Spes Magna Games

In 2002, I contributed several spells to Spells and Spellcraft, published by Fantasy Flight Games. Not too long ago, I retooled a few of the spells I contributed to Spells and Spellcraft for folks to use with 5E D&D game. Many of the spells I wrote for Spells and Spellcraft were third-edition versions of spells I created for AD&D way back when. (Nota Bene: The link for Spells and Spellcraft is an affiliate link.)

Catalytic Mouth
3rd-level illusion (ritual)

Casting Time: 1 minute
Range: 30 feet
Components: V, S, M (a small bit of honeycomb from the hive of giant bees and jade dust worth at least 10 gp, which the spell consumes)
Duration: Until dispelled or activated

This spell duplicates the effects of magic mouth, but with the additional ability that the magical mouth can speak a command word or phrase used to trigger a spell or magic item within 30 feet of the space in which the catalytic mouth is placed. Once the catalytic mouth speaks the command word or phrase, it is dispelled.

Crescendo of Indefatigably
1st-level enchantment

Casting Time: 1 reaction, which you take when about to attempt an action
Range: Self
Components: V
Duration: Instantaneous

You sing a single, pure note when you are about to attempt an action. You have advantage on the die roll made to attempt that action.

Debilitating Decrescendo
3rd-level enchantment

Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 60 feet
Components: V
Duration: Instantaneous

You sing a powerful, clear note that degenerates into a discordant gasp directed at a creature you can see within range. The target must make a Wisdom saving throw. On a failed save, it takes 5d6 psychic damage and acquires one level of exhaustion. On a successful save, the target takes half as much damage and doesn’t gain a level of exhaustion. The target can never acquire more than one level of exhaustion from this spell.

At Higher Levels. When you cast this spell using a spell slot of 4th level or higher, the damage increases by 1d6 for each slot level above 3rd.

Tags: 5E D&D, spells

Taking a break from statting up heroes from the Finnish Mythos of the AD&D Deities & Demigods. Today, we have a few magic items. Direct quotes all come from Deities & Demigods. (N.B. I’ve noticed on a couple of sites that it’s customary to note that some links are affiliate links. The link to the Deities & Demigods book is an affiliate link. That means if you click here and buy there, I get a small amount of money for the transaction.)

The Elder Sign
Wondrous item, legendary (requires attunement)

“This small grey (sometimes greenish) stone in the shape of a five-pointed star is a powerful protection against all minions of the Old Ones. The true potent Elder Signs are few in number and incredibly ancient, having been made by the elder gods. They have the following powers:”

* While carrying the Elder Sign, you have immunity to psionic powers (such as the innate spellcasting of the Great Race of Yith). Your Armor Class improves by +3 against attacks from the minions of the Old Ones.

* When you use an action to strongly present the Elder Sign, minions of the Old Ones such as Shoggoths, Byakhee, Flame Creatures, Deep Ones, and Mi-Go flee from you. An affected creature moves as far away from you as it can, and it can’t willingly move to a space within 30 feet of you. It also can’t take reactions. For its action, it can use only the Dash action or try to escape from an effect that prevents it from moving. If there’s nowhere to move, the creature can use the Dodge action.

Magic Wool
Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement)

“Certain mighty persons of Pohjola [the land of evil and wizardry] have some of this material which, when rubbed against the flesh, produces a flock of thirty sheep once a month.”

Magical Brush
Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement)

When you are injured or otherwise in trouble, the magical brush sheds blood, no matter the distance between you and the magical brush.

Magical Sledge
Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement)

The magical sledge “pulls itself…and can travel over land or water.” It moves at a speed of 60 feet according to your spoken directions. The magical sledge can carry 600 pounds.

The Necronomicon
Wondrous item, artifact (requires attunement by a spellcaster)

“The Necronomicon is a powerful and perilous magical tome of ancient origins. It was originally written by Abdul Alhazred, a great magic-user known to some as the ‘Mad Arab’. After ten years alone in the desert he wrote a book called Al Azif — words used to denote the nocturnal sounds of insects which may be the voices of demons. Alhazred was later seized in the streets of a desert city by invisible demons and devoured horribly in front of many witnesses.”

A creature attuned to the book must spend 80 hours reading and studying it to have a chance of understanding its contents. If the creature is non-evil, that creature must make a DC 17 Charisma saving throw. On a failed save, the creature’s alignment shifts one step closer to chaotic evil (see Slip into Madness below).

Forbidden Knowledge. You can reference the Necronomicon whenever you make an Intelligence check to find information about the Old Ones and their minions. When you do so, double your proficiency bonus on that check.

Open What Ought To Stay Closed. Using the blasphemous incantations in the Necronomicon, you can open portals to alien realms. As a ritual, you can use contact other plane, gate, or plane shift.

Slip into Madness. Each time you use the Necronomicon, you must make a DC 17 Charisma saving throw. On a failed save, your alignment shifts one step closer to chaotic evil, shifting from law to neutrality to chaos before shifting from good to neutral to evil. With each shift in alignment, you acquire a minor detrimental property (DMG, page 220). When you become chaotic evil, you become an NPC under the DM’s control. If you were already chaotic evil, you become irrevocably mad (and an NPC under the DM’s control).

Random Properties. The Necronomicon has two randomly determined two minor beneficial properties.

Rake of Iron
Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement)

“This item appears to be 3′ in length but, because of its magical nature and purpose, it can elongate to as far as the user wishes (up to 200 yards).” When used to rake an area as part of a search, you double your proficiency bonus to find what you’re searching for.

Snowshoes of Speed and Traveling
Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement)

While wearing these snowshoes, your walking speed is doubled, and any creature that makes an opportunity attack against you has disadvantage on the attack roll. You ignore difficult terrain created by ice or snow.

True Ankh
Wondrous item, legendary (requires attunement by a cleric of the Life domain)

“This magical device, carried by all the gods of the Nile at one time or another, enables them to raise any dead creature fully….”

The true ankh combines the powers of a rod of resurrection and a staff of healing. It has 10 charges. It regains 1 expended charge daily at dawn. If the true ankh is reduced to 0 charges, it disappears in a burst of radiance, returning to the realm of the gods.

For reasons unknown to me, these three magic items do not appear in the 5E DMG. They might appear somewhere else, but I don’t own somewhere else. These are strange omissions. Some version of these crossbows have been part of D&D for decades.

Crossbow of Accuracy
Weapon (crossbow), very rare (requires attunement)

The crossbow of accuracy is a +3 weapon. All ranges are considered normal. One in 10 of these weapons are heavy crossbows.

Crossbow of Distance
Weapon (crossbow), rare (requires attunement)

The crossbow of distance has double range in both categories. Otherwise, it is a +1 crossbow. One in 10 of these weapons are heavy crossbows.

Crossbow of Speed
Weapon (crossbow), very rare (requires attunement)

This +1 crossbow automatically cocks itself when it is grasped. When you use the crossbow of speed in combat, you roll initiative with advantage. If you are wielding this weapon when surprised, you may make one attack with it during the round in which you are surprised. The crossbow of speed does not have the load property.

Tags: 5E D&D, Deities & Demigods, magic items

And James and John the sons of Zebedee, come to him, saying: Master, we desire that whatsoever we shall ask, thou wouldst do it for us: But he said to them: What would you that I should do for you? And they said: Grant to us, that we may sit, one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left hand, in thy glory. (The Gospel According to St. Mark 10:35-37)

Guard of Glory
3rd-level abjuration

Casting Time: 1 action
Range: 19 feet
Components: V, S, M (a vial of holy water)
Duration: Concentration, up to 10 minutes

You sprinkle yourself and one or two willing creatures with holy water while chanting words of consecration. For the duration of the spell, you and the spell’s targets gain certain protections:

* Aberrations, celestials, elementals, fey, fiends, and undead have disadvantage on attack rolls against the target. The target also can’t be charmed, frightened, or possessed by these creatures.

* When making a saving throw, a creature affected by this spell rolls with advantage.

* All affected creatures have resistance to bludgeoning, piercing, and slashing damage.

The spell’s targets must remain within 10 feet of you to enjoy the benefits of this spell. At least one of the spell’s targets must remain within 10 feet of you for you to enjoy the benefits of this spell.

Tags: 5E D&D, Catholic, spells

It’s been a rough month so far in terms of writing. Haven’t gotten much done. Perhaps Ahto’s Water Dwarf can help, and so let us continue our 5E D&D-conversion trip through the AD&D Deities & Demigods Finnish Mythos.

When called upon to aid [mortals, Ahto, god of seas and waters,] sends the Water Dwarf. …. [At] these times he is carefully observed by the god. (Deities & Demigods, pages 57-58)

Water Dwarf
Medium humanoid (dwarf), lawful good

Armor Class 16 (studded leather)
Hit Points 187 (22d8+88)
Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
Ability Scores STR 18 (+4), DEX 18 (+4), CON 18 (+4), INT 16 (+3), WIS 15 (+2), CHA 7 (-2)

Saving Throws STR +8, CON +8
Skills Athletics +8, Survival +6
Damage Resistances poison
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 12
Languages Aquan, Common, Dwarf, Giant
Challenge 10 (5,900 XP)

Amphibious. The Water Dwarf can breathe air and water.

Combat Prowess. The Water Dwarf scores a critical hit on a roll of 18, 19, or 20. He ignores the loading property of crossbows. The Water Dwarf treats all ranges as normal when firing a crossbow.

Magic Weapons. The Water Dwarf’s weapon attacks are magical.

Regeneration. The Water Dwarf regains 5 hit points at the start of his turn as long as he is within 50 feet of a body of water. If the Water Dwarf is more than 50 feet from a body of water, this trait doesn’t function at the start of the Water Dwarf’s next turn. The Water Dwarf dies only if he starts his turn with 0 hit points and doesn’t regenerate.

Resilience. The Water Dwarf has advantage on saving throws against poison, magic, and magical effects.

Actions

Multiattack. The Water Dwarf makes three melee or ranged attacks.

Mace. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d6+4) bludgeoning damage.

Crossbow. Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, range 400/– ft., one target. Hit: 9 (1d10+4) piercing damage.

Reactions

Divine Intervention (1/Day). Ahto carefully observes the Water Dwarf, who has a chance to invoke divine intervention. The percentage chance to do so equals the number of hit points below his maximum hit points. If the roll succeeds, Ahto intervenes. The GM chooses the nature of the intervention; the effect of any cleric spell or cleric domain spell would be appropriate.

Tags: 5E D&D, Deities & Demigods, monsters

First up, check out the badwinnie, a huge rabbit with a voracious appetite and a wiggly nose. After you do that, check out the Thieves Can’t comic presented by Zach Stoppel and Bartholomew Klick.

Next, we leave behind the Nile and head north to the icy world of the AD&D Deities & Demigods Finnish Mythos. Permit me to introduce Vainamoinen, hero and minstrel for use with 5E D&D.

Vainamoinen is the Kalevala’s greatest hero and minstrel. His mother is Ilmatar [goddess of mothers], so Vainamoinen has divine ancestors (like many of the Finnish heroes). He is called “Son of the Wind” by his friends and enemies alike.

Vainamoinen appears as an elderly fighter…. (Deities & Demigods, pages 57)

Vainamoinen
Medium humanoid (human), lawful good

Armor Class 21 (leather)
Hit Points 247 (26d8+130)
Speed 45 ft.
Ability Scores STR 27 (+8), DEX 24 (+7), CON 20 (+5), INT 18 (+4), WIS 18 (+4), CHA 18 (+4)

Saving Throws DEX +13, INT +10, WIS +10, CHA +10
Skills Arcana +10, Athletics +20, History +10, Insight +16, Intimidation +16, Medicine +16
Condition Immunities charmed, poisoned
Senses passive Perception 14
Languages Common, Giant, Sylvan
Challenge 20 (25,000 XP)

Destroy Undead. As an action, Vainamoinen speaks a prayer censuring the undead. Each undead that can see or hear him within 30 feet of him must make a DC 18 Wisdom saving throw. When an undead creature with a CR of 2 or lower fails its saving throw, the creature is instantly destroyed. Otherwise if the creature fails its saving throw, it is turned for 1 minute or until it takes any damage. A turned creature must spend its turns trying to move as far away from Vainamoinen as it can, and it can’t willingly move to a space within 30 feet of Vainamoinen. It also can’t take reactions. For its action, it can use only the Dash action or try to escape from an effect that prevents it from moving. If there’s nowhere to move, the creature can use the Dodge action.

Divine Sense (5/Day). The presence of strong evil registers on Vainamoinen’s senses like a noxious odor, and powerful good rings like heavenly music in his ears. As an action, he can open his awareness to detect such forces. Until the end of his next turn, he knows the location of any celestial, fiend, or undead within 60 feet of him that is not behind total cover. He knows the type (celestial, fiend, or undead) of any being whose presence he senses, but not its identity (the vampire Count Strahd von Zarovich, for instance). Within the same radius, he also detects the presence of any place or object that has been consecrated or desecrated, as with the hallow spell.

Heroic. Vainamoinen makes Wisdom and Charisma saving throws with advantage. His proficiency bonus with Athletics, Insight, Intimidation, and Medicine is doubled.

Innate Spellcasting. Vainamoinen’s innate spellcasting ability is Charisma. He can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components:

At will: dispel magic, conjure animals, shapechange

Legendary Resistance (3/Day). If Vainamoinen fails a saving throw, he can choose to succeed instead.

Magic Items. Vainamoinen uses several magic items. He wears +3 leather armor and belt of cloud giant strength. (His Strength without the belt is 21.) He fights with either his +3 battle axe or his sword of sharpness. The latter weapon is intelligent. It speaks Common and casts fear once per long rest. He also two magical crossbows. The first combines is a +3 crossbow of remarkable speed and range. The other crossbow loads and fires itself much like a dancing sword. In hands other than Vainamoinen’s, these magical items are all legendary items that require attunement.

Spellcasting. Vainamoinen is a 20th-level spellcaster. His spellcasting ability is Wisdom (save DC 18, +10 to hit with spell attacks). He prepares spells from the bard (up to 9th-level spells), cleric (up to 6th-level spells), paladin (up to 5th level spells), and wizard (up to 6th-level spells) lists. He has the following spells prepared:

Cantrips (at will): dancing lights, friends, minor illusion, shocking grasp, spare the dying
1st level (4 slots): cure wounds, silent image, speak with animals, thunderous smite
2nd level (3 slots): alter self, find traps, zone of truth
3rd level (3 slots): crusader’s mantle, major image, protection from energy
4th level (3 slots): freedom of movement, greater invisibility, staggering smite
5th level (3 slots): circle of power, flame strike, mislead
6th level (2 slots): programmed illusion, true seeing
7th level (2 slots): mirage arcana, teleport
8th level (1 slot): glibness, power word stun
9th level (1 slot): foresight, power word kill

Spell Recovery (1/Day). Vainamoinen has learned to regain some of his magical energy by meditation. When he finished a short rest, he can choose expended spell slots to recover. The spell slots can have a combined level that is equal to or less than 20, and none of the slots can be 6th level or higher.

Actions

Multiattack. Vainamoinen makes two melee or two ranged attacks. Vainamoinen ignores the load property of crossbows.

+3 Battle Axe. Melee Weapon Attack: +17 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (1d8+11) slashing damage, or 16 (1d10+11) slashing damage if used with two hands.

Sword of Sharpness. Melee Weapon Attack: +14 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (1d8+8) slashing damage, or 13 (1d10+8) slashing damage if used with two hands.

+3 Crossbow. Melee Weapon Attack: +16 to hit, range 800/– ft., one target. Hit: 15 (1d10+10) piercing damage. As a bonus action, Vainamoinen can make an attack with his +3 crossbow.

Dancing Crossbow. Melee Weapon Attack: +13 to hit, range 100/400 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (1d10+7) piercing damage.

Legendary Actions

Vainamoinen can take 3 legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature’s turn. Vainamoinen regains spent legendary actions at the start of his turn.

Attack. Vainamoinen makes one attack.

Cantrip. Vainamoinen casts a cantrip.

Detect. Vainamoinen makes a Wisdom (Perception) check.

Tags: 5E D&D, Deities & Demigods, monsters, NPCs