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Monday, October 29, 2018

Lesser Paraelemental of Sun

Second edition AD&D failed to make paraelementals for Dark Sun, so I will be creating some. I've decided to start with the lesser paraelementals and eventually get to the greater paraelementals.
I'm continuing with the lesser paraelemental of sun. Feedback is welcome.
Goodness, Gracious...

Stats after the jump.

Thursday, October 25, 2018

Dark Sun Terrain: Scrub Plains

Canyonlands National Park, Utah, USA
Although rare in the Tablelands, scrub plains are highly coveted by herders and defilers. Clumps of grass, thorny bushes, and occasional trees fill the landscape. Although scrub plains are not lush by any accepted measure, they do contain some of the most abundant foliage on Athas. Scrub plains are extremely popular for herders to graze their flocks, sometimes to excess. They are also a popular spot for defilers to cast spells, as there are plenty of plants to fuel their magic. Unfortunately, if overgrazed or defiled, scrub plains will become sandy wastes or stony barrens.
Life is very common in the scrub plains, after all, where there are plants, there is water. Small and medium sized creatures feed on the plants, while larger predators hide among the grasses and bushes. Water can generally be found inside certain plants, or pooled a few feet below the surface. The plants provide shade for the creatures that call it home and wind that blows through the scrub plains is sometimes cooled by the plants that grow there.

Monday, October 22, 2018

Lesser Paraelemental of Magma

Second edition AD&D failed to make paraelementals for Dark Sun, so I will be creating some. I've decided to start with the lesser paraelementals and eventually get to the greater paraelementals.
I'm continuing with the lesser paraelemental of magma. Feedback is welcome.
Grrrr! Argh!
Stats after the jump

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Dark Sun Terrain: Rocky Badlands

Windswept Rocky Badlands. Badlands National Park, South Dakota, USA
Rocky badlands are usually found at the base of mountain ranges, sometimes stretching out for miles around. They are twisting canyons with walls of crumbling rocks. Many of these canyons are separated by thin ridges, but some have rounded or flat tops as well. Rocky Badlands are a popular location for many living things, due to the natural shade they provide.
Life is fairly common in the rocky badlands, due to a majority of the suns harsh rays being blocked by the canyon walls. Water pools up and doesn't evaporate as quickly as elsewhere. Wind often blows through the canyons, but rarely in the form of a cool breeze. Hot, oven-like wind blows through the canyon, making life miserable for those inhabitants who call the rocky badlands home. Thorny and serrated leaved bushes, as well as stunted trees, grow in the rocky badlands.

Saturday, October 13, 2018

Eighth Session - Flame and Silt

Cast
Julius: Human male psychokinetic. 22 years old. Played by Dave. Speaks Balican, Tyrian, and Giant.
Alaxander: Human male psychokinetic. 17 years old. Played by Ben. Speaks Balican and Elf.
Kalino: Human male fighter/preserver. 20 years old. Played by DM. Speaks Rammin, Tyrian, and Balican.
Vashti: Human female clairsentient/water cleric. 20 years old. Played by my wife. Speaks Nibnese, Gith, and Balican.
Grak (aka Guacamole): Pterran male ranger. 19 years old. Played by Clyde. Speaks Pterran and Giant.
Demetrius: Human male. 25 years old. Shepherd. NPC. Speaks Nibnese.
Salvador: Human male. 41 years old. Mason. NPC. Speaks Nibnese.
Pasha Altan Hassan: Dwarf male. 74 years old. Guard, laborer, and Pasha. NPC. Speaks Nibnese, Tyrian, and Dwarf.

Note: For those unfamiliar with Dark Sun, psionics are called the Will for wild talents and the Way for trained psionicists.

 When the group saw that Magosa was burning, Julius and Alaxander rushed forward to help put out the fire. Kalino, Grak, Demetrius, and Salvador parked the wagon close to Magosa, but out of range of the fire. Grak went to go help with the fire. Kalino told Salvador and Demetrius to watch the unconscious Vashti, then he went to help as well.
I think we have a slight problem.

The group could see that nearly every resident in Magosa was injured, some badly. Julius and Alaxander used the Way to help as much as possible, while Grak just used his brute strength. They all threw dirt onto the burning thatch and were able to smother the fire in a couple hours. While the mud brick walls of the village stood strong, nearly everything else was destroyed.

Friday, October 12, 2018

Lesser Paraelemental of Silt

Second edition AD&D failed to make paraelementals for Dark Sun, so I will be creating some. I've decided to start with the lesser paraelementals and eventually get to the greater paraelementals.
However, I'm going to begin with the lesser paraelemental of silt. Feedback is welcome.
Prepare to cough a lot.

Stats after the jump.

Saturday, October 6, 2018

Seventh Session - The Path Upon Which They Travel

Cast
Julius: Human male psychokinetic. Played by Dave. Speaks Balician and Tyrian.
Alaxander: Human male psychokinetic. Played by Ben. Speaks Balician and Elf.
Kalino: Human male fighter/preserver. Played by DM. Speaks Rammin, Tyrian, and Balican.
Vashti: Human female clairsentient/water cleric. Played by my wife. Speaks Nibnese, Gith, and Balician.
Grak (aka Guacamole): Pterran male ranger. Played by Clyde. Speaks Pterran and Giant.
Demetrius: Human male. 25 years old. Shepherd. NPC. Speaks Nibnese.
Salvador: Human male. 41 years old. Mason. NPC. Speaks Nibnese.

Note: For those unfamiliar with Dark Sun, psionics are called the Will for wild talents and the Way for trained psionicists.

Travel with the wagons over the stony barrens was painstakingly slow. To prevent the wheels from being destroyed by the rocks, they took few chances. Alaxander would guide the kanks over flat areas, but he would have to wake up Grak to carry the wagon over the gaps in the rocks. After a couple hours of this slow travel, they stumbled upon hundreds of jankx. The group discussed if they should kill some for food, but they were afraid of starting a stampede. Ultimately, the group decided they had enough food and went around the herd.

Hours later, the group finally returned to the road. Just in time for high sun. Everyone gathered in the shade of the wagons. Vashti thought she found a good place to stay, but was sitting in the sun. Everyone ate and drank, except Grak, who meditated. Vashti preached a sermon on the benefits of water. Vashti then used her magic to heal Grak and Alaxander. When high sun had passed, the group continued down the wide trade road.

Thursday, October 4, 2018

Dark Sun Terrain: Stony Barrens

Goblin Valley, Utah, USA
Of all the different types of terrain, stony barrens are the most common type in the Tablelands. Stony barrens appear as large sheets of exposed bedrock, usually orange-red sandstone. The bedrock is weathered away by strong, dry winds, so the barrens are littered with stones. The stones themselves can be tiny pebbles or large boulders. Dust and red sand are blown about the barrens by high winds.
Stony barrens are not without life. Between the large boulders and small stones, life emerges. The minuscule amount of rainfall that falls in the barrens can run between the stones and be protected from the suns harsh rays. This tiny amount of water allows life to struggle to survive. Thorny bushes and cacti are the most common type of plants to be found.