4E Moonstones, Moonblades, Moon Eladrin: Any ideas on building feats, artifacts, magic items, rituals, at will powers, encounter powers, daily powers for such. What rituals might be involved in awakening a moonblade?
“A moonblade serves one owner at a time.”
“Moonblades were/are? Handed down within the families the blades serve. The sword itself always determines which heir it belongs to. When a moonblades owner dies, one of the owner’s heirs can lay claim to the blade. If no worthy heir exists, the sword lies dormant and exhibits no magical powers at all. A moonblade serves one owner at a time.”
Or are they all dormant because of spellplague and the merge of fey….
(Crush, crush, sweep, sweep!)
As for rituals to awaken a Moonblade, i always though it was more of an automatic thing once you touched it, if the Moonblade deemed you worthy. The only time ive heard of a ritual involved was with the Staryn Moonblade, and that was with a pact with Moander.
And lets not call them Moon Eladrin, that just sounds werid, although I guess some distinction would be made between Moon Elves that have been on Toril for awhile and one just recently come over from the Feywilds.
Feywild moon elves wouldn't start calling themselves eladrin, I agree moon eladrin sounds off. I wonder if the inhabitants of Evermeet have made new settlements on other regions besides Leuthilspar and the other parts of the island that got transponded to the feywild. Maybe we'll finally see moon elves of a different genestock than the Moonflowers. Perhaps these other clans have totallly different outlooks, and are even more snobbish than golds and claim to succeed a new throne for an emperor of elves...
They are cool, and all, but I see them as baggage, as a pc or npc cant be separated with them.
"Eladrin have a sub-groupings of their own that some folk mistake for different races."
"The most numerous eladrin are those also known as moon elves or silver elves."
"The second group of eladrin are markedly less common. They are known as sun elves or gold elves."
There is also alot of material on Swordmages and sword bonds but the magic comes from within the character. It made me think and see some strange possibilities.
I have picked up a second group of players per week and started them in the realms. They did not realize many of the changes in the realms and I've kept things generally vague to allow for mystery. However, that said, they must know some of the basics that give color to the Realms: Wild and Wood Elves(Elves)/ Moon and Sun Elves(Eladrin)/ 4E Feats associated and optional not required. There has also been the teaching aspect of the basic races though I always keep an open mind with the ideas they have. Some of them have read novels but have never adventured much in the Realms specifically. Spellscars, spellplague, etc. have come up and I gave them some discriptions of the blue flames but I am keeping it for their exploration.
I have been adventuring in the realms about as long as these players have been alive. I have kept up with most of the evolutions from first edition to fourth. In a way I feel like an aged elf or dragon listening to younger elves or the shorter lived races discover the Realm's glory and danger.
Moonblades came up so I have allowed one. It is somewhat dormant but has some residual powers to be possibly unlocked or discovered. I was curious what ideas or information that would be useful. It seemed open so I figured I'd kick it around here.
There was also the possibility of skill modifiers bonus gained from having a Moonblade: History, Religion, Arcana, Insight, Perception, Dungeoning, and Nature. Depending upon what may have been given to the blade.
It might be an Artifact I need to design. It is a +2 Magic Item as of now or until it reveals itself more to the PC who it has a bond and family who have had the blade since before the Time of Troubles. I am keeping it simple for now, just to give some color and dept for the player character. It also allows for opening up side treks.
I have not seen any source information on them concerning Spellplague or the opening of the Fey Wild. If there are some I could use that would be good. NDA a side this is for a Home Brew and I have this group hooked so far.
I would probably make it a...Paragon Path called Moonblade weilder. The powers you get and such would be based off your moonblade. I have no idea how to make this work...or what powers etc...but it seems to me that would be the best way to deal with items that slowly awaken...sorta like Legacy Weapons from 3.5.
Anyway just a idea...
Now I don't like 4th ed. I don't like the new Realms. So I don't know alot about either. Just giving you a disclaimer for a idea I had to do with Moonblades in 4th edition.
I would probably make it a...Paragon Path called Moonblade weilder. The powers you get and such would be based off your moonblade. I have no idea how to make this work...or what powers etc...but it seems to me that would be the best way to deal with items that slowly awaken...sorta like Legacy Weapons from 3.5.
Anyway just a idea...
In 4e, I would have it work in reguard to the tiers of play. At heroic tier, It would have maybe one at-will ability (ie, you can make this sword burst into flame and your damage is now fire damage) and possibly one daily effect after that (add 10th level or lower effect from the PHB or AV here)
As a player gains levels and goes into higher tiers, the swords evolves gaining another at-will (but can't be used in-conjunction with the 1st at-will) power. And possible a second daily power.
With epic tier of play, the weapon would gain maybe a high level power based on a certain class (like the wizard's attack power maze at 25th level).
The "elfshadow" moonblade had a gem set that contained a incorporeal shadow that resembled an elf, which was under control of the wielder. The shadow resembled and had characteristics of an undead shadow except it had a neutral alignment (Unaligned). The shadow could not be turned or rebuked or controlled by clerics (nor anyone except the wielder). There was a range it would appear (250'). Once called it could go anywhere on the same plane as the wielder. It was a free action to control and it always acts on the Moonblade wielders turn.
I also found out these were minor artifact intelligent swords bonus +1 to +5 and were always good aligned. There was an awakening ritual which varied. Cowardly or selfish acts would reject the holder and require an atonement spell or a heroic/selfless act to wipe away the character's previous act.
If the blade accepts a new holder, that had to serve the scion of a particular elven family. The holder had to have 5000xp to awaken the blade (these were given to the blade in 3E) and a new rune would appear on the blade with a power given by the new wielder.
"A line of runes decorated the blade, one rune for each weilder the blade has had."
The "elfshadow" was one of these Special Abilities.
Should the moonblade reject the holder 1d6 negative level loss but never actual level loss but, if the number of levels exceeded the holders, the holder would die. If the holder survived the negative levels could only be over come by not holding the sword.
The Primary ability was Intelligent Item. 01-40
Intelligent Item Extraordinary Power. 41-67
The rest were an assortment of Special Abilities as Magic Melee Weapons
"Only a few known to exist, and these were jealously guarded. Still, rumors of dormant moonblades persist."
Example: The Moonblade "Aglaramarth" or "glory-doom" in common was once held by two mages, several fighters, a paladin and one rogue all of whom were of good alignment. It would allow a skill bonus to Arcana, Athletics, Religion, and Stealth (History, Perception, and Insight).
The number of wielders and history should be up to the DM and the Powers though substantial should not be overpowering for the level of the group. I look at fragments of the history's of the Crown Wars and determined that the past wielders, some short lived, faced foes that left powers in the Moonblade. Using the Adventure Vaults to browes magic weapons with the light/heavy blade or any catagory for basic weapon powers for the matching level. I am keeping the Powers isolated to Magic Items for now exchanging a Ring Power or Body Slot Item Power for the Higher Tier Power in order for testing and simplification in the campaign. I can see using some of the Class Level Encounter Powers doing the same thing but the results or mix might get confusing for the PC to keep up with. I do like the idea of a wizard or fighter adding their encounter power to the blade and the holder 200 years later unlocking and using it. Not sure on the balance of that so I am holding back for now.
These were Minor Artifacts so the use of Powers should not count against Magic Item use per day. The classification as an Artifact in 4E determines that Artifacts have a purpose and once that purpose is met they vanish. Minor may mean these are Soul Bound and once the Bind is made the PC or NPC should be aware of the implications. Moonblades must also be appeased to an extent on the behavior by the holder the Moonblade. If the Moonblade finds that behavior negative it has it's effect of draining all Healing Surges and going Dormant toward wielder until released or some action by the PC/NPC counters their negative action.
I was looking a Corellon being Unaligned in 4E and Chaotic Good in 3E. A majority of the Elven Pantheon were good in 3/3.5E thus it make easier to determine behavior of the wielder and that of it's ancestors. This said there was much strife and experimentation with High Elven Magic during the Crown Wars so I am not ruling out that there could be a few bad apples out there. Moonblades are rare so those bad apples are even more rare.
Where do people get this 'Corellon is Unaligned in 4E FR' thing from? Seriously, where? I had to fix that over at the FR wiki too. He's Good in 4E FR. The Corellon in the PHB is a completely different god who merely shares a name and a portfolio item.
Also, Moonblades should have never had any kind of stats assigned to them and should never have been PC-usable. It was bad enough when they had that one short story with the random half-elf who lulz could use a Moonblade. It was one thing with Arilyn, who was at least raised among elves and directly related to the royal family, but random half-elves raised among humans, sdlkfjsdlkf.
Furthermore, since their purpose is past and Evermeet is pretty much out of commission, at least as far as Toril is concerned, it's incredibly unlikely that any remain.
SNIP
I was looking a Corellon being Unaligned in 4E and Chaotic Good in 3E. A majority of the Elven Pantheon were good in 3/3.5E thus it make easier to determine behavior of the wielder and that of it's ancestors. This said there was much strife and experimentation with High Elven Magic during the Crown Wars so I am not ruling out that there could be a few bad apples out there. Moonblades are rare so those bad apples are even more rare.
Waht Nai above stated, the CORE deities like Gruumsh, Tiamat,Bane, Pelor, Bahamut, Corellon, Sehanine, and a few others are NOT the deities that their names came from out of the various settings.
This is where 4e fails in one point, they never should of put in deities in any of the core books, or they should of put them as example deities and by core I mean Basic core.
save the deties for the setting books.
Corellon is G in 4efr
Pelor is not thesun god in the Realms, Amunator is
Bahamut is a dragon god, not the mish mash in the PHB.
The Ruler's Blade is not a moonblade, it's a elfblade. Function a little bit alike, but are not the same.
Youre absolutely right! I was just thinking on this, and was about to edit my post. They are very similar, but Moonblades stay in a specific Elven family, whereas the Coronal's blade did not. Still the Coronal's blade did check for worthiness, like the Moonblades do. So yeah some similiarities there, but not quite the same thing.
anyway in the Bladesinger;s lesson thee was a mostly human woman in it that weilded a moonblade
The spell that empowered the Moonblades is supposed to have been given to Ethlando by Corellon, and the fact that Moonblades will apparently not disdain a half-elf considered to be worthy even as they'll usually get all cranky and blasty at sun elves says something and says it so loud it practically smacks you with it.1. They've served the purpose for which they were created.
2. They were all innately tied to and dependent on the Weave.
So in 4E they're all inert, dead, kaput, not only because the Weave is gone but because they fulfilled their purpose. To see an active original, authentic moonblade in 4E you'd have to have a massive retcon. It just wouldn't make any sense unless you have a really divergent history in your version of the Realms.
for that matter, they were created by high magic rituals long ago, and even then, the spells and high magic were two different peas in a pod.
Richard Baker in all of his Awesomeness stated in the ask the devs threads or 1 of them, stated that all magical items pre plague would still function post plague as long as they were not a charges per day item( IE rod of ressurection) or charges used.( okay he said permanent magica items would still function)
The Moon blades were not in the charges groups.
My friends, I fear that we have not yet seen the last of the Moonblades.
Arilyn's moonblade was messed up in a number of ways, both magically and mundanely, which is why she was able to bond with it as a half elf. She was the exception. If everyone has them, they're no longer special, no different than any other magical blade. Watering down their original purpose and giving everyone access to them... it's lore-breaking, and it's not very original.
Then again, why not let everyone have half-dark-elf rangers who are Drizzt's children, and give them all their own moonblades. It's 4E, after all, where lore is ignored or thrown out at any time. Yes, Joe Player, your evil fey'ri CAN have a moonblade because you're related both to Drizzt and to Queen Amlaruil!
I however dont want one, their cool and all, but its baggage.
your elf over yonder could have an inactive moonblade and never know it...
Seems really unlikely, because even if it's inactive they have a very distinctive look to them. And an elf who came across an elf-made blade of perfect quality and decorated with a big moonstone... if they didn't know blades themselves and also didn't try to have it identified, that'd be very unusual.
your elf over yonder could have an inactive moonblade and never know it...
Seems really unlikely, because even if it's inactive they have a very distinctive look to them. And an elf who came across an elf-made blade of perfect quality and decorated with a big moonstone... if they didn't know blades themselves and also didn't try to have it identified, that'd be very unusual.
What'd you mean by baggage?
Yea it would be interesting to have someone carrying an inactive moonblade and not know it. Or what if they carried an inactive one that somehow activated? That would also be an interesting plot development.
thus, its baggage.
Yea it would be interesting to have someone carrying an inactive moonblade and not know it. Or what if they carried an inactive one that somehow activated? That would also be an interesting plot development.
Unless you're a moon elf with an impeccable character who also happens to be in line for the rulership of Evermeet, an inactive moonblade that suddenly activates would be a really bad thing. Bad, as in: your character is instantly dead. Moonblades killed most moon elves who tried to wield them who were not worthy, and 100% of everyone else (non-moon elf) who tried to wield them.
People love moonblades because they think anyone can use them, but they can't. "If Arilyn, a half elf can use one, why can't my PC?" Well, they forget that not only was Arilyn's moonblade damaged in multiple ways, it bonded with her before she was born. Yes, she has royal blood and is half moon elf, but she could never be the ruler of Evermeet. Elaine Cunningham has said in the past that if Arilyn's moonblade had been working properly, and if Arilyn had tried to bond with it normally when an adult, it would've killed her.
The only thing to do with an inactive moonblade is to wrap in it a blanket and see that it's taken safely to Evermeet in some way. Then, the family that it's most related to can put it in a family vault or something similar.
In Bladesinger's lesson there was a human with moon elven decent was able to wield a moonblade, an adult human female at that. but whether or not it was damaged or altered by the FEy-ri we will never know
A human? Even if she has some moon elven ancestry, trying to wield a moonblade should kill her. If it's not explained as a seriously FUBARed moonblade, then it's a serious error.
In Bladesinger's lesson there was a human with moon elven decent was able to wield a moonblade, an adult human female at that. but whether or not it was damaged or altered by the FEy-ri we will never know
A human? Even if she has some moon elven ancestry, trying to wield a moonblade should kill her. If it's not explained as a seriously FUBARed moonblade, then it's a serious error.
yes a human, on the otherhand, I always considered moonblades to be sentient to judge, and that they prefered moon elves to other speicies ...
I'm pretty sure Nilsa is supposed to be a half-elf.
maybe...
;)
I'm pretty sure Nilsa is supposed to be a half-elf.
I'm almost positive this is correct. Need to double-check, though.
It can be a bit vague at times. At one point Daried ponders her 'ancestor', though a parent can still be considered an ancestor, and then at one point the term 'half-human' is used, which is probably the most telling - As much as Torilian elves seem to hate any blending of human and elven genes, if she were less than half elf he probably wouldn't even grace her with the term half-human and would just think of her as human.
As for the Moonblade, it doesn't particularly seem to have been corrupted or altered in any way, merely dormant.
Is it Weapons of Legacy for 3.x that details how to create weapons with abilities etc that develop as the character progresses? - even though it's for 3.x it could be used to springboard ideas.
Yea, Weapons of Legacy level up with your character as long as you do the qualifying rituals to gain the certain powers and give up the prereq stats (like -2 hp, -1 to Fort, Ref saves, etc...)
Looking at the Elf shadow ability, you could easily adapt that to a daily power used by the Moonblade and have it function exactly like the Assassin's Twilight Assassin power where you make an attack and you have a shadow-double form and help fight with you.
As for the Moonblade's purpose, I still use them in my 4E campaign (well, they haven't come up yet, but i'd allow it) only because Evermeet is still there and not plane-shifted away. There are parts of Evermeet that still occupy parts of the Feywild but you can cross from the main continent to the Island of Elves (so long as your an elf/eladrin/half-elf and not evil and all that). Plus, no one really knows where the prince has gone and the Island is ruled by a council.....yea, Moonblades still have a purpose IMO. But I'm trying to stick to the main flavor of the campaign and I'd only let a PC have a moonblade with some serious RP required, the reasons they would want a moonblade, and what they would do with one if they obtained it.