Aspect of Ankou [Archive] - Wizards Community

Aspect of Ankou [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Obsidianjaerc
10-08-07, 07:07 PM Ankou, Archduke of Souls
This once-lord of souls, smiles on those who would defy the gods. This shepard grants the binder the ability to dance the line between life and death, reave apart itself magic itself, and resist those who would control him.

http://www.dotradical.net//jaerc/ankousseal.jpg

Legend
Little is know of this Faerie psychopomp, even to those who would study or bind him. The libraries of the Cosmos seem shorn of any information they once held and The Courts themselves are silent on the matter. Ancient tomes say that Ankou was a powerful member of the Unseelie Court and saw to guiding spirits that others would seem lesser, the vermin, plants, and animals to Landinion for their afterlife. He knew that they did not belong on the ill named Beastlands, returned to the Cornerstones, nor in the grasp of pretender Powers. So, too did this master of death bring fey and those chosen mortals to the elfin land. And so for all the ages of the Comsos, Anknou held his ancient duty. But not without antagonizing many.

It is well known that the Divine and the Faerie clash, but the antagonism witnessed there was but a sampling of Ankou's enemies. Nether lords, Dukes of Hell, Yaldabaoth kings, Princes of the Sarim, and Defenders of the Holy alike despised he who would lay claim to their souls. A decade ago one champion arose, wreathed in tattered shadows and tore a void through the ranks of The Shepherds until he came to Ankou. Unlike the battles of epic tales, this conflict was over in an instant. Nothing remained of the Archduke save dark steam and darker blood.

But such a being does not swiftly fade from the Cosmos and recently binders have found Anknou's vestige, and he appears quite eager enable others to seek their vengeance even whilst he cannot seek his own.

Manifestation
A powerful gust of frigid wind begins to blow when the seal is finished. A shadow appears, cast from nowhere and from it ascends a night-black steam. As the wind howls the sound of heavy hooffalls rings out from the effervescent darkness. At once all sounds cease and a figure rises from the from the seal, his form scattering the mist. The profile revealed of a gaunt man in black, silver lined robes, face concealed both by a heavy hood and large tipped hat appears. He leans heavily on an ebony shepherds crook and turns to face the binder for a full minute. When at last he speaks the voice is a slow, strained whisper.

Vestige Level 8
Binding DC 38
Sign No matter what sort of environment you roam in, a faint shadow is cast on your face. Additionally, your appearance becomes attenuated and underfed.
Influence Ankou's influence makes you feel superior to others but with comes with hollow emotion of an ever present loss. You see death at every turn, yet are fatalistically at peace with it.
Special Requirement You must draw Ankou's seal on the Mortal Coil and must not be a worshiper of a divine or cosmic entity unless it is of Faerie.

Granted Abilities Ankou grants binders his perception and control over death, the spiritual resolve to resist the Cosmic and the physical, and the ability to tear apart magic

Their Eyes Were On The Grave (Su) As a swift action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity you may activate this ability, which lasts for the duration of the encounter. You can sense dying creatures, creatures soon to be born or die of old age (within the next 24 hours), creatures which have died within the last 24 hours, incorporeal creatures, and disembodied souls at a range of 30 feet. This sense does not pinpoint a creature. You can constantly discern of the health of those he can sense as if through deathwatch. If you concentrate for one full round, you may extend this sense out to 120 feet.

Resilient Soul Of The Wealds You are granted a +4 bonus on saving throws against mind-affecting effects, alignment-based effects, and effects which would imprison or banish you. Additionally you gain DR 10/cold iron.

Reaver Of The Weave Intoning a dread incantation as a standard action in the Asidhelalialey tongue you gain the ability to duplicate the effects of greater dispel magic/i] or [i]greater shadow evocation. Additionally for any spell or item you have successfully dispelled you gain knowledge as if you had cast analyze dweomer upon it or had succeeded on a Spellcraft check DC 31. After casting that spell you cannot use this ability again for 5 rounds.

Transcend The Turning Wheel Your body and soul seem to form one unit, a unit that is not eager to pass on. Immediately after you have died you return to life as if by the spell raise dead except you suffer no level, Constitution, or spell loss. You may only use this ability once per binding of Ankou and it requires a 250 XP expenditure on your part to activate.
Flamewarrior
10-08-07, 07:26 PM Jaerc, I'd say the full-round action seems excessive for detection, and the only offensive ability this gives is ... a rather problematic effect (figuring out how everyone's without all the continuous magic must be a pain) ... effectively once/encounter, so it isn't a lot of help after round 1.
Obsidianjaerc
10-08-07, 07:34 PM I see two solutions. Increase the range or decrease the initiation action. The former makes it more useful in out of combat situations, and the latter makes it better during a battle encounter. I am undecided as to which it should go with at the moment.

You seem to be referring to Reaver Of The Weave. To say that effectively all encounters end in less than 10 rounds (or more) even at 17th level is in my experience hardly accurate.

Finally, this was not intended to be a supremely offensive vestige. In fact quite the opposite. I am certain that any binder worth his salt would likely be dual binding someone else that does grant efficient attacks.

Thank you for your feedback.
Flamewarrior
10-08-07, 07:49 PM I see two solutions. Increase the range or decrease the initiation action. The former makes it more useful in out of combat situations, and the latter makes it better during a battle encounter. I am undecided as to which it should go with at the moment.What about "both"? Allow the tighter radius to be put up as a swift, make a wider one for the full-round, and allow choosing at use.

You seem to be referring to Reaver Of The Weave. To say that effectively all encounters end in less than 10 rounds (or more) even at 17th level is in my experience hardly accurate.IME, at no level battles go for much more than 5 rounds in general, except when they involve distance/unusual terrain condition (for starters, some that flight can't solve), which put a damper on short-ranged disjunction too.

Finally, this was not intended to be a supremely offensive vestige. In fact quite the opposite. I am certain that any binder worth his salt would likely be dual binding someone else that does grant efficient attacks.Taste issue: I tend to think vestiges are better as somewhat self-contained, as in: each gives a thematic set of attacks and defenses on its own, and people have more than one for versatility and/or bonus accumulation.

Thank you for your feedback.Glad to be of service.
Obsidianjaerc
10-08-07, 08:53 PM I like the both solution. Quite effective and thematic.

Additionally I am considering lowering it to greater, dispel and adding in an ability that grants greater shadow evocation once every five rounds.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Obsidianjaerc 10-08-07, 07:07 PM	Ankou, Archduke of Souls This once-lord of souls, smiles on those who would defy the gods. This shepard grants the binder the ability to dance the line between life and death, reave apart itself magic itself, and resist those who would control him. http://www.dotradical.net//jaerc/ankousseal.jpg Legend Little is know of this Faerie psychopomp, even to those who would study or bind him. The libraries of the Cosmos seem shorn of any information they once held and The Courts themselves are silent on the matter. Ancient tomes say that Ankou was a powerful member of the Unseelie Court and saw to guiding spirits that others would seem lesser, the vermin, plants, and animals to Landinion for their afterlife. He knew that they did not belong on the ill named Beastlands, returned to the Cornerstones, nor in the grasp of pretender Powers. So, too did this master of death bring fey and those chosen mortals to the elfin land. And so for all the ages of the Comsos, Anknou held his ancient duty. But not without antagonizing many. It is well known that the Divine and the Faerie clash, but the antagonism witnessed there was but a sampling of Ankou's enemies. Nether lords, Dukes of Hell, Yaldabaoth kings, Princes of the Sarim, and Defenders of the Holy alike despised he who would lay claim to their souls. A decade ago one champion arose, wreathed in tattered shadows and tore a void through the ranks of The Shepherds until he came to Ankou. Unlike the battles of epic tales, this conflict was over in an instant. Nothing remained of the Archduke save dark steam and darker blood. But such a being does not swiftly fade from the Cosmos and recently binders have found Anknou's vestige, and he appears quite eager enable others to seek their vengeance even whilst he cannot seek his own. Manifestation A powerful gust of frigid wind begins to blow when the seal is finished. A shadow appears, cast from nowhere and from it ascends a night-black steam. As the wind howls the sound of heavy hooffalls rings out from the effervescent darkness. At once all sounds cease and a figure rises from the from the seal, his form scattering the mist. The profile revealed of a gaunt man in black, silver lined robes, face concealed both by a heavy hood and large tipped hat appears. He leans heavily on an ebony shepherds crook and turns to face the binder for a full minute. When at last he speaks the voice is a slow, strained whisper. Vestige Level 8 Binding DC 38 Sign No matter what sort of environment you roam in, a faint shadow is cast on your face. Additionally, your appearance becomes attenuated and underfed. Influence Ankou's influence makes you feel superior to others but with comes with hollow emotion of an ever present loss. You see death at every turn, yet are fatalistically at peace with it. Special Requirement You must draw Ankou's seal on the Mortal Coil and must not be a worshiper of a divine or cosmic entity unless it is of Faerie. Granted Abilities Ankou grants binders his perception and control over death, the spiritual resolve to resist the Cosmic and the physical, and the ability to tear apart magic Their Eyes Were On The Grave (Su) As a swift action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity you may activate this ability, which lasts for the duration of the encounter. You can sense dying creatures, creatures soon to be born or die of old age (within the next 24 hours), creatures which have died within the last 24 hours, incorporeal creatures, and disembodied souls at a range of 30 feet. This sense does not pinpoint a creature. You can constantly discern of the health of those he can sense as if through deathwatch. If you concentrate for one full round, you may extend this sense out to 120 feet. Resilient Soul Of The Wealds You are granted a +4 bonus on saving throws against mind-affecting effects, alignment-based effects, and effects which would imprison or banish you. Additionally you gain DR 10/cold iron. Reaver Of The Weave Intoning a dread incantation as a standard action in the Asidhelalialey tongue you gain the ability to duplicate the effects of greater dispel magic/i] or [i]greater shadow evocation. Additionally for any spell or item you have successfully dispelled you gain knowledge as if you had cast analyze dweomer upon it or had succeeded on a Spellcraft check DC 31. After casting that spell you cannot use this ability again for 5 rounds. Transcend The Turning Wheel Your body and soul seem to form one unit, a unit that is not eager to pass on. Immediately after you have died you return to life as if by the spell raise dead except you suffer no level, Constitution, or spell loss. You may only use this ability once per binding of Ankou and it requires a 250 XP expenditure on your part to activate.
Flamewarrior 10-08-07, 07:26 PM	Jaerc, I'd say the full-round action seems excessive for detection, and the only offensive ability this gives is ... a rather problematic effect (figuring out how everyone's without all the continuous magic must be a pain) ... effectively once/encounter, so it isn't a lot of help after round 1.
Obsidianjaerc 10-08-07, 07:34 PM	I see two solutions. Increase the range or decrease the initiation action. The former makes it more useful in out of combat situations, and the latter makes it better during a battle encounter. I am undecided as to which it should go with at the moment. You seem to be referring to Reaver Of The Weave. To say that effectively all encounters end in less than 10 rounds (or more) even at 17th level is in my experience hardly accurate. Finally, this was not intended to be a supremely offensive vestige. In fact quite the opposite. I am certain that any binder worth his salt would likely be dual binding someone else that does grant efficient attacks. Thank you for your feedback.
Flamewarrior 10-08-07, 07:49 PM	I see two solutions. Increase the range or decrease the initiation action. The former makes it more useful in out of combat situations, and the latter makes it better during a battle encounter. I am undecided as to which it should go with at the moment.What about "both"? Allow the tighter radius to be put up as a swift, make a wider one for the full-round, and allow choosing at use. You seem to be referring to Reaver Of The Weave. To say that effectively all encounters end in less than 10 rounds (or more) even at 17th level is in my experience hardly accurate.IME, at no level battles go for much more than 5 rounds in general, except when they involve distance/unusual terrain condition (for starters, some that flight can't solve), which put a damper on short-ranged disjunction too. Finally, this was not intended to be a supremely offensive vestige. In fact quite the opposite. I am certain that any binder worth his salt would likely be dual binding someone else that does grant efficient attacks.Taste issue: I tend to think vestiges are better as somewhat self-contained, as in: each gives a thematic set of attacks and defenses on its own, and people have more than one for versatility and/or bonus accumulation. Thank you for your feedback.Glad to be of service.
Obsidianjaerc 10-08-07, 08:53 PM	I like the both solution. Quite effective and thematic. Additionally I am considering lowering it to greater, dispel and adding in an ability that grants greater shadow evocation once every five rounds.