2 Path to Conquest 18 Talking the Talk 32 Eye on Dark Sun: The Black Blade By Mike Mearls & Robert J. Schwalb By Alana Abbott of Raam Introducing the conquest domain for Rumors speak of a secret language among By Rodney Thompson warpriests, complete with new domain powers thieves that sounds like gibberish to the The Black Blade of Raam plans to kill you. and features. untrained ear. For many a sly merchant or fat As if life in Athas wasn’t lethal enough! noble, it’s the last thing they hear before silent 7 Waterdhavian Themes daggers prick their flesh. By Andrew G. Schneider 35 Eye on Eberron: The Chamber Play a Blackstaff apprentice, a clone of 24 Confessions of a Full-Time By Keith Baker Halaster the Mad Mage, or a Masked Lord of Wizard These young dragons believe they have a Waterdeep. By Shelly Mazzanoble destiny tied to the Draconic Prophecy... and R&D’s “Player-in-Chief” lets loose her inner that makes them dangerous. 14 Roll Dem Bones! geek. By Dave Chalker 39 D&D Outsider: Crossing the Three-Dragon Ante might be the game of 28 Eye on the Realms: The choice in your local tavern, but in the back Merendil Gold Grand Canyon alleys you’re more likely to hear the clatter By Ed Greenwood By Jared von Hindman of dice on cobbles and the howls of rogues Long after the Merendil family was exiled A Faerûnian cop drama at its finest as and rapscallions. Introducing three new dice from Cormyr for attempted regicide, thieves signal flare spells alerted players to the games for your D&D campaign. and bandits continue to chase rumors of the next scene of the crime. It was such a gold that was left behind. pretty idea but it was not meant to be! Path to Conquest A New Domain and New Powers for the Cleric By Robert J. Schwalb Illustration by Nico Photos You stand at the forefront of the campaign to spread OMINATION OMAIN your deity’s banner across the world. For you, con- D D quest is more than victory through skill at arms or Many of Bane’s warpriests choose the domination mastery of magic: It means absolute domination, shat- domain. Some clerics of Erathis also follow this path, tering a foe’s resistance and enslaving it to your god’s in the belief that civilizing the world sometimes will. Other clerics might be content to defeat their demands harsh measures. Although clerics of domi- enemies and move on, but you respond to defiance or nation have a justifiably bad reputation, since they dissent with crushing violence. You seek to unify the terrorize and ruin those that they deem enemies of world under an empire with your god and church at their cause, not all of them are evil. An unaligned its head. cleric who chooses this domain might seek to turn Some divine servants see domination as the ulti- back humanoid invaders or murderous demons, rea- mate expression of order and seek good ends by any soning that only a stern, ruthless approach can end means, including brutality, warfare, and tyranny. such threats permanently. Good-aligned clerics of Fear is the ultimate weapon in such an arsenal, domination, though, are rare. enforcing control by breaking an enemy’s morale. However, imposing one’s will on others exacts a high price. Many prayers associated with this domain Level 1: Domination draw on the power of the Shadowfell to bring about Domain Features and the desired outcome. Threads of darkness are woven into the fabric of divine energy that issues from those Powers gods who claim domination as part of their portfolios, As a cleric of domination, you are an impressive and and clerics who embrace such power are continu- daunting figure in battle. Your commanding presence ally tempted by dark impulses to wield it for selfish causes enemies to cower before you while inspiring purposes. fanaticism in your allies. Your healing magic grants This article presents the domination domain for others additional vigor to maintain the offensive. warpriest clerics (introduced in Heroes of the Fallen Benefit: You gain training in Intimidate. Lands), as well as new domination-themed powers for In addition, when you use healing word, the target all clerics. also gains 5 temporary hit points. At 11th level, the 2 TM & © 2012 Wizards of the Coast LLC. All rights reserved. March 2012 | DRAGON 409 Path to Conquest temporary hit points increase to 10. At 21st level, they Level 5: Domination Level 11: Transcendent increase to 15. You also gain the following 1st-level powers: one Domain Feature Blessing (Domination) utility power (inspire dread), two at-will attack powers Your healing magic is imbued with the spirit of battle. Devout warpriest paragon path feature ( fell strike and icon of fear), and one encounter attack Not only do you mend an ally’s wounds, you grant the Each strike you make weakens your opponent’s power (dread revelation). strength and speed to get back into the fight. resolve, forcing it to withdraw before your advance. Benefit: When you use healing word, the target can You wield fear as a weapon that leaves psychic Level 1: Channel Divinity take a free action to stand up or to shift 1 square. wounds. Benefit: When you hit with fell strike, if the target (Domination) Level 10: Domination ends its next turn adjacent to you, it takes psychic You can invoke resolve—at a cost. By conjuring a psy- damage equal to your Constitution modifier. chic lash, you purge fear and doubt with intense pain Domain Feature and fury. You battle not only to defeat your foes, but to destroy Level 12: Domination their will to fight. A subjugated enemy is worth more Cruel Inspiration Cleric Utility to you than a slain one. Whenever you overcome an Domain Utility Power You lash out with a whip of divine energy, sparking pain but enemy with your fearsome powers, nearby foes hast- Devout warpriest paragon path feature fortifying will. ily withdraw. This prayer causes the slightest doubt to reverberate Encounter ✦ Channel Divinity, Divine, Psychic, Shadow Benefit: Whenever you use a divine attack power into a shout in your opponent’s mind. Attacks that Minor Action Close burst 3 that has the fear keyword to bloody an enemy or force movement awaken primal terror in their targets, Target: You or one ally in the burst reduce a non-minion enemy to 0 hit points, you can who, rather than stand and fight, curl up and hope Effect: The target takes 5 psychic damage and can then push each enemy within 2 squares of you up to 3 the danger passes. make a saving throw with a +5 power bonus. squares as a free action. Creatures that are immune Special: You can use only one channel divinity power per to fear ignore this effect. Devout Warpriest Utility 12 encounter. Echoes of Cowardice Your foes’ eyes widen as your divine magic amplifies their Level 11: Devout Action doubts into fears, leaving them vulnerable. Level 3+: Domination Daily ✦ Divine, Fear, Shadow, Zone Domain Encounter Power (Domination) Standard Action Close blast 5 Effect: The blast creates a zone that lasts until the end Your faith is rewarded with magic attacks that force Devout warpriest paragon path feature As a priest of domination, your combat abilities and of your next turn. Enemies in the zone grant combat your foes to bow before your god’s might. advantage. When any enemy that starts in the zone is magic make you the ideal leader of warriors, a battle You gain a particular encounter attack power at pushed, pulled, or slid, that enemy falls prone at the the specified levels. (The powers are provided later in captain in your deity’s cause. Your effort inspires a end of the forced movement. this article.) similar dedication in your allies. Move Action: You move the zone up to 3 squares. Level 3: conquering blow Benefit: When you spend an action point to take Sustain Minor: The zone persists until the end of your next turn. Level 7: dreadful warrior an extra action, each ally within 5 squares of you can Level 13: inspire terror take a free action to stand up or shift up to 2 squares. Level 17: demand obedience Level 23: spirits of victory Level 27: sundered bravery 3 March 2012 | DRAGON 409 Path to Conquest Level 16: Domination NEW CLERIC POWERS Icon of Fear Your stern confidence causes Domain Feature enemies to hesitate and drives those who fight These powers are among your options when you alongside you to take advantage of the situation. Devout warpriest paragon path feature choose cleric powers of the given levels. Under your divine guidance, your allies easily rec- Icon of Fear Cleric Attack 1 ognize which enemy is your preferred target. Upon seeing you bolster an ally, such a designated foe can Utility Power Your weapon strikes dread into your foe while emboldening a nearby ally. lose heart. ✦ Benefit: When you use healing word, choose one Inspire Dread Your mastery of fear confers At-Will Divine, Fear, Shadow, Weapon Standard Action Melee weapon enemy in the burst. Until the end of your next turn, on you an unnerving aspect that helps you get what you want when dealing with others. Target: One creature that enemy grants combat advantage. Attack: Wisdom vs. Will Hit: 1[W] + Wisdom modifier damage, and you can Inspire Dread Cleric Utility 1 push the target 1 square. Level 20: Domination You take on a ferocious demeanor, seeming taller and more Level 21: 2[W] + Wisdom modifier damage.