Among the treasure our party found were two lumps of lapis lazuli, Both Leiya Tevorova and Enkili Harbhamit Pesar Al Madii claim to have the origin story of these semi precious stones.  Here is the Mandagan version of the tale, with the Onastian version forthcoming from our young priestess.

This dark blue, gold flecked stone known as lapis lazuli is called the Tears of Ahme in Mandagar.  The tale as I learned it is thus:  Hamaam, who was made pure, in his long span had seven sons in the spring of his life, another seven sons in the summer, and finally seven sons when age began to slow the pure one, though he had no sons at all in his winter century.  Great nations did his children make, and Hamaam rejoiced as Makhim's promise came to be.

Of Hamaam's first seven sons there was one born who did not give onto Makhim and Ahme the devotion they were due.  This one was greedy and spiteful, robbing his brothers and sneering at the gods.  Makhim made for himself a human form and he came to the deserts to challenge this unrighteous son of Hamaam.  Having wrath towards all, this evil son smote Makhim with a weapon rather than listen to words of redemption.  Makhim feigned to fall before the earthly blow, but laid a curse upon the child of his creation to humble and teach him.

Not knowing her husbands plan, Ahme felt the sun falter where she resided in the mountains.  Word reached her that her great husband had been slain by the mortal son of Hamaam, and her anguish was great.  She, who is the best of wives wept, and her tears froze into the stone lapis lazuli and filled her chambers.  She took up her husbands sword, she took up her husbands shield, and she set upon the gates of the underworld to free Makhim from death.  Ahme refused to let her dead husband reside on the other side of the dark gates that lurk beneath the earth.

Makhim, who was watching the painful lessons of his curse upon the dark seventh son of Hamaam, learned of his dearest wife's intent, for all knowledge can be found by he whose bright eye and dim eye both watch all upon Erath.  Rather than let his beloved divine wife face that which lies under Erath, Makhim had to reveal his ruse in order to prevent Ahme her plan from being enacted.

Afterword, Mahkim was forced to directly smite the trespassing seventh son, and the devastation was such that many widows wailed to the heavens.  Ahme, who had just went through her own lamentation felt for these women and children, and she forbade her loving husband from laying them low.  The other sons of Hamaam the pure adopted these women into their own tribes, for their devotion to Makhim's wise laws were strong in the way they lived.  Seeing that the seed of the one they had made were righteous in heart and deed, Ahme bestowed her tears upon the face of the world.  By her word, lapis lazuli should be a mineral that can be used for all things beautiful.  So it is that all the peoples of Erath use lapis lazuli in their statues, in their inlays, in their jewelry, in paint and ink, and in the cosmetics that add allure to a woman's features.

   

   

   

Class Archetype:  Enkili/ Battle Master
3rd Level-  Hit Dice/ Hit Die Type- / 3 / 1d10+2
Hit Points gained= Hit Point Total ?
Proficiency Bonus=  +2
Features:  Martial Archetype (Battle Master), Student of War- choose an artisan tool set to become proficient in. (Caligrapher's Tools), Combat Superiority: (pg.68) Maneuvers 1) Precision attack, when I make a weapon attack roll against a creature, I can expend one superiority die to add it to the roll.  I can use this maneuver before or after making the attack roll, but before any effects of the attack are applied 2) Feinting attack, I can expend one superiority die and use a bonus action on my turn to feint, choosing one creature within 5 feet of me as my target.  I have advantage on my next attack roll against that creature.  If that attack hits, add the superiority die to the attacks damage roll. 3) Maneuvering Attack, When I hit a creature with a weapon attack, I can expend one superiority die to maneuver one of my comrades into a more advantageous position.  I add the superiority die roll to the weapon attack’s damage, and I choose one friendly creature who can see or hear me.  The creature can use it’s reaction to move up to half its speed without provoking attacks of opportunity from the target of my attack.
Superiority Dice: 4d8's plus 1d6 superiority die due to fighting style retcon.  Maneuver save DC = 8+2(proficiency bonus)+3(strength bonus)=13

Superior Technique gave Enkili the Distracting Attack Maneuver (retcon) as his 1st level fighting style.  Here is the text: Distracting Attack, When I hit a creature with a weapon attack, I can expend one superiority die to distract the creature, giving my allies an opening.  I add the superiority die to the attack’s damage roll.  The next attack roll against the target by an attacker other than me has advantage if the attack is made before the start of my next turn.

Downtime activity:1)Purchase a calligrapher's tool kit, if it is reasonably priced.  (Grrr.  Enkili Harbhamit Pesar Al Madii misses the days when money didn't seem to be an issue).  Price 10gp.  Weight 5#.  Purchase a chest to ride in the wagon, 5gp. 25#.  Purchase a lock for the chest, 10gp. 2#.  Training consumes 20 gold.
2) Research on "Darsta".  What was Darsta, where was Darsta, is our map real?  There are techniques from the calligrapher's tool proficiency that should give my investigations a boost.

   

I want to thank everyone for their patience with the hiatus we’ve taken from playing. The family and I are settling into our home well.

I’ll be using the final weekend of November to wrap up the moving and cleaning, and time permitting will working on some of our campaign projects.

As you know, Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything has come out and I purchased it in Fantasy Grounds and hardcopy form. After we wrap up our scenario in the Skulker’s Hideout, I would like to discuss some of the options available in the new supplement to see if there are any we collectively want to adopt.

Although the next scheduled game will be Sunday, December 13th at noon, I would like to offer an extra session on Saturday, December 5th for those interested.



Please post a reply or text whether you will be able to participate in either or both sessions.

I want to thank everyone for their patience with the hiatus we’ve taken from playing. The family and I are settling into our home well.

I’ll be using the final weekend of November to wrap up the moving and cleaning, and time permitting will working on some of our campaign projects.

As you know, Tasha’s Cauldron of Everything has come out and I purchased it in Fantasy Grounds and hardcopy form. After we wrap up our scenario in the Skulker’s Hideout, I would like to discuss some of the options available in the new supplement to see if there are any we collectively want to adopt.

The next scheduled game will be Sunday, December 6th at noon. Please post a reply or text whether you will be able to participate or not.


Please feel free to give suggestions or comments in the thread titled "The Care and Feeding of Your Game Session," located in the House Rules forum. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Please feel free to give suggestions or comments for improving the flow of our game sessions in this thread.

Since abandoning the unsuccessful Journals, I have decided that I would use my gaming notes to provide a highlight reel of our group's adventures.  This may help my fellows remember our place in the game now that we have transitioned to an every other week schedule.  Too my fellow players, please feel free to point out important details that I will, no doubt, leave out.  You guys will have a frame of reference and different focus than I have, and I would love knowing the game through your eyes... and so would the people who check out our forum sight.

   

   

Having consolidated their power within the Sedarin government, the Scarred Hand turned their ambitions to Wizard’s Peak and the secrets held within. Isolated and under siege, the Wizard’s Peak Guild’s acts of desperation would introduce the Warforged to Erath.

The creation of the Warforged was an attempt to bolster the defenses of the Sanctum and the Hall of Worlds within Wizard’s Peak. The initial constructs were powerful but mindless, and proved insufficient against the forces behind the Sedarin military specialists. In an event of mixed luck and exhaustion, the Grand Artificer Dariun Ryel stumbled upon the long-lost secret of creating sentient objects by inadvertently infusing his consciousness into a non-living construct and becoming the first sentient Warforged.

The benefits of being a Warforged became apparent: there was no need for food or drink, nor even breathe, and sleep became unnecessary. Many within the Sanctum volunteered to become Warforged and were infused into ready constructs. To hasten the creation of Warforged, Dariun shared the arcane process with five of his pupils and bound them to oaths of secrecy so it would not fall into the wrong hands.

As they grew in number, the Warforged did much to help turn the tide of the siege. However, unforeseen misfortune would befall the sentient construct as they started to slowly lose the memories of their prior lives, keeping only their base purpose and memory from the point of becoming Warforged.

Part II to follow soon...

As an aside, Tieflings and Aasimar have always existed on Erath, although their nature is now apparent.

Tieflings are met with considerable prejudice and hatred, even when not warranted. Not all Tieflings were witting supporters of the puppets that the Scarred Hand placed in positions of power, nor were all aware of their infernal heritage prior to the action of the Divine Concordance. Now, Tieflings conceal their presence in the shadows of slums and remote locations as a matter of survival. Although rare, their presence was not limited to Sedaria.

By contrast, Aasimar are viewed with a wary awe due to their divine heritage. They are fewer in number than Tieflings due to the reluctance of divine beings to violate the Divine Concordance.

Being presumptive, but hoping that I am merely helpful, I thought I would start a thread if we have questions about character generation.

   

Here is a place to inquire about the recent changes to the world of Erath.