Thursday, November 29, 2018

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've posted all of the lesser paraelementals, so now I'm moving on to the full paraelementals. Feedback is welcome.

Goodness, Gracious...

Stats after the jump.

Sunday, November 25, 2018

Fire Scorpion

It was pointed out to me by Rovewin of Athas.org, that fire scorpions are listed in the encounter tables in "Terrors Beyond Tyr." However, they are not presented in any of the books. So, in an effort to rectify the situation, I have created a fire scorpion below.
Based upon where the creature is placed in the encounter tables, I have made this monster dangerous, but not overly powerful. 

"Get over here!" - Scorpion
Stats after the jump.


Saturday, November 24, 2018

Tenth Session: The Freak and the Dead

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

Julius was feeling weak and wanted to rest in one of the secure rooms. Vashti used the Way the heal him. Julius' bones itched as the Way forced his marrow to produce more red blood cells, replenishing his veins after the ticks attack. Afterward, the group agreed to continue exploring the keep.
Alaxander found a staircase choked with rubble and casually moved some stones, but found only rocks and rubble. The next room was filled with broken pieces of wood and other garbage. A large open area contained a huge snake, which was coiled up. It looked at the group and tasted the air. Grak and Alaxander saw an old obsidian battleaxe on a rotted wooden weapons rack. Grak raised his weapon, but Alaxander told Grak to wait.
"Free axe? It must be mine!" - Alaxander

Alaxander slowly approached the snake, whispered comforting words and swayed slowly from side to side. The snake began moving with him and they stared at each other's eyes. Vashti slowly moved behind Alaxander and looked at a junk pile in the room; seeing nothing of value, she retreated. Alaxander kept eye contact with the snake and slowly swayed around the snake toward the weapon's rack. He took the axe and retreated back to the group. Satisfied, the group departed.

Thursday, November 22, 2018

The Thief and His Mother. A Dark Sun Fable.

A young man had been caught in a daring act of theft and had been condemned by the Templars to be executed for it. He expressed his desire to see his Mother, and to speak with her before he was led to execution, and this was reluctantly granted. When his Mother came to him he said: "I want to whisper to you," and when she brought her ear near him, he nearly bit it off. All the bystanders were horrified, and asked him why he would do such a brutal and inhuman thing. "It is to punish her." he said. "When I was young I began with stealing little things, and brought them home to Mother. Instead of rebuking and punishing me, she laughed and said: 'It will not be noticed.' It is because of her that I am here today!"
"He is right, woman." said the Templar, then he ordered her execution as well.

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Paraelemental of Magma

This is the only official paraelemental that TSR created. It comes from a Planescape Montrous Compendium. I will make minor tweaks to fit with the setting, but it is basically copied from official sources.

"I'm official!"
Stats after the jump.

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Non-Spellcasting Templars

No one knows how many Templars a Sorcerer Monarch may imbue with spellcasting ability, but it is apparent to many that there are many non-spellcasting templars in the ranks of the Sorcerer Monarchs as well. These templars are usually not field agents, but sit behind tables and fill the ranks of bureaucrats required to keep a city-state running. Here, I will give statistics for non-spellcasting templars, parchment-pushing bureaucrats or others whom their liege has denied power, but bestowed temporal power.
The fall from grace is difficult. Atomhawk

Tuesday, November 13, 2018

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.
I've posted all of the lesser paraelementals, so now I'm moving on to the full paraelementals. Feedback is welcome.
Dust and sand ripping flesh from your bones.

Stats after the jump.

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Dark Sun Terrain: Sandy Wastes

Sahara Desert, Northern Africa
Vast expanses of yellow and orange sand. Dunes piled as high as large hills that change constantly, their size and shapes at the mercy of the hot winds that blows across the Tablelands. Most sand dunes are longer on the upwind side, or stoss, and have a shorter lee side, or slip face. Dunes may change location quickly, depending on the strength of the wind, which can bury travelers under tons of sand.
Strong, steady winds pile up sand into mekillot dunes, which resembles the roll on a  mekillots back. It is possible that these great dunes reach a height of seven hundred fifty feet high and several miles long. These dunes can be dangerous in a sand avalanche. If the wind is moderate and steady, the sand forms wave dunes. Wave dunes are much smaller than mekillot dunes, only reaching a maximum height of one hundred feet, and are evenly spaced.
Unidirectional wind that blows over the dunes low tips create crescent dunes. Crescent dunes are generally wider than they are long and tend to move quickly across the desert. Multi-directional winds create star dunes. Star dunes are pyramid shaped mounds with three or more ridged arms that stretch out from the central mound. These arms may stretch for many miles. Star dunes rarely change shape quickly or move very far.

Tuesday, November 6, 2018

Lesser Paraelemental of Rain

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 rain. Feedback is welcome.
Rain Elemental by HoiHoiSan
 Stats after the jump.

Sunday, November 4, 2018

Ninth Session: Fighting for Their Lives

Cast is placed at the end of the session journal entry.

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

Desert bandits wear blue to blend with the sky, except on Athas, where the sky is green.
Grak charged into the room and attacked the elf who shot him. Inside the room, however, were eight human bandits, another elf, and a tied up and gagged half-giant on the floor. There was a hole in the outside wall that lead to the silt moat outside. The bandits swarmed Grak and flooded out of the room, to confront the rest of the group. Julius and Alaxander used the way to engage them, but soon switched, Julius to his obsidian scimitar and Alaxander to his bone club. Kalino was attacking with his bone longsword and Vashti with her bone club.

Thursday, November 1, 2018

Dark Sun Terrain: Salt Flats

Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA
Huge expanses of salt encrusted ground as far as the eye and see. Salt Flats are nearly barren lands that become incredibly hot during the day. Here, more so than anywhere else on Athas, moisture is pulled from a traveler's mouth and skin. Any amount of water that pools quickly becomes salty and undrinkable. Yet, even here, life finds a way to survive.
Although it is not common, some salt grasses and hardy cacti break through the dry crust of the salt. Not nearly enough water to support a thriving ecosystem, salt flats are for the most part, devoid of life. Most creatures are only passing over the salt flats, looking to get off of them before the sun reaches its peak and the shining white salt raises to unbearable temperatures.