The idea is interesting but I have trouble visualizing it. Dossta's idea of a "portable portal" is a nice twist and is easier for me to see. It is especially nasty, since all of the attacker's force is twisted back around.
This sub leaves me curious about the Skkanden. They seem more "savage" than the average Dwarf. Are they more focused on stonework than metalwork? Is their culture more tribal/animistic in nature?
The Ancient Wyrm sleeps upon his bed of diamonds and breathes the scent of molten rock, as he lays within his deep, subterranean lair. Beware the Wyrm, for he awaits the day of freedom. When the constellations are swallowed up by sky fog and lightning; when the sun descends and does not rise again; when the silver moon shatters into a hundred crystal shards and rains death; when the red moon turns pale white, like bone; when the frothy seas retreat and fish are left behind to gasp their last; when all these things happen, then shall the Wyrm be released from his prison to bring reckoning to the sinful mortal men.
None shall face its terrible wrath, for the gods imprisoned it eons ago and it has been waiting, waiting to be unleashed upon the weakness that is mortal flesh.
Be saved now. Beg the Wyrm for mercy, plead with it, offer to help it cleanse the world, and it may pass you by when that day comes.
In the year of the Silver Thorn, on the vernal equinox, a tree shall sprout to full height in one day from a great rock, splitting it in twain. Mark that day, for it spells the beginning of the end of our great kingdom. A strong leader shall appear from humble beginnings, as though from nowhere, and bring strife into our lands. The kingdom shall be divided in civil war, and our greatness shall be forgotten
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A couple of thoughts to add to the others. What if the water flowed in and down rather than up and out? That would pull in any wayward attempts to retrieve the statues. I like the idea of the shrinking statues. Add in a remote and difficult to reach location, and the greedy would easily believe they were the first to find it, without any being the wiser.
As an added twist, you could always have someone who had figured out a way to retrieve the pool's contents, but only living flesh made real gold while any other material became fool's gold. It would make sense to leave a few statues behind as bait and spread rumors around...
Anyway, just a few thoughts you inspired with this sub.
Like others above, I would have liked to see the other possible explanations given equal weight.
The intro was long compared to the length of the description, but I'm not complaining about that - it was far too enjoyable.
Good atmosphere, good description, and internally consistent. It's nice to see the occasional "truly alien" environment and this one is well done.
5/5
This has a lot of flavor and makes me wish I was running a Cthulhu-esque game. I like it, especially the dark god aspect.
I think it could work well as either a Koontz thriller or an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Very interesting. The thing that strikes me most about this is how clean it all is. Put someone in a little room, close the door, and wait for some harmless little moonlight. Afterwards, just get out the broom and clean up the innocuous pile of dust. A method of such brutality wrapped up in such a neat fashion says a lot about the type of tyrant who would use such a device and could inspire of number of linked adventures.
This puts me in mind of a combination guillotine (which was supposed to be a humane method of execution for its time) and some of the methods used to kill victims of the Holocaust.
How wonderfully horrible! I think I will send my players after some bit of hidden lore that has already been gobbled up. See just how many hoops a Niyott can get them to jump through, knowing that a physical confrontation will only destroy what they seek.
Excellent. These creatures would be helpful for introducing a healthy amount of chaos into a game at just the right moment.
And I love the "lemming grenades" bit.
Considering the time and focus it takes to grow and prepare this armor, I imagine it only goes to the finest and most dedicated of warriors. Knowing this, I'm sure others give a healthy dose of respect to any elf they see wearing it.
Items (Art and Music) (Magical)