Draconic Altars
by John HareBruce early put it up for some
explanation about the draconic altar mentioned in his posts about
Heldannic Knights -- of Heresy, Quests, & Dragons. Of course
silly me I asked for more info about. And now I can't stop thinking
about the silly things... so here goes.
Draconic Altars are rare, perhaps a dozen are known throughout the
known world. At least three others were known but have since
vanished or be destroyed. The Altars are aligned towards the
different dragon alignments. Chaotic, Neutral and Lawful (for
AD&D simply Good & Evil and if you have them Neutral
Dragons). The choice of alignment isn't random. Nor is the
location. These sites where the centre of a successful ceremony of
Sublimation which resulted in the dragon performing the ceremony to
raise to Immortal Guardian Dragon status.
Leaving behind all the treasures, magic and physical vitality into
one welded form. Most of the forms are somewhat rectangular in
nature and seem to be a fused material. The Altars radiate a
constant harmonic barrier that is tune with the alignment of the
dragon that made the successful ceremony at that site. This barrier
extends out in a 100' radius around the altar. All other
non-aligned dragons are repulsed by this harmonic. To enter a
successful saving throw at -4 vs spells must be made. Even so the
harmonics impair their abilities to -4 to hit and damage while
within the field.
Dragons that are aligned with the altar heal faster in its
presence. About 1hp every 8 hours. They also find the harmonic
field calming and thus can think more clearly there. There are
rumours about other effects taking place but since each altar is
unique there has been no true testing performed. It is rumoured
that some of the altars possess powerful transportation abilities
but how one uses them is unknown.
The site of each altar was the centre of the dragon's dominion. In
most cases this was also the dragon's lair. As indicated at least
three have been known to be destroyed. One was truly ancient and is
thought to have just worn out and crumbled to dust. (In fact this
altar belonged to a Guardian Dragon who took over one of the
Immortal Dragon positions and thus the previous powers infused into
the altar were removed.)
Another was destroyed when a volcano decided to erupt underneath
it. And some meddling humans who tried to dig it up destroyed the
third. The resulting explosion took the top off of that
mountain.
Example The Moon Pool
This Draconic Altar was the location of a Huge Blue Dragon, whose
name eludes me at 2:30 am. This altar is a thirty-foot diameter
depression, which descends to a maximum of 2 feet deep. The outside
ring of fused blue crystal seems to be that of a sleeping dragon
with its tail under its head. In addition to the properties
normally found at dragon altars on a full moon a ray of moon light
appears in the cave and strikes the surface of the water in the
depression. With in seconds the ray turns into a shimmering ladder
that may be climbed from inside the pool of water. Should the
individual (dragon or humanoid) climb all the way up this ladder
they shall reach the moon of Mystara (not the invisible one). The
journey seems to take a great deal of time, but no food or air is
required, the climb takes about 2 and 1/2 hours real time. Once at
the moon the climber may ride down a moonbeam to any position they
can observe from the moon. Great care must be taken because waiting
too long means the moon ladder and moon beams wink out of
existence, and the climber had best now have a method of breathing
air in a vacuum.
The Altars radiate a constant harmonic barrier that is tune with
the alignment of the dragon that made the successful ceremony at
that site. This barrier extends out in a 100' radius around the
altar. All other non- aligned dragons are repulsed by this
harmonic. To enter a successful saving throw at -4 vs spells must
be made. Even so the harmonics impair their abilities to -4 to hit
and damage while within the field.
I would augment these effects a bit, considering you're dealing
with dragons. (What would be the effect on non-draconic beings,
BTW?) For example, undesirable visitors should not be able to cast
spells there either. The -4 penalty also applies to their AC,
saving throws, and initiative. Basically, an undesirable dragon
just would not go there unless really angered by something, overly
proud, or seriously foolish (some of that isn't unheard of with
certain dragons though).
Dragons that are aligned with the altar heal faster in its
presence. About 1hp every 8 hours.
I would accelerate this, considering the number of hp dragons are
likely to have. How about 10 hp per hour instead? How about the
possibility of regeneration, remove curse, etc? These may require
more time than basic healing (perhaps a day or two instead).
They also find the harmonic field calming and thus can think
more clearly there.
Game effect? +1 Intelligence temporarily?
There are rumours about other effects taking place but since
each altar is unique there has been no true testing performed. It
is rumoured that some of the altars possess powerful transportation
abilities but how one uses them is unknown.
...to all but the more ancient dragons (?)
The site of each altar was the centre of the dragon's dominion.
In most cases this was also the dragon's lair. As indicated at
least three have been known to be destroyed. One was truly ancient
and is thought to have just worn out and crumbled to dust. (In fact
this altar belonged to a Guardian Dragon who took over one of the
Immortal Dragon positions and thus the previous powers infused into
the altar were removed.) Another was destroyed when a volcano
decided to erupt underneath it. And some meddling humans who tried
to dig it up destroyed the third. The resulting explosion took the
top off of that mountain.
Why did the place explode?
example The Moon Pool -- This Draconic Altar was the location
of a Huge Blue Dragon, whose name eludes me at 2:30 am.
...
Not bad for something written so late! How close to Pandius does
the moon ladder reach?
Second stab at the cat.
Draconic Altar harmonics affect
Friendly dragons: 10 hp healing every 8 hours, after 2 days minor
curses will be lifted, after 5 days non-magical diseases will be
cured (some effects may remain), after 10 days magical diseases
will be cured (that darn mummy rot). The field also calms the
dragon (+3 vs saves involving fear) and lets them think more
clearly (temporarily +1 Int). However staying there too long gets
too calming, after 5 days the dragon is considered to be slowed for
twice the number of days it has been there. Which is generally why
no dragon would consider building its lair there.
Non-friendly dragons: -4 to hit/damage/AC/saves/initiative, also
cannot cast spells in the field. Spell effects are still possible.
All this is because the field harmonics inflict mental anguish upon
these drakes, making concentration more difficult and also more
jittery (-3 vs saves involving fear). It also clouds their thoughts
(temporarily -1 Int). If through some strange demented reason one
stays in the same harmonic field for a total of 30 days
(cumulative) the -1 Int becomes permanent, and the cycle would
start again.
Non-draconic friendly creatures: Find the field harmonics
interesting, but gain no true benefits unless they stay and study
the altar for a period of 1 month. After which time they gain
insight into the dragons of that alignment. Draconic Lore
(alignment type) knowledge skill based on Int. However this study
causes the creature to slightly resonant in the harmonics of that
altar. Which means dragons of all types can quickly determine
whether they want to be friendly to this person or not. Dragons of
the same alignment react to the individual a +2, while others will
be -2.
Non-draconic non-friendly creatures: Find the field harmonics
annoying and generally won't want to stay in its field for any
great length of time. Other than that they get no bonuses and no
penalties.
Special Altar Powers: as previous posts indicated travel via moon
beam is possible using the Moon Pool
In addition it is rumoured that the altars can provide regeneration
capabilities, however the cost is part of the dragon's hoard. The
regeneration cost roughly equals 1,000 gp per HD of the dragon,
which would result in a leg being regrown. Wings are 1,500 gp per
HD, and tails are 2,000 gp per HD, and heads... well if you have to
regenerate that your in trouble.
Dangers: While draconic altars are very durable they have been
destroyed. A group of humans tried to dig one up. The resulting
explosion took the top off that mountain. The humans digging tried
to skimp out and not take the whole altar out complete but to take
it out in pieces. The consulting mage figured he could put it back
together afterwards. After all dragon altars don't radiate magic so
what would be the harm in taking it out in pieces. By breaking the
altar they released the fused magical energy which contained all
the magic in the dragons hoard and part of the life force of the
dragon guardian. When one stops and thinks about how much magic an
ancient dragon accumulates for the Ceremony of Sublimation that
gets to be quite a bit. And most of it is picked of quality over
quantity. Which means a lot of potent magic is suddenly released in
one big bang. Think of the effect of breaking a Staff of Wizardry.
Those are generally scary, now consider how much magically energy
is in a dragon altar. Damn pesky humans, blowing up things they
can't understand. Sigh. In game terms... they explosion would be
close to the potential of the 2 fully charged staves of Wizardry
(30 charges each) and throw in an earthquake for good measure.
Don't forget to let them save for half damage. After all the
enraged dragons would really like to take to someone about the
explosion that destroyed one of their altars.
The question came up as to how close the moon ladder comes to
Pandius. Well I suppose the would depend on how quickly the moon
rotates during a full moon period. I would say that every 10 years
the rotation buts the ladder within 50 miles of Pandius, and say
every 1000 years the conjunction works out that instead of winding
up on the moon, the climbers appear in Pandius. "Oops sorry Ixion,
we took a wrong turn... somewhere." Could make for an interesting
adventure, especially if there are some omens warning of this
conjunction ahead of time. Of course another question on the list
came up, what if something from the moon escaped the Hollow
Breeding pits inside and started rampaging across Mystara. "I told
you Velociraptors were a bad idea to play with" -Ixion speak to Ka
"Now look what they have done, they've eaten the Heldannic Knights
and have gained control of the Warbirds,... " suspicious look "you
haven't been talking to Vanya lately have you?"