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> ~Gholien, For the Encounters Handbook
Zarozynia
  Posted: Sep 20 2004, 05:36 AM
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Gholien
Medium-Sized Immortal
HD: 1d10
Initiative: +4 Dex
Speed: 30 ft.
Defense: 17
Attacks: Dagger +0 melee, longbow +5 ranged
Damage: 1d4-1 (dagger), 1d8 (longbow)
Reach: 5 ft.
Special Qualities: Silver, Music and Fire Vulnerability, Transdimensional Travel, Low Light Vision
Saves: Fort +1, Reflex +4, Will +4
Abilities: St-09, Dx-19, C0-10, In-15, Ws-18, Ch-16
Skills: Appraise +6, Craft (Silver Weapon) +6, Listen +8, Move Silently +8, Search +6, Sleight of Hand +11, Spot +8, Wilderness Lore +8
Feats: Track, Nature’s Warrior (Forest), Skill Emphasis (Sleight of Hand)
________________________________________________________________
Climate/Terrain Type: Mirror World (forest) or through the Doorway of Need
Organization: Solitary, Pack (2-10), Tribe (15-30)
Challenge Code: ? (Per woodsman level +2?)
Advancement: by woodsman level

Few accounts but the oldest books remains of the Gholein, a third race of humanoid that can be found in the mirror worlds and by traveling through a doorway similar to those that lead to the snakes and foxes. Gholein are a distant cousin of the Aelfinn and Eelfinn, though of leopard blood rather than snake or fox; though they will be likely to get angry if you compare them to what they would call the lesser species. They are slightly taller and thinner than your average human and are considered extremely beautiful by those with a flare for the exotic. All have dark brown or black straight hair and strange golden skin decorated with patches of dark reddish brown patches along the forehead area and down the sides of their neck. It is said that the patches should make concentric circles, and that in the most exquisite Gholien women, the skin within these circles is slightly darker and redder than that on the rest of her body. They wear little in the way of clothing as their natural environment is the jungle, and what clothing they do sport is loose fitting and appears to have been woven from bark and other natural things. There features tend to be angular (some would say gaunt) and there eyes resemble that of a cat, golden or green and almond shaped.

Combat: Gholien are said to be more inquisitive and sneaky than aggressive. They are more likely to steal you blind than they are attack you openly. And even if you should pick a fight with them, unless you know the right combat maneuvers, they are likely to be gone before you know what happened. Common weapons do not harm the Gholien, though they do hold a vulnerability to weapons of pure silver. Even so, there ability to open small transdimensional portals makes it exceedingly difficult to touch a Gholien with your weapon even if it is made with silver. If you were to encounter a Gholien in his or her natural environment, they would be likely to show themselves to you as a distraction, maybe even speak to you for a moment or two, before skipping to behind you where they might steal some gold, or a bauble or two. By the time that you realize that the Gholien was behind you at all, she is gone, and standing next to a tree across the way. If you become too aggressive or demanding, she is likely to disappear all together.

Still, all is not lost if you have had a Gholien steal something that you value. Gholien pride themselves in finding things that are lost, or things that are needed, and if you can convince her to help you find that important ter’angreal that has mysteriously gone missing, she may turn up with it a few days later, and expect a reward. Once accused of thievery though, a Gholien will become a bitter enemy, taunting a party mercilessly with their tactics. Still, most of the truths of the old rhyme of the snakes and foxes also hold true for the Gholien, fire dazes a Gholien so that they receive a –2 to all attacks, saves and rolls in its presence, and music enthralls one to such a degree that they are unable to move transdimensionally until it has ended. For these reasons the ancient pact was made, nobody can enter the Gateway of Need that carries a weapon made of silver (the iron is a mistranslation), a open source of flame, or a musical instrument.

*****
I know that there are some problem with this. For one, I have no idea how to determine the Challenge level, as I've never had to do that before.
All constructive criticism very welcome. biggrin.gif


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Two Rivers Wolfbrother
Posted: Sep 20 2004, 07:22 AM
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OK, this is a really neat idea, and very creative too. I like it a lot.
Immortal? Is that a type of creature or something? Sounds like they'd be pretty tough to kill, being immortal. If it's a type of creature, then cool, but if not, I gotta say I don't think they should be immortal.
Could you explain the Special Qualities for me?
Thank you Zarozynia!


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Zarozynia
Posted: Sep 20 2004, 04:47 PM
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Immortal because they can only be killed by silver weapons. I can change it, if you want to. I basically went off of a fae template, but rather than calling it a fae creature, since they dont have them in the WoT - I called it an immortal. What I've read about fae is that most are immortal, in comparison to humans.

Do you want the whole information on the Doorway of Need as well, to add to the encounter?

Vulnerability to silver, fire and music - silver is the only weapon that can injure them, fire makes dazes them, giving them minus' to rolls, and music distracts them, making them unable to move transdimensionally.

Transdimensional travel - the Gholien can move over small distances as if under the influence of the travel weave. In most cases, this distance is something like 600ft. or less, although the ability increases with age, so a vulnerable Gholien should be able to move twice that distance. They have good control over where they can move to, but when startled, they may jump on instinct. At that point, figure out how many open squares there are on your combat grid and the percentage chance of them landing in each square. As long as they are aware of an attacker and battle and their dexterity is higher than that of their attacker, they can jump trandsdimensionally before the attacker has a chance of hitting them, and evade the attack.

I suppose that I dont need to explain low light vision. wink.gif


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Diynen'd'ma'purvene - A Wheel of Time resource
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Two Rivers Wolfbrother
Posted: Sep 20 2004, 07:08 PM
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Yeah, would you please put the Doorway info here? Thanks!


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This is an old thing, boy. Older than Aes Sedai. Older than anybody using the One Power. Old as humankind. Old as wolves.

Current Projects:
Encounters Handbook
Tome of the One Power

Homepage:
Town Center Productions
It's funny! Please check out the funny short films and sketches, such as Pink Avenger, the Sockies, and Kenny getting shot with a paintball gun.

Check out my Wheel of Time RPG Website!
It's not as funny as Town Center Productions, but it's updated frequently, so check it out often.
Newest Features:
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Zarozynia
Posted: Sep 20 2004, 09:36 PM
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"Little is known about the Doorway of Need. It was created sometime during the War of Power by a female channeler named Kishanchi Tellen Mordallin, one of the most noted creators of ter'angreal in her time. It is a doorway seemingly carved from Lapis Lazuli of indescribable height and depth, and many that have written about it claim that its very dimensions change. What is known is that if you pass through the doorway with the purest intent and greatest need, and are willing to offer up a sacrifice, you may find what you seek. Those that have passed through the doorway tend to be closed mouthed about what is on the other side, but they all agree that the cryptic warnings are warrented.

The Doorway of Need was last used by King Balwen Ironhand sometime during the Trolloc Wars. Fearing that his nation, Aridhol, could not fight off the hoards of shadowspawn and darkfriends that roamed the land, he went through the Doorway of Need to try and find something to help him defeat the forces of darkness. He returned with a man named Mordeth, who counseled him in using the tactics of the shadow to defeat the shadow. It goes without saying that the city of Aridhol paid their price for the advice King Balwen won. Yet, in the end it was not the Trolloc War that Aridhol fell to, it was a monstrous flesh eating fog that their own hatred had created. It would see that Balwen Ironhand got what he wanted, he was just not specific enough. "
- From Ter'angreal lost to the Tower by Tesdora Sedai, Tower Historian

The Doorway of Need
Activation: Enter
Affinities: None
Size: huge
Weight: 200 lbs.
Occurance: Unique

This doorway, currently found in a secret collection of ter'angreal stored beneath Balwen Ironhand's ruined castle, appears to be made entirely of lapis luzuli. It resembles the more famed doorways found in Tear and Rhuindean in some respects, but has the strange property of seeming to change in size. Anybody can use this ter'angreal, it does not require the One Power to activate; though all old texts caution that it should only be used by those with great need and the purest of intent. Within it lies a great chamber, seeming created by trees that have intertwined together to make a wooden room, over which the Gholien, the lesser known cousins of the Snakes and Foxes, hold sway.

Through an ancient pact made between human kind and the Gholien, a human may entire the Gateway when in search of something that they need greatly. The definition of "great" seems to depend entirely upon the person entering the gateway, and it is said that the Gholien are harsh judges upon those that ask for frivalous things. In return, the Gholien makes one request upon the human, most often a request to give up that which they hold most dear or sacred. If the human refuses, they are cast forth from the gateway, and it will become nothing but a simple doorway to them ever after. The Gholien call this the test of need, if what they seek is worth enough, they claim, a human should be willing to give up anything to receive it.

Once the deal has been struck (meaning that the human has gifted the Gholien with what they request), the doorway truly begins to perform its true purpose. More than just a permanent gateway weave to the land of the Gholien, the Doorway of Need is a catalyst, improving on the Gholiens natural ability to travel transdimensionally. From within the gateway a singular Gholien could travel, bringing another companion with them, anywhere in time and space. If what that person needed has existed, or perhaps even will exist, the Gholien will travel there, taking that person with them. Of course, after that, finding what they need is entirely up to the human, and returning home as well. Some consider it worth the price.



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phrostphyre
Posted: Sep 20 2004, 10:51 PM
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Hiya Z,

You get my first reply as an official registered member... lucky you! wink.gif

I have a question and a suggestion.

If these creatures are vulnerable to silver, why have you given them Craft(Silver Weapon)?

If they are immune to everything that hurts except silver weapons, what would happen to one if it was dropped of a cliff (and couldn't use it's doorway doohickey)? Would it just bounce at the bottom, brush itself off and walk away humming a jaunty tune, or would it splat and take a bit of time to recover? I'd suggest a regenerative power against all damage except that caused by silver, so that it can be hurt by regular weapons, but not killed by them. That way once a group of characters have given one a shoeing and walked away congratulating themselves on a job well done, you can spring a nasty surprise on them a little later. biggrin.gif

That's my tuppence ha'penny's worth anyway.
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Zarozynia
Posted: Sep 21 2004, 05:52 PM
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Craft (silver weapon) because I'm figuring that they fight each other. And how else would they kill each other, if that's their only vulnerablity?

I agree about the regenerative powers. Not certain how to write that up, I'll have to dig through my monster manuals and find an example. Unless somebody else know how off the top of their head. wink.gif

BIG QUESTION: CR? I so dont understand how to determine that. I know what it means when I see it...but? Can somebody help, preferably by explaining to me how I determine this.

biggrin.gif thanks in advance


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Legends of Darkness Are Not Always Myths - An Ongoing experiment in writing/illustration/mythology

Photographia

Temple of the Goat - a philisophical weblog

Diynen'd'ma'purvene - A Wheel of Time resource
* Developing a Character: The Aiel
* Amadicia Background: Complete with Whitecloak PC and new backgound feat
* Moonwarrior - A Wolfbrother feat in the main Feats section
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Niveus
Posted: Sep 21 2004, 11:09 PM
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1) the way they deal with regeneration in modern

a troll has regen of +5/fire & acid so it always regains 5 hp per round unless it was fire or acid damage then thats can only be healed naturally or with a spell

This is my method of running them I write up the total hp and when its damge by fire or acid I mark it with a * or other symbol to denote it as non regenerable damage and the rest normally.

things to note
the troll would be knocked out when both damge types added together are greater than max hit points but they wont die until the fire and acid damage by itself pushes it under -10 hp (or whatever you use as death)

2) CR can be found on page 227 and it lists some criteria
QUOTE
undefinedClimate/Terrain Type: Mirror World (forest) or through the Doorway of Need
Organization: Solitary, Pack (2-10), Tribe (15-30)
Challenge Code: ? (Per woodsman level +2?)
Advancement: by woodsman level

with regeneration I wouldmake them a CR of B in a challenging setting even with out any levels in woodsman and for every level of woods man add .5 CR rounded up

so if it was a 4th level woodsman its CR should be D





This post has been edited by Niveus on Sep 21 2004, 11:20 PM


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Two Rivers Wolfbrother
Posted: Sep 21 2004, 11:24 PM
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I determine CR by doing a few things. None of which are probably right, but it's what I do.
Table 11-1 on page 227 is a good source. Determine what kind of opponents could face the encounter (such as a gholam, G, would be a challenging, yet beatable encounter for a 16th-level initiate or 2 14th-level armsmen).
Another thing I do is simply compare it to other encounters. "Is this creature mroe difficult than a lesser darkhound?" Even if it's a lot different, you can normally tell how hard it should be. I think there's a chart somewhere that has challenge levels like in D&D. Don't know where though.
I'd like to incorporate a conversion for the Encounters Handbook though, if someone has one or knows where that one is. Also, maybe a way to determine and convert future encounters.


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This is an old thing, boy. Older than Aes Sedai. Older than anybody using the One Power. Old as humankind. Old as wolves.

Current Projects:
Encounters Handbook
Tome of the One Power

Homepage:
Town Center Productions
It's funny! Please check out the funny short films and sketches, such as Pink Avenger, the Sockies, and Kenny getting shot with a paintball gun.

Check out my Wheel of Time RPG Website!
It's not as funny as Town Center Productions, but it's updated frequently, so check it out often.
Newest Features:
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Two Rivers Wolfbrother
Posted: Sep 30 2004, 10:03 AM
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How's this coming along?
Also, has anyone ever done the Aelfinn and Eelfinn like in one of the Webbooks?

This post has been edited by Two Rivers Wolfbrother on Sep 30 2004, 10:05 AM


--------------------
This is an old thing, boy. Older than Aes Sedai. Older than anybody using the One Power. Old as humankind. Old as wolves.

Current Projects:
Encounters Handbook
Tome of the One Power

Homepage:
Town Center Productions
It's funny! Please check out the funny short films and sketches, such as Pink Avenger, the Sockies, and Kenny getting shot with a paintball gun.

Check out my Wheel of Time RPG Website!
It's not as funny as Town Center Productions, but it's updated frequently, so check it out often.
Newest Features:
Alternate Rules: Sanity
Towns and Locals: The Tuatha'an I
My TRW WoT Yahoo! Group! This is where I let the people know when I update my WoT site and also let them know what's coming up.
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Zarozynia
Posted: Sep 30 2004, 06:31 PM
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I will be play testing this sometime in the next couple of weeks (my players are slow in terms of game progression)...once I've done that, I'll have a much better idea of what to do with CR. Since I've never made the CR for anything before, I figured I'd play it against my guys, and see how it comes out.

I'll post here with what I think that it should be, and then if everybody thinks that sounds okay, send it to you, TRW.


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Legends of Darkness Are Not Always Myths - An Ongoing experiment in writing/illustration/mythology

Photographia

Temple of the Goat - a philisophical weblog

Diynen'd'ma'purvene - A Wheel of Time resource
* Developing a Character: The Aiel
* Amadicia Background: Complete with Whitecloak PC and new backgound feat
* Moonwarrior - A Wolfbrother feat in the main Feats section
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Posted: Sep 30 2004, 07:35 PM
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Sounds super-fantastic!
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Two Rivers Wolfbrother
Posted: Oct 14 2004, 09:30 PM
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Should it be iron vulnerability instead of silver?


--------------------
This is an old thing, boy. Older than Aes Sedai. Older than anybody using the One Power. Old as humankind. Old as wolves.

Current Projects:
Encounters Handbook
Tome of the One Power

Homepage:
Town Center Productions
It's funny! Please check out the funny short films and sketches, such as Pink Avenger, the Sockies, and Kenny getting shot with a paintball gun.

Check out my Wheel of Time RPG Website!
It's not as funny as Town Center Productions, but it's updated frequently, so check it out often.
Newest Features:
Alternate Rules: Sanity
Towns and Locals: The Tuatha'an I
My TRW WoT Yahoo! Group! This is where I let the people know when I update my WoT site and also let them know what's coming up.
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Zarozynia
Posted: Oct 14 2004, 09:39 PM
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I made it silver vulnerability because an all silver weapon would be much more uncommon in this time than an iron weapon. By my description, for them at least, the iron weapon caviate is a mis-translation.


--------------------
Legends of Darkness Are Not Always Myths - An Ongoing experiment in writing/illustration/mythology

Photographia

Temple of the Goat - a philisophical weblog

Diynen'd'ma'purvene - A Wheel of Time resource
* Developing a Character: The Aiel
* Amadicia Background: Complete with Whitecloak PC and new backgound feat
* Moonwarrior - A Wolfbrother feat in the main Feats section
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