#sentinel totem

[thesubtlepenguin]

© richard b potter 2023

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...... ...... onlookers of the silent tower.....

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........(the sentinels of may)...

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[lairofdragonagelore]

DA2: Sundermount as an elven graveyard

[This is part of the series “Playing DA like an archaeologist”]

Sundermount is the tallest mountain in the Vimmarks and has a fearsome reputation. Legend says it was the site of a vicious battle where the ancient Tevinter Imperium and the elves of Arlathan unleashed horrors into the waking world, and creatures prowl the heights to this very day, unaware that the war for which they were summoned is long since over.

Here, Merril informs us that this place is not a mere graveyard, it's a place where the Elvhenan came to reach Uthenera. Clearly, the war with Tevinter in Sundermount or the chaos unleashed by Tevinter/Elvhenan, or the demon attached to the strange idol destroyed this place and made it a true graveyard, where the soul of those elves do not rest.

We can see in several opportunities that when we reach these altars, there is always a “shadow” enemy, something very similar to the elvenhan sentinels we found in DAI in the Temple of Mythal. They are wearing something similar to the Arcane Warrior’s armour from DAO too. When you kill them, you can see their bald elven shape. The design of these elves have been determined since DAO, as we can see it in The Gauntlet when observing Shartan.

The codex Enasalin confirms our suspicions at the same time it gives us more information about Abelas in DAI: defenders of slumbering elders. In abelas’ case, we know Abelas and his sentinels have been sleeping to defend the well.

In the almost top of the mountain is where Merril does her ritual to raise Flemeth. She recites a part of Leliana’s song in DAO [we know she learnt it from Dalish]

emma ir abelas souver'inan isala hamin vhenan him dor'felas in uthenera na revas

which translates

now I am filled with sorrow weary eyes need resting heart has become grey and slow in waking sleep is freedom

And in that last line, Flemeth appears. I'm not sure if it means something in particular, if it's hinted with this shoot that Flemeth is "awakening" from a waking sleep which, ironically, it's not freedom for her as we can suspect in DAI she has been bound to a quest for revenge of ages of plotting.

If we consider the codex Sundermount plus what Merril and Fenris tell us about this place [not exactly reliable narrators since they are repeating what Dalish legends and Tevinter magisters know about this, which we were already informed many times they have some hint of truth but most of the time they are children's tales], we can summarise it as:

This place was, in the time of Arlathan [or before], an elven graveyard. Back then, we know, the elves went into Uthenera. So, considering this hinted piece of information, if in this place were elves in that state, it makes sense the Varterral defending the zone. [We already saw a fact of this in The Masked Empire: Varterrals defend places of Uthenera or with great value for the elves]

In this place, after Arlathan fell, Elvhenan [merrils is not specific here, but we can be so with out knowledge of DAI] fought Tevinter. The Tevinter unleashed chaos to teach elves that resistance was futile [this piece of information provided by Fenris, which comes from Magisters, and its perspective is pretty clear in the statement].

We find the Strange Idol here. We don’t know who, but we can be more or less certain that one of the two sides bind the demon to the statue, and it has been living there since that war.

On top of the mountain we find a cave called Pride’s end, which contains a chamber where we find three of these  Strange Skull-Dragon totems

And the Strange Idol, beside a Felandaris, a plant that only grows where the Veil is thin.

At the sides, we find small altars [their true name is inuksuk, and there are many types that will be see in DAI] with bowls of green fire, probably emulating a kind of Veilfire.

[Index page of Dragon Age Lore ]

[yourplayersaidwhat]

I'm not sure whose more ready for this next session

Context: Rogue has had a quest to assassinate the child prince that has been the 'pet' npc of the party's. The Dm had told her to hold off on assassinating him until they reach the capital at least. Last session rogue decided to say 'fuck it' and tried to kill him. The prince is on 1 HP and the DM called the session before combat could begin. Thus leading to this mess. 

DM: Alright. So I was hoping you'd all be higher level for this. Everyone level up to 12, rogue go ahead to 15. 

Rogue: Cool. 

*Me to DM later* 

Me: Question, is rogue just dropping levels into rogue? 

DM: Yeah sounds like it. 

Me: You do know that bard and barbarian (the two schemers), are definitely going to have some hijinks right? 

DM: Nah, barbarian has talked about sticking with barbarian, and he's pretty new to dnd. I think he won't do anything too crazy. Probably just use speak with animals to summon some wolves or something. 

Me: And Bard? 

DM: Suggestion and sleep are his go to spells. I doubt he'll deviate from there.

Me: And ranger/wizard?

DM: We do not talk about them that's the one person I'm panic planning for. I know it's going to include fire though. 

*Following week* 

Barbarian: So you know how I'm a Goliath totem barbarian. 

Me: yes?

Barbarian: So in one turn I can run 120 feet. Well. I did something. 

Me: I knew you'd do something. 

Barbarian: So I took the mobile feat, which adds ten feet to my moving speed. So now I can go 150 feet. I also took two levels into fighter so I can action surge which means I can move for one turn 200 feet. 

Me: But. Why?

Barbarian: Oh also, you can take a feat right? Sentinel would be sweet. 

Me: Uh ok?

Bard: You ready? 

Me: For what?

Bard: The plan?

Me: What plan?

Bard: Just be ready, we're going to need you to stay near by. But don't get too close to me ok? 

Me: *Confused noises* 

Ranger/Wizard: I'm not preparing fireball. 

Me: Oh so firebolt or something? 

Ranger/Wizard: Nope no fire, too easy. 

Me: WHAT?!?!

Ranger/Wizard: ;D

I'm terrified. I'm the party's cleric, I have no idea what's going on. I haven't told the DM anything though cause I have no idea what I could tell her. 

[raeynbowboi]

What Is the Best Party for a Necromancer

With enough time and preparation, a Necromancy Wizard can create a small army of powerful undead, but I got to wondering: what party formation does the best job at supporting the Necromancer's undead horde to reach its maximum potential? So, that's what I'm seeking to do. To create a party of 4-5 characters that best empowers and emboldens the Necromancer's army.

WIZARD SCHOOL OF NECROMANCY

The star and most likely the official team leader of the party, the Necromancy Wizard is the focal point of this team composition. With their 6th level feature: Undead Thralls, the Necromancy Wizard adds their Wizard level (6-20) to each undead's hit points, and their proficiency bonus (3-6) to each undead's weapon attack damage. This means that the Necromancy Wizard makes the strongest possible undead thralls in the game. At 14th level, the Necromancer can place any undead under their control with Command Undead. This gives the Wizard the ability to gain a free Wight, a high CR undead like a Nightwalker, or even notable villains like Acerack, Vecna, Strahd Von Zarovich, or Sylas Briarwood. Intelligent Undead can make saving throws, but a simple Feeblemind can take care of that pesky detail.

PALADIN OATHBREAKER

The Oathbreaker Paladin was chosen because of their 7th level feature: Aura of Hate. Any undead within 10 feet of the Paladin adds the Paladin's Charisma modifier (1-5) to all weapon attack damage. At 15th level, that Aura expands to 30 feet. Not only can this stack with the Necromancy Wizard's Undead Thralls feature, making undead near the paladin stronger, but the Paladin does not need to be the one who created the undead. So the Oathbreaker can lead the undead into battle on the front lines, while the Wizard stands further back sniping enemies with cantrips and low level spells. Unfortunately, only one Aura of Hate can effect a single undead, but in theory, one Necromancy Wizard with 3-4 spaced out oathbreakers each with a 10 or 30 ft aura can effectively organize your undead army into tight formation battalions. But there are other good allies to have in the game.

CLERIC GRAVE DOMAIN

We want the Grave Cleric for many reasons. Firstly, they get a lot of necromancy spells, so while their horde won't be as strong as the Wizard's they too can create a horde of undead, making an even bigger army. Their Channel Divinity: Path to the Grave makes it so that an enemy is vulnerable to the damage of the next attack that hits them, which sets up nicely for the Oathbreaker to lay down a devastating smite, or the Necromancy Wizard to ensure a fresh thrall from their Finger of Death. Sentinel at Death's Door can be used to nullify critical hits, which can keep not only party members, but even undead minions from being obliterated. The wizard's Wight that controls 12 zombies is probably an asset you don't want to risk losing, so having a way to save that valuable asset is useful. And, should the Necromancer forget to reassert control over their horde in time, the Cleric's Destroy Undead feature can help the party mow through the bodies.

DRUID CIRCLE OF THE SHEPHERD

I know, I know. A Shepherd Druid and a Necromancy Wizard in one party is a DM's nightmare, but there's a reason we're choosing this subclass. It's not the animal summoning, it's the Totem Spirit. See, the Totem Spirit radiates an aura in a 30 ft radius. And that aura bolsters as many creatures as you want within that aura. Meaning that not only can the shepherd provide aerial support with swarms of ravens and buzzards, but that aura also applies to the Wizard's undead horde. The Bear totem grants the undead Temporary Hit Points, and the Unicorn Spirit makes it so that when the Druid heals anyone outside the aura, they're also healing every creature inside the aura. While they can't target undead creatures with their healing spells, the aura's healing factor does not exclude undead, allowing the Druid to heal a party member, and in doing so, heal every undead within 30 feet of the totem spirit. The fact that the Druid can summon a stronger horde of animals is just a nice little cherry on top. There's also nothing saying you can't reflavor your animal army as being undead animal corpses with DM approval to fit in with the necromantic themes.

WARLOCK FATHOMLESS PATRON

This is the least useful of the five, but it does have its uses, so while it is the most expendable of the options, there are reasons to use it if you have a five man party. At 6th level, the Fathomless Warlock gains the ability Guardian Coil. Their summoned tentacle can defend a single ally creature, reducing damage the creature takes by 1d8, or 2d8 at level 10. At 14th level, Fathomless Plunge can be used to teleport the Warlock and up to five other creatures to any source of water within 1 mile. The Fathomless Warlock, The Shepherd Druid, and the Grave Cleric can cast Create or Destroy Water, and a puddle is a source of water, letting the warlock teleport fresh undead to the front lines, or move injured undead to the backlines. If the Druid has their Unicorn Totem, this can be a useful way to teleport party members or important undead like Wights to the Totem's aura, and giving the party ways to move important creatures. The teleported creatures also do not need to be near the Warlock, they simply need to be able to see them within 30 feet, allowing the warlock to give the undead horde greater mobility. Make your patron Davy Jones, The Captain of the Flying Dutchman, or the Eldritch Lord of Shipwrecks to keep on brand with the themes of undeath and necromancy within the party, tying yourself to those lost to watery graves.

SPELLS AND SYNERGY

The core spells of Animate Dead, Create Undead, Danse Macabre, and Finger of Death can be used to create undead thralls. Wizards get all four spells, while the Cleric only gets Animate Dead and Create Undead. Oathbreakers also get Animate Dead, but only get up to 5th level spell slots. Warlocks can learn Animate Dead through an Eldritch Invocation, but only once per long rest, and only at 3rd level. Warlocks also learn Danse Macabre and Finger of Death. They also get Create Undead, but can only cast it at 6th level.

Both the Warlock and the Wizard get access to Negative Energy Flood, which can be used to heal an undead, or to damage a living target. Like Finger of Death, a creature killed by Negative Energy Flood rises as a zombie.

Aura of Vitality is a spell for Clerics, Druids, and Paladins that creates a healing aura within 30 ft of the caster. The spell's text does not exclude undead from benefitting from this aura, however only one creature can be healed with a bonus action. While this isn't super useful given it only heals one creature, the Druid using this spell to trigger their Unicorn Totem every turn with a bonus action does make this more useful, as you're able to heal the undead army multiple turns in a row while only using one spell slot. And unlike Healing Spirit, the initial healing can also be applied to an undead. The only caveat is that the healing needs to go a creature outside of the unicorn totem's aura in order to trigger the healing. Luckily, the Totem does not have to be within any given distance of the Druid, which gives the Druid more flexibility in their positioning.

Every creature that can be created with Animate Dead and Create Undead (Skeletons, Zombies, Ghouls, Ghasts, Wights, and Mummies) are immune to Poison damage. As such, AoE spells that deal Poison damage, such as Cloudkill can be dropped on top of your undead horde without harming them, but harming any living enemy near them. Your undead can also attempt to grapple foes, holding them in the Cloudkill, preventing them from leaving as they suffocate. The Necromancy Wizard is the only member of the party that can learn Cloudkill.

Both the Grave Cleric and the Druid can learn Antilife Shell, which pushes living creatures away from the caster, while allowing undead creatures to move through the shell harmlessly. This can be a great way to keep Strength-based enemies at a distance. Unfortunately the shell is not a proper force field, as weapon and spell attacks can still pass through, so this is not a way to protect the Wizard. It only keeps melee-ranged threats at bay.

BALDUR'S GATE III

While we can't recreate this team set-up perfectly in Baldur's Gate III, we can still do a weaker version with four party members: TAV as a Necromancy Wizard, Astarion or Karlach as an Oathbreaker, Shadowheart as really any Cleric subclass, and Wyll as a Fiend Warlock with a Pact of the Tome. The Tome will allow Wyll to cast Animate Dead and Create Undead, Tav and Shadowheart will also be able to create undead, and Astarion or Karlach will be able to use their aura of hate to strengthen those undead thralls. It's not as good as what we built above, but short of mods, it's the best we can do. It doesn't really matter who's what, this is just an example of a party composition. Astarion could just as easily be the necromancer and TAV the Oathbreaker, you could have Gale as the Necromancer, or Lae'zel as the Oathbreaker. What really matters are the classes. The Cleric can still clear any undead that turn on the party, the paladin still bolsters the already stronger undead, and every member of the party is pretty much able to make equally strong undead, the Wizards undead are just juiced up to the max.

[transingthoseformers]

Sorry if this is too many asks in a row

What type of victims/sacrifices do you think sentinel would use in the au?

Ohh definitely others who are isolated, don't have many social connections, relatively low on the totem pole of the Great Autobot Machine™️

...

Generally the people who usually disappear when there's shady shit involving murder going down: people who "won't be missed".

This'll fuck with Sentinel so much of course because he's basically hunting actual mecha for nyarlathotep, those are people with lives and it's now his job to take that away from them otherwise face the consequences himself.

[daisychainsandbowties]

i’m doing it i’m doing it DND CLASSES FOR THE WARRIOR NUNS

you will laugh initially but LISTEN - Mother Superion is a bard. she’s a battlefield control champ with a bit of healing (a BIT) and before you think ‘she would not fucking etc. etc.’ consider this - she’s a College of Whispers bard. it is creepy as fuck. she gets in ur head, she deals psychic damage. she’s out here main casting confusion, hold person, mass suggestion, geas. dissonant whispers to give you a nosebleed with a goddamn look. a bard is about swag in any colour scheme and MS is out there wearing black and making you haemorrhage without touching you.

real quick on yas and michael. LOOK i want to make yas a cleric or a druid but i am loathe to give her a high wisdom score. my girl has no sense of direction. so i’m going to make her a wizard purely because it happens every campaign. your wizard has no spells your wizard is trapped in a small room with a melee fighter your wizard is FUCKED. your wizard somehow beats the fucking shit out of that dude and walks out with three missing teeth and a shit-eating grin. this is the yas arc. so, wizard. BIG on utility. i could even see her as an artificer honestly like a bit of artillerist or she could have a metal wolf i wouldn’t stop her. michael is a barbarian but he’s the totem of the bear so when he rages he takes half damage from everything except psychic damage. champ.

cam is a rogue. she’s rogue-coded. she’s a little guy with a hand crossbow. assassin OR perhaps actually a bit of arcane trickster. message, mage hand, a bit of prestidigitation but she’s read the RAW (rules-as-written) and she is exploiting the fuck out of that cantrip. she is dealing 8d6 sneak attack damage and using a feat to shoot again with her bonus action. or you’ve been sneak attack damaged x2 because surprise and so you are dead and she’s bonus action hiding w her sneak ability modifier of +14.

don’t argue lilith is a hexblade warlock. what the fuck else? she’s your archetypical Gish rocking a longsword and fuck it i’m just going to give her magic initiate or something so she can have the primal savagery cantrip for the claws and the teeth. she’s pact of the blade. i can and will have her be a paladin base and multi class into warlock to make an overpowered mess of a stat block but she’s maining charisma and she got constitution to the roof tiles. her eldritch invocations are devil’s sight, agonizing blast, armour of shadows. Eventually I wanna say master of myriad forms just because alter self straight-up slaps and I want lilith to do whatever she wants (god forbid women)

shannon is a paladin. classic paladin exactly like the one my mom always insists on playing and she too forgets she has any spells except hunter’s mark and smites but she’s the only reason the party is alive her AC is 19 from the get-go her fighting style is defence +1 ac and she’s got the sentinel feat. sword and shield or shield and morningstar. poured all her point-buy into strength and con but acts like she’s got an intelligence score of 25 at the table. genuinely the most likely to make the dm tear their hair out bc she wants to talk to every NPC and she’ll fully encourage everyone else to do the stupidest shit

mary has me conflicted. on the one hand she’s an obvious pick for artificer but i dislike that class & mary is too precious to me SO instead let’s give her that sexy sexy gunslinger fighter subclass. yeah she made you homebrew guns into your setting no she isn’t sorry about it. took close-range fighting style so she can be ANYWHERE on the battlefield and hand people their asses. she can snipe but she has a tendency to rush into rooms, immediately trigger all the traps, and then laugh her ass off while climbing out of the pit of spikes like that painting of the naked woman coming out of the well. sometimes the traps set her on fire and she refuses to use her action to put it out. she WILL sacrifice her action bonus action movement argue w/ the DM over what counts as a free action if ANYBODY gets dropped to 0 and is making death saves. fully does not care who has healing word she will book it to her fallen comrades, action surge the shit out of her turn because ‘in this life!!!’

now. ava is obviously i don’t take criticism she is Obviously a wild magic sorcerer. my girl is out here using tides of chaos to get advantage on stupid fucking rolls like she’ll use it to win drinking games or to charm the lock into opening or to tie a guard’s bootlaces together and then in the middle of a fight she’ll roll a 7 or 8 on a d100 and cast fireball centred on herself. sometimes she breaks the fourth wall and the spotify playlist of ‘dnd fight music’ will play out of nowhere and the party is just so used to it they don’t even bother to prod at the fraying fabric of the universe. ava wants all the fire spells she’s got fire bolt she’s got shocking grasp she definitely has minor illusion AND mage hand doesn’t care if there are better utility cantrips (aside from prestidigitation not really anyway mage hand is aha your too sexy!!). she will not multi class she wants those high levels spells we’re talking dimension door, fireball, FUCKING FLY (she twin spells fly on her and bea and most days will waste all her 3rd and 4th level spell slots on 10 minutes of what she calls ‘we stay silly time’). but also she had a surprisingly high int score so she learns how to ritual cast and learns alarm and conjure steed and a bunch of good utility spells and it makes bea So Proud. just wait until she learns Animate Objects and can fuck up enemies beauty and the beast style. ava as sorcerer is bespoke. send tweet.

bea. i’m so emotional. i want to make her a blade singer wizard so bad. BUT i think her int modifier better serves rogue. along with dex she can have dual short swords she can use a longbow she can dagger dagger dagger (i’m giving her boots of haste because i love her). but i’m multi classing her with gloom stalker ranger. hands down the best ranger & thematically so so sexy. assassin rogue with three levels in gloom stalker. yes my soul wants to give bea magic but RESIST because she’s cool as she is she’s surrounded by magic users and YET she is still the MVP of any fight. she has dark vision she has sneak attack you bet ur ass she is meticulously planning how to get surprise in every encounter and she does. typical rogue sneaks ahead of the party and dispatches 7 enemies by herself. bonus action dash/ hide but also loves her team because sneak attack loves an ally within 5feet. guys she’s terrifying ava loves casting haste on her and watching her just go batshit. she’ll use uncanny dodge every damn turn if she had to she automatically halves the damage off ava’s self-combustion wild magic bullshit. ava can cast fireball right next to her and bea will succeed the FUCK out of that dex save and take no damage.

(these nuns are making me worse every day but there u go dnd classes for my babies)

[witchcraftmagazine]

Happy Birthday Athena, Goddess of Wisdom. We honor you and ask your help and guidance 🦉 https://www.magicalrecipesonline.com/2016/06/archetype-totem-animal-owl-the-wise-2.html #Athena #goddess #goddessathena #goddessathena👑🦉 #owl #magicalrecipesonline

[ttrpgbrackets]

Propaganda under the cut.

Cunning Brilliance

Your sharp mind and keen sense of your surroundings allow you to duplicate almost any ability you witness. At the start of each day, choose three extraordinary class abilities. Each ability must be available to a standard character class at 15th level or lower, and must appear on the advancement table or in the text description for that class. By spending 4 inspiration points as a free action, you gain the benefits and drawbacks of one chosen ability for 1 minute. You use the ability as if your level in the relevant class equaled your factotum level. You can use each chosen class ability once per day.

What makes it cool?

Because the Factotum class is based entirely around the concept that the character spends way too much time reading books and flitting from expert to expert in order to witness their individual expertise, the entire ability is just "I saw a guy do this once" or "I read about this in a book once". Then performing some unbelievable extraordinary feat that is reserved for heroes of legend. Despite the class being based mostly around Intelligence as it's primary ability, the Cunning Brilliance ability stands out as the ultimate "action hero" ability. Example: "Do you even know how to use a sword?" "Of course. The pointy end goes in the other man."

Inspiring Totem:

When you use an ability action, you may also perform any one basic action using you Mid die on the same roll.

What makes it cool?

In a game where action economy is vital and you normally get one, maybe two actions a round, this inherent passive ability says "have another"

[dndeed]

Crit Role Miniature Rollout: C3E41 Call of the Wild

With Andrew Harshman

An archive and analysis of the minis used on CR.

This is some quality map and encounter design. Interesting mechanics, objectives, and roleplay opportunities. Chet-centric game design seems to be a surefire way to create engaging D&D content, take note DMs.

Celestial shenanigans and moonlight merriment abound, it’s time for Crit Role Miniature Rollout Campaign 3 Episode 41!

The List

Mats by Mars: Shattered Soil Tabletop Play Mat

Dwarven Forge Caverns 

Dwarven Forge Dwarven Pillar

Dwarven Forge Wicked Cavern Pack Rock Cave-in

Dwarven Forge Swamp Floating Log

Dwarven Forge Wildlands Faerie Plants

Dwarven Forge Wildlands 

Hagglethorn Hollow Totems

Axe N Shield Single Flyer Risers - Clear Mithril

Campaign 3 Party Minis Wizkids Sculpts

FCG Spiritual Weapon

Harbinger Gnoll

Mythic Odysseys of Theros Leonin Iconoclast

Unhallowed Werewolf Lord

Pathfinder Reign of Winter Fox

Tomb of Annihilation Werebear

Deadly Foes Celestial Sentinel

Assorted scatter terrain

Unknown Elven Statue

Best Mini of the Ep

Mega-Chet Unhallowed Werewolf Lord Mini photo sourced from minisgallery.com

Wow, a chest waxing werewolf, king shit. Errr, lord shit. Werewolf Lord that is. All hail the werewolf lord. Now this here is a properly impressive shapeshifter. Classically Castlevanian. Downright dank. Fearsomely Fenrir-sian. Totally tubular. Cool name, cool mini, cool pose, effective, streamlined paint job. -also, get a load of them abs! Move over Liver King, here comes the Werewolf Lord.

Worst Mini of the Ep

Werebear Tomb of Annihiliation Werebear Mini photo sourced from minisgallery.com

This D&D werebear mini is an embarrassment. It’s a shock Wizards/Wizkids released this model at all. Surely it violates some sort of decency ordinance or lycanthropy law. 

The very same year, a Pathfinder Werebear was released, which I think we can all agree is infinitely better on all counts. Better fur texture, better paint, better creature design, and this mini even has a tasteful werebear-presenting nipple. What a deal.

See ya next sesh!

#critroleminiaturerollout

[ask-naraenil]

Unconditional Love - 25th Oct 23

Fatigue shot through her body, aching her muscles and burning her nerves. She felt heavy and worn in a way she never felt until a few decades ago.

Nara’enil grabbed the last handhold on the rise and pulled herself onto the ledge. Under the light of the two moons, she squinted at the Ohn’ahran Plains, its green vastness peppered with thickets of trees spread before her. 

Once upon a time, a girl with hair as blue as the depths of the ocean winced as the mighty bear whose scalp she grazed with her arrow transformed before her eyes into a full grown druid. With blood streaming down his white hair, he shouted at her so loudly she swore his voice echoed through the woods and scared away any other predator within the next mile.

She followed his footsteps as they departed for Feralas the following day. 

She remembered a pair of faces welcoming them when they arrived at his home after their lengthy journey. Both were similar in their dark hair and sculpted cheekbones; similar in their soft jawlines, and in the shapes and golden hues of their eyes. She remembered thinking that she had been adopted into a family of greatness, so the ancient stories went. 

She remembered the formal yet gentle kindness of the woman - the druid’s wife. She remembered sleepless mornings when the elder priestess sat with her by the sea, and taught her about the Goddess in ways that the sisters in Hyjal who looked after the orphans did not. 

She remembered the reticence of their son, who looked too much like his mother. A youth of her age who had yet to fully grow into himself. Who shied away when his father introduced her as his new sister. She remembered the realization that he - that they - were her family now, and for as long as she lived, she would protect them with her life. 

Once upon a time, a young Sentinel with violet leaf markings destroyed a cursed totem atop a peak in a mountain range. She was descending a cliff when the skies erupted with torrential rain. Her grip slipped on a moss grown rock and she could not grab another in time before lightning struck the outcropping just beside her, and broke the rocky shelf she clung to.

As she plummeted, expecting to be welcome in the arms of the Mother Moon, the beat of wings reached her ears and the pain of sharp talons dug into her shoulders, trying to slow her free fall. It dragged her mid air towards the trees near the shrine of Aviana, that was the nearest place of refuge. Her leg broke, as did her arm as she crashed through several layers of canopy and landed in a heap on the ground. The owl that saved her life turned into the most beautiful man she ever saw. He brought help and rushed to her side.

A century later, they tied the knot under the roots of their home, in the presence of their handful of friends and family, and with the stars as their witnesses.

There was a tall tree nearby with branches low enough to climb onto. Nara’enil scaled its bole and found enough space on a particularly broad limb to lie down. It was something she had done all of her life: find a safe vantage point and seek refuge in the open. The sky was a roof more familiar to her than those indoors. 

She could feel the leaks. The ‘surges’ of the Dream coming into the physical world, frontlines where the Circle’s archdruids went to contain them, while recruiting anyone willing to help not just with collecting the living energies, but to fight back the opportunistic incursions from the Firelands. 

The burns on her torso and her arms still stung, even though they were healing. Nara’enil rested her weight against the trunk, carefully unholstering the staff on her back. She tried not to let the flashbacks to the fires and flames stop her from seeing to her comfort.

“It’s a twig of Shaladrassil, given to me by my Shan’do before he passed on.”

“It’s from Andrassil up in the north, before it had to be destroyed. My An’do declared me its heir when I chose the path of the Branch.”

“Legend has it that it was stolen from G’hanir by one of the first druids, and it has remained hidden through the generations.”

Perhaps he was beautiful because he saved her life, despite the near-impossible chance of success. Perhaps he was beautiful because he was the only one who could pull a full bellied laugh from her, no matter how dire the circumstances. He never gave a serious answer whenever she asked where his cyclically blossoming staff was from. Each explanation only grew more ludicrous than the previous. It became a private joke between them in the millennium and a half they were together.

When the Circle returned from the first Silithus war, his staff, withered and dormant, was all that they could find of his remains. 

It took her another hundred years to learn to smile again.

It was a habit - a routine she had formed - ever since she started travelling alone. First, she removed her staff - the gnarled, dead stick, then her satchel and sickle, and finally her belt, onto which numerous pouches and containers were attached.

In the darkness of the shadows cast by the mountains and the forests, she learnt from her foster father the ways that were forbidden to her and all other women, during the few moments he found her alone on patrol and away from her various units over the years. He was already training her before she met her late husband; he continued to train her through her marriage, and he kept training her after she was widowed. Their lessons were kept away from prying eyes and ears, for nobody would ever approve. 

In the rarer times she managed to bring herself to return to the home she built after they were married, she took out her husband’s books and scrolls, and tried to learn the other craft for which he was valued by their compatriots. But she was no alchemist, and without a teacher to guide her, she learnt as any commoner did: by recipe, and by memory. 

His initials were sewn into the woven belt of ironbark. He wore it when he went to gather herbs. It hung from its hook on the wall near his laboratory table. “I won’t have the chance to forage in the desert,” he said before he left. 

Paired with the knowledge imparted to her by both him as well as her foster father about medicinal flora, she refused to let her husband’s legacy die with him, as she did her utmost to apply what she learnt, and pick up anything new.

A white ohuna flew overhead, lightly rustling the leaves as it whistled. Perhaps one of the local wildlife, or a messenger for the centaur clans. Nara’enil watched it disappear into the horizon as she hung the herbalist’s belt onto the bend of her staff, the latter secured to the branch beside her. Finally, she folded her cloak and laid her head on it as a makeshift pillow.

The stars peeked through the canopy like moonlight caught on ripples of water.

In the years that followed Nordrassil’s fall, her hair had faded into a dull grey as the navy strands were gradually replaced by white. Injuries and ailments took longer to mend. Worry and fatigue have etched themselves into increasingly noticeable lines around her eyes. 

After the orcs invaded their lands, min’do Ilisana no longer walked among them. Nara’enil’s heart broke at her failure to protect her. Shan’do Maldari wore his loss like thorns that pricked his son Meladriss so badly that he no longer spoke to his father. 

Every ache of her chest for her broken family and broken home felt as amplified as the aftermath of Veldrinath’s death. 

As she took up the mantle reluctantly given to her by the Circle, and threw herself into the frontlines of each conflict that affected their home, be it within their borders or away, Nara’enil learnt how to deal with the changes wrought from newfound mortality. Adapt or die: a lesson from ancient times. Change had become the new constant after thousands of years during the Vigil. Time had become a luxury they could no longer take for granted. 

After decades of numbing herself both in yet more learning as well as a different duty, whilst trying at the same time to find a semblance of peace in fleeting but simple moments - like the beauty of the stars in a clear night sky, and the comfort of a strong supporting tree - Nara’enil, for the first time since she learnt to adapt, felt the burden of her age. Of the tumultuous unrelenting beating her home and her kin kept continuing to take with only a pitiful couple of years of respite at most; of the tenuous ties to the only two people she had left in the world that she called her family.

After all, she was a puzzle, made from the pieces of everyone she ever knew and loved. Regardless if it was as brief as her formative years, or for as long as her lifetime, she carried them with her.  From near or far, she would protect them with her life. 

“Within this space that we have made for each other, you can say anything and I will not abandon you. Show me the worst things you have done. I will hold them with both my hands and I won’t flinch.”

Through the night, she kept watch along the ridge to the Sanctuary. The Green Flight sentries normally stationed to do so were more urgently needed in the Dream just now. Nara’enil did not mind. She always preferred solitude, especially now with the gradually swelling numbers in the Gardens.

She remained until day broke, and those who were diurnal took over once more.

[doom-nerdo-666]

Something i remember is concept art of the Hell Priests looking even more demonic and less human, which reminds me of the "archdemons/Hell royalty" concept art.

Mighty Doom has an Hell Priest boss but i'm sure the idea of them as enemies is something people thought of like former human wizards helping demons or like a take on Hell having cultists being more than just zombies.

Maybe they could even have roles similar to Arch-viles or Buff Totems.

Because i once wrote an alternate lore for Immora being a "paradise" for Hell's followers that made them join the demonic army and became some Hellish tech humanoid creators, devoid of humanity.

Hell Priests as enemies could be like that but instead of soldiers with fleshy guns, they'd be almost like Doom's equivalent to Disciples of D'Sparil from Heretic.

(The Briers from D2RPG also looked like ghostly figures in robes)

Or an excuse to have "humanoid" wizard characters working for Hell, maybe some looking like that old man face stone texture that existed in old Doom.

I also imagine that if the Hell Priest idea was revisited, we could get them from other worlds besides the Sentinel one.

Like Earth priests (Obviously being Catholic ones) but turned into Satanic scary "Hellraiser cenobites" style characters (Which contrasts the "saturday morning cartoon vibe" style on the 3 Sentinel priests).

And i can see the potential for comparisons to cenobites from Hellraiser, the God Hand from Berserk and so on.

Anyway, some stuff worth reading too:

My take on Immora and its troopers

Archdemons and some designs by Wayne Barlowe

Brier/Watcher ideas

[thesubtlepenguin]

© richard b potter 2023

...130520231656.7.......

...

.......of tangents & totems............

.

...(the sentinels of may)....

.

..

[mystemapoetry]

The Real World

Trapped in a hedge maze of faceless statues A lab rat in search for cheese Helpless and directionless, I stare at the images of David and Venus They mumble in foreign tongues without mouths I can faintly feel them weeping

I follow a golden thread, much to the dismay of the stone sentinels I am led to an ornate wooden totem pole The faces carved are all known to me All of them from dreams Surrounded by candy canes and cardamom "You know us, but we do not know you" My eyes close slowly I melt into marble

[dufreydiaries]

Dufrey Diaries Chapter 7

Lucline and Rasina were enjoying breakfast the next morning when a Psjiic projection appeared before them. The mage standing there was an Orc named Lobamog Aglim, assistant to the leader of the Hammerfell branch of the Society of Magic. She smiled at the man.

"Good morning, Lobamog. Doing messages for Minrra today?"

He grimaced. "There's a meeting together with the other branches. Minrra asked me to summon you to the meeting as well."

Lucline and Rasina shared a look. Lucline was not high on the totem pole of the society, there was no good reason she would be summoned to such an important meeting.

"Did she say what she wanted me for?"

He shook his head. "She just said it was important and to hurry."

She got up and sighed. The sun was beating down on the sand already and it was sweltering outside. "Alright. I'll get changed and be right there."

"Much obliged. Good morning, Rasina. I see you two are finally moving things along. Congratulations!"

"Good morning, Lobamog. Thank you, it was a long time coming."

Lucline blushed as she rushed to don her clothing and put on her cloak to shelter her skin from the sun. She came out to find Lobamog's projection was gone.

"I guess working on the cooling machine will have to wait." Lucline said sadly as Rasina rose and stole a kiss from her.

"Well, we can still work on moving your stuff in here this evening when the sun goes down. I'll see you when you get back."

Lucline smiled and kissed her back. "See you soon."

*Elder-Scrolls*

Lucline rushed across the city and towards the old Mage's Guild building. It had housed the Society of Magic for the last twenty years, but the people of Sentinel refused to call it anything but the Mage's Guild building. She waved back at a few of the passerby's that she knew and got waves or nods in return as she went. She saw a stall with fresh fruit for sell. She made a note to stop and by some on the way back. Soon, she had arrived and hung her cloak on a rack for that purpose. She was wearing her Society issued robe instead of her scant desert friendly outfit Rasina had gifted her. She sighed, wishing for the cooler clothing as she stepped into the meeting room.

As she entered, Minrra put a finger to her lips and motioned to a chair next to her. Lucline carefully made her way and sat down. There were other chairs around the table, each of them was filled with a Psjiic projection of the other branch leaders of the Society. The High Rock leader, her former mentor Arnlec Beatte, smiled as she sat down but said nothing. He was the oldest member on the Council, except for maybe the elf members. It was hard to tell with them.

On the center of the table, stands a Nord with his hands crossed. He was talking to the Council.

"I am pleased to tell the Council that the College of Winterhold has agreed to take me on as a teacher for the next term. They have declined to serve as the Skyrim Branch of the Society for the time being, but Archmage Arco told me she was considering it."

"Good," Arnlec spoke now. "The Arco family is well known throughout High Rock. I am sure she will make the right decision for the College."

Lucline chuckled. It would be hard to find a single providence where the Arco family was not famous to some degree.

Minrre nodded. "Thank you for your report, Henrick. You may go."

Henrick bowed and his projection disappeared. Arnlec spoke again.

"That will conclude the formal business for today. Minrre, good luck with that task we set for your young Dufrey. I trust my former pupil will be up to the task."

Minrre nodded as the other members started vanishing. She remained quiet until the last was gone. Minrre was a middle aged Redguard woman with a nasty scar running from her left temple to the right side of her neck. Her eyes were knd though, softing her tough looks.

"Thanks for coming so quickly, Lucline. I know you were wanting to start on that new project of yours but this takes priority. First, I got your report on what happened at the Dwemer Ruins. There was in fact a expedition planned for next week there. Some students to get their hands dirty on some Dwemer relics. We are looking into that. I figure you have a right to be in on dealing with that. However, a more pressing matter has shown up given that the trap has been sprung. I would like you to deal with it while we look into the trap further."

Lucline nodded. "Alright, what is the job?"

Minrre smiled. "We heard of a young child in Bergama that is exhibiting a level of magic that should be impossible. We don't have an agent there so we cannot easily confirm. We would like you to go to Bergama and confirm this. You can return after. We are arranging a permanent agent there soon."

Lucline pondered this. "Can I take an escort from the Fighter's Guild for protection?"

Minrre smiled knowingly. "Sure, you can take Rasina with you. We will cover your fare for the right to Bergama and will dispense a meal stipend and we will cover Rasina's hiring cost as well. Though I suspect you wouldn't need to pay, given Lobamog told me he found you in her house this morning."

Lucline blushed. "I would prefer if she got paid and was on a job. Work for the Guild has been meger lately as it is."

Minrre nodded. "I understand. We haven't gotten many contracts for magical assistance lately either. Please report to me the day after your return. I don't want you coming in here swaying on your feet from the ride."

Lucline grinned eagerly. "Yes, ma'am!"

She rushed out to go and fetch her cloak. She was excited to tell Rasina and get underway!

A/N: And another chapter down. We took Saturday off and I might make that the norm. See you in the next chapter!

[anysigns]

Majestic Lion King With Colorful Totem Pattern Symbols Brave Courageous Soul Oval Mandala Art Vinyl Sticker/ Printed Vinyl Decal

Embark on a visual odyssey where the regal essence of the lion meets the vibrant allure of ancient totemic artistry. Picture an art piece that transcends mere imagery; it’s a narrative woven through hues and symbols, an emblem of courage and majesty.

At its heart reigns the lion, the epitome of strength and sovereignty. Its mane cascades like a fiery sunset, a golden tribute to resilience and power. Yet, this isn’t just any lion—it’s the King, an embodiment of regality and grace. With eyes that hold the wisdom of centuries and a presence that commands reverence, this majestic creature stands as a sentinel of bravery.

[thryth-gaming]

A Sentinels Comics character!

I made a Sentinels Comics character earlier today and you can't just do just one. Going light on explanation here.

Step 1 - Background

Rolled: 3 and 8.

Options

3: Struggling

8: Tragic

11: Retired

I think I'm going to go with Struggling. I relate to that a little bit in this stage of my life.

I'm going to go with Banter d8, Finesse d6, and Fitness d6 and then I'll go for the Principle of Business. They're a struggling small business owner.

On to Step 2

Step 2 - Power Source

Rolled: 3, 5, 7

Options

3: Genetic

5: Mystical

7: Relic

8 (3+5): Powered Suit

10 (3+7): Relic

12 (5+7): Artificial Being

Oh, this is tasty. I'm going for artificial being. They're clone, homonculus, or robot... something that was created with a purpose. Maybe they've known this, or maybe it is something they've discovered recently. Why were they created?

I think I'll apply d8 to Vitality, for being very healthy, d6 to Infernal, and d8 to Presence. Very healthy and charismatic and carrying a spark of dark magic.

For Abilities I'm going to grab:

Yellow: Created Immunity: Infernal

Yellow: Recalculating

Green: Intentionality

And on to Step 3

Step 3 - Archetype

Rolled: 2, 6, and 7

Options:

2: Shadow

6: Close Quarters Combat

7: Armored

8 (2 + 6): Flyer

9 (2 + 7): Elemental Manipulator

13 (6 + 7): Transporter

I think I'm going to go with the idea of someone who was created to blend into society. And going with Shadow. And assigning d10 to Stealth, d8 to Agility, and d8 to Acrobatics

For Abilities:

Green: Sabotage

Green: Shadowy Figure

Yellow: Overcome from the Darkness

And I'll take Principle of the Powerless

Now to the next Step

Step 4 - Personality

Rolled: 4 and 7

Options:

4: Mischevious

7: Stalwart

11: Stoic

And going for the Stoic.

Newly Aware Homonculus will be the Background quality and the Out ability will trigger on Stealth.

Step 5 - Red Abilities

This is what I'm taking for Red Abilities

Inspiring Totem

Major Regeneration

Step 6 - Retcon

Upgrading the Red status to a d12

Step 7 - Health

Okay.

8 + 8 (Vitality or Agility) + 12 (Red Status) + 4 = 32

Green: 32-25, Yellow: 24-12, Red: 11-1

And... I'll do the character sheet later and edit it in.