Ashen Void - second review!

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!

READ THE REVIEW HERE

Magical Ropes

Each rope is 1d6x5 ft long. Roll 1d12 to determine its abilities:

1. Any undead bound with the rope is transformed into an inanimate corpse after 1d4 minutes.
2. Rope cannot be cut or broken by any means by the creatures of particular race (determined randomly).
3. Rope cannot be cut or broken by any means by the creatures of particular alignment (d6: 1-2 lawful 3-4 neutral 5-6 chaotic).
4. Any corpse bound with the rope will rise as an undead after 1d100 minutes.
5. It's impossible to tangle the rope or make any knot on it.
6. The rope can be animated with a particular word of command (use the stats of any large serpent, except the fact that - for obvious reasons - rope cannot bite).
7. Any creature whose hands are tied with the rope acts as its level is two levels higher.
8. Any living creature bound with the rope regenerates 1 HP per round.
9. Any living creature that is strangled to death with the rope comes back to life after 1d3 days.
10. If the rope is tied around one's waist, it can be controlled and used as a prehensile tail.
11. Any creature whose legs are tied with the rope is able to levitate a few inches above ground.
12. The rope can be stiffened with a particular word of command and used as a staff (for combat, leverage, poking the ground, poking a friend etc.).
    

The Eaters of Madness

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.

Magical flutes

Some nasty, weird or just plainly fucked-up magical flutes. Roll 1d12:

1. After seven minutes of playing it, every sentient being listening to the music must pass save vs. magic to evade brain meltdown (1d100 INT damage, reduction to negative value means death);
2. Can be used to control cattle (as seen above) but after one hour of playing it, one random cow suddenly transforms into a gorgon;
3. Its music causes all gold items in 60 feet radius to vibrate with considerable force;
4. Playing the flute causes it to generate a magical mist, similar to the Cloudkill spell;
5. Playing the flute causes it to generate horrid fumes, similar to the Stinking Cloud spell;
6. After playing it for three minutes or more, the flute's music attracts all lizards and drakes within a two mile radius;
7. Flute's music attracts all mice, cats and dogs within a mile radius;
8. Every attempt of playing the flute causes it to spew fire and clouds of choking fumes;
9. The flute can be used to breathe underwater;
10. If the flute is used to shoot darts, each dart becomes magically poisoned (save or die, if one's immune to non-magican poisons - save twice or die);
11. After playing the flute for more than twelve minutes, clouds of flies start to emerge from the instrument. The flute's music is able to control the cloud of insects;
12. Each living being that is listening to the flute's music for more than three minutes must save vs. magic or fall asleep for as long as the music is played.
    
    

 

Christmas in July!

It's Christmas in July! All my shit on DriveThruRPG is now available up to 25% cheaper! In fact, Ashen Void was released too late (or too early? I don't know, haha) to be included, so I've reduced the price manually.

MY STUFF ON DRIVETHRU - NOW CHEAPER

 

Random table: what's controlling them?

The group the PCs encounter is acting, well, strange. Roll 1d10 to determine what's controlling/possessing/deceiving the encountered creatures:

1. Brain-altering fungus, contracted in the nearby crypt;
2. Demon, trapped in the large ruby, held by the group's leader;
3. Cursed dagger, used to sacrifice the high priest of the local most prominent religion;
4. Addiction to the Star Root;
5. Their brains were damaged by toxic fumes, the group is just acting erratically;
6. Sword of Seventh Hell, whispering false promises of power;
7. Ghost of their late leader, killed in ritual combat by the Arthropod Prince;
8. The Quest spell;
9. Hallucinations induced by the spell guarding the nearest place of power;
10. Parasitic magical worms, created by a mad wizard.
11. Moonflower dust, forcing them to search for the way to contract lycanthropy;
12. Angelic vision, in fact being sent by a disguised demon prince.
    

Ashen Void print preview!

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.

 

Ancient Races of Ortix

 

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.

• Cyclops - invaders from the dying world of Zaat, Engineers of Flesh. It’s possible that they are the ones who created the Feeble Races, including the humans.
• Nghsh - the ones who designed and operated the Eternal Machines.
• Raktai - poisonous amphibians, probably the interstellar travelers.
• Ttth - the Soul Crystals. The factual creators of Ortix. Possibly creators of the entire Shimmering Dimension.
• Xosoko - the ancient rulers of Ortix, masters of the Hidden Sphere.

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.

Mysterious Structures (Ashen Void)

Scattered on the wasteland, hidden in plain sight, or appearing only in nightmares and trance-induced hallucinations.

1. The Burial Well
2. The Floatstone Monolith
3. The Corridors of Mirrors
4. Cathedral of Reversed Time
5. Sepulcher of the Inscribed Skulls
6. The Crystal Bridge
7. The Bloodsoaked Column
8. The Unending Hallways 
9. Crimson Beam Lighthouse
10. Market of Ill Fates
11. Shrine of the Thousand Eyes
12. Synod of Subhuman Abominations

This table, in slightly expanded (d20) version, appears in the Ashen Void system-less setting I've released few weeks ago.

I've answered Jeff's questions from 2011!

Well, better late than never! In fact, I'm not sure if I've stumbled upon these questions before. Nevertheless, now it's a perfect moment to answer them.

(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.

World of ortix - the principles

As I said - the World of Ortix will be "ugly, convoluted and linguistically inferior" - and you've had a glimpse of the gibberish nonsense I will include in the book. OR NOT - as everything is still evolving and mutating.

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.

The Antitheists

 

Quite well-organized faction of those who view the gods as unworthy of any attention. The gods despise mankind - and should be treated the same way. Antitheists aren’t passive in their ideology - they often kill religious zealots and attack and desecrate temples.

Even though the active worship of the gods isn’t extremely popular, most people fear them. This makes the Antitheists not very welcome in most human settlements, as it’s believed (not without reason) that their actions can bring the wrath of gods.

Heretics

The most radical Antitheists call themselves the Heretics - and they bear this name with pride. The Heretics openly state that the world should be cleansed from all that is divine. They actively destroy everything that is connected with deities - including Abstract Technology and places of power associated with gods. Over the years, they’ve also gathered significant amounts of knowledge about godhood and its various aspects.

The Heretics call themselves the followers of the Godkiller. Some recent rumors say that they somehow managed to locate, overwhelm and kill a minor Shadow God.

Somewhat paradoxically, the Heretics’ main hub is Dranth - the City of the Thousand Gods.