Characters powered with divine magic are common in fantasy RPGs. Rather than treat them as a divine magic-using class, Steve Kenson introduces the Divine Gift talent for the AGE System. Characters with a Divine Gift can belong to any class, and their gifts are defined by areas of divine influence such as Law, Chaos, Protection, Nature and Fate. Yes, you can finally play an official cleric in the AGE gamers!

Tim and Eileen Connors bring us “The Exorcist” for Pathfinder RPG, where a desperate plan to raise legendary heroes from the dead doesn’t go quite right. “Silus and the Red Dogs” is a modern update of the choose-your-own adventure books, with a fun solo adventure for a halfling thief suitable and simple rules. Finally, the excellent “Who Watches the Watch Fires?” is a 4th Edition D&D race against time to alert a sleeping city that reavers are on the way!

Kobold Quarterly #18 is available now in print and PDF. More features, columns, and articles after the jump:

• New and variant characters: savants, cavaliers, dragon hunters and beast masters for Pathfinder RPG by Ryan Costello, Jr., Mike Welham, Adam Daigle, Marc Radle and Adam W. Roy

• Ecology of the Minotaur by Tracy Hurley for 4th Edition D&D
• Siege weaponry by Matt James for 4th Edition D&D
• Synergistic magic by Phillip Larwood for Pathfinder RPG
• 10 reasons why your characters should be in jail by Russell Jones
• Heroic flaws by Philippe-Antoine Menard
• Feats and auras for dragon lairs by David Schwartz, for Pathfinder RPG and 4th Edition D&D
• Creating great mysteries in RPGs by Paul Baalham
• Soul brokers by Anthony W. Eichenlaub for 4th Edition D&D
• Monte Cook on explaining the inexplicable, and
• Skip Williams’ regular Ask the Kobold column for Pathfinder RPG

Pick up the 100-page mega-issue of Kobold Quarterly #18 in print or in PDF, and we’ll hope to see you at Gen Con in just a few weeks!

(Illustration by Chris McFann)

It’s raining drakes! Find a whole slew of these fierce mini-dragons in the Book of Drakes. Masters Daigle and Welham can show you the way…

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This miniature dragon, radiating near-blinding illumination, flies effortlessly toward a group of shambling zombies. The creature bursts into an improbably brighter ball of light, and moments later, nothing remains of the undead but piles of ash.

Typically found in temples devoted to healing and the sun, a beatific drake enjoys ministering to worthies who have been injured in righteous battle. Likewise, they seek out their own foes—undead—with a single-minded intent to destroy those mockeries of life.

Beatific Drake (CR 5)

XP 1,200
LG Small dragon (esoteric)
Init +8; Senses darkvision 90 ft., low-light vision; Perception +11
Aura death ward …

DEFENSE
AC 18, touch 15, flat-footed 13 (+5 Dex, +3 natural)
hp 57 (6d12+18)
Fort +8, Ref +10, Will +8
Immune dragon traits, magic paralysis, and sleep; SR 15

OFFENSE
Speed 20 ft., fly 60 ft. (perfect)
Melee 2 claws +6 (1d4), bite +6 (1d6)
Special Attacks channel positive energy 5/day (DC 17, 3d6), sunburst (DC 20)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 5th)
Constant—daylight (centered on drake), detect undead

STATISTICS
Str 10, Dex 21, Con 16, Int 11, Wis 16, Cha 14
Base Atk +6; CMB +6; CMD 21
Feats Improved Channel
Skills Diplomacy +11, Fly +16, Heal +20, Knowledge (religion) +9, Perception +12, Sense Motive +12, Use Magic Device +8; Racial Modifiers +8 Heal
Languages Common, Draconic

ECOLOGY
Environment any
Organization solitary, pair, sunburst (3–6)
Treasure standard

SPECIAL ABILITIES
Channel Positive Energy (Su) The drake’s channel ability acts as if the creature had the sun’s blessing granted power from the Sun domain. When it chooses to harm undead creatures, it adds 6 damage, and undead do not add channel resistance to saves.

Death Ward (Su) A beatific drake continually gives all creatures within 20 ft. the benefits of death ward. If its aura is suppressed, it can recreate it as a swift action.

Sunburst (Su) A beatific drake can invoke a sunburst effect that only damages undead creatures, inflicting 12d6 damage. This ability also cancels any darkness spell of 8th level or lower. Unfortunately, doing this instantly slays the drake.

Typical Characteristics

A beatific drake looks like a dragon sculpted from light. It measures 3 ft. from nose to tail tip and weighs less than 10 lb., giving credence to the theory the creature is indeed sunlight given form. The drake constantly sheds light seemingly as bright as the sun’s, making it difficult to do more than glance at the creature.

This drake seeks out clerics, paladins, and other good-aligned creatures who intend to wipe out an undead menace. It may accompany such a companion so long as it remains assured of the creature’s goal. The drake tolerates no mercy for undead abominations and considers anyone who keeps it from its appointed task an enemy. A character can attempt to convince the drake to stay its duty, but it requires a Diplomacy check (DC 30). (Any Intimidation attempt immediately incurs the drake’s enmity.)

Only by paying the ultimate price in pursuing its quest can a beatific drake reproduce. When the creature uses its sunburst ability it destroys itself, but an egg remains from which a newborn drake emerges, phoenix-like, 1 month later.

(This post is Product Identity.)

It’s raining drakes! Find a whole slew of these fierce mini-dragons in the Book of Drakes. Masters Daigle and Welham can show you the way…

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An impossible combination of spider and dragon stares at you with its six eyes while its mandibles clack in hunger. Hundreds of bright red spiders on the drake’s hide give the appearance of crawling skin. Upon seeing prey, the creature spits out a sticky glob, which expands into an acidic web, threatening to cover its target completely.

Unsettling in appearance and behavior, the arachnidrake (or spider drake) assumes the worst features of dragon and spider. The multitude of tiny red spiders covering nearly every surface of the creature does nothing to assuage the fear of potential victims. The creature constantly hunts down prey to feed its appetite as well as to care for its brood.

Arachnidrake (CR 4)

XP 1,200
NE Medium dragon
Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, tremorsense 60 ft.; Perception +11 …

DEFENSE
AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 14 (+4 Dex, +4 natural)
hp 47 (5d12+15)
Fort +7, Ref +8, Will +5
Immune dragon traits, magic paralysis, sleep; SR 14

OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft., climb 60 ft., fly 100 ft. (poor)
Melee 4 claws +8 (1d6+3), bite +8 (1d8+3 plus poison)
Special Attacks breath weapon (30-ft. cone, 2d6 acid damage plus web, Reflex DC 15 half, usable every1d4 rounds), spider swarm, web (+9 ranged, DC 17, 5 hp)

STATISTICS
Str 16, Dex 19, Con 16, Int 9, Wis 12, Cha 12
Base Atk +5; CMB +8; CMD 22
Feats Ability Focus (web), Alertness, Improved Initiative
Skills Climb +20, Fly +4, Perception +11, Sense Motive +11, Stealth +16, Survival +8; Racial Modifiers +4 Stealth
Languages Common, Draconic

ECOLOGY
Environment temperate forests or underground
Organization solitary
Treasure standard

SPECIAL ABILITIES
Breath Weapon (Su) An arachnidrake spits out an acidic blob of webbing that spreads into a 30-ft. cone, ensnaring all in the cone’s path. Those who succeed at the Reflex save take half damage but avoid the web. Those trapped in the web take 1d6 acid damage/round (Fortitude DC 15 half). The save DCs are Constitution-based.
Poison (Ex) Bite—Injury; save Fort DC 15; frequency 1/round for 3 rounds; effect 1d4 Dex; cure 1 save.
Spider Swarm (Ex) An arachnidrake can direct the swarm of spiders living on it to attack 1/day. This functions as a quickened summon swarm, except it cannot be dispelled, and the swarm appears in the drake’s space.

Typical Characteristics

A spider drake measures 5 ft. from snout to stubby tail and bears eight pincered claws. For its size, the creature is surprisingly light, typically weighing about 70 lb. Its hide matches the hue of the spiders it hosts, making it difficult to find individual spiders on the creature’s body.

Much like other drakes, spider drakes associate with humanoid creatures—but not those in any kind of typical civilization. Rather, they seek out drow, ettercaps, or the occasional hermitic spider worshipper. Drow see the drake as a tool they can use to weaken their enemies while ettercaps sometimes regard the creature as a divine avatar. A cunning arachnidrake uses this situation to get other creatures to hunt for it.

The spiders constantly replenish their numbers, and even if only a pair of the vermin survives an attack on the arachnidrake, they produce a new swarm in rapid fashion. The spiders cannot survive long when separated from their host. When the creature grows too old or weak to sustain them, the spiders encourage the drake to find a secluded spot in order to devour the creature and leave the carcass cocooned for 4 weeks. After this time, a new spider drake emerges, refreshed and ready to begin its continual hunting cycle again.

(This post is Product Identity.)

Dragons are huge, powerful creatures feared by one and all, but just as the mightiest human warrior can be laid low by the flu, so too can dragons contract, be weakened by, and even die from various diseases. What follows is a description of some, but by no means all, of the maladies and draco-disorders afflicting the great reptilian race…

[previously]

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Wing Rot: In a case of wing rot, a dragon’s wings become infected with flesh-eating bacteria, rendering it flightless. The bacteria have no effect upon the scaled body of the dragon, but they devour great holes in the membranous wings. The disease is contracted by a creature infected with the bacteria biting or clawing the dragon’s wing during combat. Also, some hardy adventurers have used weapons (especially arrows and darts) coated with the disease and made an initial assault, attacking only the dragon’s wings. They then retreat and wait for the wing rot to disable the dragon before attempting further forays against it…

Wing rot need only affect one wing, and like a broken-winged sparrow, the dragon is unable to fly until cured. The wing or wings may still be used to attack, however. GMs who do not wish to have aerial encounters taking place can use this to eliminate this option and keep the action grounded. If the PCs cure the dragon, it will almost certainly allow itself to be used as a winged mount. However, there will be distance and time limits placed on this service since the dragon will not wish to leave its hoard unguarded for any length of time. While grateful for being cured, it will not wish to become a permanent mount for the adventurers. Dragons have their pride (and most are downright vainglorious) and will not allow themselves to be used as beasts of burden. As a general rule, GMs should limit the dragon’s service to one long ride (500 to 1,000 miles) or three shorter rides (under 500 miles). In addition, the dragon only agrees to serve as a mount and not a bodyguard or henchman; it does not necessarily fight for the PCs. If it can be persuaded to do so or circumstances require it, the dragon will almost certainly demand at least 1/2 or more of any spoils from such combat.

Dragons are huge, powerful creatures feared by one and all, but just as the mightiest human warrior can be laid low by the flu, so too can dragons contract, be weakened by, and even die from various diseases. What follows is a description of some, but by no means all, of the maladies and draco-disorders afflicting the great reptilian race…

[previously]

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Scale Lice: Scale lice feed under the scales of any scaled creature, such as dragons, hydras, giant reptiles, naga, mermen, and so on. Since the lice burrow under a dragon’s scales, it cannot use its breath weapon to remove them: the dragon scales themselves protect the dragon’s tiny tormentors. Scale lice cause large patches of discoloration, which annoys vain and egotistical dragons, and like the lice that affect humans, they cause a great deal of itching. Thus, the dragon is unable to sleep properly, and even normally friendly dragons can become extremely grumpy and out of sorts while unfriendly dragons may rage through the surrounding countryside venting their anger at such discomfort…

If a dragon should become lice ridden after adventurers arrive, it will blame them for the infestation and demand they cure it. Very little goodwill from the dragon can be expected in such a circumstance. However, underhanded adventurers might deliberately (but with extreme secrecy) infect a dragon with lice in order to show up later with a cure and thus gain the dragon’s favor. It is told that one bold band of heroes left a small crate of rare fruit beloved of dragons on the trail. The crate appeared to have fallen unnoticed from some wagon. While the dragon took the greatest of care in examining the fruit for any abnormalities, the crate itself was booby trapped with scale lice. Weeks later, when the adventurers found the miserable creature, he was more than ready to come to any terms for a cure that might rid him of his malady. Should a dragon become aware that it has been duped and deliberately infested, woe be to any of the deceivers who fall into its clutches.

Dragon hide with scale lice discoloration sold to armorers brings only about 1/2 the price of normal or unblemished dragon hide. The scale lice have no effect on the overall effectiveness of the hide used in armor, but armorers perpetuate the myth that it does in order to reduce the price they pay.

What follows is a description of some—but by no means all—of the maladies and draco-disorders afflicting the great reptilian race…

[previously]

__

Hatchling Fever: While rare among dragons dwelling in either cold climates or dry, desert environments, hatchling fever is common among those in more temperate zones, especially in swamps, bogs, and other wetlands. Some sages point to the disease as to why there are not more dragons in the world.

The symptoms are unmistakable. Newly hatched dragons suddenly become listless a day or two after breaking out of their eggs. The abrupt exposure to the bacteria, viruses, and fungi outside the egg produces a fever that can kill entire broods. In desperation, dragon parents may kidnap clerics and other healers to help the hatchlings…

Curing a hatchling of the fever is a surefire way befriend a dragon, and they often reward healers most handsomely. In one such case, a copper dragon snatched up a paladin, whose friends immediately mounted a rescue attempt. However, by the time they arrived at the dragon’s lair, they found the paladin drinking expensive wine and swapping amusing riddles and limericks with the dragon. The now healthy and rough-and-tumble hatchlings wrestled each other about the lair, and the paladin was referred to warmly as “uncle.”

Unlike other draconic diseases, this disease combines multiple factors and is impossible to deliberately spread to hatchlings. Any wanderers and wayfarers attempting to do so or, for that matter, being anywhere near the hatchlings without explicit permission from their guardian can only be said to be committing suicide by dragon.

Dragons are huge, powerful creatures feared by one and all, but just as the mightiest human warrior can be laid low by the flu, so too can dragons contract, be weakened by, and even die from various diseases. What follows is a description of some—but by no means all—of the maladies and draco-disorders afflicting the great reptilian race…

[previously]

__

Halitosis: In humans, halitosis is simply bad breath, but among dragons, it means loss of your breath weapon. In such cases, a dragon’s throat is infected by a rare fungus generally found deep underground. It is usually triggered when the dragon devours a creature or item carrying the spores. Adventurers have been known to deliberately infect dragons with halitosis by leaving tainted food near the lairs. So deprived of its fearsome breath weapon, the dragon is much more vulnerable to ambush…

This technique can also be used as a ruse, so an adventuring party can arrive and cure a dragon, thus gaining its confidence. If such a deception comes to light, however, merciless vengeance is all any party can expect. It bears repeating that a dragon is a highly intelligent creature and will look with a jaundiced eye on any mouthwatering delicacies placed within too easy reach. It knows this would not be the first time poison had been tried to rid a hoard of its guardian. Care and forethought must be taken in such an attempt. Otherwise, the wily wyrm may only pretend to go along with the gag to see who or what turns up.

As for the fungus itself, it grows into and actually becomes part of the dragon’s throat. In the early stages, a dragon may still use its breath weapon but only at half strength and each use damages the dragon, too (3d6+2 hp per use)—it runs the risk of literally blowing its own head off. The dragon loses its breath weapon entirely after about a month (1d4+3 weeks). Only the breath weapon is affected (regardless of type of breath weapon), and the dragon can still speak and cast spells.

Dragon halitosis can be used as an effective double-whammy adventure. For example, the PCs have recovered a fell weapon or cursed magic item that must be destroyed, but only the breath weapon of a certain type of dragon can do the job. The PCs search out such a dragon only to find it suffering from halitosis and, so, breathless. Now, they must go on yet another adventure to cure the dragon and fulfill their original adventure.

Loss of its breath weapon is devastating to a dragon: it is a primary and signature weapon. If PCs cure the halitosis, the dragon will be profoundly grateful and agree to place its breath weapon at the PCs service for a limited time or limited number of uses (1d4 days or uses).

The following is a translation from the chapter “Maladies and those Diseases Besetting and Afflicting the Greater and Lesser Wyrms” from Vol. III of the eight-volume set Wyrms of the Modern and Ancient Wyrld by Lohik Aarme the Elder with contributions and annotations by Lohik Aarme the Younger as found in the Great Library of the Five Fiefdoms of South Norry…

OK! Fine! Enough! Why are the ancient sages always so longwinded? On with it…

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Dragons are huge, powerful creatures feared by one and all, but just as the mightiest human warrior can be laid low by the flu, so too can dragons contract, be weakened by, and even die from various diseases. What follows is a description of some, but by no means all, of the maladies and draco-disorders afflicting the great reptilian race…

GMs can use the diseases as equalizers. That is, leveling the playing field by toning down some of the dragon’s fearsome weapons to make battles between the dragon and PCs less one-sided.

However, the PCs may use the diseases themselves, deliberately infecting a dragon to gain an advantage. They may also cure the dragon for rich reward or bring it into the campaign as an NPC, ally, or advisor. Cures for the maladies are left to the GM’s discretion, depending on campaign requirements. If the GM needs an adventure hook, the cure may require PCs to undergo a dangerous quest to gather rare and arcane ingredients for a potion.

If the GM needs the adventurers to gain a powerful ally quickly, the malady may be overcome by a simple curative spell or using a potion that the PCs have already obtained. After all, use of a friendly dragon’s lair offers a PC party a safe haven in otherwise hostile territory.

Alternatively, a cured dragon may allow PCs to choose an item from its trove (that’s one item for the entire party, not one item for each PC, the dragon is grateful not dimwitted). However, there are said to be many arcane and powerful items in a dragon’s hoard if only half the tales be true. In fact, GMs may offer the choice from the hoard so that PCs may obtain an item necessary for to complete another adventure.

The Maladies of Dragons

Dementia: Dracodementia is the result of the dragon’s long, long life. The weight of century upon century of memories and endless, solitary brooding in the lair can unhinge the most stable of mentalities.

One notable effect of dementia is that the dragon is left spellbound. As the afflicted dragon attempts to cast a spell, all spells the dragon knows suddenly rush though its mind causing either spell failure (90%) or the casting of a useless or completely inappropriate spell (10%). However, other than spellcasting, the dragon suffers no other combat penalties.

The dementia is also unpredictable. The dragon may go from dreamy reminiscences of lost loves and past victories to crystal clear lucidity in a moment, so politeness, honesty, and respect must be maintained at all times. Otherwise, PCs may suddenly find themselves out on their ear.

A tale tells of pirates who convinced an ancient and addlepated black dragon that they were sent by her children to move her and all her treasure to a place of superior safety. The befuddled old girl was helping the pirates load treasure aboard the ship when her mind cleared. For years afterward, the pirate ship stood broken and beached with the skeletons of her crew dangling in the rotting sails and rigging as mute warning to the vagaries of dracodementia.

On the other hand, such a dragon is an effective and fun NPC for the PCs and GM alike. The GM can use it for dispensing history and arcane lore. As the dragon wanders in its wits, it may ramble on and relate the histories of kingdoms, castles, and creatures of long ago. The GM may either roleplay or allow the PCs to read the pertinent information from game notes, monster manuals, sourcebooks, and so on. As far as the PCs are concerned, such an afflicted dragon is a font of information better than any library.

If PCs cure the dragon, they may soon regret it. The dragon will be forthcoming with some information out of gratitude but will no longer ramble on witlessly and will soon start demanding payment for its knowledge. However, once paid, the dragon will stay “on topic” and not go wandering aimlessly through the years or digress to irrelevant side issues.