Help me, I'm lazy
Danny Sutton
Dak'kon. Dak'kon is a Zerth, which is an order of Githzerai
Fighter/Mages. This screams Prestige Class material, to me. Naturally,
then, I am going to make one. I recall that there were nine or so
orders of learning for the Zerth, each represented by a parable. In
the game, each time you uncovered one and correctly divined the moral,
you learned a new spell. For the purposes of a prestige class, nine
lessons and nine ranks would translate well to a ten level prestige
class, so I would want to have a class ability for each of the
lessons. My problem is this: My hard drive is full, and I don't want
to delete anything to reintsall Torment, just to have to play through
a third of the game to be able to see all the Zerth lessons. Does
anyone have access to the text of the parables? Or even remember the
gist?
Here's what I have so far:
Requirements:
Able to cast 2nd lvl arcane spells*.
Proficiency in all martial weapons.
Must be a Githzerai, in good social standing, who is a follower of
Zerthimon.
Must be a depressed sychophant obsessed with following around an
amnesiac power-obsessed control freak.
Medium BAB, Good Will save
+1 to arcane caster level at lvl 2,3,5,6,8,9,10
(Does not gain caster level increase at lvls 1, 4, and 7.
1st Level: Karach Blade The character recieves +1 anarchic scimitar
at 1st level. At every 4th level, and every even level thereafter, it
gains an additional +1 enhancement bonus. At 3rd level, it becomes a
bane weapon against either githyanki or illithids (players choice). At
5th level, it gains spell storing. Finally, at 7th level, it becomes
bane against both githyanki and Illithids. Unlike most anarchic
weapons, the Zerth blade has no adverse effect upon its proper owner
(the Zerth to whom it was bestowed), regardless of alignment. The
Zerth is not strictly prohibited from using other weapons, if the
situation requires it, but doing so is frowned upon. If the Zerth ever
looses his blade, he immediately gains one negative level until it is
recovered.
Other Levels: I'm not sure yet. As I said above, I would love to theme
these after the teachings of Zerthimon, but I don't have those handy.
All I remember is one about not being used by others (a +4 bonus to
save against mind effecting powers and spells?), and the Eye of
Vilquar, where you use an enemies blindness against him. Oh, and
"Endure. And in Enduring, grow strong."
Eye of Vilquar: Oponnents you threaten in battle with your karach
blade suffers a -1 penalty to saving throws agaisnt spells you cast.
Endure: No, you don't gain the endurance feat; instead, you may reroll
failed concentration checks once per day.
-While I'm at it, I'll probably rework the Githzerai to be more like
what I remembered in 2e Planescape (when they had an intelligence
bonus, for instance). Nothing wrong with the 3.x version, of course. I
just hate it because I remember the old one and it's different.
*I would prefer to require third level spells, but with a +2 Level
Adjustment from race alone, that would delay this class too much. Of
course, that _is_ the point of Level Adjustment. On the other hand,
very little in the default githzerai is synergistic with being a good
wizard, other than being really hard to hit, so I figure that balances
out. If I do rework the githzerai to conform to my personal image,
they would probably be able to loose a level adjustment. In this case,
I would raise the spell level requirement back up to 3rd.
Danny Sutton
-The Karach Sings True
Legion
home. And here ele...@yahoo.com (Danny Sutton) wrote on 1 Sep 2004
02:46:49 -0700:
> I love Planescape, and I love Planescape: Torment. Furthermore, I love
> Dak'kon. Dak'kon is a Zerth, which is an order of Githzerai
> Fighter/Mages. This screams Prestige Class material, to me. Naturally,
> then, I am going to make one. I recall that there were nine or so
> orders of learning for the Zerth, each represented by a parable. In
> the game, each time you uncovered one and correctly divined the moral,
> you learned a new spell. For the purposes of a prestige class, nine
> lessons and nine ranks would translate well to a ten level prestige
> class, so I would want to have a class ability for each of the
> lessons. My problem is this: My hard drive is full, and I don't want
> to delete anything to reintsall Torment, just to have to play through
> a third of the game to be able to see all the Zerth lessons. Does
> anyone have access to the text of the parables? Or even remember the
> gist?
>
First Circle of Zerthimon
*Know* that we are the First People. Once all was chaos. The First
People were thought drawn from chaos. When the First People came to
*know* themselves, they were chaos no longer, and became flesh.
With their thoughts and *knowing* of matter, the People shaped the
First World and dwelled there with their *knowing* to sustain them.
Yet the flesh was new to the People and with it, the People came not
to *know* themselves. The flesh gave rise to new thoughts. Greed and
hates, pains and joys, jealousies and doubts. All of these fed on each
other and the minds of the People were divided. In their division, the
People were punished.
The emotions of the flesh were strong. The greed and hates, the pains
and joys, the jealousies and doubts, all of these served as a guiding
stone to enemies. In becoming flesh, the First People became enslaved
to those who *knew* flesh only as tools for their will. *Know* these
beasts were the *illithids.*
The *illithids* were a race that had come not to *know* themselves.
They had learned how to make other races not *know* themselves.
They were the tentacled ones. They lived in flesh and saw flesh as
tools for their will. Their blood was as water and they shaped minds
with their thoughts. When the *illithids* came upon the People, the
People were a people no more. The People became slaves.
The *illithids* took the People from the First World and brought them
to the False Worlds. As the People labored upon the False Worlds, the
*illithids* taught them the Way of the Flesh. Through them, the People
came to *know* loss. They came to *know* suffering. They came to
*know* death, both of the body and mind. They came to *know* what it
is to be the herd of another and have their flesh consumed. They came
to *know* the horror of being made to feel joy in such things.
The Unbroken Circle is the *knowing* of how the People lost
themselves. And how they came to *know* themselves again.
Second Circle of Zerthimon (Scripture of Steel)
*Know* that flesh cannot mark steel. *Know* that steel may mark flesh.
In *knowing* this, Zerthimon became free.
*Know* that the tentacled ones were of flesh. They relied on the flesh
and used it as tools for their will. One of the places where flesh
served their will were the Fields of Husks on the False Worlds of the
*illithids.*
The Fields were where the bodies of the People were cast after the
*illithids* had consumed their brains. When the brain had been
devoured, the husks came to be fertilizer to grow the poison-stemmed
grasses of the *illithids.* Zerthimon worked the Fields with no
*knowing* of himself or what he had become. He was a tool of flesh,
and the flesh was content.
It was upon these fields that Zerthimon came to *know* the scripture
of steel. During one of the turnings, as Zerthimon tilled the Fields
with his hands, he came across a husk whose brain remained within it.
It had not been used as food. Yet it was dead.
The thought that one of the husks had died a death without serving as
food for the *illithids* was a thought Zerthimon had difficulty
understanding. From that thought, came a desire to *know* what had
happened to the husk.
Embedded in the skull of the husk was a steel blade. It had pierced
the bone. Zerthimon realized that was what had killed the husk. The
steel had marked the flesh, but the flesh had not marked the steel.
Zerthimon took the blade and studied its surface. In it, he saw his
reflection. It was in the reflection of the steel that Zerthimon first
*knew* himself. Its edge was sharp, its will the wearer's. It was the
blade that would come to be raised against Gith when Zerthimon made
the Pronouncement of Two Skies.
Zerthimon kept the blade for many turnings, and many were the thoughts
he had about it. He used it in the fields to aid his work. In using
it, he thought about how it was not used.
The *illithids* were powerful. Zerthimon had believed that there was
nothing that they did not *know.* Yet the *illithids* never carried
tools of steel. They only used flesh as tools. Everything was done
through flesh, for the tentacled ones were made of flesh and they
*knew* flesh. Yet steel was superior to flesh. When the blade had
killed the husk, it was the flesh that had been weaker than the steel.
It was then that Zerthimon came to *know* that flesh yielded to steel.
In *knowing* that, he came to *know* that steel was stronger than the
*illithids.*
Steel became the scripture of the People. *Know* that steel is the
scripture by which the People came to *know* freedom.
Third Circle (Submerge the Will)
Zerthimon labored many turnings for the *illithid* Arlathii
Twice-Deceased and his partnership in the cavernous heavens of the
False Worlds. His duties would have broken the backs of many others,
but Zerthimon labored on, suffering torment and exhaustion.
It came to pass that the *illithid* Arlathii Twice-Deceased ordered
Zerthimon before him in his many-veined galleria. He claimed that
Zerthimon had committed slights of obstinance and cowardice against
his partnership. The claim had no weight of truth, for Arlathii only
wished to *know* if flames raged within Zerthimon's heart. He wished
to *know* if Zerthimon's heart was one of a slave or of a rebel.
"Zerthimon surrendered to the *illithid* punishment rather than reveal
his new-found strength. He *knew* that were he to show the hatred in
his heart, it would serve nothing, and it would harm others that felt
as he. He chose to endure the punishment and was placed within the
Pillars of Silence so he might suffer for a turning."
Lashed upon the Pillars, Zerthimon moved his mind to a place where
pain could not reach, leaving his body behind. He lasted a turning,
and when he was brought before Arlathii Twice-Deceased, he gave
gratitude for his punishment to the *illithid* as was custom. In so
doing, he proved himself a slave in the *illithid* eyes while his
heart remained free.
By enduring and quenching the fires of his hatred, he allowed Arlathii
Twice-Deceased to think him weak. When the time of the Rising came,
Arlathii was the first of the *illithid* to *know* death by
Zerthimon's hand and die a third death.
Fourth Circle (Vilquar's Eye)
*Know* that the Rising of the People against the *illithid* was a
thing built upon many ten-turnings of labor. Many of the People were
gathered and taught in secret the ways of defeating their *illithid*
masters. They were taught to shield their minds, and use them as
weapons. They were taught the scripture of steel, and most
importantly, they were given the *knowing* of freedom.
Some of the People learned the nature of freedom and took it into
their hearts. The *knowing* gave them strength. Others feared freedom
and kept silent. But there were those that *knew* freedom and *knew*
slavery, and it was their choice that the People remain chained. One
of these was Vilquar.
Vilquar saw no *freedom* in the Rising, but opportunity. He saw that
the *illithid* had spawned across many of the False Worlds. Their
Worlds numbered so many that their vision was turned only outwards, to
all they did not already touch. Vilquar's eye saw that much took place
that the *illithid* did not see. To the Rising, the *illithid* were
blinded.
Vilquar came before his master, the *illithid* Zhijitaris, with the
*knowing* of the Rising. Vilquar added to his chains and offered to be
their eyes against the Rising. In exchange, Vilquar asked that he be
rewarded for his service. The *illithid* agreed to his contract.
At the bonding of the contract, a dark time occurred. Many were
betrayals Vilquar committed and many were the People that the
*illithids* fed upon to stem the Rising. It seemed that the Rising
would die before it could occur, and the *illithid* were pleased with
Vilquar's eye.
It was near the end of this dark time when Zerthimon came to *know*
Vilquar's treacheries. In *knowing* Vilquar's eye, Zerthimon forced
the Rising to silence itself, so that Vilquar might think at last his
treacheries had succeeded, and the Rising had fallen. He *knew* that
Vilquar's eye was filled only with the reward he had been promised. He
would see what he wished to see.
With greed beating in his heart, Vilquar came upon the *illithid*
Zhijitaris and spoke to his master of his success. He said that the
Rising had fallen, and the *illithids* were safe to turn their eyes
outwards once more. He praised their wisdom in using Vilquar's eye,
and he asked them for his reward.
In his greed-blindness, Vilquar had forgotten the *knowing* of why the
People had sought freedom. He had lost the *knowing* of what slavery
meant. He had forgotten what his *illithid* masters saw when they
looked upon him. And so Vilquar's betrayal of the People was ended
with another betrayal. Vilquar came to *know* that when Vilquar's eye
has nothing left to see, Vilquar's eye is useless.
The *illithid* gave to Vilquar his reward, opening the cavity of his
skull and devouring his brain. Vilquar's corpse was cast upon the
Fields of Husks so its blood might water the poison-stemmed grasses.
Fifth Circle (Power of One)
Zerthimon was the first to *know* the way of freedom. Yet it was not
he that first came to *know* the way of rebellion.
The *knowing* of rebellion came to the warrior-queen Gith, one of the
People. She had served the *illithids* upon many of the False Worlds
as a soldier, and she had come to *know* war and carried it in her
heart. She had come to *know* how others might be organized to
subjugate others. She *knew* the paths of power, and she *knew* the
art of taking from the conquerors the weapons by which they could be
defeated. Her mind was focused, and both her will and her blade were
as one.
The turning in which Zerthimon came to *know* Gith, Zerthimon ceased
to *know* himself. Her words were as fires lit in the hearts of all
who heard her. In hearing her words, he wished to *know* war. He
*knew* not what afflicted him, but he *knew* he wished to join his
blade to Gith. He wished to give his hate expression and share his
pain with the *illithid.*
Gith was one of the People, but her *knowing* of herself was greater
than any Zerthimon had ever encountered. She *knew* the ways of flesh,
she *knew* the *illithids* and in *knowing* herself, she was to *know*
how to defeat them in battle. The strength of her *knowing* was so
great, that all those that walked her path came to *know* themselves.
Gith was but one. Her strength was such that it caused others to
*know* their strength. And Zerthimon laid his steel at her feet.
Sixth Circle (Balance in All Things)
Upon the Blasted Plains, Zerthimon told Gith there cannot be two
skies. In the wake of his words, came war.
So it came to pass that the People had achieved victory over their
*illithid* masters. They *knew* freedom. Yet before the green fires
had died from the battlefield, Gith spoke of continuing the war. Many,
still filled with the bloodlust in their hearts, agreed with her. She
spoke of not merely defeating the *illithids,* but destroying all
*illithids* across the Planes. After the *illithids* had been
exterminated, they would bring war to all other races they
encountered.
In Gith's heart, fires raged. She lived in war, and in war, she *knew*
herself. All that her eyes saw, she wanted to conquer.
Zerthimon spoke the beginnings of that which was against Gith's will.
He spoke that the People already *knew* freedom. Now they should
*know* themselves again and mend the damage that had been done to the
People. Behind his words were many other hearts of the People who were
weary of the war against the *illithid.*
*Know* that Gith's heart was not Zerthimon's heart on this matter. She
said that the war would continue. The *illithid* would be destroyed.
Their flesh would be no more. Then the People would claim the False
Worlds as their own. Gith told Zerthimon that they would be under the
same sky in this matter. The words were like bared steel.
From Zerthimon came the Pronouncement of Two Skies. In the wake of his
words came war.
Seventh Circle (Missile of Patience)
*Know* that the Rising of the People against the *illithid* was a
thing built upon many turnings. Many were the People who lived and
died under time's blade while the Rising was shaped.
The Rising was shaped upon a slow foundation. Steel was gathered so
that it might mark *illithid* flesh. A means of *knowing* the
movements of the *illithids* were established, at first weak and
confused, then stronger, like a child finding its voice. When the
movements were *known,* then the *illithids* were observed. In
observing them, their ways of the mind were *known.*
When the ways of the *illithid* were *known,* many of the People were
gathered and taught in secret the means to shield their minds, and the
way to harness their will as weapons. They were taught the scripture
of steel, and most importantly, they were given the *knowing* of
freedom.
These things were not learned quickly. The *knowing* of much of the
ways was slow, and in all these things, time's weight fell upon all.
From the *knowing* of one's reflection in a steel blade, to the
*knowing* of submerging the will, to the *knowing* of seeing itself.
All of these things and more the People built upon. In time, they came
to *know* the whole.
Eight Circle (Zerthimon's Focus)
*Know* that a mind divided divides the man. The will and the hand must
be as one. In *knowing* the self, one becomes strong.
*Know* that if you *know* a course of action to be true in your heart,
do not betray it because the path leads to hardship. *Know* that
without suffering, the Rising would have never been, and the People
would never have come to *know* themselves.
*Know* that there is nothing in all the Worlds that can stand against
unity. When all *know* a single purpose, when all hands are guided by
one will, and all act with the same intent, the Planes themselves may
be moved.
A divided mind is one that does not *know* itself. When it is divided,
it cleaves the body in two. When one has a single purpose, the body is
strengthened. In *knowing* the self, grow strong.
--
RM (remove these twice from my email to reply)
Symbols, by their very nature, conceal as well
as indicate, damn them!
Conner Destron
> Things fall apart; the center cannot hold. But what the hell,
it's
> home. And here ele...@yahoo.com (Danny Sutton) wrote on 1 Sep
2004
> 02:46:49 -0700:
>
don't want
> > to delete anything to reintsall Torment, just to have to play
through
> > a third of the game to be able to see all the Zerth lessons.
Does
> > anyone have access to the text of the parables? Or even
remember the
> > gist?
>
> First Circle of Zerthimon
> Eight Circle (Zerthimon's Focus)
>
Damn, that's impressive... not that you had them available, I'm
sure that I could find all the text of the parables on some
website or other and I'm sure I could easily find the full text
in the game if I reinstalled it and reloaded my old saves (which
I do have backed up, in case there's ever a sequel released that
can use the previous characters or in case I ever decide to play
again), but that you'd take the time/effort to retype them in
full like this for a newsgroup response rather than just locate a
website that had them and provide a link. Bravo.
-=Conner=-
Arivne
>
> I love Planescape, and I love Planescape: Torment. Furthermore, I love
> Dak'kon. Dak'kon is a Zerth, which is an order of Githzerai
> Fighter/Mages. This screams Prestige Class material, to me. Naturally,
> then, I am going to make one. I recall that there were nine or so
> orders of learning for the Zerth, each represented by a parable. In
> the game, each time you uncovered one and correctly divined the moral,
> you learned a new spell. For the purposes of a prestige class, nine
> lessons and nine ranks would translate well to a ten level prestige
> class, so I would want to have a class ability for each of the
> lessons. My problem is this: My hard drive is full, and I don't want
> to delete anything to reintsall Torment, just to have to play through
> a third of the game to be able to see all the Zerth lessons. Does
> anyone have access to the text of the parables? Or even remember the
> gist?
>
The full text of the first through eighth circles of Zerthimon:
http://www.sorcerers.net/Games/Torment/zerthimon.php
And the lessons learned:
http://www.rpgclassics.com/shrines/pc/planescape/circle.shtml
Arivne
Ubiquitous
ele...@yahoo.com wrote:
>Furthermore, I love Dak'kon. Dak'kon is a Zerth, which is an order of
>Githzerai Fighter/Mages. This screams Prestige Class material, to me.
>Naturally,then, I am going to make one.
Didn't WotC already do that?
>My problem is this: My hard drive is full, and I don't want
>to delete anything to reintsall Torment, just to have to play through
>a third of the game to be able to see all the Zerth lessons. Does
>anyone have access to the text of the parables? Or even remember the
>gist?
You mean these?
http://www.sorcerers.net/Games/Torment/zerthimon.php
http://www.rpgclassics.com/shrines/pc/planescape/circle.shtml
--
======================================================================
ISLAM: Winning the hearts and minds of the world, one bomb at a time.