Hmm, according to this page you can get around ~80HD worth of undead under your control, more if you have the proper magic item and the effects of a certain PRC stack.
So, does ~160HD worth of undead enough to explain this undead master?
Are we sure that "under the command of the colossus" means directly under his command? If he's using direct control or magically binding agreements on the most powerful of his sapient followers, and they in turn are dominating the next level down iteratively until they reach the mindless rank, it could get around the cap without needing direct bullshit.
Think about it, the leader controls four high level Clerics, who in turn control more slightly less high level Clerics, who in turn control more slightly less high level Clerics, who in turn control slightly more less highly leveled clerics, who in turn control somewhat weaker clerics, who in turn control somewhat weaker clerics, who in turn control moderately weaker clerics, who in turn control moderately weaker clerics, who in turn control significantly weaker clerics...
Basically to the sum of the necessary number within the colossal amalgamation of clerics necessary for controlling tens of thousands of undead. If we assume most of the ranks of undead are really basic ones with a low number of HD, it's possible... kinda. Maybe not actually practical on the raw math side of things.
There's not much hope for this not being some kind of divine tomfoolery, or more voidshit.
Are we sure that "under the command of the colossus" means directly under his command? If he's using direct control or magically binding agreements on the most powerful of his sapient followers, and they in turn are dominating the next level down iteratively until they reach the mindless rank, it could get around the cap without needing direct bullshit.
Imagine us working things out with the colossus and him getting in on the Warforged deal. We might actually have to figure out how to stuff multiple souls inside a robot.
Think about it, the leader controls four high level Clerics, who in turn control more slightly less high level Clerics, who in turn control more slightly less high level Clerics, who in turn control slightly more less highly leveled clerics, who in turn control somewhat weaker clerics, who in turn control somewhat weaker clerics, who in turn control moderately weaker clerics, who in turn control moderately weaker clerics, who in turn control significantly weaker clerics...
Basically to the sum of the necessary number within the colossal amalgamation of clerics necessary for controlling tens of thousands of undead. If we assume most of the ranks of undead are really basic ones with a low number of HD, it's possible... kinda. Maybe not actually practical on the raw math side of things.
There's not much hope for this not being some kind of divine tomfoolery, or more voidshit.
I'd bet against it being void nonsense at the moment; if the Others expended the power necessary to allow one creature to control thousands of HD in undead simultaneously during the long summer we'd probably be getting warnings sent using everything from telepathy to smoke signals from blood raven. Even if they could hide what they're doing, it's unlikely they could hide the token they were turning over to the old gods.
Well the colossus did form in the city's temples; maybe they're getting backing from an undead themed Charnel God of some kind. We saw that something close to (or possibly exactly) that was what caused them rise in the first place, and a CG is basically the closest a god can come to becoming a traditional undead creature so it'd be thematic for them to be worshipping one.
Well the colossus did form in the city's temples; maybe they're getting backing from an undead themed Charnel God of some kind. We saw that something close to (or possibly exactly) that was what caused them rise in the first place, and a CG is basically the closest a god can come to becoming a traditional undead creature so it'd be thematic for them to be worshipping one.
They're always pissy though, so I think we're better off template stacking and applying divine buffs. Something like a Hemodynamic Blood Magic Clockwork Fiend or something of that same degree of "heavy metal album cover"-ness.
One thing I'm curious about is the local undead's opinion of the Colossus. If they've met it, they might be able to give some insight into it and what it is doing.
They're always pissy though, so I think we're better off template stacking and applying divine buffs. Something like a Hemodynamic Blood Magic Clockwork Fiend or something of that same degree of "heavy metal album cover"-ness.
I think we'd be careful to make sure whatever we craft doesn't turn out with an attitude problem. If it's a construct, and not even a proper Warforged with its own soul, loyalty would be programmed into it just like it is for the Heralds and the Harbinger.
One thing I'm curious about is the local undead's opinion of the Colossus. If they've met it, they might be able to give some insight into it and what it is doing.
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Jul 19, 2020 at 6:37 AM, finished with 44 posts and 12 votes.
[X] Run some divination to determine the actual effects of examining one of the examples of the oath-bound dead, if it will trigger some kind of reprisal. Mostly you believe if you tried to work some magic on it, and it made the thrall lash out or destroy themselves, you would lose any good will here and render your purpose here pointless. If you feel like there shouldn't be any problems if you keep your touch light, you will try to convince them to allow you to examine the magic binding them, but if signs aren't good you will instead jump straight to the source. -[X] Argument: You honestly haven't heard of any examples of a Necromancer who could raise the dead without a hard and fast limit on their ability to bind them up to a limited number. Except for one, and it paints a grim picture. You do know someone who could help if your suspicions are correct.
"That sounds like a fair attempt to make, but not blind. Look ahead and see if anything is minded to react, drive the thrall to destroy themselves or otherwise harm them," you reply after a moment, briefly struck by how far since those first divinations by Yss' belt in Braavos that you can tell your sister to 'look ahead' in mind and expect answers plucked from the future while you converse with a chamber filled with the ancient dead going through the motions of life.
"Fog," Dany answers finally. "Whatever's at the other end of this is properly warded, which makes sense I suppose if it is a god." Her anger flares like ethereal fire as a mental curse slips through, the sort of thing you might hear around Ragman's Harbor, not the depths of the Pit, though simmering at most. "These people deserve better than to be made puppets by some soul-stitched engine of vengeance. They deserve to live... exist, whatever you want to call it, free."
"And they will but it will serve nothing to risk them and all the good will we gained here moving in haste," you reply as you begin to make your farewells aloud, having actually gotten a fair profit out of the deal. If Vaeros were truly a venturer out to make his mark he would have counted the visit well worth his while.
Sold:
2 Negative Energy Healing Belts
2 Ribbons of Disguise
2 Rings of Protection from Evil
Assorted Books, maps and tools
Gained:
9,000 IM
Once you had bowed over the ladies hands in the Sarnori manner and a few of the young lords attempted a 'Valyrian' arm grasp that you are reasonably sure would have been counted too familiar for strangers but makes for a send off as cheerful, as eerie as it is, you make your way out of the estate. Past the silent rows of lesser dead you walk, doing your best not to look at them out of the corner of your eyes wondering if something or someone is looking through them at this strange foreigner.
By common accord the five of you make a much more elaborate show of going to fetch your horses with Vee actually bringing a conjured horse, indistinguishable from those of flesh and blood, briefly out of the woods for any dead watchers flying above. A few hours later heavy clouds roll in, rain thick and fine carpets the land and under its cover you slip into the air, once more heading to Kasath.
As you fly, the creak of the chariots' wheels spinning in the wind, you ask Eskil what you might expect there from his last visit and after a moment's hesitation ask if he knows of something that may be commanding a full army of the dead by its own will.
"I hope the One that is Many holds not such dominion." Were he living flesh you suspect he may have shivered. "As in Sathar the walls are guarded and there are engines upon the walls, and chariots by the thousands ready to charge out to meet the foe, but that which rules the city does so not from any palace but from the catacombs deem below the City of Caravans. I was taken through a passage from the Plaza of Peace where the honored dead were taken to be interred..."
"There are tunnels all through the place, like a warren?" Vee interjects. "Then you could just ask the spirits around here to tell you what it looks like and tunnel right in. Should be able to tell you where anything able to master a whole army of hollow bones is. They don't like the the touch of life turned about on its head," she finishes matter-of-factly, nodding towards your escort.
"Yes, we had noticed that," Eskil proclaims a little wistfully. "I miss flowers blooming in spring at times. I miss the spring itself besides this withered summer."
After a touch more discussion back and forth on the merits of asking the land to do your scooting for you it is eventually concluded that it should be safe enough, certainly safer than scouting in person. The Old Gods would not be acting here, merely allowing you to listen.
Thus it is that when pale staff strikes the earth you hear the wails of a land defiled, you hear the voices of open graves and the squirming sickness of scavengers feasting without end upon cursed flesh, and like a black sun under the heart of Kasath still over the low ridge of hill to your south you feel what can only be the source of the power Dany sensed.
What do you do?
[] Send a Shadow Trace again
[] Scout
-[] Alone, under glamour and veil, the spells better hide one than many
-[] With backup, you might find your self facing a foe like the Void-born abomination in the Tower of the First Watch (write in who)
[] Write in
OOC: Thought about breaking after Vee made the suggestions, but it just felt like an idea with no downsides so I just rolled through. You now know the rough location of something with far too much negative energy below Kasath as well as a layout of its catacombs.
"That sounds like a fair attempt to make, but not blind. Look ahead and see if anything is minded to react, drive the thrall to destroy themselves, or otherwise harm then," you reply after a moment, briefly struck by how far since those first divinations by Yss' belt in Braavos that you can tell your sister to 'look ahead' in mind and expect answers plucked from the future while you converse with a chamber filled with the ancient dead going through the motions of life.
"Fog," Dany answers finally. "Whatever's at the other end of this is properly warded, which makes sense I suppose, if it is a god." Her anger flares like ethereal fire as a mental curse slips through, the sort of thing you might hear around Ragman's Harbor. Not the depths of the Pit, though, simmering at most. "These people deserve better than to be made puppets by some soul-stitched engine of vengeance. They deserve to live... exist, whatever you want to call it, free."
"And they will, but it will serve nothing to risk them and all the good will we gained here moving in haste," you reply as you begin to make your farewells aloud, having actually gotten a fair profit out of the deal. If Vaeros were truly a venturer out to make his mark, he would have counted the visit well worth his while.
Sold:
2 Negative Energy Healing Belts
2 Ribbons of Disguise
2 Rings of Protection from Evil
Assorted Books, maps and tools
Gained:
9.000 IM
Once you had bowed over the ladies hands in the Sarnori manner and a few of the young lords attempted a 'Valyrian' arm grasp that you are reasonably sure would have been counted too familiar for strangers but makes for a send off as cheerful as it is eerie, you make your way out of the house. Past the silent rows of lesser dead you walk, doing your best not to look at them out of the corner of your eyes wondering if something or someone is looking through them at this strange foreigner.
By common accord, the five of you make a much more elaborate show of going to fetch your horses with Vee actually bringing a conjured horse, indistinguishable from those of flesh and blood briefly out of the woods for any dead watchers flying above. A few hours later heavy clouds roll in, rain thick and fine carpets the land and under its cover you slip into the air once more, heading to Kasath.
As you fly, the creak of the chariots' wheels spinning in the wind, you ask Eskil what you might expect there from his last visit and, after a moment's hesitation, ask if he knows of something that may be commanding a full army of the dead by its own will.
"I hope the One that is Many holds not such dominion." Were he living flesh, you suspect he may have shivered. "As in Sathar, the walls are guarded and there are siege engines upon the walls, with chariots by the thousands ready to charge out to meet the foe, but that which rules the city does so not from any palace but from the catacombs deep below the City of Caravans. I was taken through a passage from the Plaza of Peace where the honored dead were taken to be interred..."
"There are tunnels all through the place, like a warren?" Vee interjects. "Then you could just ask the spirits around here to tell you want it looks like and tunnel right in. Should be able to tell you where anything able to master a whole army of hollow bones is. They don't like the the touch of life turned about on its head," she finishes matter-of-factly, nodding towards your escort.
"Yes, we had noticed that," Eskil proclaims a little wistfully. "I miss flowers blooming in spring at times, I miss the spring itself besides this withered summer."
After a touch more discussion back and forth on the merits of asking the land to do your scouting for you, it is eventually concluded that it should be safe enough, certainly safer than scouting in person. The Old Gods would not be acting here, merely allowing you to listen.
Thus it is that when your pale staff strikes the earth, you hear the wails of a land defiled, you hear the voices of open graves, and the squirming sickness of scavengers feasting without end upon cursed flesh. And finally, like a black sun under the heart of Kasath still hidden by the low ridge of hills to your south, you feel what can only be the source of the power Dany sensed.
What do you do?
[] Send a Shadow Trace again
[] Scout
-[] Alone, under glamor and veil, the spells better hide one than many
-[] With backup, you might find your self facing a foe like the Void-born abomination in the Tower of the First Watch (write in who)
[] Write in
OOC: Thought about breaking after Vee made the suggestions, but it just felt like an idea with no downsides so I just rolled through. You now know the rough location of something with far too much negative energy below Kasath as well as a layout of its catacombs. Not yet edited.
Here's an edited version of the chapter, @DragonParadox.
