d20 Ambient The Complete Librum of Gar'Udok's Necromantic Arts.pdf

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Gar’Udok’s Necromantic Artes

Thee Compleat Librum

Ov Gar'Udok's

Necromantic Artes

Credits

Conceptual Design : M Jason “HellHound” Parent

Written & Collected by : M Jason “HellHound” Parent

Additional Material by : Denise “Dextra” Robinson, Chester “Khan the Warlord” Douglas II

Typesetting & Layout : M Jason “HellHound” Parent

Cover Art : Tony “SquidHead” Monorchio

Cover Layout : M Jason “HellHound” Parent

Interior Art : Tony “SquidHead” Monorchio, M Jason “HellHound” Parent, Denise “Dextra” Robinson

Dedication

www.realmsofevil.net - the lair of internet scum and villainy, home to a legion of fell necromancers

T HIS EDITION OF T HEE C OMPLEAT L IBRUM OV G AR ’U DOK ’ S N ECROMANTIC A RTES IS PUBLISHED

UNDER VERSION 1.0 AOFTHE O PEN G AME L ICENSE AND THE DRAFT VERSION OF THE D 20 S YSTEM

T RADEMARK L ICENSE , D 20 S YSTEM T RADEMARK L OGO G UIDE AND S YSTEM R EFERENCE D OCUMENT

BY PERMISSION FROM W IZARDS OF THE C OAST . S UBSEQUENT EDITIONS WILL INCORPORATE FINAL VER -

SIONS OF THE LICENSE , GUIDE AND DOCUMENT .

M INOR M ENDINGS OF THE F ALLEN , O SSEOUS S TAFF , R ISEN A RMIES , S KELETAL S TRENGTH , W ALL OF

THE G RAVE ). T HE FOLLOWING O PEN G AME C ONTENT ORIGINATES FROM THE E NCYCLOPEDIA

UNDER THE O PEN G AME L ICENSE , VERSION 1.0 A , (C HAPTER 1 SPELLS : P ET C EMETERY , S KELETAL

C OHORT , Z OMBIE C OHORT , G RAFTED A RMAMENT , A GELESS , N ECROPOLIS , D EAD E YES , O NE WITH

THE D EAD ). T HE FOLLOWING O PEN G AME C ONTENT ORIGINATES FROM L IBRUM E QUITIS VOL 1 AND

3 CLASSES : Z OMBIE M ASTER ). T HE FOLLOWING O PEN G AME C ONTENT ORIGINATES FROM T HE 3 E

1.0 A , (C HAPTER 3 CLASSES : P ROPHET ). T HE FOLLOWING O PEN G AME C ONTENT ORIGINATES FROM

L ICENSE , VERSION 1.0 A , (C HAPTER 2 I NHALATION A NTHRAX , S HELLFISH N EUROTOXIN ; C HAPTER 3

C RYPTOSPORIDIOSIS ). T HE FOLLOWING O PEN G AME C ONTENT ORIGINATES FROM D RAGONS AND IS ©

2001 A LDERAC E NTERTAINMENT G ROUP , I NC ., AND IS USED UNDER THE O PEN G AME L ICENSE , VER -

SION 1.0 A (C HAPTER 4 D RACONIC R OGUE ).

D ESIGNATION OF P RODUCT I DENTITY : T HE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE HEREBY DESIGNATED AS P RODUCT

I DENTITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH S ECTION 1 ( E ) OF THE O PEN G AME L ICENSE , VERSION 1.0 A : A LL

SPELL NAMES AND SPELL FLAVOR TEXT ( MATERIAL IN ITALICS BETWEEN THE SPELL NAME AND THE

SCHOOL OF THE SPELL ). A LL REFERENCES TO G AR 'U DOK THE N ECROMANCER ., M ONSTER NAMES AND

DESCRIPTIONS ( EVERYTHING FROM JUST BENEATH "A DVANCEMENT " AND BEFORE "C OMBAT " IN EACH

MONSTER ENTRY IN CHAPTER 2), A NY AND ALL A MBIENT I NC . L OGOS AND IDENTIFYING MARKS AND

TRADE DRESS INCLUDING ALL A MBIENT I NC . P RODUCT AND P RODUCT L INE NAMES INCLUDING BUT NOT

LIMITED TO : THE A MBIENT LOGO , D READ G AZEBO G AMING R ESOURCES , T HEE C OMPLEAT L IBRUM OV

G AR 'U DOK ' S N ECROMANTIC A RTES ; ANY LOCATIONS , GODS , HISTORIC EVENTS , MAGIC ITEMS , ORGAN -

IZATIONS ; AND ANY AND ALL STORIES , STORYLINES , PLOTS , CHARACTERS , THEMATIC ELEMENTS , FICTION

AND DIALOGUE ; AND ALL ARTWORK , SYMBOLS , DESIGNS , DEPICTIONS , ILLUSTRATIONS , MAPS AND CAR -

TOGRAPHY , LIKENESSES , POSES , LOGOS , GRAPHIC DESIGNS , EXCEPT SUCH ELEMENTS THAT ALREADY

APPEAR IN THE D 20 S YSTEM R EFERENCE D OCUMENT AND ARE ALREADY OGC BY VIRTUE OF APPEAR -

ING THERE . T HE ABOVE P RODUCT I DENTITY IS NOT O PEN G AME C ONTENT .

S PELL NAMES IN CHAPTER 6 THAT ARE INDICATED AS ORIGINATING FROM R ELICS & R ITUALS ARE ©

2001 C LARK P ETERSON

A LL CONTENTS OF THIS PUBLICATION , REGARDLESS OF DESIGNATION , ARE COPYRIGHTED YEAR 2002

A MBIENT I NC . A LL RIGHTS RESERVED . R EPRODUCTION OR USE WITHOUT THE WRITTEN PERMISSION OF

THE PUBLISHER IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN , EXCEPT FOR THE PURPOSE OF REVIEW .

D ESIGNATION OF O PEN C ONTENT : S UBJECT TO THE P RODUCT I DENTITY DESIGNATION ABOVE , THE FOL -

LOWING PORTIONS OF T HEE C OMPLEAT L IBRUM OV N ECROMANTIC A RTES ARE DESIGNATED AS O PEN

G AME C ONTENT : A LL SPELL ENTRIES EXCEPT FOR THE SPELL NAME AND THE DESCRIPTIVE TEXT IN ITAL -

ICS BEFORE THE SPELL SCHOOL . A LL M ONSTER ENTRIES EXCEPT FOR THE MONSTER NAME AND THE

DESCRIPTIVE TEXT LOCATED BETWEEN THE A DVANCEMENT ENTRY AND THE C OMBAT SECTION OF THE

MONSTER ENTRY AND THE FLAVOR TEXT IN ITALICS . A LL P RESTIGE C LASSES IN C HAPTER 3 EXCEPT

THE DESCRIPTIVE TEXT BETWEEN THE CLASS NAME AND THE HIT DIE TYPE . A LL FEATS IN C HAPTER 4.

T HE P OWERS AND CONSTRUCTION RULES FOR M AGIC I TEMS IN C HAPTER 5. T HE D OMAINS AND

A LIGNMENT LISTINGS FOR THE D EITIES AS WELL AS THE COMPLETE D OMAINS AND SPELL LISTS PRO -

VIDED FOR THEM IN C HAPTER 6.

T HE MENTION OF OR REFERENCE TO ANY COMPANY OR PRODUCT IN THESE PAGES IS NOT A CHALLENGE

TO THE TRADEMARK OR COPYRIGHT CONCERNED .

" D 20 S YSTEM " AND THE " D 20 S YSTEM LOGO " ARE T RADEMARKS OWNED BY W IZARDS OF THE C OAST

AND ARE USED ACCORDING TO THE TERMS OF THE D 20 S YSTEM L ICENSE VERSION 1.0 A . A COPY OF

THIS L ICENSE CAN BE FOUND AT WWW . WIZARDS . COM .

"D UNGEONS & D RAGONS " AND "W IZARDS

THE C OAST " ARE R EGISTERED T RADEMARKS

W IZARDS OF THE C OAST , AND ARE USED WITH P ERMISSION

S OME OF THE PORTIONS OF THIS BOOK WHICH ARE DELINEATED OGC ORIGINATE FROM THE S YSTEM

G AME C ONTENT ORIGINATES FROM U NDEAD AND IS Ã 2001 A LDARAC E NTERTAINMENT G ROUP , I NC .,

AND IS USED UNDER THE O PEN G AME L ICENSE , VERSION 1.0 A , (C HAPTER 1 S PELLS : A CIDIC V ITAE ,

C HANNELING W ARD , G AR 'U DOK ' S A URA , G AR 'U DOK ' S B LESSING , G AR 'U DOK ' S G REATER B LESSING ,

G AR 'U DOK ' S M INOR B LESSING , H OLD THE S LAIN , L IFE ' S V EIL , M ASK D EATH , M END THE F ALLEN ,

T HIS MATERIAL IS PROTECTED UNDER INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT LAWS . A NY REPRODUCTION OR

UNAUTHORIZED USE OF THE NON -OGL MATERIAL OR ARTWORK CONTAINED HEREIN IS PROHIBITED

WITHOUT THE EXPRESS WRITTEN PERMISSION OF A MBIENT I NC .

Table of Contents

Prologue - Gar’Udok and the North

Page III

Chapter 1 - The Necromancies of Gar’Udok

Page IV

Spell Lists

Page IV

New Spells

Page V

Chapter 2 - Risen Creatures of the North

Page XVII

Monsters & Creatures

Page XVII

Creature Templates

Page XXVI

Player Character Races

Page XXX

Chapter 3 - Dark Lords

Page XXXI

Legion Prestige Class

Page XXXI

The Lotahm Prestige Class

Page XXXIII

Pale Riders Prestige Class

Page XXXV

Priest of Bones Prestige Class

Page XXXVII

Prophet Prestige Class

Page XXXVIII

Zombie Master Prestige Class

Page XL

Fiendish Characters

Page XLI

Chapter 4 - Feats

Page XLIV

Chapter 5 - Magic Items

Page XLV

Chapter 6 - Deities and Domains

Page XLVIII

Fine Print - Open Game License

Page L

About this Book

Thee Compleat Librum ov Gar’Udok’s Necromantic Artes

details the legacy of an ancient fell necromancer, his con-

quest of the northlands and his subsequent defeat nearly a

thousand years ago.

A lot of the work that went into this book was finally put to

type due to the many creative minds at Realms of Evil -

(ww.realmsofevil.net) - a website dedicated to the villains of

fantasy roleplaying, and seemingly primarily to necromancy,

at least based on the contents of their site and message

boards (where I can be found posting regularly). They

reminded me of the mighty Gar’Udok and his necromantic

armies, and thus he was reborn from his icy grave to wan-

der the north of the D20 world once again.

The book contains a selection of new and modified spells,

monsters (mostly undead and constructs), new creature

templates, prestige classes, feats, magic items, deities and

domains that are keynotes in the legacy of Gar’Udok. These

are strung together by the storyline of Gar’Udok’s ascent

and then fall in the Northlands. Each item has a text seg-

ment in italics that links it to this storyline.

Finally, this book has been assembled to provide a venue

for the wonderful art of Squidhead (as well as a few of my

own line illustrations). Tony has been a great friend and

enthusiastic help, having provided illustrations to many great

roleplaying sessions as well as volunteering his art for the

DreadGazebo website. Here’s hoping the spotlight shines

brighter on him.

The material in this book originates from a campaign that

I ran 18 years ago and that has become the legendary back-

drop of my campaign world. It has been stripped of some

elements that tied it to the original campaign world it was set

in, allowing it to be more easily “dropped” into any other pub-

lished fantasy campaign world with a typically tribal and bar-

baric “norse” northlands.

Many thanks have to go out to my ancient gaming groups

in the old fantasy RPG days of the early 80’s... to Darcy

Burgess, Drummond Fraser, Hunter Fraser, John Golding,

Glenn Hall, Steven Howes, Darrel Lalonde, Luc Landriault,

Gabe Laundriault, Kristin McNulty, Sam Parent. To my 90’s

team - Andrew Keyworth, Gab, Leonard Briden, Chuck,

Marcel Malenfant, Andrew Navratil, and Tymen Van Dyk.

And of course to my new D20 groups - Greg Cameron,

Leonard Briden, Tim Brown, Alex Kovacs, Kristan Roberge,

Denise Robinson, Genevieve Robinson, Chrystine

Robinson and Jason Sooch.

Instead of reinventing the wheel, I’ve included open game

content from other sources in various parts of this book -

why write up conflicting material and rules to cover the same

content that someone else has done admirably? That is one

of the wonders of the Open Game License, the ability to take

and modify material written for the D20 system to better fit in

your own games.

Gar’Udok’s Necromantic Artes

Prologue

Gar’Udok and the North

Over one thousand years past, a man changed the north-

lands to his will. His name was Gar'Udok, a fell necromancer

and priest of undeath. He

came with his allies, his

Fallen Priesthood, and

armies that grew after

each battle instead of

shrinking. He changed the

face of the north for all

time, capturing citadels

that had lain mostly aban-

doned by the barbarian

tribes for generations, and

turning them into the cen-

ters of his new empire.

Gar'Udok was a necro-

mantic overlord cut from

the whole cloth. He wor-

shiped no god, instead

considered himself above

such concerns. He sought

out all forms of undeath,

finally choosing a form of

undeath that suited him,

to continue his reign of

terror. He had thralls

remove his brain, heart

and tongue to craft his

new, perfect form. He kept

company with a small

corps of arcane necro-

mancers, a dragon who

ate the dead, and a beau-

tiful ancient undead

medusa. Commanding

and building his undead

forces was the Fallen

Priesthood - clerics of

many gods of death,

undeath and disease; and

later clerics of pure death

and undeath who followed

in Gar'Udok's steps wor-

shipping no deity but the

forces of death them-

selves.

Together they waged a

quick conquest of the

northlands, wresting control of the lands from the many frac-

tious barbarian tribes who held the lands in those times. They

built an empire in the ancient cities that predated the barbar-

ian elders, and spread the worship of death across the world

and even the planes.

But his conquest of these ancient lands would never last.

The cities he raised upon the ruins begin to fall as the

Southern neighbors

of his new empire

became worried

about his incessant

expansion and final-

ly rose up in force

against him.

Most likely these

attacks would have

ended in tragic

defeats for the

Southern Nations,

but under the stress

of the battles, the

Fallen Priesthood

began to fragment

under the tutelage

of their various high

priests. In the midst

of their fractious

attempts at inde-

pendence, Sahinn

the necromancer

made his long-

delayed play for

Gar’Udok’s title.

Suddenly without

the backing of the

Priesthood and

Sahinn, Gar’Udok’s

armies began to

crumble. They were

pursued from

fortress to fortress

as they retreated to

the ruins of Mires

Ford.

There the final

battle was joined,

the holy armies of

the South striking

hard to crush the

remnants of

Gar’Udok’s undead

forces. But the final

battle was far from

one-sided. One of Gar’Udok’s last powerful necromancers

loyal to him brought forth the dead of the entire ruined city

state for one final act of carnage so great that even the gods

took note.

The Gar’Udok Timeline

-1,740 Gar’Udok takes up the mantle of priesthood

-1,712 The destruction of the True Mummies and creation of the dis-

ease golems. Gar’Udok seeks eternal unlife.

-1,694 Joining forces with Sahinn the necromancer

-1,411 Meeting and conquering Torexis, the Cairn Wyrm. Torexis

shares information about the ancient catacombs in the north

and the necromantic lore stored there.

-1,404 The Fallen Priesthood is assembled.

-1,390 Initial forays into the North teach new lessons about undeath,

and Gar’Udok targets them for conquest.

-1,372 Meetings with the Blood Druids and obtains their quiet backing

of his conquering armies.

-1,351 Conquers the majority of the tribal-controlled Northlands, estab-

lishing bases and trade cities in the ancient ruined cities that

predate the barbarian tribes.

-1,202 Renewed search for ancient necromancies - chooses the path

of the True Mummy for immortality.

-1,080 Discovers and frees Caramina

-1,065 Undead armies begin conquering the city-states around the

Northlands already under his control

-1,060 Chondri the Dark, high-priestess in the Fallen Priesthood,

becomes a prophet of Bulboros. Her preachings end with her

death at the claws of a dark beast summoned by Gar’Udok.

-1,040 Caramina travels to the Island Nations to discuss tribute to the

northlands and changes to their burial rites

-1,038 The Southern Nations rise up to strike back against Gar’Udok’s

expansion attempts.

-1,035 Battles tear apart the Northlands. Cities fall on both sides, but

the fallen soldiers in lost battles soon become part of

Gar’Udok’s armies.

-1,023 As cities fall, Gar’Udok’s armies are torn apart by internal strife

between the faiths of the Fallen Priesthood.

-1,002 Seeing the sundering of the Priesthood, Sahinn seeks to usurp

power from Gar’Udok, and is slain and his conspiracy

destroyed.

-1,001 Gar’Udok’s armies dwindle without the support of the

Priesthood and Sahinn. A tactical retreat towards Mires Ford is

begun. The armies of the south burn all bodies they encounter

to prevent their rising as undead and to destroy members of the

Fallen Priesthood hiding among them.

-1,000 Gar’Udok’s last stand at Mires Ford, the scattering of his surviv-

ing followers

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