Just trying to get the whole thing clear in my head before voting. Did the two sparks normally inhabit different creatures? Two creatures of the same species? Or both in the same creature at once?
When the explorer went through with his ill-advised binding, it sounds like the Spark of Decay became bound to the Tree of Decay. Were the Sparks already inhabiting this tree, or did the Tree of Decay arise for some other reason? Where did it get its power from?
P.S. I really want to know what happens when the sparks inhabit a human or other sentient creature! That would make such a cool NPC! Go to Comment
Alright, with that clarification I think that the sub nicely rounds out the logic chain you began with Everlife Dungeon. My only concern with the plot would be the difficulty in tracking down the mostly decayed corpse of the explorer -- the Everlife Dungeon is supposed to take decades (or even centuries) to form around the seed tree, so most records of his existence would be garbled or destroyed by the time the PCs need it.
Personally, I might set him up as the central figure of a rising Death Cult -- a living mummy that occasionally speaks to his followers about a fantastic tree. Possibly have the PCs visit the sites of both trees before learning enough to seek him out. I'd also definitely make the seed of the Everlife Dungeon a magical plant (for the added effects). The other possibility would be to use animals instead of plants as the focal points for both Seeds (that have attracted their own druidic cults or are being kept as pets of powerful people in different parts of the world).
There is a LOT of variety inherent in this concept -- enough that you could plan many different adventures around this and none of them would be quite the same. It's not as clearly laid out as it could be, but the concepts are pretty abstract to begin with. Overall, well done! Go to Comment
Very much agreed. Looking at Shadow's comments, this has the potential to inspire an interesting quest. If the wish can be granted only after a week's worth of fighting off baddie's and running for their lives, then the party can be said to have "earned" the wish -- just remember that even the most carefully crafted wish can be left open to the interpretation of a GM. Could be so much more, if given a little room to breathe. Go to Comment
The classic concept of the Creator and Destroyer, with a twist. I enjoyed reading this piece -- the voice drew me in, and shepherded me through to the end. A few paragraphs could use a tiny bit of trimming (especially the one ending with "but just so much larger than us are beings such as these."), but no major complaints at all. I, too, wonder why Eath is no longer doing his job as effectively. What could possibly distract, harm, or tire a being such as it? What other symptoms are showing up in the world? Go to Comment
I can't say I've seen anything quite like this before. Seems like the best way to attack this place is to try disintegrating/flaming the place from the outside before entering. Those creatures and plants may not entirely die, but enough of the brush would be cleared away that you could conceivably make it to the center, if you wished.
Right now, I'm trying to think of other ways to use this thing -- perhaps have the seed linked to a magical plant of some sort, for additional effects. It would be interesting to play around with the life aspect a bit more, as well (either making it impossible to procreate or, inversely, make the critters around it incredibly fertile). Go to Comment
Not really my thing, but this is very well done. The quality of the write-up almost demands that it be used somewhere. I would guess that swamp residents are somewhat familiar with the flower and its effects (unless the flower is an invading species or other unnatural occurrence). They probably would have an antidote or some cautionary advice to give to the PCs. Then it's fair game to use against them. Go to Comment
If offering corrections, you should probably double-check yourself first -- I've almost made the same kind of mistake a dozen times, but Google usually saves me the embarrassment. Go to Comment
This was very clever -- it artfully showcased another author's work, while expanding it in a creative and useful way. I hadn't read Scras' Gems of the Underworld yet, and I may never have found it without this piece, so thank you! The only minor suggestion I will make is to preserve the order of gemstones that Scras laid out in his piece, for easy reference. Here you have Xerle and Faridat come after Pirozeh, which was kind of confusing. I'd also put the inks last (or first). Well done! Go to Comment
Was the baby intended as some sort of weird sacrifice to the water table, or was it put there for its own protection? I wonder. Very nice hook, Cassy! Go to Comment
Do the plants disappear after they are harvested, or only before they are picked? Aside from that tiny missing detail, I can see a bunch of places to go with this. Barring any sinister plans, my bet is that the plants are tied to some sort of cosmic event that occurs only every dozen years or so. Perhaps they need a certain kind of cosmic ray or energy to grow. Go to Comment
Not sure they're given a choice to join, Cheka. It sounds like Black Bess, at least, had a whole other life that she was taken away from. Maybe that's where her anger comes from. This is a really nifty concept, and it's refreshing to see some more "classic fantasy" stuff from you, Scras. I especially liked how you were careful to fit this into the dwarves' established value systems and make it work. Go to Comment
Does the stuff disappear once chewed up, or only once swallowed? I like SE's idea of being able to chew something up to "mold" it into a new form, then spit it back out.
*NPC insults party*
*PC casually grabs the bastard's favorite tankard and chews it up. Spit out a solid lump of metal a few seconds later*
*NPC and henchmen flee the scene* Go to Comment
That is freaking cool. I updated all my Weavers Guild subs with the icon and it makes them so much easier to identify in a list. Thanks for revealing the secret of Real Ultimate Power! Go to Comment
Update: Rearranged the information a little to make it group better. Added the bit about Restoration. Added Plot Hooks. Started the Creature Dex -- I really hope others add to it! Go to Comment
Physical Description: Something like a blue, 5-tailed squirrel with suckers on its toes instead of claws.
Grilins are docile, friendly and extremely sociable little critters. The perfect starter pet for many young children. They don't have claws, can barely bite, and like to snuggle. The only catch is their speed and extreme climbing ability -- these things can go straight up a sheer wall (thanks to those tiny suckers) and often escape their owners if they don't have their Pet Cube handy. For this reason, wild populations of Grilins are becoming established in metropolises around the galaxy. They may become as ubiquitous as the old-Earth pigeon, in time. Go to Comment
Physical Description: Warm-blooded feline-esque creatures the size of large dogs, with snake-skin scales instead of fur.
The perfect choice for a person with fur allergies, the scalecat's original name is unpronounceable to most humans (hence, the monicker). Scalecats are loyal, fierce guardians who have a problematic territorial streak. They don't like lots of physical activity, however, and can most commonly be found lounging on its owner's bed or couch, with a watchful eye on the door. Firm training is a must, due to their size. De-clawing is recommended for owners without natural armor. Go to Comment
Plots (Crisis) (Single-Storyline)
When the explorer went through with his ill-advised binding, it sounds like the Spark of Decay became bound to the Tree of Decay. Were the Sparks already inhabiting this tree, or did the Tree of Decay arise for some other reason? Where did it get its power from?
P.S. I really want to know what happens when the sparks inhabit a human or other sentient creature! That would make such a cool NPC!
Go to Comment