"Go to the sign of Marvel's Axe, a dubious inn on the edge of the Thieves Quarter, in the City of Greyhawk, and look to your own wrist. If you perceive a bracelet and dangling dice, watch for the next throw in the war between Law and Chaos and be prepared to follow the compelling geas." -Signal

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

The Gray Papers - Agone, Delayed Damage


The Gray Papers is a book that I purchased and have not done more that a cursory look over on. The purpose of the book is to help the EG (DM) expand the setting of the Twilight Realms. This is done through three means in the book. The first is by providing a set of guidelines for creating and also evolving a realm. I like the passage from the back of the book "Domains are like mortals...eventually they die". The book also provides a number of realms that have already been designed which can be dropped into a campaign. Finally it provides templates for NPC creation. The book also includes a drama which is always a nice addition.

As I have said Agone is a game I have not had a chance to explore in any great detail but am fascinated with. I think the book sounds like something that could be used even if one is not playing the system though. The creation of what the game calls realms is something I struggle with. Just the examples they provide on the back cover blurb would be enough for me to pick the book up and mine it for ideas. As with the other books I have written about in the system they can be picked up for a song basically so why not roll the dice.


Published: 2001
Pages: 144

From the back cover:

New intrigues abound!

Twin medusae rule together over the land of Scarletstone, yet they are immortal enemies...

Suleïdin's cravan relentlessly hunts Phoenix Flames across the desert of Keshe...

Holy Post is threatened by the menacing shadow of the Liturgicals... And who will stand in the way of the Lyphanian Horde?

Explore ten unique Domains, from Lightning-Dragon crest to the Barony of Arboline. in these exotic locales, players can find many new manifestations of the Masque, and perhaps even a little hope in their ongoing battle.

Domains are like mortals, they come to life, they struggle from day to day, and eventually they die.

The Gray Papers contain secret reports from the eminences grise, who have traveled throughout Harmundia. Herin are detailed a wide variety of Domains: baronies, schools of war, a caravan and even a simple haven. Explore their histories, points of interest, important personalities and the secret plots that threaten to destroy them.

These are ready-to-play lands, ideal for adventurous jaunts or long-term campaigns. Best of all, for each place you will find unique assets and faults to help you create a detailed background for your players' Troupe that is completely interwove with the storyline!

The Gray Papers includes Domain creation and management rules. This sourcebook also contains descriptions of numerous occupations that can be found throughout Harmundia. Finally, a lengthy Drama will lead your inspired through three different Domains that are mysteriously connected...

The shadowy path into the Domains and intrigues of the Twilight Realms begins here...




Spell:

Delayed Damage


Level: Third
Range: 9"
Duration: Special
Area of Effect: One Creature
Components: V
Casting Time: 1 Segment
Saving Throw: None

When this spell is cast the magic user will cause the recipient of the spell to only suffer half of the damage they would normally suffer for the duration of the spell. The mitigated damage will eventually catch up with the recipient at some point though.

The spell will reduce the damage taken by the recipient for a number of rounds equal to either the casters intelligence or the constitution of the recipient based on which ever is the greater of the two. The DM will need to record the damage taken as the damage is halved with the initial damage being rounded down and the delayed damage being rounded up.

The delayed damage will be held off for one turn plus a number of rounds equal to the casters level. The caster can end the delay at any time though. When the spell expires in addition to the damage the recipient will suffer one point of damage for every three rounds the damage was delayed.

Disclaimer: The spells that you will see, for how ever long the write ups last, were all written up or conceived of back in the 80's so the terminology may not appropriate for anything other than 1e and depending on how well I did back then it may be slightly off for that as well. If there is any duplication of spells that exist now it is most likely I wrote mine first :) Please feel free to comment on them but try not to be too hard on me. If anyone wishes to use these in anything they print please let me know in advance and all I ask is proper credit.

1 comment:

Jason Zavoda said...

I have these books on my shelf and have only read the campaign background material, but found it extremely intriguing. Reading your posts has made me put them on the top of my stack of 'to read' books.

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