All Hallows today, All Saints tomorrow as October passes into November

Happy All Hallows Day and Eve all!  Enjoy costumes, food and whatever else one does on this lovely holiday!  Tomorrow is the beginning of November with All Saints Day; November is the ninth month of the Roman calendar, and -in the traditional Irish calendar- the start of Winter.   Tomorrow is also the beginning of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) which I will be participating in, as usual, to spur me to write.

In light of that, and seeing no obvious theme to November I will just write about whatever inspires me.   I will keep up with the Tuesday magic items and whatever else I can fit.  However, if you have any requests, anything you would like to see or any theme you would like me to expand upon, please let me know and I will try to fit it in.

October, 2018, saw the following posts here:

Horror Fiction – Cannon forged of Chains

Athens, State of Georgia
12 November, 1891

Dear Hannah,

It is done, I will be on the next train back to you. I cannot say I will be sad to be leaving the South, it is not welcoming to a man of my temperaments.

When last I wrote, our local agent, Jon Butler, and I were close on the heels of an artefact tied to the men behind the Order of the White Sword. Using the cache of letters of one Augustus Bartholomew as a guide to trace what had become of the ingots of tainted iron, iron rendered from the chains of slaves, but not any slave chains -as if slave chains are not evil enough- but the chains used to transport escaped slaves back for execution. Anything made from the iron would be at best cursed and at worst, a weapon for evil.

The war was a chaotic time, so much of the paperwork and records of the period were lost. This made tracking the iron into difficult task if not impossible. Records in Atlanta where useless but they set us onto a collection of papers in Athens at the University of Georgia library. There a scrap of information indicated that the iron had been shipped to Athens for use by John Gilleland, to cast a double-barreled cannon. Nothing in our research showed that Gilleland, who designed the cannon, knew the source of the metal used but someone was working with or for the Dark insured that it was the iron used.

The cannon and reports on it were not difficult to find. It was our good luck that the cannon was still here in Athens. Silver powder applied surreptitiously to the cannon tarnished instantly. It was truly cursed, the souls of the murdered slaves were still bound into the metal shown by the black green of the silver. Mr. Butler believed that is why the cannon failed so spectacularly when it was tested, the angry spirits would not let it be turned against those that were trying to free them. But someone knew what had been created. Why they did not finish binding the spirits to the cannon, indeed, even who was behind it, we could not discover. Mr. Butler believed he was a Confederate officer who was called away and killed before he could complete the magic. It seemed plausible but I doubt we will never know.

Tuesday Magic Item – Collar of the Clever Cat

“Cats!  Again?!” said Voddick shooing them out of the saddle bags.  “Must we always be plagued by feline felons?”

“They might be friendly,” replied Gollaon with a grin.

“Seems unlikely,” Voddick said pulling another cat out and sending it on its way.

“Well, cats are useful, keeping vermin down.”

“True,” sighed Voddick.  “And shooing cats is better than killing rats.”

“That is the spirit.”

Collar of the Clever Cat

These collars are always beautifully made, sometime bejeweled but always of the highest quality materials.  They always fit snugly, but comfortably, no matter if they are put around the neck of a person or cat.

Tuesday Magic Item – Scepter of Unending War

Voddick finished oiling and cleaning his war axe. “I am so very tired of dealing with the unliving or having to mutilate the corpses of our enemies.  Honorable warrior deserve better.”

“You will have to take that up with their ruler, them seem very uncompromising about pursuing the war to the bitter end,” said Gollaon sewing up a tear in his cloak.

“I would be happy to,” said Voddick taking a practice swing.  “If we can get through the army of living and unliving guard, through the castle and whatever death traps are waiting there.”

“I suspect we could get our employer to back such a raid.,” mused Gollaon.

“Better than this slog through blood and rotting flesh.”

Scepter of Unending War

This scepter is not a pretty decoration of royalty but a rod of roughly forged iron, said to be iron mined in the underworld and forged with dragon’s fire and quenched in the blood of innocents.  However it was made, it contains powerful enchantment and necrourgic magics of the most fell nature.

New Monster – Corpse Custodian Projection

You open the crypt revealing a body decked in valuables, as you reach for them, swirling motes of dust coalesce into the spectral form of a small person. “Halt varlet! Neither those riches not this body is for you! Flee now or taste my blade!” It brandishes a translucent sword to back up its statement.

Corpse Custodian Projection CR 2

XP 600
N Small construct (ancestral, force)
Init +3; Senses darkvision, low-light vision; Perception +6

DEFENSE
AC 20, touch 14, flat-footed 17 (+3 Dex, +6 armor, +1 size)
hp 26 (3d10+10)
Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +4
Special Defense DR 5/Magic, Resistance to Acid, Cold, Electricity, and Fire 10

OFFENSE

Tuesday Magic Item – Accursed Bone Arrow

Gollaon took cover behind Voddick’s shield as the arrows rained down, several shattered into white and yellowed fragments.  One of the soldiers beside them howled in pain and then feel silent.

“Bastards!” said Gollaon, unlimbering his short sword.

“What foul magic are they using now?” asked Voddick.

“Accused arrows,” said Gollaon.  “Those killed by them rise as the unliving.”

“Bastards!”

Accursed Bone Arrow

These arrows are tipped in bone arrow heads and often have bone shafts but they are always light and fragile and must be treated with care.  They suck the moisture out of anything they are in contact with so they are best stored in metal containers.

Tuesday Magic Item – Medallion of Sanguine Strength

“I do not like how that noble is always there when the cattle are slaughtered,” said Voddick, watching said noble over his mug of ale.

“That is wise,” agreed Gollaon.  “I am fairly certain the amulet they wear is a necrourgic item of some power.”

“Now that is even more troubling.”

“Agreed.  A willingness to use such power indicates a dangerous thirst for power.”

Medallion of Sanguine Strength

Before they are charged, these medallions are clear glass, usually with a few sigil etched upon them, when charged they become colorful, almost always red, even glowing if the charge is powerful enough.

General Shadowrun campaign news and a new Seattle Scream (#57) prop

Our various Shadowrun games continue on, not least monthly with introductory games at Tyche’s Games (every first Sat, feel free to join us), and the occasional game as part of our Thursday night rotation both the NorCal game and occasional one-shot adventure in Seattle.  Last month we even got to playtest a Prime Runner level game scenario that was played at Dragon*Con.  The NorCal campaign, the game were I actually get to play a character, has seen some more play and remains one of my favorite games with lots of problem solving (latest report from that here).

The latest news from my campaign here in Seattle Scream #57, this one is mostly setup for potential adventures and maybe some stuff for the NorCal campaign to riff off of.

Now, be careful out there in the shadows my friends.  The world is dark place with the threat of betrayal ever present.

Photo Shanghai by Jo is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

 

Tuesday Magic Item – Collar of Savagery

“It was a nice cloak but not worth this much trouble,” said Voddick as he pulled himself up over the ridge.

Gollaon was close behind.  “And we even left it where it could be found once they started hunting us.  Some people have no sense of forgiveness.”  He cocked his head.  “The hounds are casting around for our scent again.”

“It is not the hounds I am worried about but the mastiffs,” said Voddick before taking a drink from his canteen.

“Truth,” nodded Gollaon.  “It looked as though there is some wicked magic on their collars too.”

“Well, we had best be going if we do not want to find out what it does.”

Collar of Savagery

These collars are usually made of thick leather and adorned with spikes, they look nasty because they are.