Game Content: Diary Pages

Here's the short story I wrote in 12 pages of huge type for the artificially aged diary pages.
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7 Septmber 1881

Success! At last I have traced the rumors of underground monsters to a barrow in Kansas. Since the Indians left this territory their gravesites and camps have been left for anyone to occupy. A barrow where a great chief was buried has a colony of troglodytic beings that I am calling “Kobolds”, after the German legends of underground spirits in mines. These are flesh and blood, not ectoplasm, and as real as I am. I hope to make peaceful contact with them, and learn all I can of their civilization. There will be so much to learn about them!

11 October 1881

They have no steel. All the Kobolds' tools are bone and wood. The smith in town clearly thought I was simple when I had him scale down the blades of half a dozen shovels, but he took my money readily enough to do it. A few moments' work with a saw for the handles of the spades and I had tools the Kobolds had never even imagined. Forty dollars' worth of hardware and labor from the smith and I have been welcomed among them more readily than if I were an emissary of their rude and primitive gods. Now, to compile what I know of them...

1 January 1882

I cannot get used to this accursed lack of light underground, and the cold lantern dazzles the Kobolds to the point where none can tolerate its presence for even a second. They have excavated a chamber for my use, that I might write my notes easily but they will not interfere with me here.

I am beginning to enjoy the taste of grubs and roots. When I return to Wichita it will be for a bath and the largest beefsteak available in any hotel. But for now, I must continue my efforts to compile a lexicon of the Kobolds' language.

4 April 1882

The Kobolds have dug down to a chamber left here as a burial palace, though I don't recognize the carvings on the walls as anything originating from any of the plains tribes. The clatter and scrape of the half-sized shovels continues day and night as they try to work their way towards whatever these rooms may contain, though from the piercing shrieks that reverberate through the earthen walls of their own tunnels I take it that whoever constructed the stone chambers left devices to prevent tomb robbers from making off with whatever was there.

5 June 1882

The poor devils keep throwing themselves at that puzzle trap. The priest-king of the Kobolds (I cannot render his name in English letters) desperately wants whatever is in the chamber beyond the burial throne. And so many of them have died needlessly, but even though I am the man who inadvertantly made it possible for the Kobolds to discover these rooms of treasure and death, I cannot make them listen to me any more than I could speak to that seated corpse in gold and obsidian and get an answer from it.

17 June 1882
Dozens of the Kobolds were sacrificed to the will of their priest-king and finally the next chamber has been opened. Their ruler, if the rumors and chitterings can be believed, killed the one who solved that puzzle so he would be the only one who knows. They think my eyesight is useless in the dark but it isn't completely. Which is how I know the snakes go down the center of the puzzle board, and the green one is on the bottom-most square. When I get the chance, I'll try to observe the priest-king opening that chamber himself, and see what it conceals.

..

22 June 1882

Another breakthrough. The upper pieces are a bat, the snake, and a centipede from left to right. And it seems the left bottom two pieces are both green. If the leader of the Kobolds knew that I knew even this much, I fear my life would be ended.

What does he see in there?

28 June 1882
Another clue. Pieces 1, 3 and 5 (the ones on the top left, top right, and center, respectively) are all purple. I couldn't look closely enough to tell for certain where the orange pieces were placed without arousing suspicion.

14 July 1882

The priest-king has vanished. He got the puzzle door open today and went inside, according to his warriors. But when the door closed he either could not deduce the way to open it, or he chose to die inside that chamber, alone with whatever he found there.

Since their leader vanished, the Kobolds have turned to me for guidance. How much can I dare to interfere with their development? Can I bring them to the outside world or would the bright sunlight bring an end to all of them? I must think on this.

3 July 1882

Another clue. The columns to the left and right are opposites of each other; the bat at top and bottom of the left and in the center of the right.

If the priest-king saw me watching as he solved this puzzle he would have flown at me in a murderous rage, I am sure. Mother have mercy, he'll never know what these inky marks on the paper signify.

Whatever he sees in that chamber, he fears and desires it in equal measure. Some day he'll go in, I know it.

27 July 1882

The Kobolds squabble among themselves like murderous children. I am not strong enough for them to fear or wise enough to make them listen. Without a new priest-king I dread what may happen to this tribe. So many died to learn the puzzle lock. So many are resentful and hungry. The puzzle lock could kill me if I guess it wrong, but I wish I knew what was in that room. Could it save the poor devils? Will it destroy them? Have I the right to make this choice, not knowing what is on the other side of that immovable stone door?

3 August 1882

They're still trying to open the door again. I hear their screams as they die. My desire to study the truth behind the rumors of subterranean creatures may have doomed them all. The shovels I bought as a gift to ingratiate myself to their tribe may as well have dug all of their graves.

Damn me for not seeing what would happen. They were too short-sighted to make use of what was here. If they lived for centuries more in their burrows, ignorant and brutish, they would still be alive.

I hear voices, speaking English. They're coming closer and they want something in here. I will confront the intruders and get them to leave, if I can. It may mean my death. It may mean the deaths of all the Kobolds here. I am so sorry. I meant well. I will open the lock and hide the remaining Kobolds in that treasure room until the danger passes, then confront these men.

If I do not return, may the Father judge me justly for what I wished to do, and not for what I have done.

Josiah Tucker, 15 November 1882

House Rule: Hit Dice

Forget what the book says for hit dice and leveling up.

Mages get a D8 for hit dice. Clerics, Rogues and Druids get a D10. Fighters (of any kind) use a D12 for their hit dice.

When leveling up, all player characters are automatically assumed to roll the maximum on their dice, so characters will get either 8, 10 or 12 HP at their next level, plus their Constitution bonus (if any).

Background: 20 Answers (Robert)

No, your eyes aren't deceiving you and I'm not playing a weird prank. Robert is a friend of Eric's and he wants to get in on my Pathfinder game action, so he wrote up 20 answers for his Martian-heritage Red Lizardman and with his permission I'm posting them here.

01)  Where is your character from?

His parents are from Mars but Earth is where he was brought into this world. How his parents got to Earth isn't known to him. They live in peace with the tribes of the 500 Nations in the Wyoming area.

 02)  Where did they get their training or learn their skills?

The majority of his training and skills came from an Indian named Chunta. This was one of the Clan Leaders that recognized Shappa had the Spark. His family who was already looked favorably upon since his father was a warrior that helped hunt and defend the Cheyenne territory gained more prestige within the tribe. The magic users of the tribes learn from others so Chunta taught me what he knew and we traveled the 500 nations for 3 years to learn from others within the circle of the spark. His father had taught him to hunt and was especially proficient with the Tomahawk. This training combined with the spark allowed him to instantly recall the Tomahawk to his hand after throwing it. Chunta presented him the Tomahawk that his Spark would be bound with. Living with nature, learning and traveling is what eventually prompted Shappa to explore beyond the 500 Nations territory. 

 03)  What is / was their family background?

He is the only child and the Cheyenne tribe is who they are closest with. His family surname is Makala but they use the names given to them by the Cheyenne Indians. His mother is Luta (Red), Keme (Thunder) for his father and I was named Shappa (Red Thunder). His father was anointed Thunder for his quickness and athletic prowess of speed. It turns out Shappa would be known for something quite different in his adolescent years when it was discovered he had the Spark. These days he is better known as Panja Wakhanhan (Magic Champion). Indians who are not immediately familiar with Shappa, simply call him T'Elanuwe Luta (Red lizard). Outside of the 500 Nations Shappa has decided to call himself Lagartija.

 04)  What is their view of magic use and magic users?

Shappa has the spark and wants to be an artificer of magic for the benefit of the people. Living among the 500 Nations tribe and learning from others that know the spark within that country has been an enlightening journey for him. Thank goodness for him the Cheyenne tribe had a person with the Spark and he was welcomed in. Shappa believes that being Alien and Magic using is somethiing the Cheyenne use as leverage with other tribes in their area.

He also understands that magic users can be very dangerous as well. He's heard about the renegades in La Republica de Tejas and the exploitation of them in the CSA. He is all the more curious to learn everything he can to strengthen his tribe and the 500 Nations in general.

 05)  What is their view of the six major powers occupying the continental United States (the USA, the CSA, the 500 Nations, Peachtree, La Republica de Tejas and Deseret?)

- USA: There is much to explore in the USA. Shappa is interested in learning how society works in the industrialized area of this word. The greatest interested being the schools where others with the spark learn.

- CSA and Peachtree: There's no interest in going to a slave territory that will likely not view his lizard heritage any better than the slaves they keep. There are actual laws here that keep those that have the spark from learning.

- Deseret: The environment of the desert is familiar but the being strongly allied with the CSA makes this another area to avoid.

- La Republica de Tejas: Definitely wants to visit and explore here. Their view of those with the spark is welcome and are seen people who can help them. Those with the Spark have made a name for themselves here as both criminal and hero.
- 500 Nations: This is where Shappa came to first settle and learn his craft with. His mentor taught him his craft and these people are still in tune with nature. Shappa appreciated living off the land that isn't like his parents stories of their barren desert home world.

 06)  Have they been to another planet yet? Do they want to go some day?

His parents are from Mars but they made a home in the 500 Nations area. His parents haven't expressed much interest in going to see what's left of the Makala family if any. There isn't much interested in going to the Jungles of Venus.

 07)  Your character finds $500 on the ground (a windfall equal to a three months' wages for a working class laborer). There's no way to tell who it belongs to. What do they do with the money? Does this answer change if they find it by themselves or in the group?

I would keep it and use it for the benefit of those in need. Which may happen to include me. If found in a group I would give advice on how to best put it to use for us.

08)  What religion (if any) does your character follow, and how fervently?

He respects the gods that the 500 Nations worship but is not a fervent believer.

 09)  What's one of their bad habits? How about a good habit?

Bad Habit - Using his physical appearance to intimidate humans.

Good Habit - Exercising. Climbing/Swimming. Keeping his body as focused as him mind.

 10)  What does your character do with their leisure time?

Coming up with ideas on how to create items infused with magical properties. Practicing his throwing skills with the Tomahawk. Learning what different services people in towns need for those with the Spark.

 11)  What would your character order at a restaurant? Does this answer change if someone else is paying for the meal?

Mmmm Chicken in all forms with whatever sides it comes with and beer. If someone else was paying more beer would be consumed.

 12)  Does your character have any bias against the Skaven, the Red or Green Lizardmen, against Tripod Martians (or against humans, if they're a nonhuman character)? Does your character have any prejudices against other humans if they are a human?

The Skaven are generally welcomed in the 500 Nations area. He's inclined to like them more than other non-human or red lizard races. Nothing against anyone, just a prejudice towards malicious people of any race.

 13)  Where do they live when not adventuring? Is it just a rented room somewhere or an actual home?

He has an actual home in the 500 Nations Wyoming area with the Cheyenne tribe.

 14)  How does your character tend to dress when out in the field having adventures? Are their "town clothes" different from this?

Shappa wears the traditional garb of hunters in the 500 Nations when adventuring. Town clothes are not much different.

 15)  How does your character pack for travel or for going out into the field for adventuring?
He carries the necessities for survival in the field. The amount is enough for a few days and he uses his nature knowledge to replenish during the trip. Water, some food, blanket, sachel for his spellbook and other odds and ends for necessary survival and hygiene.

16)  What is your character's education level? (It is presumed that all PCs will be literate in English without a reason for that in the back story.)

There isn't a true gauge of what level of education he has growing up in the 500 Nations. Middle school level if I had to say. His parents taught him what they knew and about survival, nature. His reading skills and formal skills were developed through training as magic user.

17)  What is your character afraid of?

Shappa is afraid of Thunderstorms. The irony of his name and his fear is not lost on him. It becomes difficult for him to function if he is out in the middle of one.

18)  Does your character owe a significant favor to anyone? Does anyone owe them a significant favor?

Shappa feels that he owes his mentor Chunta some of his knowledge new found regarding of the Spark when he returns. It was never formally asked.

No one owes Shappa a significant favor that he's aware of.

19)  What does your character want to get out of adventuring? What to they expect to get out if it? What are they afraid could happen while out on adventures?
Meeting others that have the Spark and sharing knowledge with them. He hopes that the majority of this group has a good moral compass.

He is afraid of finding that the world outside of the 500 Nations is unstable, corrupt, and not balanced.

20)  What, if anything, does your character consider to be a cause worth dying for? What would they see as a good death?
The defense of his family, home, the exploited, and enslaved is a cause worth dying for.

Knowing that his sacrifice helped others survive and more importantly overcome.

Bonus question #21:  What advice would you give your character if you could?

Be careful with those that use the unjust laws to exploit and convincing words to mislead you in your travels. Remember things may not be as they seems. Not to mention those with the Spark that specialize with Illusions.