Signup
Welcome to... Canonfire! World of GreyhawK
Features
Postcards from the Flanaess
Adventures
in Greyhawk
Cities of
Oerth
Deadly
Denizens
Jason Zavoda Presents
The Gord Novels
Greyhawk Wiki
#greytalk
JOIN THE CHAT
ON DISCORD
    Canonfire :: View topic - Folios of the Flanaess, books mundane and magical
    Canonfire Forum Index -> World of Greyhawk Discussion
    Folios of the Flanaess, books mundane and magical
    Author Message
    Adept Greytalker

    Joined: Jun 29, 2001
    Posts: 487
    From: Cooke City, MT, USA

    Send private message
    Tue Feb 24, 2004 12:25 pm  
    Folios of the Flanaess, books mundane and magical

    Ok, I've recently been going through some of my notes, and decided to write up these little bits of lore for all to see. These are basically examples of rare/unique tomes a party might encounter in their adventures, either in shadowy bookshops in a city or in the musty old libraries of forgotten dungeons.

    The format is pretty straightforward, but if you'd like to see more books and a full explanation of the format, visit the D&D Community Council's Netbook of Books website:
    http://www.dcrouzet.net/nbobooks/
    _________________
    What would Raxivort do?<br />
    Adept Greytalker

    Joined: Jun 29, 2001
    Posts: 487
    From: Cooke City, MT, USA

    Send private message
    Tue Feb 24, 2004 12:27 pm  
    FotF 1: Arcane History of the Kingdom of Lions

    Arcane History of the Kingdom of Lions
    Author: Ilbrysis Noltheod
    Date Written: 586 CY
    Type/Aspect: Leather bound, wooden covered, medium sized book. Nondescript appearance with the title neatly burnt into the cover
    Condition: varies, fair to excellent
    Language: Keoish
    Originality: An inspired and revealing look at the subject matter
    Clarity: Clear Knowledge: Arcana (DC 10)/Arcanology NWP check to comprehend.
    Length of Study: 1d4 months
    Benefit From Study: Upon completing a study of the book and successful Clarity check, the reader automatically recieves 1 bonus rank/+1 permanent bonus to Knowledge: Arcana/Arcanology NWP. Note: The Knowledge: Arcana skill/Arcanology NWP is required to successfully study this tome. Readers without a background in things arcane will be unable to make sense of the jargon used. The book can also be used as a study guide for improving these skills, if training rules are used and a teacher is unavailable, but normal expenditure of Skill Points/Character Points is required.
    Book's Monetary Value: 1,000 to 5,000 GP
    Number of Copies Scribed: 50
    Number of Copies Existing: Perhaps 6, in accordance with a mandate from the Silent Order of Keoland, the author has overseen the destruction of most of the copies of this work. A handful are thought to yet exist, however, the unsanctioned work of scribes unaffiliated with the author.
    Notes:
    This tome goes into great detail about the history of magic and magecraft in Keoland, revealing (in general terms, not real details) many of the closely kept secrets of organizations such as the National Academy of Wizardry, the Silent Order and the Sea Mages of Gradsul. Also covered in some detail are the histories and research done by outlaw mages during the "Dark Years" when magic was all but outlawed in the kingdom.
    Due to some discussion of taboo arcanists such as Vargalian of Gorna and Uhas of Neheli and conjecture about He Who Must Not Be Named (but is, in fact, in this tome), the Silent Order has demanded that all copies be destroyed. Ilbrysis has reluctantly obeyed their wishes in the matter, but it is well rumored that a few copies still exist. Mage Lashton, Drawmij of the Circle, Wyrd Morghyr of the Silent Order and Ilbrysis herself are all individuals likely to possess a copy.
    _________________
    What would Raxivort do?<br />
    Adept Greytalker

    Joined: Jun 29, 2001
    Posts: 487
    From: Cooke City, MT, USA

    Send private message
    Tue Feb 24, 2004 12:28 pm  
    FotF 2: Songs of the Sacred Light

    Songs of the Sacred Light
    Author: Saint Mikarli of Zinbyle (Rumored, some Suel sages doubt this claim, suspecting a much more recent source)
    Date Written: ca -450 CY
    Type/Aspect: Varies. Common examples are soft leather bound chapbooks with little decoration, but unique examples exist, such as that housed in the House Of Celestial Cacophony, a grand temple/opera house in Istivin. That tome is penned in silvery ink specked with powdered diamond upon pages of dark blue silk bound between a covers of solid platinum embossed with gold illumination and title lettering. Period copies are usually of the chapbook variety, in varying states of decay. Lady Alffrin of Istivin currently claims to possess the original copy, penned by Saint Mikarli herself, but details of this volume are unknown, since none but the trusted clergy of Lydia are allowed into the vaults of her familial estate outside the city.
    Condition: varies, poor to immaculate
    Language: Varies. Period copies are of course written in Old Suloise, but translations into almost every written language of the Flanaess now exist.
    Originality: A few inspired passages, but mostly a collection of common lore and songs of the day.
    Clarity: Very Clear. Perform: (any Musical Skill) (DC 10)/Any Musical NWP check to comprehend.
    Length of Study: 1d3 weeks
    Benefit From Study: Upon completing a study of the book and successful Clarity check, the reader automatically recieves 1 bonus rank/+1 permanent bonus to the skill used to practice the songs within. Note: This tome can be used to initiate oneself in the skill of singing if other musical skills are unknown. Unskilled readers wishing to gain the SInging skill/NWP will attempt a Charisma Check (DC15 if the 3rd edition D&D rules are used) upon completion of their study. If the check succeeds, the reader is granted 1 rank in Perform: Singing/1 Slot (3 Character Points) of Singing NWP.
    The book may also be used once, and only once, by any given PC as a study aid to raise one of their music related skills/nwps 1 rank/point. Normal SP/CP expenditure is required in this case.
    Book's Monetary Value: 1 GP to Priceless
    Number of Copies Scribed: Possibly hundreds
    Number of Copies Existing: Possibly hundreds
    Notes:
    This book is a simple collection of songs, stories and anecdotes related to the life of a devotee of Lydia in the late Suel Empire. Saint Mikarli's expertise in musical theory made the work exceedingly simple for even the layman to understand, and copies of this book are prized by bards. Bardic Colleges, Lydian temples and other such storehouses of musical lore in the Flaness are at least 25% likely to possess a copy or know where one may be located.
    To followers of the Sun Maiden sisterhood, a sect of the Lydian faith dedicated to St. Mikarli and her crusade against the creatures of the night (read: undead), this book is considered a holy relic of sorts, no matter what the condition of the example in question. Such faithful will often go to great effort and expense to acquire better vopies of the book, and often spend their spare time crafting new copies to gift on deserving communities or institutions to spread the good faith of Lydia and their matron Saint.
    Some sages of Suloise lore debate the authenticity of the book, claiming that it must have been authored sometime after the migrations due to nuances in the Suel language existant in the tome that were not developed in the language until the Suel mingled heavily with the Oeridians in post-migrations Keoland. Believers of the St. Mikarli legend claim simply that these discrepencies are due only to slight errors made in transcription and translations over the years, and assure the doubtful that these "errors" do not exist in the original work.
    Note for the DM:
    ----SPOILER WARNING----
    Lady Alfrin's claim is true. Housed in in her secure vaults at her estate outside Istivin is the original copy of this tome, recovered by her from the ruins of Zinbyle during an expedition there in 580 CY. The book is a very humble, well worn leather bound collection of parchment pages filled with elegant script in the Old Suloise tongue. Were the book to be stolen, it would likely be dismissed as a worthless copy by all but the most astute sages due to it's unimposing appearance.
    This original copy has two features that distinguish it from other examples of the work:
    Song of Purifying Light: One extra song is transcribed in the final pages of the book, which, when sung from the book in the style of a church hymnal causes all undead within earshot of the singer to be affected as if the noontime sun of a cloudless day were upon them. To some undead, this is but a nuisance, but against certain varieties, it means assured destruction.
    Song of Maddening Righteousness: Any evil creature who reads from the book is affected by a secret, hidden "code" in the verses that spell out the makings of a magical curse. Such beings, upon failing a saving throw (Will DC 25/Magic -8), are haunted by a ghostly choir only they can hear, endlessly singing wordless ballads of righteousness, repentance and sorrow. Creatures thusly affected suffer a -4 penalty to all die rolls until the song is silenced by a Wish spell or the personal blessing of Lydia or Saint Mikarli (such blessings are only given upon proof of a being's total penance, in game terms, upon altering one's behavior enough to acquire a good alignment).
    The book is considered an artifact, and can only be destroyed in two ways:

    • Causing the songs within to be sung backwards by Kyuss (or one of his avatars).
    • Casting the book into the Pit of Beltar, a chasm within that Goddesses abyssal realm.

    _________________
    What would Raxivort do?<br />


    Last edited by chatdemon on Tue Mar 16, 2004 3:01 am; edited 1 time in total
    Adept Greytalker

    Joined: Jun 29, 2001
    Posts: 487
    From: Cooke City, MT, USA

    Send private message
    Tue Feb 24, 2004 12:29 pm  
    FotF 3: Men, Myth and Megaliths

    Men, Myth and Megaliths: Purported attributes of Flannae stone circles
    Author: Ulden Yarshoth
    Date Written: 318 CY
    Type/Aspect: tightly bound parchment pages covered by thin sheets of granite polished to a high shine.
    Condition: Excellent
    Language: Old Aerdy
    Originality: An insightful, but esoteric indepth look at the subject
    Clarity: Esoteric (Int check (DC25)/Int check -6 to comprehend
    Length of Study: 2d12 months
    Benefit From Study: The book may be used as a study guide when advancing Knowledge: Arcana or Knowledge: Religion (Old Faith)/Arcanology or Religion (Old Faith) skills.
    Book's Monetary Value: Purchased in Fireseek 589 by Marith Ogspur of Prymp for 7,500 GP.
    Number of Copies Scribed: 1
    Number of Copies Existing: 1
    Notes:
    This book delves into a psuedo-scientific look at the druidic traditions of megalith (stone circle) building by the ancient Flan. While Druids and others learned in the subject matter may find the discussion somewhat mundane, it is an excellent source for those unitiated who wish to learn about the mysterious ruins to be found in rural areas of the Flanaess. The awkward language structure and overly complex rationales employed by the author to support his theories (which are in general correct) creates a very difficult read which explains why the book has never been highly sought after or copied.
    The author himself vanished in 327 CY while repoertedly researching a companion tome covering the woodland groves of the Flan and Elf people. Aerdy investigations into his whereabouts were met with suspicious silence among the druids of the Adri Forest, where he vanished, but no substantial effort was effort made to delve into the mystery.
    Ulden's modest estate in Pitchfield, where his library was located, was purchased shortly after his disappearance by lesser cousins of House Cranden of South Province. Where, or even if, any of his research is archived in that house's vaults is unknown.
    _________________
    What would Raxivort do?<br />
    Adept Greytalker

    Joined: Jun 29, 2001
    Posts: 487
    From: Cooke City, MT, USA

    Send private message
    Tue Feb 24, 2004 12:30 pm  
    FotF 4: Expedition to the Savage World

    Expedition to the Savage World
    Author: Tiberion Matreyus
    Date Written: 589 CY
    Type/Aspect: Leather bound, wooden covered, medium sized book.
    Condition: varies, fair to excellent
    Language: Keoish
    Originality: A revealing look at the subject matter
    Clarity: Clear Int (DC 10)/Int +0 check to comprehend
    Length of Study: 1d4 days
    Benefit From Study: No game mechanic related benefit
    Book's Monetary Value: 150 GP
    Number of Copies Scribed: 25 to 30
    Number of Copies Existing: 25 to 30
    Notes:
    A travelogue style journal recounting the esteemed explorer's voyage into the Amedio Jungle a decade ago. Characters wishing to venture into the jungle would do well to read this book, though it provides them with no real in game bonuses, it can be used by the DM to drop hints about what to expect in the jungle.
    For an overview of Matreyus's expedition and the flora, fauna and history of the Amedio, please refer to Roger Moore's [i[Oerth Journal[/i] article entitled "Green Nightmare".
    Matreyus' Journal does include a rough map of the trails used by his team, so adventurers wishing to venture inland to Lake Matreyus will find this alone of great benefit.
    Though replication is slow with the publishing community in Gradsul just now embracing very primitive printing presses (which involve large wooden blocks which much be carved by hand for each page and copious gallons of messy ink), the Sea Mages have comissioned another 100 copies of the tome, both for the benefit of their members and for sale to would be explorers. Adventurers inquiring about town about finding a copy of the book for sale with thus be referred to the Sea Mages, not the Scribes Guild.
    _________________
    What would Raxivort do?<br />
    CF Admin

    Joined: Jun 29, 2001
    Posts: 1477
    From: Wichita, KS, USA

    Send private message
    Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:04 am  

    Rich, these are quite cool! You should write them up as an article.

    Also, while I know you're not that keen on d20 stuff, the recent Necromancer Games _Players Guide to the Wilderlands_ has some interesting rules to help describe tomes like yours in d20 terms. It also adapts some of the sanity-related rules from CoC, for texts that blast your mind with their enclosed revelations!
    _________________
    Allan Grohe (grodog@gmail.com)
    http://www.greyhawkonline.com/grodog/greyhawk.html
    CF Admin

    Joined: Oct 14, 2003
    Posts: 586
    From: Rel Astra

    Send private message
    Thu Mar 04, 2004 9:45 am  

    Yah, these are really nice. This is one of those ideas that I wish I had the creativeness to come up with.

    Are you planning on expanding the collection more, Rich? I will most certainly be puttin 'em to use.
    _________________
    Kneel before me, or you shall be KNELT!
    Apprentice Greytalker

    Joined: Aug 10, 2002
    Posts: 83
    From: Buenos aires

    Send private message
    Sun Mar 07, 2004 8:52 am  

    Very good material, but i have a question: What is the mechanism of the Clarity chechs and all that stuff?

    Thanks in advance.
    Adept Greytalker

    Joined: Jun 29, 2001
    Posts: 487
    From: Cooke City, MT, USA

    Send private message
    Tue Mar 16, 2004 2:58 am  

    Mekorig wrote:
    Very good material, but i have a question: What is the mechanism of the Clarity chechs and all that stuff?

    Thanks in advance.


    The Clarity check is either an ability or non-weapon proficiency (I included the 3e skill version in the first few as well, and may or may not do so in the future, depending on interest in the posts). Handle them normally.

    Example:

    If the clarity check calls for a "Arcanology NWP -2", the PC makes the standard NWP check per the 2e rules: rolling d20 and trying to get under their Arcanology score -2. So if their score in Arcanology is 14, they'd need to roll a 12 or lower to succeed.

    If the clarity check is failed, none of the book's benefits (or nasty side effects either) will effect the PC. He simply didn't have a clue what he just read, so the contents have no effect on him.

    Note that a book may have actual magical protections, curses, etc that will be triggered by reading, regardless of success of on the clarity check.

    For further information on the mechanics involved or the format I used to present things, please visit the Netbook of Books website I linked to earlier in the thread, I borrowed it all from them.
    _________________
    What would Raxivort do?<br />
    Apprentice Greytalker

    Joined: Jan 23, 2004
    Posts: 20
    From: California

    Send private message
    Mon Sep 13, 2004 12:13 am  

    Say, these were very cool.

    Rich, any chance of posting one or two (or more) more of these?

    Also, these are nifty enough to deserve a bump to the front for the new folks.
    Adept Greytalker

    Joined: Jun 29, 2001
    Posts: 487
    From: Cooke City, MT, USA

    Send private message
    Mon Sep 13, 2004 1:47 am  

    I have no plans to post further material to the site or this forum, no.

    Sorry.
    _________________
    What would Raxivort do?<br />
    Display posts from previous:   
       Canonfire Forum Index -> World of Greyhawk Discussion All times are GMT - 8 Hours
    Page 1 of 1

    Jump to:  

    You cannot post new topics in this forum
    You cannot reply to topics in this forum
    You cannot edit your posts in this forum
    You cannot delete your posts in this forum
    You cannot vote in polls in this forum




    Canonfire! is a production of the Thursday Group in assocation with GREYtalk and Canonfire! Enterprises

    Contact the Webmaster.  Long Live Spidasa!


    Greyhawk Gothic Font by Darlene Pekul is used under the Creative Commons License.

    PHP-Nuke Copyright © 2005 by Francisco Burzi. This is free software, and you may redistribute it under the GPL. PHP-Nuke comes with absolutely no warranty, for details, see the license.
    Page Generation: 0.38 Seconds