#Pictish Scout

[savage-kult-of-gorthaur]

WHAT WAS PROPOSED VERSUS WHAT WE GOT: '80s SWORD & SORCERY EDITION.

PIC(S) INFO: Spotlight on concept art for a Pictish scout and/or warrior, artwork by the late, great Ron Cobb for the "Conan the Barbarian" (1982) live-action adaption, plus actor Franco Columbo in a somewhat less than impressive "Pictish" final product.

As much as I still enjoy the '82 "Conan" film, for better or worse, it's stuff like this live-action Pictish character that I find lacking and cornball to no end. The dude looks like he's rocking an afro, too (FFS!), what's up with that?! Lastly, he doesn't look nearly savage or wild enough, either, and I find the finished product utterly riduculous-looking to this day. There, I said it.

Source: https://roncobb.net/09-Conan.html.

[nfcomics]

Conan the Barbarian no.1 • Hyborian Age Wraparound Map [Jul 2023] Ongoing

Years after the battle of Venarium, a weary CONAN returns to his homeland to seek rest and solitude. However, a mysterious scout rides in to warn the Cimmerians of an imminent threat on the march from the Pictish wilderness. Will CONAN and his new ally be able to hold off this new horde of invaders?

Writer: Jim Zub Artist: Roberto De La Torre

[ultrameganicolaokay]

Conan the Barbarian #1 by Jim Zub, Roberto de la Torre and José Villarrubia. Cover by Dan Panosian. Variant covers by (2) de la Torre, (3) Stanley 'Artgerm' Lau, (4) Patrick Zircher (after Barry Windsor-Smith), (5) Mike Mignola and (6) E.M. Gist. Out in July.

"ROBERT E. HOWARD'S LEGENDARY CONAN IS BACK IN A NEW TALE OF BRAVERY AND HEROISM! CONAN THE BARBARIAN FCBD EDITION LEADS INTO THE DEBUT ISSUE! Years after the battle of Venarium, a weary CONAN returns to his homeland to seek rest and solitude. However, a mysterious scout rides in to warn the Cimmerians of an imminent threat on the march from the Pictish wilderness. Will CONAN and his new ally be able to hold off this new horde of invaders?"

[fantomcomics]

What’s Out This Week? 8/2

Maybe the real summer was the friends we made along the way?

A Girl On The Shore Collected Edition HC -  Inio Asano

Eisner-nominated author, Inio Asano's A Girl on the Shore is now in a hardcover, collector's package! Koume Sato and Kosuke Isobe are two teenagers living in a sleepy Japanese seaside town. After getting used and dumped by her crush, the emotionally damaged Koume decides to start a relationship with Kosuke, without any emotions involved. However, they both soon discover that sex with no strings attached often leads to unexpected complications, not just for themselves but also the people around them.

Abe Sapien: The Drowning & Other Stories TP -  Mike Mignola, John Arcudi & Emi Lenox 

In the early 1980's, new B.P.R.D. agent Abe Sapien was set to retrieve the corpse of a powerful warlock off the coast of France. Abe quickly finds himself in a battle with a century old evil in the form of demonic monks. Mike Mignola and Jason Shawn Alexander's premiere Abe solo series sets the stage for a collection of tales tracing Abe's times both as an agent of the B.P.R.D., and delving into his long-hidden origins. A haunted lake, South American vampires, and a mad scientist seeking out man's missing link are chronicled here! This paperback omnibus edition collects Abe Sapien: The Drowning, The Devil Does Not Jest, and Lost Lives and Other Stories.

Amongst Us GN Vol 1 -  Shilin Huang

Veloce loves Blackbird. Blackbird loves Veloce. These two young women may have strange chemistry and seemingly nothing in common, but somehow, their offbeat relationship works. Join them for a dance through the city they call home as they satisfy Blackbird's sweet tooth and indulge Veloce in her attempts to understand fashion. In an alternate universe, this sorceress and assassin share a very different reality... but in this one, they're a modern couple who have built a life together- and they intend to enjoy it.

At The Flower Capital GN -  Rihito Takarai

Motoharu, second child and successor of the Tsujimura clinic, has always held his childhood friend, Akira Hazumi, close to his heart. Unfortunately, when Motoharu realized his affections towards Akira were more than just simply friendship, and confessed, their relationship became strained. Unable to reciprocate Motoharu's feelings, Akira turned him down, and they slowly grew apart from one another. Despite the ongoing tension between them, Motoharu still decides to enroll in the same university and department as Akira. However, it's not easy getting over the pain of being rejected, and Motoharu soon finds himself visiting Geishas in the middle of the night, in a desperate attempt to forget everything that happened.

Buffy The Last Vampire Slayer #1 (of 5) -  Casey Gilly, Oriol Roig & Ario Anindito

Thess is all grown up, having taken up the mantle as the new Slayer! But with new responsibilities comes new enemies, and a mysterious clan will do anything to get to her, even if it means using her friends as bait.

Class War TP -  Rob Williams, Trevor Hairsine, & Travel Foreman 

Love your country then rip it down! The critically-acclaimed indie superhero hit gets its own paperback collection for the first time! Beloved supersoldier, American, uncovers the dark truth behind The White House and burns the word 'Liar' into the forehead of The President on live TV. Now on the run with a rogue CIA agent, he intends to reveal everything he now knows to the world. Can his former teammates, the superteam Enola Gay, stop him?

Conan The Barbarian #1 -  Jim Zub, Roberto de la Torre, José Villarrubia & Dan Panosian

Years after the battle of Venarium, a weary CONAN returns to his homeland to seek rest and solitude. However, a mysterious scout rides in to warn the Cimmerians of an imminent threat on the march from the Pictish wilderness. Will CONAN and his new ally be able to hold off this new horde of invaders?

The Devil Is A Part-Timer Anthology GN - Satoshi Wagahara

The Devil King and his friends check out a wedding venue, buy swimsuits to work at the beach and...get marooned on a desert island?! This collection of original comic stories, drawn by a lineup of artists and fans of the series, collects episodes which may, or may not, have taken place during the main story!

EVE: Children Of The Moon TP -  Victor Lavalle, Jo Migyeong & Ario Anindito

Eve already saved the world once, embarking on a perilous quest to protect what remained of humanity after a deadly virus outbreak... but the story continues! Selene, a source of hope for the many children that flocked to her rest stop, resents Eve, Eve's sister, and Wexler. The conflict amongst them and the survivors is dire... even sowing the potential for civil war. But an A.I. with terrifying origins from deep beneath the sea brings new revelations about the threats they face... not only of earth, but beyond.

Fire & Ice #1 -  Bill Willingham, Leonardo Manco & Bill Sienkiewicz

More than four decades ago, two iconic creators came together to bring to the silver screen an amazing new world of magic and adventure. In their classic animated film Fire and Ice, legendary artist FRANK FRAZETTA and famed director RALPH BAKSHI crafted a unique vision of beauty and danger, of good versus evil, all cast against a hypnotic backdrop of savage prehistoric splendor. Now, at long last, this timeless vision is expanding into comics with the first new story to revisit Frazetta and Bakshi's remarkable realm since 1982! Before the fire waned and the ice spread across the world...before Teegra met Larn...before everything you know about the unforgettable animated movie came to be, there were the before times - times when evil might still be blunted, times when innocence was not yet lost. In Fire and Ice #1, acclaimed comics writer BILL WILLINGHAM (Fables, Legenderry) joins forces with artist LEONARDO MANCO (Hellstorm: Prince of Lies, Blaze of Glory) - making his triumphant return to comics - and a new legend is about to be born!

The Little Red Fish GN - James Moffitt & Bizhan Khodabandeh

An exquisite reimagining of the Iranian Revolution like you've never seen before. An aquatic reef held down by an oppressive regime of blood-thirsty heron struggles to rise up in this harrowing tale of self-discovery, heritage, and revolution. The Little Red Fish retraces the events of the Iranian Revolution portraying events from the perspective of those actually involved. Part historical text, part guerilla warfare, all political allegory, The Little Red Fish vividly captures an often overlooked part of history. Oh, and there's that magical orb thing...

Lupin The Third: Thick As Thieves Classic Collection HC Vol 1 -  Monkey Punch

Monkey Punch's immortal creations are among the most beloved characters of all time, from master thief Lupin III to his trusted sidekicks and tenacious rivals. Seven Seas is proud to present the follow-up to last year's hit Greatest Heists with this second "best of" release. Thick as Thieves is another curated collection of some of Monkey Punch's best stories and chapters of Lupin III from throughout the classic manga's history, featuring all-new translations in a beautiful oversized hardcover. Let this iconic manga steal your heart all over again!

Malcolm Kid & The Perfect Song GN - Austin Paramore & Sarah Bollinger

Debut creator Austin Paramore and artist Sarah Bollinger strike a chord in this humorous and heartfelt story about love, loss, legacy, and the music that ties them all together. What does the perfect song sound like? Normally, Malcolm Kid wouldn't give this type of question the time of day. As a straight-B student with a heart of copper, he is far more concerned with overcoming mediocrity than he is with achieving perfection. But that all changes when he stumbles across the LK-2000-a strange keyboard cursed with the soul of an old jazz musician. Malcolm soon learns that the only way to free this musician's soul is by performing the perfect song. With much hesitation, and the help of his lifelong friend January Young, Malcolm embarks on a musical journey across the city of New Bronzeville in the hopes of discovering the perfect song and finding himself as a musician along the way.

Mexikid GN -  Pedro Martin

A poignant, hilarious, and unforgettable graphic memoir about a Mexican-American boy's family and their adventure-filled road trip to bring their abuelito back from Mexico to live with them. Pedro Martin has grown up hearing stories about his abuelito-his legendary crime-fighting, grandfather who was once a part of the Mexican Revolution! But that doesn't mean Pedro is excited at the news that Abuelito is coming to live with their family. After all, Pedro has 8 brothers and sisters and the house is crowded enough! Still, Pedro piles into the Winnebago with his family for a road trip to Mexico to bring Abuelito home, and what follows is the trip of a lifetime, one filled with laughs and heartache. Along the way, Pedro finally connects with his abuelito and learns what it means to grow up and find his grito.

Neil Gaiman’s Hansel & Gretel SC -  Neil Gaiman & Lorenzo Mattotti

Bestselling author Neil Gaiman and fine artist Lorenzo Mattotti join forces to create Hansel and Gretel, a stunning book that's at once as familiar as a dream and as evocative as a nightmare. Mattotti's sweeping ink illustrations capture the terror and longing found in the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Gaiman crafts an original text filled with his signature wit and pathos that is sure to become a favorite of readers everywhere, young and old.

Neptune GN Vol 1 Book 1 -  LEO

The Worlds of Aldebaran chronicle mankind's often difficult first steps on distant worlds. Full of fantastical alien life, human drama and believable science, it's a saga that will keep you gazing up at the stars in wonder. After three years of study and training, Marie is now officially a member of the UN Special Forces. But she's barely had time to celebrate her graduation that an extraordinary event forces her to leave for her first mission: an alien ship of unknown origin has just arrived in orbit of Earth. As no contact can be established with its crew, Marie and her team are sent to board the vessel and investigate.

The Pirate & The Porcelain Girl TP  -  Emily Riesbeck & NJ Barna

Our Flag Means Death gets a magical, sapphic twist in this swashbuckling young adult graphic novel adventure full of high-stakes adventure, fantastical creatures, and a swoony enemies-to-lovers romance. "I want to be beautiful. I want to be interesting. I want to be enough." That was Ferra Brickminder's prayer to win back the love of her life. And the gods answer-just not in the way she expected. After hoping for a miracle, Ferra instead watches her skin turn into delicate and dangerously breakable porcelain. Elsewhere, Brigantine de la Girona, a disgraced orc pirate captain, has her own problems. Penniless and banished from her home, Brig struggles to make ends meet with her crew as her only support. So, when a desperate Ferra enlists Brig to sail her across the Great Sea to her ex-girlfriend's home for a very handsome fee, Brig is happy to strike a deal. Pampered Ferra and tough-as-nails Brig quickly butt heads, bickering their way across the high seas, but as they encounter increasingly perilous obstacles-including the gods themselves-the two become reluctant allies... and maybe more.

Robotech: Rick Hunter #1 -  Brandon Easton, Simone Ragazzoni & Inhyuk Lee

After the devastating events of the Macross saga, RICK HUNTER must face an all new threat, along with the ghosts of his past when a Zentraedi splinter group attacks Yokohama, Rick is called to investigate! Piloting the new prototype YF-4 Veritech, Rick encounters old friends and new enemies, all while recounting the moments of his life that shaped most epic moments in the ROBOTECH universe!

The Sacrificers #1 -  Rick Remender, Max Fiumara & Dave McCaig 

Tomorrow is a harmonious paradise thanks to five families who make everything perfect...for the price of one child per household. Now, as that bill comes due, a son expected to give everything for a family that never loved him and an affluent daughter determined to destroy utopia must unite to end one generation's unnaturally protracted reign.

Saving Chupie GN -  Amparo Ortiz & Ronnie Garcia

Violeta Rubio only has one goal in mind for her first-ever trip to Puerto Rico: help Abuelita reopen her beloved restaurant, La Casita. After the destruction wrought by Huracán Maria, La Casita needs all the help it can get. The only problem is that Violeta's whole family thinks they can do it without her. Now Violeta doesn't have anyone to hang out with or anything to do. But when best friend duo Diego and Lorena need help capturing the rumored chupacabra, Violeta sees her chance to change all that. What she isn't expecting is to run straight into the beast! Only... he isn't as monstrous as everyone assumes. Sure, he's got some scales and spikes, big red eyes, and pointy fangs-but he's a totally puppy and loyal to a fault. Violeta must find a way keep Chupie hidden and convince her newfound friends that he isn't anything to be scared of. And if that isn't hard enough, a new threat lurks around the corner that is dead set on capturing Chupie for their own nefarious means. Will Violeta be able to save Chupie from the danger that surrounds them without sacrificing everything else in the process?

Slime Shop GN -  Karina Garcia, Kevin Panetta & Niki Smith

YouTube Slime Queen Karina Garcia teams up with writer Kevin Panetta and artist Niki Smith for a fun, colorful adventure that follows three friends as they run their own slime shop and the slimes who come alive to help them. Bailey, Sophia, and Jayden run the BSJ Slime Shop, but what the three slime makers don't know is that when they're not around, the slimes come to life! When the creators start shipping slimes off to who knows where, the slimes left at the shop start to worry that they're next. Even as Polly tries to convince her friends that everything is fine, Boris, a grumpy, green slime, starts taking things into his own hands. Then slimes start disappearing and suddenly the shop is full of zombie slimes. With half the shop zombified and the other half scared silly, Polly has no choice but to go on a quest, along with her friends Max and Karma, to discover the truth about the slimes being shipped off and find a way to save their friends before it's too late!

Team Trash: A Time Traveler’s Guide To Sustainability GN -  Kate Wheeler & Trent Huntington

Studious environmentalist Charlie is stuck with a science fair partner who seems like her complete opposite: Charlie wants to save the planet, and all Oliver wants is to doodle in his notebook. But when a mechanical mishap sends the two traveling back through time, they'll have to work as a team to return to the present day. In order for the time machine to send them back, the unlikely duo must gather data on recycling throughout the ages-from sustainable marketplaces in Edo Japan to garbage-gobbling pigs in 19th-century NYC. Yet the closer the team gets to the present day, the more that plastic presents a problem: they're running out of time. Harnessing their frustration over the daunting ecological future they've inherited, Charlie and Oliver discover the ways in which they can use their sustainability knowledge to return home and build a better earth.

Werewolf Jones & Sons Deluxe Summer Fun Annual HC -  Simon Hanselmann & Josh Pettinger

In the tradition of the British hardback annuals comes the Werewolf Jones & Sons Deluxe Summer Fun Annual! One hundred fun-filled pages of spoofs and goofs for the whole family to enjoy (no minors allowed)! Put together with lots of love by Simon Hanselmann and rising underground star Josh Pettinger (Goiter, Power Wash). Get ready for one of the hottest summers on record (not merely due to rising climate-based anomalies)!

Whatcha getting this week, Fantom Fam?

[docrotten]

CONAN THE BARBARIAN (1982) – Episode 252 – Decades Of Horror 1980s

“What is best in life?” “To crush your enemies, see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women.” What about plunder? Does that include plunder? Join your faithful Grue Crew – Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, Crystal Cleveland, and Jeff Mohr – as they visit Robert E. Howard’s world as visualized by John Milius in Conan the Barbarian (1982).

Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 252 – Conan the Barbarian (1982)

Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! Click the alert to get notified of new content! https://youtube.com/gruesomemagazine

Gruesome Magazine is partnering with the WICKED HORROR TV CHANNEL (https://wickedhorrortv.com/) which now includes video episodes of Decades of Horror 1980s and is available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, and its online website across all OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop.

As a young boy, Conan becomes a slave after his parents are killed and his tribe destroyed by a savage warlord and sorcerer, Thulsa Doom. When he grows up he becomes a fearless, invincible fighter. Set free, he plots revenge against Thulsa Doom

  Directed by: John Milius

Writing Credits: Robert E. Howard (based on the character created by); John Milius (written by), Oliver Stone (written by); Edward Summer (story) (uncredited)

Selected Cast:

Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan

James Earl Jones as Thulsa Doom

Max von Sydow as King Osric (as Max Von Sydow)

Sandahl Bergman as Valeria

Ben Davidson as Rexor

Cassandra Gava as The Witch (as Cassandra Gaviola)

Gerry Lopez as Subotai

Mako as The Wizard / Narrator

Valérie Quennessen as The Princess (as Valerie Quennessen)

William Smith as Conan’s Father

Luis Barboo as Red Hair

Franco Columbu as Pictish Scout

Leslie Foldvary as Sacrificial Snake Girl

Gary Herman as Osric’s Guard

Erik Holmey as Turanian War Officer (as Erick Holmey)

Akio Mitamura as Mongol General

Nadiuska as Conan’s Mother

Jorge Sanz as Young Conan

Jack Taylor as Priest

Sven-Ole Thorsen as Thorgrim (as Sven Ole Thorsen)

Kiyoshi Yamazaki as Sword Master (as Kiyoshi Yamasaki)

Can anyone else step into the legendary role of Robert E. Howard’s iconic Cimmerian like the one-and-only Arnold Schwarzenegger? Add James Earl Jones, Sandahl Bergman, Max von Sydow, and William Smith as Conan’s father and you’ve got a blockbuster. John Milius (Red Dawn, 1984) directs from a script co-written with Oliver Stone, and look out! Crystal wields her own weapon of mass destruction during the Grue-Crew’s discussion of Conan the Barbarian (1982). You won’t want to miss that!

At the time of this writing, Conan the Barbarian is available to stream from Amazon Prime and various PPV sources. In terms of physical media, the film was released on January 30, 2024, as a Limited Edition, in Blu-ray or 4K Ultra HD, from Arrow Video.

Every two weeks, Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1980s podcast will cover another horror film from the 1980s. The next episode’s film, chosen by Crystal, will be PIN (1988). It’s a plastic nightmare!

Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans – so leave them a message or comment on the Gruesome Magazine Youtube channel, on the Gruesome Magazine website, or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com.

Check out this episode!

[graphicpolicy]

By Crom! Conan the Barbarian #1 delivers an action packed debut

By Crom! Conan the Barbarian #1 delivers an action packed debut #comics #comicbooks #ncbd

Years after the battle of Venarium, a weary Conan returns to his homeland to seek rest and solitude. However, a mysterious scout rides in to warn the Cimmerians of an imminent threat on the march from the Pictish wilderness. Will Conan and his new ally be able to hold off this new horde of invaders? Conan the Barbarian #1 is a fantastic debut feeling like a continuation of the great stories that…

[grcetxt]

TY FOR THE TAGGG

Yuki Onna- Adrianne Lenker

The Skin (Live)- Supermilk

Sober to Death- Car Seat Headrest

Teenage Kicks- The Undertones

Underground- Cody Fry

Easy With Either- Pictish Trail

Angel of Small Death & The Codine Scene- Hozier

frog- Cavetown

come- Adrianne Lenker

I wish I was James Bond- Scouting for Girls

tags: @wowpindrop and anyone else ^^

tagged by @slavet0thegrind & @danexist to shuffle my music n list the first 10 songs! thank u🕺

the party’s over / the baldwin brothers (ft. mark lanegan)

time / play dead

streets of baltimore / gram parsons

silent hedges / bauhaus

silver chain / rowland s howard

give me your lovin / mazzy star

down by the river / pulp

television / japan

some of them are old / brian eno

humanesque / the gun club

i tag @imdistressed @wormdream @eithernich @antiquesintheattic @eddiestardust :)

[heroineimages]

Roman table-top campaign

So playing Expeditions: Rome has occasionally gotten me thinking about what it’d be like to play an Ancient Rome AU tabletop campaign where the party are procursatores, exploratores or speculatores for the Roman army during one of it’s many conquests or on one of it’s many frontiers. I mean, each of these groups often broke into small scouting squads about the right size for a D&D party. And, frankly, any of the base D&D classes should work as legionaries or auxiliaries. Discussion and story ideas to follow. (And, coincidentally as I was working on this, I got an email notification that my copy of Age of Antiquity is on it’s way!)

As I mentioned above, any number of famous Roman campaigns should work nicely for characters playing as legionary special-ops. Caesar used scouts extensively in Gaul, while playing as speculatores during the siege of Alexandria could feature plenty of action and intrigue. Other options might include serving under Pompey during the Third Mithridatic War in Asia Minor, various conquests in Iberia, Germanicus’s expeditions across the Rhine, or Trajan’s wars in Dacia. On the other hand, playing as scouts or legionaries fleeing in the aftermath of a famous disaster like Boudicca’s destruction of Legio IX, Teutoburg Forest, or Crassus’s defeat by the Parthians.

Meanwhile, playing as exploratores or speculatores on any number of the Roman frontiers would provide opportunities for exploration, side-quests, npc interaction, and maybe even-dungeon crawling. The most obvious would be a party stationed at Hadrian’s Wall or the Antonine Wall in Roman Britain, with forts to defend, Pictish ambuscades to scout, and even Celtic ruins to explore. Similarly, a party might be stationed along one of the river frontiers, defending against the Germanic tribes along the Rhine, Dacians or Sarmatians along the Danube, or against the Parthians along the Euphrates. Or playing as legionary speculatores keeping the peace between Numidian or Berber tribes in North Africa again could create a lot of chances for combat, exploration, and npc interactions. Though, the option I really like is being stationed in one of Augustus’s garrisons along the Upper Nile to defend against incursions from Kush and other Nubian kingdoms to the south. I especially love the idea of scouting the desert and getting to discover and explore cursed Egyptian ruins filled with undead mummies and giant scarabs.

OR if you’re not into playing as the Romans, I think there’re a lot of similarly great stories to be told by playing against them! You could play as Britons attempting to smuggle weapons through a checkpoint at Hadrian’s wall, escaped gladiators training local Numidian tribes to fight legionaries, Parthian scouts feeling out Roman defenses, Suebi raiders sneaking across the Rhine to hassle Roman supply lines, or Kushite spies stealing info on legion troop movements. Skies the limit and I love a lot of these possibilities

[yokai-johnsculpture]

Some sculpts from last week....

[geekwarrior77]

Franco Columbu as the Pictish scout

[for-peace-war]

art by @idrawbuffgirls​

My third hour-writing exercise.  This one involves @scowlet​‘s Pictish borderer, Caethe, and @iamreinhardt​‘s Valenso.

I did this at the library so, may be a little wonky in places.  As always, Kelzack did an awesome job with the piece above!  And well, I tried a different writing style for reasons.

THE GREAT WINGED ONE.

Follows Part I.

Follows Part II.

Part III.

The Aquilonians moved like wolves.  She was the wolf.  For two days she had tracked them.  When they slept, she watched.  When they moved, she trailed.  When they ate, she waited.  Woodmanship was not in their blood—they did not know what it meant.  From papers, they had learned.  No, not papers—books, they were called books. The word was repeated in her mind as she padded after them.  Always upwind.  Always certain that she lived in their shadows.

They were aware she was nearby.  She wanted that.  Pictland’s trees were old and true.  They were thick, strong, sturdy—not at all like Aquilonian soldiers.  The woods were her allies.  She had known allies before as true and strong, but they were gone. Now she hunted.  Now she waited for the time to strike.  The longer she held off, the more uncomfortable they became. They were nervous, like boys that had not yet been blooded.  Yes, they had fought in wars—but they had never been in War.  The wolf knew the difference.

There were no battles to be won or lost.

There was only death.

In some ways, it was a game.  Pictish children did not learn to play empty games.  Not like dancing—no, not like singing, either.  Songs had to have meaning; so did dancing.  If a step was made, it was with another in mind. If a note was shared, then there had to be a reason for it to be called out.  To keep away their fears, the Aquilonians sang to themselves.  They were bad singers—but worse, they were bad wolves. Wolves called out for a reason.   Fear was never a reason to call out.

And she was a lone wolf now.  Who would answer her, if she did call?

Caethe could smell them. She had learned as a child which herbs would keep her sharp and which would make others sleep.  The Aquilonians, who sang when they were afraid and scratches at bites when they were nervous, did not know these things.  They thought they were hunting for wolves.

They did not know the jaws were already around their throats.

There were six of them.  Speculatores, they were called.  The Aquilonian Empire of Maxentius Supremus had fallen, but parts remained. This was a part—this was the part where they said his mother came from. Was it true? Could she, a Child of the Crow, have betrayed her people? Some said so, but what was the betrayal? A mother had her child.  She raised her child.  If he was bad, was that her fault? Caethe didn’t know.  She didn’t even care.  . Maxentius was dead.  His empire had fallen. The men that pretended to be wolves would soon be skinned and their pelts left out to the sun.

She turned her head and took in a sharp sniff.  The leaves overheard cast dark shadows, which danced over her eyes.  If she had used her eyes to see; if her ears were not sharp, or her nose was not as swift to catch scent, then she would have missed it.  But she could smell it.  One of the speculators had slipped away.  He was looking to catch her.  But his bladder was weak—weaker than the thews it had stained. Piss was the only scent more acrid than fear she could think of.

What was certain to be a trap, was now merely a feast.

A large tree loomed to her right, and further ahead she knew the Aquilonian awaited his supposed prey.  She could have run past it, turned and fired three arrows into him before his weapon was free.  Since leaving the Accursed Lands, she had learned that others—even other Picts—were slow. They were lazy.  Caethe knew that if it came down to it, she could kill three of the scouts before she was taken.  But there was only one of her, and the three would be replaced.

Killing the hunter would be enough, wouldn’t it?

She hungered for something—something that wasn’t the hunt.

Ahead, she heard the wind shift a few branches.  But those branches were not shifting in the way the wind should have.  The Aquilonian was preparing for her.  She could see him in her mind: tense, eager.  Ready to kill. Killing was something they were good at, she knew. She had found the remains of many villages.  These men killed whatever they could place their hands on.

It was time to take their hands.

 Caethe knelt before the water along the coast.  The Aquilonian had been taken as quickly as she spotted him.  He offered a bird’s call—a bird not from the forest.  His friend came and she killed him too.  A third would have meant she was captured.

So she was alright with two dead men.

She looked at herself in the water.  Did she recognize the person that looked at her? She did not know. The Accursed Lands had darkened her somewhat, but not as it would in other places.  Her eyes were different.  Her lips were different.  Neither could express joy as they once did.  She felt sad for who she was, but also for who she could not be.  Aquilonian blood clouded the water as she dipped her hands in once more.

Now, she saw only red.

A pebble, twenty paces away, shifted.

Caethe was up.  She stood so quickly that her arrow had trained on the target before it had fully presented itself.  The wind had not betrayed her, but her reflection had.  She smelled him and knew instantly why she had not been alerted.

“Caethe,” Valenso said as he held his palms up. “It has been too long, has it not?”

The Pictish woman took the Zingaran in as he approached.  He wore strange clothes.  They would not do well in woodmanship, even the Aquilonians knew that.  But he was on the coast.  He did not intend to venture into the wilds.

He was not a wolf.

She fought to remember which language they shared.  “Hi,” she said, in her best Shemitish.

The Zingaran came closer and she lowered her bow and arrow.  He wore thick silks that swayed as he moved, and smelled off girl’s perfume.  At least, she thought he did.  She knew his steps were meant for the sea by how he swayed.  She did not like ships.

“I take it that you are surprised to see me, old friend?” He was more comfortable speaking Shemitish.  

She nodded.  “Yes. Hi.”

“Always the conversationalist.”  He was joking.  He smiled.

She showed her teeth, too.  Not in the way of anger.  As with a friend. “Okay.”

“Do you mind if we speak?”

“No.”

He looked around.  Valenso did not like being in the open.  “Somewhere else?”

“Okay,” she said.  He opened his mouth to speak again, but she was moving.  She did not move as fast as she normally would.  He was not a woodsman.  But he could be quiet in step, so she stepped quietly too.  

When they had left the Accursed Lands, Valenso had shown her his ship. It was big—he was proud of it. She did not know what to make of it, but he liked it so she did too.  She knew she had no ship to show him; nothing big.  All she had was the Pictlands, and they were not hers.  Not really, anyway.  The Aquilonians had been fools to claim them as their own.  But there were other reasons for that than rebellions.

A person could not own land.

Land owned the person—and the wolves that hunted him.

She had set up camp upwind from her scouting party.  They were looking for their friends.  They would not find them for a night, she knew. Aquilonians were easy to distract. They did not fight well in forests. They never knew to look up.

There was a cluster of trees she liked.  She had marked it with her knife, like a bear.  Valenso did not notice, but she had been proud of that cut.

“You are quite the little homemaker, aren’t you?”

“This is not a home,” she said.  “This is forest.”

“Is not a forest your home?”

“Forest is not a home.  Forest is home.”

“Philosophically significant, my friend.”

“Okay.”

She set her arrows down.  She then set herself down.

He did not follow.  His silks would become damp, she knew.  Like the Aquilonian’s leg.  The one she had killed—the one that pissed himself.

“I suppose you are wondering why I am here.”

“No,” she said.

“Oh?”

“You want something.”

“You wound me!”

“Sorry.”  She paused. “What do you want?”

Valenso laughed.  She liked his laugh.  She did not laugh in return, but she swayed a little. Aesileif’s laugh was better, but she was gone.  She went to the mountains.

The Zingaran made a gesture she did not understand.  His hand tipped one way, it went the other. “Perhaps I do want a little something.”

“Okay.”

“You are so quick to agree, my friend!”

“Yes.”  Why he wasted so many words always confused her.  Maybe he liked his voice? She did too.  Not for woodmanship, no.  He would die if he hunted.  But she liked his voice.

“Well, do you want to know how I found you so quickly?”

“No,” she said.

The Zingaran opened his mouth.  He then closed it.  “Oh.”

“Do you want me to know?”

“Well, it would make things faster.”

“Okay,” she said. “Tell me.”

“Tsekani has been gathering people for an adventure.”

“Stygian,” she said.

“The darker of the two, yes.”

“No Zaliki?”

“Not since I left her.” He seemed sad.  She rose and moved over, then patted his arm.  It did not mean anything to her, but Aquilonians did it. When he smiled, she patted his forehead. When Aesileif did that to her, she felt better.

“I will go.”

“Eh—don’t you want to know where?”

“No.”

For a minute he was quiet.  Was he upset?  She touched his arm again.

“I don’t know what to say,” he said. “Why did they even send me?” He was upset.  Not in the way men were when they were sad.  He was upset like a city man. “They could have sent a parrot… had it say ‘Come with me,’ and you would have done it.  All this walking—all of this planning.  I had even thought to impress you with some swordplay.  Perhaps unman one of those scouts and then say—well, it doesn’t matter, does it?”

She waited to see if he was talking to her or himself.  He didn’t seem to know, either.  But then he looked at her, so she answered. “No,” she said. She showed him her teeth again. Her eyebrows lifted.

The Zingaran sighed.  “Is there anything that will make you reconsider?  Perhaps so that I can at least charm you into coming with us?”

“No.”

“Can I try?”

“Okay.”

The Zingaran puffed up.  Like a rooster, ready to crow.  He strutted a bit and waved his hand. “There is danger ahead of us.  Ymirish Lords—do you know what those are, my friend?”

“Yes.”

“Terrifying, no?”

“No.”

“What? Twenty arrows would not bring one down from the best marksman!”

Caethe looked down to her quiver.  She then looked back to Valenso.

“I have one-hundred.” She used her fingers to count as he stared at her. When she finished, she held up five fingers. “We can kill five.”

At last, the Zingaran gave up and threw his head back to laugh. Caethe waited and then did as well. He placed a hand on her shoulder. She let him.

“You truly are a marvel, my friend.”

His compliment was touching.  Her cheeks felt warm.  In that moment, she said the only thing that came to her mind—for it held all the thought she knew.

“Okay.”

[nfcomics]

Conan the Barbarian no.1 • cover art • Jae Lee [Jul 2023] Ongoing

Years after the battle of Venarium, a weary CONAN returns to his homeland to seek rest and solitude. However, a mysterious scout rides in to warn the Cimmerians of an imminent threat on the march from the Pictish wilderness. Will CONAN and his new ally be able to hold off this new horde of invaders?

Writer: Jim Zub Artist: Roberto De La Torre

[ultrameganicolaokay]

Conan the Barbarian #4 by Jim Zub, Roberto de la Torre and Dean White. Cover by de la Torre. Variant covers by (2) Giada Marchisio, (3) Nick Percival and (4) Cary Nord. Out in October.

"Years after the battle of Venarium, a weary CONAN returns to his homeland to seek rest and solitude. However, a mysterious scout rides in to warn the Cimmerians of an imminent threat on the march from the Pictish wilderness. Will CONAN and his new ally be able to hold off this new horde of invaders?"

[readingontheedge]

Dawnflight

The Dragon's Dove Chronicles Book 1

by Kim Iverson Headlee

Genre: Historical Fantasy

 Print Length: 415 pages

Publisher: Lucky Bat Books

Publication Date: February 25, 2013

 What if King Arthur’s queen was every bit as heroic as he was? Find out by immersing yourself in this epic story of the power couple whose courage and conviction would shape the destiny of a nation. Gyan is a Caledonian chieftainess by birth, a warrior and leader of warriors by training, and she is betrothed to Urien, a son of her clan’s deadliest enemy, by right of Arthur the Pendragon’s conquest of her people. For the sake of peace, Gyan is willing to sacrifice everything...perhaps even her very life, if her foreboding about Urien proves true. Roman by his father, Brytoni by his mother, and denied hereditary rulership of his mother's clan because of his mixed blood, Arthur has followed his father's path to become Dux Britanniarum, the Pendragon: supreme commander of the northern Brytoni army. The Caledonians, Scots, Saxons, and Angles keep him too busy to dwell upon his loneliness...most of the time. When Gyan and Arthur meet, each recognize within the other their soul’s mate. The treaty has preserved Gyan’s ancient right to marry any man, providing he is a Brytoni nobleman—but Arthur does not qualify. And the ambitious Urien, Arthur’s greatest political rival, shall not be so easily denied. If Gyan and Arthur cannot prevent Urien from plunging the Caledonians and Brytons back into war, their love will be doomed to remain unfulfilled forever. But there is an even greater threat looming. The Laird of the Scots wants their land and will kill all who stand in his way. Gyan, Arthur, and Urien must unite to defeat this merciless enemy who threatens everyone they hold dear. 

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Arthur said, “I advise caution.”

“Caution, indeed.” Urien’s look adopted a hard edge as he ground fist to palm. “I don’t trust these Picts. In fact, I don’t understand why you didn’t obliterate them with Caledfwlch when I”—he stabbed a thumb at his chest—“gave you the chance.”

With effort, Arthur resisted the impulse to touch his sword’s ruby-pommeled hilt, the smith’s inspiration for naming it Caleberyllus, Latin for “Burning Jewel.” After Abar-Gleann, Cai had coined a Brytoni name for Wyllan’s finest creation: Caledfwlch, “Caledonia’s Bane.” It was perfectly apt, and it had almost caused a diplomatic disaster.

He spared a glance for his friends and was thankful they were too far away—and too engrossed with flirting with two more serving women—to have overheard the exchange. Two months was enough time to heal flesh wounds but not enough time to salve Cai’s pride for having to endure Arthur’s public rebuke in order to preserve the fragile peace. He returned his attention to Urien. “Do not forget that your charge was carried out under my orders.”

Urien glared but let the remark pass. “The Picts have been a menace to our borders for time out of mind. Why didn’t you—”

“The same can be said about the Saxons, Angles, and Scots.” These last two Arthur spat like the curses they were to him. The Angli had killed his father. And the Scots… he banished a grisly memory with a long blink. “None of them have demonstrated a willingness to negotiate with us for peace. The Caledonians were willing, and Brydein will be getting a much stronger cavalry as a result.” Arthur grinned. “You should thank them for your promotion.”   

Video Trailer: https://youtu.be/mHOESkv-R_c

The Dragon's Dove Chronicles Book 2

 Print Length: 439 pages

Publisher: Lucky Bat Books 

Publication Date: June 11, 2013

 “Magnificent.” ~ Kathleen Foley, author of the Faith in Uniform series In a violent age when enemies besiege Brydein and alliances shift as swiftly as the wind, stand two remarkable leaders: the Caledonian warrior-queen Gyanhumara and her consort, Arthur the Pendragon. Their fiery love is tempered only by their conviction to forge unity between their disparate peoples. Arthur and Gyan must create an impenetrable front to protect Brydein and Caledonia from land-lusting Saxons and the marauding Angli raiders who may be massing forces in the east, near Arthur’s sister and those he has sworn to protect. But their biggest threat is an enemy within: Urien, Arthur’s rival and the man Gyan was treaty-bound to marry until she broke that promise for Arthur’s love. When Urien becomes chieftain of his clan, his increase in wealth and power is matched only by the magnitude of his hatred of Arthur and Gyan—and his threat to their infant son. Morning’s Journey, sequel to the critically acclaimed Dawnflight, propels the reader from the heights of triumph to the depths of despair, through the struggles of some of the most fascinating characters in all of Arthurian literature. Those struggles are exacerbated by the characters’ own flawed choices. Gyan and Arthur must learn that while extending forgiveness to others may be difficult, forgiveness of self is the most excruciating—yet ultimately the most healing—step of the entire journey. 

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THE CLASH OF arms resounds in the torchlit corridor. Blood oozes where leather has yielded to the bite of steel, yet both sweating, panting warriors refuse to relent.

Her heart thundering, Gyan grips her sword’s hilt, desperate to help the man she loves. Caledonach law forbids it.

Urien makes a low lunge. As Arthur tries to whirl clear, the blade tears a gash in his shield-side thigh. The injured leg collapses, and Arthur drops to one knee. Crowing triumphantly, Urien raises his sword for the deathblow.

Devil take the law!

Gyan springs to block the stroke. Its force jars her arms and twists the hilt in her grasp. She barely holds on through the searing pain.

Urien slips past her guard to slice at her brooch. The gold dragon clatters to the floor. Her cloak slithers to her ankles, fouling her stance. As she tries to kick free, Urien grabs her braid, jerks up her head, and kisses her, hard. Shock loosens her grip. Her sword falls. She thrashes and writhes, but he holds her fast, smirking lewdly.

“You are mine, Pictish whore.”

Urien’s breath reeks of ale and evil promises. She spits in his face. He slaps her. She reels backward, her cheek burning. He grabs her forearms and yanks her close.

“Artyr, help me!”

No response. 

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Video Trailer:

https://youtu.be/Bk0uPDfq7TY 

The Dragon's Dove Chronicles Book 3

 Print Length: 415 pages

Publisher: Pendragon Cove Press

Publication Date: March 11, 2019

 Outcast, clanless, and but a junior officer in Arthur the Pendragon’s army, Angusel struggles to rebuild the life stolen from him through betrayal by the person he had held most dear. His legion allegiance thrusts him onto the campaign trail as one of Arthur’s forward scouts, stalking Angli troops and being among the first to clash with these vicious enemies at every turn. But the odds loom high against him and his sword-brothers, and they will need a miracle just to survive. Pressured to make the best choice to ensure her clan’s future leadership, Eileann struggles with her feelings for Angusel, whose outcast status makes him forbidden to her as a mate. When Angli treachery threatens everyone she loves, she vows to thwart their violent plan to conquer her clan. But she is no warrior, she has no soldiers to command, and she will need a miracle just to survive. How can one soldier make a difference? How can one woman save her kin and clan? In the crucible of combat, Angusel must surrender to the will of the gods, and Eileann must invoke divine power to forge the most dangerous warrior the world has ever known. 

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Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43730715-raging-sea 

“Where is the brush?” Eileann asked, as much to forestall the inevitable as to seek an answer.

A heartbeat later, she chided her fear. Outcast or not, Clan Tarsuinn needed him.

Them.

“No brush. The anointing is as much about the connection between the anointer and the anointed as it is about the connection between the anointed and the gods. Use your finger, like this.”

Neoinean dipped Eileann’s index finger into the dye, tapped the excess on the rim, and guided it to sketch the shape of a salmon on Angusel’s forehead, near the hairline. Eileann felt a wee tingle as she completed the fish. His surprised expression told her he had felt it too.

“Now state to the anointed the god-mark you have drawn and its purpose.” Neoinean stepped away and regarded Eileann, cocking an eyebrow as the silence stretched.

Eileann cleared her throat and gazed at Angusel. “The salmon of Clota. For wisdom.” She wasn’t sure how a warrior fighting in the throes of battle frenzy could exercise wisdom, but she was not going to cast doubt upon her teacher’s example or the purpose the goddess had revealed.

Angusel bobbed his head, his curly black hair obscuring the fish.

Palms angled upward, Fioruisge changed the chant to echo Eileann’s words and embellish them, begging for the goddess’s gift to be bestowed upon the anointed.

“Use what you know of the gods and their abilities, my lady,” said Neoinean, “to draw their marks upon the anointed where you believe those divine gifts will benefit him the most.”

“Please draw the god-marks so that my armor hides them.” Angusel glanced at Neoinean, uncertainty creasing the salmon. “Does the anointing permit this?”

“It does,” stated the apothecary.

“They are meant to be seen!” Eileann itched to shake sense into him, but touching the anointed was forbidden save to craft the god-marks. “How will the gods find you if you hide the marks?”

“The anointed does not wish to offend those who have rejected him, and that is a worthy consideration.” Her teacher, apparently exempt from the touching stricture, patted Eileann’s shoulder. To her surprise, Fioruisge wove Neoinean’s words into the chant. “Fear not, child. The gods will see the marks as you draw them, and they shall not forget. Priests and warriors may choose to make their god-marks permanent, but the rite does not require it.”

Eileann inclined her head at Angusel. “As you will, then.”

Behind shuttered eyelids, she cast about for an image to draw and received a double blessing. Upon opening her eyes, she asked Angusel to lift his arms so she could anoint his biceps. The sketches looked crude, childish, and incomplete. She prayed for them to work; she hoped that the longer and stronger tingling was a sign that they would. “The bull of Lugh on your sword arm for strength, and the stag of Cernunnos on your shield arm for cunning.”

Fioruisge added Eileann’s pronouncements, raising her arms higher with each new verse.

Whatever concoction Neoinean had given Eileann must have taken full effect. In swift succession she drew the spear and rod of Nemetona on Angusel’s right thigh for fierceness, the mare of Epona on his left thigh for speed, and the sun of Lord Annaomh over his heart.

“For hope,” she told him about the sun, and wondered at the word choice the god had inspired. The sun of Annaomh represented justice, leadership, and truth. Lord Annaomh was revered for those traits, as were the warriors who honored him. And yet hope was appropriate, since the strengthening sun delivered salvation from winter’s grip, and the Lord of Light embodied salvation from the eternal ravages of his twin brother, Annàm, and the evil Samhraidhean.

Angusel beamed without touching her, as was proper for this phase of an tùs. The time for their touching would come, but not soon enough for Eileann’s liking.

The final image burned into her brain and killed her swelling excitement.

She gasped, fist to mouth.

“What is it, child?” asked Neoinean.

“A mark I dare not draw upon the anointed,” Eileann whispered. That the image was unlike any she had seen for this god represented the least of her worries. “I fear what it may do to him—to us both.” 

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Kim Headlee lives on a farm in southwestern Virginia with her family, cats, goats, Great Pyrenees goat guards, and assorted wildlife. People and creatures come and go, but the cave and the 250-year-old house ruins--the latter having been occupied as recently as the mid-twentieth century--seem to be sticking around for a while yet. Kim has been a published novelist since 1999 with the first edition of Dawnflight (Sonnet Books, Simon & Schuster) and has been studying the Arthurian legends for nigh on half a century. 

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Open Internationally: $20 Amazon,  Gift codes for e-books (several titles, including some not being toured); and audiobooks of Dawnflight, and related novellas The Color of Vengeance and The Challenge.

 US only: Print copies of The Color of Vengeance, The Challenge, another related novella titled Twins, and The Challenge comic book (one winner each)

Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway! 

https://www.silverdaggertours.com/sdsxx-tours/the-dragons-dove-chronicles-book-tour-and-giveaway 

[theopenbookwigtown]

Day 3 (14.1.18)

Come. It is time to keep your appointment with the Wicker Man.

When Ewan discovered that we were coming to Wigtown, he was very excited. Not just because of the books (although, let’s be honest, that’s the main draw), but also because parts of the Wicker Man (1973) were filmed around here. As part of our research for this trip, we looked into places nearby we could go and visit to connect with our inner Sergeant Howie (or Lord Summerisle).

When George welcomed us on Friday afternoon, he told us “the shop’s yours - run it how you want and, if the weather’s good, do go and explore”. Taking those words to heart, we’d been thinking about when we could fit in some sight-seeing amongst our bookshop duties.

Sunday morning in Wigtown dawned grey and misty. After a cup of tea, a quick look at the BBC weather app showed that there was likely to be a small window of non-rainy opportunity up to lunchtime. We took this opportunity with both hands, got in our trusty hire car (named Michael, after the name which appeared on the on-board computer when we started him up) and drove the 20 or so minutes from Wigtown to St. Ninian’s Cave.

Having parked in the remote car park (surprisingly, we were the only ones who ventured out on a misty Sunday morning), we followed the signs down a wooded path, alongside a stream, to a beach:

The signs then directed us right along the shore, to St. Ninan’s Cave itself. St. Ninian was first mentioned in the 8th century as being an early missionary among the Pictish peoples and apparently used the Cave to meditate. Later, in 1973, Robin Hardy used it as the beach at the end of the May Day procession in the Wicker Man. This was where Lord Summerisle rolls the barrel of beer into the water as an offering to the God of Sea; and where Rowan first appears in the mouth of the cave, apparently ready to be sacrificed. Here’s the Cave (described by 2 people on Trip Advisor as “disappointing” - but it’s not):

After scouting about the Cave for a bit, we wandered back up to the car and headed to the Isle of Whithorn. Various shots from the Wicker Man were filmed in the village but, more importantly for our purposes at this exact moment, it was a beautiful place with a renowned tea shop. We took shelter there for a bit before taking the short walk to St. Ninian’s Chapel:

Partly rebuilt in 1898, what stands there now was erected to replace a 12th-early 13th century chapel, which itself was built on foundations which were found during excavations - the outer enclosure is thought to date from the Celtic period (Wikipedia gives me this info - I accept no responsibility for its veracity!). In any event, it’s a lovely ruin, in a starkly isolated spot. It’s easy to imagine why this might have been thought of as a good place to set up a shrine or place of worship to whoever was keeping you safe. Glorious.

Afterwards, we took a quick drive to Burrowhead (one of our more optimistic Tant Trails). It was on Burrowhead that the Wicker Man itself was burned (I’ll say no more for fear of spoilers). We’d found a few websites which gave some clues as to the exact whereabouts of the remains. There’s a Holiday Village there now, and we parked up amongst the caravans to spend some time wandering the cliff-tops trying to find the spot. Alas, no luck. However, the views were spectacular (if windy), and so we returned to the car disappointed but not devastated.

On the way back to Wigtown we stopped at Whithorn, so that Ewan could see the library which served as the site of Summerisle’s library and registry office:

Short Wicker Man tour complete for now, we retuned to the Open Book and opened for business at around lunch time.

It was a quiet afternoon (it was, after all, a Sunday in the driving rain), and we had no customers (save for two lovely girls who asked Ewan to sign a petition against plastic waste (very pertinent)). Ewan spent the afternoon working on a final window display, while I wrote yesterday’s blog post. Ewan’s display is another eclectic mix of Books He Likes, and I’ll post a picture of that tomorrow when it’s finished.

During his rummagings for books, Ewan found this book (second from right) which seemed very apposite:

Perhaps it’s a sign!

We shut up shop around 5.30pm, having made reservations for dinner at the nearby Creebridge House Hotel. It was a great meal, and a fitting end to a lovely weekend. The working-week proper starts tomorrow, and I went to bed knowing that my main task for Monday is to get some posters for Thursday’s event printed and put up around town….

Thanks to Finding the Wicker Man for a lot of the Wicker Man related info in this post!

[anewbiegm]

Conan

Had a great time tonight, caught up with the Old Guard from uni for a one-shot scenario. 

We’ve still no quite finished Iron Kingdoms, but we’ve not managed to get the full Law Dogs team together to wrap up the campaign.

Instead, I finally got a chance to unleash one of Modiphius’ 2d20 systems on the group. It’s a system I’ve been really wanting to try for quite some time, whilst I really wanted to give Mutant Chronicles 3rd Ed. a go, it was much easier to bribe the group with the offer of a Conan game; there’s at least one Howard fan-boy in the group. 

d20′s in hand, we sat down and ran through the quickstart scenario, To Race the Thunder. The players are scouts, settlers and explorers on the edge of the Pictish Wilderness, when unsurprisingly, the Picts decide they really fuckin’ hate anyone who isn’t a Pict, and decide to attack. 

Several increasingly difficult battles later, with a literal horde of Picts rapidly closing in on them, the group had almost made it safety, with only a final bridge to cross to civilisation and solid stone walls. 

And that’s when the boss fight arrived. 

A giant man-ape thing, and a Pictish shaman hiding in the forests somewhere. 

The fight was somewhat anti-climactic - at least from my perspective - the group having a tougher time dealing with a nameless group of Pictish warriors, instead of these two jokers, but it was still a great, and tense fight. 

We all seemed to enjoy the 2d20 mechanics, although there was some difficulty with the Combat Dice to begin with. Both Doom, and Momentum, proved to be really useful and fun mechanics that enhanced the experience. 

Looking forward to brow-beating - admittedly not too difficult a task - the group into playing some Mutant Chronicles now. Hopefully we can get Iron Kingdoms finished first, and then it’s onto A Song of Ice and Fire - something I’ve wanted to play for a really long time.