Sundown

[Xathan]

Yeah...I'm with Yair. I want to see about the Dragons...that little spoiler has me intrigued.

[Hibou]

The Dragons are coming, I've just been busy with work and course selection :)

[Xathan]

*bounces with anticipation* I totally understand the delay, but I want more!

[Hibou]

The Dragons post has been updated. While I still haven't got everything into it, there's a lot more to read now :)

[Tybalt]

Really nice writing in the intros you've done, it's intriguing, it has an air of mystery and menace and yet of potential discovery. Keep up the work, I will read further with great interest.

[Hibou]

:)

The Dragons post has been updated, and now includes the Drakes. Enjoy :)

[SilvercatMoonpaw]

*sigh* Another "these creatures are usually/always evil/cruel" type setting.  I'm sorry, I just wanted to say that.  I think that it's good that you are creating different types of dragons from the ones presented in core D&D, but do you really want to code their alignment by type?

I think your world sounds interesting and well thought out (yes, even the dragon section which i do not like).  It's an interesting idea to actually physically confine the area of adventure.  I think, though, that we need some crunch info before we can get a sense of what sort of suggestions you'd like.

[Hibou]

*sigh* Another "these creatures are usually/always evil/cruel" type setting. I'm sorry, I just wanted to say that. I think that it's good that you are creating different types of dragons from the ones presented in core D&D, but do you really want to code their alignment by type?

I understand where you're coming from, but for me, this kind of classification works. This setting isn't my setting where good and evil are hard to define, and I need clearly malicious and altruistic creatures in most cases. Dragons, as powerful and feared as they are, seem to me that they should be one type of creature most likely to fit their stereotype 95% of the time. It's the effect of the setting I am seeking that requires 'near-definite' alignments. Sundown is what Vilydunn would be were it high-magic instead of medium-low (due to the outlaw of magic and the veiled nature of the supernatural).

Very much crunch is on the way, including an adventure :)

[CYMRO]

As someone else who redefined basic dragons, I support your assertion that dragons are best defined by their appetites, whether it is an appetite for good, or for evil.  In a setting using alignments, the "usually" descriptor seems a natural part of a dragon type's lore.

[Hibou]

As someone else who redefined basic dragons, I support your assertion that dragons are best defined by their appetites, whether it is an appetite for good, or for evil. In a setting using alignments, the "usually" descriptor seems a natural part of a dragon type's lore.

Aye, it is. Once such details are established, the creatures can take a more completed role in a setting. In the case of dragons, which are so mighty and destructive, it is very likely that folklore and superstitions will arise related to them and their 'natural' personality traits, such  as a terrible thunderstorm being a sign of evil and utter chaos due to the nature of a Storm Dragon. :)

[Yair]

The seventh egg was hidden deep in a swamp inhabited by nothing except small birds and frogs. It became Laucikcarn, the Black Dragon.

Seeing the way the other dragons have "altered" names based on the location of the egg, would this dragon be better known as the Swamp Dragon.  

My jaw is still on the floor, wonderful world.  

[Hibou]

Seeing the way the other dragons have "altered" names based on the location of the egg, would this dragon be better known as the Swamp Dragon.

My jaw is still on the floor, wonderful world.

I had them named Swamp Dragons for a large part of the pre-posting process for the Dragons of Sundown post. But I liked the sound of Black Dragon better. Of course, who's to say that they aren't called both in Sundown? :)

Thank you for the compliment. I'm sure you'll be seeing more jaw-dropping material for Sundown, Sleep, and some other additions, once my writer's block goes away. :)

[Yair]

I anxiously await the breaking of your writer's block.

Anyone have a hammer handy?

[Hibou]

Stonesword Knights

 In all the many lands of the Sundown Gardens, there are countless guilds and organizations designed with the intricacies of combat in mind. Few, however, are as large, influential, and deadly as the Stonesword Knights. These men and women are warriors who dedicate their entire lives to the wicked edge and pulverizing hammer, seeing it as their beginning and their eventual end.

 
History

The Stoneswords have existed as a guild for several centuries, but only made their ways known in the last fifty years. The guild was first founded by Kin-Lanah Saugars, a runaway princess who had deserted her family and her heritage after she realized her dreams of wielding a weapon in the Royal Army would never happen as long as she stayed with the family. Changing her name, she disappeared into the alleys of Andasalem, and honed her fighting technique while remaining true to a personal code. Eventually she gained followers, and taught them many secret melee talents she had discovered in her personal trials. The first five of her followers became the five of the six Steel Guardians. Their guild name, the Stonesword Knights, was given comically after a battle with animate statues in the King's own throne room during a dispute between the King and the Changemakers. Ever since, they have sworn allegiance to the Stonesword Guild with nothing but pride.

Creed

The code of the Stoneswords, which all members must learn, goes as follows:

I live and die by my strength.
I have no true enemies except those who would take my will to fight away. I only have obstacles.
I must not rely on others to teach me my abilities. I may learn from others, but I must know how to be independent.
I shall never wield a weapon of an archer as long as I live.
I must never slay one who is weaker than myself.
I must never look to a method other than my own blade to slay an enemy.

Stonesword Knights have forsworn the use of ranged weapons, except throwing axes, throwing hammers, and throwing daggers. They have rarely ever allowed those who wield magic as well as a weapon into the guild, and pure spellcasters are never accepted. Barbarians, fighters, rangers, and fighter/rogues are the most typical members.

Religion and Alignment

There is no typical religion or alignment in the Stonesword Guild. Members may worship whoever they wish, and there is no specific moral or ethnical code that they follow. The differences in these areas are as diverse in the Guild as any typical city.

Membership Requirements

Membership with the Stoneswords was once only given to those deemed most fit for the title of Stonesword Knight. Now that the guild has gone public, however, guild outposts may be found in large cities across the Gardens where those who believe they are powerful enough may go and try out. Potential applicants must present a fair number of battle talents and training in at least two weapons of two different weapon types. The final test for a member is to fight a senior member of the guild with his bare hands and attempt to wrestle his own weapon free of the senior member's hands.

Game terms: Three feats directly related to melee combat, plus weapon proficiency with two bludgeoning weapons and two slashing weapons, two piercing and two bludgeoning, or two slashing and two piercing. Weapons with more than one type only count as one (for example, a slashing/piercing weapon may count as slashing or piercing, but not both for this purpose). A character must wrestle his weapon out of a guild member's hands as the member attacks him with it.

Members

There is a minor hierarchy within the Stonesword Knights. Initial members are given the title of Draft, while members who have remained in the guild for at least one year are given the title of Knight. The title of Steel Guardian is only ever given to the six members who govern the Guild and the most legendary of other members.

 Guild Dues

Joining members of the Stoneswords need not pay an initial fee but must be able to prove their position in another paying job or be able to sustain themselves. Thrice per year, they must deposit a value of 600 colshins (300gp) into the Stonesword treasury in order to pay for events and upkeep at the headquarters. Members are required to take part annually in the Trials of the Stoneswords, a tournament held in Kerumbrel's largest colosseum multiplex. This hardly seems like a chore to the Stoneswords, most of whom love friendly competition between each other.

Colors and Appearance

Drafts fresh into the Guild are required to wear garments colored chaotically with black and white, and are given gray helms painted so cleverly that they appear as if made of smooth stone. Knights are granted simple iron headbands that are rimmed with stone, and wear clothing of gray and white. The Steel Guardians wear crowns of pure granite, and wear robes of a very dark gray at all times, except in the case of war. During open war with other guilds or while in service to the lords of the nations, Stoneswords wear black uniforms painted with ashen swords on the chest and back. A Stonesword only ever takes of his helm for royalty; even in their sleep they wear them.

New Feats  

 Mobile Knight [Guild]
The Stonesword Knight can perform like an acrobat in combat in order to evade his enemy.
Prerequisities: Dex 15+, Knight ranking, Dodge.
Benefits: Balance and Tumble become class skills for the characters. If the character already possesses these skills as class skills, he gains a +3 insight bonus to their rolls.

Kin-Lanah's Sacrifice[Guild]
The guild member may call upon the spirit of the first master of the Stoneswords though self-harm to improve his combat ability.
Prerequisites: Character level 8th+.
Benefits: Once per day, the character may choose to take an amount of damage equal to his character level to receive a +4 divine bonus to attack rolls, +2 divine bonus to damage rolls, and a +4 divine bonus to AC. This bonus lasts a number of rounds equal to one half his character level. If the character is healed by any means other than natural regeneration within 3 rounds of using this ability, the bonuses are lost.

Trials of the Stoneswords [Guild]
Your constant training in the Guild has hardened your body to an amazing level.
Prerequisites: 6 months membership in the Guild, Con 16+.
Benefits: You gain a +2 natural armor bonus and a permanent number of HP equal to three times your Constitution modifier.

Shadow Strike [Guild]
Your personal training has enabled you to sneak about with finesse, stalking your enemies until the right moment.
Prerequisites: Dex 15+, Stealthy.
Benefits: Add Hide and Move Silently to your list of class skills.

 New Mechanic: Guild Feats

Guild Feats work for the most part like regular feats do. They require certain prerequisites in order to access, some of which may be difficult to achieve. Additionally, it is required that a guild member in any organization meets the basic membership requirements at all times to keep using any Guild Feats they may have taken.

Guild feats generally grant powerful abilities, and as such are harder to keep and use. If a member of a guild ever leaves of his own volition, he loses access to the feats as long as he is no longer a member (some guilds may not reallow membership, either). After one year, they may choose new feats for the slots that once held Guild Feats.

Members should know very well which guild they belong to and what their rank (if ranks exist) is. A character loses access to Guild Feats from one guild should they ever take guild feats in another.

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Well, there's some new material (FINALLY!). I can't help but think though, that I'm missing something in that long description of the Stoneswords and the new feats and feat types. If something is missing, don't be afraid to tell me :)