[Darkun Sun] Wardens of Rajaat - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

[Darkun Sun] Wardens of Rajaat

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
jaanos1
Aug 19, 2008 6:49:57 This is a template I have developed for an adventure I am DM'ing on K'ydon - shamelessly inspired by http://www.spelljammer.org/worlds/CrimsonSphere/

It's based off the Champion of Rajaat template by the good folk at Athas.org, but with a defensive focus rather than an attacking focus. I envisaged the Wardens as beings designed to soak up attackers, keep them occupied rather than outright beings of magical destruction per se.

Anyway, let me know what you think!

Warden of Rajaat

Thousands of years ago, the First Sorcerer of Athas, a twisted pyreen known as Rajaat, brought three groups together at the Pristine Tower. Three would become the Destroyers, assigned to destroy three especially powerful races of beings. Fifteen of the greatest Defilers were turned into the Champions, to wage a genocidal war against the mortal races.

In addition to the Champions and Destroyers, Rajaat also created twelve unique beings to battle the creatures from the outer planes that Rajaat had foresawn, the start of the Cleansing Wars would attract. Alien creatures, known elsewhere as Fiends, Devils and Yugoloths along with Githyanki and Githzerai. The Wardens battled them all, leaving much destruction in their wake.

The transformation from mortal to Warden was performed with the aid of an artifact known as the Zodiac, an Obsidian orb seamlessly fitted with twelve diamonds shaped like the 12 zodiac creatures. The Zodiac was built by Rajaat to channel the power of the DarkSun; It shattered at the conclusion of the ritual that created the Wardens – but the ritual was complete.

Like the Destroyers before them, and the Champions after them, the ritual that transformed the twelve powerful Psionic defilers attracted the attention of elemental vortexes. Like the Champions that would follow, centuries later the Wardens would learn of their ability to grant spells to followers.

Whilst the Champions were picked for their magical prowess, and the Destroyers for their combat and command skills, the Wardens were picked from amongst the most powerful Psionicaly gifted Defilers. Whilst not as magically powerful as the Champions, the Wardens were more powerful mind-bends – and for good reason for Rajaat’s newly formed Wardens, humans all, were to wage a genocidal campaign against the planar forces that threatened to invade Athas, utterly eradicating them from the face of the worlds of Athas and K’ydon and the Crimson Sphere it’self.

Many were successful, wiping out entire groups of other planar races, however, Rajaat’s Wardens discovered that their master planned to betray them in turn, for even humans would not be spared in his insane drive for purity. Whilst the Champions turned on their creator and imprisoned him in the Hollow, the Wardens held the line against a massive last-ditch attempt by a horde of Devils and Yugoloths to take K’ydon.

Those Champions that endured this time of destruction and treachery went on to become Athas' first sorcerer-kings, whilst the Wardens in time slowly beat back the invading planar forces and became rulers of their own Domains.

A Warden of Rajaat appears to be a normal human, but is imbued with a number of potent abilities that lend him an air of supreme confidence. One of the foremost of these is the ability to expel magical energy that is inherently hostile to creatures foreign to the Crimson Sphere, and to drain energy from living creatures through the use of obsidian orbs. A Warden’s skin feels steely hard to the touch and he can shrug off injuries that would fell mortals. Warden’s of Rajaat speak Common plus any other languages they knew before their transformation.

Creating a Warden of Rajaat

“Warden of Rajaat” is an acquired template that can be added to any human creature (referred to hereafter as the base creature), provided that it can access and use the powers of the Pristine Tower and the Zodiac (now shattered and broken), however, it may be possible to re-created the effect with the DarkLens, which was a similar artefact built by Rajaat. Also note that it is possible that, with the imprisonment of Rajaat, the knowledge no longer exists on how to effect such a transformation and, even if it were possible, the Athasian sun may no longer possess sufficient energy to allow the transformation to be carried out. A Warden of Rajaat has all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities, except as noted here.

Hit Dice: A Warden of Rajaat always has maximum hit points.

Special Attacks: A Warden of Rajaat retains all the base creature’s special attacks and gains those described below. Save DCs are equal to 10 + 1⁄2 Warden of Rajaat’s HD + Warden of Rajaat’s Cha modifier unless otherwise noted.

Planar Turning (SU): Each Warden of Rajaat is created to defend and repel first and foremost, and then ultimately destroy, all creatures foreign to the Crimson Sphere. Wardens can turn outsiders (regardless of type or alignment) from the outer planes as a cleric equal to their caster or manifest level, which ever is higher. A Warden cannot turn undead or creatures from the inner planes. The radius of the Wardens turning is twice that of a normal cleric, and Wardens turn twice the number of HD as a cleric of the same level, although the maximum HD destroyed in unchanged.

Signature Spells (Sp): A Warden of Rajaat chooses one spell of each level 1st through 9th. These chosen spells become that Warden of Rajaat’s signature spells. The Warden of Rajaat can channel stored spell energy into signature spells that the Warden of Rajaat did not prepare ahead of time The Warden of Rajaat can “lose” any prepared spell in order to cast one of these signature spells that is of the same spell level as the prepared spell or lower (just like a cleric can lose prepared spells in order to cast cure spells of the same level or lower.)

Special Qualities: A Warden of Rajaat retains all the base creature’s special qualities and gains those described below.

Damage Reduction (Su): A Warden of Rajaat has damage reduction 10/epic.

Energy Storing (Su): Wardens of Rajaat can store life energy from nearby creatures in psionically enchanted obsidian orbs. Gathering and storing energy is a full-round action that provokes an attack of opportunity. Creatures within 10 feet x 1⁄2 the Warden of Rajaat’s HD gain one negative level each round the Warden of Rajaat uses energy storing. For more information on energy storing and obsidian orbs, see the section “Orb of Energy Storing”.

Immortality (Ex): All Wardens of Rajaat are naturally immortal and cannot die from natural causes. Wardens of Rajaat do not age, and they do not need to eat, sleep, or breathe. The only way for a Warden of Rajaat to die is through special circumstances, usually by being slain in magical or physical combat.

Immunities (Ex): Wardens of Rajaat are immune to disease and poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability drain, ability damage, polymorphing, petrification, or any other attack that alters its form. Immunities can voluntarily be lowered.

Regeneration (Ex): A Warden of Rajaat has regeneration 10. Cold and sonic effects deal normal damage to a Warden of Rajaat. If a Warden of Rajaat loses a limb or body part, the lost portion regrows in 3d6 minutes. The Warden of Rajaat can reattach the severed member instantly by holding it to the stump

Resistance's (Ex): A Wardens of Rajaat has both spell resistance and power resistance 32.

Abilities: Increase from the base creature as follows: Str +4, Con +4, Int +4, Wis +4, Cha +4.

Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature +6

Treasure: Standard coins; standard goods; double items.

Advancement: By character class.

Level Adjustment: Same as the base creature +8
#2
phoenix_m
Aug 20, 2008 8:09:36 He He, I've always liked that site. Your idea for the Wardens is interesting, think of as officially snagged ;)
#3
jaanos1
Aug 25, 2008 21:23:57 Glad you liked it! will post my Destroyer of Rajaat template here when done as well :D
#4
bennet
Aug 25, 2008 23:41:06 Some 4e conversion?
#5
jaanos1
Aug 26, 2008 0:10:18 Nope, 3.5

Not planning on getting 4e anytime soon
#6
phoenix_m
Aug 26, 2008 18:09:02
Nope, 3.5

Not planning on getting 4e anytime soon

YEAH!
Glad I'm not the only one.
#7
bennet
Aug 26, 2008 19:25:30 Oh well, your time will come, and time saving is what 4e is about in the end.

But, if you have plenty of it--you may very well want to double check the level adjustment of +8 on this Template...IMHO perhaps by actually distributing all its abilities on 8 levels of Monster Class; a greater approach to "gauge" its level adjustment...

Obviously playesting it's powers will results in a great deal of feedback, but I'm of the impression that the creature appears highly challenging and not 100% matching its CR and LA.

- nuff said!
#8
jaanos1
Aug 26, 2008 19:56:01 Hmmm.... what OK, i'll take the feedback into consideration... will also pass onto Athas.org, as it was based on the Champion of Rajaat template with only minor tweaks (replaced genocidal focus with the planar turning ability for instance) so you might want to head over to athas.org and look at the champion of rajaat template and provide some thoughts on that one as well.

As for the whole 4e thing, dude i've been playing games now for nearly 20 years, i ain't going to spend anymore money on it, what's next, 5e in 2012? version 6 in 2015? nah thanks, 3.5 worked well enough, i'll stick to it.
#9
bennet
Aug 26, 2008 22:48:02 ...I noticed that it was very similar to the one in Athas.org--witch was actually playtested on a Epiclevel campaign, and resulted too expensive(level "adjustingly" speaking) and overpowered to be enjoyed by the PC. However, it was almost inmortal but received severe punishment due to the lack of HPs he sacrificed por tremenduos inmunities...too much is too much for a PC class--the monster is ok, but for 3rd ed--that's why we have them.

Unfortunately, when it comes to the subject of D&D 4e, you must keep in mind that D&D RPG is a living game; and as such, it has to evolve constantly, moreover in a world with such technological entertainment--I started gaming like 12 years ago but managed to play AD&D...and since, every update...And looking trough the changes, I'm astonished because introducing NEW people to the game and getting them involved is very, very, dificult: and this has actually been corrected by the latest edition of D&D (IMHO the ninth revision of the D&D narrative concept).
#10
jaanos1
Aug 26, 2008 23:13:08 Everyone's entitled to an opinion. Mine is that WOTC can see more money in making new versions of D&D than making new MATERIAL for a stable system of D&D. Each to their own. My group are happy playing with 3.5, we've even added new younger players to our group this past month (two dude in their early 20's who had never played RPG before) so i think that the game is alive and well, you just don't need to spend hideous amounts of cash to do so.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 jaanos1 Aug 19, 2008 6:49:57	This is a template I have developed for an adventure I am DM'ing on K'ydon - shamelessly inspired by http://www.spelljammer.org/worlds/CrimsonSphere/ It's based off the Champion of Rajaat template by the good folk at Athas.org, but with a defensive focus rather than an attacking focus. I envisaged the Wardens as beings designed to soak up attackers, keep them occupied rather than outright beings of magical destruction per se. Anyway, let me know what you think! Warden of Rajaat Thousands of years ago, the First Sorcerer of Athas, a twisted pyreen known as Rajaat, brought three groups together at the Pristine Tower. Three would become the Destroyers, assigned to destroy three especially powerful races of beings. Fifteen of the greatest Defilers were turned into the Champions, to wage a genocidal war against the mortal races. In addition to the Champions and Destroyers, Rajaat also created twelve unique beings to battle the creatures from the outer planes that Rajaat had foresawn, the start of the Cleansing Wars would attract. Alien creatures, known elsewhere as Fiends, Devils and Yugoloths along with Githyanki and Githzerai. The Wardens battled them all, leaving much destruction in their wake. The transformation from mortal to Warden was performed with the aid of an artifact known as the Zodiac, an Obsidian orb seamlessly fitted with twelve diamonds shaped like the 12 zodiac creatures. The Zodiac was built by Rajaat to channel the power of the DarkSun; It shattered at the conclusion of the ritual that created the Wardens – but the ritual was complete. Like the Destroyers before them, and the Champions after them, the ritual that transformed the twelve powerful Psionic defilers attracted the attention of elemental vortexes. Like the Champions that would follow, centuries later the Wardens would learn of their ability to grant spells to followers. Whilst the Champions were picked for their magical prowess, and the Destroyers for their combat and command skills, the Wardens were picked from amongst the most powerful Psionicaly gifted Defilers. Whilst not as magically powerful as the Champions, the Wardens were more powerful mind-bends – and for good reason for Rajaat’s newly formed Wardens, humans all, were to wage a genocidal campaign against the planar forces that threatened to invade Athas, utterly eradicating them from the face of the worlds of Athas and K’ydon and the Crimson Sphere it’self. Many were successful, wiping out entire groups of other planar races, however, Rajaat’s Wardens discovered that their master planned to betray them in turn, for even humans would not be spared in his insane drive for purity. Whilst the Champions turned on their creator and imprisoned him in the Hollow, the Wardens held the line against a massive last-ditch attempt by a horde of Devils and Yugoloths to take K’ydon. Those Champions that endured this time of destruction and treachery went on to become Athas' first sorcerer-kings, whilst the Wardens in time slowly beat back the invading planar forces and became rulers of their own Domains. A Warden of Rajaat appears to be a normal human, but is imbued with a number of potent abilities that lend him an air of supreme confidence. One of the foremost of these is the ability to expel magical energy that is inherently hostile to creatures foreign to the Crimson Sphere, and to drain energy from living creatures through the use of obsidian orbs. A Warden’s skin feels steely hard to the touch and he can shrug off injuries that would fell mortals. Warden’s of Rajaat speak Common plus any other languages they knew before their transformation. Creating a Warden of Rajaat “Warden of Rajaat” is an acquired template that can be added to any human creature (referred to hereafter as the base creature), provided that it can access and use the powers of the Pristine Tower and the Zodiac (now shattered and broken), however, it may be possible to re-created the effect with the DarkLens, which was a similar artefact built by Rajaat. Also note that it is possible that, with the imprisonment of Rajaat, the knowledge no longer exists on how to effect such a transformation and, even if it were possible, the Athasian sun may no longer possess sufficient energy to allow the transformation to be carried out. A Warden of Rajaat has all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities, except as noted here. Hit Dice: A Warden of Rajaat always has maximum hit points. Special Attacks: A Warden of Rajaat retains all the base creature’s special attacks and gains those described below. Save DCs are equal to 10 + 1⁄2 Warden of Rajaat’s HD + Warden of Rajaat’s Cha modifier unless otherwise noted. Planar Turning (SU): Each Warden of Rajaat is created to defend and repel first and foremost, and then ultimately destroy, all creatures foreign to the Crimson Sphere. Wardens can turn outsiders (regardless of type or alignment) from the outer planes as a cleric equal to their caster or manifest level, which ever is higher. A Warden cannot turn undead or creatures from the inner planes. The radius of the Wardens turning is twice that of a normal cleric, and Wardens turn twice the number of HD as a cleric of the same level, although the maximum HD destroyed in unchanged. Signature Spells (Sp): A Warden of Rajaat chooses one spell of each level 1st through 9th. These chosen spells become that Warden of Rajaat’s signature spells. The Warden of Rajaat can channel stored spell energy into signature spells that the Warden of Rajaat did not prepare ahead of time The Warden of Rajaat can “lose” any prepared spell in order to cast one of these signature spells that is of the same spell level as the prepared spell or lower (just like a cleric can lose prepared spells in order to cast cure spells of the same level or lower.) Special Qualities: A Warden of Rajaat retains all the base creature’s special qualities and gains those described below. Damage Reduction (Su): A Warden of Rajaat has damage reduction 10/epic. Energy Storing (Su): Wardens of Rajaat can store life energy from nearby creatures in psionically enchanted obsidian orbs. Gathering and storing energy is a full-round action that provokes an attack of opportunity. Creatures within 10 feet x 1⁄2 the Warden of Rajaat’s HD gain one negative level each round the Warden of Rajaat uses energy storing. For more information on energy storing and obsidian orbs, see the section “Orb of Energy Storing”. Immortality (Ex): All Wardens of Rajaat are naturally immortal and cannot die from natural causes. Wardens of Rajaat do not age, and they do not need to eat, sleep, or breathe. The only way for a Warden of Rajaat to die is through special circumstances, usually by being slain in magical or physical combat. Immunities (Ex): Wardens of Rajaat are immune to disease and poison, stunning, sleep, paralysis, death effects, disintegration, energy drain, ability drain, ability damage, polymorphing, petrification, or any other attack that alters its form. Immunities can voluntarily be lowered. Regeneration (Ex): A Warden of Rajaat has regeneration 10. Cold and sonic effects deal normal damage to a Warden of Rajaat. If a Warden of Rajaat loses a limb or body part, the lost portion regrows in 3d6 minutes. The Warden of Rajaat can reattach the severed member instantly by holding it to the stump Resistance's (Ex): A Wardens of Rajaat has both spell resistance and power resistance 32. Abilities: Increase from the base creature as follows: Str +4, Con +4, Int +4, Wis +4, Cha +4. Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature +6 Treasure: Standard coins; standard goods; double items. Advancement: By character class. Level Adjustment: Same as the base creature +8
#2 phoenix_m Aug 20, 2008 8:09:36	He He, I've always liked that site. Your idea for the Wardens is interesting, think of as officially snagged ;)
#3 jaanos1 Aug 25, 2008 21:23:57	Glad you liked it! will post my Destroyer of Rajaat template here when done as well :D
#4 bennet Aug 25, 2008 23:41:06	Some 4e conversion?
#5 jaanos1 Aug 26, 2008 0:10:18	Nope, 3.5 Not planning on getting 4e anytime soon
#6 phoenix_m Aug 26, 2008 18:09:02	Nope, 3.5 Not planning on getting 4e anytime soon YEAH! Glad I'm not the only one.
#7 bennet Aug 26, 2008 19:25:30	Oh well, your time will come, and time saving is what 4e is about in the end. But, if you have plenty of it--you may very well want to double check the level adjustment of +8 on this Template...IMHO perhaps by actually distributing all its abilities on 8 levels of Monster Class; a greater approach to "gauge" its level adjustment... Obviously playesting it's powers will results in a great deal of feedback, but I'm of the impression that the creature appears highly challenging and not 100% matching its CR and LA. - nuff said!
#8 jaanos1 Aug 26, 2008 19:56:01	Hmmm.... what OK, i'll take the feedback into consideration... will also pass onto Athas.org, as it was based on the Champion of Rajaat template with only minor tweaks (replaced genocidal focus with the planar turning ability for instance) so you might want to head over to athas.org and look at the champion of rajaat template and provide some thoughts on that one as well. As for the whole 4e thing, dude i've been playing games now for nearly 20 years, i ain't going to spend anymore money on it, what's next, 5e in 2012? version 6 in 2015? nah thanks, 3.5 worked well enough, i'll stick to it.
#9 bennet Aug 26, 2008 22:48:02	...I noticed that it was very similar to the one in Athas.org--witch was actually playtested on a Epiclevel campaign, and resulted too expensive(level "adjustingly" speaking) and overpowered to be enjoyed by the PC. However, it was almost inmortal but received severe punishment due to the lack of HPs he sacrificed por tremenduos inmunities...too much is too much for a PC class--the monster is ok, but for 3rd ed--that's why we have them. Unfortunately, when it comes to the subject of D&D 4e, you must keep in mind that D&D RPG is a living game; and as such, it has to evolve constantly, moreover in a world with such technological entertainment--I started gaming like 12 years ago but managed to play AD&D...and since, every update...And looking trough the changes, I'm astonished because introducing NEW people to the game and getting them involved is very, very, dificult: and this has actually been corrected by the latest edition of D&D (IMHO the ninth revision of the D&D narrative concept).
#10 jaanos1 Aug 26, 2008 23:13:08	Everyone's entitled to an opinion. Mine is that WOTC can see more money in making new versions of D&D than making new MATERIAL for a stable system of D&D. Each to their own. My group are happy playing with 3.5, we've even added new younger players to our group this past month (two dude in their early 20's who had never played RPG before) so i think that the game is alive and well, you just don't need to spend hideous amounts of cash to do so.