Spire's Shadow (OOC)

Ok. First of all, of course Githyanki, NOT Gitzerai!!

Now, here is a possible background story for M’rek. I say possible because in it I atempt to flesh out more the beliefs and culture of the Nathri, and this might not be accepted by Duck…also I will offer an “alternative” method for M’rek tieflingness…please bear with me a little, and have in mind that the Nathri (or at least my clan) are really very isolated…here is a first instalment, I really welcome feedback, specially from our esteemed DM!

Here are some premises for the Nathri:
First, nobody really knows exactly where Nathri go when they die. The fact that only very few are encountered anywhere but in the ethereal plane seems to corroborate what their own traditions and myths have to say about their race.

What the Nathri believe is that their race has been condemned to roam the the ether for some transgression in the distant past, what that was, nobody knows exactly, although every Nathri clan has their own interpretation of what was that transgression was and what has to be done to attone for it. It is one of the few things responsible for the occasional inter-clan attriction. The Nathri being otherwise too preocupied with survival to have time for inter-species warfare…

Also the Nathri believe that most of those who die in the ethereal will remain in the ethereal as spirits and come back to keep serving and guiding the clan. It is for this reason that most Nathri divine spellcasters are Spirit Shamans (complete divine) able to converse freely with their ancestors. There are no Nathri gods. At least no gods known to the Nathri that roam the ethereal. This after-life service is considered to be a great honor, and with time a spirit with strong connections to its clan will reincarnate into a new Nathri. Although the cicle of spirit service and rebirth is considered honorable and in fact crucial to a clan~s survival, it is not considered as an ideal state of things. For starters, due to the great wars and massacres that have driven the Nathri deep into the ethereal, the number of new births does not accommodate the reincarnation needs of all Nathri. Also, this cycle is seen as just an interim solution, until the Nathri can figure out where is “their place in the universe”. To this effect, some Nathri are routinelly sent into “exploratory” missions into the outer planes, in the hopes of either finding their long lost homeland, or at least a new place where the Nathri could fit outside the ethereal… Some of these Nathri that leave the deep ethereal eventually find a home in th eafterlife in one of the planes, but so far the race as a whole remains lost. Also, and most importantly, because many clan shamans believe that the deed of atonement for the race cannot be accomplished IN the ethereal alone, but will be connected to some deep crysis in the multiverse, so they send scouts/ambassadors to try and keep abreast of such events…to everyone’s surprise those savage seers seem to have an uncanny knack for snifing trouble elsewhere in the multiverse (they claim thet the ethereal echos the moans of the multiverse), and in many places/planes, the arrival of a lone Nathri is considered a very bad omen…

(this idea of an entire race looking for an “outer plane to call home” seems very interesting to me and could lead to nice adventure motivations for M’rek. I am trying to portray the Nathri as the really true outsiders of the multiverse, even more clueless in many ways than primes. They are a lost race, dwindlin in the desert, much like the bushmen of the Kalahari desert in Namibia (anyone seen the gods must be mad?, or any of a number of discovery programs on them?)

Would that fly?

Ok, here is Linji's background (submitted for approval):

"'It's very good tea,' Linji says.
'Well, I don't want any Today, at any rate,' said Rinzai.
'You couldn't have it if you DID want it,' Linji says. 'The rule is, tea tomorrow and tea yesterday--but never tea today.'
'It MUST come sometimes to "tea today,"' Rinzai objected.
'No, it can't,' says Linji. 'It's tea every OTHER day: today isn't any OTHER day, you know.'
'I don't understand you,' said Rinzai. 'It's dreadfully confusing!'
'That's the effect of living backwards,' Linji says kindly: 'it always makes one a little giddy at first--'
'Living backwards!' Rinzai repeated in great astonishment. 'I've never heard of such a thing!'
'--but there's one great advantage in it, that one's memory works both ways.'
'I'm sure MINE only works one way,' Rinzai remarked. 'I can't remember things before they happen.'
'It's a poor sort of memory that only works backwards,' Linji says."

"Torpellin asks, 'What happened in the past?'
Wu answers, 'Past has not happened -it is happening, as is Present, and Future, and will always be happening, and thus will never have happened.'"

The Round Edge of the Square, excerpts of the Unformed Circle of Linji

Like most Githzerai, Linji was born in Limbo in one of the great floating cities of the People. However, he was not born Shra'kt'lor, or within Toroj, but in a lesser-known city of the People: Err'ishtok.
At the time of Linji's birth, Err'ishtok had over 500,000 Githzerai as residents, though even this large number is only a fourth of the size of the fabled Shra'kt'lor, city of the mythical God-King. As are the other great cities of the People, Err'ishtok was formed and maintained by the collective will of its resident Anarchs. Like the other cities, Err'ishtok is surrounded by a bubble of air, protecting it from the entropic soup of Limbo. Inside the bubble, floating serenely in the air is a megalithic pyramid of mute black stone, here and there offset by stone work in shades of gray and white (Linji claims their pattern is a secret code for making great tea!). Closer scrutiny reveals that all four sides of the pyramid are terraced and have communal plots of gardens and fields; inside the structure were multitudes of tunnels and the living spaces of the citizens.
Also formed by the Anarchs was what the People of Err'ishtok called the Sphere: an immense ball of fire that hovers a fair distance from the city. The Anarchs could move the fiery orb around, but usually kept it fixed in place, slowly diminishing or increasing its intensity to simulate a kind of "night" and "day." Though most of the githzerai homes within the city would not even see this light, it also seemed evident that the Sphere may have been used more for the K'insai's benefit, Prime races accustomed to living in patterns based on the presence or the absence of the Prime-world sun.
Attached to the "city-proper" was The Chain, a mile long group of various sized slabs of stone that were joined by suspension bridges. The Chain (alluding to the Unbroken Chain of Zerthimon) formed a pathway between the city itself and the Hall of K'insai. As such the Chain was not only used for travel, but also for training of mind and body, as the Chain was always in movement, constantly caught in some unseen current, causing the stones to rise and shift.
At the end of the Chain was the Hall of the K'insai (although in the language of the Gith, it was called Alsa'K'insai, a small island of rock, upon which a monastery stood, surrounded by woods and rivers that flowed off into the void. The Hall, which was shaped like a gem of smoke-gray crystalline stone, was once a monastery of the Githzerai, but had been abandoned by the People until they reopened its doors to outsiders, not of the People, but those who wished to *know* their ways. Only Githzerai were allowed within Err'ishtok, and even then, contact between the Hall's inhabitants and the People was extremely limited -only a handful had regular contact with the K'insai.
Linji's mother and grandfather were two of these rare Gith. Like all of the People, Linji was born in an egg in one of the communal nurseries to hatch and learned the Ways of the People at an early age. He never knew his father for he died while on a Rrakkma while Linji was still an infant, and his early years he spent with his grandfather, Gor'Rolok, who was an austere Gith who spent his time raising and teaching the young Zerthlings to *know* themselves and the traditions of the People. Only after two decades did he meet his mother, Rak'Evva, who was away on missions in the Astral and the Prime -unlike her deceased companion, she had never participated in a Rrakkma, but was a skilled psychic warrior who had spent decades fighting the Githyanki and acting as a spy and assassin for her People. It was her last mission that caused her to return with a group of Prime children (their land had been destroyed by the Githyanki), and the cause of her working with the Hall of the K'insai, as did her father as well. Linji was trained by his mother and grandfather alongside these juvenile Prime K'insai, and thus was exposed to cultures and races to a degree that was uncommon for the usually reserved Githzerai. It was not long thereafter that, Linji (being much older than most of the K'insai) passed his Age of Accountability, the Githzerai rite of passage from being a Zerthling to being an adult. It was also at this time, that Linji received his adult name by his grandfather -Rinzai. (being the name of one of his famous ancestors, as is the common custom of the People).
Now an adult, Linji was no longer permitted to study with the K'insai, and even more so, his family grew concerned that his early exposure to non-gith and their cultures had made Linji "unfocused".
Linji had never been a bad Zerthling; instead, he readily learned the mantras of the People, showed remarkable aptitude in psionics and was respectful to his elders. No, Linji merely liked to think and question -a lot. His grandfather especially saw this as disturbing as he sought for Linji to "quiet" his mind. Eventually, his Elders decided that in order to change the Inner, the Outer must change as well. Thus, it was decided that Linji would travel to a distant monastery, and learn the ways of the monks of the People. Due to his proclivities of the mind and his sharp intellect, he was accepted at the renowned monastery, Zerth'Ad'lun.
There Linji was trained in the teachings of Sensei Belthomais, an accomplished, powerful monk. Belthomais taught Linji, as well as all his students, a specialized martial art form (each monastery having different focus and style), while those students who fully embraced his teachings were called Zerth Cenobites. These disciples seek to practice zerthi—"Zerth's teaching" in the githzerai tongue—claiming to peer a moment into the future in order to aid their martial expertise.
Linji trained under Sensei Belthomais for many decades, and perhaps would have continued his studies for many more, had his affinity and skill at Chaos-shaping not been discovered. As the Anarch Guild of Shra'kt'lor is wont to do, they test Githzerai, always searching among the young generations for those who have a latent talent for shaping. Although Linji had rarely been in the "soup" of Limbo, his talents nevertheless held much potential, and he was soon identified by the Guild as a potential Anarch.
Though still at Zerth'Ad'lun, Linji's focus became centered on chaos-shaping, priming for the Rthak'aai.

The chaos-shapers of the People maintain many secretive traditions in the practice of their craft. One of the most ancient and important of their customs is the test of Rthak'aai, a formal demonstration of a student's skill and ability to survive in the wildness of deepest Limbo. Most githzerai live out their entire lives without being tested in Rthak'aai; even many chaos-shapers never undergo the challenges. But it remains, a way to determine which among the githzerai are truly able to master their adopted home, and a person who has passed its challenges is respected by all who live within Shra'tk'lor. For Linji, passing the test of Rthak'aai would prove himself worthy to enter the Guild of Anarchs. Time passed, and eventually Linji felt ready face the daunting challenge.
As with each rthak'aai, Linji's test took place within a specially constructed island of stability within the depths of Limbo. As each rthak'aai island is unique and used only once, Linji's rthak'aai testing (like all such testing) required the participation of at least one master chaos-shaper, and a not inconsiderable investment of time and willpower. (Overseeing a student's rthak'aai is often as much a rite of passage for the master as the test itself is for the student). Linji never knew who his master-shaper(s) was (were), for her/she (or they) were always concealed by the radiance of anarch-shaped lightning.
As is the case with all such tests, the goal of Linji's rthak'aai was to find and claim a key item that was located within a maze of challenges and dangers, to had to be returned to the master shapers. This key item was only described in general terms (which prevented Linji from simply shaping his own copy of the key from raw chaos and making a quick escape). As is the custom of his People, all of Linji's items were taken away (except for his Cenobite robes) -even his all psionic reservoirs were drained to nothing.
Like all Rthak'aai, Linji faced six challenges as part of the test; they were:

The Test of Stamina - This is often the first test of rthak'aai, a straightforward obstacle to be overcome. The students are confronted with an impassable barrier of hazardous material, such as a wall of flame or tunnel filled with water or acid, and must ward themselves from the danger in order to pass. Shaping a space through the substance is allowed, but is more strenuous and less likely to succeed.

Perhaps the easiest of the tests for Linji, he simply drew upon his training as a monk, and was able to tumble down a shaft that was a maze of arching lightning (each arc springing from iron rods driven into the rock). His keenly honed reflexes allowed him to land and avoid the peril unscathed, except for a sprained ankle.

The Test of Perception - Another early test, the Test of Perception offers students a tool or an important clue that will be vital later in the challenge - but disguised or hidden, so that a student must work to uncover it. Sometimes, the tool is a mass of raw matter, easily shaped into whatever form students might need - but at a casual glance nothing more than unremarkable earth or water. In another case, information in written or glamered form is provided, and then obscured so that a student must shape the obstruction away. In all cases, though, bypassing the assistance makes later tests difficult if not impossible to overcome.

Linji almost failed this portion of the test. Upon reaching the bottom of the shaft (which was then sealed by the Anarch-master(s), Linji found himself in a cavern whose bottom reaches were filled with shimmering water, and a cavern filled with steam. Nearly concealed in the mists was a tunnel leading down and away from the chamber. Weary of the water, Linji was able to push away the steam-vapors, discovering a small path of stepping stones. Linji was able to spring across the path, but slipped at the end, his injured ankle causing him to slip and his foot slipped into the waters. Expecting some calamity to occur, Linji was shocked as the shimmering waters healed his minor injury. Stopping to study the waters, Linji noticed that below the water's surface, something was churning the water. Linji dived in to investigate, and soon found that the source of the steam and the churning of the warm waters was the bottom-most section of the bedrock was a whorl of chaos-shaped flame. However, Linji could not then understand its importance; however, though his training, he was able to note that the waters had been infused with positive energy (holy water as K'insai called it). Unsure of what this boded, Linji continued down the path.

Test of Wits - This test challenges students to use their chaos-shaping abilities in an innovative and unexpected way. The challenge is obvious, the solution is not - and be it by extruding nearby earth as a bridge over a trapped region, imposing traits of elemental air to blow away a choking fog, or shaping nearby matter into the form of a shield or other barrier, the safest way past will never be an obvious one. It's not uncommon for a rthak'aai creator to set up a Test of Wits with one form of solution in mind - and then for a student to find a different but equally innovative way past the challenge.

Once Linji left the cavern with the steaming waters, he found himself in a maze that seemed to spiral downwards. The labyrinth was especially devious since all of its paths were round tunnels, and all (due to their subjective gravity) were made of thick sand, making progress slow. Frustrated, Linji sought to shape a wind to blow away the sand, but soon found out that the entire walls were made of sand, and he fell, nearly being buried alive as the walls around him collapsed in a blinding spray (Luckily, the fall did creak his concentration and the wind stopped before the damage to the labyrinth was too extensive). Pondering his situation, Linji tired another tactic. Flash-searing the sandy walls, he shaped them all into glass. Though slippery, Linji was able to now see the correct path (and quickened his progress by smashing through several of the glass walls).

Test of Mettle - Possibly the most dangerous of all the tests, this challenge pits students against another living creature, hostile and determined to cripple or kill the student. Lesser slaadi are the most common creatures to appear in this situation, but any sort of dangerous creature native to Limbo may appear. Students may use any method that works to pass the opponent, be it combat, evasion, intimidation or trickery, but should be sure that the chosen method will work. The danger in this test is very real.

In more ways than one, this was perhaps the pivotal experience that changed Linji's existence.
As Linji exited the now-glass labyrinth, he found himself in a chamber of flesh-like substance, an amalgam of organic tissue, with areas secreting acidic pools. Treading carefully though the rippling chamber, he soon discovered he was not alone in the strange womb-like chamber.
Rippling from the fleshy surface, as if being birthed, a Blue Slaad emerged, reaching for Linji with its massive hooked hands. Reactively purely from instinct, Linji dodged the Exemplar of Chaos.
Smiling his its shark-like teeth, the pale blue Slaad stared as if looking into Linji's very soul (or appraising a future meal). Linji attempted to shape a wave of acid to engulf the Slaad, but its power of shaping was too strong. In response, the Slaad summoned up waves of chaotic energy, which flowed off its shimmering skin, till exploding into a cacophony of ephemeral essence. Linji tried to avoid its touch, but its fractious energy seemed drawn to his very spirit. Its touch caused agony of body, as Linji felt his organs churn, trying to displace themselves. Perhaps even worse, was its effect upon the mind -to Linji's monastic spirit, it felt as if he was just submerged in ice-cold water -its effect slowing and numbing his thoughts and actions (and, yet, in a way, it seemed to awaken his mind as well, as if startling from a great sleep).
Struggling to fight the magic's effect, as well as seeking scanning his environment for some method of escape, Linji noticed red and orange tattoos that spiraled across the Slaad's skin, which became more scaled and fish like on its lower half. Linji's jumbled observations were then started for the Slaad began to speak; as many of the People do, Linji had studied the Slaadi tongue. However, this was the first time he had ever heard it spoken by a Slaad.
Though Linji's mind was hazed by the Slaad's magic and he is unsure if more was said, he recalls clearly its first and last words:

"iN yEncuIlIa in YenCUiya, in XayAcaTl In yOlLotl... In xoChiTl iN cUiCatL in TEotL iCuac ihiYOtl, IN atoNahui in eiEhuiA."

Struggling not only with the multi-nuanced language of the Slaadi, but also the distorting magic, Linji roughly understood its words, "To make new and to become anew, the face and the heart are one, but not... the blossoming flower as the unsinging song while the essence of spirit is becoming, the fever desires, as the desires of the fever." Confused, and more than a little afraid, Linji attempted to answer, sensing the Slaad had asked a question. Linji's replied, struggling now with the Slaadi tongue, "Ayamo." (which is roughly no in the Slaadi tongue, but more appropriately rendered as "not yet" as there are no absolutes in the Slaadi language).
The immense Blue Slaad then bowed its frog-like head, showing some seal imbedded in its forehead, as if granting permission to leave. Not stopping to stare further or wait to better understand its gesture, Linji ran to the exit he had been searching for. However, before he could get there, the Blue Slaad bellowed one word -"AxiTIa! (which roughly translated, means "to come closer"). No sooner had the words been spoken did powerful magic grab hold of Linji, lifting him into the air and sent him hurtling into the "ceiling" of the chamber, which was covered in caustic enzymic slime. His skin burning from its contact, Linji quickly somersaulted up, to find the Blue Slaadi jumping down (up)? to loom over him, cutting off his escape. Trapped and injured, Linji attacked the Slaadi, releasing a flurry of blows upon its thick swirling hide. One of the blows landed, the others missed. The Blue responded by grabbing hold of Linji with its massive clawed hands, and then opened its mouth wide. Inside its maw, Linji could see gathering currents of strange bile and blood that seemed to whisper his name. Any such thoughts were quickly washed away as the Slaad bite down on Linji's stomach, the dagger-like teeth rending flesh and robe, and more insidious was the strange fluid that drained, washed into his body. Writhing free of the terrible grip, Linji stumbled to escape, and made it a few paces below a powerful backhand from the Slaad smashed into the back of his head. As consciousness faded, Linji heard the now soft spoken voice of the Blue, "cochitlehua" (which according to Linji's understanding means "to sleep the dream" but also "to dream the sleep").
And indeed Linji did dream, and sleep. For how long he slept, he does not know, and nor can he recall his dreams of chaos, for they all were fleeting, phantasms of possibility, an awakening of long-slumbering secrets inside his spirit and heart. He felt pain, yes, but such was not unfamiliar to him -he was Githzerai, and to the People, to *know* oneself is to suffer.
Unsure of whether he at last had conquered the dreams, or if the dreams had conquered the last of him, Linji awoke to find himself still in the organic womb-like chamber. As he painfully opened his eyes, he saw the Slaad sitting across from him -he also noticed a strange creature flittering about the Slaad -it was translucent, and seemed slimly as it seemed to swim through the musky air. It resembled something like a bizarre giant tadpole with arms, its frog-like face was licking the air and it soon became apparent that its eyes were closed, like the young of many prime creatures are after being born. It seemed to regard Linji, and at that moment, Linji felt a terrible pain in his stomach. Reaching down, Linji was shocked and startled to see his hands and skin had changed. His limbs seemed to bend oddly, and his fingernails were gone. Even stranger was his skin, which swirled as if it were covered in living paint. Examining himself, he found other equally bizarre changes -Rinzai the Githzerai was no more -Linji the Chaond-Githzerai was-is now.
Utterly confounded, Linji attempted to rise, a million questions running though his mind, but all were stopped short, as his legs buckled underneath of him. It was only then that Linji realized how famished he was.
Previous to this the Blue had just patiently watched, but upon seeing Linji's failed attempt to rise, he tore off a piece of the organic "floor", still covered with caustic slime, and offered it to Linji, saying:

"mOcoChcAYotIa. In MoCOchCayOtiA in toMahUac."

Understanding came more quickly, as Linji, almost reflexively understood, "Eat. In eating, grow fat." It seemed almost a parody of the Githzerai proverb, "Endure. In enduring, grow strong." And, yet, Linji sensed a greater truth in the Slaad's words. Regardless, it was an immediate truth, and Linji accepted the strange offering of food. And while Linji among the Githzerai had never eaten much meat, the bizarre fleshy substance was quickly devoured, and even more strange was the realization that the acidic slime that once burned his skin was now as refreshing as water.
Time passed, and Linji grew strong again, his wounds healing as he feasted and drank from the organic chamber. Occasionally, he would talk with the Slaad, but often as not, he would remain quiet, considering his path. The strange tadpole like thing was still present as well (Linji once asked the Slaad what it was, and it answered, "Anixihtl Ixihotl" -meaning "Faceless-Face") Eventually, feeling his body renewed (literally) and his wounds all healed, Linji inquired of the Slaad as to what he should do. The Slaad quickly asked, "MOcochayotiA" or "Have you eaten?"
Linji replied, "QUeMa". (meaning "yes, for now").
The Blue Slaad then said, "PapAca iTitl" (go, wash your belly).

In that moment, Linji understood, got up and walked to the final chamber of the rthak'aai, and the next phase of the test.

Test of Mastery - This last to final test involves claiming the key item from where it lies in the rthak'aai maze. There is always some trick involved in this test - a guardian animate or inanimate, a choice between a true key and one or more false ones, the possibility of deception or similar failure. Claiming the key is the only way out of the rthak'aai maze - once a student enters, the entrance is sealed and cannot again be opened. A student who fails to find the rthak'aai key is condemned to a slow death of starvation and madness.

As Linji crossed the final threshold, he entered a near spherical room of stone. All was dark in the room, except for the light that emanated from the apex of the room where a tendril of chaos-fame burned. Its red glow revealed the presence of a black-cloaked figure, holding a scythe. As Linji entered, the only exit formed into seamless stone, and the cloaked figure turned its gaze upon Linji; inside its dark hood, a skeletal visage with pin-points of light regarded the now-Chaond. Its fleshless skull seemed almost too smile as it grasped its scythe in to hands, causing its weapon to burn black -only its flame gave off no heat, only destructive waves of raw entropy. With equal suddenness, the Entropic Reaper charged Linji.
Linji attempted to avoid the entropic scythe as best as he could, and it soon became apparent that he was no match for the creature -it would only be a matter of time before he felt's entropy's killing touch. However, Linji did notice something else he had initially not seen -above the Entropic Reaper's hooded skull, orbited two small gray balls -iouns. In an epiphany, Linji realized that these were the objects of which he sought -the key to the Rthak'aai ("These twins have no end, nor beginning; never stopping, unless stopped").
Unfortunately, Linji was unable to snatch the iouns, for the Entropic Reaper was too careful to guard its charges, furiously slashing to keep Linji at bay.
Linji attempted to shape the stone and knock the orbs away, but to no avail. Quickly tiring, under the relentless onslaught, Linji began to despair of his doom, until he looked up at the flame again -in a serendipitous flash of insight, he realized that it was the same chaos-fire that he saw at the bottom of the cave-pool. Still dodging the Reaper's scythe, Linji shaped the fire to then become water. The walls shook, as the torrent from the ceiling crashed down upon Linji and the Entropic Reaper. Quickly shaping a bubble of air around himself, Linji saw the undead Entropic Reaper submerged in the positive-energy infused waters, its skeletal form dissolving from the holy taint. Waiting until its remains were totally consumed, Linji plucked the two ioun stones. No sooner did he do so, did the entire Rthak'aai island dissolve into the raw chaos of Limbo.

Test of Survival - A student who claims the key, on the other hand, finds that the rthak'aai maze and all within it dissolves immediately into chaos. The student is then stranded alone in deep Limbo, with only the claimed key and any other tools they have found in their possession. The student's mentor will not arrive for a period of several hours at least; until that time, the student must survive on their own, mastering the primal chaos tides and hiding from or frightening off any creatures that come across the place.

Such was it for Linji as well. Though, instead of waiting, Linji swam through the chaos-soup of Limbo, shaping his air, and flowing with the currents, the Tides of Chaos. How long he drifted, he knows not, but eventually he was found -or he found someone -Torpellin of the Golden Spires.

And just as the Test of Mettle forever changed Linji's flesh and awakened his spirit, it would be Torpellin that would awaken his mind.

Wow :shock: we've got some real creativity here!
These look great! I'm half disappointed I didn't go with one of my more "out there" ideas and half glad - I think Kadar might end up being the 'normal' member of the party to act as a stabilising force, kind of appropriate for a Cipher.

This was what I thought too..

I believe this is your answer:

It pertains to a different section of the test, but the point is they don't seem to see a reason to keep failures, even if they have promise.

As for Perro, I thought the same thing after reading the second part, WHY would this guy care to hang around us? Though I haven't really detailed my character's personality yet(I think that's next on my list of things to do)and he is going to be a bit of a killing oriented person himself, he shouldn't be to that degree...

"Dialexis, that was good. Long, but good. A couple things though. Isn't the Slaadi implantation process supposed to be fatal? Besides, Chaonds are the decendents of those who have been *saved* from the implantation process. Wouldn't the Anarchs have tried to stop the test immediately once it looked like Linji was in real trouble? What's the point in letting a promising student get turned into Slaad "food?" Once you adress these issues, I'll be happy as can be."

Well, first -thanks for the compliment. Secondly, I realize the post was long (usually the level of detail is something I create for all my PCs/NPCs, but is not exposed in such an open format, and thus is not so specifically posted though. However, Linji can be pretty open for being such a seemingly cryptic character at time (and so for those other PCs that he knows beforehand, much of the specifity is relavant -but more so this would have all been relayed to a DM in most cases, or reserved for personal directive).

Now to answer your questions:

Yes, Blue Slaad Fever and Red Slaad Implantation are both methods of Slaadi reproduction that if the "host" fails its saves in a certain sequence, then the mortal dies.

Linji never was "implanted" -only Red's do that -the Slaad Linji faced in the Rthak'aai was a Blue -instead, Linji was "infected" with Blue Slaad Fever. He did not die from it, but instead eventually made the saves necessary for the chaos fever to run its course.

As for Chaonds -unlike some of the more "lawful" exemplar-descendant races, Chaonds have been known to emerge/originate in a myriad of methods. The most commonly stated method is where one is infected with Blue Slaad Fever, and makes it saves, but still acts as a "carrier" for the chaos vector, and hence their children are tainted/touched by Slaad -hecne Chaond. A mortal could also be warped by the chaotic energies of Limbo in certain areas, infusing them with a portion of the plane (similar things happen in the Abyss), with the mortal then becoming a Chaond. Likewise, a being that is implanted with a Red Egg, may still survive, but then carry the taint, transforming slightly when exposed to a source of anarchic energy.

Thus, unlike the more commonly known plane-touched races of Tieflings and Aasimar and Genasi (who are the descendants of half-(celestial/fiend/elemental), Chaonds are not the descendants of "half-Slaadi" (such a thing might be possible, but would be conspicuous indeed, since there are no half-Slaad, just like there is not a half-Modron, but there are Mechanatrix).

As befitting Limbo, CN's planetouched result from more varied origins.

Linji's existence is one such case -he was infected with Blue Slaad Fever -he made his saves, and thus did not die (or else he would have become a Red Slaad). He survived, but not unscathed -he became a Chaond. Why not merely surviving as a Githzerai alone? The answers could be myriad: perhaps, because Linji already was more chaotic, or because he was he was training to become an Anarch, or because he was mid-way through a Rthak'aai in a Chaos-shaped island of Limbo, or because the Blue Slaad did something else to him. Any of these are possibilities (the answer to which Linji does not know).

Create any absolute, and Chaos adapts and transforms to render the exception till their is no rule at all -thus is the way of chaos.

Ok, as for stopping the test -I think that was well said by the others: the Rthak'aai is not some coddled Good test -it is a potentially lethal test. The Githzerai are an amoral people -vasicalting between the paradox of LN and CN. Each "student" of a Rthak'aai chooses of their own volition to undergo the tests -none are ever forced. Also, they are forewarned of the lethality of the tests as well.
For a teacher then to show compassion and prematurely stop the test, would be to deny agency (CN ethos) of the student, or to deny the consequnces of those choices (LN ethos).
To the Githzerai, the chance of death is a small price to pay to *know* oneself.

*also, there is a possibility that everything in Linji's Rthak'aai was exactly what his master-shaper wanted to happen -including the Chaond transformation -but this is only a theory plausible if Torpellin was his Sensei all along (a mystery that I will leave in the hands of the DM to ultimately decide).

Well, hope those answers clear up those questions.

Besides that -good to hear from Perro again -though I think the serial killer psychopath issue has been ably addressed, so I'll just ditto the previous remarks.

Oberoni_Fallacy & Perro -how close are you to being done with the PC stats? Not trying to rush you at all -just excited.

Duckluck,

I'm glad we're all of the same page (I realize that a good portion of the background was vague -such as the "Faceless-Face" but such was intentional -it leaves room for interpretation, while at the same time being not necessary to develop either).

As for Githzerai -Linji doesn't think they did anything wrong by "abandoning him". Moreover, he doesn't consider it that he was abandoned. As Githzerai are individualists, they believe that all experiences are in some ways, purely personal -only experienced/existing through the medium of the individual (and hence the necessity to *know* oneself).

But, yes, from a moralistic standpoint -the amoral nature of Githzerai could be viewed as being uncaring jerks.

Also, I absolutely feel what you're saying relative to acronyms. I don't want to offend any of the others, but I am often tempted to refer to JaggedOldRed as JOR and Oberoni_Fallacy as OF.

Thus, what are all of your desires relative to monikers? Do such abbreviations bother you (if so, I'll use the full moniker; otherwise, acronyms will probably pop up here and there).

Either way, I'll be excited to see our "arcane-guy".

Haha, good to know.

That would be great to start so soon. I'm definately game (pun intended).

Azriael,

How much $ did you need to buy a MW cold iron dao (300gp I am assuming, since you already had enough for the non-MW version). Let me know and the bananas you have will be given.

Yeah, 300 would be awesome. Having said that, if you can think of something else to spend it on that’d benefit the party then go for it. I'm happy to pick up something along the way, it'd have more sentimental significance that way anyway.
Also, Duckluck - Cold Iron's only double the price, I always figured that was because it meant that the smith had to work harder so he charged you double.

how do you delete a double post here?

Also I rather like cold iron and the idea of special materials...cold iron as OF had said is not expensive in istelf, but the idea is that it is somehow inimical to certain magic, and thus harder to enchant (thus the extra 2000 cost to enchant).
I like special materials also because they would leave at least a chance for a porr village community to fend of an attack by damage resistant creatures...they make a lot of sense to me (and M`rek is heavily invested on that idea...as you can see from his equipment lists)
PS: will edit M`rek today to reflect some minnor skill and purchase differences, but otherwise am ready and very happy to start the game over the weekend!!

Thanks for the input Dialexis (by the way no problem shortening to JoR). I also think the Nathri got more fleshed out as a culture, and it gives me a background against which to play...clanish societies have a huge imprint on their members, and I tought M`rek needed some cultural anchors.
Also, by the way, great job with Linji, it is one of the first times I see chaos being well portrayed in role-playing...

Now to address your questions/coments:
If Duck wants to exchange darknbess for any barghest ability I probably would not mind, as long as it makes sense for the character (not rage, for instance)...maybe blink? that would be fun... but if not, it`s still fine...darkness is prety useful for a rogue...

Yes, I got it completely wrong on the Githyanki, tought they lived on the ethereal...anyway, ethergaunts would do just fine...I just need a cruel, expansionistic culture...anyone

I'll adjust the damages on the sheet, and also some skills...and you are right the jump should be adjusted, but only for running leaps, that`s why I did not chenge the sheet

mmm, I'm hesitating about the true strike...I would have access to it through the assassin spells...maybe something I could not get otherwise like shield (or even prot vs evil, but would it work against outsiders in their plane??) Or in Sigil?
well, it helps that I could always get spells, or wands of those spells also...

Also I did not know that silk rope gave +2 o use rope, will adjust balance, and did not give +2 on open locks because DKLK merged the two skills.

Ah. Yes, the sling! It is a weapon of last resort which M`rek uses to braid his long hair...it is almost certain to avoid discovery and can be used with stones, as you said...when you are a rogue or assassin, weapon damage is not really the focus (otherwise my primary ranged weapon is the crossbow).

duck!I've got my character done fianly!
http://www.campaign-blog.com/view.php?id=3619
Here's the link!

JoR/anyone else for that matter - If you wanted to have a few bullets (or other gear) but are worried about the weight, Kadar'll be happy to make some space in his bag of holding once we get together.

Actually it makes a lot of sense that I'd have offered this service to customers (and then to party members once I stop being a tout). It'd give me a point of difference to sell ("help you with that load cutter?") and gives me leverage if they try to weasel out of paying.

JoR - loved the back-story, especially now that it's got Ethergaunts, they're one of my old favourites.

How're we looking for a start date at the moment?

No probs, like everyone else I’m just a bit excited about starting.

While I'm thinking about it, does the DC for the "Cadence Whispers" feat get set once at the start or do I declare the DC each time I want to use it?

Make it 6. I want to be able to rely on it when I need it and I don't mind serving the Cadence from time to time.

Hey if you like it that much you could always trade me back the munch points (and a million pp while Cania's burning)

So I suppose a date with The Lady's out of the question?

btw has everyone visited this thread before? I almost wet myself. [url]http://planewalker.com/forum]

Azriael,

Good call on the Shemmie thread - he(she) is the best! As a devoted fan of the SH, I have to admit seeing the union of those two =especially with the spoilers of SH#2. But woa, didn't know all those details yet -good stuff.

About the MW cold iron dao -are you sure? I mean, you are buying something for the group's benefit (meta-game wise). At the same time, Linji likes Kadar a lot, and the nature of giving, and the transitory movement of "masks" is not such a big deal to him (made even more so since among the Githzerai, there is no such thing as private property, all is mutual property -the whole benevolent anarchy thing).

As such, I think Linji would definately buy him a nice sword.

Perro,

The site you gave still doesn't work. Did you make it public?

OF, any progress? (I know picking spells can be a beast at the beginning).

JoR,

Once again, really awesome bio, and character development. I like the hair tie of the sling (maybe Linji can wear his as a Chaond Thong?).

And yeah, it would have been nice for both our PCs to be Githyanki haters, but it didn't make sense -(I had assumed you had flipflopped the two planar sites).

Switching it to Etherguants definately work -they are really cool, and are a neat element, though now I must kick myself for suggesting them due to Duckluck's promise-threat of using them (Etherguants are WICKED tough).

Korchuk,

Do you know how long Cortek has been in Sigil? (I am assuming we are all starting there, but I could be wrong). I know I asked about faction allegiance, but was wondering if he was part of the Minder's Guild -it sounds right up his alley. Then again, if you aren't wearing the Guild uniform, Linji probably wouldn't know, so its really me just being curious (nosey?).

Duckluck,

I love your avatar picture -as I have said before, the Spire and its denziens are indeed my top favorites (namesake and all and avatar included). That said, I love the picture (and concept and stats for the Concordant Killer). The picture works well -though is a nice, but scary element of foreshadowing.

Dialexis – The more I think about it the more I’m leaning towards declining your (and Linjis’) generous offer. I’ll probably end up discarding that sword at some point for something with a bit more character/upgradeability and I’d feel terrible doing that to a gift.
Thankyou very much though, it was really nice of you to offer. The money could also probably be better spent on something which benefits the whole group rather than giving me an extra +1 on my off hand.
I’m also kind of liking the balanced image of one sword being all pretty and shiny and the other looking dull and roughly hammered out.

I don't know what the Minder's Guild is, or if I do I've never heard it referred to that way. Where can I look that up? It's not under factions unless I missed something. As for if it's right up his alley I can't say right now, but I haven't done the long background that you and JOR have, you could be more off than you think, I'll get to that right away actually.

How long he's been in Sigil? He's never been there, and if we begin there, he just arrived within the planar day. He only understands cant tentatively, doesn't really speak it, had he had a longer tenure with the Harmonium he probably would've learned it in full. His knowledge of Sigil is entirely from hearsay and general knowledge, he understand what the Dabus are, the Lady of Pain is and does, the Faction War, and that it has portals to just about everywhere. He knows very little about the actual wards, basically he knows the Hive is a giant slum, and that there are a bunch of other wards too(i.e. not much beyond the obvious.)

EDIT: Ok, I remember now, I forgot about that part. Yeah, he would probably fit with the Minder's Guild somewhat ideologically, but he sure wouldn't be a member, having never been to Sigil previous to this campaign.