Web Enhancement Planar Touchstones.pdf

TOUCHSTONES

The Planar Handbook describes extraplanar locations

suffused with the power of all existence that are known

as planar touchstones. Characters linked to these natu-

ral hubs of planar activity can tap their power for per-

sonal use, gaining abilities that reflect the nature of the

specific locations. But gaining power from the planes is

not without risk, and those wishing to exploit their

planar connections to the utmost must brave the dan-

gers of the touchstones with which they are linked.

Dozens of planar touchstones are described in the

Planar Handbook, complete with abilities gained and

specific perils of the locations. Now designers Bruce

Cordell, Gwendolyn Kestrel, JD Wiker, and Skip

Williams offer four additional planar touchstones for

plane-hopping PCs to exploit.

A Web Enhancement for

the Planar Handbook

CREDITS

PLANAR TOUCHSTONES

The cosmological association of linked planes, demi-

planes, and connected dimensional realms creates a

vast network through which the energy of existence

itself is channeled. Less-connected planes and demi-

planes are the nodes of this network, and the most

highly connected planes are the hubs. These hubs,

known as planar touchstones, are usually suffused with

excess energy by virtue of their numerous connections.

Thus, many of them are legendary sites of power, or at

least places resonant with mythic possibility.

The Planar Touchstone feat described in the Planar

Handbook allows a character who possesses a portable

object native to a given touchstone to forge a link with

it. Such a linkage grants the character a base ability that

is always active. A personal visit to the touchstone site

discharges its inherent power directly into the linked

character, granting her a higher-order ability that she

can call upon a limited number of times. Additional

visits to that planar touchstone can revitalize this

charge, restoring the number of available uses of the

ability to maximum.

If a character with the Planar Touchstone feat visits a

touchstone other than the one to which she is linked,

the base ability of the new site replaces that of the old

one. In like manner, the character immediately gains

the higher-order ability of the new site and loses any

remaining uses of the one corresponding to the old

site. Characters intimately familiar with planar touch-

stones often refer to visiting multiple such sites as

“taking the touchstone tour.”

In addition to conferring benefits on characters,

planar touchstone sites can serve as story elements for

campaigns. For instance, a prophecy might state that a

Design:

Skip Williams

Additional Design:

Bruce Cordell, Gwendolyn

Kestrel, and JD Wiker

Editing:

Penny Williams

Typesetting:

Nancy Walker

Web Production

Julia Martin

Web Development:

Mark A. Jindra

Graphic Design:

Sean Glenn, Cynthia Fliege

Based on the original D UNGEONS & D RAGONS ® game by E.

Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson and on the new edition of the

D UNGEONS & D RAGONS game designed by Jonathan Tweet,

Monte Cook, Skip Williams, Rich Baker, and Peter Adkison.

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MORE PLANAR

particular scourge can be overcome only by “one who

looks upon the stars of Oxyrhynchus” (see Planar Hand-

book, page 172). On a less dramatic scale, planar touch-

stones also make great alternatives to treasure—when

characters overcome a particularly difficult threat asso-

ciated with a touchstone site, the higher-order ability

gained makes a good reward.

Unless a linked character arranges for proper protec-

tion, his visit to this touchstone may be short.

TOUCHSTONES ON THE PLANES

The following section offers four new planar touch-

stone locations. Each of these sites is described in the

following format.

Name: The most common name or names of the

planar touchstone are given in this entry.

Description: Each location has a description that

details its appearance and general conditions.

Location: This entry provides the planar location

of the touchstone, if known. The major planes of exis-

tence are described starting on page 151 of the Dungeon

Master’s Guide . Refer to those descriptions for details,

especially when a character must travel through some

of the intervening planar locations before arriving at

the touchstone.

Initial Encounters: This entry offers informa-

tion on the type of encounters that characters may face

on their first visit to the touchstone. An encounter

table is provided, if appropriate.

Subsequent Encounters: Information on the

type of encounters characters may face on subsequent

visits to the touchstone is given here.

Base Ability: This entry describes the base ability

gained by a character who takes the Planar Touchstone

feat and links to this site. This ability is always available

to the character (to the limits of any supernatural abil-

ity) and has unlimited uses.

Recharge Condition: Many planar touchstones

require not only a visit, but also the fulfillment of some

condition in order to recharge the higher-order ability

it confers. The linked character need not fulfill this

condition to gain the planar touchstone’s base ability,

but she must do so each time she recharges the higher-

order ability.

Higher- Order Ability: A character with the

Planar Touchstone feat who visits the touchstone and

fulfills its recharge condition gains this ability. It can

be used a limited number of times before recharging,

which requires another visit to the touchstone and ful-

fillment of its recharge condition. All higher-order abil-

ities are considered either supernatural or spell-like, as

indicated in the individual descriptions. Each such

ability is usable only once per day.

Higher- Order Uses: Each time the character

recharges her higher-order ability, she brings her

remaining uses of it up to this number.

WHAT MAKES A TOUCHSTONE?

A touchstone site is often special in some way that goes

beyond its status as a hub of the cosmological network.

Relatively few touchstones exist on the Material Plane,

but almost every one of them has historical or geo-

graphical importance, or is significant for some other

reason besides its cosmological status. For example,

one Material Plane touchstone is the peak of the

world’s tallest mountain.

Planar locations previously described in other game

products might also be considered planar touchstones.

Adventurers might have known about and even visited

such a site several times without ever realizing that it

had the power to confer special abilities. Determining

the base and higher-order abilities conferred by these

sites is an exercise for the DM (see the Behind the Cur-

tain sidebar on page 154 of the Planar Handbook for

instructions on creating touchstone abilities.)

Some very powerful characters eventually gain the

ability to create small demiplanes. Such fledgling loca-

tions can never be planar touchstones, but after several

thousand years of growth, linkage, and expansion, such

a created plane could become host to one or more

planar touchstones.

TRAVELING TO TOUCHSTONE SITES

A character who lacks the ability to visit a touchstone

site cannot access the higher-order ability inherent to

it. Thus, anyone who wishing to take the Planar Touch-

stone feat and forge a link to a particular planar loca-

tion should possess a reliable method of reaching it.

Perhaps the character knows of a permanent portal that

opens near the touchstone, or has access to spells such

as plane shift, either personally or via a friend. Whatever

the method of transportation, the character must have

access to a method that is at least somewhat reliable.

But reaching the planar touchstone is the only first

step. Some planar touchstones have environments that

are inimical to nonnative life. In particular, elemental

planes require some preparation because of their

energy-dominant traits. For instance, the planar touch-

stone location called the Burning Rift (see the Planar

Handbook ) is located on the Elemental Plane of Fire.

THE BLEAK TOWER (EL 13)

Ages ago, a powerful lich created a swampy demiplane

in which to build her stronghold—a single obsidian

structure known as the Bleak Tower. Although the bog

seemed to surround the tower for miles in every direc-

tion, the plane was really only 1 mile in diameter. The

lich made the plane self-contained so that no one who

entered could move very far from her clutches.

For centuries the lich remained in her tower,

researching new and innovative ways to turn dead

flesh into undead servants. Whenever she needed new

subjects for her experiments, she opened a portal from

her demiplane to some other place in the multiverse.

The creatures pulled into the swampy plane through

such portals were never seen again—at least not in any

recognizable form.

No one knows what happened to the lich, but she

has not been seen or heard from in millennia. The

demiplane’s boundaries have grown so weak that it

periodically breaches them, spilling into swampy

regions of other planes. When such a tear occurs, the

Bleak Tower beckons to all the undead in the region,

augmenting its own forces.

Location: A nameless demiplane.

Initial Encounters: Roll on the Bleak Tower

Encounter Table below when the characters visit the

site for the first time, or for the first time in more than

a year.

Higher- Order Ability: Once per day, you may use

inflict serious wounds (caster level 10th) as a spell-like ability.

Higher- Order Uses: 5.

* Balor Skeleton: CR 8; Large undead; HD 20d12;

hp 130; Init +12; Spd 40 ft.; AC 19, touch 17, flat-footed

11; Base Atk +10; Grp +26; Atk +21 melee (1d10+12,

slam) or +21 melee (1d6+12, claw) or +14 melee

(1d8+13/19–20, +1 vorpal longsword ); Full Atk +21 melee

(1d10+12, 2 slams) or +21 melee (1d6+12, 2 claws) or

+14/+9 melee (1d8+13/19–20, +1 vorpal longsword ) and

+22 melee (1d2+1 plus 1d6 fire, +1 flaming whip );

Space/Reach 10 ft./10 ft.; SQ damage reduction

5/bludgeoning, darkvision 60 ft., immunity to cold,

undead traits; AL NE; SV Fort +6, Ref +14, Will +12; Str

35, Dex 27, Con —, Int —, Wis 10, Cha 1.

Skills and Feats: Hide +4, Jump +16, Listen +8, Spot +8;

Improved Initiative(B).

Undead Traits: A balor skeleton is immune to

mind-affecting effects, poison, sleep effects, paralysis,

stunning, disease, death effects, and any effect that

requires a Fortitude save unless it also works on objects

or is harmless. It is not subject to critical hits, nonlethal

damage, ability damage to its physical ability scores,

ability drain, energy drain, fatigue, exhaustion, or death

from massive damage. It cannot be raised , and resurrec-

tion works only if it is willing.

Possessions: None.

THE CUSP OF THE TRYST (EL 14)

The 148th layer of the Abyss is a rocky, wind-blasted

plain named Torrent. Dark blue and green clouds roil

endlessly through the sky, and bolts of lightning strike

the ground incessantly. Only creatures made of light-

ning—or those with immunity to its effects—can live

in this dismal place.

Any creature standing on the surface of Torrent will

eventually be struck by lightning. The inhabitants con-

sider such an event joyous—a sensual joining between

the sky and the earth via the body of a fortunate inter-

mediary. Most visitors, however, have no such roman-

tic notions about several million volts of electricity

coursing through their bodies.

The tallest point on Torrent is a relatively small

mountain that the locals call the Cusp of the Tryst

because it is struck by lightning more frequently than

any other spot. Many of Torrent’s inhabitants consider

it a sacred place, and those who travel to it can enjoy

the kiss of the lightning more than ten times per hour.

Location: Torrent, the 148th layer of the Abyss.

Initial Encounters: Roll on the Cusp of the

Tryst Encounter Table below when the characters visit

Bleak Tower Encounter Table

d% Encounter

01–20 1 dread wraith

21–35 6 balor skeletons*

36–60 1 lich

61–85 1 elite vampire, 13th-level half-elf monk/shadowdancer

86–100 1 mature adult black dragon

Subsequent Encounters: Once the characters

clear out the area, the chance of an encounter is only

25% on each subsequent visit. If the PCs fail to visit the

location for more than a year, they must roll for

encounters as if they had never visited the site.

Base Ability: You gain a +1 bonus on all Fortitude

saving throws.

Recharge Condition: Walk across the demi-

plane, beginning at the entrance to the Bleak Tower

and walking away in a straight line until you arrive at

the entrance again. Traversing the demiplane in this

manner is possible because it is self-contained. While

walking, you have a 50% chance of having an

encounter, in addition to any encounters that may

occur as a result of your arrival on the demiplane.

the site for the first time, or for the first time in more

than a year.

no clues reveal the identity of the deity to whom the

temple was dedicated. Some say the building is simply

a monument to struggle, and that it was created as a

ruin to indicate the fleeting nature of glory.

Location: The first layer of Arborea.

Initial Encounters: Roll on the Sentinel Grove

Encounter Table below when the characters visit the

site for the first time, or for the first time in more than

a year.

Cusp of the Tryst Encounter Table

d% Encounter

01–15 1 young adult blue dragon

16–30 3 vrocks

31–65 1 glabrezu

66–90 3 hezrous

91–100 1 mature adult blue dragon

In addition, every 10 minutes that a group of characters

remains above ground on Torrent, one of them may

(25% chance) be struck by a natural lightning bolt. This

chance increases to 50% every 5 minutes for characters

standing atop the Cusp of the Tryst. Each of Torrent’s

lightning bolts deals 5d6 points of electricity damage

(Reflex DC 15 half).

Subsequent Encounters: Once the characters

clear out the area, the chance of an encounter is only

20% on each subsequent visit. If the PCs fail to visit the

location for more than a year, they must roll for

encounters as if they had never visited the site. The

chance of a lightning strike does not change.

Base Ability: You gain electricity resistance 5.

Recharge Condition: Climb to the top of the

Cusp of the Tryst and stand there until lightning

strikes you. The lightning deals 5d6 points of electric-

ity damage (no save).

Higher- Order Ability: Once per day as a full-

round action, you can create an effect similar to that of

the lightning bolt spell, except that it deals 1d6 points of

electricity damage for every two character levels you

have achieved (maximum 10d6, Reflex DC 3 + your

character level).

Higher- Order Uses: 5.

Sentinel Grove Encounter Table

d% Encounter

01–15 1 celestial treant

16–30 3–5 anarchic satyrs

31–70 4–7 anarchic dryads

71–85 3–5 celestial giant eagles

86–100 3–5 celestial giant owls

Subsequent Encounters: Once the characters

clear out the area, the chance of an encounter is only

50% on each subsequent visit. If the PCs fail to visit the

location for more than a year, they must roll for

encounters as if they had never visited the site. The

creatures of the sentinel grove resent constant intru-

sions but are basically good-natured. They may consent

to give the characters access to the grove in return for

some service rather than simply fighting.

Base Ability: When standing upright on any natu-

ral terrain, you gain a +1 bonus on any opposed checks

you make to resist bull rush, trip or overrun attempts,

and on saving throws to resist being moved against

your will (by wind effects or telekinesis, for example).

Recharge Condition: You must climb to the top

of the tallest oak in the grove, harvest an acorn, and

plant it in fertile soil. The relative heights of the trees

may change from time to time because of irregularities

in growth and vagaries in the weather, so a fresh deter-

mination of the correct tree is necessary with each visit.

Higher- Order Ability: Once per day, you can

create a heroes’ feast effect, as the spell (caster level

equals your character level).

Higher- Order Uses: 2.

THE SENTINEL GROVE (EL 9)

The towering oaks of the sentinel grove are massive

and ancient even by the standards of Arborea. Many

rise hundreds of feet into the air and have boles more

than 20 feet across. A thick bed of moss, fallen leaves,

and delicate ferns blankets the ground under these

trees, except where occasional gaps in the canopy let in

shafts of pure sunlight. Beds of gorgeous wildflowers

thrive in such locations, filling the air with their heady

perfume.

In the heart of this grove stands an ancient temple—

ruined, yet still magnificent. Flowering vines twine

around its stately marble columns, and within the roof-

less sanctuary lies a pond filled with lilies. The remains

of friezes depicting epic battles between heroes and all

manner of terrible foes decorate the interior walls, but

THE DEEPING POOL (EL 11)

The Deeping Pool is actually a small lake, perhaps a

quarter mile wide and several miles long. It lies hidden

within a broadleaf forest on Krigala, the realm of eter-

nal day. Though the sun shines perpetually overhead,

the forest’s thick canopy casts the whole area in a green

twilight gloom—except for the exact center of the lake,

where shafts of golden light stream down and make the

waters sparkle like a field of precious diamonds. The

pool’s depth has never been precisely determined,

perhaps because its verdant surroundings are so lovely

that no one has ever bothered to do so, or perhaps

because it is bottomless indeed.

The Deeping Pool is the only sizable body water for

hundreds of miles in any direction. Thus, for inexperi-

enced travelers, the forest surrounding the pool is effec-

tively a cool, green desert. At any given hour, dozens or

even hundreds of animals visit the pool to slake their

thirst. Most of these visitors are harmless enough, but

some come here for more than a cool drink.

Location: The first layer of the Beastlands.

Initial Encounters: Roll on the Deeping Pool

Encounter Table below whenever the characters visit

the site for the first time, or for the first time in more

than a year.

Recharge Condition: Share a drink from the

pool with an animal. To do so, you must be adjacent to

an animal, and the two of you must drink from the pool

at the same time. For the purpose of recharging the

pool’s higher-order ability, an “animal” is any creature

with the animal type or the augmented animal subtype.

Characters with animal companions should find meet-

ing this condition fairly simple, but others must calm

or control the animal in some fashion.

Higher- Order Ability: Once per day, you can

assume one of the following animal traits for 1 minute

per character level. The duration of the ability need not

be consecutive minutes or rounds, and starting or sus-

pending the effect is a standard action for you. Choose

from the following traits each time you use the ability.

Deeping Pool Encounter Table

d% Encounter

01–15 1 gaspar

16–30 5–8 dire wolves

31–70 6–11 giant crocodiles

71–85 1–2 dire tigers

86–100 3–6 celestial unicorns

• Gain the low-light vision special quality.

• Gain the scent special quality.

• Increase your current natural armor bonus by +2.

• Gain a climb speed equal to the base land speed for

your race (maximum 30 feet).

Higher- Order Uses: 3.

Subsequent Encounters: The Deeping Pool

serves as a watering hole for all manner of wildlife. PCs

who make an effort to clear the area of monsters find it

just as busy each time they visit. If they make a con-

certed effort to clear out the bigger predators in the

area, however, treat an encounter with dire animals or

giant crocodiles as no encounter during subsequent

visits. If the characters don’t visit for a year or more, go

back to using the regular encounter table.

Base Ability: You gain a +2 bonus on all Handle

Animal checks and on Survival checks made to forage

for food and water.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Skip Williams keeps busy with freelance projects

for several different game companies, and he was

Dragon Magazine’s Sage for eighteen years. Skip was

a codesigner of the D&D 3rd edition game and the

chief architect of the Monster Manual. When not

devising swift and cruel deaths for player characters,

Skip putters in his kitchen or garden. (His borscht

gets rave reviews.)

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