This volume was written by Randall D. Bailey Jr., Kane Cathain, Bruce Clark, bygrinstow, Doug Kovacs, Billy Longino, Terry Olson, Jordan Smith, Doyle Wayne Ramos-Tavener, Kyle Turner, and Matthias Weeks.
Art was provided by Marc Radle, Craig Brasco, Michael Bukowski, bygrinstow, Doug Kovacs, William McAusland, Carley Onofroio, Sean Poppe, Revturkey, Carla Stroh, and Christopher Wood.
Disclosure: I am listed as a proofreader on this volume.
Although listed as "Volume 2 of Five Booklets", there are actually six volumes in the 2015 release of The Gongfarmer's Almanac.
The volume is divided into three sections: Monsters, Treasure, and Patrons. Let's look inside.
Monsters
- Anti-Matternaut: Although listed as "Antimater Man" in the table of contents, this is a creature whose appearance will be quite familiar to those of us who were growing up in the 70s. Author bygrinstow gives more than a passing nod to the Micronauts (which I also had as a child), while offering a creature that is firmly tied into Dungeon Crawl Classics game mechanics.
- Blight Serpent: Matthais Weeks serves up a giant snake that can spit out swarms of vermin.
- Ghosts: No author is listed. Although this reminds me of The Age of Undying, Tim Callahan is not among the authors for the issue. If you happen to be the author, please shout out in the comments! Looking at the art, and the list of writers, I expect that the written portion of the article is the work of Doug Kovacs, as well as the art. In any event, this is a usable ten-point system to allow for PC ghosts in a scenario where it is appropriate. Item #3 ("can move freely between all the tables, though cannot leave large groups") makes me suspect that this write-up originated in a tournament somewhere.
NOTE: That's been confirmed. Art and writing are both by Doug Kovacs, and the work was done for Catastrophe Island at Gen Con.
- Grub Knight: Kane Cathain offers rather disgusting creatures that are, essentially, slime-coated giant grubs who presumably feed on the dead after large battles, and then drag their discarded weapons and armor-encased limbs around with them.
- Snakion: Terry Olson offers an interesting monster that actually defies an easy description. There is a binding ritual to establish a mental link with one, making it an interesting ally for an NPC wizard (or a PC wizard!), and it has its own crit table.
- Vaechral: Also by Terry Olson, this is a rather nasty Type I demon that acts as a primordial agent of destruction. You wouldn't want to meet one in a dark ally.
Treasure
- Items to Die For: Kyle Turner offers three "instruments of death" which come at a cost. Not all of the costs are equal...but, then, neither are all of the benefits.
- Objects of Wonder from the Ruins of Glittergus: Author Jordan Smith describes three items associated with a setting that sounds like it belongs in the Umerica of Crawling Under a Broken Moon. "Glittergus, the ancient city of antiquity, sits alone on its plateau above the deserts of the Hudson Basin. A city older than recorded time, it draws treasure seekers in with its tales of glass spires, screaming metal dragons, and libraries of lost knowledge. Many explorers are from the Swamp Kingdoms of Jersey and the scattered lands of Brokendyn. Many dream of exploring the ruins, but few dare to enter, and even fewer come back out. But those that do are laden with great treasures from the past." Beautiful.
- Pelagian Equipment: Two items related to Pelagia, the Sea Goddesss, are brought to you by Bruce Clark.
- The Wall of Kovacs: This "is a barrier made of wood and stone and metal, and which appears at different places, at different times. It is a transient fixture, if you will." It is by bygrinstow, based on the suggestion of Wayne Snyder and inspired by the art of Doug Kovacs.
Patrons
- Ghrelin: This is the "Demon Lord of Hunger and Starvation" who "cares about nothing but consuming". Author Randall D. Bailey Jr. offers a full patron write-up, including spells.
- Great Ebony Hand (GEH): A patron by bygrinstow, inspired by Todd McGowan's tchotchke and improved by DCC Google+ Community Members, this includes a full patron write-up with spells...and even a handy familiar.
- Hecate: This patron write-up by Doyle Wayne Ramos-Tavener offers the judge an alternate to the Hecate found in Angels, Daemons, and Beings Between. Only her 1st level patron spell is supplied, although "doubtless other dark magics are within her capacity to grant".
- The Eye of Obitu-Que: Matthias Weeks supplies a dangerous and powerful magic item related to Obitu-Que, one of the partially-developed patrons in the core rulebook. Included in the write-up is a Type III demon of Obitu-Que, known as the Will of Obitu-Que.
Finally, the volume is finished with a 0-Level Player Character Record Sheet created by Billy Longino.
Get It Here!
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