d20 Clockwork Golem Workshop Lost Books 16 - Codex of Sylvan Warfare.pdf - Clockwork Golem Workshop - R5700

L OST BOOKS 16:

T HE C ODEX OF S YLVAN

W ARFARE

Written by David Sanders

Edited by Peter M. Ball

For more information about upcoming Lost Books, visit our webpage

at http://www.clockworkgolem.com

Some Artwork Copyright Louis Porter, Jr. Design, used with Permission

Requires the use of the Dungeons & Dragons, Third Edition Core Books, published

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All text in this product is 100% open game content.

- 1 -

L OST B OOKS 16: C ODEX OF S YLVAN W ARFARE

History of the Codex

Although it has a recurring presence in druidic lore

and the folktales of old soldiers there is an air of

mystery that surrounds the origins of the Codex

of Sylvan Warfare . Many stories claim that it was a

work of necessity, its creation the primal work of

nature herself when she realized that her children

needed to wage war on the encroaching cities

and trappings of civilization. Others claim that

it is the work of many hands, passed down from

elder druid to novice for hundreds of years, with

each generation adding new spells and passages

that allow their successors to halt the progress of

invading armies and woodcutters alike.

Regardless of its origins, the Codex is easily

acknowledged as a powerful druidic tome created

with a speciﬁ c purpose in mind. Many of histories

most powerful hierophant druids have claimed

to possess the Codex at some point during their

careers and even lesser druids have invoked the

title in order to rebuke the plans of ambitious

noblemen with designs on the forests. Despite

this, the only reliable description of the Codex and

its contents can be traced back to a little known

druidic hierophant known as Albertus the Green.

Albertus’ description of the Codex’s opening

prayer illuminates the Codex’s intent, even though

it does little to clarify the books origin: When the

folly of progress deems it responsible to overthrow the bonds

of the natural order, the caretakers and consanguine of

nature should be appraised of the resources available.

The common traits shared by many ﬁ reside

tales that feature the Codex only serves to further

confuse its origins. Druidic lore claims that the

book appears when and where the forces of nature

deem necessary, often in order to aid druids that

ﬁ nd themselves opposed by superior numbers.

Its presence is revealed to the most powerful

druid in the region in a dream, allowing them to

ﬁ nd their way to the Codex’s hidden resting place

and bypass the sylvan creatures that stand guard.

Once it is claimed the Codex remains in the druid’s

possession only as long as it takes to drive back the

invading forces that threaten the forest, dissolving

into a cloud of leaves that disappear on the wind

once nature’s balance has been restored.

Albertus is often hailed as the ﬁ rst wielder of

the Codex’s magic, although his own writings hint

at its presence in several decisive battles between

druids and civilized military in previous ages. He

received the Codex over a hundred years ago,

when a northern kingdom sent a small army of

woodcutters to decimate the ancient forest that

Albertus and his druidic Circle of the White Thorn

tended. After the woodcutters were forced off by

the circle and their animal allies, the kingdom sent

an army to eliminate the forest’s defenders.

The ﬁ rst confrontation between the two forces

was a massacre that wiped out the Circle of the

White Thorn. Albertus alone survived the battle,

ﬂ eeing the conﬂ ict in the form of a rabbit and

staying wildshaped and hidden for nearly a week.

When he eventually returned home he found his

sacred grove burned to the ground, his fellow druids

slain and the ashes of their animal companions and

sylvan allies scattered on the four winds. Even the

ancient treant that had served as the circles advisor

for centuries had been splintered and burned

during the human assault.

Unable to fully comprehend the tragedy that

had befallen his beloved woods, Albertus ﬂ ed into

the darkest part of the woods in horror. After

miles of running he collapsed onto the roots of a

mighty oak, drifting into an exhausted sleep where

he received the vision of the Codex hidden in the

caves behind a nearby waterfall. The Codex itself

was guarded by a nymph, who gave the young

druid a single command: Become vengeance; wield the

spirit of the land.

The next morning Albertus followed the hazy

directions from his dreams, stumbling through

the forest as though in a trance until he happened

upon the nymph of his phantom oracle. She

quickly stunned him with a look before sauntering

over and placing the Codex in his hands. Then she

simply disappeared into the water without a word.

Albertus spent weeks studying the divine text,

practicing the spells it contained until he felt ready

to bring the deﬁ lers of the forest to justice. He spent

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L OST B OOKS 16: C ODEX OF S YLVAN W ARFARE

the following decade using the Codex’s lessons to

wage a one-man war against the murderous forcers

that had slain his comrades, eventually putting the

invading army and its lumberjacks to ﬂ ight.

Some scholars claim that the mythology that

surrounds the Codex is intentionally misleading,

claiming that the book was actually scribed by

Albertus as a record of his ten-year struggle

against the invaders. Citing many instances where

the young druid proved to be an adept master

of misdirection and the use of fear as a military

tactic, they point out that the confused myths that

surround the Codex may simply be an attempt to

obfuscate its origins and create a form of primal

panic when the spells it contains are used in battle.

Description

This book has solid oak covers that protect the

contents. The pages are specially treated palm

fronds, each carefully cut to ﬁ t the book, while

the inks are made from a variety of natural plant

dyes. The book was written in the secret language

of Druids using a wooden stylus as a writing

implement.

The front cover has an image of a wasp burned

into it. Below the wasp, also burned into the wood

are the following words in Druidic, “Codex of

Sylvan Warfare”. The ﬁ rst page is blank, as are the

last eight pages. Depending on the needs of the

druid that recovers the Codex, these blank pages

may contain diary notes recorded by a former

owner in a similar situation that offer some insight

into how to defeat their enemy.

Value: 5,160 gp (including 4,500 gp for spells,

and 660 gp for enhancements).

Hardness: 10

Hit Points: 20

Weight: 5 lbs.

Special: This Codex is made of oak treated

with the ironwood spell, giving it the strength and

ﬁ re resistance of iron. The Codex is treated as a

magic item if it is forced to make a saving throw,

possessing a +5 bonus on all saving throws while

left unattended.

Bardic Knowledge &

Knowledge (arcana)

Characters with the Bardic Knowledge ability or

Knowledge (nature) may be familiar with the Codex

and its creator. The ﬁ rst time such a character hears

about the Codex of Sylvan Warfare , the Circle of the

White Thorn or Albertus of the Green, have them

make a check and consult the following table.

DC 10: The Codex of Sylvan Warfare is a druidic

work that appears whenever nature is threatened

by the overwhelming forces of civilization. It

contains powerful magic that can force enemies

out of the forests and destroy a small town in a

matter of months. The book is also attributed

several mystical powers related to its appearance

and disappearance.

DC 20: The Codex is often associated with the

hierophant druid Albertus of the Green, who once

repelled an invading military force from his forests

using the spells contained within the Codex. Several

druids may have added new magic to the Codex

since Albertus’s ﬁ rst used it, although all claim the

book disappeared within weeks of securing the

safety of their forest homes.

DC 30: Some scholars believe that Albertus

actually wrote the book, creating a powerful

mythology that surrounds the Codex in order to

enhance the fear and terror felt when the spells

were used against his enemies. Several druids have

claimed to possess the book for the same reason,

giving weight to the myth.

Spells

The tome contains the following spells: 2 nd - summon

swarm , weather torment *; 3 rd - hide from plants *; 4 th - curse

of the viper* , giant vermin , greater summon swarm *,

repel vermin , summon vermin ally* ; 5 th - green guardian* ,

hide from vermin *, insect plague ; 6 th - antilife shell , plague

of rats *, verdant doom* ; 7 th - creeping doom , spiderweb *,

warden of the forest* ; 9 th - primal fear *.

*Indicates a new spell introduced in this

product.

- 3 -

L OST B OOKS 16: C ODEX OF S YLVAN W ARFARE

New Spell Lists

7 TH -L EVEL D RUID S PELLS

Spiderweb: Fills 20-ft. radius with sticky spiderwebs

and a giant spider swarm.

Warden of the Forest: Creates a verdant warden

from local plantlife.

Bard Spells

5-L EVEL B ARD S PELLS

Summon Swarm, Greater: As summon swarm ,

except multiple swarms are summoned.

9 TH -L EVEL D RUID S PELLS

Primal Fear: Creates a barrier of fear that prevents

creatures from entering an area of primal

wilderness.

Druid Spells

2 ND -L EVEL D RUID S PELLS

Weather Torment: Subject is folowed by their

own private thunderstorm.

Ranger Spells

3 RD -L EVEL D RUID S PELLS

Hide from Plants: Plant creatures cannot percieve

one subject/level.

3 RD -L EVEL R ANGER S PELLS

Hide from Plants: Plant creatures cannot percieve

one subject/level.

4 TH -L EVEL D RUID S PELLS

Curse of the Viper: Designate an action that will

cause a viper to animate and attack the subject.

Summon Swarm, Greater: As summon swarm ,

except multiple swarms are summoned.

Summon Vermin Ally: Summon up to 8 HD of

vermin creatures.

4 TH -L EVEL R ANGER S PELLS

Curse of the Viper: Designate an action that will

cause a viper to animate and attack the subject.

Hide from Vermin: Vermin creatures cannot

percieve one subject/level.

Summon Vermin Ally: Summon up to 8 HD of

vermin creatures.

5 TH -L EVEL D RUID S PELLS

Green Guardian: Plant creatures act as guardian.

Hide from Vermin: Vermin creatures cannot

percieve one subject/level.

Sorcerer/Wizard Spells

5 TH -L EVEL S ORCERER /W IZARD S PELLS

Summon Swarm, Greater: As summon swarm ,

except multiple swarms are summoned.

6 TH -L EVEL D RUID S PELLS

Plage of Rats: Array of effects as vermin and

plagues blight the area.

Verdant Doom: Subject is viewed with hostility by

natural ﬂ ora and fauna.

6 TH -L EVEL S ORCERER /W IZARD S PELLS

Spiderweb: Fills 20-ft. radius with sticky spiderwebs

and a giant spider swarm.

- 4 -

d20 Clockwork Golem Workshop Lost Books 16 - Codex of Sylvan Warfare.pdf

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