The Saltmarsh Register - Vol 1.3

The Saltmarsh Register is the in-game newspaper I invented for the Ghosts of Saltmarsh game I run online every other Saturday. It is reprinted here to give others a taste of how that game has developed. WARNING, it may have spoilers for the Ghosts of Saltmarsh adventure, though I have deviated a bit from the published module.

The Saltmarsh Register

VOL 1.3 – Starday, 15th of Wealsun, 570 CY

Salinmoor’s Finest Catch of Tidbits and Tattle printed weekly each Starday, publisher Tyna Hilltopple 

PIRACY!

Rumors out of Seaton speak of nearly half-a-dozen ships lost to the Sea Princes! All loyal citizens of Keoland must continue to pay their full share of taxes to help build the Royal Navy to help deal with this great threat!

PIRATES GUILD?

The intrepid reporter of the Register has heard from Seaton that the Mariner’s Guild has been opposing efforts by the Crown to collect more taxes, saying it would be bad for the margins of their members, arguing that they are making private investments in infrastructure to improve trade, like repairing and constructing lighthouses. But! Perhaps they are instead in cahoots with the dastardly Sea Princes and rely on piracy and smuggling? This publication certainly cannot rule that out!

THE ANSWERING CALL?

The secretive adventurers have spoken with our intrepid reporter and declared their name to be the somewhat confusingly named “The Answering Call”. They say they work to reduce the evil plaguing Salinmoor and working for the council of Saltmarsh. They say they rescued a ship that had been beset by a kobold attack and an evil cleric who raised the dead as zombies. Then they debunked the haunted house east of Saltmarsh discovering a band of smugglers operating out of a sea cave there. They say they also fought an army of undead on Abbey Isle to clear out a sinister temple and gave the isle over to the clutches of the Mariner’s Guild. Lately they searched the Drowned Forest for lost clerics of St. Cuthbert and battled an evil cult in a ruined temple. Are these adventurers exaggerating their exploits or merely leaving many details out? This reporter cannot say, but “The Answering Call”, as they declare themselves to be, certainly seem to be more than they let on...

DAWN RAIDS!

The Answering Call assisted the militia of Saltmarsh on a raid of Little Orlane to root out a hidden cult that had taken up residence in a secret underground tomb below Crabber’s Cove. The cult apparently venerated an evil snake god and Wellgar Brinehand of the temple of Procan is hard at work attempting to break the brainwashing of the cult. It is unclear why the Answering Call was investigating the refugees, but they seem to have uncovered a secret danger.

PHANATON OR PINT-SIZED HADOZEE? EITHER WAY A TALE OF WOE

A strange creature, resembling a Hadozee but half the size and slightly less ape-like has arrived in Saltmarsh. Muz, as he calls himself, is a Phanaton and claims that he comes from the Isle of Xolec far across the Azure Sea. He tells a sad tale of his clan being attacked by savage pirates and forced to work for the pirates for the last three years. Muz was apparently being brought by the pirates to Monmurg when the ship he was on was shipwrecked in a storm and he made his way to Saltmarsh where he is seeking a ship to bring him home. He claims that his home isle has many strange creatures and lost treasures that might repay an adventurous crew.

WORD FROM THE DREADWOOD – THE BROKEN MAUL TRIUMPHANT!

Your devoted correspondent has receive a message from the Company of the Broken Maul, currently adventuring in Dreadwood. Their fearless leader, Vorka Cleaveshield writes, “We had a scare when Rurik Brazzik was knocked down by a troll, but he has bounced back and we have delved deep into the Dreadwood and slain a pack of Werewolves as well as a Green Dragon.” The Company of the Broken Maul enclosed a dragon scale with their missive, which the curious can see on display at the Saltmarsh headquarters of the Register. Vorka writes that the Company expects to return to Saltmarsh in time for Richfest when they will throw the town a party in celebration of their deeds.

FISHING TIDBITS

Ol’ Norbert claims to have seen a titanic octopus near the wreck of the Marshal, but his fellow fisherman say that his cataracts are getting worse.


Fishermen beware! Many swarms of quippers have been seen recently in the waters off Saltmarsh...

Upcoming Twitchery & Calendar

The Known World United Extra Life Team is making a push to keep the Twitch channel active through the year, so I will be bringing some live Antagonist Relations to twitch.tv/knownworldunited (mirrored at my own Twitch, twitch.tv/antagonistrelations). Donations for Extra Life 2020 are open through the end of December, and we're hoping to build a bigger presence to get more donations next year.

Right now, the plan is that I will run games for Known World United once or twice a month. I'm also contemplating running a few other games to replace the old Antagonist Relations Podcast with a monthly Twich game for twitch.tv/antagonistrelations, so keep yer peepers open for more information about that.

All the live Twitch events, whether for twitch.tv/knownworldunited or twitch.tv/antagonistrelations will be listed on the Antagonist Relations Event Calendar for your convenience.

Here are the two Twitch streams I have planned for the end of 2020...

Sunday 11/29, 2:30pm-6pm Central 

Antagonist Relations and the Known World United present... Forest Hymn & Picnic - The Last Winter Holiday.

Streaming on twitch.tv/knownworldunited 

The next holiday is approaching and everyone in town is in quite a stage of frantic stress. Lamps must be decorated, the walks must be shoveled, invitations need mailing, and to do lists are getting longer. Cleanup from the last celebration still hasn't even been nished, and the preparations have slowed to a halt! 

The holiday in question is End Year, the last holiday of the winter and the last of the year. Festivities are especially welcomed this year because it is a Supper year, and unlike a Breakfast year—which leaves little time for revelry—dwellers will be able to spend the entire day celebrating.

The Forest Hymn & Picnic is a forthcoming tabletop adventure game set across the backdrop of a very absurd, unending and often haunted forest. Players take up the lives of oddballs in The Forest Hymn—precocious animal folk, lost people, or costumed ghosts—as they stumble upon trouble in the strange woods, take on work in town and get to know their neighbors, investigate the supernatural, take their spot in the brass band, explore the ruins that litter the woods or even win a dance marathon at the county fair!

You can find more information about the Forest Hymn & Picnic at theforesthymn.com or A Cursory Guide to the Forest Hymn & Picnic

Sunday 12/27, 2:30pm-6pm Central
Antagonist Relations and the Known World United present... Holiday Hangover - Fiasco Poppleton Mall

Streaming on twitch.tv/knownworldunited 

Poppleton Mall - A RETAIL WONDERLAND… It's time to make a trip to Poppleton Mall for the best in shopping, entertainment, and dining! From Arapaho Leather Goods to T. Esquire, from the Poppleton-8 multiplex to our beautiful glass atrium, Poppleton Mall truly has something for everyone. Join us for the holidays, when Santa reigns over his throne room and the atrium rings with the sounds of merry-making from the magical Winterland stage! Your children will always remember their visit to Poppleton Mall's Santaland.

What is Fiasco? - A Game About Powerful Ambition and Poor Impulse Control

FIASCO is an award-winning story-telling game inspired by cinematic tales of small-time capers gone disastrously wrong. You’ll tell a story about ordinary people with powerful ambition and poor impulse control! Lives and reputations will be lost, painful wisdom will be gained, and if you are really lucky, you just might end up back where you started. You probably won’t be lucky.

More information about Fiasco from Bully Pulpit Games

Sample 5e D&D Google Document Template

 

I'm gearing up to start a new online Waterdeep Dragon Heist game, and since I was adjusting the previous google document template I use for my online 5e D&D games, thought it was a good time to make a template that could easily be shared. 

Click here to create your own copy of the Antagonist Relations 5e D&D Google Document Template.

I've touched on using a google document for online games before, way back in April 2018, and this version of the google document has almost two additional years of refinement. Feel free to adjust it for your own use. Clicking the link will create a copy that you can modify and share with your players as you want.

Notes and comments about the document follow...

The Saltmarsh Register - Vol 1.2

The Saltmarsh Register is the in-game newspaper I invented for the Ghosts of Saltmarsh game I run online every other Saturday. It is reprinted here to give others a taste of how that game has developed. WARNING, it may have spoilers for the Ghosts of Saltmarsh adventure, though I have deviated a bit from the published module.

The Saltmarsh Register

VOL 1.2 – Starday, 8th of Wealsun, 570 CY

Salinmoor’s Finest Catch of Tidbits and Tattle printed weekly each Starday, publisher Tyna Hilltopple 

CRABBER’S COVE OR LITTLE ORLANE?

Refugees no more, the dozen new citizens of Saltmarsh have reclaimed the once abandoned properties of Crabber’s Cove, which they call Little Orlane. While she still has not yet been able to open the Golden Grain Inn yet, Eglina Beswill says she expects that a second wave of refugees from Orlane will arrive in the next month and hopes to have the Golden Grain Inn completed before their arrival. 

BAD BLOOD BUILDING!

Lankus Kurrid, proprietor of the Wicker Goat, Kreb Shenker, owner of the Empty Net and Hanna Rist, proprietor of the Snapping Line, have jointly petitioned the town council opposing the opening of the Golden Grain Inn at the edge of Crabber’s Cover, or Little Orlane. They claim that three taverns are enough to serve the needs of travelers visiting Saltmarsh and locals seeking relaxation and drink. They note that the recently arrived Orlanians keep to themselves and have not spent coin in Saltmarsh, instead getting supplies from Seaton. Furthermore, Lankus Kurrid gave an additional statement to this publication: “If these Orlanians have nothing to hide and mean well towards Saltmarsh, why do they seem to work most on ‘Little Orlane’ as they call it, during the night?” Eglina Beswill, spokesperson of the Orlanians, blames the tension on the chilly reception her people received from Orlane and points to the recently arrived Royal Tax Assessor as proof that Saltmarsh is growing and can support another inn.

THE EYE OF THE CROWN COMES TO SALTMARSH!

Sir Alegzanter Arglebie, knight of Keoland and friend of King Scotti has arrived to tour Salinmoor. He has arrived in Saltmarsh with Garrett Axehandle, the new Royal Tax Assessor, who is to be posted in the growing port of Saltmarsh. Sir Arglebie, while speaking to the intrepid reporter of the Register, said he found Saltmarsh to be charming and even tried a sip of claw wine, proving himself to be a good sport. He says that after a few days, he will travel on to Seaton and elsewhere in Salinmoor to compile a report on the duchy to provide to King Scotti personally. Assessor Axehandle has settled into his new office in the port and issued a statement with the Town Council that he hopes the citizens of Keoland resident in Saltmarsh will cooperate fully with his authority as a representative of the crown and noted that many of the taxes levied on Saltmarsh will go to expanding the Keoish navy to better fight pirates and other threats in the Azure Sea.

TERROR ON THE SEA!

It is said that a merchant vessel the Consuming Fire, captained by a Hadozee named Polth Firebringer, was captured by the dastardly Sea Princes. A few crew escaped in a lifeboat and made their way to Seaton, speaking of Captain Firebringer’s bravery in fighting off the pirates as well as wilder tales of seeing swarms of Sahuagin as they sought safe passage on the sea. Rest assured that the Saltmarsh Register and its intrepid report intend to get to the bottom of the story, even if it means decamping to Seaton for days to bring our loyal readers the truth of this tale.

ADVENTURERS AWAY!

It is said that the local adventurers of Saltmarsh, who have yet to sit with this fine paper and provide an interview or any information about their motives and plans, have left for the fortified town of Burle, though as mention afore, there is no clue as to their secret, and perhaps even sinister, motivations for doing so.

Meanwhile the Company of the Broken Maul has left on their first expedition to the Dreadwood, swearing on their honor to provide the tale of their adventure exclusively to this publication, which will mean of course, dear reader, that you will also get to share in the tale of their heroic doings.

FISHING TIDBITS

Fishing remains excellent in the waters around Saltmarsh. 

Ol’ Norbert has been claiming lately that he has seen lizard folk swimming in the waters off Saltmarsh, but his fellow fisherman say the stubborn old man has gotten sunsickness owing to the fact that he lost his favorite hat a week back and refuses to replace it.

Dicemas 2020 or Nerdy places to shop this Holiday Season...

 

The corporate mandated holiday giving season is upon us again, or you are browsing this post long after, but either way here are some Nerdy Shops that are worth a browse as you search for gifts for nerdy family & friends, or treats for yourself. 

Crow & Crown
Artistic, Nerdy and RPG adjacent illustrations.
Dark Elf Dice
Has a great and always rotating selection of dice and other RPG goodies, I've ordered many a set for myself or to give as gifts.
Dbl Feature
One of my wife's favorite nerd shops, with cute RPG themed accessories and apparel
GraveMarkings
Dark and nerdy art.
Laser Wolf Attack
The merch shop of Andrew MacLean, who is best known for the excellent graphic novel series, Head Lopper.
Mystery School Comics Group
Selling the art, merch and short comics of Michael Conrad and Becky Cloonan.
Severed Books
Gelatinous Cube dice, Bag of Holding Mimic Fanny Packs and many more excellent nerdy delights abound.
Topataco
Merchandise emporium for many webcomics and other nerdy brands.
VOID MERCH
Merchandise designed and curated by Dread Singles In Your Area

Of course, if you know more about what your nerdy friend might want and their email, you can also send them gifts from DriveThruRPG or the DM's Guild, or even purchase Roll20 assets for your favorite Game Master. 

The Saltmarsh Register - Vol 1.1

The Saltmarsh Register is the in-game newspaper I invented for the Ghosts of Saltmarsh game I run online every other Saturday. It is reprinted here to give others a taste of how that game has developed. WARNING, it may have spoilers for the Ghosts of Saltmarsh adventure, though I have deviated a bit from the published module.

The Saltmarsh Register

VOL 1.1 – 1st of Wealsun, 570 CY
Salinmoor’s Finest Catch of Tidbits and Tattle - Printed weekly each Starday, publisher Tyna Hilltopple

COUNCIL MEETING NOTES

Ed. Note: Once again the editor and publisher of the SALTMARSH REGISTER complains that the council closes many of its meetings keeping their proceedings secret from the good folk of Saltmarsh!

Council met publicly on Godsday, 25th of Flocktime. Noted that word had come from Duke Feldrin that within a month a new Tax Assessor would be stationed in Saltmarsh by order of King Scotti. Council Members Fireborn and Copperlocks encouraged citizens to cooperate fully to show that Saltmarsh intends to be good citizens of Keoland. They also noted, after grumbling by Council Member Oweland, that they had obtained a concession from the Crown, in the form of a lowering of taxes upon fishing. A proclamation of Welcome was also declared for the new citizens of Saltmarsh.

SALTMARSH GROWS!

Refugees from Orlane have arrived in the last two weeks, intending to renovate and reclaim the blighted properties of Crabber’s Cove. Until then, they are staying at the Wicker Goat. Eglina Beswill, informal leader of the dozen new arrivals, told the Register’s reporter that she intends to start another Inn in Saltmarsh, named the Golden Grain after her father’s inn which was burnt down in Orlane. When asked about the need for another inn, Eglina said that word has spread of the growing wealth and security of Saltmarsh and she expects it to soon rival Seaton itself as the maritime hub of Salinmoor.

ADVENTURERS ARRIVE!

A band of five adventurers have arrived from Haverhill, calling themselves the Company of the Broken Maul. They had been retained by the Copperlocks Mining Company to deal with dangers in the lower levels of the mine but having completed that arduous task with admirable courage, they now have made their way to Saltmarsh, thinking to use it as a base of operations for expeditions into the Hool Marshes and Dreadwood in search of treasure. Their leader, the dashing Vorka Cleaveshield, says they intend to dazzle Salinmoor with their heroic deeds and enrich the town with lost treasures. Ed. Note: Despite her rough-hewn clothing and manners, Vorka is quite pleasant for a berserker! Will this new band of adventurers steal the thunder of Saltmarsh’s hometown heroes? Will they be less beholden to the whims of the Town Council and less wrapped up in secret dealings and rumors of smuggling? Only time will tell!

FISHING TIDBITS

Since the poor fishing of Planting ended, the fisher folk of Saltmarsh have been reporting excellent catches!

Ol’ Norbert swears he saw an Elf riding in a boat made of hair out on the Azure Sea, but most others that this reporter spoke with say that Norbert just had too much claw wine that day.

State of the Blog - November 2020

 As you can no doubt tell, the state of the blog is... infrequently updated, something I plan on rectifying.

The good news is, part of the reason the blog has been so neglected is I have been busy with other gaming stuff. From the two DM's Guild supplements I helped to put together, Runecasters of the North & Heroes of the Icy North—to my many ongoing games, I'm running 4 regular games & playing in 2—to organizing online gaming events. 

Speaking of which, I helped organize an online Extra Life event for the Known World United team that I am a part of and we raised over $8,000 for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, plus my personal fundraising topped $1,400!

So what do readers have to look forward to?

• All of my Extra Life sessions are up on my twitch channel, twitch.tv/antagonistrelations. I'm going to edit them slightly to remove break times and technical issues and such and repost them to twitch and maybe also as podcasts. For each one, I'll also do one a GM Commentary Post.
• I've created an in-world newsletter for my Ghosts of Saltmarsh D&D game, the Saltmarsh Register, and I'm going to post those every week or so to give a taste of the trajectory of my Ghosts of Saltmarsh campaign.
• Since I've been picking up tons of great albums on Bandcamp Fridays, I should have plenty of albums to bring back Music To Game To. 
• It's looking like I'll be running more Alien the Roleplaying Game (NSFW Trailer) soon, so I'll do a review of the core book, the published modules and a round-up of tips and resources.
• A round-up of Nerdy Gifts and geek shops worth your hard earned cash before the dread day that is Black Friday.

Potentially there will be some more varied and one-off posts too, just have to get back in that ol' blogging habit.

using a gif in roll20 when running alien...