Levis's page

I'm hoping this is an appropriate place to put this, if not, well ... I don't know where it goes!

The University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee's Religious Studies Student Organization in conjunction with the Creative Writing department are holding their annual spring semester guest lecture, this year featuring renown game designer and author, Monte Cook! Please see the details about this event below.

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Real World Deities In Fictional Worlds: The Gods of Dungeons & Dragons

What is the relationship of mythology and imagination in both the fantasy and the reality of the role-playing game, Dungeons & Dragons? Get the inside scoop from co-creator of Dungeons and Dragons 3.5 and the lead designer of the next edition of the world's oldest roleplaying game!

Tuesday, March 6th, 4:00 - 5:00 PM

Located in Bolton Hall 150, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Refreshments to Follow

Free and Open to the Public
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Hope to see everyone there! Don't be afraid to ask questions, and if I know the answer I'll get back to you in a timely fashion!

The desert wastes of Osirion have always been home to competing clans of nomadic elementals of air, fire, and sand, best known for ushering in the blinding khamsin on a seasonal basis. Something changed this year, though, and the elementals went berserk, scouring the desert with a tireless fury, as seen only once every six decades or so. Thousands of tons of hot desert sand were shifted, with entire villages buried and valuable oases lost. AS a result, the caravan roads have become increasingly deadly. But one man's disaster is another man's opportunity, for in the valleys and canyons left behind by the storms, ancient wonders from fantastic myths have resurfaced. A nearly a dozen previously unknown pyramids now miraculously rise from the sands.

Word has spread. Renowned treasure hunters from across the Inner Sea (and beyond) now congregate in Sothis, capital of Osirion, to prepare for some of the most anticipated dungeon delves in centuries. Within this community of rogues, bandits, mercenaries, and tomb robbers, a rumor has spread like wildfire. One of the resurfaced structures towering out of the desert floor is none other than the legendary pyramid complex of the Four Pharaohs of Ascension...

Play will open on June 6th, this post is a place holder. Please do not post here until June 6th. Until then, hang out in the Discussion Thread.

Here we go team!

We have a very unique group, and some very challenging encounters ahead of us. In this thread feel free to discuss ideas, post about anything that comes to mind, fill us in on your schedule if you're having a rough week, and just get to know each other!

We will open play on Monday, June 6! Until then, tide yourselves over here. Please discuss the following:

-How your group came to be.
-How you are working together, despite strong differences in philosophy.
-What you are doing in Osirion, and what is your interest in tomb raiding?

You can also check out:

-GM Levi's {Advanced} Sands of Osirion PbP (Play Thread)
-GM Levi's {Advanced} SoO PbP Obsidan Portal Page

If you can, please email me at prpg (dot) levi (at) gmail (dot) com, so that I can invite you to join us on the Obsidian Portal page as a player!

Good evening everyone!

This summer I would like to GM a second play-by-post here and I'm looking for individuals who would be interested in playing in:

GameMastery Module J1: Entombed with the Pharaohs (OGL)

and

Pathfinder Module J4: The Pact Stone Pyramid (OGL)

I have ran both before, but I would like to mix things up and raise the level on each of them. They would be played using the Pathfinder RPG rules and the starting level would be 15. All hardcover Pathfinder material is allowable, but other material may be used on a case-by-case basis.

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So here's my thoughts. I would like to raise the level on these because the story is great, but the heightened level could bring a lot more excitement. And besides, why wouldn't the Pharaohs of Ascension be upper level NPCs? Really? A level 7 conjurer ruled an empire? C'mon!

I plan on overhauling the NPCs, reworking the traps, and in general just beefing up the modules. It may be a bit sketchy at times, but it should work out just grand!
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If you're interested in playing please post below with the following by Friday, May 27:

*Your character concept, including, but not limited to: Back story, class, religion, associates, etc.
*A sample build @ level 15, using: "organic" 4d6 - lowest roll, average wealth, choose one trait (I will create another for you based on your background), and anything else you deem important.
*Your timezone
*Any past experiences you have had in a PbP.

The FOUR players will be selected primarily based on their creativity and character back story (Really USE that Campaign setting!), I'm not a math-wiz, and for me gaming is all about the story!

DO NOT APPLY IF:
*You are a rules lawyer.
*You can't handle the bending of the rules for the enhancement of the story (I tend to let my players run a little wild).
*You're busy all the time - I will expect one post a day on weekdays (M-Th) and one per weekend (Friday/Saturday/Sunday).

If I'm forgetting anything here, I'm sure someone will let me know!

(Far, Lharvion 13, 998 YK)

A cold rain splatters across your exposed skin as you stand with a group of near strangers. There is little talk between you. The silence of your companions is eerie, and only amplified by the soft pitter-patter of the frigid drops of water falling from dark grey sky. The fog around you clears just long enough for you to get a glimpse of your destination, a colossal fortress constructed into the edge of a sheer cliff, looking out into the Lhazaar Sea: Dreadhold.
The name of the fortress prison brings a shiver to your spine, although that may just be from the chilling rain. Your reasons for coming to hellish monolith vary, but your mission is clear enough. Follow the instructions given to you by your employers: break in, locate cell block RED CMXCI, and "rescue" the prisoner located in cell KR-III, and get the Abyss out. Alive.

You look around your group, eying up your unusual companions:

A gaunt and particularly ugly male dwarf stands near the center of your group, holding a heavy dwarven urgosh. He is obviously not of Kundarak stock. Despite his awkward appearance he seems to move with an unusual grace, and his sharp eyes appear to take in every detail of the landscape around him.

A tall and well-muscled male half-orc stands off to one side of the group, his dark eyes taking in the group around him. Despite his obvious youth he seems ready for combat and yet surprisingly relaxed in surroundings. His clothing is simple and appears too thin to keep him warm in this frigid Lhazaar air.

A handsome human man garbed in dark armor and clutching a symbol of the Sovereign Host stands slightly towards the rear of the group. He stands with and air of confidence, and clutches his chosen weapon with ease. An unusually dark aura clings to him despite his obvious religious alignment.

A brooding elf with dark brown hair stands in the center of the group. His violet eyes gleam with a cunning intelligence and he absentmindedly twirls a vial of greenish liquid between his finders in one hand. An expertly made violin is strapped to his back.

An ashen skinned human male stoops to one side of the group next to a horridly large stag beetle. He runs his hands along the carapace of the horse sized insect, muttering something under his breath. He is aloof, yet somehow charismatic. His eyes scan the horizon, cutting through some of the fog. The druid misses little. As he stands to the side of the group, his insect companion beats its large wings impatiently.

Captivating green eyes stare out from under silver grey cloak, and when the moons manage to peek through the low clouds, a scarred shifter male is revealed to be standing in the midst of the group. He holds a masterfully crafted compound longbow, and matching sets of daggers peek from his belt. Hanging from a thin chain on his neck is a small silver arrowhead, which the shifter displays confidently.

Drawing your attention away from your new companions, you once again stare at the imposing fortress in the distance. The landscape is bathed in a dull silver-green glow from the two closest moons, making your descent to the base of the fortress easier.

What would you like to do?

If any of you have questions/concerns about your personal "spoiler" sections, please email me or put a spoiler in that is marked "GM ONLY". Be sure to check out the Discussion Thread HERE. Let the games begin!

Well team, I plan on posting the opener to this adventure tomorrow!

It'll be a flashback that you don't have a ton of control over, but that will bring you all together for the opening sequence. It's a bit of a rail-road on my part, but I think it will be the easiest way to tie you all together, so just roll with it!

From here on out post everything on here!

Also, I will be firing up our Obsidian Portal Wiki page later tonight, and it will be a work in progress, so bear with me!

Ivory Guardian (Paladin)

The exotic lands of Vudra are home to many evils, from fiendish rakshasas, to the cunning naga. To combat these evils, Vudrani paladins have developed their own unique tradition tied to their religious beliefs. Riding sacred elephants, and eschewing traditional heavy armor, ivory guardians spread peace wherever they go. The ivory guardian has the following class features.

Class Skills: An ivory guardian’s class skills are Acrobatics (Dex), Craft (Int), Diplomacy (Cha), Handle Animal (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (History) (Int), Knowledge (Nobility) (Int), Knowledge (Religion) (Int), Profession (Wis), Ride (Dex), Sense Motive (Wis), and Spellcraft (Int). These replace the standard paladin class skills.

Skill Ranks Per Level: 4 + int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: Ivory guardians are proficient with all simple and martial weapons. Ivory guardians are not proficient with any armor or shields.

AC Bonus (Ex): When unarmored and unencumbered, the ivory guardian adds her Wisdom bonus (if any) to her AC and her CMD. In addition, an ivory guardian gains a +1 bonus to AC and CMD at 4th level. This bonus increases by 1 for every four ivory guardian levels thereafter, up to a maximum bonus of +5 at 20th level. These bonuses to AC apply even against touch attacks or when the ivory guardian is flat-footed. She loses these bonuses when she is immobilized or helpless, when she wears any armor, when she carries a shield, or when she carries a medium or heavy load.

Sacred Weapon: Ivory guardians gain Exotic Weapon Proficiency (Temple Sword) as a bonus feat at 1st level (see Pathfinder RPG’s Advanced Player’s Guide, page 177).

Aura of Serenity (Su): At 5th level, an ivory guardian gains Touch of Serenity as a bonus feat, even if she does not meet the prerequisites (see Pathfinder RPG’s Advanced Player’s Guide, page 172). An ivory guardian may use a weapon when using touch of serenity. In addition, once per day, an ivory guardian can expend one use of her smite evil ability to grant the ability to use touch of serenity to all her allies within 15 feet, using her bonuses. Allies must use this touch of serenity ability by the start of the ivory guardian’s next turn and the bonuses last for 1 minute. Using this ability is a free action. Evil creatures gain no benefit from this ability. This ability replaces divine bond.

Divine Bond (Su): Upon reaching 8th level, an ivory guardian forms a divine bond with her god. This bond must be to a mount, and the mount must be an elephant (see the Pathfinder RPG Bestiary, page 128, for elephant companion statistics). This ability functions otherwise as the paladin ability. This ability replaces aura of resolve.

Hi everyone!

I decided that I really don't have enough gaming in my life, and so I have decided I am going to GM my own PbP set in Eberron.

If you are interested, please post a short character back story. I will contact you if I believe you are what I am looking for.

I need four to five players and expect a post everyday. This will be my first time running a PbP, but I've run table top games for four years. Yes, this will be an ADVENTURE!

I will allow ALL Eberron 3.5 materials, the Core Rulebook. The APG will be allowed on a case by case basis, simply because I am not as familiar with the material presented in it as I should be.

I hope you'll want to play!

BUMP! :D

Amulet of the Rakshasa
Aura moderate transmutation; CL 10th
Slot neck; Price 13,000 gp; Weight –
Description
This tiger’s eye amulet is carved with various Vudrani runes.
When this item is worn by a character with the wild shape ability, once per day the character can choose to assume a medium sized humanoid animal form similar to a Rakshasa, giving the character the head of the animal while retaining a humanoid body. This effect lasts for the same duration as a normal use of the wild shape ability (1 hour per druid level), or until the character changes back. The form chosen must be that of an animal with which the character is familiar, and is of the appropriate level to assume. The character can speak any language she knows while in this form, and use her hands to manipulate objects. While in this anthropomorphic animal form the character gains all the natural attacks of the animal form she chose to assume. In addition to these benefits, the character also receives a competence bonus to a skill, depending on the animal form she chose:
• Ape: +2 on climb checks
• Bird (Eagle/Hawk/Owl): +2 on Fly checks
• Boar: +2 on Survival checks
• Cat, all: +2 on Stealth checks
• Crocodile (Alligator): +2 on Swim checks
• Elephant: +2 on Knowledge (Geography) checks
• Rhinoceros: +2 on Intimidate checks
• Snake, all: +2 on Escape Artist checks
• Wolf (Jackal/Hyena): +2 on Perception checks
Construction
Requirements Craft Wonderous Item, polymorph or wild shape ability; Cost 6,500 gp

Well team, someone had to break down and do it, so I am!

I started really drafting up my version of Vudra the other day. I am trying to follow the canon material as closely as possible, but there is not a ton to work with. Here's what I've been able to dig up:

...

* Vudra is made of hundreds of smaller kingdoms, each most likely ruled by a Rajah, who may or may not answer to the Maharajah.

* The Maharajah is descended from some God-like Hero, similar to Rama in many aspects.

* Vudra operates with a strong caste system that is tied to their religious system. To me this implies a lawfully aligned society, yet their only representative in the inner sea, Jalmeray, is Chaotic Neutral. Explanations anyone?

* There have been three castes mentioned in the canon material:
- Padapranja – Warriors (and most likely Rulers?)
- Kezavazresthin – Merchants (and most likely Artisans?)
- Atanpratta – Explorers

To the developers - how did you come up with the names of the castes? They don't appear to be actual Sanskrit or Hindi. Please correct me if I am wrong on this.

* There are thousands of Gods in Vudra, but Irori is held above all others. Irori appears to be more of Buddha figure rather than a Hindu styled deity.

* Monks are common in Vudra, along with the misunderstood Psionic Arts.

~~~

There are definitely things I will include in my setting that are completely mine, the first of those being a new race called the Elephasi, a race of humanoid elephants who live in a strict matriarchal society. Females are exclusively clerics and healers, where the males are monks, bards, and very rarely paladins.

Beyond this I'm still in the beginning steps. Luckily, I have a fairly extensive base of Indian historical knowledge, and a some background with Hinduism to work with, so I'm at least headed in the right direction.

If anyone wants to help me, give advice, contribute or whatnot please post! And I'd love to hear from the developers on this one.

(Please note that I'm not super-interested in Psionics, so this thread has nothing to do with Mind Magic besides that it is supposedly common in Vudra.)

-Levis

This is awesome! I can't wait to get my hands on it. It will make going to the city of Katapesh so much more fun!

Besides having the blog, you can also check out the Obsidian Portal wiki for my campaign here!

Besides having the blog, you can also check out the Obsidian Portal wiki for my campaign here!

Isn't this Haleen? The quick fighter from the Battle Bazaar or what not?