Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tenzhi 03-13-05, 03:17 AM	This is a foundation for those seeking immortality, or for those who have already found it and want to discuss its nature (or are merely searching for a way to pass time in their ageless existence). Imperfect paths to eternity and those who have followed them (liches, for instance) are perfectly welcome here as well: it helps to know what NOT to do in one's search for everlasting life, after all. I am not looking to get involved in the IFGW (yet?), but what various members do with their endless time is not up to me. In case various members DO get involved and wish a setting here to house them, I give you The Halls of Tempus: Stepping through the portal, you find yourself in a great pillared antechamber that stretches on for infinity. Every bare space of wall is taken up by some manner of time-telling device - from hourglasses, to grandfather clocks, to strange devices with lights and numerical readouts. Each device shows a different time, but none of them seem to be changing. Branching out from the antechamber is an infinite number of doorways leading to rooms of varying shape and size, the only identical feature between them being that every wall is made up of varying time-telling devices. The only way into or out of these halls is via a portal - either the permanent portal to Tyranor that may easily be found by turning around, or through various clock faces which lead to a myriad of times and places. The latter are one-way portals however, and are dangerous to traverse. I have a thing or two I want to post as far as game materials, which I hope to have up in a day or so, but feel free to add anything in the meantime.
Dyne 03-13-05, 03:18 AM	I'm a lich. That's a form of immortality.
Orcy The Green Wonder 03-13-05, 03:27 AM	This, is undoubtedly the apocalypse. Tenzhi, the man who refuses to join any foundations. Has created one. Everyone, flee! FLEE!! The world is ending. Orcy can see them, the dark riders. The cross the great and endless sky, their hands reach out for us! THE TIME HAS COME! Anywho, Orcy likes this. He himself is immortal in that he will never die of old age. Orcy gained immortality years and years ago when his brother sacrificed himself. His reasoning was that the world needed Orcy. He is well over 100 years old. For a half-orc, thats pretty ancient (your average half-orc lives to around 80ish). So Orcy is in, he just hopes those horsemen are just a figment of his imagination.
Tenzhi 03-13-05, 03:29 AM	I'm a lich. That's a form of immortality. An imperfect form (though just as welcome), as noted in the introductory spiel. A lich is still subject to entropy, and will eventually rot away to the point where it becomes a demi-lich. Vampirism is in many ways a better form of immortality than lichdom, though it comes with its own set of drawbacks as well.
Orcy The Green Wonder 03-13-05, 03:39 AM	Yeah, but you'll never have a good tan. That and you know... the whole sucking thing. Orcy would prefer to be... alive and really old than dead and rotting. Just a matter of preferance really.
Tenzhi 03-13-05, 03:44 AM	I'd prefer to be neither (dead or alive). Both are messy processes. ;)
necrodude16 03-13-05, 03:49 AM	After listning for a while, Kayne Shadowborne emerges silently from the shadows. So does your policy cover gods?? He then turns and writes his full name on the sign up sheet. It reads: Kayne Shadowborne, Lord of Shadows,Prince of Lies, God of The Planetouched.
Tenzhi 03-13-05, 04:02 AM	Well, there's Immortality and then there's immortality. Tenzhi - the Elf-Bane - possesses the former, as do all deific beings. This group is more focussed on the latter, but as with other forms (such as undeath) those who have achieved Immortality are welcome.
necrodude16 03-13-05, 04:18 AM	Well it's good to know im not the only god around here.Kayne says with a smile while gracefully summoning a great throne in which he then seats.
Silmarien Aldalome 03-13-05, 04:56 AM	Viva la Revolution - Sil-Marsha's very interested. "I can make sure my skin is flawless for Viggo - forreeeevvvvverrrrr *clouts psycho-poppins with stolen umbrella* Acquisition of immortality for "not Divine not mortal" is a good look and I'm interested in the methods you develop. Regards stav
Tenzhi 03-14-05, 01:10 AM	The Eternist The eternist learns to control his body and the balance of energies within to such a degree that he is eventually able to cheat death. He starts by learning to control his metabolism and biological processes, ultimately moving on to manipulating the balance of positive and negative energy within himself. Mastery of these abilities allows the eternist to thwart entropy and even recreate his body with positive energy if it is destroyed. Eternists are most often monks whose path to perfection has taken a more inward turn. Wizards and sorcerors sometimes pursue this path, often to achieve the ultimate goal of immortality - though evil is more likely to take the quicker path of lichdom. Other classes very rarely become eternists. NPC eternists often live in seclusion as hermits or mysterious sages. Some few have become conquerors, but the weight of a crown is too heavy for eternity, and neither soldiers nor commonfolk like to follow the same leader forever. Hit Die: d6 Requirements Skills: Concentration 12 ranks, Knowledge (arcana) 12 ranks Feat: Diehard Class Skills Bluff, Concentration, Craft, Disguise, Forgery, Heal, Knowledge (any), Profession, Speak Language, Survival Skill Points: 6 + Int Class Features Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The eternist gains no weapon or armor proficiencies. Alter Appearance (Ex) - the eternist may change his hair and skin colour, hair length, and facial hair as a standard action. As a full-round action that requires concentration and draws attacks of opportunity the eternist may alter his bodyweight by 50%, or make minor changes to his facial features or change his height by up to 15%. Using this ability can grant the eternist a +5 to disguise rolls. Sustenance (Ex) - the eternist no longer needs to eat or drink. Knit the Flesh (Ex) - the eternist may heal his wounds by concentrating for a full minute. The eternist makes a Concentration roll against a DC of 20. If he succeeds, he heals one hit point for every point over the DC he rolled. Breathless (Ex) - the eternist no longer needs to breathe. Halt Metabolism - the eternist no longer has a Constitution score. He no longer heals naturally with rest, but he automatically stabilizes when below zero hit points. He is also immune to the physical effects of aging and can no longer die of old age. Steady Consciousness (Ex) - the eternist no longer loses consciousness. His body may be put to sleep or disabled, but the eternist remains aware and may take non-physical actions. Balance of Energies - the eternist is no longer affected normally by positive or negative energy. Instead, when struck by positive or negative energy he stores one point of positive or negative energy for every point of damage he would normally be healed or harmed. He may store up to a number of points equal to his (Class level + Charisma bonus) x 2. Excess points are bled off harmlessly. Spiritual Metabolism (Ex) - the eternist uses his Charisma for bonus HP and bonus to Fortitude saving throws. Additionally, the eternist has become so attuned to positive and negative energy that he draws on the ambient energies around him, automatically accumulating a number of positive and negative energy points equal to his Charisma bonus each day. (At the DM's discretion, different environments may yield varied amounts of energy - for instance, in a graveyard an eternist with a Cha bonus of +2 might receive 4 negative energy points and 0 positive (or 3 negative and 1 positive)) Energy Master (Su) - the eternist has learned to channel the energies he stores as a free action. He can use the stored positive energy to heal himself. He can also channel positive or negative energy into a touch attack, using it to heal or harm on a point-for-point basis. True Immortality (Ex) - the eternist can no longer be affected by the dead condition. Lvl BAB Fort Ref Will Special 1st +0 +2 +0 +2 Alter Appearance 2nd +1 +3 +0 +3 Sustenance 3rd +2 +3 +1 +3 Knit the Flesh 4th +3 +4 +1 +4 Breathless 5th +3 +4 +1 +4 Halt Metabolism 6th +4 +5 +2 +5 Steady Consciousness 7th +5 +5 +2 +5 Balance of Energies 8th +6 +6 +2 +6 Spiritual Metabolism 9th +6 +6 +3 +6 Energy Master 10th +7 +7 +3 +7 True Immortality
Silmarien Aldalome 03-14-05, 01:48 AM	Fantastic Tenzhi. It's a PrC that emphasises spiritualised or personal discipline in the emphasis. This is just a quick comment on your PrC - I'm in a hurry right now. But I'll be back, once the others join in. And, I've got my own PrC to post, that focuses on access to Supernatural Powers or other exposures. Kind Regards stav
NightScreamer20 03-14-05, 03:02 AM	*And into this the walls shake and crackle with thunder and lightning as the Inevitable Maruts trascend into the Guild... Eager to get their fists on the group of Transgressors* Sorry lol, but seemed like something that would happen when you congregate a large amount of Immortality seekers.
necrodude16 03-14-05, 11:49 PM	Kayne turns to TenzhiI would like to offer an alliance to the Via Aeternum on behalf of the Children of The Planes.
thasis 03-15-05, 10:08 AM	"Well as a Skygge I have achieved immortality. I also know many outsiders and undead that have immortality so I find myself rather experianced in the knowledge of the state of immortality"
Tenzhi 03-15-05, 11:06 AM	Let us not confuse agelessness with immortality.
Dyne 03-15-05, 03:35 PM	Kayne turns to TenzhiI would like to offer an alliance to the Via Aeternum on behalf of the Children of The Planes. Isn't this foundation not participating in the IFG2?
Frostbite_Ravenheart 03-15-05, 04:36 PM	Of course...my true Archbard is beyond the quest of immortalty...but with this limited scope of 15 levels...I find it hard press to include that. However as for my second character...well it comes down to if you consider Outsides, Lupinals more specifically, immortal. Of course there ageless but...I'm not entirly sure if its fitting for this here foundation. Good to you see you again Tenzhi, on any note. -Frosty
Droga 03-15-05, 04:52 PM	Let us not confuse agelessness with immortality. Ah, but the skygge are immortal in their own way. A skygge never truely dies, when they are slain in combat, their energy and parts of their memory return to the Skull of Dromkar. It is this energy that forms the next Skygge to be born. A combination of shadowstuff and the blood of Dromkar, an ancient demon's blood, infused with the shadows stuff over the years. So when a skygge with great power dies, it is possible that his memories will be carried over to a new body, of course, the body tends to be less powerful. So, a skygge never truely dies, some of his memories simply fade and becomes another being. So in their own way, they are immortal.
Tenzhi 03-15-05, 11:39 PM	Isn't this foundation not participating in the IFG2? Not actively as a guild. But the halls are still open for roleplaying, and as I said - I can't control what individual members do with their time. Ah, but the skygge are immortal in their own way. A skygge never truely dies, when they are slain in combat, their energy and parts of their memory return to the Skull of Dromkar. It is this energy that forms the next Skygge to be born. A combination of shadowstuff and the blood of Dromkar, an ancient demon's blood, infused with the shadows stuff over the years. So when a skygge with great power dies, it is possible that his memories will be carried over to a new body, of course, the body tends to be less powerful. So, a skygge never truely dies, some of his memories simply fade and becomes another being. So in their own way, they are immortal. And any ol' mortal who dies ends up as a petitioner on one of the planes - which is life of a sort as well. It's possible that they'll be reincarnated or promoted within their plane. Death is an imperfect path to immortality. ;)
Tenzhi 06-16-05, 01:46 AM	The Empty There are those who say that the sum of who we are resides in the "soul" - that energy entombed within our flesh that seems to give it life. There seems to be ample evidence to support such a theory; after all, when we die our souls depart to planes that powerful and learned explorers can physically visit. Others say that the flesh holds identity and purpose - that even as the soul remembers who it was in life by taking on the semblance of the flesh it once knew, so does the flesh remember who it was. The Empty are sad examples of the truth in this theory - their sad, soul-less bodies existing without truly feeling or knowing life. CREATING "The Empty" “The Empty” is a template that can be added to any creature that typically has a soul and can be raised or resurrected (hereafter referred to as the base creature). "The Empty" is created when an attempt to raise or resurrect the base creature fails due to the spirit being unwilling to return. The Empty uses all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here. Size and Type: The creature’s type is augmented to outsider. Do not recalculate Hit Dice, base attack bonus, or saves. Size is unchanged. The Empty are never considered Native Outsiders. Special Qualities: The Empty has all the special qualities of the base creature, plus the following special qualities: - No Pain (Ex) - The Empty do not feel pain, often suffering grievous wounds without realizing it before it's too late. They receive maximum hit points per hit die, and may act normally when dying. Any actions they take while dying will prevent them from being stabilized. They automatically succeed at any concentration checks caused by wounds or other discomfort. They are immune to spells and effects that rely on pain or discomfort. Abilities: Change from the base creature as follows: Str +4, Con --, Wis -2, Cha -4. Challenge Rating: As base creature +1 Alignment: Usually Neutral. Level Adjustment: +1. Special Note: One of The Empty will always know its lost soul if encountered. Bad things usually happen when one of The Empty encounters its lost soul. The Empty often goes insane and may try to reintegrate with its soul - often through devouring its current physical manifestation.
thasis 06-17-05, 09:25 AM	Mmmm, I see the guild is attempting to restart. I am glad for this is a very intressting concept for a guild.
premier666 06-17-05, 12:30 PM	An humanoid dressed in blue and with a yellow pinted hat emerges from the shadows. Interesting. Me, the Black Mage, am seeking ways of becoming imortal. So, I'm joining this guild. For now.
Tenzhi 06-29-05, 03:34 AM	Ji Tian's Cloak of Eternity (Major Artifact) It is said that the infamous sorcerous monk Ji Tian created this cloak in an effort to achieve immortality. For years he researched the proper ingredients and spells; he discovered a precise arcane weave for the cloth that took great patience and many months to implement; he spent a year and a day purifying his body and the finely wrought garment to prepare for the difficult magic it would take to imbue the cloak with the properties he desired; and finally, he ascended the highest mountain to perform the final binding magicks in close proximity to the gods. When he finally held the finished garment in his hands, he found he no longer desired it. The years he spent on making it and all the knowledge and power he had gained in the process were truly what he desired. Laughing at himself, he cast the cloak off the mountain into the wind. He had found true enlightenment, and when he descended from the mountain it was as an immortal - or so the legend goes. When discovered, this cloak appears to be made out of a strange grey material as smooth and light as silk, yet as thick as felt or wool. In the light of a new moon it is said the shimmer of bizarre silvery writing can be seen dancing on its surface. Once fastened upon a person, it is nearly impossible to remove - requiring a Will save DC 40 on the part of the wearer to even act on the desire to remove it, and a DC 50 Strength check to undo the cloak (either on the part of the wearer or another person forcibly attempting the removal). Whilst worn, the cloak provides a deflection bonus to AC equal to 2 + the wearer's Charisma modifier. It grants immunity to Cold and Fire, acts as a necklace of adaptation and a ring of sustenance, makes the wearer immune to both the physical and mental effects of aging, makes the wearer immune to the effects of energy drain, and further makes the wearer immune to all effects that raise or lower ability scores. Additionally, the wearer can never be brought below 0 hit points and will always be healed to full HP at the start of a new day. While that largely sounds like quite a bonus, there is a big downside to the cloak. The cloak effectively grants immortality, but it does so by maintaining the wearer's static existence. While wearing the cloak, a person cannot gain (or spend) experience or advance in level. And it takes a DC 30 Concentration check to commit any new information to memory - meaning that the wearer may have to be reminded daily of acquaintences met after the cloak was acquired. Also, spellcasters that prepare spells cannot alter the spells they had prepared when they gained the cloak - each day they will awaken with the same spells prepared exactly the same way (though they will no longer need their spellbooks in order to prepare the spells).
Aramar the Black 06-29-05, 11:24 AM	In walks a silver-haired half-elf, dressed in simple clothing. "Greeting. I am one who seeks immortality, of a sort. Mayhaps I can find some answers here. May I join this Council?
Tenzhi 06-30-05, 01:59 AM	A little old man wakes up from a nap in a dark corner and eyes Aramar suspiciously for a moment. "Bah. An elf. They'll let anyone in these days," he mutters, before rolling over and apparently going back to sleep"
Aramar the Black 07-01-05, 08:00 PM	A little old man wakes up from a nap in a dark corner and eyes Aramar suspiciously for a moment. "Bah. An elf. They'll let anyone in these days," he mutters, before rolling over and apparently going back to sleep" Not quite. And besides, Elf-Bane, it gives my human side variety. ;) :)
Silmarien Aldalome 07-03-05, 06:56 AM	The Empty There are those who say that the sum of who we are resides in the "soul" - that energy entombed within our flesh that seems to give it life. There seems to be ample evidence to support such a theory; after all, when we die our souls depart to planes that powerful and learned explorers can physically visit. Others say that the flesh holds identity and purpose - that even as the soul remembers who it was in life by taking on the semblance of the flesh it once knew, so does the flesh remember who it was. The Empty are sad examples of the truth in this theory - their sad, soul-less bodies existing without truly feeling or knowing life. CREATING "The Empty" “The Empty” is a template that can be added to any creature that typically has a soul and can be raised or resurrected (hereafter referred to as the base creature). "The Empty" is created when an attempt to raise or resurrect the base creature fails due to the spirit being unwilling to return. The Empty uses all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here. Size and Type: The creature’s type is augmented to outsider. Do not recalculate Hit Dice, base attack bonus, or saves. Size is unchanged. The Empty are never considered Native Outsiders. Special Qualities: The Empty has all the special qualities of the base creature, plus the following special qualities: - No Pain (Ex) - The Empty do not feel pain, often suffering grievous wounds without realizing it before it's too late. They receive maximum hit points per hit die, and may act normally when dying. Any actions they take while dying will prevent them from being stabilized. They automatically succeed at any concentration checks caused by wounds or other discomfort. They are immune to spells and effects that rely on pain or discomfort. Abilities: Change from the base creature as follows: Str +4, Con --, Wis -2, Cha -4. Challenge Rating: As base creature +1 Alignment: Usually Neutral. Level Adjustment: +1. Special Note: One of The Empty will always know its lost soul if encountered. Bad things usually happen when one of The Empty encounters its lost soul. The Empty often goes insane and may try to reintegrate with its soul - often through devouring its current physical manifestation. Topic One: Variations on The Infinity - The Nature of Immortality These (looks at Tenzhi's creations) are very interesting adaptations. The metaphysical boundaries are shifted by creatures such as these, and manifestations of "spirit" start to take on a slightly different tenor the habitation of Vessels of different kinds. I'm immediately brought to thinking about another variation on ideas about Consciousness and Awareness. That - it is the Spirit that is everywhere and nowhere and gnows itself by the multiplicity of each Conscious Entity and that each bodily Vessel (of flesh or otherwise) exists so that the All can have Life reflected back. And that, the Transcendence here, is the unifying of all Life by Spirit. In this creation of Spirit - Spirit Creates Consciousness as the manifold windows of each person to stare back at the face of the Creator. Parsing this through D&D is not straightforwards. Where Memory lives in this is where Identity is found. But, meta-memory is also implied. Beings of Metamemory - another Template for D&D as a possibility. Topic Two - Creating "Vessels" of Immortality in the Prime Material Plane Second - a general location in D&D dimensional space needs consideration. Where or what subdivision of Rules and Frameworks do you need to create pathways to Immortality in D&D? These are the rules frameworks for integrating Immortality Concepts. Topic Three - Creating a Mythology of Immortality to "Bring the Dead to Life" Third - the integration of One and Two into the coherent RP and narrative dimensions of the creations of this foundation. stav
Tenzhi 07-03-05, 07:26 AM	That - it is the Spirit that is everywhere and nowhere and gnows itself by the multiplicity of each Conscious Entity and that each bodily Vessel (of flesh or otherwise) exists so that the All can have Life reflected back. And that, the Transcendence here, is the unifying of all Life by Spirit. In this creation of Spirit - Spirit Creates Consciousness as the manifold windows of each person to stare back at the face of the Creator. Sounds very Brahministic. Which brings to my mind the 2nd Ed Ascetic class - who as I recall joined with Brahmin (the All as it were) at 20th level. Aside from that loss of character I always liked the class - which was a sort of sorceror-monk hybrid (again: as I recall). Beings of Metamemory - another Template for D&D as a possibility. Fragments of soul identity that break off from the whole and try to forge a whole existence for themselves from the shard they possess? Second - a general location in D&D dimensional space needs consideration. Where or what subdivision of Rules and Frameworks do you need to create pathways to Immortality in D&D? These are the rules frameworks for integrating Immortality Concepts. Hrm. I think we have to work backwards with this one. Start with what kind of Immortality concept one wants to explore and then figure out what Rules and Frameworks you need to realize that path. Many of them could be realized via PrCs. Some of them through templates (acquired OR inherited), some through magic items, and perhaps even some as new races (or even lines of feats for existing races). Third - the integration of One and Two into the coherent RP and narrative dimensions of the creations of this foundation. Coherent? Since when has anything I ever started been coherent? :D Me like-um good flavour text, though. Eat it up like so much elf-meat.
Silmarien Aldalome 07-03-05, 07:59 AM	Directions to Immortality Monk-Sorcery - the way of the Flesh into the Arcane and Divine. From the base Chakra of "heavy" material essences - to "lightness of being". Pathways to Transcendence. And - in the other direction - the way of The Spirit of the Arcane and Divine into the Material. The 'spark of creation' and echo of the Eternal Flame Beings of Metamemory It's that the collective Unconscious of the Living that reflects the Spirit. But - equally - other places of Metamemory may exist in a Plane, perhaps a Plane or another Dimension or - something else - Metamemory is "Memory of Memory" which implies Metaidentity as well. Projecting Metamemory into D&D gameplay - Immortality seems to imply the continuity of Mind, as much as Continuity of Body. Immortality PrCs, Templates, Bloodlines - and - Psyches - Psyche Templating - together with Metamemory Templating, are two arms of Immortality. They seem to be two core features of immortality, in one variation of Spirit.
Silmarien Aldalome 07-03-05, 08:23 AM	...and another idea: Psyches & Metamemory of the Past In this Lore, in the Spirit World, the essences of all Ancient civilisations, and all their secrets are organised in memory lattices - and to access these Lores, the Secret of Metamemory must be discovered. Specialised study and practice of these arts unlocks portals to immortality, through the bringing of the past into the present Once discovered, you unearth an ancient civilisation's lost knowledge (you may make your own up, or one can draw on Tomes like Lost Empires of Faerun (LEoF) for such Lore. These are Psyches of the Ancient Past Psyches & Metamemory of the Future The mirror image of the prior concept is an immortality stored in the Spirit World that is of the future. Because all Time and Space is interconnected, Metamemory Processes operate in two directions, not one, through the Time Line. The Lore of Future Psyches of Metamemory are powers that are the pinnacle of a Psyche's progression. Unearthing the Lore of the Future is thus the whole focus of this kind of Psyche. Immortality in the pathway of specialised Lore brings the Lore of the Future into the present. Because both kinds of Metamemory are drawing on memories of the future and past, they are one face of immortality.
Aramar the Black 07-03-05, 10:56 AM	Very interesting ideas, Sil. I especially like the phyches and Metamemories. Directions to Immortality Monk-Sorcery - the way of the Flesh into the Arcane and Divine. From the base Chakra of "heavy" material essences - to "lightness of being". Pathways to Transcendence. And - in the other direction - the way of The Spirit of the Arcane and Divine into the Material. The 'spark of creation' and echo of the Eternal Flame Now, add divine casters, bards(lords of emotions), and psions to this mix. It is beginning to seem that there are more ways and facets to and of immortality than we know.
Tenzhi 07-03-05, 07:42 PM	Now, add divine casters, bards(lords of emotions), and psions to this mix. Divine casters and Psions I can see. But bards don't really fit the path-to-enlightenment kind of immortality. On the other hand, they may very well mix into the 'meta-memory' concept, as their means of immortalizing themselves is through creating memorable songs - sonds that reach into the past and are remembered into the future.
Silmarien Aldalome 07-03-05, 08:08 PM	I'm not sure how easily accessible immortality should be. Configuring 'easy-to-access' PrCs would make it a commodity of the general populace. These particular products, I imagine, have stricter access requirements than others. Metamemory and Psyches (the mental equivalent to Bloodlines) are two kinds of immortality 'knowledge' immortality. 'Identity Immortality' is another kind 'Spirit' Immortality yet another (which implies that Identity may not necessarily be a necessary condition, ergo, you may not remember or know who you are or were) Then - the question of Divine Ranks comes to mind - or entire races with an Immortality Complex (a genetic complex perhaps). stav
Silmarien Aldalome 07-03-05, 09:41 PM	Metamemory Psyches of the Past The mortal vessel is not an entity that is disconnected from the fabric of existence. In fact, the body is merely a projection of something much more vast an unknowable. Mortal memory, likewise, casts a shadow beyond the confines of the world and encoded in the firmament of eternity is the echo of consciousness, etched into the very foundations of existence. This is metamemory, where the memory of all memories swirl amidst the infinite of the Spirit, and where even the lost secrets of ancient civilisations lie dormant. But The Psyches are mental beings, who are masters of metamemory and through painstaking study and by acts of great daring, these beings have come to understand how to map the memory of the Spirit World and to, thereby, bring order to the scattered consciousness of the ancients. The Psyches are famous for their miraculous powers. They are highly sought after, and people often pay vast sums of money for their labours. For The Psyches, ‘tis said, can speak to those long since dead, and some say, they are capable of manifesting a Shade of the past into the present. Long forgotten heroes may come to the call of The Psyches and great power may be unearthed by walking this path. For The Psyches, better than any other class, may bridge the barriers between life and death. Prerequisites To Be Determined Class Skills To Be Determined – but – Knowledge (The Planes, Religion, Arcana) Skill Points To Be Determined Class Features Weapon & Armour Proficiency as per parent Class Spells Don’t Know. The Peredhil Verse-Masters Level Base Attack Fort Ref will 1 +0 +0 +2 +2 Read Sign 2 +1 +0 +3 +3 3 +1 +1 +3 +3 4 +2 +1 +4 +4 Speak With Dead 5 +2 +1 +4 +4 Raise Dead 6 +3 +2 +5 +5 7 +3 +2 +5 +5 Resurrection 8 +4 +2 +6 +6 9 +4 +3 +6 +6 True Resurrection 10 +5 +3 +7 +7 Master of Ancient Secrets Epic Level Threshold EL 1 +1 +0 +0 +0 EL 2 +1 +1 +1 +1 EL 3 +2 +1 +1 +1 EL 4 +2 +2 +2 +2 EL 5 +3 +2 +2 +2 Bodily Discorporation Read Sign To Be Determined To Be Determined Speak With Dead Raise Dead To Be Determined Resurrection To Be Determined True Resurrection Master of Ancient Secrets Epic Level Powers Are being developed
Aramar the Black 07-03-05, 11:07 PM	I just did some fun paradoxal thinking, and wish to share it. Reading the description of the Metamemory Psyches of the Past, I began thinking about the ability ot contact the dead. Now, this pondering assumes that, until one reaches enlightenment, one continuesly is reborn into a world. (Heaven, Hell, Earth, etc..) Now, to contact that spirit, must a Psyche actually contact the "current" spirit, which may have been reborn and thus of minimal use; or must they contact the "past" spirit, who exists "now" only as an "impression" upon the strands of metamemeory? If it is the latter, then what degrees of aid can this spirit provide? Do they have a sentience and a sense of self? An identity? Can they learn? If so, then what would happen if a current manifestation of a spirit got a Psyche to call up the "past" spirit? Or the Psyche himself called up the memories or manistefation of his past life?
Tenzhi 07-06-05, 02:08 AM	I'm not sure how easily accessible immortality should be. Configuring 'easy-to-access' PrCs would make it a commodity of the general populace. I agree that they shouldn't be handed out like candy. But some of them will (and by nature likely should) have stat requirements that can easily be met before 10th level. In practice, there would be roleplaying/cultural accessibility restrictions in place via the DM. A PC wouldn't just automatically know about the existence of such a path to immortality. Perhaps he stumbles across an ancient text - and much like a Vacuous Grimoire or other magical tome, the book disappears after it is read and the PC cannot impart the knoeledge properly to someone else though he now possesses the means to follow the path himself. Then - the question of Divine Ranks comes to mind - or entire races with an Immortality Complex (a genetic complex perhaps). While I like Divine Ranks, I don't automatically associate Immortality with them. Some paths to Immortality may lead to Divine Ranks, but most certainly all of them do not. A Half-God template, though, might come with Immortality and a partial Divine Rank or Div. Rank 0 - but the LA on such a template would be huge. Immortal races are fun, and generally supremely arrogant. I generally treat Dragons as immortal (and occasionally elves).
jagggar 09-13-06, 12:07 PM	:bump: I've come across it at least twice now, people who don't like the raise dead series of spells because they "devalue life" or some such similar concept about how heros won't be heroic, they'll be careless and stupid because they can come back from the dead. Why ask a bunch of immortals about the dead and raising thereof? Well, if people can come back from the dead, does that decrease the importance of immortality? Or could Immortality be considered the ultimate cheapening of life if you don't actually have to worry about death? Okay, in general it sounded like the best place to talk about the value of life and such. Yay for :dragon:s that don't go :ghosted: ! Maybe I should start a :bump:-A-Month Club...
Aramar the Black 09-16-06, 12:31 AM	in some cases, the abiltiy to bring back the dead may devalue life. However, putting trust in the fact that there will always be some sort of resurrection magic around may well be folly. Granted, in a powerful adventuring party with a cleric, or even a whole lot of money to supply the local temple, may well have reason to think and believe that they will simply be returned to life if killed. REsponse to this various depending on the campiagn. If truely high level and freakishley rich adventures (and even clerics/magic-users in general) are rarer, to an extent, then it would be seen that such a group has earned the right to thier psuedoimmortality. Natural immortality itself rarely a power of "mortals", but rather beings who are larger than life anyway, and so it might not be seen as devaluing life. If the rarer, possibly adventurer mortal were to attain a means to immortality, then agin, they have (hopefully) earned that right, and thus do not devalue the average joe, in such a respect. To the actual individuals with immortality, whether psuedo, natural, or vested, perhaps we could turn to the words of teh great Douglas Adams. As I cannot quote what I want to exactly, I will summerize. He says that beings who end up naturally with immortality know how to spend it. (and those who granted it accidentally are in for a (bad) hell of a time)(i.e. gods and extraplanar lords are always busy, and those rarer adventuring types often have a reason for gaining this immortality. For those with access to resurection magic often, obviously they still find some joy in life, otherwise they would not continue to put themselves in situations that woudl require continiuos raisings. Of course, again, such a priviledge is abusable, but such power also gives one to learn from dedly mistakes, rather than doing whose knows what with such life lessons. ("Ah, so not all dragons breathe fire!")) In some ways, resurrection magic fits in with other types of magic, adn maybe even magic itself, in taht it is simply a power, but can be abused in various ways, and it is that abusing that is disliked. (Hope that made sense. I just let the thoughts spill out. Which also explains the grammer.))