To February, Fare Thee Well January

January is winding to a close and now we move in February which gets its name from the Latin term februum, which means purification, via the purification ritual Februa performed at this time of year.  Note that the Romans considered February an ill-omened month which is why it is only twenty-eight days long or twenty-nine days for a Leap Year like this! 

Do not forget to celebrate Leap Day or Leap Day William might not bring you gifts!

We will dip back into the theme of curses and purification for February.

What was published in the journal in January 2024, was the following:

Tuesday Magic Item – Star Tiger Saddle

Gollaon carefully unwrapped the small glittering crystal saddle.  “I am giddy with delight.  I have wanted to use one of these since I read about them as a wee child.”

Voddick sighed.  “I am not going to like this am I?”

Gollaon held the crystal up to the starlight and let go of it.  The light reflected and began to form into an animal as the saddle grew to fit.  It resolved itself into a tiger formed of stripes of starlight and starry night, the saddle perched upon its back.  “This will be wonderful!”

“I am supposed to ride that?

Star Tiger Saddle

These miniature saddles draw upon the celestial sign of the tiger to power their magic which creates a ridable tiger made of starlight and celestial energy to carry the person who summoned it where they wish to go.  Naturally, a star tiger can fly.

Shadowrun Character – Sparrow

This is a character that has been floating around in my head for ages but I have never had a chance to play.  I just started writing up a background story for RPGGeek‘s 2024 Character Creation Challenge and it spiralled from there.

Sparrow is an orkish adept who specializes in physical enhancement and knife fighting.  This is her story (skip down to the bottom for the game stuff):

Tuesday Magic Item – Professor Paliant’s Folding Fireproof Snowshoes

Gollaon and Voddick stood in the crowd watching as the salesman made his pitch.

“Gather around, gentlefolk,” said the nattily dressed man, gesturing people close.

“Now, I am sure you have all been snowbound before yet needed to go somewhere,” he looked around seeing a few nodding heads.

“Well, this wonderful device is the answer to your problems!” He held up a narrow wooden box and with a few swift movements, unfolded it into a  a pair of snowshoes.  “Easy to carry with you and then, as I have demonstrated, you have a pair of snowshoes when you need them.”  He slipped them on his boots and waggled them around, showing that they were firmly attached.

Just as quickly, he took them off, folding one up and spinning the other around.  “But wait!  There is more,” he tossed a spark into a brazier set up next to him and it roared to life.  He thrust the snowshoe into the fire.  “They are also completely fireproof!”

Professor Paliant’s Folding Fireproof Snowshoes

The name tells you most everything you want to know about these items, some are colorful others are plain.  But, in their folded form, they are two narrow wooden boxes that fit together.  Unfolded, they are snowshoes that magically attach to whatever footgear a person is wearing.

Tuesday Magic Item – Sky Skates

Gollaon and Voddick watched the skaters as they flashed down from the tower, their skates leaving bright trails in the air.

“That looks like fun,” said Gollaon wistfully.

Voddick laughed, “Maybe, could also be a quick way to break your neck.  I have seen people skate on ice and fall.  A fall here seems that it would be worse.”

“I suspect, hope, that it has contingencies for such an occurrence.”

Sky Skates

These skates are often highly decorated and are always made to the highest standards.

Superheroes – Once upon a Time in 1969 – Issue 19 – Part 1 – Thieves in the Night

This story follows after Issue 18 and some, short, period of time has passed.

Cover: A split cover, on one side a woman in a white gown with a half skull mask and a man dressed in colorful paisley including a top hat and domino mask.  On the other side . . . see part 2!  “Two big stories!”

Opening page: Kit stares at the swirling colors in the window of Peacock Jewellers.  “What is happening here!?” reads the banner at the bottom.

Tuesday Magic Item – Centaur Belt

Gollaon watched as the centaurs became just people again, the saddlebags they were carrying sinking to ground as the horse bodies dissolved into mist.

Voddick moved to help them put away their gear and after a moment, Gollaon joined in as well.

Centaur Belt

These large and heavy belts are usually decorated with equine designs, or occasionally centaurs.  They are favored by military units.

Tuesday Magic Item (Late) – Time Distorter

Gollaon and Voddick watched as the wizards poked and prodded at the sphere.

Voddick whispered to his friend, “Do you think they have any idea what it is?”

Gollaon shook their head.  “They do not have a clue, we should probably stop them before they accidentally set it off.”

“Agreed.”

Time Distorter

These items are a sphere made of clockwork, inside another sphere of clockwork can be seen and so on and so on.  Designed by the Law Lords in their never-ending war with the Hordes of Choas, it is designed to tip the balance in combat by manipulating the laws of time to the advantage of the person using the item.  The cost of twisting time in this way inevitably destroyed the item after a single use so their numbers have dwindled over the ages

Into 2081 Shadowrun Campaign News and a new Seattle Scream Prop (#93)

Welcome to 2081!  (When out of an adventure, the time moves along with the year, New Year here, New Year in the campaign.)  The next live game at Tyche’s Games will be on the sixth of January; we usually play every first Saturday and if you are in the area come and join in, new players are welcome.

December was not a bad month for Shadowrun play, surprisingly, with me CHing the live game at Tyche’s and played in a Savanna (Georiga, CAS) game where I got to play DJ Hazy again, sadly no new parties.  I may post a short fiction piece with Hazy sometime soon.

Now for the latest news from the Seattle Metroplex and beyond in the Seattle Scream (#93)!  Nothing particularly past adventure-related but putting my own spin on the Ares / Detroit fiasco from canon.