Or maybe scrap it all together?
Chosen of Kiaransalee
Also known as The Yathrinshee
Its a template that can be added to any Elf or Half Elf. A Chosen of Kiaransalee uses the character's statistics and special abilities except as noted below.
BONUS SPELLS (Sp): Constant~~ Detect Undead, Cloak of dark power, Magic circle against good. At will~~ Holy Sword, Desecrate, Speak with dead. 5/day:~~ Suggestion, Blacklight, Death Ward. 3/day~~ Undead Lieutenant, Kiss of the Vampire, Banishment. 1/day~~ Energy drain, Create greater Undead, Gate.
Immunties (Ex): Chosen of Kiaransalee are immune to all the special attack forms from undead beings. They never age but still die when the time is at hand.
Negative energy absorbtion (Su): If the chosen has been successfully attacked by any undead with fewer than 12 hit dice she gains the amount of damage inflicted to her hit points.
The Revenancers smile (Ex): The Chosen of kiaransalee gain a +4 bonus to the DC of any of her spells cast from the school of Necromancy or with the Retribution and Undead discriptors while in the underdark. On the surface however this bonus drops to +2.
Mantle of Nightmares (SP):
On command the chosen may summon a cloak of rattling bones that causes fear in all living creatures that hear it, requiring a successful Will. save DC30 with a -4 penalty to avoid its effects. She may use this ability once a day, and it lasts a total of 12 hours a day. (the hours may be broken up seperately into rounds).
Loyal Undead (Su): In any given round the chosen can command the absolute loyalty from any undead creature within 200 feet that has less than 8HD and is not of a divine status. This ability functions constantly.
Curse of the Revenancer (Sp): Once a day the chosen may make a touch attack against any living creature. If the attack is successful the opponent must make a Fort. save DC30 or otherwise nothing short of a Wish spell or a Remove Curse spell cast by a 14'th level caster can remove this curse. Once the curse is successfully laid on the creature, any foe killed by the victim has a 15% chance of rising from the grave as a Revenant. If the foe has a Con. score of 18 or better then the chances increase to 30%. If the foe is a follower of Kiaransalee then the chances increase to 50%. If the foe is the chosen who laid the curse, then the chances of rising as a Vampire Lord is 100%.
Spell Immuity (Sp): The Chosen is immune to the spells listed here as if she were constantly under the effects of the spell, Spell Immunity.
*Detect evil
*Consecrate
*Slow
*Enervation
*Mark of retribution
*Greter dispelling
*Holy word
*Symbol
*Wail of the Banshee
The vengeful banshees blight (Sp): The Chosen can use this ability one time a day. This ability works just as if she had cast the spell Unholy Blight, except that the area of effect centers on her in a 60 foot radius spread. It deals 1d12 points of damage per 2 caster levels (maximum 5d12) and heals all undead in the area the same amount. It also sickens good creatures for 1d6 rounds causing a -3 penalty to all attack, weapon damage, saving throw, skill, and ability rolls.
Kiaransalee's Undead ally (Sp): The chosen can summon five Wights 4x/ day, three drow vampires 3x/ day, two drow cursts, 2x/ day, or one Nightwalker twice a week.
Saves: The character adds + 2 as a bonus to all saving throws, and + 4 divine bonus to saves against Necromancy spells and spells with the Undeath and Retribution discriptors.
Abilities: Increase from the character as follows: Dexterity +3, Strength +2 Charisma +3, Wisdom +4.
Skills: Hide, Intimidate, move silently and Intuit direction are class skills, regardless of the character's class.
Feats: (You gain these feats automaticly without meeting their prerequisites) Improved Familiar (either a Fiendish Bat, Giant Lizard, Fiendish Viper, Homunculus, Ice Mephit or Imp) Stealthy, Survivor, Twin sword style.
Climate/Terrain: Same as the character.
Organization: Same as the character, But must be a devoted follower of Kiaransalee.
Challenge Rating: Same as the character +5.
Alignment: CE, NE
Treasure: Same as the character.
Advancement: Same as the character
-Just so you know, Yathrinshee and Chosen of Kiaransalee aren't the same thing. Yathrinshee are 'specialty clerics'.
Yes I'm aware of this. But other than it's name.... ?? Too powerful? Kiar isn't dead in our campaign considering 4ED and it's ret cons are ludicrous.
But other than it's name.... ?? Too powerful?
-Too powerful? Yes. I mean, it is ECL + 5, but still...Plenty of powerful spell-like abilities, immunities from attacks by Undead, period, various immunities, cohorts, feats...Too much.
-I'd totally eliminate the immunities to attacks by Undead, Mantle of Nightmares, and The Vengeful Banshee's Blight. I'd modify Negative Energy Absorbtion, so that the character negates Negative Energy, and not absorbs it. I'd change Mantle of Nightmares so that the spell lasts a lot shorter. I'd also eliminate the feats.
-Clerics of Kiaransalee can only be females, as well, so I'd make note somewhere that the Chosen of Kiaransalee would have to be a woman.
-Too powerful? Yes. I mean, it is ECL + 5, but still...Plenty of powerful spell-like abilities, immunities from attacks by Undead, period, various immunities, cohorts, feats...Too much.
-I'd totally eliminate the immunities to attacks by Undead, Mantle of Nightmares, and The Vengeful Banshee's Blight. I'd modify Negative Energy Absorbtion, so that the character negates Negative Energy, and not absorbs it. I'd change Mantle of Nightmares so that the spell lasts a lot shorter. I'd also eliminate the feats.
-Clerics of Kiaransalee can only be females, as well, so I'd make note somewhere that the Chosen of Kiaransalee would have to be a woman.
Not all Chosen are clerics Karsus. All the same, Kia would be most likely to choose a female drow as her Chosen unless if unusual circumstances called for a different choice.
BTW, Kiaransalee is not just about Undead and all. Something that would be interesting would be a continual ascendence into undead status though, like becomeing a bone creature (BoVD) first, and a lich later on - no matter whether the character was a caster in life or not.
BTW, no matter what people say, defo female drow only!
Not all Chosen are clerics Karsus. All the same, Kia would be most likely to choose a female drow as her Chosen unless if unusual circumstances called for a different choice.
-If she only allows female Drow into her clergy, why would she create a male Chosen? She doesn't like males. The only male servant that Kiaransalee has (had) is (was) Rotting Jack, and she inherited him more than anything else.
-If she only allows female Drow into her clergy, why would she create a male Chosen? She doesn't like males. The only male servant that Kiaransalee has (had) is (was) Rotting Jack, and she inherited him more than anything else.
Who is Rotting Jack?
For reasons we can only guess at Kia may find need for a male chosen. Keep in mind that Lolth chose a drow who turned her back on the spider queen to be her Chosen. Deities find odd reasons for creating odd Chosen. Not to mention shes crazy, and crazy people do crazy things. I seem to remember one whacked out wizard who wiped out all magic and destroyed his entire civilization.
Who is Rotting Jack?
-Kiaransalee's Proxy, who she inhereted from Orcus.
Keep in mind that Lolth chose a drow who turned her back on the spider queen to be her Chosen.
-And, when Liriel accepted her once more, Lolth empowered her, and when she rejected her again, she took back that which she gave.
I seem to remember one whacked out wizard who wiped out all magic and destroyed his entire civilization.
-Funny. I seem to recall that it was Mystryl who ended her own existence, thus destroying Netheril.
-Funny. I seem to recall that it was Mystryl who ended her own existence, thus destroying Netheril.
IIRC Mystryl sacrificed herself since otherwise the Weave would have been destroyed, which would have ended a bit more than just Netheril. Futile in the end, of course, since that happened anyway.
Also, I think Netheril was ultimately destroyed by the Faerimm, not by a little cataclysm.
On topic: It would fit i.m.o. if most Chosen are female. But let's not forget that what Kia *really* is about is pity vengeance. I bet she'd take a male chosen if it would allow her to get back at someone for an imagined slight...
-Kiaransalee's Proxy, who she inhereted from Orcus.
-And, when Liriel accepted her once more, Lolth empowered her, and when she rejected her again, she took back that which she gave.
-Funny. I seem to recall that it was Mystryl who ended her own existence, thus destroying Netheril.
You drove her to end her own existence. Same difference.
IIRC Mystryl sacrificed herself since otherwise the Weave would have been destroyed, which would have ended a bit more than just Netheril. Futile in the end, of course, since that happened anyway.
Also, I think Netheril was ultimately destroyed by the Faerimm, not by a little cataclysm.
On topic: It would fit i.m.o. if most Chosen are female. But let's not forget that what Kia *really* is about is pity vengeance. I bet she'd take a male chosen if it would allow her to get back at someone for an imagined slight...
Exactly. There is the potential to have reason for a male Chosen.
If in-novel characters muse about one or another of their enemies or comrades being someone chosen by a deity, it does not mean that this is suddenly canon lore. It is simply the musings of a character in a novel.
As for Kiaransalee and males, I would assume that she is sane enough not to hand that role to a male, simply because all her clergy is female and as dominant in drow society as those of Lolth. Placing a male in front of them would cause unnecessary trouble and be highly unsensible. (I have no problem in understanding the feelings of male gamers who'd like to be in such a position, of course ... same goes on with the Eilistraeens and their clerics ever since the ascendence of 3E.)
IIRC Mystryl sacrificed herself since otherwise the Weave would have been destroyed, which would have ended a bit more than just Netheril.
-Mystryl sacrificed herself because she was of the mind that Karsus could not handle managing the Weave. Was she right? Well, we'll never know, now, will we?
Also, I think Netheril was ultimately destroyed by the Faerimm, not by a little cataclysm.
-No, the sundering of the Weave and the cataclysm that followed was what drove the dagger into the heart of Netheril. Not the Phaerimm.
Just in case, Lolth does not have any "Chosen" other than the one who became her eighth aspect. And that one does not have a name that sounds anywhere close to Liriel Baenre or Drizzt do'Urden, nor is it a character any longer.
If in-novel characters muse about one or another of their enemies or comrades being someone chosen by a deity, it does not mean that this is suddenly canon lore. It is simply the musings of a character in a novel.
-Liriel Baenre was a canon Chosen of Lolth. No longer, but she was.
-Liriel Baenre was a canon Chosen of Lolth. No longer, but she was.
Actually, was that ever stated for a fact? I know some characters speculated that Liriel might be a Chosen of Lolth, but that's not objective truth.
Actually, was that ever stated for a fact? I know some characters speculated that Liriel might be a Chosen of Lolth, but that's not objective truth.
-Candlekeep lists Liriel Baenre in the official 'List of Chosen', as an ex-Chosen, meaning that there is a published source that says so.
-Candlekeep lists Liriel Baenre in the official 'List of Chosen', as an ex-Chosen, meaning that there is a published source that says so.
I love Candlekeep, but I wouldn't count it as an official source for canon information (it also doesn't purport that it is). That list was put together by fans, not WotC. Even we CKers make mistakes sometimes.
Also, if I recall correctly, the most recent Chosen list has Liriel down as a possible ex-Chosen (that is, she might never have been a "Chosen" in the first place).
-Mystryl sacrificed herself because she was of the mind that Karsus could not handle managing the Weave. Was she right? Well, we'll never know, now, will we?
I am quite sure I read somewhere that Karsus couldn't handle the Weave - and that he realized this in the fraction of the moment before he petrified.
So yes, she was pretty right there.
I am quite sure I read somewhere that Karsus couldn't handle the Weave - and that he realized this in the fraction of the moment before he petrified.
So yes, she was pretty right there.
-It was a situation that never unfolded. Did Karsus gain full control of the Weave? No. Had he did, would he have truly been able to handle the anormity of the task? This, we don't know, and never will. I can think I can't make a paper airplane, but when I am 'thrown to the fire', so to speak, it turns out I can.
-Liriel Baenre was a canon Chosen of Lolth. No longer, but she was.
No disrespect to the Scribes over there, but rest assured, I read about every letter written on the FR drow, including all the Liriel stuff, and no official source ever had her down as a Chosen of Lolth.
BTW, if there ever was one, the character in question would have been a prime candidate during the Silence, but there was none. And the character eventually chosen by the Dark Mother was the epitome of all things drow, i.e. nowhere near anything either Liriel or Drizzt ever stood for.
It also suggested that the reason Lolth chose her was, unlike most other clerics, it would actually be a torment to her, and she would be willing to relinquish the power.
At the end of Windwalker Shakti hunzrin returns to the underdark disguised as Liriel, with something more "a measure of Lolths dark glory" shining from behind her eyes.
Elaine Cunningham's Windwalker had Liriel as the Zedriniset "a Chosen of the goddess" p153. Unofficial as novels may be, this is the source.
You need to read carefully here, for the same happened with Drizzt. While the novels as such are canon lore (as with all FR novels), all we get in both cases are the musings of an in-novel character. In our case, Triel Baenre. She can think that Selûne is flat and it won't matter. What matters are "facts", whether in lorebooks or novels. And what we know for fact that Lolth's Chosen was not Liriel Baenre, though the latter had, no doubt, the favour of the Queen of Spiders ... for a time. The name of her "Chosen" was revealed in War of the Spider Queen VI and we should also distinguish between the denomination "chosen of" (as in: blessed or the like) and the rule-term "Chosen" (template and somesuch). And we know for certain that Liriel was not "templated".
I think the last version of Liriel I saw was 2nd ed. Not sure if chosen were templates then.
Of course, Liriel might have been a very temporary Chosen, for a very short period, or a proxy, Tangled Webs doesn't make it clear. But what we do see is Liriel channelling huge quantities of divine power of Lolth, suggesting that she was, for at least a short period, Something Special.
"So Liriel has been chosen to bear Lolth's power because she is willing to relinquish it!"
p85 Windwalker:
"It has been long years since the Dark Maiden took a champion"
"You know the history of the People," Thorn observed. "You must also know that an equal amount of time has passed since Lolth granted the powers of a Chosen to any mortal."
The colour drained from Laeral's face. "You don't mean to suggest that Liriel..."
"I do not suggest," the elf said coldly. "I know. I saw."
How that would be represented in-game is hard to say: maybe Proxy (Liriel becomes a rank 1 demigod temporarily) or possession, via the Possess Mortal ability, or, as a Chosen of lolth template, for a very short time.
Regardless, by War of the Spider queen, neither Shakti nor Liriel are Chosen, if they ever were.