Hi all,
My infrequent newsletter has been even more infrequent of late! I came down with flu over Thanksgiving and am still not back to 100%, so any time I could devote to work was devoted to working on upcoming RPG continent. But… things are rolling along.
To begin with, Banner of the Bull came out earlier this fall and is doing quite well on DriveThruRPG. It’s currently available in PDF and softcover editions, and I’m hoping I can add a hardcover option later next week (when the proof copy arrives). Recently, Jonathan Miley had some kind things to say about the adventure in “13 Holiday Gifts for Your Gamer.” They write:
“Lazy Wolf Studios has something special with their Norrøngard setting, inspired by Scandinavian folklore that respects its roots. Their newest adventure is written for Kobold Press’s Black Flag Roleplaying system. The adventure is Thrones & Bones: Banner of the Bull. This adventure is an entry-level story in the Norrøngard setting. Besides being an excellent adventure, this book also has options for players and a rich world history. I find the layout of this book so beautiful; it’s fun to flip through the pages and look at the fantastic maps and artwork. This is an excellent buy for any roleplaying game fan.”
In related news, the Thrones & Bones fantasy trilogy from whence the RPG did spring has also made a gift guide recommendation post. Benedetta Geddo, writing for The Mary Sue in “Sixteen Books to Read for the Same Magic as the Percy Jackson Saga,” says:
“Firstborn and the Thrones & Bones series — completed by Nightborn in 2015 and Skyborn in 2016 — bring us back to Norse mythology. The main characters, Karn and Thianna are a boy disinterested in his family inheritance and a half-human-half-frost-giantess on the run— trying to survive as they’re being chased by a grand assortment of monsters that include trolls and wyverns.”
Meanwhile, I’ve been pondering how the winter holidays used to be a time for telling ghost stories. In fact, that’s why Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol. When he penned that tale, he was stepping into a long tradition of telling spooky tales around the fireplace.
With that in mind, I thought that from now until Christmas day, I’d offer the PDF version of the scariest thing I’ve ever penned on sale for 50% off. Vengeance of the Valravn is an adventure for 5th edition Dungeons & Dragons. It’s set in the Norse-inspired land of Norrøngard, and the titular monster, the valravn, is a wolf-raven hybrid from 1800s Scandinavian folklore that preys on children. The adventure does come with a content warning, because it does involve child endangerment and child death. Interestingly, it began life because I was troubled by how often wolves are used as low-level monsters in both tabletop roleplaying games and video games, when in fact they are quite beneficial influences on their environment. I wanted to write something “wolf positive” to celebrate these noble animals, and the valravn presented itself as a perfect “anti-wolf” foil. The adventure also has a LOT of setting details on the city of Sindholm, including details on the jarl’s unique longhouse and a wolf warrior hall that could easily serve as a home base for characters. There’s tons of lore and a random encounters table to make the setting easily repayable after the adventure finishes. Also a backstory in the form of an epic poem that will bring a tear to your eye (penned by my nephew Jonathan Anders from my narrative). Co-written with Kelly Pawlik, I’m about as proud of Vengeance of the Valravn as anything I’ve ever done. So if you want something on the darker side (hopefully with a bright ending), pick up Vengeance of the Valravn now for just $6.99.
And happy holidays, whatever holidays you celebrate!