Post by shanes on Mar 22, 2013 21:48:37 GMT -6
Or, So you want to Multiclass....
A loose knit group of wandering ascetics teach this ritual to promising candidates. The masters will seek out rising stars in a community and offer them the power of the ritual, usually in exchange for a service. Two candidates are chosen; usually they will be either best friends or arch rivals (ideally both). Both candidates must be of the same race, and must remain so for the duration of the ritual.
Rite of Twinning
In a simple ceremony, the candidates mix their blood in a cup of water, and drink it while the master blesses the act in ancient serpent tongue. They then must engage in combat with each other to first blood. Thenceforth, thecandidates (now known as spiritual twins) may choose to suffer 1 die of damage to grant the other the use of one ability that the other lacks for one minute. Saving throws, ability bonuses, attack bonus, and skills are obvious choices, but other benefits could be gifted also.
After each twin has gained a level, the second stage of the ritual is performed. This is the same as the first stage, but the combat is to unconsciousness. Usually, the same master will perform this rite, but sometimes a different one may conduct it. This time a service will be demanded of the twins. Benefits include the power to grant abilities for an hour, and the ability to instantly transfer any wounds between the two.
Once each twin has gained at least one more level, a master may perform the third stage of the ritual. Few twins are ever granted this stage, and it is always in exchange for a major service to the master. This time combat is to the death. The victor gains all the special abilities of both character's classes at his current level, or the best ability of the two. (Saving throws, attack bonus, sorcerous powers, skills.) The character needs double the experience of the higher rated class to progress in level. At this point, the character becomes a master, and may create new twins.
The masters have a loose organization, with its own secret goals. Most masters have agendas of their own, however, and many services required of candidates are simply attacks on the agendas of other masters.
Candidates that fail at any step of the ritual are sought out and punished by other masters. Usually by death; sometimes by lesser punishments for those in the first stage of training. Failures include: failure to meet a master's demand to attain stage two or three of the rite, failure to go through with the combat required for the ritual, killing one's twin during the first or second ritual combat, allowing one's twin to die outside of ritual combat, and becoming a different race from one's twin.
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This ritual was obviously inspired by the Brothers of the Skull, and by poking around the weird corners of the conspiracy 'net.
A loose knit group of wandering ascetics teach this ritual to promising candidates. The masters will seek out rising stars in a community and offer them the power of the ritual, usually in exchange for a service. Two candidates are chosen; usually they will be either best friends or arch rivals (ideally both). Both candidates must be of the same race, and must remain so for the duration of the ritual.
Rite of Twinning
In a simple ceremony, the candidates mix their blood in a cup of water, and drink it while the master blesses the act in ancient serpent tongue. They then must engage in combat with each other to first blood. Thenceforth, thecandidates (now known as spiritual twins) may choose to suffer 1 die of damage to grant the other the use of one ability that the other lacks for one minute. Saving throws, ability bonuses, attack bonus, and skills are obvious choices, but other benefits could be gifted also.
After each twin has gained a level, the second stage of the ritual is performed. This is the same as the first stage, but the combat is to unconsciousness. Usually, the same master will perform this rite, but sometimes a different one may conduct it. This time a service will be demanded of the twins. Benefits include the power to grant abilities for an hour, and the ability to instantly transfer any wounds between the two.
Once each twin has gained at least one more level, a master may perform the third stage of the ritual. Few twins are ever granted this stage, and it is always in exchange for a major service to the master. This time combat is to the death. The victor gains all the special abilities of both character's classes at his current level, or the best ability of the two. (Saving throws, attack bonus, sorcerous powers, skills.) The character needs double the experience of the higher rated class to progress in level. At this point, the character becomes a master, and may create new twins.
The masters have a loose organization, with its own secret goals. Most masters have agendas of their own, however, and many services required of candidates are simply attacks on the agendas of other masters.
Candidates that fail at any step of the ritual are sought out and punished by other masters. Usually by death; sometimes by lesser punishments for those in the first stage of training. Failures include: failure to meet a master's demand to attain stage two or three of the rite, failure to go through with the combat required for the ritual, killing one's twin during the first or second ritual combat, allowing one's twin to die outside of ritual combat, and becoming a different race from one's twin.
-----------
This ritual was obviously inspired by the Brothers of the Skull, and by poking around the weird corners of the conspiracy 'net.