supposedly a blog

Drinking horn with gilded copper mounts, Europe, 15th century

My latest video is a setting analysis of Blades in the Dark! While I read Blades, I wondered why anyone would resort to a life of crime in a city filled with well-armed police and ravenous ghosts. By using a 19th century crime treatise, and some 21st century economics papers, I theorize about what compels Duskwallers to abandon their 9 to 5s.

A mini PHM comic about Grace growing old. I wanted to explore two ideas: Rocky dealing with Grace’s dementia and Grace wanting to donate his body to science. I spend so much time on figuring out the dialogue (some part still feel clunky to me) but I hope it express my thoughts on where I think Grace’s life would go :)

A few random, not particularly detailed thoughts for BitD Crews:

Little Whispers. Amidst the raucous, crowded alleys and tenements of Charhollow, sometimes quieter whispers can be heard. Children, in particular, swap secret stories of a Whispering Lady. The Little Whispers are a Cult of urchins devoted to a mysterious figure, ready and eager to carry out her obscure workings. Reputation: Strange.

Spokers, a crew of Charterhall Bravos specialising in academic sabotage. “Let’s be blunt here, eh? Intellectual brilliance is all well and good, but when it’s down to the wire, a spoke in your rival’s wheel is what you really need.” Reputation: Savvy.

The Sleepers. “None of this fancy pissing about. This is Coalridge, yeah? Brickston. Down here there’s only one language anyone listens to.” A railyard wrecking crew carving out turf in one of the city’s roughest areas, you mess with the Bravos crew of The Sleepers at your peril. Reputation: Brutal.

Gaspers. Dunslough is grim on the absolute best of days, a pit from which there’s no escape. Unless you know the right people. The Last Gaspers are a Smugglers crew who aim to corner the market on getting things (items, information, people) into and out of Ironhook, Dunslough and the surrounding areas. Reputation: Honourable.

The Tailors, a small crew of bespoke Assassins who’ve set up shop in the back rooms of a tasteful boutique in Nightmarket. “We do cutting and stitching in a range of styles to suit our patrons’ preferences. Discretion guaranteed!” Reputation: Professional.

Miriam’s Teas, a Silkshore specialty shop and purveyor of tailored experiences. And no, not the tawdry sort, although those may be added for a consideration. Hawkers of some refinement, Miriam’s specialises in … nostalgia, delicacies. Teas that taste like a world that still has a sun. Mementos of far flung homes. Specialty items. Experiences. Reputation: Subtle.

The Magnolias, a genteel ladies’ society of deceptively spry Six Towers dowagers who moonlight as Shadows. A little light thievery to liven up the day, and bring some sparkle back into these tired old mansions, restoring Six Towers to at least a little of its former glory. Reputation: Daring.

The Brethren of Light, a small but hopefully pervasive Cult among the students and instructors of Doskvol Academy on Whitecrown, who worship a great glowing leviathan far out to sea, and hope one day soon to turn North Hook Lighthouse into a grand summons. Reputation: Ambitious.

This actually fell out broadly by district, and covers most of the crew types, too. If I wanted to fully finish it out, there’d be one more each of an Assassins, Hawkers, Shadows and Smugglers crews, divided among the remaining four districts of Barrowcleft, Brightshore, Crow’s Foot and The Docks. So, you know. If anyone feels like filling in those blanks, feel free?

I'm converting all the monster in the D&D2024 monster manual into narrative Challenge Profiles for Legend in the Mist!

First up is the Aarakocra Skirmisher and Aeromancer, these are quite straightforward low CR fighters but they do have the unique feature of flight which I tried to work in through their regenerating flight/swoop statuses, let me know what you think. More monsters coming soon... Aboleth next!