16 replies to this topic

[Celestine]

I'm researching for materials to write a fanfiction and have some questions.

Does Helm has a specific timing where he grant his worshippers spells? How would a human mage lengthen his normal lifespan without resorting to lichdom?

Thanks so much.

[Torack]

According to the latest Faiths and Pantheons, worshippers of Helm pray for their spells just after sunrise in the morning.

As for the alternate route to a long life without the need of a phylactery...potions of longevity would be my guess.

[Chevalier]

Helm, he is ever watchful so any time? Just my guess.

A potion of Longevity would add 20 years. Become a choesen of Mystra, like Khelben Blackstaff? A Portriat of Aging, like Dorian Gray had. Is he evil? There are some evil means.

[Celestine]

Ah thanks. Would it be possible for a human man (mage or not) to length his lifespan to over 150 years old using potion of longetivity or other means without resorting to undead?

[NiGHTMARE]

Druids over a certain level gain immunity to aging, though those which survive for a few hundred years usually end up becoming "one with nature" (basically they turn into a tree).

[hlidskialf]

Potions of longevity also have a side effect every time they are taken. There's a 5% chance/use that they will undo all anti-aging done by previous potions. So the longer you use them, the greater the chance you'll age 300years in 30 seconds...

[Rabain]

Would it be possible to lengthen lifespan via some form of flow of time altering spell or stasis?

Hibernation type thing?

[Celestine]

ah, that make sense. How would one get a longetivity potion? Can it be brew by a mage or an alchemist? Are such potions very rare and hard to get?

[Deathsangel]

Druids over a certain level gain immunity to aging, though those which survive for a few hundred years usually end up becoming "one with nature" (basically they turn into a tree).

Just to comment on this. In D&D3.5 a druid doesn't age physically, but does die when a normal lifespan of that race has been reached. This could be different for AD&D, as I am not to well into this and I never heard Nightmare say something that was inaccurate.

[NiGHTMARE]

Well, it was from memory, and thus slightly inaccurate:

- At 16th level they no longer feel the effects of aging (so they would still have the strength and vitality of a 20 year old at the age of 70+.)

- At 16th level they also gain the ability to alter their appearance at will (so they can make themselves look decades younger, or older... or even make themselves look like a different person entirely.)

- At 17th level they gain the ability to go into hibernation (during which they do not age, and which can last for as brief or as long a time as they wish.)


Incidentally, another way for a wizard to extend his lifespan is via the 9th level spell Stasis Clone. This spell creates a completely identical copy of the caster, who will remain in magically induced stasis until the caster is killed. The mage can also additional spells to "update" his clone with newly acquired memories and abilities. Any spellcaster with the ability and desire to use this spell typically creates multiple clones in multiple locations, just in case anything bad should happen to both him and a clone at the same time.

Edited by NiGHTMARE, 13 July 2005 - 02:12 AM.

[Celestine]

Thanks everyone for your input.

So I reckon Manshoon used this spell, right? No one seems to know how many clones he had.

[Andyr]

I think there's a few of his clones documented around, but that's a lower limit as opposed to an upper. There's one who thinks he is the real Manshoon, one who has become the vampire leader of the Night Masks, and one I think in Undermountain with Halaster. I think he used that spell but on his death more than one of the clones woke up, for some reason.

Another way to not die of old age is go live on a plane with the Timeless trait, such as the Astral.

[Bluenose]

Thanks everyone for your input.

So I reckon Manshoon used this spell, right? No one seems to know how many clones he had.

As Andyr says, apparently after Manshoon was killed all of his clones awoke instead of just one. They then promptly started hunting each other down, as a magical compulsion. The survivors have found ways to break that compulsion - one was turned into a vampire, destroyed his creator and now runs the Night Masks in Westgate, one is supposed to be in Undermountain, and the one in Zhentil Keep had it broken by Fzoul.

As for other ways to stay young, searching for the Fountain of Youth is always popular - and in one of the recent 3.5 books it appears that people who become elf-friends gain somewhat in longevity.

[Stone Wolf]

There are some spells that will preserve or restore youth. I can think of one that ages or youthens the target (specialist only), one that prevents any alteration of age by either natural or unnatural causes (specialist), and I think at least two that transfer age from the caster to the target.

[Celestine]

wow, so many ways to stretch a lifespan. Most of the methods seem to be more inclined for evil alignments, esp the spell that transfer youth from target to caster.

@bluenose:I know that elf-friend is a special status to non-elves, given by elves. But is that given/perform in a ritual or somesort that gives the person the extra longetivity?

[Bluenose]

@bluenose:I know that elf-friend is a special status to non-elves, given by elves. But is that given/perform in a ritual or somesort that gives the person the extra longetivity?

It's actually implemented as part of a prestige class, and one of the entry requirements is that you perform some great service for a group of elves. There would certainly be some ceremony involved as the attention of the Elven gods is drawn to you, which gives you the extended lifespan among other benefits. I assume something similar to the ceremony at the end of SoA, but I expect most elven settlements would do something simpler.

[Celestine]

Wow, that's really cool and you've given me an idea for my fanfic. Thank you so much.