Into July as June ends

Hope all of my readers in the Northern hemisphere are enjoying Summer, it is looking to be a hot one in my corner of the world, and those in the Southern are having a safe winter.

As many of my readers will know, July was named after the ambitious Julius Caesar in the re-formalization of the Roman Calendar creating the Julian Calendar (which, unsurprisingly, also named for him).  So, in honor of Caesar, we shall be looking at governments, organization and people of ambition in the Sea of Stars and elsewhere.  As usual, if there is a particular subject you would like to know more about or see more of, please let me know.

At the end of July , I will be heading off to GenCon.  Perhaps I will see some of you there.

Looking back over June, 2019, it was a fairly light month for posting but did see the following:

Questions about the Sea of Stars? Ask away!

Ask me anything about the Sea of Stars campaign world, if I do not have an answer I will like come up with one as a new addition to my world.  There are a very few secrets that I wish to keep hidden from players and questions relating to those will be noted and answered as much as can be without spoiling the eventual reveal.

 

To whoever originated this exercise, well done!

Some of the answers will probably include links to previous posts, as I have done quite a bit of world building here.

Notes: Image The three estates from BL Arundel 71, f. 39v, Charles Soillot. From The British Library. Public Domain Mark.

Tuesday Magic Item – Sun Champion’s Blade

Voddick and Gollaon watched as the Paladin of the Sun charged into the seething mass of unliving corpses surging up the road.  Voddick used his crossbow and Gollaon his bow to try and keep the brave warrior from being flanked but to no avail.

“Looks like we will have to go and try to rescue him,” said Voddick reading his warhammer and shield.

“Indeed, it is what we are being paid for,” he said as he rushed forward.  “But why does he have to make it so difficult?”

Sun Champion’s Blade

These finely wrought swords glow with the Sun’s radiance and are usually decorated with the Sun’s symbol either on the hilt or on the blade itself.  They are often ostentatious with decorated hilts and sheaths.  Their name is a bit grand, they were produced in some number by the servants of the God of Smiths for the Sun Cult before the Sundering and many still survive.

Review – Shadowrun: Better than Bad

Shadowrun: Better than Bad is a sourcebook for Shadowrun and provides support for characters “hooding” or helping the little guy. As that is a campaign style that has not seen much support for this edition, I was pleased to see this book as it is a style I like to see. If you are interest in that style of pay, or Azania which also gets explored in this product, it is a worthwhile purchase but probably not a priority.

Shadowrun: Better than Bad, is a Deep Shadows Sourcebook for the 5th edition of Shadowrun, this particular book covers the idea that Shadowrunners can actually do good in the Sixth World and not just be corporate stooges along with a visit to Azania (formerly South Africa).

The book begins with one of the ubiquitous fiction sections, then moves into A Light in the Darkness, talking about “Hooding” doing good for the community and striking against the powerful, named after Robin Hood (of course). Various of the organizations that oppose the corps are covered ranging from self-help groups to full on terrorist organizations, something for everyone and a bit more. It also includes a pitch to fight the power, rock on Opti (aka Old Crow, active NeoAnarchist and host of the NeoAnarchist podcast).

Tuesday Magic Item – Goblin’s Glass Knife

“There is that noise again,” said Voddick, looking around.

“I heard it this time,” replied Gollaon, knife in hand.  “It almost sounds like metal on stone . . .”

“Glass!  It is glass on stone, scrapping,” Voddick said and paused.  “Not scrapping, sharpening.”

“You do not think . . .”

“Goblins!  We had best warn the others.”

Goblin’s Glass Knife

These weapons are a strange mix of crudity and otherworldly, made from lovingly crafted glass shards shaped and sharpened into vicious blades.  The handles are wrapped in found materials, often cloth, cord and leather, in absurdly complex twists and knots.

The Third Fey March in the Sea of Stars – RPG Blog Carnival

This month’s RPG Blog Carnival is the Third Fey March hosted by Pitfalls & Pixies.

The fae exist in the Sea of Stars but their realm has been, not sealed away, but at least walled off from the main world.  The Empress does not appreciate the machinations of the Fae Courts and sees no reason to make their ability to interfere easy.  But that does not stop them from crossing over or dragging people into their realm on occasion but they are even more circumspect about such actions than they used to be; for even the fae must fear the anger of the dragons.

The Courts of the Seasons play their games, the factions maneuver, but each century they become more frantic, more desperate.  The fae need to mortal realm, need to harvest the dreams and feed on the imaginings of mortals, without the continued infusion of mortal thoughts and fears and loves, the faerie are becoming increasingly unbalanced and unstable.  Goblin outbreaks are becoming more common.  Something will have to give . . . and it will be bad for those nearby where the dam between the worlds breaks and the fae come pouring through hungry for dreams and sensations.

Notes: I had not really given the fae too much thought before except in passing, but they could be made into a major threat for the Sea of Stars.  Much to ponder.

Image from “Phantastes: a faerie romance … A new edition, etc”, “Single Works” by George MacDonald (1894) from the British Library flicker feed and is in the Public Domain.

 

It is Free RPG Day, 2019!

Today is 2019’s Free RPG Day!   I will be at Tyche’s Games in Athens, GA, where we will have demonstrations of Pathfinder and other fun games.

And please remember, if you take advantage of the Free RPG Day swag, buy something as well.  The retailers have to paid for what you are getting free, so please help them out.

Tuesday Magic Item – Guildsmith’s Glass

Voddick investigated the magnifying glass with care. “I recognize this guild work, it is from the Clocksmith Guild of Novari.”

“The city-state?” asked Gollaon leaning over to look.

“Yes, one where the guilds rule in all but name,” he replied, cleaning the lens with care.  “Such a tool is a sign of status and favor as well as being a practical aid.”

“Indeed?”

Voddick nodded and spoke a phrase and the glass floated in the air.  He picked up a letter and the glass moved to aid him in reading it.

“Useful.”

Guildsmith’s Glass

These magnifying glasses are only of the finest craftsmanship and usually bear decoration both of the guild that created it and the guild that commissioned it, the commissioning guild being most prominent of course.  Decoration will depend on the guilds involved, with those of the jewelers guild often bearing a small fortune in gems for example, while those of the locksmith guild being notable more practical in appearance.

Creative Sunday – Howard Brandon and Shaintar

Another in an irregular series of posts, where I highlight some of the awesome creative things being done out in the world.  Today, we have:

Howard Brandon

Howard has been a friend of mine for many a year, he has played in several of my campaigns and I have played in a few of his.  For quite a while now, he has been the public face of the fantasy world Shaintar, powered by Savage Worlds, and its Organized Play branch (originally called Justice and Light, though I am not sure of the name of the current incarnation).

To go with the new version of Savage Worlds (the Adventure Edition), Savage Mojo, the current owners of Shaintar, have released a Shaintar JumpStart adventure, written by Howard, along with a set of pre-generated characters, if you want to give this fantasy world a try.

If you want to see some of the other work Howard has been doing for Shaintar setting, take a look here, he has been very busy.  He also has organized a mini-convention in his hometown of Madison, GA, which he hopes will grow into something bigger.

Notes: It has been a while since I did one of these so time to bring them back.  Howard deserves more recognition for all of his hard work on the Shaintar setting.

Also the links are affiliate links which will earn me a pittance if you purchase anything through them.

 

Tuesday Magic Item – Peacock Shield

“It is certainly one of the most colorful armies we have marched with.” said Voddick, surveying the sea of brightly colored shields and the garishly dressed soldiers bearing them.

“Truth,” nodded Gollaon.  “I am used to being the one who stands out . . . but here?  Here, I am the dove among peacocks.”

“If it is any consolation, I prefer your style,” smiled Voddick.

“It is, my friend, it is.”

Peacock Shield

These shields are decorated with peacock feathers, arranged in various patterns depending on the maker and the person who commissioned it.  The magics laid into the shield do their best to protect the feathers from damage but repairs will have to be made every so often or the magic of the shield will be lost with the feathers.