The Healer, part 1
"Damn you! Damn you and your warty hide! Damn you and your warty hide, you tongue-lashing fool! I am not with them! I am living here!"
The amri spat and hissed at the magistrate when the lizardfolk led them through the city toward the port.
"Silence, you furred nuisance. You are not of the Ammadan spawnpools, you have no roots here, nor bonds of breath to the Ammadan air. Your stay here was at the pleasure and the expense of the politokratos, and he will have you here no more."
Varth and Terem exchanged quizzed looks.
"Why does the mighty Ammadan banishes mammals from his walls? We have done no harm!" The merchant asked shaking his head.
"I am not privy to the politokratos reasons, nor would I have leave to discuss them freely if I was. All what you need to know, is that politokratos wishes that your breaths no longer pollute our air and you are to leave immediately." The magistrate ended his statement by waving an open palm in front of his mouth in a gesture signifying its finality.
"Leave? Leave?! Where I am supposed to go? What I am supposed to do? I have worked my tail off in service to your people and you are throwing me in the sea now?!"
"Hush, maid, I will take you on my ship, if need be. I could use a good cook anyway. Someone who can bake a bread... You have baked that bread you served us, have you?"
She glanced on the lizardfolk guards and the toadfolk magistrate with anger burning in her yellow eyes and after a moment of tense hesitation she nodded.
They reminded silent for the rest of the way toward the port, though the amri lashed her tail nervously from time to time. The closer they were to the harbor, the more similar groups they saw—rimmerfolk guards leading humans, kai-tangs, amri, and more exotic people toward the port.
"What the politokratos hopes to reach here?" Saar Terem looked at the magistrate but received no answer. "Getting rid of those few dozens citizens might have little effect on the city—good or bad, but forcing the merchants to leave?"
He pondered for a few moments before confronting the magistrate.
"You are forcing us to leave. For how long? When will the port be open again to us?"
Quezeg shrugged. "There was no time limit specified on this decree so it will be in effect until the politokratos decides otherwise. I presume it is safe to state that you should not return until you learn otherwise. Now, which ship is yours?"
Navigating the crowd and reaching saar Terem's vessel took them a while. The guard watched them board the ship before taking further the three kai-tang who were picked at the tavern with them.
"Worry not about the fare, my skilled healer friend" The merchant laughed while leaping on the deck "I will gladly have you in my crew as a healer for as long as you wish!"
"Welcome aboard the Shooting Star! The not-so-finest vessel of the Alzirian Tradeholds! The braver of the primal winds of the Western Reaches! The jewel of mine, jewel of saar Terem Arad Gemmetel!"
Varth sighed and looked around the deck of the skyjammer they just boarded. The ship was old but well kept, with the crewmen busy preparing the ship for take-off. Only a familiar elder kai-tang sat lazily on a pile of sacks, smoking a pipe—the healer's old acquaintance known currently by the name of Mok.
"Ah, I wondered when you'll be brought here, once that madness started..." The kai-tang exhaled a circle of smoke and waved to Varth before turning his head toward the merchant. "The holds aren't nearly as full as we would like but I took liberty of offering a passage away from this newly unwelcome island to a few exiles. They are paying in silverware and other trinkets, but at least we won't leave completely empty-handed."
"Good, good... As you see we have two new fishes in our bowl. You already know our new healer and this will be our cook..." Terem's bush eyebrows furrowed as he turned to amri "How are you called anyway, tailed lass?"
She growled silently for a moment before answering hesitantly. "I am Kezaharanah of the Yellow Flame Mountain izzanah. You can call me Hara, when you have too..."
"Welcome to the Shooting Star, then, Kezaharanah of the Yellow Flame Mountain." The large man turned toward the crew. "Let us take the Star out of this ungrateful city! Time to make our fortune elsewhere!"
Mok shrugged and smirked. "That madness had an unexpected advantage. We did not paid all the port duties and fees and now we are ordered to leave. We certainly won't be overstaying our welcome to pay them if they throw us out."
"No, we certainly won't!" The merchant laughter was loud and booming.
2016-03-20
Monster: Servant Of The Flame And The Shadow
Servant Of The Flame And The Shadow
An entity composed of transparent fiery glow, with a horned head, burning eyes and long clawed arms. Its lower torso smoothly extends into a long serpentine tail.
CR 5; XP 1,600
LE Medium Outsider (evil, fire, incorporeal, lawful)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +10
Defense
AC 16, touch 16, flat-footed 13 (+3 deflection, +3 Dex)
hp 51 (6d10+18)
Fort +5, Ref +8, Will +8
Defensive Abilities incorporeal; Immune disease, fire, poison
Weakness summoned, vulnerable to cold
Offense
Speed fly 30 ft. (perfect)
Melee 2 claws +9 touch (1d6 plus 1d6 fire)
Special Attacks possession
Statistics
Str —, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 13, Wis 13, Cha 17
Base Atk +6; CMB +9; CMD 22
Feats Hidden Presence, Improved Initiative, Iron Will
Skills Bluff +12, Fly +20, Intimidate +12, Knowledge (planes) +10, Perception +10, Sense Motive +10, Stealth +12; Racial Modifiers +10 Bluff while trying to pretend to be possessed individual
Language Common, Infernal, Orc
SQ breathless, gift of the flame and the shadow
Ecology
Environment any
Organization single or pair
Treasure standard
Special Abilities
Gift Of The Flame And The Shadow (Su) A creature possessed by a servant of the flame and the shadow gains darkvision with 60-ft range and fire resistance 10, even when the servant does not exert its full control allowing the creature a free reign. The effect is constant and the servant cannot suppress it.
Possession (Su) A servant of the flame and the shadow can possess living beings or corpses as if using greater possession spell with unlimited duration and saving throw DC of 16. The servant does not have to maintain the control, allowing the possessed to act normally when it suits the possessor. Possessing a corpse creates a wight-like being, though bodies of powerful monsters and high level characters can arise as more powerful undeads.
Summoned Servants of the flame and the shadow are not born but conjured into an impermanent existence like summoned monsters and count as such. A servant of the flame and the shadow can deliberately unmake oneself as a full-round action and cease to exist at the start of the following turn. This disperses its form and returns its essence and memories to its master. Destroying the dissolving servant before the start of its next turn prevents the delivery of its memories as does dissolution in area blocking planar travel.
Servants of the flame and the shadow are manifestations of malignant spiritual flame bound to an ancient evil. They exist as a raw potential from which their master draws them into being as he needs them to act as his eyes, ear, and hands. While not terribly powerful on their own, they are capable of spreading their master's vile influence with their ability to possess mortals and reanimate corpses.
An entity composed of transparent fiery glow, with a horned head, burning eyes and long clawed arms. Its lower torso smoothly extends into a long serpentine tail.
CR 5; XP 1,600
LE Medium Outsider (evil, fire, incorporeal, lawful)
Init +7; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +10
Defense
AC 16, touch 16, flat-footed 13 (+3 deflection, +3 Dex)
hp 51 (6d10+18)
Fort +5, Ref +8, Will +8
Defensive Abilities incorporeal; Immune disease, fire, poison
Weakness summoned, vulnerable to cold
Offense
Speed fly 30 ft. (perfect)
Melee 2 claws +9 touch (1d6 plus 1d6 fire)
Special Attacks possession
Statistics
Str —, Dex 16, Con 16, Int 13, Wis 13, Cha 17
Base Atk +6; CMB +9; CMD 22
Feats Hidden Presence, Improved Initiative, Iron Will
Skills Bluff +12, Fly +20, Intimidate +12, Knowledge (planes) +10, Perception +10, Sense Motive +10, Stealth +12; Racial Modifiers +10 Bluff while trying to pretend to be possessed individual
Language Common, Infernal, Orc
SQ breathless, gift of the flame and the shadow
Ecology
Environment any
Organization single or pair
Treasure standard
Special Abilities
Gift Of The Flame And The Shadow (Su) A creature possessed by a servant of the flame and the shadow gains darkvision with 60-ft range and fire resistance 10, even when the servant does not exert its full control allowing the creature a free reign. The effect is constant and the servant cannot suppress it.
Possession (Su) A servant of the flame and the shadow can possess living beings or corpses as if using greater possession spell with unlimited duration and saving throw DC of 16. The servant does not have to maintain the control, allowing the possessed to act normally when it suits the possessor. Possessing a corpse creates a wight-like being, though bodies of powerful monsters and high level characters can arise as more powerful undeads.
Summoned Servants of the flame and the shadow are not born but conjured into an impermanent existence like summoned monsters and count as such. A servant of the flame and the shadow can deliberately unmake oneself as a full-round action and cease to exist at the start of the following turn. This disperses its form and returns its essence and memories to its master. Destroying the dissolving servant before the start of its next turn prevents the delivery of its memories as does dissolution in area blocking planar travel.
Servants of the flame and the shadow are manifestations of malignant spiritual flame bound to an ancient evil. They exist as a raw potential from which their master draws them into being as he needs them to act as his eyes, ear, and hands. While not terribly powerful on their own, they are capable of spreading their master's vile influence with their ability to possess mortals and reanimate corpses.
2016-03-13
Monster: Clockwork Surgeon
Clockwork Surgeon
A hunched figure made of a brass plating riveted over a steel frame with a mass of copper wiring connected to a crystal cylinder on its back. A spark of strange-colored lightning crackles within the cylinder.
CR 3; XP 800
N Small Construct (clockwork)
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +4
Defense
AC 15, touch 13, flat-footed 13 (+2 dodge, +2 natural, +1 size)
hp 32 (4d10+10)
Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +1
DR 5/adamantine; Immune construct traits
Weakness vulnerability to electricity
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee scalpel +7 (1d3+2 plus bleed, 19–20/x2) and injector +7 (1d3+2 plus anesthetic)
Special Attack anesthetic (DC 14), bleed (1d3), channel energy 5/day (DC 12, 3d6)
Statistics
Str 14, Dex 10, Con —, Int 11, Wis 11, Cha 11
Base Atk +4; CMB +4; CMD 14
Feats Extra Channel, Improved InitiativeB, Lightning ReflexesB, Skill Focus (Heal)
Skills Heal +11, Perception +4; Racial Bonus +4 Heal
Language Common
SQ energy capacitors, swift reactions, winding
Ecology
Environment any
Organization solitary
Treasure standard
Special Abilities
Anesthetic (Su) Injector—injury; save Fort 14, frequency 1/minute for 2 minutes, initial effect sickened and immune to pain effects for 1 minute, secondary effect staggered and immune to pain effects for 1 minute, cure 1 save. This is a poison effect. The saving throw DC is Constitution-based and includes +2 racial bonus.
Energy Capacitor (Su) A clockwork surgeon has an embedded energy capacitor that collects residual lifeforce granting the construct ability to channel energy like a 5th level cleric. A clockwork surgeon is attuned to either positive energy or negative energy. Its energy capacitor polarity can be reversed with one hour of work and tinkering by a character trained in Knowledge (arcana) and Knowledge (planes) with Craft Construct feat (a successful Use Magic Device check against DC of 25 can be used in place of the feat). Changing the capacitor's polarity flushes all the remaining uses of channel energy for the day.
Clockwork surgeons were designed to tend to the wounded with mechanical precision and emotionless calm, though with some jury-rigging they can be tweaked to unleash destructive energies instead.
Construction
Clockwork surgeon requires extensive work to build its winding mechanism and energy capacitor and connecting them together with copper wiring within its steel and brass body costing 1,000 gp.
Clockwork Surgeon
CL 12th; Price 16,000 gp.
CONSTRUCTION
Requirements Craft Construct, geas/quest, vampiric touch, creator must be at least 12th level; Skill Craft (clockwork) DC 20; Cost 8,500 gp.
A hunched figure made of a brass plating riveted over a steel frame with a mass of copper wiring connected to a crystal cylinder on its back. A spark of strange-colored lightning crackles within the cylinder.
CR 3; XP 800
N Small Construct (clockwork)
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +4
Defense
AC 15, touch 13, flat-footed 13 (+2 dodge, +2 natural, +1 size)
hp 32 (4d10+10)
Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +1
DR 5/adamantine; Immune construct traits
Weakness vulnerability to electricity
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee scalpel +7 (1d3+2 plus bleed, 19–20/x2) and injector +7 (1d3+2 plus anesthetic)
Special Attack anesthetic (DC 14), bleed (1d3), channel energy 5/day (DC 12, 3d6)
Statistics
Str 14, Dex 10, Con —, Int 11, Wis 11, Cha 11
Base Atk +4; CMB +4; CMD 14
Feats Extra Channel, Improved InitiativeB, Lightning ReflexesB, Skill Focus (Heal)
Skills Heal +11, Perception +4; Racial Bonus +4 Heal
Language Common
SQ energy capacitors, swift reactions, winding
Ecology
Environment any
Organization solitary
Treasure standard
Special Abilities
Anesthetic (Su) Injector—injury; save Fort 14, frequency 1/minute for 2 minutes, initial effect sickened and immune to pain effects for 1 minute, secondary effect staggered and immune to pain effects for 1 minute, cure 1 save. This is a poison effect. The saving throw DC is Constitution-based and includes +2 racial bonus.
Energy Capacitor (Su) A clockwork surgeon has an embedded energy capacitor that collects residual lifeforce granting the construct ability to channel energy like a 5th level cleric. A clockwork surgeon is attuned to either positive energy or negative energy. Its energy capacitor polarity can be reversed with one hour of work and tinkering by a character trained in Knowledge (arcana) and Knowledge (planes) with Craft Construct feat (a successful Use Magic Device check against DC of 25 can be used in place of the feat). Changing the capacitor's polarity flushes all the remaining uses of channel energy for the day.
Clockwork surgeons were designed to tend to the wounded with mechanical precision and emotionless calm, though with some jury-rigging they can be tweaked to unleash destructive energies instead.
Construction
Clockwork surgeon requires extensive work to build its winding mechanism and energy capacitor and connecting them together with copper wiring within its steel and brass body costing 1,000 gp.
Clockwork Surgeon
CL 12th; Price 16,000 gp.
CONSTRUCTION
Requirements Craft Construct, geas/quest, vampiric touch, creator must be at least 12th level; Skill Craft (clockwork) DC 20; Cost 8,500 gp.
2016-03-07
Skyjammers Of The Archipelagia: The Healer, part 1
“Here you are, healer!”
Varth sighed hearing the booming voice of the Alzirian merchant and swallowed the remains of watered wine from his cup. A moment of disquiet was banished by the happiness ringing in the newcomer’s words.
“Gods of the skies be praised! Zamel regained consciousness! Your ointments worked, healer. I brought you the payment! You earned it…”
A stuffed purse hit the table with metal clang.
“More wine, maid, bring it quickly! And not that plonk! Bring us Alzirian Blue. There is no better wine here for my friend, the healer!”
The massive man dropped on the bench next to Varth with a loud thud. Beside the young man, he was sole human in the tavern. The remaining clientele, meager at such early time of the day, was composed of three kai-tangs, four rimmers of various strains and a lone kyo. Even both of the merchant’s bodyguards were sa-rimmers. Varth looked on the armed lizardfolk memorizing color patterns of their scales and then took the purse from the table.
“That is generous payment, saar Terem. Very generous for just a few hours of work…”
“Ha! Payment corresponding to skills! In this reptilian paradise one could not find a physician capable of putting a human on his feet! At best I could hope for some kai-tang witch doctor. One could expect that local lordlings note who trades with them and provide them with appropriate services… Healers having any idea about human body, lasses shaped pleasantly to human eye… Where is that wine, maid?!”
A catlike amri serving in the tavern closed and put a jug of wine on the table with a hiss.
“You are cantankerous, human. Cantankerous and loud. Cantankerous, loud, and stupid. Everyone knows that Ammadan’s politokratos cares little for humans and their wares. He is only interested in the gold brought by kyo from Virrikan Archipelago.”
The merchant bestired oneself and thumped his fist on the table. “You must know, cub, that in absence of Alzirian wares kyo would not even bother to shitting on Ammadan while flying over it. Birdfolk come to this island only to buy what we bring from Alzir!”
“Truth to be said, politokratos desires orichalk, not gold. Still, lots of Alzirian wares end in kyo cargoholds.”
Varth reached for the jug and generously poured wine for himself. “Do you have fish soup today?” He asked the amri while glancing on the merchant. Terem noticed the gaze, laid a handful of bronze coins on the table and sat back laughing loudly while speaking to the girl. “Bring what you have today, and lots of it. Don’t be embarrassed and take what you want for yourself as well… There is little traffic now so you could sit with us. I haven’t ever spoken about politics and trade with a healer and a waitress at the same time."
Amri snorted but took coins without hesitation before walking away with lithe steps. The large merchant kept an eye on her until she vanished behind beaded curtain.
“Orichalk instead of common gold? What use the old toad has for so much orichalk?! Assuming that the tales of kyo skyjammer’s full cargoholds are true…” Terem turned to Varth when the waitress’ tail slipped behind the curtain. “One does not import such amount of sorcerous metal, none of the sorcerous metals, without some sort of esoteric use for it.
“Who can know that? Maybe polikratos wants to arm all of his guards with encrusted armors or build whole fleet of skyjammers…”
“Ha! In the whole of Ammadan there is not enough skilled sailors to man three skyjammers without hiring outsiders. No, probably the old toad decided to build some sort of arcane mechanicarium or other marvel. I wonder what could it be?”
“Mechanicarium? Intriguing idea. People say that politokratos keeps throngs of adepts, alchemists, thaumaturgists, and other sages. There could be mechanomancers among them as well.”
“You have little respect for their skills, healer…” Boomed the merchant.
“What could make you think so?” Varth feigned a surprise, badly.
“I would be a poor merchant if I could not read hints from what people say and from what they don’t say either. Maybe it is of little use when I have to squabble with all rimmers, kyo, and other Old and Young Races, but humans I can read. At least I don’t lose on Alzirian bargains. And here is the soup!”
On the table landed a tray with three bowls, pot full of steaming soup, half a loaf of bread, and a number of smoked meat pieces and cooked vegetables.
“Bread?! Real bread? I have been coming to Ammadan regularly for the last twenty years and haven’t found anything that would resemble edible baked goods!”
The merchant smelled the bread. “Fresh! Gods of the skies, you couldn’t bake such bread on a skyjammer—the dough won’t rise properly… Where? How? But… Let me hug you, darling!”
“Away from me, fat-human! Sit and hug the bowl if you please!” Amri lashed against Terem’s extended arms with a rag.
“I will please, I will. But I still want to know how you got the bread. Have you bought it or baked it? If you bought it, I want to know from whom. If you baked it, I will be your customer on every visit to Ammadan.”
The merchant pulled a piece of bread while speaking and put into his mouths while glancing at the waitress. “Excellent, where did you get flour?!” Without waiting for the answer he turned to his guards but before he could speak one of them made a denying gesture “We ate today. We would grew sluggish if we gorged ourselves now.”
The amri shrugged and sat on the bench and helped herself to the soup. Before she could start, the door opened and a group of lizardfolk soldiers led by a toad wearing white robes and a copper chain, a badge of a minor magistrate.
“I am Quezeq, a junior assistant secretary of the Ammadan portmaster. By the orders of the politokratos, all the mammals are to be immediately escorted to the port and put on their ships."
Varth sighed hearing the booming voice of the Alzirian merchant and swallowed the remains of watered wine from his cup. A moment of disquiet was banished by the happiness ringing in the newcomer’s words.
“Gods of the skies be praised! Zamel regained consciousness! Your ointments worked, healer. I brought you the payment! You earned it…”
A stuffed purse hit the table with metal clang.
“More wine, maid, bring it quickly! And not that plonk! Bring us Alzirian Blue. There is no better wine here for my friend, the healer!”
The massive man dropped on the bench next to Varth with a loud thud. Beside the young man, he was sole human in the tavern. The remaining clientele, meager at such early time of the day, was composed of three kai-tangs, four rimmers of various strains and a lone kyo. Even both of the merchant’s bodyguards were sa-rimmers. Varth looked on the armed lizardfolk memorizing color patterns of their scales and then took the purse from the table.
“That is generous payment, saar Terem. Very generous for just a few hours of work…”
“Ha! Payment corresponding to skills! In this reptilian paradise one could not find a physician capable of putting a human on his feet! At best I could hope for some kai-tang witch doctor. One could expect that local lordlings note who trades with them and provide them with appropriate services… Healers having any idea about human body, lasses shaped pleasantly to human eye… Where is that wine, maid?!”
A catlike amri serving in the tavern closed and put a jug of wine on the table with a hiss.
“You are cantankerous, human. Cantankerous and loud. Cantankerous, loud, and stupid. Everyone knows that Ammadan’s politokratos cares little for humans and their wares. He is only interested in the gold brought by kyo from Virrikan Archipelago.”
The merchant bestired oneself and thumped his fist on the table. “You must know, cub, that in absence of Alzirian wares kyo would not even bother to shitting on Ammadan while flying over it. Birdfolk come to this island only to buy what we bring from Alzir!”
“Truth to be said, politokratos desires orichalk, not gold. Still, lots of Alzirian wares end in kyo cargoholds.”
Varth reached for the jug and generously poured wine for himself. “Do you have fish soup today?” He asked the amri while glancing on the merchant. Terem noticed the gaze, laid a handful of bronze coins on the table and sat back laughing loudly while speaking to the girl. “Bring what you have today, and lots of it. Don’t be embarrassed and take what you want for yourself as well… There is little traffic now so you could sit with us. I haven’t ever spoken about politics and trade with a healer and a waitress at the same time."
Amri snorted but took coins without hesitation before walking away with lithe steps. The large merchant kept an eye on her until she vanished behind beaded curtain.
“Orichalk instead of common gold? What use the old toad has for so much orichalk?! Assuming that the tales of kyo skyjammer’s full cargoholds are true…” Terem turned to Varth when the waitress’ tail slipped behind the curtain. “One does not import such amount of sorcerous metal, none of the sorcerous metals, without some sort of esoteric use for it.
“Who can know that? Maybe polikratos wants to arm all of his guards with encrusted armors or build whole fleet of skyjammers…”
“Ha! In the whole of Ammadan there is not enough skilled sailors to man three skyjammers without hiring outsiders. No, probably the old toad decided to build some sort of arcane mechanicarium or other marvel. I wonder what could it be?”
“Mechanicarium? Intriguing idea. People say that politokratos keeps throngs of adepts, alchemists, thaumaturgists, and other sages. There could be mechanomancers among them as well.”
“You have little respect for their skills, healer…” Boomed the merchant.
“What could make you think so?” Varth feigned a surprise, badly.
“I would be a poor merchant if I could not read hints from what people say and from what they don’t say either. Maybe it is of little use when I have to squabble with all rimmers, kyo, and other Old and Young Races, but humans I can read. At least I don’t lose on Alzirian bargains. And here is the soup!”
On the table landed a tray with three bowls, pot full of steaming soup, half a loaf of bread, and a number of smoked meat pieces and cooked vegetables.
“Bread?! Real bread? I have been coming to Ammadan regularly for the last twenty years and haven’t found anything that would resemble edible baked goods!”
The merchant smelled the bread. “Fresh! Gods of the skies, you couldn’t bake such bread on a skyjammer—the dough won’t rise properly… Where? How? But… Let me hug you, darling!”
“Away from me, fat-human! Sit and hug the bowl if you please!” Amri lashed against Terem’s extended arms with a rag.
“I will please, I will. But I still want to know how you got the bread. Have you bought it or baked it? If you bought it, I want to know from whom. If you baked it, I will be your customer on every visit to Ammadan.”
The merchant pulled a piece of bread while speaking and put into his mouths while glancing at the waitress. “Excellent, where did you get flour?!” Without waiting for the answer he turned to his guards but before he could speak one of them made a denying gesture “We ate today. We would grew sluggish if we gorged ourselves now.”
The amri shrugged and sat on the bench and helped herself to the soup. Before she could start, the door opened and a group of lizardfolk soldiers led by a toad wearing white robes and a copper chain, a badge of a minor magistrate.
“I am Quezeq, a junior assistant secretary of the Ammadan portmaster. By the orders of the politokratos, all the mammals are to be immediately escorted to the port and put on their ships."
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