Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Syltorian May 02, 2013 4:33:23	Dear board, I was trying to come up with a few Affilitiations, as presented in the Player's Guide II and expanded on in other works. In essence, I wanted a few organisations beside the Order of Rekkenmark (Five Nations) and the Xen'drik specific ones from City of Stormreach for characters to join. However, I have not tried my hands at homebrewing yet, so any advice - both with regards to power level and setting information - are highly welcome. As are suggestions for names and titles, if you've got better ones than my attempts. Note that I have included the information for playing affiliations against each other (e.g. Executive Powers); I'm not really intending to use those, so they are here only for completeness' sake. For now, it's just the Ghaash'kala Tribes. I'd been thinking to do a Dragonmarked House or two, but the Favored in House feats seems to fill the role pretty well. Many thanks for reading and for any constructive criticism. P.S. I'd also be thankful for anyone who can tell me how to create a table in the code the forum uses. The regular [table][tr][td][/tr][/td][/table] does not seem to do much. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ghaash'kala Tribes Symbol: Varies, depending on the tribe. See PGtEe (s.v. Demonwastes) for more details Motto: You stand on cursed ground. You may proceed no farther into this place of evil, and you may not leave to spread its taint. I offer you a choice: commit your lives to the service of Kalok Shash and the holy calling of the Ghaash’kala, or die where you stand. (James Wyatt, Dragon Forge and Guardians of the Labyrinth) Background: The tribes of the Ghaash'kala orcs believe that setting foot onto the cursed ground of the Demon Wastes irrevocably causes fiendish taint to spread. They see it as their mission to guard the Labyrinth against anyone who seeks to cross it, in any direction, and offer the above choice to anyone they find in their domains - though some tribes are known to attack without warning. These orcs worship a force called Kalok Shash, the Binding Flame, which has strong similarities to the Silver Flame known in civilised Khorvaire, and this belief is central to their lives and culture. For more information, see ECS, PGtE, and Guardians of the Labyrinth. Enemies and Allies: The archenemies of the Ghaash'kala are the Carrion Tribes which dwell in the Demon Wastes, as well as their fiendish masters in the Lords of Dust. Their relations with the Church of the Silver Flame are precarious: whilst some Purified see the Ghaash'kala as allied and kindred souls, some extremists see them as a perversion of their beliefs. For their part, the Ghaash'kala are little interested in events beyond the Labyrinth, and their hostile attitude to anyone who enters their lands make it difficult to keep ties with other organisation, even of the nearby Eldeen. Members: Most members of the Ghaash'kala are orcs, but the tribes are not exclusive. Anyone who accepts to devote himself to guarding the Labyrinth and serving Kalok Shash is accepted, and former members of the Carrion Tribes (largely humans) and explorers from the east, including a few members of the Church of the Silver Flame, are found amongst them, as do their half-orc offspring. Type: Tribe Scale: 10 (regional) Affilitation Score Criteria: Anyone found in the Labyrinth by the Ghaash'kala tribes is offered the choice to join them or die where they stand. The Ghaash'kala allow such people to live with them, and accept a further oath which turns them into Ghost Guardians, warriors who have already symbolically died and live only through the grace of Kalok Shash. Single Use Character Level +1/2 levels Paladin or Ranger with Favored Enemy (Evil Outsiders) +1 Access to the Exorcism or War domains +1 Levels in the Exorcist of the Silver Flame Prestige Class +2 Pure Soul Feat (immunity from taint): +5 Voice of the Flame (contact Kalok Shash through commune, a Divine Agent's contact, etc) +2 Cannot speak Orc -2 Lacks ranks in Climb, Jump, Survival to navigate the Labyrinth -1/skill Evil Alignment -2 Taint (mild) -5 Taint (moderate) -10 Taint (severe) -20 Multiple Use Succeed on a mission for the tribe +2 Slay a fiend +2 Convert someone to Kalok Shash +2 Fail a mission for the tribe -2 Allow someone to cross the Labyrinth -2 ... do so willingly -10 Allow a fiend to leave the Labyrinth -5 ... do so willingly [immediate expulsion] Willingly work for a fiend [immediate expulsion] Titles, Benefits and Duties: As you advance in the ranks of the Ghaash'kala, you learn to navigate the Labyrinth and oppose its fiendish inhabitants. 1-5 Living Member: You have not yet undergone the symbolic death ritual. Though you are a member of the tribe, you are not yet fully a Ghaashkala (Ghost Guardian). You participate on raids and work for the tribe, which in turn provides room and board for you (self-sufficient lifestyle). The priests of the tribe will do their best to reduce your taint, if you acquire any. You may not leave the Labyrinth without express permission from a Sar'malaan, who only does so if directed by Kalok Shash. 6-15 Ghost Guardian: You receive free healing when it can be spared, and the artisans of the tribe will repair equipment for free. Having been trained in navigating the Demonwastes, you gain level 1 protection against Heat and Cold (Sandstorm, Frostburn). You must participate in one patrol a week, though you may convince the Sar'malaan of your tribe to count other missions as a patrol. 16-23: Sword of the Binding Flame: You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to influence other Ghaash'kala, and are treated as an Orc for the purpose of requirements for prestige classes, paragon classes, feats, spells, and items. You are also subject to effects that target Orcs (such as a bane weapon or a ranger's favored enemy ability) in addition to your own race. You must lead a patrol of at least 4 Ghaash'kala into the Labyrinth once per week, though you may convince the Sar'malaan of your tribe to count other missions as a patrol. 24-29: Champion of the Binding Flame: You gain Nemesis (Evil Outsiders) as a bonus feat, even if you do not fulfil the requirements and are not exalted. Your bonus to influence other Ghaash'kala increases to +4. You must lead an extended patrol into the Labyrinth four times per year, though you may convince the Sar'malaan of your tribe to count other missions as a patrol. Extended patrol last at least a month. 30+: Saint: Your bonus to influence other Ghaash'kala increases to +6. Once per day, you can invoke an Aura of Kalok Shash, granting spell resistance 10+Character Level, immunity to fear effects, and a +2 morale bonus on damage rolls. While using this ability, you shed light as a flame of your size category and deal 1d6 damage to evil outsiders and creatures with a taint score within the radius of your illumination. [Note: The Aura of Kalok Shash is based on another affiliation, where it appeared in the second-but-last rank. Unfortunately, I can't remember where it was; any help to give due credit would be welcome]. Executive Powers: Beatify, Crusade, Excommunicate
#2 Syltorian May 16, 2013 4:09:23	Bumping in the hope for some answers.