The Sorcerer’s Jewel
A “Map Not Required” Dungeon World Adventure by Mark Tygart
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1rpBaMGzmYVkrsbawdXapwiuClxscIydR
Inspired by the “Boinger and Zereth” short story The Sorcerer’s Jewel by Dr. Eric J. Holmes and the works of Edgar Allen Poe
Adventure Background
The young human had a map. Zereth had seen innumerable treasure maps, and he was not impressed with this one.
“Whoever sold you this, sire,” he said callously, tossing it down on the table between them, “did a poor job. The parchment isn’t even aged.”
“You wrong me, Sir Elf,” said the man, “for I never claimed this to be authentic. It was drawn yesterday; I saw it drawn myself.” The arched eyebrows of the black elf shot up on his forehead. “Drawn? By whom?”
“By Misteera the Medium.”
“At a séance?”
“Verily. The controlling spirit claimed to be one Yartoosh, a sorcerer dead these two thousand years.”
---The Sorcerer’s Jewel by John Eric Holmes (first published in Dragon #46, recently republished in Tales of Peril.)
To order Tales of Peril: https://grodog.blogspot.com/2017/06/how-to-order-tales-of-peril-and-other.html
Showing posts with label Mark Tygart. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mark Tygart. Show all posts
Thursday, January 10, 2019
Monday, December 24, 2018
Mapping Holmes: A Theory
Mapping Holmes: A Theory
I have long wanted to do a map inspired by Holmes world as it appears in the Tales of Peril collection. On review I have come to two conclusions and would like my fellow Holmes scholars input.
Portown as it is described in the Blue book Sample Dungeon is inspired on the fictional Arkham from Lovecraft's stories, particularly "The Festival". Mapping it too close to the "Maze of Peril" world is a mistake.
I think Holmes' "Tales of Peril" world was inspired by the geography around the Black Sea and Northern Turkey.
I think Portown was inspired by Holmes "port city" of Bythinium.
Bythinium (also called Claudiopolis), was a Roman city near present-day Bolu in north-western Turkey.
Holmes world was inspired by the geography of classical myth; especially the "Golden Fleece" locations around the the Black Sea. The city of Caladan's name was inspired by Dune; but the Greek origin of that fictional world's ruling dynasty is a clue.
This part of the world had numerous Greek colonies in the ancient era and Byzantine states in the medieval world.
I think Caladan may be roughly where roman Claudiopolis was in his fictional reality.
The forest terrain would also make sense.
Heraclea Pontica would be a good possible candidate for the location of Holmes' relocated Bythinium. I think he just kept Caladan's old name but just moved the location North. Also the term could refer to the entire area.
Another clue is that north of this area is the legendary home of the classical Amazons, a major faction along with Pirates and Dagonites in Holmesian world.
Homles' lost city could be in a fictional Arabian desert south of here (matching Howard's Nameless City) and his East Africa inspired locations also make sense (Eastern Africa was heavily influenced by medieval Islam).
Aren't there also references in Holmes Tales of Peril to the "Iranian coast"? Portown's "Islamic culture" to the South?
Tell me what you think!
Friday, July 27, 2018
Did Dr. Holmes ever create a map of his game world?
Did Dr. Holmes ever create a map of his game world?
Friday, February 23, 2018
Thursday, November 2, 2017
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