Kissing the Rwitx is a mysterious tradition that dates back centuries. This tradition is believed to have originated in a small village called Rwitx in an undisclosed location. The origins of this tradition are shrouded in secrecy, with only a few locals having knowledge of its true significance. According to the locals, kissing the Rwitx is considered a rite of passage for young adults in the village. It is believed to bring good luck, prosperity, and fertility. Legend has it that the act of kissing the Rwitx symbolizes a bond between the person and the spirit of the village, ensuring their connection and protection.
Legend has it that the act of kissing the Rwitx symbolizes a bond between the person and the spirit of the village, ensuring their connection and protection. The exact location of the Rwitx is a closely guarded secret. It is said to be hidden deep within the dense forest surrounding the village, making it inaccessible to outsiders.
St. Kargoth - updated for Pathfinder (and then some)
We are -finally- closing out the Savage Tide adventure path.
We're running it under Pathfinder Rules (which creates its own problems, including a LOT of time spent updatinr, or just "winging it" for the NPC's).
The group consists of 7 adventurers, each 22nd level as they enter Wat Dagon for the final showdown.
I've always been a huge St. Kargoth fan, and wanted to do him proud as his big moment came.
So, I gave him a full (and very powerful) update - as befits someone facing 7 22nd level experienced players at the same time.
St. Kargoth the Betrayer
Male half-fiend human death knight anti-paladin 20/thrall of Demogorgon 5
CE Medium undead
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., detect good, true seeing; Perception +36
DEFENSE
AC 48 (+14 armor, +5 deflection, +16 natural, +1 Dex, +1 Haste)
Touch 18
Flat-footed 45
HP 558 (20d10+5d8+350 from desecrate)
DR 15/cold iron and good, 3/- (adamantine armor)
Immune acid, cold, electricity, polymorph, positive energy, undead traits
Resist fire 30; SR 39
Fort +51, Ref +32, Will +38
OFFENSE
Speed 40 ft., fly 40 ft (perfect)
Melee Deathbringer +56/+56/+52/+47/+42 (1d6+27, plus 1d6 fire, 17-20), and Demogorgon’s Bilious Sphere +56/+52/+47/+42 (1d6+27 plus 1d6 acid, 19-20 plus 1d10 acid on crit.)
Melee with Power Attack (7) Deathbringer +49/+49/+45/+40/+35 (1d8+41, plus 1d6 fire, 17-20), and Demogorgon’s Bilious Sphere +49/+45/+40/+35 (1d6+34 plus 1d6 acid, 19-20 plus 1d10 acid on crit.)
Special Attacks abyss blast, auras, channel negative energy, dual actions (2/day), reaching touch (3/day), smite good 8/day, staggering critical (DC 35), touch of corruption plus cruelty 23/day (60 points), two-weapon rend (1d10+31)
Half Fiend Spell-Like Abilities (CL 25th; concentration +38)
3/day – darkness, poison (DC 27), unholy aura (DC 31)
1/day – blasphemy (DC 30), contagion (DC 27), desecrate, destruction (DC 30), horrid wilting
(DC 31), power word kill, summon monster IX, unhallow (invisibility purge), unholy blight
(DC 27)
Anti-Paladin Spells (CL 17th; concentration +30)
4th (7) freedom of movement, greater invisibility x2, inflict serious wounds x4,
3rd (7) dispel magic x4, nondetection (DC 28), vampiric touch x2
2nd (6) corruption resistance (15), hold person (DC 25) x3, silence x2
1st (8) inflict light wounds x8
STATISTICS
Str 52 (+21), Dex 14 (+2), Con --, Int 16 (+3), Wis 18 (+4), Cha 36 (+13)
Base Atk +25 (equiv. +31 from heroism, haste, and desecrate)); CMB +52; CMD 54
Feats (16) channel smite, critical focus, double slice, greater two-weapon fighting, improved critical (light mace), improved critical (long sword), improved two-weapon fighting, mounted combat, power attack, ride-by attack, spirited charge, staggering critical, two-weapon fighting, two-weapon rend, weapon focus (longsword), weapon focus (light mace)
Skills (+4 to all due to Greater Heroism) Bluff +45, Fly +31, Intimidate +45, Knowledge (Religion) +35, Knowledge (the planes) +35, Perception +36, Stealth +44 (+15 from armor)
Languages Abyssal, Celestial, Common, Draconic
Combat Gear +5 greater shadow adamantine full plate, Deathbringer (+5 anarchic, flaming, lawful outsider bane, speed, adamantine longsword), Demogorgon’s Bilious Sphere, boots of speed, belt of giant strength +6, headband of Charisma +6, amulet of natural armor +5, ring of protection +5, ring of evasion, cloak of resistance +5
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Abyssal Blast (Su) As a death knight, St. Kargoth can unleash a blast of unholy energy 1/day, range 1,200 ft., with a 20-ft.-radius spread. The blast inflicts 20d6 damage (unholy energy); a DC 32 Reflex save halves the damage.
Flight (Su) St. Kargoth’s fly speed is supernatural in nature, functioning similarly to that granted by a fly spell, save that it cannot be dispelled. This is a boon from Demogorgon.
True Seeing (Su) St. Kargoth has been granted permanent true seeing by Demogorgon as a boon for his centuries of loyal service. This effect is constant and cannot be dispelled.
Positive Energy Immunity (Ex) As a death knight, St. Kargoth is unaffected by positive energy and positive energy-based abilities (such as turn undead or aligned channel).
Scaly Flesh (Ex) As a Thrawl of Demogorgon, St. Kargoth already steel-hard flesh becomes even stronger, giving him a +2 bonus to his natural armor.
Reaching Touch (Su) As a Thrawl of Demogorgon, St. Kargoth can stretch his limbs unnaturally 3/day, increasing his reach by an extra 5 feet for 1 round.
Dual Actions (Su) As a Thrawl of Demogorgon, St. Kargoth can take two full rounds’ worth of actions in the same round 2/day.
Aura of Evil (Ex) As an antipaladin, St. Kargoth gives off an aura of overwhelming evil. A paladin who uses smite evil upon him deals 2 points of damage per paladin level on his first successful strike.
Detect Good (Sp) At will, as an antipaladin, St. Kargoth can use detect good as the spell.
Smite Good (Su) As an antipaladin and half-fiend, St. Kargoth can smite good 8/day. As a swift action, St. Kargoth selects one good opponent. St. Kargoth adds his Charisma modifier (+13) on his attack rolls and adds his antipaladin levels (+20) on all damage rolls made against the target of his smite. If the foe is a good outsider or dragon, the damage from the first successful attack is doubled (+20).
In addition, while the smite is in effect, St. Kargoth gains a deflection bonus equal to his Charisma modifier (+13) to his AC against stacks made by the target of his smite. The smite remains in effect until the target is killed, St. Kargoth starts a new smite vs. a different target, or the next time St. Kargoth rests.
Unholy Resilience (Su) St. Kargoth gains a bonus to all his saving throws equal to his Charisma modifier (+13).
Touch of Corruption (Su) As an antipaladin, St. Kargoth can shroud his hand with a fiendish flame, causing terrible wounds to open on those he touches. He can use this ability 23 times per day as a standard action. As a touch attack, this effect causes 60 points of damage (see Unholy Champion, below).
Cruelty (Su) As an antipaladin, St. Kargoth adds a cruelty effect to his touch of corruption ability. Whenever he uses his touch of corruption ability to deal damage to a target, the target also receives the additional effect from one of the cruelties possessed by St. Kargoth. The choice of cruelty is made at the time the touch of corruption attack is used. The target receives a Fortitude Save, DC 33, to avoid the cruelty. The cruelties available to St. Kargoth are: sickened, staggered, cursed, poisoned, blinded, stunned. When St. Kargoth uses his Channel Smite feat, a cruelty also affects the target.
Channel Negative Energy (Su) As an antipaladin, St. Kargoth can channel negative energy like a cleric. Using this ability consumes two uses of his touch of corruption ability.
Aura of Cowardice (Su) As an antipaladin, St. Kargoth gives off an aura with a 10’ radius that causes all enemies within the aura to suffer a -4 penalty on saving throws against fear effects. Creatures that are normally immune to fear lose this immunity while within the aura.
Aura of Despair (Su) As an antipaladin, all enemies within 10 ft. of St. Kargoth take a -2 penalty to all saving throws.
Aura of Vengence (Su) As an antipaladin, St. Kargoth can expend two uses of his smite good ability to grant the ability to smite good to all allies within 10 feet.
Aura of Sin (Su) As an antipaladin and half-fiend, St. Kargoth’s weapons are considered both Evil an Chaotic for purposes of overcoming damage reduction.
Aura of Depravity (Su) As an antipaladin, each enemy within 10 feet of St. Kargoth takes a -4 penalty on all saving throws vs. compulsion effects.
Channel Negative Energy (Su) As an antipaladin, St. Kargoth can channel negative energy like a cleric. Using this ability consumes two uses of his touch of corruption ability.
Fiendish Boon (Sp) As an antipaladin, St. Kargoth has chosen to add the anarchic, flaming, and speed weapon abilities to Deathbringer.
Unholy Champion (Su) As an antipaladin, St. Kargoth is a conduit for the might of Demogorgon. Whenever he uses smite good and successfully strikes a good outsider, the outsider is also subject to a banishment functioning at 20th level (with his weapon and unholy symbol counting as objects the subject hates). In addition, whenever St. Kargoth uses his touch of corruption of channels negative energy, he deals maximum possible damage.
Inherent Bonuses St. Kargoth has a +5 inherent bonus to Strength and Charisma.
SPECIAL ITEMS
Demogorgon’s Bilious Sphere (Major Artifact, CL 25) +5 corrosive burst unholy adamantine light mace.
- Can cast stinking cloud 5/day (DC 28)
- Can cast acid fog 3/day (DC 32)
- 3 day as a swift action, can create three spheres of acid that attack foes independently. Spheres function as flaming spheres in every other way, except the damage they inflict is acid damage.
- 1 day, can create a feeling of intense hatred in a creature within 60 ft. The target can resist this effect with a DC 30 Will save, otherwise it views another creature within sight (chosen by the Sphere’s wielder), as its most hated enemy. The target must do everything in its power to slay its enemy. This effect lasts until the enemy is dead or 24 hous pass. It may be dispelled as if it were dominate monster.
- A creature whom Demogorgon favors can, as a free action, gain the following benefits once per day: greater heroism, spell turning (10 levels), 4d12 temporary hit points, a +6 profane bonus to Strength.
Even in solo sub 1 hour times are possible with the right class and some luck. Most people just want to rush to endgame to start building their character's gear and paragon levels. In some cases, like during season releases in January or March, there are special events available you can use to level in a different way (Diablo Anniversary Event / Kanai's Stomping Grounds) or certain seasons offer unique themes that also help you out (such as the Shadow Clones from Season 22 or the Ethereal Weapons from Season 24).
Only those who have proven their loyalty and trustworthiness to the village are given the privilege of visiting the Rwitx. The journey to the Rwitx is said to be treacherous, with tales of daring feats and dangerous encounters shared among the villagers. It is believed that only the most courageous and determined individuals can successfully navigate through the dense forest and reach the sacred site. Once at the Rwitx, the person must perform a series of rituals before they are allowed to kiss it. These rituals are said to involve meditation, purification, and offerings to the spirit of the village. Only after completing these rituals can the person approach the Rwitx and press their lips against it, sealing their bond with the village. Kissing the Rwitx is not just a physical act but a spiritual connection between the person and the village. It is believed to bring blessings and protections to both the individual and the community as a whole. Those who have kissed the Rwitx are highly respected within the village and are seen as guardians of its traditions and values. The significance of this ancient tradition goes beyond its mystical aspects. It serves as a reminder of the importance of community, loyalty, and respect for one's roots. It is a symbol of unity and strength, reminding the villagers of their shared history and heritage. In an ever-changing world, traditions like kissing the Rwitx serve as a link to the past and a testament to the resilience of a community. While outsiders may view it as a strange and exotic practice, for the villagers, it is a sacred tradition that holds deep meaning and importance. Ultimately, the mystery and allure of kissing the Rwitx continue to captivate the imaginations of those who have heard of it. It remains a symbol of the enduring power of traditions and the connections we forge with the places we call home..
Reviews for "The Rwitx Kiss and Gender Equality: Challenging Stereotypes through Intimate Connection"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with "Kissing the Rwitx". The story was all over the place and didn't make much sense to me. The characters were poorly developed and I couldn't connect with any of them. The writing style felt forced and pretentious, and I found myself skimming through pages just to get to the end. Overall, it was a frustrating and confusing read.
2. Emily - 1 star - "Kissing the Rwitx" was one of the worst books I've ever read. The plot was incredibly cliché and predictable, with no originality or depth. The romance felt forced and unrealistic, and the dialogue was cringeworthy. The writing was filled with grammatical errors and lacked proper editing. I couldn't wait to finish this book and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
3. Sarah - 3 stars - I didn't hate "Kissing the Rwitx", but I didn't love it either. The storyline had potential, but it fell flat for me. The pacing was off, and it felt like the story dragged on unnecessarily. The characters were one-dimensional and lacked complexity. While the writing was okay, it didn't engage me, and I found myself losing interest. Overall, I was underwhelmed by this book.