May or Maius in Latin was, perhaps, named after the Greek goddess Maia, who is associated with Spring. So, what shall the theme be for May? More gods and goddess? The fae? What would people like to see? I am taking suggestions.
April’s writings were entirely dominated by the A to Z blogging challenge, which I am pleased to say I completed:
Travel to the North and find adventure (or live there and try to survive)! The Northlands is an amazing supplement for Pathfinder packed with useful information, ideas and rules. If you are thinking of having a Norse-like area in your game world, this product will provide everything you need to make it a rich land for adventure. Even your campaign is not heading to icy lands, this product is packed with so much useful information, new toys and interesting challenges that it is a worthwhile sourcebook for those alone.
Northlands: Roleplaying in Winter’s Chill is a 114-page PDF (111-pages if you remove the covers and OGL page) for the Pathfinder RPG written by Dan Voyce (with a lot of support) and published by Open Design. This is part of Open Design’s Midgard campaign setting line.
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Malachite
Dieros the Poet, beloved of his home town, came to the large city of Aratanus to seek his fortune. He was recognized and did well, writing and reciting poetry for patrons of ever increasing stature. But when he was defeated in a competition by Noros the Fair, not in his view by superior poetry but because his rival was more handsome, he became bitter and sought to undermine Noros at every opportunity.
Indeed, he rejoiced when Norris misspoke to the tyrant of Syracasica and was thrown in chains. Sadly, his bitterness caused Dieros’ poetry to suffer and he continued to find more things to be bitter about.
Zelus’ Ring
These items are thick silver rings set with a piece of polished malachite, inscribed on the interior of the ring is Do Your Best. The rings are heavy and hard wearing but often pick up nicks and scratches as they are worn, though they are almost always found in pristine condition.
If your superheroic campaign had a golden age (World War II and thereabouts), Homefront Heroes will be useful for it. While the M&M statistic could have been better presented, they are still excellent character backgrounds and art as inspiration for your campaign’s history and early heroes, with the inexpensive price of this product it is well worth a look.
Amazing Stories of World War II: Homefront Heroes for Mutants and Masterminds (3rd Edition)is a 32-page PDF (29 pages less cover, credits and OGL) written by Steve Perrin and published by Vigilance Press.
Yazata
[As y also does not show up in the Greek or Latin alphabet, we have had to go to Persia for our deity for today.]
The rider dismounted smoothly, his polished helm catching the last rays of the sun. Seemingly unconcerned that he was surround by bandits. With a practised grace, he moved, his body suddenly surrounded by light, drew and threw a javelin into the nearest one of the ruffians; the javelin and bandit both burst into flames. After that the battle was swift with the bandits losing heart and fleeing leaving three of their number behind.
The rider offered a prayer for the spirits of the two departed and took the one survivor to the local authorities.
Yazata’s Helm
These helms are made of alloyed brass decorated with swirling patterns of inlaid gold and silver. They are lined with several layers of padded linen. They are lighter than they appear being comfortable in all weather.
The helm provides a +5 competence bonus to Animal Handling for chariot driving and to Ride checks. Three times a day, as a free action, the wearer can give any missile he launches the flaming burst quality. While moving, the wearer is sheathed in an aura of opalescent, then also extend to any mount or chariot he may be riding and the passengers there of. This light deflects incoming ranged attacks, missile and magical. Each ranged attack directed at you, your mount or your passenger which requires that the attacker to make an attack roll has a 20% miss chance. However, other attacks that simply work at a distance are not affected.
Note that some of these helms allow the wearer to give the missile they launch icy burst, shocking burst or even both the keen and thundering enhancement instead of flaming burst. But the effect is set when the helm is created.
Aura moderate abjuration; CL 9th
Slot head; Price 8,500; Weight 3 lbs
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, flame strike, owl’s wisdom, shield other; Cost 4,250 (+340 xp for D&D)
Notes: The Yazata are minor deities that show up in Zoroastrianism in the role of helpers of the gods, rather like angels.
Photo from wikipedia and used under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License.
Horses
“Your horses are always so beautiful.”
“I take special care of them. Their health and well being may directly impact mine after all.”
“True. What is your secret?”
“If I told you, it would no longer be a secret,” he answered with a wink.
Xanthos’ Manger
These items are made of fine wood and held together with wooden pegs, inlaid on the exterior is a scene of horses emerging from the sea foam in a variety of woods.
Wepwawet's Symbol
[As w does not show up in the Greek or Latin alphabet, we have had to go to Egypt for our deity for today.]
The hunter moved through the morning twilight, as watchful for spirits as he was for the enemy. His hand reached back for his quiver, his fingers dancing over his arrows. With a silent prayer to Wepwawet, he drew and released an arrow.
It flew true, finding its mark in the neck of the enemy scout who fell silently. The hunter quickly closed to make sure the scout was dead. With another prayer to guide the spirit to the lands of the dead, he pulled the arrow free.
Wepwawet’s Arrows
These arrows come in a variety of types, stone, bronze or iron arrow heads on a slender shaft marked with the symbol and hieroglyphs of Wepwawet. They are always fletched in grey and white.
Veritas
The magistrate of Valies, Kaliste, a noble widow of regal bearing and piercing gaze, keeps her court in perfect order. The only jewellery she wears is a silver ring. Even hardened criminals find it difficult to speak untruths in her presence and her desire to see the truth come out and justice done is well known.
Kaliste’s reputation makes her unwelcome as a guest for even pleasant half-truth become hard to utter under her harsh gaze.
Veritas’ Ring
These items are plain bands made of purest silver inside of which is inscribed Vox Veritas Vita (“Speak the Truth as a way of Life”). While silver is not the hardest of metals, these rings never tarnish and are difficult to damage
Tired of bad dice rolls? Want a class that lets you manipulate luck directly? Perhaps you should give the Luckbringer a try. While all of the class powers are luck based, there are enough variety and options to allow a wide range of different lucky characters. It is an interesting mix of in game flavor and mechanical manipulation. If such a combination intrigues you, give the Luckbringer a chance.
The Secrets of the Luckbringer, a new base class, is a 14-page PDF (10 pages if you remove the cover, OGL page and ads) for the Pathfinder RPG written by Steven D. Russell and published by Rite Publishing.
Flint Sickle
The dark priest stalked the slums, killing in a pattern only he understood. When he was finally confronted by the Order of Three Oaths in his ramshackle temple, a few of the knights laughed at his stone sickle. The laughing ended when the first squire to reach him went down in a spray of blood.
The dark priest was killed, but the flint sickle skittered across the blood slicked floor and was lost.
Uranus’ Sickle
This item is ancient, as old as the world itself, a simple sickle carved from a single piece of flint. It seems fragile but is essentially indestructible. When picked up, it seems very heavy at first but then it rests comfortably in the hand.
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