Soon October and remembering September

Tomorrow begins October, the eighth month (naturally) of the Roman Calendar.  It seems the Romans had no special association for October beyond Autumn, but we have Halloween!  So the theme on the Sea of Stars Design Journal will be Monsters!

If you have ideas for Monsters, let me know and I will try to make it happen.

September, 2018, was a very slow month as I had many competing demands on my time such as adopting two kittens (Eris and Artemis, see photo), kitten proofing the home, and other things

Tuesday Magic Item – Cloak of a Thousand Wings

Gollaon watched the aristocratic officer walk by, his gaze envious.

“It is the cloak you want, is it not?” asked Voddick once they were out of earshot.

“Yes, thrice-damn it, it is amazing,” replied Gollaon.

“We could steal it once out contract was up?”

“Tempting,” said Gollaon with a smile.  “Let us get a drink and scheme.”

“I will always take a drink, my friend.”

Cloak of a Thousand Wings

These cloaks are embroidered with many, many birds, if made perfectly five hundred of them.  The very act of crafting such complex item imbues the cloak with a certain low level of magic which can then be strengthened through further enchantments.

Leaf’s Letter (L5R Campaign Report)

This is a rather impressionistic report on our last Legend of the Five Rings game from the point of view of my new character, Takeha (Bamboo Leaf), a Nun of the Order of Harmonious Work.  She is still getting to know the group so was not privy to some of the events that happened with them, so the letter is light on such details.

Abbess Kurako-sensei,

You were correct about the world outside the Abbey and the villages, it is more crowded, more noisy and more strange than anything this one could have imagined. Keeping to your advice, this one has been respectful, helpful and avoided being caught alone with men.

The members of the Crane Clan as a whole have been polite and generous but they are also rather stand offish, as if hard work is catching and they may find themselves having to stoop to physical labor if they associate with a nun. This one does not mean to mock, only observe, but it is rather amusing.

This one was able to secure passage down the river at Kosaten Shiro when one of the paying passengers had to get off. The journey was pleasant and this one learned a little about the work aboard a river boat. Knots are surprisingly complex and tricky.

Tuesday Magic Item – Steadfast Staff

“That new arrival, the one with the staff, seems quite devoted to the defense of the local people,” said Voddick, watching them spar with several men-at-arms.

“Worthy ideals inspire righteous people,” replied Gollaon idly watching the fight.

“We should try and find some of those.”

“Worthy ideals or righteous people?”

“Both.”

Steadfast Staff

These simple wood staves are usually only decorated in the most simple manner, perhaps with the owner’s name or a local symbol.

Tuesday Magic Item – Corpse Custodian Pin

Voddick tossed the shovel aside.  “Ready!”

Gollaon gave him a hand up.  “They are ready to lay the corpses in.”

Voddick dropped his voice once they were away.  “I were prefer to put them on a pyre, with those necrourgists out there.”

“You must give our employers their traditions and they have protections.”

“Hopefully it will be enough.”

Corpse Custodian Pin

These are often mass produced with a disc of copper or silver usually decorated with religious iconography and sayings;  The pins that attach them are strong and made of steel or iron.

Tuesday Magic Item – Agent’s Seal

Voddick caught Gollaon’s elbow and led him away from the new arrival.  “Not a conquest to pursue,” Voddick said quietly, “an Agent of the Imperium.”

“Indeed?” said Gollaon glancing back. “They are rare.”

“And dangerous.”

“Good point.  Perhaps we should go and get a drink?”

Agent’s Seal

These seals serve both as identification and a way to secure communications for agents of a power, they are standardized within each organization and follow a pattern: made of a hard material, usually metal, sometime carved stone or wood, showing the symbol of the organization, inscribed with the name of the bearer and set with a crystal or gem.