Rules for Legacy and Affliction in 3E
by Trevor MellisForward
The Savage Coast was one of the most original campaign settings ever created for the Dungeons & Dragons game, and my gaming group greatly enjoyed the swashbuckling, European-style adventuring in a cursed paradise. When we decided to adopt the 3rd Edition Rules system for our gaming sessions (largely because of the new character classes and feats), we ran into an interesting problem with game balance. This document was written from the original Savage Coast documents posted on the Wizards of the Coast website, and changes were made as needed to bring the balance and order from the Savage Coast to the 3rd Edition game world.
Here you will find the rules we created for Legacies, Afflictions, and other related aspects of the Savage Coast game world. It is by no means perfect, and there may be several errors throughout the document that might need correction (after all, I haven't had a chance to test every single one of the 80 different Legacies).
From the Savage Coast Campaign Book Part 2: Player Characters
Copyright (c) 1996 TSR, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Made in the U.S.A.
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The proper use of this document requires the complete version of the original Savage Coast Campaign Book Part 2, as well as the following: Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition Players Handbook, Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition Dungeon Master's Guide, and the Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition Monster Manual. The text contained within this document is excerpted from the document mentioned above, distributed freely online at www.wizards.com and is part of a larger archive. Every effort has been made to preserve the original style, flavour, and design of the original Savage Coast Campaign while converting this system to the 3rd Edition rules system. The editor of this document does not claim ownership of this document, its original predecessor, nor the 3rd Edition Rules system.
The Curse and the Legacies
The most important addition to the rules for this setting are those concerning the Red Curse. Because the curse is still very much a mystery to the inhabitants of the Savage Coast, release of the information in this chapter to players should be carefully controlled.
Though the Red Curse is potentially devastating, ways have been found to channel its magical energies; to some individuals the curse is almost a blessing. The Savage Coast is also home to two unique magical substances, vermeil and cinnabryl, and the latter can be used for protection from the Red Curse.
This chapter details the Red Curse and its origins, the magical substances of the region, the acquisition of Legacies, and the Legacies themselves.
Basic Effects of the Curse
The fundamental effects of the Red Curse are twofold. First, every person who spends time in the cursed area begins to manifest an extraordinary, magical power, known as a Legacy. Second, if preventative measures are not taken, the affected individual usually suffers a change in physical appearance and an attribute loss. Various side effects of the Red Curse exist. For most people, the acquisition of a Legacy means a loss of health, degeneration of mental or physical prowess, and other equally unpleasant physical manifestations.
For example, someone who receives a Legacy of great strength might gain it only in one arm, which could grow to huge proportions, leaving the rest of the body relatively normal. At the same time, the person would lose Intelligence, forgetting those things once learned and possibly even losing the ability to learn.
However, the magical substance cinnabryl prevents the worst effects of the curse, while allowing individuals to enjoy the benefits. Cinnabryl and other magical substances are used to manipulate the curse's magic to beneficial purposes, even allowing some people to gain more than one Legacy.
Origins of the Curse
No mortal is completely sure of the Red Curse's origins. Indeed, many people search for its cause, sure that once it is found, the curse can be lifted. However, many people enjoy the benefits of the curse, from the personal Legacies it gives them to the chaos it imposes on the region, allowing a clever person to rise to great power.
Following are a few commonly held theories concerning the origins of the curse. Each of these circulates the region periodically as legend, but sages study them all.
The Dragonfall
According to this legend, many years ago, dragons roamed the lands and were often seen in the sky. The dragons met in great conclaves, where they decided how they should be governed and how they should relate to other races.
Then, the dragons began to war among themselves for reasons lost in the mists of time. It is said that the leader of all the dragons was saddened by these conflicts; he had believed that the noble dragons were above the petty conflicts of other races.
Eventually, the dragon leader was able to find out who started the conflict, but doing so cost him greatly, for he had to battle other dragons. Grievously wounded, the dragon leader left the scene of the battle and flew to find the instigator, leaving a great trail of his blood.
The great dragon finally found his hated enemy, a powerful human. They fought for many days. In the end, the dragon won, but only at the cost of his own mortal life. As he lay breathing his last, he laid an eternal curse on all the lands where his blood had fallen. So great was his curse that, in effect, he gained immortality. The red vermeil that blows on the winds is the living remnant of his blood, a reminder of his pain. Because of it, the curse is eternal.
The wording of the curse was such that all who lived in the area would suffer, becoming twisted relics of their former selves. The curse was also to draw the greedy and the power-hungry to the area, leading them away from the rest of the world to a secluded place where they would eventually destroy themselves.
The Araneas and Wallaras
Another tale claims that the wallaras, known to many as chameleon men, once had a great and powerful civilisation. Descended from dragons, the wallaras were altered to have smaller forms so they might interact more freely with the human and near-human races and spread the wisdom of dragons to them. They brought many great things to the world.
Then came the araneas. They were evil spider beings who, in their arrogance, conducted strange magical experiments on wallaras, releasing a plague that almost destroyed the wallaras completely. The Immortal patron of the wallaras, the dragon known as the Great One, tried to save his chosen people, but his magic was twisted by the araneas and their patrons. In the end, the wallaras devolved into the race of spiritually rich, yet technologically primitive, people that they are today.
The Great One's wrath was terrible. He brought all his magic to bear and laid an aura of magic over the land. The magic was meant to give every living being in the area a magical power, that they might use it to resist the araneas. Alas, the araneas and their patrons again interfered, altering the magic so that with the power came a curse. All who gained the arcane power would be twisted by it.
Still, the Great One fought against the forces of evil and chaos in a battle beyond the comprehension of mere mortals. He fought the enemy until both sides were exhausted by their efforts, but still the Great One persevered. He knew that he would be unable to act for a long time, too late to save the people doomed by the magic he had initiated. With a great effort, the Great One pulled a bone from his body and smashed it above the area that would become known as the Savage Coast.
The blood that rained down dried and became the powdery vermeil, while the pieces of his bone fell deep into the earth, where they turned into the deposits of cinnabryl, the substance that protects from the curse and allows the Great One's blessing to function properly.
Now the araneas are a hated race, nearly extinct. Those few who still exist hide from the sight of all who care for good and order.
Nimmur and the Manscorpions
This legend states that many centuries ago, beings that were half man and half scorpion roamed the land that would become the Savage Coast. They became friends with the ancient people of Nimmur, the ancestors of the enduks. At first, the manscorpions were friendly, even helpful, but they hid a deep and abiding love for chaos and evil. Eventually, they turned against the good people of Nimmur and against the Immortal patron of both races, Ixion, ruler of the Sun.
Ixion was angered, and he took his blessing from the manscorpions, making them vulnerable to the light and heat of the sun. Wherever they stood, manscorpions burnt to piles of red ash, which we now know as vermeil. The power of Ixion was great, and it sank into the land. Now, all people who live here gain power from the land.
Now, the red ash from the manscorpions flies through the air, poisoning all who live near it and giving them bizarre Afflictions unless they dig to find the receptacles of Ixion's power, the magical metal cinnabryl.
The Real Story
Each of the legends above contains at least part of the truth, yet none tells the complete story. The Red Curse is actually composed of several curses and blessings. It is a result of several conflicts that took place about 1,500 years ago during a time of magical troubles.
Roughly around that time, the Nithians were at the height of their power. They built an empire centred on a great river, constructing immense pyramids throughout the surrounding deserts, lands that would eventually become home to the Emirates of Ylaruam. The pharaohs of Nithia also sent out exploratory expeditions to other regions, discovering the Savage Coast about 1,700 years ago and starting a colony there. At about the same time, the Immortal Thanatos decided to destroy Nithian culture. It took almost two centuries to complete, during which time Thanatos led the Nithians to irritate almost all the other Immortals. In the end, the Nithians were destroyed. On the Savage Coast, their disappearance took place almost overnight.
The other Immortals also concocted an incredibly powerful enchantment known as The Spell of Oblivion. This magic affected every living, mortal being in the world, robbing all of any memory of the Nithians and destroying many of their monuments and artifacts. Curiously, on the Savage Coast, the destruction was not absolute; a few pyramids were left, as was a legacy of art and philosophy. The people of the Savage Coast have no true memory of the origins of those things, however. The manscorpions of Nimmur believe, for example, that they simply migrated west rather than being driven by the Nithians. Most people believe ancient Nithian artifacts to be remnants of wallaran outposts.
While the Nithians on the Savage Coast were in power, they were great workers of magic, involved in a conspiracy to wrest power from their pharaoh. Their wizards had even created powerful magic which was the root of the Legacies, intended to give spell-like powers to many of their troops. The Savage Coast Nithians also set loose spells creating a magical metal that could be mined and shaped into magical weapons. This was the origin of cinnabryl. Nonetheless, doom fell upon all Nithians before the rebels could attack.
Meanwhile, the manscorpions, having been driven west by the Nithians, had been accepted by the enduks of Nimmur. At about the same time as the Nithian destruction, the manscorpions turned on the enduks and drove them out. In fact, the enduks only survived this treachery because they were aided by their friends, the ee'aar, from across the sea.
The Immortal Ixion punished the manscorpions with a two-fold curse. First, the manscorpions of Nimmur on the western edge of the Orc's Head peninsula became vulnerable to Ixion's power, that of the sun. Many were incinerated, and the rest were driven underground. The second part of Ixion's curse fell along the rest of the Savage Coast, to catch those manscorpions still living at various places along it. This curse declared that those who sought power would be doomed by it, having their bodies twisted and their mental and physical abilities depleted.
As might be expected, Ixion's curse acted upon anyone who gained power, even those who were unwillingly granted it, in the form of Legacies, by the Nithian enchantment. Thus, the Legacies are the result of one enchantment, and the detriments associated with them are the result of another.
During the time of the Nithian and Nimmurian conflicts, a war broke out between the mages of Herath and the wallaras. Most people believe who know anything of the araneas believe that the race began to decline about 3,000 years ago, being supplanted by human and elven wizards, but this is not the case. As explained in the "Herath" chapter, the araneas began to assume other forms, and the "humans and elves" who supplanted them were actually araneas in disguise. The Herathians have managed to keep their secret, even to this day.
However, the wallaras were a very wise people, able to discern what was real and what was not. They understood the secret of the Herathians. They did nothing with the knowledge because they were a peaceful people, content to possess knowledge without using it, despite the fact that Herathians had occasionally used wallaras as stock for magical experiments.
To the Herathians, however, the wallaras' knowledge of their secret was intolerable. Approximately 1,700 years ago, Herathians used captured wallaras in an experiment, infusing their essence into lizard men to create the more advanced specimens who eventually became the shazaks. The wallaran nation protested, and the Herathians feared that the wallaras would spread their secret. In response, the mages of Herath released a magical plague upon the wallaran nation, causing that people to forget all they knew about Herath and its inhabitants. Unfortunately, the plague worked too well. Within two centuries, it had erased so much of the wallaras' knowledge that the race reverted to a Stone Age level of technology and learning. This drew the attention of the wallaras' patron, the Immortal called the Great One.
The Great One stopped the devolution of the wallaras, leaving them frozen at their current level of development. He then laid an enchantment on the area, casting his blood over the region roughly 1,500 years ago, about the same time as the Nimmurian and Nithian conflicts. That blood became vermeil, and it clouded all readings of magic in the area, which greatly hindered the mages of Herath, keeping them from using divinations on their enemies and even destroying their ability to detect magical energy. The Great One's enchantment also catalysed the other magical forces (the Nithian powers and Ixion's curse), linking all three together while altering them slightly.
Enraged, the Herathians gathered their powers and fought back. Weary from his efforts to help the wallaras and hinder the araneas, the Great One could not prevent their interference. The mages of Herath were able to confine the curses (all linked now) to a small area at the eastern edge of the coast, in the lands that would eventually become the Savage Baronies. Because the curses were confined, few people outside that area were aware of them, though from time to time a few strange creatures would come scrambling or oozing from the region.
Little was known of the curses and enchantments until the most recent wave of colonisation brought more people to the area. Even then, the effects were confined to a small area, thanks to Herathian magic. About ten years ago, the people of the Savage Baronies began experimenting with cinnabryl and power gain. They also began referring to the combined afflictions as the Red Curse.
Finally, only a year ago, all magic in the world suddenly failed for about a week. During this time, the Herathian's capital, Belphemon, was sacked by a goblinoid horde, and the spider people's magical protections were destroyed. When magic was restored, the Red Curse was released to cover nearly the entire coastal region. Not knowing why it spread, the people of the area attributed it to the wrath of the Immortals, which they also blame for the multitude of wars that have swept the region over the past decade.
Removing the Red Curse
Whether or not the Red Curse can be lifted (in whole or in part) is, of course, left to the DM's discretion. Some DMs may wish to have this as a focus of their campaigns; others will prefer to present the Red Curse as a background condition, permanent and unremovable. Both types can benefit from a discussion concerning the difficulties involved in attempting to dispose of the Red Curse.
For one thing, the nature of the Red Curse is a linked combination of three separate enchantments. Of the three, only the Legacies and cinnabryl were created by mortals; the others came almost directly from Immortals. Since they are linked, removing just one piece of the puzzle would be difficult. If the DM wishes to make it possible to remove just a part of the Red Curse, the Legacies or cinnabryl seem to be the place to start since they were created by mortal magic. Nonetheless, these are the most beneficial parts of the curse, and many people who stand to lose by their removal would certainly object. Additionally, both started with the Nithians, who are remembered by no mortals. Thus, seeking out their roots would be extraordinarily difficult. It would probably involve asking an Immortal, and the Immortals are unwilling to talk about the Nithians or even admit that they once existed, except under the rarest of circumstances.
If the DM wishes to allow an end to the campaign by the removal of the Red Curse, it is suggested that an epic quest lead player characters to discover the truth about the Curse's separate components. The end of the Red Curse would need to involve the Inheritors of the Savage Coast because they hold the key to much of its power. Not all Inheritors would be willing to cooperate, so some might need to be eliminated if the goal is to be reached. In addition, the removal of the Red Curse would require the cooperation of at least Ixion and the Great One, if not other Immortals as well. Reaching the Immortals and convincing them to cooperate would be, needless to say, quite difficult.
In addition to the problems of discovering the truth about the Nithians and gaining the cooperation of the Immortals, the quest to end the Red Curse would likely bring PCs into conflict with the Herathians. The spider people want to protect their secrets, but their cooperation would be necessary to reconcile with the Great One. To willingly reveal their secrets and cooperate with the Great One, the Herathians would have to change their culture greatly, risking retribution from many quarters because of their centuries of secrecy and spying.
The DM might also require the cooperation of the wallaras, which could come only from their restoration to greatness. Like the other parts of the epic quest, this task would require great magic and much perseverance.
As an alternative to removing the Red Curse, it is also possible to direct a campaign toward re-establishing its containment within the lands of the Savage Baronies. This would probably require the cooperation of the Herathians. It is something they would be quite willing to do, but Herath is inclined to move slowly and subtly to protect itself from the scrutiny of outsiders.
In short, ending even part of the Red Curse or curtailing it in any way would be very difficult. If it is to be done at all, it should take many years of the characters' lives. In fact, it might require two or more generations of heroes to accomplish the mighty task. Such a quest would likely lead some characters to achieve immortality so they could aid in its completion from the level at which the most cooperation is needed. The problems involved are great, but bringing about their solutions is the stuff of which legends are made.
The Magical Substances
As mentioned earlier, the Savage Coast is home to several inherently magical materials. Two basic magical substances are found in the region: vermeil and cinnabryl. Both are useful in several ways and can be used to create crimson essence, red steel, steel seed, and smokepowder. All are described in the following text. This material is intended as a general overview; details on certain game effects are found later in this chapter and in the "Magic" chapter. Cost and availability of the various materials are discussed in the "Equipment and Economics" chapter.
Vermeil The most obvious non-living manifestation of the curse is vermeil (pronounced vur-MEEL), a reddish dust found in the soil and air of the region. Vermeil is sometimes referred to as dragon's blood. The substance radiates magic, and since it is omnipresent along most of the Savage Coast, detect magic and similar magic detection spells and abilities are all but useless there (for details, see the "Magic" chapter).
Vermeil glows very slightly, enough that it can be seen in the dark, but not enough to light an area, unless in great concentration (which is rare). The presence of vermeil in the air causes strange effects at times, such as glowing winds. Because it is extraordinarily difficult to keep vermeil out of metal during processing, coins and other metal items made on the Savage Coast glow slightly and radiate the same hazy magical aura as vermeil.
Vermeil is unavoidably ingested by anyone living in the area, and many blame the substance for the Red Curse, even referring to affected people (those changed physically or suffering from great attribute loss) as being "tainted" or "under vermeil's curse." However, ingesting the substance causes no harm, and by itself, vermeil has no properties other than its hazy magical radiance and those properties common to normal dust. It does not dissolve in water.
Vermeil is a necessary component of the potion crimson essence, as well as of smokepowder, both of which are described in subsequent entries. Because it is a sort of "generic" magical dust, vermeil is also useful as a component of various sorts of magical dusts, powders, and inks, helping other substances to hold enchantments.
Cinnabryl Cinnabryl (pronounced SIN-a-brill) is a rare, slightly glowing, shiny red metal. It is smooth and feels almost slick to the touch, leaving a slight residue, reddish in colour, when worn next to the skin (just as a copper bracelet leaves a green-blue residue). Cinnabryl does not hold an edge well but is easily shaped with hammer and heat. It has a density slightly less than that of gold and almost exactly twice that of steel.
When worn next to the skin, cinnabryl protects the wearer from the detrimental effects of the Red Curse. Fortunate (or wealthy) people wear jewellery of cinnabryl to protect themselves from the curse. The metal radiates magic and also gives off a slight reddish glow; its radiance is necessary to make crimson essence. A protective item made of cinnabryl is typically called an amulet, while one designed for the creation of crimson essence is called a talisman.
After being worn by a living being for a while, however, cinnabryl's magic becomes depleted; it no longer protects from the curse. Strangely, the metal's weight decreases as its magic depletes, so someone able to test the material's weight and displacement (a person skilled as a jeweller or alchemist, for example) can determine how long a sample of the material will last before becoming fully depleted. Since its usefulness has a time limit, cinnabryl must be replenished periodically. Consequently, it is in great demand and hunted almost constantly. Depleted cinnabryl is called red steel (see the subsequent entry).
Cinnabryl also has effects harmful to those not suffering from vermeil's curse. This keeps most people from taking cinnabryl away from the Savage Coast. When cinnabryl becomes depleted, these potentially harmful effects disappear as well. See "Effects of the Red Curse" later in this chapter for full details regarding depletion of cinnabryl and the substance's various effects.
Cinnabryl is found in deposits in many places along the Savage Coast, but only in that region. The deposits consist of clusters of rounded nuggets of pure cinnabryl. These nuggets are generally found in reddish clay, and small deposits of steel seed (see subsequent entry) are often found with them.
Unknown to all but the most learned of wizards and sages, cinnabryl is self-perpetuating while in deposits of red clay. That is, the metal produces more nuggets of itself while in that material. (The Nithians designed cinnabryl to be a self-replenishing supply of magical metal.) This replenishment is a slow process, and it is possible to over- mine deposits, which means the metal might someday disappear from the Savage Coast.
Red Steel When the magical protective effects of cinnabryl have been completely depleted, the remaining substance is red steel. This is a lightweight, dull red metal (it does not glow like cinnabryl and vermeil). Red steel is hard without being brittle, holds an edge very well, and weighs only half as much as steel. Thus, it is in great demand for the making of weapons.
Because red steel is inherently magical, weapons made from it can strike creatures normally hit only by weapons of +1 enchantment, as well as those normally struck only by silver or cold iron weapons. Red steel also holds enchantments well, so along the Savage Coast it is the preferred base metal for magical armour, weapons, and other devices. The metal's popularity is spreading wherever it is traded, but most red steel remains on the Savage Coast, due to the efforts of the Inheritors.
It should be noted that red steel does not conduct electricity well. Thus, it is not considered a conductor for shocking grasp spells or similar effects (though it has no real effect against such powerful electrical forces as lightning bolt spells).
Armour of red steel can also adjust its shape when a Legacy is used. Items made of red steel are discussed in the "Magic" chapter, and a full description of red steel armour appears there.
Crimson Essence
This substance is a potion that grants Legacies to the imbiber. In most cases, the power gain is random and temporary, but some people learn how to control multiple Legacies and use crimson essence to possess extra Legacies permanently.
Crimson essence is a liquid medium created from vermeil and other substances. Once the liquid has been prepared, it is carried close to the body and bathed in the radiance of cinnabryl for a time. Some people create cinnabryl talismans with special holders for carrying their potion vials. When ready to be used, crimson essence glows red and sparkles with reflected light.
Creation of crimson essence requires two months (for an Inheritor) or six months (for anyone else). Full details can be found in the description of the Inheritor in the "Character Kits" chapter. More details on the effect of the potion are found in the "Magic" chapter.
Steel Seed Steel seed is a silvery-red, granular substance found with deposits of cinnabryl. Alchemists and sages have determined that steel seed is cinnabryl that has been depleted of its magic before having been mined. These same wise folk have not determined how the substance becomes depleted, however, because it seems to be different from the organic depletion that changes cinnabryl to red steel.
In any case, steel seed is a somewhat hard, slightly brittle substance that radiates magic in a manner similar to vermeil, but steel seed does not glow. It is something like crystallised red steel, but it cannot be forged into weapons or items as that metal can. Steel seed is an important component in smokepowder and may possibly be useful in other magical preparations. The material is found in small amounts wherever cinnabryl deposits are found. The only known large caches of steel seed are found in the cinnabryl mines near Smokestone City, in Cimarron County of the Savage Baronies.
Smokepowder In the SAVAGE COAST campaign setting, smokepowder can be created by combining vermeil in a specific proportion with steel seed. In all other respects, smokepowder conforms to the descriptions of gunpowder in the 3rd Edition Dungeon Master's Guide. It can be made only by someone with the appropriate skill and materials (at least 5 ranks in Alchemy or Metallurgy, or three ranks in Profession: Powdersmith). Smokepowder is relatively common in Cimarron County, uncommon in the other Savage Baronies and Renardy, and rare elsewhere.
Note that detonation of smokepowder can affect the depletion rate of cinnabryl. See the section on cinnabryl depletion later in this chapter.
Effects of the Red Curse
As mentioned, the Red Curse is actually composed of three different enchantments. The people of the Savage Coast group all effects together, believing the affliction to be a single curse (so they never refer to the "Red Curses"). However, certain terms are used for different effects of the Red Curse. This section of the rules describes each component of the effects of the Red Curse, the time factors involved, and the details of protecting oneself from the curse's detriments.
Generally speaking, the Red Curse affects only intelligent beings. However, animals and monsters have been known to acquire Legacies. Some of these suffer the detriments of the Red Curse as well. Almost all animals of the cursed lands are affected by at least the side effects of the Red Curse. See "The Campaign" chapter for notes on monsters with Legacies.
Benefits: The Legacies
The Red Curse has precisely one beneficial effect: the Legacies. Since this is always accompanied by some malign effect, the people of the Savage Coast never refer to acquisition of a Legacy as a blessing or benefit, but always as part of the curse. The name "Legacy" hearkens to the bane on these lands, for an arcane power gained is considered a legacy of the Red Curse.
The Legacy is the first effect of the curse to manifest. A Legacy is a magical, spell-like power; its use is essentially automatic, but limited, for the user. Legacies are usually directly beneficial to the user but can sometimes be used to aid another. Further discussion and description of these Legacies appear later in this chapter.
Detriments: Loss and Change
After a person acquires a Legacy, he begins to lose points from a particular ability score, such as Constitution or Intelligence. The precise number of points lost is variable and potentially fatal; the DM should roll 1d8+1 to determine how many are lost (note that wearing cinnabryl prevents most of this loss). The ability score affected is dependent on the exact Legacy acquired, and is usually more or less the opposite of the arcane power gained. (For example, a character who gains a Legacy of Strength loses points from the Intelligence score.) If the affected ability score (except Charisma) drops to 0 or less, the character dies and cannot be raised without cinnabryl.
In addition to the ability loss, the character receives another detrimental effect related to the Legacy acquired. In most cases, this is a physical deformation. For example, characters with a Legacy of Armour might grow ugly and uncomfortable scales over their skin.
An individual who suffers ability loss and physical change is referred to as an Afflicted.
Side Effect: Colouring Change
People living in the cursed lands gradually acquire a red tint to their skin and hair. For humans and humanoids, this reddening begins well before adulthood in the Savage Baronies, approximately at adulthood in other lands. The reptilian races, tortles and lizard kin, first manifest redness around the edges of their scales, or in webbed lines through their skin or shells. Furred races like rakastas and lupins gain a red tint to the ends of their hair strands. The winged races, ee'aar and enduks, redden first at the tips of their feathers.
In all cases, the colouring spreads, eventually causing the whole body to appear red if the character lives long enough. After the initial reddening described above, hair usually colours next, with that on the head acquiring a deep red tint after some time. The exact rate varies, though the rate of spread is rather slow for ee'aar, enduks, gurrash, and caymas; it might take several years for a character of one of these races to acquire red skin, scales, or fur, and they might never get red hair. People of Herath, Renardy, Bellayne, and Shazak redden slightly quicker but never acquire a complete reddish cast. Thus, it might take two to five years for a lupin's coat to turn red, but the colour would be limited to the tips of individual strands. In Eusdrians, the skin tone changes little, but a Eusdrian's hair turns a fiery crimson rather quickly, usually over the course of a few months. Wallaras never show any sign of colouring at all.
The people of the Savage Baronies start colouring early, and the process continues rather rapidly. Eventually they acquire a deep, reddish tone to their skin, while their hair often appears to be the dark, blackish-red colour of dried blood.
The acquisition of Legacies accelerates this reddening process. A person colours relatively quickly when a Legacy becomes enabled, often serving as a clue that the person has gained the power. In addition, an individual who has acquired a Legacy receives an additional side effect: They begin radiating a slight magical aura. Even those who gain the detrimental effects of the curse but do not gain a Legacy (as with ee'aar, enduks, araneas, and wallaras) acquire this aura. The basic effect of this magical aura is that it befuddles most detection spells (as detailed in the "Magic" chapter). The more Legacies a character gains, the greater the aura.
Characters not native to the cursed lands begin the reddening process when they acquire a Legacy, which gives them a clue as to what is happening to them. Non-natives never colour completely, even if they manage to become Inheritors, or are sorcerers with several Legacies.
The exact amount of colouring a character endures is left to the DM and the player. This should be something of a role-playing choice, influenced by the character's origin and how the player wants the character to look.
Table 13.1: INITIAL LEGACIES BY REGION
Manifestation of Effects The following text describes the Red Curse's effects on a person not protected by cinnabryl.
For natives, the reddening of skin and hair is typically the first thing to manifest, starting well before the character reaches adulthood, particularly in the Savage Baronies. For all characters, the base starting age can be considered the approximate age of adulthood though most races mature slightly sooner than that.
Most people gain a Legacy when they reach maturity; some develop earlier, while a few gain the power later. Despite what any sage or church might claim about fate, a person's Legacy is essentially random, though related people tend to have related Legacies, and some Legacies are more common in certain regions. In some very small villages, virtually all the people have the same Legacy. The Legacies of the character's relatives and neighbours should influence the choice of the character's initial Legacy. If these are not known, the player should roll 1d20 and consult Table 13.1 and the map of Legacy regions. The map shows numbered regions, and the table identifies Legacies by those same numbers. In the column numbered for the region in which the character resides, find the Legacy on the same row as the number rolled on 1d20.
People who travel into a cursed area after reaching maturity also gain a Legacy unless they belong to a race that does not acquire initial Legacies (araneas for PCs, ee'aar, enduks, and wallaras for NPCs). Non-natives are completely unaffected for a number of days equal to their Constitution score; one day later, the Legacy manifests. As with native characters, the player of a non-native should roll 1d20 and consult Table 13.1 to determine which Legacy is acquired.
The first indications of the manifestation of a Legacy, in both natives and non-natives, are increased reddening of the person's skin or hair, a tingling in the extremities, and a subdued sense of euphoria and power. This "Time of Grace" lasts for about a week (1d4+5 days), during which time the person can activate the Legacy once per day. Natives are well acquainted with the symptoms and know that Legacies are activated by force of will. They immediately seek to obtain cinnabryl (see the following section). A non-native will not automatically understand what is happening and might need to consult a local. Still, the Legacy might be activated in times of stress if the DM deems it appropriate. For example, a non-native whose Legacy has manifested might unconsciously activate it when threatened by a monster. This would certainly be a clue that something strange has happened to the character.
After the Time of Grace, the Legacy becomes fully enabled, and the user can activate it the standard three times per day. This coincides with the beginning of the "Time of Loss," which lasts for 2d4 days. Each day, the person loses one point from the ability listed for the Legacy acquired. If any ability score other than Charisma drops to a score of 0 or below, the character dies. A Charisma of 0 or less simply means that deformation has rendered the character extremely ugly.
After the Time of Loss, the "Time of Change" begins. It is during this period that the physical detriments of the curse manifest. In most cases, the body of the affected individual begins to change in some way. As with the ability loss, this physical change depends on the exact Legacy gained and is detailed with the description of the Legacy. The Time of Change lasts about a week (1d6+4 days), during which time the body of the affected person transforms slowly. If the person has a Legacy that does not cause a physical transformation, the other detriment(s) begin to slowly occur over this period of time.
Those races who do not gain an initial Legacy still go through the rest of the process, the Time of Grace, the Time of Loss, and the Time of Change. As indicated, they do not actually gain a Legacy. However, the DM does determine which Legacy the person would have gained; this dictates the ability affected during the Time of Loss and the physical transformation that takes place during the Time of Change.
Those individuals who have suffered ability loss and physical transformation are referred to as the "Afflicted." Afflicted are considered hideous mutations; they are hunted and destroyed by some people, though their friends might try to obtain cinnabryl to reverse the effects.
The Legacy Timeline
Protection: Cinnabryl When a person's Legacy first manifests, the individual has a few days to obtain a cinnabryl amulet to hold off the detrimental effects. The amulet should remain in contact with the person, which means either touching the skin or separated from it by no more than a thin layer of cloth.
People who do not obtain cinnabryl deteriorate slowly, as detailed in the previous text. If they begin wearing cinnabryl during the Time of Grace, they lose only one point from the designated ability score, shortening the Time of Loss to one day, but this ability loss is permanent. An individual wearing cinnabryl from the beginning does not go through the Time of Change.
Cinnabryl can also counteract detrimental effects that have already occurred, provided not too much time has passed. If a person begins wearing cinnabryl after the first day of the Time of Loss, the loss of ability score points is halted. The process of loss is reversed, and the character regains ability score points until only 1 point below the original score.
Regardless of when a character begins wearing cinnabryl, 1 point is always permanently lost from the ability score. The loss of that point cannot be reversed by cinnabryl.
If an individual begins wearing cinnabryl during the Time of Change, the progress of the transformation halts immediately. Regardless of how long the character has been changing, the time required to reverse the change is 1d6+4 days. The transformation is slow and rather painful.
If the character stops wearing cinnabryl for a time, the detrimental effects of the curse can occur again. A new Time of Grace begins, lasting only one day, after which the Time of Loss and the Time of Change begin, occurring simultaneously. At such a time, the affected person loses the full 9 points from the designated ability score, a process that requires eight days. The transformation requires the same amount of time, and is quite painful. As with the standard Time of Loss, a character can die (or become exceptionally ugly) because of ability score loss. During this combined Time of Loss and Change, the process can be stopped if the character begins wearing cinnabryl. As with the other times when cinnabryl is worn, the process of loss and change stop immediately. However, after this discontinuation follows a period of stasis; the character remains at the ability score as adjusted and in the state of transformation reached for a period of 2d4 days. After this, reversal begins. The ability score returns at a rate of 1 point per day, again until the character's ability is 1 point below the original score. The reversal of the transformation takes longer, 2d4+6 days.
If the processes of loss and change are ever completed, the person is considered fully Afflicted, and special measures must be taken for restoration. See the following section on "Recovery from Affliction."
Everyone with any common sense considers it important to wear cinnabryl from the moment the effects of the Red Curse are first detected. Naturally, this makes cinnabryl a valued commodity. Most people wear an amulet of cinnabryl, simply a piece of jewellery designed to place cinnabryl near the skin. Inheritors wear cinnabryl talismans, amulets designed to hold a vial for production of crimson essence.
Someone who has been affected by the Red Curse, acquiring a Legacy and suffering the loss of an ability point but using cinnabryl to hold off further change, is considered "Tainted" or "Balanced." The former term is used mostly by the common folk, the latter by Inheritors.
Depletion of Cinnabryl Whenever cinnabryl is worn next to the skin, its magical properties become depleted. One ounce of the material will deplete in seven days (or four days for sorcerers), so if an amulet weighing eight ounces is worn, its power drains in eight weeks (four weeks for sorcerers). It is the amount worn that is important, rather than the number of items worn. A rogue wearing two bracelets of cinnabryl, each weighing eight ounces, is protected for 16 weeks. Both items are depleted equally, so if the person removes the bracelets after wearing them together for eight weeks, each would be good for four weeks alone. Since the depletion rate of cinnabryl is so vital to the people, they tend to wear one item at a time, usually an eight-ounce item that has been tested and is guaranteed for eight weeks, or a one-pound item guaranteed for 16 weeks.
Note that the weights mentioned here are for cinnabryl that has not been depleted. As mentioned previously, the substance's weight decreases as its power diminishes. The actual weight of cinnabryl, compared with its mass, indicates how long the cinnabryl item will last. This testing of a cinnabryl item can be performed by jewellers, alchemists, smiths, and some merchants and traders. A player character with no skill in these areas can still learn to test cinnabryl by spending a Craft skill slot at his or her next level-up. Only a truly nasty person would mislead another as to the time a cinnabryl amulet can be expected to last, but such a thing has been known to happen.
Note that detonation of smokepowder can increase the depletion rate of cinnabryl. Fortunately for most people, this affects only cinnabryl worn by Inheritors, due to the odd interaction between the magical substances and the Inheritors' bodies, which have been imbued with the magic of multiple Legacies. A smokepowder explosion within two feet of an Inheritor (or a sorcerer with Legacy) causes the instant depletion of a week's worth of cinnabryl. The amount of smokepowder that explodes does not matter, as long as it is at least enough to propel a bullet from a wheellock pistol (about one ounce).
If the character is not carrying at least a week's worth of cinnabryl, the amount carried is instantly depleted, and any time left over is applied to the Time of Loss and Change (as detailed previously under "Manifestation of Effects") as if the character had stopped wearing cinnabryl. Thus, an Inheritor caught by a smokepowder
explosion while wearing less than an ounce of cinnabryl will experience perhaps several days' worth of the Time of Loss and Change, all in a few seconds. Because of this, and the pronounced effects of cinnabryl deprivation, Inheritors and Legacy-bearing sorcerers try not to allow themselves to be caught wearing less than an ounce of the metal.
Recovery from Affliction Some people become fully Afflicted, either from never wearing cinnabryl or from ceasing to wear it. To become fully Afflicted, an individual must complete both the loss and the change. After this occurs, reversing the detrimental effects of the Red Curse becomes very difficult. Though the remove curse spell normally has little effect on the Red Curse (see the "Magic" chapter), it is vital in helping an Afflicted recover. The Afflicted must be the recipient of a remove curse spell; the spell does nothing more than make it possible for cinnabryl to be used to reverse the condition. The Afflicted must begin wearing cinnabryl immediately after the remove curse is cast.
During the first week thereafter, nothing happens (except that the cinnabryl depletes at the normal rate). At the end of that week, the Afflicted recovers 1 point lost from an ability score. The character then continues to recover lost points at a rate of 1 point every third day.
Once the ability scores have returned to normal (that is, one point below what they were when the character was first affected by the Red Curse), the Afflicted must receive another remove curse spell. This causes the character's physical transformation or other detrimental effect to begin reversing itself. The character must make a Fortitude save (DC=10). If this roll fails, the character can never recover any further and must permanently suffer the effects of the physical change, but if the roll succeeds, the individual's transformation reverses in a process taking 2d4 weeks. The reversal process is very painful and actually causes damage to the character, at a rate of 1d4 hit points per day. Thus, the recovering character will probably require a few healing spells during this period. Natural healing occurs at the normal rate, and the healing proficiency helps as is standard. (For rules on natural healing, refer to the 3rd Edition Players Handbook.)
A Cure? As discussed, cinnabryl can protect people from the worst effects of the Red Curse and can even reverse some of these effects. However, no complete cure exists for the Red Curse, only prevention and continuous treatment. It is possible, though more dangerous, to come closer to a cure by leaving the cursed lands and going beyond the safety of the Haze.
Leaving the Area
It is dangerous for a character to leave the Savage Coast after being affected by the Red Curse. Once a person leaves the lands marked by vermeil, nothing unusual happens for a number of days equal to the character's Constitution. However, at the end of this period, the character suffers the loss of any and all Legacies. When this occurs, the Legacy or Legacies activate automatically. Each activation has its maximum effect and duration. After one finishes, the next begins, until the character has used each of his Legacies the maximum number of times allowed. In this fashion, the Legacies "burn out" of the character's system.
After all the Legacies have run their course, the character must make a successful Fortitude save (DC=12). If this roll is successful, nothing else happens, but if it fails, the character loses all but 1 hit point and immediately falls unconscious for 1d4 hours. No healing magic less powerful than a cure critical wounds spell can help the character during this time.
An Afflicted who leaves the cursed lands regains lost ability points at the rate of 1 point per day (though the initial point lost is still not regained). If the character has undergone physical transformation, this condition is not reversed. However, when the character is outside the cursed area, a remove curse spell cast by a 9th-level priest or a 10th-level wizard can restore the individual's body to its natural state. If the detriment was something other than a physical transformation, the effect ceases when the Legacy is lost. The red tint the character acquired while in the lands of the Savage Coast gradually declines over the course of the next year, leaving the character's hair and skin their original colours.
Any character who wears cinnabryl after leaving the cursed lands suffers the loss of 1 point of Constitution per day. This condition is often referred to as the "red blight." It continues until all Constitution has been lost (at which point the character dies), until the cinnabryl depletes completely, or until the individual stops wearing the cinnabryl.
If characters such as this ever go back to the Savage Coast, they are considered non-native persons entering the region for the first time in regard to the time until the Red Curse takes effect again. Legacies possessed before are not automatically regained. If a character remains in the lands long enough to gain a Legacy, he has a 50% chance of obtaining the same Legacy as was initially possessed and a 50% chance of obtaining something else entirely. In either case, the manifestation of symptoms follows the usual course, including the permanent loss of another point from an ability score.
The Haze Not all of the red lands are visited by the Red Curse. Vermeil extends beyond the cursed lands into the area known as the Haze, eventually fading out completely. The City-States, Hule (pronounced "hool"), Yavdlom (pronounced "YODD-lom", the v is silent), The Arm of the Immortals, most of Orc's Head Peninsula, and several miles of water all around the coast lie within the Haze.
The Haze creates a type of buffer zone around the cursed lands. Both those with Legacies and Afflictions and those from other lands can enter the Haze without danger. Those with Legacies do not run the risk of losing these powers or suffering from the "red blight." People from other places should be wary, because though they will not become Afflicted or gain a Legacy by entering the Haze, they will not know where the actual borders of the Red Curse begin and could wander into a cursed area accidentally.
Because the red colouring reaches beyond the cursed areas, it is almost impossible to detect exactly where the Red Curse actually begins. To make things more complicated, some even say that the Red Curse shifts periodically, places that were once thought safe suddenly becoming cursed. This is a great way to get non-native characters involved in a SAVAGE COAST Campaign.
The Legacies
As mentioned, the sole beneficial effect of the Red Curse is to grant magical powers, or Legacies, to nearly every intelligent living being that enters the cursed area. These powers draw on the same energies as wizard magic. The only PC race whose members do not gain Legacies automatically are araneas. Even Yazi goblinoids are assumed to suffer all the effects of the Red Curse. Some tribes consist only of Afflicted, while others are able to obtain cinnabryl to protect themselves.
Members of any PC race can choose to become Inheritors, pursuing a life path that will grant them more Legacies. For a full description of the Inheritors, see the "Character Kits" chapter. Some clarifications regarding rules are provided there.
Table 13.2: LEGACY REFERENCE LIST
Legacy (Region/Ability) Related Legacies
Acid Touch (4/Cha) Gas Breath, Poison, Weapon Hand Aid (1/Int) Anti-Poison, Fight, Regenerate All-Around Vision (3/Str) Clairvoyance, Reflect, Silence Amber Paralysis (1/Dex) Animate, Armour, Chill Animal Form (2/Cha) Grow, Plant Form, Webcasting Animate (4/Wis) Amber Paralysis, Separation, Stone Shape Anti-Missile (3/Wis) Fly, Projectile, Shoot Anti-Poison (2/Cha) Aid, Cure, Poison Armour (1/Cha) Amber Paralysis, Spell Shield, Weapon Hand Ball of Fire (3/Str) Burn, Create Liquid, Spell Shield Bite (2/Int) Poison, Weapon Hand, Webcasting Blend (4/Con) Disguise, Phase, Silence Breathe Water (2/Con) Create Liquid, Sight, Swim Burn (1/Str) Ball of Fire, Chill, Shock Charm (1/Con) Hypnosis, Luck, Translate Chill (2/Con) Amber Paralysis, Burn, Temperature Clairvoyance (4/Dex) All-Around Vision, Disguise, Find Climb (4/Wis) Entangle, Find, Leap Craft Item (3/Con) Disintegrate, Proficiency, Red Steel Create Liquid (1/Str) Ball of Fire, Breathe Water, Wind Crimson Fire (2/Str) Light, Missile, Red Shield Cure (3/Dex) Anti-Poison, Disintegrate, Regenerate Detonate (1/Wis) Digging, Displace, Spikes Dexterity (4/Wis) Disguise, Strength, Unlock Digging (2/Int) Detonate, Shape Stone, Swim Disguise (4/Wis) Blend, Clairvoyance, Dexterity Disintegrate (3/Con) Craft Item, Cure, Phase Displace (3/Int) Detonate, Duplicate, Separation Disrupt (2/Dex) Regenerate, War Cry, Weaken Duplicate (4/Str) Displace, Phantasm, Plant Form Entangle (2/Int) Climb, Spikes, Weaken
Legacy (Region/Ability)
Farsight (2/Str) Feel Magic (4/Str) Fight (1/Int) Find (3/Dex) Float (3/Dex) Fly (2/Wis) Fog (3/Con) Gas Breath (3/Cha) Gaseous Form (3/Con) Grow (1/Cha) Hypnosis (3/Dex) Leap (3/Int) Light (1/Dex) Luck (1/Any) Meld (2/Cha) Missile (4/Con) Phantasm (4/Con) Phase (3/Int) Plant Form (2/Dex) Poison (4/Cha) Proficiency (1/Any) Projectile (1/Wis) Red Shield (2/Con) Red Steel (4/Dex) Reflect (4/Int) Regenerate (4/Cha) Repel Metal (2/Int) Senses (1/Str) Separation (3/Cha) Shape Stone (2/Wis) Shock (3/Str) Shoot (3/Wis) Shrink (3/Cha) Sight (1/Con) Silence (4/Int) Sleep (2/Cha) Speed (1/Wis) Spell Shield (4/Str) Spikes (2/Cha) Strength (2/Int) Swim (1/Int) Temperature (2/Dex) Translate (3/Str) Unlock (4/Wis) War Cry (1/Wis) Weaken (4/Con) Weapon Hand (1/Int) Webcasting (4/Str) Wind (1/Con)
Related Legacies
Fly, Luck, Sight Find, Phase, Red Steel Aid, Shoot, War Cry Clairvoyance, Climb, Feel Magic Fog, Webcasting, Wind Anti-Missile, Farsight, Missile Float, Gaseous Form, Temperature Acid Touch, Gaseous Form, Sleep Fog, Gas Breath, Wind Animal Form, Shrink, Spell Shield Charm, Phantasm, Sleep Climb, Luck, Speed Crimson Fire, Phantasm, Temperature Charm, Farsight, Leap Separation, Shape Stone, Shrink Crimson Fire, Fly, Reflect Duplicate, Hypnosis, Light Blend, Disintegrate, Feel Magic Animal Form, Duplicate, Shrink Acid Touch, Anti-Poison, Bite Craft Item, Senses, Unlock Anti-Missile, Shoot, Spikes Crimson Fire, Red Steel, Shock Craft Item, Feel Magic, Red Shield All-Around Vision, Missile, Repel Metal Aid, Cure, Disrupt Reflect, Shock, Unlock Proficiency, Sight, Translate Animate, Displace, Meld Animate, Digging, Meld Burn, Red Shield, Repel Metal Anti-Missile, Fight, Projectile Grow, Meld, Plant Form Breathe Water, Farsight, Senses All-Around Vision, Blend, Sleep Gas Breath, Hypnosis, Silence Leap, Strength, Swim Armour, Ball of Fire, Grow Detonate, Entangle, Projectile Dexterity, Speed, Weaken Breathe Water, Digging, Speed Chill, Fog, Light Charm, Senses, War Cry Dexterity, Proficiency, Repel Metal Disrupt, Fight, Translate Disrupt, Entangle, Strength Acid Touch, Armour, Bite Animal Form, Bite, Float Create Liquid, Float, Gaseous Form
Inheritors: Multiple Legacies For most people, gaining a single Legacy and acquiring cinnabryl for protection is the end of the process. Inheritors, however, study the Legacies and learn to channel more magical energy, gaining multiple Legacies.
An Inheritor's initial Legacy is gained in the same manner as that acquired by anyone else. As with most abilities, the extra Legacies are gained according to character level. Inheritors acquire a second Legacy when they are initiated at 1st level. They use crimson essence to gain an additional Legacy every third level thereafter. As explained in the "Magic" chapter, crimson essence normally grants a Legacy only temporarily, but the Inheritor learns to focus the magic of the potion.
Whenever the Inheritor drinks crimson essence, the new Legacy is fully enabled immediately. At the same time, the Inheritor loses the 1 point from the designated ability score. This assumes that the character is wearing cinnabryl when crimson essence is consumed. If this is not the case, the character will go through the remainder of the Time of Loss, as well as the Time of Change, as normal. At the same time, however, the Inheritor will suffer from the effects of cinnabryl deprivation because of previously gained Legacies.
For Inheritors, wearing cinnabryl is a must, because the detrimental effects of the curse are cumulative for each Legacy. Note that when an Inheritor suffers cinnabryl deprivation, the loss of ability scores occurs simultaneously. If the character has Legacies that cause a loss of different abilities, 1 point is lost from each ability each day. If the Inheritor has two Legacies that cause a loss from the same ability score, the character loses 2 points per day. Likewise, all physical changes occur concurrently.
However, during a recovery period, each physical transformation is considered separately; thus, one must be reversed before another can start. Similarly, the character recovers only 1 ability point per day, not 1 point per ability per day. Therefore, a character who has lost 4 points from Intelligence, and 7 from Constitution, recovers either Intelligence or Constitution each day until all points are regained at the end of 11 days.
Because of their extreme sensitivity to cinnabryl deprivation, Inheritors are particularly careful to maintain their supplies of the metal. They have even developed special societies, the Inheritor Orders, to control the flow of cinnabryl.
When subsequent Legacies are gained, the Inheritor has some freedom of choice as to which are acquired. Each Legacy is related to certain others; for instance, the Burn Legacy is related to the Chill Legacy. The Inheritor can choose to roll a Legacy randomly, according to the region inhabited at the time, or can choose any Legacy related to the one he already has. For example, someone with the Burn Legacy could roll randomly or choose to gain the Chill Legacy. The character can choose a Legacy related to any of those he already possesses. Related Legacies are listed in Table 13.2.
At the DM's option, the character could also choose to increase a Legacy already possessed. This would do one of the following: increase the duration of each use of the Legacy; increase the damage inflicted by each use; or double the number of times the character can use the Legacy each day. Still, choosing the same Legacy twice is allowed only if the DM agrees.
Sorcerers also gain multiple Legacies, but not by using crimson essence. Read the section below titled "Sorcerers and the Legacies."
Using Legacies
For the most part, the use of a Legacy is automatic; the character wills it to happen, and it does. The character never has to make an ability check to use the Legacy, nor is any expenditure of points required. However, a Legacy can be used only three times each day, and the exact effects, such as duration or damage, are often based on the character's level. The use of a Legacy is a full-round action. In regard to initiative, all Legacies are treated as if they were spells. Their use can be disrupted, as per spell disruption, only if a character is hit in exactly the same initiative segment as he attempts to activate a Legacy (concentration checks may apply, as per spellcasting rules). Unless otherwise specified, a Legacy must be used immediately once it is activated. If desired, however, the caster of a Legacy can end its effects before the duration expires.
Unless otherwise noted, Legacies are Extraordinary abilities (Ex).
Most Legacies cause no change in the user's body, but a few require temporary changes. For example, to use Amber Paralysis, the character need simply concentrate, but using Entangle requires that the user's hair or fingers grow and move to entangle an enemy.
The Afflicted suffer the physical effects of their Legacies all the time. However, this does not enable them to use the ability all the time. For example, an Afflicted might grow wings as a result of acquiring the Fly Legacy. Most of the time, the wings would just get in the way and be a hindrance. Three times per day, however, the character could activate the Legacy and use the wings to Fly.
Most Legacies do not allow their victims a saving throw, because their use requires an attack roll or some other check on the part of the user. If a saving throw is possible against the effects of a Legacy, it is mentioned in the description. Also, attack forms gained from Legacies automatically grant weapon feats whenever the Legacy is active. For instance, an activated Bite Legacy temporarily gives the character the Weapon Finesse (Bite) feat.
Magic and the Legacies For the most part, Legacies are treated like spell-like abilities. The detect magic and dispel magic spells react with Legacies as if they were spells (refer to the "Magic" chapter for details). The remove curse spell has no special effect on individual Legacies. Since Legacies are like spells, their effects and restrictions are quite similar. Refer to the 3rd Edition Players Handbook for rules on spell cancellation and resistance. Unless otherwise noted, it is safe to assume that the Legacy acts like similar spells.
Sorcerers and the Legacies
Sorcerers receive Legacies differently from other classes. Because of their highly-magical nature, they are more susceptible to the Red Curse and its Afflictions. For the purposes of this campaign, they are Inheritors, and can gain multiple Legacies (and therefore, multiple Afflictions). Unlike Inheritors, however, Sorcerers cannot drink crimson essence to gain additional Legacies; rather, they are automatically acquired. Most often, these additional Legacies are unwanted and random, a disease that can only be cured by leaving the Savage Coast.
When the sorcerer (or multi-classed sorcerer) reaches 3rd level, he or she gains another Legacy, chosen randomly by the DM from the region where the sorcerer is located at the time of the level advancement. This is repeated every four levels thereafter (8th, 12th, 16th, and 20th levels), granting a sorcerer a maximum of six total Legacies, provided the sorcerer was born on the Savage Coast or arrived at Level 1, 2, or 3. While the sorcerer becomes more and more powerful with the addition of each new Legacy, he or she will often become a horribly disfigured freak as well.
Sorcerers deplete cinnabryl at double the normal rate. Sorcerers who are deprived of this metal usually do not survive their afflictions (see Inheritors, above).
Legacies in the Campaign
These powers could throw off the balance of a campaign, especially if characters with Legacies are exported to campaigns outside the region. Steps have been taken to keep the Legacies within the SAVAGE COAST Campaign, as noted previously under "Leaving the Area."
However, even in the campaign that takes place solely on the Savage Coast, problems can arise. Fortunately, the area has many balancing factors (firearms, Beast Riders, special racial abilities, and so forth). The DM must keep in mind the power of Legacies and compensate for them when necessary.
This is not to say, of course, that the DM should make the Legacies useless in adventures. If a certain character has the Legacy Sight, which allows detection of invisible beings, the DM might be tempted not to use invisible people or items, but this would be overcompensation. Naturally, players want to use any interesting powers and abilities their characters possess, and they will feel cheated in situations that make those abilities useless. Instead of eliminating invisible foes in order to balance the power of the Sight Legacy, the DM should use them wisely. For instance, providing an opponent that only one person can actually see might put that character in a leadership position, directing others to attack. It might even make other characters assume that a character who sees "invisible beings" must be insane. Also, keep in mind that most of the character's opponents would not know the character's Legacy, so they would have no reason to avoid using invisibility. Once they do find out, they will likely target the character who can see them. It is perfectly reasonable to allow monsters to use Legacies as well, providing the occasional fire-breathing centipede or flying owlbear for variety.
Characters with Legacies are common in the cursed lands. They draw very little attention in the Savage Baronies, slightly more in other areas. The Afflicted are also relatively common, especially among the poor of the land. Afflicted have villages and enclaves in Renardy and the Savage Baronies, though they seldom gather together in other nations. Most of the Tainted (or Balanced) are adventurers, nobility, or wealthy merchants. This inspires many people to become adventurers and seek wealth, so the Red Curse is largely responsible for the Savage Coast's high incidence of adventuring parties.
Individuals with Legacies are treated like normal people, because in the cursed lands, they are the normal people. Afflicted are generally shunned, though people with light Afflictions (minimal attribute loss and minor physical changes) may be treated well. People with spider-like deformations are often met with fear or pity. They are felt to be especially cursed because they remind people of the araneas, who are sort of universal "bogeymen" along the Savage Coast.
Legacy Descriptions
Following are details on each of the 80 Legacies. The DM should feel free to add other Legacies of similar power. However, before creating new Legacies, give some thought to what the new powers do. Each Legacy gives its user some kind of an advantage. The DM should strive to avoid new Legacies that closely duplicate existing ones.
Each description contains several components. First, the ability score affected with acquisition of the Legacy is noted (this is also abbreviated in the reference list, Table 13.2). Note that even if the character uses cinnabryl, 1 point is lost permanently. If the character does not use cinnabryl, or runs out, as many as 8 points can be lost (though all but 1 point can be regained later). If the ability score is listed as "Player's Choice," the player can choose a single ability to be affected by acquisition of the Legacy; this choice cannot be changed later.
Next, the durations of the Legacies are given. Following the duration is a description of the effects of the Legacy, including damage, area of effect, and range. Most of these are based on the character's level. Hit Dice can be used in place of level, and a being is always considered to be at least 1st level, even if it has only 1 hit point or 1/2 Hit Die. Remember that each Legacy can be used three times each day. In Legacy descriptions, "caster" is used to describe the character using the Legacy. Unless otherwise noted, the Difficulty Class for resisting a Legacy is identical to the procedures outlined in the 3rd Edition Players Handbook.
Finally, the Legacy's detriments are listed. In most cases, these are physical transformations that occur in characters who do not use cinnabryl. Some Legacies have more than one possible detrimental effect, and even those with only a single effect have slight variations. The DM is encouraged to be creative with these changes, as long as they make some amount of sense with the Legacy given. Keep in mind that a detriment does not grant use of the Legacy all the time. For instance, a person with the Breath Water Legacy who grows gills can still only use them to breathe water three times per day. The rest of the time, the physical change is simply an odd deformation (armoured skin remains soft and pliable except when activated, spikes are malleable, tentacles have no strength, etc.).
Other than causing an individual to appear strange, the change should not cause too much of a hindrance, unless otherwise specified. For example, the Fly Legacy can cause its user to grow wings. Though these are somewhat clumsy and get in the way, they should not have any real game effect except in special situations. The exception to this guideline is this: Since most of the changes are rather hideous, the DM is free to assess a Charisma penalty for someone who has changed: typical penalties range from 0 to +2 for things such as odd-coloured skin and hair, -5 or +6 for oozing secretions or horrible scars, to +8 to +10 for horribly deformed limbs or spider-like features.
Acid Touch
Ability Score: Charisma
Duration: Instantaneous
Description: The character produces acid from the hands or mouth (player's choice). Once the source of the acid is chosen, it cannot be changed. The acid does no harm to the caster but causes damage to an opponent if the caster makes a successful attack roll. After the Legacy dissipates, the acid again becomes inactive.
The amount of damage is 1 point, plus 1 hit point per level of the caster. The acid affects plants and animal flesh only, whether that material is living or dead. It does not affect metal or stone. Thus, an attack that does not cause damage to an opponent might adversely affect that opponent's clothing.
Detriment: The character constantly secretes a brownish, slightly acidic liquid from the hands or mouth. The secretion slowly dissolves any plant or animal material that it contacts (such as a cotton tabard or leather gloves). It also causes an inflammation where it touches the caster's flesh. Unless the use activates the Legacy, the acid is too weak for use as an attack.
Aid
Ability Score: Intelligence
Duration: 1 round/level
Description: The caster can bestow a number of temporary hit points equal to his or her level. These temporary hit points can be given to the caster or to another character and must be given by touch. It enables the recipient to have more hit points than his full normal total (Refer to the 3rd Edition Players Handbook for rules on temporary hit points).
Detriment: The character sprouts small, rounded lumps, about an inch in diameter, usually on the face and hands. The more hit points that the character can bestow, the more lumps that appear.
All-Around Vision
Ability Score: Strength
Duration: 1 round/level
Description: With activation, the character sprouts an extra eye at each temple and two in the back of the head. These eyes do not have sharp vision, but they can detect movement and distance. Thus, they cannot be used to search or examine something, but could be used to detect an opponent. All-Around Vision helps a character notice sneak attacks, and allows the individual to apply any Dexterity bonus to flanking and rear attacks, assuming conditions allow movement. While active, the character gains a +2 bonus to initiative and Spot checks.
These extra eyes can be blocked in normal ways. If a character normally has darkvision, so do the extra eyes. Other sight-related spells and Legacies can operate through the additional eyes.
Detriment: The character sprouts extra eyes, two at the temples, and two in the back of the head. On occasion, eyes appear in other places, such as the chest, arms, and hands. All these other eyes are useless, transmitting no sight to the caster. They tend to move about on their own, as if glancing around.
Amber Paralysis
Ability Score: Dexterity
Duration: 2 rounds/level
Description: The character can use this Legacy to paralyse one individual who is within 10 yards of the caster. Unwilling targets are allowed to make a Will save (DC=10 + 1 point per 3 caster levels) to avoid the effects. If the Will save fails, the recipient is encased within a hard, red, amber-like shell about a quarter of an inch thick. Possessions are encased as well.
The victim is held completely immobile for the duration. All bodily functions cease without harm to the victim. The shell cannot be penetrated by gas or liquid, and has AC 0 against attacks. Missiles from the magic missile spell or the Missile Legacy can penetrate the shell, and a disintegrate spell will dissolve it and probably the person inside as well. The Disintegrate Legacy can dissolve portions of the shell. Amber Paralysis can be used beneficially, to protect someone from physical attack, to keep the recipient from bleeding to death when reduced to negative hit points, or to prevent someone from breathing poisonous gas or from drowning. Successful attacks made on the paralysed individual cause normal damage.
Detriment: The caster is encased in a paper-thin, slightly glistening, red shell. The shell provides no protection and does not hinder movement or breathing. It does cover the caster's eyes, causing the world to appear red. It also covers the caster's mouth, so that a hole must be made for eating. The caster's voice is muffled when no hole is made, but sufficient air passes through the shell for the character to breathe; hearing is also impaired. Any holes made in the shell regenerate in a matter of minutes (1d4 rounds). Because of this shell, the recipient of this Legacy suffers a permanent +2 penalty to Search, Listen, and Spot checks.
Animal Form
Ability Score: Charisma
Duration: 2 rounds/level
Description: The caster can assume the form of one living animal of approximately the same mass. This form can be that of a normal animal, a smaller form of a huge animal, or a larger form of a tiny animal. The animal can have any characteristics the caster wishes. For example, a caster might choose the form of a wolf with a ragged left ear so he can be identified by companions. Alternately, the caster could choose the form of a 200-pound mouse with hands for spellcasting. Whatever form the caster chooses when the Legacy is first gained, that is the only shape available from then on. The caster gains the creature's mode of locomotion and breathing, but not any other abilities (attack, magic, special movement, etc.). Refer to the spell polymorph other, in the 3rd Edition Players Handbook, for more information.
When the Legacy is activated, the caster's equipment melds into the new shape. As long as the shape has a mouth, the caster can speak while in animal form. Other Legacies can be used while the caster is in animal form, but spells can be cast only if the form allows completion of the appropriate verbal and somatic components.
Detriment: The character transforms into the form, completely or partially, staying that way as long as he remains one of the Afflicted.
Animate
Ability Score: Wisdom
Duration: 1 round/level
Description: The caster can animate a single item composed of any non-magical material weighing less than 10 pounds. It is not possible to animate only part of a larger object. To be animated, the item must be touched, and it must remain within 10 yards of the caster. Attempting to animate an object in someone's possession grants that person a saving throw vs. spell to prevent the Legacy's effect.
The item moves as appropriate: a rug slithers, a jar rolls, an arrow flies, a sword might balance on its pommel and strike, etc. Movement rate for the object is 10', and it can attack once per round. If the item is a weapon, it causes normal damage for its type with no bonuses for Strength or magic. Other objects cause 1d2, 1d3, 1d4, or even 1d6 points of damage depending on mass, shape, and other factors. Animated items have AC 5, and they can take damage equal to twice the caster's level before being rendered immobile.
Detriment: The character suffers little physical change but acquires numerous nervous habits. He is in constant motion, rubbing his hands together, brushing dust from his clothing, etc. The character's hair (or fur) seems to constantly move of its own accord. In addition, small items nearby often animate without prompting: pebbles roll around, the character's belt slithers away, a friend's dagger jumps from its sheath, objects fall from shelves, and so forth.
Anti-Missile
Ability Score: Wisdom
Duration: 1 round/level
Description: The caster gains partial immunity to all non-magical hurled or projected missiles. Only those attacks
that threat for critical hits can damage the caster during this time. Enchanted missiles and magical attacks are completely unaffected by this Legacy.
Detriment: The character grows some sort of body covering which might resemble spikes, large scales, bark, rocks, wrinkled skin, or writhing worms. This covering feels like normal flesh and provides no special protection unless the Legacy is activated. Unfortunately, it is fairly thick and makes it necessary for the character to have special clothing and armour made.
Anti-Poison
Ability Score: Charisma
Duration: 3 rounds/level
Description: The caster can bestow a bonus to a character's next Fortitude save against poisons. This Legacy can be cast on either the caster or another character. The bonus is +1 for each three levels of the caster (+1 at 1st or 2nd level, +2 at 3rd or 4th, etc.). To bestow it, the caster must touch the recipient. Each activation of the Legacy will only bestow a bonus to one attempted saving throw. Once the recipient attempts a save vs. poison (whether it is successful or not), this activation of the Legacy ends. If the recipient has already made and failed a saving throw before being touched by the caster, he is allowed a second saving throw instead, but no bonus is added.
Detriment: The character grows fangs, claws, or even a barbed tail. Though these cannot be used for an attack (or any other purpose), they must be used when the Legacy is activated. With activation, an Afflicted character actually injects an anti-toxin into the body of the poisoned character, using fangs, claws, or tail.
Armour
Ability Score: Charisma
Duration: 1 round/level
Description: When this Legacy is activated, the caster's skin changes, becoming to a deep red and sometimes acquiring a light covering of scales or other form of armour. This covering does not inhibit the character or get in the way of any clothing or armour. The caster gains a bonus to his Armour Class equal to +1 per three levels, up to a maximum +5 bonus to AC and never exceeding AC +10 with other natural bonuses included. The effect is cumulative with normal and magical armour, including bracers, cloaks, and rings.
Detriment: An Afflicted character gains a thickened body covering of some kind. The covering usually appears to be scales, plates, bands, bark, stone, or something similar. It provides no protection unless the Legacy is activated but alters the character enough so that clothing and armour must be specially made. Furthermore, the bearer of this Legacy suffers a +10% chance for arcane spell failure (increasing to +20% when activated), which stacks with any other percentage chances the character possesses from armour and shields.
Ball of Fire
Ability Score: Strength
Duration: Instantaneous
Description: The character can throw a small flaming ball at a single opponent. It forms in the caster's hand and grows to one foot in diameter when thrown. The caster must make a successful attack roll to hit an opponent; the ball has the range of a thrown dagger. Even if the Ball of Fire does not hit an opponent directly, it might set fire to the target's clothing or hair. Its magical flame will set fire to any flammable materials with which it comes into contact. Damage caused by the ball is 1d4 points for every three levels of the caster, up to a maximum of 6d4. Fire resistant creatures are immune to damage from this Legacy.
Detriment: The skin of the character is red and hot to the touch. He sweats constantly and must drink twice as much water as a normal member of the same race. In addition, the character's clothing smoulders, and paper occasionally bursts into flame when the character holds it. The irises of the character's eyes usually turn red.
Bite
Ability Score: Intelligence
Duration: 1 round/level
Description: When this Legacy is activated, the character grows fangs and can bite for damage. A normal attack roll must be made to determine success. While active, the character possesses the Weapon Finesse: Bite feat. Small creatures do 1d3 points of damage, Medium-size creatures deal 1d6 points of damage, and Large-size creatures inflict 1d8 points of damage with this bite attack (Strength bonuses apply to damage).
Detriment: The character's teeth grow large, and the mouth becomes misshapen. Some characters grow long fangs or even tusks. The character's bite causes standard damage for a normal member of the same race unless the Legacy is activated.
Blend
Ability Score: Constitution
Duration: 1 round/level
Description: The caster's colouring (and that of any possessions worn or held) changes to more closely match the surroundings. When active, this camouflage grants the caster a +10 circumstance bonus to all Hide attempts. This bonus increases to +20 if the Legacy is used in surroundings with plenty of cover (such as jungle, tall grass, piles of rubble, etc.).
Detriment: Some Afflicted with this Legacy automatically change to colours that contrast with their surroundings, making them stand out. The flesh of other Afflicted grows transparent, so that bones and sometimes, internal organs become plainly visible. If a character's bones are the only parts that do not turn transparent, they often turn some shade of red. This transparency in no way makes the character more difficult to see unless the Legacy is activated.
Breathe Water
Ability Score: Constitution
Duration: 1 hour + 10 minutes per caster level
Description: While this Legacy is activated, the caster can breathe water as if it were air. The Legacy does not enable the character to swim or move freely in water, nor does it enhance vision in any way.
Detriment: The character often grows gills, usually on the neck, but sometimes on the upper torso or even in a crest on the top of the head. For some Afflicted, the change is the growth of a breathing tube, either from the nose or the top of the head, with a fringe of gills around it. The gills serve no purpose and are not even attached to the character's respiratory system unless the Legacy is activated.
Burn
Ability Score: Strength
Duration: Instantaneous
Description: The caster can release a flame to burn an enemy. The caster must make a successful attack roll to cause damage directly to an enemy, but even a miss might set fire to clothing or other flammable materials. A 1st-level character has no range for the power and must touch the target to be burned. The caster's range increases by one foot per level after the first (one foot at 2nd level, two feet at 3rd level, etc.), to a maximum range of 10 feet. The flame sets fire to any flammable materials it touches.
The flame can issue from the character's mouth or from a hand. Point of origin is chosen when the Legacy is acquired and can never be changed. The amount of damage is 1d4 plus 1 hit point per level of the caster. Fire resistant creatures are not damaged by this ability.
Detriment: The skin of the character is red and hot to the touch. He sweats constantly and must drink twice as much water as a normal member of the same race. In addition, the character releases small flames from his hands or mouth at random intervals. These flames set fire to anything flammable that they touch. Usually, the irises of such characters' eyes are red.
Charm
Ability Score: Constitution
Duration: 2 rounds/level
Description: The caster can affect one opponent who has a number of Hit Dice lower than his own level with a charm person or a charm monster spell effect. This charm functions identically to these spells by the same name. Refer to the 3rd Edition Players Handbook for rules on charm, as well as all applicable restrictions.
Note that Charm is effective on monsters as well as people. However, the caster gains no special communications ability.
Detriment: An Afflicted with this Legacy grins constantly. The individual's mouth is changed to bare the character's teeth in a wide, somewhat maniacal grin. This affects the character's speech, making it difficult to use the lips to make sounds. This makes the "f" and "v" sounds particularly difficult to speak; the sounds of "p" and "b" are almost impossible. This unfortunate side effect gives the Afflicted a +10% chance for arcane spell failure, which stacks with all other percentages from armour, clothing, etc.
Chill
Ability Score: Constitution
Duration: Instantaneous
Description: Similar to the ray of frost spell, the caster can generate a cold spray to cause damage to an opponent if he makes a successful attack roll. A 1st-level character has no range for the power and must touch the target to be affected. For each level after the first, the caster's range increases by one foot (one foot at 2nd level, two feet at 3rd level, etc.), to a maximum range of 10 feet.
The cold can issue from the character's mouth or hand. The point of origin is chosen when the Legacy is acquired and can never be changed. The amount of damage is 1d4 plus 1 point per level of the caster. Please note that creatures resistant to normal cold are also resistant to the effects of this Legacy.
Detriment: The skin of the Afflicted is cold to the touch. He feels cold and shivers almost all the time. Small patches of frost form in the character's hair or fur and on exposed skin. The irises of the character's eyes turn white, and the skin, fur, or other body covering pales.
Clairvoyance
Ability Score: Dexterity
Duration: 1 round/level
Description: This Legacy allows the caster to see from a different location. The location must be within a number of feet equal to twice the caster's level. The character can see from any point within the given range but gains no other special vision powers through the use of this Legacy. Refer to the spell clairvoyance/clairaudience in the 3rd Edition Players Handbook for restrictions and other information.
A character of 8th level or greater can also hear from the chosen location (clairaudience).
Detriment: The Afflicted's eyes change; they might grow to very large proportions or perhaps grow eyestalks. Alternately, he might grow an extra eye in the centre of the forehead. While this eye is completely useless, it sometimes moves of its own accord as if looking around. Occasionally, the character sees visions of real events occurring anywhere from 100 yards to several miles away. These visions are very brief and disorienting, almost never granting any advantage.
Climb
Ability Score: Wisdom
Duration: 1 round/level
Description: This Legacy gives the caster a +15 circumstance bonus to all Climb checks when active.
Detriment: In some cases, the Afflicted's hands and feet become sticky, so that debris and small items stick to them. The stickiness is not enough to aid the character except when the Legacy is activated. In some Afflicted, the arms or fingers change into rope like tentacles. These can be used like the character's normal extremities, but when the Legacy is activated, they can be flung to attach to a high point on a wall or other obstacle, allowing the character to climb it. Sometimes a character's limbs become spindly and spider-like, with an extra joint on each finger. Short, bristly hair may sprout from the character's body. Sticky hands or tentacles cause a +2 penalty to hit and damage rolls while using any thrown weapon, and cause a +5 penalty to all Pick Pockets, Open Locks, Disable Device, and Forgery checks. On the other hand (get it?), spindly limbs and extra joints on the hands grant the opposite effects (+2 to hit and damage rolls when using a thrown weapon, +5 bonus to Pick Pockets, Open Locks, Disable Device, and Forgery checks).
Craft Item
Ability Score: Constitution
Duration: Special
Description: Using this Legacy, the character gains a +15 bonus to all Craft skill checks, and may create items in half the normal time required if all tools and materials are present.
Detriment: The character's hands twitch nervously, as if always constructing something, and the character becomes exceedingly clumsy. At random intervals, items handled or worn by the character fall apart: bowstrings break, swords fall apart, backpacks rip, pottery cracks, etc.
Create Liquid
Ability Score: Strength
Duration: Instantaneous
Description: The caster can create water, wine, or milk with this Legacy, up to four gallons per experience level. The type of liquid is determined each time the Legacy is activated, and it appears anywhere desired, within 10 feet of the caster but not within the body of a living being. If no container is prepared for the liquid, it falls. The liquid is normal in all ways and is the same temperature as the surroundings. Its taste is average, neither very good nor very bad.
Detriment: Liquids (sweat, sour milk, and bad wine) ooze constantly from the pores of the character, who also drools almost constantly.
Crimson Fire
Ability Score: Strength
Duration: 2 rounds/level
Description: By using this Legacy, the character may cast the spell faerie fire (Refer to the 3rd Edition Players Handbook for a complete description).
Detriment: The character is constantly under the effect of the faerie fire spell, as described. In addition, the character's eyes glow red. This impairs the caster's distance vision, giving the character a -2 penalty to attack rolls with missile weapons, and a +4 penalty to Spot checks. When the Legacy is activated, the glow from the eyes and body is transferred to the targets, temporarily leaving the caster.
Cure
Ability Score: Dexterity
Duration: Instantaneous
Description: The caster can heal damage equal to 1 hit point of damage per level, plus his or her Constitution bonus (but not penalty) if any, up to a maximum of 20 hit points plus Constitution bonuses. Healing must be applied all at once but can be applied to one or two recipients plus the caster, if desired. The caster must touch recipients. The hit points are split among recipients as the caster desires.
Detriment: In many cases, the Afflicted's hands become covered with a gauzy web, much like a bandage. On occasion, small pieces of this webbing fall from the hands. This webbing neither helps nor hinders the character, though it reduces touch sensitivity in the fingers (-2 penalty to Pick Locks and Disable Device checks).
In other cases, the Afflicted constantly sweats and drools a milky liquid. It is a mild anaesthetic, which causes the Afflicted to feel numb and tingly. The liquid has no healing effect, nor will it dispel pain.
Detonate
Ability Score: Wisdom
Duration: Instantaneous
Description: The caster can cause an object to explode. The object must weigh between one and five pounds and must be within 10 yards of the caster. Only a complete object can be affected, not part of a larger object. The item is broken into tiny pieces, which cause 1d6 points of piercing damage to anyone within 10 feet of the explosion. This Legacy cannot affect magical, living, or animated items. If the object is being held by someone, that individual can make a saving throw vs. spell to avoid its destruction.
Detriment: At random intervals, small items (as detailed above) within five feet of the Afflicted explode. This includes clothing and mundane items, but seldom weapons. These explosions are loud but cause no damage to people nearby.
Dexterity
Ability Score: Wisdom
Duration: 1 round/level
Description: The caster receives a +1 bonus to his or her Dexterity per caster level for the duration of the Legacy, up to a maximum Dexterity score of 24 (+7 bonus).
Detriment: The Afflicted typically grows two extra arms, or extra fingers. His fingers usually gain an extra joint, growing to twice their normal length. Optionally, the character might grow an extra pair of legs. Except when the Legacy is activated, extra arms are useless and hang limply, but if the Afflicted grows extra legs, they are necessary for locomotion and inhibit the character's movement if damaged.
Digging
Ability Score: Intelligence
Duration: 1 round
Description: The caster can excavate earth, sand, or mud. This Legacy excavates 125 cubic feet (a five-foot cube) of matter in one round. The caster must be within 10 feet of the material to be moved. The material is thrown from the hole and scattered more or less evenly. Any creature within a foot of the pit must make a successful Dexterity check or fall into the hole. Note that holes in mud or other loose material will quickly collapse.
Detriment: The character's hands usually acquire a shovel-like shape, which prevents fine manipulation of objects. In other cases, the Afflicted acquires large, thick claws or even tusks. Unless the Legacy is activated, these new growths cannot be used for anything other than what the caster's normal teeth or hands could do. Regardless of which mutation occurs, the penalties incurred are the same: the person with this Legacy automatically fails any attempts at Pick Pockets, Disable Device, or Open Locks, and loses any Weapon Proficiencies and weapon-related feats with all but simple weapons (including Weapon Focus and Weapon Finesse for non-simple weapons).
Disguise
Ability Score: Wisdom
Duration: 3 rounds/level
Description: The caster can alter his form and appearance, using this specialised version of the change self spell (found in the 3rd Edition Players Handbook). The same restrictions that apply to the change self spell also apply to this Legacy, with one important difference: while the change self spell is merely an illusion, this Legacy is an actual physical metamorphosis into the new identity. This change lasts for the given duration, and does not detect as magical (it is an extraordinary ability, not supernatural or spell-like).
Physical deformations caused by a Legacy can be temporarily eliminated (or imitated) by the use of the Disguise Legacy.
Detriment: The body of the Afflicted changes constantly: fur, hair, and scales grow and disappear; a tail might grow or disappear. The character's height changes by as much as an inch per minute, weight by as much as five pounds per minute, and the character's facial features change at irregular intervals. The character's features and form stabilise only when the Legacy is activated. Note that these changes cause problems with the fit of most clothing and armour.
Disintegrate
Ability Score: Constitution
Duration: Instantaneous
Description: The caster can cause up to one cubic foot of non-living solid material to crumble into dust. The material to be affected must be touched, which might require an attack roll. The exact material affected is determined by the caster, but it must all be connected (so a piece of a wall could be affected, or several feet of a rope). Normal materials do not get a saving throw, but magical items and materials may attempt a Will save to avoid destruction. (See the section on saving throws for equipment in the 3rd Edition Dungeon Master's Guide and the 3rd Edition Players Handbook.)
Detriment: Random items the Afflicted touches slowly crumble to dust. In addition, the character's hair and skin constantly crumble and flake.
Displace
Ability Score: Intelligence
Duration: 2 rounds/level
Description: After this Legacy is activated, if the caster is hit by a physical object, he or she teleports a short distance (up to 10 feet), but the Legacy provides no more than one such displacement per activation. The displacement instantaneously moves the character away from the attack that caused it, eliminating any and all damage from that attack. The place where the character reappears is random, but it is physically as safe as the caster's immediately previous location. (If the character displaces from a standing position on solid ground, he reappears standing on solid ground.) The character never reappears inside a solid object or in the direct path of an already moving weapon. This displacement is similar to the blink dog's ability; refer to the 3rd Edition Monster Manual for a more detailed description.
Detriment: The character's hands or head sometimes displace to a position one or two feet from where they were previously. They do not disconnect from the body; instead, the neck or arm grows instantly to the new length and shape required. This happens at unpredictable intervals, and 2d4 turns are required for the extremity to gradually return to its original position as the neck or head returns to its original size and shape.
Disrupt
Ability Score: Dexterity
Duration: Instantaneous
Description: With a red light that leaps from his hand or eye, the caster can cause damage to any single undead being within 10 yards. This spell functions identically to the Necromancer spell disrupt undead; refer to the 3rd Edition Players Handbook for more information.
Detriment: Non-living organic material (such as cloth, leather, or a quarterstaff) occasionally crumbles to dust when the character touches it. In addition, the character's hands or eyes often glow with a red light, and the skin acquires a deathlike pallor.
Duplicate
Ability Score: Strength
Duration: 2 rounds/level
Description: When activated, this Legacy functions identically to the spell mirror image. Refer to the 3rd Edition Players Handbook for the spell description and restrictions. Using this Legacy is a free action, and does not require any components whatsoever.
Detriment: All or part of the Afflicted's body is duplicated at all times. The character might appear to have an extra arm, head, or nose. Sometimes, an entire body duplicate appears and follows the Afflicted, performing acts that might be embarrassing for the character. All such manifestations are illusory.
Entangle
Ability Score: Intelligence
Duration: 1 round/level
Description: When this Legacy is activated, the caster's arms, fingers, or hair grows into tentacles. The caster chooses the precise method when the Legacy manifests and can never be changed. Growth is five feet per three levels of the caster, up to a maximum length of 25 feet. They can be used to retrieve or wield items from a distance or entangle a single opponent, and may constrict held items or creatures for 1d4 points of damage per round.
For the duration of the Legacy's activation, the caster's tentacles acquire AC 20 (+5 natural, +5 dexterity). Targets held by the tentacles can break free with a successful grapple check, or by someone inflicting 10 or more points of damage to the tentacles in a single strike with any cutting or slashing weapon. None of the damage inflicted to the tentacles during the Legacy's activation applies to the caster's hit point total.
Detriment: The Afflicted's hair is long and unruly, often moving of its own accord and sometimes touching another person or picking up small items. If the hair is cut, it grows back to its original length at a rate of one foot per round.
Alternatively, the character's fingers or arms grow into long tentacles. These tentacles are no stronger than normal fingers or arms until the Legacy is activated. Though they can be used to retrieve items from a distance, they cannot be used to entangle; any damage inflicted upon them is subtracted from the Afflicted's hit point total.
Farsight
Ability Score: Strength
Duration: 2 rounds/level
Description: The character can see clearly, even reading if so desired, for a distance of up to 100 yards per level of the caster (to a maximum distance of one mile), though not through obstacles. If the caster prefers, the Legacy can instead be used to examine something in minute detail, enabling the character to detect tiny seams, minute marks, even the impressions left from writing.
Detriment: The Afflicted's eyes change. They might grow to very large proportions or even grow eyestalks. In addition, the character has trouble seeing normally. Items within one inch of the character's eyes can be seen as clearly as normal, as can items at a distance of 20 yards or more. Anything else appears somewhat blurry. Unless the character has the blind-fighting non-weapon proficiency, he receives a penalty of -2 to all melee attack rolls.
Feel Magic
Ability Score: Strength
Duration: 1 round/level
Description: The caster can detect, and to an extent identify, magical emanations in anything he touches. Note that this Legacy is not adversely affected by vermeil or the Red Curse like other forms of divinatory magic are (as explained in the "Magic" chapter). The character automatically gains one rank of the Knowledge: Arcana skill, but only permitted classes are allowed to add additional ranks to this skill.
By touching an object while the Legacy is activated, the caster will be able to determine if that object is magical. If it is handled for a full round, the character may attempt a Knowledge: Arcana check at +10 to determine one single property or feature of the item. Only one such fact can be determined per use; handling the object for longer might reveal another fact, or it might reveal the same one again. To discover additional features of the item (if any) requires multiple activation of this Legacy.
If a living being is touched while the Legacy is activated, the caster will know if that individual is enchanted in some way (charmed, for instance) and whether or not the target possesses a Legacy. By examining a single person for at least a full round, the caster can determine a fact about the being, such as how many Legacies that individual has, whether the being is affected by a charm, or how advanced an Affliction the being has. Use the same rules as above for magic items.
Detriment: Most Afflicted with this Legacy grow long, feathery antennae from their foreheads; some develop a covering of fine cilia on their hands. The Afflicted can use Feel Magic only by using the antennae or cilia. Otherwise, the growths are useless, though they sometimes move of their own accord.
Fight
Ability Score: Intelligence
Duration: 1 round/level
Description: By using this Legacy, the caster can acquire the base attack bonuses of a fighter of the same level. A caster who is already a fighter or barbarian instead receives a +2 bonus to attack rolls. This bonus applies only to melee combat.
Detriment: The Afflicted with this Legacy is very temperamental and angers easily. In addition, whenever the character handles a weapon, his hand acquires the form of that weapon within 2d4 rounds. The form lasts for 2d4 hours before instantly reverting to its original form. An altered hand is no different from a normal hand in terms of damage it inflicts in an attack, but if the character activates the Fight Legacy while the hand is in altered form, it becomes a weapon capable of inflicting damage (as the weapon) per hit for the duration of the activation.
Find
Ability Score: Dexterity
Duration: 2 rounds/level
Description: This Legacy grants its user a +10 bonus to all Search checks for its duration. If the character is searching for a known or familiar object, this bonus increases to +15. If a sword is desired, for example, the Legacy guides the caster to the nearest one (possibly held by a companion). If a specific item is desired, it must have been seen by or carefully described to the caster. Detriment: The Afflicted often grows an extra eye in the centre of his forehead, sometimes on an eyestalk. This eye is completely useless but sometimes moves of its own accord, as if looking around. Some Afflicted instead grow long, feathery antennae, which also seem to move on their own. An Afflicted with this Legacy sometimes acquires a forked tongue in addition to the eyestalk or antennae. The tongue flicks in and out of the character's mouth rather often, affecting speech.
In addition, the character constantly misplaces small, relatively unimportant items like coins or keys.
Float
Ability Score: Dexterity
Duration: Special
Description: With the use of this Legacy, the caster can slow his or her rate of fall. This allows the character to fall as much as 100 feet per three caster levels, up to a maximum of 500 feet, without taking damage from the fall.
The character can instead use the Legacy to float upward for a number of rounds equal to his level, levitating slowly at a rate of 10 feet per round. A single activation of the Legacy works to slow a fall or to levitate upward, but not both.
Detriment: The character's body weight is reduced by half, while remaining the same size. The Afflicted also sprouts feathers from various places on the body.
Fly
Ability Score: Wisdom
Duration: 2 rounds/level
Description: For the duration of this Legacy, the caster can fly at a movement rate of 30' and with a manoeuvrability class of Average. If the character has a Dexterity of 16 or higher, the manoeuvrability class for flight increases to Good; if the character has a Dexterity of less than 6, the manoeuvrability class for flight decreases to Poor. Refer to the 3rd Edition Monster Manual for rules on flight manoeuvrability.
Many, but not all, characters transform when this Legacy is activated. Most grow two or four wings (bat-like, bird-like, dragon-like, insect-like, etc.), some characters' arms transform into wings, and other characters' bodies flatten. The exact transformation, if any, is chosen by the caster when the Legacy is acquired and can never be changed. Transformation takes place instantaneously. The character's clothing or armour does not automatically change to accommodate (unless made of red steel, see the "Magic" chapter). Expanding wings can break through armour or clothing, damaging it (requiring a round to do so), so most people who transform in this way wear special armour and clothing with holes for the wings.
Detriment: The Afflicted has permanent wings of some type, but they are useless except when the Legacy is activated. Some Afflicted have flattened bodies instead of wings, so they are only about two inches thick from front to back.
Fog
Ability Score: Constitution
Duration: 1 round/level
Description: The caster can create enough fog to fill a cube 10 feet on each side, as per the fog cloud spell. Refer to the 3rd Edition Players Handbook for this spell's description, duration, and restrictions.
Detriment: The Afflicted's flesh becomes puffy and feels soft to the touch. This affects most of the character's body, so the face becomes misshapen and the character looks as if he has gained quite a lot of weight. In addition, the character breathes out wisps of fog and "sweats" them from the pores.
Gas Breath
Ability Score: Charisma
Duration: 1 round/level
Description: By activating this Legacy, the caster can expel poisonous, gaseous breath from his lungs. If the gas is not expelled before the Legacy expires, its damaging effects wear off. The gas is greenish-yellow and smells vile. It can be expelled to affect a single opponent within five feet of the caster, requiring an attack roll (including Dexterity adjustments, if any). The target must make a Fortitude save (DC=10 +1 point for every 3 caster levels) or suffer 1d4 points of initial and secondary Strength and hit point damage. It is not necessary for the victim to inhale the gas to suffer from its effects; it is a contact poison. For rules on poison, refer to the 3rd Edition Monster Manual (Vermin section).
Detriment: The character has foul body odour and breath. In addition, the Afflicted's flesh becomes puffy and discoloured in some places, and the character breathes out wisps of yellowish fog and "sweats" them from the pores.
Gaseous Form
Ability Score: Constitution
Duration: 1 round +1 round/level
Description: The character's body and any possessions worn or carried become gaseous when this Legacy is activated, as if he or she had consumed a potion of gaseous form. For rules on movement, special resistances, and other notes, please refer to the potion of gaseous form in the 3rd Edition Dungeon Master's Guide. Unlike the potion, however, the duration of the gaseous form is one round, plus one round per level of the character.
Detriment: The Afflicted's flesh becomes puffy and feels soft to the touch. This affects most of the character's body, so the face becomes misshapen and the character appears to have gained a lot of weight. The flesh of some Afflicted becomes transparent as well. Also, the character breathes out wisps of fog and sweats them from the pores.
Grow
Ability Score: Charisma
Duration: 2 rounds/level
Description: When the caster activates this Legacy, the size and weight of the character, or of any one other creature size Large or smaller within the caster's sight, is increased by one category (Small-sized creatures become Medium, Medium-size creatures become Large, Large-size creatures become Huge, and so forth). Armour class, movement rates, attack damage, and other statistics are adjusted accordingly, using the guidelines found in the 3rd Edition Players Handbook and the 3rd Edition Monster Manual. An unwilling target of the Legacy can make a Will save to avoid the effects entirely (standard difficulty class for spell resistance, see the 3rd Edition Players Handbook for more information).
Clothing and armour worn by the target do not change in size when the Legacy is used, so they are ripped apart. Clothing causes no damage to the target, but unless armour is specially constructed, it inflicts a number of hit points equal to 10 + the armour's armour class bonus, before breaking. Magic armour inflicts double damage.
Multiple applications of this Legacy cannot be used for cumulative effect but merely extend the duration of the change.
Detriment: Some portion of the Afflicted's body becomes permanently enlarged (not the whole body). Typical effects include one or more limbs becoming twice their normal size. The character might instead change in one dimension, becoming twice as wide, thick, or tall as normal, with all features appearing stretched in that dimension. On some other Afflicted, the facial features grow, so the character has big ears, eyes, lips, and nose. When the character uses the Legacy to affect himself, his original dimensions (before acquiring the Legacy) are used to determine the size of the new form.
Hypnosis
Ability Score: Dexterity
Duration: 1 round/level
Description: When this Legacy is activated, the caster's eyes glow with a swirling red fire. The Legacy functions identically to the spell suggestion, allowing the character to affect any single target within 10 yards, assuming the target has an Intelligence of at least 5 and understands the language spoken by the caster. Refer to the spell description for suggestion in the 3rd Edition Players Handbook for more information.
Detriment: The character's eyes glow a fiery red, and lights seem to whirl within them. People conversing with the Afflicted become distracted and lose track of the conversation quite easily.
Leap
Ability Score: Intelligence
Duration: Instantaneous
Description: This Legacy allows the character to cast the jump spell upon himself or herself, with each activation. Refer to the 3rd Edition Players Handbook for the spell description, duration, and effect.
Detriment: A character's leg muscles may grow to huge proportions. Some Afflicted suffer a greater change, their legs changing to look like a grasshopper's legs or a frog's legs.
Light
Ability Score: Dexterity
Duration: 2 rounds/level
Description: This Legacy creates a reddish light that illuminates the surroundings in a radius of 20 feet. The Light springs from one of the character's hands or the forehead. The caster chooses the point of emanation when the Legacy is acquired and is unchangeable thereafter. While it is just bright enough to show details in the area, it is not enough to cause harm or even temporary blindness.
Detriment: The character is constantly outlined in a reddish glow, and his eyes glow red. This glow makes hiding impossible Consequently, the caster's distance vision is impaired, giving the character a -2 penalty to hit rolls with missile weapons. When the Legacy is activated, the glow dissipates, and the Light springs forth as described.
Luck
Ability Score: Player's Choice
Duration: Instantaneous
Description: When activated, this Legacy enables the caster to re-roll a failed saving throw or Skill check. Please note that this Legacy cannot be used to re-roll hit rolls, damage rolls, hit point rolls at level-up, or any other roll in the game. This second roll is final; additional uses of the Legacy will not allow a third or fourth roll attempt (because not all luck is good).
Detriment: The character is somewhat clumsy and tends to drop things and stumble a lot (though the effect is not pronounced enough to affect the character's combat abilities). In addition, the Afflicted suffers the detriment for a randomly determined Legacy. This other Legacy's detrimental effect is applied even though the character does not gain its power.
Meld
Ability Score: Charisma
Duration: 2 rounds/level
Description: This Legacy allows the caster to meld his body and possessions into stone, dirt, or wood, the player's choice. Once the material to meld into is selected, it cannot be changed. The caster becomes part of the surface of the material for the duration of the Legacy. Up to 100 pounds of possessions can meld with the caster. The material into which the character melds (typically a wall, floor, tree, or even a table or door) must be at least as large as the caster. Any damage done to the surface of the item is passed on to the caster. Melding into material requires one round, though exiting is instantaneous.
Detriment: The character's body tends to merge with any earth (or wood) being touched if the character rests too long in a single spot. For example, the character's arm might sink into a table, feet into a path, and so forth. In addition, the Afflicted's body acquires the look of the material being touched. A character leaning against a stone wall would find his flesh (and fur or scales, if applicable) taking on a stony appearance, or a character touching a tree would begin to gain a bark-like covering. This lasts until the Afflicted touches another item into which he could meld; in the meantime, he or she will enjoy a +5 bonus to hide checks while in that particular setting.
Missile
Ability Score: Constitution
Duration: Special
Description: The caster can release missiles of magical energy from the fingertips. Each Missile causes 1d6 points of damage (as an arrow), and the caster can release one Missile per every three levels of experience, up to a maximum of five missiles per activation of the Legacy. For each Missile fired, a missile attack roll must be made. The missiles can be fired all at the same time or one per round until used up. Similarly, they all can be shot at the same target or at different targets without penalty. Even inanimate objects can be the target of the Missile Legacy.
A character with this Legacy may choose feats that benefit this unique weapon. Feats such as Blind Shooting, Shot on the Run, Point Blank Shot, Rapid Shot, and other feats unique to missile fire are especially helpful.
Detriment: Each of the Afflicted's fingers lengthens and acquires a tube-like shape. The missiles are generated in and fired from these tubes.
Phantasm
Ability Score: Constitution
Duration: 1 round/level
Description: When this Legacy is activated, a horrifying, illusory visage takes the place of the caster's normal features. This Legacy functions in a manner identical to the spell cause fear, the details of which may be found in the 3rd Edition Players Handbook.
Detriment: The Afflicted's visage becomes very ugly, but rather than generating horror in those who view it, it causes disgust and revulsion. Others might seek to avoid interaction with the Afflicted, though they will not flee in terror.
Phase
Ability Score: Intelligence
Duration: 1 round/level
Description: The character can adjust the composition of his body, so it becomes possible to pass through solid matter and for solid matter to pass through the caster. For the duration of the spell, the caster is considered to be incorporeal (refer to the 3rd Edition Monster Manual for special abilities, qualities, and restrictions for incorporeal creatures).
Detriment: The Afflicted's flesh becomes soft and puffy, distorting form and features. The character tends to sink into solid matter if he spends more than a moment in the same place, and any clothing of a weave coarser than silk tends to merge with his body. Extrication takes about one round, and can be rather painful, as if the character were pulling a bandage from a fresh wound.
Plant Form
Ability Score: Dexterity
Duration: 3 rounds/level
Description: The caster can assume the form of an inanimate plant of approximately the same mass. The form can be that of any type of plant and can have any characteristics the character wishes. For example, a caster might choose the form of a giant flower or a slender tree with only a few leaves. The caster has only one available form, chosen when the Legacy is acquired, and can never change it. It otherwise functions like the spell polymorph self, found in the 3rd Edition Players Handbook.
Detriment: The Afflicted usually sprouts leaves, flowers, or other plant parts from his body. Some gain a grass-like covering. The character needs regular sunlight or becomes nauseous.
Poison
Ability Score: Charisma
Duration: Special
Description: The character can produce poison from fangs, sharp claws, or a stinger of some sort, which appear when the Legacy is activated. The method of delivery causes no damage other than that produced by the poison. A successful attack roll is necessary to deliver the poison. If the poison is not used before the Legacy expires, it loses its potency and becomes inactive.
The poison's effects vary with the caster's level, but generally the higher the level of the caster, the stronger the poison. Refer to the 3rd Edition Monster Manual, in the Vermin section, for more information on poison.
Detriment: The Afflicted grows fangs, claws, or a stinging tail, but these are useless except when the Legacy is activated. In addition, the character's flesh (or fur or scales) acquires ugly splotches of bright colours.
Proficiency
Ability Score: Player's Choice
Duration: 2 rounds/level
Description: The caster temporarily acquires one Weapon Proficiency feat of his or her choice, for the duration of the Legacy. (Optionally, this Legacy could give a bonus of +2 on attack rolls when using a weapon that the caster is already proficient in.) The proficiency gained is decided by the caster each time the Legacy is activated and cannot be changed during activation. Any knowledge gained from use of the Legacy is forgotten by the caster when the duration expires, though anything written down could be preserved. Other characters have the normal chances to remember facts noted.
Detriment: The character acquires some type of minor physical deformity, such as large ears, warts, a nasty overbite, etc. Furthermore, all of the Afflicted's skill checks are penalised by -2.
Projectile
Ability Score: Wisdom
Duration: Special
Description: The caster can produce physical missiles from his body and shoot them at an opponent. The character's body changes when the Legacy is activated: sprouting quills, developing a horn or blowhole through which rocklike projectiles are propelled, growing a