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If I were to place the soul of a Slaad <any color> into a vessel like a war-forged automaton or similar construct, would it function properly and obey my commands?
I have my PDF for a week and the mailman delivered my copy today. Thank you KQ for the immediate service. The source material looks very good, very crunchy, and I can integrate it with any Third Edition/Third Edition revised/Pathfinder I need. DR&GH is a good utility book on planar adventures and an excellent player's guide.
Conjures a magical wood broom +03 Bane Weapon vs. Rust Monsters You, you stay from my nephew's toy chest, and scrap metal collection of nuts, bolts and spare iron golem parts. Swats Rusty the Poodle repeatedly
Enraged by the sudden and unexplained presence of sad flute ninja clan in his dungeon, the sorcerer scatters the clan with a spell of seemingly poisonous vapors [Fogcloud] followed by spheres of crackling energy [Ball Lightning]. Fogcloud - Durration: 110 Minutes Ball lightning (3) - Damage 3d6 for each ball = , , As a free action, he throws a Fireball (Damage 1d6 = ) from his Rod of Absorption to eliminate any potential challengers.
As the group descends the stair into the Undercellars, they soon approach a seat of double doors. Solmyr turns to Tristan. "Open the doors Tristan. It's okay." A look of doubt and concern cross Tristan's face, but Solmyr merely nods. Tristan looks at the other, then place his hand upon the door and pushes it open. There is a vision consuming burst of bright white light and forces everyone to shield their eyes. Then all goes blank. When their vision comes to, they see and hear the sights and sounds of the Bazaar and Tristan's Estate and Manor is rightfully returned to the World. Tristan looks around, but see no trace of his only relative. :::Uncle Solmyr? Where are you?::: "Fear not Tristan, I shall return," replies a disembodied voice. "The house is yours to use as you see fit. The automatons and unseen servants will repair any damage and place the house in proper order. You may want to spend some time, or have your friends help you with the house's inventory. I trust they are of good character and will aid you until my return. Until then, do not fear and do despair." The others hear Solmyr's last words and begin to ponder what's next to come.
"Let's go," he says. "Once we complete our task the quicker my nephew can return us home." Solmyr picks up his pace and proceeds on Tristan's heels. He follows the young sorcerer. "Looks likes he is heading towards the under cellars."
Devlyn makes sure the kids aren't injured, then checks with Allura to make sure Solmyr is okay to move or needs more healing. "I'm fine Devlyn. My soul and mind will need a rest after this debacle is over." He thumbs the card-key. Seeing Tristan move ahead of everybody else, He says, "Ah, the impatience of youth. Come, let's make out way downstairs before my wayward nephew cause more unforeseen trouble."
"Now we get to Tristan's spell pool and get this house back where it belongs." He presses a panel and it continues to push inward until it reaches as far back as it can. A second open face box drops revealing a flat shining engraved card. A closer inspection reveals small pin-sized bumps on the card. "House key," he says modestly.
The young storm elemental looks blankly at Tristan before doing as he asked. Lightning wreathes her entire body and a large bolt of it sizzles towards Tristan. Surprisingly, Tristan's armor absorbs the lightning, containing it briefly until it builds and discharges from his chest and hands. Electricity crackles in the hall and strike the slithering monstrocity. It twitches and spasms with the bolt but refuses to go down, that is until Oroth and allura grasp the Solmyr's eldritch staff. Taking a part of their powers, it concentrates them and loosens a bolt of energy from its tip. The charge hits the creature dead center and blows a hole out the other side. It convulses violently and drops to the ground. The nightmare disipates like a broken cloud. "Is everyone okay?"
"Yeah, but I don't know how much. My source isn't exactly easy to feel in this location." "I should be able to channel it through my staff. Lady Allura? Can you aid us as well?"
Retrieving his staff from the ground, he looks to Allura and Oroth, "If you have any innate magics or abilities, I'll need use of them, anything that will work as an evocation or damaging attack. I need to fire a burst of concentrated energy at the thing to effectively kill it all at once." He looks at both and blinks. "Oroth, can you channel divine energy?"
"Go help Tristan."
Oroth's magics work and allow Solmyr to regain his composure, if not all of his strength. He wobbles once then stands with Allura's and Oroth's help. "I hate those things. Nearly Damn impossible to find. Where's Tristan? And where did that monstrosity slither off?"
"The one that ran away. That thing spilling into the floor," he gasps, "is called an Oneirodemon. It's a parasite, like a tapeworm or a leech but only as powerful as a quasit by itself. It rides the spine of a host and sifts through the nightmares of its host without their knowledge. Once it has what it needs, it draws from the Abyss and the Ethereal planes to give its new body a form. What stays behind, a dying cast-off aspect, usually devours its host's mind. It's probably what they are fighting right now. A magic-eater of some sort." Grunting and whincing, he points his hand and with an arcane gesture, fire a stream of fire and the floor. Speeping through the cracks, it finds its target. The black mass whines, hisses, then dies. "Go help Tristan."
Allura quickly rifles through Solmyr's pouch looking for potion bottles. If there's more than one she'll just give him all of them as there isn't time to identify anything. Solmyr fumbles through three of the potions Allura hands him and quickly drops two for a shining white vial. Popping the cork, he swallows the contents. Within moments, he rolls away from Allura and Oroth to vomit a fiberous mass of Black ichor laced with blinking eyes. Looking punch drunk, the eyes roll and sag until the mass drains through a crack in the floor hissing with its defeat. "Gods." His delirious eyes roll into his head. "Get those snakes."
As Oroth examines Solmyr to notices a particular stain along the center of his back.
He replies in stressed and weak voice. "Can't feel...., hands.... My Pouch...., Potion.., Hurry..." His hands look limp and tremble feverishly.
As Oroth examines Solmyr to notices a particular stain along the center of his back.
Solmyr jerks forward, his eyes open wide, then he passes out, falling to the floor with a hard thud. A third serpent critter raise off his cloak and back. All three strands suddenly intertwine and lunge forward towards one of the doors closest to Little Kiba.
Seeing the gigantic hoof enter the reception room and exit through the wall, Solmyr clutches Tristan tightly as they are slimed in mixture of ethereal protoplasm and abyssal brimstone. "GODS!" He gestures some magic to remove the planar gunk off his persona and Tristan.
As the others enter the front room, Solmyr motions Tristan away from the door. "Stay behind the pillar and do not move until I say so." Soon as the other adventurers enter the front room he snaps his fingers and quickly seals the door shut and soiled house draps drop concealing the contents of the house.
As the blue flashes fade, the adventurers realize the background and scenery have changed. The sky is dull grey, mixed with ghostly white fog. Colors of red yellow and red flash deeply within the mists and the Bazaar is no where to be seen."Anyone know where we are? This place.. it doesn't feel right." Arielle and you can still use your innate abilities as the manor is stiill anchored to the Prime Material. Arielle see if can, no, we better move inside. Solmyr scans the area and ground rumbles beneath his feet. They are coming. Let's move. Taking Tristan by the arm, they proceed up the steps and through the doorway.
"I don't know. It's still a little bit part of the normal world, but I think maybe it's a demiplane."As the blue flashes fade, the adventurers realize the background and scenery have changed. The sky is dull grey, mixed with ghostly white fog. Colors of red yellow and red flash deeply within the mists and the Bazaar is no where to be seen."Anyone know where we are? This place.. it doesn't feel right." I'm afraid the manor is being pushed closer into the Abyss. How close I do not know. We should be safe inside in the house wards still hold. Come let us not delay anymore.
As their vision returns, the assembled realize that they are still on the DeMach property, the property is no long in the vicinity of the Bazaar or any where on the world. The edges of the property give way to a swirl phantasm of light and reddish smoke. Faded images, snarls, and savage rumbling can be heard beyond the boundaries of the estate. Solmyr studies his surrounding and mumbles deeply. "It's worse than I feared. The estate is pushing away from the Prime and Ethereal planes. It's moving closer to the Abyss. Are judging by the sounds of our neighbors, it's best we go inside."
"Oh? We are? Then it's best we hurry and go inside. Tristan, you are the key. Touch the door. No worries lad, I'll make sure you're safe."
Whatever splendor this place possessed is now long gone. Weeds and insects choke the yard and was bushes, trees and shrubs adorned the grounds of the estate have withered and died. Thick vines cling and choke the walls, windows are caked with years of dust and mud. The building is in need of a new coat of paint. As the heroes enter the estate grounds, the gates behind them shrill to a close with a pronounced clack. All is silent and the last two survivors of the DeMach family have come home without welcome. "Well, I suppose this old home had better days." A tear comes to his eye. "A proud house and a proud family. Pride cometh before the fall I suppose."
"Good, let's go. Follow me." Solmyr proceeds to leave the room and heads towards the old Demach residence. Tristan nudges Arielle and Little Kiba on the way out.
:::Uncle Solmyr, anyone, someone, make that snake go away!::: "It's alright. Even though it is a Yugoloth, it's best to hear what he has to say. Though I don't trust mercenaries of their kind." Syt looks angry for a moment, then changes his face into an even more unpleasant smile. "Kid, right now I'm on your side. That could change." "Solmyr nods his head and Syt's remark." He turns to stare at the others. "Don't say I didn't try to warn you. The Servants just got something that could tip the scales, and we just lost a few allies we could need. Beware of the deep and shadow, for they are no longer your friends." His simpering look changes into a malicious smirk. "I'll be watching." He vanishes.
I'm sure he meant something completely different from what we're thinking, so we'd best just stay focused on the problem at hand." "Do we need anything else before we march off toward our next venture? Weapons, potions, scrolls, enchantments?"
"You're my last blood relative. Tristan, I'd stop the world for you." He looks at the others. "If you're ready, then let's go. Their are plans to foil and demons to anger. Let's move on to our next destination."
"I may have to meet your mother and Mr. Djuhah, if all goes well." He pauses for a moment. "Well, if the children are ready, I suppose Tristan will have his homecoming soon enough. Are you ready to go home, even for a brief visit?"
"But it's so much fun! There's even enough of us here to use pack tactics..." I pray to the gods of magic its more than enough.
If you need any help with this Okoyo. May I be of assistance?
"If need be, I can distract the people after him while you make your way to Tristan's house. Shouldn't be a problem if we move quickly." My informants tell me that Zhalail left something, actually several somethings in the house. Traps to snare and maim the unwary and a warden or guardian of some sort. A way of informing her when the house is entered again. What they are is unknown. The Demach's left several abjurations and cloaking shield around and about the estate to protect it from scrying and remote surveillance. Since I was the "black sheep" of the family, I was not privilege to know their secrets. He huffs. I hate venturing into the unknown.
If you need any help with this Oroyo, may I be of assistance? With one gem in our possession, and a second out of Zhalail's reach, it will be some time before she can act on her plan. They need Tristan's unwilling assistance first.
Alamach Amilanite is Zhalail's diplomat and power broker, if she needs something or someone, he's will do it. He is a warrior, blackmailer, and extortionist. His devotion to Bashaba is only second to his only living relative. He's always draped in full armor and carries the assorted blunt trauma that is familiar to clerics. Alamach will stay towards the back of the group and bloster their defenses with profane blessings from the Maiden of Misfortune His younger sister, Mera, is one of the group's main fighter. Fully armored and armed, Mera is not afraid of the embrace of death. She's died once before and her older brother scarificed a great deal to bring her back form the depths of the Abyss. She also carries an enchanted spear crafted from blackest metal and given its enchantments, I beleive it is a Legacy Weapon. There is of course Zhalail's bodyguards. The two minotaurs, whose abilities I have yet to fathom or even exploit.
"The weapons, armor, abilities, and training sound like good places to start, Solmyr. Why don't you give us what you know on those marks, and we can ask more from there." "From what I've collected, Nailz is an unusual tiefling. Not demonic or devilish in lineage, but genie. His mother was Dao, an elemental jinn of earth and stone. His father, if reports are true, was a mix-blooded Duergar and hobgoblin. He is monk/sorcerer with strong ties to earthen magics. He's Zhalail's chief troublemaker and leg-breaker. He's a mercenary at heart, but values his skin than anyone else. Nailz values his own magics and battle prowess above treasures, baubles and trophies. He's disciplined and a skill oriented combatant." "Thuhl is Zhalail's messenger, saboteur, and anchor to the lower realms. He works as an assassin when the target is beneath his abilities. Thuhl's mother is a marilith and a war chief to Dagon. He seeks her release from a confines of an aquatic realm near us and Zhalail has information, detailed information as to how to release her. I know Thuhl is in this for this fact alone and has no loyalty to her. If she can not deliver on her end of the bargain, he'll leave her without a second thought. Thuhl is a sorcerer with some martial skills, but they are limited to daggers, staves, and bladed chains. He can manifest a howling blade at will and is very fond of strangling his enemies. Thuhl also has a pet, a spell guardian called Thrasher, heavily modified and is capable of holding multiple enchantment. The Spell Guardian can also absorb matter to increase its bulk, strength, and durability. It can also duplicate the physical properties of what it absorbs. Thrasher, unless Thuhl so states is always at his side. Thrasher also shows some independent thought." "Let see, who's next.."
"I believe you've already meet both Nailz, Thuhl and Zhalail's minotaur servants. Thuhl has a modified shield guardian as his servant. Zhalail is also served by a cleric of Beshaba, an unpleasant bastard by the name of Alamach Amilanite. His younger sister, a warrioress in her she own right goes by the name Mera. She devoted to her older brother and would kill anyone he so commands." "He stops AND rubs the temple on the side of his head. Okay, what specific questions do you need to know about them; weapons, armor, abilities, training, My knowledge of them is not very deep."
"Alright - I hope you're not insinuating that we have to fight six demon lords to get through this mess. Only that they are the consequence of not preventing Zhalail from opening a permanent gate to the Abyss." "Trust me, it well beyond my abilities to destroy, no even defeat an alliance of demon lords. Tristan is the key to putting a serious crinkle in their plans." Tristan looks at Solmyr rather irritated. "Tristan, I will let no harm befall you until you're ready to stand on your own. That you have my promise." "We need to know any weaknesses, vulnerabilities and (exploitable)personality flaws for Zhalail and her chief mercenaries if we're going to handle this with a swiftness. Do you have any details at all on that?" "Given that demons and their minions are often at each other's throats, finding a flaw shouldn't be difficult. My automatons and I have spent some time spying on them. Here's what I know."
"I know, Tristan. I just want to know if there are any other reasons that we should know about before we go there and run into Zhalail's welcoming party," looking between him and Solmyr as he says this. None, that I know of. But there's no guessing Zhalail.
:Based on what I felt from them during my brief contact with their spirits, I believe that they did love you, Tristan. Very much.: Tristan replies, ::Thank you Allura.:: "Tristan, your parents cared a great deal about you gave their lives to see you to safety until the very end. Remember that and they will be with you forever."
"So do these little gems need to be destroyed in order to prevent their use? Can they even be destroyed?"And what can we do about it? Are we going to fight them?" "I believe the gemstone can be consumed by Tristan and I believe Zhalail has the gateway gem. Without the other two, it is magical but useless. The second gem is in Tristan's possession." Tristan show Solmyr where the gemstone was absorbed into his hand and arm. "The third remains out of the reach of either as long as Tristan remains away from his old home. or until Zhalail forces him to enter his home."
"That's stupid.""Conceived and bred?" Devlyn repeats, doing his level best to keep his voice calm and even. He smiles at the wind sprite. "That's what I told them too."
"Conceived and bred?" Devlyn repeats, doing his level best to keep his voice calm and even. "Yes. His conception as well as any future children were in the works before Decca then later Vallashan struck. Tristan was to be the first of his family. A sorcerer with the ability to tap into his ancestral spell pool. He, and they would have a cornucopia of spells at their disposal. You have heard of a spell pool, have you not?" Solmyr sighs deeply. "The Demachs, except for myself do not marry and have children out of fidelity and love. Our marriages are arranged and contracted, often before we are ten or eleven years of age."
And what can we do about it? Are we going to fight them?" "All in due time, young wolfling." I think the preferred method here is to fight smarter, not harder. These aren't just run of the mill demons, which definitely explains a few things about our little run-in with 'Tool'." He nods in agreement with Devlyn's remark. "A wise course of action, they'll wait when we are at our weakest and when Tristan can not rely on us. And if you mean 'Tool' or rather Thuhl, you've sooner scratched the surface of her little mercenary company.
I'm not sure I follow you, Solmyr. What do these demons have to do with Zhalail? Or with Tristan? "The Demachs have been fighting planar creature for nearly 800 hundred years. Tristan and myself are the last male heirs of our line. I'm sure at least on one demon lords I mention would love to have my head on a bloody pike." "Zhalail, Zhalail is one of their better field operatives thus has a greater say in worldly operations. I believe the gemstones are keyed to specific planar gates. My best guess is that they want a clear line of access between our world and the Abyss. Why? I do not know, but pooling their resources seem to be their best course of action." "Tristan, on the other hand, was conceived and bred to access the spells of his ancestors. His innate arcane talents were tailored for combat, defense, and the destruction of planar creatures. There is something special about him more than even I know. As I was not privy to his conception and ritual, the only way I can find any clues to his creation are in his home and the boy is terrified of that place. Perhaps a journal lays waiting inside the old manor house. Tristan here is literally the key.
"Oh, by the way..." He calls back. "You had better return it when you are finished with it. Otherwise, it's theft, and we would really have to open hostilities. That would be bad." He vanishes. Devlyn deftly grabs the blade and tosses it back to Erus before he vanishes. "With such a generous return policy as that (and the well-known vagaries of the adventuring lifestyle), I think I'll have to pass on the loaner," Devlyn says with a grin. "I appreciate the thought though - good luck with whatever just came up." Solmyr mutters something, "Personal note, design and master spell that repels all annoying gnomes, lesser cultists, and minor interruptions." Probably not a good idea to have kept it anyway." Solmyr merely shrugs his shoulders at the gnomes abrupt departure. He taps the first disk with his finger and up raise and image of a waifish half-elven woman draped head to toe in black tattered robes. Slender but curled horns extend from the top of her head and curve around behind her ears. Her palms are fanged with hungry mouths. She may have looked half-elven at one time, but those features are slowly disappearing from view. Standing next to Decca is another demon Queen, a profane beauty with a single row of stunted horns running down the center of head and back. She is devoid of body hair save her lower torso, which is that of a loiness and from her belly protrude several barbed tentacles. "This is their hostess, Endella, Demon Qureen of Sarrows. She rules but a single domicile in Centurius, the 100th Layer. Little is known about her save she arbritrates several alliances and disputes in the Abyss. She focuses most of her effort on that plane and rarely engages incursions into the physical world. They say Centurius is like a maze, but a maze of fractured time. Unwelcomed or unwanted explorers age horrificly in 100 years intervals." "This Lord is allied with Decca and bares a strong personal grudge against Graz'zt. He is Kardum, Prince of Balors." The image of a monstrous Balor, and obvious giant of his kind save he wears a crown of flaming fangs pointed up and down. "Informants believe Decca secured his loyalty and uses his considerable might as a buffer between her realm and that of Graz'zt. The Prince of Seduction is said to have howled in fury for decades simply because she beat him to the punch while he was occupied elsewhere. Others say Kardum and Decca are breeding to insight violent jealousy in the dark prince." Solmyr points next to a large humanoid with four arms each bearing a polished bracer of glass. The image possesses two faces on one massive head fused along the cranium's back quarter. A demon lord looks almost human save it's extra limbs, its deep crimson flesh, and thick varicose veins adorning its body. "Vallashan is the Prince of Discord, Unholy Schisms, and Rivalries. This Prince of Blackened Mirrors is a composite entity in one form seeking to create dark opposites in everything. Vallashan brings out the worst, and often murderous violence in everyone and anyone. To complicate matters, he rarely takes a direct approach to any task. He works from within and then proceeds outward, dividing and conquering. He does everything in pairs." "I need not describe this one. Shaktari is the Quuen of Mariliths and War. All armires of the Abyss pay her lip service to earn her profane blessings. If not, she turns to horrific violence and artistic acts of mutilation. She calls it the military code of justice, but in the Abyss there is no such thing." The group then sees the next disk. Hovering above it is a mass of tentacles cover with eyes and a single bing maw in the center of the mass. "This is Skekolah, Prince of Desolation and Cold Winters. If there is anything that bears resemblence to evil in logic and vice versa, Skekolah rightly deserves any claim to it. Not prone to fits of bloodshed, rage, and hate, Skekolah patiently abides his time to bring the downfall of his enemies. He currently has turned his attentions towards the demon-giant Kostchtchie and his incursion into his frozen realm. Skekolah plans to destroy him then hand his title to his War Marshall, Khalmathadoran. "The finally image displays Khalmathadoran, the War Marshall of Icerao, the 319th aqnd 320th layers." A large blue-skinned Balor stands in the image but it's draped with swirling mists of winter cold, ice, and snow. "Unlike most demons, he has turned his concerns away from the affairs of the mortal world and turn towards the enemies of the Abyss. The devil lord sof the NIne Hells and various elemtnal princes. He has given his alliegenace to Skekolah in return for greater titles and prestige. He has also earned the attentions of Kardum whom has taken an interest in on his minions higher ambitions. The Prince of Desolation keeps an eye on his favorite and most successful of generals." "And there you have it. Six reasons behind Zhalail and Tristan's current woes."
Once inside, Solmyr gestures his hands in the ways of the arcane. Tiny motes of magic leap from his fingers. They replicate exponentially and scatter in all directions. They impregnant themselves in the walls, windows, floor, ceiling and doors, like rain in exposed wood. In a light show envious of a starry night, they sink and merge in everything, then flicker away. "Tristan, I'll teach you that spell someday. Now where was I?" "Be at ease. I've warded the area against scrying magics and telepathic invasions. Any attempt to ease-drop on our conversations will be redirected towards the local privy. Now, if you have questions, please feel free to ask." With that, he gestures into the cuff of his thick wizardly robes and brings forth six flat golden disks, each bears a sigil of some sort. They float towards the table and lay themselve out in a pattern of a six pointed star.
We can either go to the Inn of the Golden Sands, or maybe the Blue Antelope, since it's closer (but a little less clean). I've got a contact in the mercenary community who's keeping her eyes out for unusual 'activities' - if anything else is going on since you started your attack, she might be a better source than the Watch now, as some of them seem to have been compromised by Zhalail's minions." "I'm for the Golden Sands. It's a better neighborhood and I can keep an eye out for unnecessary entanglements. Also, I need a large table."
Turning his attention away from the gnome, he turns to Devlyn again. I've made an example of Zhalail's minions and I'm afraid I've tipped my hand in anger. The owner of the warehouse will soon inform his clients. Where do you suggest?
Decca is not the only one. There are five working in an alliance. And its not the Board they threaten. What and who, I do not know.
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