The next dawn brings the first day of May. May was Maius in Latin and was named after the Greek goddess Maia, probably, who is associated with Spring. So, what shall the theme be for May? The fae and faerie? Spring and nature? Gods and religion? Something else? Let me know.
Unsurprisingly April’s writings were dominated by the 2013 A to Z Blogging Challenge, which I am pleased to say I completed (third year in a row). So, the posts for April, 2013, were:
“Let me try again, I am sure I managed the mystical formulas correctly this time . . .”
Timmez’ Unreliable Transformation Wand
These wands are made from willow wood marked with arcane symbols and a handle wrapped with braided leather from various animals held in place by a mesh of precious metal wires.
It was not something you expect to find in an abandoned tower, a set of zoo cages. The first one held three skeletons of what the ranger said were bears. It had some sort of trap in front of the cage, but our scout was unconcerned with it, until he stepped in front of the cage and in a flash of light was changed into a bear and then the floor raised up, the cage door opened and he was dumped inside. We stood dumbfounded as the cage locked behind him.
Zoomorphic Cage CR see below
A corridor, one side lined with large cages each with a sliding cage door and marked with an arcane symbol.
The Chainer Factory in the Dark Star Dominion produces magical tools for the Dominion and for the slavers that provide raw material for the Dominion’s mines and fields. Their most produced item is a simple slave collar known as the Yoke of Servitude, or simply the Yoke, which is used on the most valuable of slaves. It may reduce their initiative but the increase in docility makes it a widely used tool.
Those opposed to slavery will usually take any opportunity to destroy these items of oppression.
Yoke of Servitude
These metal collars range from lace-like works of precious metals to harsh and brutal ones made of iron, but all are exceptionally strong and difficult to damage or open. Once placed around a person’s neck, they can only be removed by magic or by destroying the yoke.
They have different effects, depending on if the collar is accepted willingly or is forced upon the wearer, in either case properly placing the Yoke and activating its magic can take as long as a minute.
No one knew what came over Roban the innkeeper, but suddenly he was offending all of his foreign guests. Some said the change happened after he threw out that bard, but in any case, it took him months to win back that custom.
Xenophobia
School enchantment (compulsion) [mind-affecting]; Level bard 1, sorcerer/wizard 2
Wonderbook
This think and much repaired book has seen better days, yet the title “Wonderbook” can still be made out along its spine. The pages are all handwritten or hand drawn, and in a wide variety of styles, languages and materials, and occasionally new pages have been inserted, sometimes those are hand made as well.
The owner of the Wonderbook can create any magical effect by just writing it or drawing it on a blank page of the book, taking at least 1 round per level of the spell but called upon, it uses the owner’s level for caster level and their Charisma or Wisdom (whichever is higher) as the casting statistic, if they have an appropriate Craft or Perform skill they can add +1 to the DC or effective caster level of the spell for each five point they exceed a DC of 10 by.
However, the magic of the book is drawn from the user’s place in their reality, each time they cast a spell, they must make a Will save (DC 11 + twice the spell level), if they fail the save, they take a cumulative -1 to future saves against the Wonderbook, if they fail by 5 or more, they take 1 + spell level in statistic damage randomly distributed between Charisma, Intelligence and Wisdom, and if they fail by 10 or more, they are unmade from reality and are recreated as a character in the book (in their own hand whether writing or art).
Who or what created the Wonderbook and if there is more than one of them is unknown.
Verdant Vixen
These fae foxes mix a supernatural knowledge of the natural world with a wicked sense of humor. Their ability to move without hindrance through the woods combined with their nature allows them to construct elaborate pranks
Verdant vixens occasion serve as familiar is to those who are favored by the Court of the Seasons.
Verdant Vixen CR 1/2 (XP 200)
N Tiny fae
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“What sort of bastard kills a unicorn and then boasts about it by mounting the head?” fumed Timish, the half-elfin ranger.
“We knew this guy was a dick before we took the job,” answered Ippi the rogue. “So why should this surprise us?”
“It is almost to garish,” said the mysterious Va. “This one suspects it is more dangerous than it appears.”
“Indeed?” said Ippi, producing a miniature spyglass to take a look at the hideous decoration from a safe distance.
Unicorn Head, Mounted (CR 4) XP 1,200
A unicorn head, mounted on the wall, its glassy eyes seem to watch you with disdain.
The charming youngsters of court could not resist looking at themselves in mirrors, he should his head and decided that he needed to tell everyone about his observation. The youth of today, so vain . . .
Simia clicked shut the pocket mirror which had -just for a second- caught the image of the old Chancellor. Perhaps this time he would talk himself out of office.
Loquacious Looking Glass
These small portable mirrors have folding covers that double as a stand, they are always well made but decorated or not at the whims of the person they were made for.
Following an encouraging nod and raised wine glass from Amathea, the Songmistress of Solle, I finally approached General VanGreers, who had information on the fortress ruins we intended to explore, having besieged and destroyed it in his youth.
He had a reputation as a taciturn and laconic man, a soldier’s soldier, be today, he seemed in a mood for storytelling. I asked about the fortress and he regaled me . . . for the next six hours on every detail of the siege and the subsequent sack of the fortress. Every question I had was answered. Slightly dazed, I made my way back over to Amathea. She just smiled knowingly.
Talk Talk
School enchantment (compulsion) [mind-affecting]; Level bard 1, sorcerer/wizard 1
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