Greek/Roman Deities: Persephone/Proserpina

Soon on The Bardess’ Library #4! In these long nights at the end of the year, the cycle of seasons is waiting to begin anew, and Persephone is the embodiment of the seasons in Greek myth.

Persephone has two sets of stats not because her Roman version (Proserpina) was so different from the Greek one, but because of her double aspect. From the vernal to autumnal equinox she is Kore, Goddess of Spring, worshiped together with her mother Demeter; in autumn and winter, she goes to the Underworld to be the wife of Hades and Queen of the Dead.

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Kore (the Maiden) (NG)

Favored Weapon: unarmed strike

Sacred Animal: doe

Symbol: Pomegranate

Sacred Color: green

Domains: [Fertility] Good, Healing, Plant, Sun, Weather

Subdomains: [Agathion] Angel, Day, [Flowers], Growth, [Nourishment] Restoration, Resurrection, Seasons [Spring]

Inquisitions: Conversion, Restoration

Mysteries/Spirits: Life, Nature [Spring]

Witch Patron: Devotion, Healing, Plant, Recovery, Spring

Variant Channeling: Nature

Clergy: clerics, oracles, shamans, witches

Spells: plant growth (all clergy members may prepare/learn it as a 3rd-level spell).

Persephone (the Bringer of Destruction) (N)

Favored Weapon: light mace

Sacred Animal: dog

Symbol: pomegranate

Sacred Color: black

Domains: Darkness, Earth, Magic, Nobility, Repose

Subdomains: Arcane, Aristocracy, Caves, Loss, Psychopomp, Souls

Apocryphal Subdomains: Hubris, Rites

Druidic Domains: Cave

Inquisitions: Conversion, Damnation, Fate, Final Rest, True Death

Mysteries/Spirits: Ancestor, Bones, Reaper

Witch Patron: Ancestors, Boundaries, Devotion, Spirits [Witchcraft]

Variant Channeling: Death, Magic

Clergy: clerics, inquisitors, mediums, oracles, shamans, spiritualists, witches

Spells: Speak with dead (all clergy members can prepare/learn it as a 3rd-level spell). Clerics of Persephone with the Souls subdomain replace animate dead with speak with dead as a domain spell.

New Spell: Metal Shape

For followers of Hephaestus, and soon on The Bardess’ Library #4.

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Metal Shape

School transmutation [earth]; Level cleric/oracle 4, sorcerer/wizard 5

Casting

Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M/DF (ore)

Effect

Range touch
Target ore or metal object touched, up to 10 cu. ft. + 1 cu. ft./level
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no 

Description

You can form an existing piece of metal into any shape that suits your purpose. While it’s possible to make crude coffers, doors, and so forth with metal shape, fine detail isn’t possible. There is a 30% chance that any shape including moving parts simply doesn’t work.

Greek/Roman Deities: Hephaestus

Merry Christmas to you all! Today’s post is not very holiday-themed, but you will find this too in January on the fourth issue of The Bardess’ Library.

The son of Zeus and Hera, Hephaestus is the lame god of fire and forge, who fabricates the lightning bolts for his father and weapons and armors for deities and heroes alike. Due to his deformity and the many infidelities of his wife Aphrodite, he was also considered as a kind of divine jester, as his misfortunes were the cause of hilarity in other gods. Hephaestus’ main forge was under Mount Etna in Sicily (his Latin name, “Vulcanus”, was given to volcanoes), where he was assisted by cyclopes or golden women-shaped constructs he himself had built, the automatons.

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Hephaestus/Vulcan (NG)

Favored Weapon: warhammer

Symbol: hammer and anvil

Sacred Animal: dog

Sacred Color: red

Domains: Artifice, Earth, Fire, Good, Strength

Subdomains: Angel, Construct, Metal, Resolve, Smoke, Toil

Apocryphal Subdomains: Industry

Druidic Domains: Cave

Inquisitions: Conversion, Fervor, Persistence, Recovery, Restoration

Mysteries/Spirits: Flame, Metal, Volcano

Witch Patron: Devotion, Endurance, Flame, Metal

Variant Channeling: Duty, Earth, Fire, Forge, Weapons

Clergy: clerics, inquisitors, oracles, shamans, warpriests, witches (rare). All priests of Hephaestus are men.

Spells: detect metal (all clergy members can prepare/learn it as a 1st-level spell), heat metal (all clergy members can prepare/learn it as a 2nd-level spell), molten orb (all clergy members can prepare/learn it as a 2nd-level spell), metal shape (all clergy members can prepare/learn it as a 4th-level spell).

Unique Summon Rules: cyclops (summon monster  V)

New Magic Item: Lyre of Animals

Soon on The Bardess’ Library #4! Orpheus, son of Apollo, achieved many magical effects with his music, among which the taming of ferocious beasts.

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Lyre of Animals

Aura strong conjuration and enchantment; CL 13th

Slot none; Price 75,000 gp; Weight 3 lbs.

Description

This golden lyre was originally crafted by Orpheus, the greatest bard of Greece, son of Apollo, who infused part of his persuasion magic in it. It grants a +2 circumstance bonus on Perform (string instruments) checks. A bard with an archetype tied to nature (GM judgment) gains a +1 level bonus on his archetype-specific performances’ effects while playing the lyre. By succeding at a DC 15 Perform (string instruments) check, the bearer can achieve the following effects:

-calm animals (at will)

-speak with animals (3/day)

-summon nature’s ally V (animals only, 1/day).

Construction

Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, calm animals, speak with animals, summon nature’s ally V, creator must be a bard of at least 12th level with the bardic performance class ability; Cost 37,500 gp

The Bardess’ Library #3 Is Out!

Here is it! The newest issue of my magazine for Legendary Games, right on time for the holidays! The Bardess’ Library #3 has Nature for its theme, and within its pages you will find both stuff from this blog or the Patreon and brand-new stuff.

Tomorrow there will be a bit of exclusive content on my Patreon. Please enjoy it!

Greek/Roman Deities: The Nine Muses’ Domains

Soon on The Bardess’ Library #4! The Nine Muses are the queens of their race, worshiped as goddesses in ancient times. I did previously give the domains for one of  them. Here’s the complete spread.

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Calliope (epic poetry, NG): Glory, Good, Knowledge, War

Clio (history, NG): Community, Good, Knowledge, Nobility

Erato (love poetry, CG): Chaos, Charm, Good, Knowledge

Euterpe (music, NG): Charm, Good, Knowledge, Magic

Melpomene (tragedy, LG): Good, Knowledge, Law, Luck

Polyhymnia (hymn, NG): Good, Knowledge, Magic, Protection

Terpsichore (dance, NG): Good, Knowledge, Travel, Trickery

Thalia (comedy, CG): Chaos, Good, Knowledge, Madness

Urania (astronomy, LG): Law, Good, Knowledge, Void

Greek/Roman Deities: Hermes/Mercury

Hermes is the god of messengers, thieves, merchants (“merchant” and “commerce” come from his Latin name, Mercury) and of everyone that needs a gilded tongue, a level head, and fleetness of feet. Soon to be seen in The Bardess’ Library #4, in January.

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Hermes/Mercury (CG)

Favored Weapon: heavy mace

Symbol: Caduceus

Domains: Chaos, [Duplicity] Good, Repose, Travel, Trickery

Subdomains: Azata, Deception, Exploration, Psychopomp, [Research] Trade, Thievery 

Apocryphal Subdomains: Alchemy, Rites

Druidic Domains: Serpent, [Transformation]

Inquisitions: Conversion, Final Rest, Heresy, [Incarnate] Spellkiller [Spirits]

Mysteries/Spirits: [Arcana] Bones, Life, Lore, [Luck] Occult, Wind, [Words] 

Witch Patron: Agility, Deception, Devotion, Enchantment, Healing, Spirits, Transformation, Trickery

Variant Channeling: Commerce/Trade, Freedom, Luck, Magic, Secrets

Clergy: alchemists, bards, clerics, inquisitors, oracles, rogues, shamans, spiritualists, warpriests

Spells: fly (bards, clerics, oracles, and warpriests add it to their lists as a 3rd-level spell), haste (clerics, oracles, and warpriests add it to their lists as a 3rd-level spell), hermean potential (all clergy members add it to their lists as a 1st-level spell).

Spheres Shifter Archetype

This was missing from Spheres of Power, so I created it!

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Sphere Shifter

Casting: At 4th level, the sphere shifter may combine spheres and talents to create magical effects. The sphere shifter is considered a Low-Caster. (Note: All casters gain 2 bonus talents and a casting tradition the first time they gain the casting class feature.)

This replaces shifter aspect.

Spell Pool: The sphere shifter gains a small reservoir of energy she can call on to create truly wondrous effects, called a spell pool. This pool contains a number of spell points equal to her class level + his casting ability modifier. This pool replenishes once per day after roughly 8 hours of rest.

Wild Heart: The sphere shifter gains the Alteration sphere or a talent from the Alteration sphere as a bonus sphere at 4th, 9th, and 14th level. When spending a spell point to allow a shapeshift on herself and only on herself to endure without concentration, the effect lasts for up to 10 minutes per caster level instead of 1 minute per caster level. At 20th level, the effect can be made permanent until dismissed. This replaces wild shape, chimeric aspect, and greater chimeric aspect.

Magic Talents: A sphere shifter gains one magic talent at 5th level and every 5 levels thereafter. This replaces all further instances of shifter aspect and final aspect. 

Dire Fox (Red Fox) Animal Companion

A fox can be a familiar, but what about a druid or ranger who wishes for a fox companion? Here’s something else that you will find in this month’s issue of The Bardess’ Library!

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Dire Fox (Red Fox)

This small animal with red fur hides in the grass, watching you with a cautious stare.

Dire Fox CR ⅓

XP 135
N Small animal
Init +3; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +8

Defense

AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 12 (+3 Dex, +1 size)
hp 6 (1d8+2)
Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +1

Offense

Speed 40 ft.
Melee bite +2 (1d4+1)

Statistics

Str 13, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 10
Base Atk +1; CMB +0; CMD 13 (17 vs. trip)
Feats Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Acrobatics +3 (+11 when jumping), Perception +8, Stealth +11, Survival +1 (+5 scent tracking); Racial Modifiers +4 Acrobatics when jumping, +4 Stealth, +4 Survival when tracking by scent

Ecology

Environment any
Organization solitary, pair, or skulk (2-20)
Treasure none

A red fox is 1,5-4 feet long on average without the tail (counting the tail it can reach 5 feet) and weighs up to 31 pounds. Red foxes are often hunted for their pretty fur.

Red Fox Companions

Starting Statistics: Size Small; Speed 40 ft.; AC +1 natural armor; Attack bite (1d4); Ability Scores Str 13, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 10; Special Qualities low-light vision, scent.

4th-Level Advancement: Ability Scores Dex +2,  Con +2.