Table of Contents Æthercoil Magazine Issue 4 – January 17 Introduction 1 Brainstorming 2 Revisions 5 Loose Items 10 Roll20 Macro Tutorial 13 3 More Anthro Races 15 Dragonjin 18 Gunslinging Options 36 Intro to Æthercoil’s Twisting Halls 39

The Red-Haired Elf, Chapter 2 42

Social Media Links

Google Plus: https://goo.gl/v8mGmf Reddit: https://goo.gl/TsnHJw Patreon: https://www.patreon.com Sample file /FoxFireStudios Player’s Wiki: http://foxfirestudios.net/ aethercoil/

About the Cover: In this Issue, a special DM-specialized race, the Dragonjin, is introduced. Because of this, I’m going to need to draw a lot of dragons, especially my own DM character, Ike. This is my first effort, using a pose taken from a modeled pic from Deviant- ART (Forgot the reference, help in finding it again is appreciated) and adding what I’d think Ike would wear in battle. (In a future pic, he’d actually have armor.)

As I continue doing dragons, they’ll be better, I believe so. Page 0 Æthercoil Magazine Issue 4 – January 17 Introduction By now some of you have Googled my name and found out that I There are some things I need to let you had a very wild past. Only, that’s too kind: I was a raging lolcow in know about some conventions I keep my youth and I know it. I know it because even today there are while I’m writing. It’s in part because of people who are as incapable of resisting spewing hatred toward me my own personal quirks and in part as an SJW is incapable of resisting going into histrionics whenever because of me being autistic. they hear “President Trump” in any conversation. Most of the Fortunately, I keep adequate footnotes to content in Encyclopedia Dramatica’s article on me1 is a prime result help you be on the same page. to such hatedom, and TV Tropes had a ton of other examples before All the material in this magazine is they decided that they didn’t want to be another ED. compatible with Dungeons & Dragons One of the biggest reason why I got such a hatedom is that I make Fifth Edition. However, everything requires the Player’s Handbook™, Self-Insertion characters. I put myself in the story, so to speak, or Monster Manual™ and the Dungeon include original characters. While to some groups, especially fan Master’s Guide™ to use anything groups of anime and cartoons, this practice is the equivalent of properly. There are some parts in the drawing the Prophet Mohammad. In Mecca. During the Hajj. publications that I use which isn’t But during a conversation I had with two people who invited me present in the SRD or the Basic Rules. I’ll refer to the First Edition of the into a podcast, that thinking is as bonkers as some of my earlier documents for page references. fanfics. Many writers and storytellers create characters that were a bit like themselves. And if people want to hate on me, they must Attributes are referenced in two ways: hate on just about every major author and playwright, not to Their Scores by their full name mention some of those I look up to by the way, for the same reason. (Charisma), and their Modifiers by their I then described my reasons why some people hate on OCs because abbreviation (CHA). of the author’s overcompensating for some shortcoming and create Sometimes I use terms taken from 4th the dreaded Mary Sue character, but that’s not my point here. Edition to ream things in 5th Edition. ‘Standard’ means the same as the The point is, while you might think that some or maybe all of the unlabeled ‘Action.’ Ditto with ‘Minor’ for characters have a bit of me in there because I am in fact the writer ‘Bonus’ and ‘Long Rest’ for ‘Extended of most of these stories, I must go on record and say that I will tell Rest.’ If I mention ‘Rest’ without any you when I make a Self-Insertion Character. qualifiers, it means any rest longer than ‘Short Rest’ Eisenhower, the Dragonjin I’m introducingSample in this issue, file is a self- insertion. But once you read up on what a Dragonjin is, it might One last thing: While I know that there not be so bad. are varying genders out there, I default with binary male pronouns as a writer. I am also an adult who uses adult language and, as a Cis White Male with Autism, not only will I offend people, I am unable to give a fuck about it. You have been warned on all counts.

1 If there’s anything that is a ‘microaggression’ to me, it is people saying that it’s ‘My Encyclopedia Dramatica page,’ because I come by the adage of, “If I can’t open it, I don’t own it.” Some people take that article and claim that I own it, as if I owned a turd I flushed down the toilet which they got into the sewers, retrieved said shit, and showed it to everyone like they discovered gold. And they wonder why I included the Æ glyph for my Logo design for Æthercoil.

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Brainstorming Session

Up til now, I could pace my issues of my public It took me a while for me to find the link—I worldbuilding notebook for every other month. was looking in the wrong place—but I Issue 4 will arrive a month later than managed to find the stream that I was in. It’s expected, February at the earliest or March if called ‘Bass to the Bone,’ is located at I can’t help matters. There’s more than just https://soundcloud.com/user-47740498, and the holidays which includes a family reunion could use some help with the logo and possibly out of state that warrants this. some web pages. I might design one as thanks for such a positive experience. It would’ve had I just finished reconstructing the Player’s easily denigrated to an hour-long prank, Handbook Wiki for my D&D campaigns and which might have happened before the turn of Æthercoil2. The initial form of the flavor texts the millennium, but it didn’t. for this Wiki, including various tutorials and home rules, will be written in the Magazine, That alone is enough for me to support this and then transferred to the Wiki. This will audio blog further. I might not be the most include revisiting former options (Including famous person around. Some would say that I the Engineer and Jester classes), give them am ‘famous,’ but I deny it; famous people don’t one more once over, and include that short have to worry about being on Social Security story snippets where each character option3. because people consider his social clout too I’ll also expand on the weapons, armor, much shit to be hirable. Famous people don’t equipment, kits and the other options such as have to look for someone to say anything Feats, Backgrounds, Spells, and the many positive about them. Before TV Tropes grew Prestige Classes. up and decided not to be a troll site, it exclaimed that there wasn’t a single person You can access the Player’s Handbook Wiki at saying anything positive toward me. Suffice it http://foxfirestudios.net/aethercoil Sample tofile say that I sympathize with Donald Trump As I did this, I also brought back Jamie’s right now. story. The Red-Haired Elf began in Issue 2 So, I appreciate people who approach me and and I intend on continuing her story come hell give me a fair shake on their blogs, which is or high water. Hopefully, the fiction will get what Bass to the Bone has done. They were the people interested in the campaigns. And nice to me, so I’ll repay the favor. vice versa. I’m not sure if Æthercoil will become my Forgotten Realms. But if this leads me into another setting, at least Æthercoil would’ve I only wished I could do more. I was granted me plenty of practice in playtesting Jamie with her Witch options in a worldbuilding. Not to mention working in a Saturday table, only to see her get literally field with a community that doesn’t get as knocked into another campaign by a dragon toxic as it did in DeviantART. Even with attack. These things happen. Yet into this reddit, things have been positive in comparison. So far so good. short time, I’ve had enough playtesting to make some needed revisions to my homebrew

2 In fact, any option that I experiment with or have a 3 Unless it’s taken from said rulebooks; there’s only so player in my table work with, will become Æthercoil much I can legally copypaste into the Wiki Legal.

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options for both Eladrin and Witch. I’ll start a new section of this magazine for such needed revisions.

Probably the only thing I can say anything bad about Fifth Edition is its Starter Set. Compared to the 4th Edition Red Box, you feel gypped opening its current version. The 5E As much as I wanted to even as I wrote this— Starter Set has a pamphlet of basic rules, The even if I am an MGTOW, I’m not a complete Lost Mine of Phandelver campaign, a set of monster when it comes to women—I cannot Precons, a set of dice…and that’s it. remove the tendency for dragons to mate with female humans and turning them into dragon 4th Edition’s Red Box has an Introduction book egg-laying machines afterward. But I did that walks you through character creation and manage to take out the part about them how combat works, a DM’s handbook that giving birth to dragonborn4. But that is includes a decent beginner’s Dungeon Delve, because I wanted to put in the dragonjin DM The Twisting Halls, a set of Precons on race, discussed later in this Issue. laminated cards, a set of dice…maps, tokens, cards, a means to level up your Precons, and so Of course, I might be overthinking this, as I much more! 4th Edition gave you a starter set sometimes do. Maybe an all-female party that has more worth for your money. would want to rescue a fellow princess from the clutches of a dragon before she begins Wizards dropped the ball when it comes to a pinching out dragon eggs until she croaks. proper introductory adventure for their Fifth Edition. Not only does the DM needs a lot more set-up, even to the point of making their own maps (even if he downloads them from the Internet, he still needs to get them printed I hinted that I’d be setting up a Patreon for out,) but in my humble opinion, a major Æthercoil content. This will be where I’ll be campaign isn’t an appropriate way for people offering the Modules and Setting Books to the to learn D&D. Lost Mine of Phandelver isn’t a public for a monthly donation. Right now, that Sample badfile campaign, don’t get me wrong; I’m Patreon is soft-launched, where I have it converting it into a Æthercoil campaign available but there isn’t much in it at this myself, but to introduce new players into time. playing D&D, and give them an quick and If you become a Patron now, you’ll be able to enjoyable introduction adventure, you need a get this content ahead of time, in a Beta form, good old fashioned dungeon crawl, preferably as well as other benefits, which I’ll list at a one you can play in one night. The Twisting later time. Halls fills that need perfectly. You can get to the Patron at I wish to correct the mistake Wizards made https://www.patreon.com/FoxFireStudios. The with their own 5th Edition Starter Set with the URL of this and the Player’s Wiki will be Æthercoil Red Box. It’ll be a ZIP file of PDFs included to the front page for future reference. to print out at first, of course, but it’ll include everything a group will need to play, including

a dungeon crawl inspired by The Twisting Halls, with all the needed maps and tokens to play, and if need be, precons. My goal is to have everything needed for the group to just

4 Maybe I’ll put them back in later, as things in the campaign setting develop.

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set up and play in under 15 minutes. (Once all the printing and cutting apart is taken care of, of course.) If the Patreon goes well and I get some money rolling in, I can then turn to making a publishable version of the kit, with the kind of quality (and quantity) that was present in the 4th Edition starter set and lacking in the 5th Edition version. But of course, that’s further down the timeline. I should construct the dungeon delve first, which I’ll begin in this issue.

While I was working on this issue, I also got some feedback from a document I’m pretty proud of. I created the 5E Homesteading mechanic to fill up the need for a way so that the party can build and maintain a home base, expanding on the meager several paragraphs and tables the DMG has. It is, by far, the most popular document I have on DriveThruRPG right now, and I had two E- Mails full of corrections and suggestions saved in my Notes. I’d like to thank Michael Plowden and Loke V for your input, and I’ll be showing my revision work on the Homesteading Mechanic in Issue #5 This is a sketch of an NPC for one of my Sample fileStorm King's Thunder Campaigns. Nikki was a group of Barbarians allied with the Cult of the Dragon (a Shaman who is in a head to toe skinsuit made of green I have three levels for my Illustrations, dragonhide) who learned how to run the depending on the material used and how airship that comes up at the end of Chapter much I devote for them: 4 of the campaign. Level 1 is purely pencil sketches, the most

basic of scribbled Level 2 has some more effort and is the most common in these pages. They are hand inked and scanned in. Level 3 is the highest quality and is for my better illustrations, and is often used for the cover. These are scanned in, inked by computer, and colored.

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Revision Session Remember what I said about none of the Fey Step: Can innately cast Misty Step up to options shown in this magazine being set in INT times per day, though once per rest. stone? No? My bad then. Languages: Common, Elvish, and one other I’ve designed this magazine to have a place for language. people to haggle over my ideas and to find out what needs changing. If there’s a change, I’ll write about it in an upcoming Issue. Hence this new section in the Magazine, An Eladrin can turn someone into a Half- where I show whatever needed a change I Eladrin by a blood-mixing ritual. The needed to make into any related item. recipient experiences something like turning into pure light as their body changes, their ears pointed, their eyes brighten to the point of losing their irises, and a telepathic link permanently connected both Eladrin and recipient. The Eladrin then considers the recipient as their son or daughter, and in an event of the Eladrin’s death can transfer all his essence into his “Child,” turning him into a Ability Score Increases: +2 Dexterity, +2 full-blooded Eladrin in his place, acquiring all Intelligence knowledge and part of their physical and mental attributes. Age: Physically reaches maturity at 20, but mentally reaches adulthood at 100. They can As Size and Speed goes, refer to the original live well past 1000 years. race of the character before the bonding process. Alignment: Eladrin tends to balance Sample file themselves between Lawful and Chaos, Ability Score Increases: +1 Dexterity, +1 although they are predominantly in the Good Intelligence and +1 to a third of your own. edge of the Alignment Array. Age: The Half-Eladrin’s age at half speed of Size: Especially in their ‘normal’ forms, the PC’s original race. Maturity and Life Eladrin range a bit taller than elves, 5½ to 6½ Expectancy is doubled. feet. Their size is medium. Alignment: Half-Eladrin tend to have the Speed: 30 feet or 6 Squares same alignment of their Eladrin ‘Parent,’ or move to a neighboring alignment in the array. Telepathy 60 (This replaces Dark vision and Keen Senses) DC {8+Eladrin’s Prof+Eladrin’s Elf Weapon Training: Proficient in INT} WIS save to resist. Longbow, Longsword, Shortbow, and Shortsword. Elf Weapon Training: Proficient in Longbow, Longsword, Shortbow, and Fey Ancestry: Advantage on Saves vs Shortsword. Charmed, and Magic can’t put you to sleep.

Fey Ancestry: Advantage on Saves vs Trance: 4 Hours Meditation = Long Rest Charmed, and Magic can’t put you to sleep. Languages: Common, Elvish, and one other. Trance: 4 Hours Meditation = Long Rest

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planning at the time. She can target any point within the 1-mile range with any spells while near her artifact as well. She can also teleport anywhere within this area as a Standard Action. The opening extra cantrip choice and archetype bonus spells remain unchanged. The ability to brew is removed and will At this level, the connection the Witch has become a feat-based option. toward her Foci artifacts is boosted, in this manner: • Athame: The bonus gained to the The Hex will work both ways; it can impose Spellcasting bonus or Spell Save DC is disadvantage on foes and grant advantage on doubled that to the amount of damage friends. In both cases, it replaces taken. Advantage/Disadvantage instead of canceling • Broom: The broom acts like a normal them. The Witch can hex her WIS+Proficiency Broom of Flying, with an indefinite per day. flying duration. • Garb: The Witch’s WIS is added to the 13+DEX base AC granted by the focus. Also, she can change the type of Moved up from Level 6. Any heals that the damage to be resisted to at any Rest. Witch casts gain her WIS to the Spells. Also, all • Hat: The witch can Charm Person up buff spells like Bless and Aid can affect one extra to her WIS using this focus, losing the ally when cast. oldest instance at each new Charm. She also regains the use of this feature at each Rest. Instead of Advantage or Disadvantage, the • Mirror: As long as the original Focus Witch can spend a hex use to allow an ally to Mirror is intact, the entity can use any innate ability (Including spellcasting, communicate with the Witch through Channel Divinity, Rage, Second Wind and any any reflective surface. other x per rest/day/etc). The target usesSample this file• Staff: The staff has a bonus to attack ability as a free action during the witch’s turn. and damage equal to the Witch’s WIS • Wand: The wand now has a number of charges equal to the Witch’s WIS + the level of her highest castable slot, Got that new name. which recharges every dawn. Casting Magic Missile and Alter Self through The area 1 Mile around the Witch’s Sanctum the wand expends charges equal to the Artifact gains a sense about the Witch in their Level of desired spell slot used. midst and seeks to protect her from harm. It can even sense the Witch’s mood and creates a reflection; it can be pastoral or frightening, depending on what the Witch is feeling. Unchanged from the original version. The Trees can come to life (Animated Trees, only region of the Enchanted Sanctum effect is now with 0 speed) to fend off attackers or assist at 6 miles. The teleport can be done as a Move friends. Beasts with a CR of 1 or lower act as Action. if Charmed by the Witch, a la Nature’s Sanctum.

When within 100 feet of the artifact, the The Hex feature is now at WIS/Rest. She can Witch can sense all sentient beings within the now have 1 of every available Witch’s Focus, region, and when she’s focused on any one of and when within 100 feet of her Sanctum them, she can sense what they’re doing and

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Artifact, if she casts any spell up to Level 3, there is a 25% chance of it being cast without expending a slot of points.

Reminder: Fair Use Guidelines Earlier on my DriveThruRPG career, I believe it's my first entry, I created the Engineer Some of the material listed in Æthercoil Magazine are remixes of other existing works, which I will reference in the class. It's my effort in making a stand-alone back of each issue. To keep this magazine as kosher to US Artificer class, combining several options that Copyright Fair Use laws as possible, I use a four-point guideline based on the Four Factor Test: were out there on the internet into a workable option for me to play test and use. It was a bit 1. I use as little of the existing material as necessary. clunky at times, but I was satisfied with using 2. The changes are made to fit a need that those it until something better comes along. who created the original work has not thought of. 3. I only do the mechanics; not the flavor. Like when Wizards of the Coast finally gets 4. The use is made with respect to the marketable value of the original work. their act together and make an official

Because this is a brainstorming journal, there may still need Artificer class. more filing off those proverbial serial numbers before they are finalized in the campaign setting. And with January 9th's Unearthed Arcana entrant, that's what they did. I take as much steps as I can to ensure that I have permission to make these remixes. However, if there are any questions or problems associated with my use, I ask that I be This Artificer class works exactly the way I asked first over E-Mail and discuss matters before any legal see an Artificer as, someone who focuses more action is regarded. I will gladly rectify and even discuss on a on inventions and magic items rather than compromise that we can both be happy with. actual magic. While the class is designed to work in Eberron and other like settings, I'll use this class for my revised Forgotten Realms setting (where invention has risen thanks to the spellplague) and as I said earlier, (almost) all Unearthed Arcana is legal in Æthercoil. In this light, allow me to convert some of the options in my old Engineer Class into Sample archetypesfile for Artificer:

The Artificer is able to gather enough spare parts to inscribed a bunch of them with glyphs that allow him to build various mundane items on the fly. They are collected in a Gadget Pouch, included in his inventory. A Gadget Pouch weighs 5 lbs. As an action, he can take any number of these parts to build any mundane item. They remain constructed until dismissed as a minor or taken more than 100 feet from the Engineer, at that point the parts disassemble themselves and reappear in the bag. The Pouch has a number of parts equal to the Engineer’s INT + His Level. Gadget Parts can be expended or destroyed, in which case, during any rest, the Engineer can spend Spell

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Points to regain Gadget Parts per action, 1 days. The limit of infused spells remains the point per part. same. The Engineer can use the Adventuring Gear table on page 150 in the PH as a starting list of objects, with the exception of Potion of Healing or Antitoxin. He can construct an item at the rate of 1 Gadget Part per 10 GP rounded up, minimum of 1 Part. He can even The Artificer gains Proficiency with Medium make an arcane focus out of Gadget Parts. and Heavy Armor, also, he automatically Keep in mind that, for some of these items, converts his Spell Slots to Spell Points. the Gadget Part will be consumed, often by making consumable items or ammunition. In this case, the Gadget Part will need to be At this point, the Artificer has inscribed his replaced. 2 Spell Points for one Gadget Part current suit of armor with glyphs, infusing it and an extra for each additional Part during with Arcane power and giving it abilities any Rest. (Or, spend a Spell Slot and gain beyond normal or even magical armor. When the Slot's Level in Gadget Parts during any worn, the armor has a +1 bonus which stacks rest) with other protection. As a reaction, he can spend 1 Spell Point to gain resistance on any damage of any attack. Your Gadget Pouch can construct any This armor is free of charge. If the Artificer available item in the Wondrous Invention list. needs another armor, it requires 5 times the asking price of the mundane version of the armor and inscribing it is the same as magic The Artificer can now add a specialized item construction (1 day per 50 GP required, version of Cure Wounds and Healing Word to rounded up.) his list of prepared spells (On top of the prepared spells he already has.) These two There is no limit on the number of Suits the spells only heal damage caused to constructs Artificer can create, but he can only attune to and machines. one of these suits at a time. This attunement Sample doesfile not count toward the total number of attuned Magic Items. The Engineer can destroy two existing Magic Items and create a new one. Take the two items to be destroyed, note the lowest rarity of the pair, and locate both in the Magic Item At this level, instead of creating your Tables in the DMG. Mechanical Servant, whenever you're not in your currently attuned Suit, the Suit becomes Take the table letters of both items’ earliest your Mechanical Servant. All other rules occurrence and convert them into numbers; 1 apply for A, 2 for B, 3 for C, and so on. Average both numbers, rounding low, and convert that number back into its letter. You can create any item of that Magic Item Table or lower at At levels 9, 14, and 17 the Artificer can add the noted rarity or lower. one of the following abilities into any inscribed Power Suit. Any new Power Suits can have The process only requires half the standard available upgrade slots available on creation. amount of days needed, without any extra Once an upgrade is chosen, however, it cannot money. be removed: Alacrity: 10 feet is added to Speed, and The Artificer can spend a Spell Point to gain When the Artificer uses the Infuse Magic Advantage on Athletic (STR) checks to Jump. ability, the spell remains on the item for 7

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Counter Surge: Choose any one damage When the Artificer is in his attuned armor, he type: Acid, Cold, Fire, Force, Lightning, can now crit on a 19 or 20. Necrotic, Radiant, or Thunder. As a reaction against a Melee Attack, The Artificer can References from the previous versions: spend χ Spell Points to deliver χd4 damage of Tom "Evhelm" Donovan; “Artificer Class;” the chosen type. This effect can be taken more available from the Dungeon Master’s Guild; than once. http://www.dmsguild.com/product/182599/ Enduring Resistance: Choose any one Johnny Tek; “THE ARTIFICER (5e Class);” damage type: Acid, Cold, Fire, Force, available from the Dungeon Master’s Guild; Lightning, Necrotic, Radiant, or Thunder. http://www.dmsguild.com/product/174669/ This armor gains resistance to this type. This Artificer (5e Class); from the D&D Wiki; effect can be taken more than once. http://www.dmsguild.com/product/204687/TH E-ARTIFICER-5e-Revised Fortification: As a reaction to a Critical Hit, the Artificer can spend a Spell Point to The “Figment” Disney Kingdoms comic book downgrade that attack into a normal hit. If series from Marvel, for the inspiration behind the attacker has an Enhanced Critical, an Justin Mercurial. additional Spell Point is required for each number below 20. (If the attack crits on a 19, 2 Spell Points are needed; 3 if the critical range is 18, and so on.) Stabilization: The Artificer can spend a Spell Point to gain Advantage on Acrobatics (DEX) checks to balance, to Save against forced movement, and to stand up from prone without losing any movement. Stealth: The Artificer can spend a Spell Point to gain Advantage on Stealth (DEX) checks. If the armor invokes disadvantage on this check, it requires 5 Spell Points to activate this feature. Sample file Teleportation: The Artificer can spend 3 Spell Points to cast Misty Step as a Move Action. Vitality: The Artificer can spend 2 Spell Points to have the armor cast Cure Wounds on him as a Level 1 spell as a Minor Action. He can also, as a reaction to any save against poison, spend 1 Spell Point to gain Advantage on the save.

The Artificer can now use his Infuse Magic ability as a Standard Action.

When the Artificer is in his attuned armor, he can attack twice per Attack Action

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Loose Items Another section introduced in this issue is this as well as other items used by Jamie in The catch-all section in this brainstorming Red-Haired Elf: magazine, which gathers all of the smaller loose thoughts. Some of them prove necessary in my running campaigns.

There are some terms and keywords I borrowed from Magic: The Gathering Wonderous Item: Uncommon and added to my design style. They include: This device can convert any non-magical metallic material into any chosen type of Bloodied: At Half Maximum Hit ammunition. (The type of ammunition is pre- Points. This is also used in 4th Edition. decided for each version of this item. It Kicker: Another way to say “At Higher consists of a hopper, a chamber that grows hot Levels” in spell descriptions. (effect is like the Heat Metal spell, only it Cascade: Also known as “Exploding” or doesn’t damage a device) and a slot that spits “Popping” Dice, rolling a maximum out the metallic part of the ammunition (such result in a dice roll results in an as the arrowhead for arrows; the rest of the additional physical dice to the current arrow still needs to be fletched), or the whole roll. ammo part (in the case of bolts or bullets.) Further explanations are included in the When any kind of mundane metallic item is Player’s Wiki thrown into the hopper, the device melts the item into ammo within one hour. The number of ammo pieces created is 10 times the value in GP of the item inserted. If the item is One of my players is creating an alternate magical in any form, the returning character uses a hand crossbow and the Tohou ammunition will have +1 enhancement. philosophy when it comes to bolts. He wanted Special metals such as mithril, silver, to use the mending cantrip to repair brokenSample file adamantium, and other materials will bolts, which isn’t kosher. But there are other transfer to the ammunition. ways which I had to think about over Christmas Eve. Under the rules, you recover only half of your spent ammunition after each battle. The remainder are lost. You can fletch arrows by using a mundane knife to cut a log into 20 workable bolts. This takes 10 minutes5. Crossbow bolts require smithing proficiency, a supply of metal, and a kiln. I have two ideas right off the bat, and will be giving him the option of using my Arcane Archer prestige class to generate more ammo: On the heels of that, I thought up another spell that dragons (and dragonborn) can use,

5 5E really needs a crafting mechanic, and I’m adding one to Æthercoil. I might even make it a skill.

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You gain a Spellbook and the ability to prepare spells as a Wizard can do. At each level, instead of choosing a spell, you add two spells to your Spellbook. If your class has Ritual Casting ability, all Ritual spells listed 1st-level conjuration (Any spellcaster with in your book are available to you for Ritual ranged weapon proficiency) Casting whether they are prepared or not. Preparing spells take a full 24-hour day • Casting Time: 1 Action instead of a long rest, but Downtime days can • Range: Self be spent in this manner. Spells that are Components: V, S, M (A mundane piece of • available to you per your class’ spell list can ammunition and an empty quiver; the be added to your Spellbook, but the costs in ammo is consumed.) time and coin are doubled. You are restricted • Duration: 5 Minutes to the spells allowed to you by your class and 20 pieces of the mundane piece used as the other features. Outside of these restrictions, material component will appear in the empty the Spellbook operates as a Wizard’s quiver. They are made of solid light and are Spellbook. considered magical with regards of any resistances or immunities. At the end of the duration, all unused pieces of ammunition disappear. Kicker: With each additional level of spell slot/additional spell point used (up to a fifth Requires: Warlock class. level spell slot or four spell points) the caster can either add a +1 as an enhancement or add Normally, a warlock multiclassing into 10 pieces of ammunition conjured. another spellcasting class must keep the spellcasting from each class separate. This feat makes things more compatible Your Warlock patron granted you a more traditional form of Magical Ability for more Sample versatility.file Instead of the ‘X spell slots at X level per short rest’ spellcasting as a normal 3rd-level transmutation (Any dragon, Warlock, you now have Spell Slots or Spell dragonborn, or dragon type being with Points, according to the Multiclass version of spellcasting ability and a breath weapon) Spellcasting. If the campaign allows Spell • Casting Time: 1 Action Points (refer to the DMG or Æthercoil • Range: Self Magazine #1 for an explanation) you can use • Components: V, S Spell Points instead. • Duration: 1 Round All other parts of Pact Magic still apply. The caster chooses a damage type. His breath weapon’s damage becomes that type. All other details of the breath weapon remain Multiclass Spellcasting Variant: unchanged. I tend to combine the spellcasting features of the two classes further, choosing only one of the two available Spellcasting Abilities Requires: Any spellcasting ability that does (whichever was chosen first, or not have daily preparable lists. Using the which is higher) and combine the standard rulebooks, this includes Bard, available spell lists of both classes. Eldritch Knight, Ranger, Arcane Trickster, Sorcerer, and Warlock

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cam-lock. In fact, some compound bows, if the draw-stops or draw length modules are removed, will self-lock at full draw and require professional equipment to unlock safely7. A Compound Bow is a A Compound Bow is a Military Ranged short bow with a levering Weapon. It resembles a Short Bow, but it has system, usually of cables the pulleys and mechanics that increase its and pulleys, to give more power. It requires a Strength of 12 to operate power to the arrows it even though it is a DEX-based weapon. It launched from it. costs 80 GP to buy normally. The damage die The pulley/cam system is 1d10 Piercing. Its traits include grants the wielder a Ammunition (Arrows), Range 100/400, Two- mechanical advantage, Handed, and High Crit (STR 3). High Crit and so the limbs of a (STR X) is a new trait, where if used by a compound bow are much player character with a Strength Modifier of X stiffer than those of a or higher, a nat roll of 19 to 20 is considered a recurve bow or longbow. crit. This stacks with all other traits that This rigidity makes the compound bow more reduce the number needed to crit. (Example: energy-efficient than other bows, as less A Champion Fighter at Level 3 with a STR energy is dissipated in limb movement. The modifier of +3 using a Compound Bow will crit higher-rigidity, higher-technology on a nat roll of 18 to 20) construction also improves accuracy by reducing the bow's sensitivity to changes in temperature and humidity. The pulley/cam system also confers a benefit called "let-off". As the string is drawn back, the pulleys rotate. The pulleys are eccentric Martial Ranged Weapon, Uncommon, rather than round, and so their effective Requires Attunement radius changes as they rotate. The pulleys feature two cam tracks. An inner cam trackSample Thisfile weapon is an expertly crafted Compound which connects mechanically to the limbs or bow with elvish construction and arcane opposite cam and an outer cam track which etchings on the shaft. This Compound Bow the bowstring runs through. As the bow is does not have the Strength requirement and drawn the ratio of bowstring payout and has a High Crit of (STR 1). Arrows launched bowstring take-up relative to limb weight and from this bow are not considered magical in leverage of the cams changes. By regards towards resistances or invulnerability manipulation of the shapes of these cam unless acted on by other means. tracks, different draw-stroke profiles can be created. A compound bow can be soft-drawing with a slow build-up to peak weight and a gradual let-off with a long "valley" at the end. It can also be hard drawing with a very fast build-up to peak draw weight, a long plateau where weight is maintained, and a quick let- off with a short valley. The let-off itself is the result of the cam profiles having passed center and approaching a condition very similar to a

6 Source for Picture: 7 Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compound_bow https://www.pinterest.com/pin/261068109621089992/

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Roll20 Macro Tutorial

As I mentioned earlier, I have nothing against You can add a Macro with the “+ Add” button, using character managers, including the built- , which will open an input window. in character sheets installed into Roll20. The Make a unique name at , don’t worry about newer version that is SRD friendly is all but spaces; they’ll turn into dashes in the name. perfect to use once you learn how to use it. Input your macro in the big field, . More on I just don’t rely on them, that’s all. I don’t that after all these direction-showing. even use fillable PDFs. I have a Word Document which I save in One Note. With some macros, you want them to be token dependent, especially with Initiative rolls. In But Roll20 has another feature I do use: this case, make sure that the checkbox at  is Macros. They’re a bit tricky to use at first, on. and I’d suggest that you look at Roll20’s help wiki for a more versed tutorial (It’s in theSample text- Whenfile you’re finished, click on “Save box). What I’ll put here is a quick Changes,” and your new macro appears in the walkthrough to get you started. Macro List, , where you can click on the name to revise your macro or click on When you enter the Roll20 Tabletop, go to the whatever you want the macro in its own quick “Hamburger” icon on the sidebar to your right, bar. Oh, if you’re doing this, make sure that numbered on the graphic, that will bring the checkbox for said quick bar, , is on. you to the Macros tab. Finally, to reveal Token Actions, just click on your token on the table, and your Token Action Macros will appear on the top of the Protip: Tutorials for the SRD Roll20 Character Sheet: screen, . From Roll20’s wiki: That’s how you use Macros in Roll20, now for https://wiki.roll20.net/5th_Edition_OGL_by_Roll20 some sample macros to get you started. Video: https://youtu.be/8OL68gQr_-c Initiative Rolls; probably the first use you Roll 20’s Macros Tutotial: have for Macros. This one is a token action so https://wiki.roll20.net/Macros

8 The CombiNumerals font is excellent in marking graphics and maps. You can get it at http://www.fontspace.com/the-fontsite/combinumerals

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be sure to click that “Show as Token Action?” checkbox on as you put this into the field: /roll 1d20 + 5 &{tracker} Be sure to replace the 5 in that above macro with your Initiative Bonus, usually your DEX. The main three rolls: I usually set up these three Macros next, one each for a Standard, Advantage, and Disadvantage rolls. These macros use an input box for your modifier. A head’s up here: You don’t need to add a + for positive modifiers, but you’ll have to put in a – for negative ones: Standard Roll: /roll 1d20 + ?{Modifier|0} Advantage Roll: /roll 2d20k1 + ?{Modifier|0} Disadvantage Roll: /roll 2d20kl1 + ?{Modifier|0} These four macros are the core list that I need to any table. I hard type my dice rolls for everything else. Eventually, I’ll figure out which sequence of dice rolls I find myself doing all the time and make macros for these sequences. I encourage you to do the same, especially now that I’ve shown you how to make it. You might need to read up on the /roll command (Protip: https://wiki.roll20.net/Dice_Reference) andSample file remember that not only can you can use /me commands to add text to any macro, but you can put the dice rolling in double brackets (blah blah blah [[2d6]] whatever) if you want to put that dice roll in a text line. Note that I did not add the ‘/roll’ part in that double Florence is a well-liked PC of mine which I bracketed dice roll. Go and do likewise. brought back for a Forgotten Realms campaign and might have some play in Æthercoil. The Forgotten Realms version is Florence Ravenguard, Grand Inquisitor of Oghma. And Granddaughter of Arch-Duke Ulder Ravenguard of Baldur’s Gate. She was originally a base Cleric, but Oghma leads her into discovering a new kind of Lore: Forensics. That’s right, she’s an OSR version of a CSI geek. Her expanded thirst for references and lore prompted her to multiclass into a Lore Bard.

She might not be a Ravenguard in Æthercoil, but the dual classing (and Read or Die References) remain.

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Three more Anthro Races I have three more critter races to round out Age: Reaches adulthood at 18 Years, lives to the Æthercoil race set-up for now: 150 years. Hamsterfolk, Skunkfolk, and Squirrelfolk. Alignment: Tends to be neutral on the Right now, I’m going for the mechanics; the Lawful-Chaotic side, can go both ways on story part will be written later. Good-Evil

Size: Three to Four feet tall. Size is Small

Speed: Base walking speed is 25 ft., can At first, I thought of squirrelfolk and used the homebrew race option listed in dndwiki.com9, climb for 25 ft. disregarding difficult terrain. but looking back at it with a focus for Language: Common, Hamster, and one over hoarding, I felt that this option is better if more than 12 Intelligence. suited for Hamsterfolk. The only thing it lacks is some cheek pouch action: Hoarder: Hamsterfolk tends to hoard food Hamsterfolks are known for their stocky and trinkets. At character creation, add three build, quick thinking, sharp tongues, and the items in any trinket table. (Including the tendency to collect anything that isn’t nailed trinket page in the PH) down and hoard it like a dragon. They appear to be custom built for it with their cheek Cheek Pouches: Hamsterfolk has a pair of pouches, one on each side, with not only the cheek pouches that can go down to the sides of capacity of a backpack from a standard kit— his body without encumbering them. Each each—but also with the strength to carry both pouch can contain 1 cubic foot or 30 pounds of full. items each. All items must not have sharp Hamsterfolks are short and stocky individuals edges or they may run the risk of dealing (about 3-4 feet tall) and as stout as a dwarf, internal damage. Saliva does not enter these especially with their cheek pouches fully pouches and when closed the pouches are loaded. They have rodent-like faces with airtight, so perishable goods are protected small pointed ears, stubby tails, and verySample fromfile spoilage. affable personalities. While Hamsterfolks loathe to part with their hoard with just about anybody, they are usually happy to carry around anything that he’d think their party needs. (He’s then burp Town Hamsterfolk tends to be less shy than out that much-needed item right on the spot, their wild cousins. without a word on where he found it.) Of Ability Score Increase: +1 Intelligence course, sometimes the hoard is too big to be manageable and Hamsterfolk usually holds Shiny Hoard: Town Hamsterfolk tend to Yard Sales of excess loot. Some hamsterfolk hoard trinkets more than food; add one more take this and run with it, becoming traveling trinket to his starting inventory. merchants. Professional Salesman: Add proficiency in one more language. Hamsterfolk also has a stacking proficiency bonus to any CHA check Ability Score Increase: +2 Dexterity

9 Source: https://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Squirrelfolk_(5e_Race)

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when it comes to any material item, such as Appraising an item or Haggling over prices.

Unlike the previous two, there are tons of Wild Hamsterfolk are shyer, but they’re information for me to work with when it excellent foragers comes to squirrelfolk. More than enough for me to build one of my own. I use the Sciurian Ability Score Increase: +1 Strength race from dndwiki11 and further developed it. Food Hoarder: Add an extra 10 days’ rations Take Doreen “Squirrel Girl” Green and stuff to his starting inventory. her in a skin suit of soft pelt, and you got a Excellent Forager: Whenever the squirrelfolk. They are known for their Hamsterfolk is in any environment that has chipperness, curiosity, and hyperactivity, food and water, he can forage enough food for Squirrelfolk tend to liven up any place they go himself and three other people. to and brighten up just about anyone they meet. Their cute and harmless appearance tends to disarm most people, leaving them unaware of the abilities they do have. Because of this, they tend to surprise people I’ve looked around unsuccessfully for a Skunk with their misadventures. race, but since I’ve seen an option for a Skunk Anthromal10, I decided to convert that into its Most squirrelfolk tend to live in trees and own entry, with a special innate ability. prefer them (or a nearby roof) than any normal lodging. In wild communities, it’s Ability Score Increase: +2 Constitution, +2 squirrelfolk won’t even touch the ground until Intelligence well into their adult lives. Squirrelfolk have Age: Reaches adulthood at 18 Years, lives to the fluffiest and most groomed tails by far, 125 years. normally their standing height in length, at least. However, touching a squirrelfolk’s tail Alignment: Tends to stay on the Chaotic is frowned upon outside of relationships side. because they tend to wrap those tails around Size: Like a normal human, only with a very someone to show affection. large tail about as long as he is tall. (PettingSample file or holding said tail is not a good idea.) Size is Medium. Ability Score Increase: +2 Dexterity, +1 Speed: Base walking speed is 30. Charisma

Poison Resistance: Resistant to all Poison Age: Mature at 15, and can live up to 100, damage, and gains advantage on all saves vs depending that the Squirrelfolk doesn’t do Poison, including the poisoned condition. something incredibly clumsy and earn a Innate Stinking Cloud: 3/day, the skunkfolk Darwin Award. can cast Stinking Cloud without any spell slots/points or components. The Stinking Alignment: Tends toward Chaotic Neutral, Cloud originates from behind the skunkfolk. leaning toward Good.

Languages: Common, Skunkfolk, one other. Size: They range from 3’6” to 5’, with slim athletic builds. Males tend to be taller than Females. The tail tends to add to their

10 Source: 11 Source: https://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Anthromals_(5e_Race) https://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/Sciurian_(5e_Race)

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weight, at times touching 100 lbs. Size is Medium.

Speed: Base walking speed is 35, climbing speed is 40

Naturally Nimble: Proficient in Acrobatics, and resistant to fall damage up to 100 ft.

Alert: Proficient in Perception checks that rely on hearing.

Vegans: Squirrels never eat meat, relying mostly on nuts. Any vegetable will do in a pinch. If forced to eat meat, they must DC 17 CON save or be poisoned until their next long rest.

Hyperactive: For the next four hours or first encounter after an extended rest whichever comes first, the squirrelfolk has Disadvantage on all WIS rolls. Also, during this time, a squirrelfolk tends to go into long talks with anyone who would talk with him, imposing Disadvantages on Stealth and Perception rolls when talking.

Hard Bite: Their teeth is a natural weapon, even though they hate to draw blood with it. Strength-based weapon. Weapon damage is 1d6 Piercing.

Darkvision 60 Sample file

Languages: Common and Squirrelfolk.

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Dragonjin, the DM PC Race When the world was connected to the Feywilds, In time, a party he was guiding met with The one hundred and twenty-eight dragons fled Hag from long ago, who herself has grown into through the rifts to escape the tyrannical rule a dark and malevolent creature. The Hag was of the draconic all-father known as Titanus the about to kill the party when Eisenhower five-head. Some were good, while some were realized that her real enemy was him. He bad. Eight of them became the Holy Dragons appeared before the party to attack The Hag where all divinity flowed, while others just saw himself, assuming a dragon form for the first a new world to raid and pillage. All of them time. became cursed by Titanus as they fled to this It was at that point when the number of realm. Dragons in this world became one hundred and The curse became the limit of the number of twenty-nine. dragons that will always be here, one hundred Since Eisenhower’s ascension, there have been and twenty-eight dragons will exist in this several other such dragonjin in the Realm, each world, no more no less. The only way a new of them trying to follow Eisenhower’s path. dragon was born is when another dragon dies. Some of them are more public, while others are This has been the rule for almost 300 years, content in helping other parties, acquiring both a blink and an eternity for a dragon. experience alongside them. Some of them But the curse didn’t count on a workaround to would guide from the distance while others this limit, as another form of dragon existed. would assume a form and join the party, The Dragonjins. Hatched from dragon eggs but sometimes human, sometimes something else. with the soul of a human, they are the ones There’s a good chance that you may have met a with the promise to become dragons dragonjin…and not even know it. themselves. -- Excerpt from Belle's journal storybooks. The first among them to achieve their destiny is known as Eisenhower the Loremaker. Legends say that he was originally an old man who appeared before a Silver Dragon known as Stephan Skyflame. A rift in time appearedSample in file Stephan’s lair where Eisenhower fell through, with another being who became known as The Probably one of the most irritating parts of Hag in pursuit. Stephan managed to drive the Dungeon Master, and at times the most away The Hag, but not before she fatally necessary is the need for a DM to have a PC in wounded Eisenhower. As the old man died, the party. Most people groan and even leave Stephan caught Eisenhower’s soul and imbued the table when this happens, and I it into one of his unhatched eggs. His actions understand why; a DM NPC is very difficult to caused the egg to hatch, granting Eisenhower play right since the DM is now playing both a gift of a second chance in live. sides of the screen. It’s embarrassingly easy for a DM NPC to meta-game, power-play, and A second chance Eisenhower took to heart. As become a general prima donna taking the the young dragonjin grew up, he found out that, spotlight from the other players on the table. while he can grow with his own experience, he It also makes you pretty much unlikable as a grows even more in power by helping others, GM and a person, or from what I’ve seen in especially adventurers in their many quests. the tables I’m in. He guided many parties in their adventures, often from a distance, and even constructed Fortunately, when I’m forced to do this out of many dungeons for budding parties to hone necessity, I don’t go there. Usually, I add their skills. As the quests are completed, the someone who plays the Heal Bot when nobody dragonjin can sense himself growing in power on the table is playing a cleric. Nevertheless, along with the party—leveling up, as it were. this is the reason why I will call a session

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when less than four players show up, so I don’t have to do that. Still, I would like to have a regular character in the campaign making sure that the party goes along their quests, guiding them with subtle hints, pulling their butts out of the fire when the TPK is upon them, and in general being that little gnomish turd annoying the teenagers in the D&D cartoon show only to ninja vanish after thirty seconds. You know that guy, what is his name…Oh, he never gave us his name. Idiot.

I wanted to have something more elaborate for the DM to play with, which was another reason why I considered Ryuutama. In the game, the DM has his own character, known as a Ryuujin. The Ryuujin are angelic dragon- like scholars who accompany adventuring parties, usually from afar although some would sneak their way into a more hands-on An excerpted page from the Ryuutama Guidebook. You see that winged guy watching the party from afar? He’s a Ryuujin. A role (the book has a Ryuujin assume the form proper decent and moral Ryuujin who does it right. of the party’s pet dog. True Story.) It’s the Ryuujin’s job to chronicle the adventure into a party grows in power so that they can deal story form for the dragons they serve to eat. with major evil forces, be they Titanus12, the overlord who razed their hometown, an evil I think this is when Hayao Miyazaki passed queen hellbent on being ‘the fairest of them that blunt to Atsuhiro Okada. I could only all’ by killing everyone prettier than her, or assume it was some prime weed. Sample evenfile — GASP! — The True Order. The other To give DMs an option to further assist their is because, once they reach Level 20, they adventures, and to add more flavor in the become dragons themselves! campaign world, I took this part in Ryuutama According to the story passage above and in and converted it into D&D 5th Edition. previous issues of this Magazine, there is a strict limit of 128 dragons in Æthercoil. Dragon eggs won’t hatch unless another dragon dies to uphold this limit. As you can guess, 128 dragons are not enough to deal with a spear variation of Tiamat. In fact, the original 128 fled to this world because they The Dragonjin look similar in appearance to couldn’t deal with him by themselves. They their Ryuutama versions, and the mechanics need more of their numbers and Millions of used in his character progression are similar other heroes to do the job. but instead of feeding stories to other dragons, the Dragonjin themselves gains experience By an act of kindness—a more elaborated and levels up along with the party. This story will have Stephan Skyflame read a purpose is two-fold. One is to ensure that the

12 Tiamat after a sex change and shot up with enough Underground. Including Dario Cureto and his brother testosterone to kill the whole roster of Lucha Mantanza.

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Moleskine book where I13 wrote in all my story during their lives—but when they do, they ideas for both comic and text fiction. Scarlet would break the limit, adding to the 128 rule. PI, Johnny Briz, Night Soldiers, Blood and They die, another dragon egg hatches a new Metal, all of them. Even Piasa, which I want dragon. They still die for good, though. to return to and make into a full novel—no By the time of the first campaigns, there is fanfic content in this version, promise. It’ll still less with 150 dragons, but there are about match a real-life version which I’ll bequeath to three times that of dragonjin, most of them the local library on my death. It’ll basically be following in Eisenhower’s footsteps in guiding an archive, manifesto, and last will and adventurers toward their destiny. Some even testament in an easy to pocket form. build training dungeons for prospective Stephan liked reading it so much that he adventurers to cut their teeth on, while others didn’t want me to just die so he gave me form whole guilds and companies. something people would kill and sell their Every Dungeon Master in a Æthercoil game souls for: A second chance to get things right. has the option of playing as a dragonjin. It’s (Oh, stop your damned bitching; how many of not by any means mandatory; the dragonjin you would want something like that?) can be just any other NPC if they wish, and they can just run the campaign as a normal He did it by putting my human soul into a DM without a dragonjin at all14. spare dragon egg. Imagine his surprise when it hatched afterward. But for those who need someone to make sure the party goes in the right direction, or a party It was here where the dragons found their of younger players who would feel better if answer: Dragons with human souls, they have a guardian angel (the wings won’t especially souls who found their way through be feathered, but I digress) watching over time to be reincarnated into dragon eggs. them, or just plain needs a Heal-bot, that is Eisenhower—after my namesake, President what Dragonjins are for. Dwight David Eisenhower—was the first, and more eventually hatched, becoming the dragons’ sons and daughters. What unites these different kinds of dragonjin is that they were given a second chance of life—they remember who they were beforeSample fileEarlier, I attempted in remaking the their hatching, retaining all memories and Travelling mechanic which is the core of skills—and they better make the most of it the Ryuutama game into Fifth Edition. because if they die even as a dragon, they die The original version didn’t take on very for good. Their human souls—their life well, but too many people wished me to energy—is absorbed into the dragon egg to rework it. The rework will appear in a create their new dragonjin bodies. Because of future issue of Æthercoil Magazine as a this, they just vanish when they die—at 0 Hit variant mechanic. Points, no death saving throws possible—and are gone forever, never to return or reincarnate. That is the main reason why dragonjin don’t directly get involved unless they absolutely must. Live was no less hard for a dragonjin than any other person in the world, and having a dragonjin acquire their dragonhood is a rare event—most dragonjin won’t reach that point

13 I did tell you that Eisenhower is my Self-Insertion 14 I can’t insist how you should or shouldn’t play D&D. character, did I? People who believe that there is such a thing as ‘wrongfun’ shouldn’t be playing Tabletop RPGs.

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Unlike Ryuutama, there are five colors of A Dragonjin can take any class he desires and Dragonjin, each with their own styles and can have his character sheet filled out like a features. Each color is representative of a normal PC15. Most of the changes will appear kind of dragon, and some of these colors will in the Race section. have a chromatic and metallic17 option to choose. The kind of dragon is important because that’s the kind of dragon the dragonjin could become. Finding the section of that color dragon in the Monster Manual After setting Abilities in place on your and putting a bookmark there is be a good character sheet but before computing for idea. modifiers, for each ability from Strength Some options of Dragons can be Gemstone down, add a d4 to your Score. Do this straight Dragons, the third group of dragons that isn’t down the character sheet, like the official WotC official yet. You can find options for method for 1st Edition16, (Add a d4 to these dragons in the DM’s Guild. I’ve picked Strength, a d4 to Dexterity, a d4 to Daniel Shea’s Legacy of Io: The Lost Constitution, and so on.) Bestiaries - Gem Dragons18 for the stats for Your maximum Score for any ability is 30. some dragon types. The Platinum Dragon’s stats will be included later in this issue. Dragonjin are immune to the aging process. They reach maturity after 20-30 years. Dragonjin can be of any alignment, usually Born of Green, Copper, or Emerald dragon associating with the type of dragon they can eggs, these dragonjin are the orthodox types, transform to (more on that later) but, just like focusing on the actual journeys and no two Dragons are alike, their chosen adventures. Going on Quests, spreading Hope dragon’s form alignment need not restrict the and Freedom to the world, and achieving dragonjin. Balance in the world and with their adventurers are the interests of the Green A Dragonjin’s normal form is that of a Dragonjin. Green Dragons are for those new handsome or beautiful human—dependingSample on DMsfile who are just learning the game or new to sex-slash-gender—with dragon horns, wings, being a dragonjin. and tail; their extremities, their hands and feet, have scales. They usually wear flowing The Æthercoil Red Box will have a Green robes to hide the scales on their legs and the Dragonjin tail. They usually stand at a minimum of six feet, their size is Medium, and have a base speed of 30 feet. Since they have wings, they Born of Blue, Silver, or Sapphire dragon eggs, can fly and hover at that same speed. these dragonjin love heartwarming tales, Dragonjins can speak, read, and write human drama, friendships, family, romance, Common, Draconic, and up to their INT in and even adventures where the party learns extra languages, Minimum of 1. something. A DM who wants to focus on

15 Refer to Issue 1 of Æthercoil Magazine for my own 17 You can disregard any alignments traditionally instructions on how to roll up a character. associated with these dragons, this isn’t the Forgotten 16 That’s how Gary Gyrax says you should do it. Roll 6 Realms, in Æthercoil, even dragons with an identical color 3d6 rolls and put them in your character sheet. In order. can be of different alignments, all nine of them in fact. Make your character using those scores appropriately. 18 Link: Really makes you appreciate the use of arrays. http://www.dmsguild.com/product/181245/Legacy-of-Io- The-Lost-Bestiaries--Gem-Dragons

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relationships and interaction in an adventure will create a Blue Dragonjin. Most of the dragonjin features will depend on the dragonjin’s Proficiency Bonus, which Born of Red, Emerald, or Gold dragon eggs, begins at +2 and levels up as normal. these dragonjin just want to see some action. The first such feature will be his Power Fighting, Battles, Competition, Monster Points, which is his CON + Proficiency. Power Hunting, Dungeon Crawling, Level Grinding, Points is used for Benedictions and Reveils20. more twists and turns than an Ace Attorney Unlike in Ryuutama, Power Points are like Court Battle…Hell, Lucha Underground’s Spell Points and expending them do not result Dario Cueto would be a perfect Red Dragonjin, in death. That happens when the dragonkin’s and be his own Mantaza to boot19. HP reaches zero. Power Points are regained at each game session, unlike PC’s abilities that recharge at every Long Rest. Those who think that something as Honobono The second feature is the number of could never be ‘dark’ apparently doesn’t know appearances dragonjin can have. At the start, Atsuhiro Okada very well. Born of Black, they have two. The first one is their normal Shadow or Obsidian dragon eggs, they favor form. The second one would be like who they Intrigue, mysteries, betrayal, tragedy, were in the immediate former life, or they suspense and all those other juicy tidbits. would prefer to choose any other non- These are for the professional DM’s— threatening being—doesn’t have to be emphasis on professional—and they can be human—that they can use to approach any difficult for novices to do right. And yes, adventurers. people have made Black Ryuujin Ryuutama quests, (Link: Once their proficiency bonus is 3, at Level 5, https://www.reddit.com/r/Ryuutama/comment they can assume a Dragon form21. This s/5agre8/the_witch_of_blathsby_a_black_ryuuj dragon form is of the chosen type of dragon in_tale/) (Chromatic, Metallic, Gemstone, or other) and the dragon form grows at the appropriate levels: Born of White, Crystal, or—in the case of Eisenhower—Platinum dragon eggs (andSample how fileDragonjin Dragon Form in God’s name did Stephan get one of those?) These dragonjin only have one rule: Level Prof. Age of Dragon Form Everything goes. Everything. You will not 5 +3 Wyrmling know what will happen in a quest guided by a 9 +4 Young White Dragonjin, sometimes not even the dragonjin himself knows. The only thing 13 +5 Adult that’s sure is that the quest will be epic, the 17 +6 Ancient party will need to go all out to succeed, and if they make it through their actions will affect Use the Monster Stat Block of the appropriate the world in ways they’d never consider. age of the chosen type of dragon for this third form. The next three forms can be any form that the dragonjin can think of, but once chosen that

19 Need I have to tell you how much I love love LOVE that 21 Provided that they did not assume a Dragon form at the show? It got me interested in pro wrestling again. Triple start. You can do that. The other rules count, though, A shows in America, Make it happen El Rey! even though you can assume a third form. 20 Note that I use the more common spelling for those two. Thank you Jimmy Hart.

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form is locked in place. Or, the dragonjin can forgo a form and chose a Reveal instead. Designates an XP boost. Either the awarded XP given for this adventure is doubled (or multiplied by a given amount) or the party The Dragonjin can an active Artifact that automatically Levels up at the end. affects the gameplay for the duration of the campaign. Only one of these Artifacts can be active at a given adventure and it cannot be exchanged until the end of said chapter or Players do not need to roll Death Saving module. If there are no such breaks in your Throws if they are brought to zero HP; they campaign, you can designate the next long are considered stabilized and automatically rest after the next session as a swapping recover with 1 Hit Point after the battle. point. Instant Death mechanics and the ‘Chunky The Dragonjin starts with one Artifact and Salsa’ rule still applies. (If an attack brought can gain another artifact (from any color) after you to zero and the additional damage points every completed campaign. (Whenever the equal that to your Max HP, it’s game over, party makes it to the end or if the party insert coin.) reaches Level 20. Whatever they are victorious or end in a TPK after this point is irrelevant.) Designates that the Players are all related to one enough, either through blood, romance, Up to date, since I’m converting the student/master, adopted or some other means. Ryuutama Rulebook22, there are only three different artifacts for each of the four colored dragonjins. The White Dragonjin can select The Dragonjin will be accompanying the any of those. More such artifacts will appear travelers in a shape changed form. Maybe as as gameplay and playtesting warrant: a pet or a companion-slash-familiar.

All published Æthercoil campaigns will have an original Artifact and Benediction that the dragonjin can Sample Beforefile Initiative is rolled, the party has a gain at the end of the campaign. single round to make preparations. This This will be added to the list shown includes readying weapons, casting spells, and here. strategic movement, but not attacking.

Designates that the Players are part of an armed militia of some kind, either an army, city watch, or some other military-type setting, and their mission is an order from Designates “Rules as Written,” this means their superiors. that the DM is using only the official 5th Edition rulebooks. Any Inspiration Points, boosting spells, bardic inspiration, or even Action Points will apply to Designates “Home Rules are Active,” this Initiative rolls. If this isn’t viable on the means that the DM will have some House table, add a d6 to Initiative rolls. Rules in play. Ike likes this Artifact a lot.

22 Note to self: Keep filing those numbers down.

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Designates that the PCs in the campaign have These two Benedictions are always prepared a dark past or at least one of them. (and not included in the limit), and they cost two Power Points to use. Designates “Game of Thrones Mode.” Anybody can die. NPC, PC, an innocent bystander, relative, anybody. With this The Dragonjin can rewind time. Especially active, do not piss off the DM! useful during TPKs and Natural Double 1s. The adventure is rewound to just before the incident or encounter. If any of the Players on the table themselves experience any kind of fear, their At some parts of the campaign, especially corresponding PC must make a DC 13 WIS when it’s boring or when time is short in the save or be Frightened. session. The Dragonjin can make the adventure skip ahead to a juicier bit. A fine example would be during Storm King’s Benedictions are special spells the Dragonjin Thunder and you skip through all the can only cast when he’s guiding the party and overworld crawling.23 not in any other role. They’re special kinds of blessings that can save the players, up the action or the excitement, shove the party in Under normal circumstances, they must be the right directions, and even fix any declared before the dice are rolled, although problematic parts of the story. They’re I’m not above calling one whenever some practically mini-miracles. cannon fodder rolled Double Nat 20s on a new PC. A Dragonjin can have up to their Proficiency Bonus in prepared Benedictions. Each Benediction costs 1 Power Point to use, and Declare a roll a Nat 20. This cannot be called each Benediction can only be used once per Sample onfile Advantage Rolls, nor can it be used to session. Additional Benedictions can be declare a Double Nat 20. gained at the completion of any campaign, be it successful or a failure. The Ryuutama rulebook has some common Declare a roll a Nat 1. This cannot be called Benedictions and some for each of the four on Disadvantage Rolls or to declare a Double color of dragonjin. As with Artifacts, White Nat 1. Dragonjins can use all of them. And of course, designing your own Benedictions is encouraged.

Costs 2 Power Points. At any short rest, roll 3d8. This number is shared among the party to recharge any daily abilities or spell slots. A spellcasting character can spend any number to regain that level of Spell Slot (or that number +1 Spell Points) up to their maximum

23 Although I suggest you implement a Fast Travel mechanic, like a horse drawn carriage that the party uses to travel to all the towns they previously traveled to.

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amount. Abilities that are X/Day or recharges of the chosen ability until the end of the with each long rest takes 1 from this roll. session.

At the end of the session, if the party writes about the session’s events in any journals, the A monster is beefed up into a larger or more party gains (Party’s Average Level x 300) in powerful version. This might require a GP modification from the DM or some research in the DM’s Guild. If this creature transforms in media res—read ‘during an encounter’— incorporate all damage and conditions into the creature. Any PC who participates in a Random Act of Kindness will have their share of XP at the end of the session boosted by 50% If there is a group of monsters in the same type in an encounter, that group can combine into a single swarm like entity. This entity Any two PCs who are a couple, or any Players combines all the Hit Points of the existing who are a couple, will gain +1 to AC and all monster in the swarm, and Attack and Saves for the duration of the session. Up to Damage rolls gain a +1 and another +1 for two PCs can gain this. every four additional monsters joining the swarm. Each player in the table gains an Inspiration chip. They cannot spend these chips on The Monsters in the encounter gain a surprise themselves but instead, they must give the round before Initiative rolls. chip to someone else. The exchange must be made at any d20 roll, before or after the result. The roll is then rerolled with An NPC who is previously dead returns. Advantage, which not only replaces Having been resurrected—or reincarnated—if Disadvantage but also stacks. (Roll three d20s applicable. Sample andfile take the highest result)

An NPC pops smoke and ninja vanishes. He automatically succeeds fleeing.

If a PC is brought to zero HP, this tale restores all PCs to their full Hit Points. (Reminder: Each Benediction can only be The party can ignore all weather effects for used once per session) the rest of the session Any PC who has a rival or adversary that is If any of the PCs roleplay having nostalgia or part of the session’s campaigns gain a d4 to all any player reminiscing of any previous Game STR checks and Attack roles for the duration (Must be of any other campaign setting or of the session. ruleset, including previous editions of D&D24), that player can choose {INT, WIS, or CHA}. A PC who has his third failed Death Saving The related PC gains Advantage on any saves Throw can have Raise Dead cast on him. The

24 Yes, 4th Edition counts here. Stop your bitching.

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PC has the Raise Dead penalty as normal, and this Benediction cannot be used again until this penalty is alleviated25. Of course, this Benediction cannot be used on a PC who has Useable when the party is lost. The dragon been chunkied26. takes the party to the nearest down with directions toward their destination

Any PC who does an act of revenge gains The dragon ensures that the next camp is Inspiration (Up to 2 PCs can gain this). safe. The party has the benefits of a Long Rest with all their PC abilities recharged to Any two PCs who co-operates with each other their maximum amount. No watch or random in any given skill check gains advantage on chance for encounters are needed. that skill check for the rest of the session. (Both PCs gain this benefit; limit of two PCs)

The dragon grants them a nominal piece of his For the rest of the session, at every kill of a hoard. The dragon gives the party 250 GP, 10 size medium or higher monster, that PC rolls food rations and 2 waterskins per PC and d6+4. He can divide the result between whatever mundane items they need. gained Hit Points and Spell Points (to gain a spell slot, subtract 1 to the number of Spell Points gained). This feature can only be used once per turn. All characters gain the effects of a Short Rest in an instant. They can use any character ability that uses a short rest without Instead of assuming a new form with their expending it. This can be done even during free number of forms (starting at Level 9 combat (combat is ‘paused’ during this time when the Proficiency Bonus is at +4), the and resumed after the rest. The party returns dragonjin can instead choose a Reveal. ThisSample is tofile their positions on any grid when the pause when the dragonjin appears to the party in his ends.) dragon form to rescue the party when things get extremely dire. Not only does this cost more Power Points than a Benediction, and since the dragonjin is entering the fray, it puts him in great danger and risk. Remember; if a Any attack that will damage a player can Dragonjin hits zero hit points, there’s no death instead be taken by the dragon as he swoops save. They’re gone for good. in and takes the blow. The damage is taken as normal. I do hope that the dragon has Reveals are the shortest list in Ryuutama, so enough HP. this has room for more creativity:

The Dragon leaps into combat and immediately uses his breath weapon. The

25 Before you ask, no. You cannot take these four Long 26 I refer to the “Chunky Salsa Rule.” Think of what Rests consecutively unless you’re at the end of a session happened to Whil Wee-Tawn during Force Grey: Giant and in a town. The PC then will have an option to spend Hunters. No Benediction could’ve saved him. 4 Downtime days to alleviate the whole penalty.

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Dragon is placed in the initiative over at this While this may be the end of the dragonjin’s moment and combat resumes. The Dragon progression as a character, it is by no means can flee, preferably when the party can deal the end of his story. His life begins a new with the battle on their own and before he’s chapter as a new dragon in the world, a about to die. dragon native to this world instead of the original 128, who’s eggs will phase out the original dragons that migrated here. Once the number of dragons becomes all native, some The Dragonjin uses the maximum of all hit say that this world is ready to take on Titanus dice to generate Maximum Hit Points. and free the Shadowild from his rule. Dragonjin can only class in one base class, Mechanically, the new Dragon will create his although prestige classes are available. own artifact, benediction, and reveal to add to At each Ability Score Increase, add a d4 to the list of options future dragonjins can choose each of your Abilities, going down from from. This further develops not just the Strength a la 1st Edition, just like at character mechanics of the Æthercoil world, but also creation. further customizes the world into your own making. And isn’t that what anyone who plays any campaign world wants?

When dividing experience points for the party. The Dragonjin gains half the amount of experience earned by an equal share of the total XP earned. The lowered XP is related to the longer progression dragonjin take in their careers (often guiding several parties along Just like in Ryuutama, the Dragonjin prefer with their adventures) and how powerful they not to be visibly present to the party. It’s become. Also, keep in mind that, if a common for the party to be oblivious to his dragonjin reaches zero hit points, they’re dead presence at first. Variations of this are up to for good. the DM’s imagination. Such as appearing in their human guise to give the party their I think I did say that several times already. I quest, and then disappearing to assume the wouldn’t suggest that any dragonjin usesSample their dragonjinfile role from afar. A Dragonjin being human guises to join the party. But then discovered should be rare, but if this happens again, are we avoiding that in D&D (For the and the dragonjin spills the beans about what Ryuutama fans, that means that the Traveler he’s doing and why it should only add to the Introduction is banned in Æthercoil). complexity of the world and the adventure. Some would even prefer to play the role of that annoying little old scamp in the D&D animated series. In that scenario, having the All that I said above changes once the dragonjin pop in and out at regular intervals dragonjin reaches Level 20 in his base class. to give cryptic clues to keep the party going Once that happens, he graduates from would be an idea. Or maybe the dragonjin dragonjin to fully fledged dragon. At this will appear (in transformed form, of course) on point, the dragonjin has achieved his calling to occasions with a camp prepared so that the add himself to the total number of dragonjin party will have a much-needed undisturbed in Æthercoil, increasing the number by 1. long rest with some added intel gathered by Also, he no longer should fear death as much their friend. as he has before because when he dies, that means that another dragon is born from a During encounters, the Dragonjin retains a 0 dragon egg. (zero) on the initiative roll. His position is constantly hidden on the map with a DC 35 Is this the Dragon’s version of reincarnation, WIS (Perception) roll to be noticed. The DM much like when someone is born with keep track of the Dragonjin on his side of the someone else’s soul? Who knows. screen. When the Dragonjin is in this role, all

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his spells have an additional range of 30, including spells that are usually touch range. This is important whenever the dragonjin is assuming the role of the “Designated Healer,” (aka, the “Healbot,”) where the DM has a character in the background lobbing heals around because the party doesn’t have a cleric27. Cure Wounds spells has a range of 30 feet, while Healing Word spells have their range extended to 90. Above all else, the dragonjin must keep and maintain a minor role in the campaign. He’s not the starring role in the campaign; the player characters are. Having the dragonjin always rescuing and assisting them will make the adventure less meaningful to the characters, and tend to irritate the other players. While the dragonjin can help when he can, it is the PCs that must do all the legwork and deal with everything that is thrown their way. It’s a balance that can be very delicate at times, but it’s sometimes necessary according to the makeup of your party characters and the players.

Sample file This is Farallax, the Green Dragonjin available for the DM in the Æthercoil Red Box. Those who play Fire Emblem Heroes can tell where I got the design from. Nino is just too cute.

27 This is why when, when I play a game as a PC, I almost always play Cleric unless someone else wants to.

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demanding that I go back ‘to whatever Nazi world I come from.’ Through that just- appearing rift, may I add, to God Knows Where! One last thing: She was holding her gun sideways to boot! As I said before, I’m obligated by law and “You’d Idiot!” I cried out. “I was born in several court orders to let you know when I Granite City, Illinois. I’ve lived here all my life. create a Self-Insertion character. Opinions on I belong here!” such a character are split worse than the 2016 Election. Some people consider it as To a Social Justice Warrior, claiming that you irredeemable blasphemy and deserving being were born in America when you’re a cis white killed in ways that would make ISIS go “Hey male gets as much traction as Native now! Take it easy on your fellow human.” On Americans saying the same thing to some network television. Let’s be honest here, if asshole soldier during the Wild West. you purge everything that’s been created with The result is just the same. a self-insertion in any way in it, there will be a lot of empty libraries and movie collections, “No! You! Do! NOT!! not to mention having the entire Internet ” Four shots slammed into me, one reduced to a mere sliver of its current size. through the right lung, one through the shoulder, and two through my guts, one of And isn’t that what The True Order wants in them drawing blood. The force knocked me the first place; the erasure of culture? through this rift, and into the biggest pile of In Eisenhower’s story, he…well, let’s make it gold coins I have ever seen. Of course, since I I…fell through a rift like what Jamie fell just got shot, I didn’t think much about the pile through in The Red-Haired Elf. of gold I was at the time bleeding on. Gameworld wise, the rift happened post- All I could say is, “Can’t a condemned man have Trump Election, when the Regressive Left his last fucking drink then? My God, woman, redefined “Apeshit Crazy…” where’s your com—” …and while I tend to stay in my apartment and A fifth bullet tore through my shoulder and out of trouble all the time28, I just had to get plopped me on the gold. myself a drink and risk getting into thisSample mess. Howfile was I to know that this asshole was a Got my last Kickstart (Orange flavored) I’m genderfluid biological male? My would-be ever going to have in my life. killer pointed that29 gun at me with utter One moment, I was just going back to my animalistic rage in those eyes, as if this bastish 30 apartment so I can hunker down and watch my knew who I voted for last November . country burn to the Antifas, the next, I was That’s when the dragon came and bit off his being punched, kicked, and threatened with a head. gun into an honest to God rift in time and space—how else could you describe it—by Clean off. Chewed and swallowed too. someone with a blue mohawk, clown-sized The rest of him, her, hir…oh forget it: the body glasses, more metal piercings then a punk rock just stood there for a second or two, squirted star, enough rolls of fat to make mouth- out a bit of blood from what’s left of the neck, breathing a necessity, and a doggerel voice and collapsed into a heap.

28A sign as to how my Self-Insertion characters would be female. This is based on empirical forms of Proper like. They’re not Mary Sues; they have no intention to be Grammar. the center of the world, even as they’re the main character Being understood in my writing trumps all feels. of the story. And perfect? Pshaw!! So, no, I don’t ask or look for preferred pronouns. 29 As you know by now, I default on Cis Binary Male Especially when a gun is pointed at my face. Pronouns unless I know for certain that I’m talking to a 30 All of my voting record is classified. Especially when being upon on this might get you punched.

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I couldn’t help myself, I just said, “Brutality! No matter what I tried to create a decent web Elder Dragon Wins.” I even patted the dragon comic of fiction series, they were always on the snout when it sniffed me. casually dismissed by the public, and any requests for me to improve the quality of my That made the dragon, a silver dragon now that work to have it be more acceptable is responded I got a good look at him, laugh. I considered only by personal denigration and troll- that a good sign, even though I could feel baiting. myself dying. Well, at least I’m dying while In the end, I just gave up. It is something I seeing such an awesome sight. An honest to regret for the rest of my…” God dragon, tilting his head at me acting all amused. Almost like a cat. I don’t know when my body gave the ghost, but I did find myself floating above my body. God, I just held up my Kickstart. “Can I finish this I died puking Kickstart and it got all over my off before you eat me, please?” face. Disgusting. The dragon paused for a moment and then The dragon turned to me, no, not the corpse, lowered into a lying stance. the spirit me, as I’m floating away. I could only I thanked him as I drank the rest of the wonder is there an afterlife for someone like me Kickstart. Hey, they were right; the last things here? I hate to find myself traveling through you ate before you die are always the tastiest. several planes on the way to a Christian afterlife. Dredging through the Astral Sea “Wish there were trash cans in these lairs,” I alone’s going to be a muttered as I leaned back. I reach into a pocket and pulled out a Moleskine notebook. The silver dragon managed to grab me—check that—my spirit in his talons. What. The. Fuck? “Too bad I won’t have the time to introduce myself, pal,” I managed to say as my last words. The dragon continued to hold me as he read the “I just want this to be my last request.” rest of the notebook. I saw him chuckle at some parts, sigh at others, and every now and then I tossed the notebook in front of the dragon. He he put out a guffaw that shook the cavern we looked at it. were in. Eventually, he closed the notebook, The notebook floated up in the air and opened pulled the elastic over in place, and turned to it. I could see that he was reading it. I could me. remember the first page: Sample “No,”file I heard the dragon say. “I can’t let you “While any material effects I leave behind upon pass on. Not with this much regrets. You need my death can be divided among those who a second chance.” survived me at their discretion, I request that And with that, he took my spirit and put it this book, upon my death, be donated to the somewh… nearest available Library. I ask that this book be made available for any artist or writer who Eisenhower hatched from his dragon egg wants some ideas to create with. sometime after Stephan, the silver dragon, The contents of this Moleskin are extensive shoved my spirit and soul in there. My former descriptions of all the stories and characters I body was cremated and interred with the created during my life. I hope that this book needed respect, of course. encourages others to take these stories and characters beyond me. I’ll even grant anyone Ike, as he’s sometimes called, grew up as one who wishes permission to do so. of the first, if not the first, dragonjin. He grew up haunted by his former life, and spent much I want them to succeed with this treasure of his childhood turning what’s in my because I have failed in doing so myself. Moleskine into an anthology of stories. The I have failed because of two factors: anthology became a published book once Ike Complications brought on by Autism and got a printing press and set up shop in the Depression, a condition I struggled to control, nearby village of Karlsbrunn, Germany; and a public image that is utter trash, a Northwest of the Black Forest region. Due to condition I had no control over whatsoever. Ike not having the problems I had—he’s not autistic, and his general friendliness to the

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villagers thanks to his human form—and the with his own CWCville31. I’m not that book gathered enough coin to start his own presumptuous. I don’t want to be the top dog hoard. He afterward created novelized in this world any more than I wanted to be the depictions of world events, in time creating a most popular person in the group. (I am living publishing business in the process, giving the proof that you can be popular in the absolute dragonjin the namesake of “Eisenhower the worst way.) I prefer to just be a friendly and Loremaker.” accepted in the community and still be able to sit back and let the rest of the world have He assumed “Eisenhower” as his name their lives. because he remembered the namesake of his former life. My first and middle name, “David Gamewise, Eisenhower will not be present in Dwight,” is a switched order take on a former any of the campaigns, outside of an occasional and popular American President, Dwight scene or two. The only way he’ll be in a David Eisenhower. Eisenhower took the last dragonjin role would be when I DM a game, of name as his own and even remade those “I course. like Ike” buttons as his calling card. A lot of But that doesn’t mean Ike doesn’t have a people in Karlsbrunn wear them. character sheet: During this time, Ike began doing his role as guide to many different parties, usually with well-known adventurers that Ike wanted to see firsthand. Most of the time the parties didn’t know that Eisenhower was their dragonjin until they found a published book written about them.

"It is best not to meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good deep fried with ketchup." – Eisenhower, so someone who needs to be reminded how dragons can get, even the friendly ones.

It was Ike who became the first dragonjin who ascended into Dragonhood, and he reachedSample an file epiphany at that moment: “This is how we will break the dragon limit, Elders!” Ike said before the Eight God-Dragons of the Council of the Eight. “The life of the dragonjin has its risks, of course, which makes a guiding role necessary, but every dragonjin alive has the Here is Eisenhower in two of his more promise of becoming new dragons themselves. popular forms: His human guise, which is We are no longer locked in a 128-dragon based on myself, and his normal Dragonjin limit.” form. He’s probably the only Dragonjin who When the Dragonjin offered Ike a place in the is caught in public with a beard. Council, he refused, preferring to stay in the back and continue to write books and My first attempt at his Dragon Form is on chronicle the restoration of humanity and the the cover. Er, I will get better in drawing modern world. This might surprise some dragons. Have to. I just converted Ryuujin people who think that I’d be a dictator of my from Ryuutama to D&D 5E. I’m going to own world much like Christian W Chandler is have to draw a lot of dragons now!!

31 If you don’t know what I’m talking about, God Bless you.

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Traits: Eisenhower, the Keen Senses: As dragon, advantage on Perception (WIS) checks that rely on sight or smell Loremaker Legendary Resistance 5/day32 20th Level Lawful Good Platinum Magic Weapons: Weapon Attacks are magical Dragonjin Bard, College of Lore Change Shape: Eisenhower can polymorph into Eisenhower has four forms: An Elder Platinum any of the above-listed forms. He can transform Dragon (Gargantuan Size), his normal dragonjin into an Eagle in any form, but if he’s either in form (Medium Size), a human form resembling his Dragon or Human form, he must transform into former life (Medium Size), and a bald eagle. (Small his Dragonjin form before changing into the other Size) form. Each transformation takes a Standard Action. Some stats and traits do change according AC: As dragon, 26 (Natural Armor + Adamantium to which form he takes, but others remain chain shirt); As dragonjin, 21 (Robe of the constant. Archmage); As Human, 18 (Leather Armor); as Eagle, 16 (Natural Armor) Water Breathing: In dragon and dragonjin forms, Eisenhower can breathe underwater HP: 340 (20d8+180); as dragon, 409 indefinitely. (20d20+180) Spellcasting: Speed: As dragon, 60 base, 120 fly; As dragonkin and human, base 30; As Eagle, 60 fly; in all forms, Spell Point Variant active: 133 Spell Points Teleport 30. Spellcasting Ability: CHA; Spellcasting Bonus is Proficiency Bonus: +6 +16, Spell Save DC is 24 STR 25 (+7); DEX 22 (+6); CON 28 (+9); INT 30 Ritual Casting active: (+10); WIS 26 (+8); CHA 30 (+10) Spellcasting Focus: Uses many items as a focus, Saves: DEX, +12; WIS, +14; CHA, +16 including his lute, his quarterstaff, or even a pencil! Skills: Arcane, +22; Craft, +18; History, +22; Nature +22; Perception +20, Performance +16, Spells Known: 24 Prepared Spells Sleight of Hand +18 Sample Spellfile Book feature active by way of feats: Additional Proficiencies: Lute, Tinker’s Tools, Eisenhower has a Spellbook where he keeps every D&D Gaming Set Bard Spell from cantrips up to Level 5. It takes a Damage Immunities: Cold, Fire, Poison, Non- full day (downtime can be spent in this manner) to Magical Weapons. As dragon, critical hits attack as change prepared spells. All Ritual Spells is normal hits. available to be cast at Ritual Speed. New spells can be added to his spell book, but at double price Condition Immunities: Blinded, Charmed, in time and coin. Frightened, Poisoned, Sleep, Stunned Below is the list of spells he usually has prepared Senses: As dragon, Darkvision 240, Truesight as well as spells he acquired by Magical Secrets. 120; as dragonkin, human and Eagle, Truesight 120; in all forms, Passive Perception 24 Cantrips: Dancing Lights, Mage Hand, Message, Minor Illusion Languages: Chinese, Common, Draconic, English, 1st Level: Alarm (ritual), Animal Friendship, German, Korean Comprehend Languages (ritual), Cure Wounds, Detect Magic (ritual), Healing Word, Identify (ritual), Illusory Script (ritual), Speak with

32 Legendary Resistance: When he fails a save, he can choose to save instead.

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Animals (ritual), Tasha’s Hideous Laughter, Bard College of Lore: Tenser’s Floating Disk (ritual) Cutting Words feature active. 2nd Level: Animal Messenger (ritual), Enlarge/Reduce, Detect Thoughts, Hold Person, Peerless Skill feature active. Invisibility, Locate Object, Magic Mouth (ritual), Silence (ritual), Skywrite (ritual) 3rd Level: Dispel Magic, Glyph of Warding, Actions: Nondetection, Phantom Steed (ritual), Sending, As Dragon: Tongues Multiattack: Frightful Presence, 1 x Bite, 2 x th 4 Level: Contact Other Plane (ritual), Greater Claws. He can replace the Bite and Claws with 2 x Invisibility, Hallucinatory Terrain Naginata, or do a full 360° and do two Tail attacks, th 5 Level: Dream, Geas, Scrying one at back and one in front. 6th Level: Drawmij’s Instant Summons (ritual), Guards and Wards, True Seeing Frightful Presence: Each creature of the 7th Level: Etherealness dragon's choice that is within 120 feet of the 8th Level: Glibness dragon and aware of it must succeed on a DC 24 9th Level: Foresight WIS saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at Dragonjin Traits: the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on Dragonjin Power Points: 15 itself on a success. If a creature's saving throw is successful or the effect ends for it, the creature is Artifact: He always carries the Sextant. immune to the dragon's Frightful Presence for the Benedictions: He can use these Benedictions as a next 24 hours. dragonjin: Rewind, Fast-Forward, Tale of Bite: +13 to hit, reach 5, 3d10+7 Piercing Nostalgia, Tale of the Heart, Tale of the Hero, Tale of the Revival, Tale of Guidance, and one more Claws: +13 to hit, reach 10, 3d6+7 Slashing. He Tale that he has designed and hasn't revealed yet! can instead opt to restrain his target and, instead of doing any more attacks, choose a Breath Reveals: Berth of the Dragon and Guidance of the Weapon. (Restrained target cannot save. Breath Dragon. Weapon must be recharged.) Bard Traits: Naginata: +13 to hit, reach 15, 3d10+7 Slashing Bardic Inspiration Dice: d12, (10/rest). If Sampleat Tail:file Eisenhower does a swing attack with his tail Initiative Rolls, Eisenhower has no Inspiration in an 180° circle from side to side, 25 feet radius. Dice, he gains 1 die. All targets in the area are attacked. +13 to hit, 4d8+7 bludgeoning damage and must DC 24 STR Jack of All Trades: All non-proficient skill checks save or be pushed 2d6x10 feet back and knocked gain +3 prone. Song of Rest: Heals 1d12 to all allies during Short Dragon Breath: (Recharge 5-6) Choose one: Rests. (Sometimes does this during Dragonjin role) Ice Breath: Cone Blast33 80, each target in range takes 20d8 cold, DC 24 DEX saves Half Countercharm feature active. Mist Breath: Close Burst34 40, area is covered in a Magical Secrets: Spells added to the standard dense fog, as if by the Cloud of Fog spell. Bard List, two are from the College’s Additional Magical Secrets feature. Since all added spells White Fire Breath: Line Blast35 240, each target in are Rituals, they are added to the Spells Prepared; range takes 20d8 fire, DC 24 DEX saves Half. cast as Rituals and not counting toward the limit. (Eisenhower calls this the “Godzilla Attack” and is

33 Cone Blast: A cone-shaped area of effect originating 35 Line Blast: A line 5 feet across starting from Ike, or in from Ike’s, or more specific, his mouth in this case. this case, this mouth. 34 Close Burst: An area of effect X feet in diameter centering on Ike.

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known to cram this breath down people’s throats as a quick and just plain awesome kill.) Eisenhower’s Lair Eisenhower’s lair is in a mountainous region on As Dragonjin or Human: the outskirts of Karlsbrunn. After inheriting his NOTE: As Dragonjin, the Robe of the Archmagi is father’s hoard and adding his own to it, he in effect (Even though he’s a bard; his adopted constructed a fortress around the cavernous lair father aided in attuning him to it;) now known as ‘Castle Eisenhower.’ He keeps his hoard locked and guarded by Mechanoids that he This elegant garment is made from exquisite cloth wooed from the far eastern kingdom of of white, and adorned with silvery runes and Automatopia (Formerly Japan and the two resembles light blue dragon scales. Koreas.) Sleek variants of Warforged (use the You gain these benefits while wearing the robe: Ebberon Race from Unearthed Arcana 1 until Automatopia is further worked on), they serve as • If you aren't wearing armor, your base eternal guardians of their Dragon Lord while he is Armor Class is 15 +your Dexterity away with unwavering honor and loyalty. These modifier. accompany the more organic members of the staff, • You have Advantage on saving throws including clerics, archivists, maidens, and against spell and other magical effects. engineers, who has earned the dragon’s trust. • Your spell save DC and spell attack bonus each increase by 2. Lair Actions Quarterstaff: (Human or Dragonjin form) Melee On Initiative Count 20: Basic Attack; +12 to hit, 1d6+7 Bludgeoning or 1d8+7 if double-handed. • A thick misty fog covers the area as if by the Fog Cloud spell. • 3 Warforged (Mechanoid) Knights (mm 347) appear with their casing appearing Legendary Actions: as samurai and sporting katanas and Eisenhower has 3 Legendary Actions: short bows. Replace the Greatsword and Heavy Crossbow in the stats with the Detect: (Any form) Makes a Perception (WIS) following. They enter initiative if check. necessary. They are nonthreatening to the Breath Weapon: (Dragon form, Costs 2 Actions) party unless they are attacking their He can roll to check if he recharges. If the Sample file Dragon Lord or vying for the hoard; in recharge fails, he doesn’t expend his actions, but which case, they call an alarm and fight to cannot act in this instance. He can choose any the death. (Knowing that they will be breath weapon. rebuilt after an unexpected death). You can replace one of these a humanoid NPC Tail Attack: (Dragon form) Makes his Tail Attack. of any other kind, such as a Mage (mm Wing Attack: (Dragon or Dragonjin form, Costs 2 347) or a Priest (mm 348) if you wish. Actions) Eisenhower beats his wings. Close Burst 20, all within range must DC 24 DEX save of take Katana Longsword: Melee Basic Attack; +5 to hit; 3d6+7 Bludgeoning and be knocked prone. He 1d8+3 Slashing or 1d10+3 Slashing if two-handed then flies up to half his flying speed. If done as a Daikyu Longbow: Ranged Basic Attack; +2 to hit; Dragonkin the DC for the save is 18 Range 150/600; 1d8 Piercing Casts a Spell: (Dragonjin or Human form) Casts • If Eisenhower is present in his Castle, he th any prepared non-ritual spell up to 5 Level automatically detects the party by all the people, organic and robotic, as well as the creatures he can communicate with, scurring around as a passive surveillance. He then appears to the party in either his Dragon or Dragonjin form. His attitude toward the party depends on what kind of day he’s having.

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Regional Effects (6 Mile Range) • While still high in the mountains, the weather remains calm and slightly cool, even during summer heatwaves. A dense cloud covers the immediate area below the castle, reducing visibility to 200 feet. • All animal creatures with a CR up to 1 act as if friendly toward Eisenhower, and will communicate with him of any happenings. (They can speak and understand Draconic)

Neuschwanstein Castle is a well-known Tourist Castle in the Bavaria region in Germany. Sleeping Beauty Castle was inspired by this castle, not to mention was in several movies. While too far to the East in the two Germanic areas I’m working in, I’ll have Eisenhower’s Castle Lair be similar in style, a grand castle set on top of a rugged hill, very defendable and prominent in the Karlsbrunn skyline.

Oh, and if there are no real-world mountains near Karlsbrunn, there’s no worry. With the rifts, I can micro-tweak the geography to suit my needs. After all, just because I’m using Google Maps under my Overworld maps doesn’t mean I should be locked to every location on them.

Sample file

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Gunslinging Options

Adding guns to any D&D setting is a no- than Gun Safety which is still important. brainer to me. I gave that option for the (And let’s be honest, I think Gun Control is Forgotten Realms to have them available, hitting what you aim at.) Therefore, a even though in some places they’re banned, Æthercoil PC—or any D&D PC for that and they’re a terror to any Thayan. Even matter—is not allowed to use a gun until they after they found a way to make a fast zombie, learned how to properly handle them. they still drop with a bullet in their head. Since Æthercoil is set in a post-modern world, even though gun technology fell back somewhat, you can bet that there are guns in Instead of using Matthew Mercer’s short list, I there. customized the list and features from the So naturally, I had some decision to make Dungeon Master’s Guide, taking the sample when it comes to incorporate gunplay into my list on page 268 and working with it. All D&D games. Matthew Mercer designed an firearms are DEX based. excellent Gunslinger archetype for Fighter for Reload x: The weapon can be fired x number his Critical Roll campaign36. At first, I of times before reloading. It takes a Standard thought, that’s good for a start, but I wanted Action to reload. other classes to have options for using guns. However, I was lost between having a general All weapons require a specific kind of ammo, Prestige Class or having archetypes for and some need additional supplies. All different classes. It’s why I was so tardy with weapons will have the tools needed to reload these options. I eventually decided on a (such as a rammer for flintlock weapons and a Prestige version of Mr. Mercer’s archetype cleaning kit for rifles) with some additional feats based on class. Misfire: All Firearms will misfire at a Nat 1 But first off, some basics: check unless listed otherwise. When a Firearm misfires, it is rendered inoperable Sample untilfile it is repaired. Repairing requires proficiency with Tinker’s Tools (proficiency can be gained with 3 Downtime Days) and In Æthercoil, Firearms are a Martial Ranged requires a DC 10 DEX check during a short class of weapons. Proficiency is needed to use rest (If you fail this, the gun breaks and is them. Rangers and Rogues are immediately useless), or a Downtime day during a long proficient with them. (Reminder to self: rest. Make that adjustment in the wiki.) Other classes can acquire proficiency in Firearms Scatter: A Firearm with Scatter attacks in a after spending 5 Downtime Days at a Cone Blast 30 Area of effect. All creatures in Gunmanship course, which every major city the area are attacked. If attacking a creature has available. at melee range, the area of effect is negated and the damage is doubled, stacking with This, of course, is a real-world reminder that, critical hits. while guns may be cool to use on the table, they are dangerous in real life—anybody who Grenades: All grenades are thrown with a has reached 7 years old and seen the news can standard throwing check. The Grenade tell you that. Gun Education is something I detonates where it lands automatically. support both in the game and much more so

36 Reference: https://www.dmsguild.com/product/170778/Gunslinger- Martial-Archetype-for-Fighters

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that is, you roll your attack roll, and if you ‘hit,’ the hit is a Critical.

Requires: Any class with a Channel Divinity attack and Gunslinger, base class or prestige Spend your channel divinity on charging the next round in your firearm with the used Because why make a new Lego Brick when feature (preferably a Turn Undead or Holy you can modify another one that works oh so Smite like action.) When the next attack with well? your firearm hits, after weapon damage, the Channel Divinity feature takes effect with any areas centered on the hit target.

• 15 Dexterity • Must be Proficient in Firearms o Meaning: Must have done the Requires: Monk class or Two-Weapon fighting training course. style and Gunslinger, base class or Prestige • Cannot take consecutive levels in this Class You can wield two one-handed firearms. When wielding two one-handed weapons and o You must level up in all other classes before you level up not wearing any armor, your AC is with this class 10+DEX+DEX. If any unarmored defenses from your class are higher than this, use the Level Feature higher AC. 1 Gunsmith 2 Grit, Deadeye Requires: Ranger class or Archery fighting 3 Quickdraw, Violent Shot style and Gunslinger, base class Prestige 4 Trick Shot Spend a full turn to aim with your weapon, 5 Lightning Reload Sample exhalingfile to steady your hand. On the next 6 Piercing Shot round, your attack ignores any imposed 7 Vicious Intent, Hemorrhaging Critical disadvantage due to distance or cover. Each feature in the table corresponds to the feature in Matthew Mercer’s archetype. Requires: The ability to cast a touch-ranged cantrip and Gunslinger, base class Prestige As part of the attack action, charge the round Instead of customizing this to different with the cantrip. Instead of normal weapon classes, I’m using Feats to further tweak this damage, this attack will deliver damage Prestige Class: according to the cantrip.

Requires: Barbarian class with Gunslinger, base class or Prestige Spend 1 Grit to channel your rage into your gun. For the next attack with your weapon, all targeted creatures automatically hit. An attack roll is made instead to verify a Critical;

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Firearms and related equipment

Item Cost Damage Wgt Reloading needs Properties Can gather 5 lbs of loose material for Ammunition, Blunderbuss 350 gp 1d10 Slashing 7 lb Flint, Gun Powder, Wads Scatter, Loading, Two-Handed Flint, Flintlock Bullet, Musket, Flintlock 500 gp 1d12 Piercing 10 lb Gun Powder, Wads Ammunition, Range 40/120, Loading, Two-Handed Pistol, Automatic 400 gp 2d6 Piercing 3 lb Clips, Pistol Ammo Ammunition, Range (50/150), Reload 15 Flint, Flintlock Bullet, Pistol, Flintlock 250 gp 1d10 Piercing 3 lb Gun Powder, Wads Ammunition, Range 30/90, Loading Pistol, Revolver 400 gp 2d8 Piercing 3 lb Pistol Ammo Ammunition, Range (40/120), Reload 6 Ammunition, Range (80/240), Can fire 3X an attack, Rifle, Automatic 1600 gp 2d8 Piercing 10 lb Magazine, Rifle Ammo Reload 30, two-handed Rifle, Hunting 800 gp 2d10 Piercing 8 lb Rifle Ammo Ammunition, Range (80/240), Reload 8, two-handed Shotgun 450 gp 2d8 Piercing 7 lb Shotgun Ammo Ammunition, Scatter, Reload 6, two-handed. Item Cost Used for Wgt Properties

10 gp for Automatic Pistol, Ammo, Pistol 20 rounds Revolver 1 lb

20 gp for Automatic Rifle, Ammo, Rifle 20 rounds Hunting Rifle 1 lb 10 gp for Ammo, Shotgun 10 founds Shotgun 3 lb Takes a full action to fill up with 16 rounds. When full, it takes a Minor Action to Clips 20 gp Automatic Pistol 1 lb load into the Firearm. Blunderbuss, Flintlock Musket, Flint 1 cp Flintlock Pistol -- Used in the proper loading of firearm. One piece of flint lasts 30 fires. 3 gp for Flintlock Musket, Flintlock Bullet 10 rounds Flintlock Pistol 1 lb Blunderbuss, Can be set afire as a explosive device. A whole Horn deals an Area Burst 10 area Gun Powder, Horn 35 gp Flintlock Musket, 2 lb of 3d6 fire damage, DC 12 DEX saves half. An ounce lit burns for 1 round, Takes a full action to fill up with 30 rounds. When full, it takes a Minor Action to Magazine 20 gp Automatic Rifles 1lbSampleload into the Firearm. file Takes a full action to fill up with 6 rounds. When full, it takes a Minor Action to Quickloader 20 gp Blunderbuss,Revolver -- load into the firearm. 1 cp for Flintlock Musket, Used in the proper loading of firearm. Without it, any miss is considered a Wads 20 pieces Flintlock Pistol -- Misfire. Explosive Cost Attack Wgt Properties Area Burst 20, 2d6 Force, DC 15 DEX Gernade 15 gp save half 1 lb Area Burst 20, 5d6 Piercing, DC 15 DEX Frag Gernade 20 gp save half 1 lb Smoke Gernade 5 gp 2 lb Area Burst 20 of a dense fog, as like the Cloud of Fog spell. Area Burst 40, a binding flash and a loud bang is produced. All creatures in area Flash-Bang 5 gp 2 lb must DC 15 CON save of be stunned for 1 round. Area Burst 15, 3d6 Bludgeoning, DC 12 Requires a time delay of 1-6 rounds, item is included in all Initative rolls. Dynamite Stick 5 gp DEX save half 1 lb Additional sticks can be combined up to 7 for an extra 1d6 damage each. Area Burst 10, 7d6 fire, DC 12 DEX save Gunpowder Keg 250 gp half 20 lb

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The Twisting Halls, introduction

What I want to do with the 4th Edition Red arrived, the location of the Twisting Halls is Box dungeon, is to recreate the feel of the found. dungeon and add the Æthercoil theme to the adventure. I imagine the breakdown like this: The second part is the “Twisting Halls” proper. The NPC offers to set up a camp outside of the dungeon where the party can retreat and have a long rest if needed. Since this is where some players get introduced to the game, I’ll have it so that the party can flee into the witch’s camp when things get too much over their head, without too many penalties.

Instead of a white dragon, Farallax will be a Green Dragonjin with the Encyclopedia artifact. If responded well, Farallax shows an interest in the party and, in future adventures, becomes the party’s Dragonjin. In the DM’s scenario book, I’ll write a piece where Farallax is one of Eisenhower’s apprentices, who is teaching the rookie the I’ll be using all three maps in the Red Box, ropes on how to become a fully-fledged dragon. and while you can use the very map from the 4E Red Box, I’ll be including my own version With the arcane records that is found in the of it in the Starter Set. In fact, this page upper right room in this dungeon, they will includes a draft-style map: also find their own artifact: A radio. This will be the Modern-Day item that the party will I lengthened the doorways in my effort toSample give file the map the “Jimmy Hart treatment.” The rooms will have an homage to the 4th Edition version, of course.

The first part is the “Crossroads” map, and it’s where the party will rescue an NPC who is seeking a box of arcane records that was stolen by a hag and taken to the dungeon. After some interrogation from the goblins who harassed her before the party

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deal with, which I’ll continue with the Patreon B. Each character will have a more extensive series of modules. background and even list of quotable responses to questions. The last part will be the “Monster Lair” C. They will also have a complete character section, which I got inspired to make by an old sheet for each of these characters. III. Places Chris Perkins celebrity session while 4th A. Every location will be given here. 37 Edition is still going strong . Yes, R. A. B. If a map is needed, they will be included. Salvatore, even in Æthercoil, Lawful Good can 1. A way to have printable maps for the become Lawful Stupid. Chris made a bonus table will be made available as well. encounter to the 4th Edition Red Box which I’ll C. Every possible scenario will be listed and recreate here. In Mr. Perkins’ version, he referenced here. IV. Things uses a Tiefling Warlock Necromancer. In my A. All the available magic items, monster version, I’ll use the Hag mentioned earlier, descriptions, puzzles, things of interest and who also gathers up Skeleton minions and anything else that didn’t fit into the above is reforms them if the party lets her do so. If listed here. things get too close to a TPK, the Witch, or V. Scenarios A. Each scenario, be it encounter, interaction, even Farallax, can make the save to end the shop, or any other scene, will have its own adventure. entry in this section. B. Each scenario will have its own two-page Their stories will then continue to the section designed to lie flat in a binder for serialized modules I’ll write after this. easy reference. C. A layout mock-up of a sample scenario is listed below this outline. VI. Additional A. All other miscellaneous stuff will be added As I probably mentioned earlier, I have a here. certain breakdown based on “People, Places, B. This includes ways to incorporate this Things” when I set up a campaign. I’ll be module into other existing campaign expanding on this in the modules, starting settings, as well as homebrewed ones. with the Starter Set and expanding with what C. Ample note space will be included for the DM to jot down any other inspiration. I’m seeing with trends from WotC’s books moving on to Storm King’s Thunder. Sample file I. Storyline A. There will be a short introduction to the module… B. …followed by any expected stuff needed to run the game. 1. This will include any “Adventurers’ League-style” gameplay. 2. Something that will be expected in this series. C. After that, the adventure synopsis and plotline will be given. 1. This will be given at length, putting into place the entire storyline of the adventure. 2. A flowchart for this storyline will also be given. II. People A. The Dramatis Personae, but in an extended format.

37 Link: https://youtu.be/NRysdSwoaME

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even further to customize the game for the party.

The ID will correspond to a Letter-Number Since I’ve been taking a good amount of pre- combination listed earlier in the module, existing work, taking advantage of the Fair including page references. Use Laws, the Creative Commons, and the general information-sharing nature of the The Summary will show the Encounter’s Sample D&Dfile community, I only see it fair that you Level, how difficult it is, what kind of would do the same to me. In fact, I’d be monsters they are, the experience given, and honored that you do. Everybody learns from any treasure available. each other in campaign creation and each How We Get Here show the events of what time someone builds on someone else, the could trigger this scenario, with some entire base of knowledge, lore, and content of alternative ways this may occur. all our campaigns grows. This isn’t college; there’s no shame in appropriating anything Tactics and Scaling will show the DM how to from another module, game, or creator. In play the monsters in the field, as well as ways fact, this cultural sharing is supposed to to scale this scenario down or up depending on happen. the strength of your party.

What Happens Next is suggestions on what should follow among certain outcomes to this scenario, especially whatever the party succeeds or fails the challenge.

Making it Your Own will have some tidbits on how the DM can take this scenario and use it in their own campaigns, or expand the module

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The Red-Haired Elf, Chapter 2

About damn time I get back to Jamie. She As the story progresses, I’ll also include her was beginning to bug me. It seems that she’s character sheet and you can see her progress got all of Ike’s presumptuousness. But then as she goes along the story. Like with all again, she is a Ginger elven witch D&D fan adventurers, she starts at Level 1. living the proverbial dream.

Spellcasting Ability: WIS (Spellcasting +5; Save Jamie Wintertouch, the DC: 13) Red-Haired Elf Prepared Spells Cantrips: Dancing Lights, Mage Hand, Minor Chaotic Good Female Half-Eladrin Arch- Illusion, Prestidigitation Witch Warlock 1 Witch 0 Level 1: Identify, Magic Missile (Warlock Pact); Total Levels: 1; EXP: 20 Comprehend Languages, Witch Bolt Note: Jamie must level in Witch at 300 XP Additional Spells in Spellbook Level 1: Cure Wounds, Shield While Jamie is technically the Warlock of her adopted Mother, Silverskin Wintertouch, Silverskin is training Half-Eladrin Traits her to be a full-fledged Witch. Therefore, some features of Warlock are replaced with some from Witch. Jamie is originally a Human. Her Size is Medium AC: 13 (Leather Armor incorporated in Dress) Ability Score Increases: +1 Dexterity, +1 Hit Points: 8 (Hit Dice: 1d8) Intelligence and +1 Wisdom. Proficiency Bonus: +2 Age: The Half-Eladrin’s age at half speed of the Speed: 30 ft., or 6 sq. PC’s original race. Maturity and Life Expectancy is STR 11 (+0), DEX 13 (+1), CON 10 (+0), INT 14 doubled. Jamie appears to be 14, which is still her (+2), WIS 17 (+3), CHA 14 (+2); current age. She will reach Maturity at 32 and can Sample livefile up to 200 Proficiencies Alignment: Half-Eladrin tend to have the same Saving Throws: WIS (+5), CHA (+4) alignment of their Eladrin ‘Parent,’ or move to a Skills: Arcana (+4), History (+4), Investigation neighboring alignment in the array. (+4), Persuasion (+4) Elf Weapon Training: Proficient in Longbow, Condition Resistances: Advantage on saves vs Longsword, Shortbow, and Shortsword. Charm Fey Ancestry: Advantage on Saves vs Charmed, Condition Immunities: Slept by magical means and Magic can’t put you to sleep. Armor: Light Armor Trance: 4 Hours Meditation = Long Rest Weapons: Longbow, Longsword, Shortbow, and Languages: Common, Elvish, English, and Shortsword; Simple Weapons Tools: None German. Kits: Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition Arch-Witch Warlock Traits Senses: Passive Perception XX Note: Silverskin Wisdomtouch is an 18th Level Language: Common, Elvish, English, and German. Witch, so Jamie is capped at 18 Levels of Warlock. Spellcasting Pact Magic and Expanded Cantrips included in Spell Point Variant Enabled: 4 Points, Level 1 Spell List. Max (Witch Modification) Spellbook Ability Enabled (Witch Modification) Background: Witch’s Coven Spells Available: As a witch, Jamie enjoys the camaraderie of the 4 Cantrips known, 2 Spells + Pact Magic other witches, and you can join into all ceremonies Available in the craft. She can get free healing and care at

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any coven or wizards group friendly toward you, Key Ring with all her keys and a chain though she must provide any material that connects to her belt.) components needed for spells. Those in the craft Content of Bag of Holding: will support her at a modest lifestyle. She can also Note: Jamie has a standard Explorer’s Pack, do various research and rituals while in the group. with a Bag of Holding Upgrade. (It costs 10 times the standard price for this upgrade; Personality Traits Jamie probably inherited it from Silverskin: Trait: I tend to journal everything about my • Bedroll adventures. • Mess Kit Ideal: Family: My Coven has taken the place of • Tinderbox my parents who died by a drunk driver. • 10 Torches Bond: My Mother is everything to me, and I want • 10 Days of rations nothing more than to follow her steps in the Craft • Waterskin Flaw: I like cute stuff, and I want to take them • 50’ Hemp Rope with me. • Spellbook Inventory • Journal book, Moleskine • Fillable Fountain Pen and Pencil set Weapon 1: Elven Compound Bow (The Strength • Healer’s Kit (Used for First Aid) requirement is negated) • Steel Mirror Ammunition: 20 Arrows • Collapsible 10-foot pole Weapon 2: Short Sword • 2 Potions of Healing Armor: Leather Armor incorporated into her Other Items: Witch’s Dress. Rolex Wristwatch (Inherited from her Outfit: Witches Dress styled after her Mother, father, worn on left wrist. Set to local time.) complete with pointed hat. Ear Slot: Black Forest Coven Insignia Earring Component Pouch Contents Managed in Story: Focus: Wand in a belt holster. • 10 Glowworms Items on Belt: • 10 pieces of fleece • Component Pouch • 2 100gp Pearls • Coin Pouch with 25 GP in assorted coins • 2 Owl Feathers and her Swiss Army Knife. (Swiss Army • 10 Pinches of soot and salt Explorer with Clip Pouch and extended • 10 twigs from a tree struck by lightning Sample file

The three Grandmother Witches, you can guess which one is who.

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Sample file

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The look on mama’s face when I dropped Star Wars references was priceless, but by the third day, I’ve been pulling things to me like a true Jedi.

Jamie Wintertouch’s Journal Mama uses this cantrip all the time. It’s because Introductory Entry she’s got that Psychic Itch. She’s always washing Dated Beltane (Mar 21) 251 WR her hands and even carries hand sanitizer. Not that I mind; I tend to keep myself clean, and while 38 Hello, Hail, Well Met, Merry Meet, and whatever hand-shaking is out, she still likes hugging me . other cordial greetings that apply in this crazy Perhaps the best part of my coven is its mix of world. Welcome to the first volume of my journal. Classic Disney Movies and their Grimm Brother’s Before I begin I must let whoever’s reading this Origins. I now live in the real life Black Forest in 39 know, there’s going to be things that go waaay Germany , and the whole place is enchanted. Not over your head. It isn’t because I put in some only can it get from scary to cute in an instant, eldritch musings, practice on my favorite magic but ready for the three Grandmothers running the circles, or other witchy things that would break a Coven? Snow White, Cinderella, and Aurora! muggle’s brain—although that might get in here Three witches that assumed the three princess eventually when I start thinking about Volumes personas! I know that they’re real names are for this diary—it’s because I’m very literary from Schneewittchen, Aschenputtel, Dornröschen; but another planet. they don’t mind me calling them by nick names. They even live in a castle that would be right at No, I’m not kidding. I came from this world home in the center of an amusement park. through one of the rifts some talk about. I can only assume that I’m not the only one. Yeah, they know about the Disney Movies, and they find it…cute. Grandma Cindy claimed that I didn’t as much as travel through dimensions as through time, which makes a point. I was able to decrypt the saying for when the proverbial caca hit the fan for this Dark Age: “The fall of humanity started when the The organization of the Black Forest Chicago Cubs won the World Series. It happened Coven, which is a standard for large at the exact moment of the last out at Game 7 at Wrigley Field.” Everybody who’s from that world covens, have some borrowed pages would know what happened in an instant. Of from the Hag section of Volo’s Guide to course, everyone here, it might as well be from a Monsters. The top three Witches are distant star. Sample file called “Grandmothers,” witches higher in rank are called “Aunts,” Witches in I’ve still yet to come down from what happened to same rank are called “Sisters” and me. One: I’ve fallen into an actual Dungeons & Dragons world. Two: I’m in a D&D world that has those in lower ranks are called honest to God Elves. Three: I’m in a D&D world “Daughters.” More lore on how the that has an Elf that adopted me as her own Coven operates will appear as they daughter. And Four: I’m in a D&D world where warrant. an Elf Witch took me in and is teaching me to become a witch! With pointed hats and casting spells, and everything. I probably never will.

This winter just flew by for me as I went along what I’m calling “Witchcraft 101,” at first by Mama by the fireplace, and then with what would be my coven. After the blood bonding and making sure that I properly look like her daughter, (I can’t get enough of these pointed ears) we spent our days together teaching me Mage Hand, my first spell.

38 Written in the Margins: Note to self: Make sure I take a 39 Thank the Goddesses that Mama taught me the local bath before she snuggles me. language.

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The Three Grandmothers Black Forest Coven of the Black Forest Coven: Dated 1 Ares (March 25) 251 WR Schneewittchen (aka “Schnee” and “Snow I’m still surprised that you of all people haven’t White”) seen those movies, Schnee,” Silverskin said as Neutral Good Female Human White Witch she sat across a fireplace from the hair-black-as- 20 Fairy Tale Noble 15 ebony, skin-white-as-snow, lips-red-like-roses, if not the fairest well in the running Elder Witch. Reference for Noble Class (as Fairy Princess): http://tinyurl.com/z7e36ng “It’s been so long,” Schneewittchen said, in a voice that didn’t betray the centuries of her age. There Aschenputtel (aka “Ashen” and were some gray streaks in her hair and a close up “Cinderella”) will reveal some wrinkles in her skin. “The three Lawful Good Female Human Prophetic of us almost forgotten all about them.” She Witch 20 Chronomancer 15 sighed as she looked out the window, she Reference for Chronomancer: imagined her cell-shaded, animated, and iconic http://tinyurl.com/h9lfgub double staring back in the window’s reflection. “Has the old world fallen so thoroughly?” Dornröschen (aka “Dorn” and “Aurora”) Neutral Good Female Human Nature “Jamie said that she knows the hidden meaning Witch 20 Circle of Dreams Druid 15 behind the phrase over when the fall began,” Silverskin said, seeing a pillow flipped out of Silverskin nodded and smiles, still remembering place. She only sighed—Snow moved it on the warmth of having Jamie in her arms. On purpose—and corrected it with her invisible better moments, it kept the running thoughts in hand. “I doubt you’d heard of baseball.” her head at bay. “It seems we need each other.” Schnee shrugged. “Baseball isn’t as popular Schnee nodded and smiled back. Then looked at around here as it is in Jamie’s homeworld. She the corrected pillow. “At least you’re not fluffing said that she wants to find proof that she’s right pillows and dusting ledges all the time.” once she becomes a proper witch.” She turned back to see Silverskin. She was “Of course, Grandmother.” standing there, with her hands behind her back, Schnee turned around. “She really doesn’t Samplewant withfile a sheepish grin on her face. to return to her time?” With several feather dusters floating over the Silverskin shook her head. “No. She lost her bookshelves. parents, and there’s little left for her there. It Schnee could only shake her head. seems that we filled what was missing in her life.” “I’m still a bit concerned for you, Silver,” Schnee said. “Adopting a child is an important thing, I worry it’ll be too much for you.” Silverskin paused. “It wasn’t like I could send her away. I was like her when I was her age. Lost and alone, in a world too strange and dangerous for her. I had to take her in.” Schneewittchen smiled. With Jamie in her coven, she’ll have a lot of people caring for her. “I’m sure both of you will do well. In fact, I sense a weight lifting from you when she’s close.”

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“Mage Hand,” Silverskin said. “It’s my best Jamie nodded at Aschen. “It’s what I’ll intend on friend.” doing while I’m here.” Aschenputtel nodded back. It’s the reason why Hags and Witches they took this castle in the first place. There are While Hags do exist, and are described several other apprentice witches sitting in tables correctly in Volo’s Guide to Monsters, among rows of bookshelves. A trio of mousefolk Witches in Æthercoil tend to become a librarians adorned in maid outfits and only go up benevolent version of them. Their bargains to Jamie’s chest busied themselves with only cause downfalls if they’re broken, they managing the books and making sure that value beauty and youthfulness, adopt nobody’s playing ‘Silent Library.’ orphans and waifs into their apprenticeships (instead of eating them and They caught Jamie doing that last week. Today, pinching out duplicates that turn into more however, she’s just reading a book on hags) and they’re more into maintaining introductory Æther theory, one in the Basic their Karmatic sense of order (The Three- Reading list for new Witches. No prankery here. Fold Law) than spreading misery. Ashen had to suppress a chuckle when she remembered Jamie calling them “Witchcraft 101 Books.” The tankard with sweet tea moved up to Jamie’s But then again, being a red-haired elf, it’s almost waiting hand. Her eyes still had wonder over expected for her to be odd. seeing her Mage Hand grab things and pull them “A willingness to learn,” Aschen replied. “I toward her physical one. By now this cantrip has always like that in our daughters.” She looked become second nature to her. “It’s almost like down to what Jamie’s writing. “Writing down riding a bike.” your thoughts on these Chicago Cubs, I see.” A woman in a flowing white blue gown with her “Yeah,” Jamie said with a sigh. “And to think light blonde hair in a bun watched Jamie do this. that I’m the only one in this whole forest who “I’m not aware of that phrase, Jamie.” knows what Baseball is.” “I meant that, once you learn it, you never forget Aschen nodded. “It’s been centuries since we last how to do it, Cindy,” Jamie replied. heard about that game.” It’ll take some more time for Aschenputtel to get Sample “I’mfile still in shock almost everyone doesn’t used to being called “Cinderella,” but in her long remember the past,” Jamie said. “It wasn’t even life, it wasn’t the worst thing she had to endure. that long ago, to be honest. I want to find out She smiled and patted the child witch on her what happened.” shoulder. “That’s what happens as you keep practicing, Jamie.” “As we all, child,” Ashen said. “It might take some time to get the proof you need, but I know that you’ll succeed.” She sees Jamie hum a bit in contentment and then added. ‘Did you make any Silent Library thought about what kind of witch you’ll be?” The origins of this Prank Game, founded by Jamie closed her diary, sighed a bit, and leaned the producers and comedians of Gaki no forward a bit, cradling her face in her hands. Tsukai, is lost to time. “Mama told me that I should take my time. Stop Six players sit in a table with a stack of and smell the roses, as she said.” prank-like stunts and six playing cards, one “Elves have always mentioned the virtue of of which is the Ace of Spades. taking time and contemplate matters,” Ashen The cards are shuffled and dealt out to the said. “I and my two sisters are blessed with long players. The one who drew the Ace of lives so that we can follow suit. You, my child, Spades has to do the stunt on the top card are blessed with an opportunity to do the same without making a sound.

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while you’re still a teenager, although I’m sure Dornröschen is well versed with the bow, and she it’ll be difficult at times.” knows a skill that you would be interested in.” Jamie gave Aschenputtel that impish grin. “The Jamie Wintertouch’s Journal first century’s always the worst. Right, Cindy?” Entry on the Black Forest Coven’s Aschen laughed at that. “Coming from someone Grandmothers who became a fairy godmother, I agree.” When I say that my Grandmas take after Disney Jamie sat up. “But still, I already have plans. I Princesses I wasn’t kidding. want to be an adventuring witch. Equal parts Schneewittchen looks like what Walt would come offense and protection. I heard that there’s a up with if he let Snow White grow up to adulthood fourth kind of path from what you and the other and acquired her wicked stepmother’s magic. No, Grandmothers talk about.” she won’t drink any potions made of spite and turn into an ugly hag with poison apples. But she Aschen blinked a little, but then she would bend the forest trees to defend her and remembered. “The Red Witch Path,” she said. have every bird and critter have a hotline right “It’s prankerish ways would suit you just fine. into her ear. She’s been around for almost You’ve only been here one winter and we see you millennia, or so I’m told, and she’s protected the as an imp to match that red hair.” forest against all comers. She’s so much in tune to the forest that she can’t physically leave it Jamie had to laugh, knowing that Grandma anymore, though. Cinderella had to get back at her for that crack. “I hope not to be that bad.” Aschenputtel, or ‘Cinderella,’ is the backbone of the coven, as well as the caretaker of the castle. “Could be worse. There are dark Witch paths.” She’s got about two hundred mousefolk as her “Yeah, the Hag. No way, Jose. I like being a cute maids. Take the mice that she had in the cartoon and blow them up to Little Person size, red-headed imp.” and you have a mousefolk.40 I can’t get enough Aschen blinked. “Joe…say?” of them getting in my hair. Not only is Ashen, or ‘Cindy’ as I call her, the resident fortune teller— Jamie flopped on the table. “Doh!” with a good track record I may add—from what Aschen laughed as she patted Jamie on the head. I’ve seen, she’s also a guardian of a forbidden “But that’s not the only idea you have in mind, kind of magic: Time Magic. Well, I won’t blame them; someone went back in time to make sure right?” Sample thefile Cubs won that World Series and look where Jamie sat back up. “Yeah, you heard about my that gotten us. first parents, especially my father.” Dornröschen is the coven’s ‘Sleeping Beauty’. “May their spirits rest well.” Although she’d prefer I’d use ‘Aurora’ as her nickname. (Would ‘Briar Rose’ still work?) She’s “Thanks. He was a hunter, uses the bow a lot. more of a hands-on kind of Witch, combining Taught me to shoot with the bow. I’d like to pick Nature Magic with Druidcraft. She keeps her own up the bow as my main weapon. I’ve even been camp with a group of elven ranger patrols as well practicing out back, trying to take the rust off.” as several animals that just lounge around other people like they’re not even there. It’s there when “Just like riding a bike, right?” I found my first ever unicorn, horn and all, and she just nuzzled up and snatched a carrot out of Jamie clapped. “I knew you three Grandmas will my hand. Squee city. catch on.” People in the villages around the forest know “You know, Jamie. I think one of your other Aurora the most because she’s the one who goes Grandmothers can help you with that. out to check on the villages often. She’s the first Grandma I met since she often visits our home.

40 In the Margins: Do they have Little People in this world? I know about Halflings and Dwarves.

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She also has set up several barns where you can inside of the barn, but it didn’t damage the test out a spell without blowing stuff up, complete building or pushed outside its bounds. with practice dummies. Perfect for practicing your spellcasting…and shooting arrows. “WOW!” was all Jamie could say. The compound bow in Jamie’s hands was a “Arcane Archery,” Dorn said. “Even I find some perfect marriage of mechanical prowess and use for it, although you’d probably use it more. It elegant style. The wood carved with sleek curves requires a specially made bow that is bonded to and molded handle. The metal pulleys and you.” strings arch back gathering energy when Jamie “Yeah,” Jamie said, “That’s going to be a bit drew the bow back, with an ease that almost expensive.” surprised her at first. She pulled compound bows before and she always had to use all of her might “But isn’t now a good time find a good bow?” Dorn to get a notched arrow drawn. She heard a hum said as she slipped her bow back in place. “Or at in her pointed ears as the enchantment in this least tomorrow morning, when you accompany bow, designed for maximum ease and maximum me to the Woodworker Samus over at Frankfurt? effort, readied for the release. Even if you’ve accepted your Elven half, there’s still a human part of you that yearns adventure, When Jamie let go of the arrow, she could feel the and it’ll be good for you to see the sights anyway.” hairs on her arms quicken as the bowstring sprang taught before her eyes could register. The “You think Mama would mind me going with arrow flew out not unlike a lightning bolt, you?” producing only a soft audible ftooom by the string Dorn just patted Jamie on the shoulder and teasing the sound barrier. Even with her eyes smiled. enhanced by Eladrin blood, Jamie could only see the blur as the arrow met and then tore through “Meet me in the camp tomorrow morning,” she the bullseye target she placed over the dummy said. not less than 100 feet away. Jamie Wintertouch’s Journal Jamie whistled at the result. On being Silverkin’s vassel:

“And that’s just with a practice bow,” She heard Part of being Mama’s Warlock is the ability for her a sweet voice that betrays a wisdom far beyond to mentally enter my head, and in times take over her age. “Imagine what would happen if you had my body. It was unnerving at first since she a bow that’s bonded with you.” Sample warnedfile me it would, but it helps me learn how to draw in the Æther I need to cast spells. Jamie nodded. “Yeah, Aurora. What I really want to do is to cast spells with the bow.” Also, unlike being possessed, it doesn’t feel that bad once the initial shock wears off. There were “You mean like this?” Dornröschen said with a comic books with telepathic mentors (if anyone wry smile, pulling off her own bow. Jamie could has ever heard of X-Men, they’d know what I’m see the better quality of the construction, with talking about, but nooooo.) that I wanted to know stronger wood and cable-like strings. She what’s it like. There’s nothing like the feeling of notched an arrow and pulled back, chanting an being safe, warmed, and loved like Mama does in incantation with her soft lips, causing golden my head, and I’ve gotta say, it’s quite easier to teach someone from inside them. How else was I runes to flare on the ends. At the last moment, able to learn German? her eyes widened, and the arrowhead lit aflame. “So Dornröschen invited you to your first She released the arrow, which became a flaming adventure,” Silverskin said as she watched her streak into the dummy. daughter figure out what to pack. “Grandma On impact, the dummy exploded into a ball of fire Schnee told me she’d want to take you to that filled up the far end of the barn. Jamie could Frankfurt, to see the sights.” see the magical barrier embedded in the wooden “Yeah, from what you’ve told me, you don’t fare walls of the barn, negating the fire before it well in larger cities,” Jamie said. “That’s why you slammed into it. Outside, the fireball lit up the wanted me as your warlock, so I can go where you

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can’t. By the way, thanks for letting me borrow Jamie Wintertouch’s Journal your Bag of Holding.” 3 Ares (March 27) 251 AR

Silverskin smiled. “I don’t use it anymore. I Yesterday I met my first adventuring party. Me, stocked it up with what you’d need for Aurora, two other apprentices, and a trio of elven adventuring, hoping I can get back into ‘the rangers. Two of the rangers, Tirion and Noirit, game,’” she made quote marks with her fingers, are twins and they had this thing of dressing alike but then sighed. “But I never got back.” so we’ll easily confuse them. Why don’t they get a color-coded bandana over their faces so we can Jamie looked back to her mother and frowned, tell them apart? but then she felt her mother enter her head. By now it felt natural to her, like what the glove feels The third one was Winston, the first person I must when slipped over someone’s hand. admit I have a crush on. He just looks like an uber hunk. Tall and handsome in his green leaf-styled She glanced over at a mirror and saw Silverskin’s leather armor, sharp chin, dark blonde hair, and expression on her face, felt her eyebrows furl into just enough muscle. I just find him attractive. Mama’s wizened expression, her lips showing a Of the two sisters, one of them I can’t stand. Her knowing smile. Will of wisdom and mystery. She name’s Aria, and she is annoying. Mini-skirt, an saw her lips move as she heard Mama’s voice. inch of skin between knee sock and hem, twin “I’ll be able to work through you, my pretty. ponytails that go down to her knee, and an Through you, I can act in a city that will be too attitude that is abrasive! That, and she turns up much for me. Through this, I can share all my her nose at me not being ‘a real elf.’ She probably wisdom with and through you. And in time all of hates gingers too, but she doesn’t say it. my magic…will be yours.” The other one is more agreeable, Honey Byne. She’s Jamie blinked, seeing herself looking through her much more sensible and friendly. She’s also a gadget freak and wants to see if she can tweak the own eyes again, and she noticed a warm feeling Æther into running small contraption she builds. over her right hand. Silverskin casted one of her I didn’t know it was possible until Aurora told me cantrips, produce flame, through her. about Artificers. Honey wanted to help me build a “I will be able to do this when things get too decent compound bow, to replace the practice one dangerous,” Silverskin said. “It might be a bit I’ve brought with me now. taxing if we’re too far apart,” she tilted her head, When I saw the revolver she was packing—an “but isn’t this what a mother supposed to do?” heirloom from her father—I thought about Sample castingfile spells through a gun, but Dorn said they Jamie nodded and smiled. “Right. Any haven’t found out how yet. I prefer bows anyway. suggestions on what I should prepare?” But first, there’s something I need to get under my “Let me see,” Silverskin said as she pulled a belt first. It’s something I thought long and hard spellbook out.” about ever since I found myself in a D&D world: Equipping: It was on the second day of her first journey, when the group of Dornröschen, Jamie, two other • Practice Elven Compound Bow with 20 arrows apprentice witches and three wood elf rangers • Spell Preparation headed out from Karlsruhe along the pastoral o Out: Comprehend Languages, Witch road to Frankfurt when she was asked to Bolt accompany a ranger to hunt for rabbit meat, o In: Cure Wounds, Shield when she realized something important. Status: “You know, Winston, it just occurred to me that I • XP: 50 (250 to Level 2) really haven't killed anything yet.” Sure, Jamie’s been in hunts with her father, and seen venison • HP: 8 (1d8 Hit Dice) get nailed by an arrow, but it was all her father • Arrows: 20 doing the dirty work. This is technically her first • Spell Points: 4 hunt.

“I blame myself,” Winston replied.

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Jamie looked at Winston and then back ahead. “Stinking Elf?” Winston said as he swapped his “So do I.” bow for a slender silver lined longsword with a cross guard of so many coils that it was more “Well,” Winston said, “no sense worrying about it fitting for a rapier. now.” “I called that kill!” Jamie said, still too angry at “Why worry?” Jamie shrugged. “Both of us are the lost opportunity for a quick and clean first kill packing bows that by human standards should be to care about the volume of her voice. “Go find too powerful for us to pull.” your own rabbit to hunt!” “Three cheers for elvish craftsmanship.” Winston “Kobold didn’t hear Witch Imp Girl call it!” one patted Jamie on the shoulder and then pointed kobold said. up ahead. “Yeah! Redhair Devil Girl should go to store like Jamie followed the finger with her eyes and Girls should for meat,” another kobold said, looked down a hundred yards to a large rabbit up adding a sneer to that squawking. ahead. Dark skinned, plump, and the biggest rabbit she ever saw. “Leave Kobold stuff to Kobolds, Ginger!” shouted a third. “I didn’t know they make ‘im that big,” Jamie said, her voice barely a whisper. “All right girl. “Oh, that did it, you dragon runts!” Jamie said as Let’s get this over with.” she redrew the arrow, her ire now good and riled. “Roll for Initiative!” Jamie took an arrow out and knocked it in place. She pulled back, hearing the mechanisms The kobolds stopped. accompanying her movements. Then she lifted Winston stopped. the bow up. The wind stopped. Jamie could hear her father speak to her, just like it was back with him. She could feel his eyes look Even the bolting rabbits, a couple deer, and across the shaft of the arrow and whisper her to several squirrels stopped. move the bow an inch to the right, a bit up. A bit They all looked at this red-headed girl in a witch’s to the right. She wanted a headshot. A quick dress who just said something that none of them clean kill. expected. She saw off in the distance, about a football field’s Sample Jamiefile sighed. ‘Damn,’ she thought to herself, ‘I length away, the rabbit’s head peeking up, its two keep forgetting this is all real.’ ears unfolding out like antennae. “Work with me here,” she muttered before She was just about to release the arrow. releasing her arrow. The rabbit suddenly resembled Steve Martin Jamie’s first confirmed kill was indeed clean and when another arrow got to it first. In one side of instant, with a strike right to the heart instead of the head and out the other. the head. Only her first kill was to the kobold “What the hell?!” Jamie cried out. “Someone stole who ridiculed her for being a little red-headed my kill!” imp doing man business. “What the hell?!” She heard a high-pitched squeal Off at the corner of her eye, she saw Winston run counter. “Someone else is here?!” another kobold through with his longsword. The move was so smooth and precise with an elven It was here she realized that her outburst was a trademark flowing movement that Jamie almost bit too loud. No time for recriminations, though. didn’t see the arrow flying her way. She spun to her left, toward the voice. Almost. Three Kobolds sprang out from a nearby thicket, bows, and daggers in hand. “Oooh, lookit pretty Jamie could sense Mama’s mind connecting with witch girl and stinking elf wants to steal our hers, sensing the danger already, but Jamie was meal!” already waving her hand between herself and

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that approaching arrow. In the faintest of mental link with her mother. ‘For the record, my instants, she worried about whatever she can first kill was against a kill-stealing Kobold who cast shield in time because that arrow’s coming wanted to bring back ‘Kick a Ginger day.’ fast. When she was learning this spell, The Bastard! I’m glad he’s dead! Silverskin was soft-lobbing soccer balls her way to give her plenty of time to get that spell off. ‘I wanted it to be a rabbit I can eat for lunch.’ She stood up and shook her body, and her head, back But as many a wizard in many a campaign world in place. “Didn’t expect Kobolds.” would say, Practice makes perfect. Remember Adventuring Rule #1, Jamie The arrow bounced off some unseen barrier some Wintertouch… six inches away from her face and rebounded off into the bushes. “A lot of things will happen that you won’t expect, child,” Winston said. “Part of what makes life By now everything has gone into stress-induced exciting. Now then, let’s bring this rabbit back to slow motion to Jamie or was it her elven senses camp.” going into overdrive and she still wasn’t used to it? Nevertheless, the action continued in front of Jamie’s nerves would need another half hour to her. She was about to pull up the second arrow really settle, but she smiled and picked up the when she saw Kobold #3 charge at her, two rabbit, giving one kobold the back of her heel on daggers in hand. She started to panic, not the way out. thinking that she could get that arrow ready by She gave Aria a very smug smile when she the time that cretin got into melee range, and she arrived back at camp with dinner. Aria wasn’t didn’t count on bringing any… impressed, though. “I heard that a kobold stole Winston appeared from the right side of her that kill, Red,” she said in her typical snooty vision and chopped off that kobold’s head. voice. Jamie backed up a bit to keep the blood from “And he paid for it,” Jamie said. getting in her clothes. “Awesome,” Honey Byne replied. “That’s The next moment felt a bit too long for Jamie as something we shouldn’t need. I had to put my she saw three dead kobolds and one dead rabbit first bullet into a highwayman. I was in shock for on the ground in front of her. She could only hear three weeks.” her heart pounding in her ears, and all her nerves Sample Jamiefile just smiled and scratched her back with an still on edge, as if it hadn’t occurred to her that arrow. “Well, I can say that I won’t be a bundle she had her first actual encounter and she could of nerves after my first kill.” relax now. Really. It’s done. She got her first kill. She can now get back to breathing. Aria had to open her mouth. “You’ll still be hanging around Dornröschen like her shadow That’s right, Jamie! Breathe! Breathe! It’s over. until we reached Frankfurt, right?” She didn’t draw breath until a few seconds later “Can it, Tsundere!” Jamie shot back. when she could hear the gentle breeze again. She hunched down, inhaling gallons of air. The got everyone in the wagon go “What the hell?” Including the horses. Are you all right, child? I sensed you were in your first scrap. Jamie sighed, having done ‘it’ again. ‘Yeah,’ Jamie thought as out loud as she dared, Dorn just patted her head. “You can explain it to hoping not to speak. ‘I’ll be in shock later, right us later, dearie.” now I feel too vindicated.’ • XP Awarded: 100 “First one’s always the worst,” Winston said to o 75 for monsters her. “You all right, Jamie.” o 25 for “First Encounter” “Yeah,” Jamie said, holding up a hand, “Yeah, • Total XP: 175 give me a sec.” She then turned back to her • 125 XP for Level 2

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Sample file

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Æthercoil Magazine Issue 4 – January 17

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Æthercoil Magazine Issue 4 – January 17

D&D Wiki, https://www.dandwiki.com The Ryuutama traveling mechanic for 5E Google Maps; https://www.google.com/maps New 5E skill: Crafting Matthew Mercer, Gunslinger Martial Archetype for Homesteading Mechanic revision work Fighters, from the DM’s Guild, https://www.dmsguild.com/product/170778/Gunslinger- Incorporating Plane Shift into Æthercoil Martial-Archetype-for-Fighters Development on Twisting Halls Atsuhiro Okada, Ryuutama: Natural Fantasy RPG, Kotodama Heavy Industries. Translated into English by The Red-Haired Elf, Chapter 3 Matt Sanchez and Andy Kitkowski Elsewhere in DM’s Guild Daniel Shea, Legacy of Io: The Lost Bestiaries - Gem Dragons, from the DM’s Guild, The Savage North, Revisited http://www.dmsguild.com/product/181245/Legacy-of-Io-The- Lost-Bestiaries--Gem-Dragons Scourge of the Sword Coast Update

Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org Patreon Exclusives Æthercoil Red Box: The Twisted Halls

Sample file

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