lol
Prince of Nothing has written an extremely detailed review of my Ashen Void systemless setting. You can find it by clicking the link below. I wish I could use English language in such lavish form as he!
The five greatest sages of all time, widely regarded as the ones who pushed mankind further ahead, more than any other person (or even more than any discovery). Despite the fact that all of them lived in different times and their expertise differed greatly, they had one thing in common. They all went insane, crushed by the unbearable weight of their knowledge. Thus, their name. The Eaters of Madness.
The First Eater of Madness was Phandra. The Discoverer of Truths. The Whispering Oracle.
The Second Eater of Madness was Yvesi. The Mistress of the Infinite. The Measure of Impossibilities.
The Third Eater of Madness was Reerd the Eyeless. The One Who Knew All Names.
The Fourth Eater of Madness was the Watcher of Ngaros. The Master of Wounds of the Earth. The Follower of the Lines.
The Fifth Eater of Madness was the One Who Speaks Words No One Wants To Hear. The Nameless Harbinger of Apocalypse. The Bell-Founder.
MY STUFF ON DRIVETHRU - NOW CHEAPER
The group the PCs encounter is acting, well, strange. Roll 1d10 to determine what's controlling/possessing/deceiving the encountered creatures:
I think you may be interested in taking a look at the physical print of the Ashen Void from DTRPG. I'm quite satisfied with the result - the book looks quite sturdy. Only thing I noticed is the fact that they slightly fucked up the cover - it wasn't made properly, which resulted with the logo ending up too high. But I guess I was just unlucky, as my other POD books from DriveThru are way better.
The photos aren't edited in any way, shape or form. My phone has a decent camera and I wanted to show you the print in its "real form", without any enhancements.
Colors are quite dull but it was inevitable with POD standard quality. I don't think that anyone would buy a premium version, as it's ridiculously expensive.
Grays are OK, tables are clear and readable.
Blacks are surprisingly acceptable! And I was really worried about the semi-transparent black frames but they turned out quite okay!
The Goat. It looks good.
Another corpse plundering table is a must. Enlarge the photo to steal the ideas for yourself!
That's it. I'm quite satisfied, with the final result, the book looks good. I think I'll add some of my other booklets to POD option on DriveThru as well.
There were numerous Ancient Races that roamed the Ortix. Some of them were just visitors from distant stars and/or different dimensions, while the ones listed below had (or still have) significant impact on the planet’s history, shape and possibly even its ultimate fate.
It’s almost impossible to determine if the Engineers and Shapers were the separate species or races of the Ancient Ones or if they were just a status of the extremely powerful individuals.
I am currently working on the Ortix Cyclopedia - an alphabetical list of Ortix-related bullshit. A really substantial list, covering, well, the entire campaign setting. Also - something huge is coming. And it's related to this topic. Stay tuned.
This table, in slightly expanded (d20) version, appears in the Ashen Void system-less setting I've released few weeks ago.
(artwork by me, made in 2020)
What is the deal with my cleric's religion?
Well, all gods despise humans and other Feeble Races (no elves dwarves halflings, sorry), so I guess you're fucked.
Where can we go to buy standard equipment?
There are some stores in the Iron City.
Where can we go to get platemail custom fitted for this monster I just befriended?
The best way is to perform proper rituals to strike a deal with some Eternal Machine. If you find any and manage to determine its function.
Who is the mightiest wizard in the land?
Nhonaop the Bone Sorcerer.
Who is the greatest warrior in the land?
It's widely believed that the King's Champion is the one, however it's easy to calculate that he's over 130 years old now, and that may complicate things abit.
Who is the richest person in the land?
Reerd the Eyeless, a long-dead sage, enthroned in the city of Vokra as one of its Eternal Monarch. It's said that his wealth is immesurable, despite the fact he's just an ancient corpse.
Where can we go to get some magical healing?
Find the Necromancers, if you're brave enough. Or the Eternal Machinery.
Where can we go to get cures for the following conditions: poison, disease, curse, level drain, lycanthropy, polymorph, alignment change, death, undeath?
You can't. Grow some balls and die with dignity.
Is there a magic guild my MU belongs to or that I can join in order to get more spells?
I do not plan to include Vancian magic. Or spellcraft is either technology- or ritual-based.
Where can I find an alchemist, sage or other expert NPC?
In either Iron City or Grave City.
Where can I hire mercenaries?
In almost every major settlement.
Is there any place on the map where swords are illegal, magic is outlawed or any other notable hassles from Johnny Law?
Some Quarters of the Iron City.
Which way to the nearest tavern?
Follow the stench of vomit.
What monsters are terrorizing the countryside sufficiently that if I kill them I will become famous?
Spawn of the Plant Gods.
Are there any wars brewing I could go fight?
The Assassination Wars.
How about gladiatorial arenas complete with hard-won glory and fabulous cash prizes?
It's said that you can find anything you're looking for in the Iron City. But it may be only a rumor.
Are there any secret societies with sinister agendas I could join and/or fight?
Numerous!
What is there to eat around here?
You're lucky! Not all plants are sentient!
Any legendary lost treasures I could be looking for?
Remnants of the Pyramid Technology, the Emerald Crown, the Abstract Tech, the Blade of Murder and so on.
Where is the nearest dragon or other monster with Type H treasure?
This information will cost you at least 500 coins, my friend.
Meanwhile, here are three principles of the game/setting/whatever it will become. Enjoy more gibberish nonsense.
Artwork by me.
Everything is Weird
Even though the basic elements of the setting may look familiar, many aspects of them - from background to details - aren’t typical. Additionally, logic isn’t extremely important - some things are weird just for the sake of being weird. Ortix isn’t Earth - and will never be. It’s safe to assume that some fundamental laws of physics are different from those affecting our world.
Nothing is Certain
There are many contradictions here. Things that make no sense and ideas that cancel each other (or even themselves). This shouldn’t worry you - although it’s your duty as a GM to interpret things, no matter how coherent or gibberish they are, there is no right or wrong way of using the contents of this book. You should utilize them in a way that will fit into your playstyle and bring fun to your table.
Scientific Mysticism
The World of Ortix is a mix of advanced technology, myths and legends. Both aspects of the world’s description are intertwined on multiple levels - there can be subatomic nanotech devices granting the gods their divine powers and reality-altering machines of a size of a mountain, operated by rituals and human sacrifice. It’s an important part of the setting - in fact, it comprises the very outline of the in-game reality.