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saphira-artandoc · 19 days ago

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C3 Swap AU

Imogen Temult

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This post can contain spoilers!

If you wonder what the swap AU is, I recommend checking it out right here!

Major thanks once again for @theplatinumcritter for helping me brainstorm these characters !

Quick note, this one is slightly darker than the others we have so far...

Title: Lady Imogen Temult, Exaltant Hope of the Crimson Twilight

Age : 58 (28 at the time of death)

Class: Sorcerer (Awakened soul, inner aberration)

Campaign 3 E1 - E55

Imogen is a Hollow one Ruidusborn sorcerer. She grew up in Whitestone but was excluded by many due to her being born under one of Ruidus’ flare. When the Briarwoods took over Whitestone, many villagers ostracized her even more, believing she was a bad omen to the city.

She worked at the stable with her father and mother until she received the invitation to attend a wonderful feast at Whitestone castle. She was brutally murdered after and hanged on the Sun tree as the effigy of Keyleth of the Air Ashari.

When she woke up, she had the worst headache of her life caused by the antlers nailed to her temple. She is prone to migraines ever since she was brought back, believing it’s phantom pain from her trauma. She began developing magical abilities since the tragedy and used her telekinetic powers for her own survival. Months later, she began hearing in her head the voice of her murderer, Delilah Briarwood. Believing she’d never be able to fully heal as long as she stays in Tal’Dorei, Imogen left for Marquet, hoping to build a better life of solitude.

She met Ashton in Gelvaan while trying to escape a mob of angry villagers believing her to be an anomaly. She was rescued by Ashton who violently retaliated against the mob, saving her undead life. Both of them began travelling together, hoping to find a way to help one another. They made her a little horse doll filled with sands when she mentioned missing her filly, Flora. She carries it with her ever since.

Imogen used to have a Whitestonian accents back in her youth, but while spending more time in Marquet than Tal’Dorei, she completely changed her ways of speaking. She wears glasses with fake lenses to appear more appealing and hides her scars from the feast with her hair and ear cuffs, since Ashton and her would be travelling to more populated area. She had a difficult time trying to get rid of the red paint used to dye her hair, and many strands were still stained by the time she met with the other members of Bells Hells.

When Otohan Thull tried to awaken Ashton’s abilities, she killed many members of their group, including Imogen. When this happened, Imogen’s soul was trapped by “Delilah” in a memory of Whitestone, clouded inside a red storm. Once “Delilah” was defeated by Bell’s Hells, Imogen could be brought back to her friends, but her soul was never freed of the influence of “her tormentor”. She gained the ability to create a little companion using the Flora plush doll, showing more of her sorcerous abilities. The doll gained consciousness and has a thicker southern accents.

If needed to, Flora can create patchwork wings and use them to fly. If destroyed, Imogen can reacreate the Sand Specter by using scrap pieces of fabric and sand.

When it was discovered she was an Exaltant, and possibly a vessel for Predathos, the entity posing as Delilah dropped the act, revealing itself to be an inner aberration born from her trauma of the Sun tree. She was supposed to be exalted by what she went through, but instead Imogen cast aside her emotion and left it to fester away. With the Soul Anchor, she became more in touch with her Ruidusborn abilities than before and finally let herself accept her aberrant self, accepting who she is.

She is in a relationship with Laudna.

Masquerade ball

When deciding for outfits, Imogen had a hard time to choose for herself. She ended up choosing a dress that reminded her of her first home, with a patch of fur on the overcoat. She tied her hair into a long braid, hoping the familiar hairstyle of her late mother would bring her strength for the mission ahead.

She travelled with Dorian, Fearne and Orym to the ball.

She was introduced as Maud by Dorian.

The Flora doll has a hand made horse coat to fit with Imogen’s outfit, born of the idea it would be nice to see it be matching Imogen at the ball.

Uthodurn - Saviour of the Diarchy

In Uthodurn, her group were recognized as the saviour of the Diarchy and were given the opportunity to change their clothes. She was finally able to get rid of the red stains in her hair. She abandoned the ear cuff to prevent frostbites and wears druidcrafted yellow peonies to hides the scarred ears.

Flora is adorned with a golden bow, fitting with her Mistress.

Vasselheim - Exaltant Hope of the Crimson Twilight

In Vasselheim, Imogen modified her outfit from Uthodurn to be ready for the battle ahead. She ripped many of the frills from the upper layer of the dress and used black dye the create an ombré to the blue of the dress, reminiscent of a storm.

Flora wears a beaded chain to matches Imogen’s bead cage.

Embrace of Havoc

With the Soul Anchor, Imogen felt more secure in herself and the source of her power. Using Embrace of Havoc, her body stretched, her limbs elongating and her skin turning into a deep burgundy colour, with her hands and feet fading into a deep purple. Her lightning scars become more prominent, going from purple at the tips of her limbs to a bright reddish light where the anchor resides. Lightning circles around her body, attacking whoever is near 5ft of her.

This form is different from canon Imogen’s, taking inspiration from the old theory that Ruidians used to be Exandrians before being corrupted by Predathos’ influence. It is a beautiful amalgamation of herself and the aberration she created.

Dinner with the Briarwoods :

When she was invited to Whitestone castle, the Briarwoods made her change into different clothes. She didn’t comment on it at the time, believing it was part of a dress code she was unaware of.

It’s only after the dinner that she realizes what were the Briarwoods’ intentions for her and the other guests. Unfortunately for her, she had not awakened her power and couldn’t do anything to change her fate.

Relationships

Ashton Greymoore : Ashton was the first person Imogen met who had no animosity towards her for simply existing. When she told him what happened, they made sure they would be here for her. They made a doll out of scrap fabric and sandbags for Imogen when she missed Flora and share their pain with her. They are like family to Imogen. When they were separated by the Malleus Key, Imogen was worried sick for them.

Laudna : Imogen’s girlfriend. Laudna believed they had met before which was what drew her in and both women quickly became friends. Imogen was baffled by Jiana Hexum’s treatment of Laudna. She promised her that they’ll find a way out of her debt with the elf. Couple of days after their reunion in Marquet, Bell’s Hells had to help Imahara Joe in Bassuras, which ended with Laudna going to the All-Mind’s-Burn palace seeking help to assist the attack on the Malleus Key with Imogen. She commented she believed Laudna could have lived in the All-Mind’s Burn palace if it were cleaner, since it “matched her vibes” and even compared her to a noblewoman. Laudna half-joked and half-confessed to Imogen that a noblewoman would need a partner to rule, and Imogen seems to suits that role. She agreed and later asked if she could kiss Laudna. She agreed and are dating since.

Matilda Bradbury : Matilda consider Imogen to be a very capable young woman and is amaze by her tenacity after everything that happened. Imogen vaguely remembers her from the feast and mourns the fact they never had a chance of becoming friends when they were alive. She lets the two girlfriends alone when needed to, opting to let them enjoy some privacy.

Fearne Calloway : Imogen wondered if Fearne’s horns have ever given her headaches in the past. At Fearne’s confusions, Imogen explained what happened to her and showed her the scars on her temples. Fearne was the first member of Bell’s Hells after Ashton to know what happened to her in Whitestone, second being Laudna and eventually the rest of the group. Fearne is also the one helping Imogen recenter herself while letting her power flows, thus calling Fearne Professor Calloway. She is the one to style Imogen’s hair into a milkmaid braid during their time in Uthodurn.

Lilianna Temult : while travelling alone in the first months of her rebirth, Imogen struggled to keep it together. What would help her the most were constant reminders her mother would tell her, like “Keep going, Imogen”. At the masquerade, Imogen wore her hair into a long braid hoping to channel some strength from her mother to face many people inside the ball. She hoped to see her mother again after waking up from the Sun tree, but having found no trace of her parents in Whitestone after the tragedy made her wonders if they were also killed or simple fled the city.

Bells Hells : Imogen loves this group of rascals. She feels like she owes them all for helping her get rid of “Delilah”. She often wondered if the reason she was still alive after the Briarwoods was to help them achieve their goals to save Exandria and stop Ludinus Da’leth.

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And that’s it for Imogen! But you might be wondering, If we mixed up the years and made Imogen older than she would be in canon (being Keyleth’s effigy on the Sun tree) is Liliana still alive and working with Ludinus, or did we pick somebody else..? I guess we’ll have to wait and see!

Know that the subclass used for Imogen is based of a preexisting homebrew named Awakened sorcerers, inner demon. For the sake of this AU though, we debated a lot of Delilah should be real or a figment of Imogen’s trauma. By the time I’m writing this paragraph, I had my answer by making it the repressed Exaltant power, taking shape into an aberration of self loathing and identity crisis. The Embrace of Havoc form also didn’t had clothes at first. It was supposed to be ephemeral like how the Everlight is portrayed in TLOVM, but I feared of being flagged so…. Fancy robe it it!

Flora is our version of Pâté De Rolo. With Imogen being less fun scary and more “hiding in the crowd” type, Flora wouldn’t be fleshy. With the ties to Ruidus, storms and dreams, I took a more creative approach and created the Sand Specter. (Because sandman mythology - Ruidus dreaming of Exandrian - Ruidusborn are the children of the One who Sleeps, etc)

Also the part about All-Minds-Burn palace is actually a short story I have written when E70 came out! It definitely needs to be reworked though and mayyyyyybe I’ll share it vjgcjhfx

Next character will be Dorian, who should be done by next week, but don’t quote me on that

#imogen temult #imodna #critical role #critical role spoilers #c3 swap au #bells hells swap au #cr3 #cr3 spoilers #my au #my art #artists on tumblr

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random-trash-roli · 3 months ago

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I have a Headcanon that Hassian and Jel are able to see the things that us as players see, but don't know why it happens.

Carefully folding the fabric, Jel's thoughts wander to his latest design. He's trying to create a garment that captures the essence of the village's tranquil evenings, with the sunset's warm embrace reflected in the material. The whispers of the willow trees add a serene backdrop to his contemplation. He looks up to see a human wearing a hotdog costume fishing at the lake in the distance. A sigh escapes his lips. "Why did those ridiculous hotdog costumes have to become so popular?"

Raising an eyebrow at the human in the costume, he turns to Jel. "You seem… displeased with your creation."

With a huff, Jel sets the fabric aside. He runs a hand through his hair, the silver streaks glinting in the fading light. "It was a jest, a whimsical jest! Now every now and then I see someone wearing it like it's the height of fashion. It's… it's embarrassing. How did something so trivial become so…" He trails off, his voice thick with irritation.

Hassian's gaze remains on the human in the hotdog costume, a smirk playing at the corner of his mouth. "They do seem to have an… acquired taste for the unusual, don't they?" He says, his tone mildly amused. "Just like how the humans love to bother me when I clearly state how much I despise interacting with them."

Jel's eyes narrow slightly as he picks up the fabric again, his deft fingers resuming their work. He glances over at the human in the costume before speaking. "It's not just the costumes, they also seem really odd. Sometimes, when they look into my mirrors at the shop, they can change their voices, their eye color, even their body type. I don't even know how they do it. It's like magic, but… mundane. Like they're playing dress-up with their very beings." He shakes his head, the awe in his voice tinged with confusion. "It's fascinating, really. And slightly terrifying."

Hassian's smirk fades, his eyes thoughtful as he watches Jel's nimble fingers dance over the fabric. "One time I saw a human phase halfway through the floor in the inn and get stuck. They then vanished, appearing outside the inn. They are just weird." He tilts his head, his curiosity piqued. "But some of the others here are weird too, one time I saw zeki moving around without moving his legs. He was just standing, but somehow gliding across the town square, and Ashura, the innkeeper, gliding across the town while doing push-ups. It was… disturbing. Zeki and Ashura weren't aware that that even happened and just looked at me like I was crazy."

Jel snickers at the image of Zeki and Ashura's unexplained abilities, a rare moment of mirth lighting up his eyes. "How? If I just started to glide across town I think that would be something I'd notice." He shakes his head. "This has only happened since the first human arrived, causing chaos and confusion. It's like they brought a whirlwind of… of… I don't know what. It's like they're not even aware of the natural order of things."

With a sigh, he crosses his arms over his chest. "Indeed, it's as if they don't realize we're all just trying to live our lives here. But then again, we all have our peculiarities, don't we?" His gaze shifts to Jel, watching the fabric come alive in his hands. "What is it you're working on, Jel?"

Looking down at the fabric in his hands, Jel's thoughts drift to the task at hand. "A new design, something that embodies the tranquility of this place. I want to capture the feeling of the lake at dusk, the way the light plays on the water and the shadows dance." He unfolds the fabric slightly, revealing a pattern of purples and blues that mimic the lake's surface. "But it's difficult to focus with all these… aberrations." He looks to the side to see a human pick a flower and walk away, only the flower that they picked is still there, untouched.

Hassian nods solemnly, his eyes following the same path as Jel's. "The balance of nature is delicate, and it seems these newcomers are as clumsy as they are curious. They disrupt the very fabric of our world." He looks back at Jel, his expression contemplative. "Plus, some of them are kinda creepy. A few keep getting close to my face, somehow phasing through me. It's unnerving."

Jel shivers slightly, a look of unease crossing his face. "Indeed, the way they just pop in and out… it's as if reality itself has gone haywire." He refolds the fabric, the colors of the design blending into one another as he does so. "But tell me, have you noticed anything… different in the village lately? Something that seems almost… magical?"

He furrows his brow, his gaze searching the distant horizon as if the answer might be written in the clouds. "Magical? No, not really. Unless you count how humans are able to carry thousands of fish at a time without bending under the weight. That seems rather… unnatural."

Jel's eyes widen as he spots a human wearing an outfit that seems eerily familiar. It's one of his most intricate designs, a witch outfit that creates the illusion of snowfall around the wearer. "Hassian, look there." He points to the human with a mix of pride and bewilderment. "It's one of my creations. It's like… snow is falling around them, even though it's the middle of summer. How peculiar."

Hassian's gaze follows Jel's finger to the human adorned in the peculiar outfit. "Ah, yes. The snowfall effect. Quite the spectacle." He pauses, his expression thoughtful. "But I wonder, Jel, have you noticed anything else… strange about them? They pay in this peculiar currency, don't they? The gold coins that appear out of nowhere and then vanish again."

Jel nods, his eyes darkening slightly. "Yes, but they seem to be unable to pay me in those gold coins that everyone else uses. It's always these… blue ones. I don't know where they come from, but they're the only currency they have for my services." He frowns, the fabric momentarily forgotten in his hands. "And it's not just the currency. Their behavior is… erratic. Sometimes they're here, sometimes they're not, without any explanation. It's as if they're ghosts, flitting in and out of existence."

Hassian nods in understanding. "I've noticed that as well. And the way their voices cut out or their bodies lag when they move." He pauses, a sigh escaping him. "It's like trying to converse with a poorly made marionette." He picks up a small pebble, skipping it across the lake's surface, watching the ripples expand. "But their strange ways shouldn't concern us too much, should they?"

Jel's gaze lingers on the human in the witch costume, his mind racing with thoughts. "I suppose not. But it's hard to ignore when it affects my work, my livelihood." He sighs, setting the fabric aside. "These blue coins… they're unlike anything I've ever seen before. They don't seem to hold the same value as our gold, yet they're all they have to offer."

He turns to Jel, his eyes reflecting the concern in his voice. "Perhaps it's their way of showing us what's truly important to them. Like a sort of… token of appreciation for our craftsmanship." He looks back at the water, the pebble skipping forgotten. "Though, I must admit, I've noticed something peculiar with the animals too. Sometimes, they vanish in mid-step, only to reappear a moment later as if they never left."

Frowning, Jel taps his chin with his index finger, contemplating. "It's as if the very fabric of our world is… unraveling. Or perhaps we're just seeing the threads we've been ignoring all along." He takes a deep breath, watching the human in the witch costume fade into the twilight. "Well, I suppose we can't change the tapestry of fate, only how we weave ourselves into it."

With a nod, Hassian stands up, brushing off his trousers. "You're right, Jel. We have our duties, and their oddities are their own burdens to bear." He glances back at the lake, the last rays of sunlight casting a golden hue over the water. It's only then that Hassian realizes that tau has been stuck in a sitting position next to him for a while, not moving at all. "Tau," he calls out gently, "are you okay?"

The plumehound starts suddenly, as if snapping out of a trance. He looks up at his master with a tilt of his head, tail wagging slightly, barking once, he seems to be back to normal.

Jel watches the exchange with a mix of relief and confusion. "It seems Tau was just as lost in thought as we were." He stands up as well, dusting off his impeccable trousers. "Well, I suppose we all have our peculiarities to deal with."

Hassian nods, his gaze lingering on the lake before he turns to Jel. "Indeed. We must each find our place in this… altered reality." He offers a hand to help Jel to his feet, his grip firm but gentle. "We've had our share of strange occurrences today. Perhaps we should both return to our respective domains and ponder these mysteries in private."

With a nod, Jel takes the offered hand and rises gracefully. "That seems prudent. Thank you for the company, Hassian." He tucks the fabric into his pocket, the colors of the lake at dusk still reflected in his eyes. "Perhaps tomorrow we'll find more answers or… more puzzles to solve." He offers a small, wry smile.

Hassian returns the smile, though it's tinged with a hint of skepticism. "I wouldn't hold your breath, Jel. The humans are as fickle as the changing seasons." He looks down at Tau, who seems to have fully recovered from his strange daze. "But who knows, maybe they'll bring us more intriguing mysteries to ponder." He claps a hand on Jel's shoulder. "Rest well, and may your needle find true in the morning."

With the last of the sun's light fading away, the two friends part ways, Jel heading back to his tailor shop and Hassian to his grove. The whispers of the willow trees are replaced by the gentle lapping of water against the shore as the lake starts to calm for the night. The village of Kilima goes about its evening routines, the peculiarities of the day tucked away like the setting sun.

#jel palia #jel omiata #palia hassian #4th wall break #headcanon

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mekkthemighty · 22 days ago

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Magical Natural Resources PT 3 Plants

Acid Algae: a bright green algae that is naturally acidic and deadly to most creatures, this algae usually grows in swamps inhabitated by black dragons. It deals 1 acid damage per round to any creature who makes contact with it. This algae can be collected in a glass vial and can boiled to create an acid vial, though the gasses released will deal 1d4 acid and 1d4 poison damage to any who inhale it. When used as an additional material component in casting Acid Splash or Acid Arrow, the acid damage destroys the targets armor if it is nonmagical and the damage exceeds the creatures armor class.

Aloe: Found primarily in deserts, often used to treat burns and can be made into a potion of fire resistance with a DC 15 alchemy craft roll

Arrowroot: Found primarily in the desert, acts as an incredibly strong digestive stimulant. Can be made into a potion of poison resistance with a DC 15 craft roll

Beast’s Foil: An herb found in the woods, known to repel magic beasts such as Griffons, Harpies, and Basilisks. Can be distilled into a poison potent against creatures with chimeric origins including bestial humanoids

Bell Flower: Found primarily in mountain foothills, repels aberrations and can cause infatuation when consumed. Can be made into a potent aberration poison or a love potion.

Berserker Spore: a red mushroom with a sweet scent, when disturbed it releases a spore dust which causes those who inhale it to go berserk, attacking anyone around them DC 15 Con to resist

Bladegrass: a variety of grass that is razor sharp, walking through it deals 1 Slashing damage per 5ft square, thankfully it has a slower growth cycle than other grasses and remains somewhat rare as a result. It can be picked with a DC 20 Herbalism, if failed by more than 5 take 1 Slashing damage. If Plant Growth or similar spell is cast over an area of Bladegrass, consider that area to be under the effects of Spike Growth. Can also be made into an inhaled poison called Sharp Powder (see poisons)

Blisterwort: Found primarily in the swamps and marshlands. Repels Ooze based creatures and can be made into a poison which is effective against oozes, Can also be made into a Potion of Acid Resistance with a DC 15 craft roll

Bloodleaf: Found primarily in the desert and thus remains rare as it is known for its aggressive growth. This weed often forces all other plant life from its growth area and is even known to harm Awakened plants. Can be made into a Potion of Necrotic Resistance with a DC 17 craft roll

Bright Rose: Found primarily in the grassland meadows. Incredibly valued for its wide uses, including repelling undead, magic mind clearing properties, and innate radiant energy. Some theorize the flower is actually native to the Higher Planes, specifically the Fields of Elysium, and was transplanted to the Material Plane. Tea made with this flower has a 1% chance of becoming holy water. Can be made into a Potion of Radiant Resistance with a DC 17 craft roll

Buckthorn: Found primarily in the swamps and marshlands, famous for its ability to repel draconic creatures. Can be distilled into a poison that is quite potent against creatures of a draconic lineage

Catnip: attracts cats, also can be made into a potion of confused haste with a DC 15 herbalism or alchemy, the potion when drunk gives you an extra confused action on your turn in which your action is determined as with the Confusion spell lasts 1 minute

Coca Leaf: The leaves of the Coca bush. The branches are curved, and the leaves are thin, opaque, oval, and taper at the extremities. The flowers are small, and disposed in clusters on short stalks; the corolla is composed of five yellowish-white petals, the anthers are heart-shaped, and the pistil consists of three carpels united to form a three-chambered ovary. The flowers mature into red berries. Can be made into a Potion of Rage with a DC 15 alchemy craft roll

Cursefruit: the fruit of the Cryingwood tree, resembles a peach with pale white skin and black flesh. The fruit retains the curse of treant and will inflict the curse on those who eat of it and do not plant the seed at its core. Casting remove curse on the fruit before eating it adds color to its skin and makes it not only safe to eat without being cursed but also causes it to provide 2d6 temporary hp and advantage on saving throws made to resist curses, disease or poison until the end of your next long rest Can be made into a petrifying poison known as Barkblood (see poisons) unless the curse has been removed.

Darkberry: a rare berry found in forests. Often the subject of great study, darkberries are extremely toxic to non magical creatures. Beasts and humans alike are repelled and disgusted when near the plant, however creatures and humanoid races with innate magic energy, spellcasters, and magical creatures are completely unaffected by the plant. It can be made into a poison potent against non magical creatures.

Earthbread: A relatively common herb found in forests and grasslands, known for its magic healing properties. Eaten raw provides 1 hp of healing, can be made into a healing potion with an herbalist or alchemist craft roll DC 10: 1d4 healing +1d4/(+5DC)

A lot of these are stolen and adjusted from this cuz it was one of the first things on google: https://allaria.fandom.com/wiki/Magic_Materials

so thanks for the resources

#dnd #dnd 5e homebrew #homebrew #magical natural resource #natural resource #magical resource #herbs #berries #plants #leaves #alchemy ingredients

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raeynbowboi · 2 years ago

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Creating a Thematic Bard

Through Bardic Magical Secrets, any Bard can pick up any 6-8 spells of their choosing depending on their subclass. I thought I’d go through some thematic options for a Bard to choose from to cater to different themes and archetypes the Bard aspires to do. For each, I will offer the 8 spells I would recommend if you were to play as a Lore Bard, and if you pick a different subclass, just elimate two of the options.

HEAVENLY CHOIR 6th Spiritual Weapon, Spirit Guardians 10th Flame Strike, Destructive Wave 14th Holy Weapon, Summon Celestial 18th Divine Word, Holy Aura

THAT INFERNAL BARD 6th Hellish Rebuke, Summon Lesser Demons 10th Summon Greater Demon, Planar Binding 14th Summon Fiend, Tasha’s Otherworldly Guise 18th Planar Ally, Shapechange

WOODLAND WOODWINDS 6th Spike Growth, Plant Growth 10th Grasping Vine, Wrath of Nature 14th Transport Via Plants, Wall of Thorns 18th Tree Stride, Guardian of Nature

NECRODANCER 6th Animate Dead, Summon Undead 10th Spirit of Death, Danse Macabre 14th Create Undead, Finger of Death 18th Negative Energy Flood, Antilife Shell

PYRODANCER 6th Scorching Ray, Fireball 10th Ashardalon’s Stride, Flame Strike 14th Immolation, Investiture of Flame 18th Fire Storm, Meteor Swarm

CRYODANCER 6th Ice Knife, Rime’s Binding Ice 10th Ice Storm, Cone of Cold 14th Investiture of Ice, Otiluke’s Freezing Sphere 18th Wall of Ice, Control Weather

WET T-SHIRT CONTEST 6th Tidal Wave, Wall of Water 10th Control Water, Maelstrom 14th Watery Sphere, Summon Elemental 18th Tsunami, Water Breathing

TAKE THE WORLD BY STORM 6th Thunder Step, Lightning Bolt 10th Control Winds, Storm Sphere 14th Chain Lightning, Investiture of Wind 18th Whirlwind, Storm of Vengeance

DOWN TO EARTH 6th Max’s Earthen Grasp, Erupting Earth 10th Stone Shape, Wall of Stone 14th Bones of the Earth, Move Earth 18th Investiture of Stone, Earthquake

A DANCE OF DRAGONS 6th Chromatic Orb, Dragon’s Breath 10th Elemental Bane, Summon Draconic Spirit 14th Fizban’s Platinum Shield, Draconic Transformation 18th Illusory Dragon, Shapechange

BARDS GONE FEYWILD VOL VII 6th Summon Fey, Spirit Guardians 10th Conjure Woodland Beings, Healing Spirit 14th Heal, Conjure Fey 18th Mass Heal, Wish

FIND ME SUMMON TO LOVE 6th Conjure Animals, Summon Undead 10th Summon Aberration, Summon Draconic Spirit 14th Summon Fiend, Summon Celestial 18th Summon Construct, Summon Elemental

ROCKY HORROR NIGHTMARE SHOW 6th Dissonant Whispers, Fear 10th Phantasmal Killer, Dream 14th Mental Prison, Feeblemind 18th Maddening Darkness, Weird

CLOAK AND DAGGER 6th Counterspell, Pass Without Trace 10th Death Ward, Steel Wind Strike 14th Contingency, Simulacrum 18th Feeblemind, Foresight

NECROSIS 6th Inflict Wounds, Wither and Bloom 10th Blight, Enervation 14th Harm, Finger of Death 18th Abi’s Horrid Wilting, Destructive Wave

STEP THREE: PROPHET 6th Augury, Clairvoyance 10th Divination, Commune 14th True Seeing, Detect Thoughts 18th Astral Projection, Foresight

GLOWING REVIEWS 6th Blinding Smite, Spirit Guardians 10th Destructive Wave, Wall of Light 14th Sunbeam, Crown of Stars 18th Guiding Bolt, Sunburst

SIMPLY PSIONIC 6th Mind Spike, Tasha’s Mind Whip 10th Raulothim’s Psychic Lance, Telekinesis 14th Rary’s Telepathic Bond, Synaptic Static 18th Telepathy, Psychic Scream

SONG OF WAR 6th Hunter’s Mark, Spiritual Weapon 10th Staggering Smite, Steel Wind Strike (or) Swift Quiver 14th Holy Weapon, Blade Barrier 18th Conjure Volley, Blade of Disaster

SHIELD MASTER 6th Armor of Agathys, Shield 10th Otiluke’s Resilient Sphere, Wall of Force 14th Fizban’s Platinum Shield, Globe of Invulnerability 18th Forecage, Invulnerability

MAGIC MIKE 6th Magic Missile, Glyph of Warding 10th Arcane Eye, Bigby’s Hand 14th Arcane Gate, Symbol 18th Demiplane, True Polymorph

SPELLBREAKER 6th Absorb Elements, Counterspell 10th Circle of Power, Synaptic static 14th Fizban’s Platinum Shield, Forecage 18th Feeblemind, Antimagic Field

SOME ASSEMBLY REQUIRED 6th Spiritual Weapon, Spirit Guardians 10th Guardian of Faith, Bigby’s Hand 14th Mordenkainen’s Sword, Blade Barrier 18th Max’s Earthen Grasp, Blade of Disaster

TWO-FACED 6th Alter Self, Water Breathing 10th Guardian of Nature, Stoneskin 14th Tasha’s Otherworldly Guise, Draconic Transformation 18th Animal Shapes, Shapechange MASTER OF ILLUSIONS 6th Blur, Pass Without Trace 10th Phantom Steed, Creation 14th Mental Prison, Nystul’s Magic Aura 18th Illusory Dragon, Weird

A DANCE WITH DEATH 6th Wither and Bloom, Vampiric Touch 10th Blight, Enervation 14th Contingency, Soul Cage 18th Clone, Invulnerability

MERCY MAIN 6th Aura of Vitality, Beacon of Hope 10th Aura of Purity, Aura of Life 14th Heal, Regenerate 18th Mass Heal, True Resurrection

PLAGUED BY GUILT 6th Hex, Bestow Curse 10th Vitriolic Sphere, Contagion 14th Eyebite, Harm 18th Feeblemind, Weird

BLUE EXORCIST 6th Counterspell, Remove Curse 10th Dispel Evil and Good, Banishing Smite 14th Forbiddance, Plane Shift 18th Forecage, Imprisonment

BARD EX MACHINA 6th Elemental Weapon, Tiny Servant 10th Fabricate, Creation 14th Animate Objects, Summon Construct 18th Mighty Fortress, Blade of Disaster

CONCLAVE OF THE HOUND DOG 6th Hunter’s Mark, Conjure Animals 10th Swift Quiver, Conjure Volley 14th Guardian of Nature, Dominate Beast 18th Animal Shapes, Insect Plague

OATH OF MERRIMENT 6th Blinding Smite, Crusader’s Mantle 10th Find Greater Steed, Destructive Wave 14th Staggering Smite, Banishing Smite 18th Circle of Power, Holy Weapon

And of course, you can always mix and match. Going for a Fire Dragon theme? Mix the Pyrodancer and A Dance of Dragons spell lists. As an example:

LOVE AMONG THE DRAGONS 6th Dragon’s Breath, Fireball 10th Flame Strike, Summon Draconic Spirit 14th Investiture of Flame, Draconic Transformation 18th Illusory Dragon, Meteor Swarm

These are all the bard themes I could think of, but if you can think of some more that I missed, or have better suggestions for some of my choices, let me know your own thematic magical secrets builds. Obviously, these were made with the Lore Bard in mind, since it gets the most magical secrets, but I’m sure some synergize better with other bard types, such as Song of War with the College of Valor. I just used Lore as the default. How well do these magical secrets builds work for you?

#dungeons & dragons #Dungeons and Dragons #bard #bardic magical secrets #magical secrets #dnd bard #dnd 5e #fifth edition #5th edition #dnd #d&d #d&d 5e

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bestworstcase · 1 year ago

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something. about the brothers “gave them roles to play,” and “if this is what they were supposed to do, how did remnant come about?”—this is only a half-formed thought still—but i think it’s probably important that the blacksmith uses this language in her tale, contrary to what we see in the ever after in the present where purpose is not assigned but rather chosen. the notion of “supposed to” or “should” is antithetical to the ever after now, but it wasn’t then and indeed the principal role the brothers had was to describe purposes for the other afterans.

which clearly isn’t something the tree cares about, because the tree is passive and cannot but follow what is chosen inside of it. but it did give the brothers destruction to clear the wilderness and creation to imagine something new, and it of course wouldn’t impose upon their free will either, so they imagined a hierarchical garden with everything and everyone in its proper place and that’s what the ever after, evidently, became.

(i think there is an argument to be made that the tree is not, itself, sapient. the brothers were givendestruction and creation, but grew curious and wanted to do more. if the tree is a solely passive force except in reaction to the will of those who commune with it, does it have a will of its own? the blacksmith, though an aspect of the tree, is a construct built around a tree branch and she subtly disassociates herself from the tree; she is part of it but not the tree itself.)

anyway the point is, the brothers created the cat in secret, realized they could make new beings to do their jobs for them, and then created jabber for that purpose.

except.

their jobs were made-up. arbitrary. the brothers invented this particular way of doing things and committed to it so thoroughly that they began to feel it as a limitation, so when they made two new beings to take over…

…what they actually got was two new beings with the power to destroy and remake the world, just as the brothers themselves had destroyed and remade the wilderness. “brutal and effective,” the blacksmith says of jabber. he didn’t do what he was “supposed” to do because the brothers mistook tradition for natural law.

and then light sees this happen and goes “we created a dangerous aberration, we have to get rid of it” but dark looks at the situation and realizes, i think, that they were mistaken about what the rules areand chose to accept reality as it was. (and this, this is why dark is associated with knowledge and light with choice. dark values truth, light values rules.)

something similar happens again in the lost fable. “rules that i see now work ever in your favor, and yet the day a mortal comes to pray at my feet before your own, so do you arrive to lay your judgment upon me.” i think—i’ve discussed at length before how the jabber history recontextualizes dark’s actions in lost fable, but like, dark is specifically associating himself with jabber here, subject to light’s judgment on the basis of rules he already knew were arbitrary but is now grasping are also deeply unfair.(probably not coincidentally, salem inspired dark to help her by recognizing and empathizing with his loneliness.)

i’m always chewing on the apotheosis by drowning and revival but i think. it’s interesting that dark refers to salem here as “a mortal.” and then he destroys ozma, but not her (even as she’s engulfed in fire). and then light bites her. and then she falls into the pool of life and she’s immortal. light tells her to learn her lesson but dark tells her “you cannot die; you cannot be with your beloved” and it’s like

dark has known since jabber that he and his brother don’t have the power to dictate what things can and cannot do with what they’re given. he knows that salem was so determined to be reunited with ozma that she was willing to both openly defy the god of light and walk into dark’s domain to entreat him instead and assert that they’re both monsters and fight back after they treat her monstrously. so like, what does he mean really. “you cannot die so you can’t be with your beloved”—he knows she is literally willing to Fight God to be with her beloved. he knows that. and he just elevated her into a position equal to himself and his brother by agreeing to make her immortal, and poked her in exactly the spot he knew would push her toward open defiance.

knowledge then choice, huh

#i wonder if she ever looks back #and wonders #salem understood him once. she might understand him even now

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my-intrusive-stories · 1 year ago

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Vampire! Engen x Female! Reader: Holding On To You Part 1

Word Count ~ 4566 Warnings: Canon-Typical Violence Notes: So, this is my first gendered work, but it's like that for plot reasons that happen in the second part (and maybe third part). I'll switch back to a GN reader for the other oneshots this month. Anyway, I Got lost in the sauce once more with this one, but trust me, it should all come together by the next chapter. Happy Spooktober everyone!

Monsters, demons, anomalies, or what the beings themselves preferred: Supernaturals. They're diverse creatures of unknown origins who hide in forests, caves, water, or sometimes amongst humans. Some are friendly, some solitary, and others malicious, but to the Hunters, they're all aberrations that must die.

Hunters convinced the masses that Supernaturals were a threat to the human race. They spread exaggerated news of atrocious acts committed by Supernaturals while erasing the good deeds of others. It took several years, but the constant stream of anti-Supernatural propaganda caused mass hysteria. Parents worried their children would be kidnapped by a dryad or drowned by an undine, and farmers thought their livestock would be sucked dry by vampires. All of this led to Hunters rising in power across the country. They'd influence politics to favor their organization and gain financial backing from local governments.

Frankly, you disliked the Hunters. A year ago, when you woke up in a field with no memories, they harassed you constantly, trying to reveal you as a Supernatural. Nothing came of it, but it was such a jarring experience that you decided you wanted nothing to do with the lot of them. The notebook in your possession confirmed this. It explicitly said to avoid Hunters and those who associated with them. You had no qualms with this.

Unfortunately, fate had other plans because the most persistent Hunter in your village decided to follow you into the woods. Ruthren was always a thorn in your side. The second you were introduced to the town, he claimed you were a witch who eats children. As it turns out, baby-eating allegations are difficult to shake off.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the witch. Going out to find more ingredients for poison?" Much to his displeasure, you ignored him, so he pressed on. "Or maybe you're meeting up with your monster friends."

You sighed loudly. "Ruthren, I'd rather have my leg gnawed off by a hellhound than listen to you blaber on. So, if you'll excuse me, I have plants to pick."

As you turned to walk deeper into the forest, the sound of a flintlock cocking made you freeze. Slowly, you turned around. The crazy bastard had pulled his gun out.

Blood drained from your face. Ruthren had killed for less consequential slights before. There was no doubt in your mind that he'd pull the trigger and create some bogus story to justify your death. Sure, there'd be a bit of a fuss, but Hunters were practically untouchable by the law.

"Let's talk about this," you forced out. Adrenaline pumped through your veins as you backed away gradually. For every step backward, Ruthren took two forwards. He was serious. As subtly as possible, you slipped a hand into your bag. A knife was definitely in there somewhere.

"Oh, you're remorseful now?" Ruthren asked with mock sympathy. "Well, it won't do anything. I've hated you since the moment you stepped foot in town. There's no way you're human, but since you've managed to bewitch everyone, I'll blow you open and prove you wrong."

When a tree met your back, your hand slipped under the notebook and found the knife. Ruthren was fifteen feet away and closing. There'd be only one opportunity to sink the small blade into his throat. Blocking out the sound of crunching leaves, you started to count down.

Three. A stick snapped, but it wasn't Ruthren who'd stepped on it.

Two. There was a red blur in your peripheral vision.

One. Ruthren was five feet away and ready to shoot.

Zero. The crazed smile on the Hunter's face slipped away as a gloved hand pierced through his chest while a knife embedded itself in his neck.

Bloody mist spattered your clothing as you watched life disappear from the scumbag's eyes. More importantly, who had just impaled him? No regular human could do something like that so effortlessly.

Once the corpse fell to the ground, the stranger was revealed. He was a handsome young man with brown hair, piercing blue-grey eyes, and a scarred face. A red and black cape covered his imposing figure, but what was really eye-catching was his long canine teeth. The man was a vampire.

You gazed at the blood-covered vampire. Despite his appearance, he didn't seem particularly dangerous--at least not to you. Ruthren would beg to disagree, but he was dead and couldn't say anything. Snapping out of your thoughts, you realized you hadn't thanked the man for his help.

"Ruthren would have blown my head off if you hadn't shown up. So, uh, thanks. Could I get your name?"

The mysterious man stayed silent. His eyebrows were furrowed, and the glowing blue of his stare was so intense it made your skin prick. Maybe he just wanted you to leave so he could drink the Hunter's blood.

"Well, you don't have to share if you don't want to," you amended. "I'm going back to town now, so thanks again."

"Wait." You froze. "There's blood on your clothes. If you return like that and this guy," he kicked Ruthren's corpse for emphasis, "never returns, they'll kill you on the spot. It's quite easy to accuse people of being Supernaturals after all."

A groan escaped your lips. "You're right, but it's not like I have anywhere to go. With my luck, I'll stumble into another town and get accused of being a Supernatural again. Either way, it's a losing situation."

The vampire stared at you for a few more seconds before saying, "Come with me." He turned and began to walk deeper into the forest without waiting for your response. With few other options left, than to follow the man, you grabbed your bloodied knife and ran to catch up.

Walking through the forest was a struggle. Thick roots hindered your progress at every step. Meanwhile, the vampire who'd saved you strolled through so casually that it was as if he was on a completely separate path. Before you could ask him to slow down, the brown-haired man's stride lessened, allowing you to keep him in sight. Not once did he look back, though.

After hours of walking, your mysterious savior came to a stop. As you closed the distance between you two, a dreary castle appeared. It was the largest building you'd ever seen (which wasn't saying much considering your memory loss, but it was undoubtedly massive). The large gate creaked open as if it were expecting your arrival.

You tentatively stepped through the entrance. Inside, the building contrasted greatly with the bleak outside. There was a colorful array of individuals, from a witch in purple to a man with a pumpkin on his head. Other Supernaturals were hanging around and playing games. The moment they noticed the vampire entered, they swarmed around the two of you. A flurry of greetings and questions were directed toward the man.

"Welcome back!"

"How was hunting?"

"Who's that lady?"

Instead of responding, the man raised his hand, and the crowd immediately silenced. "Where's Rachel?" he asked.

A young dryad in a green dress popped out from behind a plant and shouted, "Here," while waving excitedly. The young girl slipped through the crowd and stopped in front of you.

"Show her to a room," the vampire ordered. "She'll be our guest starting today." Without sparing you a glance once again, the enigmatic man walked through the crowd, which separated for him.

You didn't have much time to think before Rachel grabbed your hands and started shaking them around. "It's nice to meet you, uhhhh. What's your name?"

"I wish I knew," you smiled bitterly. "I can't remember anything at all."

Rachel frowned for a second before her sunny disposition came back. "Then how about this? Until you remember your name, we'll call you (Y/N)!"

You repeated the name a few times. Maybe it was Rachel's overflowing positivity, but you felt happy. The new name filled a part of your heart that yearned for normality.

"I like it. Thank you, Rachel." The dryad beamed. You could have sworn the seemingly permanent blush on her face intensified. Her happiness was undoubtedly infectious.

"C'mon, after I show you your room, I'll give you a tour of this place. It's huge, so I don't want you getting lost," she giggled. Without warning, Rachel grabbed your arm and started to drag you around. You tried to slow down, but she was much stronger than she looked. One yank and your arm would come clean off.

Rachel's first stop was the garden behind the castle. Hundreds of different plants grew wildly across the expanse of land. It was gorgeous. A laugh slipped from the blonde dryad as she saw the shocked look on your face.

"Beautiful, isn't it? I take care of all the plants here. Whenever I feel lonely, I come here." A sad look filled her eyes for a fleeting moment before she shook it off. "Anyway, let's continue with the tour."

She showed you the grand dining hall where meals would be served. You wondered how meals for so many Supernaturals were prepared, but apparently, spirits took care of the cooking and other household chores.

"But just in case you feel a little hungry, here's the kitchen," Rachel presented with a flourish. Inside, there was the witch you saw before. She was cooking what seemed to be an ungodly amount of food. When questioned about the witch, Rachel laughed and said that was an everyday occurrence.

Finally, you were shown your room on the second floor. It was spacious enough to be a house in the village you used to live in. How could all of this be for one person?

"Are you sure this is mine?" you asked incredulously. "This is way too big for one person."

"Of course, it's yours, silly! You're our guest," Rachel giggled. "If you need anything, I'll be in the room next to you. On the off chance I'm gone, Engen is in the only bedroom on the third floor."

"Engen?"

"That's the lord of this castle. He's the one who brought you here." You blinked. Every thought in your head vanished. Noticing the blank look on your face, Rachel continued to speak. "Engen doesn't talk much, so don't feel bad. He may be private with his affairs, but he saved everyone here from Hunters. I can't think of anyone we'd trust more with our lives than him."

A soft smile spread across your face at Rachel's words. Engen was a good leader. It was still a mystery as to why he saved you, though. What possessed him to save a human? You pondered the question as you said goodnight to Rachel and slipped into bed. Whatever the reason, you were glad Engen saved you.

Weeks flew by, and you found yourself adapting well to life in the castle. No one was bothered about a human living with them. In fact, many were quite friendly. You quickly befriended the gluttonous witch, Ihwa, and the man with a pumpkin on his head, Vector. Alongside Rachel, those were the people whose company you stayed in the most. Engen, on the other hand, seemed dead set on avoiding you. Every time you tried to approach him, he'd disappear into his shadows.

"It's just so frustrating," you complained to Vector one night. "Do I have the plague or something? I can't even get a word in because he ignores me."

Vector stayed silent for several seconds before responding. "That's strange because Engen asked me to make sure you were comfortable here. Why he would save you just to avoid you is beyond me."

A sigh escaped your lips as you laid your head on the cold table. It would make sense to stop trying to engage the vampire, but something inside you kept drawing you to him. Damn him and his contradictory actions.

The door to the castle bursting open snapped you out of your thoughts. Through it came the other vampire, Baekji. She was breathing heavily and covered in scratches. You and Vector dashed to catch her before she fell down.

"What happened?" Vector asked as he rummaged through his medical bag.

"The forest is swarming with those Hunter bastards. I was trying to feed on an animal, but they saw me and tried to kill me. Barely made it out alive," Baekiji groaned.

"They won't find the castle, right?"

"No," Vector answered while bandaging Baekji, " Ihwa placed an enchantment circle around it. No one with ill will towards Supernaturals can see this building. You're actually the first human to be able to see it."

"I'm so hungry," the orange-eyed vampire suddenly whined. "It's been too long since I fed." She glanced at Vector, who quickly covered his neck.

"Not a chance, you blood-sucker. How many times do I have to tell you you can't even get sustenance from another Supernatural's blood?"

"But it tastes good," she grumbled. "Maybe I should turn you into pumpkin pie."

You watched the two bicker before speaking up. "I wouldn't mind if you drank some of my blood, Baekji. I don't want you to starve."

Her eyes lit up. "Really, (Y/n)?" You nodded in confirmation. With your permission, Baekji closed the distance between you two, but before she bit into your neck, she noticed something and backed away.

Curious as to what made her stop, you turned around. Shadows were twisting menacingly across the floor, but Baekji's eyes were focused elsewhere. Standing at the top of the stairs was Engen. His eyes were glowing blue as he glared down.

When Supernaturals feel intense emotion, their eyes glow. That was something you'd observed firsthand in the past few weeks. A mischievous jinn named Bagna once made the mistake of touching Ihwa's food. As you shielded him from the witch's wrath, the blazing red of her eyes almost scared you into letting Ihwa kill the foolish jinn. The rage in her gaze was nothing compared to Engen's, though. His anger was cold enough to chill the entire lounge. Time seemed to slow as you held eye contact with the man.

Without warning, Engen turned and started towards his room. The shadows reverted to their original positions, and the temperature no longer felt abnormally cold. Simultaneous breaths of relief came from you, Vector, and Baekji.

"I thought I was going to die," Vector cried. "You should have known better than to have touched (Y/N), Baekji."

"So this is my fault?" she cried incredulously. "I just..."

You tuned out their altercation. Everything about the situation was too overwhelming. Maybe a trip to the garden would help. Quickly mumbling goodbye to the two Supernaturals, you made a beeline towards the back door.

Immediately, the smell of flowers filled your nostrils. Its calming effects washed over you as you found a small table to sit at. Times like these were perfect for reading. Digging into your bag, you found the dilapidated notebook that'd been with you since you woke up with no memories. Most pages were illegible or blank, but the last thing written inside was "We love you." Seeing those words never failed to brighten your mood.

"Mind if I join you?"

You turned around to see Rachel approaching the table. She had a small white flower in hand. Even though there was a smile on her face, the melancholic in her eyes was evident.

"I don't mind at all," you said, gesturing toward the other chair. The dryad murmured a quick thanks before plopping into the chair. Rachel sat in silence until she decided to speak.

"Is it true that Hunters are searching the forest for Supernaturals? Some others were talking about what happened to Baekji, and I can't help but worry."

"From what Baekji told me, yeah, it's true."

Rachel suddenly slammed her fists on the table. The unexpectedness of the noise scared you out of your skin. Neither that nor the crack in the table was significant, though. Comforting Rachel was the top priority. As you hugged the blonde girl, she released her frustrations.

"Those damn Hunters already took my family from me once. Why are they trying again? Why can't they leave us alone?" Rachel sobbed.

All you could do was listen and rub comforting circles on her back. Years of pain wouldn't be solved with empty words of consolation.

When Rachel calmed down slightly, she thanked you and left for her room. The defeated slump of her shoulders was heartbreaking. It did strengthen your resolve, though. The Supernaturals in this castle treated you like family, and you'd be damned if you sat back and let a single one die.

As you walked inside, Ihwa pulled you aside and handed you a packet of red liquid. Wasting no time, she said, "Give this to Engen. It's synthetic blood that should barely sustain him. I'm out of ingredients now, but it'll buy them some time. Anyway, I've got to go force-feed this to Baekji. She's too picky."

With that, you were left gobsmacked. You were the worst option out of everyone who could deliver the fake blood. Based on Engen's past actions, the vampire would take one look at you and choose to starve. Nevertheless, you found yourself knocking on the door to his bedroom. It creaked open. Taking that as a sign to enter, you tentatively stepped inside. A glance around and the room was empty. Of course.

Before you could turn to leave, a pair of arms wrapped around your waist. The sudden contact made you jump. You tried to slip out, but whoever held you tightened their grip.

"Don't leave me again," they whispered lowly into your ear. That voice was one you'd rarely heard but couldn't forget. Engen was hugging you, but why? After avoiding every attempt to speak to him, this was uncharacteristic. And what did he mean by again?

You wiggled futility, but Engen's grip was far too powerful. It wasn't uncomfortable, though. In fact, had the situation not been so dire, the hug would have been pleasant. The thought made your cheeks heat up. Chiding yourself for having useless thoughts, you tried to negotiate with the vampire.

"I promise I won't leave, but please let go."

"No."

"But I have to give you something important, and I can't give it to you if you keep holding me."

There was some grumbling, but Engen finally released you. Looking at his face, you realized the reason for his strange actions: Engen was delirious. A haze filled his eyes, and he seemed flushed. He needed to eat immediately. Quickly, you thrust the packet towards the scarred vampire.

"Drink this. It should make you feel better."

Without hesitation, Engen downed the whole packet. His face screwed up at the taste (maybe Baekji wasn't being dramatic), but he no longer looked as flushed. Unfortunately, the clouds in his blue-grey eyes were still there.

"Are you still hungry?"

Silence.

"Well, I don't mind if you drink my blood."

Now, that elicited a response, but not a verbal one. In a second, Engen's face hovered near the junction between your head and your neck. His warm breath caused goosebumps to form on your skin. Slowly, he bared his fangs in preparation for the bite. Your eyes clenched shut, and your heart felt like it was trying to escape its confines. A quiet whimper left your mouth as you waited for him to sink his fangs into your neck.

But nothing happened. A quick look at Engen made it clear he had regained his clarity, but he was still breathing heavily. Before you could question the man, you were shoved outside the room.

You stood there for a minute, processing what the hell had just happened. Everything from Engen's sporadic behavior to your own decisions didn't make sense. So many questions filled your brain, but those weren't important now. Blood for Baekji and Engen was the first priority.

The plan was to sneak out in the morning and hunt a deer. An animal of that size could sustain both of the ailing vampires. Of course, that was easier said than done. Hunters were swarming the forest, so animals were hiding. You also had to find a way to transport the deer (if you found one) back to the castle. Sitting in the kitchen, you tried to find a reasonable method, but nothing came to mind. A groan left your lips as you swallowed another mouthful of polkweed and hellebore extract.

"Is everything alright?" It was Bagna.

"I wish." You ended up spilling everything to the young jinn. Surprisingly, he sat and listened in quiet contemplation. At the end of your rant, Bagna stayed silent for a few more minutes before coming to an epiphany.

"There's a pegasus that roams around here. It loves honey cakes more than anything. If you go out with a few, it may help you out. Also, there's a wagon and harness in that creepy shed no one touches."

"Thank you for everything, Bagna!"

The jinn was caught off guard by your sudden hug. It was a nice contrast to being yelled at for a prank.

"It's nothing. Just helping out 'cause you saved me from Ihwa a while back," he said bashfully.

"Well, I appreciate it anyway," you grinned as you left for your room.

In the morning, you woke up early to avoid arousing suspicion. Armed with a bow and arrows, your bag, and a surplus of honey cakes, you slipped outside. The shed wasn't hard to find, but dragging the wagon out was. Wiping the grime off your hands, you started the next phase of the plan: finding the pegasus.

Turns out that didn't take much because the moment you unwrapped the cake, the winged horse descended instantly. It glanced at the harness, then the cake, and snorted loudly. You took the snort as acceptance and began to strap the horse in.

"Could you, uh, do something about the wings? I'd rather not get shot by a Hunter."

The pegasus snorted indignantly, but an offering of cake changed its tune. Within seconds, its wing folded down and blended into its hair. With that settled, it was time to hunt.

Hours passed uneventfully. You were able to catch a few small animals but nothing substantial. Even the Hunters you encountered were relaxed. Other than a few questions, they didn't seem to suspect someone who didn't flee upon seeing them.

Frustrated with the lack of success, you leaned on a tree. Where were all the deers? Maybe it was time to return. The pegasus seemed slightly irritable, and you were almost out of cake.

Suddenly, a brown figure limped by. It was an injured deer. You apologized mentally before raising your bow and letting the arrow fly. The arrow lodged itself firmly into the animal. Within seconds, life left its eyes. Setting your weapon and bag in the wagon, you rushed to the carcass. You gestured toward the pegasus to come closer because carrying the deer was nigh impossible with your strength. It took an embarrassingly long time to shove the animal onto the wagon.

"Perfect, now let's hurry home," you said to the steed while feeding it the last of the cake.

"That's a fine horse you got there." A Hunter slid out from behind a tree. His tone was playful, but his eyes were alert. This man was dangerous. "The name's Cyrus," he continued as he held out his hand for a greeting.

"Thank you," you smiled while shaking his hand. Hopefully, Cyrus would only ask some questions and leave like the other Hunters.

"What brings you out here? It's pretty dangerous since Supernaturals are on the prowl."

"Ah well, some people in my family are sick, so I'm trying to sell some game to buy medicine."

"If that's the case, I'll buy whatever's in your cart."

You balked as he pulled out a sack full of coins. Cyrus called your bluff.

"What's the matter? Why are you hesitating? Or," The playful smile on his face turned malicious, "We are looking for a woman with (Y/H/C) hair and (Y/E/C) eyes. Apparently, she was last seen in this very forest! What a coincidence, wouldn't you say?"

"Yeah, what a coincidence," you forced out. "I'll accept your offer, by the way. It was just so generous that I was shocked."

Slowly, you assessed the Hunter. Not once did his hand leave his gun. If he decided to shoot right now, you'd be dead. This was just like the Ruthren situation, but this time you were unarmed.

When you pretended to reach for the coins, Cyrus drew his gun and fired. Nothing happened, though. The gun had misfired. Using his hesitation, you slammed your elbow into the Hunter's nose and kicked him in the shin. Despite this, he still managed to grab your wrist.

"Run away," you screamed at the pegasus. Wasting no time, the creature sped off toward the castle. Getting blood to Baekji and Engen was your priority.

"You bitch," he growled. "I should have killed you right away."

A sharp pinch to Cyrus' arm made him release his grip. You didn't wait around to make a snarky comment. Tree branches whipped at your face as you ran away while bushes clawed at your legs. Everything hurt, but the sound of heavy footsteps in pursuit motivated you to keep going.

Meanwhile, people were starting to notice your absence at the castle.

"Have you seen (Y/N)?" Rachel frantically asked everyone. "I haven't seen her all day."

Most people had no idea. Bagna, on the other hand, looked guilty. This didn't go unnoticed by the dryad, who quickly turned on him.

"Where is she, Bagna? If this is another of your tricks, so help me, I will use you as fertilizer for my garden."

The glow of her eyes made the jinn shrink. Rachel was terrifying when she wanted to be. Things didn't end there, though. Shadows began to writhe, and the temperature dropped. Engen had arrived. Each step he took sent a jolt of fear down Bagna's spine.

"What's this about (Y/N) going missing?" the vampire growled. Even with unwell health, he was petrifying.

"She went out to hunt animals this morning," Bagna confessed. "I helped with planning but didn't think it would take this long."

Both Engen and Rachel glared menacingly at him. Had it not been for the noisy neighing of the pegasus outside, the jinn might have perished (again).

Everyone rushed outside expecting to see you, but the wagon was empty, save for the dead animals and your bag. If your things were here, where were you?

"I'm going to look for her," Engen stated.

"In that state, you'll die in an instant. Especially since the sun will weaken you as well. Drink some of the deer's blood first," Ihwa said flatly. She'd never seen the vampire act like such an idiot.

Engen didn't respond, grabbing the deer carcass and sinking his fangs into it. He quickly drank his fill and tossed the body at the silver-haired witch.

"Give the rest to Baekji."

With that, he slipped into the shadows of the forest. There were many Hunters, but none could match a revitalized Engen. He slaughtered everyone who stood in his way. For the first time in decades, Engen was afraid. He couldn't lose you again. Or so he thought.

When he finally found you, there was a bullet passing through your chest.

Thanks for reading! See you on Friday!

- Mis

#engen x reader #hero killer webtoon #engen #hero killer #hero killer x reader #hero killer oneshots #vampire engen #spooktober

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paperanddice · 24 days ago

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Dune Mimic

Mimics are well known creatures (or at least, very common in rumors and legends, regardless of if the teller actually knows for sure of their existence), but these creatures are actually distantly related, not actually a result of a mimic growing larger. Some believe they were magically created long ago, a way to get powerful guardians for a desert tomb or vault by a long dead individual or empire. Those who hold to this rumor try to track migration patterns of these creatures in the hopes of following it back to some hidden treasure trove, though so far all such attempts have resulted in returning home in failure, if the explorers returned home at all. While dune mimics can take the form of a single object, most often they disguise themselves as full sections of terrain. Great sand dunes, small groves of desert trees, a riverbank, anything where a creature is likely to walk over it and allow it to get a relatively easy meal. A well fed dune mimic produces thousands of spores, which look like simple grains of sand and coat its body heavily, and are eventually released into the wind to land far elsewhere and grow into a new mimic. However, even the most virile dune mimic seems unable to produce a set of spores more than once every century or so, and so their numbers remain relatively low despite the number of offspring and their wide spread.

Inspired by the Tome of Beasts 1. This post came out a week ago on my Patreon. If you want to get access to all my monster conversions early, as well as access to my premade adventures and other material I’m working on, consider backing me there!

Pathfinder 2e

Dune Mimic Creature 8 Huge, Aberration Perception +15; tremorsense (imprecise) 30 feet Languages Common Skills Athletics +19, Deception +14, Dessert Lore +15 Str +5, Dex -1, Con +4, Int -1, Wis +1, Cha +0 AC 24; Fort +20, Ref +11, Will +15 HP 170; Immunities acid Adhesive The dune mimic is coated in an adhesive slime. Any creature that hits the mimic, is hit by the mimic, or otherwise touches the mimic must succeed at a DC 28 Reflex save or become grabbed (Escape DC 28). A weapon that hits the mimic is stuck to the mimic and can be removed with a successful DC 28 Athletics check (made as a single action). A mimic can have any number of objects or creatures stuck to it at a time. The mimic can release a stuck creature or object by using a single action, and the adhesive dissolves 1 minute after the mimic dies, releasing all stuck objects and creatures. The dune mimic can also activate or shut off this feature using a single action. Terrain Lesson [reaction] Trigger A creature touches or physically interacts with the dune mimic while the mimic is transformed using Mimic Terrain, including by walking on it. Effect The triggering creature is automatically stuck by the mimic’s adhesive (it receives no save). The mimic then makes a pseudopod Strike against any creature adjacent to the mimic. Object Lesson can’t be used again until the mimic escapes and takes on a new disguise. Speed 10 feet Melee pseudopod +19, Damage 2d10+9 bludgeoning plus adhesive Engulf [2 actions] DC 28, 2d8 bludgeoning plus 2d4 acid, Escape DC 28, Rupture 15. A creature engulfed by the dune mimic is also affected by the mimic's adhesive. Mimic Terrain [1 action] (concentration, polymorph) The mimic assumes the shape of any Huge object or terrain feature. This doesn't change the mimic's texture, but can alter its coloration and visual appearance, as well as its size to a maximum of 25 x 25 feet, or a minimum of 15 x 15 feet.. It has an automatic result of 34 on Deception checks and DCs to pass as the object or terrain that it's mimicking.

13th Age

Dune Mimic Double-strength 4th level blocker [huge aberration] Initiative: +5 Flailing Pseudopods +8 vs. PD (4 attacks, each against a different target; can target nearby enemies) – 6 damage. Natural Even Hit: The dune mimic can grab the target if it’s engaged with it. Crushing Engulf +12 vs. PD (all grabbed enemies; includes +4 grab bonus) – 14 damage. Natural Even Hit or Miss: The target takes a -5 penalty to disengage checks, which stacks with the usual penalty to disengage while grabbed. False Appearance: The dune mimic can disguise itself as a large section of terrain. Players can attempt a DC 25 skill check to spot the mimic at the start of the encounter; on a failure, the dune mimic starts the battle already engaged with 1d4 enemies. Slow: The mimic must use two move actions to cover the same distance as a normal move action would. Strong Grappler: The dune mimic carries grabbed enemies with it when it moves. Resist Acid 16+. AC 19 PD 18 MD 14 HP 130

#pathfinder 2e #13th age #homebrew #my homebrew #monster #aberration #pathfinder level 8 #13th age level 4 #long post #tome of beasts

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paragonrobits · 1 month ago

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so a bit ago i decided to write up some of my characters in the Aberrant setting (a superhero RPG, and initially a deconstrunctionist one, which by default meant that my characters needed some adjustment to fit, as most of them are not human), a setting focused on how superheroic powers affect the world and cause industries to change around them, with stuff like super strength being mainly used in construction labor as an example, or super intelligence/gadget stuff being IMMENSELY valuable and game-changing in technological industries, and it got me to thinking:

having my characters make sense in a real life-ish context was pretty fun, and it would fun to have something vaguely similar in my setting, which already takes a lot of its aesthetics from Final Fantasy 6 and 7, so this is a natural adjustment in some ways, just make things a BIT more modern-ish

so here's an idea for that, in my regular setting:

instead of taking place immediately in the aftermath of an apocalypse, it is instead set a generation or two afterwards. The previous generation were akin to the battle shoenen archetype, gathering into small groups of powerful heroes who waged war upon a grand alliance of villains and powerful forces of cosmic oblivion and/or tyranny and won, though many became somewhat bitter or the horrors of war made them harsh in a way that the younger generation is not

these heroes were instrumental in creating a number of city-states, their teams of fighters and people curious in the ways of magic creating somewhat larger organizations that have since evolved into an equivalent to adventurer guilds and unions, which organize Weird Adventure Stuff, give out quests and settle disputes; it is assumed the main characters and those like them are currently outside the auspices of such a group, at least initially.

within these city states, magitech conveniences create something akin to real life technology vibes; there are media equivalent to the Internet, TV and media of all kinds (Along with weirder stuff like cyberspace and simulations), and just about any real life technology is present for the most part, except where it interferes with the vibe of the setting (so for instance, radar is nonexistent, so you get more dogfights in aircraft). Technology is a bit closer to 90s aesthetics, and communication is less reliable; you might get landlines, but cell phones are rare outside of unique and powerful magical items.

In general, these are created from the study of magically powered devices (or magitech) that operate spells to achieve their function, and don't really rely on infrastructure, but are DERIVED from long-dormant infrastructure and ruins, which is important for characters to repair to improve the world. Each city state is basically its own entity, with weird magic stuff going on to render most real life issues with this mostly a non-issue.

The 'fresh, wild world' themes previously emphasized in the setting still apply. Either this is a relatively safe 'level' of reality, or a stabilized pocket, and outside things get weirder. Most likely, the material world of mortals is an inherently chaotic place where strong magic makes the world operate on weird magical rules and becomes deeply weird; when enough people gather, their collective weight of ideas and will make magic stabilize; so near cities and settlements, the complete chaos becomes more stable, if weird (you get floating islands, talking trees and so on). This wild space is limitless and without boundary, so the younger generation of heroes, including the main characters, are increasingly encouraged to get strong and venture out of the city to claim their own territory, battle remnants of the villain alliance and the tyrant ghost-vampires that command them now, learn from heroes who have settled laboratory/training grounds to conduct experiments and teach anyone who wants to learn from them, and otherwise do cool adventuring things

the city-states remain, and thus offer an opportunity to act as hub worlds or something similar to Traverse Town in Kingdom Hearts and similar worlds in that series; a relatively stable place to return to for safety, or do mundane-ish slice of life things when the situation calls for. After a tough fight with the Ten Thousand Chokeslam Throng at the tournament, its only good manners for them to treat you to a solid week of barbeque and arcade games day until the debt of 'whoa we thrashed you REAL SICK-NASTY, sorry dudes' is alleviated

#ideas #setting ideas #OC stuff #paragon OCverse #that's my working tag for oc and setting stuff btw for now

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probablyfunrpgideas · 11 months ago

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Idea

The Raise Dead spell, and other resurrection magic, affects creatures. This includes any dead creature, as long as it was once alive! Though it might be rare, it's good to know you can restore life to an Ooze or an Aberration when you need to. But what about living things that aren't creatures? Trees or flowers or cacti that don't fit into the Plant category because they don't move on their own? Introducing, for the first time: a spell that affects plants that Druids can't cast!

Raise Flora - Level 4 Necromancy (Cleric) Target: one dead plant touched Casting Time: 1 minute Material Component: Emeralds worth 10 gp for a Fine plant, doubled for every size category increase. This spell draws power from the Positive Energy plane, restoring health and function to a dead shrub or fern. The plant requires a full growing season to regain its former strength.

What about a more evil version of the spell? Would you dare create vampiric algae or ghoulish ivy?

#tabletop rpgs #idea #d&d #d&d 5e #pathfinder #d&d 3.5

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rake-rake · 4 months ago

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On the Authority of the Fae King #2

Just as the Fae King has authority over every fairy themselves, he has authority over the land of Britain itself as well. This is due to the Mystics of the Earth recognizing him as their king, as they birthed him and shall never shun him no matter what he becomes.

This is reflected in how the land itself reacts to him, and the way his magic is exerted. Just as other fairies Oberon has no need of chants or spells, his magic is his mandate as king, the very mystics of the earth brought forth by his command.

He will extend his hands and the breeze will blow with the fragrance of spring, he will laugh and the trees will green and bear fruit to fall ripe into his hands, he will press his palm on the ground and a new forest will rise, he will look at the sky and the clouds will part to bath him in the sun, he will walk through and every flower will flourish and the butterflies will swarm, he will strip himself from his garments and dive into a lake and the water will turn pure, crystal clear. Oberon will bring his hands together and golden light and sparks will shine as bright and warm as sunlight between his fingers, the sound of crystal and bells will fill the air and butterflies will flutter around him as he brings forth and creates. Wood, quartz and gemstones, stone, natural fibers; if it can come from the land then it's his to use. Normally, he prefers to take on a supporting role, but when he needs to fight this is how he does it. Golden light in his fingers and beautifully ornamented weapons in his hands, spears made from wood and vines with heads of obsidian, butterflies made of sharp quartz that flutter and cut like knives, roots and branches rising from the earth to trap and impale. Oberon's authority over the land is absolute, intrinsically related to his birthright, because the land loves him as much as he loves it back.

Which is why the truth is so unsightly. Every thing he creates has an use, and once it's fullfilled it will go back to reflect his core. Fruit that sits a few hours will rot and fester into malodorous, dark, thick mud, of the same kind that forms the Mors. Weapons and any construct will met the same fate as well, such as even illusions he makes of himself or others. No matter how externally beautiful, his true core cannot be hidden, however, he's never tried to do so. Oberon's lies are so perfect they trick even himself, after all.

Once the mask falls and the core is exposed the land starts to reflect it the same way his magic did. Every fruit rots in its branch, every lake festers, every flower withers, the sun never shows itself again. And yet, Britain answers to his call all the same. The swarms of flesh-eating bugs are his to command, the giant insects, the hideous weapons of their flesh and bone and rotten wood, the aberration that forms the Abyssal Wyrm visibly writhing underneath the skin of its beautiful yet hideous chrysalis. Even in agony the land answers because its disgust for itself is only comparable to Oberon Vortigern's own, and his freedom from his auto-imposed shackles means the end the land craved for itself for thousands of years.

#○ ° ★ . * 𝐻𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑛𝑠.#this was once again supposed to be short #○ ° ★ . * 𝑂𝑏𝑒𝑟𝑜𝑛 𝑉𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑔𝑒𝑟𝑛.

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stormbreaker101 · 1 month ago

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tell me about the oc you spin around in your head like a microwave the most (if you want to!!)

Sure thing!

Recently, I've been spinning around Savannah the most. I haven't rotated her a lot, but while others have been going at a steady 10 RPM for months to years, Savannah rocketed to like 10,000 RPM in these past 2 weeks if you get me. She's gone from microwave to centrifuge.

Savannah is the younger sibling to Emma and Star. She was adopted into their family on Earth, and started playing Wizard101 with her sisters to get closer to them. (For those who are unaware, the majority of my Wizards were formerly Players of the game before basically being stuck in the game. Not important)

Savannah really struggled with her confidence, so she tried to make up for it by being a bit of an overachiever. Her primary school was Fire, but also decided to start studying Ice magic, its opposite, just to prove to herself that she could. It was definitely a struggle, Savannah didn't have (mechanical) mastery for it, but she was persistent and dedicated, which are Ice's greatest virtues.

One major boost of confidence she got was when The Professor asked her to help with the Wizard City BOX: Dahlia Falmea being enrolled in the wrong school and all that. Seeing her primary teacher, no younger than her, struggle with even the basics of Ice gave Savannah a proper wake-up call: this shit you've been doing for years is HARD. You're a brilliant kid, quit downplaying yourself!

Nora broke canon and this AU truly becomes Corrupted Spiral, Ravenwood Academy had to temporarily shut down; the Aberrant Magic that Nora released made Wizard City too unsafe for people to just continue living their regular, normal lives. But Savannah didn't want to give up her studies. So, for the past 5 years in-story she has been an understudy in the Arcanum, furthering her studies of both Fire and Ice.

Her magic went from simply child-prodigy levels to subject-defining. As it turns out, opposing schools of magic are INCREDIBLY potent if you can successfully combine them, to the point where they earn their own name as one unit. Storm & Myth create Morphancy, Life & Death create Vitrimancy, and Fire & Ice (which is what Savannah has been studying her WHOLE LIFE) creates Thermancy.

There are many smaller things that happened throughout those five years that have helped Savannah get to where she is today, and you BET YOUR ASS THAT I WILL FIND A WAY TO MAKE SELENOPOLIS AND THE BANYAN TREE AND THE BLENDED GROVE WORK IN CS. Depending on what the canon lore is (like, if Novus is what's responsible for its existence) things may be slightly different in CS, but YOU BET YOUR ASS I WILL GET THESE CONCEPTS TO WORK.

THIS is what made her spin so fast and so much in my head recently. Arc 5 is about to be HER arc.

#leah speaks :3 #ask #daseiins #oc: savannah #corrupted spiral #the ending is a bit rushed and incoherent but thats just bc i too am vibrating at 10k RPM over this update #and also i havent had breakfast yet

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thecreaturecodex · 2 years ago

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Kothoga

[The Relic is a movie I remember enjoying, but I haven’t seen since it was relatively recent. The monster, the Kothoga, was designed by Crash McCreery and performed as a mix of CGI and a man-in-suit, and a very elaborate, non-humanoid suit too. Its backstory is somewhat convoluted--it is a human anthropologist who has mutated into a monster after drinking a potion given to him by a South American tribe, who turned into a monster on the trip back and is now lurking in a natural history museum. Supposedly this monster is used as a weapon against the tribe’s enemies... so why choose this guy? Why doesn’t the monster just go hunting for more victims once it’s done with those enemies? Why doesn’t it ever try to leave the museum once it gets there? My flavor text is an attempt to provide an answer to these questions.]

Kothoga CR 7 LE Aberration This creature looks something like a reptilian lion, although it does have tufts of hair running along its back. It has large scales running along its back, and a softer, smoother underbelly. It has a pair of shear-like mandibles growing from its jaws, and its claws and teeth are overly large.

A kothoga is a mutated humanoid, created upon consuming a strange jungle fungus. The kothoga fungus infects those that consume it, transforming them into a dangerous predator. This predator patrols and maintains a home territory, purging it of large creatures and consuming the brains of humanoids in the area—hormones in humanoid brains resemble the secretions of the kothoga fungus. Once the territory is cleared, the kothoga would rather starve to death than leave its range, and new fungi grow from its corpse.

This bizarre life cycle has been weaponized by some of the people who live in the jungles where kothoga fungus grows. When their village is threatened, a clan will feed someone the fungus, monitor their sickness until they are on the verge of transformation, and then take refuge outside of the new kothoga’s home range. Some peoples transform one of their own—someone elderly or sick who sacrifices themselves to benefit their community one last time. Others use captured prisoners or interlopers are unwilling super soldiers. If one of these victims escapes captivity and flees for their own land, a kothoga can be created far from their ordinary range.

Kothogas are durable and deadly. They typically attack from ambush, pouncing from the shadows or from up in the trees. Despite their size, kothogas are remarkable climbers, combining their claws with gecko-like fringes on the toes to be able to even climb upside down. Fire or magic are the most reliable ways to kill these monsters for good. Fire has the added benefit of destroying the next generation of kothoga fungus, which will otherwise sprout from the body.

Kothoga Sickness (CR 5 hazard) A creature that consumes kothoga mushrooms must succeed a DC 18 Fortitude save or succumb to their effects. Treat this as the following supernatural disease: Kothoga Sickness—ingested; save Fort DC 18; onset 1d12 hours; frequency 1/day; effect 1d4 Con damage and 1d4 Cha damage. A creature reduced to 0 Con is slain; a humanoid or native outsider reduced to 0 Cha is transformed into a kothoga over the course of 24 hours. A creature so transformed can only be restored to its normal self via a limited wish, wish, or miracle spell; cure 3 consecutive saves.

Kothoga CR 7 XP 3,200 LE Large aberration Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Perception +9, scent Defense AC 20, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (-1 size, +4 Dex, +7 natural) hp 76 (9d8+36) Fort +10, Ref +7, Will +10 DR 10/magic Immune poison; Resist acid 10, cold 10 Offense Speed 40 ft., climb 30 ft. Melee bite +11 (1d8+6/19-20), 2 claws +12 (1d6+6 plus grab), tail slap +9 (1d6+3) Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft. Special Attacks eat brains, pounce, rake (2 claws +12, 1d6+6) Statistics Str 23, Dex 19, Con 21, Int 6, Wis 14, Cha 6 Base Atk +6; CMB +13 (+17 grapple); CMD 27 (31 vs. trip) Feats Great Fortitude, Improved Critical (bite) (B), Improved Initiative, Multiattack, Stealthy, Weapon Focus (claw) Skills Acrobatics +15, Climb +29, Escape Artist +11, Perception +9, Stealth +11; Racial Modifiers +4 Acrobatics, +16 Climb, +4 Stealth Languages Common (cannot speak) SQ expert climber, home range Ecology Environment warm forests Organization solitary or gang (2-4) Treasure incidental Special Abilities Eat Brains (Su) As a full round action that provokes attacks of opportunity, a kothoga can eat the brain of a helpless or recently deceased (within 1 day) creature. Treat this as a coup de grace attempt with a bite attack if the target is still living. If it successfully eats the brains of a humanoid or native outsider, the kothoga gains 1d6 temporary hit points per HD of the creature. A creature that has had its brain eaten no longer has an intact corpse for the purposes of spells and abilities that raise the dead. Expert Climber (Ex) A kothoga can climb on sheer surfaces and upside down. Treat this as a non-magical spider climb effect. A kothoga increases its racial bonus to Climb checks for having a climb speed from +8 to +16. Home Range (Su) A kothoga is bound to the area it was first created in. Its home range is a square mile centered on where it transformed into a kothoga. In this area, it gains a +2 bonus on all initiative checks, saving throws and skill checks. These bonuses are not included in the statistics above. It does not leave this area willingly; if forced to leave this area, it loses these bonuses and is considered to be staggered until it returns.

#kothoga #the relic #it came from the silver screen #pathfinder 1e

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fursasaida · 7 months ago

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[Excerpts from this piece on the particular German psychosis and relationship to an imagined Jewish life that props up the German repression, islamophobia, and racism against Arabs and Palestinians we've seen explode from their previous levels in the last few months]

Since October 7, German politicians have proposed rescinding the nationality of German citizens, restricting the civil rights of non-EU foreign residents, and limiting the number of children with a migration background who can attend any given school, which have been promoted as means for preserving and supporting “Jewish life” in the country. A German politician credibly accused of harboring neo-Nazi sympathies in his youth blamed the country’s antisemitism on immigration. Germany’s largest newspaper published a fifty-point manifesto on what it means to be German; number forty-seven reads, “Germany has a heart for children. They are not beaten but promoted.” A prominent German journalist published an article with the title: “The Jews or Aggro-Arabs: we have to decide who we want to keep.” The Anti-Semitism Commissioner of Baden-Württemberg, who is not Jewish, wrote, “The Nazis were still hiding their mass murders, whereas Hamas celebrated them in the media, like Daesh before them.”

Not everything is as it seems in Germany. That tree? It used to be a Jew. That building was once a Jew. That streetlamp was a Jew. And the Jews? It seems they’re all Germans. [...]

In the eyes of many German critics, Wolff’s greatest sin was to argue, in the guise of a Jewish identity, that supporting a boycott of Israel is not necessarily antisemitic, even though he did not support such a boycott himself. Wolff was subsequently castigated as a costume Jew (Kostümjude) by Germany’s largest Jewish and gentile newspapers. He’s been called an aspiring Kronzeugejude (key witness Jew). Contra Wolff’s complaints about German, this is a language with an astonishingly nimble capacity for creating neologisms on the word Jew:

Alibijude: an alibi Jew, one who provides cover for antisemitic (or anti-Israel) rhetoric

Berufsjude: a professional Jew, a Jew by profession

Faschingsjude: a carnival Jew

Großvaterjude: someone who has one Jewish grandfather

Kostümjude: a costume Jew

Kronzeugejude: a key witness Jew, providing testimony for antisemitic (or anti-Israel) rhetoric

Meinungsjude: An opinion Jew? Or a Jew by opinion??

Modejude: A fashion Jew??? Or fashionably Jewish????

Schmusejude: a cuddly Jew, one who presumably cuddles up with Germans

Vaterjude: someone who has a Jewish father

Vorzeigejude: a model Jew

With the possible exception of Vaterjude, these constructions are pejoratives about giving the appearance of being Jewish or utilizing your Jewish identity for gain. Far from an aberration, the revelation of Wolff’s fabricated Jewish identity turns out to be something of a German tradition. Not a year seems to pass without a scandal involving the identity of a prominent German Jew. [...]

Not everyone assumes a Jewish identity; some are satisfied with appearances.

The television journalist Lea Rosh was the public face and most vocal proponent of the campaign to build Berlin’s Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. Rosh has cultivated a Jewish aura—a Scheinbarjüdin, perhaps. “I don’t look so Aryan,” she once enthused during an interview. Rosh changed her name from Edith to Lea, and unsuccessfully sued the (Jewish) author Ruth Gay for writing that she had done so to sound more Jewish. She once fiercely rejected a proposal to place the Holocaust memorial across from the Reichstag: “Did the ‘German people’ murder the Jews? Hardly.”

Then there are the literal costume Jews. I have twice witnessed large groups of Germans wearing kippot. Once at a rally against antisemitism and once marching with a large police escort down Sonnenallee, the hub of Arab life in Berlin, chanting pro-Israel slogans. To hold a sign that said “Stop Genocide” or “From the River to the Sea” on that same street today would invite certain arrest and potentially criminal prosecution. The police violently suppressed demonstrations and even basic symbols of Palestinian identity on Sonnenallee in the weeks following October 7; I had to extricate a friend, a prominent (Jewish) journalist, from one such demonstration after he was pepper-sprayed for filming the brutal arrest of a man whose crime was to hold a Palestinian flag. But few here are trying to co-opt a Palestinian identity.

Some years ago, a friend of mine was invited to a Shabbat dinner. The attendees all gave the appearance of being religiously observant. They knew the hymns, the men wore kippot, one even had payot. The hosts insisted that my friend recite the various blessings. Through a chance comment during dinner, he discovered he was the only Jew in attendance. They were Germans who enjoyed enacting Jewish rituals, and wanted a Jew to unwittingly give his blessing.

Many more Germans than Wolff, Hingst, and Seibert “feel Jewish.” Jewish community archives evidence that many Germans attempted to “discover” their Jewish heritage after the war. Everyone seems to have a Jewish aunt here. Or their grandparents were in the resistance. Or maybe it was their great-aunt. Others have simply converted. [Note from me: obvious parallel to Americans' "Cherokee princess" great-grandmothers here.]

[...] German television recently ran an award-winning talk show called Freitagnacht Jews (Friday Night Jews) that featured a roundtable of Jews talking about what it’s like growing up Jewish in Germany. Vogue Germany once ran a column called “Jewish Today”—subhed: “The everyday life of a German Jewess, who takes us on a journey through a world we hardly know”—where readers could learn about Jewish bodies, Jewish sex, Jewish doubt, Jewish decision-making and why Jewish men can’t come as quickly thanks to circumcision. Germans love the peculiarity of Semitic sorrows, the specificity of Jewish joys. They love klezmer music. They will solemnly nod their head when you tell them, “My grandfather is a tree.”

The great beneficiaries of this funereal interest, assuming they don’t criticize Israel too much, are Israelis. In common perception, Israeli is synonymous with Jewish. The reality is more complicated inside of Israel, but Israelis are nonetheless regarded as the summa of all things Jewish by a German public whose thinking is still fundamentally characterized by a nation-state framework. And the cultural predilections of Israeli society—an obsession with interrogating Israeli identity as a sort of special existential condition, an enormous capacity for self-aggrandizement and self-pity—conveniently align with German expectations of “Jewish culture,” and largely mirror those of German society. Germany is the largest market for translated Israeli literature in the world.

[...] To be German is to be a Täter, a perpetrator. But the crux of Germany’s national identity, its famed memory culture and the “overcoming of the past,” is, paradoxically, its relationships with Jews, the universal victims. Through empathizing with and supporting Jews, conveniently embodied in the state of Israel, Germans can expiate the evil inherent in being German, passed down from generation to generation as though it were in their blood. Jews become the bearers of an inherited virtue as victims.

Yet far from overcoming the past, this dynamic seems to demand its constant reenactment. Non-Germans can only become German by checking their own histories at the door. Minister of Culture Roth recently told the new Cameroonian-born director of a state cultural institution: “You have become part of the Täternation.” Cameroon was formerly a German colony.

These prevailing tendencies have become ever more apparent in the wake of the horrifying violence in Israel and Palestine over the past months. Germany’s political, media, and cultural elites have rushed to demonstrate who can stand closest to Israel. The identification has been so intense and Israel’s security so frequently invoked as a matter of Staatsräson that at times I have wondered if some Germans don’t believe Hamas’s attack wasn’t obliquely directed at Germany. Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck gave a much-lauded speech in which he called on Muslims in Germany to “clearly distance themselves from antisemitism so as not to undermine their own right to tolerance.” No similar imperative was given to Germany’s good Christian citizens. Friedrich Merz, the leader of the CDU (Angela Merkel’s party) who is widely presumed to be the frontrunner to become the next chancellor, proposed mandating recognition of Israel’s right to exist as a condition of acquiring German citizenship. His proposal has become reality in the east German state of Saxony-Anhalt.

This formulation of German identity does not offer an inclusive vision for a diversifying country. A friend’s partner, the descendant of Kurdish “guest workers” who arrived after the war, was so impressed by her vociferous school lessons about the misdeeds of Germany’s prior generations that she briefly believed her own grandfather had likewise slaughtered Jews in Europe during the war. Germanness as such has no aspirational, positive content. It’s not hard to understand why some would want to escape this cycle of pathologized guilt, just as it’s not surprising that some would take identification with Jews a step further.

[...] The “I am Jew in Germany” essays articulate something like the opposite: a brittle, uncertain identity in a country that offers Jews many assurances and no certainty. They mark out “Jewish” and “German” as dichotomy of distinct, irreconcilable identities. These essays celebrate “Jewish humor” and are chronically unfunny. They nod to the profundity and factiousness of Jewish culture and hew to the schema of the local Weltanschauung. Profoundly awkward social mannerisms abound. It is almost as though they were . . . German.

The farce of this situation is readily apparent. But the tragedy has never lingered far from the surface, and that tragedy has come into clearer view since October 7, which occurred a few weeks after I initially turned in a draft of this essay to a different magazine. Since October 7, German politicians have authorized breaches in the country’s constitutional order on the basis of nebulous sensitivities, unwittingly setting a ruinous precedent for when the far-right Alternativ für Deutschland comes into power. Since October 7, German arms shipments to Israel have risen so substantially that the total for 2023 represented a ten-fold increase from the previous year, and now account for 30 percent of Israeli arms imports (another report puts it as high as 47 percent). And since October 7, those munitions have been used by Israeli forces to kill more than fourteen thousand children in Gaza. Germany has a heart for children.

#israel #germany #jewishness #gaza #commemoration #racism

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