According to its description in the bestiary it is only a four foot snake, but it "weighs more than 100 pounds." Seems awfully heavy, even with a "powerful build." Is this a correct description? Seems that maybe 30 pounds, perhaps 40 at the uppermost scale (no pun intended) would be more appropriate.
Creative Director
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According to its description in the bestiary it is only a four foot snake, but it "weighs more than 100 pounds." Seems awfully heavy, even with a "powerful build." Is this a correct description? Seems that maybe 30 pounds, perhaps 40 at the uppermost scale (no pun intended) would be more appropriate.
I suspect we were aiming at 10 pounds. That said... it IS a weird outsider type critter. Maybe it has stone blood or something weird?
If that's too weird, 10 pounds is a good bet.
According to its description in the bestiary it is only a four foot snake, but it "weighs more than 100 pounds." Seems awfully heavy, even with a "powerful build." Is this a correct description? Seems that maybe 30 pounds, perhaps 40 at the uppermost scale (no pun intended) would be more appropriate.
Maybe it's made out of some really heavy mineral; Uranium for instance every round the PCs remain in close proximity to it they have to make a Fort save against radiation damage ;)
According to its description in the bestiary it is only a four foot snake, but it "weighs more than 100 pounds." Seems awfully heavy, even with a "powerful build." Is this a correct description? Seems that maybe 30 pounds, perhaps 40 at the uppermost scale (no pun intended) would be more appropriate.I suspect we were aiming at 10 pounds. That said... it IS a weird outsider type critter. Maybe it has stone blood or something weird?
If that's too weird, 10 pounds is a good bet.
Hmm...I think I'll go with 20-30, and just chalk up the powerful build to thickness, about the size of a man's forearm. The ritual done to create it is weird enough, not to mention the shapechanging ability.
I can't wait to run this little critter though. The idea that I get to run rakshasas against my players again makes me giddy just thinking about it. I love those guys...
Maybe it's made out of some really heavy mineral; Uranium for instance every round the PCs remain in close proximity to it they have to make a Fort save against radiation damage ;)
That's a truly evil idea. I just might have to design a uranium golem... *wicked laughter*
Weight aside, these things give our PCs the really intense heebie-jeebies for some reason. Nice piece of work!
Mary
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Same here Mary, I was going to go for the whole pretending to be an intelligent weapon thing, but I'm really glad I didn't, a normal magical dagger that seems to appear mundane to some people and just keeps coming back is freaking my PCs out so much more! At least one of the players keeps throwing wild theories about post-game too, he's really obsessing over it... it's great stuff
Given the relative ease with which my players are getting used to identifying magic items with the PF Alpha rules, they were quite perplexed when they couldn't discern the properties of the dagger. They even went so far as to hire a wizard in town. They haven't sold it as yet, and I'm guessing they think it's a powerful weapon they'll need later on down the line.
Our PCs locked it in a heavy chest and dropped it off a bridge. When they saw it again they thought, is it the same one? If so, how angry must it be?!
Only the cocky 15-year-old wizard would touch it after that--he needed to show it to someone to get access to a place the PCs wanted to go. So he pulled it out of his belt, very cocky, flourished it--went dead white--shoved it back in his belt and went through the door. His impression was that it had tried to read his mind. Or maybe something worse. Now no one will touch it.
They tried to give it back to the person who had given it to them, but she said, "No, no, I don't need it, why don't you hold onto it?" With a sweet smile, obviously enjoying their discomfort no end.
It's in a box under Lashalla's bed. She's not sleeping very well lately.
They're afraid to drop it off another bridge: they don't want to think about it coming back again. And what if its owner eventually *does* ask for it back? She's not someone they can afford to cross.
Mm, nice stuff.
Mary
I'm still working on how to implement its desire to gain 1000 gold, especially at 1 gp per person. I'd like to see it working towards its goal during the adventure, but I don't want to make my players overly suspicious.
In any event, I figure it'll make an ideal way for the Arkonas to keep tabs on the up-and-coming heroes, if nothing else.
I'm still working on how to implement its desire to gain 1000 gold, especially at 1 gp per person. I'd like to see it working towards its goal during the adventure, but I don't want to make my players overly suspicious.
In any event, I figure it'll make an ideal way for the Arkonas to keep tabs on the up-and-coming heroes, if nothing else.
If your players rescued Majenko, he makes the perfect patsy for missing gold and/or shiny stuff.
They haven't yet. They chose the diplomatic route and didn't have 5000gp to shell out for the little dragon's release.
However, if I recall correctly, doesn't the creature have to receive the gold as a gift, rather than stealing it? That was the impression I got, but I'll have to go back and reread the monster entry.
However, if I recall correctly, doesn't the creature have to receive the gold as a gift, rather than stealing it? That was the impression I got, but I'll have to go back and reread the monster entry.
Newp. I read it as being able to only take one gold from any one person, so it has to interact with at least 1000 people to have a chance.
If a raktavarna can collect 1000 gold pieces of its own, it is freed from its master's influence forever. Only one piece of gold may be collected from a given person without alerting its master, however and the raktavarna cannot use its spell-like abilities to compel this gift.
See, it's that word, gift, that throws me. It makes it sound like the gold must be given rather than stolen.
If a raktavarna can collect 1000 gold pieces of its own, it is freed from its master's influence forever. Only one piece of gold may be collected from a given person without alerting its master, however and the raktavarna cannot use its spell-like abilities to compel this gift.See, it's that word, gift, that throws me. It makes it sound like the gold must be given rather than stolen.
Yeah, I see where that could be a bit confusing. When things seem ambiguous or weird in the text, I just go ahead and interpret it the way I want it.
...I figure it'll make an ideal way for the Arkonas to keep tabs on the up-and-coming heroes, if nothing else.
My group is just finishing the 1st book (Edge of Anarchy). I only purchase 1 book in advance (Seven Days to the Grave). So I'm wondering what the raktavarna's goal is? It is a fantastic creature and I don't want to give away too much before it serves its purpose (reporting to Vimanda?).
It was identified by the Harrow deck as having "no properties". Yet it has communicated with its owner (being very cryptic). So the group thinks it is an intelligent weapon (dagger), and thus think it is very important.
Do I just keep this guise? I was thinking it could even change shape to the weapon they needed the most (blunt, slashing, etc), just so it seemed more useful - without giving away too much about itself.
...I figure it'll make an ideal way for the Arkonas to keep tabs on the up-and-coming heroes, if nothing else.My group is just finishing the 1st book (Edge of Anarchy). I only purchase 1 book in advance (Seven Days to the Grave). So I'm wondering what the raktavarna's goal is? It is a fantastic creature and I don't want to give away too much before it serves its purpose (reporting to Vimanda?).
It was identified by the Harrow deck as having "no properties". Yet it has communicated with its owner (being very cryptic). So the group thinks it is an intelligent weapon (dagger), and thus think it is very important.
Do I just keep this guise? I was thinking it could even change shape to the weapon they needed the most (blunt, slashing, etc), just so it seemed more useful - without giving away too much about itself.
As I recall, it was spying on its owner for one of the Arkonas. Assuming it stays in contact with the raksasha it serves, they'll probably have it start keeping tabs on the PCs. I'd say it has two goals: First, to serve the raksasha that created it. Second, to collect enough gold to free itself from control.
That said, I think using it as a spy is a good way to go. How the raksashas use that information is up to you, but chances are it will allow them to be ready for the party when they eventually show up at their doorstep.
...I figure it'll make an ideal way for the Arkonas to keep tabs on the up-and-coming heroes, if nothing else.My group is just finishing the 1st book (Edge of Anarchy). I only purchase 1 book in advance (Seven Days to the Grave). So I'm wondering what the raktavarna's goal is? It is a fantastic creature and I don't want to give away too much before it serves its purpose (reporting to Vimanda?).
It was identified by the Harrow deck as having "no properties". Yet it has communicated with its owner (being very cryptic). So the group thinks it is an intelligent weapon (dagger), and thus think it is very important.
Do I just keep this guise? I was thinking it could even change shape to the weapon they needed the most (blunt, slashing, etc), just so it seemed more useful - without giving away too much about itself.
As I recall, it was spying on its owner for one of the Arkonas. Assuming it stays in contact with the raksasha it serves, they'll probably have it start keeping tabs on the PCs. I'd say it has two goals: First, to serve the raksasha that created it. Second, to collect enough gold to free itself from control.
That said, I think using it as a spy is a good way to go. How the raksashas use that information is up to you, but chances are it will allow them to be ready for the party when they eventually show up at their doorstep.
It has no real purpose in 7 days unless the Arkonas are playing a bigger role in your campaign, than CoCT as written. It can have a much more serious role in Chapter 3, so keeping the PC's guessing until then can have a nice reveal.
My players are disappointingly incurious about the dagger. One of them has been carrying it ever since they picked it up. But that it failed to be useful in the encounter with the were-rats has not elicited the slightest bit of interest in anyone.
Odd. Having a silver dagger be ineffective against lycanthropes would have thrown up big warning flags for my players. Still, if they don't concern themselves with it, it could serve to bite them in the butt later when they have to deal with its masters.
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Aaagghhhh! Today a random murder of imps attacked the party and the one carrying the Raktadagger tries to hit one with his shiny new magic sword (not good or silver) and he wails:
How many weapons do I need to carry?? I will end up with 15 daggers on my belt!
Another player says: dont you have that silver dagger?
He responds:but it doesn't work!
Somewhere Viminda chortles as nothing more is thought of it.