All Hallow’s Eve fade into Dawn, All Saints’ Day and November Follows

Happy All Hallows Day and Eve all!  Tomorrow see the beginning of November, the ninth month of the Roman calendar, and -in the traditional Irish calendar- the start of Winter as well as being All Saints’ Day.   Tomorrow sees the beginning of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) which I will be participating in, as usual, and perhaps I will even complete it this time this time the Sea of Stars will be my canvas.

In light of that, and seeing no obvious theme to November I will just write about whatever inspires me as I have time from NaNoWriMo, but the Tuesday Magic Items will continue!

October saw the following posts here:

Tuesday Magic Item – Medium’s Mask

Madam Morisque spoke, her voice quiet across the darkened room, “You must be still and silent until the spirit comes into me, then we will communicate with your lost love ones.  At least, those that can cross the veil to find us.”  She slowly pulled on the featureless silver mask.

For  a few moments nothing happened, then the mask started to deform and twist, reshaping itself into a harsh, male face.  “Is my worthless son here?  I hope so, I have word for him,”  spoke a harsh, hollow voice from behind the mask.

Medium’s Mask

These masks are made from a variety of materials: wood, metal, ceramic, but they are always featureless on the outside.  The interior is often inscribed sometime with summoning and protective magics, other times with prayers or names of the dead.  When a spirit is called, the mask will take on the visage of that spirit and the medium will speak in a semblance of the spirit’s mortal voice.

Short Pathfinder Reviews – Abandoned Arts’ Class Acts, Part I

Abandoned Arts‘ Class Acts range for Pathfinder are short collections of various abilities to give more options to the various Pathfinder classes.  Six of these for core and base classes are reviewed here:

Class Acts: Alchemists, 18 New Discoveries provides 15 new discoveries and 3 grand discoveries.  There are some interesting choices for the alchemist, with some informational discoveries such as autopsy (which could have been expanded, it is useful but it could have been really useful with some additional detail) and deep analysis, modifications to mutagens and potions, overall a good set of options.  In the grand discoveries, radiation bomb worries me as being both powerful and a little out of genre, a GM should consider very carefully before allowing it in their campaign.  Overall, this product provides a good selection of new options for the alchemist.

Tuesday Magic Item – Bloodgate Dagger

“They have broken through the inner defenses, my master,” reported the Commander of the Bone Guard, his wounds dripping, bowing down before the Master of Drawn Blood.

“You have done your best commander, now you may perform one last service . . .”

—

The heroes charged into the last chamber, only to see the Commander perish in a spray of blood, his throat slashed and the Master vanishing through the spray to somewhere else.

Bloodgate Dagger

These twisted weapons have blades made of iron that always seems stained, the grips are always made of bone, usually angel or demon, though often wrapped and concealed.  In areas of high magic or around recent death inscriptions are revealed along the blade.

New Monster – Boneflower Skeleton (Template)

Coming through the dark and leafless woods is the moving skeleton of a massive stag, the span of its antlers wider by far than a tall man’s outstretched arms.  Its body was bare of flesh, the bones bleached white and dotted with flowers equally as white, for a moment, when the moonlight shown down, it almost seemed a being of purity, rather than the unnatural terror it was.

Boneflower Skeleton Irish Elk (Megaloceros) CR 3 (XP 900)
NE Large undead
Init +6; Senses darkvision 60′; Perception +1

DEFENSE
AC 15, touch 11, flat-footed 13 (+2 Dex, +4 natural, –1 size)
hp 26 (4d8+8)
Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +5
Special Defenses DR 5/bludgeoning, immunity to cold, undead traits
Weaknesses vulnerability to sonic

Tuesday Magic Item – Pike of Uprisings

Throughout the night, the wagons rolled on muffled wheels bringing its cargo of weaponry to the oppressed people.  For too long, they had suffered under the harsh policies and ill-treatment of their so-called “betters”.  In the morning, their sympathizers would seize the gates to the city while servants in the keep opens the doors to the rebels.  By the end of the day, the people would be in charge and the streets would run red with the blood of the oppressors.

If everything went according to plan . . .

Pike of Uprisings

These weapons are just as often long spears as pikes with heavy iron spear heads set on a reinforced pole of dark wood, where often darker stains on the wood can be notice by those looking for them.

Ada Lovelace Day 2012

Ada Lovelace

Ada Lovelace Day is an international day of blogging to raise awareness of the achievements and successes of women in technology and science.  This year it is today (16th October).

As is my want, I will be looking back at one of the early female scientists, Aglaonike of Thessaly who lived in the 2nd Century BCE naturally, we only have fragmentary information about her (which is true of all such people of that era).  Aglaonike was the first female astrologer in Ancient Greece and was able to predict Lunar eclipses, a Greek proverb makes reference to Aglaonike’s alleged boasting: “Yes, as the moon obeys Aglaonike” which indicate her confidence in her abilities.  Other female astrologers were inspired by Aglaonike becoming known as the “witches of Thessaly” and often regarded as sorcerers.  (You can learn a little more about her at Wikipedia.)

And, lastly, one would be remiss to not mention 2D Goggles where, in the universe next door, Ada Lovelace is a adventerous science heroine.

Notes: Picture from the Wikimedia Commons and is in the public domain.

Short Reviews – More M&M Threat Reports

The Threat Report series of characters produced by Green Ronin for their Mutants & Masterminds game provide a useful resource for M&M Games Masters who might need a certain type of villain quickly.

Each of the threat reports comes with a nice piece of color art of the character embedded in the PDF and a separate Hero Lab file.  Each includes a prop cover letter from AEGIS, possibly useful for setting a scene, that gives a basic idea about what is publicly known about the character described.  Each character is given a few plot hooks to help work them into a campaign

Review – Shadowrun: Conspiracy Theories

Conspiracy Theories is about exactly what you would expect from the title and there are some crazy ones in the Shadowrun setting, some of which may actually even touch on the truth.  It is a very useful book for fleshing out the world and the craziness that goes on in the background of the Shadowrun world.

Conspiracy Theories: A Shadowrun Sourcebook written by Jason M. Hardy, Jeff D. McLane, James Meiers, John Schmidt, Brandie Tarvin, Malik Toms, Michael Wich, Robert Wieland, Russell Zimmerman and published by Catalyst Game Labs.

Tuesday Magic Item – Killer’s Coin

The stone faced man turned the coin over in his finger and smiled, though no mirth shown through.  “I see you know the legends.  By accepting this coin, I pledge the death of the target even at the cost of my own life.  But you know it create a reciprocal bond, you will pay me in full when the task in done, without hesitation, on pains of penalties most dire.”

The nervous man across the table nodded.  “You will get you money, just kill him and quickly.”

“He will die and soon,” agreed the stone faced man, tucking the coin away.

Killer’s Coin

These coins are almost always gold with a set of notches along the edge, they usually have a symbol of death on one side (a dagger is common) and reciprocal duty (such a chain) as a on the other.  These are said to have been first struck by an enterprising death cult but since then they have appeared in various places and societies.