Session Journal 3

Quick Cosmology Guide: Planescape Map

The Black Tower

Did this about a year ago. Wasn't published anywhere. I started colouring it, stopped at the last page, gave up. Here it is in black and white, probably looks better that way anyway. Was supposed to be a part of a series, but I'm not sure it's going anywhere.

Ghul Sorcerer

Free Character commission at DeviantArt!

Kylie the Tout

The Mortuary, then? Aye, 'tis just round the corner! - Kylie the Tout, to a group of Clueless berks who'd just refused her services

Tonat Shar of the Harmonium

After I am through with you, we will finally have some peace and quiet around here. - Tonat Shar of the Hardheads

Death From Above

Jumping off buildings? He can take it; he's got 10 ranks in Tumble, not counting the modifiers.

Wizzard!

A player character from my D&D campaign, or a default wizard? You decide.
(he's a tiefling, which is why he's got horns protruding from his hat)
(and he's preparing to jump through a portal)

Three-Spired Cathedral

Ilustracija za novu D&D kampanju, naravno.

Devils' Pageant: The Lesser Baatezu

Oi, cutter. Welcome back, and sit down. 'Ere is an important lesson, so pay attention. Moving on from the least Baatezu previously covered (nupperibo, lemure, spinagon), we come to the lesser ones. Well, these devils naturally employ more cunning, have more resilient bodies, but also need to try much harder to climb the ranks. Past the rank of spinagon, there are five higher ranks available. First off, we have the abishai. They themselves come in five various shapes and sizes (and colours): white, black, green, blue and red - each more powerful than the last (fig.1).

Fig. 1: Abishai*

Now, there's all sort of talk how the abishai came to be, and many planar scholars agree that they are results of magical experiments - devils infused with draconic heritage of Tiamat, or somesuch bollocks. Believe it if you will, but I urge you not to ask an abishai what he thinks on the matter (if you value your life, that is). These devils are easily angered, and best avoided. For the abishai, in order to rise in the ranks further, they must learn to be clever and determined, as well as act quickly and decisively. From there, they may rise to the position of either kocrachon or erinyes. Moving on. Second, we have the barbazu, or bearded devils (fig. 2). They are vicious fighters, but rather dull when compared to some other lesser devils. They join the battle gladly, and are eager and savage killers who rely upon their battle prowess to push through the enemy, as well as further up the baatorian hierarchy.

Fig. 2: Barbazu

Avoid them entirely; but should you have the misfortune of meeting them in battle, avoid their glaives and their beards. Many an adventurer celebrated a victory over a barbazu in battle, only to die of the devil's chills a week later. The barbazu may rise only one notch: to the rank of osyluth. Ah, the osyluth, you ask? But what about the aforementioned kocrachon and erinyes? Worry not; more about these in the next lesson. Go and take some rest now, and meditate upon what you have learned today. -- * The patron who commissioned the illustration was deeply dissatisfied with it, and had the artist sent to the Dungeons of Hathar'ach, where he is suffering still.

Rayl of the Fated

Know that it is not greed, nor is it ambition. It is merely cognizance of one's place in the multiverse. -- Rayl of the Heartless

Devils in the Ranks: The Least Baatezu

Wondering where the devils spring from, cutter? Well, the dark o' the matter is this: when evil primes (with lawful tendencies, of course) get penned in the dead book, their souls wind up in Baator (that's one of the lawful-aligned Lower Planes, or Hells, for you clueless berks) and are reborn as larvae (fig. 1).

Fig. 1: Baatorian Larva

Now, if you let the nature take its course, the larvae that survive will eventually be transformed into beautiful butterflies. Hah! Just kidding. Nothing of the sort; this is the Hells we are speaking of! And in Baator, the larvae tend to take only one shape: that of a nupperibo. However, the legends have it that nupperibos (fig. 2) are not really the devils that you and I are familiar with, but are in fact an even older form - that of the ancient Baatorians. Or, at least, they might become that if the fiends ever let them grow and develop naturally...

Fig. 2: Nupperibo

But, of course, they don't. Nupperibos are hunted down, herded up, and forcibly shaped into true baatezu form: the lemure (fig. 3). Lemures are actually one peg lower than the nupperibos, but are the only form that allows further advancement in the recognized baatezu ranks. Both nupperibos and lemures are used as expendable footsoldiers in the Blood War, and very few live to see a different fate.

Fig. 3: Lemure

Those few that survive (approximately one in a million) are then promoted to a first higher form: that of a spinagon (fig. 4). These devils are spies and messengers of the baatezu, and some of them can be quite cunning (a concept entirely alien to the mindless nupperibos and lemures). Now, as spinagons, these baatezu must learn in order to advance further. Each subsequent rank requires a specific lesson to be acquired, usually from experience. The spinagons therefore must learn that it is best to act (and succeed) as quickly as possible (in order to avoid any unnecessary hassle).

Fig. 4: Spinagon (Spined Devil)

Now, a good spinagon (well, not good good, of course, but resourceful and hard-working) may have a chance to advance to a higher rank: be it abishai, barbazu, osyluth, hamatula, or amnizu. Or, if he's a bad spinagon (surely you get it by now), he might end up a lemure again. But, ah, let's not get too carried away. This is enough of a lesson for today, cutter. More on the devils another time, eh?

Effrenus of the Fraternity of Order

Ch40s 15 5ub0rd1n473 2 0rd3r! -- Effrenus of the Guvners on the Order Theory

Korr'od of the Revolutionary League

This is no man's land. - Korr'od of the Anarchists, atop a small chunk of chaos-matter in Limbo

Tiefling Rogue Revisited

Komosahl of the Dustmen

Can you not see that this sad existence is but a shadow of life? It is time to accept the True Death and ascend to the realms beyond, where you will finally, truly, live! -- Komosahl of the Dusties, preaching in the Speakers' Corner of Hyde Park

Mordigaarz of the Xaositects

Of the multiverse is path Xaos the true. - Mordigaarz of the Chaosmen

Modron 3D

paper folded by: Mejo hat folded by: lady Vesna illustration by: me

Pereid of the Doomguard

The forces of entropy are ever so busy. But yes, I can spare a moment. - Pereid of the Sinkers

Tessali of the Bleak Cabal

The multiverse is ridiculous! Might as well sit back and laugh. Ha ha. - Tessali of the Bleakers