Leaving behind the ill-starred day of February, we move into March toward the Equinox and Spring. March gains its name from the Roman month Martius which is -in turn- named after Mars, the god of war, why even the name sounds martial.
So, the theme for March will be war, warfare and weapons.
Looking back over February, there were the following posts:
As February draws to a close, I thought that it might be worthwhile to discuss some of my thoughts on the place of curses and how they can be best used in a roleplaying game.
In games, curses usually come in one of two forms:
Thought that I would wrap up the month of curses, curse-wise, with a greater, kingdom wrecking curse:
When King Sandovar II was crowned, having killed his two older brothers and forced his younger sister into a marriage with his firmest ally, his hold on power seemed unassailable. A decade later, both of his sons were in open revolt against the king, his eight-year old nephew was the center of a rival claim to his throne and his second wife had just been executed for treason. The dynasty did not survive long after as the internal power struggles tore both the family and the kingdom apart.
Tyrant’s Lament
This is a powerful and destructive curse, one that will ruin a bloodline and destroy a kingdom, it will unleash death, ruin and woe . . . yet vengeance will be wrought and the guilty will be punished though the innocent will suffer as well.
Since all of these curses have been described, perhaps some defense against them is needed as well:
Talisman against Curses
These talisman take many forms depending on the culture that produced them, from simple bags filled with magical bits and pieces to discs of precious metals inscribed with wards and prayers. In all cases, their purpose is the same to protect the wearer from curses.
“Damnable things,” the knight cursed swatting at the insect that circled his head. “Since we left Lower Scofton I cannot seem to get rid of the creatures.” Reports had reached me that the knights of his order did not treat the folk of Low Scofton with much kindness during their time there, perhaps this was their revenge.
Flies’ Friend
The Mystery of Shaiga
Having left behind North Pass Village, its monster problem solved, and on their way to North Wind City. Our group of yoriki arrives at Shaiga, currently a small Scorpion outpost and staging post for the Yasuki traders.
A minor curse, of the folk variety:
Old Redbeard, though his beard had long since, gone gray, used to haunt the taverns near to his home until one day he found he was not welcome. His very presence in a tavern soured beer and made wine into vinegar. Soon, he could drink no place in the city but at home, which is said to be what his wife wanted all along.
Drinker’s Curse
Adventurers Wanted, Volume 2 is a 7-page PDF (6 pages if you remove the OGL page) compatible with the D20 3.5/OGL system written by David Caffee, Illustrated by Anthony Cournoyer and published by Scorched Urf’ Studios. This product is part of the Adventurers Wanted line.
For those soldiers that fight in tight formation:
Sarpathian Shield
Developed by the military wizards of the Sarpathian lands, these large shields are enchanted to improve the defenses of large formations, and as such they work only in conjunction with other people carrying Sarpathian Shields.
Another semi-cursed item.
Ring of Dark Power
These rings are carved from ivory colored bone and inlaid with a silvery metal that is not silver. Looking at the ring the metal twists into writing, hinting at magical secrets and promises of power. The wearer will find their dreams haunted by shadows, whispers, and dark promises of power.
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