Dungeon Architect

Orcish Inspiration

1st-level Revolutionary feature

When you speak the terms “ORC’S UNITE.” you regain 2d6 + Wisdom modifier hit points, and gain Inspiration.

Published by: John Grady (Gwyn Grady)

Published on: 01/12/2023

THIS LICENSE IS APPROVED FOR GENERAL USE. PERMISSION TO DISTRIBUTE THIS LICENSE IS MADE BY WIZARDS OF THE COAST!

OPEN GAME LICENSE Version 1.0a

The following text is the property of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. and is Copyright 2000 Wizards of the Coast, Inc ("Wizards"). All Rights Reserved.

1. Definitions: (a)"Contributors" means the copyright and/or trademark owners who have contributed Open Game Content; (b)"Derivative Material" means copyrighted material including derivative works and translations (including into other computer languages), potation, modification, correction, addition, extension, upgrade, improvement, compilation, abridgment or other form in which an existing work may be recast, transformed or adapted; (c) "Distribute" means to reproduce, license, rent, lease, sell, broadcast, publicly display, transmit or otherwise distribute; (d)"Open Game Content" means the game mechanic and includes the methods, procedures, processes and routines to the extent such content does not embody the Product Identity and is an enhancement over the prior art and any additional content clearly identified as Open Game Content by the Contributor, and means any work covered by this License, including translations and derivative works under copyright law, but specifically excludes Product Identity. (e) "Product Identity" means product and product line names, logos and identifying marks including trade dress; artifacts; creatures characters; stories, storylines, plots, thematic elements, dialogue, incidents, language, artwork, symbols, designs, depictions, likenesses, formats, poses, concepts, themes and graphic, photographic and other visual or audio representations; names and descriptions of characters, spells, enchantments, personalities, teams, personas, likenesses and special abilities; places, locations, environments, creatures, equipment, magical or supernatural abilities or effects, logos, symbols, or graphic designs; and any other trademark or registered trademark clearly identified as Product identity by the owner of the Product Identity, and which specifically excludes the Open Game Content; (f) "Trademark" means the logos, names, mark, sign, motto, designs that are used by a Contributor to identify itself or its products or the associated products contributed to the Open Game License by the Contributor (g) "Use", "Used" or "Using" means to use, Distribute, copy, edit, format, modify, translate and otherwise create Derivative Material of Open Game Content. (h) "You" or "Your" means the licensee in terms of this agreement.

2. The License: This License applies to any Open Game Content that contains a notice indicating that the Open Game Content may only be Used under and in terms of this License. You must affix such a notice to any Open Game Content that you Use. No terms may be added to or subtracted from this License except as described by the License itself. No other terms or conditions may be applied to any Open Game Content distributed using this License.

3. Offer and Acceptance: By Using the Open Game Content You indicate Your acceptance of the terms of this License.

4. Grant and Consideration: In consideration for agreeing to use this License, the Contributors grant You a perpetual, worldwide, royalty-free, non-exclusive license with the exact terms of this License to Use, the Open Game Content.

5.Representation of Authority to Contribute: If You are contributing original material as Open Game Content, You represent that Your Contributions are Your original creation and/or You have sufficient rights to grant the rights conveyed by this License.

6.Notice of License Copyright: You must update the COPYRIGHT NOTICE portion of this License to include the exact text of the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any Open Game Content You are copying, modifying or distributing, and You must add the title, the copyright date, and the copyright holder's name to the COPYRIGHT NOTICE of any original Open Game Content you Distribute.

7. Use of Product Identity: You agree not to Use any Product Identity, including as an indication as to compatibility, except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of each element of that Product Identity. You agree not to indicate compatibility or co-adaptability with any Trademark or Registered Trademark in conjunction with a work containing Open Game Content except as expressly licensed in another, independent Agreement with the owner of such Trademark or Registered Trademark. The use of any Product Identity in Open Game Content does not constitute a challenge to the ownership of that Product Identity. The owner of any Product Identity used in Open Game Content shall retain all rights, title and interest in and to that Product Identity.

8. Identification: If you distribute Open Game Content You must clearly indicate which portions of the work that you are distributing are Open Game Content.

9. Updating the License: Wizards or its designated Agents may publish updated versions of this License. You may use any authorized version of this License to copy, modify and distribute any Open Game Content originally distributed under any version of this License.

10. Copy of this License: You MUST include a copy of this License with every copy of the Open Game Content You Distribute.

11. Use of Contributor Credits: You may not market or advertise the Open Game Content using the name of any Contributor unless You have written permission from the Contributor to do so.

12. Inability to Comply: If it is impossible for You to comply with any of the terms of this License with respect to some or all of the Open Game Content due to statute, judicial order, or governmental regulation then You may not Use any Open Game Material so affected.

13. Termination: This License will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with all terms herein and fail to cure such breach within 30 days of becoming aware of the breach. All sublicenses shall survive the termination of this License.

14. Reformation: If any provision of this License is held to be unenforceable, such provision shall be reformed only to the extent necessary to make it enforceable.

15. COPYRIGHT NOTICE Open Game License v 1.0a Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.

System Reference Document Copyright 2000-2003, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.; Authors Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Rich Baker, Andy Collins, David Noonan, Rich Redman, Bruce R. Cordell, John D. Rateliff, Thomas Reid, James Wyatt, based on original material by E. Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson.

Aetherlighy @ 2023, John Grady (Gwyn Grady)]; Author: John Grady (Gwyn Grady).

What’s in my pocket? | #4 Cobalt Sail Corsair

An eyepatch made from the end of a peacock feather.

A plain bottle containing Khalahagi Viper Rum

A basket-hilted saber with its blade snapped in half, a jeweled crest of House Savik is fixed into the hilt.

Three live Khaltri shrimp in a small glass jar

An ornate collapsible telescope, clouds never seem to block its view of the stars.

A silver necklace set with twenty-four sapphires wrapped in a ransom letter

A wooden chest containing several small jars of soil, each labeled with the name of a port.

A brass starmap with a phrase engraved into it, “To reach the lands of shadow and light seek the stars sunken from sight”

A copper compass from Salir that always points to the nearest storm.

Drakkenspeer House Reznik

“Roar Louder Than The Dragon”

This week we are covering one of my favorite Drakkenspeer Houses, House Zelenko!

Drakkenspeer House Zelenko

“Sharpen Your Chains”

Cosmological Chronicle - Aldir, The Plane of Water

The realm of water, Aldir is a place of untold wonder. Its boundless seas contain magnificent coral palaces, grand promenades of silver and glass, and a bounty of life seen nowhere else. However, for every wonder, there is an equally terrifying horror.

Currency

Aetherium Shards hold much less value in Aldir than other planes, due in large part to the presence of Weynok Oysters. These oysters create Aetherium Pearls which are prized among the Aldiri and serve as the primary currency of the plane. 

Culture and Customs

Aldir is a plane of stark contrast where civilization has reached heights unimaginable to most. Within its metropolitan centers, there is a strict hierarchy where one’s place in society is solely determined by standards of physical beauty.

However, outside the cities, Aldir is a rugged and unforgiving place overrun with savage beasts, cunning pirates, and unimaginable horrors. Despite this, many choose the freedom and self-determination offered by the outlands of Aldir over the oppressive luxury of the cities.

Treats and Entertainment

Aldir is renowned for the gushing bursts of flavor that one experiences when biting into its many varieties of Jelly Fruits. Unma Bites are another popular snack, consisting of a small oily fish wrapped in seaweed. Within its cities, great opera halls hold positions of prominence and attract thousands to the performances held in them. Among the outlanders, skiff racing is practically a way of life, with large prizes and wagers often on the line. The outlanders often complain that Aldir would win The Aether Grand Regatta every year if they were allowed to represent the plane in the event. 

Places of Importance

Yontaris The Crystal City

Aldir’s political and cultural capital, Yontaris is home to The Palace of Tides, Lady Morika’s School of Performing Arts, and The Wavebreaker’s Spire. The city itself is divided into seven tiers with the upper tiers being reserved for those of high status.

Erdomai The Boneyard

The lair of Serasis, Erdomai is an accursed graveyard of ships filled with the shambling bones of all who have fallen victim to the great beast. The bounty of ten thousand vessels, Serasis’s hoard is the greatest treasure in Aldir.

Mintoris The Silver City

The economic capital of Aldir, Mintoris is home to a great many shipwrights and sits atop the largest deposit of precious minerals in Aldir. Its mines are legendary for both their great bounty and unimaginable cruelty visited upon those who work the mines.

Valakai The Abyssal Seat

Shrouded in darkness and surrounded by boiling volcanic waters, Valakai is the ruined palace of Lady Tsunari’s lost sister. Travel to these ruins is punishable by death and rumors persist that the empress fears nothing more than the secrets of Valakai being uncovered.

Teldaris the First Reef

Aldir’s largest city, Teldaris is a massive reef shelf that is ever-growing. The powerful and connected of Teldaris reside within the beautiful and bustling “live” part of the reef, while the poor and downtrodden take up residence within hollows carved into the skeletal base of the shelf.

Individuals of Note

Mirra & Morra 

The true elemental rulers of Aldir, the twins exert no political power within the plane as most of their time and attention is consumed by their role as the moon keepers of the material plane.

Lady Tsunari: The Dancing Wave

The Empress of Aldir, Tsunari channels the twin’s authority and rules over the plane. Since the disappearance of her sister, Tsunari has become secretive and prone to massive swings in temperament. Many whisper that without her sister to share the burden of power, Tsunari is slowly falling to madness.

Lady Shilako The Crashing Wave

Before her disappearance, Shilako ruled aside Tsunari channeling the destructive power of Morra, while her sister channeled the healing powers of Mirra. In her absence, Tsunari has been forced to channel both powers.

Kratok The Hermit

Perhaps only rivaled in his wisdom and age by The Grandmother of Dolgir, Kratok is a cantankerous and solitary sage who often appears as a bipedal Hawksbill turtle. He is a collector of trinkets and artifacts who can recount the provenance of nearly any item. Though age has slowed Kratok somewhat, he remains as he was in his youth a monk of exceptional skill and should not be underestimated. 

Hekthi The Dread

Pirate queen and sea witch, the fearsome sabertoothed tiger shark, Hekthi is the closest thing to a ruler that exists in the outlands. Her forces regularly engage in battles with servants of Lady Tsunari. While ruthless against her enemies, Hekthi is quite warm with her friends and a stalwart ally to those in her good graces.

Serasis The Deep Hunger

A titanic beast Serasis tolerates no trespass within her domain. This serpent is an avatar of avarice and gluttony, hoarding treasures beyond measure and devouring the souls of any who stray to near. Despite her ferocious nature, the song of Serasis is said to be the most beautiful in existence a testament of sorrow and longing.

Creatures of Note

Kaltri Shrimp

What’s in my pocket? | #3 Blackpaw Goll Tribe

Shop: Superior Armorsmith

Proprietor: Grisum 

Location: Ravenstone Township

The Three Hound Smithy was once an imposing two-story building of oaken timber and heavy stone, but it has fallen into disrepair and neglect. Many of its wooden roof shingles are peeled back, and its heavy iron ribbed door always hangs slightly ajar. Inside a large countertop stands between the shopfront and the rooms beyond. Brigandine and mail hang about available for resizing and a few examples of plate armor stand in glass cases, a testament to the smith’s skill. Only a single weapon can be seen on display in the shop, the two halves of a shattered arming sword mounted to a plaque above the countertop.

An open forge-yard sits beside the shop, many tools and works in progress sit about guarded only by a short fence, and two large Sylbrian Wolfhounds with ashen fur that sleep in the yard.

Grisum is the owner of the shop and a skilled smith. A stout man in his early forties with a potbelly and a jet black beard. He bears himself with a somber and grueling demeanor. While by no means a dim man, Grisum prefers simple words and plain language.

If ever asked about the shattered blade that is mounted above his countertop, Grisum simply replies, “That…..that is a testament to failure and a warning against pride, and I will speak no more of it.”

Characters of note

Marshall

- The largest of Grisum’s three wolfhounds, and the one that seems to never leave his side.

Duke

- Young and full of energy, Duke is the most likely of the wolfhounds to cause trouble with passersby or other animals

Lilly

- Lazy and laid back, Lilly has a kind demeanor to anyone she cares to take an interest in but most often is content to sleep, and “notice” things simply by raising a single ear.

Secrets

Secret: In his younger days Grisum was a gifted weaponsmith, however when his best friend Tandrid fell in battle after the sword Grisum made for him shattered, the smith swore to never forge a blade again and has since dedicated his life to crafting the sturdiest armor around.

Discovery: A few of the older people in town will know this information and may reveal it if asked about Grisum.

Secret: Marshall, the largest of Grisum’s hounds is a Hound Arcon in disguise. Forged from the spirit of Tandrid after his death, and unable to assume a humanoid form or leave the mortal realm until his task is complete. Marshall watches over his old friend and his shop, always seeking ways to inspire the old smith to return to his true craft.

Discovery: If the players discover the truth behind how Tandrid’s sword was shattered and tell Grisum, then Marshall will be free to reveal himself.

Advancement

Type: Longsword

The blade of Glimmerhorn is made of unicorn ivory taken from the stallion Ri’. Its fittings are silver, and it is set with 3 large amethyst. The Runes along its blade are carved into the ivory itself and left hollow with no inset. Its Guard is made of mithril and depicts a unicorn’s head on each side. Its handle is wrapped in purple and silver silk. A cord of each color hangs down past the pommel, which is a ring of mithril with a glass compartment containing a small illegible scrap of parchment inside.

Glimmerhorn’s Scabbard is made of purpleheart wood wrapped in a lattice of silver swirls.

Properties:

Glimmerhorn Functions as a +3 Defender weapon

Twice per day you may cast Friends as a spell-like ability

Once per day you may cast Calm Emotions as a spell-like ability

When you Unsheath Glimmerhorn the Whinny of Ri’ echoes for 10 feet

The plane of Earth is a place of ancient traditions and old magic. Within this realm of crystalline fields and fungal caverns rest many secrets lost to time, however any who would claim them must face toxic gases, radioactive stones, and creatures both stubborn and primal.

Currency

Dolgir is filled with a bounty of precious metals and jewels, as such these things hold little value within the realm of stone. While Aetherium Shards are accepted by some merchants here, the only truly universal currencies within Dolgir are time and technique. To bargain here is to labor as an assistant to a craftsman, or to teach a new skill or technique to the one you bargain with. 

Culture and Custom

Dolgir has a reserved and respectful culture. It is a place where mastery and age hold great social value. With its rigid structure, Dolgir may seem like a place where one holds little power to change ones station, but nothing could be further from the truth. Hard labors and dutiful practice are what matter here, it is fundamentally a land of merit, but recognition is not given easily, within Dolgir one impatient mistake can undo a thousand successes. 

Treats and Entertainment

The food of Dolgir is rich and hearty, favored among its denizens are Braized Bore Worm Kabobs and Candied Citrine Carrots. Entertainment in Dolgir is mostly an affair for the strong or skilled. Wrestling matches are large spectator events that occur regularly and while they draw impressive crowds they are small compared to Dolgir’s annual craft fair, where smith and mason alike compete for the honor of creating the trophy for the next years Aether Grand Raggata. The regatta itself is an interesting prospect for the citizens of Dolgir, while they have never won the regatta, and their team receives little support or fanfare. Those who reside in Dolgir take great pride not only in the trophies they craft for the event but in the grim fact that the most dangerous leg of the race passes through Dolgir. 

Places of Importance

The Hall of Facets

Dolgrim’s great palace sits at the exact center of Dolgir. At the pinnicle of its central tower is a massive fragment of Aetherite, the light of which is refracted by the palace and focused by The Paragon Pillars in such a way as to light the entire realm from this one gleaming source.

The palace itself is surrounded by a great labyrinth of mirror-like crystals. Those who enter the labyrinth fall under its enchantment , so long as they wander its halls they shall not age, nor experience hunger or thirst. But this is no blessing, rather it is a curse, for those who cannot solve the labyrinth may not even escape it through death.

The Archos Caverns

A dark and dangerous place, the crystalline spiders and driders of these caverns are not generally welcoming to outsiders, viewing most unexpected guests as thieves. Aside from the webs of its denizens, the caverns themselves are filled with ruins and tattered tapestries from various ages and styles. It is as if every time civilization advances in this place it is violently snuffed out.

Razorgore Ravine

A trench filled with shattered ships and countless bones, for many racers in the Aether Grand Raggata this is where their lives end. This volcanic ravine is home to active lava flows, it regularly belches forth scalding water and toxic gasses, and jutting from every cavern wall are razor-sharp obsidian spears large enough to impale a dragon.

The Paragon Pillars

These massive pillars hold up the roof of the great stone chasm. Each is the first and largest example of its respective gemstone. As Dolgir expands new types of gem come into existence along with their respective pillar. No diamond pillar exists, many say that Dolgrim himself is the Dimond Paragon, given life and will.

Individuals of Note

Dolgrim, The Father of Diamonds

The lord of Dolgir, Dolgrim is a living mountain, a massive rune-carved diamond giant, he is a stoic king, diligent and attentive to the needs of his realm. He is also impossibly stubborn, it is said that his word is as diamond, unbreaking, unchanging, and eternal. He resides within The Hall of Facets, a grand palace at the heart of a winding labyrinth.

Grandmother, The First to Weave

Known to all simply as Grandmother, this entity may appear as a great spider, a kindly old woman, or anything in-between. None still live who know of a time before her, and all hold both her character and power in high regard. She is kind and often dispenses wisdom, though her advice is often cryptic. The crystalline spiders of Dolgir revere her not only because she is their matriarch, but because among them only she can weave every form of crystal-silk. While it is said that grandmother resides within a simple hut, none know its location. In truth, Grandmother is always exactly where she is needed.

Teja, The Earth Carver

The great serpent of Dolgir, Teja is cursed to eat only stone, carving out great caverns as she burrows through the depths, through her hunger Dolgir is always expanding. She is also a cunning trickster, for she hates the taste of stone, and will often try to convince travelers to walk into her belly so she might consume them. 

Items of note

Oathstone

This small stone is carved with primordial runes that read “My word is stronger than granite” 

When one utters an oath in the stone-tongue and then tosses an oath-stone upon the ground, they cannot move, or be moved from that spot until they have fulfilled their oath.

In the realm of Dolgir it is not uncommon to come upon some foolish soul who worded their oath in such a manner that it could not be fulfilled. A Break enchantment spell can free someone from their oath, but great shame forever follows an Oathbreaker within Dolgir.

Gemsilk

Spun by the crystal spider’s of Dolgir, Gemsilk is a rare and valuable material that comes in several varieties it can be woven into cloth for crafting.