Comic Recs for 5/17/2017

Astro City #44

It's no secret that I'm a big fan of Kurt Busiek's Astro City.  Part of its appeal is the fact that is an uncomplicated universe, not bogged down by longwinded stories that have no longterm effects. Another reason is that even after twentysomething years, Astro City still manages to charm and surprise. This issue is a perfect example of that. 

Star Trek: The Next Generation

Mirror Broken #1

Okay, who doesn't love an Evil Universe? Star Trek set up the premise for the Mirror Universe, where the good guys are bad and the bad guys good, way back in the original series.  We saw more of it, strangely enough, during Deep Space 9's run, but we've never really gotten a look at the setting using the Next Generation cast.  So, ST: TNG Broken Mirror is an interesting little book. The story pulls you in pretty quickly and the art is surprisingly lovely.  Also, there is humor in this book, which surprised me. 

Re Lux Tenebris

I just realized that with the writeup of Countess Leona Tierce I have written one hundred pages of background data for the Lux Tenebris campaign world.
Um.
How did that happen?
Lux Tenebris started as a one-off, a riff off of Critical Role's Vox Machina. Somehow, it grew into something bigger and stranger.
Better?
I don't know. You be the judge.
I'm just shocked it's gotten this big!

Lux Tenebris: Countess Leona Tierce

COUNTESS LEONA TRIECE, L8 Noble Human Mastermind

STR     14 (+2)

DEX    16 (+3)

CON   14 (+2)

INT     20 (+5)

WIS     15 (+2)

CHA   16 (+3)

HP       59

AC      14 (Leather armor)

Languages: Common, Dwarvish, Elvish, Halfling, Sylvan, Thieves’ Cant,

Proficiencies: +3

Armor: Light

Weapons: Simple, Hand x-bows, Longswords, Rapiers, Shortswords

Tools: Cards, Chess, Thieves’ tools, Disguise kit, Forgery kit

Saves: Dexterity +6, Intelligence +8

Skills: Deception +9, History +11, Insight +7, Intimidation +6, Investigation +8, Persuasion +9

Feats:

Position of Privilege

* * *

Expertise

Sneak Attack

Cunning Action

Roguish Archetype: Mastermind

- Master of Intrigue

- Master of Tactics

Uncanny Dodge

Evasion

Equipment:

Rapier. Melee. +6 to hit; deals 1d6 +3 slashing. Finesse.

Shortsword. Melee. +6 to hit; deals 1d6 +3 piercing. Finesse, Light.

Daggers (2). Melee. +6 to hit; deals 1d4 +3 piercing. Ranged, 20/60. Finesse, Light, Thrown.

Leather armor. Light armor. AC 11 + Dex Mod.

An explorer’s pack, thieves tools, a set of fine clothes, a scroll of pedigree, a signet ring and a purse with 25 gp.

Countess Leona Tierce has not had an easy life. The youngest of four children, her father was killed during the Crucible Regime. Her mother went mad and her idiot brothers got themselves killed in the most appalling manners possible, leaving Leona with the title and the obligation to recover Hylondek. It’s not a responsibility that she ever wanted, but it turns out that Leona is quite good at ruling. She’s created a stable region within the country, and has established a network of spies and assassins that she uses with care and precision. Although she has her own personal guard, the countess has also employed reputable mercenary companies to protect and expand her interests.

There are rumors the countess has extended feelers to the neighboring countries, to Alindema and Alindrast and even sent an emissary to Alinshrae, looking to forge alliances. She doesn’t bother reaching out to any of the petty warlords who have torn Hylondek apart, she knows they can’t be trusted.  It is said that the countess has even met with agents of the Veils and the Black Glove, drawing them into the byzantine politics of the region.

Her detractors claim that Tierce has met, clandestinely, with ambassadors from the Draconic Empire, that she would ally with them in exchange for their military support. Whether this is true or not remains unclear.

More alarming to many are the whispers that the Countess Tierce has sought an alliance with Alinshrae’s Nightshade Queen. Although this could be a ploy, to draw the High Magister of Alindema into her camp, any sort of diplomacy with Alinshrae is frought with danger.

Of course, most of these stories are just rumors. There’s no proof to any of them. However, if even one of them was true, it could tilt the balance of power throughout the Southern Palatines. Which, in the end, may be just what the countess is after.

Lux Tenebris: Orax Half-Blood

ORAX HALF-BLOOD, L9 Half-Orc Barbarin Soldier

STR     18 (+4)

DEX    10 (+0)

CON   14 (+2)

INT     12 (+1)

WIS     11 (+0)

CHA   08 (-1)

HP       79

AC      12 (Unarmored Defense)

Traits:

Darkvision

Relentless Endurance

Savage Attacks

Languages: Common, Orc

Proficiencies: +4

Armor: Light, Medium, Shields

Weapons: Simple, Martial

Tools: Dice, Vehicles: Land

Saves: Strength +8, Constitution +6

Skills: Athletics +8, Intimidation +3, Perception +4, Survival +4

Feats:

Military rank

* * *

Rage (4/+3)

Unarmored Defense

Reckless Attack

Danger Sense

Primal Path: Path of the Berserker

- Frenzy

- Mindless Rage

Extra Attack

Fast Movement (40 ft)

Feral Instinct

Brutal Critical

Equipment:

Greataxe. Melee; +8 to hit; deals 1d12 +4 slashing. Heavy, 2-handed.

Handaxes(2). Melee; +8 to hit; deals 1d6 +4 slashing. Ranged, 20/60 ft. +4 to hit.

Javelins(4). Ranged, 30/120. +4 to hit; deals 1d6 piercing.

An explorer’s pack, a rank insignia, a polished silver spoon, a set of bone dice, a set of common clothes, a belt pouch w/10 gp.

Hylondek’s turbulent history has attracted all manner of people to the small country. Some come to help, others come to take advantage of the chaos, and some come to fight. Orax Half-Blood came to Hylondek as part of a mercenary troup contracted by one of the local factions. The rest of the troup is pretty much dead and/or scattered now, but Orax remains.  Actually, the half-orc has thrived in Hylondek’s tumultuous atmosphere.  In fact, he is now the commander of his own mercenary team, a group called Rax’s Wreckers. When the Draconic Empire attempted to invade the South, Orax traveled north to fight them, under the command of Alexander Iltorwen III. He didn’t do it for free, of course, but he didn’t charge as much as he could have either.

Orax has since returned to Hylondek, where he has begun to consider carving out his own patch. He’s currently working for the Countess Leona Triece, the last surviving heir to the county. The half-orc thinks that if he were to marry the countess, then he could have a legitimate claim to Hylondek.  Orax hasn’t acted on his thoughts, but they are foremost in his mind.

Comic Recs for 5/10/2017

FUTURE QUEST #12

This is the final issue of Future Quest and it's been a helluva ride. Part of the appeal of this series has been nostalgia, at least for me, but the book should be easily accessible to most people. Even if your only exposure to Space Ghost is reruns of his 'talk show' on Cartoon Network.  The characters are nicely developed, the story is engaging and this final issue ties things up nicely. There's even talk of more FutureQuest, down the road.  If that happens, I'll definitely be there.

DRAGON AGE: KNIGHT ERRANT #1

Being a fan of D&D, I feel a bit guilty saying that the Dragon Age comics put out by Dark Horse have been blowing their D&D counterparts out of the freakin' water.  Truth hurts.

Dragon Age: Knight Errant is no exception to that experience. In this first issue, we are introduced to an itinerant knight and his elf squire, as they arrive in the city of Kirkwall. And while Ser Hawthorne regales a dinner party with tales of daring do, unknown to him, his elf squire, Vaea, slips out to pursue her sideline as a thief.

This first issue sets things up quite nicely. We get a good intro to Ser Hawthorne and Vaea, as well as their motivations for what they do, and it ends with enough of a cliffhanger that I'll probably pick up the second issue.

Honorable mentions this week go to Scooby Apocalypse #13, where the Mystery Machine gang has an unpleasant encounter with Velma's brother, Rufus, and someone new joins them on their quest to save the world. Also, the monsters hold their own version of the Burning Man Festival.

Also getting a mention this week is Rock Candy Mountain #2. Things remain intriguing. We meet some new characters: FBI Agent Babs Bardoux, the Black Orchid, a fighter called Hundred Cats and the King of Humblebrechdt County, who just happens to be a chicken. Our protagonist, Jackson, kicks ass in an underground fight club, while the Devil remains hot on his heels and Slim just tries to make sense of everything.