I had a lot of fun last session. The group found a magical McGuffin artifact that was in the shape of a twisted metal key made of iron and gold, DC 25 Use Magic Device check to activate, which opened a magic door. The door led to a nexus of infinite portals to any and every place on any dimension, but they had no way of knowing which door led where. They also had a book that gave them eleven locations they could know in advance.
The catch of course was that the method of identifying the door was hidden in the third page of the book, which I'd written, printed and gave them as a handout. I had a great time laughing with evil glee as they glossed over the handout and started arguing about just trying doors randomly.
Spoilered text of book for those interested. I think I did a great job of making it both completely accurate yet entirely mind-numbingly boring.
THEORIA PHILOSOPHIC PLANUM PORTALIS
TYPOGRAPHUS: DAE’SHAR QUI MAGI
Table of Contents
Preface: To the Reader
Chapter 1: +1 (Mundus Planum Caelum Summis Mons Primis)
Chapter 2: +11 (Planum Astral Proxima Mundus)
Chapter 3: -11 (Relinquit Aetherium Non-Periculum Proxima Mundus)
Chapter 4: -75 (Proxima Umbra Privatus Domum)
Chapter 5: +18 (Umbra Planum Elementa Forum Maximus)
Chapter 6: +53 (Ignis Planum Elementa Ærea Civitatem)
Chapter 7: -48 (Aer Planum Elementa Periculum Procidens)
Chapter 8: -50 (Aqua Planum Elementa Proxima Aer)
Chapter 9: +33 (Terra Planum Elementa Magna Antrum)
Chapter 10: 100 (Medica Vis Planum Proxima Mundus Periculum Minima)
Chapter 11: -100 (Malum Vis Planum Proxima Mundus Periculum Minima)
PREFACE: TO THE READER
You will be well aware, if you are well read, with what applause my works which I now offer to you have been received throughout the material plane since their publication. Not to mention other planes of existence as well, for if you refer to the number of my journals held within the libraries and private collections of those outer beings most given to the accumulation of entirely accurate and factually researched material, you will not fail to see how highly it has been esteemed. My journal herein contains an entirely new system of philosophy based upon the translocation of matter between states of differing planar energies, which is already commonly known as plane shifting, from the crude colloquial name of its overall effect. As a matter of fact, it is even now a subject of public instruction in several Universities in different parts of this world and others; it is expounded not only in yearly theses or dissertations, both printed and debated; but also in several elementary books issued for the instruction of the young it is introduced, explained, and by many considered as their original discoveries. Anyone, however, who wishes to obtain more detailed insight into the whole structure of the theory, the close relation that its several parts bear to one another, or its great fertility and wide scope for the purpose of discovering the whole of the myriad planes of existence, in their widest ranges, from a single simple locus; anyone who wishes to make a deeper study of it must perforce study the work here offered.
All these considerations had from the first moved me to undertake this wholly original work; in addition, there was the fact that I perceived that it would be a matter of some difficulty for others lacking my precognizant powers of analytical perspicacity to pass beyond the confines of their own minds and accept the myriad fundamental realities which this work summarizes, for at the present time, no matter how diligently the locations I describe are inquired for, knowledge of their existence is to be found nowhere, or scarcely anywhere, in the rest of the material plane. The system I describe herein relating to the planar hub of infinite possibilities, and its dangers and wealth both material and intellectual, form the core of this volume; though, as fate would have it, the system itself of accessing such core possibilities lies only within the reach of the possessor of a singular artefact of power, whither I have performed my travels in compilation of this volume. I therefore thought it right that the knowledge I obtained through its use should be disseminated throughout the whole of the planes respective of higher learning, and that perforce it be recognized as the product of a mortal master of the arcane to whom the worlds owe their gratitude for his efforts and attentions to the original research contained herein. I had in fact already commenced an edition founded on a similar avenue of research, when the artefact came to my possession and I found myself greatly dissatisfied with my previous edition, for in my hand I found significant other prospects of new discoveries; that such innumerable wonders of possibility had been opened; that many passages, especially those that contain profound risk to one’s life and sanity, were available for investigation; lastly, that I myself found I had been presented with a necessity for a complete revision, including certain alterations to fundamental assumptions of the nature of several extra-dimensional planes, to give a better finish and factual credence to my work, together with certain additional matters not relevant to the primary research.
That being the case, I was greatly desirous of creating this volume, revised and enlarged by myself with addendum; I also wanted to have at hand a reference for future research whilst a second edition was in progress, and that I should superintend the whole thing for creation of duplicate copies of the artefact which precipitated this research. This, however, I was unable to procure during the last few years, in every attempt meeting with failure to attune my own devices to the proper sympathy; until at last, as I returned home from my lengthy wanderings, and stayed here to compile the edition you hold in hand, I came to accept that none save the greatest of powers divine might recreate the circumstances surrounding the proper construction of this artefact. I, in my various attempts, used every care in attempting the duplication, wielding such magics as can shape the very realities of creation; even then, however, replication remains outside of the realms of the possible, and I have sufficient confidence in myself as to imagine that not the slightest thing has escaped my consideration. For it is a characteristic of my mind that it cannot concentrate long on the same subject without failing to solve any enigma for which there exists a possible solution.
It follows that this ought to be considered in some measure as a first and original edition; anyone who compares it with that issued by others will soon see the difference between them. Many of the diagrams contained herein are made for the purpose of rendering certain passages more elegant and clear; there are, however, especially at the foot of a page, slight additions also, or slight changes made after the script was inked, merely for the purpose of filling up gaps that were left here and there, these gaps being due to the fact that several sheets were being set at the same time by my conjured assistants, and four were kept hard at work bringing this volume together. As the opportunity was at hand, these gaps could easily be filled without causing any disturbance of the sentences or the pagination, to better offer you, my reader and seeker of knowledge, additional avenues of devotion to my work.
Among the more important exegeses will be found a rubric for the order of numbering the infinite exits from the passage to which one is translocated when using the artefact. Thus, having given thought to the matter, I have logically designed a system founded upon the principles of order of function from the null centered upon the point of arrival; that which was dextral upon translocation is now broken up into positive integers with the odd values respecting sinestral portals and even respecting dextral when performing distal motions from the null; and, in the reverse, following negative integers from null, both the odd and even possessing respective relations in their aspect to the passages relative to the observer.
The order of the chapters has been devised so that those immediately following this preface illuminate the more thoroughly explored terminus points, assisting travel from the portal nexus. This was done because understanding of these points of commonality are required for use in this work before the others of lesser utility. To that end, there has been added scholium, consisting of several articles that between them give a short but complete dissertation on the points which, should the reader neglect to attend, will likely result in profound injury or fatality upon arrival at their destination. In this dissertation the author assumes that there is no reason why any one of power sufficient to negotiate the distances between planes should lack the ability to express their force of will upon the environment they traverse, in most cases under the auspice of sufficiently common magical protections.
Short marginal summaries have been inserted throughout the work, in which the arguments dealt with under each chapter are given in brief; by the help of these, the whole matter may be taken in at a glance and recalled to mind with ease.
Lastly, at the end of the work, a somewhat full catalogue of the whole of the author's publications up to the present time has been added. Of these publications the author intends the reader to make a full collection, revised and thoroughly comprehended, together with a continuation of acquisition of those that are not yet finished; this vital task he proposes the reader attend immediately and with all diligence, through which the reader will no doubt find a wealth of wisdom and enlightenment upon a plethora of subjects. This catalogue is compiled in chronological order in connection with the subjects the author believes most vital to the proper education of the learned scholar, to wit, all works under the author’s pen.
Later, when this revision of the author’s other works is complete, I propose to the reader to undertake their own duplication of this complete collection of the author’s works, with all the resources at their command, in order to continue the dissemination of proper and correct enlightenment of those with wit enough to seek the author’s words.
Such are the matters that I thought ought to be brought to your notice. May you enjoy the fruit of my labours, and live in happiness because of them.
Poll
Author
Topic: Re: Dungeons & Dragons / PNP games thread: COBRA!!! (Read 932976 times)