tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83164372606681228782024-03-13T16:20:21.753+00:00Thoughts of a Depressive DiplomatistDiplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.comBlogger923125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-89564956773875236432023-07-06T22:57:00.005+01:002023-08-15T23:14:39.534+01:00Reading in June 2023<p>My deep-dive into <i>The Hobbit</i> continued.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZns4krCAWP3--Pv6rF9t8A562yRMWX5qR8Y4DDrLR4iTS2e8Iil0qBEv2b7T_Rou_1AkLjcrKq4OTsoEu63Da4pIR97K1kRf0Mp156fS5XXCV72DFagNsHroJe3KxHPQFu6MHlcX3iWLrmOY6gTCAsGYpyMV4EQoYRL6CpEPZqq83pgrfOsMmAzv8/s400/Book001.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="257" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZns4krCAWP3--Pv6rF9t8A562yRMWX5qR8Y4DDrLR4iTS2e8Iil0qBEv2b7T_Rou_1AkLjcrKq4OTsoEu63Da4pIR97K1kRf0Mp156fS5XXCV72DFagNsHroJe3KxHPQFu6MHlcX3iWLrmOY6gTCAsGYpyMV4EQoYRL6CpEPZqq83pgrfOsMmAzv8/w129-h200/Book001.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><b>John D Rateliff, <i>The History of The Hobbit</i></b><div><br /></div><div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7MuQZPp0auMSDUbjAsGTZuSqe7xUi7V47hscUAYeJ36zwDUDQpftKk00w9Hv_tF_IUFVSROthTW76DC5stX-j6YcD1BBLm09FzjO-eFjvRp2Y21pWWy17dX6APys8_xYcWvvj00mbKX0_BPVDrGwYfPgUTxusBr_uhFRtA-clmcE1l3G8EjSV3RL/s500/Book004.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="391" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7MuQZPp0auMSDUbjAsGTZuSqe7xUi7V47hscUAYeJ36zwDUDQpftKk00w9Hv_tF_IUFVSROthTW76DC5stX-j6YcD1BBLm09FzjO-eFjvRp2Y21pWWy17dX6APys8_xYcWvvj00mbKX0_BPVDrGwYfPgUTxusBr_uhFRtA-clmcE1l3G8EjSV3RL/w156-h200/Book004.jpg" width="156" /></a></div><b>JRR Tolkien; Douglas A Anderson, <i>The Annotated Hobbit</i></b><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-o2eKW0dIi57HcLRnyfpm0DHZk5VibMEc-VzdW660s3RS36Jk-pGFN10rdiVI11RaZghbyw9I1uWtkR2wMse3dGqrWewvi8zCqQ-blZ-mURmYQmeU1CorMZAgYlW_Nw-hLa91mI5jakqU5fjcopxSliUnSyNbl4KVkB9oPNb34u5AwhnQxTG6fr_/s400/Book003.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="278" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-o2eKW0dIi57HcLRnyfpm0DHZk5VibMEc-VzdW660s3RS36Jk-pGFN10rdiVI11RaZghbyw9I1uWtkR2wMse3dGqrWewvi8zCqQ-blZ-mURmYQmeU1CorMZAgYlW_Nw-hLa91mI5jakqU5fjcopxSliUnSyNbl4KVkB9oPNb34u5AwhnQxTG6fr_/w139-h200/Book003.jpg" width="139" /></a></div><b>Bryan Perrett, <i>The Hunters and the Hunted: The Elimination of German Surface Warships Around the World, 1914-15</i></b></div><div><b><i><br /></i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>At about 150 pages with no notes or indication of sources, this is something of a whistle-stop tour and lacks context. This means that some of the chapters raise more questions than they answer (which is fine - a prompt for further reading). Nevertheless, it's a decent read for sitting out in the garden now the summer's here.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2q8fbvoqNQ1_ktg0Qt-NMtdf4RMVJCoC1PGauuA3GMg8YFTQ9KfBsyPQz-3JvB3C1DkZGoa_-yn69fFX9BSfDIE3jkd2Q546WK1vLjCRM9gK9gpgM2kzrHMyp2NRykoMGdR1UrkM9n883OrmuuDLtlR8npDkr_f9k_AVAZxd6LmVYX2FU6rzeWbu0/s748/Book005.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="486" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2q8fbvoqNQ1_ktg0Qt-NMtdf4RMVJCoC1PGauuA3GMg8YFTQ9KfBsyPQz-3JvB3C1DkZGoa_-yn69fFX9BSfDIE3jkd2Q546WK1vLjCRM9gK9gpgM2kzrHMyp2NRykoMGdR1UrkM9n883OrmuuDLtlR8npDkr_f9k_AVAZxd6LmVYX2FU6rzeWbu0/w130-h200/Book005.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><b>Neil Gaiman & Collen Doran, <i>Troll Bridge</i></b><div><br /></div><div>A graphic novel adaption of Gaiman's coming-of-age story that I picked up in a charity shop.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyRHZiViv05siP5MD2AxG6V8_6Sda4S2zKgmZe9l7htc5PtAY9TMWR1Sbt795M9wOlZK_9USEeMNBk5RGXIf6ZsUa5pA7hJjr4jBfLALgor_QToJ0XQD_QaR4Z1uHXRgysmKVMxJX1Hgo5C7E7l1TbTGQJOATcUbuhp1DrW2mS9FXRwWHkuCi8aHF/s400/Book007.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="260" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOyRHZiViv05siP5MD2AxG6V8_6Sda4S2zKgmZe9l7htc5PtAY9TMWR1Sbt795M9wOlZK_9USEeMNBk5RGXIf6ZsUa5pA7hJjr4jBfLALgor_QToJ0XQD_QaR4Z1uHXRgysmKVMxJX1Hgo5C7E7l1TbTGQJOATcUbuhp1DrW2mS9FXRwWHkuCi8aHF/w130-h200/Book007.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><b>Elmore Leonard, <i>Out of Sight</i></b><div><br /></div><div>More summer reading, this from the master of the wise-cracking thriller. I think I'm right in saying that they made a George Clooney film out of this one.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Even typing this, I'm temped to grab another Leonard off the shelf and go and read it!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0_1O7ChMcFOQ8rM4KFNAQiW0lLoTk4P4ITnWs1uqolo9tKd10ph6RPYvTLtIi24-PQwMcJS-JCB7n56YsKMphAqwlHYiLksaWxS-Qq9xOIfD_LKmgOzo5zm95SCD1R71sRf4vNKGA-xr1H-U86nZGBgrSVZyxb36PDEr5RROD1gRgRSyef_qxmlB/s475/Book006.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="292" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB0_1O7ChMcFOQ8rM4KFNAQiW0lLoTk4P4ITnWs1uqolo9tKd10ph6RPYvTLtIi24-PQwMcJS-JCB7n56YsKMphAqwlHYiLksaWxS-Qq9xOIfD_LKmgOzo5zm95SCD1R71sRf4vNKGA-xr1H-U86nZGBgrSVZyxb36PDEr5RROD1gRgRSyef_qxmlB/w123-h200/Book006.jpg" width="123" /></a></div><b>Giles Foden, <i>Mimi and Toutou Go Forth: The Bizarre Battle for Lake Tanganyika</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Foden's account of the Naval African Expedition - the transportation overland of two motor boats in order to wrest control of Lake Tanganyiki from the Germans in World War I ("It is bother the duty and the tradition of the Royal Navy to engage the enemy wherever there is water to float a ship" as the First Sea Lord put it). Improbably enought, it was a mostly successful endeavour. </div><div><br /></div><div>The book makes much of the antics of the eccentric commander of the expedition, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Spicer-Simson">Geoffrey Spicer-Simson</a>. When it came out, this was something of a sensation and best-seller. It's a very good read.</div><div><div><br /><div><p><b>V E Tarrant, <i>Battlecruiser Invincible: The History of the First Battlecruiser, 1909-1916</i></b></p><p>Another short read (how could be be otherwise?), but this is much better than <i>The Hunters and the Hunted</i>. It starts with a scathing examination of the design criteria that lead to <i>Invincible's</i> destruction contrasting Fisher's misconception that 'speed is the best protection' and 'hitting is the thing' (at a time when the Germans were building faster ships and when <i>Invincible's </i>turrets didn't work properly and she was supplied with dud shells) with von Tirpitz's view that a ship 'must, what ever else, be able to remain afloat and stay in action'. There follows excellent accounts of the battles of the Falklands and Jutland as well as the rest of <i>Invincible's </i>short carrier, drawing heavily on diaries and eye-witness accounts. Of particular note are the 14 pages of maps (out of a total of 1558pp), which must be the envy of longer, more 'authorative' works.</p></div></div></div>Diplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-51263441198264621572023-06-14T12:05:00.002+01:002023-06-14T12:05:39.617+01:00Gaming in March-May 2023<p> A very belated update, partly because I'm finding Illmire heavy-going.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>1 March - The Evils of Illmire (OSE)</li><li>15 March - The Evils of Illmire (OSE)</li><li>21 March - Sundays in the Shire (Under Hill, By Water)</li><li>29 March - The Evils of Illmire (OSE)</li><li>18 Apr - Sundays in the Shire (Under Hill, By Water)</li><li>10 May - The Evils of Illmire (OSE)</li><li>31 May - The Evils of Illmire (OSE)</li></ul><div><br /></div><div><b><u>The Evils of Illmire</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqec056wtPmtE03sa2Vu__OmQU6NKE-kyaSAI_reJk5O9Vq4A1ldU3yMGtUEblaJyOLzxngDcJHFCe5wBnCc7UuZGVLTjuVb0XE6P3YKZT_lCKEdHgfOFT44ngv5RYlmqug8B-OMNQEM44J-RZ-E9sfhP6LCSlYhBtgwPPAdvTDa8oiCyEOVw0KmYc/s1920/IllmireDesktopBackground.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqec056wtPmtE03sa2Vu__OmQU6NKE-kyaSAI_reJk5O9Vq4A1ldU3yMGtUEblaJyOLzxngDcJHFCe5wBnCc7UuZGVLTjuVb0XE6P3YKZT_lCKEdHgfOFT44ngv5RYlmqug8B-OMNQEM44J-RZ-E9sfhP6LCSlYhBtgwPPAdvTDa8oiCyEOVw0KmYc/w320-h181/IllmireDesktopBackground.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The face-to-face group ('The B-Table') I GM for are currently playing <a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/343439/The-Evils-of-Illmire?affiliate_id=519854">The Evils of Illmire</a>.</div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>1 March - Session 5: Never Be Rude to Old Women in Fantasy RPGs</b></li></ul><div>As the Party was recovering from <a href="https://diplomatist2.blogspot.com/2023/02/gaming-in-feb-2023.html" target="_blank">the last session's slaughter</a> they were joined by Yancy, twin of the now-deceased half-orc Clancy. He'd escorted two new PCs and a hirling to catch up with them (<i>Convenient that, eh? We also had a flashback to the hiring fair</i>). After introductions - the new PCs were Dalk, a Ranger, and Collum Phobetora, an Illusionist - and while debating what to do next, they had an encounter with another group of cultists. After a very effective use of the <i>Sleep </i>spell, they tied the cultists up and left them to die of thirst and starvation. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WqCivYAYYyCqTxZ8SPLLZmpyzvcQ-ZweqjUwJxOhN_eNbaM4bZLYaI3LO6F7EciB2VGqCGg5RGUFFuLlPMl-kiQZbIFTJp299YNxnukiIKB33qTsbAEyEcGqNGsbKe0AnAZus6SAYUdiFT6jwv62AMqNLvKvu-HIsAiWyQVrP-kvxZ6rFggTI_70/s640/mistylake.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-WqCivYAYYyCqTxZ8SPLLZmpyzvcQ-ZweqjUwJxOhN_eNbaM4bZLYaI3LO6F7EciB2VGqCGg5RGUFFuLlPMl-kiQZbIFTJp299YNxnukiIKB33qTsbAEyEcGqNGsbKe0AnAZus6SAYUdiFT6jwv62AMqNLvKvu-HIsAiWyQVrP-kvxZ6rFggTI_70/s320/mistylake.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Then they went to investigate the Misty Lake and Fishfolk (<i>they'd previously been given this quest by the lumberjacks</i>). Dalk was unnecessarily rude to a old woman who they found living in a cave - he actually said that he wouldn't talk to anyone who hid their face to someone who turned out to be a Medusa! He paid the obvious penalty.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbzc-qvnb1tCs7OU3iAyCryYYz1oYsOJvCMYQ9bMBcoZNhypumJI3GvauJCkxNVpBgF6LcM86YlHSM0RZAbH1f1coqLu5GxwicLvCis_AtK0XR-VSGTbven7_QLeaC389zZXZvmkvZM9UXkJeLkml2pR_MeNRpvYXGfgO6fQfNByylKDs_ovQklkZ/s800/Medusa.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSbzc-qvnb1tCs7OU3iAyCryYYz1oYsOJvCMYQ9bMBcoZNhypumJI3GvauJCkxNVpBgF6LcM86YlHSM0RZAbH1f1coqLu5GxwicLvCis_AtK0XR-VSGTbven7_QLeaC389zZXZvmkvZM9UXkJeLkml2pR_MeNRpvYXGfgO6fQfNByylKDs_ovQklkZ/w160-h200/Medusa.png" width="160" /></a></div><br /><div>Fortunately, Connie the Barbarian had earlier had some positive dealings with another Medusa, which included learning their language. (<i>Both that and this apperance of a Medusa were the result of random tables, nicely tying together</i>.) This placated her and she gave them some info on the Racoon Tribe/Fishfolk that they'd missed picking up on last session. She also told them that the secret of getting to the Fishfolks' underwater dwellings was to befriend the Froglings, who had gadgets for breathing underwater. Eventually, she even de-petrified Dalk.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOI9vp1Nt7SWz9fkO4t0z8m6haYr_F3fndPnDlo4Xo9ayTPA17z9PoyylNMtRcb7Ua_Lbeu0c5Cl05P1BdVVGfgwYuofMbflYUSxV78gGGuFS5FB6CuXBA14v3kCGsFKj96yWe2SgVvp3HxHUJpnI89DnZWdHEavRg5lBt8c2QpIXiplIzvPnTIHt/s228/frogling.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="222" data-original-width="228" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUOI9vp1Nt7SWz9fkO4t0z8m6haYr_F3fndPnDlo4Xo9ayTPA17z9PoyylNMtRcb7Ua_Lbeu0c5Cl05P1BdVVGfgwYuofMbflYUSxV78gGGuFS5FB6CuXBA14v3kCGsFKj96yWe2SgVvp3HxHUJpnI89DnZWdHEavRg5lBt8c2QpIXiplIzvPnTIHt/w200-h195/frogling.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div>Another trek led to the Froglings' village in the forest canopy. An audience with the Matriarch let the party know that she was happy to help on condition that they first rescued some younglings, who had been captured by the dastardly Mantismen (<i>Illmire is a little railroady</i>). Cue training montage, while the party spent a couple of days in Frogville. (<i>In retrospect, I realised that I could have had the younglings kidnapped while the the party was learning to use the breathing aparatus - thus removing the obvious </i>quid pro quo <i>and letting the party decide whether to rescue the infants or not</i>.)</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjLA9hFMf7vd4nrDQtVjzm5sqz-6jEBQ-LpGwsZGYbB6mXae7kwAsqnMiunQ8F9jmj76q_U1OdJ7dCtSAg404cJN09qvOK-p0W3JECuMBB6ISoof0SdEE2gWTKiaHBjtLdKsh03mKP2At6ou55_BZSpo_pWMZnDhwCfOE9hLcQQcNbsUc99vD76VA/s2048/mantisman.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjLA9hFMf7vd4nrDQtVjzm5sqz-6jEBQ-LpGwsZGYbB6mXae7kwAsqnMiunQ8F9jmj76q_U1OdJ7dCtSAg404cJN09qvOK-p0W3JECuMBB6ISoof0SdEE2gWTKiaHBjtLdKsh03mKP2At6ou55_BZSpo_pWMZnDhwCfOE9hLcQQcNbsUc99vD76VA/w150-h200/mantisman.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><br /><div>They set out into the swamps with a couple of Frogling warriors, and soon had their first encounter with a Mantis ambush. Through interrogation of a captive they determined that Mantismen have no redeeming qualities and that the children were probably still alive ("they have to be starved for a week to make their flesh worth eating").</div><div><br /></div><div>We left them as they discovered the Mantis-mound.</div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>15 March - Session 6: Hostage Rescue</b></li></ul><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5So8O7olWemrFfKQmR2CS2_iunTQMtJT6wUb1YfuoPgdl12L0jx34ZjuRstGe3Tv4BWSXXQO1mJ9u6mEUAXW1wXJX_C_Dsy7FsSgU-9kD8pTGRy9oZu6oYeQlHaOx4bdrJR_jgO_26wp9wnn17rUK6sTTZruCUqfOO2zhrhn05u2_sUU5RXJhYXZ/s1412/mound.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="1412" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie5So8O7olWemrFfKQmR2CS2_iunTQMtJT6wUb1YfuoPgdl12L0jx34ZjuRstGe3Tv4BWSXXQO1mJ9u6mEUAXW1wXJX_C_Dsy7FsSgU-9kD8pTGRy9oZu6oYeQlHaOx4bdrJR_jgO_26wp9wnn17rUK6sTTZruCUqfOO2zhrhn05u2_sUU5RXJhYXZ/w200-h133/mound.png" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Reinforced by another couple of Froglings (the Matriarch having had a vision of "much death" if the they went into the Mound by themselves), the Party moved in to rescue the Frogling children. </div><div><br /></div><div>With close-quarter, chamber-to-chamber fighting there was indeed "much death". Before the final confrontation with the Queen, two PCs and a Frogling ally had been killed (one of the PCs by the Mantis' nifty decapitation action) and 21 Mantis we dead. After that, the Queen was a pushover and the survivors managed to rescue the children (and two replacement PCs).</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Back to Frogville, where there was much rejoicing. They stayed there for a week, training in the Froglings' underwater breathing apparatus and whips.</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>29 March - Session 7 : "Much Death"</b></li></ul></div><div>Another session with a dispiriting amount of bloodshed. The Party made an abortive attempt on the underwater entrance to the Fishmen's caves. Having met Giant Caimen and Electric Eels on the way, they weren't in the best of conditions when they reached there. A tussle with guards left one PC and an NPC dead without even getting into the caves. They sensibly withdrew.</div><div><br /></div><div>There bad luck with random encounters continued. Having fallen asleep on watch, they were attacked by Vampire Bats, again with fatal results. They made it to the loggers camp where they picked up their mule [<i>and new PCs</i>].</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JLnpxKcuUm93Ex0ZZdVEIRXJA6iJKINnDv4L2nXWi9p1mLtnXXoDewQYHf-i0-SRRYvnO0VdCpwykKwncd755GPSplGsNSUlPzWwsOdo057zpFQ86Cjs7bvmCo7cM36EzUu-57VNJG_DVs9zVe8ypCoGcNBp-yIOgE8lZ-nV3NDNW815ivs2OcCn/s790/wolf%20cubs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="529" data-original-width="790" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6JLnpxKcuUm93Ex0ZZdVEIRXJA6iJKINnDv4L2nXWi9p1mLtnXXoDewQYHf-i0-SRRYvnO0VdCpwykKwncd755GPSplGsNSUlPzWwsOdo057zpFQ86Cjs7bvmCo7cM36EzUu-57VNJG_DVs9zVe8ypCoGcNBp-yIOgE8lZ-nV3NDNW815ivs2OcCn/w200-h134/wolf%20cubs.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>On the was back to the village the party encountered three wolves. Having killed one and driven the others off, they found that they had been protecting a litter of cubs. The imediate reaction was "Yah! We have wolf cubs!". But as they tried to removed them the vanquished wolves returned and wouldn't give up until they were killed. The reaction now was "We've killed all these wolves, the cubs can't survive, we can't care for them. We'll have to kill them!". In the end [<i>after a lot of debate</i>] they took them to the loggers' camp to be raised their.</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>10 March - Session 8: Back to the Plot, or Not?</b></li></ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlULVJ8RBOadlLj3VXsoBGgc31I4BSso2Ei3U6y8vthrOhoCUOFBHlg5zAlYfsgu7CfugDnSVk7-H67_jUB56ArQaarQYjQ-0MLMpsj8C32nW-YNcj-ZlYR3TIZHFtC-DVSiL9ed-fxMEN5W7RxCgRqXuPJYm72asmysZqHuiKaYT-_ytcgDvDhL3/s600/lizardman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="450" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBlULVJ8RBOadlLj3VXsoBGgc31I4BSso2Ei3U6y8vthrOhoCUOFBHlg5zAlYfsgu7CfugDnSVk7-H67_jUB56ArQaarQYjQ-0MLMpsj8C32nW-YNcj-ZlYR3TIZHFtC-DVSiL9ed-fxMEN5W7RxCgRqXuPJYm72asmysZqHuiKaYT-_ytcgDvDhL3/w150-h200/lizardman.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Stephen</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Heading back to Illmire Village, the party encountered a Lizardman, who turned out to be a servant of the Medusa ("My Missstresss calls me... Ssstephen"). He offered them a side quest - to recover a Blue Jewel from a wizard's tower. His Mistress would offer a suitable reward.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Arriving at the village, they went to the house of an associate, which they found empty. And stayed their for the night. The next morning they went to the mill/bakery, where they learned that things hadn't improved in the days they'd been away. The associate they had wanted to visit had died of the Illness, and his son was now staying with the miller and his wife - but she had also come down with the illness.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our Ranger determined that it was time to consume some mushrooms in order to determine just what was going on. After some false leads, he finally discovered that the water from the village well was poisoned [at which stage the Druid pointed out that she could have told them that...]. While the Ranger still had the ability to discern magic, they went back to the abandoned druid's hut and gave it a good turning-over. The Ranger, who had the munchies, raided the vegitable patch.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then it was time to talk to less friendly villagers [<i>most of whom were confused as only one of the party survived from their last visit to the village</i>]. After selling loot to the jeweller, they met the tanner's wife, who asked them to search for her missing husband - they had to tell her that they'd found his body in the mantis-mound. In her distraught state, she let slip some clues about his cultist activities.</div><div><br /></div><div>Back to the inn, where they had surprisingly little difficulty picking up the post for their dead predecessors. They decided to have a good look in the cellars so, later that night...</div><div><br /></div><div>...They went down and found that the inn was kidnapping lone travellers.</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>31 May - Session 10: Burning Bridges</b></li></ul></div><div>[<i>The rescued travellers were convenient, as we had a new player and were able to introduce her PC.</i>] As well as the prisioners, there was extensive evidence of Cultist activity, include the dreaded mindphage worms [<i>which are quite squidgy and easy to kill</i>] and a rather convenient letter that proved the the Cultists were on the Party's trail. To nobody's surprise the inn's cellarman turned out to be a cultist. To Dalk's (fatal) surprise he had access to a suply of potions. The gaff being up, the Party sent a message to their allies, letting them know that they should leave the village and meet them at the loggers' camp.</div><div><br /></div><div>A few days were spent at the camp, making plans and nursing wounds. It was decided to take up Stephen's offer of a side-quest. The first attempt to get to the tower was stymied by an encounter with a [<i>familiar-looking</i>] Ghoul and another withdrawal to the loggers. Having finally got to the tower, they found a bear's lair [<i>fortunately empty</i>], stirges and animated furniture. Two of the party had the indignity of being killed by a table [<i>one by falling into its burn wreckage while drenched in oil</i>].</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Sundays In The Shire</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuY0KNBvH85OFqOvT5Pvo0LLZ-HB869-xxXBRu1BRG7dkJr5wPSFxf5Nq1oycEkaiLepbj-_Df7qh2QNGceXXjIJ7G_pHoypLjGqbhk4zJUwCZil2lSXml43w-b9m2VZIUmO9iCzYo7XXzZ9TduLK_RzlZvm8hZzNWYg-mrKPTUXrpGkCE2We6ZOUp/s394/hobbit.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="262" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuY0KNBvH85OFqOvT5Pvo0LLZ-HB869-xxXBRu1BRG7dkJr5wPSFxf5Nq1oycEkaiLepbj-_Df7qh2QNGceXXjIJ7G_pHoypLjGqbhk4zJUwCZil2lSXml43w-b9m2VZIUmO9iCzYo7XXzZ9TduLK_RzlZvm8hZzNWYg-mrKPTUXrpGkCE2We6ZOUp/w133-h200/hobbit.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br /><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>21 March - The Great Raddish-Nobbling Scandal</b></li></ul><div><a href="https://diplomatist2.blogspot.com/2023/03/sundays-in-shire-3-great-radish.html" target="_blank">See my detailed write-up here.</a></div></div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>18 April - The Great Goblin Battle Re-Enactment</b></li></ul><div>Despite side-plots concerning the Friends' rivalry with the drinkers from the Bear & King and Ebs finding that his nemisis and rival tax-collector has unjustly seized a cow (filed away for further use), the session was mostly concerned with the anniversary of the Great Goblin Battle. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jvzzvv-1GWqUQTAhKUk-nZkYi5D2bfsMw1LIa81v-yix8UqlSY5EXpbI37U0M8EHZawsrS8ikBqpGMihM5WV2sM473FI2XYO8HJ3j6hyKOYEkemeovPsZWBoQa8-1BeI7pfxewvnlc4bKntF7CusrMQWOaNBW0c_JAGCckIBKbTaXeEswNg_tjvR/s320/Cranford%20Cow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="176" data-original-width="320" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1jvzzvv-1GWqUQTAhKUk-nZkYi5D2bfsMw1LIa81v-yix8UqlSY5EXpbI37U0M8EHZawsrS8ikBqpGMihM5WV2sM473FI2XYO8HJ3j6hyKOYEkemeovPsZWBoQa8-1BeI7pfxewvnlc4bKntF7CusrMQWOaNBW0c_JAGCckIBKbTaXeEswNg_tjvR/s1600/Cranford%20Cow.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Let Justice Be Done!</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>This aniversary was to be marked with a re-enactment organised by Capt Bigglesthwaite of the Little Wincing platoon of the Knights of the Old Road (assisted by the long-suffering Sgt Oldbarrow). </div><div><br /></div><div>Naturally, everyone wanted to take part, and auditions were held. Three-quarters of the village turned out dresses as Doughty Misstress Oldbottom, who had helf off the Golblin Horde by throwing well-aimed turnips until relieved by the Brave Lads. Sadly, none of the party got the star part, being evenly split between Brave Lads and Goblin Horde. The re-enactment went well, despite the contingent from the Bear & King unjustly targeting the Friends.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>The Friends had gathered together the makings of a Great Feast, which they held after the celebrations. There was a rather sordid side-plot to catch Beryla Hogspen (the rival tax-collector) and Capt Bigglethwaithe in a compromising position, but (fortunately) this came to naught.</div><p></p>Diplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-748127545985472152023-06-13T14:36:00.000+01:002023-06-13T14:36:03.929+01:00Norwich Games Convention 2023<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqeSGFBqQm5ENNN_ZDdgdAEUF7tBENzHDvCF-LcFBlusbWZlb_7ScC0H3iCtGSwo6-OSr-KIhiI28v9f1XSlw2dFssfj1p6dxyN7ZQJH3DHUZ-V9C9rEw5A7utNKWtjKyYQ3FAa_JBh-A_92WbKJJuepxzHRaEEFcb0zWnzsQkoTFEEDsyGxWz72BM/s1440/GamesCon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqeSGFBqQm5ENNN_ZDdgdAEUF7tBENzHDvCF-LcFBlusbWZlb_7ScC0H3iCtGSwo6-OSr-KIhiI28v9f1XSlw2dFssfj1p6dxyN7ZQJH3DHUZ-V9C9rEw5A7utNKWtjKyYQ3FAa_JBh-A_92WbKJJuepxzHRaEEFcb0zWnzsQkoTFEEDsyGxWz72BM/s320/GamesCon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I don't imagine that many of my readers (especially the hundreds a day that I've been getting from Singapore in the last month or so!) will be in Norwich in August, but if you are in the east of England you might like to know that the First <a href="https://www.norwichgames.uk/" target="_blank">Norwich Games Convention</a> will be taking place on Saturday 26 August.</p><p>This event started as a regular meet-up over a long week-end by a group of friends to play RPGs and boardgames It's snowballed to such an extent that this year it's become a fully-fleged mini-con open to the public in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_Andrew%27s_and_Blackfriars%27_Hall,_Norwich">Norwich's medieval St Andrew's Hall (and crypt)</a>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQWmO4FuCM9YAaLpezLNtafiXTZtkJxc_pYzK8yHIPHGhQLiDuB6PsDoG8blSsjzxdzsVwDdQCOCrehBCYknPJsepHOlKY8x8pvjpa9570L6hl8_sKbSAXTxMjqO1X1BWY0jaLYINFS1qqP34S4k8h6qOXbYpIvjJfmIb0Il5iJJAQOIh3gKxi_tK/s1080/GamesConcrypt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirQWmO4FuCM9YAaLpezLNtafiXTZtkJxc_pYzK8yHIPHGhQLiDuB6PsDoG8blSsjzxdzsVwDdQCOCrehBCYknPJsepHOlKY8x8pvjpa9570L6hl8_sKbSAXTxMjqO1X1BWY0jaLYINFS1qqP34S4k8h6qOXbYpIvjJfmIb0Il5iJJAQOIh3gKxi_tK/s320/GamesConcrypt.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>Making best use of the venue...</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>It all looks very promising, and I'm looking forward to it. <a href="https://www.norwichgames.uk/whats-on" target="_blank">Details of what's on are here</a>. Tickets are <a href="https://www.ticketfairy.com/r/21914/1485574" target="_blank">available through Ticket Fairy here</a> (note this last link is an affliate one - I get a discount on my own ticket for each one sold via it).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XzXe9eyWsjTR-q3_ypxNqJzv9yovU8nwClVU0Xvfn17HFj0zF-XjJNvCceIo_tBmwN4S0_QmKcDmDKINgPcqvGZW1jYo15JdX0yEdp0rhC05CIkYAWlLTs3R5NfrSwuzzCdlzSq8pj9su_p_ZZab4lWSP0qElFJT1jwVweYHzl5xOMeXT3i-Mf9k/s1440/GamesConRPG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XzXe9eyWsjTR-q3_ypxNqJzv9yovU8nwClVU0Xvfn17HFj0zF-XjJNvCceIo_tBmwN4S0_QmKcDmDKINgPcqvGZW1jYo15JdX0yEdp0rhC05CIkYAWlLTs3R5NfrSwuzzCdlzSq8pj9su_p_ZZab4lWSP0qElFJT1jwVweYHzl5xOMeXT3i-Mf9k/s320/GamesConRPG.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The RPG tables open</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Diplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-16981543559517233872023-05-31T23:34:00.005+01:002023-06-13T14:54:33.724+01:00Reading in May 2023<p><b><u>Currently Reading</u></b></p><p>I've continued my deep-dive into Tolkien, moving onto <i>The Hobbit</i>.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZns4krCAWP3--Pv6rF9t8A562yRMWX5qR8Y4DDrLR4iTS2e8Iil0qBEv2b7T_Rou_1AkLjcrKq4OTsoEu63Da4pIR97K1kRf0Mp156fS5XXCV72DFagNsHroJe3KxHPQFu6MHlcX3iWLrmOY6gTCAsGYpyMV4EQoYRL6CpEPZqq83pgrfOsMmAzv8/s400/Book001.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="257" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZns4krCAWP3--Pv6rF9t8A562yRMWX5qR8Y4DDrLR4iTS2e8Iil0qBEv2b7T_Rou_1AkLjcrKq4OTsoEu63Da4pIR97K1kRf0Mp156fS5XXCV72DFagNsHroJe3KxHPQFu6MHlcX3iWLrmOY6gTCAsGYpyMV4EQoYRL6CpEPZqq83pgrfOsMmAzv8/w129-h200/Book001.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><b>John D Rateliff, <i>The History of The Hobbit</i></b><div><br /></div><div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7MuQZPp0auMSDUbjAsGTZuSqe7xUi7V47hscUAYeJ36zwDUDQpftKk00w9Hv_tF_IUFVSROthTW76DC5stX-j6YcD1BBLm09FzjO-eFjvRp2Y21pWWy17dX6APys8_xYcWvvj00mbKX0_BPVDrGwYfPgUTxusBr_uhFRtA-clmcE1l3G8EjSV3RL/s500/Book004.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="391" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz7MuQZPp0auMSDUbjAsGTZuSqe7xUi7V47hscUAYeJ36zwDUDQpftKk00w9Hv_tF_IUFVSROthTW76DC5stX-j6YcD1BBLm09FzjO-eFjvRp2Y21pWWy17dX6APys8_xYcWvvj00mbKX0_BPVDrGwYfPgUTxusBr_uhFRtA-clmcE1l3G8EjSV3RL/w156-h200/Book004.jpg" width="156" /></a></div><b>JRR Tolkien; Douglas A Anderson, <i>The Annotated Hobbit</i></b><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><b><u>Finished Reading</u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOS6EtHTCp7Er8PfYPKjPYtnKxHs6VLXtb-14I4irFYYylqYIefgGkIemfG5K_u4c2tu4-hQ4SujdwjsgreriNdg8s_kQnkFw5Z8PCLT-oIljlnxSMOwy_U27brmCeJgh3szOHlew-Ni1wifYgB2uwavzjxoeDPABTt14H7KoPotAKWCSu1LbZjLk/s400/Book003.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="262" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilOS6EtHTCp7Er8PfYPKjPYtnKxHs6VLXtb-14I4irFYYylqYIefgGkIemfG5K_u4c2tu4-hQ4SujdwjsgreriNdg8s_kQnkFw5Z8PCLT-oIljlnxSMOwy_U27brmCeJgh3szOHlew-Ni1wifYgB2uwavzjxoeDPABTt14H7KoPotAKWCSu1LbZjLk/w131-h200/Book003.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><b>Jodi Taylor, <i>Hard Time</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>A comic story about Time Police. It turned out better than I expected in the end, and I may even keep an eye out for more in the same series.<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gkRypUpo3x4EUgP96RvkcQWaNGTdBordkYpCAbfIz3YdAKp2rQGxoL22WehEYo2IBqZwjO-maCwsawablZ-Lu1EE8ZcmupI0cX6_IgKC9TGElgzAYnsNLurcg1lgNasSdZMBobh_FSjIdVa2aTGPdPeKBGYIet5bH5s7iApvhuJpykFChM7vkI6s/s475/Book005.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gkRypUpo3x4EUgP96RvkcQWaNGTdBordkYpCAbfIz3YdAKp2rQGxoL22WehEYo2IBqZwjO-maCwsawablZ-Lu1EE8ZcmupI0cX6_IgKC9TGElgzAYnsNLurcg1lgNasSdZMBobh_FSjIdVa2aTGPdPeKBGYIet5bH5s7iApvhuJpykFChM7vkI6s/w131-h200/Book005.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><b>Walter Mosley, <i>Devil in a Blue Dress</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>One of those books I've been meaning to read for a long time. Well worth the wait. I'm interested to see whether, as the Rawlings stories move out of the 1940s and into the 60s, they continue in this Chandleresque vein, or whether Mosley uses a different flavour.</div><div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1OzZ6k-a7-sH8t21LLqI2Z-vrsV5lKmiKoFiIJYz9hTa-I1Y5T-pCKPjXgI1J4i2JcRxQKQEkVaFC1WbWAAUhe69xaii0smlBPof05KFezS8BR0HPaUAO_eFdVVDAzW4wbvma8P5Z4CkAteOczzBYrPSk32ZzxPN6BWMSzU-5ouzS7wmdlSnNA4sL/s640/Book002.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div></div>Diplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-58103869061323385242023-04-30T21:55:00.006+01:002023-04-30T21:55:36.910+01:00Reading in April 2023<p><br /></p><div><p><b><u>Finished Reading</u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNROvnjlaKNq2Yz9OOKsNC3QtCRtugUems9MXygu1DyekQ_zsCgNf2-_p_tBxUmEka7WJBpG6s4m0-xWO0djX1Ru6yQ5-IMgEPvgEpZLUD9HlAf6OVIeny97qZE7WrOYtlY9Fx1o0Rq4rPu4I1jAoO-VkvlDSU5Xzzl2WJ7cYJvFF1TEvUC4uBndP/s413/Book001.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="413" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHNROvnjlaKNq2Yz9OOKsNC3QtCRtugUems9MXygu1DyekQ_zsCgNf2-_p_tBxUmEka7WJBpG6s4m0-xWO0djX1Ru6yQ5-IMgEPvgEpZLUD9HlAf6OVIeny97qZE7WrOYtlY9Fx1o0Rq4rPu4I1jAoO-VkvlDSU5Xzzl2WJ7cYJvFF1TEvUC4uBndP/w154-h200/Book001.jpg" width="154" /></a></div><b>JRR Tolkien, <i>The Father Christmas Letters</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>A series of delightful stories (delightfully illustrated) which come from letters written over a 20-year period by Tolkien to his children.</div><div><br /></div><div>Apparently latter editions (published as <i>Letters from Father Christmas</i>) contain material not included in this one, and I'll certainly seek a copy out.</div><div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhBzpFon_OJOpQ9FpvvAWNRIKP4rSEkbDpDWvI0ZHpN2Rk7wT1ZGpuPlkVvuN5St1p9jtqjBEviq7YAPPPhFi-hDzg3YHvadNOQwyhGYLWhMoKk6CWQYXsM-N60L-N2W8r_3Jx4PcmpqpKU5-pkw2JqXyq0Y9wcVbeQatkIv4gtFsjaaP4wTd02pt/s465/Book002.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhBzpFon_OJOpQ9FpvvAWNRIKP4rSEkbDpDWvI0ZHpN2Rk7wT1ZGpuPlkVvuN5St1p9jtqjBEviq7YAPPPhFi-hDzg3YHvadNOQwyhGYLWhMoKk6CWQYXsM-N60L-N2W8r_3Jx4PcmpqpKU5-pkw2JqXyq0Y9wcVbeQatkIv4gtFsjaaP4wTd02pt/w137-h200/Book002.jpg" width="137" /></a></div><b>Paul Gannon, <i>Inside Room 40</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>In this interesting and well-written book, Gannon looks at British codebreaking in World War I. In doing so, he dispells some of the myths (deliberately planted he suggests) about the foundation and operation of Room 40.</div><div><br /></div><div>As well as the Admiralty's Room 40 he looks at what little is known of the War Office's equivilent MI 1(a). Work between the two wasn't co-ordinated and there was little co-operation before 1916, but broadly Room 40 (or ID 25 as it was properly known later in the war) concentrated on wireless intercepts, whereas MI 1(a) worked on cable intercepts. As well as providing naval and military intelligence they each worked on political (ie, diplomatic) intelligence, with important results - most famously the interception and publishing of the Zimmermann Telegram.<br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqUFjKne_Lsk8W1fvjDdSiJFDKb132xb9ip1OsUYBn8C0iJEyYILFAUssgfGwqmP5WYnWHVcAQVgdPqq7jXDdE7HyfhPq2YMfPiMNAk1CQdAdGgnAxZQwpXfP1b57slJFGXo2W_IRR2DSIzy0V_ZjwcZFkLFkFv-heWnxYa20rDjm7ZxgM72ES4v1/s304/Book007.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqUFjKne_Lsk8W1fvjDdSiJFDKb132xb9ip1OsUYBn8C0iJEyYILFAUssgfGwqmP5WYnWHVcAQVgdPqq7jXDdE7HyfhPq2YMfPiMNAk1CQdAdGgnAxZQwpXfP1b57slJFGXo2W_IRR2DSIzy0V_ZjwcZFkLFkFv-heWnxYa20rDjm7ZxgM72ES4v1/w132-h200/Book007.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><p><b>JRR Tolkien, <i>The Silmarillion</i></b></p><div><br /></div><div>Carrying on from last month, I continued reading <i>The Silmarillion</i> in conjunction with episodes of <a href="https://theprancingponypodcast.com/">The Prancing Pony Podcast</a>, which considers a chapter in each episode. That proved a very profitable was of doing it. It was something of a time committment though - the podcast spent over 60 hours of audio discussing the book!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnJrKj3n_wmWYyW_YNhlScuLb1jZh8Q8IJaX7IwYRtOeLoM53Js2lO6EQDVm6dYJ8j4FTCKY6ucrHvmShbYCPso75J1BMf7K1S4ObVvbVaHVxvc2aYaqHosga03pxC4uzzrBDYVkTyYje5JrmK3uxZ2QLU_dFgxgmVdugk9xDvfMxWIPShDvToWWQ/s2339/Book003.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2339" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNnJrKj3n_wmWYyW_YNhlScuLb1jZh8Q8IJaX7IwYRtOeLoM53Js2lO6EQDVm6dYJ8j4FTCKY6ucrHvmShbYCPso75J1BMf7K1S4ObVvbVaHVxvc2aYaqHosga03pxC4uzzrBDYVkTyYje5JrmK3uxZ2QLU_dFgxgmVdugk9xDvfMxWIPShDvToWWQ/w131-h200/Book003.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><b>Kim Newman, <i>Something More Than Night</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Raymond Chandler and Boris Karloff team up to fight horrors in 30s Hollywood, written in Newman's inimical style. Fun stuff.<br /><div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hpZ9QeVKhdPXwpLKntW3DJWrJQXwI8EJbFEU6G8w59_QV3M0emGCbT-dQPDNFGR2-4LXIVkyTobOvz7aAfi_eKI0D4Y1iqSOQGPccXA2xFDaqjA_YZofynO5LR8mI6NEHtYh8NBHRpN_sX-uD5t_1B_a25EJt2sRufc5BlrryelM5_QY7ztgzING/s475/Book004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="285" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hpZ9QeVKhdPXwpLKntW3DJWrJQXwI8EJbFEU6G8w59_QV3M0emGCbT-dQPDNFGR2-4LXIVkyTobOvz7aAfi_eKI0D4Y1iqSOQGPccXA2xFDaqjA_YZofynO5LR8mI6NEHtYh8NBHRpN_sX-uD5t_1B_a25EJt2sRufc5BlrryelM5_QY7ztgzING/w120-h200/Book004.jpg" width="120" /></a></div><b>Larry Niven, <i>Ringworld</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>One of those books that I could never remember whether I'd read or not. I'm nown pretty sure I hadn't.<br /><p><br /></p></div></div>Diplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-22979182732304976142023-03-31T16:33:00.003+01:002023-03-31T16:33:37.555+01:00Reading in March 2023<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlQP3vAWsbHYGxVwTD2I4uAf29wr-N6ia8F2Kp9gVcdteVDWyQaIESx7UerYU3xPRZlAPQ2MtM8FaTZgRyg3GGG-fjmtWKpNMp4Oi_peUNNmFFEIdG5rSXlnlCvuRAX66dDiNMRm8twGXqfpsAIs-h9sZLDA0i4VeLUpbCINGijSkkdOIbledOX-E/s130/Book001.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="130" data-original-width="81" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlQP3vAWsbHYGxVwTD2I4uAf29wr-N6ia8F2Kp9gVcdteVDWyQaIESx7UerYU3xPRZlAPQ2MtM8FaTZgRyg3GGG-fjmtWKpNMp4Oi_peUNNmFFEIdG5rSXlnlCvuRAX66dDiNMRm8twGXqfpsAIs-h9sZLDA0i4VeLUpbCINGijSkkdOIbledOX-E/s1600/Book001.jpg" width="81" /></a></div><b>Erich Maria Remarque, <i>All Quiet on the Western Front</i></b><p></p><p>With all the Oscar hype, I thought I better read this classic, which for some inexplicable reason I hadn't read before (possible because I'd seen at least two of the adaptations on tv). In my mind it was a big, thick book but in fact it's quite slim.</p><p>Its reputation is, of course, justified.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVBclaFW7j9aB2d_fOxUtlNYulxo5CQqRXnccLlvunFbdIOiFebF3p8Pa7BRybUJXz4S8HrzcCmcBnlENlUJn-6q0Ldf6MojfTu9_Z9C4GjoAZ-ENmLj5uokJU8y-PzKnpMkrG88-DfqMF_H1vL0VQhFrvPiZfyg4dXJCD6-kagfc0hryqTEamnVz/s460/Book002.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="460" data-original-width="288" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAVBclaFW7j9aB2d_fOxUtlNYulxo5CQqRXnccLlvunFbdIOiFebF3p8Pa7BRybUJXz4S8HrzcCmcBnlENlUJn-6q0Ldf6MojfTu9_Z9C4GjoAZ-ENmLj5uokJU8y-PzKnpMkrG88-DfqMF_H1vL0VQhFrvPiZfyg4dXJCD6-kagfc0hryqTEamnVz/w125-h200/Book002.jpg" width="125" /></a></div><b>Isaac Asimov, <i>The Gods Themselves</i></b><div><br /></div><div>According to the blurb on the front, this is Asimov's finest creation. It's far from that. But, as novels about entropy go, it's a decent read.<br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6M4lXxHWNV_PCBRRGyemObUlhbEa8-fsl8kng751WybFXOSeVvPMtIqaMqCE9j_qJSC0QC2LQfsY-3JZesWDsJA5rUMBr3lahspHtNs4G5T8QJehEM_pvlnfT5MKSF3HJ4i1rnY8cILTxxu34OCaRurKL6mpXZnKoRVU7EZI89f7N0eegeI4fMmF0/s475/Book003.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="279" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6M4lXxHWNV_PCBRRGyemObUlhbEa8-fsl8kng751WybFXOSeVvPMtIqaMqCE9j_qJSC0QC2LQfsY-3JZesWDsJA5rUMBr3lahspHtNs4G5T8QJehEM_pvlnfT5MKSF3HJ4i1rnY8cILTxxu34OCaRurKL6mpXZnKoRVU7EZI89f7N0eegeI4fMmF0/w118-h200/Book003.jpg" width="118" /></a></div><b>Fred Hoyle, <i>Ossian's Ride</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>I surprised myself by quite enjoying the Hoyle book <a href="https://diplomatist2.blogspot.com/2021/11/books-and-stuff-ns-no-22-reading-in-nov.html" target="_blank">I read back in 2021</a>, so I thought I'd give this one a go. </div><div><br /></div><div>The problem I had was that Hoyle isn't known for his sublty, so I went in dreading the kind of shaggy dog story an Englishman writing about Ireland in 1959 would put together. When it developed into a silly spy plot, I gave up on it. There might be something clever at the heart of the Industrial Corporation of Eire but, if so, I didn't get to it.<br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZJDtp1cTGzd0loyesWZv5fyyBNAgJ7ZrS6nC3JadY8KO3awYcGaNTdnJRN9Zpblu4i1DbJhNyazgt20FODBduhZ1c8HBsx5FMqBI2YajpkiN5G02Gd4RBia8kMdiipch4T4780keTPdAkcn6RCUBhZk849Y4LJ3Yn-FgPKlT_P883UHXMvK1pU44/s500/Book004.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="375" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMZJDtp1cTGzd0loyesWZv5fyyBNAgJ7ZrS6nC3JadY8KO3awYcGaNTdnJRN9Zpblu4i1DbJhNyazgt20FODBduhZ1c8HBsx5FMqBI2YajpkiN5G02Gd4RBia8kMdiipch4T4780keTPdAkcn6RCUBhZk849Y4LJ3Yn-FgPKlT_P883UHXMvK1pU44/w150-h200/Book004.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><b>Fred Hoyle and Geoffrey Hoyle, <i>Rockets in Ursa Major</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>I felt guilty about not finishing Ossian's Ride, so decided to give Hoyle another chance with this book which I picked up at the same time.</div><div><br /></div><div>Apparently it's based on 'a play what he wrote'. That might explain why it's terse, but not why every so often we get irrelevant details about lifts or things like air traffic control between London and Cambridge (I would rather have seen more effort given to the characters). It's just not very good, so I didn't finish this one either.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-yol9PEZp6bKaOMw7CMBVtaLs1bFrQLFXHBap7p5dF1_YgGsrwrsnNj-kcRvAv6a-ka2gD4UEzaRSF4Q-Np0kOTHNRp0LXsl_k70rj1TWupiY9ueSqjJCBcrqVXIzFrMSZho_LN58PjrNpNXp__yAAzYKb--qv05jhQyHz0ykERJSPwyX_1zdm2G/s273/Book005.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="273" data-original-width="175" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-yol9PEZp6bKaOMw7CMBVtaLs1bFrQLFXHBap7p5dF1_YgGsrwrsnNj-kcRvAv6a-ka2gD4UEzaRSF4Q-Np0kOTHNRp0LXsl_k70rj1TWupiY9ueSqjJCBcrqVXIzFrMSZho_LN58PjrNpNXp__yAAzYKb--qv05jhQyHz0ykERJSPwyX_1zdm2G/w128-h200/Book005.jpg" width="128" /></a></div><b>Arthur C Clarke, <i>Childhood's End</i></b><div><br /></div><div>So I thought I'd go back to a classic (even if it's aged rather oddly). One of Clarke's best.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivf6VmY_OnLEpPLEUF8ff4klu-vud1CYEv9nW2EphxOSkm8lU3ooPYGFmOL5lyMuytPDz2BFgUMAzpSoiVQW8BrONILaSo0eRN2oAOuwM7w6O-7nEespo20ZDwenx9ILT1gTf_DHxN7bNfnIs33x290D0pzLj9lFIaKecJAH6D-jji3NkqMnUE7sHZ/s500/Book006.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="326" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivf6VmY_OnLEpPLEUF8ff4klu-vud1CYEv9nW2EphxOSkm8lU3ooPYGFmOL5lyMuytPDz2BFgUMAzpSoiVQW8BrONILaSo0eRN2oAOuwM7w6O-7nEespo20ZDwenx9ILT1gTf_DHxN7bNfnIs33x290D0pzLj9lFIaKecJAH6D-jji3NkqMnUE7sHZ/w131-h200/Book006.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><b>Kevin Crossley-Holland, <i>Between Worlds: Folk Tales of Britain and Ireland</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://diplomatist2.blogspot.com/2023/03/sundays-in-shire-2-quiet-start.html" target="_blank">For reasons</a>, I've decided to read up on folklore of the British Isles. Crossley-Holland is an excellent story-teller, so seemed a good on to start with.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJN7yZX3_Ud-gtJYs_yL-LS2_zhMlU1rbzEpAQmXraT_uO6651AlE2sBN2GXcEfUR92G8H6fT4XYN7BVfuq3tehARFHQSQYYy2sZKFiLEa2CquGd1GRJxaEB4Jjqxx4RRFsdmrehDly1Hun_1dOeDmtBoC17XdWFhmsS2Cf-fRQrOyRyGKvNPPNna/s304/Book007.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="304" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJN7yZX3_Ud-gtJYs_yL-LS2_zhMlU1rbzEpAQmXraT_uO6651AlE2sBN2GXcEfUR92G8H6fT4XYN7BVfuq3tehARFHQSQYYy2sZKFiLEa2CquGd1GRJxaEB4Jjqxx4RRFsdmrehDly1Hun_1dOeDmtBoC17XdWFhmsS2Cf-fRQrOyRyGKvNPPNna/w132-h200/Book007.jpg" width="132" /></a></div><b>JRR Tolkien, <i>The Silmarillion</i></b><div><br /></div><div>I've started listening to The Prancing Pony Podcast (which I heartily recommend). Each episode covers a chapter of Tolkien's writings starting with the Silmarillion.</div><div><br /></div><div>So I've decided to re-read this famously difficult book (I read it 30-old years ago and found it hard going) with their guidance. That's paying off (or it might be that I've acquired the wisdom of years). No doubt it will take some time...<br /><div><br /><div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div></div>Diplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-38147331792660546242023-03-24T16:41:00.004+00:002023-03-27T18:10:54.299+01:00Tolkien Reading Day<p>Aparently, in a series of events organised by the Tolkien Society since 2003, March 25th* has been celebrated as <a href="https://www.tolkiensociety.org/society/events/reading-day/" target="_blank">Tolkien Reading Day</a>. The idea is to encourage fans to celebrate and promote the life and works of JRR Tolkien by reading favourite passages. </p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Which as we all know is the aniversary of the Fall of Barad-dûr.</span></p><p>This year's theme is 'Travel and Adventure'. Quite a lot of Tolkien's writings are about Travel in one way or another, but for me one that is mainly about Adventure is <i>The Hobbit</i>. I say this because, for Bilbo at least, this is a journey taken for it's own sake and not because of duty or fulfilment of a quest.</p><p>So, this Saturday 25 March I shall be sitting down and reading the opening chapters of <i>The Hobbit</i>, in which - much to his own surprise - Master Bilbo Baggins is swept along into An Adventure.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqatsNEybN5fw3u7osSaOYfF4SLWpFP8mCaeWdiLccYa60KT4iNOgcp15qfvp2SMaBVO9XDDNXBhCNNJuK18NbWsAbftThIqSd-yFofTvn90RcyS0qd7gGvE0LFHMHY1kTNHxnkxQjzvmyJk_NWpzRgKjWscNP3DZI1KaqhvNeaDt6b5o0mcsjcH2/s1170/Tolkienfirst-map-of-Lord-of-the-Rings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1170" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmqatsNEybN5fw3u7osSaOYfF4SLWpFP8mCaeWdiLccYa60KT4iNOgcp15qfvp2SMaBVO9XDDNXBhCNNJuK18NbWsAbftThIqSd-yFofTvn90RcyS0qd7gGvE0LFHMHY1kTNHxnkxQjzvmyJk_NWpzRgKjWscNP3DZI1KaqhvNeaDt6b5o0mcsjcH2/s320/Tolkienfirst-map-of-Lord-of-the-Rings.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>One needs a good map for effective travel</b></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Diplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-23060818539919490712023-03-24T16:16:00.003+00:002023-03-24T16:16:41.944+00:00Sundays in the Shire #4: Cozy Encounters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPH6GyxHDgwga-S_AryxAuxW71Dg5pwIwrv32CndA3yWSd2y81s6bHw_BijF8PqraI1yTSKqG0OghzEAwN7p5zo9F-ealdRx3x11axUZKV-XepWNUNAbRVlhSgrivwcOFafRWCehzlA_7ew6QDjGGrvTt6anxzVFfXhuVte-vMbJTno_bvGDk0Qkk8/s225/monsterman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPH6GyxHDgwga-S_AryxAuxW71Dg5pwIwrv32CndA3yWSd2y81s6bHw_BijF8PqraI1yTSKqG0OghzEAwN7p5zo9F-ealdRx3x11axUZKV-XepWNUNAbRVlhSgrivwcOFafRWCehzlA_7ew6QDjGGrvTt6anxzVFfXhuVte-vMbJTno_bvGDk0Qkk8/w200-h200/monsterman.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p>Many of you who play fantasy RPGs are, I hope, familiar with James Holloway's podcast 'Monster Man' in which he reads his way through gaming books and looks at the monsters and creatures therein. If not, I highly recommend it - a month or so ago (after about five years of broadcasting!) he created <a href="https://monsterman.libsyn.com/special-episode-start-here" target="_blank">a Start Here episode</a>.</p><p>I'm a Patreon backer and, as such, occasionally get to suggest the theme for a Special Episode. Most often than not I'm quite at a loss when my turn comes up, but recently with 'Under Hill, By Water' on my mind I suggested an episode about encounters where the resolution isn't kill-and-loot.</p><p><a href="https://l.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fmonsterman.libsyn.com%2Fspecial-episode-cosy-monsters%3Ffbclid%3DIwAR3-2VdU-W7G1BskuE0A2klMY3LMVtRHkWycltVkwqi6OWYpUmFXu-5TxsM&h=AT3mLMmt5qsd0_2IbmIgbaSFWx_S5QP275-JDxebwxRQkjocJSasf1Sq7yQzve7L4gKYnMGGWbKphhCZMmxeSNdS0jH7aS-o8EAVMXskthA7xyk7rWoS1GqANruWek6-4aLJ&__tn__=H-R&c[0]=AT0FNnXdSvtozPbhpXIsPFVzIr-1Ix1EHp3HLqSGuo9gabCde7YmO5PaawUic8QATLLeRBA2d7K3nZ6Q84ESfoWqz7wGykctRePCIrf-B2CiRixHQSa_Om6zG5TxELPTKweNiH4uhm-ZEYfi9NyHi4PAlcE" rel="nofollow">He released the resul today</a> and, if you have been interested by my recent posts about 'Under Hill, By Water' it's a must-hear. He gets the tone of the game down to a tee.</p><p>Apart from anything else, it was worth it for James' coining of the word Nobbits for "Little Folk, similar too but legally distinct from Hobbits" (Not Hobbits).</p><p><br /></p>Diplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-56783584327842561882023-03-22T22:20:00.000+00:002023-03-22T22:20:39.686+00:00Sundays in the Shire #3: The Great Radish-Nobbling Scandal<p><a href="https://diplomatist2.blogspot.com/2023/03/sundays-in-shire-2-quiet-start.html" target="_blank">As I recently posted</a>, I've had a hankering to play <a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/329689/Under-Hill-By-Water?affiliate_id=519854" target="_blank">'Under Hill, Over Water'</a> a game I played <a href="https://diplomatist2.blogspot.com/2020/10/sundays-in-shire-1-first-thoughts.html" target="_blank">once during lockdown</a> but not again since. My regular group agreed to give it a go, and we had our first session this week.</p><p><b>The Village </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvsgW9Cu2SgQ3kMipHS-jeDtSSHlykiDZU__HjEonBvRnUOonvIUdMip6qInRyUu0W-t94v9NBRS6zkZWSHXaFERHOyrAnKqvIiCyqWVhNAYhAbNNwGGuXoGJ4WL0Ip-wYSrvj7_ONgWwNIp2DREFDBubVeqUZvDnIVdyA7YP8uLJXcdeIxib2LSX/s738/Shire-RogerGarland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="738" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTvsgW9Cu2SgQ3kMipHS-jeDtSSHlykiDZU__HjEonBvRnUOonvIUdMip6qInRyUu0W-t94v9NBRS6zkZWSHXaFERHOyrAnKqvIiCyqWVhNAYhAbNNwGGuXoGJ4WL0Ip-wYSrvj7_ONgWwNIp2DREFDBubVeqUZvDnIVdyA7YP8uLJXcdeIxib2LSX/w200-h193/Shire-RogerGarland.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p>Hayton-Below-Rime a town of the Eastmarch, perhaps not as renowned as some places, but then again, <i>We </i>don’t go around crowing about ourselves like <i>Some People</i> do. Everybody has to admit that we’re solid, respectable folk in these parts. </p><p><b>The Players </b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>Thornberry Tunneler (Dorcas). A locksmith with a dream to investigate the ruins Beyond the Hedge </li><li>Branon Oldbairn (Matt). A beekeeper who wants to open his own Mathom-House. </li><li>Ebinezeer ‘Ebs’ Rumblo (Jo). A tax-collector who wants to meet an Elf and learn one of their songs. </li><li>Awena Sandwallow. A wainwright who is keen to be included in her Aunt’s will. </li><li>Bit Gaggler. A comley shepherd who wants to publish a volume of genealogy. </li></ul><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUJWaKuzG3sJhTaKLKJpsrhVwwiv25d3QFd71lWpxvaHiEdjTfq1GbVeXwSoNr1DzBdgvP9yEm8aZAr1UyasFdevvSMChQTbPzK7rN7iFvaa9VEM-noxFvwwo_7m_uY85tiKL3WB1xStX_ub9RwksBv8BU-EaMq91sKS2y-L5Fp9d4Kd9QvN8wQRZ/s800/halflings-1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuUJWaKuzG3sJhTaKLKJpsrhVwwiv25d3QFd71lWpxvaHiEdjTfq1GbVeXwSoNr1DzBdgvP9yEm8aZAr1UyasFdevvSMChQTbPzK7rN7iFvaa9VEM-noxFvwwo_7m_uY85tiKL3WB1xStX_ub9RwksBv8BU-EaMq91sKS2y-L5Fp9d4Kd9QvN8wQRZ/s320/halflings-1.png" width="320" /></a></div><p><b>Spring 1246 CA - Set-Up</b></p><p><i>A Worrisome Thing </i></p><p>Janna Diggle’s garden has been pilfered in the night. Is the culprit a hare or a young radish-stealing rascal? She offers a substantial reward to resolve the situation. </p><p><i>Current Event </i></p><p>The Spring Faire is coming! </p><p><i>The Word is that... </i></p><p>The beer at the Lion & Troll in Bramble Gate is actually quite good this season. It might be worth a nip over to taste it, if your local landlord doesn’t find out about your treachery. </p><p><i>Personal Complications</i></p><p>I forgot to roll complications for the Players!</p><p><b>Our Session </b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1sNmrhHaeCUwHfPTb1QAvRkdv3twkOQOH58yzrEc__39Q0ZqZRcL7L5T0iaRWjv4zsh6nlNdcxTSEvyf_01_2LROiTp-lwfD8CfiEJ5xpUjJmXO4b9c5eSMDvGZdVHWW9UbShygO4E367yaJI58NpypyLX65F-ZG1_D_aAhdIY5KrxNwqO8lJeyPe/s447/halfing.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="316" data-original-width="447" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1sNmrhHaeCUwHfPTb1QAvRkdv3twkOQOH58yzrEc__39Q0ZqZRcL7L5T0iaRWjv4zsh6nlNdcxTSEvyf_01_2LROiTp-lwfD8CfiEJ5xpUjJmXO4b9c5eSMDvGZdVHWW9UbShygO4E367yaJI58NpypyLX65F-ZG1_D_aAhdIY5KrxNwqO8lJeyPe/w200-h141/halfing.png" width="200" /></a></div><p>The Players started with a few post-work drinks and dinner in The Wooden Baby. They half-heartily debated trekking all the way to Bramble Gate to try the beer at the Lion & Troll, but that seemed like rather hard work when everyone knew that The Baby had the finest ale in the Commonwealth (which prompted another round of Baby’s Best). </p><p>Instead, they decided to do something to help Janna Diggle solve her radish problem. They had a few ulterior motives here. First, Janna was a member of the Matronly Order of Good Manners and friend of Awena’s Aunt Dora. Secondly, she and Bit were in the middle of a neighbours’ dispute which he wanted resolved (Bit had complained about her smoke drifting over their fence, and Janna had told the Matronly Order that he was behaving in an uncouth and un-Halflinglike manner by disparaging the traditional art of pipe-smoking). Thirdly, Janna was the servant of Berylla Hogspen, a tax-collector with whom Ebs had a less-than-professional rivalry. </p><p>So they headed over the river to Janna’s hole, first taking the precaution of buying some mints from Rigsby the landlord in an attempt to hide their beery breath and sending Bit back to his own hole, where he could observe the garden from his back parlour. Janna was initially put-out by their appearance at such a late hour, but Branon persuaded her that as the interference was taking place at night, it was necessary for them to bend the rules of social intercourse. His gallantry impressed her (quite a lot it turned out!), and she accepted his offer to stake out the radish-patch and catch the thief. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOTOPiVQznwdblgMUQ93ml5wdmUqMKtWnVTYs4vf-8D9tP0D6DnZ596tDL4fKbJ1bNPrli8D_zGdJ_VcrRYCsyJTbI-mCrWR0t9hy02saoU7EtcLxwo8AxtH50hBaj2u-WV4BBCQEC7BnuyLqzr4bYbOmPvyr3bDGKJvNFtn3Mps7xGBh05SnXsGV/s710/garden.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="710" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOTOPiVQznwdblgMUQ93ml5wdmUqMKtWnVTYs4vf-8D9tP0D6DnZ596tDL4fKbJ1bNPrli8D_zGdJ_VcrRYCsyJTbI-mCrWR0t9hy02saoU7EtcLxwo8AxtH50hBaj2u-WV4BBCQEC7BnuyLqzr4bYbOmPvyr3bDGKJvNFtn3Mps7xGBh05SnXsGV/s320/garden.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Janna had her own ideas about the Dreadful Crime. She felt that this sort of hullaballoo was indicative of the decline in good manners amongst Young Halflings and needed to be stamped out (the Matronly Order had raised this with the Shirrif, but no action had been taken!). In particular, she blamed her new neighbour, a rough sort of fellow with no feeling for the Old Ways. In fact, she was able to point him out to Branon as he was lurking in a dark room spying on them at that very moment! Branon, Ebs and Awena all agreed that he seemed a shady character, worth investigating. Ebs and Awena, in particular, praised the good work of the Matronly Order. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyTdj-5pBumfITM0kzJS87NT1Sxk76HJgodilza-d9HurznOd4XxnJqMkaImaLEOsYXyTjB8L4VnS-FzhiB-t5wIN_P_JF_h4NUDRlILnXJv8zGz8AxM_LMBy0Sfp8DjaFrNumo4dRE99VgYeeBUhb-m5Cl1rixyM3SVdz2gvzC8Vf-ERpi5XfWkW/s752/janna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGyTdj-5pBumfITM0kzJS87NT1Sxk76HJgodilza-d9HurznOd4XxnJqMkaImaLEOsYXyTjB8L4VnS-FzhiB-t5wIN_P_JF_h4NUDRlILnXJv8zGz8AxM_LMBy0Sfp8DjaFrNumo4dRE99VgYeeBUhb-m5Cl1rixyM3SVdz2gvzC8Vf-ERpi5XfWkW/s320/janna.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />Ebs, Awena and Thornberry withdrew to Awena’s hole for a late snack and a night of pipe-smoking and plotting while Branon prepared for his lonely vigil. [<i>One nice mechanism of the game is that if players provide a suitable song or poem at the table, they can give a fellow an advantage on a role – Jo and Dorcas sang an eating song.</i>] It turned out not to be too lonely though, as Jenna soon appeared bearing a blanket and tray of coco and crumpets. Branon then demonstrated his Knack, which allow him to light a wand that throws a light that only he could see. [<i>At this point, members at the table collapsed amidst comments about Branon’s “knack with wood”.</i>] Branon was perhaps a little too relaxed following Janna’s visit and lit his pipe. Unfortunately, this rather highlighted his position to all-and-sundry. The Radish Bandit made no appearance that night. <p></p><p>Next morning the Players decided to see what the word on the streets was. Talk of the matter had flown around Hayton. There were three theories going the rounds. Some (mainly members of the Matronly Order) agreed with Janna that this was mindless vandalism, and indicative that the Commonwealth was going the Heck in a Handbasket. Others pointed out that the Spring Faire was coming up, and that Jenna had won the Prodigious Produce (Root Vegetables) Competition for the last two years with her prize radishes. [<i>Cue another collapse amidst mutterings about the length and girth of Jenna’s radishes.</i>] They preferred to think of sabotage rather than vandalism. The third group didn’t care and thought that Janna was an interfering old biddy who deserved everything that she got coming to her. They pointed out that, despite all her crowing, she’d only won the radish competition twice, unlike Hamson Cubber, who’d had a 10-year record of success. </p><p>While talking to the townsfolk, Bit was able to gather a few anecdotes about his family. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5OpJGWt-52Pf8Fws69_SJqGxMAISvlnQLsMGzBoagonvafN5tXcz8WdcCKB-6ftS7vTn7SLl3PVNQP-VesJno3lGUpRojKmXoApDig0atD8YAV811Sh0lB4-NViIwiXqc5h2KIfiflu1MbbJh67HqQIOYaAn7_2ZSe19ZaS1PYWsIhVqsAnz6MVi/s268/Aunt%20Dora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="188" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO5OpJGWt-52Pf8Fws69_SJqGxMAISvlnQLsMGzBoagonvafN5tXcz8WdcCKB-6ftS7vTn7SLl3PVNQP-VesJno3lGUpRojKmXoApDig0atD8YAV811Sh0lB4-NViIwiXqc5h2KIfiflu1MbbJh67HqQIOYaAn7_2ZSe19ZaS1PYWsIhVqsAnz6MVi/w140-h200/Aunt%20Dora.jpg" width="140" /></a></div><p>Awena and Thornberry concentrated their efforts on Awena’s Aunt, Dora Sandwallow. Like Awenda, she'd become estranged from the family for not joining the prestigious family firm of Sandwallow, Bevin, Greene, Bevin & Co. She was pleased that they were helping Jenna, who was a fellow member of the Matronly Order (it turns out that Dora was a Past-President of the Order). Like Jenna, Dora was a prize-winner at the Faire - frequently winning the Meetest Meal (Preserves Division) competition. Awena immediately offered to help Dora however she could: Dora suggested that any rare ingredients for her cooking (perhaps a hogshead of fine ale - “For the kitchen, of course!”) or for weaving (natural dyes and “as much horse urine as you can get”) would help. </p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbskv3vun3JTfUpQOhK_Os3NQfhRvyBdCIdqIVYJy3nalwYiMv0xzKpGVUplpVyJum6RKIaazVmuYaSrKofyISPOiIhrqwy4vq6cA2mWnO-pTQxJtD5xsCYiF9HrY9Cont0qXIVv3pufV4qW3mXZ51MX84LQrS0jI8qHZCJPDmS_EAqJcS_2pIvQV/s277/mathom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="182" data-original-width="277" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbskv3vun3JTfUpQOhK_Os3NQfhRvyBdCIdqIVYJy3nalwYiMv0xzKpGVUplpVyJum6RKIaazVmuYaSrKofyISPOiIhrqwy4vq6cA2mWnO-pTQxJtD5xsCYiF9HrY9Cont0qXIVv3pufV4qW3mXZ51MX84LQrS0jI8qHZCJPDmS_EAqJcS_2pIvQV/s1600/mathom.jpg" width="277" /></a></div><br />Branon, Bit and Ebs visited the Mathom-House. There a group of Keepers were enjoying a pipe and a glass of wine while looking at their latest acquisition. The Head Keeper, Morris Keighly, was particularly impressed with Branon’s appreciation of a prize numismatic specimen – <i>a gold piece</i>. Now in a generous mood, Mr Keighly was happy to show off his knowledge of Elves to Ebs and tell Bit about a member of his family who had been a Keeper and deposited the family archives in the Mathom-House. <p></p><p>Re-grouping in the Wooden Baby and exchanging news, the Players felt that they had achieved a good day’s work. Thornberry allowed the wild, Alwin side of his nature to emerge and decided that the way to get rare ingredients for Aunt Dora was to stage a raid on Farmer Cotton’s fields! Other, more sober [<i>sic</i>] heads pointed out that he was notorious in dealing with poachers, and perhaps they should just ask him if he would trade. </p><p>Plans were made for catching the Radish Bandit. These ranged from alarms to pit-traps to covering the radishes with a coloured dye. In the end, the dye path was adopted. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8Fh_85QIB1_-2ymo8Z4bABhrq5WyGDIplXbACQIb3AwzJTuy4MIC5RptQ0CGtTbkxrsHHv5t5TjkmqR3pzTAC6YsGH-iFYGeoF1RGq0IvvWlrjRpZqKWYFv-cBXSMPQyf8dZJcSWnLlOHSF5ijBnZig-5rw1O70iYHee2LUBOOfz-U2CF9WVLRiX/s1024/farmdog.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="1024" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij8Fh_85QIB1_-2ymo8Z4bABhrq5WyGDIplXbACQIb3AwzJTuy4MIC5RptQ0CGtTbkxrsHHv5t5TjkmqR3pzTAC6YsGH-iFYGeoF1RGq0IvvWlrjRpZqKWYFv-cBXSMPQyf8dZJcSWnLlOHSF5ijBnZig-5rw1O70iYHee2LUBOOfz-U2CF9WVLRiX/s320/farmdog.webp" width="320" /></a></div><p>Next day they visited Farmer Cotton. Although known as a friendly fellow, this only extended to non-mushroom matters. He distrusted the Players on sight and called his dogs Pouncy, Gripper and Bitey. He had no need of Awena’s offer of free wagonage (“What kind of farmer doesn’t have his own cart?”) or Thornberry’s offer of labour (“I knows all about these pick-your-own tricks!”), but his eyes lit up when Ebs suggest that he might get a tax rebate. He relaxed enough to stand the dogs down and show them Ol’ Bess his blunderbuss. In addition, it turned out that Bit’s grandfather had taught him all he knew about dealing with mushroom-poachers! He was able to provide a few mushrooms and Awena and Ebs found some red berries on the way back to the village. </p><p>After high tea, the Players went back to Bit’s hole. As a shepherd, he was well-versed in making a dye that would stain any radish thief. They presented the plan to Janna, who appreciated the fact that Bit had made the dye (and was rather more impressed to realise who his relatives were – she was able to tell him about an ancestor who married the daughter of a Thain). The trap was laid. </p><p>Early next morning there were signs of tampering in the radish-beds. More importantly, there were red Halfling footprints – the plan had worked! Branon volunteered to stay behind and tidy up the mess while the others followed the trail. They crossed the bridge and went up the hill. The tracks led into the Bear & King and another, more winding, trail led out. Eventually, they came to a hole they knew to be Hamson Cubbins’. Their banging on the door was answered by an elderly Halfling who had just sat down to first breakfast. He protested but had clearly been caught red-footed! </p><p>The spectacle of an old gaffer being unceremoniously dragged through the town in his dressing gown was only heightened when his pig Missy decided to join the procession. When they got to Janna’s, her door was answered by Branon in a dressing gown (she insisted that it was because he’d got dye on his clothes while cleaning up...). Hamson eventually confessed to sabotaging the radishes in order to regain the championship. </p><p><b><u>Outcomes</u></b> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rKbmpsanBfI022-lwZGP1XI4S3IXc51uq07Np97Hr8x2ebew9s5pxh_nNsMjcnEjyHmwLi44fbLQIAg7pXFQq4eTSQ_hKN36snv1dPjuXQwFTxa2oothfyFD1y9v8tyYpd8gdQXTwjlng-UhFsdO3XauYCQHsspT1TmS96AuPU4K4WbMzsrT7v8c/s640/prizeradish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="447" data-original-width="640" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8rKbmpsanBfI022-lwZGP1XI4S3IXc51uq07Np97Hr8x2ebew9s5pxh_nNsMjcnEjyHmwLi44fbLQIAg7pXFQq4eTSQ_hKN36snv1dPjuXQwFTxa2oothfyFD1y9v8tyYpd8gdQXTwjlng-UhFsdO3XauYCQHsspT1TmS96AuPU4K4WbMzsrT7v8c/s320/prizeradish.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Jenna's radishes won the competition. She was was pleased with the work the Players had done in solving the Great Radish-Nobbling Scandal and rewarded them with a silver piece each. Impressed with Bit’s family connections, she dismissed their dispute and a miscommunication. She seconded Aunt Dora’s nomination of Awena as the newest member of the Matronly Order. She owes Thornberry and Ebs undetermined favours. Finally, she invited Branon to tend to her garden whether he wanted [<i>ultimate collapse of table into sniggers</i>]. <p></p><p>Hamson Cubbin, who had been totally humiliated in full sight of the whole town and received a lifetime ban from the Faire swore to “get even with those pesky kids!”. </p><p>The Keepers of the Mathom-House were impressed with Branon’s astute eye and welcomed him as a member (subject to him paying his subscription). They were also pleased with Bit placing his family’s famous watch on Permanent Loan at the Mathom-House and allowed him access to their archives. This allowed him to get the final information necessary for him to Complete his Dream of publishing his book of genealogy.</p>Diplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-32982496980420108322023-03-16T20:08:00.001+00:002023-03-16T20:08:28.337+00:00Sundays in the Shire #2: A Quiet Start<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkfY5weEw7JeQeErdzh9TP4pXg304qtEfbOBrTrs-pnfTV2haqlw5BhK-yIi_3v6yZ7Oxpg8r6Z7gs0HyGJoJZIKygkdkeBIeE3-yNFnd9Ykr5iWY0M8POtycWEXS_N_4Ss9Jf38jb163IEVW-cwdK6QO7vDHI6KRKCVBR8b-8D8XCIMCBsdYtMyq/s1225/JRRT-Shire.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1225" data-original-width="929" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkfY5weEw7JeQeErdzh9TP4pXg304qtEfbOBrTrs-pnfTV2haqlw5BhK-yIi_3v6yZ7Oxpg8r6Z7gs0HyGJoJZIKygkdkeBIeE3-yNFnd9Ykr5iWY0M8POtycWEXS_N_4Ss9Jf38jb163IEVW-cwdK6QO7vDHI6KRKCVBR8b-8D8XCIMCBsdYtMyq/s320/JRRT-Shire.jpg" width="243" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Now far ahead the Road has gone,</div><div style="text-align: center;">Let others follow it who can!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Let them a journey new begin,</div><div style="text-align: center;">But I at last with weary feet</div><div style="text-align: center;">Will turn towards the lighted inn, </div><div style="text-align: center;">My evening-rest and sleep to meet.</div></div><p>Back during Lockdown, was lucky to discover Discord as a method of online role-play gaming. It was quite a fertile time for trying new games and systems and - before I burnt out - I was playing up to four sessions a week (go back to the 2020/21 entries on this blog for the details).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWB-1R8_7KhfatSQOSIZzA_QeswNIwhhQ8lSD7Z-d8zIhKMNTN3XWpCrd-QoCiB7bhUGBtFoXTICibsR2scAZFWyKLt0ngf7__8hU6MWyaTKVUO-bPn2S9iZ5doi-i18vW_hB7JalQ8nScQGaDQ0RQMkhsRaTAusspFDsCCd_vcZtcWEMVXnSxiXq7/s1092/under01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1092" data-original-width="989" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWB-1R8_7KhfatSQOSIZzA_QeswNIwhhQ8lSD7Z-d8zIhKMNTN3XWpCrd-QoCiB7bhUGBtFoXTICibsR2scAZFWyKLt0ngf7__8hU6MWyaTKVUO-bPn2S9iZ5doi-i18vW_hB7JalQ8nScQGaDQ0RQMkhsRaTAusspFDsCCd_vcZtcWEMVXnSxiXq7/s320/under01.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><br /><div>One of the games which definitely fell into the "played it once, want to play it again' was <a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/329689/Under-Hill-By-Water?affiliate_id=519854" target="_blank">'Under Hill, Over Water'</a> a game based upon respectable Hobbits living nice, quiet lives (<i>certainly <b>not </b>adventuring!</i>). <a href="https://diplomatist2.blogspot.com/2020/10/sundays-in-shire-1-first-thoughts.html" target="_blank">I talk about the one, very enjoyable, session we had here</a>.</div><div><p>A couple of weeks ago I floated to my current face-to-face group ('The B-Table') the possibility of trying it out. As I suspected, the idea was greeted with enthusiasm.</p><p>For at least the first session, I suspect that we will be happy to pooter around the town of Hayton Below Rime, but what will happen then? I need inspiration.</p><p>Now don't get me wrong, I do have some source materials...</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqwRY50wcuMC51V4u3Ap8t38kk6hBtFUCrutLwyOJHUWGQuMe4Qpf9PsSizLwPTEtSOTtpwwap7Hddv-EL1wVbf6rvkocmr42W4binjGIdxdOgm2gKDZIcmZU1A3DecsiCh2cMGdltGI_7XlzU37bczlJDGFFukXcKIWWgH2RBuTsSt_qjJLCxoYQ/s4062/shelfie.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1590" data-original-width="4062" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqwRY50wcuMC51V4u3Ap8t38kk6hBtFUCrutLwyOJHUWGQuMe4Qpf9PsSizLwPTEtSOTtpwwap7Hddv-EL1wVbf6rvkocmr42W4binjGIdxdOgm2gKDZIcmZU1A3DecsiCh2cMGdltGI_7XlzU37bczlJDGFFukXcKIWWgH2RBuTsSt_qjJLCxoYQ/w400-h156/shelfie.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">My Tolkien shelf</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p>...but most of them deal with adventures and adventuring Hobbits. </p><p>What is there for Hobbits that stay at home? I'm sure there are tales of English small town or rural life that could be mined - the more comic elements of <i>Cranford </i>spring to mind. If they stay in the village dealing with aunts and pigs, that's fine, PG Wodehouse has that covered.</p><p>For Hobbits that go a-wandering (<i>certainly <b>not </b>adventuring!</i>) within the bounds of the Shire, I'm tempted to go to the folklore of the British Isles to find out what happens to ordinary people who stray away from the path and bump into Odd Folk.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTFUwPRqPbrN5shDFtHdpVs2_TYZUjmOCxEqNcjwTpU6VXZYpoANA30FU3fN3X9dUyTLtVOXnXE8Cb0KpglBRXlo8b8-oWeLkayZP6iEXZGWiQbPfY2jCeRuM_U7Hlhtp8X_JTaBft13g_HlVoAeGiLqqNSRe9r5M40BGEDqtFWVBmZsVubSi0e_B/s1838/folk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1838" data-original-width="1346" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMTFUwPRqPbrN5shDFtHdpVs2_TYZUjmOCxEqNcjwTpU6VXZYpoANA30FU3fN3X9dUyTLtVOXnXE8Cb0KpglBRXlo8b8-oWeLkayZP6iEXZGWiQbPfY2jCeRuM_U7Hlhtp8X_JTaBft13g_HlVoAeGiLqqNSRe9r5M40BGEDqtFWVBmZsVubSi0e_B/s320/folk.jpg" width="234" /></a></div><br /><p>This is all Work In Progress - stay tuned to see what happens. There's the distinct posibility that I'm overthinking things: 'Under Hiil' is after all a very light game.</p></div>Diplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-44797552886137974592023-03-16T00:24:00.003+00:002023-03-16T00:24:54.522+00:00A WIP Wednesday!<p>It is literally years since <a href="https://diplomatist2.blogspot.com/2019/12/paint-table-saturday-7-dec-2019.html" target="_blank">I last posted an upate on my paint-table</a> and I have barely picked up brushes since then. If fact, several of those minis in the pictures from Dec 2019 are still collecting dust in a part-painted state.</p><p>Quite a lot has happened since then, one of which is that I moved house and no longer have the space and lovely natural light I had in that house. But this week I actually sat down and did some painting.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEX7502cwReQrusryyr5rr4c2Uw68JC-hyab1zK0-1vo8WfYrTePFxnq8JHzZP_K-PYAjLfpF9KIAEbk6iTe3UpfCqILXiL9zofz1i57hGNaDOyPseHhhlFOAlTpD0xqI_LMbib6mI_ZMP4GieOiPbaMhxRLimR0qMp3To361-NMIqT7wmRAnN3cM/s3493/froglings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1679" data-original-width="3493" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEX7502cwReQrusryyr5rr4c2Uw68JC-hyab1zK0-1vo8WfYrTePFxnq8JHzZP_K-PYAjLfpF9KIAEbk6iTe3UpfCqILXiL9zofz1i57hGNaDOyPseHhhlFOAlTpD0xqI_LMbib6mI_ZMP4GieOiPbaMhxRLimR0qMp3To361-NMIqT7wmRAnN3cM/w400-h193/froglings.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p>They were nothing special or elaborate - just a group of froglings from Lucid Eye, but I needed then for our ongoing 'Evils of Illmire' game that I've been GM-ing. I finished them this afternoon and this evening they were in play!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVu80FlrJRtDfNFyf41VWo3l2uAD23mSZK-mZunjPApEkmupCHflbnbBOvRfTNBL_Y0Q7AdJYMSPBakg02ymKVTxXtYssK5N85WcHtP2_6H_m56Q1r-FxGIAoC0NRGeeQDxqVeC3vzFACdY1cpUEYyJ-kDaOY2Dk8Jj30wUo6N5LCcBQc86vt6xJo/s2080/15Mar23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="1560" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVVu80FlrJRtDfNFyf41VWo3l2uAD23mSZK-mZunjPApEkmupCHflbnbBOvRfTNBL_Y0Q7AdJYMSPBakg02ymKVTxXtYssK5N85WcHtP2_6H_m56Q1r-FxGIAoC0NRGeeQDxqVeC3vzFACdY1cpUEYyJ-kDaOY2Dk8Jj30wUo6N5LCcBQc86vt6xJo/w300-h400/15Mar23.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>The Party and their Frogling allies penitrate<br />the Mantis Mound</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p>As you'll see from the photos, I've been mainly using cardboard standees in games.</p><p>It seems a little thing to post about, but it's significant to get back on the painting horse.</p><p><br /></p>Diplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-63456680012550147402023-03-04T14:48:00.001+00:002023-03-04T23:16:56.309+00:00Fruit of the Kickstarter: BX Advanced Bestiary<p>This rather nice book arrived this week.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhxSjgaHUmhUOLhn2ffE8gY3tITaR2yRnLWk67HLdHq0SfoIQe5J_COYf4Kubp7PKl7dRuwpi0T9jj3bk_dkMFLf8zrcCkoSJfooE6-bzR6uWKqA7ai4gunwYlvM9M5LoOWFkAGP3O1hrO8bxrU8ZNF_HRMIzNZQXKpGhOAE8M4WP8BVmrQL6JZtVs/s1716/best001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1716" data-original-width="1396" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhxSjgaHUmhUOLhn2ffE8gY3tITaR2yRnLWk67HLdHq0SfoIQe5J_COYf4Kubp7PKl7dRuwpi0T9jj3bk_dkMFLf8zrcCkoSJfooE6-bzR6uWKqA7ai4gunwYlvM9M5LoOWFkAGP3O1hrO8bxrU8ZNF_HRMIzNZQXKpGhOAE8M4WP8BVmrQL6JZtVs/s320/best001.jpg" width="260" /></a></div><p>Todd Leback, <i>BX Advanced Bestiary: Vol 1 - Monsters A-D</i>, Third Party Games (2022), 134pp, many illus.</p><p>A nicely produced hardback by Third Kingdom Games, the pdf of which <a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/416741/BX-Advanced-Bestiary-Vol-1?affiliate_id=519854" target="_blank">is now available on DriveThruRPG</a>. It's a companion to their Populated Hexes series and Old School-Essentials. This volume covers <b>Ape, White</b> (three variants) to <b>Driver Ant</b>* (six vari-ants). </p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*Though I don't know why this isn't '<b>Ant, Driver</b>'.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DxXONJ774brvLvTHMduQgWNo-3prZAOUu9XaHo0GK14nJhQiOZzFDdj6nSast3IK9oht_ptX49ZElViVWkUkBNxpDxHSUppJOfAZV2QmRv3HkhDwcKGUozaAhJ95oxklbo5XLCpqm4_j2AuiO1CPKBgUSCjDSnxWJsx5erxnosFUworVyebbBt-D/s2080/best003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2080" data-original-width="1560" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DxXONJ774brvLvTHMduQgWNo-3prZAOUu9XaHo0GK14nJhQiOZzFDdj6nSast3IK9oht_ptX49ZElViVWkUkBNxpDxHSUppJOfAZV2QmRv3HkhDwcKGUozaAhJ95oxklbo5XLCpqm4_j2AuiO1CPKBgUSCjDSnxWJsx5erxnosFUworVyebbBt-D/s320/best003.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>The stated aims are, firstly to take the monsters in the OSE Basic book and expand them with varients and options and, secondly to add some new ones with the same flavour. Typically, an entry gives optional special qualities to add a little spice and then variations on the monster, each with their own stat-block and entries. Perfect for those jaded parties who groan at meeting Wild Boar <i>again</i>!* Because this is supplement to exisiting bestiaries, it doesn't give or repeat the stats or details of the Common or Standard Beast, meaning that you'd have to have both volumes open, so it's probably not best for running encounters on the spur of the moment.</p><p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*There are four variants of Boar, and special qualities like 'Hard to Kill' and 'Terrifying Charge'.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdEriUvZwm_BNirJFhCun6do9zxyuAwxnWwciGYdUtSoAWIBzuFPRTmKCVLakyGTwxyeW5MH8NumgxPKzEag_7w_Yjm4hWTjIdG82ZFxi8zEu4o4dsOQCZ3z1t3SdKJbuLB4TEo8FYY12BVgGfCULGjIL5sxERQjTsKfHjmcKVvRSonCtk70URc38/s1473/best002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="998" data-original-width="1473" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqdEriUvZwm_BNirJFhCun6do9zxyuAwxnWwciGYdUtSoAWIBzuFPRTmKCVLakyGTwxyeW5MH8NumgxPKzEag_7w_Yjm4hWTjIdG82ZFxi8zEu4o4dsOQCZ3z1t3SdKJbuLB4TEo8FYY12BVgGfCULGjIL5sxERQjTsKfHjmcKVvRSonCtk70URc38/s320/best002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Diplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-28270025206131127922023-03-03T23:12:00.001+00:002023-03-09T01:43:38.378+00:00Reading in February 2023<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrhugBgn2njID0vsqGAaB87EaPsc5lxGylDEbYmZlQNjG629zxfM2UWWSQu4NE-3-ZhB_ysQ7QcK1QlNF6wYK9EzChTkIK_X3Ur8u7zgnb8PEJYC_cheQi53XAEsSCPBy4_5K6Dd7ESK3hlKCUqGki0GogcnAQ3q-K1252xTfVdGWeYVaiJlaxU-t/s475/Book001.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrhugBgn2njID0vsqGAaB87EaPsc5lxGylDEbYmZlQNjG629zxfM2UWWSQu4NE-3-ZhB_ysQ7QcK1QlNF6wYK9EzChTkIK_X3Ur8u7zgnb8PEJYC_cheQi53XAEsSCPBy4_5K6Dd7ESK3hlKCUqGki0GogcnAQ3q-K1252xTfVdGWeYVaiJlaxU-t/w131-h200/Book001.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><b>Scott Lynch, <i>The Republic of Thieves</i></b><div><br /></div><div>I continued reading the Gentleman Bastards sequence from <a href="https://diplomatist2.blogspot.com/2023/01/reading-in-jan-2023.html" target="_blank">last month</a>. In this installment, Locke and Jean are employed by their worse enemies to rig a city election. To stir things up a little, their opponents' campaign is being run by a long-lost friend. A side-plot told in flashback is the story of the young Bastards' first forray - blagging their way in the company of actors.</div><div><br /></div><div>A very enjoyable and fun read.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZIUwEE87xo3yAZ-GpcAclRKySjuaMRCiiTaXFslZC7sPzO71KNQE6DvXa3i_4nvLx8W5s1p8ewwrM0FJ6qrtZ2V_eFzjjbct8nxapIvC7EEktqScTe2W3GzhsEV_efn9fQDkAuokhY98WmKLLXSGKVyL5snP4RozWnJE-h_cLjqAD5r1vYbkeyLQ/s2838/Book002.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2838" data-original-width="1848" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpZIUwEE87xo3yAZ-GpcAclRKySjuaMRCiiTaXFslZC7sPzO71KNQE6DvXa3i_4nvLx8W5s1p8ewwrM0FJ6qrtZ2V_eFzjjbct8nxapIvC7EEktqScTe2W3GzhsEV_efn9fQDkAuokhY98WmKLLXSGKVyL5snP4RozWnJE-h_cLjqAD5r1vYbkeyLQ/w130-h200/Book002.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><b>Richard Osman, <i>The Bullet That Missed</i></b><div><br /></div><div>Another outing for the Thursday Murder Club, this time looking into a cold-case involving the disappearance of a reporter.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_TWbi9qMg_8JtTfzBSW4fKdENqcBMG-aYYpLLYMsI0xm9CTZNQt9_IEgsyh0uCM3ho4bgSU_kNWo5USl89rwjh_vqdazo2WCdZ1VhFSZqzzwrj9UT9vphMIDPVb3zNdns418Nhh7gZCSL42bfQKvyLUVu2qmgRUNmi-r9j8Njuv9dVXeuDlPJhotN/s475/Book004.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_TWbi9qMg_8JtTfzBSW4fKdENqcBMG-aYYpLLYMsI0xm9CTZNQt9_IEgsyh0uCM3ho4bgSU_kNWo5USl89rwjh_vqdazo2WCdZ1VhFSZqzzwrj9UT9vphMIDPVb3zNdns418Nhh7gZCSL42bfQKvyLUVu2qmgRUNmi-r9j8Njuv9dVXeuDlPJhotN/w133-h200/Book004.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><b>Neil Gaiman, <i>Stardust</i></b><div><br /></div><div>A tale about a young man venturing into Faerie to fulfill a quest for his Lady Love.</div><div><br /></div><div>Everything a modern fairy story should be. Quite sublime.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwofmK9XEKs6sJAXx9-b8Wgb4B7L-s809T-pVnId_h4mbBlJK6kcsdG6-ozK1QbUxiAhCIf8QZK_a2AxYkH2FLA7aZt7qCnpDKE0o2tI3YzaLjU47dwXWsS-gYficNPzPYRiw1yV0kHa9RtFk_G00ar6MOv7iQEs_G2mLCCs0ZYgvgwsEiFN3pcH5n/s400/Book003.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="309" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwofmK9XEKs6sJAXx9-b8Wgb4B7L-s809T-pVnId_h4mbBlJK6kcsdG6-ozK1QbUxiAhCIf8QZK_a2AxYkH2FLA7aZt7qCnpDKE0o2tI3YzaLjU47dwXWsS-gYficNPzPYRiw1yV0kHa9RtFk_G00ar6MOv7iQEs_G2mLCCs0ZYgvgwsEiFN3pcH5n/w154-h200/Book003.jpg" width="154" /></a></div><b><i>Bayt al Azif</i>, No 4</b><div><br /></div><div>Another issue of the annual(ish) journal for Cthulhu mythos roleplaying. It has all the features we've come to expect - high quality production, an over-veiw of publications (in this case for 2020), three scenarios, interviews (here including Mike Mason) and articles.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtlyfl4TvoZE_MPYlBjvYgIcl-7QXouSA65FLxKsr9HvUQnqPv7gwSnmZs5qGmhvE0necuYyiz-Dwqy6vhjMYxxtK50yH4OmizbVyCOrNoztHf30gRmTSis8rfQkkFWK7jlLO1YPB9G_5RXekTvwqZMJczoNc3Vjz38QAs2bddZ4trV0ygxGCf0DS/s375/Book005.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="238" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmtlyfl4TvoZE_MPYlBjvYgIcl-7QXouSA65FLxKsr9HvUQnqPv7gwSnmZs5qGmhvE0necuYyiz-Dwqy6vhjMYxxtK50yH4OmizbVyCOrNoztHf30gRmTSis8rfQkkFWK7jlLO1YPB9G_5RXekTvwqZMJczoNc3Vjz38QAs2bddZ4trV0ygxGCf0DS/w127-h200/Book005.jpg" width="127" /></a></div><b>Brian Lumley, <i>Return of the Deep Ones and Other Mythos Tales</i></b><div><br /></div><div>This I'd picked up on a whim because it was heading to the bin. It was much better than I expected - I thought it was going to be 1980s schlock-horror. One tale dragged on rather, but the title story was pretty good.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQBLmGIrdeYm4cmQtM9X4vkM_9IdaelXRIkIgjEUb4sjzI7pLgEGMNkEjbOTpWjfpjAv_ABeYtiAba2U4VxvnRouTpUJbyo2SexuBwfIUw354gF4PHa1mov5Fjpp8hNOuxKeIH193mAVhX-KtMF2hqo5yv75fCTsOe0MNuJVluz1e2lZZd1wRwTLy/s400/Book006.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="237" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEQBLmGIrdeYm4cmQtM9X4vkM_9IdaelXRIkIgjEUb4sjzI7pLgEGMNkEjbOTpWjfpjAv_ABeYtiAba2U4VxvnRouTpUJbyo2SexuBwfIUw354gF4PHa1mov5Fjpp8hNOuxKeIH193mAVhX-KtMF2hqo5yv75fCTsOe0MNuJVluz1e2lZZd1wRwTLy/w119-h200/Book006.jpg" width="119" /></a></div><b>Isaac Asimov, <i>The Foundation Trilogy</i></b><div><br /></div><div>I couldn't resist this beautiful hardback edition by Everyman Press collecting the original Foundation books. It must be over 40 years since I last read them, but I thought they held up rather well.</div><div><br /></div><div>I dipped into <i>Trillion Year Spree</i>, and Grumpy Old Brian Aldiss tells me not to bother with the very belated sequels, so I won't!<br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div>Diplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-67426671205824487622023-02-28T21:51:00.002+00:002023-02-28T21:51:43.826+00:00Gaming in Feb 2023<p>Having to take a lot of odd days off work before the end of the leave year in March, I thought I would be able to get to some of the regular weekend games I normally have to miss. Of course, it didn't work out that way...</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>4 Feb - Rambling Through the Shudders - (Dungeon Crawl Classics)</li><li>7 Feb - The Evils of Illmire - (Old School Essentials)</li><li>15 Feb - The Evils of Illmire - (Old School Essentials)</li></ul><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Rambling Through the Shudders</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div>A one-off using <a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/101050/Dungeon-Crawl-Classics-RPG-DCC-RPG?affiliate_id=519854">Dungeon Crawl Classics rule system</a>. I'm not sure what I make of DCC. The system itself seems nice, but the (admittedly less than half a dozen) games I've played seem thin. This is probably because they were one-off 0-Level funnel games with the sole intent of winnowing out characters.</div><div><br /></div><div>In this game, four of us set out with four characters each, we met ghosties and were subsequently reduced to five characters between us. So far so good - meh! But it was an enjoyable evening and a good session.</div><div><br /></div><div>The DM is giving some thought to running another game with our newly-levelled characters and my regular group is also signed up for some DCC tournament action, so I may get a better feel for it all in the near future. [<i>Sadly, since I wrote this at the beginning of the month, I've heard that the tournament is off as only two teams signed up for it. Nevertheless, there may be opportunities for more DCC action as the year progresses.</i>]</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>The Evils of Illmire</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIaf8LBMf5vheSmLrO0m0tW685up2mXoRopREKozhkGJuJz85SByVncZaDqID8jAlbpRMDMoizDD8jj_4jXHTXq1-gizMjIdV368S0VsxZzPDJQo9uCfCiai70HKz5VZDTn1xVUJTqZZp1nQsYGh6yygqTLfMqK8ZuMAin-shO-yuij8DbHxWOKTQ/s1920/IllmireDesktopBackground.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGIaf8LBMf5vheSmLrO0m0tW685up2mXoRopREKozhkGJuJz85SByVncZaDqID8jAlbpRMDMoizDD8jj_4jXHTXq1-gizMjIdV368S0VsxZzPDJQo9uCfCiai70HKz5VZDTn1xVUJTqZZp1nQsYGh6yygqTLfMqK8ZuMAin-shO-yuij8DbHxWOKTQ/s320/IllmireDesktopBackground.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><u><br /></u></b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>7 Feb - Session 3: Let's Give the Elf a Big Hand</b></li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaPnJsIUSqbp08vk4tslEd3NgylUm2NQnBjNBMXW0YJyvYBMr_K6bQgWD4-IztsDqOIJYC-5dA_brGDHGb7Zx76i_gfIqAaVqrxnRQSg1oA6Xc-pNsse2kGv_TQ9ZYBLbesfr-ep1Tpyv3G-6MlSooB3LFESzKUqQ7-JFKmccvQ7IkIYW-YrP4dFq/s926/Rigdorf.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="926" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRaPnJsIUSqbp08vk4tslEd3NgylUm2NQnBjNBMXW0YJyvYBMr_K6bQgWD4-IztsDqOIJYC-5dA_brGDHGb7Zx76i_gfIqAaVqrxnRQSg1oA6Xc-pNsse2kGv_TQ9ZYBLbesfr-ep1Tpyv3G-6MlSooB3LFESzKUqQ7-JFKmccvQ7IkIYW-YrP4dFq/w200-h103/Rigdorf.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div>The party picked up the pieces following the death of Darius, the more flamboyant of our thieves. They continued on towards the Loggers' Camp, where they were welcomed with hospitality by Rigdorf. He told them more of the district's lore and offered them a quest - to stop the raids by the pesky fishfolk. He even lent them one of his crew - the half-orc Yancy (new PC) - to help in their search for Yorivar, the missing Druid.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Deciding to carry on with this search before taking up any more side-quests, the party skirted around the Impenetrable Thicket, avoided the Misty Lake, and ended up stumbling across the Lost Crypts.</div><br /><div>These they entered, immediately encountering a group of hostile culitsts. Having fought them off, they attempted to interrogate a captive who, though he spouted some interesting doctrine about The Fearmother, gave little information of practical use before managing to comit implausible suicide. Perhaps the items recovered from the bodies would give more clues...</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Qcfm8aMkQ7DDaGyw7_tUShcvSnYAEG89MrWJ9yiyCrQdZn0JaNzNhdWTHivIHzA3dzDza8y0bnnQdb8SpIfDepEy5X0aJU5k0fKkDMnDXhAhT3dAMry0ydUL6fNCWbfdkgKR5WXJQLpwZ1-12giLkzHPMIIHJwZ9SLKja5abBtVpa9T4tr-1j9I2/s3752/Hand_of_Glory.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1794" data-original-width="3752" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Qcfm8aMkQ7DDaGyw7_tUShcvSnYAEG89MrWJ9yiyCrQdZn0JaNzNhdWTHivIHzA3dzDza8y0bnnQdb8SpIfDepEy5X0aJU5k0fKkDMnDXhAhT3dAMry0ydUL6fNCWbfdkgKR5WXJQLpwZ1-12giLkzHPMIIHJwZ9SLKja5abBtVpa9T4tr-1j9I2/s320/Hand_of_Glory.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Delving further in, the party discovered puzzles and iconography that suggested that the crypt-builders had some affinity with raccoons. They discovered that the crypts weren't empty, having to fight off two determined fire beetles and later finding a half-rotted mummy. (<i>Much hilarity, when a disembodied hand grabbed at the leg of the Elf paddling in the mirky crypt-pool.</i>) </div><div><br /></div><div>We wound up the session with the party trying to navigate a skull-lined room, which they guessed might be a classic step-in-the-wrong-place-and-get-an-arrow-trap, and then confirmed the hard way.</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>15 Feb - Session 4: Did Someone Say "Skeletons"?</b></li></ul><div>Exploration of the crypts followed. The party carefully (and slowly!) navigated the trapped room, only to find that the next one contained two Guardian Skeletons. These they fought, rather than retreat back into the potentially leathal room (<i>they didn't trust several hints that they'd disengaged the mechanism</i>). </div><div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIDEKPeGy7u4RXm5BU9ZbFa2faadJIGezPqnNbQBkQvo5g8TasFYOQuMXOP-ja4f7WPkbGj4IcEwmkGG6K9JipZurttSYxvkfg4hN8RYdYu5SO3yDw4D8KVJBfoBr_ezdSCm6bFisrbvR10nsmzBi3IfvsUed3TGw4o1x94v4OZ3dMnA1w1wa9CJa/s800/skeleton-warrior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="582" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlIDEKPeGy7u4RXm5BU9ZbFa2faadJIGezPqnNbQBkQvo5g8TasFYOQuMXOP-ja4f7WPkbGj4IcEwmkGG6K9JipZurttSYxvkfg4hN8RYdYu5SO3yDw4D8KVJBfoBr_ezdSCm6bFisrbvR10nsmzBi3IfvsUed3TGw4o1x94v4OZ3dMnA1w1wa9CJa/w146-h200/skeleton-warrior.jpg" width="146" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><div>The Guardians were - naturally enough - guarding the final room, which contained the tomb of the chief of the Racoon Tribe. Unfortunately, he was also an Undead Spellcaster and a rather tough cookie. In the fight that followed, not only did they loose their only remaining NPC - Jonas Redeye the Goatman - but also out longest-surviving PC - Eldar the Thief. One other PC was serverely wounded and unconsious, and another had received an arrow in friendly-fire.</div><div><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PstIXsfIVEhxBR8HPHggUU7I4FAqo9h2_wnkRS_N64qVrQczX7eWRBPRtzqZ4bki8Nyg4GNXcVnPBI63P2SNDDJatAKn6tWUcOI3Doy3QRCdDj4LJx_EoYcfzuQqP9_7Ea0g9dJnUF63mJlcGNkQsFYz2vMOHggKty46BZ3UYgPKwXQxyoLRZ73V/s320/skel-lying.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="198" data-original-width="320" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0PstIXsfIVEhxBR8HPHggUU7I4FAqo9h2_wnkRS_N64qVrQczX7eWRBPRtzqZ4bki8Nyg4GNXcVnPBI63P2SNDDJatAKn6tWUcOI3Doy3QRCdDj4LJx_EoYcfzuQqP9_7Ea0g9dJnUF63mJlcGNkQsFYz2vMOHggKty46BZ3UYgPKwXQxyoLRZ73V/s1600/skel-lying.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Sensibly, the survivors decided to hunker down and spend the night barricaded in the tomb room. Our Friar was able to apply healing herbs and, after a night's rest, call upon divine healing. Despite strange nightmares, everyone rested and even had the time to rig up prank traps with frying pans.</div><div><br /></div><div>Cheiftan's tomb looted, time to go home you'd think? No! Our intrepid crew pressed on...</div><div><br /></div><div>Further corridors, further rooms....</div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznLK9i-RprAoVA0KEYOOwXiVxpFjxhLiqfSORqHYfkU9uZdo7s-cETa2YaiYaIKrGRSRazrv7cz_pardzcg6mYuebtaSNGHpWB2pJv6eM4aI1-56Vm7y2I9qOXtQ0moP9c1QI0_d-u04DhfSn2a_T8y-XDxcIPW_40iV3t535zI-Ccy214OmmJKxd/s320/skeletals.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="212" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznLK9i-RprAoVA0KEYOOwXiVxpFjxhLiqfSORqHYfkU9uZdo7s-cETa2YaiYaIKrGRSRazrv7cz_pardzcg6mYuebtaSNGHpWB2pJv6eM4aI1-56Vm7y2I9qOXtQ0moP9c1QI0_d-u04DhfSn2a_T8y-XDxcIPW_40iV3t535zI-Ccy214OmmJKxd/s1600/skeletals.jpg" width="212" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One contained five more animated skeletons, which were successfully turned by the Friar and ran off into a dead-end. Rather that leave them harmlessly bumping away into the wall, the party decided that it was best to pick them off one-by-one in case they became unturned later. Of course, the party had seen a lot of action, and it only took one good hit from a skeleton to kill Yancy our Half-Orc Lumberjack.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Two PCs and an NPC down, and you'd think that it might not be best to open any more doors. Or, if you did and there was a sarcophagus in the room, to keep clear of it. Especially, it contained the skeleton of the tribe's pet Dire Racoon...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-J8bo0Qmwbu9SAmZSGHTO4P5g3MyMF_EDPWnc0Qr2AdSXKyORwLIB2_RFLPDZ9VPMi5dDHT_RageZc5jWdqyIfD5hsEnVHDR-N06s5YgaSCsQmpv2gbECIgtYPxPNqSrRueYUNbOGhJ2mzX9L8GjXafNiU9hoMLJPH9xopyKgCRl4QhJSQzj9-Jl/s447/Racoon%20skel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="447" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-J8bo0Qmwbu9SAmZSGHTO4P5g3MyMF_EDPWnc0Qr2AdSXKyORwLIB2_RFLPDZ9VPMi5dDHT_RageZc5jWdqyIfD5hsEnVHDR-N06s5YgaSCsQmpv2gbECIgtYPxPNqSrRueYUNbOGhJ2mzX9L8GjXafNiU9hoMLJPH9xopyKgCRl4QhJSQzj9-Jl/s320/Racoon%20skel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Our final casualty of the day was good old Friar Ignatius Luncheon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Of the five PCs and one NPC who'd entered the crypts, only two were still alive. <b>Now it was time to go home.</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Diplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-28281344453570353622023-02-06T20:22:00.002+00:002023-02-06T20:24:55.563+00:00Kickstarter Watch: Carapace and In the Heart of Oz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicauwYAgK_ADJUj6XTZdDpE5g8DK1wQcLjpUk3carMTB_Mzalr0VDiVFU3P_qKtfr2ccTjdXzglNDC4_daytTBxlCs6QZwtb8vXlmg73kXocooYp0K0dT87QCCzNV7CE7IckhyrcJEmH_s14v84rT1wQGv6LaaDkCOwvhkSmBjdZdVXgaHksUB7z9m/s680/KS.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="680" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicauwYAgK_ADJUj6XTZdDpE5g8DK1wQcLjpUk3carMTB_Mzalr0VDiVFU3P_qKtfr2ccTjdXzglNDC4_daytTBxlCs6QZwtb8vXlmg73kXocooYp0K0dT87QCCzNV7CE7IckhyrcJEmH_s14v84rT1wQGv6LaaDkCOwvhkSmBjdZdVXgaHksUB7z9m/s320/KS.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>It's Zinequest time, so Kickstarter is going to be full of interesting small RPG projects for a while. </p><p>This post is just to point to one of them. M Blake (otherwise known as Goblin's Henchman) is <a href="https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/facefolio2/carapace-and-in-the-heart-of-oz-a-hex-flower-rpg-bonanza">doing two zines,</a> both based on his Hex Flower Game Engine.</p><p>The first is to <i>Carapace</i>, which "offers the horrors of procedurally exploring a labyrinthine giant ant colony in search of the giant ant Queen". This I can personally recommend, as I've played a couple of games in which the DM has slotted an earlier version of it into a bigger campaign. The second is "a gonzo sandbox setting, based in the Land of the <i>Wizard of Oz</i>".</p><p>Hex Flowers aren't everyone's cup of tea - they're abstract and procedural, so need a little work. I didn't take to Carapace <a href="https://diplomatist2.blogspot.com/2020/02/recent-black-hackery.html">the first time we tried it</a>, but it grew on me (so much that I had it prepped just in case the group I was running Errinsford for heading into the deep forrest). I can certainly recommend Henchman's products (he also wrote the <a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/340232/Grimbo-Grotto--Christmas-Farcical-Horror-Adventure?affiliate_id=519854">Grimbo Chrimbo</a> that I've <a href="https://diplomatist2.blogspot.com/2023/01/gaming-in-dec-2022.html">run a couple of times</a> and which on both occasions were a great hit with players).</p>Diplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-68844220278091182362023-01-31T19:50:00.000+00:002023-01-31T19:50:28.137+00:00Gaming in Jan 2023<p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>12 Jan - The Evils of Illmire (OSE) - face-to-face</li><li>26 Jan - The Evils of Illmire (OSE) - face-to-face</li></ul><div><br /></div><div><b><u>The Evils of Illmire</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYVOI0xtbpMmnJpqTGdeWJ8-qZ5D3mqun_rVrw8dR6hJl9mP1B0SPwW-1uAa3rBuwccL2nqPGKS095bmhk0u8p-DCBgq8ZsvYsT5rTJ0nBztPZG4oUQzMwiIfl6m-kmeWkqAI65zHupAND1pZcSMzT5kWDme8B1Du3jwYJXmp8GD3H0bKd4q-hMbB/s1920/IllmireDesktopBackground.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUYVOI0xtbpMmnJpqTGdeWJ8-qZ5D3mqun_rVrw8dR6hJl9mP1B0SPwW-1uAa3rBuwccL2nqPGKS095bmhk0u8p-DCBgq8ZsvYsT5rTJ0nBztPZG4oUQzMwiIfl6m-kmeWkqAI65zHupAND1pZcSMzT5kWDme8B1Du3jwYJXmp8GD3H0bKd4q-hMbB/s320/IllmireDesktopBackground.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>New year, new campaign. My regular group has embarked on <a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/343439/The-Evils-of-Illmire?affiliate_id=519854">The Evils of Illmire</a> - and there's a lot in it!</div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>12 Jan - Session 1</b></li></ul><div><span class="TextRun SCXW214939157 BCX0" data-contrast="none" lang="EN-GB" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; background-color: white; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; user-select: text;" xml:lang="EN-GB"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggu8c1tXqbq5j6slFI2jtu84mES6jPHwlPogztSh3N9zqNG85eXzAzGTNt3mReZjxE10tvq-oWVj2O9Bwr165Boadp8E2pcLz2bo27KioHGcZbg_cJ9r-Y3dw3H9QpulKHb2KdhgnV8VXIdA7imKHGGOsbUjo2iuEhvdH_W9zjcE9UvDi3g4jEc1Ss/s685/caravan.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="487" data-original-width="685" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggu8c1tXqbq5j6slFI2jtu84mES6jPHwlPogztSh3N9zqNG85eXzAzGTNt3mReZjxE10tvq-oWVj2O9Bwr165Boadp8E2pcLz2bo27KioHGcZbg_cJ9r-Y3dw3H9QpulKHb2KdhgnV8VXIdA7imKHGGOsbUjo2iuEhvdH_W9zjcE9UvDi3g4jEc1Ss/w320-h229/caravan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; font-size: 12pt; text-align: center; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; text-align: left;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">A couple of random tables for what happened on a caravan journey worked well (I will certainly steal them in future for other campaigns), and we ended up with a nice little montage. Rumours were picked up; inevitably, some larceny took place; one member met a mysterious, shrouded fellow-traveller who taught her to speak Medusa; and (might this lead to something else?) another was invited to join a cult.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkdbAX0syMrIvtZq_-5kBfYq7Wq0JdFea9JvOA7xVo8jSd-fVKjjdffxqMvju3ztTtjhu414FGjNzNOQyuLninIZwbilFOq-KTD0sWtydj31BeTx95xDBVIONWKg1Sx0qPNgcKkib0Sv_pgxg9PH0DuWtv6BOcXQxn3uI-K3QiyKrKHcOsp8NiWUM/s1280/circus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUkdbAX0syMrIvtZq_-5kBfYq7Wq0JdFea9JvOA7xVo8jSd-fVKjjdffxqMvju3ztTtjhu414FGjNzNOQyuLninIZwbilFOq-KTD0sWtydj31BeTx95xDBVIONWKg1Sx0qPNgcKkib0Sv_pgxg9PH0DuWtv6BOcXQxn3uI-K3QiyKrKHcOsp8NiWUM/s320/circus.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>They then had a jolly time at the circus. Ignatius won a pie-eating contest (and - completely unrelatedly - got food poisoning) and the others got various stuffed toys from rigged booths. They went to see the fortune-teller and the big-top show, where they attempted to sabotage the big-cat show.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0NALWJu-dyaPVKrjqfM0WZRSdOu4iKIax6j80BOIOymRbwrlOSCQt3RGjCdXpFEHFhKlizuTTdQrmn9nHxhTw6RKbcTUxRh5aq0OJD_jikNahbHYUTEf5-vr0Je9RdWP2pz2zdJm7-s5n9jQMaGmqRfG_Utkg303XWbChX49xiH2kLGge0VPk-NL/s864/Birella.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="864" data-original-width="513" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ0NALWJu-dyaPVKrjqfM0WZRSdOu4iKIax6j80BOIOymRbwrlOSCQt3RGjCdXpFEHFhKlizuTTdQrmn9nHxhTw6RKbcTUxRh5aq0OJD_jikNahbHYUTEf5-vr0Je9RdWP2pz2zdJm7-s5n9jQMaGmqRfG_Utkg303XWbChX49xiH2kLGge0VPk-NL/w119-h200/Birella.jpg" width="119" /></a></div><br />Then to the village. They went to the inn where they got a medium-sized info-dump from the barmaid and did some nocturnal snooping in the kitchens (they’ve decided not to eat there anymore!). The next morning, they met the new priest at the temple (who didn’t make a good impression) and attempted to interview the mayor (who’s too ill to see them).
All in all, a very good session.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><ul style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont", "Times New Roman_MSFontService", serif; text-align: left;"><li><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-family: "Times New Roman_MSFontService"; white-space: normal;">26 Jan - Session 2</b></span></li></ul><div>On the second day in town, the party continued to meet new people including a nice couple who'd been told that Illmire was a good place to open a boulangerie, a youngster with a sick Da and various tradesmen. They explored the missing druid's cottage and had an evening in the tavern, where they meet the elusive landlady ("Who's not feeling herself") and chatted to the Old Boys in their corner. There was more nocternal exploration (this time onto the roof).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhda7b4CAJ8TzTJqk8xs5aN_fEshA2VnphPieeZ6bT4QLpvGu7vb49l3wiJe9E3eB6y3VxeJE_Y2YJwstDs5Z8A-u1V0GMieOxHGrPmfU-ZbMKpEraBWN1sQxQmSIf-DzTKCm-HG7ZJxi5q5eE2z8Nb7BLNhCW-x0ilXT-V2jWrN4F2ON7n-JSIizGW/s800/bakery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhda7b4CAJ8TzTJqk8xs5aN_fEshA2VnphPieeZ6bT4QLpvGu7vb49l3wiJe9E3eB6y3VxeJE_Y2YJwstDs5Z8A-u1V0GMieOxHGrPmfU-ZbMKpEraBWN1sQxQmSIf-DzTKCm-HG7ZJxi5q5eE2z8Nb7BLNhCW-x0ilXT-V2jWrN4F2ON7n-JSIizGW/w200-h150/bakery.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Next morning they attended a revival meeting before heading out towards the logging camp.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCT_piQ4x7WZKoUW04hhA4n5fL01zQd-ZyRZEhgJkucKr2m-kT-HW0RSkhM2ofqTz-WC6X0pjUkFzZzf94q4KteLzNnIAByL43n4_p3gZ23pJq3sSRUbHCCr3WPxuUJZh34YrbWwGyyed0MqM32c02T7fdlSAoE5J4mNzEk2puj6o9BXKDxU4u_HWL/s474/Giant%20hawk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="474" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCT_piQ4x7WZKoUW04hhA4n5fL01zQd-ZyRZEhgJkucKr2m-kT-HW0RSkhM2ofqTz-WC6X0pjUkFzZzf94q4KteLzNnIAByL43n4_p3gZ23pJq3sSRUbHCCr3WPxuUJZh34YrbWwGyyed0MqM32c02T7fdlSAoE5J4mNzEk2puj6o9BXKDxU4u_HWL/w200-h148/Giant%20hawk.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div>Unfortunately for them, on the way they were identified as a likely snack by some giant falcons. Judicious use of a Ring of Animal Control meant that they got away, but not unscathed - Darius our thief was killed.</div></div></span></div></div><p></p>Diplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-49751492553913226092023-01-30T20:43:00.003+00:002023-03-09T05:29:02.066+00:00Reading in Jan 2023<p> The first two are books left over from December.</p><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKfE1jdUZKI03-koYelr3aO0_uN_ZYTHwEymjLTbDvaUHzhPrcKCG679JgiCCc1doD2_B-4BXQHQxOPULbtiGfAESLxQdHPlz7_3F723pwbPstVQMHpAD47KdORS9xW0uHt3i1pljaoa0mx_rxCqg4_7WVJy6gr1qmCl_2Uyl646bRSY1WIUBUbku/s475/Book008.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="311" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKfE1jdUZKI03-koYelr3aO0_uN_ZYTHwEymjLTbDvaUHzhPrcKCG679JgiCCc1doD2_B-4BXQHQxOPULbtiGfAESLxQdHPlz7_3F723pwbPstVQMHpAD47KdORS9xW0uHt3i1pljaoa0mx_rxCqg4_7WVJy6gr1qmCl_2Uyl646bRSY1WIUBUbku/w131-h200/Book008.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><b>CS Lewis, <i>The Voyage of the Dawn Treader</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>The book that introduced me to Narnia over 45 years ago. I wrote about it last month.<br /></div><p><br /></p><div><b><u><br /></u></b><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihY7Gu15JM1p6FaQmKpE6us5oVRyCqIjxChZ3xuRfgoWIHNm1qMjT9buHJyT4ink6yvwPEGVY1bvE78omSHpHLODF2GmEpWU1bFaRaZOTbOQmLiRpfFW4z7CwwIzzooxZyl4_I-kECtIyMOEORukt8PTPun-4shXdrSk12YMhgOtk0-1RuYE15d4Ik/s475/Book003.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="311" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihY7Gu15JM1p6FaQmKpE6us5oVRyCqIjxChZ3xuRfgoWIHNm1qMjT9buHJyT4ink6yvwPEGVY1bvE78omSHpHLODF2GmEpWU1bFaRaZOTbOQmLiRpfFW4z7CwwIzzooxZyl4_I-kECtIyMOEORukt8PTPun-4shXdrSk12YMhgOtk0-1RuYE15d4Ik/w131-h200/Book003.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><b>Peter Moore, <i>Endeavour: The Ship and the Attitude that Changed the World</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>I really enjoyed this splendid biography of Capt Cook's ship, covering 1764-1778. As the author says, these years “form a mini-epoch in the development of Western society”, and he was able to use the ship to explore that. </div><div><br /></div><div>I knew <i>Endeavour </i>ended up in the American War of Independence, but it was news to me that she was instrumental in the early British settlement of the Falkland Islands. </div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0L-m1p2oYRP4nQ9ZRrT3GG87YP_8tIqrBpR0RKgcrhJT6MhaQzVSPwL_yy_NzsWpoly-K0Ngs1DJb3fDjo8zeW9d5Z9IVJ8nmkuxZ-vBLhjIW6bftHdyxtEU_5Bt3q5Fk-zmip5ObNx9PJUuGCZWIbvMNYqjXhzIXD0M-HgJBUZ1p6toZnblOxNu/s472/Book001.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="472" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI0L-m1p2oYRP4nQ9ZRrT3GG87YP_8tIqrBpR0RKgcrhJT6MhaQzVSPwL_yy_NzsWpoly-K0Ngs1DJb3fDjo8zeW9d5Z9IVJ8nmkuxZ-vBLhjIW6bftHdyxtEU_5Bt3q5Fk-zmip5ObNx9PJUuGCZWIbvMNYqjXhzIXD0M-HgJBUZ1p6toZnblOxNu/w135-h200/Book001.jpg" width="135" /></a></div><b>CS Lewis, <i>The Silver Chair</i></b><div><br /></div><div>Things start to get a bit darker in Narnia. </div><div><br /></div><div>This and <i>Dawn Treader</i> were always my favorite of the Chronicles. Quite possibly because Eustace Scrubb is a lot less annoying than his cousins and I always liked Puddleglum.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjjJ1aT_BPVylIaFusvgj7lor5E7N5iUmeO9lKxGuZFbF9g3pNYXnUq6U7gKH3preM7v_1LGg0lJTSVSRQkyq2ZhwxF5Rw3wmImmQQ7J_8o_RvN1O9Jl6RwvYKhSmfBzD7TTy4HX7P6R-VIsf1Wt02WGyGxrrYQSyt0XJFm1q-ahsd8ebY5mD8vMl/s412/Book003.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPjjJ1aT_BPVylIaFusvgj7lor5E7N5iUmeO9lKxGuZFbF9g3pNYXnUq6U7gKH3preM7v_1LGg0lJTSVSRQkyq2ZhwxF5Rw3wmImmQQ7J_8o_RvN1O9Jl6RwvYKhSmfBzD7TTy4HX7P6R-VIsf1Wt02WGyGxrrYQSyt0XJFm1q-ahsd8ebY5mD8vMl/w154-h200/Book003.jpg" width="154" /></a></div><b><i>Bayt al Azif: A Magazine for Cthulhu Mythos Roleplaying</i>, No 3</b><div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>An interesting read, as always. I must have had this on my to-read pile for over a year, as I see that No 4 is already out.</div><div><br /></div><div>The main articles were the round-up of mythos gaming publications in 2019, a look at why Call of Cthulhu is the leader in the Japanese TTRPG scene, and an article on using Sanity loss. There were three scenarios, which all looked interesting, but you never know until you play them.</div><div><br /></div></div><div><div><div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, Times New Roman_EmbeddedFont, Times New Roman_MSFontService, serif;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Paul StJohn Mackintosh, <i>Casting the Runes: Occult Investigation in the World of M R James</i></b><br /></span></span><div><br /></div></div></div><div>A guide to running RPGs in the world of MR James and other horror writers of the 1900s-1920s. It's a setting that I'm interested in (I consider myself a fan of James), and I will certainly steal the premise if I ever get around to running a horror game. The reservation I have is that it's written for games using the GUMSHOE system, which I don't know. Quite frankly, I don't want to go down the rabbit-hole of a new system, when I haven't really got my head fully around Call of Cthulhu: if I was to run a game it would be using CoC or Pulp Cthulhu.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhnzPLigI92aRdBZOfCwivfuGy-GwLmTudjfjDywr79YQKuIL7553YXtmoCoZIC217Ev7e0P8a2m9NPSvx-tMbPrDyjPbStWbj32v9cfzqUs7SiNB_RFip7PGS5gkMdMnpIs9JtFJxYi6NRKjcIYbjuXslKgCd4efnZTaa2KoZL22YPb2wGYnASFa/s475/Book004.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhnzPLigI92aRdBZOfCwivfuGy-GwLmTudjfjDywr79YQKuIL7553YXtmoCoZIC217Ev7e0P8a2m9NPSvx-tMbPrDyjPbStWbj32v9cfzqUs7SiNB_RFip7PGS5gkMdMnpIs9JtFJxYi6NRKjcIYbjuXslKgCd4efnZTaa2KoZL22YPb2wGYnASFa/w134-h200/Book004.jpg" width="134" /></a></div><b>CS Lewis, <i>The Last Battle</i></b><div><br /></div><div>Narnian eschatology.<br /><div><br /></div></div><div>Everyone's least favourite book in the Chronicles. Partly because of the subject matter, partly because Lewis allegory (and some would say, racist elements) are the most heavy-handed here.</div><div><br /></div><div>And I really should mention Neil Gaiman's short story 'The Problem of Susan', which deals with Susan's exclusion from Narnia and paradise for liking nylons and lipstick too much. <a href="https://talesofmytery.blogspot.com/2014/11/neil-gaiman-problem-of-susan.html">It can be read here</a> (but isn't suitable for youngsters).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjc4sVBqR6nzUxaBYNV6N_1qJYwYwHKe7ErUetNkcqfzxus1pi-7zpm2XvH7hL3qDz7ib7Cia2hDdL89DOAz6_TVN3oa5t1t9rLS5HJm7yGbaY6C89Ebo5JxcUcjlCgdjeYHI1ejxJafPnb3HQxP7F9loP5tx9WXlbN-fMYw4YV1rxWV__JKfO96D5/s475/Book005.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjc4sVBqR6nzUxaBYNV6N_1qJYwYwHKe7ErUetNkcqfzxus1pi-7zpm2XvH7hL3qDz7ib7Cia2hDdL89DOAz6_TVN3oa5t1t9rLS5HJm7yGbaY6C89Ebo5JxcUcjlCgdjeYHI1ejxJafPnb3HQxP7F9loP5tx9WXlbN-fMYw4YV1rxWV__JKfO96D5/w130-h200/Book005.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><b>Various, <i>Murder Under the Christmas Tree</i></b><div><br /></div><div>Another from the anthology series <a href="https://diplomatist2.blogspot.com/2023/01/reading-in-dec-2022.html">I read back in December</a>.<br /><div><br /></div></div><div>Publishing this sort of thing must be money for old rope when people are desparate for Christmas presents! But it was a good mix of stories.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpkq6Kg_7vFcOpy5fkBSVhLjqt-Ucu2FftaTLC6fK2wInCO5-RJkv69va5m0SNqs0b_PsSsAGV0hUmwnWC-Z0di0s0cMkKSBWPE-QURJgWB8OVgBiZQ54Jezt-0oKw6Q5K-DyIMzS2h5-hqmBEToJOFWaFndsa3P0d-3sCVBx11MSFBB5s45B5jDm/s475/Book006.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpkq6Kg_7vFcOpy5fkBSVhLjqt-Ucu2FftaTLC6fK2wInCO5-RJkv69va5m0SNqs0b_PsSsAGV0hUmwnWC-Z0di0s0cMkKSBWPE-QURJgWB8OVgBiZQ54Jezt-0oKw6Q5K-DyIMzS2h5-hqmBEToJOFWaFndsa3P0d-3sCVBx11MSFBB5s45B5jDm/w130-h200/Book006.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><b>Scott Lynch, <i>The Lies of Locke Lamora</i></b><div><br /></div><div>This is the first in the 'Gentleman Bastards' series about a group of conmen and theives. I was re-reading it because, although I've read the first two books in the trilogy (and typically, I see that there is a "second trilogy" planned), I've only just acquired the third.</div><div><br /></div><div>In this instalment we're introduced to the Locke Lamora and the Gentlemen Bastards, a gang of conmen posing as petty theives. While secretly doing one of thier Big Jobs, they get entangled in a bloody underworld succession battle.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'd remembered this as a masterclass in world-building, and the opening pages confirmed this. It's really an excellent piece of work. Whether reading three 600-odd page books after another is sustainable remains to be seen.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjk_FHn4qWDIjQnc4ZTK6amKUqeRAgfiJyPmWue29t0Ypyw26kcj-X9Ev9f8cNvQLLXPeZqKMhFE7BfhcSVjkrZZU3cITasjBGwlrke2lMjTz9LLpvIEhwVvYVvlMtiaR5Ef_ln4y3ms_03OdtNlAmdFa8TGoBrSifZV-Z4g-Z20bRztEQElgC7da/s500/Book007.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="331" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwjk_FHn4qWDIjQnc4ZTK6amKUqeRAgfiJyPmWue29t0Ypyw26kcj-X9Ev9f8cNvQLLXPeZqKMhFE7BfhcSVjkrZZU3cITasjBGwlrke2lMjTz9LLpvIEhwVvYVvlMtiaR5Ef_ln4y3ms_03OdtNlAmdFa8TGoBrSifZV-Z4g-Z20bRztEQElgC7da/w133-h200/Book007.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><b>Scott Lynch, <i>Red Seas Under Red Skies</i></b><div><br /></div><div>Locke and Jean flee their home city and plot a casino heist. But old enemies follow...</div><div><br /></div><div>And there are pirates!<br /><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Diplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-36047052201351695792023-01-10T21:23:00.002+00:002023-01-11T15:03:30.900+00:00Gaming in Dec 2022<p>COVID at the start of the month and other illness in the second half of it put paid to any gaming in Nov 2022, but I got back into the saddle for December.</p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>11 Dec - The Beast of Errinsford (OSE) - face-to-face RPG</li><li>20 Dec - Grimbo Chrimbo (OSE) - face-to-face RPG</li><li>29 Dec - The Beast of Errinsford (OSE) - face-to-face RPG</li><li>31 Dec - Stonehell (OSE) - face-to-face RPG</li></ul><div><br /></div><p></p><div><b><u>The Beast of Errinsford</u></b></div><div><p></p><div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCugyWD_zf3DOKTbhLSp6KTMYZjuUNbk-zpwQIGX8o8dvMYU3Ohsp9uF0c4pd8ytfaCjiklJyPHpIcrFvTx4XruPGNiYKtBAxN0p6JyEhxB4x7p3Q5VUCFQGT_DKv_gCAHGvkBEwECMA1o4L8NlrOhisrto8d3XsM0_RIreOUv1CCqphnxV9yPxQu/s1920/Beast-header.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1920" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCugyWD_zf3DOKTbhLSp6KTMYZjuUNbk-zpwQIGX8o8dvMYU3Ohsp9uF0c4pd8ytfaCjiklJyPHpIcrFvTx4XruPGNiYKtBAxN0p6JyEhxB4x7p3Q5VUCFQGT_DKv_gCAHGvkBEwECMA1o4L8NlrOhisrto8d3XsM0_RIreOUv1CCqphnxV9yPxQu/w200-h112/Beast-header.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div>The group at our LFGS that I DM for are currently playing The Beast of Errinsford, loosely based on the module <i><a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/327744/The-Black-Wyrm-of-Brandonsford?affiliate_id=519854" target="_blank">The Black Wyrm of Brandonsford</a></i> by Chance Dudinack. </div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>11 Dec - Session 3</b></li></ul><div>Having successfully looted the barrows for the magical weapons necassary to defeat the Beast, I thought I would throw in a little something extra to show that there are consequences to PCs' actions.</div></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4kQYI1BYAGXaBtT72p78M8UIiKmW_RovyBC48bty91zhfNa_SqrFIMaZxSC3dEohXOXC2OWjxJQlTPC6mYQNsPY-mYOphQZDZYIZyttbBat4-MD9VNz3K2fJcvivy8Pm6ONr7sYeUIQNhT54Or3b9mwWUNmKf5EYLdNZM9BwipV8UIygdttDfNzj/s1484/goatman01.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1484" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU4kQYI1BYAGXaBtT72p78M8UIiKmW_RovyBC48bty91zhfNa_SqrFIMaZxSC3dEohXOXC2OWjxJQlTPC6mYQNsPY-mYOphQZDZYIZyttbBat4-MD9VNz3K2fJcvivy8Pm6ONr7sYeUIQNhT54Or3b9mwWUNmKf5EYLdNZM9BwipV8UIygdttDfNzj/w162-h200/goatman01.jpg" width="162" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Since the beginning of the campaign, the party has had several tussles with Goatmen, and have had a habit of stealing their kit (fair enough) and desecrating their bodies (one of the party in particular has chosen to start a collection of teeth). As a result, I had the Goatmen do a raid on the villages, beat up some favorite NPCs (who had difficulty telling the story with no teeth of their own) and taking hostages. The Authorities (Constable "Beefy" Ward) expected the party to sort this out and, with a NPC knowing a secret way into Goatman HQ, we were all set up for a 'Die Hard' rescue.</div><div><br /></div><div>Then the party decided to go in through the front door and negotiate! (Due to natural wastage of PCs, only two of them could be linked to the massacres, and they stayed in hiding.) Reaction rolls were remarkably high but, even so, the Leader insisted that "blood called for blood" and demanded the perpetrators be delivered within 48 hours.</div><div><br /></div><div>And now the party got creative. They decided they could deliver bodies and claim to have meted out justice. But where to find a dead dwarf and 14-year-old girl? Let's just say ...that they managed it.</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>29 Dec - Session 4</b></li></ul><div>Now there was nothing stopping them going out, defeating the beast, collecting the reward and finishing the campaign.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrbZraVIUUjaqvtfHNGqq2MGsr1eLB9ss2QaeLPqdhrCLKIgsGLGPE4fbiWfk13QQYfbAb6cGCMGhuPO4lS8DeCFuAR4bG-PD9rmm_Rgl3M6D4g5Sm2sZFrTh8TI1JKHdqSxQfcHxJJJQj7DdBEGDh8EYkQ-cJemBi5dQj5UM-QBuQF9MfGwrXjhy/s1920/Beast.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1920" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQrbZraVIUUjaqvtfHNGqq2MGsr1eLB9ss2QaeLPqdhrCLKIgsGLGPE4fbiWfk13QQYfbAb6cGCMGhuPO4lS8DeCFuAR4bG-PD9rmm_Rgl3M6D4g5Sm2sZFrTh8TI1JKHdqSxQfcHxJJJQj7DdBEGDh8EYkQ-cJemBi5dQj5UM-QBuQF9MfGwrXjhy/s320/Beast.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Kitted up with magical weapons, a salve that gave some protection against breath weapons, and a newly-formed alliance with the Goatmen, they set out (hastened only by the declaration by one PC that he was only a few days from retirement). A well thought out ambush was laid out, back-stabbing attacks and potions were used to good effect, and the beast was vanquished.</div><div><br /></div><div>Home for tea and medals. Next stop, Illmire!</div><p><b><u>Christmas One-Off - Grimbo Grotto</u></b></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>20 Dec</b></li></ul><div>As a seasonal treat, I GM-ed the "Christmas farcial horror adventure" <a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/340232/Grimbo-Grotto--Christmas-Farcical-Horror-Adventure?affiliate_id=519854">Grimbo Grotto</a> by Goblin's Henchman. I'd run it for my Discord group <a href="https://diplomatist2.blogspot.com/2020/12/gaming-in-dec-2020.html">back in Dec 2020</a>, but never for a face-to-face session. It was a blast!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIb-3U19TbAa6GE60JSmm0Hyq5WLDsk7onSzHdiaZ6Oh-uEFfj3ainVhuqI3FDzbZB281OYAwkciMd7Ep9Sss2TEJzAJHWOOsxPjOWvBuwV4qZw3gfjv82_gWVtYJk-CG97raqy9NVxaj2Z7aR7H8c9k1I9qAjuY5LAKAMWwTVEs1BRPratIM-83J/s500/turkey.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="500" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYIb-3U19TbAa6GE60JSmm0Hyq5WLDsk7onSzHdiaZ6Oh-uEFfj3ainVhuqI3FDzbZB281OYAwkciMd7Ep9Sss2TEJzAJHWOOsxPjOWvBuwV4qZw3gfjv82_gWVtYJk-CG97raqy9NVxaj2Z7aR7H8c9k1I9qAjuY5LAKAMWwTVEs1BRPratIM-83J/w200-h176/turkey.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>Attempting to rescue a kidnapped Ent, the Party battled Diddy-Men, Candy Golems, the Giant Putrid Gravy-Spewing Undead Turkey, Mimics and Cloakers, and (last but certainly not least), an evil cult of Werereindeer.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Stonehell</u></b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>30 Dec</b></li></ul><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPawuDlO-Txnam0NHb-dPnam_4PXRZoPGkgjZE1bOWKyHKayaA-O0rNrDvJ21HWq4gC_g7J0kpyh9FdPf-TO6wl8Yus-fXRcbZN7AFREN2d_PGTQ-uOqJjiwC60_SEHf1cqR5buwi_jtZG1SCQgHux2elkZHrB6E-dldsnpcaKn6qeVuR-eFcpK4T/s826/gnome.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="564" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiPawuDlO-Txnam0NHb-dPnam_4PXRZoPGkgjZE1bOWKyHKayaA-O0rNrDvJ21HWq4gC_g7J0kpyh9FdPf-TO6wl8Yus-fXRcbZN7AFREN2d_PGTQ-uOqJjiwC60_SEHf1cqR5buwi_jtZG1SCQgHux2elkZHrB6E-dldsnpcaKn6qeVuR-eFcpK4T/w136-h200/gnome.jpg" width="136" /></a></div><br />To round off the year, I got to sit on the players' end of the table for a session in which we entered the Stonehill mega-dungeon (a campaign that scheduling doesn't normally allow me to attend). No loot was recovered, but some decent mapping done. And my Gnome proved himself adept at hiding in giant mushroom forests while others did the fighting.</div></div>Diplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-14832670211039418212023-01-02T18:22:00.002+00:002023-01-02T18:22:43.249+00:00Reading in Dec 2022<p>Having been bogged down recently in some turgid anthologies, I decided to aim for lighter fare and had a bit of a December splurge...</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrKnMm9uwrxz04PpSMUiAviVn73HLWtKVjEMh9d_t5ZwHldCKjbCq0ch0PSWyj_ed3V8xBTbifgVn86bI8A2zsWdyBhHyVGtxD7N2Q-tk_rlg88ylurfAxoq1Y5UU94moE2okpKRTlRGcsqom_eEA0A5B8ISP29G7rOk7oMzmeDL3ClLoAJUifBB0/s475/Book004.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="292" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrKnMm9uwrxz04PpSMUiAviVn73HLWtKVjEMh9d_t5ZwHldCKjbCq0ch0PSWyj_ed3V8xBTbifgVn86bI8A2zsWdyBhHyVGtxD7N2Q-tk_rlg88ylurfAxoq1Y5UU94moE2okpKRTlRGcsqom_eEA0A5B8ISP29G7rOk7oMzmeDL3ClLoAJUifBB0/w123-h200/Book004.jpg" width="123" /></a></div><b>Isaac Asimov, <i>Earth is Room Enough</i></b><div><br /></div><div>A collection of Asimov's short stories, all based on earth. It being Asimov, there is a proportion of silliness and a couple of groaners, but on the whole good stuff.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI42-TmhmzMBF0v0WQayU8wmjfCPAZU2jqp6_1BNm-RZu5P5qXXGmBGKaGiUaqEwCLHdg095jPWd0XvQ3c_p2WGVMnxFTc3kU1afGWAyV3PhNm9aullVsGAFNQEitZ10o6-IFONnbpDbmC0DezCL94OUg312VIlBBcfhIVpDnLyJBxyf_03_ah-EMD/s475/Book005.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI42-TmhmzMBF0v0WQayU8wmjfCPAZU2jqp6_1BNm-RZu5P5qXXGmBGKaGiUaqEwCLHdg095jPWd0XvQ3c_p2WGVMnxFTc3kU1afGWAyV3PhNm9aullVsGAFNQEitZ10o6-IFONnbpDbmC0DezCL94OUg312VIlBBcfhIVpDnLyJBxyf_03_ah-EMD/w131-h200/Book005.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><b>Cecily Gayford (ed), <i>Murder on a Winter's Night: Ten Classic Crime Stories for Christmas</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>The sub-title says it all, really.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2_V0mkv7PW7nWZfyXgFI8mwOqiTLJJfIkiaYiIVaQ6iZkGtkkJPc53s6BYcnWbWmzv6umWh5bfHOPIWEralxd1HW1L0FYjvviDK89zltc421tk1Al2qoufviM0RH4FGBlUMgueGq9i_DniRZ3eL05axrjG4z_N4EhrvfmPUhxuNOxSjLY1XnSGFG/s475/Book005a.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="310" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2_V0mkv7PW7nWZfyXgFI8mwOqiTLJJfIkiaYiIVaQ6iZkGtkkJPc53s6BYcnWbWmzv6umWh5bfHOPIWEralxd1HW1L0FYjvviDK89zltc421tk1Al2qoufviM0RH4FGBlUMgueGq9i_DniRZ3eL05axrjG4z_N4EhrvfmPUhxuNOxSjLY1XnSGFG/w131-h200/Book005a.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><b>Cecily Gayford (ed), <i>A Very Murderous Christmas: Ten Classic Crime Stories for the Festive Season</i></b><div><br /></div><div>More of the same...</div><div><br /></div><div>Both of these books took me back 30 years to a period in which my future wife was introducing me to the glories of green Penguins. Some good memories there.</div><div><br /></div><div>I really must read some Margery Allingham and Dorothy L Sayers soon.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi1VYDHhS51sTrCrzBFEKsRwwkg0qlA34k90QnMJFl9TzKYymd-cwbbqjPi8MziLrHRRwMzx7Eh4gK-Jwrefu1U-uUK6V-x3KXur6mgIFwyQmlEmJtIMYc7EeeJAgZzOTRPy4CTcVouNIgZdcbenbj-d-5mieazvD5-C6LXkQoeyVvEgoGvBSDTBq/s475/book006.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="314" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSi1VYDHhS51sTrCrzBFEKsRwwkg0qlA34k90QnMJFl9TzKYymd-cwbbqjPi8MziLrHRRwMzx7Eh4gK-Jwrefu1U-uUK6V-x3KXur6mgIFwyQmlEmJtIMYc7EeeJAgZzOTRPy4CTcVouNIgZdcbenbj-d-5mieazvD5-C6LXkQoeyVvEgoGvBSDTBq/w133-h200/book006.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><b>Natalie Haynes, <i>A Thousand Ships</i></b><div><br /></div><div>Haynes is well-known as a stand-up comic and classicist - I strongly recommend that you look online and find some of her work (in the UK, you should be able to <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b077x8pc/episodes/player" target="_blank">listen here</a>).</div><div><br /></div><div>But there aren't many laughs in this marvellous re-telling of the women (and nymphs and goddesses) entangled in the Trojan War. Epic tradegy, but highly recommended.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb40Q6Mp5rNtA8D96Hb4yi4M9dhWCTDXXAfDE6Zae63Bd41Im9DVH-vfKNQV_BqT7TwTQM34oqbF3kVf_CR3_NHBJXh-ObBHiEB7jBmYS1ixaDtVC8730Uz1cHCufOphdDDXKPecCeHWmXWVP2EZep4xtnCkbF_kHQXqdRQODS6NlPvEHEd0Rh-Hh0/s405/book007.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="405" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb40Q6Mp5rNtA8D96Hb4yi4M9dhWCTDXXAfDE6Zae63Bd41Im9DVH-vfKNQV_BqT7TwTQM34oqbF3kVf_CR3_NHBJXh-ObBHiEB7jBmYS1ixaDtVC8730Uz1cHCufOphdDDXKPecCeHWmXWVP2EZep4xtnCkbF_kHQXqdRQODS6NlPvEHEd0Rh-Hh0/w157-h200/book007.jpg" width="157" /></a></div><b>Brian Sibley, <i>The Land of Narnia</i></b><div><br /></div><div>A brief look at how the Chronicles of Narnia came to be written. Aimed at younger readers and a large part is taken up with a summary of the books, but Sibley knows his stuff, of course (I imagine he could have done this in his sleep).<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2UpjO8n6HCnbrzGwivvY8FD4MHanD22Nw7BtyMlibYWMou3K8KG_MhflGTntxUVhxvnAYgRLmf4OH1Wy-OZyHaCKW8KipkaT7QnPe5xAGwJUyvx2UxrPlmbneHv7Reptdi5Pos8mN3ICubKDEse-ZlMExYXSXiWbabuxlxj0t1K-6BxYwJgTqOK1/s427/Book001.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd2UpjO8n6HCnbrzGwivvY8FD4MHanD22Nw7BtyMlibYWMou3K8KG_MhflGTntxUVhxvnAYgRLmf4OH1Wy-OZyHaCKW8KipkaT7QnPe5xAGwJUyvx2UxrPlmbneHv7Reptdi5Pos8mN3ICubKDEse-ZlMExYXSXiWbabuxlxj0t1K-6BxYwJgTqOK1/w149-h200/Book001.jpg" width="149" /></a></div><b>C S Lewis, <i>The Magician's Nephew</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>It makes me feel very old to say that it's over 45 years since I first read this. There are images in this book that still colour my approach to fantasy - nevertheless, <a href="https://diplomatist2.blogspot.com/2022/12/occult-investigation-in-world-of-cs.html">one can still find new sides to old favorites</a>.<br /><div><br /><div><br /><div><br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirchR6I_74S_vEQ0NU5LPlL40v0aImYWq_dOSmkKEQGiJYQu4tn8M2XxEP8GCy_WIk8_rvSE4J7rJcDILVvhNkbvMyWR5ACWD0Ri2p70OwsD-b0KyFzv-qo8tE6uoatZ5uWZk7NryKVYYsy5FW50Y7j79xEU8R7E-lmbSCW_WwzyT3OBq4X7pRymuk/s435/Book004.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="435" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirchR6I_74S_vEQ0NU5LPlL40v0aImYWq_dOSmkKEQGiJYQu4tn8M2XxEP8GCy_WIk8_rvSE4J7rJcDILVvhNkbvMyWR5ACWD0Ri2p70OwsD-b0KyFzv-qo8tE6uoatZ5uWZk7NryKVYYsy5FW50Y7j79xEU8R7E-lmbSCW_WwzyT3OBq4X7pRymuk/w146-h200/Book004.jpg" width="146" /></a></div><b>C S Lewis, <i>The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Being a contrary child, I never read this along with the rest of the Chronicles of Narnia. I'm pretty sure that this is the first time I've read it at all!<br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4Pc_LXh4JwMySs6zzADoRJseNAQoEnTTNDUk6S2hMQ6KQdmuIAuBzF0jVD0vwtsdUl0rpCaEggHaBKwPTYKf5ffxDA5WBdC8txvZpdS0eolfNaqXViOZxntGgtW1cjBO7vfGTGc_mik_QaKYV4fekEoGLef_poYi0XCAzrILQfEdfXgp57e1Yxfo/s300/Book002.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="199" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4Pc_LXh4JwMySs6zzADoRJseNAQoEnTTNDUk6S2hMQ6KQdmuIAuBzF0jVD0vwtsdUl0rpCaEggHaBKwPTYKf5ffxDA5WBdC8txvZpdS0eolfNaqXViOZxntGgtW1cjBO7vfGTGc_mik_QaKYV4fekEoGLef_poYi0XCAzrILQfEdfXgp57e1Yxfo/w133-h200/Book002.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><b>Jonathan Tucker, <i>The Troublesome Priest: Harold Davidson, Rector of Stiffkey</i></b></div><div><br /><p>Biography of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harold_Davidson">the Rector of Stiffkey</a> - famously defrocked for immoral relations with prostitutes he was 'rescuing' and pestering shopgirls - who later became a sideshow performer and was killed by a circus lion in Skegness.</p><p>Tucker's verdict that Davidson was a fool, but not immoral, might have been alright in 1932 or 2004 (when he was writing), but makes unconvincing reading in 2020. The man was obviously both a fool and a sex-pest.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchV0D3Uk7j4NvTMMYOrOGYtTXCbsIpPBiK5FF-3qlnc7fKqL1mQnkQBWFr-yx0PmCmNQs7bFH48d57hZHlaq8ylv_hPA_yENP5ykBNqHVz-XlW9qUisvo7pyeB4LMwLG1lPmznd7B1HMYr6KgxYa0sdmtEHkrzHHG_xdxonxkzfZiqCEaTqLl3e4g/s475/Book005.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="303" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjchV0D3Uk7j4NvTMMYOrOGYtTXCbsIpPBiK5FF-3qlnc7fKqL1mQnkQBWFr-yx0PmCmNQs7bFH48d57hZHlaq8ylv_hPA_yENP5ykBNqHVz-XlW9qUisvo7pyeB4LMwLG1lPmznd7B1HMYr6KgxYa0sdmtEHkrzHHG_xdxonxkzfZiqCEaTqLl3e4g/w127-h200/Book005.jpg" width="127" /></a></div><b>CS Lewis, <i>The Horse and His Boy</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Lewis takes beyond the borders of Narnia into his Arabian analogue for this tale of runaway orphans, princesses and horses.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzKX9ktgf7cNWwGlx1g0NG7UUvqybNQ_a2bTlUTfdUv0mfYTCFvrr6Wak_BhWzbxgbodCimBCOIHyRmjZ2GXHPRRNY79ObO64qAp38ZtkbEXKNL9n6U2AOnWgarkY-1yU6FpnOhlya_TEtkS7092M3K1AXQpMNMeOoPtz6tjjoYkNHIYIDygIojG6/s474/Book006.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzKX9ktgf7cNWwGlx1g0NG7UUvqybNQ_a2bTlUTfdUv0mfYTCFvrr6Wak_BhWzbxgbodCimBCOIHyRmjZ2GXHPRRNY79ObO64qAp38ZtkbEXKNL9n6U2AOnWgarkY-1yU6FpnOhlya_TEtkS7092M3K1AXQpMNMeOoPtz6tjjoYkNHIYIDygIojG6/w134-h200/Book006.jpg" width="134" /></a></div><b>CS Lewis, <i>Prince Caspian</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>The Pesvenie children make their second visit to Narnia, and help legitimise a dynasty.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Currently Reading</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihY7Gu15JM1p6FaQmKpE6us5oVRyCqIjxChZ3xuRfgoWIHNm1qMjT9buHJyT4ink6yvwPEGVY1bvE78omSHpHLODF2GmEpWU1bFaRaZOTbOQmLiRpfFW4z7CwwIzzooxZyl4_I-kECtIyMOEORukt8PTPun-4shXdrSk12YMhgOtk0-1RuYE15d4Ik/s475/Book003.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="311" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihY7Gu15JM1p6FaQmKpE6us5oVRyCqIjxChZ3xuRfgoWIHNm1qMjT9buHJyT4ink6yvwPEGVY1bvE78omSHpHLODF2GmEpWU1bFaRaZOTbOQmLiRpfFW4z7CwwIzzooxZyl4_I-kECtIyMOEORukt8PTPun-4shXdrSk12YMhgOtk0-1RuYE15d4Ik/w131-h200/Book003.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><b>Peter Moore, <i>Endeavour: The Ship and the Attitude that Changed the World</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>A splendid biography of Capt Cook's ship. </div><div><br /></div><div>For a little while I lived in a house of an age and location to have overlooked the yard in which <i>Endeavour </i>was being built, so the early chapters were of particular interest to me.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKfE1jdUZKI03-koYelr3aO0_uN_ZYTHwEymjLTbDvaUHzhPrcKCG679JgiCCc1doD2_B-4BXQHQxOPULbtiGfAESLxQdHPlz7_3F723pwbPstVQMHpAD47KdORS9xW0uHt3i1pljaoa0mx_rxCqg4_7WVJy6gr1qmCl_2Uyl646bRSY1WIUBUbku/s475/Book008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="311" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBKfE1jdUZKI03-koYelr3aO0_uN_ZYTHwEymjLTbDvaUHzhPrcKCG679JgiCCc1doD2_B-4BXQHQxOPULbtiGfAESLxQdHPlz7_3F723pwbPstVQMHpAD47KdORS9xW0uHt3i1pljaoa0mx_rxCqg4_7WVJy6gr1qmCl_2Uyl646bRSY1WIUBUbku/w131-h200/Book008.jpg" width="131" /></a></div><b>CS Lewis, <i>The Voyage of the Dawn Treader</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>The book that introduced me to Narnia over 45 years ago. Reading it now, it makes me long for those island-hoping holidays we had in the Western Isles when I was a boy.<br /><div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div></div></div></div>Diplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-25770811856517792022022-12-15T04:35:00.001+00:002022-12-29T04:39:44.138+00:00Reading in Nov 2022<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvB9oXm_eOumiHlvZoXWTNGqOTzUvlBReXNoj8G-H9qBiSpnqCvgHpVNF4MN4LMlcV7i2t6U4Ii-eFXs1dA7k8pTY473kN_Hq_b2wy_vMIlmQJrnSa4117px5zfTZFEwkfAoDFH5qGtzitnYGYjFLjIL6dt-vZJ7Pfmz3E7mHDO0dzUrqHaBYVwgb/s475/Book001.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEvB9oXm_eOumiHlvZoXWTNGqOTzUvlBReXNoj8G-H9qBiSpnqCvgHpVNF4MN4LMlcV7i2t6U4Ii-eFXs1dA7k8pTY473kN_Hq_b2wy_vMIlmQJrnSa4117px5zfTZFEwkfAoDFH5qGtzitnYGYjFLjIL6dt-vZJ7Pfmz3E7mHDO0dzUrqHaBYVwgb/w133-h200/Book001.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><b>Robert Harris, <i>Munich</i></b><div><br /></div><div>Unusually for Harris, no so much a thriller as a straight historical novel. Possibly because the events around the Munich Conference and the nascent contacts between the German opposition to Hitler and the British don't need much embellishing. But probably also because the conference has been a long-term interest of Harris' (he made a documentary about it for the 50th anniversary in 1988), and he feels that he needs it to be written about to rescue it from being a byword for craven capitulation.<br /><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrA1I9I-4xkFb0fFVk1xkXUYhSFe6HHRn2HnRugvMdyETz4QviKi5_GJlMzo73fS7XsEsJOMub3-micbzGYU17dbutCOvZVd-3byiaF3uHbzKXdf8-jtlRvwU0-CSSrLGZoP8115Pr4vlDTyplOsyndUqb3fAH6W0hHBQLwYDMDqTdVmUqBGGf5uC/s475/Book003.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="307" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTrA1I9I-4xkFb0fFVk1xkXUYhSFe6HHRn2HnRugvMdyETz4QviKi5_GJlMzo73fS7XsEsJOMub3-micbzGYU17dbutCOvZVd-3byiaF3uHbzKXdf8-jtlRvwU0-CSSrLGZoP8115Pr4vlDTyplOsyndUqb3fAH6W0hHBQLwYDMDqTdVmUqBGGf5uC/w129-h200/Book003.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><b>Derek Wilson, <i>A Brief History of the Circumnavigators</i></b></div><div><br /></div><div>I enjoyed this overview of circumnavigation from Magellan to the solo yatchsmen. I wonder why he missed out Darwin/FitzRoy?</div><div><br /></div><div>It reminded me that I have Dampier's account of his journeys half-read by my bed and shelves of exploration books I haven't touched in years.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-Bly8G9Hl0P4zNl4obvzQO38xMKc1ynxWA088zZA2t7Nv376wX6AJHlRkio5kO6uEXOKkBv-aKepkTKt1aa9WhsghcBUVOwl69nGNS138ipQI2RTlKxjFtjgOSi01sukZjTYXPcGX5FvH22z3wTR72PGOTiHvCvaz0gNvGP3raSf_R4fl-k0gezP/s465/Book002.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-Bly8G9Hl0P4zNl4obvzQO38xMKc1ynxWA088zZA2t7Nv376wX6AJHlRkio5kO6uEXOKkBv-aKepkTKt1aa9WhsghcBUVOwl69nGNS138ipQI2RTlKxjFtjgOSi01sukZjTYXPcGX5FvH22z3wTR72PGOTiHvCvaz0gNvGP3raSf_R4fl-k0gezP/w137-h200/Book002.jpg" width="137" /></a></div><b>Mike Ashley (ed), <i>Born of the Sun: Adventures in Our Solar System</i></b><div><br /></div><div>Another in the British Library's series of works of classic science-fiction. This one is an anthology, providing a story for each significant location in the solar system (excluding the Earth/Moon).</div><div><br /></div><div>Like others in the series, I found that it dragged, and I couldn't help but wonder if some of the authors were neglected for good reason. Having read the books in the series that I'd bought, I don't think I'll go back for any more.<br /><div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div>Diplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-87146609271753437422022-12-15T04:27:00.000+00:002022-12-15T04:27:12.713+00:00Occult Investigation in the World of CS Lewis<p>Suffering another bout of insomnia, I've decided on a whim to re-read CS Lewis' <i>The Magician's Nephew.</i></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjtFiOUBflGuzEC9Ff6L8bd3LwyZtnP_OLB6d_LfsBJauG6Wg03RTpawRHLY0sMZ1hqiF8IEHhen6PIzujXXHwT8io9a1H4E6LZGhlgcTp5JRKDZXOUzbktC_efn0DZ9gWQcuoE5HmJliPIwu_XSCZszNLcCiWbjX3IVieLLLGJjPqzQflGdt0NQ7/s341/uncleandrew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="319" data-original-width="341" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTjtFiOUBflGuzEC9Ff6L8bd3LwyZtnP_OLB6d_LfsBJauG6Wg03RTpawRHLY0sMZ1hqiF8IEHhen6PIzujXXHwT8io9a1H4E6LZGhlgcTp5JRKDZXOUzbktC_efn0DZ9gWQcuoE5HmJliPIwu_XSCZszNLcCiWbjX3IVieLLLGJjPqzQflGdt0NQ7/w200-h187/uncleandrew.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p>I've only got to the opening chapters, but it being 3.30am, I've realised that Uncle Andrew, his experiments and Atlantean researches wouldn't be out of place in Lovecraftian fiction - or more properly in MR James' occult world. I wonder if Lewis had <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lost_Hearts" target="_blank">James' 'Lost Hearts'</a> somewhere in mind in Andrew's dealings with Polly and Digory?</p><p>Of course, Lewis will shy away from the occult, but I wonder what we could make of it?</p><p>And, of course, it's Christmas. Time for us all to sit down and think of Monty James and all his works.</p><p>All of which, makes me think that I should dig out <i><a href="https://thedesignmechanism.com/Casting-the-Runes.php" target="_blank">Casting the Runes</a></i>, the RPG set in James' world. I bought it back in February of last year, put it on a pile to read and review, and let it collect dust.</p><p>Just one of those little projects we set ourselves in the pre-dawn which go nowhere...</p>Diplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-36024625282298640932022-10-31T11:35:00.003+00:002022-12-15T04:36:52.972+00:00Books & Stuff (NS, No 33) - Reading in Oct 2022<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjJWU6MciAGOU4LC-yWf0GA2rbXmHpJSDmxnR-UvAmXeHp_EzvRdQzUoDH64w3vyqANPtx0XVNTzhReUtUy7vXud_6WVJ6UIm7CXVR0fdg4D9Ej3jZtO5K19yWv-FmoOnlqXfEHwMA8sm-oxGYSMDh2gztxHFKgcjrvUcbyjryVBUm1_48eDvlTBs/s475/Book004.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="309" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKjJWU6MciAGOU4LC-yWf0GA2rbXmHpJSDmxnR-UvAmXeHp_EzvRdQzUoDH64w3vyqANPtx0XVNTzhReUtUy7vXud_6WVJ6UIm7CXVR0fdg4D9Ej3jZtO5K19yWv-FmoOnlqXfEHwMA8sm-oxGYSMDh2gztxHFKgcjrvUcbyjryVBUm1_48eDvlTBs/w130-h200/Book004.jpg" width="130" /></a></div><b>Ken Liu (ed & trans), <i>Broken Stars</i></b><div><br /></div><div>I finished this anthology of Chinese science fiction from last month.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dhlUlbf4Axf02rZ4jLlL0PhJmQb5llK56jZp5b818N_k25qs7Ezl0pPvHUvyw-gv7q1qrViU81TC2pEBwlW1izp8ufAtapBv7edfs4Tqo5-cqp9NfFqAoWyvDoV1lec7UZAuMjyWRSCr-9YoI3w95FDoWHD3mv6wiA9yQl88CitxYhowK03UFuJG/s465/Book001.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="318" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dhlUlbf4Axf02rZ4jLlL0PhJmQb5llK56jZp5b818N_k25qs7Ezl0pPvHUvyw-gv7q1qrViU81TC2pEBwlW1izp8ufAtapBv7edfs4Tqo5-cqp9NfFqAoWyvDoV1lec7UZAuMjyWRSCr-9YoI3w95FDoWHD3mv6wiA9yQl88CitxYhowK03UFuJG/w137-h200/Book001.jpg" width="137" /></a></div><b>Mike Ashley, <i>Moonrise: The Golden Age of Lunar Adventures</i></b><div><br /></div><div>Another anthology from the British Library series of classic Sci-Fi. Frankly, this was a disappointing read. Many of the stories were plain dull, and those that weren't, I'd read before.<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Currently Reading</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSolnKxX-YkRQ5phjZmqe4C0sjokz03rnCsS9U3WxgbQXlzdOn_fBET7mq8v9_kr_wr1b6n3SEPsoEKi9UIKgKeikpMyT_ixkZSd7pIO_xS7sbkUXnJL7KqUL2vRAv39xd3wPVpk2yUcO5xiFixaY5gbxjSOTqyfiEcXVKoiXabP9IlW8XTtWaR02/s475/Book003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="307" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicSolnKxX-YkRQ5phjZmqe4C0sjokz03rnCsS9U3WxgbQXlzdOn_fBET7mq8v9_kr_wr1b6n3SEPsoEKi9UIKgKeikpMyT_ixkZSd7pIO_xS7sbkUXnJL7KqUL2vRAv39xd3wPVpk2yUcO5xiFixaY5gbxjSOTqyfiEcXVKoiXabP9IlW8XTtWaR02/w129-h200/Book003.jpg" width="129" /></a></div><b>Derek Wilson, <i>A Brief History of the Circumnavigators</i></b><div><br /></div><div>A very readable overview from Magellan to modern-day adventurers.<br /><div><br /></div></div>Diplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-85943965583636474922022-10-24T19:00:00.002+01:002022-10-28T14:50:09.509+01:00Gaming in Oct 2022<p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>16 Oct - The Beast of Errinsford (OSE) - face-to-face</li><li>21 Oct - Trafalgar Day game - Blood, Bilge and Iron Balls - solo wargaming</li></ul><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><p></p><div><b><u>The Beast of Errinsford</u></b></div><p></p><div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCugyWD_zf3DOKTbhLSp6KTMYZjuUNbk-zpwQIGX8o8dvMYU3Ohsp9uF0c4pd8ytfaCjiklJyPHpIcrFvTx4XruPGNiYKtBAxN0p6JyEhxB4x7p3Q5VUCFQGT_DKv_gCAHGvkBEwECMA1o4L8NlrOhisrto8d3XsM0_RIreOUv1CCqphnxV9yPxQu/s1920/Beast-header.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1920" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCugyWD_zf3DOKTbhLSp6KTMYZjuUNbk-zpwQIGX8o8dvMYU3Ohsp9uF0c4pd8ytfaCjiklJyPHpIcrFvTx4XruPGNiYKtBAxN0p6JyEhxB4x7p3Q5VUCFQGT_DKv_gCAHGvkBEwECMA1o4L8NlrOhisrto8d3XsM0_RIreOUv1CCqphnxV9yPxQu/w200-h112/Beast-header.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div>The group at our LFGS that I DM for are currently playing The Beast of Errinsford, loosely based on the module <i><a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/327744/The-Black-Wyrm-of-Brandonsford?affiliate_id=519854" target="_blank">The Black Wyrm of Brandonsford</a></i> by Chance Dudinack. </div><div><br /></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>16 Oct</b></li></ul><div>A depleted party carried on with their side-mission of <strike>looting</strike> collecting magical weapons from the tomb of Sir Errin and his companions. They had a brief encounter in the marshes with <strike>Bullywugs</strike> Gullygugs, but managed to pay a toll with a mirror and a toy clay pig.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXGlnn8qfAqHl1UNG_5qhtdyPXYxgXgqo_qxBXk7DmH1AqcZGdOxTTkKUBV1YEt4gvKqcpHZqg5Z9nPlVyPJc8IjF56_VE5uFrALl6BEM8NfgOX8P6YqtzyugjOpJLzi96sSQgwuzGHFKXghb6o_ULY6PZ4LbKTW0qKUElbMQqRsQpXbg_Z3YkS_a/s1200/spider.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="889" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXGlnn8qfAqHl1UNG_5qhtdyPXYxgXgqo_qxBXk7DmH1AqcZGdOxTTkKUBV1YEt4gvKqcpHZqg5Z9nPlVyPJc8IjF56_VE5uFrALl6BEM8NfgOX8P6YqtzyugjOpJLzi96sSQgwuzGHFKXghb6o_ULY6PZ4LbKTW0qKUElbMQqRsQpXbg_Z3YkS_a/s320/spider.png" width="237" /></a></div><br /><div>They got to the barrow, met the sole survivor of another group of <strike>looters</strike> explorers who (surprisingly, seeing that he was a Goatman, they didn't kill and defile on the spot). There then followed a surprisingly careful and efficient sweep of the barrow, in which they defeated miscellaneous pests (fricassee of rat) and mollified the undead souls of the ancient heroes. One of the party - Gimli the Elf - was killed by a giant spider. There only being two surviving PCs, an unfeasible amount of XP was awarded for the masses of treasure they recovered.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1UdZBDXOvcXCtnD5lahKiQKkczYtxtiVIyNlqVTHG4aG6JbzDG5u8T-pSn5nmw2MgWwLVMl4gqqu-91BSnupd9A-HxsTdtHOO1QwlUcp9o-rJWD1_5DN1DafdKGAo92-E15PHaoTbce7D7xgCNfMJVC6Sv3BAXSENca2bNI5z-BlOQRHj9_SLseF/s800/skeleton-warrior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="582" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf1UdZBDXOvcXCtnD5lahKiQKkczYtxtiVIyNlqVTHG4aG6JbzDG5u8T-pSn5nmw2MgWwLVMl4gqqu-91BSnupd9A-HxsTdtHOO1QwlUcp9o-rJWD1_5DN1DafdKGAo92-E15PHaoTbce7D7xgCNfMJVC6Sv3BAXSENca2bNI5z-BlOQRHj9_SLseF/w146-h200/skeleton-warrior.jpg" width="146" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Blood, Bilge and Iron Balls</u></b></div></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZd14V7SvjdJnTnZ0qE6Dw6dsQwY0S8nMdpefS4mlkTgQojbR8DX2qI6Kwj2XXWt0-jVs8_5Z6e0ndJYLTJcbFKNXkd5Rk0XFeKYfnNPnzYPKsCU4CI-DRI_HO983pIhHJ2cPdUn0IUqY-ty_2x6oSI-yhDQM7RDc33I-dKZ0zdnFZq4WLR1TD8Yf/s1527/Traf22-006.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1527" data-original-width="1526" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZd14V7SvjdJnTnZ0qE6Dw6dsQwY0S8nMdpefS4mlkTgQojbR8DX2qI6Kwj2XXWt0-jVs8_5Z6e0ndJYLTJcbFKNXkd5Rk0XFeKYfnNPnzYPKsCU4CI-DRI_HO983pIhHJ2cPdUn0IUqY-ty_2x6oSI-yhDQM7RDc33I-dKZ0zdnFZq4WLR1TD8Yf/s320/Traf22-006.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>21 Oct - Trafalgar Day</b></li></ul><div><b><a href="https://diplomatist2.blogspot.com/2022/10/trafalgar-day-2022-game.html" target="_blank">Write-up here</a></b></div><div><br /></div><div>As it was Trafalgar Day, I had of course to have a go at the battle itself. I used Collingwood's leeward column as the set-up for a solo game using the BBIB rules.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Inevitably, the British fleet suffered heavily on the approach to the Combined line. It didn't break the line, as the Combined Fleet decided to break and move into melee sooner rather than later (not having to worry about the bigger picture of the battle). It soon became rather messy and, when I called it after almost four hours of play, It was a British defeat. </div><div><br /></div><div>I still have a lot to learn about age of sail tactics and placing ships where they can be most effective.</div><div><br /></div><div>BBIB has served well for what I wanted it for - an intro to naval wargaming. It lacks nuance though, and I'm wondering whether to move on to something with a bit more granularity - possibly the Two Fat Lardies <i>Kiss Me Hardy</i>.</div><div><br /></div></div>Diplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-54354554418929802022022-10-22T00:24:00.004+01:002022-10-22T12:38:11.636+01:00Trafalgar Day 2022 Game<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFAYc2kZaoL_M3TDEysE-EkdekZcDikVNP0aeiobTO5I5JoCT4pI1Zqzrt8mEQ5ujPbkg1kr2NV_23NJv8TG9ADunEptEcra7fsW1DcgX8cwrFPJnwj2XVJp-rv_aun69BQXZVpczk5jSsGac-qvM_wHrKo0wtnTGj73d4rkQFRv5If2RBhX1ZX7M/s2000/Trafalgar.-Royal-Sov-Interim05.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1338" data-original-width="2000" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFAYc2kZaoL_M3TDEysE-EkdekZcDikVNP0aeiobTO5I5JoCT4pI1Zqzrt8mEQ5ujPbkg1kr2NV_23NJv8TG9ADunEptEcra7fsW1DcgX8cwrFPJnwj2XVJp-rv_aun69BQXZVpczk5jSsGac-qvM_wHrKo0wtnTGj73d4rkQFRv5If2RBhX1ZX7M/w400-h268/Trafalgar.-Royal-Sov-Interim05.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>'HMS <i>Royal Sovereign</i> First Through The Line' <br />by Richard Grenville</b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> As part of my on-going attempts at solo naval wargaming, I had to mark Trafalgar Day by having a go at part of the battle. I accordingly booked a suitably-sized table at my local friendly gaming store and broke out <i>Blood, Bilge and Iron Balls</i> again.<div><br /></div><div>Only being human, I couldn't manage the whole battle, but instead played out the attack by Admiral Collingwood's leeward line. Fortunately, the scenario has been laid out in <a href="https://www.warlordgames.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Trafalgar-Leeward-Line.pdf" target="_blank">a free download</a> from Warlord Games. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdEBp7fbrpV_tMlOritkGqhuaPCRV7opDMXFPvdCgrHOn2dbIsiwDboGZBe1n65QR_AUkxWo3oEAkw6pNJp9KvGq276_GdHt6hvJXL1LtoJnIRcdR_gufwHaUghnXmip_ucDZrMdahPtyA-mDDWiZMCKyT9NDPGPtKe2KO4jMEmXwlYDP--BR7T7V/s243/trafmap.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="207" data-original-width="243" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdEBp7fbrpV_tMlOritkGqhuaPCRV7opDMXFPvdCgrHOn2dbIsiwDboGZBe1n65QR_AUkxWo3oEAkw6pNJp9KvGq276_GdHt6hvJXL1LtoJnIRcdR_gufwHaUghnXmip_ucDZrMdahPtyA-mDDWiZMCKyT9NDPGPtKe2KO4jMEmXwlYDP--BR7T7V/w400-h341/trafmap.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>In reality, the line wasn't this neat, and <br />instead was in effect a line of bearing</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Turn One</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_sAV8OlaLiPKsb962AM989gYOAP7OtfbIaml-XHhbSdpgJ8jfDSDV9VBUlHwna7-yX169CCqwf_IoTBPLXXaiR3uGiwedt6XIElHax_F-y0ttULRlq_qkZc9_mRvJkyjthaWJbyQ7MSpQ4msCWkOPKC2HNS6Mm9etfpyXGKvaD0-l4f7ljXUoEjd/s1943/Traf22-001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1105" data-original-width="1943" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0_sAV8OlaLiPKsb962AM989gYOAP7OtfbIaml-XHhbSdpgJ8jfDSDV9VBUlHwna7-yX169CCqwf_IoTBPLXXaiR3uGiwedt6XIElHax_F-y0ttULRlq_qkZc9_mRvJkyjthaWJbyQ7MSpQ4msCWkOPKC2HNS6Mm9etfpyXGKvaD0-l4f7ljXUoEjd/w400-h228/Traf22-001.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>Of course, things started out as in the real engagement. Collingwood's line, headed by HMS <i>Royal Sovereign</i>, the flagship, raced towards the centre of the Franco-Spanish line. During this time, they suffered from the combined fire of the line-of-battle.</div><div><br /></div><div>I made the mistake of not having the British approach under full sail - that would have allowed them to engage sooner and left <i>Bellerophon </i>and <i>Colossus </i>under-utilised in the rear. In each of these games I learn something new: today's lesson was on effective deployment.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Turn Two</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAiYBN8N7HByfofx2LngcAZ3--ochWXxi7QXmkAMG7p8C3RtDVUEWkDnR45h7iM7s6tYnhuQ6j_MBkZDDtSSsuTTAcyLp9UdA1GGH2arEI6dXmGcm1kc7ZfwQ6sRx9J1fma0zpI8eQB-UkyDot0uMUccr30B7ZDct0NqawlVwuHTQt0Ig0eCdE-nS/s1842/Traf22-002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="1842" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicAiYBN8N7HByfofx2LngcAZ3--ochWXxi7QXmkAMG7p8C3RtDVUEWkDnR45h7iM7s6tYnhuQ6j_MBkZDDtSSsuTTAcyLp9UdA1GGH2arEI6dXmGcm1kc7ZfwQ6sRx9J1fma0zpI8eQB-UkyDot0uMUccr30B7ZDct0NqawlVwuHTQt0Ig0eCdE-nS/w400-h244/Traf22-002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>I'd decided to ignore the rest of the battle, so had no compulsion in having the Combined Fleet decide to break the larger formation. Initially, I thought they would turn in succession at the flagship's position (<i>San Ana </i>in the van) and run (into the wind!) parallel to the British attack.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the first departure from history, <i>Royal Sovereign</i> and <i>Belleisle </i>attempted to break the line between <i>Fougueux </i>and <i>Pluton </i>instead of going for <i>San Ana</i>. The rest of line headed for the gap between <i>Pluton </i>and <i>Algesiras</i>. By accident, this meant that the Spanish <i>Monarco </i>was in position to rake <i>Royal Sovereign's</i> bows. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiQLyzxr-_vxGbGEf7qUsZIOiwM1HZzALkpR7XqaXAzoJqQz-WLv-c268CaGEAiW7jRoxYQRMqmCDzNKo0WMOIlo7VnwzZub0fIse_opjO6m3O1qiRmzektHsdIsBeIwEH6d6mgy020RfVuxkmONV3xTWKi_mRiMSoBtlxlddAEoLYhZ2elBDAwU1/s1176/Traf22-003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="868" data-original-width="1176" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiQLyzxr-_vxGbGEf7qUsZIOiwM1HZzALkpR7XqaXAzoJqQz-WLv-c268CaGEAiW7jRoxYQRMqmCDzNKo0WMOIlo7VnwzZub0fIse_opjO6m3O1qiRmzektHsdIsBeIwEH6d6mgy020RfVuxkmONV3xTWKi_mRiMSoBtlxlddAEoLYhZ2elBDAwU1/w400-h295/Traf22-003.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>I now realised that turning the Combined line in succession would take too much time (Cape St Vincent anyone?), and instead chose to tack together. This had the effect of breaking formation and losing the effect of over-lapping fire that line-of-battle is designed to give.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMoEN8HuFwRbDx5ZU1ycPvQXYp4ozWWUUQaUh8KSdGFQhBdBL-PUpKWXMmTymOTwK-EVhIQKqgwpb_DW10-1Jxvy2SvpV9Q5p0QEw8IbMClayOVmzWbdQ31lfz_owfVywud8upHU_MSIkBnpKcdE_BI4bx2NeASX-Oq-rZc7M8M1QTjUMpCpzWEJF/s1796/Traf22-004.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1796" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWMoEN8HuFwRbDx5ZU1ycPvQXYp4ozWWUUQaUh8KSdGFQhBdBL-PUpKWXMmTymOTwK-EVhIQKqgwpb_DW10-1Jxvy2SvpV9Q5p0QEw8IbMClayOVmzWbdQ31lfz_owfVywud8upHU_MSIkBnpKcdE_BI4bx2NeASX-Oq-rZc7M8M1QTjUMpCpzWEJF/s320/Traf22-004.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>At this stage the British hadn't yet opened fire, but had already suffered 33 hits, including the raking of <i>Royal Sovereign</i>. It was now in position to fight back, but <i>Royal Sovereign</i> and <i>Belleisle </i>(in the van) were constrained by the command-and-control damage they had suffered (though <i>Royal Sovereign</i> was still able to engage on both sides). Nevertheless, the single hit on <i>Pluton </i>from <i>Royal Sovereign</i> caused an inferno.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Turn 3</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEims6M4sIxLgA0k_xlAuyxpyW029Ao1pBTBJZmiGU2BARyd4ak1WdFdG1iw9SazKuG2VqvBjYWaFgbu6wy0nKtYlFCUV7pZox33tdjeG1c0mPTCZZhniDumjrkN22tIoLbp2dIN_GHQEFktLsIt98tC_RUs71T6mnMQhWtwsEv8b2ueaRoW-WKDAyOR/s1546/Traf22-005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1124" data-original-width="1546" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEims6M4sIxLgA0k_xlAuyxpyW029Ao1pBTBJZmiGU2BARyd4ak1WdFdG1iw9SazKuG2VqvBjYWaFgbu6wy0nKtYlFCUV7pZox33tdjeG1c0mPTCZZhniDumjrkN22tIoLbp2dIN_GHQEFktLsIt98tC_RUs71T6mnMQhWtwsEv8b2ueaRoW-WKDAyOR/w400-h291/Traf22-005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Things got very messy from here on. The van of the Combined line attempted to wear round and reverse direction, the rest of their line was now heading into the wind.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Bahama </i>suffered major damage (having drawn both jokers among its damage card). <i>Algesiras </i>rammed <i>Belleisle </i>with the intent to board, but the boarding party was repulsed. <i>Bellisle</i> turned the tables and moved to board <i>Algesiras</i>.</div><div><b><br /><u>Turn 4</u></b></div><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div>This now turned into a slugging match. Ships from both sides found that the interlocked <i>Algesiras/Belleisle</i> their only viable target and decided that the damage to foe was worth damage to friend. That, and <i>Bellisle's </i>boarding action was enough to force <i>Algesiras </i>to strike. However, <i>Belleisle </i>was in left a very critical state.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Turn 5</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Despite their lack of maneuverability, the Combined fleet remained in a better firing position (I'd allowed the British ships to get into a situation where several were blocking line-of-sight.) Both <i>Belleisle </i>and <i>Royal Sovereign</i>, Collingwood's flagship, were forced to strike.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the meantime, <i>Colossus </i>and <i>Bellerophon </i>had made a <i>Bahama </i>sandwich.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uS18PZaVLWJZGLWLNXl9MC2CaXLQ0xioTO0ai8s8m_dPpseqV67v6rA1eM1rdDODBzoiVyCcFnG9obx11UFCSBuRUvdX3bIECFMBqLuATLzm9U-pRKhh-UlNQr9j8XsNyiPU1vYQz5zl5-aFnConiRhFAGrGo1ht0tYfkBz6lujalIQ82N7kMC-O/s1527/Traf22-007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1452" data-original-width="1527" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2uS18PZaVLWJZGLWLNXl9MC2CaXLQ0xioTO0ai8s8m_dPpseqV67v6rA1eM1rdDODBzoiVyCcFnG9obx11UFCSBuRUvdX3bIECFMBqLuATLzm9U-pRKhh-UlNQr9j8XsNyiPU1vYQz5zl5-aFnConiRhFAGrGo1ht0tYfkBz6lujalIQ82N7kMC-O/w400-h380/Traf22-007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Mars </i>and <i>Tonnant</i> both had damaged steerage gear and were therefore forced out of the engagement (<i>Mars </i>was able to make repairs quickly, but <i>Tonnant </i>was last seen heading over the horizon towards the Spanish coast).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCq1jOkwSn6EH4NnsmjkZBi5A-qo0S7kyZSh6tofbA9pQl4-JbUP8e_BcEPXN7wBLu5e-rgTAvIJ71Kb4dtu8QQxJx46kZiF-yQGknpB4R8MPvM7_kduT6aD29w-nkJJTGk_R_-4CFMfXa5CAtO49Yv5DIPiWdjD36g_EGM5_oVFKQGf9NNIch3pwz/s1793/Traf22-008.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="959" data-original-width="1793" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCq1jOkwSn6EH4NnsmjkZBi5A-qo0S7kyZSh6tofbA9pQl4-JbUP8e_BcEPXN7wBLu5e-rgTAvIJ71Kb4dtu8QQxJx46kZiF-yQGknpB4R8MPvM7_kduT6aD29w-nkJJTGk_R_-4CFMfXa5CAtO49Yv5DIPiWdjD36g_EGM5_oVFKQGf9NNIch3pwz/w400-h214/Traf22-008.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Turn 6</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div>The battering continued. <i>Bahama </i>was unable to control the raging fires on board, which lead to a catastrophic explosion.</div><div><br /></div><div>Four hours in, I decided to call it a day.</div><div><br /></div><div>The butcher's bill was high. The British had received just under twice as many hits as the Combined Fleet: - two ships (including the flagship) had struck and one was forced to leave the field of battle. In contrast, a French ship had been successfully boarded and captured, and a Spanish ship was sinking. I determined it to be a victory for the Combined Fleet.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Thoughts</u></b></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNb_qcSC3wxXl3H-5LFXsnJ52LgGJIKMwd6OPejwRJ3ASzW6aqrsNTCwm2WS0RRo6JQ8ATeOiQyk3NIkEqjCk0D2jNt7eYflego6pRp65aezUelCT8fKTht3S4MLIPyzRUIT87OQq5iMWQeQz4UFub5SNTNiXls4iaSiLwckX_20-1UPJLL48kckTc/s1527/Traf22-006.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1527" data-original-width="1526" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNb_qcSC3wxXl3H-5LFXsnJ52LgGJIKMwd6OPejwRJ3ASzW6aqrsNTCwm2WS0RRo6JQ8ATeOiQyk3NIkEqjCk0D2jNt7eYflego6pRp65aezUelCT8fKTht3S4MLIPyzRUIT87OQq5iMWQeQz4UFub5SNTNiXls4iaSiLwckX_20-1UPJLL48kckTc/w400-h400/Traf22-006.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b>A toast was made to the Immortal Memory <br />and to the other 4,852 lives lost in the battle</b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><div><i>Blood, Bilge and Iron Balls</i> has served well for what I wanted it for - an intro to naval wargaming that allows me to work out the tactics without getting too bogged down in detail. It lacks nuance though, and I'm wondering whether to move on to something with a bit more granularity - possibly the Two Fat Lardies <i>Kiss Me Hardy</i>.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>On 4 Nov 1805 the final action of the Trafalgar Campaign took place when Strachan's squadron caught up with Admiral Dumanoir and defeated him at <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cape_Ortegal" target="_blank">the Battle of Cape Ortegal</a>. Perhaps by the anniversary, I will have familiarised myself with a new ruleset. I shall have certainly have read more of Mark Adkin's excellent <i>Trafalgar Companion</i> - which covers far more than the title suggests. I still have a lot to learn about age of sail tactics and placing ships where they can be most effective.</div>Diplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8316437260668122878.post-47188248787479720242022-10-14T20:28:00.001+01:002022-10-14T20:38:38.945+01:00Gaming in Sep 2022<p> </p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>4 Sep - The Beast of Errinsford (OSE) - face-to-face</li><li>7 Sep - Traveller</li><li>18 Sep - The Beast of Errinsford (OSE) - face-to-face</li><li>27 Sep - Blood, Bilge and Iron Balls - solo wargaming</li><li>30 Sep - Blood, Bilge and Iron Balls - solo wargaming</li></ul><div><b><u><br /></u></b></div><div><b><u>The Beast of Errinsford</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCugyWD_zf3DOKTbhLSp6KTMYZjuUNbk-zpwQIGX8o8dvMYU3Ohsp9uF0c4pd8ytfaCjiklJyPHpIcrFvTx4XruPGNiYKtBAxN0p6JyEhxB4x7p3Q5VUCFQGT_DKv_gCAHGvkBEwECMA1o4L8NlrOhisrto8d3XsM0_RIreOUv1CCqphnxV9yPxQu/s1920/Beast-header.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1920" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCugyWD_zf3DOKTbhLSp6KTMYZjuUNbk-zpwQIGX8o8dvMYU3Ohsp9uF0c4pd8ytfaCjiklJyPHpIcrFvTx4XruPGNiYKtBAxN0p6JyEhxB4x7p3Q5VUCFQGT_DKv_gCAHGvkBEwECMA1o4L8NlrOhisrto8d3XsM0_RIreOUv1CCqphnxV9yPxQu/w200-h112/Beast-header.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div>The open table OSE game at our FLGS is becoming so popular again that we've made arrangements for a second table for when too many people turn up. I volunteered to GM it and, given less than a week's notice, decide to dig out the campaign I ran online earlier in the year. This is The Beast of Errinsford, loosely based on the module <i><a href="https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/327744/The-Black-Wyrm-of-Brandonsford?affiliate_id=519854" target="_blank">The Black Wyrm of Brandonsford</a></i> by Chance Dudinack. </div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, in the first session the party went off in a direction that the other players never reached... Player agency!</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>4 Sep</b></li></ul></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLzhr0Liu0nY0tHREI9duX44xeA_jlsR6iH7jKpIB4uEiQHSly7JBTW8Zr_mGw9d7oRmtOjsMjlix8J4Z-QIr2ThDmrZsp0YbIKFD2T4iqviarfC4esuV-GVIcGYZDse7Qw9M0GKM6Acxk2P3DayKvzvHBLYuKzwV8U7gf6JNjCzjL9_qPUXrIdud/s1964/beefy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1964" data-original-width="1367" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhLzhr0Liu0nY0tHREI9duX44xeA_jlsR6iH7jKpIB4uEiQHSly7JBTW8Zr_mGw9d7oRmtOjsMjlix8J4Z-QIr2ThDmrZsp0YbIKFD2T4iqviarfC4esuV-GVIcGYZDse7Qw9M0GKM6Acxk2P3DayKvzvHBLYuKzwV8U7gf6JNjCzjL9_qPUXrIdud/w139-h200/beefy.jpg" width="139" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Constable Ward - <br />my favorite NPC</span></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The party had an ice-breaking encounter with a wild boar, entered the town of Errinsford, where they met several of the leading inhabitants (upon some of which they made a better impression than others). There was a big info-dump (with more to come!), before an afternoon's stroll in search of the delayed caravan ended with a leathal encounter with goatmen and the desecration of bodies. Then home for tea and XP!</div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>18 Sep</b></li></ul><div>Joined by an old friend, the party continued its interviews with the townsfolk, getting madeleines and Maderia wine (and some lore) from Fr Willem the priest before deciding to head out to see Vivienne, the witch that lives in the forest. On the way, they came across the body of an elf being devoured by giant centipedes, which managed to poison Winston the dwarf. Vivienne got their trust by curing him and, over tea, told them about the curse that had created the original beast. Yet another tussle with goatmen - this time they didn't desecrate the bodies, but instead fed them to the wolves.</div></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-0F73PahONL_6NFqAx6uzQrhO3Be8nUZ5wJN9eI9DaCnx3-JTTJUwsp3w3bvk21CqVlfN-O2fPf52rplNA8aFo5UdJOETNBZjtCJSwlovadU8xDnRa1bU5KrcXvzDQh179MjQx5YnjtSDgfML3iwGeS8JKoSZlpoTBtP3gJnvt_Nq0xX_mMIF3Hn/s1280/yew.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-0F73PahONL_6NFqAx6uzQrhO3Be8nUZ5wJN9eI9DaCnx3-JTTJUwsp3w3bvk21CqVlfN-O2fPf52rplNA8aFo5UdJOETNBZjtCJSwlovadU8xDnRa1bU5KrcXvzDQh179MjQx5YnjtSDgfML3iwGeS8JKoSZlpoTBtP3gJnvt_Nq0xX_mMIF3Hn/w200-h133/yew.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div>On Day 3 of their stay in Errinsford, Derek the thief cased out the abandoned General Store, while the rest went to spoke to Riffin, the traumatised hunter who is the only known survivor of an encounter with the beast. After picking up their packed lunch, they then headed out of the village, with the aim of getting to Sir Errin's tomb to reciover magic weapons. They renewed their acquaintance with the local bridge-troll, who gave them directions, and had a night in the woods. Sprites were plied with spirits.</div><div><br /></div><div>Day 4 saw them come to the border of the marshes. There they came across a strange shrine, which they debated robbing, but instead made offerings and petitions. This led then the the missing Friar Dirk, who had spent the last few days in a pit after unsuccessfully trying to loot it. Over elevenses, Dirk told his story.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>Classic Traveller</u></b></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>7 Sep</b></li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QYahhXTWQFf2jBhZd5dDh9mmXRWX7IjEPspTqMbmp33FZxAPh0fKpDT-VTnWRKAArh-pafdGjjaro1pCb4eBS8YeQQW2YIsYTZ4Mxjw04mMJSr3kPQZnkSpXWbyYSMDs--6ThYXIcQLHp-tc_LAD8DFUYzUv4NhQrvQGQ82va_JLNxYG3hxvfFd9/s500/Traveller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="338" data-original-width="500" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_QYahhXTWQFf2jBhZd5dDh9mmXRWX7IjEPspTqMbmp33FZxAPh0fKpDT-VTnWRKAArh-pafdGjjaro1pCb4eBS8YeQQW2YIsYTZ4Mxjw04mMJSr3kPQZnkSpXWbyYSMDs--6ThYXIcQLHp-tc_LAD8DFUYzUv4NhQrvQGQ82va_JLNxYG3hxvfFd9/w200-h135/Traveller.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div>Our band of Free Traders did a bit of arms smuggling, almost immediately returning to the site of our last crime. Contracting the Corporate goons who'd previously employed us as assasins, we were offered a black-bag job. We very efficiently managed to exfiltrate a turn-coat scientist with minimal casualties.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><u style="font-weight: 700;">Blood, Bilge and Iron Balls</u></div><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><b>27 Sep</b></li><li><b>30 Sep</b></li></ul></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBfHlv0_i-Mecewrv0BTip58f-SDbUFpxy1YIeK7su88q0ZEfQYZTsdRHdA6alYrE3CnLEqX8QKtae6Jw-QYv-v-2fD8kn5qiH3I6GQ1IKKPbUDoi0FFJMV2sLKJcD36BLWhJlrfIRNwVWnE2LRcrBd8HaJSnqcQ6MGMmYg1qjbEJqplAgMrANTru/s2080/Ham002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="2080" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZBfHlv0_i-Mecewrv0BTip58f-SDbUFpxy1YIeK7su88q0ZEfQYZTsdRHdA6alYrE3CnLEqX8QKtae6Jw-QYv-v-2fD8kn5qiH3I6GQ1IKKPbUDoi0FFJMV2sLKJcD36BLWhJlrfIRNwVWnE2LRcrBd8HaJSnqcQ6MGMmYg1qjbEJqplAgMrANTru/w200-h150/Ham002.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>My solo play of a version back in August of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_San_Domingo">Battle of San Domingo, 1806</a> at The Games Table worked out well, so I thought I would give it another go. At the end of the first session, the rear of the French line had been forced to strike, but more damage had been done to the British van. There was enough to call it as a French victory, with a good chance of them successfully withdrawing. However, I thought I'd carry through on the scenario and and see if the approach of the rest of the British squadron made any difference.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8zub5h21aQPAvDrRwbRi3bMcaa-uR43sbaf0L7scC1k76mb-xYZaJmYjhcRQmjGSa_SQJWhkN9BwXFpGp1m56zZjOSj44tjw5h_Xp4tXc32Vf-MYHCLioebqPYFnx4f3MMdXfdNCYWw91xoBs23cf7rDtJuNdG74khN_cIHu0tNWV1T77kdzZc5I/s2076/Ham001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="2076" height="109" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA8zub5h21aQPAvDrRwbRi3bMcaa-uR43sbaf0L7scC1k76mb-xYZaJmYjhcRQmjGSa_SQJWhkN9BwXFpGp1m56zZjOSj44tjw5h_Xp4tXc32Vf-MYHCLioebqPYFnx4f3MMdXfdNCYWw91xoBs23cf7rDtJuNdG74khN_cIHu0tNWV1T77kdzZc5I/w200-h109/Ham001.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>In the end it didn't, the French were able to concentrate their fire as the British came into range, and ended up winning the day.</div><div><br /></div><div><b><u>The Games Table...</u></b></div><div><br /></div><div>Although I obviously didn't need much scenery for the BBIB game, I thought I'd share a couple of pictures of that on the neighbouring tables. This is one of the reasons The Games Table is an excellent place to play a game.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09-oXMR9If773whHC0hutFleZR3DB5DojCvyiryjxvTpBC1kBo4adCGYrCQWmt_X_Ms8ttY9EkrHG5vHZToSJaGRYqewPNWNRdluk0zmp9Y5vkOLRm8rTlNqBqw3JT01sj1-9oVw711md4l9SFSFek_2RGAaecnULd9bhYpiHS3DAE_3t9pgg2yv2/s2080/TG001.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="2080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh09-oXMR9If773whHC0hutFleZR3DB5DojCvyiryjxvTpBC1kBo4adCGYrCQWmt_X_Ms8ttY9EkrHG5vHZToSJaGRYqewPNWNRdluk0zmp9Y5vkOLRm8rTlNqBqw3JT01sj1-9oVw711md4l9SFSFek_2RGAaecnULd9bhYpiHS3DAE_3t9pgg2yv2/s320/TG001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOE4yOCbUPtdy2T08Mz6xYI_LHmq7EXVzm0hfm7Rs1LbEjXzWTPyL7UE3Qm6tGs4g0QHLsWobjMNhbM73VXopPc5eeX8Qc2P6R3MBtQdD6INSqpocvEgD04LnDkKteRD2YkxtOdiNNcRg6IDutGVC7ACHNfuw2MdRD-_M5Lsc3tsWnh7dIwKICBHXd/s2080/TG002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1560" data-original-width="2080" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOE4yOCbUPtdy2T08Mz6xYI_LHmq7EXVzm0hfm7Rs1LbEjXzWTPyL7UE3Qm6tGs4g0QHLsWobjMNhbM73VXopPc5eeX8Qc2P6R3MBtQdD6INSqpocvEgD04LnDkKteRD2YkxtOdiNNcRg6IDutGVC7ACHNfuw2MdRD-_M5Lsc3tsWnh7dIwKICBHXd/s320/TG002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p></p>Diplomatisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04154642903216207181noreply@blogger.com1