Nigri Lupus

The Acolyte Faces The Dragon: A painting by a master artisan, this painting depicts an acolyte of some deity bending the knee in prayer while facing a dragon, with the golden light of the sun bathing the acolyte as the dragon’s breathe seems deflected by the acolyte’s faith. Properly appraised and auctioned, this fine art piece could be worth 10,000 gold pieces.

More gold than you can carry! 2d20 (21) Bags of 4d100 (220) pieces of gold apiece.

A Giant Stuffed Bear: Made of cloth and stuffed with hay, this bear is ten feet tall and weighs a few hundred pounds.

An Elk-Sized Carving of an Elk: This wooden, carved statue of an elk is the same size as an actual elk and weighs about 700 pounds.

A Vase filled with Money. A large vase filled filled with 5d100 (275) Copper Pieces and 1d100 (55) Silver Pieces.

A Pair of Silver Candlesticks. Two silver candle sticks wrapped in butcher paper, worth 120 Gold Pieces.

image credit: Austin Hsu

Shields exist in D&D 5e. That’s about it. You can bash with em and get +2 AC with em, but that’s all that they do. That’s all the customization that they have. But what about the differences in wood and metal shields? What if I carry a buckler? What about my shield breaking? What if I am a simple weapons guy? Shields were hands-down the best options for soldiers in the middle ages fighting with one-handed weapons so they really should have more mechanics dealing with them. Here are some homebrew rules for shields to let more people use them and make using them more fun!

Some notes I couldn’t fit in any section: Shields went out of style as armor improved. People started using two-handed weapons around the same time full plate armor became widely used. The kite shield was used in a time when leg armor was weak or not worn because it was too heavy and unwieldy. The kite shield’s shape could protect their legs without exposing themselves to attack. Also those shields with holes for lances were largely ceremonial or for jousting tournaments only, not adventuring. Bucklers were the most common for someone who needed to be ready for combat at a moment’s notice, as carrying a shield was really tiring unless you were going specifically to battle. But hey, this is a fantasy RPG so we can do whatever looks badass.

Shields

Wooden Shield: +1 AC.

Metal Shield: +2 AC. Only creatures proficient with Medium or Heavy Armor can comfortably use a metal shield. Druids are typically forbidden from using a metal shield.

Wooden Buckler: No AC bonus. Creatures proficient with Light Armor can wear bucklers. Does not provide an AC bonus against ranged attacks. You can use your reaction to deflect an incoming melee weapon attack that beats your armor class, reducing the damage by 1d4. The buckler has a 50% chance to break when used in such a way.

A metal buckler

Metal Buckler: +1 AC. Creatures proficient with Light Armor can wear bucklers. Does not provide an AC bonus against ranged attacks. Druids are typically forbidden from using a metal buckler.

Wooden Tower Shield: +1 AC. You must be proficient in Heavy Armor and have a STR score of at least 13 to comfortably wield a tower shield. You can plant the shield on the ground to gain partial cover (+2 AC). When using the shield in this way, you only move at half your regular movement speed. The bonus provided by the shield does not grant cover against spell attacks. You have a -1 penalty to attacks while using your tower shield for cover.

Metal Tower Shield: +2 AC. You must be proficient in Heavy Armor and have a STR score of at least 15 to comfortably wield a tower shield. You can plant the shield on the ground to gain partial cover (+2 AC). When using the shield in this way, you only move at half your regular movement speed. The bonus provided by the shield does not grant cover against spell attacks. You have a -1 penalty to attacks while using your tower shield for cover. Druids are typically forbidden from using a metal tower shield.

Special Shields

Sticky Shield: When a creature misses you with a melee weapon attack, this sticky shield coated in alchemical slime can catch the weapon. The attacker must succeed on a DC 11 Strength saving throw, or the weapon becomes stuck to your shield. If the weapon’s wielder can’t or won’t let go of the weapon, the wielder is grappled while the weapon is stuck. While stuck, the weapon can’t be used. A creature can pull the weapon free by taking an action to make a DC 11 Strength check and succeeding

Spiked Shield: When you succeed at a Shove attempt when wielding a spiked shield, you deal 1d6 piercing damage to the target. Improvised weapon attacks made using the spiked shield deal 1d6 damage instead of 1d4.

A dhal shield (Indian spiked shield)

Mirrored Shield: Any metal shield treated with alchemical silver. When a ranged spell attack is rolled against the shield’s wielder and the attack misses, the wielder may use their reaction to reflect the spell back at its caster. To do so, the wielder makes an attack roll against the caster using their DEX modifier at disadvantage. If the new attack beats the caster’s AC, the spell affects the caster instead. 

Pavise Shield: A tower shield meant for archers to use as cover. It has either a spike on the bottom to be driven into dirt, or a hinged rod to prop it up. Creatures can prop up the pavise shield as an item interaction, or stow it as a bonus action. Once set up, it provides partial cover (+2 AC) for those standing behind it, and it does not move unless hit with a melee attack. You do not need proficiency in Heavy Armor to set up a pavise shield and use it for cover, but using it as a regular tower shield does have this requirement.

Tanglevine Buckler: A wooden buckler intricately grown out of vines by wood elves that can be used to deflect ranged attacks as well as melee attacks in the way described above.

Stonemountain Shield: A dwarven stone tower shield that requires a STR score of 18 or higher to wield. It can be used to provide ¾ cover (+5 AC) when planted on the ground. In addition, it is resistant to being sundered (see below). It has one additional point of durability.

Iron Shield: A metal shield resistant to sundering (see below). It has one additional point of durability.

Shield Interactions

Sundering: You can sunder an enemy’s shield with repeated bashing. You can attempt to hit a creature’s AC minus the bonus provided by their shield to target their shield directly. Each time you hit their shield, roll for damage. For every 7 damage dealt to it, it loses one point of durability. When the last point of its durability is lost, the shield breaks. This also makes it easier for creatures who deal more damage to sunder shields more easily. A magical shield cannot be sundered except by a magical weapon. Use the table below:

Wooden Buckler: 1 durability

Metal Buckler: 2 durability

Wooden Shield: 2 durability

Metal Shield: 3 durability

Iron Shield: 4 durability

Wooden Tower Shield: 3 durability

Metal Tower Shield: 4 durability

Stonemountain Shield: 5 durability

Group Tactics: Shields for the Romans and Greeks were all about group formations. Greek hoplon shields were held in the left hand and the hoplites would sometimes use their righthand neighbor’s shield to block attacks (leading the right flank to often win battles). Roman scutum shields were sometimes used in a tortoise formation to protect everyone from incoming arrows. Give shield-carrying characters adjacent to one another +1 AC against attacks if they opt to halve their speed and always move together to simulate this.

Example of a Roman scutum shield and javelin 

One of my favourite things about the Norse pagan community is the amazing music and art we create. Growing up around musicians and being involved in my local punk scene, music is a huge part of my life, and I incorporate it into my religious practices in as many ways as I can. When I first started following Norse paganism some six years ago my first goal was to find as much related music as I could. 

I want to cover as many different genres here as I can, cause everyone’s got their own preferences, and I know not everyone out there is gonna dig the viking/death metal.

So, for any people new to Norse paganism, baby witches, or just people that are interested in some damn good music, I hope this helps you out!

Osi And The Jupiter - Folk group from Kent, Ohio. Osi And The Jupiter is different from most other norse pagan groups in the best way. Their music has a Appalachian element that melds beautifully with the natural and pagan themes that make up their discography. If you’re a fan of folk rock I reckon you’ll dig their song These Ancient Bones. Also to any devotees of Óðinn out there, the song Swamp Hymns will be right up your alley. For classical/instrumental fans, the song Baldur has some beautiful strings.  (see bottom photo)

Gealdýr - Ambient/Folk artist, very peaceful music, lots of deity centric songs, my two favourites being Loki and Baldr. I would recommend the song Yggdrasil to anyone who’s looking for steady repetitive prayer like music.

Wardruna - I had tickets to see these guys last year! Covid-19 postponed the concert but I’m so stoked to eventually see them. Wardruna’s music is probably best described as Nordic folk music, ambient, or folk metal. The project’s frontman is Einar Selvik, former drummer for the band Gorgoroth, and alongside him is Gorgoroth’s ex vocalist Gaahl, and singer Lindy Fay Hella (and many others). Helvegen (The Way to Hel) is one of their most well known and popular songs alongside Solringen and Kvitravn. For me, Wardruna is a staple, their songs have incredibly powerful lyrics and vocals, and most with a steady beat that I find helpful for meditations. Their album Skald is one of my favourites alongside Runaljod-Yggdrasil, offering acoustic versions to a number of their songs. Vindavla (Skald) is a profoundly powerful three part song that I’d consider a wonderful example of galdr.

Einar Kvitrafn Selvik - Einar Selvik is hands down one of my favourite musicians, incredibly talented and an amazing voice. Outside of his work with Wardruna he’s released his own music, ranging from projects alongside Ivar Bjørnson (Their album Skuggsjá is incredible, the song Kvervandi features some great guitar), his own single Snake Pit Poetry, and compositions for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Get ready to see this guy involved in lots of musical groups, and frequently featured in songs. 

Eivør - You really can’t box Eivør into a single genre, her music branches out through folk, rock, hip hop, jazz, and pop. A lot of songs are Faroese ballads, probably the most well known being Trøllabundin. She has an incredibly distinct, beautiful voice, and for any lovers of pop music, the song Stirdur Saknur (featuring the man the myth the legend Einar Selvik) and any other songs off of her album Segl are definitely for you.

Hindarfjäll - Swedish folk group, they just released a new album! I haven’t gotten the chance to listen to it all the way through yet but I really enjoyed the two singles that they’ve released. Give the song Alvatid a listen! It has some of the best harmonies I’ve heard. 

Heilung - Heilung’s music has been a literal godsend, I use so many of their songs in my work as a heathen. They fall along the lines of experimental folk/folk metal, their songs range from aggressive chants to clamer meditations, and killer combinations of both. Heilung is for the shaman, for the berserker, the poet, and the witch. Their music is invigorating and empowering, it’s impossible to miss the amount of soul they put into their work. Lyrics are mostly Old Norse, Old English, and Old High German (sometimes a sick mix of two), and can be traced back directly to primary iron age sources. If you’re interested in the runes, the song In Maidjan has an excellent nine stanza Elder Futhark chant. (bottom photo credit to Ryan Muir)

Danheim - If you’re looking for Norse techno/ambient music then look no further my friend. Danheim has a dark sound and a strong beat, and uses a lot of traditional instruments while incorporating electronica. 

Forndom - If you dig Danheim, Forndom will be another group to take a listen to. Dark ambient themes are the speciality here. The song Nio Nätters Led is a slow paced song with a mysterious sound to it, this is another great song for meditation. 

Faun - Faun is a German darkwave pagan folk group that uses a wide variety of instruments and languages in their songs. Their selection of instruments is very holistic, including but not limited to Swedish nyckelharpa, hurdy-gurdy, bagpipes, flutes, and celtic harp. With a strong emphasis on vocals, you can find songs with elements of German, English, Greek, Latin, and most Scandinavian languages. Walpurgisnacht has all the elements of a great folk song, accompanied by a pretty rad music video, perfect festival/celebration music. And another for the Óðinn devotees, the song Odin (featuring, you guessed it, Einar Selvik)

Wolcensmen - Dark Folk/Neo Folk, Medieval Folk. Most of their music verges more on the Old English side of things but songs like Sunne, Lorn and Loath, and Foreboden and Gainsaying are not lacking Norse themes or values.

The Sword - Heavy metal band from Austin Texas, lots of songs with strong Norse themes. A few Freyja/Goddess centric songs including Freya and Cloak of Feathers. Their album Age Of Winters rocks and the album art is beautiful. (highly recommend the song Iron Swan off that same album)

Skálmöld - Viking metal/folk metal band from Reykjavík, Iceland. Their album Vögguvísur Yggdrasils, goes through all of the nine realms of Norse cosmology, and a number of other song lyrics take directly after traditional Norse poetic meters such as and sléttubönd and fornyrðislag. All the band members are a part of Ásatrúarfélagið, Iceland’s religious organizations of heathenry. They’re still making music and just released a new single!

SKÁLD - Chants, chants, and chants. SKÁLD offers some really energizing and upbeat chants (go check out the songs Odinn and Ó Valhalla). They also do a killer cover of The Doors song Riders On The Storm.

To finish up I have to say that this list isn’t conclusive, and that there are so many more incredible artists out there. I’ll be putting up a playlist soon including these artists and many more for anyone interested in taking a listen, so stick around and I’ll keep you posted.

9- Marie Laveau (September 10, 1801- June 15, 1881).

Voodoo Queen of New Orleans

I was really excited to do Marie Laveau as she has left a somewhat unparalleled legacy in the American imagination. As a woman of color, she broke the boundaries of the perception of magic and the societal position of women. While not practicing witchcraft per se, as a practitioner of Voodoo, etc. she helped to redefine the understanding of women, power, and autonomy. Trying to tease apart the historical accounts of Marie and her daughters from the cultural identity and legacy they’ve left is very challenging, with key pieces of information about their lives being lost to time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marie_Laveau