April Spot Reviews

 Ive been shopping a bit to beat some mysterious price increases. Also just spent 4k on an electrician so the benefit of home ownership vs rent cost is blown for the year sigh. Bat at least the landlord or agent devils don't visit me. God awful strata service and committee, as well as for common land I share. At least I haven't moved 8 times in 2 years and relied on airBnB for housing or sofas. But I'm well aware of how man ppl increasingly doing it tough and my young friends who assume they can't afford a home or pets or children. Recently Marion Council (across the rd) has a proposal for a Tesla factory ppl are commenting on. It will destroy public housing and crown land parks. We already have local grifting robber barons throwing money at elections using BS sigh. Hope everyone is doing as well as they can.

A nice vid on folk horror in children's games is slightly relevant to first review 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OInlv7qkz4M&list=TLPQMDgwNDIwMjUXp87k5m3_7Q&index=3

The Black Apple Brugh 💗💗💗💗
Anyone running a spooky fae woodlands setting should have this or use it to start a campaign. Dolemwood, Midderlands or my own Auldwood would all work fine. It is also cheap and pdf available FREE  One of those inspired rare adventures full of folk horror, faerie, changeling children, secret shabby elf dungeon, stunning npc's and many more good things. Even the history wasn't bloated or boring. Like any good adventure, you could talk or murder your way through. A good read and easy to prep for like 80s adventures.

Muahuitli 💗💗💗💗
One of the best ever historical RPG settings I felt helped me learn about the world and pronounce Aztec words better. The character classes and spells were awesome. Alignment is especially interesting. Lawful people collect sacrifices to keep the sun going. Taking prisoners is worth 5x the XP. It's a simple version of whitebox D&D but better than most. Readable paperback for bus rides.

5th Edition Dungeons & Dragons 24/25 💗💗💗💩
I prefer this to the 2014 edition. Its better laid out, I can read the index pages and mostly its better written and cleaner. Adapting old stuff has been workable. My player's book has a naff corner I need to fix before it gets worse. Actually most of the lore in the DMG about various campaign settings has been my first exposure to it despite playing games since 83. I will keep my older DMG and MM. Mostly I'm fine with changes to species, zorro orcs and drow in players' book and some queer twinks in art and not just bikini girls. We used term species and got rid of half species in early 80s so yay. The MM just arrived in time for a game and has more space on statblocks. My main beef is it seems for mid to high level with high HP even base pirates have 30 ish HP. lizardfolk deserved 2 pages and needed a more common weaker one. Sphynxes are now all leonine and colourful like plush dollies and not human or thirsty. Stat wise its ok but I like the weird human-looking jerk ones. I miss the actual mythic sphynxes who eat people and falcon-headed ones guarding temples - they needed a sphynx-making kit like the Chimera in theros. Mixed feelings about the alphabetisation but it was faster to use. Some plant and jungi critters all lumped in groups still. Mostly its pretty good. Ive played D&D4/24 for a few years and still feel I'm learning basic stuff. Lots of DMs filed off choices in games and made recommendations which is good but Ive taken longer to really learn these choices and put off playing some classes for complexity. My first game as DM was this newer version as I found it superior. Ive ordered a bunch of older 5th ed stuff as its on sale quite a bit and older stuff vanishing.  

Forbidden North Vol 1&2 PDF 💗💗💗💩
Real books coming. I might review again in more detail. Stunning monumental campaign for old-school essentials. Great maps and art and layout. I look forward to volume 3. I did get a vibe of the vikings vs elder gods ruined city in the ice type game as a few people had on Blogs and G+*. The lawful religion in here isn't really viking at all and my only beef but its fine and disappointed from my own delusions. At this stage Im awfully impressed and a bit inspiring. Ill possibly change score when I've read more and do a bigger review of each volume when books arrive.

*if you know the creators I refer to please post in the comments

Faking History by Jason Colavito 💗💗💗💗
Nota a game book. But inspired quite a few blog posts. PPL say skeptics makes poor creativity but I found the obscure threads in this book to be very inspiring. Basically, it debunks psuedo history and archaeology which has come to flood popular thought and drowned out actual scholars voices. Large print and short chapters are good for bus reading. On chapter talks about a brief mention of an evil school dracula went to and expands into ancient satanic schools for wizards and cults under the mountain stuff that is quite mindblowing. Very entertaining and readable and the sort of antidote we need in a world where fake history is normal.

Clan generation for Theros campagn examples

My new Theros campaign I was wondering if it was going to be a sandbox or if I could run the lost City. As we are a small group the sandbox seems more workable. Im also not using XP or promising fair encounters. Players know there is a Chimera in a volcanic crater that killed a players ancestor. They have no intention of going there yet. 

Falimy generators in the 1st ed forbidden OA book has a nice family generation system that helped create drama and conflicts of honour and obviously, many cultures have honour and family systems not just fantasy Asians. 

So I got players to make basic rolls on tables from here and I filled out some more details.
Family names as we know them were not a thing but clan, tribe or names based on famous ancestors. Players chose to be free but not nobles.

Each free or noble  family is expected to support a fit and equipped warrior ready to serve their community marked by *

All the noble families are human, most non human free persons are adpoted

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Aias (a human sailor - rogue - musician - oracle) 
Kekyra clan dedicated to Thassa God of the sea

Own a house in the port Limáni
Own a tomb in the necropolis of Kástro
Own a bireme ship named the Wave Eater
Family numbers reduced by infighting and petty rivalry

Erebos, grandfather - family patriarch Lv3 warrior
-sits on the assembly of Limáni, mean to Aias
Iole, grandmother - family matriarch Lv2 priest
-retired priestess, competitive to Aias
 
Ianthe Grand aunt - has 3 children Lv3 priest, works in temple, competitive to Aias
-Dione daughter Lv2 Priest, works in temple, hateful to Aias
-Kadmos son Lv1 Warrior, ship crew on family ship), mean to Aias
-Pallas son Lv1 Warrior, ship crew on a family ship), loving to Aias, has a child

Parents vanished on a sea voyage with uncles Pyros and Xanthos
-Kreios Father, respected Aias
-Ariadne mother, worshipped Aias

*Older brother, 5th Lv Warrior who captains family ship, hates Aias
 
Influential in Limáni through assembly and temple of the sea god
Mostly a terrible family who reject Aias career choices

-----------------------------------------------------

Xi (a satyr warlock scholar touched by the Nyx) 
Dymanes clan dedicated to Kruphix God of horizons

Own a house in Kástro and a book stall in market
A famous family ancestor the hero Dymas 
-had a satyr sidekick, both killed by the Chimera in the mountains
Xi was adopted by the clan and taught by a famous scholar in the Polis Plaza

Koios, grandfather - family patriarch merchant Warrior Lv1
-patron of the school, Respects Xi
Magera, grandmother - family matriarch & poet warlock Lv3
-revered poet & writer, Indifferent to Xi

Laios Grand uncle has 3 children, Scribe, Warrior Lv3, worships Xi
-Eundros son, Warrior Lv1, Loyal to Xi
-Krios son, scribe has 2 children, Admires Xi
-Leto daughter, merchant and Warlock Lv3, Patronising but admires Xi

Okeanos, Father, teacher Warlock Lv2, Patronising but admires Xi 

Semele, Mother, teacher Warlock Lv2, Patronising but admires Xi

*Older brother, 6th Lv Warrior and officer of city army, Deeply loves Xi, has 3 children
Older Sister, teacher and 2nd Lv Warlock, Respects Xi, has a child

Famous family of scholars and patrons of knowledge
Many secretly warlocks dedicated to Kruphix
Many have travelled and explored the islands and coasts of Ethyria
Kindly wise family of open-minded knowledge seekers

Ethyria: Local Problems & Carousing

 

Had a nice session zero with 2 players - my first dm session with 5th ed as I find new version more readable and the index isn't in print so fine I need a magnifying glass. 

Had a thief-sailor-musician-oracle and a warlock nyxborn satyr

heat up some of the Theros harpies for some sherds then while trading treasure asked to discretely deliver goods to a witch for a suit of leather +1. Saw a cave on the way and the with lives on a barrow mound with undead inside. Killed a skeleton and a shadow. And now resting keen to look again and visit that cave.

Kástro (Fortified Polis)
As the central police of the colony with the most people and wealth it has the greatest opportunity for spending time and getting work fit for heroes. There is also the chance to be noticed by the nobility, the assembly and the king.

d12 Kástro Problems
1 There is a secretive cult lurking in the catacombs under the upper city, who are they? 

2 The king needs someone to fetch horses from the island amazons of Vasílissa

3 A great engineer needs assistants and guards marking out future chariot roads

4 The king believes the great tomb of an ancient conqueror is in the western wastes

5 The satyrs and centaurs in the east drink the most fabulous wine, fetch some

6 Harpys in the mountains stop exploration north, and a reward per harpy slain is on offer

7 Dangerous chimaera in the mountains guards a volcanic crater with ancient ruins

8 Members of the assembly seek proof another member is corrupt and informing pirates

9 Noble offers reward for slaying a monster bothering rural farms

10 Noble needs someone to consult with a witch in secret

11 Merchant wants you to delay a merchant from reaching the market for a reward

12 Family will pay for a member to be free from being a hostage to bandits

d12 Kástro Carousing
1 A wine party invitation with literary conversation

2 See a new comedy or tragedy at the theatre

3 Athletic games or sporting event gets polis excited

4 Gladiators fight to the death as a public spectacle

5 Political debate in the theatre or on a sacred hill

6 Invited to a private orgy for elites

7 Philosopher and a poet argue with a crowd

8 Famous bard gives a recital of an epic

9 Shadow puppets of famous myths

10 Drunken sailors brawl and damage property

11 Men show of a captured mermaid before an elder says to release her

12 Shangheid by pirates to be the new crew

Limáni (Port Village)
This growing port is an extension of the polis but more rough and ready with violence or debauchery

d12 Limáni Problems
1 Pirate ship needs some extra crew to raid an island of non-humans

2 Ship captain believes crew revolting needs extra loyal crew for the last voyage

3 Ship captain has a treasure map for a local island with strange inhabitants 

4 Find this pirate ship and kill or capture them and bring them and their ship back

5 A beautiful siren has been enticing sailors to jump ship, go silence her

6 A cargo has arrived and needs escorting to another village

7 A pirate informant has been active in the port recently, who is it

8 The Demarchos needs guards for the wine warehouse during a festival

9 A mysterious humanoid in the sea has been harassing fisher folk nets

10 The sea priest needs a magnificent white bull to be captured as a sacrifice

11 A sea captain needs crew to circumnavigate the island and improve maps

12 Sea captain needs crew to wipe out a sinister island cult who killed his crew

d12 Limáni Carousing
1 Invited to cruise on a pleasure barge

2 New prostitutes have arrived starting a huge party

3 Friendly pirates bring amphoras or wine and mead 

4 Hunting a ferocious sea creature from a fishing boat

5 Drunken sailors brawl and damage property

6 Gambling and drinking in a tavern

7 Spent time in a lotus wine stupour 

8 Had an affair with a prostitute

9 Shangheid by pirates to be the new crew

10 Woke up hungover in a goat pen with no memory

11 Men show of a captured mermaid before an elder says to release her

12 Tried to catch a magical fish

Voskós (Shepherds Village)
Rustic and charming. local folk are quite jolly. They do have thriving minotaurs, satyrs and centaurs around and some drunken incompetent bandits.

d12 Voskós Problems
1 Bandits stole lots of wine and goats, save the goats quickly!

2 A minotaur is attacking travellers on a road

3 A lewd satyr has been exposing himself to women washing clothes

4 Centaurs have been demanding a tribute of wine

5 A preditor has attacked sheep and a herder d4  1=wolves 2=lion 3=giant snake 4=manticore

6 Help get this wine to another village past a gang of lazy, drunken bandits

7 Satyrs stole a storehouse of wine go get some money from them and you get a cut

8 A sheepdog has fallen down a sinkhole please fetch it

9 A ruined old house has some creature or spirit inside and is scaring local children

10 Please chase my lazy drunken sons and beat them with sticks

11 A favourite goat has gone missing please find her

12 A wicked wild boar has been scaring livestock, please hunt it for a feast

d12 Voskós Carousing
1 Fok dancing and a feast with local bards

2 All-you-can-eat grilled meat, vine leaves and fish

3 Wine festival to taste a recent vintage

4 Prettiest goat in the village contest with guest judges

5 Cheese rolling contest

6 Wife carrying races

7 Sank parade with villagers dressed as a giant serpent 

8 Donkey cart racing

9 Comedy shadow puppet shows

10 Visiting bard performs a saucy song cycle

11 Dryads and satyrs visit with wine and dancing

12 Wise old centaur visits and shares old stories 

Psarás (Fishing and Farming Village)

Those earning a living by the sea are more wild and strange , the farmers are quieter and keep to themselves.

d12 Psarás Problems

1 Someone has offended the undersea folk, take them this offering and find out what

2 Sail to Vasílissa and convince the amazons to free a prisoner, they may have a request

3 An angry merman has been attacking fishing boats find out why

4 An island shrine has had a monolith knocked over in a storm go fix it

5 A nasty sea serpent has been seen in our waters please drive it away

6 Mermaids are luring fishermen to their deaths, please drive them away

7 A ship has sunk and the cargo needs recovery but a monster now uses it as a lair

8 Let these undersea folk guide you to a secret pirate island and capture them

9 Thieves robbed a medallion from the shrine of a sea god please get it back

10 An expedition to find a lost fishing boat needs a crew who can fight just in case

11 A man has been seen turning into a horrid sea creature, find out who!

12 A man stole a pirate map and a small boat, please get the treasure before he does

d12 Psarás Carousing

1 Singers attract the undersea folk to join the village in a celebration

2 Old Bard tells the tale of the western island civilisation sunk and cursed by the gods

3 Feast of delicious seafood with music and wine

4 Ceremonial ritual of the sea lord marrying the land maiden followed by cake

5 Swimming with friendly dolphins who let some people ride them

6 Contest to catch the biggest fish

7 Sailors share stories of mermaids and sea nymphs over wine

8 Boat race and a feast

9 Days of sea songs about strange voyages and the deep

10 Mysterious lover is really a disguised being from under the sea

11 Parade of fisherfolk with masks and chanting with espoteric banners on poles

12 Invited to meet the undersea people on the sacred island offshore

Kynigós (hunters village)
The hunting folk have many festive events celebrating the wild gods and nature and non humans sometimes come and join in.

d12 Kynigós Problems

1 Dangerous beast has harmed hunters

2 Mad centaur challenging all on a road

3 Someone kidnapped by a satyr or centaur

4 Giant snake protecting a mysterious tree

5 Peryton has been hunting for human hearts 

6 Lycanthrope is living among the community but who?

7 Hunters followed beast to a cave but fear to go inside

8 Mated pair of monsters moved in area to breed

9 Forest barbarian snake cult are up to trouble

10 They say hairy wild folk are hiding in the forest

11 Dryad has charmed many local hunters 

12 Remains from a cannibal cult camp has been discovered

d12 Kynigós Carousing

1 Archery of javelin contest

2 Start of a new prey hunting season 

3 Prize for who can catch a fabulous beats

4 Drinking and singing with satyrs and centaurs

5 Women running wild on a local custom

6 Masked hunters perform eerie silent dance

7 Trial by combat to find who is false

8 Lodge ceremony for hunters

9 Decorate a sacred tree festival with dancing and drinks

10 Visiting bard from a barbarian tribe from the east

11 Women weeping for the seasonal death of a nature divinity 

12 Hunters hunt a fugitive and traitor who secretly informed bandits

Dásos (Loggers camp)

A logging camp becaming a village.

d12 Dásos Problems

1 Kallikantzaros goblins have been creeping from a sinkhole into the underworld

2 Tree spirits demand tribute or service, go find out what they want

3 Barbarian snake cults have been sabotaging logging efforts

4 A great bearded tree spirit has attacked loggers

5 A stag-headed man has been seen lurking in the woods

6 Bandits in the area robbing travellers

7 Centaurs or satyr kidnappers of camp residents 

8 Strange whicker figures have been seen stalking loggers

9 Something is stealing offerings for woodland spirits

10 A hairy wild spirit keeps attacking loggers who swear

11 Giant beavers have been stealing logs and building a tiny fort

12 Something is stealing our axes and their s a shortage

d12 Dásos Carousing

1 Feast of pankakes and singing

2 Drunken brawling

3 Bard visits singing barbarian songs

4 Woodcutting contest

5 Axe throwing contest

6 Bear folk visit and everyone gets drunk

7 Forest nymph visits for song and dance

8 Wood carving competition

9 Everyone passes out from eating mushrooms

10 Satyrs and Centaurs bring silver for wine and start a party

11 Boxing matches with a prize for the winner

12 Wrestling competition (sometimes bear folk come)

Vasílissa (Amazon Village)

This Island is known as a place where drunken excess if frowned on  

d12 Vasílissa Problems

1 A giant snake is guarding a berry tree

2 Pirates trying to kidnap women

3 Harpies are trying to start a colony

4 Enraged minotaur arrived on shore clutching a log

5 A cursed priestess has become a gorgon in local ruins

6 Mermaids or a siren trying to steal local fishermen

7 Giant octopus comes ashore at night to steal pigs

8 Sea serpent has been scaring off trading vessels

9 Amazons seek a lost relic on mainland ruin

10 Amazon queen needs a request from a mainland oracle 

11 Rescue prisoners from a pirate island base

12 A fabulous magical horse has been seen running with a wild herd

d12 Vasílissa Carousing

1 Equestrian sport festrival

2 Chariot race

3 Athletics contest

4 Chess tournament

5 Bull vaulting contest

6 Archery tournament

7 Amazon initiation feast

8 Wild boar hunt

9 Bull sacrifice and feast

10 Godess festival brings many visitors

11 Dolphin riding race

12 Sculpture competition & feast

Ethyria The South & Rumours of Adventure

The names here I used google translate

Kallikantzaros are greek goblins that come from the underworld once a year, people stop them doing mischief by hurling sweetcakes and sausages on the roof. They have big pointy ass-like ears, hairy all over and have backwards bending knees like the hindlegs of goats. If I run The Lost City I will use these.

Looking over DnD24 I like most backgrounds but I think a sailor background would be better off with athletics instead of acrobatics and possibly another bonus ability rather than brawling.

Also this post is a reminder that tables and encounters are world-building.
Glorantha box set in around 1990 taught me this.

Every community has an assembly of land owners over 50 who elect a Demarchos (mayor) and the Polis a king. 

Apánemos Kólpos (sheltered bay) was dominated by colonists from the mainland. The Island was inhabited by multiple peoples in the past, many non-humans. Some of the local humans and non humans, joined the colonies but others moved further away after various conflicts. The people are confident but wary of strangers, wild people and creatures. 

Kástro - (fortified polis) the primary colony of the island pop 1245. The polis is walled and has a raised sacred precinct with many glorious temples. King Demetrios is the sixth ruler since the colony was founded and has improved the city and defences of the colonies. The outer wall of the city is crude stonework surrounding the lower city. Many of these stones came from ruins built by giants. There is a good road to road to Limáni which acts as the port for the Polis. Commoners around the acropolis grow barley, millet, grapes, olives and vegetables. Herders keep goats and sheep too. The free citizens land owners are obligated to report weekly for training with a spear, armour and shield. Other free people train with bow and sling.

d12 Kástro Happenings
1 Philosophers Argue with an audience

2 Priest performs an outdoor ceremony

3 Hermit shouting prophecies

4 Soldiers training or marching

5 Workers building walls

6 New play is being performed

7 New goods arrived at markets

8 Assembly meet to plan for the polis

9 Athletes training for games

10 Festival with feasts, drink and dance

11 Weeping and wailing for a funeral

12 King Demetrios makes a speech

Limáni - port village serving Kástro with shipyards pop 245. Many work in the fishing fleet,  and boats. Carpenters for ships make other items. Builders here are constantly improving the infrastructure and plan to build walls that will reach the nearby polis. Ships here make the risky voyage to the mainland. Some ships are mercenary warships and pirates (a legitimate enterprise just al long as done elsewhere or against enemies). Most trade is with local smaller islands. Many professional warriors are found here, most sailors can use bows and spears and are good at brawlng.

d12 Limáni Happenings
1 Merchant ship arrives with exotic goods

2 Warship departs with a ceremonial blessing

3 Prostitutes carried through streets by sailor fans

4 Fight with audience betting, boxing or wrestling

5 Mysterious person pulled from the sea

6 Captain announces a heroic sea voyage

7 Captain recruiting crew for a ship

8 Fisher folk tell of strange sea encounters

9 Ship crew returned celebrating

10 Priest of the sea makes a sacrifice

11 Rough weather keeps sailors ashore

12 Spectacular catches for fisherfolk

Voskós - Shepherds Village in rough hilly country pop pop 125. The walled village is prepared for raids of minotaurs, barbarians and other menaces from the west. Some villagers work in queries and mines but most work with cattle, sheep or goats to make milk, cheese and meat. Most herders can use slings and some use a staff, mining folk use mauls and hammers.

d12 Voskós Happenings
1 Centaurs or satyrs try and steal livestock, women or wine

2 Shepherd has gone missing and a search party departing

3 Minotaurs or barbarians were seen in the area people at ready

4 Cave discovered by shepherds or miners

5 Beast stalking livestock d4 1=lion 2=wolves 3=giant snake 4=panther

6 Lost children in the woodlands

7 Celebration feast of wilderness gods with drink and dancing

8 Solemn musicians wearing masks lead a procession with drums and horns

9 Great sacrifice of ram or bull, then a feast

10 Workers dragging huge block of stone on sled pulled by an ox 

11 Herders with livestock d4 1=goats 2=sheep 3=cattle 4=hogs

12 Hunters return victorious for a feast of deer or boar

Psarás - fishing and farming village pop 225. Safe and sleepy village near shore with fishing boats drying nets and fish drying racks. Their are scrabbly poor fields growing various legumes and green vegetables. Some travel to a large island out to sea to trade with aquatic humanoids. They perform a musical ritual and leave gifts on reed mats and return later to find coral, seaweed, shark teeth and sea-ivory. This rite was used by the original inhabitants who gave offerings to sea nymphs, fish folk and dolphins. Many use nets and tridents. They feel safe and protected by the sea gods.

d12 Psarás Happenings
1 Locals admiring friendly dolphins who help fisherfolk

2 Boatloads of fishers playing music leave then return later with marine trade goods

3 Locals come to greet returning fisherfolk and unload boats while singing

4 People gossip about a man snatched by mermaids and eaten

5 Sailors report sighting a sea monster and thank the sea gods for escape

6 Pirates survivors of shipwreck captured and afraid to go back to sea

7 Fishefolk catch a bizarre marine creature and fear angering sea gods

8 Locals have a boat or swimming race with a prize

9 People hear distant singing from over the waves and go indoors

10 Locals find the wreckage of a ship and are busy looting

11 Locals find a dead mythic sea creature and hold a funeral for it

12 Locals celebrating bounty of the sea

Kynigós - hunters village on edge of the forest pop 186. Trade in furs and meat but as they have grown and now have garden terraces and a wooden stockade wall. Hog herding is another source of food. They like the gods of nature and interact with various beings of the eastern sylvan forests. People here are rough and coarse to civilised people of the polis. Many local barbarians have joined the village and some of their food is barbaric. They have a strong desire for wine and beer which they also trade with forest folk. Some beings of the forest have attacked them or tried to kidnap attractive youths but the villagers have had success driving them back or negotiating their lost people back. Numerous woodland beings and gods have shrines here mostly wooden. Locals are skilled with bows and javelins and many carry hatchets and large hunting daggers. 

d12 Kynigós Happenings
1 Hunters caught a spectacular beast
2 Locals trading wine with centaurs or satyrs
3 Local men compete in archery to see who gets to be a consort for a dryad
4 Women chase young men into the forest for a holy day
5 Locals excited about a supernatural forest beast
6 Hunting contest held with a prize for the best kill
7 Visitors from another village looking for a hunter
8 Woodland sage selling potions from a cauldron
9 Hunters holding sacred rites in their sacred hall
10 Locals solve a dispute with a javelin contest
11 A brutal centaur challenges warriors on a local road

12 A craftsman offers a quality weapon for who marries kin

Dásos - loggers camp growing into a village pop 86. A wooden stockade where workers cut trees, make planks and carve wooden decorative poles. More barbarians have been joining them from the east. Locals also harvesting chestnuts and acorns for food and flour. Some locals are also beekeepers. Many locals use axes and javelins. 

d12 Dásos Happenings
1 Workers building and crafting wooden goods
2 Ceremony to placate the forest spirits 

3 A huge bear bothering loggers, some say it is magic

4 Feast with lashings of beer and mead and drinking contests
5 Loggers found a strange monolith in the woods
6 Axe throwing and wood chopping competition for prizes
7 Emissaries from satyrs or centaurs from the east
8 Demarchos announces a bounty on wolves
9 All amazed by artisans wood carving
10 Forest druid declares nature is displeased with the village
11 Someone is a lycanthrope in the village

12 Beekeepers performing rights to the lords of the woods

Vasílissa - settlers here merged with local amazons pop 165. The renegade amazons settled here when exiled from their homeland. Without their home parthenogenic cult their numbers had declined and they accepted new settlers. Now the men are mostly fishers and most of the women are warriors. The old care for and train children, with older youths aiding fishers. They have many fine old buildings and advanced material culture from the Amazon civilisation. They seem to be thriving but are isolationists. They trade mostly with Psarás and have many interlinked families. Women in the region flee here to get away from bad situations and mainlanders often complain. They also free female slaves who reach the island. Many are experts with bows and spears and have high-quality armour. Quite a few use double-bladed axes they say learned from the fallen civilisation of the west. 

d12 Vasílissa Happenings

1 Soldiers in armour drilling in the arts of war 
2 Women's athletics competition 

3 Young fishermen from Psarás come to woo wives 

4 Holy women perform bull sacrifices with axes
5 Pirates have landed and amazons prepare defences
6 Boatload of women fleeing home to join amazons
7 Locals preparing to catch wild horses on the island
8 Secret women rites are held but some visiting men want to spy on them
9 Horrible sea creatures bothering fishermen
10 Festival celebrating all the great goddesses
11 Traders driven away for not respecting local customs

12 Relic from the sunken civilisation of the west recovered, locals celebrate

Reference material and background tables for Ethyria setting

I've considered doing some underground maps for Chagrinspire with a rail lines layer and a deep cavern layer but no hurry. Having a big shop before possible tariffs. Might stock up on a few years of pet supplies too. 

For my new greek/theros 5th ed game I'm looking at a few books. I'll be making stuff for it here but will make system-neutral content.

Hellas is a SF greek game but it has lots of interesting stuff including background tables and a reworking of gods and other interesting ideas. Its a interesting setting. The core book is pretty good. Parent and family tables ill use. Even a fated death table to taunt characters with constantly in play and interpret properly. A snake will kill you? But maybe it's an assassins tattoo, a flag, a snake person anything but the obvious (see oleg the wise story for a good death prophecy).  Lots of event tables for a backstory done well.

Mythic Greece for iron crown rolemaster and champions but lots of great info. Detailed city and gods. Has a interesting mythic adventure and you could use the age of heroes book maps and scenario to pad out the more substantial adventures here. 

Codex Classicum for castles and crusades. As so much pop myth especially as watered down in comics and games and films is based on debunked victorian ideas without evidence its nice to have a well researched book like his with modern takes on myths. So lots of details on greek cities and the world through various periods and good deity lists. Also some prophecy-related tables I might use. Some character classes but they don't thrill me.

GURPS Greece - is alright but as always the status and job tables (dropped later editions I think) arve handy. The creative ideas in book and chapter of weird ways to use are best bits.

Age of Heroes AD&D 2nd ed green book is ok - ill probably use name lists, some illustrations and maps. Has a basic adventure.

Theros has a nice vibe separate to other D&D settings. The gods have lots of great detail on information, tracking points of the gods appreciation, temple maps and using gods as enemies. Id consider tracking divine disapproval. All significant d&d gods should have this detail. Its weird they have a city that accepts slaves yet doesn't talk about it elsewhere. None of the Polis except possibly the minotaur one is villainous. Id like a sparta clone to be villains as they were one of most awful cultures to ever exist. Frank Millers comics and films of sparta are vile machismo and anti-democracy and racist fantasy. 

I like that Theros feels complete but lots of room to put in stuff like my island map. I like the mapped-out gods. Some of the monster names and takes on myth I find cringy. There are times Im tempted to just swap out names for Theros gods with real Myth but it would be imperfect fits. It would give me vastly more gods to meet and possibly kill at high levels.

I have enjoyed reading mythology again. Robert Graves and Cornford are interesting as they show Myths vary far more than the standard versions of myths we get. Reading actual prayers of mythic gods shows the utility they have to their believers more than mythology shows. The downside of these old dead white men is some of their ideas were part of a tradition which included stuff like triple goddesses which were inventions of past writers. Now we have a bunch of awful billionaires funding classical scholars and museums while most branches of history increasingly have less funding. Loving Spartans or claiming Romans were white Europeans not Mediterranean international diverse ppl is very much in vogue by some of the worst political thinkers in the world now. Joseph Campbell the great 20thc hero of mythology has been increasingly exposed as racist, anti-semetic and so pro germany he argued hard to keep USA out of ww2 to protect german culture.

The advantage of Theros is perhaps you can just ignore faux history. I imagine if playing in a club with strangers this would be good. Mind you I have also met lots of bros in gaming since 83 who went mental if their dwarves failed a saving throw because dwarves wouldn't ever run away from an illusion of skeletons and leave the campaign. Chubby elves caused a stir on G+ too so fantasy is not always a shield from this weird stuff. I dislike Samurai-themed games settings also as they were not really great guys. I'm struggling to enjoy RuneQuest and Cthulhu from its plundering of Victorian ideas on myth and spiritualism too. Likewise, Comic writers into golden dawn era occultism or religion I am over too.

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Family Generation


Humans are the main species living in villages and the polis.
Humans may also be wild folk of the eastern woods or barbarians of the west and north.

Non humans can be free but if noble they will not be recognised in human cities the same way. They might be a sort of diplomat and guests of the human polis but wont have local power. Many are adopted by a human clan and some might have been slaves and then released when term of slavery completed (4 years on average). Your welcome to be a barbarian or non human without a local family who only come into play if players visit homeland.

Centaur tribes vary in alignment quite a bit and from west, north and east
Cyclops (reskinned orcs)
Dryad are nature spirits (reskinned Eldarin)
Leonin are lion folk usually barbarians of west and north
Minotaurs are mostly from the west 
Satyrs are mostly from the sylvan woods of the East (fey ancestry replaces magic resistance)
Tritons can be from any waters but west coast more from the sunken ruins

Each free or noble family is expected to support a fit and equipped warrior ready to serve their community marked by * and a d6 for level. Try to make the current mature adult heir a warrior.  Mostly if a relative has a class it will be a d6-3 levels in a class.

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Grand Parents Generation d6-3  
Parents Generation d6-2
Siblings  d6-1 if zero all deceased if you roll 6 you have a twin

If zero in a generation is (D) deceased or (L) lost (the GM cand use lost)

You can decide sex or gender or could be eunuchs or ambiguous or whatever

You can choose your birth order (1st makes you heir last more likely to escape obligations)

If you want a large close family you could generate an extra d4 cousins per person in parents generation after the first two (your parents)

As it is a fantasy I'm ignore classical sexism but there is classism and interspecies prejudice. Humans can vary a bit in appearance and nobody cares. 

Strangers without kin to avenge them or a local to protect them are in danger in strange places of being robbed or enslaved.

d12 Personal Relations
1 Hate you with a passion 

2 Vindictive to you for some offence

3 Mean-spirited contempt for you

4 Jelous of you

5 Indiferent to you

6 Competitive with you

7 Patronisng but fond of you

8 Respects you

9 Admires you 

10 Loyal to you

11 Deeply loves you

12 Worships you

d20 Family Drama (Status)
1 Family members are slaves and need your help to be free (d6 1-4=Slave 5-6=Free)
2 Family in poverty and need your help or will starve (d6 1-2=Slave 3-6=Free)
3 Family has a feud with a rival clan (d6 1=Slave 2-5=Free 6=Noble)
4 Family members missing or lost  (d6 1=Slave 2-5=Free 6=Noble) 
5 Family members were slaughtered in conflict  (d6 1=Slave 2-5=Free 6=Noble)
6 Family have a reputation as dishonourable  (d6 1=Slave 2-5=Free 6=Noble)
7 Family has a shameful secret or past misdeed  (d6 1=Slave 2-5=Free 6=Noble)
8 Family has become poor from bad management losing status (d6 1-2=Slave 3-6=Free)
9 Family is corrupt and many are secretly evil (d6 1=Slave 2-5=Free 6=Noble)
10 Family includes outlaws and criminals  (d6 1-2=Slave 3-6=Free Status)
11 Family has internal feuds to control assets (Free or Noble Status)
12 Family newly freed from slavery (Free Status)
13 Family has a famous heirloom or artwork (d6 1-4=Free 5-6=Noble)
14 Family has growing financial success and status climbing (d6 1-4=Free 5-6=Noble)
15 Family respected by local community (d6 1-3=Free 4-6=Noble)
16 Family always seek political advantage (d6 1-3=Free 4-6=Noble)
17 Family have high status with their chosen temple (d6 1-3=Free 4-6=Noble)
18 Family ancestor from a supernatural bloodline (Free or Noble Status)
19 Family ancestor from a famous heroic bloodline (Noble Status)
20 Family ancestors from famous divine bloodline (Noble Status)

Slaves were the bottom status but could marry and own money. If both parents are slaves so are children born while slaves but one free parent means the child is free. A temporary condition in good and lawful societies and slaves could buy freedom be freed or even be adopted into a family. Slavery may be imposed on heretics, criminals or prisoners of war. Other people may have worse codes of slavery and make uncooperative slaves take the worst jobs like mining muckraking or gladiators. Slaves might be sold into captivity by kin or strangers might live as slaves for 4 years to earn acceptance in a strange community.

Free families own some farmland and a house or a ship to practice their trade. Citizens may be called on to defend their communities and are expected to have weapons and armour. If you can't support this lifestyle you are a dependent client in the household of a better-off-free family. Foreigners will depend on such support or risk being killed, robbed or enslaved. The richest free family might marry the poorest nobles for status.

Nobles are the elite titled families with positions in assemblies or holding a civic office of some kind. Usually, family heads hold these positions and they are centred around a polis. They are expected to wear quality clothes, eat superior food and show of other status symbols. Without fine things, you will be shunned by the clan and may be reduced to the shameful conditions of a common free person.

d20 Youthful Events
1 Saw the violent death of a family member

2 Met a famous hero before they died

3 Survived a famous monster that still lives

4 Studied a wise elder, holy teacher or philosopher

5 Made an enemy who is a fierce rival 

6 Met your true love 

7 Kidnapped by enemies and eventually escaped

8 Discovered you were adopted or the true identity of a parent

9 Survived injury or disease but weakened for d4 years

10 Witnessed a terrible bloody battle

11 Found a family map or journal indicating treasure

12 Family members outlawed and brought shame to the family

13 Received a gift of armour, shield or a weapon from noble

14 Uncovered evidence of past family glory

15 Lost in wilderness aided by sylvan beings

16 Met a ghost or nature spirit who revealed a secret

17 Given a prophetic riddle from an oracle

18 Dreamed of a god who warned you of a fate to avoid

19 Offended a god who has sent you bad luck and malice

20 Trained by a famous hero or teacher
 
d20 Clan Events
1 Ancestor was killed in a famous battle
2 Ancestor killed by a famous monster

3 Ancestor was charmed by a sylvan being but escaped
3 Ancestor hunted and killed a famous beast of the woods

4 Ancestor was a famous philosopher or teacher

5 Ancestor was a famous mariner and explorer 

6 Ancestor was a war hero memorialised in polis art
7 Ancestor was a founder of the community

8 Ancestors found a treasure on an adventure in the western ruins

9 Ancestor buried in a handsome tomb used by the family

10 Ancestors from the distant mainland

11 Ancestor was a famous athlete

12 Ancestor a famous holy preacher

13 Ancestor disappeared on a voyage with companions 

14 Ancestor disappeared on an adventure exploring wilderness ruins

15 Ancestor triumphed over a rival clan destroying them

16 Ancestor tragic doom recorded in a famous play

17 Ancestor discovered buried remains of a giant or monster

18 Ancestor wrote a famous scholarly work used in schools

19 Ancestor struck dead or cursed by a god for hubris

20 Ancestor blessed by a god for being pious and depicted in temple art

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Gamelog: Return to the Gatehouse

Heroes have not been into Chagrinspire since December and since then have been exploring, trading, and ruining the international slave trade. All were very worthy but they had heard rumours about the Orcs they left an alien seed and a vampire head and some crystals with had changed thgem. The seed had grown into some kind of evil tree vampire thing and the orcs had somehow grown more combative and offensive to other peoples, even raiding outside the Plateau. Allied holy folk and a druid had warned the party.

Some players killed a vampire thrall spying on their local allies. Finally, they did some divination and were ready. They planned to drive their car to Marsh Village and then march to the plateau. They had enough magic to try and climb up the cliff and not go by the stairs. 

On the roof
The man with no name (player) with hid carbine and Arsh the dogmans dog

On the runners (outside car standing on running boards)
Rat Sonja the rat lady
Arsh the dog man (player)

Inside the car 
Sriver Chrysopsia the rogue
Front seat Nial the cleric (player)
Back seat knight, Dwarf priest and another priest serving Nial
A 1st lv thief the second back up driver (but nobody has a skill to actually drive well)

The sky was white with snow, the mud frozen and Chagrinspire's shadow reached into the sky.

The new road made by players traders from their nameless outpost was on a row of hills, to the east a frozen swamp, to the west was the snow-covered trenches of no man's land.

The streamlined staff car trundled over the hilltop road into the vast white horizon but saw something coming at them. As it got closer they saw it was a chariot pulled by giant boars crewed by big orcs and a fancy leader blowing a horn.

They also saw orcs waiting hidden in trenches on the side of the road and suspected a trap for their car so the went off-road on the swamp side. Orcs from trenches jumped out and hurled spears. The chariot swerved to them but Arj the Dogman now a 3rd lv druid also cursed their metal with the heat of two chariot crewmen and the chariot metal fittings. The burning orcs dived into the snow on the roadside, and the driver failed a roll and the chariot flipped injuring him. The huge leader flipped in the air and landed on his feet, possible he moved slower than a normal person would. He flashed his huge fangs showing he was a thrall of the vampires.

Arj and his dog went for the chariot crew and the car did A u-turn and ran down some orcs. A few orcs jumped on the car and were hit by passengers. Several fallen orcs got up with broken bones and went berserk. Suddenly every orc became worse. One berserk work fell of the car and was impaled on a barbed wire fence post. One berserk orc crawled int the car through the roof open hatch and the clerics and night killed it covering everyone in blood. 

The man with no name shot and stabbed a few more, more orcs were run down and the driver managed to not lose control. Arsh fought the leader vampire thrall and his dog stopped the badly scolded orcs who returned to the fight with bows when the armour heating spell expired, the chariot was burning. Clerics in the car used lots of petty spells from safety while the knight got on the roof to hack at orc berserk climbing on the car.

Eventually, they won and the non berserk uninjured orcs fled letting heroes run down and hack up the crazed ones. The thrall did regenerate and was tough but was certainly no true vampire. They took the vamps teeth to question with speak with dead spells later. Arsh was hurt the most but healed fast.

Arrived at marsh village and saw locals had built a palisade of sharpened logs around the village. They had been raided and seen vampire thralls. The east path to the plateau gatehouse had been abandoned by kobolds as orcs now held it. They considered a climb but thought trying to make a deal with the western road kobolds. Their druid ally sent a message by animal and they met some kobolds of mixed ancestry. Apparently, the orcs had united the kobolds by eating them. A kobold crusade had kobold tribes working together. The party thought they should unite them with their allied rail kobold trains of the tunnels.

The priest spoke kobold and the kobolds offered passage and met the King of the Key clan of the gatehouse for only 400gp instead of 1000gp. The kobold king heard how the party wanted to fight orcs so offered them a deal They could stay with the kobolds, find the eastmost secret door they knew of and could be taken through kobold barriers into the orc lair. As long as they did not touch one particular barricade inside the orc area of the gatehouse. They spent a day prepping and found the secret door into the orc-held gatehouse by night. Went in to listen and heard some kind of crafting so opened the door and used sleep on 4 female orc assassin hirelings and captured them. They were unhappy with their current boss and offered to draw maps for freedom. Arsh could speak ork and knew of the cult they belonged to so was wary but agreed.

The party was all ready to attack the next game and expected the uneaten kobolds to be undead and serving the orcs plans the orcs had planted the dark star seed into the vampire's head as advised in dreams to the orc boss. He had been guided by dreams to taint the boars with a disease so those eating it were berserk. The evil tree was sharing dark lore from beyond via dreams to hothouse the orc cult/ Also the former orc priest and wizard were boarded up and had become living crystal statues from huffing alien crystals.

The party enjoyed vehicular homicide and wanted more. Their car had broken three windows and lots of dents so they were going to find a repair spell.  

More mayhem next game...

Project Updates

Recently I asked around bout starting a current D&D Theros based campaign and got far more responses than I get for my usual attempts. So I'm now making a greek myth setting which will make up more of my work. Im not interested in writing current dnd stat blocks myself and still using my own system for old-school dnd vibes.

So I will be grabbing some stuff on DMs guild for ideas as their is quite a bit. Any recommendations ppl can make are welcome. Especially want 2024 versions of species in Theros book.

My current book on patreon is a frog comp of my work on this blog but I intend to overdesign it and it will be for charity and have wider distribution. Being a pensioner profit is a problem for me. This book will be to test waters a bit to see if I could make some money. Ill be blunt and say the global situation has me vary wary of getting back into business again.

Been reading my ICE and gurps Greece and Hellas which has good background tables I might use some of. It even has a table of what is fated to kill a character the GM can torment players with.  

Currently working on an island I can start using april to start a game.

So far its a large Mediterranean island inspired by Create and Sicily. In the bay a former exploded volcano a human colony sits peacefully. West has ruined labyrinths and pleasure palaces of ancients and minotaurs. East is a forested sylvan zone. North broken with giants. 

I am enjoying wanting to read my classics again, and I get the pleasure of learning stuff that I don't get in fantasy fiction. History is the cheapest sourcebook you can get. Even when I don't find what I want I find other weird stuff like a greek guy who killed a snake and saw another revive its fellow with a herb. 

So a new tangent here for a while and different to my last year of setting work which is mostly complete now.

I will be doing mostly monsters here this month so send requests to cover in my format so send me monster requests.

1st Draft map - will do a detailed map of the southern coast

The Manticore

Also see Mantygre or mantyger

Im a bit woozy and not very creative after last big book project so monsters for a while

These are a mythology classic and changed wildly from ancient Persia, to Greeks and Romans to Medieval Europe and modern fantasy. So good for my treatment for monster stats. I'll probably update the mantyger and make more LE and amp up the more chaotic manticore as related but hate each other. 

Manticore
Chaotic Evil Chimeric Monster
Lesser Manticore AC +6 HD 5 Att Bite d6 Claws x2 d6 Tail d6 Morale 8 Mov 24
Greater Manticore AC +10 HD 9 Att Bite 2d4 Claws x2 2d4 Tail 2d4 Morale 10 Mav 15
-Tail can strike with a spiked tail or shoot a bolt that performs like a crossbow, light for a lesser with 2d4+4 shots, and medium with 5d4 shots for a greater manticore. They regrow a d6 bolts per day rolled when they wake after a sleep.
-They may use a bite or claws to grapple a foe instead of damage and then inflict damage automatically the following rounds. One hold the target it can fight back or escape but -2 all rolls, if two holds a humanoid smaller than the manticore is helpless. When close might try two grapples with claws, then bite the held target

A manticore feeds off human flesh and is a spiteful, cruel brute who even eats the bones. A manitcore is a human-headed lion hybrid, with ferocious triple rows of teeth and a spiked tail. Males are more red hued, gregarious and control territory more aggressively, while the blue hue females and youths tend to live alone and hunt with stealth by night. Females are more likely to use their appearance as partly human to trick a human, while the males are too vain and impatient. They live in caves in wild and rocky places near humans to eat

Some wear ancient caps or hats as worn in ancient times in the age of Exilon. They are very long-lived, but you see some beardless youths. Smaller types are more likely to be the more basic sort and savage. Older ones have long beards and hair, which the smarter and civilised ones may groom and wear more jewellery and use magic items.

Manticores are rivals of Mantygers and Luecrotta and don't get along, all three appear grouped in beastiaries. They were mostly in far away lands in ancient times but an ancient empire spread them for gladiator games. Their blood is black stinking ichor with subtle notes of demonic taint. Demon cults may believe feeding manticores impresses demons which smart manticores encourage. Typically they don't speak and are a bit thick. 

Lesser manticores might have a d4-1 varient features, greater have a d4+1

Varients
1in4 If both claws hit they inflict bonus rake damage with feet claws
1in4 rows of teeth +d4 if lesser and +2d4 if greater
1in4 can speak crudeley, but mostly they talk about the joyful delights of cruelty
1in6 cluster of spikes like a mace, can fire up to half at once like a burst attack
1in6 poison scorpion tail and darts are poison too, save or take poison damage (blessed d4, grater 2d4)
1in6 wings or a bat, bird or dragon for Fly 24
1in8 berserker +2 it and damage when enraged, fight into negative HP without loss of consciousness, will turn on allies if no available foes, these are the more brutish sort
1in8 civilised with a fancy hat, grooming, language and faux manners of old nobility, more calculating and likely to have followers and minion thralls and believes it is noble, wants you to know its name while it eats you alive
1in8 have horns and get a bonus butt attack as a claw but double if charge attack
1in10 make fly-by attacks and shots then continue to move any remaining Mov score
1in10 tail is 3-6m long and can make an entangling attack, then sting them automatically each round, but it stops being able to fire bolts while holding victim
1in10 have infinite ammunition but regrow one bolt per round instead of a d6 per day
1in12 require silver or iron or magic to hit a lesser or +1 magic to harm a greater manticore
1in12 regenerate 1 hp per round
1in12 spellcaster, lesser Lv3 and a greater Lv5
1in20 ancient hat or jewellery with magic properties

d12 Manticore Plot Hooks12

1 A foreign king has sent the local king a caged manticore, help ensure its safe transport for a leg of the journey. Oh and get it some meat, we've been feeding it corpses of criminals

2 A clan of manticore have adopted a roost of cliffs above a trade road and need to be wiped out
3 A poor village has a fancy manticore eating people and bossing them round, and their lord a knight won't do anything about it 

4 People have heard a maiden calling for help at night and whoever goes outside vanishes, their footprints just stop

5 A manticore demands a baby each day or it will kill us all, it lives in that cave on the hill

6 A breeding pair of manticores have just fallen in love and sharing a lair and all sensible authorities want them and their brood killed

7 An evil wizard has pet manticores guarding his tower and he lets them find their own food which is of course people

8 An evil demon cult champion has taken to riding a manticore and killing travellers to feed it

9 A demon cult somehow have a gaggle of young manticores who now roam and feed themselves. The cult and their pets must die 

10 A manticore has been eating goblins and leaving trails of excrement everywhere. It is only a matter of time before it eats someone for a healthier diet

11 A noble has been chaining enemies to a rock to feed the local manticores and local preachers warning its a sign of great evil

12 A robber knight in a ruined castle has added a manticore to their gang, so now they always murder at least one person they rob for the beast. Perhaps this sinister outlaw knight is sponsored by a rival territory or is a demon cultist or both 

(page below has a manticore and a luecrotta)