- Emer (47)
- Changramai (7)
- Sel-kai (33)
- Gydal-Tyl School (7)
- Nine Sons School (10)
- Sky School (6)
- GM Only (5)
- Jaiman (9)
- Miscellaneous (3)
- Channeling (2)
- Mentalism (1)
Ruleset
Combat Styles
Spell Lists
Player Guides
Stories and Journals
- Kulas-Dar and Friends (6)
- Lazlo's Travels (4)
- The Long Night (6)
- Vroomfogle (5)
Nightwings Campaign
- Chapters (8)
- Characters (0)
- Scrolls (5)
Chapter 02 - A Fistful of Orlini
3-15-6050 - Predawn
- That evening the Nightwings bring Tasher’s unconscious body back to HQ, somehow managing to pole The Blue Drake through the dark canals with Tasher’s bloody Boat pole.
- A short period of paranoia ensues. They change their clothes and try to clean up. Tasher goes up the roof, tosses his bloody clothes off and passes out. Everyone sleeps.
- Jerig is suffering from a cut arm. While Raen healed the muscles the arm is still hurting.
Notable Sel-kai Quotes
“Nothing stinks quite like Sel-kai in summertime”
- Canaler saying
“…Why thank you mada, and you don’t look a day over one-hundred either.”
- Rylec Qaterris, Prince of Sel-kai at his 200th birthday celebration
“What’s that awful stench? Has the boat run into a clot of rotting garbage? Ah, we are merely downwind of House Alaxatan. Pole on!”
- Kyse Pharnese, Merchant Baron
“No trip too far, no fee too large.”
“If you have the gold, we know the way.”- Slogans attributed to the Navigators
Chapter 01 - The Elgata Debacle
3-13-6050
- The Nightwings hang out at the Cold Barley Soup Kitchen - Tasher arm-wrestles, Jerig and Cricket cause problems, Raen identifies targes that may have valuable healing herbs in their possession.
- Rumors of brutal murders - bodies being found that have been ripped apart.
- Cricket and Jerig pick pocket some fancily dressed Y’nar man and he seems to let them at the same time he magically (?) makes himself look like Jerig. The man had a piece of paper stating that “the holder should not be in the company of known criminals”.
- Stole some Finrot (”fang”) and Fort (”sniff”) herbs and sold them to a “Yorell”. However the bad manners of boarding Yorell’s boat without invitation bought them a favor they now owe to Shaal.
- While poling along they see someone, or something, swimming (?) in the canal. How disgusting! Sel-kai canals are definitely not for swimming.
Evyni-Dhikatis (Iy. “Noble Judge”)
It was almost 100 years ago that the Laan Jav Tharl brought the morning star to Gydal-Tyl school as a weapon to teach. Jav was a Sel-kai Tribunal Judge listening to capital offenses, the penalty for most such offenses was death. Jav got the name “Noble Judge” because his reputation of being a fair judge and regal appearance. He was not always a Judge however and had traveled many parts of Emer. His weapon of choice was the unusual morning star combined with a small buckler.
- Abilities [2 Style Points] - Morning Star [1]; Shield Bash [1]
- Talents - Control I-II; Shield Training I
These are various Styles about more secret cultures and races, or contain more obscure details about some aspects of Shadow World. By keeping players from these details allows for more in-game surprises and world flavor.
These posts have been password protected and should be for GM’s. The password is the last name of the founder of the Changramai Monastery (all lowercase). You need only enter it one post and they will all become visible.
Gydal-Throk (Er. “Hidden Guardian”)
A basic, defensive style, Gydal-Throk serves as the foundation upon which other styles are based.
- Abilities [5 Style Points] - Degree 2 Sweeps [1]; Greater Adrenal Defense [4]
- Talents - Initiative I
Saren-Kur (Er. “Blade Breaker”)
The Blade Breaker Style is so called for obvious reasons. Saren-Kur uses a staff with a medium length chain on one end that ends in a metal weight (chigiriki). The chain and staff can be used to parry and block, while the weight and chain can be used to strike the opponent or the staff used to sweep the foe of his feet.
The Chigriki gives +15 to Disarm - so the total bonus available for Disarm manuevers is the Style bonus +15
- Abilities [5 points] - Chigiriki [1]; Disarm All [4]
- Talents - Control I-III
Kurim-Eso (Er. “Broken Step”)
Broken Step Style is meant to immobolize or hold an opponent while maintaining a very defensive stance. Broken Step style also uses mental discipline to achieve attacks of incredible speed.
- Abilities [9 Style Points] - Degree 4 Sweeps, Degree 3 Locking Holds [3]; Kusari-Gama[1]; Disarm 1-H [1]; Greater Adrenal Defense [4];
- Talents - Initiative I-III; Gydal-Iku
- Gydal-Iku (”Hidden Fist”) [2] - While using Adrenal Speed with a Style that has this ability, the combatant may reduce his opponent’s DB by 10.
Vurd-Varon (Er. “Secret Claws”)
Secret Claw style utilizes two weapons - small sharpened metal razors under the fingernail for close attacks and a metal claw on a chain for distance attacks. The Flying Claw is used to ensnare a foe and throw him off balance while the Secret Claw fighter closes in and attacks with his fingernail razors.
- Abilities [4 style points] - Fingernail Razor [1]; Additional Thrown (Flying Claw) Attack [3];
- Talents - Reloading I-III
- The Reloading option refers to the thrown weapon in this style (the Flying Claw) - reducing the reloading from 60%.
Derum-Vurl (Er. “Slow Mist”)
The flowing movements of Derum-Vurl almost appear slow but the sophisticated defensive stance is very effective in attack avoidance. Punches are rarely used and instead fluid throws and kicks use the foes momentum to great effect.
- Abilities [7 Style Points] - Degree 4 Sweeps, Degree 2 Strikes, Degree 1 Locking Holds [3]; Greater Adrenal Defense [4]
- Talents - Greater Parry; Defensive Stance
The Gydal-Tyl (Er. “Hidden Hall”) School was brought to Sel-kai by Erlini immigrants though it is unsure the true origins of the fighting styles. For many years, Gydal-Tyl was taught in secret, though gradually expanded and now occupies a modest sized hall in the Library District. The School teaches more of the soft, defensive martial arts and also utilizes a variety of exotic foreign chain weapons. It is a small school with enrollment mostly made up of elves or half-elves, though they also have Shay or Laan students (from the nearby University of Kalingen).
The Styles at Gydal-Tyl are an interesting mix of unusual weapons (including several chain weapons) and soft martial arts that focuses more on defense and speed. Some new Style Abilities are used here:
Gydal-Iku (”Hidden Fist”) [10 points] - While using Adrenal Speed with a Style that has this ability, the combatant may reduce his opponent’s DB by twice his rank in the style.
Gydal-Tyl is affiliated with University of Kalingen (most notably Ægon College, a school of Mentalism) where two small guilds have formed that combine the higher learning of the University with the martial studies at Gydal-Tyl. The guilds are very small, with 5-10 in each one at any given time.
Gydal-Tyl Monks
The Monks of the Hidden Hall are purely secular in nature and can be found studying in a few of the Colleges within Kalingen in addition to Ægon College where they learn the arts of Mentalism: the College of Aldai (literature), Nalander College (history), and Woldon College (hard sciences). Gydal-Tyl Monks are Zen Monks (from the Martial Arts Companion).
Gydal-Tyl Armsmasters
The Armsmasters (Odemira in Erlini) also study at Ægon College and Gydal-Tyl. However they also tend to be more varied then the Monks, often attending classes at Nalander (history), Woldon (sciences and engineering), and Malefuge (business and trade). Gydal-Tyl teaches separate classes on military history and tactics.
Phaon’s Sword
Named after The God of the Sun and Summer, Phaon’s Sword Style uses the broadsword and is much less flashy then Sword Dancing Style instead utilizes control and speed to be a more serious style of swordplay.
- Abilities [3 pts] - Broadsword melee attack [1]; Feint [2]
- Talents - Control I-II; Initiative I-II
Flying Son
With skill the Bola can be a bane to those who wish to avoid capture. It is difficult to avoid both the stone weights and the entangling ropes. Flying Son Style perfects weapon control and seeks to entangle and down opponents prior to closing to close range.
- Abilities [1 point] - Bola Thrown Attack [1]
- Talents - Movement I-II; Control I-II
Youngest Son
The Youngest Son Style combines the common Broadsword with a small dagger for throwing in the off-hand.
- Abilities [4 points] - Long Straight Blades (longsword, broadsword) [1]; Additional Thrown Dagger Attack [3];
- Talents - None
Eighth Son
The Eighth Son Style is a simpler style than Ninth Son but uses the knowledge of vital points. It is taught before Ninth Son Style would be taught.
- Abilities [5 points] - Degree 4 Strikes, Degree 3 Nerve Strikes [3]; Lesser Adrenal Defense [2]
- Talents - Strike of the Ninth Son I-II; Precision I
Wooden Son
Incorporating some defensive manuevers with the use of the Quarterstaff, Wooden Son Style focuses on moves meant to trick and disarm opponents. With the heavy quarterstaff, Wooden Son adherents also heavily rely on strength and are able to easily attack opponents approaching from any side.
- Abilities [9 points] - Quarterstaff [1]; Lesser Adrenal Defense [2]; Feint [2]; Disarm 1-Handed [2]; All-Around Attack [2];
- Talents - Strength of Nine Sons; Fury I
Strongest Son
A heavy mace can be a devestating weapon. Students of the Strongest Son Style use pure strength to smash down those who oppose them.
- Abilities [1 points] - Mace [1]
- Talents - Initiative I-II; Precision I-II; Fury I-III; Strength of Nine Sons
Moon
The Mace can be a devestating weapon, especially in the hands of a competent fighter. Followers of Moon style wield their weapons with confidence and are taught careful control.
- Abilities [1 pt] - Mace [1]
- Talents - Initiative I-II; Control I-II
Two Moons
Two-Moons is a very unusual style, it is unknown where it’s teaching origins lie in the Sky School of Defense. It most likely comes from southern Emer and is perhaps based on techniques there and brought to Sel-kay by merchants several hundred years ago. Using two maces (The “Moons”) it is the most dangerous style taught at the Sky School.
- Abilities [4 pts] - Mace [1]; Additional Mace attack [3]
- Talents - Control I-II; Initiative I-II
Fist of Cay
Based on basic defensive moves and a mix of different unarmed techniques, Fist of Cay style serves as a good foundation for the martial arts.
- Fist of Cay [6 pts] - Degree 3 Sweeps, Degree 2 Strikes [2]; Lesser Adrenal Defense [2]; Additional Strike, Rank 1 [2]
- Talents -
Tallest Son
The Tallest Son Style is so called because of it’s use of the Pole Arm - an inconvenient weapon in a city to be sure but the Ninth Son School utilizes many different kinds of Pole Arms.
- Abilities [6 points] - Pole Arms category [4]; Lesser Adrenal Defense [2]
- Talents - Strength of Nine Sons
Son of Fury
The Son of Fury Style uses anger as a valuable weapon, though it also taught it should be rarely used. The Son of Fury can cause pure terror as the adherent is consumed by a fiery hatred and rains deadly blows upon his foes.
- Abilities [10 points] - Degree 4 Strikes, Degree 3 Sweeps [3]; Additional Strike, Degree 4 [5]; All-Around Attack [2]
- Talents - Fury I-III
Ninth Son
The style of Ninth Son is taught to only the most gifted, and loyal, of students. It is different then the other Nine Son Styles in that it focuses on speed rather then strength. One skilled in Ninth Son Style can often incapicitate someone with a lightning strike of two fingers touched to the right spot.
- Abilities [6 points] - Degree 4 Strikes, Degree 4 Nerve Strikes, Degree 3 Sweeps [4]; Lesser Adrenal Defense [2]
- Talents - Initiative I-II; Strike of the Ninth Son; Precsision I-III
Sword Dancing
Focused more on appearances and fancy looking swordplay, Sword Dancing is still notable for two reasons: it’s swashbuckling moves are good at fooling an opponent and being able to disarm them. Capable Sword Dancers can relieve novice foes of their weapons quite easily and as such it is a good defensive style for nobles to learn.
- Abilities [5 pts] - Longsword [1]; Swasbuckling [2]; Disarm 1-H Edged [2]
- Talents - Initiative I-II
Steel Son
Steel Son Style uses quick attacks but seek to keep the strength behind it. Steel Son adherents can use virtually any type of sword in this very flexible style which seeks to trick opponents in order to get in a single fast and strong hit.
- Abilities [6 pts] - Long Straight Blades (longsword, broadsword) [2]; Lesser Adrenal Defense [2]; Feint [2]
- Talents - Initiative I-III
The Nine Sons School in the Granite Knoll is almost as old as Sel-kai itself, formed by early Shay settlers. The school sat on the Nine Sons Canal much of that time but has since moved to a more spacious hall. While enrollment is open to anyone they must pass a series of tests to show decent athletic ability. The cost is kept affordable for the worker classes and the total size is small-medium (~100 students at any given time).
The Nine Sons School teaches a wide range of combat forms, both unarmed and with weapons. All types of styles taught here focus more on offense: less defense but very strong and powerful hits combined with a knowledge of vital points. There is another aspect of the Nine Sons School they are infamous for and that is the occasional use of pure rage to fuel these violent styles.
Some of the styles give access to the following talents:
- Strength of Nine Sons [10] - Adrenal Strength effects while using this style have an increase to their Strength of +10, instead of the normal +5. This amounts to a +20 OB while using Adrenal Strength rather then +10 OB. It also delivers 3x Hits instead of 2x.
- Strike of the Ninth Son I-III [5] - While under the effects of Adrenal Speed and using this style the combatant gains an additional initiative of +2 (+4 for II, +6 for III).
- Fury I-III [15] - This ability grants some immunity to stun while Frenzied. Stun effects are reduced by 1 round for Fury I, 2 rounds for Fury II, 3 rounds for Fury III.
The Sky School of Self-Defense is a prestigious martial school that caters to the wealthiest of families. Situated in the floating city of Eidolon, Sky School teaches swordplay that is as much flashy as it is effective. Basics of armed and unarmed defense are taught.
Shuaa-Dag (Ir. “Flaming Blade”)
The offensive Flaming Blade style was invented by the Lord of Teusilya. It combines knowledge of vital points with precise hit locations. It frequently uses the flat of the blade to try and subdue rather then kill. It is known to very few.
- Shuaa-Dag [6 Style Points] - Long Blades (Broadsword, Longsword, etc.) [3]; Subdual [1]; Swashbuckling [2]
- Available Talents - Greater Parry [20]; Precision I-II [20]; Initiative I-II [5]
Redcape
The Sel-kai City Wardens have always been quite effective in subduing criminals and (mostly) maintaining control in what can be a rough city. While they carry shortswords they most often use small clubs, but are also armed with short swords. (note this style allows you to use Club or Short Sword - it is NOT a two-weapon style.)
- Abilities [6 points] - Club [1]; Short Sword [1]; Subdual [1]; Disarm 1-H Edged [1]; Additional Unarmed Attack, Degree 1 [2]
- Talents - Initiative I-II
Nightblade
Primarily a group of burglars and spies, the Nightwing gang tend to use less violent methods of fighting but the dagger remains the favored weapon of many in the group. They will often use it to knock out or pummel foes when possible rather then using it for more violent attacks.
- Abilities [4 points] - Dagger melee attack [1]; Subdual [1]; Additional Unarmed Attack, Rank 1 [2]
- Talents - Initiative I-III
Luim-Este (Er. “Burning Strike”)
The Burning Strike style is taught among assassins in the secret places of the city and generally passed from Master to Student. The Burning Strike is not just limited to Sel-kai, and is used by Magents, Nightblades, and Assassins across realms. Utilizing the dagger, adherents of the Burning Strike learn vital points and master the art of a single, silent killing strike.
- Abilities [2 points] - Daggers and Knives [2]
- Talents - Precision I-III; Silent Attack +10; Ambush +10
Nightwing
When Tiery of Landars formed the Nightwing gang a few years ago he taught some gang members a unique style of fighting that he learned as a Monk of the Order of Cay. While not all members learn this fighting style enough members have to make the Nightwings be able to defend themselves in their sometimes violent surroundings.
Tiery named “his” style Nightwing and the gang name followed. It is a mostly defensive style, deliberate rather then aimed for a quick win. But quickly aimed elbow and knee hits often catch their opponent unaware.
- Abilities [7 points] - Degree 2 Striking [1]; Greater Adrenal Defense [4]; Feint [2]
- Talents - None
Golden Hand
The young Talath men that make up the Golden Hand gang fight using brass knuckles. They use them very effectively, and readily. Tending towards muggings and more violent crimes then stealthy, the Golden Hand members provoke fear in many parts of Sel-kai. The Golden Hand style uses carefully aimed punches and low kicks that quickly render their opposition immobile. Gang members use their skill to often beat foes into unconsciousness.
The Brass Knuckles act as -5 Maces.
- Abilities [11 points] - Degree 4 Striking, Degree 3 Nerve Strikes [3]; Brass Knuckles Weapon [1]; Two-weapon Combo [3]; Greater Adrenal Defense [4]
- Talents - None
Garath’s Journal - Within Tarek Nev
What the hell is Yorell even still with us for? He is just the boat we hired. I can appreciate that there must be many rare herbs that only grow in such a volcanic place, and much wealth laying around. But that’s NOT why Kelgryn and I are here in Tarek Nev. Kel needs to destroy the Urloc, or destroy his sword, or whatever. I am here to witness what is going on, and to try to, if possible, keep such evil things from becoming powerful again, thus starting huge wars all over again. That would be bad. Millions of innocent people would die. If I have a chance to contribute to the prevention of such an occurrence, it is my duty to help. Yorell, on the other hand has already gotten us into trouble with his impatient, money and power hungry attitudes. Our new friend Aroth was nearly killed when Yorell jumped into combat (which he is not very good at) instead of trying to help him in other ways that Yorell is better at, such as healing, or blinding the enemies, or casting protection spells on him.
Yorell’s Memoirs
At sea, waters flux from the movement of the land beneath, the wind against and the pull of celestial forces above. On land, life shifts and sheds as nature bestows new demands. So shall you, my son, enjoy this close marriage to the essence flows. Only with the embrace of this dynamic will you come to the wisdom of identity.
Andorn SeaDrake to his son Yorell 5905 TE
My earliest memories of my childhood were of greeting the morning on a beach along the Bay of Ulor. My father and I watched the sun rise and then he would expect me to study the primer he had given me. That primer taught how to manipulate and control the essence flows around me. I grew in my proficiency quickly. I would use the flow to complete simple tasks such as raising the sails of our sloop or tying off ropes. Unfortunately there something inside me that tapped the flows directly. At times I drew in too much energy and it would explode around me. My father, through my life, helped me learn to control my energy reception, as much as possible, but for the rest of my life I would periodically have the problem of overdrawing the essence flows.
Tarek Nev
The day is overcast. The interior of Tarek Nev is oppressive. The living wall is silent and the Solaviers that shoot their deadly bolts are now as still as statues. You all wonder if the Demon Gate is as adept at keeping things inside the city as it is as keeping things out. The interior is in ruins. Some buildings remain intact but others are completely in shambles, unrecognizable as to what their original purpose was. Shadows are everywhere, moving in erratic motions.
Aranmor
Kelgryn sits on the beach looking intently at the orb in his hand. Inside the orb, in a translucent, azure liquid, floats the disembodied finger. The finger, slightly bent inward, swivels due south as the elf moves the sphere across his hand. When he holds it steady, the grotesque appendage uncoils stiffly in the appointed directed, as if to convey the sense of urgency from its lost owner. Kelgryn moves his hair locks behind his right ear. The newly formed ear has reached its normal size but the skin coloring still appears bleached against the Erlini’s olive complexion. Gryk is next to Kelgryn digging for a half buried shell in the sand. The ape suddenly loses interest, stops and jumps upon Kelgryn’s back. Kelgryn’s forlorn look breaks a slight smile. “Yes, I too am glad our stay here is ending. But I am still unsure how long our journey with the half human and the Lokaran will continue.”
The Long Night was my first campaign in Shadow World…sort of. It started in my own world but as I read more SW material the more I liked it and my world ended up morphing into Shadow World.
We started with Demons of the Burning Night but also used material from Jaiman and elements of the Grand Campaign.
While we started with 5 players, it turned into three: Kelgryn Dal’shrek of Urulan, Garath Talon’kara a retired Changramai warrior, and Yorell “The Seadrake”. It is their picture that is on the front page of this website.
It was an epic campaign that unfortunately ended before it’s time.
There is a lot more material: stories and journals that I have yet to post. Stay tuned.
The Seadrake in Danarchis
From the deck of the royal galleon Neela’s Favor, the new ruler of Danarchis, King Sephron, watched the descent of the sun beyond the horizon. Amongst the sun’s orange path over the waves, hundreds of fishing yachts trailed their nets behind them searching for hidden schools. War galleys, flying the Danarchan crest, drifted along the perimeter of the fishing fleet. The day had been a hot one and the crew appeared relieved at the cooling of dusk. Sitting lackadaisically at their posts, three sailors held sail lines and passed a decanter of Sel kai rum outside the view of the royal entourage. The crew and the royal servants slumped from heat and fatigue and either sat on crates or leaned against portions of the ship. A bard, who sat on the bow ramp, played his reed pipes quietly, keeping time with the rhythm of the waves.
My first time playing Rolemaster I was a kid and played in a adventure with my brother as GM and all his friends. It started with all of us having amnesia and finding ourselves shackled together on a beach. It was a great time trying to survive all the while figuring out who we really were and what we could do.
I tried to recapture some of that experience by running a version of the adenture myself. Keeping the pieces I could remember I generated all the characters and when we sat down to play I watched their faces as I handed out character sheets that were all blank but names. A campaign was born.
It was my second year at RIT and we’d sign the [photographic] studio out for a night and play RM - everyone was new to Rolemaster but they took the switch (from D&D) and never looked back.
The Bishop Lazlo Bennington made his appearance then with his bodyguard the Paladin Schlaade, along with the half-ogres Maul and Remonoga Gwackmung, Jason Ferency the Mage and the mysterious elf, Silk.
Vroomfogle was a player of mine that originally appeared in a campaign on the world Landrin. It was a very unsual campaign that was both silly and fun. Here are several bizarro stories written by the various group members and the GM. At first there was Lord Mythalnorin, Malvidicus the Damned, and Vroomfogle but later it was just the unstoppable duo, Malvidicus and Vroomfogle.
Abandon all hope if you delve into these twisted tales. The best of the lot is “The Bloated Catfish”. Read it, if you dare.
Janos’ Journal
I have been on the road with this group for a couple of weeks now. For the most part all has gone well. The report you requested on the group members is as follows…
Bad News for Silk
“OK folks let’s be real careful”, the Bishop Lazlo Bennington warned as the group of adventurers peared into the large hall. Many stone pillars, in rows, reached to the ceiling twenty five feet above. The air was cold on musty, for they were far underground. The pillars were decorated with symbols, which were not discernable from a distance. There was no sign nor sound of movement, except for the grunting breaths of the two gargantuan figures that stood to the left and right of the party.
The Gwackmung Tavern
It was aproaching late afternoon when Dalf got his first look at the city of Toreen. After three weeks of trudging barefoot through the Worldsedge mountains his muscles ached with every forward step and the sight of civilization he let out a huge sigh and crashed to the ground to rebandage his wounded feet. As he tore up the last of his cloak for bandages the scent of cooking meats and breads stuck him in his empty stomach like a giant fist.
With the storm…
Black clouds boiled on the horizon. The wind, which had been a pleasant spring breeze only moments before, ferociously whipped his hair and stung his eyes. As King Treebreaker adjusted his purple wig, he looked at the approaching thunderheads with increasing unease. Is this the storm that the wise ones fortold? He absentmindedly plucked a roach from his ear and ate it. Pink lightning laced the edges of the clouds, and the thunder seemed to sound like it was echoing across his consoiusness. It rattled his pointed teeth, and made his jewelry jingle. The storm moved ever closer. It seemed to even command the ground to tremble. THUD! THUD! THUD!
Deathreaper
It was a dark and stormy night and as the rain pelted the thick stone walls of the decaying fortress Deathreaper stared blankly into the large gem he was holding. Lightning flashed outside and as the thunder rumbled down the long empty coridors the gem began to glow with a pale green light. This was the time of reckoning for the leader of the death goblins. All of his warriors had been slain and he was the last goblin alive in a world of aliens far more violent than any he had encountered in his two-hundred years as master of the deathgoblins.
The Bloated Catfish
A young boy sat on the wharf, fishing well into the night. His luck had been bad recently. Actually, that is a major understatement. His parents were killed in a shipwreck, the house burnt down when he tried to cook dinner on his own, and he lost one of his shoes just a minute ago as it sunk into the lake. He had been surviving by catching a few fish and trading them for other goods at the marketplace. The last few days he had not caught anything. His stomach growled with contempt.
Arto-beela-choota
Arto-beela-choota the assassin crept silently through the underbrush. His black silk jumpsuit rustled silently as he stalked the slim elven woodsman as he picked his way towards the valley that the small green creatures had fled to. He had been searching for the home of the little green people for nearly a month now but things were not going well at all untill the other night when he overheard the elf saying that he knew the location of the “goblin” village. Arto snapped back into reality as his back spines rasped against a tree and realized that the elf had stoped moving and was whispering into the forest in front of him.
The Void
The void was a formless, timeless experience. In that void, known to most as the abyss, wandered many souls, one of which was particularly dark.That soul wandered aimlessly, it’s past a vague dream. The abyss was not a place of fire nor a wasteland of ice. It was simply darkness. Darkness occasionally lit up by memories that come in flashes. For this particular spirit, pools of fire and howling demons would have been more welcome than this. This hell here was eternal. An eternity of jealousy and rage, for here he completely lacked the one thing which mattered at all to him. Power. And so he wandered and his jealousy of the living grew and grew. Powerless,the dark spirit raged for untold yeas. Memories of life occasionally lit up the black void, but vanished just as quickly as they came. Memories of faces, lands and battles. But most often memories of a single object. A crown. Sometimes the dark spirit felt another entity nearby in the void. Close by, but never in contact. The spirit knew that this entity was related to the visions of the crown, somehow.
“Patience…”, the entity would communicate. This was the only communication that the spirit ever had with another consciousness in the void. It was this shred of hope that the spirit clung too for a seemingly endless amount of time…
Rebirth
Melgrin was lost. He had traveled farther from the caravan than this in the past, and always found his way back. But this time he had somehow gotten totally turned around. His father was going to punish certainly this time. He had already been gone eight hours. Melgrin was scared, but not because of the possible punishment. In less than an hour it would be dark, and the desert was a terribly cold place at night. Hunger gnawed at his stomach. There were also the nasty creatures that came out at night to deal with. He began to run. Melgrin ran until his lungs burned, and he dropped to his knees. The panic subsided slowly. He buried his head in his hands for a few minutes, and got his breathing under control. Finally, he got to his feet and surveyed the area. Sand for miles. Actually hundreds of miles he thought. That was when he spotted it.
Falnor’s Journal
Awoke this morning to find myself shackled to a group of five other people. None of us seem to have any recollection of who we are, or what we are doing here together, but any one of them could easily be faking the amnesia.
The Death of Karn
The graveyard virtually pulsed with malignant energy. A dark rain began to fall at midnight, while a lone, black-hooded figure stood before a tombstone. The stone read ” Master of silent death….. KARN”. If one was so inclined to get close enough, a low mumbling could be heard coming from the figure. Not in any language that most mortal peoples could understand. It gave the impression of the utmost evil. Thunder crashed louder as a black mist began to envelop the tombstone. The figure’s chanting grew louder as if to compete with the sky’s thunder. As the chanting grew to a crecendo, the black mist swirled faster and faster around the grave. The wind whipped the figure’s hood back, to display a face that would send any normal man running and screaming! It was the face of a dead man. No flesh remained on the skull. Only a bit of muscle and tendon held it together. But the most impressive sight was the bejeweled crown that perched on top the skull. Very few have seen it and lived. A red light glowed in the eye sockets. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the black mist congealed into a distinguishable form: that of a man. It only appeared as a shadow, but the first figure recognized it easily.
“Your service is required once again. And this time you cannot refuse!” the crowned mage proclaimed. He then began to laugh. The laughter seemed to amplify itself a hundred times over. It echoed throughout the graveyard, and even the rest of the city was awakened by this unnerving sound. Later, they would not be able to say what had awakened them. The mage spoke to the shadow form before him: ” You shall be my private assassin. In the form of “The Shadow” you will do my bidding. I have a task for you. Come, I will reintroduce you to some old friends……… HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA Ha Ha ha ha…”
The Death of Falnor
From the corner of his eye Falnor watched the crown roll slowly to a halt at Kulas’ feet. In the dim light he could see the tiny bits of hair and tissue still stuck to Zarofs crown, much of it he knew was his own. It had all happened so fast that his shattered mind couldn’t comprehend why the power was not his and why it had not shattered Kulas’ body as it had his. In his last moments of life Falnor watched as his dark skinned companion was wreathed in a shroud of black lightning that stripped his skin from his bones and left him a bloody servant of death. Falnors last thought was “It should have been mine, the power should have been mine…”.
At that moment a lash of black energy struck him and he faded into death. The deamon thrashed and screamed at the powers unleashed by the lich that had forced him into this pittiful world. Suddenly the flow of energy’s changed and the lich was forcing him down into a twisted human form on the dirt floor of the chamber. There was a circle of flesh missing from the bearded humans head and a pile of arrows spread out around it in a pool of dried blood. The daemon roared with rage as it fought the lichs’ power but then it made contact with the dead human and its mind was destroyed in a flash. After what seemed an eternity of darkness Falnor saw a spark of light heading towards him through the void. The light squirmed and twisted away from him but with every passing moment it floated closer until he could make out a vague humanoid form within the light. As the ball of light struck him he was torn from the world of darkness and slammed into a body that was not quite his own anymore. When he looked down with his new eyes he saw that his black skinned hands ended in six inch tallons and his arms were much stronger than he could remember. When he looked up he almost didn’t recognize his old companion Kulas Dar with his staff and his black robes and burning eyes.
“Welcome back to the world of the dead Falnor, you seem to have lost some weight during the change. Come we have much planning to do to reunite the rest of our friends in death.”
Sailor of Shaal (Priest Base List)
This List if for special Priests of Shaal. Priests of Shaal are often times very skilled sailors, as they spend most of their time at sea or close to the sea. This lists strengthen the skill of the priest, enabling him at higher levels to sail a fairly large boat by himself. It also aids in protecting the boat from unwanted visitors. It also requires that the sailor intimately know every piece of the ship. This requirement utilizes the second level spell on this list which is similar to the Familiar spell. The boat itself is NOT like a familiar however. There is no mental communication, the boat is inanimate! It does however enable the priest to use his magic to manipulate his ‘familiar’ ship. Likewise, there is no penalty associated with the loss of a ship, though anyone having this list is probably a fanatic seamen who almost surely would feel some depression from such a loss. Unless noted otherwise, all references to ‘caster’s ship’ on this list mean that a ship that currently is a ‘Ship of Shaal’ from the second level spell.
Curses of Shaal (Priest Base List)
This List if for special Priests of Shaal. Shaal, the God of Water and the Ocean, is well known for his temper and the little concern he has for affairs on land. This special List if designed to bring Shaal’s retribution upon those that mean harm to the sea and the creatures in it. This List is