“The Badlands Twists Its Creatures” - Utilizing the Shadowdark Monster Generator

“The Badlands twists its creatures.” This was a rumor (and/or warning) passed on to the Sunday night PCs a few sessions back, perhaps from the nomads. 

Probably just an old wives' tale. Nothing to be concerned about.

Spoilers for my players, so be on your best behavior. 🙄

Second installment in my June Randomness Wagoning... 

Now, my prior campaign players/PCs were no stranger to the mutants engineered by the vivimancers in the mountains. As I mentioned way back when, Jon Becker's "Comes Chaos" and Steven Cook's "Chaos Hordes" were used for all my mutation needs. 

Particular player "favorites" were the Damned Horses, and that one naked guy running through the battlefield who no one wanted to get near. Cowards.

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But now we find ourselves in a new campaign, and a need for new randomized random monsters. In the flavor of Shadowdark.

So cracking open the rulebook, we find ourselves on Pages 190 ("Monster Generator") and 191 ("Make It Weird"). 

The critters were generated with four d20 rolls to get the basic build, and then d3 mutations to spice it up. My initial rolled results are below, followed by some quick thoughts, and the final creation. For the Party Level, I'm assuming Level 3 PCs.

Secondly, they are moving into the "badlands," which I have described as an arid region characterized by canyons, ridges, and natural labyrinths. Creations will be suited to such an environment.

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I rolled/created mostly honest, with one exception...

"Maps" Blogwagon: Maps with Perspective...

Oop, gotta see what Prismatic Wasteland's been thinking about. Ah, "The Map is Not the Territory But It is the Topic"

Ooo... maps... always a favorite...

So, long ago on Ye Olde Blogge, I posted up what could be some appropriate content for this wagonload of bloggage. From the pages of a fortuitous Ebay find, I talked a bit about maps and illustrations of places that No Longer Exist, either by the actions of humans or nature...

There is something about having a couple of old topographic maps that memorialize a mountain that occasionally, and violently, reforms itself. Most recently, at a moment that we just happened to be able to witness it. 

Something that went from this:

Topo maps from Here

to this:

And as I mused before - What happens when our Party of Heroes(tm), bearing an old, faded map, crest the horizon, expecting to find Proportional Peak, on top of which the Gem of Plot Advancement resides...

... only to find the smoking Crater of Catastrophe. 

bummer.

Does an inaccurate or out-of-date piece of information (map) misinform or mislead the players/PCs to a dead end or hazard? Is the error of the map by ill-informed cartography or perhaps by ill intent? Did the GPS just lead you to drive into a pond?

Like rumors, perhaps maps should be suspect. Perhaps vague, if not downright misleading/incorrect. Maps that are an amalgamation of versions by wildly variable cartographers. A hodge-podge of landmarks, contradictory names, and scale errors. Omissions or obfuscations for personal or political purposes.

Do we really want to trust the scribblings and 'X' on this map? Where is it really going to lead us? 

Revenant Resurrection

To recount from before...

So, your colleague got themselves dead. Not a problem, you've got the coin to donate for a resurrection. Problem is, there's no local temple with a priest powerful enough to raise the dead. And the body is getting a bit ripe.

What about that necromancer? You know, the woman with the unsettling stare and jars of preserved body parts? I'm sure she can do the job. Can't hurt to ask.

“Oh, certainly!” the necromancer says, her eyes scanning your deceased comrade. “Just like those god-fearing clerics do it, just without the pesky religious bits!” She meticulously checks the dead's eyes and wounds. She pokes at fingers and toes with needles seeking galvanic reactions. She accepts the payment.

“Oh, yes, just like the clerics!” She shoos you off, and giggling, retreats with your friend's body into a chamber filled with stinking reagents, clinking glassware, and rattling retorts.

In a week, your comrade is back.

In a manner of speaking.

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Revenant Resurrection*

You've been resurrected, untimely ripped from the afterlife via a necromancer's dark magics and possibly alchemical reanimations. You were not called back through the holy powers of a cleric and their congress with the divine. So you may not have gotten back with all of your soul.

You are not quite undead, but you have undead qualities.

The Positive:

• Undead resistances against mental spells and powers.
• You may subsist on half rations.

The Negative:

• Reduce your CON by 1d3 with each revivication. No more revivication at CON <= 3. 
• Having cheated death by these cheaty methods, you lose all divine connection. If you were a priest/cleric/divine class, choose new class (at Level -1).
• That said, no healing by divine methods. Natural healing or potions only.

Them's the breaks.

Oh, and extra rolls on the Reincarnation Side Effect Tables (One, and/or Two).

*This resurrection effect isn't dependent on any specific spell or other methodology, more a thought experiment (and possible flavor) for a PC brought back to life by means other than the divine. Enjoy. 

***

Oh, and Samuel Taylor of 3x5arcana.com made a call-out to my "Build-A-Bear" concept for monster generation in reference to their own 3x5 card-based simplified version. Thanks!

They Met at a Tavern 24: When the DM Mentions Something in Passing, Part II...

Better get this written down before I forget details of the chaos...

The Miscreants:

• Wayne: Pharan, human Sea Wolf
• Chris: Roult, human Basilisk Warrior
• Dan: Kiara, elf Ras Godai
• Seana: Zanegar, 1/2 orc Sea Wolf
• Callista: Erol, elf Priest
• Mike: Merrick, human Bard
• Mark (first timer): Irir, elf Thief

First of all, bumped a couple of the Repeat Offenders to 3rd level, since they keep showing up.

The returning crew from last week was heading back to Bettiholm, when they chanced upon a couple of adventurers (Merrick and Irir). The pair looked shady, so were welcomed to join the crew. The group then caught up with a small caravan carrying a mixed selection of supplied and curiosities for delivery to town. Some haggling went on, but the party was unsuccessful. 

The caravan parked outside of town at the caravanserai, and the party headed in to catch up with gem dealer Delmar. Perhaps to find a more reputable broker, since they suspected that Kashmi Rasam had double-crossed his buyer, and they didn't care to be associated with that. In the meantime, they had to dodge "Chicken Day" where the mayor was handing out food donations to the downtrodden of the city. Of which there were plenty. It's a good thing that the caravan included chickens among its cargos.

Somewhere in this, the DM produced a rough map of town and pointed out some features that the party had visited, as well as other landmarks:

Cat not included 

The Sealed Tower (upper RH corner) drew them like moths to flame... Well, it was sealed by multiple methods after Bad Things Happened, of course. Perhaps it's associated with the city's curse and loss of significance. What would have instigated it (question to players) - diabolic dealings and summoning. Always a classic. 

The party ventured to meet the mayor (Fabio Hegewald) as he was washing his hands after a day of handing out foodstuffs and (eeww!) touching the citizens. The mayor and advisor indicated that the sealing occurred after a priest of Terragnis had violated his vows and called up demons in a gamble for power. Can we get into the tower? No, its been sealed, although there might be alternate paths. Have other adventurers explored it? Yes, and they never returned (dramatic music). 

Well, ok - let's get some rest, resupply, and look at things in the morning (i.e. no carousing). Of course, they were met at their inn by representatives of House Zulad, the Dissatisfied Customer from the prior relic sale. Of course, they wouldn't have known of the double-cross, but their reputation was now suspect. And yes, we caught Rasam on his way out of town with a number of items, including the inner workings of the Orb. Of course, it wouldn't do to just kill him, as he has knowledge and talent (big reveal)...

They Met at a Tavern 23: Breaking out the Temple of Dynss, once again.

Who graced the table at the brewery?

• Wayne: Pharan, human Sea Wolf
• Chris: Galen, human Priest
• Dan: Kiara, elf Ras Godai
• Seana: Zanegar, 1/2 orc Sea Wolf
• Roger: Drom, dwarf Desert Rider
• Wilson: Gim, dwarf Fighter

Full house. Let's do it. 

The party departed from Zelkor's Ferry to the nearest city of note. What's the town? Let's ask the players for help. 

We have a medium-sized city that is well-established, but fallen on hard times, and a shadow of its former glory. It is run by a council of merchants, with a figurehead of a mayor. The city looks backwards, and makes a good trade in relics. That said, one of its notable landmarks is the old trading hall, once an impressive edifice, but now threadbare. The city is called Bettiholme. 

The party disembarked from their packet-ship, and paid a treasure toll to the harbormaster. Gim, an itinerant dwarf, was met. Fending off a band of enterprising urchins, they reached the shop of Delmar Hevrolug, brother to Kalgor Hevrolug of Zelkor's ferry. After some bitching about the state of his business, Delmar agreed to find a buyer for the party's magic orb. 

The party was directed to the shop of Kashmi Rasam, an artificer and dealer in artifacts. They managed to avoid serious mishaps and petty crime as they were slowed by a small street carnival, with snake charmers, jugglers, and acrobats. As city guards rushed in to apprehend pickpocket jugglers, spilling snake handler baskets, the party made a quick departure...

Rasam was quite enthralled by the find of the orb, pressing the party for information. The orb was demonstrated, although Kashmi warned that it may only have a limited number of uses left. Best not to show it off. He agreed to act as broker and find a buyer.

But first, we carouse. The party was recommended a modest dwarf-operated inn in the neighborhood. None of that weak halfling beer there. Only one PC woke up in the gutter. 

Foxtail Grotto, revised

After last week's shenanigans, I gave Foxtail Grotto a revision to (hopefully) improve usability and play. I revised descriptions to clarify placement of encounters, and added a small introduction on playing out the discovery of the pirate cove. Monster stats have been updated and consolidated at the end of the scenario, more consistent with my current format. I also bumped the format to two column, which I've been using and seems to read better. 

New and Improved!

And apropos of nothing, found this while image searching:

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Finally, some validation! I always knew that princess was up to something sketchy.... We knew all along the dragon was unfairly incriminated!

D66 Winter Carousing Happenings, Part II

As a follow-up to my last D66 Winter Carousings list, I recognized that Solstice/Generic Midwinter Holiday/New Years is a field ripe for harvest (bad analogy) and ginned up a second D66 list, complete with more frigid happenings, mishaps, and boons.

Hey, watch where you're driving!

So put on some thick socks, warm that mulled wine, and beware snowdrifts speaking Finnish:

Download me here!

Secret Santicorn 2025, Part III: Pathetic Dragons

And now my last(?) gift to shove under the OSR Discord Secret Santicorn tree:

Sylvanas_iii - A dX table of medieval dragons that look nothing like any self-respecting dragon should (e.g. the original French tarrasque)

First of all, before diving into this assignment, I must ask, who gave St. George all the good press for killing such a puny dragon? I mean, this thing looks like it could barely accost a self-respecting princess. Not to mention an armed and armored knight. This creature looks like a hatchling. Clearly, the dragon was the victim here.

IT'S JUST A BABY!

Obviously, the tale grew in the telling. 

Anyway, let's go find some weirdos.

1. Ah yes, the Septacranial Fluharmonizer. A beast notable not for its breath weapon, but its melodious vocalizations. "Septs" are often curated as local attractions, fed on a fine selection of lamb and lemon balm to coax their performances for the local economy. The six prima heads harmonize, as the posterihead maintains a rhythmic drone. Their songs are described as like "living pipe organs" by aficionados and as "feral bagpipes" by their detractors.

Secret Santicorn 2025: Downtime Happenings...

I was tardy in signing up for the OSR Discord's annual "Secret Santicorn" writing prompt exchange. But I let the organizer know that I'd be happy to pick up an orphan "gift" if need be. And so I was called off the bench.

Hello _ !
Your gift is for Houndmoon, who asked for:
“Set of useful downtime activities & the locations and characters they’re attached to.”

I can do this. In the tune of D66, of course...

Ooo! Downtime. Whee. Another Carousing Table! Can I roll a Suspicious Rash? Sketchy Business Venture? Notice from a Noble?

Nah, give me Something Better. I want a Cool Trick. Preferably from a Mysterious Stranger! Let's get us some Downtime Boons!

How does one come upon a Boon? Not by Gift or Grift but by Reputation. The PC must have Done a Thing that Caught Someone's Attention. Perhaps the fighter doing in the beast in the Arena, the cleric dispelling some Infernal Being, the mage Touching the Arcane, the thief Stealing the Thing. This Deed draws the Attention of a Mentor or Benefactor. Someone not affiliated with the current adventure, but who may become a Part of the World as the story continues. But most importantly, someone who thinks the PC worthy of a New Ability. 

They will contact the PC, perhaps directly, by messenger, or even subterfuge. After all, not all of these mentors are affiliated with Proper Channels or the Orthodoxy. In some cases, gaining this knowledge may even have the potential to Mark the PC as a Heretic or Iconoclast. So Beware. Many Gifts come with a Cost. Not to mention, now that the PC has been Found Worthy of a Boon, the Patron will likely want them to Run an Errand, Return the Favor, or Complete a Deed...

"The Noble Patron"

Blogwagon: A Rankin/Bass Themed Hex - The Drumlands

After my prior grimdark trench-fighting rabbits, I might as well lighten up my next hex contribution to the collaboration. 

Oh look, no one's selected this little bastard as their theme/inspiration:

Even St. Joan can't save this travesty.

Ok. To start from the most belovedly hated Christmas song, and hopefully make a place of less suck...

Welcome to The Drumlands

Not to be confused with drumlins...

...although there could be drumlins in the Drumlands...

The Drum-Cult arose around the storied night where an orphan was said to have found favor with yet another desert messiah. Legend said that the infant messiah was amused or soothed by the orphan's drumming, so much so, that the babe recruited their divine powers to heal the orphan's lamb. Or so said an itinerant astrologer, who claimed to have heard about it from a colleague who heard it from another astrologer who claimed to have been there. Anyway, you want your tarot read?

Blogwagon: A Rankin/Bass Themed Hex - Ēostre Fields

Blame Prismatic Wasteland, who announced a holiday-themed hexcrawl, based on the Rankin/Bass films and specials. Each hex has an association with those beloved childhood films. 

I'll never get invited to one of these holiday parties again...

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Going Over the Top, with Peter Cottontail.

First there was Ēostre, worshiped all the generations ago. She brought spring and growth, the explosive joy and promise of a new season past the dark of winter. Among those who worshiped her and beseeched her blessings were the rabbit-folk. Both fervent and fecund, the numerous rabbit-folk were devout followers, poring over her holy books and keeping her days holy. Unfortunately, as with so many religious movements, schisms ripped the followers into two parties, now belligerents in a holy war fighting over dogma, land, and sacred relic eggs.

Each believe they are the chosen of the goddess, those in the right.

What started as meeting-hall debates and fists pounding on holy text, devolved into skirmishes and back-and-forth heists. Now, it has sunk into a war of attrition – the Cottontails on one side, the Irontails on the other.

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What were once green swales and glens have been churned by years of warfare into a muddy, pockmarked and scarred land. Both sides have burrowed and entrenched, with the war now a cycle of mass charges, exchanges of explosive magics, and grim sappers.

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D66 Overly-Specific Very Minor Demons, and an Incantation Bowl!

Some time ago, I was searching Wikimedia Commons for demon imagery for filler art for a blog post or adventure writeup, and I came across this charming fellow:

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Alleborith, a minor demon, whose sole power is to cause people to choke on fish bones. Never say that you have no talents.

So behold! From the abyssal plains and muttered curses of adventurers arise D66 aggravating demons to torment in the most specific of ways!

DOWNLOAD US HERE!!!

AND! Behold more! My own personal incantation bowl, useful for protection of the home from demons and other malevolent forces... 

Lilith is having a bad hair day...

Create

Came across this presentation while on my dog walk the other day:

Strong thesis statement. But valid. Creative expression is a critical part of the human experience. Dancing around the fire, painting cathedral ceilings, writing symphonies or novels. Or gathering to roll dice and be in our imaginations.

Regarding one beat within the talk - my real-life job does have its saving-the-world elements. And I do believe that I can continue writing up my little scenarios or lists or whatevers that catch my fancy while still enacting some change and improvement. Besides, having worlds that we have a little control over diminishes the ennui of not being able to "save the world" enough. 

I've always believed that my own creative life was important in one form or another, whether trying my hand at fiction writing, an occasional return to the piano, or making up stuff for silly elf-games. It's part of my general plan to keep my mind and body flexible and functional as long as possible. 

On top of that, I finally confirmed that yes, after 50+ years dithering around, that I do have ADHD. I either very successfully passed or gloriously failed the QbCheck ADHD test, depending on one's perspective. 

So I'd better figure some stuff out here. 

I don't consider myself a particularly strong or creative writer, but at least I can keep a consistent format and catch most of my typos. And as the presenter says, don't let self confidence or the need to be "good" at something hamper us from creating. Anyone who's read my stuff certainly knows it doesn't stop me...

So - Onward. In a frail attempt to organize my home office, I've captured most of my scribbled works-in-progress:

with ADHD-proofing soundtrack

Some of these scenarios are products of the campaign, some are maps that caught my attention, a few are from prompts or particular writing exercises.

There's a good handful. Let's shoot for getting one drafted per week. Think I can do that? 

Anyway, get out there and make your own scribbles. You don't have to save the world. But you can bring a bit of fun and light into your own corner of it.

The Flesh-Harvester Skeleton

On the prowl for skin and bone to tear
I'm a skeleton looking for meat to wear

                                               KMFDM - "Hyena"

Those animated bones, they remember once being clothed in flesh and muscle, with blood in hearts and vessels, breath in their lungs. And some hunger to feel that again, even if only for only frail moments.  

Draped with flesh and offal from their flayed victims, groups of flesh-harvester skeletons swarm their prey to strip them of their mortal cover to momentarily enhance their own being.

get that meat back!

AC: 6/13
HD: 2*
Atk (BAB+1): 2 x claw (2x1d4)
Movement: 60’ (20’)
Saving Throws: D12 W13 P14 B15 S16
Morale: 12
No. appearing: 1d6+3

Upon first contact, the skeletons will be seen to be "wearing" rotting flesh. Each will have 1d6 extra hp garnered from prior victims. On a to-hit of 18+, the skeleton strips flesh from its target, gaining temporary hit points equal to the damage (up to 2x max hp). They will tend to target unarmored individuals en masse. All that armor gets in the way of collecting that sweet, sweet meat...

The "swarm" and flesh compulsion inhibits turning attempts, granting -1 against undead turning per four skeletons present (round up). Otherwise, they exhibit normal undead qualities and immunities (Make no noise until they attack. Immune to effects that affect living creatures (e.g. poison). Immune to mind-affecting or mind-reading spells.)

Step into the Green Hell: A Jackson Joint

Second scenario that I've wrested from my scribbled notes and made presentable. There are plenty more lurking, waiting to be transcribed between real work, exercise, appointments, remembering to eat, walking the dogs...

Anyhow. A good looping space with a significant amount of green.

Interesting. 

What would be growing down there in the dark? I scribbled a bit before some random firing of a brain neuron reminded me that I'd written up a model for a spreading, aggressive invader. No, not kudzu.

So, an ooze that has gained some sort of decentralized, alien intelligence has taken over a shrine. And not only may the PCs want to clear it out, but one of the individuals interred there certainly wants it out of their space.

Watch where you step.

Download me here

 

May RPG Blog Carnival Late Entry: Oaths - The Beguine/Beghard Class for OSE and Shadowdark

Ok, here we are on May 32, and I'm right on time to contribute to the month's Blog Carnival. This time hosted by Tabletop Curiosity Cabinet and themed, "Oaths." So let me share a small introduction to a historic religious community, as well as a player class (OSE and Shadowdark) inspired by them:

The beguines (and their male counterparts, the beghards) were religious lay-communities most active during the 13th - 16th centuries. While not formally monastic in nature, the members typically took vows, most commonly chastity, as well as of charity and religious devotion. Members were also able to quit the role, and return to secular life. 

The communities were typically self-supporting, with their members taking part in cottage industries. These beguinages could be as small as a shared house up to a walled compound. Larger examples contained shops, hospitals, breweries, and cloth mills.

Because many of the beguines came from middle- or upper-class backgrounds, many were literate and wrote treatises and poetry reflecting their faith and the visions that they experienced during contemplation and prayer. This mysticism was a common theme among the communities, as well as the idea of sharing these "visions" through religious or secular texts. Because these publications were outside the orthodoxy and independent of Church doctrine, they were often criticized or suppressed, with the most egregious example being the burning at the stake of Marguerite Porete as a relapsed heretic by the Inquisition.

After all, there is nothing more frightening than a financially independent, literate woman interpreting religious dogma.

The Lair of the Pale Toads

Last week, we were introduced to the Pale Toads. To expand on our new friends, they needed a lair, and a bit of a story as to why they have suddenly appeared along the edge of civilization, curious and adventuresome. 

AI Trigger Warning.

The Toads tire of lingering in their dim places, and, curious about those who explore their lands, seek to reach out and make contact. But in that vein, they need a leader to inspire them, and teachers to prepare them to interact with the outlanders.

Fortunately, our little community within the lair has both, and the Toads are ready to seek new lands and new allies. The old Queen seeks a greater calling and legacy for her folk. The priests commune with and teach of the great toad who brought them up. And instructors teach worthy toads the arts they will need to survive in the greater world and the rough language of the foreigners so that they may communicate.

This "adventure" is written more as a settlement or village, with its personalities and resources, than a "lair" to be murderhoboed. YMMV. 

The map was provided by Jean-Claude ''Raznag'' Tremblay. I've used one of his maps before, and have several more in the files awaiting the correct inspiration.

Anyway, welcome to the Lair of the Pale Toads. Try the swamp-beer.

Update: Got called out for the AI art, so I'll address it here, rather than getting into multiple discussions elsewhere. Yes, the Toad images are AI. I happened to find them whimsical and inspiring enough as prompts to write up a couple of posts worth of content. Because I write for fun, after all. This isn't a commercial or professional endeavor. I don't have delusions of adequacy when it comes to my writing. I just put it out there to keep my brain active, and perhaps someone will use a piece of mine at their table one day. And much of what I write here (eleven years of posts, 100+ adventures or scenarios, plus myriad other content) is found inspiration: A good map-space, a piece of history, a photo of an artefact, a scene in a book. But the writing is mine. 

Ironically, I didn't even "create" the Toads' art, but lifted it from Pale Toad's YouTube posts.  

Will I use AI art in the future? Likely not. It doesn't fit the esthetic of my writing and imagined game-space. And AI is considered anathema in plenty of creative spaces. Anyway, I'd rather hunt down an appropriate bit of Hannes Bok or piece of medieval marginalia to illustrate my little adventures or scenarios. The images I use on my posts are attributed to their sources, and anything that I do put up on DTRPG or similar is typically illustrated by either public domain art or purchased art from human creators. 

So, if for some reason this is the first time you've stumbled on my blog, I apologize if AI is your first impression. Feel free to peruse the nearly 650 posts that aren't AI content.

New Class and Ancestry: The Pale Toad

Trying to catch up on the creative work, drafts upon drafts. Certain other obstacles need to be overcome via other means.

Decoy computer, working computer 

So. The Pale Toads. Where did they come from?

Well, this channel came across my YooToob feed, offered by the inscrutable algorithms. OR because I listen to quite a bit of ambient or synthwave while working. Anyway, the channel's namesake AI-produced adventurer-toads needed a bit of a story, or at least to be statted up for some possible play.

Friendly little guy

Over the last seasons, the Pale Toads have arrived from unnamed swamplands and dank caverns, their skin pale from the dim lands that they tread. Their antediluvian eyes reflect wisdom and stoicism. They are curious for knowledge, to perhaps offer trade, or to join in an adventure. The Toads' outward waddling, awkward appearance vanishes with a powerful lunge or silent disappearance into the water.

Secret Santicorn 2024: Another Horror

Once again, from the depths of the OSR Discord craws the Santicorn, leaving the gifts of writing prompts to the good(?) denizens of the server.

You got shutteredroom’s prompt, “The Real Monster of which the Shitting Log of Catalonia is the sanity-protecting bowdlerization.”

First, a quick visit to Webster's to check something....

bowdlerization:
noun
The deletion of all passages considered to be indecent.
Similar: bowdlerisation, expurgation
The action or instance of bowdlerizing; the omission or removal of material considered vulgar or indecent.
The act of deleting or modifying all passages considered to be indecent. 

OK, gotcha. That's what I thought...

***

The portal from the Void opened, and the Entity entered the world. Fools twisted by promises of power and ancient knowledges from before the time that Men walked the land had called it, at a great cost of life and sanity. For, they knew, great power comes at great cost. Particularly if it is others that are paying with their lives. So they had spread war and desolation in their pursuit of this favor.

And desolation they received in turn. For the Entity had no interest in wisdom or power. Just madness and destruction. And piddling little evolved apes were not of consequence. XXX walked the land, its energies from outside of space burning a halo of destruction where it went.

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However, some of these apes had slivers of power. Whether by craft, or energies arcane or divine. So they fought XXX, desperately and to little effect. After all, fighting a being whose name itself caused fear and madness was a nigh-impossible task. Only the Sightless, paladins blinded of all vision except that which saw auras of evil, were able to stand long before its predations.

They called upon their god, YYY, to aid them against this desolation in living form.

RPG Blog Carnival: Feasts, Foods and Fancy Drinks, oh my!

Crap. It's been literal years since I've contributed to one of these. 

VDonnut Valley is hosting this month's soirée, themed Feasts, Foods and Fancy Drinks, oh my! Well, I can work with a prompt like that. Perhaps from a slightly different angle.

After all, part of being a good host is sometimes being flexible to your guests' dietary restrictions and perhaps preparing a special meal for an honored "foreign" guest...

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***

The tremoring acolyte stirred the vile concoction. His eyes darted to the poor sod he'd just replaced, still spasming on the floor. Clearly, sampling the offertory meal had not agreed with him.

“Add the next ingredient, worm!” commanded the hooded priest. Taking a shaking hand, the acolyte opened the stained crockery. His eyes watered even more as the acrid, metallic fumes emerged from the crockery as he poured the toxic mixture into the boiling pot.

“Taste the offering. Perhaps you are more worthy to serve His Glory than your predecessor!” A spear butt in his ribs encouraged the acolyte further.

The acolyte glanced at his fellow initiate, now still. With shaking hand and tears in his eyes, he took a spoon to taste the bubbling amalgamation.

Somewhere, in the shadows beyond the priest, a shape began to unfold from space. Slavering jaws emerged as the entity from beyond took in the first, deep, delicious scent of the offering meal...