[Edge of Space] Uht oh....

I printed up a few copies of Edge of Space today. I was thinking of adding these to the growing pile for +Erik Tenkar's OSR giveaway but that sort of feels wrong to me.

Hmmmm, I will think on this.

Erik's 12 Days of Christmas - The Runes Prize!

Tonight I started work on the handmade runes for +Erik Tenkar's little giveaway for the 12 Days of OSR Christmas. I have been meaning to for a week or so but real life smacked me in the face repeatedly this week and I just now got around to it. I really like how it turned out and I hope whomever wins these enjoys them.

I had wanted to make a little print out of the runes then I decided to make a little booklet much like my Edge of Space  booklets...guess I got carried away. Below you can see the runes along with the booklet and the bag.

Speaking of the bag, last weekend I learned to sew. Thus, the winner of the runes will also win a handmade bag to store their runes in. Everything fits nice and safe inside the bag.

I had cut the wood about three weeks ago, so it was good and dry in the garage. Perfect for the wood burning tool to burn the runes into it. A few pictures I snagged while I burned the runes:

As much as it is not perfect I really like the varying depth and burn marks the tool makes in the wood.

Must admit I had a great time making these and will probably make another set or two for friends or family.

[Mappa Mundi] Snøbjørn Cloister; Skrevik Part II

1. Snøbjørn Cloister
Rising above the steep cliffs where the Andvett's cold waters slide in the bay stands a two story building. Built from hand-hewn mammoth logs by a great warlord named Snøbjørn over eighty years ago, this giant of a building overlooks the village. The structure is merely large, thick walls built in the shape of the rune ingwaz with a chamber built within the wall at the apex of each side. These chambers are considered holy places and are used for a variety of purposes to include private worship of the deities, marriages, consecration ceremonies for marriages, treaties, and sacrifices. A single large oaken door leads into the central area of the Cloister, from there access can be gained to the four chambers. Though built entire for service to the gods, the thick walls can serve as a sort of fort or castle if needed.

If one was to stand anywhere within the village and look up, they would see Snøbjørn Cloister looking down upon them. Planned or not, the monks at Snøbjørn looking down upon the people has a profound effect on the villager's thoughts on their gods. The monks here are a solemn and devout bunch and will only discuss religious matters. If asked about other things they will merely retort that they have 'given themselves over wholly to the gods' and will refuse to discuss other matters.

Outside the Cloister are three wooden buildings which serve as the home of the monks who occupy the Cloister. Outsiders are only allowed in the Great Hall. The Great Hall is the largest of the three and serves as a meeting hall and a place of worship for large groups (compared to the more holy and private chambers in the actual Cloister). One building serves as the quarters with each side taken by rows of beds with a large hearth in the middle. Another building serves as the kitchen, hall and meeting place for the monks. 

The current head of the Cloister is Hhellige Fargjord, a humble and reverent man who seeks to only see the gods' will be done. Fargjord is a frail and elderly man who has given his life to the gods. He walks with a significant limp and will brush away any questions of how it came to be. Truth be told Fargjord was once a great warrior and sustained an injury in a great battle. His wound should have been mortal but in his dying moments Fargjord asked the gods to stay their hand and spare him. In exchange he said he would serve Through the grace of the gods he was spared and from that day forward he has served the gods.

Those seeking religious power with little regard for the rules and guidelines are quietly encouraged to seek out Brodor Egil. Egil is a religious man but also an opportunistic one and seeks to serve the gods....and also line his pockets. He can perform ceremonies, the emplacement of curses or blessings, potions and elixirs and any manner of 'under the table' religious or spiritual needs. Merely getting an audience with Egil will be difficult and costly, but his services are seen as powerful and authentic and a level above other droughts and spells cast by 'lower' witches and wizards. 

[to be continued...]

Other parts of the series:
Part One - Welcome to Skrevik

[Mappa Mundi] Welcome to Skrevik; Skrevik Part I

Ok, I have decided to give this a go. I drew up a map yesterday that I really like and I have decided to flesh it out. My plan is to drop a different area of this village on the blog at least once a week, telling of the people who live here, maybe a secret or two, perhaps what evil destroyed Keep Skallagrim north of the village, or what lies beneath the Seal Stone to the west.

So you know up front, I am deep into Viking lore at the moment, listening to some Wardruna, making runes, even trying some Viking bread....so odds are Skrevik will be steeped in Norse flavor and names.

Below is the map I will be using for this little exercise and I will be updating the map as we go along. I also intend to provide a few additional maps along the way, so be sure to check back as we explore the village. Without further adieu, Welcome to Skrevik....

The Village of Skrevik
Skrevik is a small village that rests at the mouth of the Andvett, a glacier fed and frigid river. The village sits upon the mostly flat plane near the bay while the land to the west rises sharply. About a mile outside of town travelers will encounter the foothills of the mountains. The river Andvett cuts a sharp gulch through these foothills and becomes a deep and wide gorge as it dances through the mountains. A thin road follows along side the river to the gorge where it ends at an old mine.

A muddy and rocky road leads north out of the village and after a two day ride one would come to Meldun. Meldun is a slightly larger village of fisherman. The place is said to stink of fish so badly that visitors will wear a scarf over their face to shield themselves from the offending smell.

A similar road leads south to the cursed ruins of Haklang, a small village that was decimated by a plague that killed all the inhabitants. The plague struck so quickly that people died on the road trying to flee the village. To this day, skeletons lie along the road and untold riches remain inside, but none dare to enter for fear of the curse and the ghost that are said to haunt the houses. If one is to mention Haklang, a local will usually spit upon the ground and storm off, fearing that the gods may be listening.

Earl Hallvard is the current local ruler and has a large hall which is surrounded by a strong wooden stakewall that has served as a solid defensive position. At any time the Earl will have five to ten warriors in the hall, usually drink and whoring the day away until they are needed. When asked, and sober, the men do provide a fine fighting force and a little 'muscle' for the Earl when he oversees things in the village. 

Once a month Hallvard hosts a folkmoot in his great hall and invites the local lawgiver Gorrad to his home. Gorrad will resolve disputes and crimes over great meals and drinking feasts. Hallvard usually hosts games for the locals during the summer, inviting all into his hall to exhibit feats of strength and bravery.

[to be continued...]

[map] Welcome to Small Harbor

A quick little map I drew up today while I was waiting for my bread to rise. I have no real plan for it so I figured I would post it up here, perhaps someone out there will make use of it. If you do, let me know. Click the image for a larger version.

EDIT: For +Erik Jensen

The Joy of Bread

A few weeks ago I sat at Panera Bread with my wife and daughter and I made the 'mistake' of jesting that it was extremely expensive for what you get: a bread bowl, about a coup of soup and a sandwich for $8. And thus I sealed my fate.

With the help of my friend +Ara Kooser who guided me I have begun to get pretty satisfied with the results.

My first loaf baking in the oven. This one turned out ok, a little heavy and only about half the loaf was eaten. That is how I judge cooking around here: if we are not starving and the food remains it means it was not very good.

I later experimented with the damned bread bowls, which turned out very good and were completely eaten.

The second loaf turned out much better. Hell, it even looked better!

And the first cut. This loaf went into lunches and did not survive five full days in the house. Even my youngest told me it was 'yummy' and she is a pretty good judge on bread.

Later that night I decided to take another stab at the bread bowl, this time utilizing a baking tool, like a little cup. I thought I had too much in the cup and made a second loaf, flavoring each with some Italian herbs. Bowls were eaten completely and the loaf became snacking bread that did not last two days.

The bowls did not have enough bread but man they were good.

Today I made another loaf and found it was much easier (experience is a great thing) and it came out really nice. I think I may be starting to get the hang of this.  :)

I have to say it is somewhat addictive this making your own bread. 

UPDATE:

I made  a second round of bread bowls tonight. My recently returned college student even said they were good, ate the entire thing, and immediately fell asleep. Not sure what that means, but at least she did say it was good. :)

So damn easy, but so damn yummy. I took the normal white bread recipe but used virgin olive oil, some Italian seasoning mixed in, and butter brushed over the top. 

Edge of Space continues to live!

It will never cease to amaze me. November 3, 2012 I uploaded a silly little game I made to RPGNow. I really thought the game would go no where, maybe a couple people would download it, probably never play it, and yet twelve months later people are still playing the game....and creating things for it! As of today, 956 people have downloaded the game from RPGNow.

This week alone I have received two communications from people either asking questions about the game or wondering when I was going to make more and put them up for sale. I typically get at least one email a week asking this very question. I guess I need to get off my ass and more, eh?

I know of a novella written in the setting (great expanded setting I should say, +Keith Athey really created more than I did with his story!) and two adventures written specifically for the game. There is also another setting written by +Josh Mannon based on the game. Honestly, the fact that others create things for it or based upon it, is more flattering than anything I can imagine.

Material written specifically for the EoS setting/game:
The Battle of Kaylen - an adventure written by +Felbrigg Herriot
Horus Adrift - an adventure written by +Johua De Santo
World of Grey - a novella written by +Keith Athey

I have also learned that Johua De Santo is working on his second adventure for EoS!

And of course, if you have not checked out the game, you can click here to get yourself a free copy:
http://www.rpgnow.com/product/107741/Edge-of-Space-Science-Fiction-Roleplaying

[map] Aldfrith area map

Welcome the Northumbrian towne of Aldfrith, around the late 860s. I am starting up a play by post game with a friend of mine that takes place here in Aldfrith in 866. His character will be a young Northumbrian son of the Ealdorman of Aldfrith and will be an attempt at a semi-historical journey through the tough times as the Danes invaded Northumbria and established the Danelaw.

Might be interesting, might suck. 

And no, Aldfrith does not really exist but I based this map on a few old maps I had found of the area surrounding the ancient city of Bebbanburg, the precursor of Bamburgh Castle in Northumbria.

Awesome Parenting - Dinovember!

Just when my kids do something good and I sit back and marvel at the awesome parents my wife and I have become (with no formal training!) someone comes along and does something awesome like this and I realize I still have a good way to go.

For more details on Dinovember, check out their story:
https://medium.com/thoughts-on-creativity/6f4cb1886d41

[DIY] Wooden Runes!

Good lord, this is so easy! And to think people PAY for these.

My one hour project this morning:

So I made a few experimental cuts last weekend. I was unhappy with the consistent thickness. Here is the photo I took. I had actually measured and marked the branch but wow it was difficult to get them somewhat close in thickness.

So today I sat down and worked out a way to make the cut close...not perfect, heck this is a DYI project, if it was perfect it would look too much like a big machine made wood chip. This I do not want. I made a sort of sled thing using some excess wood AND I realized that my table saw has some slots that work perfect for measuring. Here are the results.

I made about thirty discs and picked out 24 I thought were best. In the photo above, from left to right - my first batch last from weekend, 12 smaller diameter discs I am going to save for later (I want the discs to be roughly the same size), the 24 I am going to use, 4 extras for when I mess up (likely). At the bottom of the photo are pieces that are odd shaped due to knots or branches. Below is a close up of the 24 I plan on using.

I grabbed a pencil, green but next time I will pick a plain grey pencil, and marked out a few runes. 

Here are the finished 'test' pieces. I really like how these turned out.

A close up of the finished runes. I really like the tool, it has a wedge shape that lets you pick the width of the marks. You can see in here where I experimented with pressure and width. Pretty cool tool.

I am now going to start working on the full rune set because frankly, this is probably the easiest DYI project I have done.

The question was asked over on the Reddit post +Erik Tenkar dropped as to what tool exactly I used. Here you go, click here to visit the page on Amazon.