tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-89827158741289858672024-03-26T23:35:36.230-07:00Southlands ProjectArevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8982715874128985867.post-65670081163157000002012-05-11T19:47:00.002-07:002012-05-14T15:45:23.684-07:00A slight change<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
After thinking things over and doing some calculations, I've decided to give <a href="http://southlandsproject.blogspot.com/2010/08/races-turehu.html">turéhu</a> a climb speed and switch up their skill bonuses a bit. Because it just makes sense.<br />
<br />
That said, keep in mind that until I've actually got the text of the book into some sort of order, the material here is subject to change. </div>Arevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8982715874128985867.post-33217669990923931422012-04-10T17:34:00.000-07:002012-04-10T17:34:26.025-07:00Just a minor update, to let everyone know I'm still alive<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This blog may or may not be moving to another provider (Dreamwidth and/or Wordpress, most likely) in the near future. When I make a decision, I'll announce it.<br />
<br />
I've got an idea for the style in which the official book will be written. That <i>is</i> going to mean doing a bit more research. But once I've got the basic idea puzzled out, and gotten a few reference sketches compiled, I may just be able to officially start getting the ball rolling.<br />
<br />
That said: the blessing of asking relatives for concept sketches is that they'll usually work for free. The <i>curse</i> of asking relatives is that there's not much you can do if they decide to be flaky. </div>Arevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8982715874128985867.post-57921954306700226092012-03-16T18:51:00.000-07:002024-03-25T23:51:08.256-07:00Bonus post: Téku-milkshake-duck<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This was originally a memorial post. In the face of certain details that have come to light: I no longer feel comfortable commemorating that individual.<br /></div>Arevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8982715874128985867.post-21270532528038459652012-01-31T21:34:00.000-08:002012-01-31T21:34:00.179-08:00Bonus post: DunDraCon!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Yeah, I know; it's been way too long since I've updated. But this year at <a href="http://www.dundracon.com/">DunDraCon</a>, I will be running a Southlands Pathfinder adventure!<br /><br />I've run a couple of D&D games with the same basic concept, but have decided to do something different this year. Still working out the exact details, though...</div>Arevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8982715874128985867.post-55927613327891127462011-08-27T12:00:00.000-07:002011-08-27T12:00:03.693-07:00Another (brief) delay.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">So here, to hold you over for the time being, are a <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?p4migul4g1okr0s">character sheet</a> and a <a href="http://www.mediafire.com/?8ltbcd0jp0h27te">spell record sheet</a>, both of my own devising, for Pathfinder. They're still something of a work in progress, but should be functional nonetheless. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Personal use only, please. Thank you!</span></div>Arevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8982715874128985867.post-59984941651008065742011-08-13T00:00:00.000-07:002011-08-13T00:00:05.048-07:00Clerics of the Southlands<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The faiths of the Tirin Peninsula are diverse, and the enmities and allegiances between them are many.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">While divine spellcasters and spiritual leaders certainly exist within the Dellumean tribes, most are not clerics as such. <br />
<br />
In Kalretia, faith is as divided as the culture. Amareth and Ki'ahaara command the most reverence among the civilized islanders. In the swamps, by contrast, worship—or at least lip service—is most commonly paid to Juratei. <br />
<br />
The faiths in Ta'Araen are incredibly diverse. Some clerics pay homage to deities found nowhere else. It is unknown whether their magic is provided by the greater deities, or if they have actually tapped into divine sparks that have not yet been fully stoked. <br />
<br />
Ravana dominates Tahvaair. While Dejunath has a small but loyal following, no other cult has been able to assert itself in the face of the Tyrant's. <br />
<br />
The churches of Surya and Sulaudhra are the most common, or at least the most widely acknowledged, among the human population in Velakhura. The turéhu usually follow Khernos or Arevashti.</div></div>Arevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8982715874128985867.post-49515287749452912302011-08-03T00:29:00.000-07:002011-08-03T00:29:57.662-07:00Still out here.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Life got in the way. Additionally, I've actually been attempting to knuckle down, finalize some game-mechanical details, and work out some of the finer points of geography and culture for the Tirin Peninsula. <br />
<br />
But unless something really silly happens, count on a new official entry by no later than next Saturday.</div>Arevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8982715874128985867.post-78783593867899129662011-06-02T22:28:00.000-07:002011-06-06T20:25:31.255-07:00Sorry for the delay.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Real life reared its not-so-ugly (this time, anyway) head. Rest assured that the project is still in the works.</span></div></div>Arevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8982715874128985867.post-14587346921267874312011-02-09T15:32:00.000-08:002011-02-09T23:15:21.487-08:00Oh, no, not another bonus post...and possibly controversial this time!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ideally, this project will see publication within the next year or so. And so, ideally, I'll eventually be needing illustrations. And I've come to the realization that a certain common trope of the fantasy art genre could open up quite the can of wiggly worms.<br />
<br />
So consider yourself forewarned. <br />
<a name='more'></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The trope to which I'm referring is the notorious chainmail bikini—or, in a more general sense, the strong tendency towards gratuitous cheesecake in fantasy art (game art included). Because the target market is presumed to be made up primarily of young (and mostly single) men, female characters tend to be designed mainly as eye candy: pretty, curvaceous, and scantily clad, with any "armor" appearing more ornamental than protective. Male characters, on the other hand, are designed to look tough and dynamic, and generally show a lot less skin.<br />
<br />
Now, this journal is not about the social implications of gender in gaming. If you want that, I can <a href="http://gomakemeasandwich.blogspot.com/">name</a> a <a href="http://cerise.theirisnetwork.org/">few</a> <a href="http://geekfeminism.org/">sites</a> <a href="http://borderhouseblog.com/">for</a> <a href="http://www.lake-desire.com/newgameplus/">you</a>. I'm not even in complete agreement with everything that you'll find on those sites: For example, considering how overall badass the female iconics are, I'm reluctant to call gender-fail on Paizo over <a href="http://paizo.com/image/product/secondary/Pathfinder/Pathfinder2_Sorceress03.jpg">the way Seoni dresses</a>. However, I feel that it's better that this issue is discussed sooner rather than later.<br />
<br />
Am I here to state definitively that you'll never see skimpy outfits in any product of mine? No. But I will certainly never seriously attempt to fob off a pin-up wearing little but glorified jewelry as an armored warrior.</div></div>Arevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8982715874128985867.post-29649563819027806592011-01-15T12:00:00.000-08:002011-01-16T18:20:13.494-08:00Bards of the Southlands<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Bards in the Southlands are as diverse as they are versatile.<br />
<br />
In Dellumea, tribal skalds keep histories and legends alive. In Kalretia, a reliable courier is often needed—by islander and swamper alike—to carry messages between the islands. In Tahvaair, a neutral party is often needed to negotiate between rival nobles or those seeking allegiances. The bards of Ta'Araen and Velakhura may be entertainers, messengers, spies, or any combination of the above. </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div>Arevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8982715874128985867.post-76347766492142974052010-12-18T12:00:00.000-08:002011-01-11T16:31:34.295-08:00Barbarians of the Southlands<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">When most people of the Southlands hear the word "barbarian," they inevitably think of the tribal peoples of Dellumea. While many Dellumeans do take up the path of rage and power, they are not the only ones.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">In Taahvaair, the half-ahvaiyru feiyin typically serve as warriors of varying kinds. Whether they are janissaries in the ahvaiyru armies or gladiators in the arena, fighting is often a way of life for these half-breeds. While some gladiators fight with skill or cunning, there are those who channel their anger and frustration at their captors into a powerful fighting form.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Barbarians also exist among the swampers who call Kalretia home. These powerful warriors face the harsh environment head on rather than learning to cooperate with it as rangers and druids do. Among the pirates and scoundrels that raid on the Velakhuran coast, there are a number of them who display astonishing power and incredible ferocity in their attacks on other ships. In Ta'araen, there is a saying that goes "You can accomplish more with a big stick and a kind word than you can with a kind word alone." However, there are some in that country who forgo the kind word altogether and simply wield very big sticks.</div>Arevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8982715874128985867.post-81352561071228600042010-11-27T12:00:00.000-08:002010-11-27T12:00:02.003-08:00Ki'vali aren't orcs.<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">They're the "stouts" of the setting, and should have something of a "proud warrior race" feel going on. But they're not orcs.<br />
<br />
Apsuri aren't halflings. Nor are they gnomes. The way that they look—or rather, the way that they <i>used</i> to look before I changed some details—was slightly influenced by hobbit knock-offs created by an author I don't even particularly like. But that's about it.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ahvaiyru are not elves, although they may be something of a deconstruction. Neither are turéhu, although one could probably stretch a point and call them wakyambi.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Tíraleth are...well, they're just purposely weird.<br />
<br />
And yes, I did decide to elaborate somewhat upon the subject matter <a href="http://southlandsproject.blogspot.com/2010/08/bonus-post-three-bog-standard-fantasy.html">here</a>. </div>Arevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8982715874128985867.post-54444712296352783382010-11-20T12:00:00.000-08:002010-11-27T11:09:40.700-08:00*Cue Portal Theme Song*<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm still alive, and I certainly haven't run out of ideas. However, compiling my ideas into a presentable format is proving a slightly bigger task than I'd predicted.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Rest assured that there will be new material here in the near future.</span>Arevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8982715874128985867.post-37774574450290218372010-11-06T12:00:00.000-07:002010-11-07T00:37:31.905-07:00Velakhura<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Velakhura makes up most of the eastern coast of the Tirin Peninsula, sharing borders with both Ta'Araen and Tahvaair. It takes its name from a human tribe that migrated north from Dellumea, from whence most of its human inhabitants are descended.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Much of Velakhura is forested or mountainous, making travel by foot or by the usual conveyances dangerous or impossible in some regions. Crops and livestock tend to be those that thrive in the shade or on hillsides. The native turéhu, with whom the humans have a truce, have the final say on logging and quarrying throughout most of the nation.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Velakhura's capital city, Martauthri, is also its main seaport. Any rumors that the King of Velakhura—who was also among the nation's founders—has extended his lifespan by way of necromancy should be ignored as the basest slander.</span>Arevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8982715874128985867.post-73321213785470474862010-10-28T00:52:00.000-07:002010-11-05T08:33:11.926-07:00Tahvaair<span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">Tahvaair, to the west of Ta'Araen, is ruled by an unknown number of ahvaiyru families; all non-ahvaiyru in Tahvaair are slaves of one clan or another. These clans are known to feud amongst themselves</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;"> in a manner said to be all the more vicious for being so genteel. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">Of more concern to outsiders, however, are regular sorties </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;"> against neighboring Ta'Araen, </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">by the ahvaiyru and their feiyin janissaries, in attempts to annex parts of it. </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">As diplomatic relations and legitimate trade with Tahvaair are nonexistent, little else is known.</span>Arevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8982715874128985867.post-23939701578384981342010-10-16T12:00:00.000-07:002010-10-16T15:31:20.539-07:00Ta'Araen<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Ta'Araen is the most diverse, and in many ways the most cosmopolitan, nation in the Tirin Peninsula. Most of its human denizens are the descendants of several different tribes known collectively as Tirins, and the vestiges of many distinct cultures still survive. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Approximately half of the nation—centered roughly around the capital, Araenkeep—is given over to farming. Further south, along the border mountains that separate the peninsula from Dellumea, mining for various metals predominates. The remainder of the nation is prairie and light forest. Here, due to all-too-frequent attacks from Tahvaair, there are few settlements aside from military garrisons.</span>Arevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8982715874128985867.post-4392836672163978602010-10-07T20:18:00.000-07:002010-10-07T20:21:04.217-07:00Kalretia<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Kalretia (or, more formally, the Kalretian Archipelago) is located to the northeast of the Tirin Peninsula. Its thirteen islands have approximately the same total area as Ta'Araen.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">The true natives of the islands are apsuri and lizardfolk. But in recent generations, humans from a northern continent have established a colony on the largest island. As a result, two distinct major cultures have sprung up: "Islanders," centered around the main seaport on the largest island, are primarily influenced by the human colonists; "swampers," denizens of the brackish swamps of the northeastern islands, are primarily influenced by the apsuri.</div>Arevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8982715874128985867.post-69762649975244828872010-09-18T12:00:00.002-07:002010-09-23T02:29:42.792-07:00Dellumea<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Tirin Peninsula is separated from the rest of the southern continent by a steep and treacherous mountain range. Few safe passes exist through these mountains.<br />
<br />
While the tundras and boreal forests that lie beyond may have any number of names among their inhabitants, most of the Tirin Peninsula knows the land only as Dellumea. It's the home of tribal humans—some friendly and some much less so—wild beasts, and things largely unknown in the Tirin Peninsula.</span></div>Arevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8982715874128985867.post-6872484711207078042010-09-04T12:00:00.000-07:002010-10-07T20:19:24.723-07:00Pantheon of the Tirin Peninsula<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Amareth, called Dame Justice, is the goddess of justice and righteousness. Her symbol is the couatl, and her favored weapon is the bastard sword.<br />
<br />
Arevashti, called the Ancient Mother, is the primal over-goddess, said by some to represent the world or even the universe. Her symbol is the ouroboros (the serpent that devours its own tail), and her favored weapon is the quarterstaff.<br />
<br />
The Dagger in the Night, whose true name name has been forgotten, is the god of murder and treachery. His symbol is a dagger—his favored weapon—that drips with blood or venom.<br />
<br />
Dejunath, called the Magelord, is the god of magic and invention. His symbol is an ornate wand, and his favored weapon is the crossbow.<br />
<br />
Eresh, called the Reaver, is a deity of random mass destruction. Its symbol is a tearing claw, and its favored weapon the morningstar.<br />
<br />
Ertrael, called the Plague, is the god of the less gentle side of nature. His symbol is a wolf’s skull, and his favored weapon the scythe.<br />
<br />
Juratei, called Lady Luck, is the goddess of good fortune, the wind, and the sea, and said to be the patron deity of the apsuri. Her symbol is a scallop shell, and her favored weapon the trident.<br />
<br />
Khernos, called the Stag Father, is the god of the wild and the hunt, said to be Ertrael's more pleasant twin. His symbol is a leaping stag, and his favored weapon the spear.<br />
<br />
Ki’Ahaara, called the Fierce Mother, is the goddess of protection, said to be the patron deity of the ki’vali. Her symbol is a shield marked with a double-bladed axe, and her favored weapon the greataxe.<br />
<br />
Ravana, called the Tyrant, is the god of domination and conquest. His symbol is the crown, and his favored weapon the whip.<br />
<br />
Skatha, called the Warqueen, is the goddess of luck in battle. Her symbol is the falchion, which is also her favored weapon.<br />
<br />
Sulaudhra, called the Lady of Dreams, is the goddess of sleep, dreams, and peaceful death. Her symbol is a cat’s eye, and her favored weapon the unarmed strike.<br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Surya, called the Lord of Light, is the obligatory sun god and the consort of Sulaudhra. His symbol is the sunburst, and his favored weapon the mace.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Question for the readers:</b> Any comments, complaints, or suggested additions?</span></div>Arevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8982715874128985867.post-1026075404182301022010-08-29T16:29:00.000-07:002011-02-09T15:33:34.706-08:00Bonus Post Three: Bog-Standard Fantasy Bogs Down Fantasy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">As most if not all of you will have noticed by now: The Tirin Peninsula is not the standard Tolkienian (or Gygaxian) fantasy setting. Unless you're house-ruling, you're not going to find elves, dwarves, orcs, gnomes, or halflings here. <br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Now, mind you, this wasn't always the case. But the more I thought about it, the more it seemed to me that the standard fantasy setting came with altogether too much baggage. For all that writers may go out of their way to put a twist on the standard, there are stereotypes attached to just about every aspect of it: Elves must behave this way, orcs must behave that way, and nothing can be any too far removed from the works of Tolkien. If the rules get bent too far, the readers complain—or jump to conclusions based on how things are in <i>The Lord of the Rings</i>.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Long story short? Although I know that you can't really blame the setting for what the readers infer, I didn't want that baggage or those stereotypes. And I <i>really</i> didn't want people jumping to Middle Earth-based conclusions about the Tirin Peninsula, because the Tirin Peninsula is not Middle Earth. It's also probably best not to presume that what applies to medieval Europe (or some idealization or exaggeration thereof) necessarily applies to the Tirin Peninsula, either.</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I'm aware that, in light of this, it may be a bit odd that I intend to make it Pathfinder-compatible. Pathfinder, after all, is a D&D spin-off with a loosely Tolkienian core setting. But it’s also got three strong points in its favor: The basic rules are open content (meaning that I won't have to pay any fees or get written permission to use them). I'm sufficiently familiar with the system to write for it with some degree of confidence. And last but not least, it saves me the (tremendous) hassle of designing my own system.</div></div></div>Arevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8982715874128985867.post-22032134344621864432010-08-21T12:00:00.000-07:002012-05-11T16:25:00.551-07:00Races: The Turéhu<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Turéhu</b> are short, wiry, and long-limbed, with large pointed ears and semi-prehensile tufted tails. Their skin is medium brown with a gold sheen to it; their slit-pupiled eyes are usually green, blue, or violet. Their hair tends to be autumn-leaf hues—from red-black to white-gold—or shades of green.<br />
</span></div>
<ul style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<li><span style="font-size: small;">+2 Dexterity, +2 Wisdom; -2 Constitution.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Medium: Turéhu are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Turéhu have a base land speed of 30 feet and a climb speed of 20 feet.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Fey: Turéhu are fey, not humanoids. This grants them low-light vision, proficiency with all simple weapons, and immunity to spells which only affect humanoids (such as <span style="font-style: italic;">charm person</span>).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Woodland-Dweller: Turéhu receive a +2 racial bonus to Acrobatics and Survival checks.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Keen Senses: Turéhu receive a +2 racial bonus to Perception skill checks. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Damage Reduction: Turéhu have damage reduction 5/cold iron.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Weapon Proficiency: Turéhu receive the Martial Weapon proficiency feats for the longbow and shortbow, and treat any weapon with “fey” in its name as a martial weapon.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Automatic Languages: Turéhu begin play speaking Sylvan and Draconic.</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b>Challenge for the readers:</b> Turéhu are another race of "not-elves" with which I find myself needing a bit of cultural help. They're forest-dwellers who count a lot of rangers and druids among their number, if that gives anyone any ideas. And while they're not actively hostile, they're territorial. (For the record: I had the idea before James Cameron did, I can prove it, and they're barely more than half the height.) </span></div>
</div>Arevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8982715874128985867.post-4935967802955064082010-08-14T12:00:00.000-07:002010-11-27T11:09:40.702-08:00Bonus post the second!<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", serif;">I've recently gotten back preliminary sketches for some art commissioned for the project. And while I <i>really</i> wish that I were better at descriptions, I certainly can't fault the skill of the artist.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", serif;">Also, I've got another question for the readers: languages! As it stands at the moment, ki'vali have their own language, apsuri speak Aquan, and the fey races speak Draconic. I'm wondering if this should change. (Humans, by the way, will have access to several regional languages.) And as far as tíraleth starting languages go, I'm not even sure what to do with that.</span></span>Arevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8982715874128985867.post-54068482743714894082010-08-07T12:00:00.000-07:002010-08-10T03:51:54.809-07:00Races: The Tíraleth<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", serif;">The </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", serif;">tíraleth</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", serif;"> claim descent from the ancient hero Talyll, who was said to be the champion of the war goddess and to have the blood of both fey and dragons. They are sleekly muscled and fairly tall, with skin that is marked with between three and five bright colors. Their ears are pointed, their eyes—which are usually primary-hued—have three to seven pupils, and their hair is dark at the roots, light at the tips, and usually red or red-tinged.</span></span><br />
<ul style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", serif;">+2 Dexterity, +2 Charisma. Tíraleth are agile, and tend to have forceful personalities and exotic good looks.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", serif;">Medium: Tíraleth are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", serif;">Normal Speed: Tíraleth have a base speed of 30 feet.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", serif;">Darkvision: Tíraleth can see in the dark up to 60 feet. </span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", serif;">Low-Light Vision: Tíraleth can see twice as far as a human in conditions of dim light.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", serif;">Observant: Tíraleth receive a +2 racial bonus to Perception skill checks.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", serif;">Weapon Proficiency: Tíraleth are proficient with falchions and scimitars.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", serif;">Sun’s Fury: As barbarian rage, with the following modifications: May be used for a number of rounds per day equal to 2 + the tíraleth’s Constitution modifier. The tíraleth’s increased body heat in Sun’s Fury adds +1 fire damage to unarmed attacks; opponents who make unarmed attacks against a tíraleth in Sun’s Fury take one point of fire damage per attack. The tíraleth receives a +2 circumstance bonus to Intimidate checks while Sun’s Fury is active. Sun’s Fury does not give a tíraleth without barbarian levels access to rage powers; however, a tíraleth barbarian may choose to add the effects of Sun’s Fury to his class-granted rages as a rage power.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", serif;">Fire resistance 5.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", serif;">Cold Vulnerability: Tíraleth suffer a -1 racial penalty to saving throws against cold effects and a -1 penalty to fortitude saves against damage from cold environments.</span></span></li>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></ul><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", serif;">The tíraleth are my oldest race concept; as such, they've had the most work put into them. As you might be able to tell, there's </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C%C3%BA_Chulainn"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", serif;">some Celtic mythological inspiration</span></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", serif;">.</span></span><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", serif;">Question for the readers:</span></span></b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", serif;"> What I really need here is </span></span><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", serif;">Pathfinder</span></span></i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia", "Times New Roman", serif;">-geek help: How's the balance on Sun's Fury as a racial ability? Any suggested tíraleth-specific feats (or even tíraleth-specific barbarian rage powers)?</span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div>Arevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8982715874128985867.post-6943321683750423802010-08-05T12:00:00.001-07:002010-08-05T22:40:21.327-07:00Races: The Ahvaiyru<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The <b>ahvaiyru</b>, haughty fey rulers of the western lands of the Tirin Peninsula, are tall and almost attenuated in build, with delicate, angular facial features, long pointed ears, and a pair of short, feathery antennae. Their skin is ivory, with a silvery sheen to it; their hair is either black or pale blond; and their eyes—which have slitted, feline pupils—are gray, amber, or violet.</span></div><ul style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">+2 Dexterity, +2 Intelligence, +2 Charisma; -2 Constitution. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Medium: Ahvaiyru are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Normal speed: </span><span style="font-size: small;">Ahvaiyru </span><span style="font-size: small;">have a land speed of 30 feet.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Fey: </span><span style="font-size: small;">Ahvaiyru </span><span style="font-size: small;">are fey, not humanoids. This grants them low-light vision, proficiency with all simple weapons, and immunity to spells which only affect humanoids (such as charm person).</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Canny: </span><span style="font-size: small;">Ahvaiyru </span><span style="font-size: small;">receive a +2 racial bonus to Bluff, Sense Motive, and Perception skill checks.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Weapon Proficiency: </span><span style="font-size: small;">Ahvaiyru </span><span style="font-size: small;">treat any weapon with “fey” in its name as a martial weapon. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Hypnotism</i>: Three times per day, as a caster of class level. Save DC is Charisma-based.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Spell Resistance: </span><span style="font-size: small;">Ahvaiyru </span><span style="font-size: small;">possess spell resistance equal to 5 + their class levels.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Damage Reduc<span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">tion: </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">Ahvaiyru </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">have damage reduction 5/cold iron.</span></span></li>
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<li><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">Automatic Languages: </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">Ahvaiyru </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">begin play speaking Draconic.</span></span></li>
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></ul><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">Challenge for the readers:</span></b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;"> Help me build ahvaiyru culture! What I've got so far is that they tend to be meticulous, flamboyant, competitive, urbane, and meaner than rattlesnakes. But although—as you might have guessed from that description—any number of </span><a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheFairFolk"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">less-than-pleasant elf stereotypes</span></a><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;"> can apply, I </span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">don't</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;"> want them to just be "drow," as it were.</span>Arevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8982715874128985867.post-37910747888216604112010-08-05T12:00:00.000-07:002010-11-27T11:09:40.703-08:00Off the usual schedule...<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">...I present you with a minor update or two.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">The race formerly known as Tahvaaiy nobles or simply "Tahvaaiy" are now called </span><b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">ahvaiyru</span></b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">, which is now reflected in previous blog entries. (I really had too many names beginning with the letter T.) </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">The ahvaiyru, however, are </span><i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">still</span></i><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;"> meticulous, flamboyant, competitive, urbane, and meaner than rattlesnakes.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;">Furthermore, Kalretia is now an archipelago. The biome and culture are still about the same.</span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></span>Arevashtihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10983825537972172622noreply@blogger.com0