Rogue Games Tabbloid -- April 12, 2009 Edition

12 April, 2009

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR [email protected]

ROGUE FEED

The Rise of the Red Crests

[Lost Works] Lustria, Part 2

Not everyone died in the plague that ravished the city of Chaqua. Rising from the spawning pools came a new group of Skinks, and this group was Red Crested. Among them was Tenehuini who was smarter than all the Skinks, and able to read the plaques of the Great World Plan.

APR 11, 2009 07:15P.M.

The Invasion and the Prophecy The most important event in Lizardmen history is the Time of the

Tenehuini learned of the Prophecy of Sotek, and considered himself to be the god’s prophet. Calling for a gathering of all Skinks, and he proclaimed the prophecy had come true. Pointing to the heavens and he

Plague. This was a time when the servants of the Great Horned Rat, emerged into the jungles of Lustria and let loose a cloud of death. At no other time in Lizardmen history was the possibility of extinction so high. Yet the Slann and the Lizardmen survived, and solidified their position in Lustria forever.

stated that a two-tailed comet would announce the arrival of the Sotek the Great Snake. Tenehuini told everyone word of Sotek’s coming must be spread and all must be told that their deliverance was at hand. The gathering came to a close and the Red Crested Skinks left to spread the news of Sotek’s coming.

In the pyramid temple of Chaqua a prophecy lay hidden on the gold plaques of The Great World Plan. Like the other plaques in other temple cities, Chaqua’s plaques correctly predicted the collapse of the Warp Gates and the retreat of the Old Ones. Unlike the others, Chaqua’s plaques also predicted an invasion of Lustria. This invasion would be the creation of the Great Horned Rat.

Led by Tenehuini, the Red Crests urged all Lizardmen to sacrifice any rat, rodent and Skaven found in the jungle. The reason for this was to feed Sotek so he could gain strength for the coming war. The Red Crests preached that the prophecy described Sotek as a mighty red snake that would swallow any rat he found. Once he was strong enough, Sotek would fight the Great Horned Rat and swallow him. Sotek would then rest for 1,000 years while he digested his enemy.

According to the plaques, his rodent spawn would invade the jungles of Lustria and Lizardmen would die. Even the city of Chaqua would be destroyed in the wave of rodents, and the jungles would be forever changed. The prophecy also alluded to the salvation of the Lizardmen when a mighty serpent would rise from the earth. This serpent would be named Sotek and he would fight the servants of the Horned Rat, and drive the rodents from the jungle. The children of the Old Ones would know of Sotek’s arrival by a sign in the heavens. This sign would appear in the Lizardmen’s hour of need and signal that salvation close at hand.

The Lizardmen, who were tired of the constant death and disease, quickly embraced Sotek. The Slann, however, wisely forbid any Skaven from being brought into the temple cities. The memories of Chaqua were still fresh, and no Slann wanted a repeat of that disaster. Thus the Skinks went to the ruined temple cities, and there among the ruins performed their sacrifices. Sotek Comes

The Slann of Chaqua waited for the time that they knew would soon come. Without warning the earth vomited out a creation of pure evil. Rodents of many shape and sizes came, and wherever they stepped death soon followed. The Skaven destroyed many of the temple cities and plagues engulfed the land. It took many years, but eventually the plagues reached Chaqua.

In the heavens a comet appeared (-30 I.C.), not a normal comet but a comet with two tails. None of the Slann knew what this meant, but the priests of Sotek did; Sotek had arrived! A giant red snake rose from the earth and unleashing his rage. Snakes of all types and sizes answered Sotek’s summons. They infested the Skaven’s dens, and soon the number of snakes became so great that they were forced to the surface. The Plague Monks tried devising diseases that would kill the snakes, but nothing worked. The Skaven had no choice but to retreat and return to their home.

Consulting the plaques the Slann learned that their time of doom was approaching. War parties were sent to defeat the Skaven, but it was too little too late. Plague and disease were loose and many had died at the Skaven’s hands. After a successful attack on a Skaven stronghold Skaven prisoners were brought to Chaqua to be sacrificed and questioned. The Skaven leaders were brought inside the city, but they brought the plague with them. In two days of carnage, all but a spawning of Skinks survived.

Building rafts the Skaven set sail across the Great World Pond. Following in their wake was Sotek! He plunged into

1

Today’s Tabbloid PERSONAL NEWS FOR [email protected]

12 April, 2009

the water and swam after them. The threat of the Skaven was over and peace came to the jungles. Sotek now feeds endlessly on the Skaven, and his appetite will not be satisfied until the Great Horned Rat is swallowed.

rules. That is, it retains the number of spells per day a magic-user gets as described in OD&D and then presents an alternate explanation for why the class is so limited. I can’t help but approve of this approach, as it nicely embodies the do-ityourself sensibilities of OD&D and the early hobby I so love. As I said, I don’t think the sketch presented in FFC provides enough details in order to emulate it accurately. But I do think it provides a potent example of how to take OD&D’s rules and then make them your own. I’m very much of the opinion that what the hobby needs is more of this kind of thing and not less. The zeal for standardization and conformity is perfectly understandable and proceeds from rational impulses. Yet, I also think that zeal has inadvertently put a stopper in the parallel zeal for originality and uniqueness. Great as it is to be able to move effortlessly from one campaign to another, sure of the rules the referee will use in his campaign. it’s often at the expense of the individual quirkiness that I feel is at the heart of this hobby and gave it such appeal.

- As told by the Skink Tinz Titz to the Norse scholar Ingmar Knud, 2493 I.C. Posted in Games Tagged: Games, Lost Works, Lustria, thoughts, Warhammer FRP

ROGUE FEED

D&D; Magic, Blackmoor Style APR 11, 2009 02:45P.M. In Blackmoor, magic followed the “Formula” pattern for most magic. The reasoning behind limiting the number of spells that a Magic User could take down into the Dungeon was simply that many of the ingredients had to be prepared ahead of time, and of course, once used were then powerless. Special adventures could then be organized by the parties to gain some special ingredients that could only be found in some dangerous place.

Visit the Rogues on the web: www.rogue-games.net

Progression reflected the increasing ability of the Magic user to mix spells of greater and greater complexity. Study and practice were the man import factors involved. A Magic user did not progress unless he used Spells, either in the Dungeon or in practice (there was no difference) session1. Since there was always the chance of failure in spells (unless they were practiced) and materials for some spells were limited (determined simply by a die roll) the Magic User did not just go around practicing all the time. The Magic User could practice low level spells all the time, cheaply and safely, but his Constitution determined how often he could practice without rest. Thus, the adventurers might want a Magic User to come with them only to find him lying exhausted. So to progress to a new level, one first learned the spells, and then got to use that spell. There was no automatic progression, rather it was a slow step by step, spell by spell progression. That’s one of the fascinating little tidbits from The First Fantasy Campaign. I’ll admit that I’m not entirely clear on what it means in practice. As presented, it’s more a sketch of an idea than an actually fully detailed system. Nevertheless, I find it fascinating and praiseworthy for the simple reason that it suggests a way to interpret the OD&D magic rules that is unique yet doesn’t require any significant alteration to the

2