The 5 Sisters - Volcanic activity on Kandris

The Twilight Mountains, home of the 5 Sisters

By Al Baker

Situated within the spectral expanse of the Twilight Mountains, a veritable chaos of jagged rock formations reaching skywards, a formidable constellation of five stately volcanoes—known collectively as the Five Sisters—casts a solemn, watchful gaze over the icy wilderness of Kandris, an extraterrestrial planet. Each of these towering colossi, currently existing in unique stages of geothermal activity, visually narrates the stirring tale of the planet's tempestuous geological chronology. Like indomitable sentinels, they provide testament to the relentless processes of creation and dissolution, an unending dance of shaping and reshaping that marks the frost-clad landscape of this far-flung world. Each Sister contributes an individual tone, a distinct resonance, to the harmonic symphony of Kandris's natural narrative, their voices echoing through the eons.

 

The first among these natural marvels is Rhumburada, aptly christened 'The Thunderous'. This geological titan conducts a dramatic ballet of fire and fury, its spewing embers pirouetting in the alien night sky, painting a terrifying yet awe-inspiring spectacle. A beacon of potent heat, it serves as a lone hearth within the otherwise merciless, biting cold of the Kandris environment. The seething pyroclastic storm paints an extraordinary tableau of volcanic lightning, with each electrified stroke etching a brilliant silhouette against the backdrop of the eternally dusky sky.

Rhumburada's imposing spectacle is more than merely visual, as it captures and encapsulates the inherent extremes of the Kandrisi existence. It serves as a poignant symbol of paradoxical elements—here exists a world frigid and frostbitten on the surface, yet nurturing a fervent, incandescent heart beneath. Rhumburada, with her passionate flares and ardent eruptions, highlights this stark dichotomy. She bears a visual testament to the elemental polarities contained within this icy planet, setting a stage for the waltz of creation and destruction, birth and death.

 

Casting long, quivering shadows far from the fierce illumination of Rhumburada's volcanic pyrotechnics, the Ashen Twins weave their own tale—a tale of quiet, enduring resilience. Their ceaseless belching forth of thick, heavy volcanic ash cloaks the immediate territories in a blanket of gray, the resulting landscape a monochromatic counterpoint to the searing, incandescent display of their older sister. The Ashen Twins, with their gray veils and monotonous pallor, contribute a serene, calming influence to Kandris's otherwise tempestuous geological theatre.

The Twins' contribution to the planet's narrative is not as visually striking as their older sister's, yet it's vital in its own way. Through their ceaseless ash emissions, they create an undulating canvas of gray dunes, shaping and reshaping the landscape with each passing moment. The ever-changing dunes, subtly shifting under the quiet caress of the alien winds, add a note of tranquillity, a soothing motif to the planet's otherwise raucous geological symphony. They represent the patient, unyielding strength of Kandris, a testament to the enduring spirit of the frigid world they inhabit.

 

Next, we encounter Idene, a geothermal giant fondly referred to as 'The Seething'. Unlike her more dramatic siblings, Idene is a study in muted elegance, her pockmarked crown perpetually cloaked in billowing clouds of silvery steam. The constant plumes unfurl themselves into the sky, their ethereal tendrils reaching out to embrace the distant heavens, a gentle reminder of the latent inferno that pulsates beneath Kandris's icy surface.

Idene, in her subtle majesty, embodies the paradox that is Kandris. On the surface, her calm, tranquil display of steamy exhalations paints a serene picture, yet it belies the tempestuous energy simmering beneath. The seeming tranquility is a mere mirage, concealing the seething heat and fiery rage that lurk beneath her frosted exterior. With her steamy crown and icy veneer, Idene is a testament to the hidden complexities of this extraterrestrial world, a quiet, solemn ode to the simmering potential beneath its icy shell.

 

The closing chapter of this quintet is heralded by Shalembrim's Crucible, a volcano that brings a tinge of the mystical to Kandris's geophysical narrative. This last Sister is more than a geological marvel; it is a spiritual nexus, a home to restless spirits and ephemeral elementals that defy physical constraints. The Crucible's heart pulses with a form of energy that transcends the ordinary, its otherworldly glow a beacon for entities that exist beyond the physical plane.

The spectral inhabitants of the Crucible, their ephemeral forms flickering against the backdrop of geothermic activity, add a touch of the supernatural to the Five Sisters' saga. These spectral beings lend layers of depth and complexity to the Kandris narrative, their mystical presence creating a vibrant juxtaposition against the geological drama played out by the Sisters. This meeting of the ethereal and the physical adds a rich note of enigma to Kandris's symphony, a motif of mystery in its grand geological composition.

 

Collectively, the Five Sisters, each unique yet unified in their common themes of volcanic activity and geothermal dynamism, paint an intricate and captivating tableau of Kandris. They stand as potent symbols of the raw, untempered forces at play in this icy world, their individual and interconnected tales combining to weave a larger, more captivating narrative. Each contributes a different tone, a unique note, to the concert, their collective music echoing across the frosty expanses of the planet.

This ensemble of natural marvels tells a tale of contrast and harmony, of fire and ice, of creation and dissolution. Each Sister, in her unique way, adds to the depth and richness of Kandris's tale, crafting a harmonious and captivating narrative that speaks to the geological grandeur and ethereal mystique of the planet. Their combined voices narrate the symphony of Kandris—a symphony of dynamic landscapes and ethereal energy, of silent resilience and seething fury, of mundane ash and extraordinary lightning—a testament to the remarkable planet and its extraordinary geological narrative.

Each element of the tale—the fiery brilliance of Rhumburada, the silent endurance of the Ashen Twins, the steaming tranquility of Idene, and the spectral allure of Shalembrim's Crucible—comes together to form the unforgettable saga of the Five Sisters. Together, they weave a narrative tapestry that is as rich and varied as the landscape of Kandris itself—a tapestry that embodies the planet's geophysical character and echoes with its indomitable spirit. Thus, the tale of the Five Sisters continues to unfold, a never-ending story in the icy wilderness of the planet Kandris.

Hoarfrost Host

By: Al Baker

Lore

Cold…

 That was the first thing I felt.

 Unending, cold--a complete absence of warmth.


 “Who am I?” I ask myself.

 You are no one--just a spirit, a spark of consciousness, a voice in my mind answered.

 “Why do I exist?”

 To serve.

“What am I?”

 You are a slave meant to do my bidding.

 “Yes master.”

  

Created from ancient ice and animated by the souls of living beings, hoarfrost hosts are walking contradictions. On the outside, it appears to be nothing more than a walking ice sculpture but within it lies a glowing bluish-white ember of consciousness.

 


Characteristics

 

Based upon the mindset of its creator, a host's appearance can almost be anything; from crudely cobbled together constructs to beautifully crafted works of art. Hoarfrost hosts are generally asexual, unless their creator gives them a specific gender when making them. They usually tend to be either a clear or icy blue to transparent in color. The only common factor is a brilliant, pulsating sphere of bluish-white light within its chest. Hoarfrost hosts are considered constructs and not undead, even though they are powered by the spirits of the dead.

A Mindworker and his Hoarfrost Host Servant

Construction

 

A hoarfrost host must be constructed from elements like snow or ice and the soul of a living creature, which is called a "spark". This "spark” must be from a humanoid or any creature that is at least sentient/intelligent. All memories from the spark’s previous life are suppressed.

To create the Hoarfrost requires Mindworkers of great mental strength and skill. The process is mostly straightforward but requires the strictest concentration and prodigious deft. The two-stage procedure is as follows:

1. Abilities – Taking the Soul out of the victim.

Psionic Supremacy – Similar to Psychic Domination [Unearthed Arcana] (Breaking the Ego Barrier).

Drahjan's Grasp – Removes the “spark” of a Victim of Psionic Supremacy. [Greater] version works on sentient creatures Large+.

 

2. Construction – Take the snow/ice/rime/etc (250-1000lbs). Craft the Host in any shape you wish.

                Binding the Soul – Symbols of Confinement.

Carve the Seven Sigils of Submission [Ring of 6 smaller symbols surrounding a larger 7th Owner’s Mark (Symbol MUST be one the Owner wishes to use to identify themself)] somewhere on the Host’s body.

Freeing the spark from the host requires destroying all or part of the ring and attempting the ability Reclaiming the Lost.

DC (20 average) reduction per sigil damaged:

·         1 sigil = -2

·         2 sigils = -4

·         3 sigils = -6

·         4 sigils = -8

·         5 sigils = -10

·         6 sigils = -12

 



Special Abilities

Construct immunities, double damage from fire, immune cold, death burst (when destroyed)

  

Alignment

 

Like all other sentient beings, hosts can be of any alignment. If they have no master, they tend toward neutrality, though it may be with a lawful bent to them. When under a master’s control they immediately gravitate to his/her alignment. In very rare cases, some hosts regain their spark’s memories and become the alignment of their personality. Some hoarfrost's have been known to be driven insane by the experience of remembering their past life and become chaotic neutral or even chaotic evil.

 

Worldbuilding Campaign 1 (Kandris) Launch

As you may have read in my last post, I’m in the process of reworking the Worldbuilding blog to chronicle/update the process and have a centralized place to publish my content for this campaign. So here what I’ve got done so far.

I’m making a playlist of my efforts on YouTube!

 

Campaign Seed for the Kandris Setting

 

Custom Cards for Magic the Gathering

I’ve got great help from knowledgeable folks like Snarlfox on my Discord and Begin Download on YouTube brainstorming up great ideas. This will make the content so much better and really of value, as far as I see anyway. I’m hoping to have this done in a year and release it as a SYSTEM-AGNOSTIC setting that people can use for their homebrew campaigns in any of the Big Boys, like Dungeons and Dragons, Pathfinder, Kobold Press, and also for smaller TTRPGs like Miscast’s Arcane Ugly. This is going to be a great project and I’m looking for your help in making it so! SEE YOU THERE!