game geek issues 24

8/15/2019 Game Geek Issues 24

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Game Geek, Issue 24, Dec 2011

An Avalon Games Product, All rightsreserved, Version 1.0, 2011

All comments, suggestions andcontacts can be made at…

Avalon Games,[email protected]

Or visitAvalon Games at…

www.avalon-games.com

Some Game design, artwork and layoutby Robert Hemminger

Cover by Joe Calkins

Some art by Sade, LPJ and Art Fantasy

Contents

Musing of the Avalon Stogie .................................................................................................Behind the Game,

Battle Armor ……. .......................................................................................................Junkyard Wars Strip #24 ......... ........... ........... ........... .......... ........... ........... ........... ........... ......Coral Throne

Interlude VII ................................................................................................................Mark's Musings ....................................................................................................................Dept 13 Comic, Issue #9 ……………………………..……………………………………..…..Good Witch, Bad Witch ......................................................................................................Avalon Pathfinder ................................................................................................................Multi-Verse …………,,,…….…………....................................................................................Battle Axe …….……….….......................................................................................................

Arcana ………………………………………………………………………………………………Reviews ..................................................................................................................................Cool Stuff ...............................................................................................................................What s New ............................................................................................................................Free Stuff ………………………………………………………………………………..……….….

Page 2Page 3Page 5

Page 7Page 8Page 11Page 16Page 25Page 27Page 30

Page 33Page 35Page 39Page 40Page 41


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Here is to to great years .


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Battle Armor

When I started to make plans to put out small Mini-Games I sat down andmade a list of what sort of games I would like to create for the series. The onlycriteria for these games were that they had to be small, fast to learn and playand be fun. On that list was Star Ship Troopers, which was a game producedby Avalon Hill back in the day, which was itself a tactical simulation of RobertA. Heinlein's novel by the same name.

A simple system was then needed to move the troopersabout the battlefield and to control combat and range.While I know that hex and counter based systems havefallen out of favor these days, they still provide anexcellent way of governing this sort of gaming. Basicallyif it ain't broke don’t fix it. So I turned to the hex andcounter type game as the way to go about working upBattle Amor.

The rules themselves were fairly easy to put together and

the choice of using damage circles to indicated wounds andacquired damage made the troopers themselves a bit moredurable and individualized.

The system of course has evolved from there to nowinclude tanks, aliens and all sorts of other stuff. I evenused the fluff in the system for several other sci-fi game,Space Armada, Star Fury and Futures wars all using thesame setting, forces and fluff. I then as time passed, usedthe setting for all of my Sci-Fi based games. This in turnallowed Avalon to then use the setting in IF, and for Nova

Blast.

So this simple little note has evolved into quite the settingand a butt load of games. Not to bad a start.

As a bonus, we have a new map board for you and somenew terrain tiles. The city terrain shown on these maps andtiles is blocking terrain and cannot be seen though ormoved through, but of course you can leap over it. Theroad hexes act as open terrain.

You can find the new stuff in the Free section of this issue.


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That was a Yellow Bot?

Ya, but it should not have been here,this is my Mother Board's territory.

Smoke!

Smoke?! That's where my factory is located.


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Wow this must have been a terrible battle.

Its all gone,Mother, the Bots,

everything.

That's where theYellow Botfactory was

located. SeemsMonth tookthem out even as

she way beingdestroyed

herself. I guess we willhave to go back to

your factory.

Sorry, but my MotherBoard is dying as we

speak. Without the spareparts we were going to getfrom your factory, she will

not last long. You wereour last hope.

Then it's just you and me now.

More Smoke.


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Coral Throne

Interlude VII

he rules of the brotherhood were simple, the strong leadd the weak die. Wierling thought this over as heabbed Farge by his hair and pulled back his head. Thet pirate captain's jaw was broken and blood owedom several cuts and broken teeth but still Farge tried toream a curse as Wierling drew the sharp knife acrosss throat. Hot blood sprayed across the deck of the shipWierling held Farge's head back and let the wound

pen fully. The gathered men cheered as Wierlingutchered his most recent rival, another scalp to add to

s collection.his was the way of the brotherhood. Any man couldallenge to lead his fellows, blood and combat theeans to prove one's abilities.

uriom and the other gathered captains stood to the sided watched as Wierling hacked the hair off of Farge'sad carcass. The giant, black skinned pirate king stoodll in the hot southern sun as he held up the scalp of hiscent rival. He called out an ancient battle cry

longing to his hill folk ancestors, the gathered pirateseering with him. Wierling held them all now, heldeir loyalty and their greed, all his to do with as heeased.

“Anyone else care to question my orders?” Wierlingcalled, looking about him and the gathered captains ofthe south. None dared to stand up to him, not withFarge's blood still running hot off his hands.

Farge had dared to challenge him, and now the fat foolwas dead for that challenge. Farge had tried to lead thegathered captains in another direction, one that woulddeign Wierling his revenge. This Wierling would notallow, nothing, no one would stand in his way at seeing

the Avieragonian wizards all dead.

“Good, then let us set sail for Avieragon,” he said. “Letus sail to our destiny and no more of this crying that wesail to our doom.”


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I had intended these musings for the October issueof Game Geek, what with Halloween being at theend of the month and all. Unfortunately, mywriting plans were derailed by a variety of things,including a heart attack.

(Link: http://spesmagna.com/archives/683 ) Nowthat I'm back on track again, I just had to nish upmy thoughts about how to add a bit of variety toenergy drain. In a way, this is sort of a companionpiece to my "Common means of defense againstsupernatural monsters" musings way back in GameGeek 6.(Link:http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=81481& )

Energy Drain in the Core Rules

For as long as I can remember, the World's MostPopular Roleplaying Game has included energydrain as a special attack for various monsters,especially certain iconic undead such as vampires.Regardless of edition, energy drain invokes fearfrom players as well as a degree of frustration fromeveryone since the mechanics have often beencumbersome.

The Pathnder Roleplaying Game denes energydrain's game effects as follows:

This attack saps a living opponent’s vital energyand happens automatically when a melee or rangedattack hits. Each successful energy drain bestowsone or more negative levels (the creature’sdescription species how many). If an attack thatincludes an energy drain scores a critical hit, itbestows twice the listed number of negative levels.

Unless otherwise specied in the creature’sdescription, a draining creature gains 5 temporary hitpoints for each negative level it bestows on anopponent. These temporary hit points last for amaximum of 1 hour.

For each negative level a creature has, it suffers thefollowing:

A cumulative -1 penalty on all ability checks, attackrolls, combat maneuver checks, Combat ManeuverDefense, saving throws, and skill checks.In addition, the creature reduces its current and totalhit points by 5 for each negative level it possesses.The creature is also treated as one level lower for thepurpose of level-dependent variables (such asspellcasting) for each negative level possessed.Spellcasters do not lose any prepared spells or slotsas a result of negative levels.

If a creature's negative levels equal or exceed its totalHit Dice, it dies.

Negative levels remain until 24 hours have passed oruntil they are removed with a spell such asrestoration. If a negative level is not removed before24 hours have passed, the affected creature mustattempt a Fortitude save (DC 10 + 1/2 the drainingcreature’s racial HD + the draining creature’s Chamodier; the exact DC is given in the creature’sdescriptive text). On a success, the negative level

goes away with no harm to the creature. On a failure,the negative level becomes permanent. A separatesaving throw is required for each negative level.

Mark’s Musingsby Mark L. Chance of Spes Magna Games

Energy Drain Options

http://spesmagna.com/archives/683http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=81481&http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=81481&http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=81481&http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=81481&http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=81481&http://rpg.drivethrustuff.com/product_info.php?products_id=81481&http://spesmagna.com/archives/683http://spesmagna.com/archives/683


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A Problem: Energy Drain & Sameness

The core rules for energy drain do an adequate jobf making energy-draining monsters fearsomer,ut the rules themselves lack something I as a GMesire, namely variety. Other than differing save

DCs and differing numbers of negative levelsnicted, all energy drain is pretty much the same.

This seems a shame. After all, there isn't just one

ype of poison or disease, even though almost alloisons and diseases use the same basicmechanics.

eeling the lack of energy drain varietynacceptable, I said to myself, "Self, let's see if wean 'x' this 'problem'."

A Solution: Energy Drainas Inicted Conditions

To use these optional rules, you don't have tohange the energy-draining monster. Use the sameave DC, the same attack mode, and the sameumber of negative levels inicted. Instead ofsing the energy drain rules explained above, givehese are whirl.

ach negative level inicts a condition. Additionalegative levels increase the severity of the effect.

Conditions are tracked by degree of severity, andan be immediately resisted by a saving throw.

Degrees of severity (DoS) above the rst DoS fadefter 1 round per Hit Die of the inicting monster,ut the rst DoS remains and the higher degrees

may reassert themselves under the rightonditions.

The inicting monster still benets fromondition-causing energy drain as outlined above.

Thus, the monster gains 5 temporary hit points forach negative level it bestows on an opponent.

These temporary hit points last for a maximum of

hour.

To get a grip on what this means, let's look at oneincreasing scale of conditions:

Fear Condition DoS1st Degree 2nd Degree 3rd Degree 4th Degree

shaken frightened panicked cowering

Now imagine your PCs are facing a vampirespawn. This is a 4 Hit Die monster that inicts onenegative level with a 14 save DC. This particularvampire spawn, however, doesn't actually inictnegative levels. Instead, it inicts fear conditionsof increasing severity.

Combat starts, the vampire hits a PC, and the PCmust make a DC 14 Fortitude save. The PC failsthe save, becomes shaken for 4 rounds, and thevampire spawn gains 5 temporary hit points.Another round starts. The PC is hit again, fails theFortitude save again, and is now frightened for 4rounds. The vampire spawn is defeated despite the10 temporary hit points it gained. The PC is nolonger frightened, but he remains shaken.

Now here's where things get interesting. The PCstays shaken until 24 hours have passed or until

the shaken condition is removed with anappropriate spell. (I recommend the spell be of atleast 4th level even if you don't opt to letrestoration work.) If the shaken condition is notremoved before 24 hours have passed, the PC mustattempt another DC 14 Fortitude save. On asuccess, the shaken condition goes away with noharm to the PC. On a failure, the shaken conditionbecomes permanent (albeit only in the sense that itnow requires magic to dispel, as mentionedabove).

What's worse, as long as the PC remains shaken,he is more vulnerable to fear effects. Should thePC be affected by any effect that inicts a fearcondition, he automatically gains the fearcondition that is equal to highest DoS caused bythe energy-draining creature (unless thefear-causing attack would normally inict a moreserious condition).


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Imagine our shaken PC. The vampire spawnencounter is over and done with, but he still can'tpull himself together. A gnawing dread nibbles atthe fraying edges of his imagination. Several hourslater, the PC is still shaken when he encounters ahill giant. The hill giant uses Intimidate todemoralize the PC and succeeds. Normally, thiswould cause the PC to become shaken, but he'salready shaken. Instead, he automatically becomesfrightened, since this was the highest DoS inictedby the vampire spawn.

DoS for Other Conditions

With some thought (and descriptive reufngwhere necessary), energy drain could inict otherconditions with varying DoS. For example:

Fatigue Condition DoS1st Degree 2nd Degree 3rd Degreefatigued exhausted unconscious

Lethargy Condition DoS1st Degree 2nd Degree 3rd Degree

entangled staggered paralyzed

The fatigue condition DoS represents energy drainthat saps physical vitality. An affected PC iswinded as from great exertion, and moresuspectible to effects that cause fatigue. Thelethargy condition DoS simulates energy drainmaking a PC's movements slower. The entangledcondition doesn't prevent movement, but has itsother normal effects, which are that the entangledcreature moves at half speed, cannot run or charge,

and takes a -2 penalty on all attack rolls and a -4penalty to Dexterity. Also, an entangled characterwho attempts to cast a spell must make aconcentration check (DC 15 + spell level) or losethe spell.

When using monsters that inict more than onenegative level with an attack (such as vampires

and spectres), consider combining the core ruleswith these optional rules. A vampire that inictsboth a negative level and forces a Fortitude save toresist fatigue condition DoS presents a differentthreat than players would normally expect.

And how could shaking up too comfortableplayers be a bad thing?

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8$$+:;;


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Bad Baby Productions, 2011 Art and Story by Robert Hemminger

So with the right materials weshould be able to rebuild the

Infinity Chair.

Problem is professor; we don’thave enough of those "Right"

materials.

As I suspected. Carbonatein enough refined amountsis very difficult tom obtain.

And the Nazis

control most ofthe mines forthis metal.

Impossible to getI'm afraid.

So what do we do?

I will leave you twoto figure it out then.

Well I might

have a possiblesource, but I

will have to do


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We have to talkmy dear. Concerning?

Concerning thatthing which

saved both ofour lives.

Yes I suppose we shoulddiscuss it. I do have to thank

you for staying quiet during ourdebriefing report and my lack of

full discloser.

So justwhat thehell was

that thing?

I would say that Lilith is avampire, although I cannot be

100 percent sure.Vampire? And you

say her name is Lilith.

Why did shhelp us?

Enemy of myenemy my dear.

So she hates theNazis andhelped us?

Nazis no, the Elder Godsare her true foe. The

competition. With the ElderGods held tight in their limboprison, Lilith and her kind are

free to sate their appetitefor human blood.

Yes, again I cannotbe sure but I do

not think she wasthe biblical Lilith.

She is quite ancientthough.


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So she wants to remain thebig predator in the jungle. Correct.

We should keepthis to ourselves.

If the others in theDepartment foundout about her, theymi ht be in dan er.

Danger?

Yes, I am quite sure that thisLilith is a dangerous threat to mankind, as

dangerous as the Elder Gods. If theothers knew of her and her kind she

might kill them all.Do I have to start

wearing Garlicnecklace?

No, but the two of us willneed to so some extensive

research on her andher like.

Why?


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Ow!!! What is wrong,are you all

right?

A scream, in mymind, god its like

a call for help.

Who,where? I'm not sure who, but I

know the where, a placecalled...

Roswell.


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"Now available on Kindle

and other ebook formats!"


17/60

l Rothgard wanted for Christmas was a girlfriend; and

Christmas morning there she was under the tree. Thee was only an 18 inch tall decoration he had put on hisd table, but the way the woman was sleeping on theuch, her blond head was under its outermost branches.e was wearing a Santa cap and one of those red-with-

hite-trim minidresses that only cartoon characters wearnewspaper ads. Rothgard could understand why real

omen didn't wear them: the way she was curled up one couch, he could see her white panties sticking outneath the hem and at the same time it looked as thoughr breasts could slip out of the top at any moment.

ere was a sweet smell about her, like freshme-baked cookies.

thgard grabbed his coat and headed for the door. Thenvenient store on the way to the Physics Departmentld coffee. If he tried to make coffee himself while heas still this asleep he'd probably burn down theartment building. He could make progress on hisperiment today since no one would be around to botherm.

*******

sounds good. Look, I'm walking up to my door rightw, so give me, say, half an hour to get cleaned up anden swing by and we can catch dinner...Okay, See ya.”thgard hung-up and pocketed his cel phone, then

mbled out his keys, unlocked the door and started toen it.

Welcome home, Dear.”

thgard slammed the door. He lived alone. Had hepped at the wrong door? No; the number was right,d he realized, slightly embarrassed, that the keyouldn't have worked if it was the wrong door. Heened the door just enough to stick his head in.

Welcome home, Dear.” It was the woman from hiseam that morning. Rothgard couldn't tell if her breastsere oversized, or just seemed that way since the rest ofr gure was so petite. She looked about freshman age.

“What are you doing here?”

“You wished for a girlfriend for Christmas and here Iam.”

“I mean: how did you get in?”

“Santa brought me.”

Rothgard stepped all the way into the apartment andclosed the door against the cold. He started at the oor

for a while, gathering his thoughts. How could suchclear, concise responses completely fail to answer hisquestions?

“Is something wrong, Rothgard?”

“You know my name?”

“Of course. You don't think Santa Claus leaves an elvenmaiden at someone's house without letting her review hisle do you?”

“Elven maiden?”

“Oh, right, the hat.” She pulled off the red cap and heldit politely in front of herself. The tips of her ears reachedthe crown of her head, but as she shook her head, tossingher long, golden lock, her ears relaxed to tilt out andaway from her head.

“So you're an elf. Is there anything else I should know?”

“Let's see...I'm also a witch.”

“Are you a good witch or a bad witch?” Rothgardlaughed.

“Well, I try to be good, but the other Polar Elves wouldsay there is no such thing as a good witch.”

“Not big fans of magic?”

Good Witch, Bad Witchby

Ramsey “Tome Wyrm” Lundock


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No. They take Christianity very seriously. Which, Iuess is to be expected, since our leader is an immortalint.”

That does it! Where's the camera?” Rothgard lookedound for a lm crew to come pouring out of the closetin from the balcony.

he elven maiden's face lit up, “What a wonderful idea:picture of our rst Christmas together. Where do youeep the camera?”

With that she spun and darted out of the living room,opping the hat in her haste. From the bedroom Roth-

ard could hear cabinets and drawers opening. Heoughed his coat by the door. It was getting warm inere. He was almost to the bedroom door when heeard the phone ring.

'll get it.” The woman called.

No!” Rothgard lunged forward but his feet got tangleda dirty sweatshirt on the oor. He crashed down hard

n the carpet. He made a mental note to clean up thepartment, right after he gured out what was going on.

Yes. He's right here.” The elf said into the phone,Oh, I'm Mary, Rothgard's new girlfriend.”

Mary handed the cordless phone to Rothgard as he satp.

So THAT'S why you didn't want to come home overhristmas break.”

Hi, Mom.” Rothgard couldn't think of anything else toy.

Well, it's about time you got a girlfriend.”

t's not that...”Mary sounds like a nice girl.”

Mom, you're not listening.”

Does she have a last name?”

don't know!” Rothgard blurted out.

..So it's THAT kind of relationship.”

“No. I mean I don't know that woman.” He regrettedhis phrasing as soon as it left his mouth.

“Well, you know your father and I trust you not to doanything that would embarrass the family.”

“There is no relationship!” He yelled, but it was toolate. The dial tone was the only response to his pleas.

He sat listening to the continued beeping in a stupor.

“I found the camera!” Mary sang.

Rothgard looked up just as Mary ung herself into hislap. She smiled and gave the peace sign to the cameraoating in the air. The ash blinded Rothgard. He wasstill recovering his vision as Mary stood up to retrievethe camera.

“What is going on?”

She stopped just short of grabbing the camera, and thecamera started to spin in the air above her palm, “I didtell you that I'm a witch.”

She caught the camera, and showed him the digitaldisplay on the back. Mary was as cute in the photo asreal life. Rothgard's short black hair was disheveled,and his brown eyes looked like a deer in the headlightsan 18 wheeler logging truck doing 80 mph downhill onan icy road.

Rothgard held is head, trying to keep the bloodpounding in his temples from bursting out of his skull.Then he let out a sigh and patted the oor besides him,“Mary would you sit with me for a while.”

She sat down sidesaddle next to him and xed herattention on his face. Rothgard caught himself xinghis attention down the top of her dress, but was able toregain his composure.

“You seem like a very sweet girl, Mary, but I don't havea clue who you really are. So, once more, slowly, fromthe beginning: who are you and what are you doinghere?”

“I'm Mary Longwood. I'm a Polar Elf. One day while Iwas taking a long walk over the glaciers, a blizzardcame up and I ran into the nearest ice cave to wait outthe storm. It was a very deep cave, and I like exploring(that's why I was out on that part of the ice shelf in therst place) so I decided to see how far it went.


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I came to a room that lit up with blue heatless torcheswhen I entered it. In the center was an old man in

owing grey robes encased in a pillar of ice. I wantedo help him, but if I accidentally cracked the ice, hisody would shatter with it. The rest of the room waslled with clay pots full of funny smelling things, a

ouple of mirrors, some walking staves and a bookcaseull of old tomes.”

I had some time to pass until the blizzard let up, so Iarted reading the books. They described how to

ummon power from the ley-lines, manipulate mysticalnergies and entreat spirits and forgotten primal deities.y the time the sky cleared the next day, I found that Iould perform simple tricks.” To punctuate the point

Mary turned her palm up and a small reworks displayrupted over it.

othgard considered it a simple stage magic trick for amoment, then realized that the pyrotechnics weren'tccompanied by customary acrid smell of burntlack-powder. Instead, all he detected was the sweet,lmost cinnamon, aura around Mary.

The storm had passed, but the entrance to the cave waslocked with snow. One of the books had a talkedbout controlling the weather, so I went back and foundhat one. I picked out a spell for summoning wind and

ast it on the snow drift in the entrance. A cyclone lledhe height and breadth of the tunnel. I was barely ableo direct it out the mouth of the cave.” She shook heread at the memory.

I never should have tried to cast even that strength ofpell as a rank beginner. The power coursing through

me literally knocked me off my feet. It almost knockedme out cold.” She smiled, “But what a rush.”

I admit, I was fascinated. I started going back to study

more. Then, I made the mistake of bringing one of theooks home to read.”

Your parents found it?”

I wasn't trying to hide it. I mean, I wasn't doingnything wrong.” Mary retorted, “Some of the spellsealt with demons, but I wasn't going to try any ofhose.”

She stopped, as if waiting for Rothgard to yell at her,then continued meekly, avoiding eye contact, “It notlike we're not used to magic. You could say our entirevillage is a miracle in itself. But between the referencesto demons and primeval deities, Mom and Dad wereready to burn the book. I begged them not to. Thelectured me and lectured me. Part of me wanted to doburn the book like they said and beg The Lord for

forgiveness, but part of me is happy being a witch.”

By now her voice was barely a whisper, “It was wiseold Saint Nicholas who offered a solution. Every yearthere are a handful of very good boys who wish for agirlfriend for Christmas. Polar Elves normally aren'tallowed to live in the human world, but I could lookover their les, and if I found one I liked, I could go tohim as a gift. That would get me away from the IceCave and also I wouldn't disrupt the Polar Elfcommunity with my magic. And this way and my

parents wouldn't have to face their heretic daughter on adaily basis.”

She perked up, “It was a choice: my family and myfaith or you and my magic. I made my choice.”

Mary's false smile lasted only a couple of seconds. Sheburst into tears and lunged forward, burying her face inRothgard's shoulder. “I already miss them. It's not thatI'm not happy to be here, but they're my parents.”

Rothgard put his hand and on the back of her head andheld her. He whispered, “It's going to be okay. TheseChristmas miracle stories always have a happy ending.”

She looked up at him, tears owing down here cheeks,“I don't want you to think I was forced to do this, or thatI only came for the sake of my magic. Reading over theles, when I came to yours, it was like fate.”

They were so close their noses almost touched. Theyboth froze. Rothgard's heart pounded in his ears. He

swallowed hard and started to lower his face ever soslowly.

“Open up, Dude. It's cold out here!” Came thepounding of a st on the front door.

Rothgard and Mary both jerked backwards.

“Oh, right, the Exile Colony.” Rothgard muttered.

“The what?” Mary asked drying her eyes.


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Exile Colony.' Wasn't it in my le? That's what thoseo guys I hang out with call our group. Okay, Haruka

n't technically a 'guy', but you get the idea. We wereing to go catch Christmas Dinner at the local fastod joint.”

hat doesn't sound very festive.”

's great. The place is deserted. The staff glares atu like you are personally to blame for the fact thatey had to come in to work on Christmas. For a bunchguys who don't belong anywhere, going some place

here no one belongs; it's almost like we t in.”

ude, you in the shower or something? Open up.”ore pounding from the front door.

d better get that before he knocks the door down.”

e man at the front door was large and well muscled,rrying a just enough body fat that he was constantlying to diet. His wild blue eyes were impossible to

edict, because even he didn't know what his nextove would be, “There was no trafc, so we got hererly. Nobody on the roads on Christmas; go gure.”

ight. Look, Charlie, about tonight...” Rothgardpped aside to let him in before the Arian forced his

ay in, “Things have gotten a little...”

Meri Curisumasu.” Haruka said in her faked Japanesecent as she walked in behind Charlie. She waspanese American, heavy on the American. Ever sincer science ction obsession had introduced her topanese Anime, she had been attempting to rediscoverr heritage. But so far, all she had accomplished wasmake herself neither American nor Japanese. She

as cute, in a mousy sort of way, behind her largere-rim-glasses, but Rothgard had never consideredking her out, since she was 'one of the guys.'

Who's The Lady in Red?” Charlie asked noddingwards the bedroom door. Rothgard jerked his headound as Mary walked into the room.

m Mary Longwood.”

aruka took one look at Mary's ears, and raised herht hand with the middle and index ngers separated,ive long and prosper.”

ary returned the salute, “Peace and long live.”

Rothgard stared slack-jawed at the elf.

“What? You think my family doesn't get satellite TV?”

“But satellite reception requires a clear view of theSouthern horizon.”

Mary returned his stare, with the faintest hint of a smile.

“Oh, right! I get it.” Rothgard closed his eyes in selfadmonishment.

“You two must be Charlie Phillips and Haruka Nakamura.”Mary came forward and bowed politely.

Rothgard caught himself again wondering how Marymanaged not to fall out of that tiny dress. Then he turnedto face the other to members of the Exile Colony. “You see

Mary is a, well...”

Charlie cut him off with a wave of his calloused hand.Even in the dead of winter, his work hardened hands didn'tneed gloves to protect them, “Dude, if Mary says she's aVulcan, then as far as I'm concerned, she's a Vulcan.”

“Actually, I'm a Polar Elf.”

Charlie corrected himself, “If she says she's one of Santa'selves, then she is one of Santa's elves.”

“What was one of Santa's elves doing in your bedroom?”Haruka asked.

“I'm Rothgard's girlfriend.”

Charlie and Haruka burst into uncontrollable laughter.

“Hey? It's easier to believe she's an elf than that she's mygirlfriend?” Rothgard puffed up with indignation.

His mood of wounded pride was spoiled by Mary ingingher arms around his neck and pressing her cheek againsthis, “I'm so happy. That's the rst time you've called meyour girlfriend. And in front of all of your friends...”

“Wait! Calling these two 'all' of my friends is a bit harsh.”

“Un-Uh” Mary rubbed her cheek against his, “Everyoneelse cross referenced in your le was under 'Coworkers','Classmates' or 'Family'.”


21/60

he truth hurt, but right now Rothgard was just gladharlie and Haruka were laughing too hard to hear

Mary's reference to his le.

aruka was starting to recover her breath, “You twoe serious, aren't you?”

Well, I wouldn't say that we've gotten, ah, serious

bout it yet.” Rothgard stammered.

Then how do you explain you hand on her hip?”harlie smiled.

othgard looked down. So that's what he'd grabbed toeady himself as Mary had pulled his head down toer level. He pushed himself free of her chokehold andhanged the subject, “So are we still on for dinner?”

Wait. The Exile Colony is for mists and freaks only.

Mary Christmas' is obviously on her way to a holidayarty.” Haruka pointed an accusatory nger at Mary,So we shouldn't hold you two up.”

othgard put his hand over Haruka's and gently pusheddown, “Trust me Haruka. Please don't ask the

etails, because it will only make her cry, but Maryelongs in the Exile Colony more than we do.”

aruka's glare soften, and she regarded Mary withew, almost maternal, tenderness.

This is the part where I awkwardly clear my throatnd ask about dinner.” Charlie said.

Right.” Rothgard agreed, “Mary, grab your coat andt's go.”

Coat? It's not chilly outside.”

hat statement brought the three humans up short.

What about your hat?” Rothgard reached up andpped his own ear.

Oh. My hat?” Mary reached up and felt her ears,hecking for the cap.

he hat was still where Mary had dropped it when shead gone looking for the camera. As she bent over totrieve it, her already short hemline climbed up herighs. Like the dress, her panties clung close to her

urves.

Haruka blushed. Rothgard swallowed hard then shot a jealous look at Charlie, but the gentle giant was staring athis own shoes.

Haruka was still xated on Mary as she turned around.Rothgard managed to tear his eyes away at the lastsecond.

Mary caught their gaze and shrunk half a step backwards,“Is something wrong?

“No! Nothing!” Haruka blurted out, as muchembarrassed of herself as embarrassed for Mary.

“On the way back could we stop for some milk?” Marychanged the subject, “Then you can help us eat some ofthe cookies I baked today.”

“Fresh baked cookies?” Charlie looked up, salivating.

“I also made a pumpkin pie if you'd rather have a slice ofthat.”

“Are the two mutually exclusive?”

Mary thought for a moment, “I guess not, but we mightneed more milk.”

“I'll buy, Dude.” Charlie laughed.

It was natural that Rothgard was the last one as they ledout the apartment, since he had to lock up. He used theopportunity to steal a look at Mary's rump. The skirt hadslid back down into place, like magic. Of course heshould have expected nothing less from a witch.

The maintenance man had left his salt barrel on the curb.Haruka grabbed a handful and tossed it on the road infront of them. She raised her right foot to the side andgave an exaggerated stomp, sinking into a crouchingstance.

“Are you purifying the road so we'll have a save journey.”Mary asked.

Haruka blushed and stood back up, “Actually I was justfooling around. But you know about sumo wresterspurifying the ring with salt before each match.”

“Using salt to ward off evil sprits is actually a prettywidespread practice.”


22/60

harlie cut in. “Haruka, you throw salt at my car againd the two of us are going to sumo wrestle for real.”

othgard opened the rear passenger side door forary, then moved to get in himself.

Hold it, Dude. I'm not going to let you ride in the

ck with your girlfriend. Even I haven't had a chancebreak in that backseat yet. You're riding shotgun

here I can keep an eye on you.”

othgard started to object that he wasn't going doingything. Instead of arguing, he just got in the frontat.

s the car pulled out, Haruka called from the backat, “Turn on the heater, its freezing back here.”

The heater is on.” Charlie replied, “Just give it someme.”

How much time?”

About as long as it will take to get to the burgerint.”

********

ven the bitter cold of that night seem like a pleasantemory now that the blazing heat of summer hadrived. The weather forecasters had been remindingeryone that today was the rst ofcial day of

ummer, but the heat had been here for weeks.

othgard rolled onto his back and looked at the ceiling,What's all that noise today? It sounds like a herd ofephants on the roof.”

No, they're reindeer.” Mary said walking in. From hisntage point on the oor Rothgard caught a glimpsethe oral-print bikini she was wearing under her

owder blue pleated skirt. Her breasts bounced in theatching bikini top as she knelt down to place an iceda on the oor besides Rothgard's notes and textbook,m looking after Comet and Vixen while parentscation on the Greenland beaches.”

We're keeping your parent's reindeer?” Rothgard satolt upright.

“Just because my parents and I have irreconcilabledifferences doesn't mean that we don't still love eachother and help out from time to time.”

“That's not the point. What is my landlord going to say ifhe nds reindeer in my apartment?”

“That's why I told them they have to stay on the roof. I

just hope they're handling the heat better than I am.” Theapartment was refreshingly cool compared to thesweltering temperatures outside, but Mary still had sweatdripping from her.

“I'm sorry Mary. This is as low as I can afford to keep theair conditioning turned down.”

“I could use magic to cool things.”

“Not after the blizzard!”

Mary thrust out her lower lip, “You can't call two inchesof snow a blizzard. Besides I've studied more since then,I'm sure this time I could...”

There was a loud 'thud' from the balcony. A large deerwas staring in the glass door. It bellowed.

Mary bounced over to the door and let herself out ontothe balcony. She rubbed the beast between its wideantlers. “Okay Vixen, lets go get you dinner. I'll even

throw in some carrots, since the two of you have been sogood today.”

The elf slipped behind the antlers and pulled herselfsidesaddle up onto the deer's back. Vixen gatheredherself for a leap, then shot strait up out of sight.

The hoof beats on the roof became faster and moreboisterous for several minutes, then settled down to anoccasional pawing and scraping. With another thud,Mary dropped down onto the balcony. She caught herself

just short of falling on her face. She inspected herreddened forearms as she let herself back in, “Now thatit's getting dark, they'll bed down after they've nishedeating.”

“How long are they here, Mary?”

“Just four days.”

Rothgard gave a lopsided grin and shrugged, then laidback down on the oor and buried his nose in the book.


23/60

I'm going to take my ice water bath.” Mary said, “Doou need the bathroom rst?”

I'm good.” He called without looking up. He didowever look up as Mary sauntered out of the room.

here was something mystical about the way a pleatedkirt showed all the swaying of the hips without everevealing their form.

othgard managed to get half a page read before hewas interrupted by more bumping on the balcony. Heolled on to his back to look out the glass doors.

Where he was expecting to see a reindeer stood a blackloaked gure, holding a straw broom in itsutstretched hand. The other hand made a disdainful

wave and the glass doors exploded inwards.

he cloud of glass shards raked over the top ofothgard like dozens of tiny claws. The force of thelast knocked over the iced tea, spilling onto his notes.he gure oated into the room in the wake of theestruction. The supernatural wind threw back theowl and whipped the young woman's long black hairnto a frenzy.

Where is the elf witch?” She menaced over Rothgard.Under the cloak she wore, black leather boots, black

ghts and an oversized dark purple shirt, belted at thewaist. A rune covered sheath on her belt held a daggerwith a golden dragon pommel. As she drew closer,here was smell about her like the back shelves of abrary.

Mary rushed into the room clutching closed a whitelouse over the bikini. Her eyes went wide, “MorganeFey!”

Well, actually it's Morgan Thompson. But on my

mother's side I can trace my lineage back to LeFey.”

An awkward pause followed. The wind died down asMorgan landed, deepening the silence.

othgard rose to his feet, taking care to avoid theroken glass sprinkling the oor, “What do you want,

Morgan?”

“A millennia ago LeFey bested Merlin, not only in acontest of magic but a battle of wits. She imprisonedhim in a pillar of ice. By that victory she earned theright to all the magical secrets he hoarded in his caveof ice. But in a revenge from beyond the grave hekilled her before she could claim the spoils of hervictory.”

“That sounds more like a draw than a victory.”Rothgard interjected.

Morgan ignored him, “She had been killed, but herspirit has remained with us. Every year onMidsummer, we have held a séance to call her back tous. Every year for over a thousand years she has triedto tell us how to nd the Ice Cave. Every year Merlin'slingering will has kept her from being able to reveal itswhereabouts. There can be no greater depths of Hell

for a witch of her caliber, than to know the exactlocation of such a treasure trove of magic, and to beunable to use it or even tell us, her descendents andloyal disciples, how to nd it.”

“Morgan, does this story have a point?” Rothgardasked.

Morgan glared at him in annoyance, “Yes. Because, inhis conceded stupidity, Merlin made an oversight.Lefey can not tell us the location of the Ice Cave, but

this year, this evening, in the dusk of Midsummer'sNight, she told me of one who does know the location:the elf witch!”

“You can call me 'Mary'.”

Morgan's shoulders slumped, “I'm about to threatenyour life. Could you try to be a little more seriousabout this?”

“Why are you going to threaten me?” Mary gasped.

“Well, you're not actually going to tell me where theIce Cave is are you?”

“Not if you're working with LeFey.”

“I didn't think so.” She pointed an accusatory nger atMary and lightening arced across the room. The elfducked behind the door frame, saving herself at lastinstant as the electricity blacked the drywall.


24/60

othgard tacked Morgan to the oor. The broken glassunched under them.

Get off.” Morgan ordered in a monotone. She presseder palm against his chest. Rothgard felt the grip of any hand. It wasn't Morgan's but seemed to be touch-g him in the same place as hers. With inhuman

rength, the spectral hand tossed him into the air like ag doll.

othgard crashed back down on to the oor. Heabbed at the dark hand still pressing against him, buts attacks when straight through it. The shadowyngers curled down, into his chest, and the icy gripqueezed his heart.

Let Rothgard go!” Mary pleaded.

Tell me the secrets of the Ice Cave!”

Alright, just let him go!”

Tell me, and then I'll let him go.”

t will take too long.”

Then talk fast.”

he grip around Rothgard's heart tightened. He

oaned and collapsed to the oor. Through his painouded vision, Rothgard could see Mary looking back

nd forth between him and Morgan.

f you truly follow Morgan's ways, after I told you,ou would still kill him.” Mary swallowed hard andanted her feet. A howling wind churned in the room.

Mary's hair, blouse and skirt ew wildly around her. Ammering blue light behind her threw Mary's shadowross the room. Morgan's condence deated. She

hrank back a step and the grip on Roghgard's heart

laxed.

Mary continued, “And then you'd kill me, to hoard thecrets to yourself. I'll tell you nothing. Let Rothgard

o and get out!”

Morgan puffed up again, “You forgot whose holdingl the cards.”

he spectral claw ripped into Rothgard.

The blue light concentrated around Mary's hand andshe threw it at Rothgard. The light banished theshadow. Rothgard gasped for breath as he lookeddown and felt his chest. He was honestly surprisedthere wasn't blood running down his shirt.

The heat wave of an explosion washed over him. The

walls were blackened and the sofa was in ames.Morgan was backing to the remains of the glass doors.She held a disk of moaning specters in front of herselfas a shield against the hailstorm ying at her from overMary's shoulders. She threw her broom down on thebalcony and stepped on to it, “Don't think you've seenthe last of me.”

Mary Lunged after her, “You're not getting away. Notnow that you've made me mad!”

From inside her cloak Morgan withdrew a glowinggreen skull and threw it to cover her retreat. Marydodged nimbly out of the way. Her hand closed aroundthe broom and together the witches shot up into the airout of sight.

The luminous skull screamed over Rothgard's head.He turned around just it time to see it explode in coldames against the wall of the kitchenette. Theresulting blast showered Rothgard with Mary's bakingand magic ingredients. The salt drum hit him hard in

the thigh, and fell to his feet.

Rothgard stared at the destruction.

“There is nothing I can do to help. If I even try,Morgan will just cast another hex on me. Mary isbetter off without me to get in the way.” He thought tohimself, “But how can I sit here and do nothing. Youcall yourself a man, Rothgard? It doesn't matter if itgets you killed. Go out and ght for your woman!”

He looked down, closing his eyes against the tears offrustration. He could barely even see the blue form ofthe salt drum. He sucked in his breath.

A soft muzzle nudged him in the back. A reindeer wasstanding in his ransacked apartment looking up atRothgard with big brown eyes. It was larger and hadmore white on its chest than the other one.

“Let's go save Mary.” Rothgard said.


25/60

*********

Outside, reworks were raining down. Mary was stillangling beneath the erratically swerving broom.

Rainbow colored patterns arced up from her left handut bounced off of a shell of clouds surrounding

Morgan. Meanwhile, Morgan's booted foot stompedn Mary's right hand, clutching the broom.

Let go! You're too heavy. You're going to make merash.”

Mary bit her lip against the pain and pressed her attack.

Neither one of them saw the oak tree until after theyad crashed into the branches. Morgan lost heralance and fell from the broom. She tumbled down tohe ground through the oak ngers. Mary lost her gripnd tumbled down. The hard roots knocked the wind

ut her.

As she lay stunned on the ground, the roots under andround Mary began to writhe. They wrapped arounder arms and legs pinning her to the ground.

Morgan's face and arms were bleeding from smalluts. A twig stuck out of her disheveled hair. Shetaggered up to the helpless elf, threw back her cloaknd drew the dagger on her belt. The blade glintedilver in the moonlight.

Now, are you going to tell me where to nd the IceCave? Or are we going to have a Midsummer's Nightagan sacrice?”

Rothgard gave a battle cry, and Morgan looked up asComet dove down out of the sky. Rothgard ripped theop from the salt drum and threw the contents at

Morgan's face. She screamed and staggered backwardslutching her eyes.

Rothgard dismounted, “I knew it! Salt stops evilmagic, so now you're powerless!”

You idiot! That trick only works on zombies andhosts!” Morgan yelled, “I can't see because some jerkust threw salt in my eyes. Ow Ow. Now it's getting in

my cuts.”

The broom oated next to Morgan. She clutched atpen air, nally getting her hand around it. She pullederself onto the broom.

“Don't think I won't be back.” With that, she took tothe sky, crashing through the tree again on the way up.

Rothgard helped Mary free herself from the roots.

“Salt doesn't stop evil witches from using magic?”

She shook her head, “It only works on the restlessdead and other incorporable beings.”

Rothgard's shoulders slumped.

“But that doesn't change the fact that you saved me bydoing something very brave.” She gave him a kiss onthe cheek, “I'm sorry I caused you all this trouble. Shecame after me and I was the one who blew up yourliving room. I try to be a good witch, but sometimes I

get mad.”

“It's okay. Trying to protect someone doesn't makeyou a bad witch.” He put his arm around her.

She smiled, “I don't think Morgan is a bad witcheither. She just has the wrong role model.”


26/60

Master ScholarBy David Caffee

The master scholar is a wandering adventurer and jack of all trades who strives forknowledge and wisdom. He is a student of life who believes that understanding is its own

reward. Bored with academic learning, the master scholar seeks his education among thestars. He seeks knowledge both through rst hand exploration and by exposing himself tothe learning of various cultures. A master scholar seeks to enhanced his own expertise inelds as various as art, science, history, mathematics, craftsmanship, athletics andself-defense. A master scholar is a soldier as well as a philosopher. During his search forwisdom and knowledge a master scholar may often nd himself in the service of generals,politicians and aristocrats. These people are in need of both learned advisors and trustedguards.

Characteristics : The master scholar isprocient with simple weapons. He gains

bonus prociencies with one personal rearmand one archaic weapon of choice. Masterscholars are procient with light armor aswell. The master scholar trains hard toincrease his physical and martial prowess ashe also furthers his academic life.

Background: Master scholars can comefrom almost any background. Sometimesthey are dropouts from a formal school ofhigher learning. Sometimes a scholar who is

retired from wandering will train a smallclass of child prodigies. A good portion ofmaster scholars have personal nancialresources that allow them to focus onacademic study during their younger years.Others master scholars begin their careers asmilitary ofcers and then later devotethemselves to a life of learning. In the end amaster scholar learns most of his skills fromthe years he spends wandering from world toworld in the name of research or

enlightenment.


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Hit Die: d6

Class SkillsThe master scholar's class skills and their related abilities are: Appraise (Int), Bluff (Chr), Craft (any) (Int),Diplomacy (Cha), Drive (Dex), Handle Animal (Cha), Knowledge (any) Linguistics (Int), Perception (Wis), SenseMotive (Wis)

kill Points at 1st Level: (6 + Int modier) x 4

kill points at each additional level: 6 + Int modier

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lass Featuresll of the following are the class features of the master scholar.

Weapon and Armor Prociency: A master scholar is procient with simple weapons, one personal rearm and onechaic weapon of choice. He is also procient with light armor.onus Feat: At 1st level the master scholar gains a bonus feat from the combat list. He gains an additional feat atvels 5 and 10.clectic Knowledge: A master scholar picks up bits and pieces of information from a variety of sources. This meansat in any given situation there is a chance that the master scholar will know something that might be helpful. This

pplies even in situations were the master scholar has no formal training. The master scholar can use any skillntrained. He can also add his master scholar level to all Rumor and Lore checks.ranscend Technology Level (master scholar exclusive ability): The master scholar has a knack for thinkingeyond the boundaries of current knowledge. This makes him uniquely suited for dealing with technology that iseyond his own tech level. He can make an Intelligence check in order to use a device from a higher tech levelormally. The master scholar must study the item for 16 hours before attempting to use it. The DC of this check is5 for common items, 20 for tools and equipment and 25 for highly complex items. A failed rolled means that the

master scholar will have to spend another sixteen hours of concentrated study before attempting to use the item again.master scholar who makes his Intelligence roll to use a weapon does not gain prociency in it but he has the option

f taking the feat Exotic Weapon Prociency for that specic implement of war.age Talent: At 2nd level a master scholar can choose a sage talent. If the talent chosen is a feat, the master scholaroes not have to meet the prerequisites for that feat. An additional sage talent is gained at levels 4, 6, 8 and 10. Sagelents can be chosen from the following list; combat martial arts, defense bonus +2*, great fortitude, increase

harisma +1*, increase intelligence +1*, increase wisdom +1*, iron will, lightning reexes, run, skill focus, telepathicsistance +2*, toughness, weapon focus, weapon prociency (any).

This talent can be taken multiple times, its effects stack.


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By Megan Robertson

The Stars our Destination

byPosthuman Studios

Diving straight in, the work opens with a brief noteabout how it provides a ready-made, populatedlocation for gamemasters to use, or usefulbackground for players whose characters arescumborn or belong to a scum faction... and just incase you are not sure what that means, it thenlaunches into an introduction to the whole concept.

Briey, a scum swarm is a space-faring communitywith a very democratic - even anarchic - approachto everything: collective decision-making,concensus... and little regard for rules or reverenceto what more settled societies may nd important.

From such generalities, the narrative turns to aspecic group, the Stars swarm. Born out ofindustrial unrest in turbulent times, the swarmbegan with workers in lunar orbital facilities takingcontrol of the resources around them... just when

the situation back at headquarters took a turn forthe worse, and so nobody was in a position toobject as the collective upgraded propulsionsystems and took off, gathering many other refu-gees as they departed. Rather more ordered thansome swarms, they now follow a set route aroundthe system, trading as they go but still adhering totheir original libertarian collectivist lifestyle.

Looking at the swarm's relations with others alsoprovides ideas for how they may feature in your

game. Provided you are not in a hurry, for example,hitching a ride can be an interesting way ofrelocating to a different habitat or planet. Somehabitats send those they don't want around anymore to the swarm in a form of exile. The swarmdoes the same in reverse, dropping off those unableto conform to their particular way of doing things.There are plenty of examples of specic collectivesand individual ship crews for you to select one

whose interaction with your characters shouldprove interesting. As for characters wanting tohave background or history with the swarm,there's plenty for them as well. Most of what ishere is what would be regarded as 'commonknowledge' - or at least what you could acquirewith minimal research - so there should be nodifculty allowing players access to this work.


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Cool Stuff Roger ZelaznyFew wirers have had as big an impact on me as RogerZelazny. His whole Princes of Amber series is a classic offantasy and sci-, spawning some really great stories.While it’s a bit outdated and old, the whole Amber series isstill one of the best reads out there. I have read the seriestime after time, played in several spin off Play by Mailgames, and even own a copy of the Diceless RPG systembased upon the series. Still nothing comes as close togrand fantasy then Roger Zelazny‘s Amber.

Here it is in all its glory…

http://www.amazon.com/Great-Book-Amber-Complete-Chronicles/dp/0380809060/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276109962&sr=8-1

http://www.amazon.com/Great-Book-Amber-Complete-Chronicles/dp/0380809060/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276109962&sr=8-1http://www.amazon.com/Great-Book-Amber-Complete-Chronicles/dp/0380809060/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276109962&sr=8-1http://www.amazon.com/Great-Book-Amber-Complete-Chronicles/dp/0380809060/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276109962&sr=8-1http://www.amazon.com/Great-Book-Amber-Complete-Chronicles/dp/0380809060/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276109962&sr=8-1http://www.amazon.com/Great-Book-Amber-Complete-Chronicles/dp/0380809060/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276109962&sr=8-1http://www.amazon.com/Great-Book-Amber-Complete-Chronicles/dp/0380809060/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276109962&sr=8-1http://www.amazon.com/Great-Book-Amber-Complete-Chronicles/dp/0380809060/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276109962&sr=8-1http://www.amazon.com/Great-Book-Amber-Complete-Chronicles/dp/0380809060/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276109962&sr=8-1http://www.amazon.com/Great-Book-Amber-Complete-Chronicles/dp/0380809060/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1276109962&sr=8-1


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APMR #3 will be out this month; vehiclesand giants Robots are covered with this

expansion.

Of course we have more Arcana with thelast journal of the year. Don’t worry, wehave another 16 all ready to go for next

year.


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Want to turn your kids into gamernerds, well here you go, the sure re

ways to get your kids into gamingand how to play with them

No month is complete with our newAvalon Pathnder, Clip Art, counter sets

and more, so get ready, as always it a grabbag of good stuff coming out this month.


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Book Two

978-0-9796901-5-0

Book One

978-0-9796901-9-8

Lets You Have It With Both Barrels!

DD ARK ARK QQ UESTUEST BB OOKSOOKS

WWW WWW.. DARKQUESTBOOKSDARKQUESTBOOKS .. COMCOM

Book Three

978-0-9830993-5-2

Series features stories by science fiction greats such as:

Jack Campbell/John G. Hemry, Jack McDevitt, John C. Wright, Brenda Cooper,Bud Sparhawk, Charles E. Gannon, Lisanne Norman, Lawrence M. Schoen, Maria V.Snyder, Deborah Teramis Christian, Andy Remic, Lee C. Hillman, Jonathan Maberry,

Judi Fleming, Danielle Ackley-McPhail, Patrick Thomas, Phoebe Wray, James Chambers, Jeffrey Lyman, S.A. Bolich, James Daniel Ross, Nancy Jane Moore, Tony Ruggiero,

Ann Wilkes, Kimberley Long-Ewing, Robert E. Waters, Jennifer Brozek, Laurie Gailunas, Jeff Young, and C.J. Henderson

“Iit’s easy to imagine yourself at the off-base bar on a deep-space transfer station,overhearing the tales of passing space marines, naval officers, and assorted other soldiers.

If you enjoy a well-told story in the military SF genre, this is the book for you.” —Don Sakers, Analog

Introducing Books Three and Four in the Award-WinningDefending the Future Anthology Series

Book Four

978-1-937051-02-0


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All games available at(Click on the name to visit their site)

RPGNow.com

e23.sjgames.com

wargamedownloads.com

wargamevault.com

Yourgamesnow.com

Drivethrustuff.com

www.ecardmodels.com

Paizo.com


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Avalon is a proud participant of Kiva,making loans that change lives.


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Avalon’s premier game system the S&G battle system allows you to play skirmish level

engagements, and do so with a fast, easy to learn system that also allows for endlessexpansions and genres. With S&G you can fight battles between fantasy based elves and

orcs, or blast off into the cold hard future with space marines and aliens.

MajorGlory

Lamia

Gyea

Weapons and Armor

Weapons As mod Damage mod Notes____Scimitar -1 +1 -Dagger +0 -1 -

Warlord Grom

Special Abilities

Health


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“Fantastic artwork, wonderfully created and well thought outas well as a beautiful addition to any fantasy RPG.”

game geek issues 24

Documents