Tayxis: Ranger

Were you expecting someone else?

Your mission is to hunt down law breakers and devil worshipers wherever you find them, and you'll chase them from the Endless Sea into the Northern Darkness, if that's what it takes to catch them.  You know right from wrong, good from evil, and it's your job to protect the good folk of Tayxis that just want to get by, from those that would do them harm.

You're an agent of the only true force for law and order in Tayxis - the Mother Church.  Devout and god-fearing, your job is to take the fight to the evil-doers, and do your best to save their souls, or pass righteous judgement upon their sorry carcasses.

As a great man once said, "Gawd will know His own."

Class: Ranger
Ability Requirements: Dex 14, Wis 14
Alignment Restriction: Lawful Good
Prime Requisite: Wisdom
Advances As: Paladin

Being a Tayxis Ranger is a calling, not a job.  They are typically recruited from the ranks of the Mother Church's novitiates and trained by the Warrior-Monks of Mission San José de los Nazonis, a walled compound in the heart of Osteen.  A series of trials mark their progression, with the final test being a descent into the Inner Space Cavern in Georgetown.  The Ranger-Elect, as they are known, must survive the dread caves, with only the clothes on their backs, their Holy Shotgun and a single communion wafer.  Those who emerge have the star of the Tayxis Ranger branded upon their chest.  Those who fail wait below, cursed to wander the depths for eternity.

Benefits: 

Alethiology - A Tayxis Ranger can look a man in the eyes and know whether they lie or not.  At will, with a successful Wisdom roll, they can determine the truth or falsehood of a statement.  Note that this is a judgement of the intent of the speaker, not their words.  Until they reach Level 5, the Ranger takes a -2 Penalty on this roll.  From level 6-10, the penalty is reduced to -1.  From Level 11 onwards, there is no penalty.

Holy Shotgun - Each Tayxis ranger is presented early on in their training with their Holy Shotgun.  A bond is forged between the Ranger and his gun, and it can be summoned to his hand instantly if within 50 feet.  This weapon does double damage vs. Evil, and can shed a soft white glow on command, equivalent to a torch.

Protection From Evil, 10' Radius - Once per day, by describing a circle using holy water or, in its absence their own blood, a Tayxis Ranger may create a safe zone that makes it difficult for Corrupted creatures to function.  If a corrupted or demonic creature attempts to enter the circle, the GM should roll a d20.  On an odd numbered result, they enter, if the result is even they do not.  Even if they do enter, they will suffer a -2 penalty to any actions carried out within the circle.

In the eyes of a ranger, the unsuspected stranger had better know the truth of wrong from right, 'cause the eyes of a ranger are upon you.  Any wrong you do he's gonna see, when you're in Texas look behind you, 'cause that's where the rangers are gonna be. - Walker, Texas Ranger

When they remember us rangers... let them remember us not as men of vengence... but as men of law... and justice. - Leander McNelly, Texas Rangers (2001)

Tayxis - The Antipostles

Squatting between Osteen and Dee Eff Dubya lies The Temple, the head of the spiritual hydra known as the Antipostles.

Corrupted by Saytin's sibilant promises of power and wealth, these degenerates have traded their souls willingly and now exist only to indulge their most basest instincts and foulest whims. A proselytistic order, they can be found among groups of people of any size, but the greater the number of potential converts, the greater the number of Antipostles to be found.

They are the bane of civilization, and all but the most powerful Antipostles hide their true allegiance when in public.  Instead, they tempt their victims first by glorifying their sins, then offering more, then a final choice - damnation or death.  Their ways are sophisticated, and their numbers grow on a daily basis - while the Temple was once a road-side attraction, it has swelled into a massive city.

They operate in extreme secrecy  - even at the Temple, they disguise their faces so that when they go out into the world, they cannot disclose their identity.  Only the Bishops and the Anti-Pope are powerful enough  to operate openly.

Ranks:

The Laity - These are the converted and near converted.  They practice their faith without actively recruiting others.
Deacon - This person has taken the first step.  Upon corrupting their first soul, a Lay Person is granted the honorific of Deacon and given a Priest to report to.
Priest - This person coordinates the efforts of their group of Deacons to turn the hearts of mortals.  They typically operate at a local level.
Bishop - A Bishop is a regional leader, responsible for the corruption of a large area.  They work with their Priests to turn a village, a town, even a city.  While they operate openly, they travel only in large groups, to protect themselves.
The Anti-Pope - A Singular being, legend has it that they ingest a piece of the Devil's own Flesh, and are subsumed by His Will.  Literally Saytin's agent in Tayxis, he directs the actions of Antipostles from the Piney Woods to the Prairie.

They are divided into seven Orders, each charged with promulgating one of their Seven Unholy Virtues.

Ordinem Vitulum Saginatum (Swine) - Recognizable by their girth and stature, the Swine are typically morbidly obese giants.  They can be found in the beer halls, honk-tonks and rib shacks at Tayxis.  Friendly enough, they are always willing to buy another round or share their plate, and never one to talk about cost, seemingly happy enough just to share their meal.  Bit by bit, they ease the way to damnation with chicken grease and liquor.

Ordinem Aurea Palma (Bean Counters) - Nobody has it as easy as they do, the OAP says.  After all, who doesn't want more?  More money, more power, more women, more more more.  And all the Bean Counters have to do is give it to them, because if there's anything true in this world, it's that the more you have, the more you want.  If there's a card game, dog fight or numbers racket anywhere, chances are if you follow the money far enough, you'll find the OAP.

Ordinem Oculus Remissas (Slavers) - Why do something yourself when you can get someone else to do it for you?  The Slavers' duty is to promote Sloth, and they've found that slavery is a particularly delicious way to go about it.  Officially, slavery is outlawed in Tayxis.  Unofficially, it is alive and well, and not restricted to those of any race, creed or color.  Amonst themselves, members of the OOR will hold competitions to see who most creatively replace self-motivation with slave assistance.

Ordo Phialam Fractum (Psychos) - You'll find the psychos in the barroom brawl, or at the political rally.  You'll find them mouthing off to a group of drunken cowboys or shoving someone in the street.  They know just how to get under your skin, and give them half a chance and you'll be flying off the handle along with them.  After all, they say, you have to let the anger out, and it's fun to be angry.

Ordinem Abyssi (Provokers) - The Provokers are just that - they inspire Envy in others by finding their way into the thoughts and desires of their victims, and then tormenting them by their possession of those very things.  You want a pool?  They will buy the house next to yours and put in a water slide.  Single and lonely?  They'll introduce you to the most beautiful woman in the world, and then reveal that she's married - to them.  Seemingly unaware, they will drive someone mad with desire for the things that they do not possess.

Ordo Autem Sol Meridie (Egoists) - The opposite of the Provokers, the Egoists will puff up those that already possess, inviting them to exclusive clubs with hulking bouncers that reject anyone who doesn't meet a certain standard, and then lifting the velvet rope for them.  Just when they have everything, the Egoists will take it away, and most will do anything to have it back.

Ordo Gnomone Coxae (Whores) - While the Bean Counters say they have it easiest, most agree that the Whores' job is a walk in the park.  They are able to seduce their way to almost anyone they set their bedroom eyes upon.  Give them ten minutes alone with someone, and their darkest fantasies will lay revealed.  Given a second ten minutes, that person will have signed their soul away for a third ten minutes together.

Tayxis: Soundtrack

Taking a page from +Jack Shear 's playbook, I've created a soundtrack for Tayxis.  You may think you know Tayxin music, but you don't.  Is there some country in here?  Sure, but this ain't no Kenny Chesney, Garth Brooks poppy bullshit.  This music is one part rotgut, two parts rattlesnake venom.  It's, in the words of Waylon Jennings, lonesome, on'ry and mean.  So break out your whiskey, kick off your boots, roll yourself a cigarillo and enjoy.

Here is the soundtrack.

Also, because it's on 8tracks, and they're weird about playlists, I'm posting it here.  I'm also providing links to their websites, in case you're interested in hearing more.

This Is Desperation - Those Poor Bastards
Anhelo - Sons of Perdition
The Man Comes Around - Johnny Cash
The Day the End Finally Came - William Elliott Whitmore
Snake Song - Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan
Hero - Federale
Big Iron - Marty Robbins
Fire on Peshtigo - O'Death
Fireworks Factory - Hellwood
Dark In My Heart - The Coffinshakers
After Dark - Tito & Tarantula
The Ride - David Allen Coe
Theme for Ennio Morricone - Murder By Death
Paris, Texas - Ry Cooder
Sandstorm - Francesco Angelo Lavagnino
The Trail - Christian Williams
I'm a Ramblin' Man - Waylon Jennings
The Bottle Let Me Down - Merle Haggard
Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie - Johnny Cash
This Land is Cursed - Sons of Perdition

Tayxis: A Map of Tayxis

I'm starting to put together my map of Tayxis.  It's still a bit bare, and I'll have to fill more in as I go along, but I've got the basic gist of it, I think.  More to come on this.

Tayxis: Technology

Star Trek - The Answer To Every Question

Tayxis is a large and varied land, and there is no better way to express this than its uneasy relationship with
technology.  Different areas of Tayxis have different capacity levels for technology, so while an item may work in one area, it might not in a second, and definitely wouldn't in a third.  Many rural parts of Tayxis have never progressed beyond the technology available at its conception.  These areas have been left behind by those that live in the cities, and many who live in these outlying areas say that they are better off for it.

An area's Capacity Rating is related to it's distance from a city.  The bigger the city, the higher the capacity rating.  A Capacity Rating (referred to henceforth as CR) of 5 is the highest rating possible, and represents modern day technology - cell phones, electric cars, etc.   For each CR less than 5, assume a technological level equivalent to 40 years less, so CR 4 would be equivalent to the 1970s, CR 3 would be the 1930s, CR 2 would be the 1890s, and CR 1 would be around 1850.  Every time has it's own CR score, and the likelihood of that item malfunctioning is equal to 20% for every point of difference between the item's CR and the area's CR.

So while you can use a smartphone every time in a CR 5 city, by the time you get out into the Prairie, the chances of that smartphone working will have dropped to 20%.  Note that this penalty only works one way - a flintlock pistol will work in an area with any CR, for instance.

When beginning a session, the GM should determine the CR of the beginning area, and track it as the characters move throughout Tayxis.  Use the map below, found in a larger size here, to track their movements.  The three least populous colors would be CR 1, with every two after increasing the CR by 1, and 2500 and up indicating CR 5.

                                                   

By JimIrwin (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

The Official Theme Song of From the Ashes

You all know about Deltron 3030, right?  If you don't you should. Del the Funky Homosapien, Dan the Automator and Kid Koala formed like Voltron back in 2000 and put out one of the greatest space opera hip-hop albums of all time, fusing the best of video games, anime and Sun Ra into their eponymous debut album.

If you don't know, now you know.

13 years later, they're back, and they've brought some buddies - the new album, Event 2, features everyone from comedian David Cross to Zack De La Rocha; from the girl who played Ramona Flowers in the Scott Pilgrim movie to Joseph Gordon-Levitt, fer crissakes.

But, more to the point, they have a song which I am adopting as the official song of this blog, and this game.  Enjoy.

Gamma World... Is Here! Hornetpocalypse Edition

In case you haven't heard, Giant Hornets are on the rampage in China!

37 people have been hospitalized and over 1600 attacks have been reported.  As you can see from the pictures to the right, the wounds are pretty horrific.
And the worst part?  They could be headed to your neighborhood next (scary newscaster voice)

If you live in England.

If you live in France?

They could already be in your neighborhood (scary newscaster voice).

Apparently a couple escaped china in a crate of pottery and are slowly taking over France, even as we speak.

How long before they turn their baleful, multifaceted gaze upon America?

Stay tuned to find out!

Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2442384/Swarms-deadly-hornets-kill-42-people-injure-1-600-China.html