Great Erl's page

hooh, hah

Don't leaf me!

*rustle*

All things are part of the cycle. We are born, we live our allotted span and we die, only to be born again. Spring follows Winter as Winter follows Spring.

The leaves rustle gently in the immense forest, though no wind blows. Small woodland creatures run and play among the quiet boles

All is quiet, but dark clouds loom over water The Great Erl thinks as his spirit drifts amongst the currents of the Green

The trees rustle in the Grove as the little family leaves

The cycle turns, the old becomes new and the champions once again ready for battle

Animals of the forest gather the fallen stars from their craters in the leaf mold and bring them to Ygdrassil, piling them at the Root in a shiny pile

Star Song, it seems your final pieces have arrived ..

The trees rustle as if a gale disturbs them. The forest animals run for their burrows

Evil stirs yet again as the cycle turns once more The Great Erl mutters

The forest branches seem to part to allow Kiba quick egress. A slow voice echoes through his mind

He will become a great champion Kiba, and he will bring you much joy and honor. He will one day understand why you had to do what you did when he was younger. Be there for him when he needs it and let him forge his own path.

You will find the path Star Song. Believe in yourself.

The trees rustle as the woman leaves the Grove.

Evil looms on the horizon Star Song

The spirit of the Great Erl enfolds LJ. She finds her connections strengthening geometrically

Trust yourself Star Song. Trust the power of Life.

I'm not really sure how to do that. I can draw on the power of Yggdrasil to connect to someone through the Green if they are inside the Grove, but I don't know how to reach beyond that.

It is merely an expansion of your power Star Song. Yggdrasil can connect you to any place that the Green has purchase. Look deep within your self then cast your perception out into the Green. Search for the soul fires of your loved ones. They will draw you to them.

... Is there any way to warn them of his potential escape?"

The Erl's spirit pulses gently

You have the power to connect with your loved ones Star Song. You just need to reach out and use your spirit to connect to them..

The Erl's spirit sends out waves of contentment

She is secure in their care. There is currently only one who is still a threat to her wellbeing: The Harlequin

LJ can feel a tremor in the web of life surrounding her

Even now he tests his bonds and attempts to escape his captors.

LJ feels the spirit of the Great Erl close to her.

Star Song. Your child is well. She is with the Champion of Earth and your grandfather, the Scion of Air. They strive to bring you back to the realms of flesh.

The trees rustle

The Green sits on a foundation of Stone. Our roots reach into it. Let your spirit open Jack Hammer and let the Grren help to reconnect you to the Web of Life.

I...I cannot...see within the Green...

JH feels a vast presence

Open your mind. All are welcome in the Green

JH can suddenly feel the life all around him. He sees a glowing form of whirling stars in front of him

Yes, battle....Her expression becomes vague for a moment before her attention returns to him. "Erl, tell me please, Jack Hammer...did he survive?" She waits fearfully for the answer.

He is nearby, at the base of Yggdrasil's root. He grieves for you. If you reached out through me you could contact him.

Lynora-Jill feels the web of the Green reaching out to encompass her. She sees JH and his squirrel friend in the Grove

She smiles as her form coalesces before him. How are things in the physical world? I'm afraid my awareness is currently quite limited. It's nice to have someone to talk to.

The Great Erl's glowing form radiates happiness

I am glad you have still not moved on to your next incarnation. There is still much greiving from the many lost in battle.

The trees rustle. The Great Erl sinks deeper into the Green. He sends his spirit towards Yggdrasil's Root.

Star Song. Do you linger? He sends out into the bright glowing web of power.

You can sense that he is alive, but he hasn't returned from the RP thread.

The trees creak and sway in the wind

He is away in the fields of Roleplay friend Kiba.

...

He sounds very weary now.
By your leave, Erl?

The trees rustle

May the spirit of Wooly Rupert look favorably on your lifepath Runelord.

The Runelord realizes the entish council actually joked with him

Dwell not on what might have been, celebrate what is. Fare well and may the future you seek be realized as you wish.

... I would that things were otherwise.

The trees rustle. There is a sense of quiet sadness

Spring Sapling was important to all of us, Runelord. She was a herald to us here, a speaker for those who cannot speak in far off councils. She gave her incarnation to pull another back into the Green. It was her fate, though it came through darkly until the Spear of Life appeared in the Tree Emperor's hands.

The Harlequin is a herald of chaos. His actions are hard to predict. His slaying of Starsong dismayed us all, but we will go on. Lynora-Jill still travels within the web of the Green. Nothing is ever lost. Even Spring Sapling will appear again some day when her current tasks are finished.

The trees rustle gently

If you feel you need to go protect your own people that is understandable. But remember that we are all stronger when we stand together rather than stand apart. The Grove is always ready to stand with those of good heart and noble purpose.

The Eighth Runelord arrives, formally dressed in his very best robes, and stands waiting to be acknowledged by the Great Erl.

His expression is grim.

The grove rustles

Runelord. What brings you to our Grove?

The grove rustles

The Black fades and the Green renews itself. Such has it always been

A tear runs down her cheek.

"Yet more misunderstandings. I only hope this one can wait. I will not survive the upcoming battle. Even I can see that far ahead. How permanent that death is remains to be seen."

Lynora-Jill feels a calm mind speak to her

Starsong, there is no death. Death is not the way of the Green. All endings have new beginnings. Only those who fear to begin again step off the cycle into the abomination that is the Black. Take comfort that whatever happens you will be fashioned anew, and the cycle will continue.

The trees rustle

The child grows and the parent worries, just as thir parents worried in turn long ago. Soon the new shall stand with the old and ready themselves to start the cycle anew. So it is with the Green.

The forests shakes

Warden. The Place of Winds is in peril. The Oracle has fallen.

Warden. You have manifested because of this breach of the Balance. The Black has gained Board powers. The gems upon the Herald's helm are millenial gems. He wears three, and they feed him concentrated Board power. His mistress must as well. They feed off the very fabric of the boards. They prosper if threads die.

The skys clear as the Grove regains its normal calm

An agent of the Black. One that can travel without disturbing the Green by his passege.

Even the normally calm tones of the Great Erl seem to be shaken

The forest whips as if there is a gale. Clouds pile up in the sky, rapidly blotting out the sun. Rain begins to fall, faster and faster.

A loud voice booms out from the Grove, mentally and sonically

INTERLOPER! GET THEE HENCE!

Roots begin to pop out of the ground. Trees begin to mob the Tsar. He slices through them like a knife through warm butter. Animals from the forest: Boar, bears and elk rush him, only to be cut down. Lightning bolts strike him, Saint Elmo's fire crackles along his black armor as he carves a pitiless path through the defenders.

The leaves rustle

We hold with the Green here Warden. This forest is dedicated to Yggdrasil, the World Ash.

In the distance the Warden can see the monumental wood root of Yggdrasil soaring into the sky.

We are on peaceholy ground. You may hunt, but only for sustenance, never sport. You may set a fire with fallen branches, but you must never cut a living tree. Agents of the Black are not allowed here, but they have been known to flout that law...

The leaves rustle as the Great Erl chuckles

All those who serve the Balance, the Board and the Green are welcome.

The leaves around the Warden rustle, but no wind is in evidence

Anger and fear are as root and branch, parts of the same whole.

The grove rustles

You will have to forgive the orb for his rudness. He has suffered at the hands of agents of the Black. He is tainted with anger.

Perhaps summoned is a better term...

The grove sighs

You have come not a moment too soon Warden. A force rises that corrupts the very fabric of the threads. We feel her siphoning off power as she progresses.

The warden feels a strong presence in his mind

Greetings Warden. You are here to ward the threads from the menace of the Black?

Yeah I'm getting the bug too

You are welcome defender of the faith. Ware the pale girl. She is closer than she has been. We sense her like a canker.

wind bends the smaller branches of the massive trees in the Grove

He went with some of the champions to destroy the Records Room, and defeat the Goddess of Dangerous Knowledge for good. He was left behind to set the fuse on the explosive, but when he attempted to leave something happened and he was destroyed.

The Grove rustles

Judging from his discussion with the champions he was headed to see what happened to Acme

The Witch Hunter General arrives at the Grove of Ancients. He glances around at the ancient trees, and addresses them and the grove in general.

I have been attempting to follow my Flunkie's trail, to determine what may have happened to him, and after a false lead in the Abyss, it has led me here. As far as I can know, this may have been the last spot that anyone saw my Flunkie. Is anyone in a position to confirm whether he made it here, what passed if he did, and where he may have gone afterwards?

The grove sighs in the wind. WHG hears a slow deep voice in his mind

Your flunkie did arrive here defender of the faith. He was very upset about the passing of the metal elemental Acme. He left in a very agitated state.

Holy Hanna! 54 new posts!

The trees sigh and wave in the breeze, bemused by all the ephemerals bustling about

A gentle voice wafts over the Green

Anger and arrogance has always been the provenance of the Black

The Great Erl's voice echoes in Sunny's head again

Thank you for your help Sun God. If you wish to aid Alaina, you must forge a link to her via your divine power. She needs to be the herald of a power, else she will fade back into the Green

Sunny feels a slow ancient mind speak to him telepathically

You sense the lingering presence of Calistria, Sun God. She was the goddess of Alaina, the female now encased in the wooden chrysalis yonder. She rests after her mistress severed connections to her. She is very weak

...

I understand. I know how painful and difficult it is to lose that connection. Would it be all right for me to stay and watch over her for a time?
LJ looks even more exhausted than she did back at the Oasis. It is somewhat doubtful she could safely fly back in her current state.

The voice chuckles ..

Indeed, if you wish you can sink into the Green and talk with her.

Lynora-Jill feels an ancient powerful presence in her mind

The wasp goddess has forsaken her, Champion of the Wind. She must now dwell in the Green and heal for a time

As the Tree Emperor attempts to wake his grandchild, a thought from the Great Erl reaches him

::Tree Emperor. The Wasp Priestess has arrived near the Grove. She is close to death. Her form is badly torn and she readies to go to her next incarnation::

The large tree sighs and sends slow thoughts to Emperor7

Beware your passion doesn't lead you astray Tree Emperor. Remeber that Spring Sapling will endure in some form no matter what happens. It is the Way of the Green.

The trees sigh as Rio departs

I fear that this storm will fell many saplings ere it is spent ...

Hello all,

While I've play Pathfinder (and that other RPG game) for a few decades, I confess that I don't spend much time on this board. I'm here at the moment since I've entered the RPG Superstar for the first time and just having fun with it. That said, I apologize if this or something like this has been brought up before/elsewhere.

There are quite a few good entries in this contest. I imagine there have been many over the past several years. I also imagine that most entries that are eliminated (especially after the first round) are pretty good.

Has Paizo thought about compiling those into a hardback book and perhaps putting up a Kickstarter or something? I mean, the material is there...have a few artists flesh a few things out and I think you'd have a product the Paizo community could get behind.

I would hate to hear that those great items, monsters, encounters, etc. are simply sitting on some back-up hard drive. I imagine some will make their way into future products, but why not compile them in one source?

Thoughts?

Hello everyone,

I recently submitted the following article to Dungeon, and was promply rejected. As you know, Dungeon doesn't usually provide feedback as to why, so I'm hoping an experienced DUNGEON writer has some constructive input for me so I may improve on future submissions. Thank you in advance for your helpful suggestions. Please note: I did use the proper "styles," even if it does not show from this "cut & paste."

Take care,
VoR

SKULLS OF CHAWNTAY
by Martin

Introduction
Chawntay was an eccentric mage. While he preferred to research the arcane arts in solitude, he longed for company to discuss his theories and debate matters of forgotten lore. He tried to discuss the magical arts with other mages but found he could not tolerate their company, so he decided to create his own. Except for his occasional venture to seek out new knowledge he never left his secluded study again. He acquired rare and exotic materials during his travels, which he used to create the items that have come to be known as the Skulls of Chawntay.
Chawntay sculpted the different materials he collected into the shapes of carved skulls. He then empowered each of these with sentiency and extraordinary powers. The skulls developed abilities and personalities that were influenced by their originating materials. None know how Chawntay came to craft these wondrous items and the skulls themselves are closed-lipped about their origin.
Common Abilities
The skulls share the following traits/ abilities:
While none of the skulls share a language (they do not speak common), they are able to communicate with one another as if affected by the Tongues spell when within 20’ of another skull. Also, although the skulls have a range of alignments, they will not cause harm to each other. Chawntay intended the different alignments in order to have different viewpoints during their lengthy discussions & debates.
Each skull has an innate desire to learn and broaden its knowledge. Like restless sages, each skull craves new tomes and scrolls, especially those pertaining to their particular area of expertise or interest.
The skulls are able to use Mage Hand at will within a 30’ radius. Each skull is considered to be under the effect of a permanent Comprehend Languages spell usable solely for reading.
In addition to these abilities, each skull has its own powers and personality as follows:
Wooden Skull
During its development, this is one of two skulls that took on a feminine persona, and goes by the name Subreena. Being carved from a strange wood, some say from a fallen ancient treant, this skull has a keen interest in matters of nature. Subreena’s knowledge of the natural world rivals that of the wisest and oldest of Druids. Besides being fluent in Elvish and Sylvan, she is able to Speak with Animals and Speak with Plants at will. The animals and plants subject to the spells are considered ‘friendly’ towards Subreena.
Stone Skull
Gromp, the name of this skull, is carved from a rare green/gray stone found deep in the earth and known to few deep-dwelling dwarves, and no surface inhabitant. Gromp is a bit haughty and sarcastic until he “warms up” to his company. Gromp’s features remind most of a dwarf, and his deep masculine voice fits both his features and demeanor. His expertise includes the subjects that would interest most dwarves, such as mining, ore, metallurgy, smithing, and precious stones. Gromp’s languages include Dwarven and Terran. He is able to use Stone Tell and Stone Shape at will. Additionally, he may use Rock to Mud, and Stone to Flesh (or their reverse) once per day. He is ever glad to assist those who provide him with new reading or a rare gem or stone to study.
Bone Skull
This is the only skull from the group that was not crafted from a raw material. Raz’zin is the skull of a male drow Bard who has retained some of his former memories. Raz’zin is a bit sarcastic with a sharp wit. He provides assistance only when there is something in it for him, and that usually entails new tomes for him to mull over. He enjoys reading and learning about the seas, pirates, smugglers, and all things “less than lawful.” Raz’zin especially enjoys intrigue and is zealous in his pursuit to learn more about the Underdark and all its inhabitants. His languages include Undercommon and Aquan. Raz’zin is able to cast Legend Lore (without need of the material component) once per month. He will only use this ability for someone else at great compensation to himself.
Crystal Skull
Flassa is the second of the skulls that has developed a female persona. Flassa is carved from a translucent crystal that Chawntay obtained during his travels to the goodly planes. Her voice is angelic and peaceful. She is wise and well read in matters of the planes, celestial beings, angles, and heroes of righteous causes. She is fluent in Celestial and Draconic, and freely shares her wisdom with those that would further the cause of good, and/or oppose the vile plans of evil. Flassa is able to cast the following spells once per month: Hero’s Feast, Resurrection, Remove Curse, and Remove Disease. Also, no undead is able to neither approach within 15’ of this skull nor affect her with any spells or abilities.
Metal Skull
This skull is forged from a red-orange metal that is indigenous to the City of Brass. The metal is perpetually hot and deals 1d6 fire damage each round of contact with unprotected flesh. Chawntay paid heavily in gems and jewelry for the metal while he was in the city acquiring several rare tomes. Jiz’rell, as this skull is called, is sly, cunning, and wholly lawful evil. When Jiz’rell speaks (Auran and Ignan are his known languages), he sounds as if some loathsome blacknight is speaking though a closed helmet. He enjoys twisting the words and views of others, and is constantly planning and plotting on how he could manipulate those around him. Jiz’rell’s interests include evil planes and their inhabitants, especially efreeti. This skull is able to cast Wish once per month for a non-evil being. While Jiz’rell extracts a heavy cost for using this ability, he also strives to twist the outcome of the Wish from what the recipient intended.
Black Skull
The Bane of Chawntay, or Cherta as this skull likes to be called, was crafted from a stone so black, light is not reflected from its surface. Cherta all but drips of evil and chaos, and his features have been slowly morphing over time, becoming more demonic as the years pass. His powers and knowledge of devils and demons has been expanding since his creation. He is fluent in Abyssal and Infernal. Crafty and manipulative, Cherta strives to control and dominate those weaker minded around him. Currently none are aware of the extent of Cherta’s abilities.

Suggestions for Game Use
• Chawntay’s skulls work well in game as NPC’s.
• The PC’s may travel to a remote location for information from a sage and learn it is one of the skulls.
• PC’s can be sent on several quests to retrieve the skulls and reunite them to solve an epic puzzle.
• A powerful NPC may have one as an assistant, or an evil skull can be manipulating a weak minded NPC and be the power behind the scenes.
• The party may be assigned to escort a good skull to a distant city in need of council, or deliver an evil skull to justice.