The River Styx [Archive] - Wizards Community

The River Styx [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ank
06-04-07, 04:53 PM Ok, I'm about to get started in a campain of pirates that ride along the River Styx. Now, I don't have the planar handbook, and as such don't know what properties the river has (I also know not to ask for said information). What I do know is that touching the water is a definately bad idea. To this end, I was wondering if there was an item (within the reasonable price range of a 9th level charecter) that would prevent the harmful effects of the river Styx.
Sorcen_Anenooata
06-04-07, 07:52 PM The Styx drains you of your memories essentially. If you fall in you become an amnesiac and could forget your entire life depending on how long you stay in there.

Anyway to defend against this, maybe some kind of headband or bandana (or a hat that your character would be very protective over) that will defend against memory drain or whatever. I say just make something up that you bartered with a devil to get the special anti-Styx effects hat.
TurnCloak_Kobold
06-04-07, 08:09 PM nice, but about the only way to get an epic level item like that, especially one whos entire existance is because of the river styxe, is to wish one from pazuzu, the giant birdy. ^^

of coarse all pazuzu wants is your imortal soul, or an act so evil that the only one who would ever want you is pazuzu.

coarse if the DM is nice you can barter with him/her instead and only have to pay out a certain amount of gold, though i like the role play facto of dealing with pazuzu, then aain i play a lot of evil chars, so the whole owing my soul thing or doing evil acts dosent bother y chars much.
Taeldrin Laesrash
06-04-07, 08:21 PM Such items aren't hard to come by. I remember seeing a mid-level spell (or maybe even a warlock invocation) which blocked the effect (I'm thinking a 3rd-4th level spell or so).

Anyway, sailing the Styx is incredibly difficult, anyone who's not a Marraenoloth would have to be a sailor of nigh-legendary skill. The river twists and turns often, both physically and metaphysically, and you're exposed to the effects of numerous Lower Planes. Not to mention that you're traveling on an infinitely deep river, and there's no telling what's down there (Not just fiendish whales; I'm talking drowned archfiends or even more incomprehensible beings).
TurnCloak_Kobold
06-04-07, 08:41 PM and there's no telling what's down there (Not just fiendish whales; I'm talking drowned archfiends or even more incomprehensible beings).

*cough* styx drake *cough cough*
Lord_Gareth
06-04-07, 09:21 PM How about an ironclad ship that naturally repels extraplanar effects (aren't special materials fun?) and enough firepower to level a small mountian? That sound like something that can take care of itself?

:P
TurnCloak_Kobold
06-04-07, 09:26 PM but there are points on the river that are too small for anything except a small raft to pass, and so a iornclad anything would be impractical, unless you had something incredibly strong to lift the boat out and deposite it elsewhere. and that something would likewise need to be imune to the river, so it was in little danger of touching its sides, which would be wet from the river.
Shemeska the Marauder
06-04-07, 09:26 PM Strike a deal with Charon. You can trust him. I'll even vouch for him. :D
TurnCloak_Kobold
06-04-07, 09:28 PM XD i trust no one in that area...unles there a dwarf, and even then i mus question it...>.>
Lord_Gareth
06-04-07, 09:30 PM Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. I grew up in 2nd Edition, and I don't care what you say, anything scary in 3.5 was a helluva lot scarier in 2nd. I'm rather miffed that Ank didn't decide to trust his DM (me) on a DICELESS RP FORUM.

And incidentally, we have ways to lift the boat. You don't need to rulemonger me - I see enough of that around these forums. Just let me do my job. And besides, they're PIRATES. We're plying shipping and trading routes through the Abyss and the Lower Planes, and I'm fairly certain that anything big enough to pack a Demonic Juggernaut can handle our little predator.
Sorcen_Anenooata
06-04-07, 09:31 PM (Inside joke) The ghost straightens up and scratches his head and tries to hide the crewman behind his incorporeal body, "Uhh Captain Zach, I wont givin' advice to the crew, no worries."

OOC: The campaign is starting off in Baator so bargaining with Pazuzzu is a bit off I think and considering the ship will be making war with the Abyss as its first mission, that kind of adds to the problem of bargaining with the demon lord of the skies.

Good points, Taeldrin.
TurnCloak_Kobold
06-04-07, 09:39 PM schmee, im just trying to solve the problem, didnt mean anything by it.

thats how i would have solved the problem, but *shrugs*....
ank
06-04-07, 09:42 PM No, no, no, you have me all wrong Lord Gareth. I have full confidence in both you and your ship. My little problem involves the fact that I (rather stupidly) took the Aquatic Adaptation invocation in order to swim in the water, aviod detection, sabotoge enemy ships, perhaps perform a ritual or two...but then I had a sudden, very intelligent, thought: THIS IS THE RIVER STYX!!!!
Lord_Gareth
06-04-07, 09:50 PM You'll be perfectly fine within 50 feet of the ship. Now, BEYOND THAT, you're totally screwed, but within that 50 feet the Styx is just normal water. The ship is entirely clad in a kind of Dreavarrian iron - Grounding Steel. This thing nulls out planar effects near it, surpressing them until it passes.
Sorcen_Anenooata
06-04-07, 09:51 PM Sorry if I offended you TurnCloak_Kobol. No offense meant. I was just giving you the information that Ank had not mentioned just to clarify a bit.
ank
06-04-07, 09:54 PM Ahh, very good then. Thank you for the clarification Lord Gareth, I don't have to worry (so much) about that anymore. That being settled, I await the start of the campain.
Taeldrin Laesrash
06-04-07, 10:57 PM No, no, no, you have me all wrong Lord Gareth. I have full confidence in both you and your ship. My little problem involves the fact that I (rather stupidly) took the Aquatic Adaptation invocation in order to swim in the water, aviod detection, sabotoge enemy ships, perhaps perform a ritual or two...but then I had a sudden, very intelligent, thought: THIS IS THE RIVER STYX!!!!

THIS IS RIVER STYX!! Yeah, that would've been great with a picture of that...

Anyway, my comment about unimaginable beasts was mostly there to inspire. Real active dangers include Blood War flotillas and similar supernatural naval warfare. You'll be caught up trying to navigate without getting blown to bits by fiends, regardless of how strong the boat is. As far as Styx denizens go, there's stuff like stithids ( http://www.mimir.net/monsters/stithid.shtml), Styx dragons, forgetful snappers (http://www.mimir.net/monsters/forgetfulsnapper.shtml), Stygian memories (http://www.mimir.net/monsters/stygianmemory.shtml), and fiendish aquatic creatures.

As far as navigating the tricky stuff...Well, Charon is an option, but then you'd be dealing with even more fiends (A 'loth's deal always has very fine print). Magical flight is an option, but you might have to fly for a while. Finally, you might just have to believe that the river's bigger. These are the planes.
TurnCloak_Kobold
06-04-07, 11:07 PM Sorry if I offended you TurnCloak_Kobol. No offense meant. I was just giving you the information that Ank had not mentioned just to clarify a bit.

no offense taken, amater of fact i thought i had offended. either way i have learned sme things as well, some things maybe i can use in my campaigns as well....>.> always did want to use the river tactically, maybe some reaping maughler dwarvin shock troopers with the metal mentioned before on there person, ones that hook pcs and drag them under, tying them to the floor of the river while they forget certain important things, such as breething underwater is not meant for surface folk.
TurnCloak_Kobold
06-04-07, 11:11 PM >.> i suppose i do get a little hot under the collar about the styx river though, due to a rather stupid encounter wih an orc ninja and his continued dunking in the river...its amazing how he could recall nothing of his previose life, yet when it came right down to doing battle, he could still nerif charge, go etheral, and wield his full blade to full effect while my char. one of my only spell casters, was limited by the fact that my spell book was daken, thank you denizens of the river, and i was operating under less sleep time than i needed to get my spells back anyway.
GhoulKing
06-04-07, 11:36 PM As far as Styx denizens go, there's stuff like stithids ( http://www.mimir.net/monsters/stithid.shtml), Styx dragons, forgetful snappers (http://www.mimir.net/monsters/forgetfulsnapper.shtml), Stygian memories (http://www.mimir.net/monsters/stygianmemory.shtml), and fiendish aquatic creatures.

As far as navigating the tricky stuff...Well, Charon is an option, but then you'd be dealing with even more fiends (A 'loth's deal always has very fine print).

And Charon will appear, fully statted out in Dungeon 149 by yours truly. While the Styx is only one section of that adventure, there's also some linnorms that may be of interest. Worth checking out.
Shemeska the Marauder
06-05-07, 03:54 AM And Charon will appear, fully statted out in Dungeon 149 by yours truly. While the Styx is only one section of that adventure, there's also some linnorms that may be of interest. Worth checking out.

So Wolfgang, if you're able to tell us, how much about Charon were you able to fit into the adventure, and were you able to build up on his history and motivations any from Ed Bonny's 2e article that tackled him and the other altraloths?

So looking forward to this issue.

http://arcanofox.foxpaws.net/shemmysmile.gif
ank
06-05-07, 07:19 AM Anyway, my comment about unimaginable beasts was mostly there to inspire. Real active dangers include Blood War flotillas and similar supernatural naval warfare. You'll be caught up trying to navigate without getting blown to bits by fiends, regardless of how strong the boat is. As far as Styx denizens go, there's stuff like stithids ( http://www.mimir.net/monsters/stithid.shtml), Styx dragons, forgetful snappers (http://www.mimir.net/monsters/forgetfulsnapper.shtml), Stygian memories (http://www.mimir.net/monsters/stygianmemory.shtml), and fiendish aquatic creatures.

Why do you think we have so many volunteers? :P We're gluttons for punishment :D
RavinRay
06-05-07, 09:40 AM While the Styx is only one section of that adventure, there's also some linnorms that may be of interest.
Which linnorms? The sea linnorm just appeared in Dragon #356, and the only other aquatic linnorm that I know of is the (possibly unique) one descended from Jormungandr the Midgard Serpent.

There's also Sekolah and his sharks (could the terlen be one of them?) and sahuagin in the Baatorian stretches of the Styx.
GhoulKing
06-05-07, 10:51 AM How much about Charon were you able to fit into the adventure, and were you able to build up on his history and motivations any from Ed Bonny's 2e article that tackled him and the other altraloths?

Gah! I was sadly unaware of Ed Bonny's article. Damn.
GhoulKing
06-05-07, 10:55 AM Which linnorms? The sea linnorm just appeared in Dragon #356, and the only other aquatic linnorm that I know of is the (possibly unique) one descended from Jormungandr the Midgard Serpent.

I can't really comment just yet. I think they're a fine fit for the adventure, and (depending on how they are run of course) likely a good challenge for the party.
ripvanwormer
06-05-07, 07:04 PM Gah! I was sadly unaware of Ed Bonny's article. Damn.

Dragon Annual #2. For future reference.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ank 06-04-07, 04:53 PM	Ok, I'm about to get started in a campain of pirates that ride along the River Styx. Now, I don't have the planar handbook, and as such don't know what properties the river has (I also know not to ask for said information). What I do know is that touching the water is a definately bad idea. To this end, I was wondering if there was an item (within the reasonable price range of a 9th level charecter) that would prevent the harmful effects of the river Styx.
Sorcen_Anenooata 06-04-07, 07:52 PM	The Styx drains you of your memories essentially. If you fall in you become an amnesiac and could forget your entire life depending on how long you stay in there. Anyway to defend against this, maybe some kind of headband or bandana (or a hat that your character would be very protective over) that will defend against memory drain or whatever. I say just make something up that you bartered with a devil to get the special anti-Styx effects hat.
TurnCloak_Kobold 06-04-07, 08:09 PM	nice, but about the only way to get an epic level item like that, especially one whos entire existance is because of the river styxe, is to wish one from pazuzu, the giant birdy. ^^ of coarse all pazuzu wants is your imortal soul, or an act so evil that the only one who would ever want you is pazuzu. coarse if the DM is nice you can barter with him/her instead and only have to pay out a certain amount of gold, though i like the role play facto of dealing with pazuzu, then aain i play a lot of evil chars, so the whole owing my soul thing or doing evil acts dosent bother y chars much.
Taeldrin Laesrash 06-04-07, 08:21 PM	Such items aren't hard to come by. I remember seeing a mid-level spell (or maybe even a warlock invocation) which blocked the effect (I'm thinking a 3rd-4th level spell or so). Anyway, sailing the Styx is incredibly difficult, anyone who's not a Marraenoloth would have to be a sailor of nigh-legendary skill. The river twists and turns often, both physically and metaphysically, and you're exposed to the effects of numerous Lower Planes. Not to mention that you're traveling on an infinitely deep river, and there's no telling what's down there (Not just fiendish whales; I'm talking drowned archfiends or even more incomprehensible beings).
TurnCloak_Kobold 06-04-07, 08:41 PM	and there's no telling what's down there (Not just fiendish whales; I'm talking drowned archfiends or even more incomprehensible beings). cough styx drake cough cough
Lord_Gareth 06-04-07, 09:21 PM	How about an ironclad ship that naturally repels extraplanar effects (aren't special materials fun?) and enough firepower to level a small mountian? That sound like something that can take care of itself? :P
TurnCloak_Kobold 06-04-07, 09:26 PM	but there are points on the river that are too small for anything except a small raft to pass, and so a iornclad anything would be impractical, unless you had something incredibly strong to lift the boat out and deposite it elsewhere. and that something would likewise need to be imune to the river, so it was in little danger of touching its sides, which would be wet from the river.
Shemeska the Marauder 06-04-07, 09:26 PM	Strike a deal with Charon. You can trust him. I'll even vouch for him. :D
TurnCloak_Kobold 06-04-07, 09:28 PM	XD i trust no one in that area...unles there a dwarf, and even then i mus question it...>.>
Lord_Gareth 06-04-07, 09:30 PM	Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. I grew up in 2nd Edition, and I don't care what you say, anything scary in 3.5 was a helluva lot scarier in 2nd. I'm rather miffed that Ank didn't decide to trust his DM (me) on a DICELESS RP FORUM. And incidentally, we have ways to lift the boat. You don't need to rulemonger me - I see enough of that around these forums. Just let me do my job. And besides, they're PIRATES. We're plying shipping and trading routes through the Abyss and the Lower Planes, and I'm fairly certain that anything big enough to pack a Demonic Juggernaut can handle our little predator.
Sorcen_Anenooata 06-04-07, 09:31 PM	(Inside joke) The ghost straightens up and scratches his head and tries to hide the crewman behind his incorporeal body, "Uhh Captain Zach, I wont givin' advice to the crew, no worries." OOC: The campaign is starting off in Baator so bargaining with Pazuzzu is a bit off I think and considering the ship will be making war with the Abyss as its first mission, that kind of adds to the problem of bargaining with the demon lord of the skies. Good points, Taeldrin.
TurnCloak_Kobold 06-04-07, 09:39 PM	schmee, im just trying to solve the problem, didnt mean anything by it. thats how i would have solved the problem, but shrugs....
ank 06-04-07, 09:42 PM	No, no, no, you have me all wrong Lord Gareth. I have full confidence in both you and your ship. My little problem involves the fact that I (rather stupidly) took the Aquatic Adaptation invocation in order to swim in the water, aviod detection, sabotoge enemy ships, perhaps perform a ritual or two...but then I had a sudden, very intelligent, thought: THIS IS THE RIVER STYX!!!!
Lord_Gareth 06-04-07, 09:50 PM	You'll be perfectly fine within 50 feet of the ship. Now, BEYOND THAT, you're totally screwed, but within that 50 feet the Styx is just normal water. The ship is entirely clad in a kind of Dreavarrian iron - Grounding Steel. This thing nulls out planar effects near it, surpressing them until it passes.
Sorcen_Anenooata 06-04-07, 09:51 PM	Sorry if I offended you TurnCloak_Kobol. No offense meant. I was just giving you the information that Ank had not mentioned just to clarify a bit.
ank 06-04-07, 09:54 PM	Ahh, very good then. Thank you for the clarification Lord Gareth, I don't have to worry (so much) about that anymore. That being settled, I await the start of the campain.
Taeldrin Laesrash 06-04-07, 10:57 PM	No, no, no, you have me all wrong Lord Gareth. I have full confidence in both you and your ship. My little problem involves the fact that I (rather stupidly) took the Aquatic Adaptation invocation in order to swim in the water, aviod detection, sabotoge enemy ships, perhaps perform a ritual or two...but then I had a sudden, very intelligent, thought: THIS IS THE RIVER STYX!!!! THIS IS RIVER STYX!! Yeah, that would've been great with a picture of that... Anyway, my comment about unimaginable beasts was mostly there to inspire. Real active dangers include Blood War flotillas and similar supernatural naval warfare. You'll be caught up trying to navigate without getting blown to bits by fiends, regardless of how strong the boat is. As far as Styx denizens go, there's stuff like stithids ( http://www.mimir.net/monsters/stithid.shtml), Styx dragons, forgetful snappers (http://www.mimir.net/monsters/forgetfulsnapper.shtml), Stygian memories (http://www.mimir.net/monsters/stygianmemory.shtml), and fiendish aquatic creatures. As far as navigating the tricky stuff...Well, Charon is an option, but then you'd be dealing with even more fiends (A 'loth's deal always has very fine print). Magical flight is an option, but you might have to fly for a while. Finally, you might just have to believe that the river's bigger. These are the planes.
TurnCloak_Kobold 06-04-07, 11:07 PM	Sorry if I offended you TurnCloak_Kobol. No offense meant. I was just giving you the information that Ank had not mentioned just to clarify a bit. no offense taken, amater of fact i thought i had offended. either way i have learned sme things as well, some things maybe i can use in my campaigns as well....>.> always did want to use the river tactically, maybe some reaping maughler dwarvin shock troopers with the metal mentioned before on there person, ones that hook pcs and drag them under, tying them to the floor of the river while they forget certain important things, such as breething underwater is not meant for surface folk.
TurnCloak_Kobold 06-04-07, 11:11 PM	>.> i suppose i do get a little hot under the collar about the styx river though, due to a rather stupid encounter wih an orc ninja and his continued dunking in the river...its amazing how he could recall nothing of his previose life, yet when it came right down to doing battle, he could still nerif charge, go etheral, and wield his full blade to full effect while my char. one of my only spell casters, was limited by the fact that my spell book was daken, thank you denizens of the river, and i was operating under less sleep time than i needed to get my spells back anyway.
GhoulKing 06-04-07, 11:36 PM	As far as Styx denizens go, there's stuff like stithids ( http://www.mimir.net/monsters/stithid.shtml), Styx dragons, forgetful snappers (http://www.mimir.net/monsters/forgetfulsnapper.shtml), Stygian memories (http://www.mimir.net/monsters/stygianmemory.shtml), and fiendish aquatic creatures. As far as navigating the tricky stuff...Well, Charon is an option, but then you'd be dealing with even more fiends (A 'loth's deal always has very fine print). And Charon will appear, fully statted out in Dungeon 149 by yours truly. While the Styx is only one section of that adventure, there's also some linnorms that may be of interest. Worth checking out.
Shemeska the Marauder 06-05-07, 03:54 AM	And Charon will appear, fully statted out in Dungeon 149 by yours truly. While the Styx is only one section of that adventure, there's also some linnorms that may be of interest. Worth checking out. So Wolfgang, if you're able to tell us, how much about Charon were you able to fit into the adventure, and were you able to build up on his history and motivations any from Ed Bonny's 2e article that tackled him and the other altraloths? So looking forward to this issue. http://arcanofox.foxpaws.net/shemmysmile.gif
ank 06-05-07, 07:19 AM	Anyway, my comment about unimaginable beasts was mostly there to inspire. Real active dangers include Blood War flotillas and similar supernatural naval warfare. You'll be caught up trying to navigate without getting blown to bits by fiends, regardless of how strong the boat is. As far as Styx denizens go, there's stuff like stithids ( http://www.mimir.net/monsters/stithid.shtml), Styx dragons, forgetful snappers (http://www.mimir.net/monsters/forgetfulsnapper.shtml), Stygian memories (http://www.mimir.net/monsters/stygianmemory.shtml), and fiendish aquatic creatures. Why do you think we have so many volunteers? :P We're gluttons for punishment :D
RavinRay 06-05-07, 09:40 AM	While the Styx is only one section of that adventure, there's also some linnorms that may be of interest. Which linnorms? The sea linnorm just appeared in Dragon #356, and the only other aquatic linnorm that I know of is the (possibly unique) one descended from Jormungandr the Midgard Serpent. There's also Sekolah and his sharks (could the terlen be one of them?) and sahuagin in the Baatorian stretches of the Styx.
GhoulKing 06-05-07, 10:51 AM	How much about Charon were you able to fit into the adventure, and were you able to build up on his history and motivations any from Ed Bonny's 2e article that tackled him and the other altraloths? Gah! I was sadly unaware of Ed Bonny's article. Damn.
GhoulKing 06-05-07, 10:55 AM	Which linnorms? The sea linnorm just appeared in Dragon #356, and the only other aquatic linnorm that I know of is the (possibly unique) one descended from Jormungandr the Midgard Serpent. I can't really comment just yet. I think they're a fine fit for the adventure, and (depending on how they are run of course) likely a good challenge for the party.
ripvanwormer 06-05-07, 07:04 PM	Gah! I was sadly unaware of Ed Bonny's article. Damn. Dragon Annual #2. For future reference.