Posts

And Tarithnesti Will Answer...

Image
07 Deepkolt 349 AC THE MARCH WEST Raven stopped long enough to pick up two skins of water and some waybread on his path out of town. The first few hours were quiet, almost peaceful, especially compared to the chaos of the morning. The forests of Silvanesti had always carried sound differently. They were designed and sculpted to channel the whisper of leaves and the distant calls of birds, combining them into a musical backdrop. Now there was only the wind. Raven moved through the trees at a pace no normal soldier could maintain. His boots carried him over roots, uneven ground, and steep slopes. The subtle enchantments woven into their soles refused to let exhaustion claim him. But they did not make the journey easy. Raven passed several homesteads early on, including the one where he, Ra'ziir, and Grotto defeated a platoon of Baaz Draconians and Stone Giants. It felt like months had passed but it had only been a few hours. Not long after that, he spotted a hunter's shack...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sithelnost Calls for Aid

Image
07 Deepkolt 349 AC THE PROTECTOR'S TOWER For the first time since sunrise, there is no immediate threat to the city. The defenders of Tarithnesti stand gathered at the base of the Protector's Tower. Over the course of the next thirty minutes, the gemstone blackens and begins to crumble. The magical energy that lent its strength to the bodies of those defending the city fades with it. The bodies of four dragons lie as grim reminders of what was thrown against them. Two red dragons. One white. One green. Their massive forms dominate sections of the streets and forest edge, their scales already becoming trophies, salvage, and eventually memorials. Kysek and Raven explain that they had fought two additional greens on their way back to the city. A ripple spreads through the survivors. Six dragons and the city was still standing. Laborers, mostly dockworkers and crystal miners begin the arduous task of clearing rubble and searching for the bodies of those trapped within. Sh...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Battle for Tarithnesti (Finale)

Image
07 Deepkolt 349 AC ON THE BANKS OF THE THON-THALAS Grotto casts a pair of spells, one to double his size and the other to make his skin as hard as the rock he was sculpted from . Suitably enhanced, he nods to Ornforithalas, "Let's go!" The scouts move forward, as quiet as the grave and close in on the enemy. Once they are close enough, Grotto leaps up and shouts, "COME FIGHT ME YOU OVERGROWN GECKOS! THE LAST THING YOU'LL SEE IS MY AXE AS IT SPLITS YIUR SKULL!" With that, he hurls his blade. It tumbles end over end and strikes the nearest kapak in the center of the chest, bowling it over and knocking it into a nearby baaz. Grotto's axe flies back to his hand as the elves open fire. Dozens of arrows streak into the mass of reptilian troops. Four go down in the opening seconds of the fight. Half of the archers switch to spears while the second half unleashes another burst of fletched death. Two more draconians fall. The battle begins in earnest. Grotto...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Battle for Tarithnesti (Part 11)

Image
  07 Deepkolt 349 AC ON THE BANKS OF THE THON-THALAS Grotto motions to Ornforithalas, "Let’s send the archers to try to flank them. Me, you, and a couple other can go straight at them to draw their attention. Perhaps we can end them this way." The guard captain listens to Grotto's plan and agrees. He motion for fully half of his archers to break off and swing around to the far side of the Draconians. Jensolyn frowns, "I don't recognize the kind in the middle. Grotto looks again. The center draconians stand a little over six feet tall with the curling horns of a ram. It takes about a minute for the scouts to carry out their flanking maneuver. A bird call signal the captain that they are ready. "On your signal, master dwarf," Ornforithalas says. THE PROTECTOR'S TOWER The beam from the Protector's Beacon washes outward across Tarithnesti, flowing over the walls, through the streets, and across the ancient trees surrounding the city. Every de...
Post a Comment
Read more

Monster Truckers - Episode One: East of Omaha (Pt 7)

Image
EPISODE ONE: EAST OF OMAHA (FINALE) For a moment, everyone froze. Dragula laughed, "Told you it would work." Mac called out to Sam, "Hey, GET UP." Mac leaned over to open the door for the little demon. Sam squinted at the cloud. "We didn't destroy it." Drags reached down and grabbed a flare pistol and aimedaims for the golden cloud of Angel Dust and fired! The burning projectile disappeared into the glowing mist. The flare continued through and out the other side. Dragula watched the flare as it fell. "Well, I expected more out of that." Mac looked at Sam, "Hey, you're a demon. Can't you conjure up fire?" Sam turned and looked at Mac. "Wow. Just, wow. That is an incredibly hurtful and outdated stereotype." Xaden shouted to Dragula, "Try shooting the trailer! If there is enough there the ensuing fireball should reach." Sam's jaw dropped, "Why would that work?" Xaden scratched his be...
Post a Comment
Read more

Monster Truckers - Episode One: East of Omaha (Pt 6)

Image
EPISODE ONE: EAST OF OMAHA (THE CHOIR) Mac exclaimed, "Brothers...... the time is here to roll! Now!" The big zipper took a step, a second, a third as he pulled the machete from his pocket, grabbed it with two hands and hurled it towards Roger. Roger's eyes went wide. Dragula shouted, “Noooooo!” Jolene did not move. Her emerald eyes followed the spinning blade. The Choir stopped humming. Every smiling face turned to watch the machete's flight. The machete struck Roger square in the chest. The impact lifted him off his feet and he crashed down, knocking over oil drums and shattering one pallet. The machete's handle quivered violently with every ragged breath. He gasped. Once. Twice. Blood spread across the filthy white lab coat. Yet, he was still smiling. His eyes drifted upwards as he turned his head, staring into the sky. His lips moved. "So..." Another painful breath, "...beautiful..." One trembling hand reached upward, grasping at so...
Post a Comment
Read more

House Rule - Ranged Devastating and Overwhelming Critical

Image
While I was out driving for work today, I started thinking that Devastating Critical and Overwhelming Critical should have a ranged variation  available because a legendary archer or sniper should also be able to land a "perfectly placed shot" that would be instantly fatal. So, I am making the following change to the feats for my campaign . Devastating Critical  [Epic] (Epic Level Handbook, p. 53) Choose one type of melee or ranged weapon, such as longsword or heavy crossbow. With that weapon, you are capable of killing any creature with a single strike. Prerequisite Cleave, Great Cleave, Improved Critical (weapon to be chosen), Overwhelming Critical (weapon to be chosen), Power Attack, Weapon Focus (weapon to be chosen), STR 25 Or Far Shot, Improved Critical (weapon to the chosen), Overwhelming Critical (weapon to be chosen), Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot,  Weapon Focus (weapon to be chosen) , DEX 25 Benefit When using the weapon you have ...
Post a Comment
Read more