Sunday, October 3, 2021

Angel (Not Orb) Seekers


Seven is a magic number. Remember that

On Angels

Immutability is traditionally ascribed to the divine. Angels were one of these divines. Thus, they couldn’t change. Well, they shouldn’t have been able to. When they fell, they shattered. In a way this could (should) be described as change, but each angel’s shards were perfect, fractaline sub-replica of themselves: Inert but technically unchanged, by some esoteric divine logic.

Each angel split into seven pieces, as they rained to the earth in their fallen crystal forms. This was aeons ago (or not, as that could be a wild setting setpiece, to have the fall of the angels within living memory), and the crystals are scattered throughout the world, some horded away in temples others hidden in the wilderness.

Now, every adventurer in some way seeks power: some through martial prowess, some through study, some through the seeking of orbs, and some…some through the collection of crystal divines. Some seek power through the collection of angels.

Angel Seeker

Starting Equipment: 2 angelic shards, an ioun stone, sturdy canvas robes, a stout staff.

Starting Skills: pathfinding, oathmaking, hospitality

For each template of Angel Seeker gain +1 Charisma and +1 HP.  

A: Angelic Synthesis, Ioun Mastery

B: +1 Angelic Synthesis, +1 angelic shard

C: Tether, +2 angelic shard

D: Blade of Hosts. Angelic Genesis. +1 angelic shard

Angelic Synthesis

While others can use angel shards as powerful channels to various magics, you can tap into what they really are. Each angel shard in your possession hovers behind you as though a feather in an angelic wing. If expended, angelic shards return the following day at noon. You may choose one of the following as a form of attunement with your angelic shards.

-          The Darts of Heaven – The shards remember their sting. You may expend any number of shards to deal 1d6 damage each to a foe within 30ft. (Think magic missile)

-          The Strength of Doves – The shards remember their freedom. You gain the following passive effects, depending on the number of non-expended shards in your possession. Effects are cumulative.

o   2 shards – You gain a continuous featherfall effect on yourself. When falling you drift downwards at a slow, constant rate. You have no control over your descent.

o   4 shards – You gain a jump effect. You may leap 30 feet with a 15 foot apex. You need a running start.

o   6 shards – You gain 1 ten minute flight per day. Your fly speed is akin to a dove. Once a day, you may expend 2 shards, activate your flight again, this time for 5 minutes.  Once a day you may expend 2 more shards to activate a flight of 1 minute.

-          The Firmness of Heaven—The shards remember their constancy. You gain +1 AC per 2 active shards in your possession. You may expend 2 shards to reduce incoming damage by 7.

Ioun Mastery

Ioun stones you attune with slowly orbit your head in a halo, and they cannot be stolen from you. You may combine 7 ioun stones to reconstruct 1 angel shard.

Tether

You may make an attack roll adding your charisma modifier against an opponent. If you hit, you may expend shards to tether a magical foe (undead, demonic, spiritual, wizardly or draconic. You get the idea) for 1d6 rounds per shard expended. You and your target know how many rounds your tethering will last. This tethering prevents movement and magical means of teleportation, but not attacks or other spells. If your foe is not one of the above listed types, they are only bound for 1 round per shard.

Blade of Hosts

You may expend shards to imbue your weapon with a semblance of divine immutability. Effects are cumulative.

-          2 shards – 2 damage per hit. You may slice through mundane materials like butter.

-          4 shards – 4 damage per hit. Your attacks are considered magical and can affect spirits, spells, and the like.

-          6 shards -  6 damage per hit. In addition to dealing damage, you may May automatically tether your opponent, expending active shards as usual or lowering your Blade of Hosts effect by 2 shards.

-          7 shards – You permanently expend 7 shards to produce an immaculate blade that is alchemically and sorcerously adapted to receiving all forms of enchantment. This sword deals 7 damage per hit.

Angelic Genesis

You may permanently expend 7 shards to re-manifest an angel. You may trade all of your Angel Seeker templates for 3 paladin templates, and you will forever have a unique boon from this angel. Alternatively, you may gift this angel to another, immediately giving them 1 paladin template and total, permanent access to this angel as their guardian.

Mechanical Notes on Angel Seekers

Angel shards can be gained through advancement in level as per the Angel Seeker Templates, or through adventuring. A fully intact angel shard is a great treasure, and gaining one should be a challenge. Once gained, angel shards cannot be take from an Angel Seeker with anything short of killing them, making a Wish Spell, or direct divine intervention.

I didn’t have time to make ioun stone rules for this post, but assume they are moderately well known magical items that offer minor magical effects when attuned. Ya know, basic DnD stuff. It should be less common knowledge that Angel seekers can reconstruct angel shards from ioun stones. Breaking an angel shard truly does change it, producing 7 ioun stones of varying types, but removing any divine aspects of the shard. The change makes it cease to be angelic. The angelic origins of ioun stones may or may not be common knowledge.  

Closing Thoughts

Whew! Day 3 of GLoGtober complete, and I’m actually caught up within a day of falling behind. Maybe this isn’t so bad a start after all! I would love to add a table of ioun stone effects and basic MOSAIC strict rules for Ioun stone attunement and effect at some point. You might also notice that I reference but do not link paladin class/class templates under the Angelic Genesis ability. I’ve got a Paladin class chassis/template that will be a mix of GLoG Wizard and Skerples Summoner in the works that will rely on attunement with and consensual binding of various angels. This future post will include rules for generating angels and their boons, and their paladinic effects. What angels would you like to see? All this talk of angels also makes me want to do some Evangelion Mech stuff…

Thanks all!

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