Arcane magic defiles the landscape. That is a basic truth of the world. It's why it's the desert it is today. But one thing that's an unknown is what happens to the Primal Spirits attached to land that becomes defiled. Some say that the spirits simply die. Others say that they are absorbed into the energy of the spell, and that Arcane Magic really involves tearing out the life of primal spirits.
Sometimes, though, what happens is that the Spirits survive the defiling. Overwhelmed by pain and driven by hatred, they will often remain near the blasted land that they had once inhabited. When travelers draw near, they will then assume the terrible form that represents the pinnacle of Arcane Defiling; that of a dragon. In fact, these catastrophic forces of nature are sometimes mistaken for the actual Dragon of Tyr. It's not unbelievable; they assume the Dragons shape, and possess powers well beyond the grasp of mortals.
The form that these Spirits take on is often influenced by the kind of land that has been defiled. Rocky Badlands will result in Earthquake Dragons, Volcanic Dragons arise from the blasted desert, and Blizzard Dragons arise from underground water sinks and oases that have been defiled.
... Thoughts?
I'd say elemental creatures don't care about defiling: they're life force is not of this world, it is not defiled, or not in the same way.
Not Correct. When you summon an elemental (which is the traditional type), you are summoning its form and construction materials from a different place. This is why when people talk about creatures in past editions they say native or non native. Now a Golem IS constructed from materials from the prime, this you could go to town on defiled materials used etc.
Now as defiling is only used on Athas (the prime material plane), that sorta magic pervades that prime and not the elemental planes. This planes must be very easy to access from Athas but they are still not Athas so defiling stops there.
As for Dragons, I can see them being reskinned as Drakes to be honest. The only Dragon(s) I want to see is THE Dragon.
Although having said that, I did have a Dracolich in my 2e DS game a long long time ago. He really was the big bad, but lived very close to the edge of the Tyr region (way south) and didnt really leave his little area (He also killed the party in a hard fought battle which resulted in the end of the campaign and the TPK)
Not Correct. When you summon an elemental (which is the traditional type), you are summoning its form and construction materials from a different place. This is why when people talk about creatures in past editions they say native or non native. Now a Golem IS constructed from materials from the prime, this you could go to town on defiled materials used etc.
Now as defiling is only used on Athas (the prime material plane), that sorta magic pervades that prime and not the elemental planes. This planes must be very easy to access from Athas but they are still not Athas so defiling stops there.
As for Dragons, I can see them being reskinned as Drakes to be honest. The only Dragon(s) I want to see is THE Dragon.
Although having said that, I did have a Dracolich in my 2e DS game a long long time ago. He really was the big bad, but lived very close to the edge of the Tyr region (way south) and didnt really leave his little area (He also killed the party in a hard fought battle which resulted in the end of the campaign and the TPK)
Thing is, I'm not saying that they're supposed to be dragons.
They're enraged Primal Spirits that assume dragon-like forms as a side-effect of being present when defiling went on.
How powerful the Catastrophic Elemental would be would depend on how powerful the Arcane Caster who defiled the land the spirit lived in. The "Ancient" Catastrophic Spirits would likely be powerful abominations remaining from the cleansing wars, when the Sorcerer-Kings defiled great swathes of land to fuel genocidal magic.
Id prefer to see these enraged primal spirits, stay as enraged primal spirits. If they have the power to build themself an elemental body Id actually look at using the 'Gem' Drakes as this form (not sure if they exist as monsters yet). A) I love the psionic nature of these guys and B) MAybe the ritual to turn themselves into such requires a particular gem. OR you could look at linking their colors to the primal emotions.
I honestly think though that DS has enough monsters though without harking back to the Dragons.
All I need is my So-ut
Like Ventnor said, they may have been created during the Cleansing War and still rome the wasted land of Athas.
They could be versions of Apocalypse Spells left over from the Dawn War.
To really emphasise the difference I'd have them rise as incorporeal spirits and form physical bodies pulling rocks, ruined earth, and ash from the environment in front of the players.
All I need is my So-ut
The so-ut is in the DSCC (page 82).
And I agree that giving these monstrosities a unique Athasian name might help. "Defiled Primal Spirits" or "Catastrophic Spirits" is a little verbose.
"Carastok," perhaps? I dunno, I'm trying to make it sound like catastrophe without being too much like the word.
And Tyranthraxus, the idea is that these Spirits aren't created deliberately, but as an unintended side-effect of defiling. In fact, I'd say that if they had a chance, the Defiled Spirits would like nothing more than to tear the sorcerer who twisted them into their current shapes to shreds.
Maybe a Defiled Spirit exist from the creation of the Dragon!!! Gasp.
It could have a name and be really epic.
That's exactly what I'm talking about! I'd likely use one of the Ancient Catastrophic Dragons to represent it, in that case.
Still thinking of a good name, though...
Maybe a Defiled Spirit exist from the creation of the Dragon!!! Gasp.
It could have a name and be really epic.
That's exactly what I'm talking about! I'd likely use one of the Ancient Catastrophic Dragons to represent it, in that case.
Still thinking of a good name, though...
I love inventing names!
What kind of catastrophic would it be? I can suggest something if you wish!And it would likely be an amalgamation of many primal spirits that were defiled in the ensuing genocide.
Also, these things are likely very rare. I'd imagine that most Primal Spirits that are defiled end up dying. It's just these rare few that are turned into something horrendous.
A Defiled Primal Spirit arising from the giant arcane ritual that fueled Borys' trasformation would probably be called something like the "Shadow of the Dragon" or something like that.
And it would likely be an amalgamation of many primal spirits that were defiled in the ensuing genocide.
Also, these things are likely very rare. I'd imagine that most Primal Spirits that are defiled end up dying. It's just these rare few that are turned into something horrendous.
Cool!
I was already collecting some good artwork of possible catastrophic dragons, here are the results:
- haidak.deviantart.com/art/sandstorm-4119...
- eic.deviantart.com/art/Stallord-77541684
- www.templates.com/blog/wp-content/upload...
- ruth-tay.deviantart.com/art/Dragon-of-sp...
They were actually selected to make some "Sandstorm Dragons" and "Pestilence Dragons"...
A name, a name... There's only going to be one big bad "Shadow of the Dragon"?
In fact, perhaps the common people of Athas believe that these "Shadows of the Dragon" are Harbringers of the Dragon's wrath, not really understanding that they want nothing to do with it. Only the Sorcerer Kings, and perhaps high-ranking Templars, know about how these abominations come to be.
Also, all those pictures are sick, especially the Stallord one. Freakin' loved that game.
@ goldomark: That's a thought. The common people of Athas can't tell them apart, but perhaps the Sorcerer Kings have named all of these Shadows of the Dragon (the ones that they've found, anyway).
I'd imagine that the SKs try to stay well away from the most powerful Shadows. Not because they couldn't defeat them if they put their minds to it, but because the resources it would take to destroy one would leave them weakened and at the mercy of the other SKs.
I was trying to find a name for the Defiled Spirit who was created when The Dragon was created. /runs crying
Is that what you were doing? I'm sorry. I didn't mean to internet-offend you.
Of those names, I'd say that the common people would probably refer to it as the Ashen One, while the SKs, having a better idea of what it is, call it the Defiled One.
Here you are Ventnor!!
