Tears of Taija: Short List of Important Demons

[MDSnowman]

Warrior’s and Warlocks Changes to the Tears of Taija Setting

Effective Act 2 the following changes, based on W&W, will take effect in my Tears of Taija game.

1. Skills. We’ll use the skill rules in W&W pretty much unchanged. The main exceptions being Craft [Engineering] and Knowledge [Technology] along with any other little problems that come up during play.

2. Feats. All Feats from W&W are available. Furthermore we’ll be using the variant power attack rule to try and curb abuse of insanely high damage for attacks. However, we will continue to use the Rage feat in its normal fashion.

3. Powers. I endorse the use of powers as feats. Furthermore most mage type characters will be built on either Sorcery or Wizardry.

4. Equipment. We’ll use the equipment lists in W&W as a base for our equipment, however we won’t move to the removal of equipment points to pay for equipment just yet. By and large the only character making use of equipment mundane enough to benefit from those rules is Makhipa so I want to see how Act 2 goes before I make that ruling.

5. Races. Kryn will have their racial abilities adjusted to bring them closer in line with the Feline Beastkin racial package. Dwarves will receive a racial trait make over using a few of the rules in W&W.

[MDSnowman]

I've updated the Kryn, Dwarf, and Sidhe entries severely to reflect Warriors and Warlocks. I've also redone the status benefit feat rules. Currently skills and equipment are under review.

[MDSnowman]

Design Diary #3: Hopes for Court of Blood

So here I am, more than one day away from the second Act of my Game Tears of Taija. The second act, called Court of Blood will be taking a different turn than the previous chapter while hopefully deepening the mysteries surrounding the game.

The game picks up two weeks after the heroes’ flight from St. Jerod. Sure, they saved the Marquis, but the Church double crossed the heroes and tried to kill them. I call this my “Curse your sudden, but inevitable, betrayal” moment, and I hope somewhere Joss Whedon is smiling reading that. Every player knew it was coming, and that it wouldn’t be pretty when it did. Aside from Melinda that group is dead.

For two weeks our heroes having been trekking East through the great marshes of Saltash. Before you ask, it was because the boat they booked passage on wasn’t leaving for days yet, and sitting on the boat waiting to leave would have been ill advised. Well two weeks in the swamp haven’t been a picnic either as the group is in bad shape all around, and Dugall has passed out with a mysterious fever.

Our heroes are now stuck in a bad position. Moving on through a swamp they can’t see the end of; while at the same time the Holy Flacons of Limberry and a Demonic Assassin are on their trail.

The road ahead won’t be easy, there are plenty of enemies waiting to be made, but allies as well, some of which will come in unexpected forms. Sometime during this Act I also want the players to feel slightkly more comfortable, less hunted than before. The Chase is over, and the fun is just starting.

So for my players and anyone following the Tears of Taija I have a question.

What the one mystery you want solved most at this point?

[Unknown Soldier]

Will anyone ever understand Dugall?!

[MDSnowman]

Will anyone ever understand Dugall?!

Off hand I'm going to guess the answer is no.

[MDSnowman]

Direct Links on the index are fixed for the new board.

[MDSnowman]

Royalty of Darkon #2: Saltash

The nobility of Saltash is, in reality, a complicated network of vampire clans who control the country from the shadows. This situation started during the imperial era when the Duke Antonio, a jaded fop, introduced his noble social circle to a young vampire named Elicia. The nobles, equally jaded, took to the newcomer instantly. What they were unaware of was that Elicia was slowly but surely grabbing control of the minds of the nobles until such time as she literally had the resources of the entire country at her command.

Using her control over the nobles she had Antonio marry her and make her Duchess of the country where she began exercising her power. She discovered quickly that mere humans weren’t up to her systematic destruction of any threats to her power. To that end she picked several exceptional people and turned them into vampires as well. She placed them in positions among the country’s various noble families, and saw to it that within a generation these people would control the noble families of Saltash.

As time passed Antonio began to age, not that it mattered he was just a soulless shell who sat and barked Elicia’s orders to the country’s mortal guardians. Still, Elicia realized that if she were to maintain her powers she would need to convince the country’s population that the dukedom would survive. So in a genius move of political theater she announced she was pregnant, and that Duke Antonio’s child was born. Antonio would pass on soon afterwards. Supposedly named Isabella, this child was fictitious. Elicia simply worked her skill upon any mortal who may get too curious, and sixteen years later appeared claiming to be Isabella, and given the title of Duchess on her sixteenth birthday. In such a way the vampire Duchess’ control continued unabated. Every generation she’d manufacture another marriage, and another false daughter, and thus no one would ever question her.

Around the same time mortal authorities began to become aware that something was wrong in Saltash. The local chapter of the Silent Knights was the first to make the connection. Rather than attempt to dethrone the vampire Duchess Isabella and her growing vampiric nobility they tendered their resignation and retreated into the swamps to tend to their own affairs. Years later the Church learned of Isabella and her control over Saltash. They sent a detachment of vampire hunters and priests to take back Rooksgate and discovered too late the pervasiveness of Isabella’s control over her country. The hunters and priests were all either killed or turned and their leader, Bishop Dylan, was brought before her. There the vampire Duchess negotiated peace between the church and her growing army of Vampires. The church would not molest the vampires, and in exchange the vampires would not prevent the church from upholding their laws in Saltash. Dylan, perhaps fearing for his life, or under mind control, accepted, and the Saltash Accord has become one of the greatest secrets on Darkon with the Elder Priests and a few other key Church officials being the only mortals privy to it.

In the intervening centuries Isabella (now calling herself Isabella IX) has discovered that the absence of the Silent Knights left her with a lack of skilled assassins who could operate day and night easily. To that end she collected the assorted Half Breed children of vampires and mortals, or Dhampir, that her reign had inadvertently created and put them to work as her left hand. These Black Angels became the most feared weapon in her arsenal. Since Dampir are discriminated against by true vampires most jump at the chance to have a place to belong. Those who don’t are killed quietly.

There have only been two major developments in the past two hundred and fifty years in Saltash. The arrival and conversion of the Riders of the Coming Dawn twenty five years ago has proven to be a strain on the relations between the vampires of Saltash and the Church. The Riders have begun violently enforcing the church’s laws, and as a result undermining the authorities of the vampiric nobles. Isabella knows better than to be openly hostile to mortals operating with the backing of the church, but is also making preparations to rein them in. The other development is the rise of the Gears of Fate. These inventive thieves have achieved enough power in Saltash’s underworld where the only room for expansion has put them in direct opposition to the nobility. The Black Angels and the nobles have been waging an organized war against the Gears of Fate for over five years and have yet to stamp them out entirely. More than anything this infuriates the Duchess, and has driven her to more and more extreme methods of bringing them down.

[MDSnowman]

A Short List of Important Demons

The Fallen
Those angels cast from heaven who landed in hell are without a doubt the most powerful beings in hell. Through simply breeding with the Daemons of hell they elevated them to thinking sentient beings, Demons. They are, however, unable to reproduce among themselves and as such there are increasingly few of these deadly beings left in hell. They are largely unconcerned with politics as they do not need souls to survive, like Demons, instead they gain power through worship, either by Demons or Mortals. In game terms the Fallen are Power Level 20+.

The Serpent Queen: The Serpent Queen was once a muse to mortals until she decided they were contemptible. She tried to create works of art on her own only to discover her inspirational powers didn’t work on herself. In fury she turned to whispering lies to humans in order to inspire violence. The chaos she inspired got her expelled from Heaven. When she reached hell she discovered her body had been twisted, where once she was beautiful now she’s a venomous serpent. To this day she still whispers to mortals, inspiring them to worship her and destroy their own worlds.

The Tarnished Trumpet: Once a great Herald for the Angelic Hosts the Tarnished trumpet was tasked with directing the appearance of the heavenly host on mortal worlds. He was so sure of his skills that he believed he deserved a promotion into an even greater role. When he did not get this promotion his anger simmered, and festered, until the other angels rebelled. He used his position to lead loyal angel against loyal angel. When he was cast down his silver armor, trumpet, and sword were Tarnished giving him his name. He now runs a war camp in hell where he refuses to believe he is fallen. Insanely he believes this is all a test of his skills before his promotion. He dragoons Demons, Daemons, and Mortals into his service, and leads them on missions against whoever he sees as his tormentor at the moment.

The Wings of Vengeance: The one who originally incited the fall from heaven The Wings of Vengeance served his masters as a killer. When horror had to be delivered upon anyone, the Wings of Vengeance carried out the act. When his masters agreed that Angels should protect and serve mortals The Wings of Vengeance refused. Such was his charisma that one third the angels in heaven sided with him. With the resulting war he nearly unmade existence. He led the Fallen to hell. There he waits, preparing for the day when he can restart his war on heaven.

The Mistress of the Spellweave: Was among the first angels to interface with mortals and allegedly taught them the first spells. She met the mortal Sorceress Ishatara and her lust for the mortal drove her to defy her masters. Ishatara used The Mistress to cement her own power on the mortal plane, and eventually became the first Lich using information the Mistress had been forbidden to give her. When The Mistress discovered she’d been used by her mortal lover she used her peerless mastery of magic to turn that world to ash. Exiled to hell for her actions the Mistress of the Spellweave continued her pattern of teaching lesser creatures magical power, now exchanging worship and freedom for the power. Either way it’s doubtless that The Mistress is among the most powerful spellcaster in any dimension.

Demon Lords / Ladies
Demon Lords are the rulers of hell. They control large swaths of territory and millions of souls a year pass through their fingers. They are the driving forces of Hell’s society forming the basis of Politics, Economics, and internal conflict. In reality it’s possible that some Demon Lords have the raw power of the Fallen, but their need for souls to gain more power drag them into the mud of politics, something none of the Fallen bother with anymore. In game terms Demon Lords and Ladies are generally Power Level 16+.

The Nightlord: Among Demon Lords one being is more feared than any of the Fallen, which is the Nightlord. Once a mortal mage, he became a powerful vampire, and eventually ascended, overnight if you ask a demon, to the position of Demon Lord. Many other lord tried to take advantage of this relative new comer, but quickly discovered that he had raw power to spare and was incredibly shrewd, always having three plans in any given situation. He currently resides in the Blood Manor, a palatial estate on an island deep inside the forest of eternal night. Supposedly one cannot even locate the Blood Manor unless the Nightlord wills it.

Mastema: The Demon Queen of Lust is one of the best politicians in hell having connections, one way or another, with almost every other Demon Lord in Hell. She gains her enormous power from the fact that her servants specialize in seducing mortals out of their souls. As such she has access to an enormous wealth of souls to use in various ways. She currently rules from the Velvet pit, a pleasure palace latterly crawling with all manner of creatures indulging in their basest instincts. She cements her alliances with other Demon Lords in the bedroom, such encounters have produces dozens of bastard offspring. Currently the most infamous is Kaydan, The Witch Princess, nearly a Demon Lord in her own right.

Flauros: Flauros was a medium-level demon who came to power during the Deep Wars by supplying The Steel Father with demonic magic and minions in exchange for the souls of him, his minions, and anyone they could sacrifice. Officially gaining the position of Demon Lord by murdering the infamous Flamebringer Flauros took on his power over fire and heat. He rules the Bloodpyre Flats of Hell, The Steel Father’s twisted, now totally demonic, soul as his advisor and slave. Most of his immediate servents also reflect his greatest triumphs, humanoid Magma Daemons made from the souls of Dwarves who died in the deep wars.

Madrok: Madrok is the King of Bulls. Long ago he won the souls of an army of Minotaurs. When they died he took their souls and twisted them into powerful new monsters called Bull Daemons. Bull Daemons proved to be nearly unstoppable engines of destruction and others began selling their souls for command over even a few. In this way Madrok gained more and more souls, using them to swell his force of Bull Daemons. Occasionally he elevates a Bull Daemon to the position of Demon in order to command his armies. Bull Demons are among the most blood thirsty warriors in hell and are rightly feared.

Tyrexxus: Tyrexxus is the Warlord of Hell, and based in the Iron City of Dis. One of the most feared Demon Lords in hell he gains his power through his standing army of Demons. Nearly a million strong the Company of Hatred gain strength the more of them stand together. While the army is well disciplined they go berserk in battle without commanders, and in fact, become more dangerous. Tyrexxus maintains his power by sending members of the Company of Hatred to mortal worlds to earn souls for him. Currently he’s eying Madrok closely feeling the King of Bulls has begun to muscle in on his territory, and historically there’s been no better way to start a war between two demon lords.

Demon Princes / Princesses
This is a catch all term for those Demons not in direct service to a Demon Lord or Lady and have used this freedom to gain an exceptional amount of power. Many of these Demons may someday become Lords or Ladies given enough time and power. As such these beings command a lot of respect among their peers. In game terms Demon Princes and Princesses are generally around Power Level 12+.

Eligor: The Silver Knight was once a knight to the Nightlord, but betrayed him when another Demon Lord made an attempt on his life. The Nightlord survived and took revenge on his traitorous employee by turning his body to ash and imprisoned his spirit in his armor. The armor was discarded until a passing demon took it and wore it. Spikes and hooks inside the armor, previously unseen, dug into the demon’s flesh killing it. Eligor took over control of the Demon’s body. Since that day Eligor has worked as a Hero Killer.

Kaydan: the Witch Princess is the illegitimate daughter of Mastema and an unknown father. She has her mother’s wild abandon and a great deal of raw magical power. She represents wildness, not the beautiful serene of nature, instead she represents the wild storm, the savagery of a beast, the fear of a dark forest at night. She seems to have no desire to become a Demon Lord, instead spending her time wandering the most dangerous forests of hell following whatever whim comes to her.

Bune: One of the Fallen Bune is best known for his sly tongue, and his desire to “slum” amongst demons and mortals unlike other Fallen. Bune is allegedly the one who talked the Wings of Vengeance into defying his masters and has gone on to incite all manner of death and destruction with his silver tongue. He now simply moves back and forth all over hell and mortal worlds attempting to drive more and more people into embracing their darkest instincts. His goal seems not to be to increase his own powers, but to deprive his former masters of virtuous souls by making them fodder for demons.

Salem: A Demoness who served Mastema for centuries stealing the souls of mortals Salem built much of her power base by skimming off of the top, taking souls that had been claimed in Mastema’s name and using them to augment her personal powers. When she was discovered she escaped to a mortal plane where she started a cult based on a dark Nihilistic philosophy. Those who take part in the cult give their souls to Salem and they sacrifice mortals in her name. Amongst the Princes and Princesses Salem is the closest to becoming a Demon Lord, and Mastema aims to keep that from happening.

[gerbilattack]

very excellent, both setting and game!