I ran across Out of Orion (Ox3) entirely by accident while doing my bi-weekly Jamendo dig. They have a lot of stuff on Jamendo for private download....and it is all very, very good stuff, especially for backgound music while playing Call of Cthulhu, Conspiracy X or GURPS Horror in any flavor. Hell, it's just good for background music while reading...you name it. Here are a few samples of Ox3 for your perusal:
....They have 34 albums up on Jamendo. It is all amazingly good darkambient, horror, sombient-like and, well....if you like this kind of stuff, its kind of like a goldmine of aural evil!
Friday, September 30, 2011
Pic of the Day 197
Kamen Rider W, Cyclone Joker form, SIC line by Bandai.
For more pictures and info, visit the SIC Cyclone Joker page on my collecting wiki
N▲LLO
Done sooo many rough sketches and scrapped drawings for my friend Sierra. It's been like a year so I figured I should do one and upload it for once.Hope you like ...
Enjoy.
Mercury's curious Blue Hollows
Check out the color-enhanced pictures here at National Geographic. High-res snapshots coming back from MESSENGER in orbit around Mercury are changing perceptions on what Mercury looks like, and giving consideration to what sort of active geological forces are at work on the First Planet.
Courtney Love to Write Memoir
Hole's lead singer, and, you know, the former wife of Kurt Cobain, will pen a tell-all.
From a piece in Galley Cat...
Here’s more from the release: “Although Love is often associated with deceased husband, music legend and front man of Nirvana, Kurt Cobain, she has had an incredible artistic career of her own crisscrossing into music, film, popular culture, and fashion…The as yet untitled memoir will offer a no-holds-barred look into Love’s life from childhood to the present day.”
The $50,000 Flower Seed Catalog
Booktryst highlights Robert Furber's classic, Twelve Months of Flowers (1730).
From the post...
Furber's intent was "to make the Love of Gardening more general, and the understanding of it more easy, I have from time to time published Catalogues, containing large Variety of Trees, Plants, Fruits, and Flowers, both Foreign and Domestic, cultivated by me for Sale" (Short Introduction to Gardening). The flowers were grouped into bouquets according to the month they bloomed, and referenced with numbers and captions so that Furber's customers could order particular specimens. In this regard, the publication follows in the tradition of Emanuel Sweert's Florilegium (1612-1614), a similarly elaborate sale catalogue.
Furber spared no expense, commissioning the celebrated Antwerp-born painter Pieter Casteels and the skilled engraver Henry Fletcher. The illustrations transcended their original commercial purpose and were reprinted throughout the 18th century to capitalize on their decorative appeal.
Classics...as Graphic Novels
The Philadelphia Inquirer takes note of a recent trend in turning classic works into graphic novels.
From the piece...
September brought the release of two epic books given the graphic-novel treatment: a modern classic, Khaled Hosseini's The Kite Runner, and Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, adapted by cartoonist Seymour Chwast.
These new publications represent very different approaches in adapting prose for panels. The Kite Runner Graphic Novel, illustrated by Fabio Celoni and Mirka Andolfo, is realistically rendered, taking advantage of a luscious palette of color, light, and shadow to enhance the book's emotionally compelling and dramatic story. The comic version doesn't stray much from the original, with the text adapted by Hosseini himself.
In The Canterbury Tales, Chwast takes a much more minimalist approach. Chwast's drawings are simple and playful, and he adds many of his own jokes, creating a lighthearted read. The title of each story is introduced alongside a silly quip from little characters, sometimes a cartoon of Chaucer himself, saying things like, "Readers must be eighteen or over." Cartoonish touches and playful anachronisms help bring these stories into this century.
Personalities of Port Draemen
And now for part 2 of the NPCs of Kharabys. This section provides short bios and a couple stat blocks on the noted personalities of the chain-devil run independent Port Draemen:
Personalities of Port Draemen
Meenlock Radamarch AL NE Goblin Rogue 6 Assassin 4
Goblin assassin for hire; a mean little old coot, notorious locally for his cunning efficiency and network of young tiefling and kytonian urchins that work for him, a gang known as the Shadow Coins.
Kaelie “Sultry” Neramas AL LE Kyton Expert 7
A female Kyton who runs “Astarte’s House of Please,” a den of iniquity that caters to the sadomasochistic set and promises any number of possible fantasies made horribly real. Sultry is nonetheless an excellent ear to the streets and hears about many strange goings-on no one else does, especially in the Abyssal quarter, known for its lawlessness.
Skalam Veruun AL LN Ifrit Expert 10
The most notoriously efficient planar merchant in Draemen is Skalam, a fireblooded ifrit who trades directly with the elemental lower planes and has known connections in the fabled City of Brass. Skalam is always looking for reliable agents and mercenaries to protect his cargo and ships, and will proactively seek out and destroy planar raiders and pirates that threaten his business.
Jazastar the Mirthless AL NE Mummy Bard 5
Jazastar is the most notorious entertainer in Draemen, and is considered the personal entertainer of the Chain Lord. His dirges are impressive, but his efforts at humor can be disturbing, as he engages in uncharacteristically dark gallows humor. He is accompanied by a troop of abyssal ghouls, called Merol, Dring and Splast, who work with him for some impressively deranged skits. The Chain Lord loves him. Precisely where he came from originally, or how he came to be free of any confinement is unknown.
Salaam Ragast AL TN Mercane
Salaam is a famous local mercane who does a great deal of business in the magical device trade in Port Draemen. He funds the Office of Investigative Research on Baranask (ORB), focused on hiring brave teams to enter the haunted ruins of the Abyssal City and find new and fabulous ancient artifacts for his collections. Rumors abound that he is backed by powerful abyssal agents who are barred from the city by an ancient Devanic Curse.
Krugal Silth AL CN Human cleric of Hades
Krugal is a relentless stalker of petitioners and other beings that rightly should have been claimed by the dark domain of Hades, but who have somehow escaped its grasp. He works exclusively out of Port Draemen for unknown reasons, and is famous for his periodic sermons in the region. On occasion he will receive a missive from his god, sending him out to unknown planes in search of the offending escapee from the Stygian Darkness. Krugal has been known to recruit mercenaries to aid him on his astral barge, the Death Bringer, piloted by a skeletal bone devil called Kharos, who says he’s Charon’s cousin.
Chain Lord Andressa Nytu AL LE female Kyton fighter 12
The ruthless and powerful chain lord is the dark mistress and protector of Port Draemen, latest in a long line of appointees given the position by popular vote. The story goes that Andressa Nytu received her commission a century ago, during an attempted invasion by the Chaos Hordes of the demon god Lloragesh. The story ends with saying that you can see the skinned and tanned hide of Lloragesh on the floor of the Council Chamber in the Chain Lord’s Palace, and that Andressa carries a phylactery with the demon god’s soul around her neck. No one disputes this story, least of all the kytons of the region, who are very long lived.
General Zanj AL LN male cambion fighter 8
Zanj is known only by his one name, and is known also for being a mixed humand and kytonian halfbreed, but he is favored by the Chain Lord and acts as her consort. Zan is also responsible for running the all-volunteer and mercenary-focused standing army, which serves to protect the city from attacks both regional and extraplanar. He is said to have been made famous for his efforts at stopping the last Uprising of Souls on the plane of Abaddon. He is also known to be a member of the church of Osiris, and is a long time friend of Jazastar the Mirthless.
Tereneka Vile AL CE female Succubus Wizard 10
Tereneka Vile is one of the few demons to be allowed within the walls of Port Draemen, and also one of the few who seem to be unpeturbed by the ancient devanic curse placed on the city thousands of years ago by Metatron. Tereneka runs a spy network and provides espionage services to the highest bidder, and has a strong force of tieflings and other planetouched in her service called the Burning Guard. Tereneka seems to have earned the trust of the Chain Lord, for she directly contracts out to the palace, and seems to rely on many contacts in the lower planes to aid the protection of the city. Exactly how she came to be exiled from the Abyssal realms, to find herself working for chain devils, remains unknown.
Skaz The Mad AL CN male kobold sorcerer 20
Skaz wanders the streets of Port Draemen acting most of the time like a cooky old kobold who knows a few cantrips that he performs for money. Many foreigners have mistaken him for a common kobold however, and died horribly for it. Skaz is in reality the most powerful sorcerer in the city, and the Chain Lord relies on him as a sorcerous adviser at times, calling upon Skaz when it fancies her. Skaz, it is said, went mad when he was young, after he was gifted with the Vision of Cosmic Insight after he travelled to the Realms Beyond and allegedly had direct contact with the progenitor god Ea.
Fendren Lore AL LG male aasimar wizard 3 ranger 5 arcane archer 6
Fendren is a rare example of an agent of good that has somehow found a home within Port Draemen’s walls. He travels between Draemen and Kharabys on regular business, and often engages in interplanar journeys of various unknown natures. Fendren is said to have once been a ranger and scholar in the service of Athena, but something happened and he fell out of grace with the goddess. Fendren now provides his services as a seeker, aiding those in need of a way of finding something or someone that has hidden themselves away in the infinite planes. Rumor is he is extremely good at his job.
Gelek Samursan AL CG male aranea Rogue 4
Gelek gets around, and he is another local odd fellow who is known throughout the streets of Draemen and generally regarded as a curiosity. He appears as a Halfling with tiefling traits, though his spider form is largely unknown. Gelek is not that powerful, but he represents a subterranean society of his kind that dwell beneath the city, and he is especially good at keeping up on the gossip and goings-on in Draemen.
Skaeldron. alias Mournweaver AL CE Adult Umbral Dragon
Skaeldron is a true wolf in sheep’s clothing, masquerading in a polymorphed form as an older hunch-backed tiefling man who goes by his proper name, acting as a local seer and engaging in palmistry in various local taverns. He is seen as yet another of the many eccentrics in the city. Deep beneath the city, in the catacombs that stretch well in to Baranask, Skaeldron’s secret lair and slowly growing army of monsters awaits. There, as Mournweaver, he intends to drive the kytons and their allies out, and to claim the city and the ruins of Baranask for his own. What stops him right now primarily is his knowledge that the ruins are guarded by an ancient devanic curse, and he has not yet unraveled how to break it.
Thresha the Handmaiden AL LE Gylou (Devil’s Handmaiden)
Thresha is a terrifying creature who is feared by all children in the city. She is real enough, dwelling in the Northern Tower, tallest pinnacle in the city which overlooks the ruins of Baranask, and the base of which serves as the only secure gateway therein. She has an unknown relation with the Chain Lord, but sought refuge in the city some fifty years ago to escape some crime in the Nine Hells. Thresha’s indiscretions are tolerated, and it is generally accepted among all kyton children that she is the city’s punishment for weak children who cry.
Yan Kor Nag AL NE Human male wizard 5 Cleric of Eragoth 10
Yan Kor Nag is a mysterious fellow, and dwells in the Eastern Tower of the city, highest pinnacle to the eastern edge of the Great Ruins. He is said to have been here since before the Kyton migration, and to have tolerated them in exchange for services they offered as guards and agents. Yan Kor Nag is the only cleric of the enigmatic Eragoth, whom some say is one of the destructive Star Gods.
Bilious Vern AL LE Immolation Devil
Bilious Vern is known for his propensity for drink and vomiting. He is one of the legendary immolation devils, even more terrifying than a pit fiend some day, and yet he is a nothing, a no-one who has lived for as long as any can remember as a drunken lout who barely seems to remember his own name. Some claim he was stripped of most of his mental faculties by an aggressive enemy, left a bumbling idiot for the most part, but no one really knows his curious story.
Mister Quareg AL CN Shoggoth
Quareg is a strange sort of “man” who works with a small group of skum along the waterfront. He manages a curio shop, and is known for his proud display of ancient and often very disturbing religious iconography. He is abreast of all the latest manifestations of the Star Gods throughout the prime material planes, and regards himself as somewhat of an authority on planar eschatology.
Skarzbana, keeper of the Strangling Vine Inn
Skarzbana is the well-known innkeep of the prestigious and formerly haunted Strangling Vine Inn, built around an ancient Strangling Vine tree, which itself is said to have been in Draemen for a thousand years. Skarzbana is a sucker for hard-luck cases and always helping down and out adventurers who arrive in Draemen get on their feet.
AL: LN Race: tiefling Class: expert 3 Deity: Isis
App: female tiefling, blonde hair in a bun, thick horns and a long tail, a very large, robust woman
Init: +0 AC 12 (Tch 10 FF 12) FT +1 RF +1 WL +3 HP 15
DR none; Immune none; SR none Senses: Darkvision 60 feet Armor: Leather Apron (+2)
Speed 30 ft. Melee Broom (as a staff) +1 (1D6-1) Space 5 ft; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks Silvered Dagger +1 magical +2 (1D4 damage)
STR 8 (-1); DEX 10(+0); CON 9(-1); INT 11(0); WS 13(+1); CH 12(+1) Base Atk +2; CMB +1; CMD 11
Feats toughness, skill focus (cooking)
Skills Appraisal +6, Craft (cooking) +10, Diplomacy +7, Knowledge (local) +6, Perception +7, Sense Motive +7
Languages Planar Common, Abyssal SQ Darkness once.day (tiefling ability)
Wealth 2,504 gold pieces in hidden coffer in her room; carries 50 gold, 100 silver and 100 copper
Doctor Vigoron AL NE Flesh Golem alchemist 10
Vigoron is a local chirurgeon who specializes in alternative means of healing and fixing wounds, as well as mechanisms for removing curses and diseases that do not use divine magic. He is a sentient golem, a rare breed, with a cunning intelligence and (some say) a hidden laboratory in the catacombs and sewers of the city where he performs diabolical experiments in his effort to create a master race of golems.
Maleus Torimaer
Maleus is a notorious local knave who regularly is looking for the Big Ticket out of Draemen. His father was ostensibly an elf, but his mother was a cambion with kyton blood. Presently Maleus is in trouble with a local gang of rogues called the Hooded Legion, whom he owes money. He recently stumbled across a map that leads to a legendary abyssal tomb within the ruins of Baranask, and is trying to find some naive planar visitors that he can use as cannon fodder to rob the tomb to pay off his debts.
AL: NE Race: tiefling Class: rogue 8 Deity: Loki
App: Male tiefling, dusky red skin, a persistent smirk, shaggy dark hair, short horns and tail
Init: +4 AC 19 (Tch 14 FF 15) FT +2 RF +10 WL +1 HP 48
Resist cold 5, electricity 5, fire 5 Senses: Darkvision 60 feet Armor: Studded Leather +2 (+5 AB)
Speed 30 ft. Melee +2 rapier anarchic +13/+8 (1D6+3; 18-20/X2) Space 5 ft; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks sneak attack (add 4D6 plus 4 bleed); anarchic rapier does +2D6 to lawful beings
STR 12(+1); DEX 19(+4); CON 10(+0); INT 15(+2); WS 8(-1); CH 12(+1) Base Atk +6/+1; CMB +10; CMD 21
Rogue Abilities Sneak Attack +4D6, Trapfinding +4, Evasion, Trap Sense +2, Improved Uncanny Dodge, Rogue Talents: bleeding attack 4, fast stealth, finesse rogue, surprise attack
Feats Agile Maneuvers, Combat Expertise (-2 att/+2 AC), Weapon Focus (rapier), Lunge (-2 att/reach)
Skills Acrobatics +15, Appraise +13, Bluff +14, Climb +12, Disable Device+15, Knowledge (local) +12, Linguistics +13, Perception +10, Sleight of Hand +15, Stealth +17
Languages Planar Common, Infernal, Abyssal, Sylvan, Terran, Ignan, Elvish, Orcish XP: 51,000
Tiefling Racial Ability: darkness once/day at level 8 casting level
Wealth: 157 PP, 353 GP, two +1 daggers, 4 normal daggers, 2 silver daggers
Copyright 2011 by Nicholas Bergquist, all rights reserved
Thursday, September 29, 2011
H.A.M
H.A.M (bonus) track #14 on Watch The Throne. Probably my least favorite song on the album. So like the previous post I decided to kinda tie it into a memory. i edited my best friend Kat's race to the song cuz the beat is pretty epic. Also, I kinda liked the mask of confidence (*cough*cockiness*cough*) he has before a race even though he may be shitting himself on the inside ,the stress of it all is what makes you excel half the time. Here's to you breaking the sound barrier homie. Enjoy.
-GG
Pic of the Day 196
Heat Metal / Luna Trigger forms of Kamen Rider W, from the SIC line by Bandai
For more pictures and info, visit the SIC Heat Metal Luna Trigger page on my collecting wiki
Drunos and Druuna: Twin Kyton Chain Fighting Devils of Draemen
To finish off the material I worked out for Kharabys and the Astral Island of Isnathar, some stat blocks and details on various and sundry NPCs the players encountered during the course of the mini-campaign, for use with Pathfinder. This will be Part One of Three:
Drunos and Druuna
The brother and sister Kytons are twins, chain devils in the free-service of the armed militia of Draemen, where they work as part of the privately-funded police keeping force that passes for the City Watch. The limited governance of Port Draemen is a libertarian dream (or nightmare) of independent merchants, land-owners and aggressively self-promoting free agents, and Drunos and Druuna are no exception, providing paid muscle, investigative services and general head-knocking skills to those elected devils and humanoids that sit upon the city council.
Drunos is a dour and quiet sort, but quick to action. His sister is more hot-headed and also the voice and brains of the operations. Both are extremely proficient chain-fighters.
Drunos
AL: LE Race: Kyton Chain Devil Class: Fighter 1, Outsider 8 Deity: Belphegor
App: Male Kyton, looks about 30, blue gray skin, chain intwined dreadlocks, red eyes, scar over right eye.
Init: +9 AC 23 (Tch 15 FF 18) FT +10 RF +11 WL +2 HP 73 Regeneration 2 (good, silver)
DR 5/silver or good; Immune cold; SR 17 Senses: Darkvision 60 feet
Speed 30 ft. Melee 4 chains +14/+9 (2d4+4) Space 5 ft; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with chains)
Special Attacks dancing chains, unnerving gaze
STR 19 (+4); DEX 21(+5); CON 16(+3); INT 11(0); WS 10(0); CH 14(+2) Base Atk +9; CMB +13; CMD 26
Feats Alertness, Blind-Fight, Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (chain), Combat Reflexes (+5 aoos)
Skills Acrobatics +16, Climb +15, Craft (blacksmithing) +11, Escape Artist +16, Intimidate +13, Perception +13, Survival +4, Swim +8
Languages Common, Infernal SQ chain armor XP: 80,000
Chain Armor (Ex) The chains that adorn a kyton grant it a +4 armor bonus, but are not treated as armor for the purpose of arcane spell failure, armor check penalties, maximum Dexterity, weight, or proficiency.
Dancing Chains (Su) A kyton can control up to four chains within 20 feet as a standard action, making the chains dance or move as it wishes. In addition, a kyton can increase these chains’ length by up to 15 feet and cause them to sprout razor-edged barbs. These chains attack as effectively as the kyton itself. If a chain is in another creature’s possession, the creature can attempt a DC 15 Will save to break the kyton’s power over that chain. If the save is successful, the kyton cannot attempt to control that particular chain again for 24 hours or until the chain leaves the creature’s possession. A kyton can climb chains it controls at its normal speed without making Climb checks. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Unnerving Gaze (Su) Range 30 ft., Will DC 15 negates. A kyton can make its face resemble one of an opponent’s departed loved ones or bitter enemies. Those who fail their saves become shaken for 1d3 rounds. This is a mind-affecting fear effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Druuna
AL: LE Race: Kyton Chain Devil Class: Rogue 1, Outsider 8 Deity: Astarte
App: Female Kyton, looks about 35, blue gray skin, chain braided hair, red eyes.
Init: +9 AC 23 (Tch 15 FF 18) FT +8 RF +11 WL +3 HP 73 Regeneration 2 (good, silver)
DR 5/silver or good; Immune cold; SR 17 Senses: Darkvision 60 feet; Perception +15
Speed 30 ft. Melee 4 chains +11 (2d4+2) Space 5 ft; Reach 5 ft. (10 ft. with chains)
Special Attacks dancing chains, unnerving gaze
STR 15 (+2); DEX 21(+5); CON 14(+2); INT 15(+2); WS 12(+1); CH 14(+2); Base Atk +8; CMB +10; CMD 23
Feats Alertness, Blind-Fight, Improved Initiative, Weapon Focus (chain), Sneak Attack +1D6, Trapfinding
Skills Acrobatics +16, Climb +13, Craft (blacksmithing) +11, Escape Artist +16, Intimidate +13, Perception +15, Stealth +15, Sleight of Hand +9, Linguistics +6
Languages Common, Infernal, Terran SQ chain armor XP: 80,000
Chain Armor (Ex) The chains that adorn a kyton grant it a +4 armor bonus, but are not treated as armor for the purpose of arcane spell failure, armor check penalties, maximum Dexterity, weight, or proficiency.
Dancing Chains (Su) A kyton can control up to four chains within 20 feet as a standard action, making the chains dance or move as it wishes. In addition, a kyton can increase these chains’ length by up to 15 feet and cause them to sprout razor-edged barbs. These chains attack as effectively as the kyton itself. If a chain is in another creature’s possession, the creature can attempt a DC 15 Will save to break the kyton’s power over that chain. If the save is successful, the kyton cannot attempt to control that particular chain again for 24 hours or until the chain leaves the creature’s possession. A kyton can climb chains it controls at its normal speed without making Climb checks. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Unnerving Gaze (Su) Range 30 ft., Will DC 15 negates. A kyton can make its face resemble one of an opponent’s departed loved ones or bitter enemies. Those who fail their saves become shaken for 1d3 rounds. This is a mind-affecting fear effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Abandoned Manuscripts Found
Beethoven, Arthur Conan Doyle and Kafka are among many artists who gave clear instructions that some work should not be published. They were ignored.
From an article in the Telegraph...
The world premiere today in Manchester of a lost movement from a Beethoven string quartet raises the old question of whether some works, as their creators may have intended, are best consigned to the cutting-room floor of history. The section in question, written in 1799 as part of his Quartet in G, was subsequently completely rewritten by Beethoven, who then discarded the original. “Only now do I know how to write quartets properly,” he confided in his sponsor, Prince Lobkowicz, urging him not to pass the first draft to anyone.
But Barry Cooper, Professor of Music at Manchester, who has fitted together fragments found of the original for tonight’s unveiling, is convinced this rediscovery provides compelling new insights. “The prospect of hearing a Beethoven work that has been absent for over 200 years,” he says, “should be of much interest to anyone who loves his music.”
Ignoring an artist’s stated wishes like this is surprisingly common. This week, The Narrative of John Smith, a “lost” first novel by Arthur Conan Doyle, found in papers in the British Library, hits the bookshops, despite the consensus among experts that the creator of Sherlock Holmes considered it substandard and therefore suppressed it.
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