Review – The Genius Guide to: Loot 4 Less Volume 6 – Cloaks and Daggers

Another fine product from Genius Games, if you have a place for some reasonably priced magic cloaks and daggers in your game, give it a look.

Tuesday Magic Item – Guardian’s Halberd

The Azure Guards held off the usurper’s men for as long as they could but their magic halberd and their loyalty was no match for the numbers of mercenaries in his employ.  But each second they fought gave the young countess more time to escape.  A thrown dagger would have ended her life, had not a halberd deflected it at the last moment and then she was free across the bridge as the last of the Azure Guardsmen fell into a line to slow the pursuit.

Guardian’s Halberd

These weapons are symbols of service usually only given to the elite guards of various types.  These halberds are made of the finest wood and metal, the design of the blade often evocative of whom the weapon serves and there are always ornately decorated.

New Spell – Lightning Whip

“I am Solomon, master of the arcane,” the wizard said, his red robes dark in the dim light, rings glinting from his fingers.  “Leave now and you need not be harmed.”  With a gesture and a word that could not be understood, a coiling and flicker whip made of twisting bolts of lightning appeared in his hand.

He cracked the whip, sending sparks flickering.  “What is your choice?”

Lightning Whip

Review – Bite of the Lindworm adventure

Bite of the Lindworm: A Sidetrack Adventure for the Fantasy Sagas Role-Playing Game is a 21-page PDF (20 pages if you remove the cover) written by Ruel Knudson and published by Ironwood Omnimedia Company.

This product does just what it sets out to do, provides an interesting short adventure that can lead into other challenges. While designed for the Fantasy Sagas system, it should be easy enough to convert to another system. Though it does seem a little expensive for its short length.

New Spell – Snowflake Squall

With a flowing gesture, the air around the blue-clad wizard erupted with thousands of glittering snowflakes.  The air went from warm to freezing in an instant as the bandits shielded their eyes from the sudden glare from the rain of snow crystals.

Snowflake Squall

Stepping Back into 2nd Ed AD&D

Our usual Wens night crew was down a player, so we decided to play a pick up game of AD&D (2nd edition-ish).  Since we only had two players, we each made a hero (with 5,000 xp) and a sidekick (1st level).

My characters were:

Saladorian the Magnificat and his assistant, Pedro (aka Percieval Sugarfoot)

Tuesday Magic Item – the Equinox Blade

The Equinox Blade is said to be able to cut light from shadow, but that is probably just a legend.  However, in the right hands, at the right time, it can certain cut someone’s soul from their body.

Equinox Blade

This sword is a work of art, the blade of the sword is half bright silver that flashes in the sun like a diamond, the other half is a black as a starless night, the hilt is carved crystal with a guard of tarnished silver chased guard.  Made for the Courts of the season the sword was supposed to rotate to a watcher of the opposite court from that which was in ascendance but it has become lost.

L5R JYTB Campaign Report 19

From the Capital to the Wall Above the Ocean

Our heroes return (from the Crab, Monkey and Scorpion lands) to the Capitol, where the magistrate Doji Akira awaits them, his yoriki.  They spend the first night catching up, and meet the new Kitsune, before being called before Doji Akira.  There they are informed that they will be escorting Seppun Keikyoku, Seppun priest and scholar to Shinden Asahina and wherever else he needs to go.  They have a few days of their own in the capitol.

New Spell – Heal Scar

The aged healer knelt down by the young girl, her face and arm horrible  scarred from when he family’s house had burned.  “Close you eyes, child, and thank the Lord of All Cures,” he said and began to pray.  As we watched, a soft blue glow touches the scar and like cloth unraveling they were gone replaced by healthy skin.

Heal Scar

School conjuration (healing); Level Clr 3, Drd 4
Components V, S, DF
Casting Time 3 full rounds
Range touch
Target living creature touched
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw fortitude negates (harmless); Spell Resistance yes (harmless)

This spell is a minor and specialized version of regeneration that fully removes all scars, burn marks and other disfigurements caused by injury or disease. Small scars are removed instantaneously, extensive damage (such as full body burn scarring) can take up to ten rounds. It can be fully controlled to remove some scars and leave others. Properly applied, it can also be used to remove tattoos.

Heal Scar also cures 1d8 points of damage + 1 point per caster level (maximum +15).

Notes: Another “should there not be a spell that does X?” spell.  While you could use regeneration for the same effect it is a much higher level spell and many people would like to have their appearance restored if they are scarred or burned and not just out of vanity.

Visiting Washington D.C.

Just got back last week from a trip to Washington DC, which as you no doubt know, is full of museums, galleries and history.  We were staying in Alexandria, Virginia, fairly close to the Old Town area which is quite nice and an easy Metro ride away from the heart of DC.

On our way to Alexandria we visited the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum which is located near Dulles Airport.