Otherplaces – Herizazi, the Spectral Harem of (A to Z Challenge, H)

The Sultans of Herizazi were wealthy, powerful and arrogant, thinking that their control of the vital trade routes through the mountains would always let them play one enemy off against the other.  But one Sultan -may his name be forgotten and his soul cursed- became too greedy and too high handed.  All of the countries that bordered Herizazi invaded at once, destroying the small defending military in a matter of days and marching on the capital city, also called Herizazi, and put it to siege.  The sultan was not even loved by the people, he was betrayed and the citadel gates opened.  He fled into his harem where he, and his concubines, were slaughtered and his palace raised.  The victorious allies promptly turned on each other and Herizazi was reduced to a ruin from which it is still trying to rebuild.

the Spectral Harem of Herizazi

The Ruins

The windswept ruins of the sultan’s palace have been looted, except for the harem which still remains a shadow of its former glory.  While rumors of ghosts roaming the palace and the citadel, which has been rebuilt by the new rulers, abound they are mostly harmless.  But the harem, that is seriously and obviously haunted, spectral images are seen even during the day.

Surprisingly, the buildings of the harem have survived remarkably well, the fountains still play with water and the distant strains of music echo through the empty walls.  Murals look freshly painted though the softer items, such as rugs and tapestries, have not fared so well, being only tattered remnants.  While anyone who knows the story of the slaughter knows that only the sultan’s body was dragged out, there are no signs of blood, bodies or bones anywhere.

Review – Monsters of NeoExodus: Harvester of Sorrow

The Harvester of Sorrow fills an interesting niche in the ranks of the undead and can be used in many styles of campaigns.  However, it is a very power-oriented creature, if its abilities (especially the wail) can be negated, it is likely to find itself easy prey for its hunters.

Monsters of NeoExodus: Harvester of Sorrow is part of the support for the NeoExodus Pathfinder setting by Louis J Porter Jr Design providing monsters and enemies linked to that setting, this volume was written by Greg Oppedisano and Tom Baumbach with Louis Porter Jr.  It is a seven-page product (4.5 after cover, ad and OGL) with an easy to read layout and the only art being the very nice full color cover piece (of which part is used for the character tokens included at the end of the product) with the last two pages being a sheet of tokens and a record sheet.