From: tkelly@unix2.tcd.ie (Rincewind)
Newsgroups: rec.games.frp
Subject: AD+D VALHERU
Date: 13 Apr 92 11:00:36 GMT
Organization: Trinity College, Dublin


 I'm reposting this to the net because it only went up on Thursday
and it already has gotten WIPED .
  So...



     The Valheru are a master race that originated eons ago on the
planet of Midkemia.They are remembered by the elves of that world,
because it was the Valheru who created the elves to be a slave race.
The Valheru were,for long ages,masters of the universe,until the arrival
of the New Gods.Then a Great War was fought called the Chaos Wars.Only
one of the Valheru survived this struggle,for he wanted no part in it.
His name was Ashen-Shugar.
     The rest of the Valheru were cast out of the universe,and into
another,and were prevented from ever returning.They became the Great
Enemy known and feared by the Tsurani.



                           VALHERU
                          *********
-------------------------------------------------------------------
In power,the Valheru could be considered to be gods,or demigods at the
least.They are totally ageless,and none ever died of natural causes,
save one.Their whole existence was to live or die by the sword,for
while they had many powers,combat was always chief among their goals.
They were much like children.Spoiled with power,they fought and lusted,
yet saw no purpose in their existence.They were content to simply live
and fight among themselves to their heart's content.

 Their magic was also something to be awed at.Though not of the wizardly
tradition at all.I decided that they could use any priest spells that 
they wished,even quest spells.They also are master psionicists,with
access to almost all psionic sciences and devotions.Their weapons and
armor count as being artifacts,not just mere magical items,and a section
is included at the bottom of this article giving rules for such.

  In short,even 20th level characters do NOT want to mess with the
Valheru under ANY circumstances.

 In terms of statistics,here follow what I consider to be the Average
Valheru stats:


Climate/Terrain:Any
Frequency:Just short of unique
Organisation:Solitary
Activity Cycle:Any
Diet:Carnivore
Intelligence:Genius-Supra Genius
Treasure :(H*7)
Alignment :Chaotic-Evil

No.Appearing:1
Armor Class :-10
Movement :15 Fl48(A)
Hit Dice:25 +80 hp's
ThAC0  :5(+5 weapon,+7 str bonus as well)
No. of Attacks: 4
Dammage per Attack:1-8 +26 hit points.
Special Attacks :Vorpal avenger(not holy),plus special.
Special Defenses:Armor,special,+3 or better weapons to hit.
Magic Resistance:85%
Size:M(6.5-7.5 ft tall)
Morale:Fearless (19-20)
Psionics:All/All 330 PSP's,Sciences and Devotions of 15th level
                    Psionicist.
XP value:200,000




 Combat:Valheru almost always appear to do battle on their favourite
dragon.This dragon is the same colour as the Valheru's Dominant Armor
Colour,and it is totally subservient to the Valheru.Regardless of
colour,the Dragon has the stats of a Great Wyrm Adamantite Dragon.These
creatures were banished with their masters,but were the sires of the
dragons of today.Todays Dragons are much weaker than their predecessors.

     In personal combat,the Valheru attacks with his mighty Longsword.
Each of these mighty magical weapons bears the colours of the Valheru
that wields it.These weapons are the same as +5 vorpal swords,and have
the same abilities as +5 Holy Avengers,except that the +12 Damage
applies to All creatures of any Alignment,there is no damage taken by
evil ,neutral or good people who touch it,and the level of the Valheru
for the purpose of other abilities is at least 40th.It also acts as a
type of parasitic sword,bestowing half the damage done to the Valheru sa
hitpoints.
    If the sword kills another Valheru or planar being of equal or
Greater Stature,i.e. solars,really good planetars,gods,then the Valheru
can feast on the Essence of that being(destroying it for ever )and
gaining extra powers and strengths that are left up to the GM to decide.
   Valheru armor is chainmail in the Valheru's Colours,with a tabard of
the Valheru's own devising above it.With it come a helm,and a great
shield.Regardless,this all gives an AC of -10 to the wearer.If mortals
ever don the armor,it's effects are artifact-like.All the Valheru's Arms
and Armor are described for Npc or PC use at the end of this article.
   In terms of magical capabilities,the Valheru can cast spells as a priest of 20000  
20th level,with major access to all spheres.They don't actually pray for these spells 
spells.Rather,they come from within.The Valheru also have Psionic abilities
as seen above.They have no need for material or other components for their
spells.
   In addition,the Valheru have many powers.They have telepathic ability
to communicate.They can detect magic,know alignment,ESP,Read magic,Detect
Traps,without having to concentrate.They are never surprised in combat.
 
   The Valheru can utilise any of the following powers,once per round,as 
though he were 20th level.        
   
     Fly  at will
    Detect Undead 3/day
    Sleep    3/day
    Chaos    3/day
    Mass Charm 1/day\
    Curse    2/day
    Dispel magic 3/day
    Banishment  1/day
    Gaze Reflection
    Light
    Fog cloud
    Haste 3/day
    Water Breathing 
    Polymorph self
    Stoneskin 2/day
    Telekinesis 2/day
    Teleportation
    Timestop 1/day
    Shape Change 1/day
    Drawmij's Instant Summons
    Conjure Elemental (Brings a huge 16 HD one)1/day
    Power word,any 3/day
    Limited wish 2/day
    wish 1/day
    Hold person/monster 3/day
    suggestion
    Mass suggestion 1/day
    Domination
    Detect Invisibility
    Clairvoyance/Clairaudience(simultaneous)
    True seeing 3/day
    Improved phantasmal force 4/day
    Invisibility 4/day
    Fear 
    Improved invisibility 2/day
    Astral spell (Whole body goes) 
    Energy Drain 2/day
    Death Spell 3/day


  A Valheru naturally regenerates 6 hit points per round.
  



  Valheru were are a powerful race of near gods.They created their own races
some of which survive to this day.The most notable are the elves.Several 
others have been created by them as well (Rakshasas and others)
  How they did this is a mystery.  


Weapons and Armor.
------------------
    Sword:Each of the Valheru had their own sword and armoor crafted by
          them selves.These items represented a part of their being,and
          if the Valheru dies in combat,they vvanish with his body.
          However,a couple of sets of these artifacts survived on       
          diffrent planets.
            A Valheru sword is a +5 Vorpal Avenger.It's powers are      
          detailed above.Any mortal who uses it gains a +10% bonus
          to his xp's,for as long as he owns it.The sword is very powerful
          
     Armor:Far more important than the sword is the armor.When donned,the
           armor begins to initiaite a series of changes in the wearer.
           He begins to grow about 1 inch every three months,not stopping
           until he is seven feet tall.His strength increases by one point
           every year,as does his con and his Dex.None of these stop until
           He has 25 in each.His facial features begin to change to that of
           a Valheru.The armor acts like Chain Mail+5.The shield is like a
           shield +3.They have no weight penalties.The Armor also begins to
           confer the powers of the Valheru to the mortal.Manner of acquiring
           is left up to the DM,,but ideally,it should take years.
             On the down side,however,the mortal's soul begins to travel 
           across time to meet the Valheru in it's dreams.This begins to 
           have an adverse affect on the mortal,because the Valheru's spirit
           tries to fuse with the mortals.If this happens,Then unless you have
           Very powerful magical help(e.g. Macros the Black),the mortals soul
           is consumed and the Valheru lives again.This results in effective
           player death.(although some gm's might prefer to work it like a 
           Trap the Soul spell)

      


      Comments would be well appreciated.


--
]]>>>Rincewind<<<[[          ]]>>tkelly@unix2.tcd.ie<<[[ 
"The picture's prettty bleak....The world's climates are changing,
the mammals are taking over,and we all have a brain about the size 
of a walnut"-Gary Larson 'Dinosaur convention'