From the Vault: E-Dawn 5

E-Dawn Volume 5: May 2004 Edition

Teayu-Borrum 1517 TH Newsletter

Players Characters recap

Pilgrimage

Written by Shawn Pitman, Edited by Steven J. Black

Teayu 20th

 Today, me and J'a'anes or J for short, my windling bodyguard, met Merrox at the Library of Throal and learned of Thyrnn's quest to find House T'kambras a new Shivalahala. We will find him and help him in this quest because it is also OUR quest. We have also learned of the House T'kambras refugee camp on the outskirts of Bartertown. I am now on my way there.

I have met with the apparent leader of the refugee camp, he's insane...His name is Rashimon, and he wants to lead our people here in Bartertown on a Pilgrimage from the safety of Bartertown to the Theran Behemoth and the Ayodhya Liferock, to touch it, believing that it will give them the blessings of the passions. I fear for their safety, so I will go help them, I hope.

First, I will need to find warriors to help protect them. I have met the Slayers and they can offer no help.

Teayu 21st

 After a long, restful night at an inn called the Wandering Wayfarer, I went to see the one known as Jasper to ask him for help with our suicide mission. We went to Throal and entered a small dwarven house and met a human lying on two dwarf chairs. I saw a hole in the wall and asked him what happened to his house. He replied that his monkey had bashed a hole in the wall, and didn't seem to care about it because he's rich. He told us of his caravan company, and we paid him for protection and passage to Ayodhya.

Teayu 25th

 I finally met with Thyrnn. OMG NO HOPE! He travels with a House K'tenshin tail weapon on his tail, has no etiquette, and even travels with a Dwarf Nethermancer. I am trying to help him, but I believe he is a hopeless waste of time. I also met two people from Lasael. One is a bodyguard named Darkor Silverblade, and the other is a diplomat, I think. She didn't introduce herself or talk at all, not a very good diplomat. The Lasaeli are going with us, since Thrynn helped save their people from the Horror Storm and they wish to explore the rest of Barsaive. Of course, Thyrnn is such a waste, he got fined for running around town naked, and he is complaining about it. 

Teayu 26th

 Today we met Rashimon again and told him about the caravan and how many people we have to help us. Someone named Lilandra is singing and putting on some show at the Wandering Wayfarer. We will be heading out on the 28th.

 

Teayu 27th

 J'a'anes hires a human illusionist named Hasheed, who did the light effects at Lilandra's show. J offers him 300 silver pieces, but he says no, he's only worth 50 silver. So J hired him for 50 silver pieces, an interesting way to haggle, I guess it’s different in Indrisa where he is from.

Teayu 28th

 Today we set out for our destination, Ayodhya, it will be a tough journey going east now. While we were out on the first day, a cavalry group rode up on us. Known as the White Claws, their most distinctive features were their white fur coats and most had claws strapped to their wrists. They are human and believed to be from Landis. Their leader's name is Gossard; Jasper told me that he is not thought to be from Landis like the rest of the group. They rode up on us, discovered we were pilgrims, and had little money, and left.

I have also learned some more about Rashimon. He is very noble, proud, and honorable T'skrang, and his only goals seem to be to give hope to his people. He wants to see themselves as T'skrang again, not refugee vagabonds. He's a very good person; I like him a lot.

Teayu 30th

While on watch at night, we were attacked by creatures called greater termites according to Jasper, and after we dispatched them, we moved our camp away from their "hive" again according to Jasper and went back to sleep.

Borrum 2nd

 Today we passed some sand lobsters on the Coil River beach. Thyrnn was gonna go kill them for the fight and the food, but I saw no need to fight. So J and me cast Divine Aura and Mind Fog making him feels "full" and forgets about attacking the Sand Lobster. After that he didn't want to kill or eat Sand Lobsters anymore LOL.

Borrum 3rd

 Today we arrived at Darranis. I went and bought spiced fish for the pilgrims. I believed they needed some good food after this long journey.

Borrum 4th

 We set back out on the journey south towards the Behemoth after loading the food onto the caravan.

Borrum 6th

 Harpies attacked us. J used Pleasant Visions to paralyze them, but Thyrnn won't let them be and slaughters one anyway. After saying " Damn she's tough!", Thrynn decides to get in the caravan and we continue to travel south to our destination.

Borrum 8th

 Today we see the Theran Behemoth, battered and scorched; it’s a horrific sight. I hate the Therans for what they have done to Ayodhya. The caravan stops and lets us off then starts their return to Bartertown. I thank Jasper for his help and then we walk towards the Behemoth. Me, J, and the two Lasaeli approach the guards who come out to interrogate us wanting to know why we are here. We tell them about our Pilgrimage, and a K’tenshin guard whispers something in the Theran's ear, then they agree to let us in, but they need four hours to prepare. J casts Best Face and Tailor on Thyrnn making him look like a House Syrtis t'skrang in crest and dress. After that they let us in, following a path winding down to what we believe is Ayodhya and a small statue of stone representing Shivos, spirit of the earth, as well as a wood and reed chair. Rashimon tells us the story of Ayodhya. From Serpent River page 74: "The Old Man of the Nets ordered his children to carry his chair to Ayodhya and build his funeral pyre atop the hill when he knew his time had come to die. Ayodhya in t'skrang means spirit chair. When they had finished doing as their father had asked, the Old Man's children turned to him for advice, but found he had died while they worked. They placed his body and chair in the middle of the pyre and set the wood ablaze. Although the Old Man's body burned to ash in the flames, his wooden chair resisted the fire. The children then carried the chair back to the Island of Reeds in Lake Ban and set it at the foot of the table in their niall's dining hall." So the ritual was performed again, as a small pyre was set up and the chair was burned. Many t'skrang picked up pieces of the chair and brought it with them. We left the Behemoth. We followed the Pilgrimage route to a small shrine by the river's edge where we rested the night.

Borrum 9th

 This day we boarded a river ferry to get to the Floating Isle of House V'strimon. We boarded with some of Thyrnn's old compatriots including Drudge. Thyrnn has to convince Drudge he is who he says he is, as he still looks the part of a House Syrtis t'skrang. After this he tells Drudge of what happened in the Horror Storm and gives him the Madoff Blade. Drudge leaves and is quiet for the rest the trip. We arrive at the docks of the Floating Isle were we find a place to sleep for the night. Drudge delivers the Madoff Blade to the Targ Wargarash of the Shriekers Trollmoot, its rightful owners.

Borrum 10th 

      This day we spend visiting the six towers of House V'strimon. Five of the towers are of the five primary elements, the final tower made of reeds...interesting. At the end of the day we have dinner in the niall's dining hall. We eat spiced fish and set out a chair for the Old Man of the Nets. All our surprised when a blue willowing spirit sits down for dinner with us in the empty chair. I believe he was the Old Man... After dinner he flies out the window claiming he wants a dip and that’s the end of him. It was an honor to meet him. The old man went to take a bath in the V'ranna's Basket, a well shaped like a basket. Rashimon said that the Old Man of the Nets moved his family here in the hopes that the spirit of Shivoam would come visit him. We all left dinner, followed the Old man's lead, and had a bath in the well. Some pilgrims place water from the well in waterskins. We sleep at the Floating Isle tonight.    

Borrum 11th

Today we boarded a ferry and arrive at yet another shrine and stay the night.

Borrum 12th

 We go to the beach of the Coil River. Here there is a rock with the imprint of Shivoam. She came here to meet her husband in the marriage bed for the first time. From here we will head north to the Grove of Memory. Some pilgrims collected beach sand here.

Borrum 14th

 Today we came to a wooded area with a cottage on the outskirts and a path going into the forest. An ork named Grimaud he offers us a free inn stay and tells us of his master's disappearance, Talmagore. Talmagore was a wizard who used the forest to make money by learning key knowledges of items. Grimaud then warned us if that by going in we may not return. We proceeded through the Grove and we all have memories of the past. My own memory was of Shivalahala Syrtis about the importance of the reopening of Throal. Thyrnn tells me that he had a memory, revealing to him the name of an item that he didn't know previously. This is interesting... A mercenary that joined us in Darranis named Jack "the Ace" says the lost man named Talmagore joined the forest with a spell called Tree Merge that allows an Elementalist to join with a tree. Many pilgrims collect leaves or branches here. After traveling for a while, we make it through to the other side traveling further north.

Borrum 18th

 Today we arrived at the river village Kralipur. This place is made up of t'skrangs. Here we visit the Tower of Flame. We go into the tower and see the Sacred Flame. The source of the ever-burning flame is supposed to be the scale of the Carapace of the Dragon of the Sun, T'schlome. Most of the pilgrims throw prayers written on reed paper into the flame and collect the ashes. A few brave souls place their hands directly in the flames. These ashes supposedly can protect against the undead, and horrors.  

Borrum 20th

We reached the Throal Mountains and entered an underground route. We came to a large cave underground. Rashimon explained the story of the cave. From Serpent River page 75: “An ancient sculptor has carved the images of the Four Founders, the legendary dragons who created heaven and earth. The images of Shivoam (Water/Serpent River), T’schlome (Sun), Shivos (Earth), and Syrtis(Moon), each as large as life, are carved in bas relief into the walls of the cavern. Legend has it that the eyes of these carvings were immense opals, each the size of a dinner plate, but thieves stole them long ago. The legends go on to say that when a worthy pilgrim passes under the gaze of the Four Founders, the spirits of the first dragons will bestow a special gift of strength on him or her. Since the opening of the kaers; however, no pilgrim has ever reported receiving such a gift.” I believe only the greatest of thieves could have pulled off such a heist, perhaps Valvidius, King of Thieves stole the gems. 

Borrum 21st

      After a long time traveling underground, we reached a deep pool, the pool of Floranuus. Supposedly, it wards off evil dreams. It looks like blood has been spilled in the water due to the deep red sand at the pool’s bottom. If the sand is collected and placed under one’s pillow it will ward off bad dreams and nightmares. The pilgrims, Thrynn, Hasheed, and myself went and collected some of this sand. We then left for the Canyon of a Thousand Voices.

Borrum 22nd

We reached the Canyon of a Thousand Voices as the underground cavern opened up into a large canyon. Mostly questions were returned with echoes, but a few were answered. J asked if Thrynn would ever learn etiquette. The canyon answered no. After that a bunch of dumb questions are asked and echoes returned. I asked if there is a Shivalahala in Daiche (Echo) and I ask who took the gems. The cavern responded to my second question with Valvidius, confirming my suspicions. We continued north towards Lalai Gorge. Some pilgrims collected rocks here.

Borrum 24th

 We passed through Lalai Gorge, a natural stone bridge over the Alidar River. We all must confront our worst fears upon passing the single column bridge. My vision was of the pilgrimage succeeding and our people settling in House Syrtis, my worst fear. Thyrnn’s worst fear was himself, but himself as another self. Isam Derr showed him a mirror, the Wings of Niana, that showed him a reflection of a different self that he recognized as himself, but he cannot remember his past. It was this form that he saw in his vision.  I wrote down a description of the crest he saw in his vision to research at a later time. We headed east to Adlai. Some pilgrims collected more rocks here as well.

Borrum 28th

 We boarded a river ferry at Adlai to get to Cliff City, Syrtis. At the docks, we rested for the night.

Borrum 29th

 We ascended up the cliffs from the docks to the Pinnacle Gate, from which we gazed out at a breathtaking view of the surrounding area. At the gate, silver medallions were given to those

Who could prove that they had been to all the locations along the pilgrimage bearing the seal of House Syrtis. Each pilgrim who had completed the pilgrimage from start to finish was given an audience with Shivalahala Syrtis and one question that must be answered truthfully. Thyrnn asked “How to save Shivalahala T’kambras?” Shivalahala Syrtis responded that he must find a pattern item of the Shivalahala to summon her, find a vessel worthy of the ancestral memories of House T’kambras, and then go to the Death’s Sea and perform the “Masquerade of Death’s Dreams” and dance with death to save the Shivalahala’s memories.

Borrum 30th

     We left the Cliff City for Bartertown via Hasheed’s Flying Carpets following the Alidar River going west.

-Excerpts from the Journal of Magnus Lee, diplomat of House T’kambras.

NPC Recap

Spoiler Alert: The following journal contains some spoilers pertaining to the LRG adventure Barsaive in Chaos.

Airship Down

Teayu 17th-20th 1517

Luke and I traveled to Bartertown from Lasael with Fiona, and two Lasaeli, a man named Darkor Silverblade and a woman named Avrosandre. Once we reached Throal, we went to Jasper's Mansion and Luke was reunited with Wyn and Ocelot. Darkor and Avrosandre left for the Throal library whereas Luke, Fiona, and I went to the Throal Navy Airship docks. We got a mission for 2,400 silver pieces a piece. We were to assist in the protection of an Elemental Fire Mining Vedette Fleet going back to Throal for House Mikul led by a miner called Domek. We figured we could get a good look at the area around Fenaria this way.

Teayu 21st-27th 1517

 We prepared for our journey as best we could. I bought off controlling interest in the Wandering Wayfarer and decided to throw a concert there on the Teayu 26th. It went off without a hitch, Thrynn, Luke, and Fiona attended. I hired Hasheed as a light expert and Belena as a dancer. Hasheed decided to leave with Thyrnn the next day. The concert turned out so well that I now own 99% of the inn. I’ll have to start saving more silver to buy up some of the surrounding properties.

Teayu 28th 1517

 We went to Throal and left on a Vedette called Cimoun, going southwest towards the Death Sea.

Teayu 29th-Borrum 6th 1517

 We spent a week in the air before arriving at Domek’s fire harvester base camp. The place was in absolute chaos when we arrived. An airship, the Portina, had become stranded on a mountain volcano in-between the Scarlet and Death Seas. The people were organizing a rescue effort, trying to use the Drakkar, the Neversleep, to reach the Portina in time. An unexpected gale storm from the southwest had blown the Portina off course and into Mount Bloodfire. Mount Bloodfire being significant, as supposedly the entrance to Kaer Fenaria was somewhere in that area. We assisted in setting up two heavy metallic cables attached to the two ships and set out for Mount Bloodfire and the Portina. Since nearly a third of the elemental fire crop was in the Portina, it had to be rescued. The Cimoun and Neversleep arrived near the Portina. We came immediately under attack by Fire Eagles, but we defeated them. Unfortunately, the battle and intense heat severely damaged the vedette and the drakkar and they had to leave. We decided to stay and help the miners and Air Sailors trapped in the Portina.  We drove off some Hellhounds and Stone Lions, saving the ship and crew from further attacks.

Borrum 7th 1517

 After resting the night, Xelertios told us that some of the crew had entered the Kaer to explore and look for help. The Kaer had been opened when the Portina smashed into the gates. We went into the Kaer and rescued the Air Sailors. We found a Stone Lion cub and Hellhound whelp, which Luke decided to train. We also found an obsidiman, who we dragged out of the cave with help from the Miners.

Borrum 8th-11th 1517

 The Father’s Son, a mining vedette, returns with help. The Fire Eagles are driven away by the Beastmaster on board on a Thundra Beast, an elf man named Thystra Silvermane, one of the last survivors of Kaer Fenaria. We spent the next three days at Kaer Fenaria, with Luke learning about how to care for a Hell Hound and Stone Lion from Thystra. 

Borrum 12th-18th 1517

We returned to Bartertown with the three Mining Vedettes, and got our payment.

Remember Vivane

Borrum 19th-26th 1517

We returned to the area with Domek aboard the Father’s Son to investigate the route of the new storm winds coming from the southwest.

Borrum 27th 1517

 After arriving at Domek’s base camp, an ork drakkar called the Buunda, flying the flag of Cara Fahd came to the base. The ork captain called Churgarlg told us some horrible news. The storm at Stormhead had left the mountain it had been anchored to for so long. Even worse, the storm had drifted southeast and had destroyed Sky Point and Vivane. The whole inhabitants of the cities of Vivane and Vrontok were dead except a few survivors who had fled to Landis, and the dead had been turned into undead…just like the Horror Storm we had just defeated.  The Horror Storm was now hovering over the Death Sea regaining power by absorbing energy from the fiery lava somehow. Based on its path on the map, it was almost certain to go to Travar next. The complete destruction of Travar and the turning of the many dead into undead cannot be allowed. Luke cannot allow the city to be destroyed, as its loss would mean he could never reclaim the Badlands. Fiona believes this to be a personal fight for her against these abominable storms. I cannot see the refugees of Travar lose their home forever. We also owe Moltaa a lot; to have her lose Travar after she tried so hard to save it would be a major blow to her. Thus we agreed to help Churgarlg and somehow defeat the Horror Storm. But where to start? Apparently the Obsidiman we rescued from Kaer Fenaria was now awake. Fodobargus was an obsidiman Elementalist who had designed some sort of keystone device, which allowed Kaer Fenaria to use the lava of Mount Bloodfire to fend off the horrors with a “lava cannon”. Apparently the Obsidiman and a genius engineer called Moorkindre had used this keystone system to control the volcano’s flow and use it to keep the horrors out of the Kaer. Fodobargus and Thystra suggested we use the “Lava Cannon” to blast the Horror Storm. Of course, this would require using one of our ships as bait…

Borrum 28th 1517

 Returned to Kaer Fenaria. Luke and Fiona are helping Fodobargus and Thystra to prepare the “lava cannon” to fire. We have decided to send the Neversleep as bait after Captain Suvar volunteered his drakkar. Now we’ll have to wait for the Horror Storm eye to get a little closer, right now it’s in the southwest part of the Death Sea. We figure it’ll take about three days before it’s due south of us and close enough to bait in…

-Excerpts from the Journal of Lilandra Silvertongue, elf Troubadour and mapmaker of Shosara.

War recap

      Finally arrived at Great Thera. In talks with many of the great wizards here, we’ve decided to have two spellcaster groups on my airship. One group will use Book Memory and Recall to memorize the Rakken banishment spell from the Tome of Banishment while my group works on the Banish Circadius spell. Great Thera’s whole Navy and the Theran Seventh and Eighth Fleets is going up to repel the Horrorship from the city. Meanwhile the Barsaivian and Throalic Navy will try and cut off the ships retreat while I try and sneak in close enough to banish this horror forever. I hope this plan works.

-Moltaa, obsidiman Nethermancer/Horror Stalker of the Grim Legionnaires. Legion Journal. 61/5 TE 1074.

Glorious. To see the First Fleet in action for the first time in my life. And to work with the Eighth Fleet as well. We’ve pinned the Horrorship between our two Navy groups. Moltaa is coming in as fast as possible from the north. The Horrorship looks like its increasing speed and trying to go south. What in the world? That ship coming from the south…

-From the journal of General Nikar Carcini of the Seventh Fleet 62/5 TE 1074.

It’s impossible. The new ship flies the old colors of the Throal Navy, and is impossibly huge, perhaps the biggest wooden ship I’ve ever seen. It can’t possibly be anything but the Earthdawn. And yet I still can’t believe my eyes. The ship is moving from the south going north, cutting off the Horrorship’s only avenue of retreat. Moltaa’s coming in fast…

-From the Journal of Rick Wingblade, Captain of the Combined Barsaive Navy Borrum 5th 1517

We need to get in real close. Of course, since the ship turned away from us, its got no way to stop us now, not with its poisonous breath or its pincers. All we need to do is close enough to the Horror and finish the ritual spell. Of course, I see no one that looks like the picture in the Tome of Banishment. Wait. That Old Man, on a Horrorship? It’s gotta be him. I’ll hit him with a Bone Pudding spell, that outta bring out the horror within. Now be banished to whence you came!

-Moltaa, obsidiman Nethermancer/Horror Stalker of the Grim Legionnaires. Legion Journal. 62/5 TE 1074.

Moltaa has done it. Now is time for our part, fleet release grapplers! Quick before the ship falls into the sea! [After this, the entire combined Theran Fleet launched gigantic grappling hooks, enveloping the Horrorship in metallic cables, then took their spoils to Great Thera.]

-From the journal of General Nikar Carcini of the Seventh Fleet 62/5 TE 1074.

The Theran and Barsaivian Forces negotiated some sort of peace treaty. In exchange for the Tome of Banishment, which was now useless to me, all Horrors in Barsaive in that book already having been defeated by me or by others, the Theran Empire agreed to the current boundaries between Barsaive and Thera as more or less permanent boundaries. Thera also wanted the Throalic Trade Compact renegotiated, giving back the K’tenshin the rights to the Coil River that they wanted and to make the terms more favorable and fair for them. Apparently, the punishment of House K’tenshin from the first Theran War by Throal and the other t’skrang houses, led to this second Theran War. Which means this war could be completely the fault of greedy dwarves and t’skrang. Fools. You bred hatred in your neighbor by forcing them into a bad trading situation and expect them not to strike back at you when the first opportunity presents itself? Of course, I know the real reason the Therans were in Barsaive, of course. But then again, that’s really the fault of the dragons now isn’t it? The ancestral hatred between Barsaive’s dragons and Thera will never end. As long as Throal prostrates itself before the Great Dragons, they will ever be Thera’s enemy. The Tome of Banishment is going to Marac with the entirety of the Eighth Fleet after they discover the secrets of the captured Horrorship. We’ll be returning to Barsaive with the Seventh Fleet, and the Barsaivian Fleet including the Earthdawn.

-Moltaa, obsidiman Nethermancer/Horror Stalker of the Grim Legionnaires. Legion Journal. 63/5 TE 1074.

By the Passions. Sky Point and Vrontok are in ruins, as is Vivane, and the storm at Stormhead is gone. The undead roam freely below. We’ll have to head to Lankgarden for resupply. My first instinct is to blame Throal, but I know for a fact they couldn’t have pulled this off with the majority of their Navy at Great Thera. This is definitely the work of the Great Dragons or more than likely Iopos, which wants us to believe the Great Dragons have attacked us again. They set us up to fight Throal directly previously, and it would seem like they would do it again to keep Thera and Throal at each other’s throats. Too bad it will require almost all of my resources just to combat the undead. We’ll have to ally with Cara Fahd regardless, since neither of us wants the area swarming with undead and Horror constructs and killing tons of non-combatants. We’ll also need to get a team of Wizards to Stormhead as soon as possible. Supposedly the mountains are still erupting smaller Horror Storms. If the mountains aren’t stopped, all of Southwest Barsaive could be destroyed.   

-From the journal of General Nikar Carcini of the Seventh Fleet 67/1 TE 1074.

We resupplied at Lankgarden. A Horror Storm, its vile winds reaching even Lankgarden lies in the Death Sea, heading toward Travar. I have convinced most of the Barsaivian Fleet to follow me, and try and defeat the Horror Storm. The Therans have their own problems and can’t help us beyond resources. We are going east to meet the Horror Storm in battle. From Horrorship to Horror Storm. It’s a great time to be a Horror Stalker!

-Moltaa, obsidiman Nethermancer/Horror Stalker of the Grim Legionnaires. Legion Journal. 67/2 TE 1074.

Rumors

      Shortly before the storm moved away from Stormhead, black, winged shapes were seen in the area. Is there a connection?

A powerful Horror-slaying weapon called the Sword of Morra exists somewhere in Scytha.

New Horrors and Horror constructs are running rampant in the Scytha area.

To make matters even worse, a huge horde of undead is moving southwest from Parlainth and may pass through Scytha soon.

Supposedly Haven signed some sort of trading pact with the undead. Has Torgak lost what’s left of his small Troll mind?

The Blood Elves and House Syrtis have all but declared war on each other. Syrtis has been removed from the River Mothingale by force. Their alliance is now over. Shivalahala Syrtis is rallying her people to war against the Blood Elves who have decided to begin to rebuild their navy and contend with the t’skrang for the Serpent River once again. Supposedly, Syrtis has a super weapon that is going to wipe out the Blood Wood fleet forever. 

UNUSUAL RACE/DISCIPLINE COMBINATIONS 2

Dwarf Beastmaster

The dwarf Beastmaster is an odd and unlikely discipline/race combination because the Beastmaster discipline relies so much on charisma. Let’s first start with the basic strengths and weaknesses here.

Strengths: The dwarf race has some good abilities. The best is the +3 toughness modifier. This means the character gains a Step to toughness. This also helps a lot combined with Karma on Recovery Tests at Fourth Circle, and with several talents such as Heal Animal Servant. Second is the +2 strength modifier. This is almost always a Step to strength, which is a very important attribute to Beastmasters. This makes Claw Shape damage higher. Heat sight is actually highly helpful to Beastmasters since they’ll be able to see heat signatures at night, and thus be able to target animals more easily with Dominate Beast.

Weaknesses: -2 to charisma is a huge negative considering the core talents of the Beastmaster are based on the attribute. Also no modifiers to dexterity, perception, and willpower also hurt. Without karma, high dexterity is key to Beastmasters hitting targets until Seventh Circle. Perception is the key attribute for Tracking and Creature Analysis, and Willpower is the key attribute for Borrow Sense. Much like the Cavalryman, the Beastmaster needs average stats in all attributes to be successful. This is one of the reasons Humans and Elves make really good characters of both disciplines (Elves -2 to toughness hurts, but the race gains adds in four stats core to both disciplines). I’ve never seen an Elf Cavalryman though, which is weird (Maybe next month’s article here). 

Knowing this, I’ve decided to make a Dwarf Beastmaster who focuses on digging creatures such as moles, earth q’ wrils, volus, etc. Let’s design a character using 66 Purchase Points to buy attributes.

Attributes (66 purchase points):

DEX: (14): 6/D10

STR: 14+2=(16): 7/D12

TOU: 13+3=(16): 7/D12

PER: 12=(12): 5/D8

WIL: (11): 5/D8

CHA: 15-2=(13): 6/D10

This distribution is pretty good, as by Second Circle, you can up perception to 13 to get +1 step. You can also up willpower to 13 to get +1 step by Fourth Circle. This gives 4 Step 6 and 2 Step 7 stats by Fourth Circle. By Seventh Circle, adding +1 to perception, willpower, and charisma will add +1 Spell and Social Defenses and +1 Mystic Armor. Or you can decide to up dexterity to 16 to get +1 step and +1 Physical Defense by Sixth Circle instead.

You should probably start out with 2 ranks in Dominate Beast and Unarmed Combat. Getting Karma Ritual and Claw Shape up to 2 should be the next priority. Animal Bond needs to go up to 4 to use Animal Training, but for now go to 2 and hold. Upon your level up, you’ll gain +1 perception. Put up Tracking and Creature Analysis to 2 and hold. You’ll spend a lot of LPs getting up Animal Bond and Animal Training to Rank 4, but it’s worth it since it’s the only way weaker creatures can survive at higher circles. After this you’ll breeze through to Third Circle fairly quickly, just up 4 talents to 3. Since your dwarf doesn’t have really good dexterity, he should concentrate on getting and training as many animals as possible to add more attacks to the group.