:59:07
Go to Top of Page

ericlboyd
Forgotten Realms Designer

USA
2065 Posts

Posted - 26 Mar 2020 :  16:15:17  Show Profile  Visit ericlboyd's Homepage Send ericlboyd a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Eh sonny?

Hidden Hand of Rhangaun
In the Year of Giant Skulls (217 DR), Prince Elthaun Aumar of Athalantar hired a Calishite wizard, Rhangaun of Almraiven, to slay his younger brother, Prince Cauln Aumar, by baiting him into a spell-battle in the skies above Hastarl (Modern: Secomber).
After Prince Elthaun was driven into exile by his brothers in the Year of Old Danger (219 DR), Rhangaun broke ties with the princes warring over the Stag King’s throne and moved east to the fledgling settlement of Blackcloak Hold (Modern: Waterdeep). Although not one of the original Seven, Rhangaun became an apprentice of Halaster Blackcloak and made his home in Halaster’s Hold.
In the centuries that followed, Rhangaun grew skilled in the Art, rising quickly in power under Halaster’s tutelage. He was an enthusiastic participant in Halaster’s Hunts—held at various times from 171 DR to 308 DR—and helped brutally exterminate large pockets of drow and duergar, driving them out of the Underhalls, as they had previously done to the Stout Folk of Clan Melairkyn.
However, Rhangaun chose not to follow the Seven into the Underhalls in the Year of Sundered Sails (307 DR), preferring to remain on the surface to continue his studies. While the tower and surface holdings of Halaster’s Hold fell into ruin, Rhanghaun dwelled among the feuding tribes of Blackcloak Hold, learning to manipulate them into conflict with each other while studying life-extending magics.
In the Year of the Blighted Vine (482 DR), Blackcloak Hold was sacked by Ulbaerag Bloodhand, in the guise of the legendary Black Alaric, and his pirate crews. Rhangaun took advantage of the unexpected interruption to insinuate himself as a trusted advisor of the newly ensconced “king” of Bloodhand Hold. Within a generation, with Rhangaun’s aid, Ulbaerag had managed to unite the ever-feuding settled tribes by the shores of Deepwater Bay. During this time, Rhangaun managed to study several books of arcane lore brought north by Ulbaerag. One of these books— Mingaudorr’s Treatise on Magical Absorption—had been penned by the Helbrestan elder ere his transformation into lichdom, seized by the first Black Alaric, and then handed down from pirate to pirate since the sacking of the Sunset Towers of Helbrester in the Year of Tomes ( 54 DR).
In the Year of the Unmasked Traitor (522 DR), Rhangaun attempted to steal the amulet of Ioma (see page 230) from Ulbaerag, which had great sentimental value to the aging warlord, while studying the various treasures captured by Ulbaerag over the course of his lifetime. However, the pirate warlord deduced the wizard’s treachery and had him summarily expelled from Bloodhand Hold.
As he departed, Rhangaun revealed his “true” identity as Ellatharion Aloevan, crown prince of Ardeep. Incensed by this apparent betrayal, Ulbaerag abruptly rejected the offer by Laranlor Ruardh “Lightshiver” Aloevan the following year to join the Realm of Three Crowns, leaving Bloodhand Hold less protected against Rhangaun’s eventual return.
In the years that followed, Rhangaun continued his study of the dark arts in his secondary hidden lair in the depths of Highstar Lake on the High Moor. He found the barbarians of the Highstar Tribes to be as easy to manipulate as the tribes of Blackcloak Hold, and often practiced the art of manipulating them from afar.
In the Year of the Laughing Lich (536 DR), Rhangaun emerged from the depths in a Netherese airship that had crashed into Highstar Lake during the flight to what became the Sunset Towers of Helbrester. He flew south to the isle of Ioma where he used his knowledge acquired from studying the amulet of Ioma and Mingaudorr’s Treatise to transform the purple quartz of Mount Ioma into a mountain-sized phylactery. Rhangaun then established a new lair in the depths of Firedrake Bay amidst the mines of the Seastar Kingdom of Sondarr and Sloopdilmonpolop, the City of Pools.
In the Year of the Broken Branch (864 DR), Rhangaun’s solitude was abruptly interrupted by the arrival of a younger lich, Rysellan the Dark. Rysellan was a former apprentice of Mingaudorr of Helbrester, a Netherese lich who had survived his apparent destruction during the fall of the Sunset Towers in the Year of Wraths ( 8 DR) thanks to his phylactery hidden away in caverns beneath the isle of Thordentor.
After his own transformation into lichdom, Rysellan had figured out how to destroy his master by starving him of magic. In so doing, he also discovered to his surprise that Mount Ioma was serving as Rhangaun’s phylactery, a lich up until that time unknown to him. Using lore known only to him and the fallen Mingaudorr, Rysellan took advantage of Rhangaun’s choice of phylactery to gain control over the other lich through contingency spells crafted to rapidly charge and discharge magic from Mount Ioma.
With no other recourse available to him, Rhangaun reluctantly bent his will to Rysellan’s mastery while plotting to escape the other lich’s control. He was forced to join the Twisted Rune, along with several other undead spellcasters recruited by Rysellan the Dark, and participate in the Dark One’s plots to seize control of Amn, Tethyr, and Calimshan.
Specifically, Rhangaun was instructed to ingratiate himself with Prince Silvam, the renegade half-elven first nephew of the late King Strohm IV, who had become the latest embittered prince to assume the role of Black Alaric. Born in the Year of the Lizard King (783 DR), Prince Silvam was the only child of Princess Rhynda of Tethyr, younger sister of King Strohm IV, and the half-gold elf, Lord Speaker Thallan Goadulphyn, one of the many elven refugees from fallen Myth Drannor given refuge by King Strohm II. Lord Thallan died in the Year of the Moaning Gorge (786 DR), in battle with a black dragon who had taken up residence in the Gorge of the Fallen Idol, and his human wife quickly remarried one of the king’s loyal dukes, giving birth to Prince Strohm (later King Strohm V) in the Year of the Rotting Orchard (787 DR).
King Strohm IV never married, but had long been engaged to his wood elven consort, Lady Speaker Aimaeriitha Moonglamaer of the Elmanesse tribe. A rising tide of anti-elven sentiment around this time, fomented by the Knights of the Shield, made clear that Tethyr was not ready for another elf-blooded king, so King Strohm IV designated his second nephew as his sole heir in the Year of the Grimacing Elf (794 DR).
After King Strohm IV passed away peacefully in the Year of the Patchworked Peace (802 DR), King Strohm V took the throne at the age of 15, despite the protestations of his elder brother, Prince Silvam. The elder prince departed in a fury, stealing the shield of Silvam as he fled, eventually making his way west, where he joined the pirates of the Nelanther Isles.
For decades, Prince Silvam brooded in exile, rallying the pirates of the Nelanthar Isles to his cause. After he (slowly, due to his elven ancestry) grew to maturity, the exiled prince assumed the mantle of the legendary Black Alaric, raiding ships along Tethyr’s coast for decades, all the while plotting to seize the throne for himself.
In the Year of the Hunted Elk (841 DR), Prince Silvam spent a small fortune to hire Uthaedeol the Blood-drenched, a notorious priest-mage of Bhaal, to assassinate King Samyte of Tethyr. Uthaedeol succeeded beyond the rogue prince’s wildest expectations, killing not only Tethyr’s king but also his two sons, Prince Yrdas and Prince Silvyr, as well. Nonetheless, Prince Silvam’s hopes to claim the throne foundered when Princess Alisande, second daughter of King Strohm V, was named queen, in a break with primogenitary precedent.
In the Year of the Thistle (885 DR), following the advice of his newfound advisor, Rhangaun, Prince Silvam struck again. The pirate prince arranged for the death of Rising Prince Strohm and the reigning Queen Sybille of Tethyr in what appeared to be a shipwreck as they journeyed to the Moonshae Isles so that Strohm could formally court Princess __ of Corwell. However, when the notorious “Black Alaric” sailed into Zazesspur’s harbor to press his claim to the throne, he was quickly rejected by the dukes of the realm, who demanded that the “pirate prince” prove his heritage by grasping Arhymeria’s dagger. As the dagger had mysteriously vanished (thanks to the hidden hand of Rhangaun), the dukes ignominiously drove the pirate prince back into exile.
Upon learning that his great-great-grandniece, Princess Cyriana of far-off Impiltur, was returning to Tethyr as queen, Prince Silvam turned once again to Rhangaun for advice. In the Year of Fell Pearls (887 DR), Rhangaun “discovered” that Arhymeria’s dagger had been spotted in Nimoar’s Hold, far to the north. “Black Alaric” immediately mustered the largest pirate fleet anyone had seen in a generation and sailed north to besiege the fledging settlement. Three times the pirate prince sailed into Deepwater Bay, only to be driven off by the defenders of Nimoar’s Hold. After the third failed raid, the surviving pirates abandoned their failed leader and his loyal wizard, leaving “Black Alaric” ashore at the mouth of the River Dessarin as they returned to the Nelanther Isles.
Undaunted, the aging Prince Silvam fled north until he encountered the Tethyrian warriors of the Bull Elk tribe (who Rhangaun had practiced manipulating centuries before) in a region wracked with turmoil, thanks to the recent collapse of Eaerlann, the Realm of Autumn Leaves. After challenging and killing the chief of the Bull Elk tribe, the charismatic prince quickly mustered a host of barbarian warriors to his banner, promising them sanctuary from orcs and demons in the settlement to the south.
In the Year of the Shining Shield (889 DR), Prince Silvam marched back south at the head of a barbarian horde, bearing the shield of Silvam into battle with the inhabitants of Nimoar’s Hold. The Tethyrian warriors of the Bull Elk tribe set the settlement by Deepwater Bay ablaze, however, once again the Reaver’s followers proved victorious, driving off the barbarian raiders and rebuilding the hold before the first winter snow.
Under the guise of helping Prince Silvam’s attack (knowing very well that Rysellan might be scrying him), Rhangaun took advantage of the conflagration to enter Nimoar’s Hold and recover the amulet of Ioma, before returning to Tethyr.
The fate of Prince Silvam was not recorded, but he must have fathered at least one child ere his demise, for his descendant, Nalethra of the Winged Spear, considered a “princess” of the Black Boar tribe, was carrying the shield of Silvam when she fell in battle against Waterdeep’s defenders in the Year of the Defiant Salute (1076 DR). While the princess was buried beneath the bare, high-peaked local landmark now known as Maiden’s Tomb Tor, Aghairon quietly hid the missing Kuldannorar Artifact in his tower. The shield of Silvam was not returned to Tethyr until the Lords of Waterdeep gave it to Prince Haedrak in the Year of the Shield (1367 DR).
Upon his return to Tethyr, Rhangaun was able to quietly shift his life force from Mount Ioma into the amulet of Ioma, thus escaping the hold Rysellan held over him. However, Rhangaun wisely kept that secret to himself, waiting for the opportune time to have his revenge. That time finally came in the Year of the Soft Fogs (1188 DR), when Rhangaun turned against his master, joining three Amnian liches of the Twisted Rune in their attack on Rysellan the Dark and two of his apprentices. In the end, Rysellan and one of his apprentices (the infamous Kartak Spellseer) were destroyed (the former permanently), as were two of the three attacking Amnian liches. Although the battle shattered the Twisted Rune’s influence in Tethyr, it successfully positioned Rhangaun as leader of the group and ended his subservient role to Rysellan the Dark.

--
http://www.ericlboyd.com/dnd/
Go to Top of Page

Gary Dallison
Great Reader

United Kingdom
6350 Posts

Posted - 26 Mar 2020 :  18:39:00  Show Profile Send Gary Dallison a Private Message  Reply with Quote
That is some awesome lore weaving there, may I be so impertinent to ask how you arrived at the decision to have rhangaun and ulbaerag be other people in disguise, why those particular people. I'm interested purely for educational purposes of course. I can see the connection to black alaric, pirates roam far and wide and it's a famous name used again and again so it's nice to see another historical event tied to him, but the crown prince of phalorm is not one I would have expected (I like lore surprises).

I'm liking the reuse of famous magic items as well, very much in the vein of the Blackstaff novel.

Cant wait to see the finished product, it promises to add a wealth of lore and tie up many loose ends into strong knots that connect to at least three other loose ends.

Forgotten Realms Alternate Dimensions Candlekeep Archive
Forgotten Realms Alternate Dimensions: Issue 1
Forgotten Realms Alternate Dimensions: Issue 2
Forgotten Realms Alternate Dimensions: Issue 3
Forgotten Realms Alternate Dimensions: Issue 4
Forgotten Realms Alternate Dimensions: Issue 5
Forgotten Realms Alternate Dimensions: Issue 6
Forgotten Realms Alternate Dimensions: Issue 7
Forgotten Realms Alternate Dimensions: Issue 8
Forgotten Realms Alternate Dimensions: Issue 9

Alternate Realms Site
Go to Top of Page

ericlboyd
Forgotten Realms Designer

USA
2065 Posts

Posted - 26 Mar 2020 :  20:24:20  Show Profile  Visit ericlboyd's Homepage Send ericlboyd a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Gary Dallison

That is some awesome lore weaving there, may I be so impertinent to ask how you arrived at the decision to have rhangaun and ulbaerag be other people in disguise, why those particular people. I'm interested purely for educational purposes of course. I can see the connection to black alaric, pirates roam far and wide and it's a famous name used again and again so it's nice to see another historical event tied to him, but the crown prince of phalorm is not one I would have expected (I like lore surprises).

I'm liking the reuse of famous magic items as well, very much in the vein of the Blackstaff novel.

Cant wait to see the finished product, it promises to add a wealth of lore and tie up many loose ends into strong knots that connect to at least three other loose ends.



FWIW, this is for Renewal of the Covenant, not Crown of Eaerlann.

I was trying to figure out why, in the City of Splendors boxed set, pirates attacked Nimoar's Hold 3 times and then the Bull Elk tribe did too.

At the end of the day, it was all about one lich trying to hide his actions to get out from the control of another lich who was keeping a close eye on him. The rest of the story flowed from there.

--
http://www.ericlboyd.com/dnd/

Edited by - ericlboyd on 26 Mar 2020 20:25:25
Go to Top of Page

LordofBones
Master of Realmslore

1477 Posts

Posted - 27 Mar 2020 :  00:10:40  Show Profile Send LordofBones a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Kartak seems to bear Rhangaun no ill-will, seeing as how he's back in the Twisted Rune as one of the Senior Runemasters.

Priamon Rakesk, though, is in hot water. I'm guessing Rhangaun was none too pleased about the Frostrune's attack on his old teacher.
Go to Top of Page

Delnyn
Senior Scribe

USA
883 Posts

Posted - 27 Mar 2020 :  00:15:31  Show Profile Send Delnyn a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by LordofBones

Kartak seems to bear Rhangaun no ill-will, seeing as how he's back in the Twisted Rune as one of the Senior Runemasters.

Priamon Rakesk, though, is in hot water. I'm guessing Rhangaun was none too pleased about the Frostrune's attack on his old teacher.



Didn't Halaster destroy Priamon's phylactery as payback for the Stardock abduction?
Go to Top of Page

LordofBones
Master of Realmslore

1477 Posts

Posted - 27 Mar 2020 :  00:27:39  Show Profile Send LordofBones a Private Message  Reply with Quote
The last we see of it is Halaster holding it in front of Priamon, IIRC.
Go to Top of Page

keftiu
Senior Scribe

656 Posts

Posted - 27 Mar 2020 :  00:54:45  Show Profile Send keftiu a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Sorry, what is Renewal of the Covenant?

Also, is Crown of Earlann going to be 3.x or 5e? I’d assumed the former, but Guild releases can only be current.

4e fangirl. Here to queer up the Realms.
Go to Top of Page

Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
Moderator

USA
36779 Posts

Posted - 27 Mar 2020 :  03:46:26  Show Profile Send Wooly Rupert a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by keftiu

Sorry, what is Renewal of the Covenant?




I'm assuming it means the group called the Covenant will be reformed.

Some collected Krashlore on the Covenant:

quote:
The Covenant was formed in 673 DR when the four most powerful (of their time) mages of the North came together in common purpose to safeguard the future of human settlement in the North. The Four Founders, as they are known, had all suffered at the hands of orcs. The mages Agannazar and Grimwald had suffered loss in the depredations of the Everhorde around Neverwinter in 611 DR. Their fellow archmage Ilyykur, had seen his holdings in the Greypeak Mountains plundered by the Horde of the Wastes in 614 DR. Similarly, the mage Presper had lost his wife and daughter to roving orc raiders in 624 DR.
When the last ruler of the Kingdom of Man died without an heir in the Year of the Triton’s Horn (697 DR), the land of Delimbiyran splintered into a patchwork of small realms. These small holdings were scattered throughout the Dessarin Valley and formed around surviving nobles of Delimbiyran and other strong individuals who seized the chance to carve out a kingdom with their sword. The slaughter inflicted on the orcs of the North by their pyrrhic victories over Phalorm and the Kingdom of Man, had afforded the small realms and holdings that formed in the wake of Delimbiyran an opportunity to prepare and guard against the inevitable time when the orcs would come again. The leaders of the Covenant recognized that human civilization needed time to build its power and prosperity against the next destructive tide of goblinkin and saw its salvation in the orc-hating, Uthgardt tribes of the North.
In the Year of Watchful Eyes (705 DR), Argloar and Ultatht “Oldbones”, then the chieftains of the Black Lion and Sky Pony tribes respectively, were awed by the spectacular spells of Agannazar of the Covenant. With his Art, he single-handedly destroyed an onrushing orc horde that streamed forth from the Lurkwood, although in truth he was joined in battle by over a score Covenant mages who were cloaked by invisibility. These two proud Uthgardt were cowed by the display and agreed to refrain from raiding, feuding, and skirmishing with each other as was customary amongst the Uthgardt. In the past, such conflict had drained away their best warrior blood, leaving their tribes too weak to prevent the next orc horde from flooding across the North in yet another destructive tide. With one alliance secured, the Covenant worked to forge others.
From that time, the mages of the Covenant whispered almost continuously into the minds of the mightiest warriors and shamans of the Black Lion, Sky Pony, Red Tiger and Thunderbeast Uthgardt tribes. Through their Art they manipulated a peace and alliance between the oft-warring tribes aimed at making them, in the words of Agannazar, a “human wall against all goblinkin”. Their efforts were soon to be rewarded. This alliance of Uthgardt tribes is known to have shattered and blunted a whelming horde near the headwaters of the Surbrin in 729 DR, and was responsible for the hunting down and slaying of no less than two-score orcish chieftains in the early 700s DR.
After this time, the mages of the Covenant no longer used spectacular spells to awe and cow the Uthgardt tribesmen and spoke less and less often into the minds of their leaders. Instead, they turned to towards the founding of a “school for shamans” that they hoped their apprentices would carry on, posing as ancestor spirits and guiding the Uthgardt shamans into keeping their tribes allied in common purpose against the orcs and their kin. Initially, this plan of controlling the Uthgardt through their shamans seemed to work well and freed the Covenant mages to pursue their own ends via different methods. The passing of the years however saw cracks emerge in the tribal alliances that had served so well to keep the goblinkin in check. Firstly, the role of bulwark against the humanoid hordes began to place a great strain on the manpower of the tribes. The Goblin Wars that commenced in the Year of Strife (753 DR) saw the warriors of the Red Tiger and Thunderbeast tribes almost decimated by the goblin hordes that streamed out of the Valley of Khedrun. The Black Lion and Sky Pony tribes fared better but still suffered greatly from orc bands that would raid almost continuously south from the Moonwood and Lurkwood. With its best warriors falling, and with them the future of the tribes, the Uthgardt alliance began to falter and was soon shattered by the thing it feared most: civilization.
The actions of the Covenant and its manipulation of the Uthgardt had succeeded in giving the humans who had survived the fall of Delimbiyran, the Kingdom of Man, the breathing space to consolidate their power and holdings in the North. Initially hesitant, humans began to believe that the orcs had been defeated forever and soon surged northward to settle new lands. The founding of the city of Mirabar in 626 DR by the aged and wandering Prince Ereskas of Amn attracted many settlers displaced by the fall of Phalorm and proved to all that the inhospitable North could be tamed. In time humans formed other realms, the most famous being Stornanter which was founded in 806 DR by the famed Laeral, the Witch-Queen of the North. The encroachment of human settlement began to unravel the alliance of Uthgardt tribes that the Covenant had so carefully constructed. To the Uthgardt, other humans were just as dangerous as the orcs and altogether more frightening. By the Year of the Patchworked Peace (802 DR) the Uthgardt had returned to their nomadic ways and warred on all who traversed their lands, orcs, goblins or humans, whether Uthgardt or not.
With the collapse of the Uthgardt alliance, the mages of the Covenant began to work with the burgeoning realms of the North in order to unite them against the goblinkin threat. Whilst many holdings and kingdoms paid lip service to the counsel given by Covenant mages, they sought only to use this group to gain an ascendancy over neighbors and enemies. Hamstrung by their refusal to seize power and unite the North by force, the Covenant could find no ruler who had the power, respect and personality to bring the humans of the Northlands together. This was especially so when Laeral, a charismatic and admired leader, mysteriously disappeared in 841 DR leaving her realm in chaos and leading to its swift demise as squabbling nobles and neighboring rivalry tore it apart.
The humans of the North were treated to a rude awakening however in the Year of the Sky Riders (936DR). The orcs of Uruth Ukrypt swept down from their warrens in the Sword Mountains and overran the patchwork of human-ruled lands in the western reaches of the Dessarin Valley. Scared into action, the humans of the region banded together under the leadership of Nimoar of Waterdeep and smashed the orcish armies in the Orcfastings War, helped in no small part by a cadre of battle wizards furnished by the leaders of the Covenant. This alliance led to further cooperation during the Second Troll War in 940 DR. Whereas in the First Troll War in 932 DR Nimoar and the forces of Waterdeep had faced the trolls alone, when Warlord Gharl proclaimed his intention to end the threat of the “everlasting ones” forever, his call to arms did not go unheeded. Forces from Silverymoon under War Captain Aeroth joined with armsmen from Illusk under Lord Galnorn and a host of warriors from other holdings and small realms to fight alongside Gharl on the barren Evermoors and bring fiery doom upon the trolls. It appeared that the humans of the Northlands were finally learning to cooperate and band together against a common foe.
Elated at the response of the kingdoms of the North to the threat of the trolls, the Covenant seized upon the mood of the time to whelm them against the eternal threat of the orcs. When scrying Covenant mages discovered a vast orc horde forming deep within the northern mountains, they alerted the rulers of the North to the impending threat and roused them for battle. And so it was in the Year of the Telltale Candle (955 DR) that a host of human armies joined together north of present-day Triboar at the invitation of the Covenant. Such armed might had not been arrayed since the time of fabled Phalorm and the mages of the Covenant looked on with satisfaction, confident that they were witnessing the dawn of a new age of unity and cooperation throughout the Northlands.
For over a tenday they waited, eager for battle and prepared for the impending slaughter, but the orcs did not come. At first the warriors jested that they had scared the orcs back into their mountain caves, but soon rivalries and age-long fears came to the fore. Who was protecting their homes and farms? Which realm or settlement had sent only a token force whilst planning to usurp the holdings of their rivals? As tempers flared and the orcs failed to march, the Covenant saw its dream die. Their counsel of patience was rebuffed and the Four Founders were accused of supporting some human realms in preference to others. The end came all too soon. Slowly at first, but with increasing swiftness, the humans turned and marched for home in what sages would dub “the March of Fools”. As they trudged away they heaped curses and insults on the “lackspells” of the Covenant who had apparently misled and deceived them.
The events of that dark tenday almost tore the Covenant asunder. Baffled by the failure of the orcish horde to appear, the most powerful wizards of the Covenant searched for answers and their powerful divinations found them many hundreds of leagues to the south. A massive army of orcs was laying waste to half a hundred cities and realms stretching from the Shaar to the plains of Mulhorand in what sages would soon call the Great Rising of the Orcgates. How the orcs had come so far from their mountain caverns in the North was soon revealed. Thayan archmages, fearing for the security of their fledgling nation, had opened a series of portals and lured the orcs through to ravage the South in a pre-emptive strike against their rivals, both near and far. Seeing their carefully laid plans in tatters, many members of the Covenant swore vengeance against the Red Wizards.
Thus began the conflict between the mages of the Covenant and Thay. Secretly at first, but with ever-increasing boldness, the Covenant hunted and slew a host of Red Wizards. Those in power in Thay took several winters to discover who or what was culling their ranks with such singleminded persistence but with the hand of the Covenant revealed, the Red Wizards quickly marshaled all of their Art and hurled it at them. Many mages of the Covenant perished in that first, fell assault including the wizard and senior Covenant member Alamanth. He was slain in battle on a ship off Port Llast, arrogantly sporting a wand of whips he had stripped from a Red Wizard he had slain. The sorceress Phelanshalee was banished from Faerun by a curse that traps her to this day on another plane save when the moon is full. Also destroyed was the senior Covenant mage Karsosh “Steelspell” Linthorn who was vanquished by the fiery breath of the great red wyrm Ondorlathlar, the charmed steed of the powerful Red Wizard Eradis of the Scarlet Talon. Many junior Covenant members and apprentices were also slain in this first savage flurry of spellhurling but both the Covenant and the Red Wizards soon settled into a stalemate of attrition.
The years passed with each side failing to deliver a telling blow despite many spellbattles, ambuscades and even a few formal duels between Covenant mages and their counterpart Red Wizards. It is thought however that the confrontation with the Covenant served as the catalyst for the formation of the Council of Zulkirs in Thay, as this magocracy sought to consolidate and enhance its power and influence. Sages and historians alike have pondered on whether a fragmented and decentralized Thay would have survived its future confrontations with such diverse groups as the Harpers, Rashemen and the sleeping giant of Mulhorand had it not been for the Covenant and the changes they brought about.
The death of Ilyykur in the Year of the Deluded Tyrant (1063DR) saw the balance finally tilt toward the Red Wizards. The mage Ruelve, an archlich and senior Covenant member, had been driven insane after investigating some items of power left behind in his abode, the Green Tower, on a small island southwest of Ruathym. These items, believed to be artifacts from other worlds, had been collected by the planewalking wizard Thulnath, the builder and former owner of the Green Tower. The mad Ruelve began to send magical missives to other Covenant mages urging them to join him in developing spells to raise new continents and flood the current ones, “scouring fair Faerun of the contagion that the passing history of the rise of the brutish have left over the lands”. When challenged by other senior Covenant wizards led by Ilyykur, Ruelve responded with a flurry of spells and the ensuing spellbattle saw the death of Ilyykur and reduced Ruelve to a twisted undead wreck bound within the Green Tower.
As the full fury of the Red Wizards of Thay was brought to bear on the Covenant, Agannazar, Presper and Grimwald were hounded into flight from their abodes and refuges whilst their apprentices and other less powerful Covenant wizards were swiftly overwhelmed. With their membership decimated and scattered, the three remaining leaders of the Covenant commanded that the surviving members go underground and cease all open involvement in the doings of the folk and realms of the North. In addition, Presper and Grimwald resolved to leave Faerun through a series of portals, drawing as many Red Wizards as possible after them into a series of magical traps and ambushes. Agannazar disagreed with this strategy believing that showing such dark mages other worlds to explore, rape the powers of and despoil only allowed them to grow in power and bedevil others. His refusal to flee or hide made him the focus of all Red Wizard assaults and they came for him armed with grim purpose and mighty Art. In the Year of the Disastrous Bauble (1081DR) Agannazar is believed to have gone down fighting in the explosive destruction of the School of Wizadry in Neverwinter. Ere he was torn apart he sent more than a dozen Red Wizards to their dooms including Pharazeen, then the Zulkir of Evocation. Presper and Grimwald departed for other worlds and planes in the Year of the Maelstrom (1101 DR), putting their plan of luring away their foes into action.
With the Four Founders slain or forced to flee, the Covenant disintegrated as many of its members denounced or foreswore their membership. Presper and Grimwald continued to communicate with the few remaining members but over time, the Covenant simply ceased to be. Today, the Covenant is the stuff of legend, however the mage Savengriff has recently returned to the City of Splendors intent upon re-establishing this ultra-secretive cabal of mages. His personal planar explorations brought him into contact with the fugitive founders of the Covenant and Presper and Grimwald tasked him with recruiting like-minded wizards to their cause. His efforts may yet see the Red Wizards of Thay confronted by their age-old enemy in the not too distant future – a conflict which may escalate into the most titanic wizardwar since the ancient days of Netheril and their battles with the sorcerers of Thaeravel.

There is some further info about his residence in Neverwinter, thanks again to Ed, which is posted here also:

Hallowgoyles
Hallowgoyles, a rambling and rather forbidding slate-roofed stone mansion whose walls, parapets, and boundary wall are carved into a riot of leering faces, spires that look like gigantic bats with their arched wings folded together above them, and the like, still stands on Clasparglan Street in Neverwinter. It was built by the early mage of the North Urlthand (remembered today only as the maker of seemingly countless scepters topped with little horned heads, though many of them are undoubtedly the work of his stream of apprentices), later housed the adventuring band known as The Clawed Shield, and after their disappearance (probably under the swords and axes of an orc horde) stood empty for nearly a decade before Agannazar took up residence there. After his (probable) demise, Hallowgoyles stood empty again for some years, doppelgangers slipped in to use it as their lair, and then housed, in rapid succession (thanks to a series of violent and untimely deaths): the Never Flame adventurers, the “Apothecary Mage” Salvrus of the Sixteen Potions (thought to have been slain and then impersonated for years by a young and ambitious Red Wizard), and Iltcrimmus Korothar, a fast-rising priest of Oghma who hoped to found a library of learning there but was torn apart mysteriously one night in the back garden. It now, following a temporary infestation of vampires and several “scourings” by adventurers hired by concerned local citizens, is believed to stand empty again.

Hope this has been useful.

-- George Krashos



Candlekeep Forums Moderator

Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com
-- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct

I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!
Go to Top of Page

cpthero2
Great Reader

USA
2285 Posts

Posted - 27 Mar 2020 :  06:37:21  Show Profile  Visit cpthero2's Homepage Send cpthero2 a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Learned Scribe keftiu,

That is hard to say. I mean, 5e is the current, but for my own completely selfish reasons, I am shooting for 3.5! :)

Best regards,




Higher Atlar
Spirit Soaring
Go to Top of Page

ericlboyd
Forgotten Realms Designer

USA
2065 Posts

Posted - 27 Mar 2020 :  11:51:46  Show Profile  Visit ericlboyd's Homepage Send ericlboyd a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by keftiu

Sorry, what is Renewal of the Covenant?

Also, is Crown of Earlann going to be 3.x or 5e? I’d assumed the former, but Guild releases can only be current.



3.5e

--
http://www.ericlboyd.com/dnd/
Go to Top of Page

ericlboyd
Forgotten Realms Designer

USA
2065 Posts

Posted - 27 Mar 2020 :  18:13:35  Show Profile  Visit ericlboyd's Homepage Send ericlboyd a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Amulet of Ioma
Body Slot: Throat
Caster Level: 15th
Aura: Strong; (DC 23) abjuration
Activation: Standard (command)
Weight: —

This simple medallion consists of a single, faceted stone of purple quartz held within a mithral circle and hung from a mithral chain.

The amulet of Ioma is an ancient Netherese medallion that dates back over sixteen centuries to the Netherese successor state of Helbrester. It has played a key role in the history of the Sword Coast, from Calimshan to Waterdeep. It now acts as the phylactery of one of the most powerful liches in the South.
Lore: In the Year of Three Seas’ Rage ( 334 DR), a group of Netherese arcanists from Low Netheril flew west in skyships to establish the city of Helbrester, also known as the Sunset Towers, in the Nelanthar Isles on a small island off the eastern coast of Irphong. The founders of Helbrester used magic to prolong their lives and became known as elders. Preferring to spend their time in arcane studies, they favored a policy of isolation from the outside world. As time passed, the original elders died or withdrew into seclusion, acquiring an “age-crazed” reputation among their descendants.
One of those elders was Mingaudorr of Helbrester, who sought to become a lich. In the Year of Laughing Crystal ( 235 DR), in the course of developing his own method for achieving lichdom, Mingaudorr transformed the top Mount Ioma, the dominant peak of a nearby island, into a vein of purple quartz with magical properties that enabled the absorption or reflection of magic. He then carved the amulet of Ioma from that vein of purple crystal, giving it the power to absorb or reflect spells.
In the years that followed, the Helbrestan elder employed the amulet of Ioma to fuel his transformation into lichdom, but in so doing created a dependence on the continued absorption of spell power to fuel his unlife, forcing him to steal every spell and magic item he could acquire. Meanwhile, Helbrester’s population swelled with their offspring and the children of their unions with abducted mainland folk. These new Helbrestans began to trade with other realms and set up their city as a reprovisioning and repair port for ships plying the Sword Coast.
In the Year of Hostile Hails ( 88 DR), a young Tethyrian noble of Clan Fyrson, known as Alaric False-Oaths, acquired a reputation for blasphemous activities, including piracy, theft, fraud, and the worship of dark gods such as Bane and Myrkul. The chief of Clan Fyrson, called Alaric the Pious, barred the young Alaric from the line of succession, and designated his nephew, Darius Fyrson, as his heir.
Alaric fled into exile by ship and vowed revenge. By the Year of Goodfields ( 86 DR), pirates under the command of Black Alaric, as he had come to be known, came to dominate the coastal waters of Tethyr, operating out of the ruins of Velen and the northwestern Velen Peninsula.
In the Year of Gleaming Frost ( 64 DR), King Nishan II of Tethyr came of age, marking the end of his mother’s regency. Under the young king’s rule, Tethyrian control of the Dragon’s Head Peninsula was gradually extended, putting Black Alaric’s base in ruined Velen at risk.
In the Year of Tomes ( 54 DR), the pirates and their infamous captain stole five ships from the Karlag shipyards on the southern shores of the Dragon’s Head Peninsula. Seeking a new home amongst the Nelanther Isles, the pirates attempted to seize Helbrester but were driven off by the powerful spells of the elders. During their raid, however, the pirates stole many treasures from the towers of Helbrester, including the amulet of Ioma and a tome entitled Mingaudorr’s Treatise on Magical Absorption.
In the decade that followed, the Sunset Towers of Helbrester became a neutral meeting ground for pirates and merchants alike, for the pirates dared not challenge the magical might of the elders of Helbrester. However, in the Year of Giants’ Rage (-44 DR), King Nishan II launched a major offensive against the pirates. The Channel Battle at the end of the Dragon’s Neck Peninsula sank the ship with the king’s best captain, but the pirates’ flagship Talon was also scuttled, and its feared captain, Black Alaric of Clan Fyrson, was lost in the depths, along with the amulet of Ioma that had long kept him safe. The Sunset Towers of Helbrester were destroyed in the Year of Wraths ( 8 DR) in a spellbattle between the Helbrestan liches Thakloamur and Mingaudorr (both of whom were thought to have been destroyed by the end of the battle) and sacked by the outlawed Tethyrian Clan Fyrson and pirates based elsewhere in the Nelanther.
The amulet of Ioma next reappeared in the Year of the Maiden’s Tears (475 DR), as a gift from Princess Aliiraanyth of Nindrol (see page 230) to Ulbaerag Bloodhand (see page 45), a notorious pirate who had adopted the guise of the legendary Black Alaric. After King Elaerindarath of Nindrol learned of Aliiraanyth’s illicit romance with the infamous sea reaver, the sea elf princess was barred from ever seeing Ulbaerag again, so at their last assignation she gave the treasure claimed from the wreck of the Talon to her forbidden love to keep him safe.
In the years that followed, King Strohm I of Tethyr gradually extended his royal writ over all of Tethyr, and the royal navy began to ply the waters of the Nelanther Isles. This in turn created great pressure on the pirates. Bearing the token of his lost love, the latest Black Alaraic (Ulbaerag Bloodhand) sailed north to Blackcloak Hold in the Year of the Blighted Vine (482 DR) along with a fleet of pirates. In one of the seven major pirate wars of the Sword Coast led by a pirate named Black Alaric, Ulbaerag and his warriors quickly conquered the ever-feuding tribes by the shores of Deepwater Bay, and within a generation the former Black Alaric had united them into the tribes of Bloodhand Hold.
In the Year of the Unmasked Traitor (522 DR), this was one of many treasures previously acquired by Ulbaerag that Rhangaun of Almraiven (see page 53), a Calishite wizard who had insinuated himself as a trusted advisor to the aging Bloodhand chieftain, was allowed to study as Ulbaerag prepared for his impending death. However, when Rhangaun attempted to steal the medallion for himself, his perfidy was unmasked and Ulbaerag had him driven from Bloodhand Hold.
After Rhangaun’s departure, Ulbaerag established a secret vault in the uppermost level of Halaster’s Halls in which to hide the medallion, fearing the wizard might soon return. In the years that followed, the amulet of Ioma was all but forgotten, its symbolism lost after the death of Ulbaerag, and the pirate warlord’s heirs never recovered it.
In the Year of the Laughing Lich (536 DR), Rhangaun became a lich, transforming the purple quartz of Mount Ioma into a mountain-sized phylactery. Several centuries later, in the Year of the Broken Branch (864 DR), he then fell under the control of Rysellan the Dark, and was forcibly compelled to join the newly formed Twisted Rune due to his choice in phylactery.
In hopes of escaping Rysellan’s control, Rhangaun sought to shift his life force into the amulet of Ioma and use it as his phylactery. Under the guise of extending the reach of the Twisted Rune into the newly conquered Nimoar’s Hold, Rhangaun initiated a series of pirate raids in the Year of Fell Pearls (887 DR) led by the latest Black Alaric. When those efforts failed, the lich then initiated an attack on Nimoar’s Hold by the Tethyrian Bull Elk tribe of the Dessarin river valley in the Year of the Shining Shield (889 DR). The Bull Elk barbarians set Nimoar’s Hold afire, but were driven off by Nimoar and his followers. However, Rhangaun took advantage of the conflagration to sneak into Halaster’s Halls and acquire the amulet of Ioma at long last.
Rhangaun kept secret for centuries that he had escaped Rysellan’s control, continuing to play along as if the younger lich could command him as he chose. Therefore, when Rhangaun joined in the attack against Rysellan the Dark in the Year of Soft Fogs (1188 DR), that ended with the destruction of the Twisted Rune’s founder, it was wholly unexpected. Today, the amulet of Ioma rests amidst the mines of the Seastar Kingdom of Sondarr and Sloopdilmonpolop, the City of Pools, in one of Rhangaun’s hidden lairs, the most well-defended of his many treasures.
Effect: The amulet of Ioma is a powerful artifact that functions as a rod of absorption, but can be recharged. If the amulet of Ioma reaches fifty stored spell levels, it functions as a ring of spell turning until one or more spell levels are discharged.

--
http://www.ericlboyd.com/dnd/
Go to Top of Page

cpthero2
Great Reader

USA
2285 Posts

Posted - 27 Mar 2020 :  18:42:43  Show Profile  Visit cpthero2's Homepage Send cpthero2 a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Eric,

Awesome! :)

Best regards,



Higher Atlar
Spirit Soaring
Go to Top of Page

Copper Elven Vampire
Master of Realmslore

1078 Posts

Posted - 27 Mar 2020 :  23:58:51  Show Profile Send Copper Elven Vampire a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Don't forget for example;

Kressa Longfang: CN Lythari elf female of The High Forest. Rogue 5/ Sorcerer 5/ Arcane Archer 10/ Justice of Weald and Woe 10. CR; 30. Champion of The Sorrowwood. Gatekeeper of the Fey Mounds of The Sorrowwood. Crossroads Guardian to Evereska.

Or possibly...

Sangreth Durothil: CG Gold elf male of Evermeet. Beguiler 10/ Bladesinger 10/ Swashbuckler 5/ Arcane Devotee 5 of Erevan Ilesere. CR; 30. Emissary of The Dead Queen of Evermeet. Lieutenant of Curudin Ahmaquissar and the Rogues of The Laughing Midnight, in the Starmantle guild. It is said that Sangreth has a folly towards evil fey creatures. Sometimes Elder redcaps in with them and other times he chooses the Seelie Court.

Or possibly....

Fraxastar Morrowweave: CN Copper elf male of The Misty Forest. Favored Soul 10/ Dervish 10/ Sacred Fist 10 of Erevan Ilesere. CR; 30. The whisper of Luskan. Guild leader of the Luskan Gem Merchants. Barmaster of "The Shadows Respite." in North Dock Luskan. Safehouse to followers of Erevan Ilesere, and Spymaster of Illefarn anew.

Liaison with the Knaves of the Missing Page near Ardeep Forest.

Sooo... he can't use a weapon or armor. He cannot turn undead as a Cleric, but he has the same channelled power of a divine caster of his divine level. Favored soul 10 plus Sacred Fist 10 PrC alone is an epic character. Now add the other base classes and make sure your PC's know how to use them.

So by 30th level you are a 20'th level divine cater. 10 levels of Favored Soul, and 10 levels of Sacred Fist. 20th level divine caster. Hahaha. Then you have your lower multi-class abilities as a MIN/MAX PC.

Sorry if that's too nuts for any of you. Trying to show you how we play D20 system in 3.5.








Go to Top of Page

LordofBones
Master of Realmslore

1477 Posts

Posted - 28 Mar 2020 :  00:37:15  Show Profile Send LordofBones a Private Message  Reply with Quote
That's not a min-max character. He's a 20th level caster with 30 levels, anything of his CR is going to shrug off his spells and trivially dispel his buffs.

Why does he have dervish? He kisses all his sacred fist spellcasting advancement and class features goodbye the instant he touches a weapon.
Go to Top of Page

AJA
Senior Scribe

USA
747 Posts

Posted - 29 Mar 2020 :  18:04:28  Show Profile Send AJA a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by ericlboyd
After Prince Elthaun was driven into exile by his brothers in the Year of Old Danger (219 DR), Rhangaun broke ties with the princes warring over the Stag King’s throne and moved east to the fledgling settlement of Blackcloak Hold (Modern: Waterdeep).

Surely that's west to Waterdeep?

Very nice stuff, Eric. Always fascinating to watch you and George bring the history of the North together, one thread at a time.


AJA
YAFRP
Go to Top of Page

ericlboyd
Forgotten Realms Designer

USA
2065 Posts

Posted - 30 Mar 2020 :  03:44:49  Show Profile  Visit ericlboyd's Homepage Send ericlboyd a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Legacy of Ulbaerag Bloodhand
The founding of Bloodhand Hold has its roots in the fall of the Shoon Imperium in the Year of the Corrie Fist (450 DR). Prince Strohm of Tethyr, the elven son of King Silvyr, avenged the death of his elven father, by killing Qysar Amahl Shoon VII. After a day of fighting with the qysar’s army, Prince Strohm’s Tethyrian troops set the Great Fires of Shoonach, destroying the Imperial City and all heirs of the Shoon bloodline. King Strohm I emerged from the conflagration as monarch of the newly restored kingdom of Tethyr.
Among those who fought bravely alongside Prince Strohm on that day was a young Tethyrian warlord named Ulbaerag Bloodhand, who had thrown his lot in with King Silvyr in the rebellion against Emperor Amahl VII. There was talk that Ulbaerag might be offered a dukedom once King Silvyr reclaimed his throne. However, a jealous rival in the secretive Knights of the Shield fomented a whisper campaign suggesting Ulbaerag had betrayed King Silvyr and supplied information to Amahl VII, forcing Ulbaerag to flee into exile.
In the decades that followed, Ulbaerag rose to power amongst the pirates of the Nelanther Isles, establishing himself as the next pirate king to claim the mantle of “Black Alaric.” Despite his name, Ulbaerag was not nearly as bloodthirsty as his predecessors, but he did take advantage of the collapse of the Shoon Imperium to bedevil shipping up and down the Sword Coast. During this time period, Ulbaerag fell in love with Princess Aliiraanyth of Nindrol (see page 241). When her father barred her from seeing the infamous pirate, the sea elf princess gave Ulbaerag the long-lost amulet of Ioma (see page 242), recovered from the wreck of the Talon, lost when the first Black Alaric sunk in Asavir’s Channel.
Over time, King Strohm I consolidated his rule over all of Tethyr, and even stood up a royal navy to patrol the pirate-infested seas. By the Year of the Winter Sphinx (480 DR), piracy was in decline again, and Ulbaerag began to dream of greener pastures, far from the writ of Tethyr’s king, where he might rule a kingdom of his own.
In the Year of the Blighted Vine (482 DR), “Black Alaric” and his pirate fleet sailed north to Blackloak Hold, quickly overrunning the ever-feuding tribes who dwelled by the shores of Deepwater Bay. For a time, King Ulbaerag of Bloodhand Hold, as he proclaimed himself, was advised by Rhangaun (see page 54), a wizard who dwelled among the tribes but wormed his way into Ulbaerag’s inner council. With Rhangaun’s backing, Ulbaerag managed to unite the tribes within a generation of the establishment of Bloodhand Hold.
Rhangaun ultimately betrayed Ulbaerag’s trust in the Year of the Unmasked Traitor (522 DR), when he attempted to steal the pirate lord’s precious amulet of Ioma. Ulbaerag immediately banished the wizard, who, as he departed, “revealed” that he was none other than Ellatharion Aloevan, crown prince of Ardeep. Incensed by this apparent betrayal, Ulbaerag abruptly rejected the offer by Laranlor Ruardh “Lightshiver” Aloevan the following year to join the Realm of Three Crowns, leaving Bloodhand Hold less protected against Rhangaun’s eventual return.
In the centuries that followed, Ulbaerag’s heirs continued to call themselves kings, even though their writ extended barely farther than the plateau on which they dwelled. Ulbaerag’s eldest son, Ragnar Bloodhand, proved more pragmatic than his father, forging a lasting peace with the Fair Folk of the Ardeep Forest that ensured generations of peace for the settlement. Ulbaerag’s great-grandson, the half-elven King Marnorath Bloodhand, died fighting alongside the armies of Phalorm against the Horde of the Wastes in the Year of the Lamia’s Kiss (615 DR), along with many warriors of Bloodhand Hold.
After the fall of the Realm of Three Crowns, Bloodhand Hold retained its nominal independence, although most considered it at best an outlying settlement of Delimbiyran, Kingdom of Man. The fall of the Kingdom of Man furthered weakened Bloodhand Hold, as the collapse of Delimbiyran in the Year of the Triton’s Horn (697 DR) left Ulbaerag’s legacy wholly exposed to any orc horde that might march down the River Dessarin.
In the Year of the Splendid Stag (734 DR), a succession of harvests wrecked by fierce summer storms drove Raulbaera Bloodhand, the Maiden King and last of her line, to lead a band of followers from Bloodhand Hold inland in search of a more sheltered vale. After her departure, rule of Bloodhand Hold fell to a succession of warriors, each of whom seized power from his or her predecessor at the tip of a blade. By the Year of the Curse (882 DR), Bloodhand Hold was little better than a glorified pirate port, and its lack of defenses made it an easy target for Nimoar the Reaver and his followers.
Once ensconced, Nimoar immediately ordered the construction of a log palisade atop an earthen embankment and a wooden fortress at the northern end of the settlement to guard against the horde of orcs all expected might follow in the years to come. While the horde never arrived, thanks to the efforts of Sabirine the mage, the Reaver’s preparations proved prescient, for Nimoar’s Hold repeatedly came under attack in the years that followed.

--
http://www.ericlboyd.com/dnd/
Go to Top of Page

AJA
Senior Scribe

USA
747 Posts

Posted - 03 Apr 2020 :  04:44:29  Show Profile Send AJA a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by ericlboyd
and his pirate fleet sailed north to Blackloak Hold

"Blackcloak," Eric?

So, Strohm, Elaerindarath, 'Ellatharion' ; given his life experiences, I can see why Ulbaerag decided to stand apart from the Realm of Three Crowns; never trust Perfidious Elvendom!


AJA
YAFRP

Edited by - AJA on 03 Apr 2020 04:45:04
Go to Top of Page

Copper Elven Vampire
Master of Realmslore

1078 Posts

Posted - 11 Apr 2020 :  20:27:38  Show Profile Send Copper Elven Vampire a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by LordofBones

That's not a min-max character. He's a 20th level caster with 30 levels, anything of his CR is going to shrug off his spells and trivially dispel his buffs.

Why does he have dervish? He kisses all his sacred fist spellcasting advancement and class features goodbye the instant he touches a weapon.



Ummm... who says you need a weapon to be a dervish? I would assume your fists, elbows, knees and feet are weapons. I mean really... You've never thought of a Monk/ Dervish cross? Maybe I'm alone on this line of thought as well. I see no problem with a Dervish being a Sacred Fist. Instead of hand held weapons, you use above mentioned weapons. Pretty darn amazing in battle.
Go to Top of Page

ericlboyd
Forgotten Realms Designer

USA
2065 Posts

Posted - 11 Apr 2020 :  21:05:50  Show Profile  Visit ericlboyd's Homepage Send ericlboyd a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by AJA

quote:
Originally posted by ericlboyd
and his pirate fleet sailed north to Blackloak Hold

"Blackcloak," Eric?

So, Strohm, Elaerindarath, 'Ellatharion' ; given his life experiences, I can see why Ulbaerag decided to stand apart from the Realm of Three Crowns; never trust Perfidious Elvendom!





Exactly! Elves are the root of all evil.

--
http://www.ericlboyd.com/dnd/
Go to Top of Page

Kentinal
Great Reader

4684 Posts

Posted - 11 Apr 2020 :  21:06:28  Show Profile Send Kentinal a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Copper Elven Vampire

quote:
Originally posted by LordofBones

That's not a min-max character. He's a 20th level caster with 30 levels, anything of his CR is going to shrug off his spells and trivially dispel his buffs.

Why does he have dervish? He kisses all his sacred fist spellcasting advancement and class features goodbye the instant he touches a weapon.



Ummm... who says you need a weapon to be a dervish? I would assume your fists, elbows, knees and feet are weapons. I mean really... You've never thought of a Monk/ Dervish cross? Maybe I'm alone on this line of thought as well. I see no problem with a Dervish being a Sacred Fist. Instead of hand held weapons, you use above mentioned weapons. Pretty darn amazing in battle.



Well I found this
quote:
To qualify to become a Dervish, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:

Skills: Perform (dance) 3 ranks, Tumble 3 ranks
Feats: Combat Expertise, Dodge, Mobility, Weapon Focus (any slashing melee weapon),
Base Attack Bonus: +5

I do guess one could decide not to use weapon focused with, however then that feat is wasted.

"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon
Go to Top of Page

Copper Elven Vampire
Master of Realmslore

1078 Posts

Posted - 11 Apr 2020 :  21:27:42  Show Profile Send Copper Elven Vampire a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal

quote:
Originally posted by Copper Elven Vampire

quote:
Originally posted by LordofBones

That's not a min-max character. He's a 20th level caster with 30 levels, anything of his CR is going to shrug off his spells and trivially dispel his buffs.

Why does he have dervish? He kisses all his sacred fist spellcasting advancement and class features goodbye the instant he touches a weapon.



Ummm... who says you need a weapon to be a dervish? I would assume your fists, elbows, knees and feet are weapons. I mean really... You've never thought of a Monk/ Dervish cross? Maybe I'm alone on this line of thought as well. I see no problem with a Dervish being a Sacred Fist. Instead of hand held weapons, you use above mentioned weapons. Pretty darn amazing in battle.



Well I found this
quote:
To qualify to become a Dervish, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:

Skills: Perform (dance) 3 ranks, Tumble 3 ranks
Feats: Combat Expertise, Dodge, Mobility, Weapon Focus (any slashing melee weapon),
Base Attack Bonus: +5

I do guess one could decide not to use weapon focused with, however then that feat is wasted.



Or you could consider using hand to hand combat as your Weapon Focus. Easy-peasy for any DM.
Go to Top of Page

Kentinal
Great Reader

4684 Posts

Posted - 11 Apr 2020 :  22:23:01  Show Profile Send Kentinal a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Copper Elven Vampire

quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal

quote:
Originally posted by Copper Elven Vampire

Ummm... who says you need a weapon to be a dervish? I would assume your fists, elbows, knees and feet are weapons. I mean really... You've never thought of a Monk/ Dervish cross? Maybe I'm alone on this line of thought as well. I see no problem with a Dervish being a Sacred Fist. Instead of hand held weapons, you use above mentioned weapons. Pretty darn amazing in battle.



Well I found this
quote:
To qualify to become a Dervish, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:

Skills: Perform (dance) 3 ranks, Tumble 3 ranks
Feats: Combat Expertise, Dodge, Mobility, Weapon Focus (any slashing melee weapon),
Base Attack Bonus: +5

I do guess one could decide not to use weapon focused with, however then that feat is wasted.



Or you could consider using hand to hand combat as your Weapon Focus. Easy-peasy for any DM.



You slash with a hand? More important do you define all body parts weapons that need a separate feat to focus? Yes as a DM you can home rule anything, however offer of a build outside of core rules should also present a disclaimer in that your your rules might not permit as written, or some other type of comment like To use this build one should be allowed to focus on body parts (hand, foot, )) as a slashing weapon.
quote:
Weapon Focus [General]

Choose one type of weapon. You can also choose unarmed strike or grapple (or ray, if you are a spellcaster) as your weapon for purposes of this feat.

quote:
Unarmed Strike

A Medium character deals 1d3 points of nonlethal damage with an unarmed strike. A Small character deals 1d2 points of nonlethal damage. A monk or any character with the Improved Unarmed Strike feat can deal lethal or nonlethal damage with unarmed strikes, at her option. The damage from an unarmed strike is considered weapon damage for the purposes of effects that give you a bonus on weapon damage rolls.

An unarmed strike is always considered a light weapon. Therefore, you can use the Weapon Finesse feat to apply your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier to attack rolls with an unarmed strike.


You shall do as you will. I only thought a few points could be offered for others to consider. I do not see slashing there, however some might.

"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon
Go to Top of Page

Copper Elven Vampire
Master of Realmslore

1078 Posts

Posted - 11 Apr 2020 :  23:01:32  Show Profile Send Copper Elven Vampire a Private Message  Reply with Quote
I would say for a build like that... Weapon focus would be permitted for one single set of fists, elbows, knees or feet per round. You may choose to select one such body part per round in which to have your weapon focus. Round 1; Fists. Round 2; Knees. Round 3; elbows, Round 4; feet. All are capable of weapon focus once per round interchangeablly.

Go to Top of Page

Copper Elven Vampire
Master of Realmslore

1078 Posts

Posted - 11 Apr 2020 :  23:15:48  Show Profile Send Copper Elven Vampire a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal

quote:
Originally posted by Copper Elven Vampire

quote:
Originally posted by Kentinal

quote:
Originally posted by Copper Elven Vampire

Ummm... who says you need a weapon to be a dervish? I would assume your fists, elbows, knees and feet are weapons. I mean really... You've never thought of a Monk/ Dervish cross? Maybe I'm alone on this line of thought as well. I see no problem with a Dervish being a Sacred Fist. Instead of hand held weapons, you use above mentioned weapons. Pretty darn amazing in battle.



Well I found this
quote:
To qualify to become a Dervish, a character must fulfill all the following criteria:

Skills: Perform (dance) 3 ranks, Tumble 3 ranks
Feats: Combat Expertise, Dodge, Mobility, Weapon Focus (any slashing melee weapon),
Base Attack Bonus: +5

I do guess one could decide not to use weapon focused with, however then that feat is wasted.



Or you could consider using hand to hand combat as your Weapon Focus. Easy-peasy for any DM.



You slash with a hand? More important do you define all body parts weapons that need a separate feat to focus? Yes as a DM you can home rule anything, however offer of a build outside of core rules should also present a disclaimer in that your your rules might not permit as written, or some other type of comment like To use this build one should be allowed to focus on body parts (hand, foot, )) as a slashing weapon.
quote:
Weapon Focus [General]

Choose one type of weapon. You can also choose unarmed strike or grapple (or ray, if you are a spellcaster) as your weapon for purposes of this feat.

quote:
Unarmed Strike

A Medium character deals 1d3 points of nonlethal damage with an unarmed strike. A Small character deals 1d2 points of nonlethal damage. A monk or any character with the Improved Unarmed Strike feat can deal lethal or nonlethal damage with unarmed strikes, at her option. The damage from an unarmed strike is considered weapon damage for the purposes of effects that give you a bonus on weapon damage rolls.

An unarmed strike is always considered a light weapon. Therefore, you can use the Weapon Finesse feat to apply your Dexterity modifier instead of your Strength modifier to attack rolls with an unarmed strike.


You shall do as you will. I only thought a few points could be offered for others to consider. I do not see slashing there, however some might.



Slashing is a single word that can be described as a chopping motion with a body part. Hence... If I were selling used cars, I could slash prices in a commercial with a kung-fu chop. lol.

Who's to say that a Sacred Fists, or a Monks finger-tips don't draw blood from an opponents flesh when they chop and slash with their hands? Not all unarmed fighters ball-up their fists and fight like normal people. The Lotus style is one such example. Another more well known example is the many open hand forms of The Poison Clan. The Melee combat of The 5 Deadly Venoms.

In that sense, you don't need a sharp instrument to cut someone. You are able to do so with your hand-to-hand skills, abilities and powers.
Go to Top of Page

Copper Elven Vampire
Master of Realmslore

1078 Posts

Posted - 11 Apr 2020 :  23:38:36  Show Profile Send Copper Elven Vampire a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Here is a Eastern example of a fighting method that involves many types of OPEN hand, and CLOSED fist options. The 5 Deadly Venoms. Used by The Poison Clan of warriors. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX6EHqcvqyo

Go to Top of Page

Copper Elven Vampire
Master of Realmslore

1078 Posts

Posted - 11 Apr 2020 :  23:46:33  Show Profile Send Copper Elven Vampire a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Or consider this AMAZING melee hand-to-hand fight scene for yourself. Just imagine being able to cast spells while doing all this. That is a Sacred Fist. Enjoy!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hndRXPcVbNk
Go to Top of Page

Wooly Rupert
Master of Mischief
Moderator

USA
36779 Posts

Posted - 12 Apr 2020 :  02:30:29  Show Profile Send Wooly Rupert a Private Message  Reply with Quote
Maybe we could get back on topic?

Candlekeep Forums Moderator

Candlekeep - The Library of Forgotten Realms Lore
http://www.candlekeep.com
-- Candlekeep Forum Code of Conduct

I am the Giant Space Hamster of Ill Omen!
Go to Top of Page

Copper Elven Vampire
Master of Realmslore

1078 Posts

Posted - 12 Apr 2020 :  05:34:55  Show Profile Send Copper Elven Vampire a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

Maybe we could get back on topic?



Actually we are on topic. The Poll is about Sacred Fist variants. Contribute something on-topic maybe?
Go to Top of Page

Brimstone
Great Reader

USA
3285 Posts

Posted - 12 Apr 2020 :  05:46:10  Show Profile Send Brimstone a Private Message  Reply with Quote
quote:
Originally posted by Copper Elven Vampire

quote:
Originally posted by Wooly Rupert

Maybe we could get back on topic?



Actually we are on topic. The Poll is about Sacred Fist variants. Contribute something on-topic maybe?

Crown of Earlann?

"These things also I have observed: that knowledge of our world is
to be nurtured like a precious flower, for it is the most precious
thing we have. Wherefore guard the word written and heed
words unwritten and set them down ere they fade . . . Learn
then, well, the arts of reading, writing, and listening true, and they
will lead you to the greatest art of all: understanding."
Alaundo of Candlekeep

Edited by - Brimstone on 12 Apr 2020 05:47:05
Go to Top of Page
Page: of 3 Previous Topic Topic Next Topic  
Previous Page | Next Page
 New Topic  New Poll New Poll
 Reply to Topic
 Printer Friendly
Jump To:
Candlekeep Forum © 1999-2024 Candlekeep.com Go To Top Of Page
Snitz Forums 2000