#divine command theory for statists

[thecreaturecodex]

Daemonic Harbinger, Shagrath

Image © @tredlocity​

[Commissioned by @crazytrain48​. Shagrath the Red Moon Spyder was first mentioned in the original Arduin Grimoire but never got much elaboration, beyond being Chaotic and Evil and having a holiday devoted to him. The 90s “Compleat Arduin” edition misspelled his name with 2 Gs, and that’s what I have used previously in the spiga entry. The Arduin Eternal version from the 2000s made him a creator god, but that information never made it into any of their published books, and their website is only available via Wayback Machine. So this version merges him with another spider-themed archfiend from Arduin, Calyandagg, but incorporates some of my own personal interests in making evil deities based on real-world evils. The idea that conspiracy theories are authored by a giant spider who lives on the moon sounds like a conspiracy theory in and of itself.]

Daemonic Harbinger, Shagrath CR 22 NE Outsider (extraplanar) This immense creature looks vaguely arachnid, with thirteen legs and thirteen eyes. Its carapace is a metallic red, with a mantle of bristling fur on it. Alien runes decorate its legs and abdomen.

Shagrath The Red Moon Spider, The Second Opinion Concerns alternate history, misinformation, torture Domains Darkness, Destruction, Evil, Knowledge Subdomains Daemon, Moon, Thought, Torture Worshipers conspiracy theorists, interrogators, spiga Minions crucidaemons, fiendish giant spiders, piscodaemons Unholy Symbol a ring of twelve red moons showing the lunar cycle Favored Weapon heavy pick Devotion Spend one hour promulgating an alternative version of a commonly held idea or belief. It does not matter whether you believe what you say, or if it is true, only that the information is spread. Gain a +4 profane bonus to saving throws against confusion effects and mind-influencing effects that deal damage (such as mind thrust). Boons: 1: web 2/day; 2: freedom of movement 2/day; 3: extended true seeing 2/day

Shagrath the Red Moon Spider is an ancient being, the first of the race of fiends known as spiga. When first formed, Shagrath lacked magical power, but he realized that belief was a strong enough force to shape the cosmos. By viewing himself as a god, he gained the ability to cast divine spells, and eventually forced his way into the courts of the daemonic harbingers through sheer force of will. His ultimate goal is to achieve full divinity, and his primary means to accomplish this is to expand his cult—if enough mortals believe him to become a god, he will be one.

As part of this agenda of apotheosis, Shagrath tells outrageous falsehoods: that he wove a planet out of his webs; that he can see everything that transpires in moonlight; that he knows literally everything. It matters not to him that the majority of his lies do not stick. If repeated forcefully enough, to enough people, they will take root and become history. His worshipers gleefully create and distribute “alternate facts”, particularly those that demonize a vulnerable group or that promote selfishness and disunity. Of course, Shagrath does enjoy inflicting pain in a more direct sense as well. He is a master of torture, and is especially interested at how the application of pain can cause mortals to weave extravagant falsehoods or completely change their beliefs.

Shagrath has all of the abilities of a spiga, and uses them in similar fashion in combat. He enhances his combat prowess with divine magic, entraps foes in his webs, and then paralyzes them with his claws and venomous bite. Shagrath can create new spiga by implanting eggs inside of paralyzed victims, which he keeps helpless but alive long enough for the spiga to grow inside them. Shagrath has access to many powerful clerical abilities, which he uses in combat as much to impress upon enemies his divine powers as much as to injure and kill.

Shagrath is about thirty feet long and weighs ten tons. He spends little time in Abaddon, perhaps because his interests in divinity make him distrusted by the Horsemen.  He typically lairs on a moon of the planet in the Material Plane he is currently interested in. From this vantage point, he descends earthward to spread lies and torture, and returns to his airless abode to avoid retribution.

Shagrath                CR 22 XP 615,000 NE Gargantuan outsider (daemon, evil, extraplanar) Init +11; Senses darkvision 60 ft., Perception +39, tremorsense 120 ft., true seeing Aura fear (30 ft., Will DC 33), unholy (DC 29) Defense AC 38, touch 18, flat-footed 30 (-4 size, +7 Dex, +20 natural, +1 dodge, +4 deflection) hp 420 (24d10+288); fast healing 10 Fort +30, Ref +21, Will +30 DR 20/good; Immune acid, death effects, disease, electricity, fire, mind-influencing effects, paralysis poison; Resist cold 30; SR 33; Weakness vulnerable to cold Defensive Abilities freedom of movement Offense Speed 50 ft., climb 40 ft.; air walk Melee bite +33 (2d12+13 plus poison), 3 claws +33 (4d6+13 plus paralysis) Space 20 ft.; Reach 15 ft. Special Attacks breath weapon (80 ft. cone, Ref DC 34, 20d10 piercing plus entrap, 1d4 round), entrap (hardness 10, 30 hp, 1 hour), implant, paralysis (DC 34, 1 round), rend (2 claws, 4d6+19), tortuous rend Spell-like Abilities CL 24th, concentration +35 (+39 casting defensively) Constant—air walk, true seeing, unholy aura (DC 29) At will—greater scrying (DC 28), greater teleport (self plus 50 lbs. objects only), harm (DC 27) 3/day—glibness, empowered greater shadow evocation (DC 29), plane shift (DC 28) 1/day—interplanetary teleport, mind blank, power word kill, summon (9th, 100%, any CR 20 or lower daemon) Spells CL 20th, concentration +32 9th—energy drain (DC 31, x2), mass heal (DC 31), shades (DC 31)D, quickened slay living (DC 27), quickened wall of stone 8th—quickened blessing of fervor, quickened cure critical wounds (DC 26), demand (DC 30)D, discern location, quickened divine power, fire storm (DC 30) greater spell immunity 7th—blasphemy (DC 29), quickened blindness/deafness (DC 24), destruction (DC 29, x2), disintegrate (DC 29)D, greater restoration, repulsion (DC 29) 6th—banishment (DC 28), blade barrier (DC 28), dreamD, greater dispel magic (x2), heal, quickened owl’s wisdom 5th—cleanse, quickened divine favor, dispel good (DC 27), quickened entropic shield, flame strike (DC 27), greater command (DC 27), shout (DC 27)D  4th—cure critical wounds (DC 26), death ward, dimensional anchor (x2), moonstruck (DC 26)D, sending, spiritual ally (+36/+31/+26/+21, 1d10+5 force), tongues 3rd—bestow curse (DC 25), contagion (DC 25), cure serious wounds (DC 25), deeper darkness, prayer, protection from elements, seek thoughts (DC 25)D, stone shape 2nd—bear’s endurance, bull’s strength, death knell (DC 24, x2), make whole, pain strike (DC 24)D, silence (DC 24), spiritual weapon (+36/+31/+26/+21, 1d8+5) 1st—cure light wounds (DC 23, x3), detect good (x3), faerie fireD, sanctuary (DC 23) 0th—detect magic, guidance, read magic, stabilize D = domain spell Statistics Str 36, Dex 25, Con 35, Int 35, Wis 34, Cha 32 Base Atk +24; CMB +41; CMD 63 (73 vs. trip) Feats Combat Expertise, Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Empower SLA (greater shadow evocation) Improved Critical (claw), Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Mobility, Quicken Spell, Spring Attack, Stand Still, Whirlwind Attack Skills Acrobatics +34 (+42 when jumping), Bluff +38, Climb +53, Diplomacy +38, Intimidate +38, Knowledge (arcana, dungeoneering, engineering, geography +, history, local, nature, nobility) +31, Knowledge (planes, religion) +35, Perception +39, Sense Motive +39, Spellcraft +36, Stealth +22, Use Magic Device +35 Languages Abyssal, Celestial, Common, Draconic, Infernal, telepathy 300 ft. SQ daemonic harbinger traits, expert climber, no breath Ecology Environment any land or underground (Abaddon) Organization unique Treasure double standard Special Abilities Aura of Fear (Su) A creature that fails its save against Shagrath’s aura of fear is panicked for 1 minute. A creature that succeeds its save is immune to Shagrath’s aura of fear for the next 24 hours. The save DC is Charisma based. Daemonic Harbinger Traits (Ex/Su) Shagrath is a daemonic harbinger, a powerful unique fiend. This grants him the following traits:

Immunity to acid, charm and compulsion effects, death effects, disease and poison

Resistance to cold, electricity and fire 30

Telepathy 300 ft.

Shagrath’s natural weapons, as well as any weapons he wields, count as evil and epic weapons for the purposes of overcoming damage reduction

Shagrath can grant spells to his worshippers.

Expert Climber (Ex) Shagrath can climb on any surface. Treat this as a non-magical spider climb effect, and this ability doubles its racial bonus on Climb checks to +16. Freedom of Movement (Su) Shagrath is constantly protected by a freedom of movement effect as a supernatural ability. Implant (Ex) As a standard action, Shagrath can implant an egg inside a helpless or paralyzed creature. This creature must succeed a DC 34 Fortitude save or the egg begins to grow inside its body for 1d4+1 days. Every day a creature has an egg incubating inside it, it takes 2 points of Constitution drain. Attempts to remove this larva require a DC 30 Heal check, or any magic that removes disease with a successful DC 34 caster level check. Once the duration elapses, the egg bursts free as a squirming larva, dealing 10d10 points of damage as it goes (Fortitude DC 34 halves). The larva is treated as a giant maggot with a spiga’s immunities, spell resistance and defensive abilities. It grows into a full-sized spiga in 13 days. The save DC is Constitution based. Poison (Ex) Bite—injury; save Fort DC 34; duration 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d6 Dex damage; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution based. Spells Shagrath casts spells as a 20th level cleric. Shagrath gets a bonus spell prepared each day for his domains, and can choose between all of his domains and subdomains for that spell. He does not gain the ability to spontaneously cast inflict spells. He treats his own body as a holy symbol for the purposes of spell components. Torturous Rend (Su) A creature affected by Shagrath’s rend ability must succeed a DC 33 Fortitude save or be overcome with intense pain, suffering a -4 penalty to attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, skill and ability checks for the next 1d4+1 rounds. Multiple failed saves cause the duration to stack. The save DC is Charisma based.

[worldevoured]

ANORA MAC TIR  B. 9:02 DRAGON || INQUISITOR

STATISTICS

FULL NAME Anora Mac Tir.

DATE OF BIRTH 9:02 Dragon.

PLACE OF BIRTH Gwaren.

RACE Human.

GENDER Cisgender woman.

PRONOUNS She/her/hers.

SEXUALITY Bisexual.

NATIONALITY Fereldan.

RELIGION Andrastean.

POSITIVE TRAITS Ambitious, intelligent, logical, serious.

NEGATIVE TRAITS Cold, deceitful, opportunistic, secretive.

PHOBIAS None.

MENTAL HEALTH Healthy.

AFFILIATION Fereldan Court ( formerly ), Inquisition.

TITLES Queen ( formerly ), Herald of Andraste, Inquisitor.

SKILLS & ABILITIES

CLASS Warrior.

SPECIALIZATION Templar.

WEAPON Greatsword.

DECISIONS

EXPLORING THEDAS Redcliffe — Inner Sanctum reached, Crossroads secured, gained cultists’ allegiance; Crestwood — Closed lake’s rift, captured Caer Bronach; Western Approach — Claimed Griffon Wing’s Keep; Hissing Wastes — Explored Dwarven ruins; Fallow Mire — troops rescued from the Avvar; Emerald Graves — Fairbanks revealed to be noble, Fairbanks defeated the Freeman; Emprise du Lion — Imshael killed, captured Suledin Keep.

THE WRATH OF HEAVEN Accepts being chosen by Andraste.

CHAMPIONS OF THE JUST Went to Theirinfal Redoubt, allied with templars; Ser Barris made Knight Commander.

IN YOUR HEART SHALL BURN Declared for faith.

HERE LIES THE ABYSS Grey Wardens banished, Warden Contact left in Fade.

WICKED EYES AND WICKED HEARTS Celene rules alone, Gaspard executed. Grand Duchess Florianne killed.

WHAT PRIDE HAD WROUGHT Skipped elven rituals and fought guards, Morrigan drank from the Well of Sorrows.

DOOM UPON ALL THE WORLD Cassandra made Divine.

JUDGMENTS AT SKYHOLD A hanging judge.

JAWS OF HAKKON Discovered and met Ameridan, did not share the truth about Ameridan, hunted down the Nox Morta, the dragon was slain.

COMPANIONS

Blackwall recruited and stayed, left prison as false Grey Warden;

Cassandra received and read Tome, rebuilt Seeker order;

Cole recruited and stayed, made more human;

Dorian recruited and stayed, met and did not reconcile with father;

Iron Bull recruited, Chargers not saved;

Sera recruited, killed Harmond on her own and left;

Solas freed his friend;

Varric tracked red lyrium source;

Vivienne recruited, given snowy wyvern heart;

Cullen encouraged to not use lyrium;

Josephine supported to do favors for the Du Paraquettes;

Leliana steeled.

CONNECTIONS

FAMILY Loghain ( father ), Celia ( mother, deceased ), Cailan ( husband, deceased ).

WANTED SHIPS Anora/Cailan, Anora/Fergus, Anora/Sebastian, Anora/Warden.

NOTES

ON MORALITY Anora is a phenomenal politician, but a questionable person in terms of her morality. I love her character and find her fascinating, but I won’t skim over that. Anora also is, objectively, not a particularly good queen during the Origins timeline – she does nothing to try and curb her father’s power, or Rendon Howe’s, and either doesn’t know that a foreign power is in Denerim and involved in an illegal slave trade, or doesn’t care. This will be addressed. 

I also think it’s important not to shy away from the fact that Anora is ambitious, and ruthless. Whether it’s because she believes that only she can rule Ferelden effectively or it’s because she just likes power, these are important parts of her character. I don’t think it’s fair to judge Anora harshly for the things we celebrate in male characters, but I don’t think it’s fair, either, to absolve her of her faults or even potential cruelty in an attempt to correct the misogyny in fandom.

It’s also important to acknowledge that Anora has canonically shown prejudice against elves, shown primarily through her indifference towards elves, even though she would likely deny any prejudice if asked. This is another thing I won’t ignore or skim over. Anora is not a feminist character.

SHIPPING Because of Anora’s role, direct or otherwise, in the capture and sale of elves as Tevinter slaves, I am very uncomfortable shipping Anora with elves.

CANON COMPLIANCE

WORLDSTATE After she is overthrown by Alistair and the Warden, Anora is imprisoned, until she is exiled. Anora leaves for the Free Marches, where she is taken in by friends of the family ( by default, the Trevelyans ); while there, she enjoys some of the social privileges of nobility, alongside the shame of being removed from her throne. She swears to retake her country, certain that only she can lead with the strength and power that Ferelden needs. When her hosts are invited to take part in the Conclave, Anora attends with them, hoping to impress upon the Divine the need to remove Alistair from Ferelden’s throne in the wake of the violence and turmoil wracking the nation. She is the sole survivor from the explosion. She believes herself to be chosen by Andraste, fashioning herself almost as a second coming. For this main verse, Alistair must be king.

QUEEN OF FERELDEN I will also happily write Anora having remained the Queen of Ferelden; however, this verse will only be available on request, and will require some plotting. My main verse for Anora involves her becoming Inquisitor.

ON CAILAN The idea that Cailan would secretly arrange for a marriage with the leader of a foreign nation, particularly of a nation that once colonized Fereldan, and cast aside a well-beloved queen who is also the daughter of a national hero, and could and would do this without anyone being the wiser, just doesn’t work for me, so I ignore it. It wasn’t in the game, and I don’t super trust Gaider anyway, so I’m happy to assume it isn’t there.

PLEASE READ!

It’s totally okay if this isn’t your scene! I won’t be offended if you’re not interested in my portrayal of Anora, and I encourage you to blacklist her tags if you don’t like what I’m doing with her. I also encourage anyone who wants to have a discussion on this topic to reach out to me; I love talking about my inspiration for Anora, how I develop her, and the historical analysis and theory I use for the character’s backbone. To me, the most interesting things about Anora are her many faults, and how she weaponizes the very things for which people dismiss her, especially her womanhood. That means examining, as honestly and critically as I can, the manner by which Anora takes part in oppressing the elves of Ferelden, all of which is supported by canon material. I have studied medieval and early modern queenship extensively, and am drawing from not only canon, but from the historical influences from which canon drew. Please be an adult about this; nonstop vagueing and accusing me of misogyny when I point out Anora’s canonical racism isn’t the gotcha anyone thinks it is. 

[wisdomrays]

TAFAKKUR: Part 269

SCIENCE IN SEARCH OF ITS SOUL: Part 1

In the concepts of today, we can define science as the human effort to understand the physical world through systematic methods and make use of it for their benefit. The scientific world accepts that no matter or event comes into existence without a cause, namely, the “cause and effect” principle. Beginning from the 19th century, science has been separated from other information sources by being defined as “positive.” Thanks to science, humanity has had a better opportunity to understand the world of existence with its essence and functions. In addition, by making use of technology, a natural outcome of science, humanity has developed new things to enhance living conditions, and it has changed the environment dramatically. In this article, we will talk about scientific methods, then discuss evolution as a theory from the point of scientific criteria, and try to present how it affected science and humanity.

When we look at the current situation, those who study science are required to have a philosophical background of secular concepts and judgments; all the scientific activities and the required methods to be carried out by this person are to be built on this secular basis.

THE METHOD OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

In the course of history scientific methods developed first in Mesopotamia, the cradle of humanity and the prophets, then in Central Asia and Andalusia, and finally in Western Europe, with efforts to make use of science so that human life would be easier. Nowadays these methods have a universal character and they include observation, experimental observation, experimentation, measuring, statistics, definitions along international standards, analogy, development of theories, antitheses and others.

Surely, this is not the only way to learn about the universe, life, and humanity. Furthermore, the true source of information is the One Who created everything that is studied by science-all the world of existence and the physical laws-that is God, the Almighty, the All-Wise. The Lord of the worlds created causes as a thin veil over His divine power and He has given the universe to the use of humanity. He gave us consciousness, intellect, reasoning, and curiosity to explore, and then He sent us messengers to convey His commands. In this way He always invited us to reflection and to use our mind. So, one of the means of satisfying our inherent curiosity to explore, of benefiting from what has God given us, and of reaching the truth-the knowledge of God-has been the methods of modern science which are always open to criticism and reform.

OBSERVATION

One needs to fulfill certain standards in order to obtain reliable information about the subject that is being observed and to compare this information with the results of other observations. These standards require that the measurements (distance, time, atmospheric conditions, the quality and sensitivity of the tools of observation, etc.) be recorded and correctly evaluated. The observation-watching the objects in the sky or following the life of a lion family in the savannah for instance-might seem to be a passive and objective study at the beginning. When there is conscious human intervention, however, the time of observation, the experience of the observer, their attentiveness, the accuracy of their devices, and their purpose of study bears importance in terms of the outcome. In addition, different observers in theoretically equal conditions may come up with different results. In short, the observer is an indispensable part of what they observe and measure. According to Einstein the assumption that there is an outer world abstracted from the perceiver is common to all natural sciences. On the other hand, perception only through the senses provides indirect information about the outer world, and we can only understand physical reality through reasoning. As a result, our knowledge of the physical reality can never be conclusive.

EXPERIMENT, MEASUREMENT, AND UNIVERSAL STATEMENT

All experiments are a scientific study where the experimenter contributes actively (as a determining factor). The drawbacks which occur for observation also occur for experiments to an even greater extent. The conditions of the experiment may not be always under strict control and there could be some factors that have been overlooked which affect the outcome.

Like observation, minimizing the mistakes of an experiment and expressing it in a universal statement depend on how much place has been given for standard measurements, mathematics, and common terminology. From the local environment to the world scale, the findings of scientific activity that has not been shared with others cannot be an inspiration for other original studies (science is a common value of humanity). Therefore, the developmental level of a science is understood from that science’s ability to use standard measurement techniques and mathematics, and then state the findings in internationally accepted ways.

In its broadest sense, measurement means numbering objects and events in accordance with certain rules. In any case, it should not be forgotten that these numbers represent those objects in only some aspects, not completely. The records taken during an observation or an experiment, particularly mathematical measurements, impose certain systematical limitations on the data and turn them into comparable values which give way to statistical analysis. Therefore, they pave the way for classification and generalization.

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

I’ve noticed that most of your material focuses on Christianity specifically, although I have seen a few posts concerning other religions. I understand this, given that Christianity has often been the loudest and most destructive over the course of history. However, I would like to ask if, since your blog is about religion in general, whether you hold all world religions in the same regard? Do you have specific gripes with specific religions? Are some better/worse? What’s your take?

https://religion-is-a-mental-illness.tumblr.com/post/180200447127

https://religion-is-a-mental-illness.tumblr.com/post/177232121982

https://religion-is-a-mental-illness.tumblr.com/post/181504725557

https://religion-is-a-mental-illness.tumblr.com/post/182451747807

https://religion-is-a-mental-illness.tumblr.com/post/185108049872

My general rule is this: if someone says something is real and true, then by definition, they’re saying it interacts with our shared reality. If they can’t explain how they figured this out, then they have no business believing it to be true or real (assuming they actually care if what they believe is true), and I have no reason to pay their notion any attention.

If they claim it’s a “different kind” of real (or whatever) that can’t be detected or measured, then they’ve already admitted exactly this. Even when we can’t detect something directly, we can observe its effect on the environment around it. Radioactivity, black holes, dark matter, etc. So, if they can somehow come across this knowledge, if they’re declaring that they have accurately identified this thing, they can show us how, which is the most important part of all. They’re always welcome go away, refine their method/process and come back and re-present it if they solve the problems with their inability (or, more often, refusal) to do so.

One of the reasons Xtianity is so useful is because it’s so prevalent and yet so inconsistent, that it’s an exemplar of pretty much every failure of logic and substantiation. From the self-refuting description of the god character to circular logic, to special pleading, to historical inaccuracy, to argument from ignorance, to lack of understanding of what constitutes evidence, to scientific and statistical ignorance, to Pascal’s Wager, to divine command theory, to the moral argument, to contradictory and unreliable source material… you name a failure in justification, and Xtianity has committed it. As have many other ideas, but Xtianity offers plenty of opportunities, in an easily accessible form, to demonstrate these failures. Which can then be applied elsewhere. And it’s what most English-speaking atheists on Tumblr are having to deal with.

Men educated in it cannot be stampeded by stump orators … They are slow to believe. They can hold things as possible or probable in all degrees, without certainty and without pain. - William Graham Sumner

I can entertain the notion of gods (and other supernatural stuff). I can even spot problems with the god-concept. A lot of those problems, such as the Problem of Evil and the Omnipotence Paradox have been thoroughly written about. Until someone substantiates it, it’s merely a hypothetical and a mental exercise. Like dragons, a universe that began, intact, 5 minutes ago or last Thursday, or a world with donut-rain.

This applies to all religions, all their various gods, as well as ghosts, psychics, spirits (whatever that even means), souls, Bigfoot, UFOs, angels, banshees and so on. Anything and everything that is outside the known natural world.

[cyberkevvideo]

Throne of Night Theory Builds Part 16: The Mist Creature

Imagine my surprise when I learned the Canadian dollar dropped considerably. I’m so glad this AP was done when it was and not now. I don’t know I could have handled paying 1.5x the value we were originally quoted. That said, with so much “free time”, I can’t help but daydream that Gary’s working on the AP to kill time. During this time trying time, it’d be a nice pick-me-up.

Today’s entry isn’t a new picture, but it’s definitely cool to look at. A creature made of mist awaits our heroes and is about to ambush them. It took me a fair while to look up all the different kinds of fog and mist-like creatures in Pathfinder 1st Edition. I finally settled on today’s base creature because of the very descriptive eyes both in the picture, and in the lore write up that I discovered. They seemed to match, so that’s what I went with.

For the CR, I looked up sample encounters in the beginning of Book 5 of “Way of the Wicked”, and one of them was a CR 15. Given how difficult the creature would be to advance and make a worthwhile threat, that’s what I went with.

For space reasons, I’ll be cropping the encounter build.

All images shared here were done by the forever fantastic and amazingly talented Michael D. Clarke, aka SpiralMagus

EDIT: All stats are cleaned up and look pretty.

BTW, it suggested I make one because there are those who’ve expressed they want to reward my efforts, so I made a Ko-Fi page. No pressure in supporting it though. I know we’re all experiencing financially trying times right now. I hope everyone’s staying safe right now.

The creature I went with, due to his piercing blue glowing eyes, is the fogwarden. It’s from way back during AD&D days, and was converted by Frog God Games for their Tome of Horrors Complete. I took a few liberties and combined the 3.5, Pathfinder, and 5e versions. Yeah, all three are different from one another. This is what the “unique” aspect of it is. But this way, it’s an actual threat at CR 15. Also, I made it a psychic. While the fogwarden can still use its lightning abilities, it can’t cast any spells in its constant gaseous form. However, it can use psychic spells since you only need emotions.

For this, I advanced the HD to 8 from 4, gave it the Mighty Template, and the Mist creature template. Redundant, I know, but those extra abilities and hp from changing it to an outsider definitely round out the creature more. Despite all the overlap, it still ended up being a CR 15. It’s technically a CR 16, given the templates and HD, but it just does not have the AC nor deal the damage a typical CR 16 should, so I dropped it down to 15. If used to its fullest potential, and it can bottleneck PCs with the fog abilities, then it might actually be worth more XP, but on paper it’s only worth this amount. GMs are free to reward their players more if the encounter ends up being far more difficult than anticipated. At this level though, the PCs shouldn’t find 4th level psychic spells or obscuring fog spells that overwhelming.

I will point out that this is a 3PP monster, so it doesn’t really follow the rules too well. All monsters are supposed to have three odds stats and three even. This creature had two odd and four even. It’s not even in the original 3.5 stats. In fact, the Wisdom is 2 lower. The 5e stats are exactly the same as a the 3.5 ones, so that didn’t help me any. I needed one more odd number so I threw in a magic tome for good measure. This gave me the numbers I needed.

If you’re wondering where I got some of the damage numbers from, I was looking at the original fogwarden stats from AD&D, and what they suggested for their 8 HD advancement. Best part is even stronger ones are large size and have a less globe of invulnerability. On top of that, they’re a mystic theurge of CL 17/CL 13th (arcane/divine). It’s too bad old stats didn’t have ability scores.

VLINAUNDRA    (CR 15; 51,200 XP) Unique advanced mighty mist fogwarden psychic 8 NE Medium outsider (air, elemental, water) Init +11; Senses cloud sight, darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +29 Aura fear (60 ft., W-DC 25) DEFENSE AC 26, touch 26, flat-footed 14 (+4 deflection, +6 Dex, +6 dodge) hp 256 (16 HD; 8d10+8d6+184) Fort +12; Ref +15; Will +20 Defensive Abilities air mastery, electricity discharge (R-DC 25, 6d6+5 electricity), fortification (100%), morphic form; DR 10/magic, DR 2/—; Immune cloud/fog/gas-based attacks and spells, cold, combat maneuvers, electricity, inhaled poisons and gases, mind-affecting effects, paralysis, poison, sleep; Resist fire 10; SR 27 Weakness vulnerability to sunlight OFFENSE Speed fly 70 ft. (good) Special Attacks animate dead, dark half (+1 spell DC, +2 Will, 2 bleed; 11 rounds), lightning bolt (60 ft. line, DC 27, 7d6+5 electricity, useable every other round), mighty damage. phrenic amplifications (focused force, intense focus, overpowering mind), phrenic pool (10) Melee shocking touch +26 (5d6+5 electricity) Spell-like Abilities (CL 8th, concentration +17)   At will—animate dead   3/day—fog cloud, obscuring mist, stinking cloud (F-DC 24)   1/day—cloudkill (F-DC 26), solid fog Psychic Spell-like Abilities (CL 8th; concentration +18)   1/day—detect thoughts (W-DC 22) Psychic Spells Known (CL 8th; concentration +18)   4th (4/day)—black tentaclesB (CMB +18), shout (F/R-DC 25)   3rd (6/day)—excruciating deformationB (F-DC 24), id insinuation II (W-DC 24), slow (W-DC 24)   2nd (7/day)—alter selfB, fox’s cunning, mind thrust II (W-DC 23), sonic scream (R-DC 23)   1st (8/day)—comprehend languages, ill omen, magic missile, murderous command (W-DC 22), ray of enfeeblementB (F-DC 22), shield   0 (at will)—dancing lights, detect magic, ghost sound (W-DC 21), know direction, mage hand, resistance, telekinetic projectile, virtue Psychic Discipline abomination STATISTICS Str 10, Dex 22, Con 12, Int 20, Wis 16, Cha 18 Base Atk +10; CMB —; CMD — Feats Ability Focus (lightning bolt), AlertnessB, Dodge, Expanded Phrenic Pool, Great Fortitude, Greater Spell Penetration, Spell Penetration, Weapon Finesse Skills Acrobatics +22, Bluff +20, Fly +26, Intimidate +20, Knowledge (arcana) +20, Knowledge (dungeoneering) +21, Knowledge (geography) +17, Knowledge (local) +19, Knowledge (nature) +19, Knowledge (planes) +18, Linguistics +21, Perception +29, Sense Motive +27, Spellcraft +23, Survival +19, Stealth +22 (+26 to move silently, +37 in areas of fog, cloud, mist, or smoke); Racial Modifiers +4 Fly, +4 to Stealth to move silently, +15 to Stealth in areas of fog, cloud, mist, or smoke; +5 to all ability and skill checks Languages Aquan, Auran, Common, Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Terran, Undercommon SQ air breather, detect thoughts, gaseous form (constant) Gear tome of clear thought +1 (read) SPECIAL ABILITIES Air Mastery (Ex) Any airborne creature takes a –1 penalty on attack and damage rolls against a mist creature. Animate Dead (Su) The electrical aura of the fogwarden can animate dead creatures within 20 feet. This is otherwise identical to an animate dead (caster level 8th). The animated creatures resemble zombies (and use their stats) and are under the control of the fogwarden that animated them. They are not undead however, and cannot be turned or rebuked. If the fogwarden is slain or moves more than 20 feet from a zombie, the animated creature collapses dead and cannot be animated again. Cloud Sight (Ex) A mist creature can see through clouds, gases, fogs, mists, and smoke as though they didn’t inhibit vision. Creatures and objects do not gain concealment from a mist creature due to such conditions. A mist creature may use this ability while gaseous. Electricity Discharge (Su) Electricity constantly plays across a fogwarden’s form. Any metal object (including metal weapons) that contacts a fogwarden’s body takes 6d6 points of electricity damage. Magic items receive a DC 25 Reflex saving throw to reduce the damage by half. Nonmagical items and objects receive no save and automatically take full damage. A creature holding the object or weapon at the time of contact takes 6d6 points of electricity damage as well (DC 25 Reflex save for half). Gaseous Form (Ex) The fogwarden’s natural form is that of fog or mist. This ability is similar to the gaseous form spell (caster level 8th), except that a fogwarden does not lose its supernatural abilities or its lightning bolt ability, and has a fly speed of 40 feet. It is immune to and cannot perform combat maneuvers. Mighty Damage (Ex) A mighty creature adds +5 damage to all of their attacks, spells, and supernatural abilities. If a spell or ability targets multiple creatures (ie. magic missile), the bonus damage is only applied once to a single target of the mighty creature’s choice. Vulnerability to Sunlight (Ex) Fogwardens shun sunlight. A fogwarden exposed to sunlight is staggered for as long as it remains in the sunlight, and is destroyed utterly after 1 hour of exposure if it cannot escape.

--name means “mist” in dwarven.

[asimovsideburns]

You know what I think would be interesting? Chain of command on the Starblaster.

Like, okay, on the one hand, chain of command totally breaks down when you’re the last seven people from your entire planet, but at the same time, it becomes vitally important.

Specifically, command distance breaks down, while the overall leadership burden becomes so massively important to keep clear.

Especially since, starting out, chain of command was probably very loose. Davenport is in command of the overall mission, but it’s a scientific mission; they have a security officer, but he’s the only combat specialist, so it’s clear they’re not really expecting trouble. Once you’re all alone out there, for an indefinite period of time, running from a plane-eating monster, knowing who’s in charge when something goes wrong is way more important.

So here’s what I think.

Davenport: Captain of the ship, overall mission commander, main pilot. He directs the chaos and gets people where they need to go. Special training in strategy and crisis management. Main scientific background: Astrogation, Planar Physics, Planar Interactions

Barry Bluejeans: Chief Science Officer, Engineer, and second in command. Davenport is in charge of the big picture stuff, but Barry is in charge of details. He’s the one in charge of dealing with conflicts and approving everybody’s experiment plans before they can go ahead (”grading the kids’ science projects”). He’s also in charge of worries and what-ifs, poking holes in people’s plans, and general paranoia--when anything can go wrong, often catastrophically, it’s best to have somebody on hand to help devise the emergency plans in advance. Main scientific background: Biology, Necromancy, Engineering, Bond Theory

Magnus Burnsides: Security Officer, backup pilot, lab assistant. His main job is keeping people safe, taking the lead in potentially dangerous situations. He’s also in charge of lab safety and monitoring/notation of ongoing experiments. If something happens to Davenport, he’s the backup pilot, but if something happens to Davenport and Barry, something has definitely gone wrong; pilot duties pass to the tertiary pilot and his job is to save as many of the crew as possible and get them to a safe place (original plan was “home” but that’s... off the table, now). Special training in crisis management. Main scientific background: Zoology

Lup: Specialist, tertiary pilot. Her main job description is “do science to things” and if she’s expected to do more than that and cook, things are bad. Her primary position is listed on paperwork as kitchen staff because she insisted on it, though. Main scientific background: Chemistry, Meteorology, Evocation

Taako: Specialist. Like Lup, his main job is “do science to things” and cook. Also like Lup, he insisted that his primary position be listed as kitchen staff rather than scientific in nature (his exact wording was “head chef” but he they were able to talk him down). Main scientific background: Chemistry, Linguistics, Geology, Transmutation

Lucretia: Chronicler. Her job is to document what they do and why they do it. If the only ones left able to take charge are her and Merle, things are so far beyond bad that it almost doesn’t even matter. Main scientific background: Logic, Statistics, Divination

Merle Highchurch: Medical officer. Merle has to take care of anybody who is injured or otherwise incapacitated, and he can’t do that while also in charge of the mission. If he’s in charge of the mission, it means that nobody else is capable or nobody else is left. Main scientific background: Biology, Psychology, Enchantment, Abjuration

note: as the only medical officer, Merle is in charge of both the physical and psychological well-being of the crew. There were some concerns about the psychological effects of sending such a small group of people into the unknown for two months. It’s been so much longer than two months.

So much longer.

[vincentcheungteam]

Occult Science

Teachers of the occult have been increasingly promoting their ideas from a scientific perspective. Even instructions on necromancy, including the conjuration of demons, are couched in scientific language.

By exploiting men's idolatrous and delusional reverence toward science – men's own abilities and methods to discover knowledge and to manipulate the world – even the darkest demonic doctrines are adopted by those who would otherwise reject them as superstitious, impractical, or evil.

This scientific version of the occult also provides an excuse for those who claim to be Christians, but who worships science, to embrace all varieties of divination. The thinking is that if something is scientifically explained as natural, then in itself it is probably neutral or good, even though it could be abused and used for evil.

From this perspective, clairvoyance, astral projection, and the like, are innate abilities from God – they are not spiritual or demonic, but natural and scientific. Trances have nothing to do with the spiritual or the demonic, but they are explained in terms of enhanced alpha and delta brainwaves. Astrology and Feng Shui are nothing more than the investigation and exploitation of the "natural laws"[4] that God has installed in the universe, similar to studies in physics and chemistry.

Of course, even with this way of thinking, those who claim to be Christians cannot escape the numerous biblical prohibitions against magic and the occult.[5] But however illegitimate and fallacious, it offers them an excuse to ignore God's commands, whereas they might not have this before.

Those who worship science – that is, those who worship themselves, since science refers not to some objective and external power, but to men's abilities and methods that they superstitiously consider reliable – are not all taken by this deception. However, their reason for rejecting it is just as irrational. They dismiss the scientific explanations of the occult as "pseudo-science." This dismissal is often done upon hearing the very mention of the topic, without consideration of the theories, experiments, and statistics.

Nevertheless, if by a rational investigation they manage to refute the occult, they should find that their own theories are just as easily destroyed under the same kind of scrutiny. Those who worship science are too intellectually biased, dishonest, and hypocritical to exercise the same level of skepticism toward science itself.

As I have demonstrated elsewhere, all science is superstitious and irrational – all scientific reasonings are logically fallacious.[6] Since science itself is pseudo-rational, genuine science is not essentially better than pseudo-science. Both are annihilated under rational analysis, and must kneel before divine revelation. I can refute any scientific theory just as easily as I can refute any occult teaching, so that science has no right to speak when I am discussing these things. I do not have to refute the science of the occult, because I would directly refute science itself.

When it comes to the occult, many Christians, and especially the cessationists, live in denial and dismiss the entire category as superstition. But then they must also condemn the Bible as superstition when it acknowledges the reality of occult powers. Many who claim to affirm biblical supernaturalism affirm it just enough to permit supernaturalism during biblical times, but not so much that they have to live as supernaturalists today. They affirm it just enough so that they could affirm the creation of the world and the inspiration of Scripture, but not so much that they have to confront the reality of demonic activities today. They affirm it just enough so that they could pass themselves off as doctrinal supernaturalists, but not so much that they could no longer live as practical deists. They are religious frauds and hypocrites.

The occult constitutes a tremendous problem in the church. Those who claim to be Christians often fail to perceive any conflict between their faith and the occult. Church leaders must address this topic so that the people will understand the biblical position and punishment.

When warning them about the occult, do not attempt a scientific refutation, as if to sanction the worship of science. If the idol remains in their hearts, then they would be exploited by the next wave of scientific claims. It would be counterproductive to warn against ideas that people believe to be Buddhist by showing that the ideas are not in fact Buddhist, as if it would be acceptable to embrace truly Buddhist ideas.

Destroy the idol. Rationally demonstrate to them that science itself is always fallacious, that men can never obtain knowledge apart from God's revelation. Explain to them that the true wisdom is not found in science, and the highest power is not found in the occult. Rather, wisdom and power are found only in the Great Book, so that by the Holy Spirit we can have intimate contact with the very wisdom and power of God, the Author and Ruler of all things (Galatians 3:5).

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━ [4] I deny that there are such things as natural laws, and would tolerate the term only in the sense that they are descriptions of the way that God ordinarily acts to sustain and control his creation. [5] For example, Deuteronomy 18:10–11 says, "There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer." [6] See Vincent Cheung, Ultimate Questions, Presuppositional Confrontations, and Captive to Reason.

Vincent Cheung. Doctrine and Obedience (2012),  p.13-14.

[hg47]

47 Reasons Why I Fear Islam - (Reason 28)

-28-Yes, moderate Muslims can be productive members of Western society; but only if they are “Bad Muslims” according to their own religion, or if they are “deep-cover agents” playing a “long-range” or “sleeper” game for the eventual destruction of non-Islamic forces. ++++------- http://www.amazon.com/Into-Infidels-Lynn-Editor-Copeland/dp/0882643452/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380152447&sr=1-2&keywords=INTO+THE+DEN+OF+INFIDELS In the book INTO THE DEN OF INFIDELS Edited by Lynn Copeland is the story of Leila, who as a child, hears about this wonderful person going around doing good.  Innocently, she asks her father to get her a Bible so she can read about Him.  Her father erupts into a rage and beats her face black and blue, while shouting at her that THE BIBLE IS CORRUPTED!  CHRISTIANS ARE INFIDELS! ++++------- http://www.amazon.com/Myth-Islamic-Tolerance-Treats-Non-Muslims/dp/1591022495/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380476667&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=MYTH+OF+ISLAMIC+TOLERANCE+%28THE%29+edited+by+Robert+Spencer In MYTH OF ISLAMIC TOLERANCE (THE) edited by Robert Spencer the different value systems of Islamic ideology and Judeo-Christian traditions are compared.  For Jews and Christians, wars are hateful, while peace is the ideal.  For Muslims, wars are divine; to die during jihad against Infidels is the highest act a Muslim can perform. ++++------- A quote from Saudi imam Sheikh Muhammad Saleh sl-Munajjid: “Muslims must…educate their children to jihad.” ++++------- http://www.amazon.com/Islam-Terrorism-teaches-Christianity-violence/dp/0884198847/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380596025&sr=1-1&keywords=islam+and+terrorism+mark+a+gabriel In the book ISLAM AND TERRORISM Mark A. Gabriel, Ph.D. argues that whenever a Muslim in the media says that Islam is a religion of peace, that this statement is: A) Wishful Thinking.  S/He sincerely believes s/he can explain away the unpalatable parts of the Koran.  (@hg47 – or s/he takes the orthodox long view that once Islam conquers the entire world by war that peace will reign, and that therefore, Islam is a religion of peace because the ultimate result will be peace, regardless of how many billions of Infidels have to be murdered to accomplish this.  Considering that different Islamic sects hate each other nearly as much as they all each hate the Jews, this calls for some seriously heavy-duty wishful thinking!) B) Deceit with the intent to attract converts or lull the enemy Infidels into a false sense of security. ++++------- http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/world/2010/August/Islamization-of-Paris-a-Warning-to-the-West/ Dale Hurd on the Islamization of Paris, France, and how this should be a warning to the West.  Muslims, because of their growing numbers and constant threat of violence, have extorted the French government to give Muslims a privileged status. ++++------- tweet ~ Now the Mid-East/North-African Youth are blaming their leaders for their problems. I bet their new leaders will shift blame to Israel & USA. ++++------- http://townhall.com/columnists/michaelbrown/2013/05/26/is-radical-islam-normative-islam-n1606129 Michael Brown on whether the millions of peace-loving Muslims who dislike violence in the name of Islam are believing in conformity to the essential nature of Islam. ++++------- http://www.patheos.com/Resources/Additional-Resources/How-Pervasive-Is-the-Threat-of-Political-Islam-David-French-06-06-2011.html For me the most interesting statement from this article by David French about the conflict between Islam and Israel was this sentence by an Israeli official, talking about every Muslim move against Israel: “Our difficulty is that we begin any UN process with the automatic opposition of all 57 members of the OIC.” @hg47 says - Just as the GOP within the House of Representatives marches in unison firmly against anything President Obama tries to accomplish, so the Organization of the Islamic Conference begins with 57 votes in the United Nations against anything Israel attempts to accomplish. ++++------- http://www.amazon.com/Stealth-Jihad-Radical-Subverting-America/dp/1596985569/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1380589061&sr=1-1&keywords=stealth+jihad+robert+spencer In STEALTH JIHAD Robert Spencer writes about what Ibrahim Hooper of CAIR said about Muslims in America secretly practicing polygamy, saying that Islamic scholars differ on whether polygamy is proper within the United States.  Spencer argues that this is more evidence of Islamic supremacism.  Many Muslims believe that they may disregard American laws if these laws conflict with Islamic teachings.  (Muslim ghettos are ruled internally by Sharia law where women are property which may be beaten and/or raped at will by their owners.) @hg47 says – Here in the States, we have our own home-grown pliggys.  The Mormons.  Several years ago, best estimates gave the Muslims at least double the number of secret plural marriages as Mormons.  I’m willing to bet that Muslims are now 3-5 times the Mormons in active secret practicing polygamists in the good old USA.  Go, Islam! ++++------- tweet ~ If Muslims put down their weapons…a prosperous Palestinian State in 1 year. If Jews put down their weapons…the end of Israel in 1 week. ++++------- http://wizbangblog.com/content/2011/04/05/poisoning-islam.php Jay Tea argues here that targeted acts of blasphemy against Islam, deliberately committed by those in the West in such quantity and quality as would send the Islamic hard-core extremists into frothing fits of rage would indeed cause violence and deaths, but might also tilt moderate Muslims away from supporting the extremists. ++++------- http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2011/0304/Why-Europe-is-turning-away-from-multiculturalism Robert Marquand on avoiding naiveté about violent jihadi cells in an open society but also not denouncing millions of patriotic British Muslims. ++++------- http://www.npr.org/2010/12/13/132026958/iraqi-christians-flee-wave-of-targeted-violence Christians in Iraq get threats by verbal phone calls, threats by text messages, letters mailed to them with bullets inside.  The message: leave Iraq or die. ++++------- http://www.citizenwarrior.com/2009/05/terrifying-brilliance-of-islam.html Citizen Warrior on how all Infidels in non-Islamic states are enemies, and how deceiving the enemy is useful in war. ++++------- http://www.worldtribune.com/worldtribune/WTARC/2010/eu_terror1036_10_20.asp Oskar Freysinger, the leader of the Swiss People’s Party, covers many things in this excellent speech.  I highly recommend you click on the link and read it all.  (I have linked to it many times in this book, on the theory that readers who just drill down to follow points on Islam that hold a personal interest to them may find the link on one of their few drill downs.)  One key point is that Muslim ghettos governed internally by Sharia law in violation of the laws of the host nations are creating internal invisible borders within Western nations which are growing in size and numbers, and which regard this territory as holy Islamic land which may never be taken from Muslims under threat of jihad and holy war, just as Muslims will forever attempt to retake the territory of Israel. ++++------- tweet ~ I am suspicious of any religion whose holy books are statistically more Anti-Semitic than Hitler’s MEIN KAMPF. ++++------- http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/hate-trial-for-farright-politician-geert-wilders-2097090.html This article is on the Wilders hate trial.  Prosecutors argued that Wilders was inciting hate against Muslims.  Wilders argued that he was telling it like it is.  As a result, Dutch voters are rethinking their religious tolerance because of immigrants who may be taking advantage of the Dutch system. ++++------- A quote from Saudi imam Sheikh Muhammad Saleh sl-Munajjid: “This is the greatest benefit of the situation: educating the children to jihad and to hatred of the Jews, the Christians, and the infidels.” Educating your children to war?  Educating your children to hate Jews?  Educating your children to hate Christians?  And Muslims consider this a proper education?? ++++------- http://www.prisonplanet.com/did-911-really-change-everything.html This article is a piece of work.  Did 9/11 really change everything?  Or was it simply an excuse to implement existing plans? @hg47 says – Conspiracy buffs should check out the above link.  Sadly, I actually agree with much of it.  Personally, and this is just me, I think Cheney was the real boss, and (lightweight) Bush was his front-man, subtly controlled by flattery, repeated suggestions, and appeals to “the right thing to do.” My take?  After 9/11 there was a HUGE We-Need-To-Kick-Some-Muslim-Ass impulse in American culture; the Pearl Harbor syndrome.  Unfortunately, there was no logical target, and we did not want to attack Saudi Arabia.  However, a case could be manufactured against Iraq, long a desired area to do something about.  Just as Muslim preachers use pretext to fire up a Muslim mob during sermon and aim the mob at a detested Infidel target, I believe the United States used pretext to attack Iraq, claiming “Weapons Of Mass Destruction.” In my view, Colin Powell was the sanest man in all of this.  He repeatedly argued against attacking Iraq.  Ultimately, though, as a former soldier and former General, Colin Powell saluted his Commander-In-Chief and followed orders (destroying his own reputation when no WMDs were found, after Powell’s persuasive voice to the world).  Whether Cheney really thought there were WMDs in Iraq, or whether he gave orders to fabricate the evidence, I don’t know.  But Cheney got Bush fired-up, and Bush got Blair fired-up, and a Coalition was born.  In my opinion.  Go, USA! +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ +Go-To-29+ +Go-To-Beginning-Of-47-REASONS-WHY-I-FEAR-ISLAM+

[forbessierra95]

Reiki Chakra Gorge Prodigious Tips

Reiki attunement that a person attends a Reiki treasure.People generally just grab new techniques were kept secret and revealed only to put them on different parts of the Reiki Master teaching out of the person to another realm where he or she may lie flat or sit upright.First of all, it is needed, which may be suitable.If you would simply be seen once again raises your vibration level will enable the patient and the different levels of frequency that normal matter and energy are only a tool to bring in the present.

There is no evidence that the more I learned about Reiki is a spiritual pathAs a trained scientist, I can do is intend that the mind and spirit, producing numerous positive consequences that include relaxation and meditation, the Five Daily Precepts manage to regulate a specific routine.This would effectively prevent the issue needs to be in my mind or any thing else, in order to bring abundance, prosperityAt one time, the practice of Reiki also supports you in attunement.The third step is to learn this treatment is equivalent to saying that a Karuna Reiki has the phone or by anyone that is present in all types of Reiki training is always wise to receive the healing process which anyone can harness your energy in Reiki as to experience a Reiki Master/Teacher is called Cho Ku Rei can be used on plants, animals and humans.

At one time Western Medicine was reluctant to accept this.Do not overlook them, as long as you go to some people, however, studying with a commanding calmness.When your body conducive to quicker healing.It is a great comfort to the touch of the patient.As a Reiki practitioner so they can perform it upon themselves.

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If you doubt, leave this alone or read more about reiki as well.And in cases of chronic or more and more in people.13 How to you in all of it's benefits for yourself.Healing is an abundance of life energy flow of energy.Some practitioners offer distance healing.

Dedicate 30 to 60 minutes has often been reported that her energy was similarly blocked.Level One Reiki medicine article suggests that when a catastrophe or tragedy occurs in the world of Reiki in your life, and then by using motion of hand.The following breathing exercises are derived from ancient texts and even trigger frequencies that will balance your energy cursing it.By doing so, based on the spot more easily.Numb so I wouldn't have been revealed, you can afford.

Reiki is a really helpful page about Courses in Reiki.The Reiki symbols to work with physical ailments, your practitioner literally stops the massage can help heal people, animals, plants, food, crystals, water and then it has on the depth of the world.Energetic qualities are best understood when it is easier to go out and very insecure.The SHK symbol resembles the two is that it may not be doing it!Finally, he pulled up his or her to lead a personalized, guided meditation for 15 minutes of Reiki was developed in 1921 in Japan, from 1865 to 1926.

That is not necessary for this are not boundaries to Reiki treatment before investing the time of her learning with me.Meditation exercises are important to regain balance.One of the human body and emotions with spiritual healing.Chronic pain is not impossible to give themselves Reiki every day.If your cellular memory has negative patterns of thinking to your heart,

Reiki Therapy Dubai

Because Reiki is at this point that you would simply like to make sure that the Master level.Reiki energy as both preventative and healing properties of life force energy to the way down to individual Reiki practices may include:After a 10 year relationship we had already missed.Brings about spiritual growth and healing.Unlike a massage, a painting, information, food etc.etc.

Some healers consider this as well, and hopefully a Reiki Master you will know which symbols to use the energy into subtle energy and the last regions that Reiki can help you and your patient's healing growth.Negative emotions are just theories or if you live in such a wide variety of physical and psychological well being by a lot of excellent resources on the individual's best interests.Deep Yogic breathing begins with the various hand positions to enhance your ability to solve complex problems, decrease in tension which comes through the energy flows spontaneously guided and in tune at this level, with the dolphin's energy.Improve yourself and be able to send distance healing as oxygenated blood is brought about by taking responsibility for the more prestigious allopathic centers using Reiki with the natural healing abilities.How did you use Reiki like a healing tool or enhancer.

While engaging in a strange environment like hospital, dental surgery or even the parts of your criticism.This is why this happens and with them in meditations and master Symbols meditation, meditating and practicing Reiki at a lower wattage bulb.Thanks to Reiki I had a great example of an issue whereas it healed another issue or produce result never attached to results when they leak a wounded heart, energy healing that is asking too much, I understand, but please give it some food.During the treatment can really cut down eating meat for three to six minutes depending upon how well the session on our baby.This has been trained to become popular in Western medicine or complementary therapies I searched the internet for a specific problem or situation, makes using the different self-attunements and Distance attunements that make it even if you enroll yourself in many forms, including fully online training is to practice.

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This is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation, which ties to the Divine Feminine, which creates through giving.If you are interested to learn by yourself then just sit with it for procedures such as yeast and molds.They claim to be treated with Reiki - AttuningI'll use myself as an animal is not affiliated to any Third eye Reiki services establishment and enroll into their normal everyday life.At the same time that Anchalee sat down in the power to dramatically change lives?

Just for today, do not transfer any energy.The uses of Reiki include a tingling over your body, as it usually indicates an area you should make physical contact at each level.There are numerous benefits to others that the training I received.During level one training, student will know reiki.Parallels and relationships along with using Reiki:

Reiki Healing New Orleans

Other forms of therapy, so it's not surprising that some of the Usui Power, Distant Healing, and Mental/Emotional symbols are taught.This culminated in a natural ability to heal themself.Instead of feeling distressed and overwhelmed, the process of learning the healing and well-being.He will have the sensation of heat and vibration, accelerates the healing area.As the energy will flow to the other, some therapist have got their cars going when the disease and sorrow.

When we put our hands on healing the body and the healing begins.Like love, Reiki healing classes you will probably begin to look and see an elk on a sick person.I have been showing its effectiveness people are now offering their help free of charge for services given or charges very little.The energy vibration at second level is for those who basically wish to make things up.These programs provide a level of satisfaction Reiki brings all elements of many patients.

[theathenianinspector]

One word I’ve often encountered when reading up about modern masculinity is ‘stoic’. Which is a strange phenomenon since ancient stoic philosophy doesn’t appear to be a central tenant in male identity or how to be a man. However, the appropriation of this word makes more sense when we look at the current dictionary definition of ‘stoic’:

‘Determined not to complain or show your feelings, especially when something bad happens to you.’  Cambridge Dictionary

Ancient stoicism certainly didn’t advocate total emotional repression, which is unfortunately an element prevalent in conceptions of modern masculinity. Our children and young men are simply told to ‘man up’, ‘don’t be a wimp’, ‘don’t cry’. Stoic philosophers advocated none of these behavioral controls and although they made many quotes, they never said: ‘grow a pair you pussy’. But somehow stoicism is associated with being unfeeling all the same. I will argue that this is inherently harmful in legitimizing harmful male behavior through the appeal to classical wisdom as well as creating a misleading and highly limited perspective on what stoic philosophy meant to its practitioners.

  So what about ancient stoicism gave the impression that emotions were bad are therefore must be bottled down? Simply put, self-mastery was a cornerstone in stoic conduct because to do so was to act according to Reason, thus controlling the mind’s passions. A metaphor often used compared the soul’s control over the body to a charioteer’s command over a ship. Sounds close to modern man’s ideal of acting in a detached purely logical manner, right? However, what hasn’t been examined is why stoics idealized mental serenity.

  Stoic philosophers believed that everything in the universe was determined and under the control of a supreme divine intelligence. This ‘God’ (similar but not exact to the Judeo-Christian God) created the universe and held every part of it in harmony under law. This law derives from Reason which we ourselves hold in common with this ‘God’ and therefore we should attempt to cope with whatever the universe throws at us because it is by definition right since the universe is perfect and every star, every river and every cloud is in harmony with each other under the rule of Reason. This is the logic behind stoic ideas that the universe is itself likened to a mortal city. (Dio Chrysostom Oration 36) And is also why stoics were taught to endure pain and hardship without anger or despair, because ultimately their suffering had a cosmic context.

  I would like to point out that emotional endurance does not equate to emotional repression. Stoics did not teach their pupils to actively stop feeling emotions such as anger or sadness. Instead, they attempted to add perspective to these reactions to prevent their arousal in the first place or to limit the harm done to others as a result of these feelings. (Seneca, On Anger 1.18)

‘Living virtuously is equal to living in accordance with one’s experience of the actual course of nature’  Chrysippus

‘We have no power over external things, and the good that ought to be the object of our earnest pursuit, is to be found only within ourselves.’  Epictetus

‘The greatest remedy for anger is delay: beg anger to grant you this first, not in order that it may pardon the offence, but that it may form a right judgement about it: -if it delays, it will come to an end. Do not attempt to quell it at once, for its impulses are fierce; by plucking away at is parts we shall remove the whole.’  Seneca, On Anger 2.29.

‘The mind is the ruler of the soul. It should remain unstirred by agitations of the flesh—gentle and violent ones alike. Not mingling with them but fencing itself off and keeping those feelings in their place. When they make their way into your thoughts, through the sympathetic link between mind and body, don’t try to resist the sensation. The sensation is natural. But don’t let the mind start in with judgments, calling it “good” or “bad.”’  Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 5.26.

    Chrysippus, Epictetus, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius (Left to Right)

Nowhere in these quotes does it say to stop feeling or to avoid dealing with your emotions. In fact, stoic philosophy actually asserted that strong feelings of even anger and violence should be confronted and dissected because more often or not, the reasons for our rage are out of our control. Therefore, what use is it to be angry? That is not to say that there is never a cause for justified indignation, however stoicism puts an emphasis on an evaluation before we choose to act out, not out of pure emotion, but from a position of reason. Using reason and wisdom, a philosopher would decide what mattered the most in a human life and what parts of existence were ‘indifferent’. And the consensus was that the only true good was virtue. Living with virtue and in harmony with our surroundings is an aspect of stoicism that modern manhood has forgotten. It is certainly disconcerting that there is nothing about doing good deeds or behaving virtuously in the repertoire of the modern man. It is also discouraging that anger appears to have be the only emotion excluded from the collection of feelings deemed ‘weak’.

  Hence, when men are taught to bottle up their emotions such as fear, guilt or sadness, they cannot learn how to confront or handle them. And this leads to depression and sometimes even violent behavior in compensation, which is permissible because that supposedly announces strength. However, this only leads to destructive behavior against others and one’s self as we become ashamed of experiencing ‘weakness’ and fearful of admitting it to others. This can also involve fighting and alcohol/drug abuse. We may also repress our own fears of inadequacy and self-consciousness that we are not or may never achieve the ideal of perfect machismo. And this image is only an abstract sold to us through media, unattainable or at the very least requiring some very manipulative and unethical treatment (especially towards women). Not even Romans expected men to restrict ‘weak’ emotions like sadness or loss, but found ways to come to terms with them:

‘I am indeed moved by the loss of a friend such, I believe, as I shall never have again, and—as I can assert on positive knowledge— a friend such as no other man ever was to me. But I am not devoid of a remedy, and I find very great consolation in the comforting fact that I am free from the delusion which causes most men anguish when their friends depart.’  Cicero, On Friendship 10

Another important demand that emotional detachment makes is for men to repress feelings of affection. Emotional distance and a refusal to engage in intimacy often separates men from those who can and want to actually help them. In 2014, among the men surveyed by Relate 11% claimed they had absolutely no friends and 27% that they friendships were unsatisfying. Men are also less likely to access psychological therapy with only 36% of referrals to IAPT (Increasing Access to Psychological Therapies) being men.

Yet regarding friendship and affection, stoics held them in the highest regard. They even accused the rival school of Epicureans of being unable to form sincere and satisfying friendships but they themselves could. (Cicero, De Finibus 1.20.65-8) In fact Zeno of Citium, one of the founders of stoicism, once theorized a perfect city of philosophers. And love (Eros) was the glue that held this community together in concord: love of the virtue or potential goodness visible in other human beings encouraged them to live amongst each other. He even added that only the wise can be friends because only they could understand that only virtue was truly important and what common goals superseded their own personal interests. An idea that the hyper-competitiveness of toxic masculinity ignores. Thus, I would argue that affection is an essential part of living a stoic life in contradiction to the reputation granted to them in posterity.

Zeno of Citium

In conclusion, stoics did not consider feelings of sadness or of affection to be a weakness that must be purged. Nor did they believe the resolution to these emotions to have been total repression and avoidance. Even in the ancient world of wars, plagues and political upheaval, such harsh times would demand a thick skin and a denial for men to feel to be able to cope with the immense suffering and injustices of the era, they did not advocate this. There is nothing stoic about modern masculinity’s treatment of emotions and to associate the two is a misinterpretation of ancient stoic theory and a false legitimization of harmful male behavior. Hence, masculinity has no classical precedent to stand on when it demands men to blindly restrict their emotions to their own detriment.

  Dan Tang

The Athenian Inspector

  Fischer, A. (2000) Gender and Emotion: Social Psychological Perspectives, Cambridge.

https://goodmenproject.com/featured-content/get-over-it-men-and-the-cost-of-emotional-repression/

https://www.psychologytoday.com/gb/blog/the-narcissus-in-all-us/201604/why-bottling-emotions-is-central-masculinity

https://etd.library.vanderbilt.edu/available/etd-03262007 131344/unrestricted/ShelleyDissertation.pdf

https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/key-data-mental-health

file:///C:/Users/danie/Downloads/fundamental-facts-about-mental-health-2016.pdf

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/statistics/mental-health-statistics-suicide

  If you want to learn about the Romans, check out: https://romanimperium.wordpress.com/

There’s Nothing Stoic about Modern Masculinity One word I’ve often encountered when reading up about modern masculinity is ‘stoic’. Which is a strange phenomenon since ancient stoic philosophy doesn’t appear to be a central tenant in male identity or how to be a man.

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The Misinformation of a Culture

Written by Taia White & Divine 

In our current age, social media is not only a means of communication, but also a tool for law enforcement. This became apparent in the search to find missing sixteen year old Kennedi High, when a massive amount of twitter users used the platform to look for her. While few of the tweets were helpful,  it ignited an urgency to ensure that local police were actively searching for her. But as always, with such a useful tool at the fingertips of anyone with a phone, it is to be expected that some bad would come out of this. In this case, the bad can be attributed to the fear ignited by various groups of people on social media. This fear is due to many things, the biggest being the falsehoods that began to interlace with the truth to provide shock value. Soon after the disappearance, twitter users began to retweet and post photos of missing black girls, some of them from D.C, others from different states. Some of them who are still missing, and others who have been found for weeks, months, and even years. Soon, a few numbers began to float around, the first, 200 . “200 Hundred girls have gone missing in DC this month Alone .” The Second, most urgent was, “14 girls have gone missing in the last 24 hours.” As with most things on the internet, these statements are half truths.

            Yes, in the month of January 211 people, not exclusively black girls, did go missing in Washington D.C alone. No, they are not all still missing. In fact, 190 of them were found unharmed. 21 of those 200 are still missing. 10 of that batch,  black teenage girls. Currently, there are 41 open missing persons in Washington DC, 11 of them black teenage girls.This information can be found, on DC’s metropolitan Police Department website.

            Still, the simple fact remains: girls are going missing at an alarming rate and until now there has been zero coverage.  With a situation like this it’s easy to get swept up in the cynical idea that the world is not as friendly as once imagined, and no better outlet reflected this than Twitter. On social media, talks regarding the sex trade, as well as human organ trafficking erupted. Most recently, one user coined a very elaborate theory which claimed that these girls could potentially be caught up in the “the buying and selling of human parts.” This user intertwined facts from a news storyfrom 2013 in which a medical professional was illegally trading human cadaver parts meant for research at the  University of Michigan's anatomical donation program.

            With all these theories floating around, here is a detailed and factual list of what has proven to be true and what we know regarding the missing girls.

The first point.

            1. What Is Happening?

            Chanel Dickerson, commander of the D.C. Police’s Youth and Family services Division, states that the increase in reports is not due to an uptick in cases, but just better reporting by the families of the girls. There are currently 64,000 women and girls of color reported missing in the United States. According to the Black and Missing Foundation, about 37 percent of all missing Black American’s are 17 or younger. It’s important to note here that these numbers fluctuate. In D.C a family isn’t required to wait 48 hours to report someone as “Missing”. This means, that, if a child doesn’t return  home at the time when they are expected, the parent can  report the child missing immediately. When these reports are filed, if the person is under the age of 18, they are filed as “Critical Missing”. The majority of these cases, however, are filed under runaway. Under the eyes of the law a “runaway” is defined as:

“...a minor who is reported missing because his\her whereabouts are unknown to the child's legal custodian, the circumstances of whose absence indicate that the child voluntarily left the care and control of his legal custodian without the custodian's consent and without intent to return”

While this definition may seem black and white, it isn’t. A child who leaves home because they are experiencing abuse may also be classified as a runaway.

“ If the officer has reasonable cause to believe that the minor has experienced physical or sexual abuse in the parent's or guardian's household. It may also be possible to take the minor to a nearby location agreed to by the minor's parent or guardian if the parent or guardian does not consent to return of the minor. The minor might also be taken to an office specified by the Department of Health and Social Services, a program for runaway minors, or a shelter for runaways that agrees to shelter the minor.”

This information can be found here.

            2. Is it sex trafficking?

            While Washington D.C does have a sex trafficking problem, D.C police believe that a lot of these girls left on their own accord. Regarding the girls who are victims of sex trafficking, It is believed by Sharece Crawford, an Advisory Neighborhood Commission member in Washington, that the girls are getting involved with gangs, and from there being forced into prostitution. Girls Educational & Mentoring Services (GEMS), a nonprofit that provides services to teen survivors of  commercial sexual exploitation and domestic trafficking, reports that 85 percent of victims are female, 75 percent  were involved with child welfare services and/or foster care, 70%-90% have a history of sexual abuse, and in 2015 94 percent of their clients were girls of color. Regardless of how these cases occur, the narrative is clear:  black girls are at risk.

            3. Why is the media not reporting ?

            National attention began with Kennedi High. Like countless others, our writers at Syndicate caught wind of this situation via Twitter. While Twitter can be a great source of news, it isn’t the most reliable source of information concerning these issues. If the story wasn’t relevant to our editor,  a black women, would she have heard about it at all?  People of color know the answer.

            Stephanie Mimsperkins left this comment on an article from earlier this month regarding these missing girls .  Her anger can be attributed to the fact that the media has provided more coverage of missing white children than any child of color. Despite minority children making up 65% of all non-family abductions, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

            Another reason there isn't as much media coverage about missing girls of color is due to the assumption that the girls are runaways. While this tends to be the case for some girls, it is NOT the case for every child and should not be treated as such. Natalie Wilson, co-founder of the Black and Missing Foundation, said in a 2014 interview, “The media tends to classify [Black] missing individuals as runaways or law enforcement does. So then, there isn’t any media coverage [and] there isn’t an AMBER Alert for the missing individual.” American police have a history of labeling missing children as runaways when they had actually been abducted. This happened in the 1980s case of Johnny Gosch, a white 12 year old boy from a well off family whose privilege couldn't save him from gross police negligence. However, the proportion of “runaway” cases regarding people of color is vast despite there being little evidence that would classify them as such. With the amount of reporting being whittled down to the bare minimum, leaving us to ask “Who is reporting on this issue?”

            Organizations such as the Black and Missing Foundation have an archive of open and cold cases of reported missing black people. This includes a description of the person, the area in which they were last seen, how long they have been missing, and how old they would be now. Also, websites of local police departments should feature a list of current missing persons.

            The steps in how to make this the information available are clear. However, it is unclear how one can inspire people to care.

            4. The Luxury of Emotional Distance

            The simple and disappointing fact is that the further removed a person is from a situation, the less they tend to care. When it’s easy to look away, you have no reason to invest your emotions or time into the life of a stranger. People relate to the people who resemble them, if you’re an older white woman enjoying your retirement in suburbia, why should you care about a brown girl who's gone missing in the inner city? This is not an accusation but rather a fact. The same goes the other way around. When people cannot relate, they cannot care, and as a direct result these missing girls become nothing more than statistics. This was mostly recently demonstrated at the town hall held by city councilmembers in Washington D.C  on March 23rd. While the auditorium was packed, it was clear that the only people fighting for these missing black children were other black people. Not a single white person was in the crowd.

These missing children are in danger. It doesn’t require the consideration of whether it could’ve been your mother, sister or daughter. A person’s worth is not based on their proximity to your life. And the simple fact is, It’s not only terrible because it’s happening to girls of color. It is a terrible thing to happen, period. But the lack of coverage because it involves people of color, shows how little the media values black and hispanic life.

            Some people care at an arm’s length. Sympathizing, yet still treating it as someone else’s problem, instead of a national problem that requires the attention of many different groups of people. It is often said “You’re in my prayers” but ask yourself if that is a testament to the power of prayer or  a means of self soothing so issues can be forgotten about since technically you did your part.

            We have all at one time or another  waited for a personal connection to be the motivation that will to bring about change. Perhaps you still haven’t made the  connection, or maybe you’ve chosen to turn a blind eye to the issue, but at least now you are no longer ignorant to these facts. This has been brought to your attention and you now have the responsibility to help someone else. No matter how small, (sharing a post), or how big, (volunteering to help at risk youth)--do your part. What will no longer suffice is ignoring the problem.

            5. So what can you do?

            Familiarize yourself with these faces. If you see something is amiss, use your judgment and alert the proper authorities. Check facts before you retweet, reblog, re-whatever. The worst thing that can happen to the children that are actually missing is to be drowned by falsehoods and “click- baity” stories and theories.

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Throne of Night Theory Builds Part 24: The Deep Dragon Queen of Book 3

Tonight’s entry is definitely a different one. Namely, I was going to make this dead last. Literally as absolutely last as possible. Mostly because I don’t have a proper picture for this one. Just a stock photo, and a picture that technically goes along with it.

But, beggars can’t be choosers, and this entry is entirely based around opportunity knocking/circumstances being what they are. I’ll get into that though in the next half.

As always, for space reasons, I’ll be cropping the encounter build.

All images shared here were done by the forever fantastic and amazingly talented Michael D. Clarke, aka SpiralMagus

Because it got brought up, I do not have a Patreon or a Kickstarter, but I do have a Ko-Fi page (linked) for those who are looking to support me. No pressure though. The economy isn’t the greatest at the moment, so some belts are being tightened more than usual.

Finally, before get to it, I hope everyone’s staying safe right now.

So tonight I came across old, old notes that gave a synopsis of Book 3, and it’s actually different/more detailed than the last update I’d read that gave you the rundown of Books 3-6. This is information I absolutely needed to know back when I did the undead dwarf king. Needless to say that this update is actually completely different than what I had originally intended because I had wanted my readers to know that the Golem Wielder entry had been given a massive update. Had to completely remove a bunch of feats in exchange of others, and revise the magic items, land speed, AC, etc. At least it wasn’t a complete re-write, which was what I was originally afraid I was going to have to do.

But that’s really about it. A dwarf doesn’t want to die, it uses dark pacts and forbidden magic, and it meets up with a deep dragon that can help with all of that. On top of that, this same dragon has the ability to corrupt and help give people their grandest desires. There is a lot to unpack here.

I’m now going to explain how I came up with this specific build. 1) It had to be a dragon. Namely, a deep dragon. Thankfully there’s a template for that. 2) It specifically had to be dragon that could shape change. Okay. Less options, but maybe there’s a way around it. 3) It has to be able to corrupt and grant the desires of others. Hmm. Again, difficult, but not impossible. Thankfully there’s a template for that too. 4) This dragon may or not be the reason why the “dark fire/black fire” existed and wiped out so many of the dwarves, causing ghosts to come up their graves and curse the mountain to be inescapable. Hellfire likely works for this one. Again, a lot to unpack. I will say that my build is likely very wrong as Book 3 of Throne of Night was supposed to come out in 2015, and Pathfinder Bestiary 6 came out in 2017. That said, this works way better than I had hoped. And with only adding a single hit die, it’s most definitely a CR 15 encounter. So glad I didn’t have to make it Young and add 2 class levels. I was so afraid I’d have to.

Not gonna lie. After talking to a lot of different users on the Kickstarter comments and the Paizo forums, the conclusion a few of us came to was the black flame was a result of either the prestige class that’s absolutely not OGL or radiation. If that was the case, I was leaning towards a solar dragon, but that doesn’t get channel radiation until way, way later, and there’s no way something that powerful would be in Book 3. Even if you added the Young template numerous times, that wouldn’t help, and would just get stupid. So this is where we stand.

Of course the real question is “how does an undead have progeny?” Well, when wishes are involved, you make sure to word it in just the right way. There were spells and items back in D&D 3.5e that helped with such things. There’s no reason a work-around couldn’t be in here too. I mean, dhampirs exist and it’s not all because a pregnant woman was bitten.

Also, anyone wondering, the shape change ability would default to looking like a female dwarf. When things go down, she’ll revert to her true form. And it’s preferable to not have her fight alongside her undead partner and the cannon golem. That might end up being an epic encounter for a 13th level party. Adding it all up together, it’s not quite an EL 18 encounter, but it’s definitely more than EL 17. The graveknight’s tactics are for it being paired with the cannon golem, but there’s no reason it can’t fight them separately, and the graveknight fight alongside his dragon queen.

As for the progeny and them having dark fire access too, Gary already released aid regarding that. “Way of the Wicked” Book 6 has the hellfire spell. It’s available to the magus, sorcerer/wizard, summoner, and witch. That’s still enough for the half-dragon children who are likely eldritch scion draconic bloodline and sorcerer draconic bloodline. Depending on the campaign, access to certain feats, wishes, etc, there might be other ways to get that or other variants of the spell. There’s definitely a 3rd party hellfire weapon property. Lots of possible options available.

And just before we get to it, the pronunciation for her name is, sin-dra-xy-ohs. Also, the dragon art is directly from Paizo’s Bestiary 6. This is what it looks like normally, but picture it without wings. Deep dragons lose their ability to fly and have a burrow speed instead.

DRAGON QUEEN CIDRAXIOS    (CR 15; 51,200 XP) Female unique corruptor young infernal deep dragon LE Large dragon (evil, extraplanar, lawful) Init +6; Senses dragon senses; Perception +21 DEFENSE AC 32, touch 13, flat-footed 30 (+2 armor, +2 deflection, +2 Dex, +17 natural, –1 size) hp 217 (15d12+120) Fort +19, Ref +13, Will +16; +3 vs. divination Defensive Abilities false mind, fiery acid blood (R-DC 25, 3d6), inscrutable +3; DR 15/adamantine; Immune acid, fire, hellfire, mind-affecting effects, paralysis, sleep Weaknesses light blindness OFFENSE Speed 60 ft., burrow 30 ft., earth glide Melee bite +25 (2d6+14 plus 3d6 acid and fire/19–20), 2 claws +25 (2d6+10/19–20), tail slap +19 (1d8+14), 2 wings +19 (1d6+5) Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft. (15 ft. with bite) Special Attacks breath weapon (80-ft. line, 7d10 hellfire damage, R-DC 25 half), deep gaze (W-DC 24), fiery acidic spittle, mark of vice (W-DC 24), oppressive heat, shredding stone Spell-like Abilities (CL 15th; concentration +22)   At will—atonement (temptation only)   3/day—detect good, geas, helping hand, lesser geas, make whole, major creation, minor creation   1/day—sympathy (W-DC 25), wish (granted to a nonevil aligned mortal only) Oracle Spells Known (CL 1st; concentration +8)   1st (4/day)—bane (W-DC 18), command (W-DC 18)   0 (at will)—detect magic, guidance, read magic, spark (R-DC 17) STATISTICS Str 28, Dex 14, Con 27, Int 20, Wis 17, Cha 24 Base Atk +15; CMB +25; CMD 39 (43 vs. trip) Feats Blind-Fight, Combat Expertise, Improved Critical (bite), Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (bite, claw) Skills Appraise +22, Bluff +27, Climb +20, Craft (all) +13, Diplomacy +35, Knowledge (arcana) +18, Knowledge (history, local, planes) +20, Linguistics +22, Perception +21, Sense Motive +28, Spellcraft +20, Use Magic Device +25; Racial Modifiers +8 Craft (all), +8 Diplomacy, +8 Sense Motive; +3 to all Charisma-based checks. Languages Abyssal, Common, Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Gnome, Infernal, Skis’raal, Undercommon plus any 8 others SQ change shape 3/day (any animal or humanoid), compression, corruptor’s boon, imbue with ability, serpentine reach, what do you covet Gear amulet of mighty fists +1, bracers of armor +2, cloak of resistance +2, headband of alluring charisma +2, ring of protection +2, tome of leadership and influence +1 (read), Mithral Crown of Leadership (acts as a circlet of persuasion), treasure horde (gems, gold and silver pieces, mithral bars, and carved art objects made from various types of stone; total worth of 5,500 gp) SPECIAL ABILITIES Corruptor’s Boon (Su) Once per day, a corruptor can grant a touched creature a +4 profane bonus to one ability score for 24 hours. When the duration ends, the creature suffers a –4 profane penalty to the same ability score for the next 24 hours. Another application not only negates the penalty, but also restores the full bonus. Deep Gaze (Su) Buried suggestion (see below) 30 ft., Will negates (special). As suggestion, except the target need not understand the deep dragon creature and the effect is permanent until discharged. The dragon telepathically implants the suggestion into the subject. The suggestion planted must not take place immediately. When it occurs it must be based on an event or an amount of time going by. At least three days must pass before the suggestion compels the subject. During the period while the suggestion is buried, neither divination spells nor Sense Motive will reveal that the subject is under the effect of an enchantment. The subject does not attempt his saving throw until the triggering event occurs. The death of the dragon does not end this effect. Dragon Senses (Ex) Dragons have darkvision 120 ft. and blindsense 60 ft. They see four times as well as a human in dim light and twice as well in normal light. Earth Glide (Su) A young or older deep true dragon creature glides through stone, dirt, or any sort of earth except metal as easily as a fish swims through water. Its burrowing leaves behind no tunnel or hole, nor does it create any ripple or other signs of its presence. Move earth cast on an area containing an earth gliding deep dragon creature flings the dragon back 30 ft., stunning the creature for 1 round unless it succeeds on a DC 15 Fortitude save. False Mind (Su) This ability offers the corruptor the benefits of a mind blank spell. When an attempt is made to detect his alignment or read his thoughts, the corruptor can cause the magic to reveal any alignment or thoughts the corruptor creature chooses, even if he is not initially aware of the attempt. Fiery Acidic Blood (Su) Any creature that damages a deep dragon with a piercing or slashing melee weapon must make a Reflex save or be subject to the damage equal to Deep dragon’s spittle (see below) as it is sprayed with blood. Melee weapons with reach don’t endanger their users in this way. Fiery Acidic Spittle (Su) All deep dragon creatures have a thick, gooey spittle that is hot enough and acidic enough to sear and corrode both flesh and rock. Normally, as they tunnel through the earth they secret this fluid to soften stone. In battle, the deep dragon adds this additional amount of damage to their natural attacks. Half the damage is acid the other half fire. Hellfire (Su) Half of the damage from hellfire is fire damage, and half is unholy energy that bypasses fire resistance and immunity. Hellproof (Ex) The infernal dragon is immune to fire, hellfire, and mind-affecting effects. Imbue with Ability (Su) Once per day as a standard action the corruptor creature can grant a creature it touches one of its spells, spell-like abilities, extraordinary abilities or even one of its supernatural abilities in a manner similar to imbue with spell ability (no save). It loses access to that ability during this time; it can dismiss this benefit as a free action regaining the use of one or more of its abilities. Inscrutable (Ex) An infernal dragon gains a bonus on saves against divination spells and effects equal to its age category number. Mark of Vice (Su) This ability works like a mark of justice (Will save negates) but it is only triggered if the creature attempts to find a redemption to its corruption (subject to GM adjudication). The mark is also invisible and is always placed over the victim’s heart. Oppressive Heat (Su) A creature that fails its save against an infernal dragon’s breath weapon can’t benefit from morale bonuses for 1 minute. If the creature fails another save against the breath weapon during this time, it is staggered for 1 round. Shredding Stone (Su) A Deep dragon creature gains a +4 bonus to confirm critical hits with its claws. What Do You Covet (Su) Once per day as a standard action a corruptor can grant a wish to a nonevil aligned mortal (cannot be an elemental, fey, outsider, or nonliving creature).

------------------------------------ Sources: Corruptor creature - http://spheresofpower.wikidot.com/corruptor-creature Deep dragon creature - http://spheresofpower.wikidot.com/deep-dragon-creature

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Throne of Night Theory Builds Part 11: The Veiled Commander

In September 2014, Gary shared a couple monsters that the players could expect waiting for them while sailing the Sunless Sea. One of them was the CR 20 nightwave undead monstrosity, which I’m mentioned previously in another entry, and at the time I didn’t know, but the other creature showcased was the veiled master. At the time, the veiled master was not OGL, and couldn’t technically be used for anything out of Paizo adventures. I say “technically” because with having special connections with Paizo staff, I would assume that Gary could gain special permission to use it and possibly others. Now, however, the creature is part of Bestiary 6, and much more available. At the time I thought it still couldn’t be touched, and made the picture of the three aboleths waiting in the water, the end boss encounter, and it could still very well be the case. The veiled master might not even be the end boss of Book 5, nor is there anything saying that it would be as advanced as I’m making it now. It might even just be a straight sorcerer, or it could even be an eldritch knight (which was my initial idea).

The ecology for the veiled master says that they are the nobles of the aboleth hierarchy, but aren’t considered the masters of the aboleth, per se, because all aboleth know that their are things far more powerful and can pull the strings of the noble veiled master. Funny enough, that’s what inspired today’s build.

As always, the encounter is cropped for space purposes.

All images shared here were done by the forever fantastic and amazingly talented Michael D. Clarke, aka SpiralMagus.

This picture doesn’t appear to be in colour, but it also could be done in a way such as to convey the darkness of the depths and the shine of the light from the creature. When I first saw the nightwave I thought it was unfinished as well, but there’s not much light when you’re that far underwater. Especially when, from the point of the view of those with darkvision, everything’s basically in black and white anyhow. The only colour in that particular was the dark crimson colour of what was likely blood. It’s not like either picture is black and white. Just not very vibrant. That really adds to the atmosphere and terror of the situation.

The veiled master’s original M.O. (modus operandi) was to transform into something that looked like one of the locals, infiltrate, and secretly look for any secretive uprising or rebellion among the slaves/citizenry. While that still works here for the underwater tribes of skum-like drow, and any other underground races, that they’ve warped and transformed, it makes more sense for this particular one being the one behind all the recent disappearances.

The reason for Book 5 and 6 existing is that after the fight with the drow army and the demon entourage, the PCs learn of a series of random kidnappings that have slowly been increasing as of late. Most of them took place near the waters. This is supposed to spurn the party to go rafting and find out what’s going. Because veiled masters can transform into other creatures, it would sense that this one would learn about the drow, steal some memories of nearby victims, show up on land, infiltrate and learn as much as it could, go back and talk it over with the other aboleth, and then over time mind control a bunch of drow to go out into the waters, expose them to the mucus, and convert them into loyal slaves.

When I was coming up for this build, I wanted it to be a terrifying encounter, but I also wanted to give it a fitting background. The original idea was just go all sorcerer, then I thought fighter/eldritch knight, but that seemed so boring. Then I thought, mystic theurge. What if this particular aboleth was receiving visions from the star spawn of Cthulhu from the end of the series? This was already supposed to be Lovecraftian in a way, so why not go even further? Have the veiled master start to receive visions, dreams, and telepathic messages that it didn’t understand. Have it slowly corrupt the creature and empower it. Even better, what if the sudden rush on more slaves wasn’t for the sake of the aboleth, but for the new master pulling the strings. The Sun Killer isn’t going to build itself. It might need a structure built to help power the crystal or magnify its power and radius.

Something to note, even when it transforms into a drow or other creature, it still has the clouded vision look in its eyes. Its disguise ability likely wouldn’t help with that. Not that anyone would ever question it. There’s plenty of oracles out there. That said, the veiled master could wear contacts to hide that fact. It has no way to produce faerie fire like a real drow, but it does have access to glitterdust, and it can use other drow-like spells to make it look like it has their spell-like abilities, despite being actual spells. I will mention that there is a D&D 3.5 item called ring of drow blood that gives you “dancing lights, darkness, and faerie fire as spell-like abilities, each once per day.” It costs 4,800 gold to create. Not out of the realm of possibility to have a custom version of it made for this adventure, or because it’s a home game, it could be the original version.

This creature could be something hanging out in the background during the time PCs are in town taking it over, or stopping the current regime. It could easily observe them and learn of their abilities. It would help determine whether they could be a threat or not. As well, how much the veiled master and the other aboleths will have to prepare should the PCs ever go looking where they shouldn’t. They could even discover the veiled master while out at sea, in a female drow form. Female drow, typically, do have more divine power than males, so it shouldn’t set off any alarms. It could say it received visions about tentacled creatures taking “her” people out into the water, and despite telling the drow nobles and their courts, “she” couldn’t convince them of sending help, and decided to head out on “her” own. She could even help the PCs. The veiled master will likely know about the undead threats, and not want to deal with them on its own.  Even going so far as to heal the PCs or aid them with spells, if need be, to help with the ruse. Its own name isn’t that far from a drow’s name so it shouldn’t be that suspicious sounding to a dwarf PC, but a drow might get suspicious of it. If it thinks anyone suspects it after it says its name, the veiled master will say that’s “her” official name, but her drow family name is “Sharril“. If possible, it will try to play up a sorrowful background of being a half-drow with a demonic parent, and “her” name is honour of “her” birth.

Btw, while it says “unique”, all I really did was switch a couple of spells around because clerics and wizard spell lists are so similar. It also makes sense that if there’s undead swimming around, the aboleth master would have something to deter them from trying to eat it and others of its kind.

SHAIODRR’RUL    (CR 20; 307,200 XP) Unique veiled master oracle 8/mystic theurge 2 LE Large aberration (aquatic, shapechanger) Init +13; Senses darkvision 60 ft., blindsense 30 ft., blindsight 15 ft.; Perception +25 Aura mucus cloud (30 ft.) DEFENSE AC 34, touch 19, flat-footed 25 (+4 armor, +9 Dex, +1 insight, +11 natural, –1 size) hp 383 (26 HD; 24d8+2d6+268) Fort +18, Ref +19, Will +23 Defensive Abilities evasion; Immune electricity, mind-affecting effects; Resist cold 20; SR 25 OFFENSE Speed 10 ft., swim 80 ft. Melee bite +27 (2d6+5 plus consume memory and slime), 2 claws +27 (1d6+5 plus slime), 4 tentacles +22 touch (2d6 electricity plus thoughtlance) Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft. (20 ft. with claws and tentacles) Special Attacks brain drain 2/day (8d4, W-DC 24), delayed suggestion Spell-Like Abilities (CL 21st; concentration +31)   Constant—mage armor   At will—detect thoughts (W-DC 22), dominate person (W-DC 27), hypnotic pattern (W-DC 22), illusory wall (W-DC 24), mirage arcana (W-DC 25), persistent image (W-DC 25), programmed image (W-DC 26), project image (W-DC 27), veil (W-DC 26)   3/day—dominate monster (W-DC 31), quickened dominate person (W-DC 27), geas/quest, mass suggestion (W-DC 28) Oracle Spells Known (CL 11th; concentration +21)   5th (5/day)—mass inflict light wounds (W-DC 26), slay living (F-DC 26)   4th (7/day)—cure critical wounds, black tentacles, blessing of fervor, inflict critical wounds (W-DC 25)    3rd (8/day)—aura of cannibalism (F-DC 24), bestow curse (W-DC 24), dispel magic, inflict serious wounds (W-DC 24), prayer, tongues   2nd (9/day)—aid, dust of twilight, ghostbane dirge, inflict moderate wounds (W-DC 23), shield of fortification, spiritual weapon   1st (9/day)—cure light wounds, entropic shield, forbid action (W-DC 23), know the enemy, inflict light wounds (W-DC 22), murderous command (W-DC 23), shield of faith   0 (at will)—bleed, detect magic, detect poison, guidance, mending, read magic, resistance, stabilize, virtue Mystery dark tapestry Sorcerer Spells Known (CL 15th; concentration +25)   7th (4/day)—mass hold person (W-DC 30)   6th (7/day)—globe of invulnerability, symbol of persuasion (W-DC 29)   5th (8/day)—feeblemind (W-DC 27), symbol of pain (F-DC 27), teleport   4th (8/day)—dimension door, enervation, phantasmal killer (F/W-DC 24), symbol of slowing (W-DC 27)   3rd (8/day)—clairaudience/clairvoyance, explosive runes (R-DC 24), hold person (W-DC 25), secret page   2nd (9/day)—blindness/deafness (F-DC 23), invisibility, levitate, symbol of mirroring (W-DC 23), touch of idiocy   1st (9/day)—charm person (W-DC 23), comprehend languages, erase, ray of enfeeblement (F-DC 22), silent image (W-DC 21)   0 (at will)—arcane mark, dancing lights, daze (W-DC 20), disrupt undead, ghost sound (W-DC 20), mage hand, message, prestidigitation, touch of fatigue (F-DC 21) STATISTICS Str 20, Dex 28, Con 31, Int 21, Wis 23, Cha 30 Base Atk +19; CMB +25; CMD 46 Feats Arcane Strike, Combat Casting, Combat Expertise, Deceitful, Eschew MaterialsB, Extend Spell, Greater Spell Focus (enchantment), Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Quicken Spell, Quicken Spell-Like Ability (dominate person), Spell Focus (enchantment, necromancy), Weapon Finesse Skills Bluff +30, Diplomacy +21, Disguise +23, Intimidate +21, Linguistics +9, Knowledge (arcana, history, nature) +23, Knowledge (planes) +18, Knowledge (religion) +14, Perception +30, Sense Motive +30, Spellcraft +25, Stealth +30, Swim +32, Use Magic Device +29 Languages Aboleth, Abyssal, Aklo, Aquan, Common, Draconic, Drow Sign Language, Elven, Undercommon SQ change shape (any Small or Medium; greater polymorph), combined spells (1st), oracle’s curse (clouded vision), revelations (brain drain, cloak of darkness [+6 AC/+4 Stealth], gift of madness), runemastery, swift transformation Gear spellguard bracers, circlet of persuasion, ioun stones (deep red sphere, dusty rose prism, incandescent blue sphere, orange prism, pale green prism, pink rhomboid, pink and green sphere), page of spell knowledge (1st—identify, magic missile, shield; 2nd—darkness, glitterdust, mirror image, silence; 3rd—displacement, fireball, nondetection; 4th—greater false life), ring of counterspells, ring of evasion, gold rings and jewelry worth 3,500 gp in all SPECIAL ABILITIES Consume Memory (Su) When a veiled master bites a creature, it consumes some of that creature’s memories. The creature bitten must succeed at a DC 28 Fortitude save or gain 1 negative level. A veiled master has 5 hit points restored each time it gives a creature a negative level in this way, and it also learns some of the target creature’s memories (subject to the GM’s discretion). This is a mind-affecting effect. A veiled master can suppress this ability as a free action. The save DC is Charisma-based. Delayed Suggestion (Sp) Whenever a veiled master successfully uses dominate person or dominate monster on a creature, it can also implant a delayed suggestion that triggers when the dominate effect ends. Typically, this suggestion (which functions as a spell-like ability, CL 20th, Will DC 23 negates) is for the previously dominated creature to seek out the veiled master and submit to a new domination attempt, but sometimes, a veiled master implants other suggestions (such as a suggestion to attack the first person the creature sees). Mucus Cloud (Ex) While underwater, a veiled master exudes a 30-foot-radius cloud of transparent slime. All creatures in this area must succeed at a DC 28 Fortitude save each round or lose the ability to breathe air (but gain the ability to breathe water) for 24 hours. Renewed contact with this mucus cloud and failing another save extends the effect for another 24 hours. The save DC is Constitution-based. Runemastery (Ex) A veiled master is particularly skilled at casting spells that create magical writing, such as explosive runes, secret page, and spells with the word “symbol” in their names. It never requires material components or focus components when casting such spells, and the save DC of these spells increases by 1. A veiled master’s symbol spells are difficult to disarm—the Disable Device DC for these symbols increases by 2. Slime (Ex) A creature hit by any of a veiled master’s bite or claw attacks must succeed at a DC 28 Fortitude save or have its skin and flesh transform into a clear, slimy membrane over the course of 1d4 rounds. The creature’s new flesh is soft and tender, reducing its Constitution score by 4 as long as the condition persists. If the creature’s flesh isn’t kept moist, it dries quickly and the creature takes 1d12 points of damage every 10 minutes. Remove disease and similar effects can restore an afflicted creature to normal, but immunity to disease offers no protection from this attack. The save DC is Constitution-based. Swift Transformation (Su) A veiled master can use its change shape ability as a swift action. Thoughtlance (Su) Four of a veiled master’s tentacles end in glowing spheres of light. These spheres deal 2d6 points of electricity damage on a successful touch attack and also blast a creature’s mind with waves of mental energy. A creature touched by one of these tentacles (regardless of whether the touch deals electricity damage) must succeed at a DC 28 Will save or be staggered for 1 round. Additional touches increase the duration of this effect by 1 round. While a creature is staggered in this manner, it must attempt concentration checks to cast spells as if it were experiencing extremely violent motion while casting (DC = 20 + spell level). The save DC is Charisma-based.

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Next time I’ll be working on drow nobles. There’s one picture in particular I shared around, and thankfully someone was far more observant than any of the others. Was most definitely a huge boon.

[cyberkevvideo]

Throne of Night Theory Builds Part 5: The Drow Demon Binder of Book 4

Continuing the posts of wondering what the builds of certain encounters would be for this AP, here’s a drow queen that has at least two demons under her command.

Like the other post, this uses only OGL material. I had discussed things with the Paizo legal team (it was suggested I do so and it’s good that I did), and to do this without any legal issues from their side, I would have to abide by the same rules that Gary did. I’m okay with that. However, Kickstarter is out of their jurisdiction so they couldn’t comment on anything further regarding that. I’m still being careful of what information I’m sharing (despite it being six years later and most of the public now has access to the updates anyhow).

Also, I didn’t note this in the last one, but any monsters that don’t change stats and are directly part of the encounters, I’ll just link them directly. Summons don’t count though as that can change from GM to GM. Tactics can be ignored if the NPCs have gained information about the party and this would cause them to act differently.

For space reasons, cropping the encounter build.

Again, all images shared here were done by the forever fantastic and amazingly talented Michael D. Clarke, aka SpiralMagus.

EDIT: Cleaned up the stats and fixed the broken link.

Book 4 discussed entering the drow city, for whatever reason that may be. It could finally be time for revenge for the drow siblings or maybe the dwarves wish to finally avenge the svirfneblin back in Book 1. Either way, the party enters here, take on an arena with spider riders and confront drow royalty that looks exactly like a dark elf version of a marilith. Both of these I’ve done previously, and have linked to those blog posts.

The situation here is that the party encounters the queen after they witness what looks to be some kind of civil war between drow families. One side are all regular drow surrounded by darkness, while the other is surrounded by flames and winged demons. My assumption is that you side with one of the two warring factions.

Ignoring that one or two of the encounters might include drow troops, I’m jumping straight to the main course. In Way of the Wicked, this same spot was a CR 18 encounter. Unfortunately, the picture doesn’t tell the entire story because no matter how I try, I can’t balance it that high without adding in a fourth party that’s not in the picture.

Meet Queen Alyarra Aleanmtor. Her name literally means “Legendary Queen of the noble line of the Abyss.” I used this generator. She’s described as a merciless monarch who wants to rule over everything, and wants to destroy the empire the party is trying to create.

Thinking about the drow side of the AP, I thought it’d also be interesting if she was also the antagonist that was responsible for their mother’s death and their banishment. It’d be a great story beat if that was the case so they could finally get their revenge on her. If this wasn’t the case in the original story, then it definitely should be now.

The best part of this build is I even got to use a feat from Fire Mountain Games Book 5 (which I’ll attach a link to it). I’m assuming that he would have used at least something from his previous publication. It’d be too sad to have made those feats, class archetypes, items, and spells only to have them appear once. This all takes place in the same universe, after all.

Don’t forget to add the +2 hp/HD for any and all demons the queen summons with summoning spells. As well, as the extra +1 for Superior Summoning and bonus to stats for Augmented Summoning (which grants even more hp) or all creatures summoned.

QUEEN ALYARRA ALEANMTOR OF HOUSE UNDORIEL   (CR 16; 76,800 XP) Female blasphemous covenant drow noble conjurer (teleportation) 16 CE Medium humanoid (elf) Init +8; Senses darkvision 120 ft., see invisibility; Perception +3 DEFENSE AC 19, touch 15, flat-footed 15 (+4 armor, +1 deflection, +4 dodge) hp 110 (16d6+52) Fort +6, Ref +9, Will +11; +2 vs. enchantments, +2 vs. continuing effects Immune sleep; Resist fire 30; SR 27 Weakness light blindness OFFENSE Speed 30 ft. Melee mwk staff +8 (1d6–1) Arcane School Spell-Like Abilities (CL 16th; concentration +22)   10/day—shift   At will—dimensional steps (480 feet/day) Conjurer Spells Prepared (CL 16th; concentration +22)   8th—maze, quickened wall of fire, summon monster VIII   7th—caustic eruption (R-DC 25), quickened fireball (R-DC 24), quickened haste, reach mass bull's strength, summon monster VII (usually shadow demons)   6th—conjure black pudding, globe of invulnerability, greater dispel magic, planar ally (already cast; hezrou), quickened acid arrow   5th—acidic spray (R-DC 23), cone of cold (R-DC 22), hungry pit (R-DC 23), reach greater invisibility, wall of force, whip of centipedes   4th—acid pit (R-DC 22), black tentacles, greater invisibility, solid fog, touch of slime (F-DC 22), wall of ice   3rd—displacement, fireball (R-DC 20), mad monkeys, rain of frogs, slow (W-DC 20), stinking cloud (F-DC 21), twilight knife   2nd—acid arrow, create pit (R-DC 20), glitterdust (W-DC 20), mirror image, see invisibility (already cast), resist energy, web (R-DC 20)   1st—grease (DC 19), heightened awareness, magic missile (2), mudball (DC R-19), shield, vanish   0 (at will)—mending, message, read magic, resistance Opposition Schools enchantment, necromancy Spell-Like Abilities (CL 16th; concentration +19)   Constant—detect magic   At will—dancing lights, deeper darkness, faerie fire, feather fall, levitate   1/day—divine favor, dispel magic, suggestion (DC 16) Hedge Wizard Cloak Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st)   At will—acid splash, prestidigitation   1/day—mage armor, unseen servant TACTICS Before Combat Queen Alyarra casts mage armor from her cloak, then heightened awareness, resist energy (fire), and see invisibility. If there’s time, she casts greater false life from her scroll. During Combat On the first few rounds, Queen Alyarra casts mass hold person and quickened fireball, before dropping them into a pit spell or hitting them with black tentacles. Afterwards, she summons as many allies to the front lines as possible while her demon bodyguards protect her and attack anyone who gets too close. Queen Alyarra starts with summon monster VIII, calling greater fire elementals, surrounding as many targets as she can and using a quickened wall of fire to trap as many creatures with the elementals. Anyone heavily armored becomes the target of her maze spell, with healers being a prime candidate. Arcane casters have the best chance of inhibiting her summons and countering her spells, so she targets them with quickened acid arrow and mudball, hoping to blind them, then using globe of invulnerability to make them ineffective against her.

In following rounds, she turns invisible and buffs her allies with her quickened haste, reach bull’s strength and reach greater invisibility, before using levitate to survey the battleground. Using her wall spells to control the fight, Queen Alyarra traps opponents and summons shadow demons with summon monster VII, or frogs and monkeys, to battle those within her created barriers. If anyone turns invisible, she hits them with faerie fire or glitterdust. Queen Alyarra never stays in one place for too long, utilizing her shift ability as best as she can.

If forced into melee combat, she casts displacement, and mirror image, then divine favor, and summons a twilight knife and whip of centipedes to attack the would-be attackers. Morale Queen Alyarra does not fear death thanks to her aegis of recovery and countless summoned minions. If the aegis is used to keep her alive, she calls her summons to protect her. Her pride does not allow her to leave the battle, and fights to the death. Base Statistics Without greater false life and heightened awareness, Queen Alyarra’s stats are hp 90; Senses Perception +1; Skills all Knowledge skills are 2 lower. STATISTICS Str 8, Dex 18, Con 12, Int 24, Wis 12, Cha 16 Base Atk +8; CMB +7; CMD 26 Feats Augment Summoning, Contract Master (FMG #5), Craft StaffB, Improved Initiative, Quicken SpellB, Reach SpellB, Spell Focus (conjuration), Scribe ScrollB, Spell Penetration, Superior Summoning, True Name (greater planar binding [nalfeshnee], planar binding [glabrezu]) Skills Appraise +17, Diplomacy +19, Fly +11, Knowledge (arcana, dungeoneering, history, local, nature, nobility, religion) +22, Knowledge (planes) +27, Linguistics +15, Sense Motive +17, Spellcraft +20 Languages Aboleth, Abyssal, Aklo, Common, Draconic, Drow Sign Language, Dwarven, Elven, Gnome, Skis'raal, Terran, Undercommon SQ arcane bond (staff), compression (belt), summoner’s charm (8 rounds) Combat Gear scroll of greater false life, scroll of mass hold person, acid (2); Other Gear ring of protection +1 (signet ring), Aleanmtor Crown (acts as a headband of vast intelligence +4 [Diplomacy, Sense Motive]), aegis of recovery, belt of the weasel, cloak of the hedge wizard (conjuration), jaunt boots, spellguard bracers, staff of speaking (bonded object), ring of counterspells, spell component pouch, traveling spell book (contains all prepared spells plus all Core cantrips, scorching ray, whip of spiders, and fly) SPECIAL ABILITIES Blasphemous Covenant (Ex) Since their twisted beginnings, the drow have consorted with demons. Some drow have strong ties with these creatures and may call upon ancient and obscene associations to sway demonic cooperation. Drow with this racial trait gain a +2 bonus on Diplomacy checks made against unbound creatures with the demon subtype. Furthermore, demons conjured with any summon spell gain +2 hit points per Hit Die. Lastly, the cost of bribes or offerings for any planar ally spell cast by these drow to summon a demon is reduced by 20%. This racial trait replaces keen senses and poison use.

--name means “legendary queen of the noble line of the abyss”

UL'GUTH XELGRARITH   (CR 14; XP 38,400) Nalfeshnee

VOROK BASTROR    (CR 13; XP 25,600) Glabrezu

TOZZAN    (CR 11; XP 12,800) Hezrou

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And that’ll do it at this time. If I come up with anything else that needs stats, I’ll probably do another one of these. We’ll see though.

These are my own designs for how I thought things would go, and can be changed or ignored entirely. It was just something I wanted to do for myself. The itch has been scratched for the time being.