Memories of Connor's Adventures

Orlando the Adventurer pulled a Scimitar from beneath his Robes and smiled...

Monday 30 April 2018

Linguistic Archaeology: a name change...


Thought I would go exploring the limits of runes. MUNRO would be MKUNAR  (I'm not familiar with that Scottish name) which sounds suspiciously like MCCONNOR. AR and KU are paired runes in their older form. So a shared celtic proto-Viking origin results in a split to MCCONNOR and MUNRO simply by linguistic changes. 



Saturday 28 April 2018

Peasant Folk: Stilt Walking

Stilts obviously require training and Balance and in D&D Rules Cyclopedia terms would qualify as continuous use of the Balance Skill until your character qualified as a skilled user.
It involves the use of two stilts and a third pole that is used to maintain ones balance when stationary and in motion, but can also used as a weighted pendulum club to assault those at ground level (used to deal with wolves usually).

Combat
Stilt-Walker's Staff: Treat it as a Staff or club for damage though it swings long and probably last in Melee combat.
Kicking with a stilt: a kick should inflict on scale with a staff or club (1d4). Stilts of Wood should be AC8 and 5hp so they are vulnerable to any attack with a weapon.
A Magic-user could use stilts to travel though Spells that require hands free and unencumbered to cast a spell would require a balance check. The same for the use of any weapon other than the stilt-walker's staff.

Movement
A stiltwalker in China achieved forty nine miles in a day (6.125 × 8 mile hexes) on stilts but we can consider him very skilled and minimally encumbered. Though it varies with stilt length, 6x walking speed could be a good maximum for minimally encumbered stilt walking on a road by a very skilled walker. Medium encumbrance 3x walking speed. And 1.5x walking Speed for fully encumbered.

                                             Stilt-walking Movement Rate
Encumbrance      Untrained*   Basic**   Skilled    Expert   Master    G.Master
Minimum                     1/4x           1x              2x            3x             4x            6x
Medium                           -             1/2x            1x            1.5x          3x            4x
Fully                                 -             1/4x          1/2x          1x              2x            2x
Overloaded*                   -                -              1/4x          1/2x          1x           1.5x
* Stilts break under the load of the traveller on a failed balance check 1/turn.
** -4 Penalty on balance checks until skilled.

Improving Stilt-Walking Skill Mastery
Untrained         Skill        Basic     Skilled    Expert   Master    G.Master
-4 penalty       Balance      +1            +2            +3          +6             +12
      -                       Kick       1d4        1d4+1      1d6        1d6+1       1d8


Linguistic Archaeology: The Weird part 2

Here we have the Weird, the realm of the Faries. Because AR is a fixed elder rune pairing so not IR. And in runic we get from Left to Right: W-KUAR-D. From which we apparently get the word 'Wicked'. If however we read Right to Left we get: D-ARKU-W. From which we get the Word 'Dark'.

The Weird: Wicked one way, and Dark the other.

Friday 27 April 2018

Creature Catalogue: The Hoot-mon

 








Owl-Father has single handedly sired the Owl-bear species...











Goblin Spawn

          GIANT OWL         GOBLIN                  HOOTMON (OWL-FATHER)
AC             6                            6                             6
HD             4(L)                      1-1(S)                    2+1(M)
MV                                           60' (20')            30' (10')
          FLY: 300'(100')
AT     2 CLAWS/1 BITE    1 weapon              4 Claws +1 Bite or Weapon
DA    1-8/1-8/1-6              as weapon           1-4/1-4/1-4/1-4/1-3/as weapon
NA         0 (1-3)                     2-8 (6-60)                 1 (unique)
SA      FIGHTER L2                NM                      Fighter L2
ML           8                               7                              8
TT      V (NO COINS)           R (C)                         T(C)
INT          4                               9                               6
AL       NEUTRAL                   Chaotic                  Chaotic
XP           75                            5                                25

The size of a Man, this goblin-kin lairs in a forest Cave in the far north with its current Giant Cave Bear mate and a dozen current adult Owl Bear Offspring. It is fairly intelligent and has a stash of treasure from Adventurers.

Thursday 26 April 2018

Something Nocturnal: Cereal Pest


Short Fiction: A Gruel Dog Day

A Gruel Dog Day

“Dead Eyed Molly!” Kaiya Sulanov contemplated her warm bowl of gruel and milk to the sound of the gamblers at the next table. “Thank you gentlemen for a lovely evening.”
“Not quite yet Rhily.” The voice had the sound of one intending violence, enough to cause Kaiya to pause in her evening meal and look in their direction. “One more hand.”
“What might that be when its not being a scrap of paper then?” Kaiya noticed what looked like the seal of the Baron. It was something official. “Its the title deed to some land.”
“The Dice.” The tenseness vanished and Kaiya returned her attention to her meal. No murders tonight. “All right.”
“Master Rikard,” Kaiya pushed back her empty bowl and waved to get the Tavern master’s attention. “Could I get a Honeyed Butter-milk?”
“Aye lass,” Master Rikard was watching the gamblers with one eye. “I do believe I have some honey.”
“Dead Eyed Molly!” Cried the voice… and the game was over.
“Drinks to My good fortune Tavern-master!”

“I knew a lass named Molly!” Kaiya loved listening to the Song. “But she had naught but eyes for you.”
“A cruel love if ever there was,” Kaiya smiled at the singing voices. It was the only beautiful thing about the game. “As she took your gold and flew.”

“Here you go lass.” Master Rikard placed the wooden mug in front of Kaiya. ‘Thank you.”
Kaiya watched as the Tavern-master returned to the ale barrels to make good on the gamblers drinks before tasting her honeyed Buttermilk.

Kaiya watched the gamblers finish their drinks and slowly slip out of the back of the tavern together. They had obviously come to some agreement to travel together during the game and she had missed out on an adventure.
“Row that lot across the river,” Tavern-master Rikard sat opposite Kaiya, his weariness apparent. “And I’ll throw in Breakfast.”
Alright Master Rikard.” Kaiya smiled at the prospect of a quick adventure for the evening and grabbing her backpack kicked under the table, “I will be back for breakfast.”

On the landing, Kaiya found the gamblers discussing the size of the boat. It would definitely be one passenger at a time. The Elf in the group of Humans decided to catch the first journey and had positioned himself in the vessel. They turned to stare at the waif of a girl who joined them on the dock.
“Excuse me.” Kaiya slipped past the gathered group and stepped down into the small boat and nodded as the elf passenger smiled at her. “I’m Leaf.”
“Ilawesti Kaiya.” Kaiya replied with a Callari elven accent and smiled back pushing the boat out from the dock. “Tsha Urat?”
“Your elven is very good.” Leaf Nodded at her question. “Ilawe kri fa na Tsha.”
“No flirting with the lass Beaten-bow,” Kaiya looked to see which of the impolite wretches had interrupted their conversation. The rough looking man chuckled at her angry glare. “She has to row the rest of us as well.” Kaiya continued rowing in silence out into the mist of the river.

The silence had been agony. Kaiya had so wanted to spend the minutes speaking elven. Within minutes they were across.
“Kiseri Motal.” Leaf scrambled out of the boat and Kaiya grimly rowed back out across the Misty River.

The next passenger smelled of Turnips.
“Would you like me to do the rowing?” Kaiya focused on a lantern where Leaf awaited her passenger’s arrival. “Are you sure you don’t want me to do the rowing?”
“I am fine.” Kaiya smiled at the Farmer Miklos’s generosity. “Thank you for your offer.”

Kaiya returned through the mist for the third passenger.
“Have your been to the Church of Karameikos before?” Kaiya cringed at being converted. She didn’t even attend services at the Church of Traladara. “It’s not like the Church of Karameikos with its three Immortals.”
“How many do you have?” Kaiya’s attention focused on the sight of the elf Leaf Beaten-bow on the bank coming into view. “Immortal-wise?”
“As many as needed.” Franz felt about for a spare holy symbol and placed it in her hands. “We would always welcome the Traladaran Immortals into the unifying church.”
“Stop trying to convert the girl Franz.” Leaf’s voice made her smile and he winked at her. “Elves have way more immortals anyway.”
“Yes. Yes.” Franz climbed out of the boat onto the bank happy he had at least got her interested. “An elf can’t fall out of a tree without earning immortality.” Kaiya rowed back out into the mist leaving the two on the bank in conversation, her new holy symbol pocketed for safety.

“So...” Kaiya ignored the obvious advances Eben Rhily. “You are as yet unmarried I take it?”
“Perhaps Now that I own some nice land north of Lake Windrush...” Rhily slumped sideways over the edge of the boat as the Ghoul in the water behind him was revealed.
<Magic-Missile> Kaiya unleashed the spell and the arrow of energy lanced at the undead horror causing it to fall back into the water. Kaiya pulled the paralysed form of Eben Rhily back onto the boat and continued rowing, watching the corpse of the ghoul drifting on down the river a ways before vanishing below the water. Leaf seemed concerned as Kaiya rowed from the mist with the unconscious Eben Rhily and touched the river bank.
“I saw the Missile!” Leaf and Franz grabbed the unconscious Rhily and dragged him up the bank. “What was that?”
“It was Ghoul I think.” Kaiya struggled out of the boat after the companions. “I think I killed it.”
“It drifted off down river and sank.” Kaiya was shaking with fear. “I used my only spell.”
“Rest a while.” The Elf embraced Kaiya. “I’ll row the next.”

Tomin Creary held a Sword in his hands and watched the river water warily for any signs of a Ghoul as Leaf rowed the little boat out of the Mist and touched land.
“A Ghoul?” Tomin nodded and smiled at Kaiya. “Rhily is a bit of an arse but you saved him this night.”
“If you wish,” Tomin Creary Considered the young girl who had saved the life of another. “you can join us.”

Sunday 15 April 2018

Mystaran Campaign: A look at Dwarven

Rockhome Dwarven has a number of words in common use thar can be divided into Old Dwarven and Modern Dwarven. Consider the word Evedotar (Clan Head). This can be considered a modern Dwarf concept. Eve (High) - Dotar (Family Head). Then there is proto-Dwarven. Dotar divides further: Do (an undefined/extinct word though D and O exist individually as Dwarf Name Prefix) - Tar (Beard). Do could be a reduced form of Dor meaning Wondrous/Impressive. So Clan head might have originally refered to a specific Dwarf (Do High-Beard), or it might be originally Eve-dor-tar (High Wondrous Beard).

Dwarf                     English
Ats                          Axe
Bahr                        Sun
Bal                           Tan
Barr                        Yellow/Blonde
Belf                         Noisy

Bif                           Nimble
Blys                        Blood/Red
Bof                         Stout/Husky
Bol                           Crater/Hole
Bomb                      Huge/Fat
Buhr                        Fire
Buhrad                   Gold
Dal                           Valley
Dar                           War-chief/Sergeant
Den                          Stone/Rock
Dor                          Impressive/Wondrous
Dorf                        Slow/Ponderous
Dotar                      Parent/Family head
Dul                          Low/Deep
Dulgardar             Governor/Mayor
Dwal                      Hill/Hillock
Dwarf                    Dwarf
Eft                          Top/Mountain-top
Est                         Eye
Eve                        High
Evedar                  Captain
Evedotar              Clan head
Far                         Wrecker/Ruiner
Fil                          Dusk
Fotar                    Father
Ful                        West/Western
Gar                       Home
Gardar                 King
Garr                      Safe
Gil                         Noon
Glo                       Big
Gon                      Bigger
Gor                       Biggest
Ghyr                     Solid/Sound/Thick
Hra                       Green
Hrak                    Chain/Shackles
Hraken               Convict/Prisoner
Hrap                    Frog
Hrodar                Games/Competition
Hrokar                Dangerous/Treacherous/Shifting
Hruk                    Granite
Hrum                   Sloping/Slanted
Hur                      Cave
Hurgon               Cavern
Hwyr                   Bellows/the wind
Jhyr                     Orange Colour
Kagyar                Immortal patron of dwarves
Karats                 Great-axe/Battle Axe
Karodar              Battle/War
Karr                      Death/Name of Immortal Thanatos
Ker                        Tooth/Fang
Klint                     Shining/Flashing/Fiery
Klist                     Sparkling/Flashing/Icy
Kon                      Dawn
Kor                       Gray
Kres                     Teeth/Fangs
Krey                     Speaker/Senator
Kroten                 Slung/Worn on back
Kuld                     North/Northern
Kur                       Black
Larodar               Wandering/Meandering
Larodin                Minister
Lhyn                     Straight/Flat/Linear
Lhyr                       Smooth
Lin                         Moon/Month
Mak                      Broken/Ruined
Motar                   Mother
Mor                       Pond
Mur                       Lake
Na                         Cutting with an edge
Nar                        Cut/Incision/Wound
No                         Clever/Sharp mind
Nor                        Cut/Damaged
Norden                 Jagged/Notched
Or                          Gravel
Puhn                     Hammer
Pyr                        Purple
Rad                       Iron
Radas                   Marble
Rak                        Citadel/Castle/Fortress
Rasdar                  General (noun)
Rast                       Mountain
Rutar                      Hand
Sann                       East/Eastern
Sar                          South/Southern
Sarkrey                  Ambassador
Shyld                      Shield
Skyr                        Forge/Smithy
Smag                     Smoke/Smokey
Stahl                      Blue (Specific)
Styr                        Blue (in general)
Syhar                     Moon
Syr                          Silver/White
Syth                        Quiet
Tar                          Beard
Thor                       Variant of Tor
Thra                       Glassy-Smooth/Mannered personality
Thro                       Oily smooth/coniving personality
Tor                          Strong/Enduring/Hard/Hardened
Tordar                   Nobleman
Toren                     Worker
Torrad                    Steel/Hardened Iron
Warf                       From/Born from/Made of
Whar                      Pitiless
Wyr                        Empty/Hollow/Hungry

The prospect of creating the tale of Do High-beard... sounds like fun.

Friday 13 April 2018

Blakes Seven: a BX style Cover mockup

All you need is the thief class with a selection of skills to select from...

Starship piloting, computers, sidearms, electronic locks...

Thursday 12 April 2018

Non Player Character: Yasmin the Assassin

Yasmin (Kukuasmin)

Str (⚂⚂⚁): 8           3hp
Int (⚅⚅⚅): 18        Lawful
Wis (⚂⚂⚀): 7        Magicuser Level 1
Dex (⚅⚄⚄): 16
Con (⚃⚃⚀): 9
Cha (⚂⚂⚄): 11

Starting gold (⚄⚃⚅): 150gp

Spell scrolls: read magic, magic missile/variant (assassins knife).

Kukuasmin is apprenticed to the Magist of the Sultan. She is effectivly a royal eliminator in training. Currently she is travelling with a merchant caravan to deliver a letter and scrolls to an associate of her master. She carries six daggers under her robes for use with her magic missile variant spell during her journey.

Wednesday 11 April 2018

Australian Gamer: Getting into Dungeons & Dragons 5E

If you want to get into 5E in Australia, it will probably be cheaper to get the PDF and self print and bind your own books than buy them mainstream.

Dymocks

Booktopia has a better selection at better prices.

Angus & Robertson not as extensive as booktopia.


A selection of pricey online locals. You will definatly wish you had that chest full of treasure.

Dungeon Mastery: Recommended Reading...

Sixty four year old dictionary. Yeah, its kind of suffered horribly these last few decades under my cruel hands...

But yes, as a Dungeon Master you need a good Dictionary that can hold up under your mistreatment.

It has a useful appendix on protoindoeuropean in there.

Mostly.

Tuesday 10 April 2018

Treasure Hoard: Some art you can use...

A toppled urn has spilled a thousand coins...

Linguistic Archaeology: Aryan has an unexpected origin...

Aryan... it looks to originate in the same ancient rune forms we are dealing with. Areean or rather Arkukuan Arku meaning Warrior and Kuan meaning Bow, hollow, nest, camp Wadi and an meaning Ancestors. So...

'Ancestral homeland of Warriors.'


It is at this point you might notice the phonetic similarity in Arkukuan as Arkadian (an ancient greek tribe). We see however the arrow-double bow marker associated with the Khoesan bushmen.



The Kuan language is spoken by a chinese ethnic population of around a thousand.

Kuan in chinese means wide/broad. So physically larger warriors as mercenaries or raiders In china.

History is rapidly becoming 'a threw it all in and push blend' reality.

Saturday 7 April 2018

Other Planar: Psionics in BX Dungeons & Dragons

Psionics is an aspect of other planar entities. This concept is not the same as that presented in AD&D. The rules presented here is reduced to a Psionic Aura affecting 2d6HD.

Psionic Aura
Psionic               Opponent Hit Dice
Rank                   1HD    2HD    3HD    4HD    5HD    6HD    7HD    8HD
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1                            DC      DC        DC          -            -         -         -           -
2                            T         DC      DC        DC           -         -         -           -
3                            T          T         DC       DC        DC         -         -           -
4                           D           T          T        DC        DC        DC       -           -
5                           D          D           T         T          DC        DC      DC       -
6                           D          D           D         T         T           DC      DC       DC
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D: death, T: flee in fear, Dice Check
For Dice Check, a victim must roll less than their charisma (on a 1d20).


Mimi: AC8; HD 9+4** (90hp); 140' (45'); AT Spells + Psionic Aura; DA as spell/Psionic Aura (D: 1HD/T: 2-3HD/DC 4-6HD); NA 1-6 (1); SA Elf L10; ML 12 (2 in windy weather); AL Lawful (any); TT nil; XP 2,300
They can cast magic as elves of same HD. Mimi are stick-like spirit beings who live in rocks. They are so thin that they are afraid to venture out when it is windy for fear that their necks will snap. They are said to eat men but their main food is yams.
These early Australians are a white (ocre?) people. They taught the Aboriginals how to prepare kangaroo as food.

Monday 2 April 2018

Creature Catalogue: The Drak

Goblin Spawn: The Drak
The fathers of all Drak subtypes (white, black, green, blue, red, gold) are goblins which are a super-polinator species (Goblins can impregnate any species through intimate physical contact).

Black Drak: 4HD**(Large); AC4; MV 75'(25'), fly 120'(40'); AT 2 claws/1 bite/1 Weapon/breath weapon; DA 1d4/1d4/1d8/as Weapon+2/breath; NA 1-6 (6-36); SA Fighter L4; ML 8 (9 with mother); TT R(H); Chaotic
The Black Drak are an ogre-sized black draconic humanoid with wings capable of flight. They can cast half the spells of their black dragon mother (two 1st level spells/day). Acid Spit 20'.