Lords of Dust [Archive] - Wizards Community

Lords of Dust [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
DargonSwift
06-16-06, 09:11 AM If the children of Khyber, the demons, are immortal, what happens to the rakshasa when they are slain? From what I've read, it says the couatl had to use the silver flame, through a sacrifice of their own lives, to force the demons into Khyber dragonshards.

My main delimma is that I want to use the Lords of Dust, specifically an advanced rakshasa, as a reoccuring villian.

Back story (skip if you like):
The basic adventure plot centers around locating a flying ziggurat that fled Xen'drik just before the dragon's decimated the giants. A cloud giant spirit mage stole a relic, called Khyber's Claw, from his people and fled north into Southwestern Khorvaire. This item, and another called "the Heart of Eberron", were the devices used to unleash the great cataclysm on the Quori (in my campaign). The elves of the Undying Court have sent one of their living agents out in search of this flying ziggurat, and the artifact, so that it might be secured in the vaults of the Undying Court. The problem, for the players, is that there's been no information about this lost ziggurat for 40,000 years. They believe its somewhere in The Shadow Marches, Droaam, or possibly even Breland, but there are few who can aid them in their quest. One such person, an elvish noble with a passion for ancient Xen'drik, and a lost flying ziggurat in particular, might be able to aid them, if they can get in to see her. Unfortunately for them, she's interested because she's a the rakshasa mentioned above, and seeks the artifact so she can use its destructive power.

The PCs have had one adventure so far, and are one up on her. They've intercepted a planinum disk, a giant-sized amulet, that was due to be delivered to this 'noble'. Their goal was to use the amulet to gain an audience with her, but now they suspect, due to the elven spirit mage in the party, that this amulet may have been created by the very giant they're looking for.

Now, depending on roleplaying, they may end up working with this elf to further their mutual goals, though her's will be cleverly downplayed, and she will likely reap the real reward (as far as she's concerned). However, one of the players is a Church Inquisitor, with all sorts of powers to penetrate the rakshasa's illusions and deceptions. Its only a matter of time before he does so, and they are forced to confront the demon. She would be a tough battle, since she's well guarded, but the players will undoubtedly win (don't they always). I want this villain to return at various points in the story, so she will likely die physically, but live on spiritually - eventually possessing a new form and assuming it as her own. She'll probably instigate the party for the "murder" of the elf noble as well (bwa ha ha).

Any input or links to this information would be appreciated.

-D
id4698
06-16-06, 09:30 AM I would say mate...that even if you can't find anything that details rules for this, just go with it and make it happen anyways.
I really like your adventure plot by the way. It sounds really fun, and seems to have alot of potential to keep people exploring.
Syltorian
06-16-06, 09:43 AM If the children of Khyber, the demons, are immortal, what happens to the rakshasa when they are slain?

They reform.

According to Keith Baker himself, in the Eternal Evil: Lords of Dust article (Dragon Magazine 337), outsiders with a combined Hit Dice or levels of 12 and above are immortal. An advanced rakshasa would easily qualify. (Note: If you have Heroes of Horror, consider that all such fiends are "soul-locked").

The "new" outsider keeps the knowledge, memories, and often even retains the same name as the previous one. Personality or manerisms might change, but they don't have to. So in a way, the reformed rakshasa may be identical, or may be slightly different; in the case of your campaign, most likely identical.

So much for the official bit; I personally tend to rule that the killed Rakshasa loses some power (or at least influence), to make sure it is upset enough about its death rather than seeing it as a minor inconvenience. Having a virtually immortal enemy with a burning desire for vengeance fuled by, say, a loss of status, could be interesting.

I'm not sure what happens to the body, though. Whatever suits your campaign best, I'd say. As a Rakshasa returns to her true form when you slay it, framing the party for the murder of an elf when the guard can see the body of a fiend could be difficult.

Also, in the same article, check out the spell Cloak of Khyber. It basically makes your rakshasa immune against True Seeing, as well as against attempts to detect her alignment.

Hope this helps. Enjoy your campaign; sounds like a great one so far!
DargonSwift
06-16-06, 10:17 AM They reform.

According to Keith Baker himself, in the Eternal Evil: Lords of Dust article (Dragon Magazine 337), outsiders with a combined Hit Dice or levels of 12 and above are immortal. An advanced rakshasa would easily qualify. (Note: If you have Heroes of Horror, consider that all such fiends are "soul-locked").

The "new" outsider keeps the knowledge, memories, and often even retains the same name as the previous one. Personality or manerisms might change, but they don't have to. So in a way, the reformed rakshasa may be identical, or may be slightly different; in the case of your campaign, most likely identical.

So much for the official bit; I personally tend to rule that the killed Rakshasa loses some power (or at least influence), to make sure it is upset enough about its death rather than seeing it as a minor inconvenience. Having a virtually immortal enemy with a burning desire for vengeance fuled by, say, a loss of status, could be interesting.

I'm not sure what happens to the body, though. Whatever suits your campaign best, I'd say. As a Rakshasa returns to her true form when you slay it, framing the party for the murder of an elf when the guard can see the body of a fiend could be difficult.

Also, in the same article, check out the spell Cloak of Khyber. It basically makes your rakshasa immune against True Seeing, as well as against attempts to detect her alignment.

Hope this helps. Enjoy your campaign; sounds like a great one so far!

This helps immensly, thank you very much. I have the HoH book and will have to give it a fresh look. I will probably use the diminished power aspect as well, which will keep the villain in the background after the initial encounter, making the PCs work hard to get to her. However, depending on what I find as I read, I'll probably give this particualar Rakshasa some form of magic jar like power when she dies; she becomes spiritual energy (possibly tied to an item) when she loses her physical form, but can possess a new form. Once in the new form she has limited access to her full power, but that grows over time has she "settles" into the new body and slowly assimilates it (through her magics and demonic rites). She would consume the soul of her "host" in the process, but would leave their body behind when she dies, shedding it like so much clothing. I will definitly have to check out the Cloak of Khyber spell, and do further research on Kyber-related magic. Unfortunately, I don't have the Dragon magazines in question, as I only recently got back into D&D. I'll see if I can find someone who has it though.

Thanks again.

-D

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DargonSwift 06-16-06, 09:11 AM	If the children of Khyber, the demons, are immortal, what happens to the rakshasa when they are slain? From what I've read, it says the couatl had to use the silver flame, through a sacrifice of their own lives, to force the demons into Khyber dragonshards. My main delimma is that I want to use the Lords of Dust, specifically an advanced rakshasa, as a reoccuring villian. Back story (skip if you like): The basic adventure plot centers around locating a flying ziggurat that fled Xen'drik just before the dragon's decimated the giants. A cloud giant spirit mage stole a relic, called Khyber's Claw, from his people and fled north into Southwestern Khorvaire. This item, and another called "the Heart of Eberron", were the devices used to unleash the great cataclysm on the Quori (in my campaign). The elves of the Undying Court have sent one of their living agents out in search of this flying ziggurat, and the artifact, so that it might be secured in the vaults of the Undying Court. The problem, for the players, is that there's been no information about this lost ziggurat for 40,000 years. They believe its somewhere in The Shadow Marches, Droaam, or possibly even Breland, but there are few who can aid them in their quest. One such person, an elvish noble with a passion for ancient Xen'drik, and a lost flying ziggurat in particular, might be able to aid them, if they can get in to see her. Unfortunately for them, she's interested because she's a the rakshasa mentioned above, and seeks the artifact so she can use its destructive power. The PCs have had one adventure so far, and are one up on her. They've intercepted a planinum disk, a giant-sized amulet, that was due to be delivered to this 'noble'. Their goal was to use the amulet to gain an audience with her, but now they suspect, due to the elven spirit mage in the party, that this amulet may have been created by the very giant they're looking for. Now, depending on roleplaying, they may end up working with this elf to further their mutual goals, though her's will be cleverly downplayed, and she will likely reap the real reward (as far as she's concerned). However, one of the players is a Church Inquisitor, with all sorts of powers to penetrate the rakshasa's illusions and deceptions. Its only a matter of time before he does so, and they are forced to confront the demon. She would be a tough battle, since she's well guarded, but the players will undoubtedly win (don't they always). I want this villain to return at various points in the story, so she will likely die physically, but live on spiritually - eventually possessing a new form and assuming it as her own. She'll probably instigate the party for the "murder" of the elf noble as well (bwa ha ha). Any input or links to this information would be appreciated. -D
id4698 06-16-06, 09:30 AM	I would say mate...that even if you can't find anything that details rules for this, just go with it and make it happen anyways. I really like your adventure plot by the way. It sounds really fun, and seems to have alot of potential to keep people exploring.
Syltorian 06-16-06, 09:43 AM	If the children of Khyber, the demons, are immortal, what happens to the rakshasa when they are slain? They reform. According to Keith Baker himself, in the Eternal Evil: Lords of Dust article (Dragon Magazine 337), outsiders with a combined Hit Dice or levels of 12 and above are immortal. An advanced rakshasa would easily qualify. (Note: If you have Heroes of Horror, consider that all such fiends are "soul-locked"). The "new" outsider keeps the knowledge, memories, and often even retains the same name as the previous one. Personality or manerisms might change, but they don't have to. So in a way, the reformed rakshasa may be identical, or may be slightly different; in the case of your campaign, most likely identical. So much for the official bit; I personally tend to rule that the killed Rakshasa loses some power (or at least influence), to make sure it is upset enough about its death rather than seeing it as a minor inconvenience. Having a virtually immortal enemy with a burning desire for vengeance fuled by, say, a loss of status, could be interesting. I'm not sure what happens to the body, though. Whatever suits your campaign best, I'd say. As a Rakshasa returns to her true form when you slay it, framing the party for the murder of an elf when the guard can see the body of a fiend could be difficult. Also, in the same article, check out the spell Cloak of Khyber. It basically makes your rakshasa immune against True Seeing, as well as against attempts to detect her alignment. Hope this helps. Enjoy your campaign; sounds like a great one so far!
DargonSwift 06-16-06, 10:17 AM	They reform. According to Keith Baker himself, in the Eternal Evil: Lords of Dust article (Dragon Magazine 337), outsiders with a combined Hit Dice or levels of 12 and above are immortal. An advanced rakshasa would easily qualify. (Note: If you have Heroes of Horror, consider that all such fiends are "soul-locked"). The "new" outsider keeps the knowledge, memories, and often even retains the same name as the previous one. Personality or manerisms might change, but they don't have to. So in a way, the reformed rakshasa may be identical, or may be slightly different; in the case of your campaign, most likely identical. So much for the official bit; I personally tend to rule that the killed Rakshasa loses some power (or at least influence), to make sure it is upset enough about its death rather than seeing it as a minor inconvenience. Having a virtually immortal enemy with a burning desire for vengeance fuled by, say, a loss of status, could be interesting. I'm not sure what happens to the body, though. Whatever suits your campaign best, I'd say. As a Rakshasa returns to her true form when you slay it, framing the party for the murder of an elf when the guard can see the body of a fiend could be difficult. Also, in the same article, check out the spell Cloak of Khyber. It basically makes your rakshasa immune against True Seeing, as well as against attempts to detect her alignment. Hope this helps. Enjoy your campaign; sounds like a great one so far! This helps immensly, thank you very much. I have the HoH book and will have to give it a fresh look. I will probably use the diminished power aspect as well, which will keep the villain in the background after the initial encounter, making the PCs work hard to get to her. However, depending on what I find as I read, I'll probably give this particualar Rakshasa some form of magic jar like power when she dies; she becomes spiritual energy (possibly tied to an item) when she loses her physical form, but can possess a new form. Once in the new form she has limited access to her full power, but that grows over time has she "settles" into the new body and slowly assimilates it (through her magics and demonic rites). She would consume the soul of her "host" in the process, but would leave their body behind when she dies, shedding it like so much clothing. I will definitly have to check out the Cloak of Khyber spell, and do further research on Kyber-related magic. Unfortunately, I don't have the Dragon magazines in question, as I only recently got back into D&D. I'll see if I can find someone who has it though. Thanks again. -D