[Crown of Tears] Offers of Patronage

After clearing the Tower of St Edras, our heroes decided to settle here. They received three offer letters to receive funds and money to help fix the tower.

Who will they chose?

[Kinda Book Report] Beowulf

I received this a few years ago from Santa. Beowulf is a poem that is VERY interesting. I got a modern interpretation and will be honest in saying that I was hesitant to read a poem. I dislike poetry, it's just... not my thing. Any interest in it was crushed in Secondary 4 (10th grade)... Long ago...

Now we all know the story of Beowulf. A prince of the Geats who goes to Hroathar's hall and defeats Grendel, then Grendel's mother.

Now, I will admit that I found myself enjoying this book much more than I thought.

What I learned about the story is that it is one of the only book in Old English rescued from ~700AD. There are nods to a richer litterary tradition that is now lost to us. References to people we don't know about anymore. Links to events we forget about. I did not know that. There is so much we just do not know about it.

The story is well-known, but reading as close to the source material as possible is awesome. Gives you a snapshot of mankind in the past. What people thought at the time... What was important to them. What they believed. And Beowulf is no exception.

Not much more to say... I liked it. I would give it a 3.5, which rounds out to 4/5.

Grendel is the topic of one of my inspirational songs... From this post from 2015

[Crown of Tears] The Tower of St. Edras Part 1

Our heroes left civilization to explore and see if they could claim the Tower of St. Edras for themselves.

Their avaricious gazes sought the bounty of 5M for each troglodyte right hand, some hoped to get rich quick.

Finally, the tower came into view. It suffered from previous damage, as half of the building had collapsed, leaving one side open to the elements.

Waiting for them were three human bodies impaled on long stakes.

The Tower of St. Edras is not undefended...

[Crown of Tears] Some Wanted Posters

Some simple wanted posters I did for the campaign.

[Crown of Tears] Kickoff of the Tarsyn Campaign

This past Tuesday, we kicked off the new campaign, set in FOE's new Tarsyn Campaign setting.

The heroes were hired by a merchant to escort wagons carrying various supplies to the village of Darveshnagar on the border of the Mists. To their great dismay, what should have been a rather simple two-day trip was made much worse by the unexpected arrival of rain - sudden weather changes are not uncommon along the borders.

While they walked along the Darvesh River, a band of troglodyte warriors ambushed them. A furious battle broke out.

As night was soon to fall, they decided to rest in the ruin of a tower by the river, where again the trogolodytes came and attacked them, this time led by one of their druids and a massive dinosaur monster that blasted them. These creatures made a serious impact.

Questions remain... what were the troglodytes trying to steal? Why?

In the morning, they finally reached their destination and received payment.

[Kinda Book Report] African Samurai by Thomas Lockley and Geoffrey Girard

I got this book in a trade for one of mine. I was interested in learning more about Yasuke, the African Samurai. Where do I begin to talk about how bad this book is... And how much I got screwed in the deal.

First off, it is more interested in not offending modern audiences and apologizing rather than explaining the realities of the era and letting the reader discern what he wants to think about it.

Second, we are presented with the history of a minor character among several very interesting characters. In fairness, they list their sources at the end and admit most of it is made up of conjecture.

Yasuke is presented as a Gary-Lou. He's always perfect. Makes the right thing. Does the right thing. Is on the right side of decisions all the time. Things always turns out right for him, except where the sources explicitly tell us.

All Europeans are presented as two-dimensional, moustache-twirling villains with dark ulterior motives for everything they do.

The "ending" include a number of fan-fiction possibilities of what may have happened to Yasuke.

In one section, I woke up my wife because they spend 2 pages arguing whether Yasuke was gay, but without proof - which they admit later. Pure speculation and conjecture. Most of this book is just that... Speculative fiction.

Did Yasuke exist? Yes?

Did most of what in this book happen? Maybe...

I would have up-voted with if this was the 10-page book of real material about Yasuke, not a 472 page book. I hope to get something from the secondhand bookstore.

In short, this is book is garbage. 1/5. I could not wait to be done with it.

[Olympia Campaign] The Campaign Timeline

Day	Event/Location
0	The heroes meet the nymph Eunice and learn of the 60 day. Topsia brought back to life.
5	The heroes reach Athenion.
7	Research. Topsia leaves the crews.
10	Good Vibes meet a ship filled with shades.
12	Island of Aeon and the Time stone taken by Nausicaa. See More
13	Island of Barea where the PCs encounter Minosian smugglers and the city raze by keltoi raiders. Aleksi joins the crew.
14	The heroes meet Thalassia the Sea Witch who sends them to the Temple of Poseidon for the Pearl of Tides. See More
17	Island of Vulcanis where they meet the fire giant oracle. See More
18	The heroes visit the volcano and obtained the heart of eternal flame. See More
20	Island of Eurygone the Enchantress who is revealed to be a lich.
22	Island of Tudokos. Leth becomes the fowl master. See More
23	Good Vibes encounter the Amazon merchant Jocasta.
24	Attacked at night by Kraken cultists. Sleepless night.
25	Island of the sirens. See More
26	Island of Pyranthos with its many ruins and the drowned temple of Gaia. The island is the navel of the world.
27	Temple of Selene - Death of Celeste
28	Exploration of the crypts leading into the crypts and backdoor to the Temple of Gaia.
29	Temple of Gaia and recovery of the Earthshard Amulet See More
30	Battle of Pyranthos. See More
31	Island of the centaurs.
32	Thalassia the Sea Witch attacks the Good Vibes.
33	Met pirates posing as Athenian sailors.
34	Spotted and avoided a ghost ship.
35	Island of Thalassos and recovery of the Tear of Artemis. See More
36	The heroes meet the Radiant Star.
38	Spotted a Minosian ship.
39	Island of Regrets. Confrontation with Nausicaa.
40	Colossus of Appolo. Met Fishermen boat and dug for treasure. Explored the Temple of Xanthus. Found approximate location of the Oracle. See More
41	Spotted a submerged city.
42	Rough weather impeded sailing.
43	Island with a strange city and explored a shipwreck. See More
45	Arrival in Athenion and found Piraeus deserted and abandonned. Capture a village and took Theos the mage prisoner, then released him. See More
46	Found guards in the orchard as they are sent away. Crossed the vineyard and fight the maenads. See More Encounter a shield guardian but leave him. Visit an old tomb looking for the enemy war chest. See More
48	Dealt with the Oathbreaker in Hera's Grove. See More Village of Megara. Meeting with the cryoad queen Nissara and her white dragon, Amenokrystos. Found the next oracle, Topsia, and rescue her. Death of Aleksi's sister, Logius' innkeeper's wife, and Celeste's sister, killed by Amenokrystos. See More
49	The group is separated by a battle between the Athenian army and titanic forces led by Enyale, some visit the Temple of the One-Eyed Oracle See More and others the Vault of the Jade Prince (See More).
50	The heroes regroup in the village of Kolkis and meet the strategos Theomachis, refusing his offer to help his army.
51	Battle at the bridge. The heroes return to the Good Vibes. See More
52	Sailing into a time warp bubble, the Good Vibes advances little. While beached for the night, the heroes face and defeat the Titaness Enyale, binding her with a ritual found in the Vault of the Jade Prince. See More
53	Another time warp broken before the heroes make it to Eleusis. They help people on-board the ship while they met with General Kassandros. They made an agreement to take out Opyros, the titan general blocking the isthmus leading to Aeolia.
54	The Athenian cavalry draw out parts of the titanic cavalry and the heroes defeat Opyros. They meet Nausicaa in the Titans and turn down her offer to walk away. See More
55	Passed through Chatos, home village of Leth. Met Kaunos the Spartian whose unit was annihilated by the Titan forces. He joins the heroes. Leth receives visions of Bia the Titaness. See More
56	Entered Ekkos, but retreated and flew over it. Dragons spotted flying above. Rest next to the Crack of Dreams.
57	Encounter with two dragon, a blue one revealed to be Hera, and Amenokrystos. Slew a pack of goblins terrorizing a hippogriff. Met Eumenes of Delfos, leading the resistance with farmers and a few allies (including goblins).
58	The heroes enter an inn in the New City to rest.
59	Bia rises, lifting the Old City on her shoulders. Birth of Leth's three-headed dire chicken son Leth III. The heroes kill Nissara outside the temple of Apollo. They enter the temple of Apollo confrontation with Nausicaa. Heroic sacrifice of Leth III. The PCs confront Nausicaa in the temple of Apollo transported inside Primordial Kaos, leading to a Mythic battle with the priestess of the Titans. Nausicaa was defeated but before she could be killed, Kronus pulled her away, ending her current plot, but guaranteeing the heroes' victory.
Epilogue	Topsia made the new Great Oracle. Servants of the gods again have access to divination and oracular powers. - Aleksi was given the location of Amenokrystos' lair in Titania. - Arboros' learned of the possible location of Pan's flute. - Celeste left for parts unknown. - Cenathon turned into a tree by a peaceful vale where the nymphs come to sing around him at night. - Leth left to find his son in Korins - Logius is given a position at the temple of Dionysus to oversee the oracles.
Congrats to: ActionMan (Logius, Son of Dionysus, Monk-Drunken Master, Former Oracle) Adam-W (Arboros, Titanborn, Shepherd Druid) Chris-K (Aleksi, Son of Hermes, Wizard-War mage, Sage) Elizabeth-U (Celeste, Nymph, Rogue-Thief, Scavenger) Gage-L (Leth, Human, Cleric of Hades, Afflicted) Sarah-R (Cenathon, Son of Appolo, Paladin-Oath of the Ancients, Folk Hero) and Piper-R (Topsia, Medusan, Wizard-Illusionist) Thanks to the British Shark for the party art.

[Olympia Campaign] Epilogue

Epilogue

Topsia made the new Great Oracle. Servants of the gods again have access to divination and oracular powers.

• Aleksi was given the location of Amenokrystos' lair in Titania.
• Arboros' learned of the possible location of Pan's flute.
• Celeste left for parts unknown.
• Cenathon turned into a tree by a peaceful vale where the nymphs come to sing around him at night.
• Leth left to find his son in Korins
• Logius is given a position at the temple of Dionysus to oversee the oracles.

[Olympia Campaign] Return to Delfos

Several misadventures later, including contact with two dragons, the indirect intervention of the goddess Hera, and contact with the world of dreams, our heroes returned to Delfos in need of a good night's rest.

The Titans had occupied the Old City - where the Temple of Apollo was located - but they left the New City undefended, knowing the heroes HAD to reach the temple to complete their mission.

In the morning of day 59, Logius returned to the party and the egg containing Leth's fowl monstrosity came to life, birthing a three-headed dire chicken named Leth III. As they prepare to ascend and fight their way to the Temple, the Titaness Bia stood, raising the Old City on her 2000ft-tall shoulders.

The heroes used a scroll of teleportation circle to jump to the circle outside the Temple of Apollo where they are accosted and challenged by the cryoad queen Nissara and her white dragon Amenokrystos. Hera-as-a-blue dragon dispatched Nausicaa's chimeras.

As spells and magic blasted all around, they ran into the temple, before the banished Amenokrystos could return...

Charging into the temple, they arrived in small group on a floating cloud in Primordial Kaos. After a Mythic showdown that featured the appearance of the Titans Selene, Geryon, and Kronus, AND the god Apollo.

In the end, the heroes bested Nausicaa, not once, but three times...

[Gencon 2025] After Action Report Part 7

Parts 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Conclusions

This year's Gencon was an overall success.

• There were a few bumps, which I addressed after the con (once I slept) to make sure everything was fine.
• Gencon is always trying and every year, I try to get the "regular/daytime" adventures to the GMs by Memorial Day (last Monday of May) and the specials by July 4th. This year... I was late on the specials. I could say "Well JP, you did write a 110k word novel" but that doesn't change the fact... I procrastinated too much before reaching out for help.
• I was lucky to have added three good GMs to the FOE team. Welcome Clay, Joe, and Josh.
• Thor and I have very different perspectives on things, creating a very vibrant and dynamic conversation with points/counterpoints made. Only problem... we need to shut our traps and sleep! After I got in a touch late on Friday morning, we both agreed. "No talking"
• The feedback for Tarsyn was overwhelmingly positive.
• I painted hundred of miniatures for the GMs (you can see them in parts 2 thru 4) but did not take pictures of everything...

Yes, I plan on being back next year. As I say... "Gencon begins in September!"

JP Out

Parts 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

[Gencon 2025] After Action Report Part 6

Parts 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7

Ozaka

Following the events of last year, I decided that Ozaka would be isolated for this year and not participate in the global events as a while. In many ways, this simplified how to integrate everything together, BUT I was asked about if there would be an Ozaka special. Player was sad to hear my "not this year." But this is a temporary situation...

Next year, maybe...?

Safe inside my home By Chris Ketchum. Here, the PCs are sent to track down a missing patrol along the border.

This is Chris' first formally-written adventure.

• The duelist Nito has gone away to other pastures.
• The men of Yamane were rescued from the clutches of the Kobochi forces

Sound of a Biwa By JP Chapleau. The PCs are sent to deliver a scroll to a shugenja in the village of Akemizu. When they arrive there, things are not quite as they first appear.

• Kaito Hoichi remained in Yomi.
• Lord Taira was destroyed.

Tarsyn

FOE's new setting, Tarsyn, merges elements of Arthurian Legends and the Crusades. Gencon 2025 was the first time the campaign was played for the public. The combination creates a rather unique combination of influences.

This setting was written by Rebecca and I as we traded ideas. For Gencon, we decided to use different parts of the setting and produce a different adventure style. She took the "city adventure" and I took the "wilderness adventure" to expand and present different elements of the setting. From the feedback, the setting was well-received.

Hunt for the Lady's Bowl By Rebecca Price. A researcher sends the PCs to find an artifact hidden somewhere in Tarsyn. Finding the location of the Lady's Bowl reveals the layers of Tarsynian society and its complexities.

This is Rebecca's second adventure for FOE at Gencon.

• PCs kept the map to the Lady's Bowl.
• The Leper Knight were involved in the Hunt.

White Doe By JP Chapleau. The PCs are sent to deliver a wagon of supplies to the Leper Knight on the borders of Tarsyn. However, the appearance of a dying man may change their destination.

• Werewolves were defeated.
• Sir Hubert was brought back to Auriville.

All Together (with Skytorn)

Frozen Dreams By Brandon Alspach with JP Chapleau. Prophetics dreams and visions. The PCs visited a series of dream islands, each "not-quite-right" based on Akhamet, Olympia, Ozaka, Skytorn and Tarsyn. Yet in none of them all together... An oniric adventure that takes the PCs to a dream-realm where something wishes to get access to the Prime Material.

This is Brandon's first formally-written adventure and the first special not to be written by JP.

• The Architect came thru in Akhamet and Olympia

Parts 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 7

[Gencon 2025] After Action Report Part 5

Parts 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7

Olympia

The main situation in Olympia continues to be the war between the Titans and the gods, focusing on the Island of Mytenia. War is always a prolific ground for adventure.

Lexos Job by Bill Church. Following the events of last year's Through the Fire and Flame where the Mytenia army was enchanted into attacking Lexos, only to break free before completely burning the city down. Queen Kreomene sends a band of heroes to kidnap Queen Aria of Lexos before her Spartians turn on her.

I had this idea for an adventure trotting around in my mind and thought this would be a major plot point moving forward. So I approached Bill with the idea. He found this to be quite a challenge, but one I can say he nailed from listening to the games he ran. I may have another challenge for him for next year! He nailed this one...

• Queen Aria has turned herself in to the Mytenian authorities
• A Spartian military dictatorship has been installed in Lexos after the queen was kidnapped by forces loyal to Mytenia.

Damsels in Distress by JP Chapleau. After last year's Of Laurels and Secrets, the PCs obtained assistance from Amazonia for Mytenia. Here, the PCs get involved in this greater plot through the machinations of Hermes...

My original draft ballooned into something so massive that I had to cut it into two parts, the second part I reworked into Parting Shot to limit the scope and allow the narrative to breathe. I really like this one. It has several fun things to do as a GM and the PCs feel heroic in what they do. Heroic in an homeric/ancient Greek way...

• Amazon warriors were rescued.
• Naya never reported to the authorities and is reported missing.
• Is Amazonia an ally?

Parting Shot by JP Chapleau, with help from Brandon-A, Rebecca-P, and Will-M. The Titans relocated some of their forces to the island of Mytenia from outposts out at sea. Queen Kreomene sent heroes to buy off forces that may not be loyal to the Titans, spending large amounts to give the heroes funds to buy off these forces as leverage. The heroes discovered the location of the Titans' island base where they kept the captured nymphs and amazons.

General Baerius came up with a plan to attack the island and free the prisoners. Mounted on pegasi, the heroes defeated the garrisons of the island only to discover the prisoners were kept in a large cave below the island. The PCs descended into the depths of the earth. And that's where things took a turn for the worse. Something happened and the cavern came crashing down, leading to a panicked escape...

This adventure started off completely different, with element taken out of what would become Damsels in Distress. Limiting the scope of the latter made this one feel bigger, more epic. My original idea had more fantasy elements, but the narrative flow didn't work. Changing the location of the jail made it all possible. Big thanks to the gang who listened to my whining about "this doesn't work" and provided me with solution on how "this can work..."

• Because merchants know the government minted coins, they raised their prices up to quadruple the usual price.
• Centaurs scattered with the defeat of Aretion of the Redmane clan.
• Farsian Mercenaries took the money and changed their allegiance to Mytenia.
• Harpies bought by selling a portion of Mytenian coastlines.
• Pegasus fowl were rescued and the pegasi abandoned the Titans, joining the forces of Mytenia.
• The ancient black dragon Zarnokleia was released from her bonds and escaped the island on her own.
• Yamoru Three-Fingers, an odd Ozakan mage teleported away.
• Lady Suzuka, a ronin from Ozaka was rescued during the operation.
• Most of the amazons and nymphs escaped from the island prison.
• General Baerius, the Queen's lover, switched his allegiance to the Titans and trying to bury
• Two heroes: the princess Petunia and Solon of Athenion died trying to escape the destruction of the island.

Battle of Emessos

• Heroes chose to obtain the assistance of Apollo, Ares, Artemis, Athena, and Hades
• Leviathos captured
• Queen Kreomene rescued
• Emessos still under the control of forces loyalto the Titans.
• Nerissa the titanborn Enchantress escaped
• The enemy war chest was not taken and is still under the control of Decimus Aelius.

Parts 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 6 | 7

[Gencon 2025] After Action Report Part 4

Parts 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7

Akhamet

This year Akhamet focused on its own problems again as the situation with Pharaoh. Several people search ancient archives and documents for a way to cure Him of His condition...

Though no definitive discovery or final breakthrough was accomplished, our heroes found serious leads that may yield a breakthrough.

Children of Anum By Rees. The PCs went to meet with the Children of Anum, three unique children of Pharaoh who may have information that could help Akhamet with its current predicament.

This is Rees' first formally-written adventure.

• The Prophecy was spoken, making it real.
• The PCs turned it over to Saggakara

What ails Pharaoh is linked to the Horyrehmet. And there are only two known remedies: remove their influence or have him befriend another one to counteract the effects. Neither of these will be easy, and both will require great sacrifice

Forbidden Lore by JP Chapleau. A tribe of mesaru discovered a strange complex long hidden by the sands.

• Heshaba the Sand-Eater was released from his goal.

Cat Fight by JP Chapleau. Pharaoh's Harem arranged for the Festival of the Glorious Sun, a celebration of all things Akhamet. However, the festival quickly turned into a popularity contest between His Wives. As different factions vied for control of the Harem or draw the support for their own sides. The festivities promoted many exchange between people of different kingdoms and worlds. The festival was interrupted by a group of blemmyes, monstrosities without heads whose face are on their chests. They command and create undead.

• By a narrow margin, Sebtet chosen as leader of the Harem
• Foreigners supported Saggakara in large numbers
• Final "scores" were Sebtet 9 and Saggakara 8. It doesn't get closer than that!
• Two of His wives, Meritset and Minaset, were killed by the blemmyes.

Parts 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 6 | 7