Appendix N for my Mythic Bastionland

Apparently it is appendix-n-day on September 8^th and a good reason as any to mention the media touch stones of my Mythic Bastionland campaign. Grab a spoonful of halva and a strong tea from a samovar, listen to pilentse pee by the Bulgarian State Television Female Vocal Choir and get into the right mindset for Barowia

Costume by Agnieszka Osipa

Music

Le Mystère des VoixBulgares 

My Realm is distinctively not pseudo-Arthurian England but rather pseudo East-European pagan middle ages without roads. My houses are Szalai, Karpat, Barow, Masur and Urban

Richard Wagner: Tannhäuser Overture 

Ok, there is also Kranach and Altenburg to spice things up but they all get Slavic given names. Also my version of Mythic Bastionland is heavily informed by the way German Romanticism hallucinated the middle ages.

Literature

Wolfram von Eschenbach: Parzifal

Hans Bemmann: The Stone and the Flute

A story about a young man who is given a mysterious stone and a magic flute. Lauscher (listener) travels the world to find happiness. Full of stories within stories and dreams and songs. He is cursed and turned into a statue for ten years and later lives as a faun. Not particular well written and with 800 pages quite the challenge but beautifully captures the fairytale vibes of Mythic Bastionland.

Movies

Eric Rohmer: Perceval LeGallois 

Sergej Parajanov:  The Color of Pomegranates 

The Green Knight is always mentioned and for good reasons but I just love the look of these films, the stage design and the colours. Parajaov's film has exactly one knight but the vibes are 100% Barowia

Costume by Agnieszka Osipa 

Other media

Fashion: Agnieszka Osipa

Illustrations: ValinMattheis 

Mythic Bastionland: Example of Prepping a One-Shot

For a recent one shot I made a 7x7 map with half of the Realm creation Landmarks and three Myths. I use an uneven number of hexes so that I can start them on a random location in the middle of one of the borders. I also randomized the time of year with a d4 (1 Feast of the Sun 2 Sceptremass 3 Feast of the Stars 4 Eldermass). They started in the West and arrived at the Seat of Power on time for Sceptremass which was a neat coincidence that I wouldn't have felt comfortable of just deciding. Arriving from the South by boat and passing the sanctum of the Winged Seer during Eldermass would have given the one-shot a completely different feel and being surprised like that is what I enjoy about refereeing the most. 

The Myths

1 The Toad

2 The Forest

3 The Eye

The Rulers:

Lady Hedwig of Altenburg fortified pillars /solemn library / cauldron (centrepiece) heraldry (detail)

The Willow Knight (ancient sword)

Crest: rearing horse and star

relationship /w Gunter: Intimate supporter (she is in love)

drama: redemption brawl (two courtiers duel)

Sir Gunter of Orlow: Wild Dome / Immaculate Garden / Guards (centrepiece) Tapestry

The Cosmic Knight:

Crest: bale and sickle

relationship /w Hedwig: tumultuous peer (they were in the same company but fell out)

drama: ambition inheritance (son Andrasz wants to take the throne)

Landmarks

The Seers

The Cured Seer: echo caves

The Winged Seer: salt grotto

Ruin of The Sun

Ruins 

Dried up well (The Sun)

Collapsed Wall (The Wheel)

Hazards

Rat Territory 

Biting Thorns 

Curses

Smoke Clouds

Foul Shadow

Dwelling

Southcliff

woe: Prophecised famine (acolytes of the eye blame the Winged Seer)

Mouments

Elder Tree

Obsidian Henge

Pretty minimal prep as you can see but the game ran very smoothly. I delivered the 1^st Omen of all Myths as news / rumour to the Seat of Power, and they triggered the 2^nd and 3^rd Omen of the Toad. The players didn't resolve a Myth in the three hours we played but got a decent idea about how the game would look like in a campaign. If you prefer a more streamlined experience you could just use one Myth and start them at the Set of Power but if you enjoy the sandboxy feel of a campaign in your one-shot I recommend giving the above set-up a try.

Session 16

They watch the war camp of the elves from a vantage point. Under the autumn sun the hills extend to the horizon perfectly symmetrical like waves and if painted on a stage. The Knights of the Black Fleece decide to send the prisoner and are granted an audience with the Steward of Seasons. 

The Elf

As they slowly ride between the warriors shrill pipes sound and they are allowed into the tent of the Elf who is always too close to be viewed as a whole and out of focus if they try. When they speak the Knights don't remember their voice but are aware of what has been said. -What is it that they seek? Perilake suggests a duel for the future of the Realm. -Who will be the champion of the King? Who else then the champion of the Grand Harvest Tournament, Sir Anastasz The Salt Knight. - You will serve me as a Courtier, they remember the Elf saying, for I will be the Ruler of this Realm and leave forever if I lose. Time passes and they are served exotic food washed down with spiced wine.

The Knights demand a bountiful harvest if they win. Assured of their superiority the Elf agrees but lusts for The Gilded Knight's sword.

The Gilded Knight: “What do I get in return?”

- He is offered an unbreakable compass in return and it is agreed.

The Salt Knight:”What do you strive for?”

- To rule the Realm.

The Salt Knight: ”Why do you disturb the natural order of the seasons?”

- It pleases them.

Later they sleep but won't remember their dreams. Before dawn the Rune Knight carves a sigil into his body. The Dove Knight offers Anastasz his River Helm, Ser Perilake Death Head, the sword he might lose, and Sir Valamonte whispers a rune into the Salt Knight's ear.

The unbreakable compass

The Champion of the Realm steps into the square formed by elven warriors. There stands the Steward of Seasons. As soon as the dissonant pipes sound The Elf attacks with a flurry of blows, faster than any human. Anastasz holds his ground, bashes the golden falx to the side and strikes. Back and forth they move until at last Death Head eagerly digs into the Elf's chest, who kneels holding their bleeding chest.

They stand between three hills covered in blood red flowers under a misty spring sky. The Elf is gone and with them their army and only a single tent remains. It holds the unbreakable compass watched by the longly viper: ”Salt Knight!” it hisses, “You will be know as the Elf Slayer” and then it slithers away.

Session 15

 2^nd Woodsday of Petals

Valamonte, The Rune Knight approaches the cave on his warhorse, his body inscribed with stories and sigils and carrying a pillar of stone. He is sent by the Drowned Seer to aid the Company of the Black Fleece. Sir Davith and Sir Anastaz inform their fellow Knight about their plans. Mist rises from the nearby lake as they ride south. At noon they arrive at a strange forest, past crumbling pillars and broken statues.

2^nd Armsday of Petals

The Rune Knight rises before dawn and hides behind a statue to carve a figure onto his body when the statue suddenly moves. The Grey Stone Hunter asks Sir Anastaz: “Who shall I punish?” but the Salt Knight remains silent. Should a Knight use foul magic to enact his revenge? Finally he says: “Lady Lydia of Szalai.” The Hunter answers: ”She shall be punished!” and disappears.

"Who shall I punish?"

They press on through a dark forest of twisted trunks and watched by silent toads until they reach a spiral of natural steps and find at its bottom a dried well that displays the story of the Feaster, a golden giant emerging from the sun to come down onto the Realm. He feasts on many before three brave Knights slay the giant.

They decide to turn east to finally conquer the mountain that had denied them, hoping to find the Elf. Instead they are approached by one of his heralds with cold eyes and strawlike hair. He carries a bow and presents it to Anastaz as a gift from his master. Reluctantly the Salt Knight takes it and holds it in his hands: An ornate bow, twisted like braided reeds with symbols of flowers and grain. “Bring news to your lord, that I will challenge him to a duel.” The scout agrees and turns around. At the summit the Knights rest.

More signs of harvest arriving early

2^nd Riverday of Petals

They lead their horses down the mountain through ferns that grew to unusual height and observe from a vantage point the lands to the south: rolling hills covered in a sea of glowing poppies but when they pass through the field of flowers and under the glaring sun they cast no shadow. They see another herald carrying a snake and covering a distance with each step for which humans would need many more. The viper will bring a message to the King, they hear, and no one else. Sir Davith confronts the season scout and charges forward. He breaks his foot with a forceful blow. The scout is bound and pressured until he finally agrees to bring them to the Steward of Seasons. The viper eyes The Salt Knight and doubts his wisdom but Anastaz doesn't trust the symbol of treachery. From a blood red hill they see a large camp of tents and in between a warband each of scouts with swift bows and destroyers wielding golden falxes. 

Session 14

1st Rainday of Sprouts

A rider approaches the cave at dawn: Sir Davith, The Tome Knight, short and stout and dressed in bright colours of esoteric design. He has been sent by another manifestation of the Tangled Seer to aid the company. Sir Davith consults the movement of birds and they decide to travel North through a dense forest in order to find an inspiring sight that might lift Sir Heldris' spirit. But they are turned back by spiky roots obstructing their path. When night falls they come upon a quiet glade within which stands a White Stone Hunter. She asks Sir Perilake gravelly:”Who shall I aid?” and without hesitation he firmly calls the name of The Dove Knight. Colmán, his sure footed steed, carries the broken man before the statue who embraces him and whispers: “Be still young Knight but be aware: Amid the stillen halt and hush, a poison blooms in grove alush”. Puzzled by the revelation but unburdened by doubt, hope returns to Sir Heldris.

The White Stone Hunter

1st Stillday of Sprouts

Under the canopy no breeze comforts the Knights. They pass trees with dead vines and a lake deep in the forest with ducks drowsy and placid from the strange warmth, until they reach the foothill of mountains where they can breath again. As they turn South they try to cross mounting dunes with treacherous ground, hooves trying to find purchase and failing. Heldris recalls the map he received on silken cloth and they ride West when Sir Davith perceives a figure striding forward confidently but with unnatural speed. The Knights spur their horses and intercept the straw haired herald. When confronted the elf declares impatiently: “ This rod I carry is a present for the Veiled Seer. Who dares to disturb my mission?” Sir Perilake announces himself and they weigh their options: To slay the elf or escort her to the Seer - but their curiosity overcomes their thirst for blood. They travel through darkness guided by their outlandish scout. Near the banks of the river she steps towards a solid rock wall that causes ripples as she passes through. The Knights follow her into a cave illuminated by a luminous pond and there, next to their bearded acolyte, sits The Veiled Seer, folds of flesh and horse-like hair where their face should be. They receive the Rod of Summer and say only one word to the Season Scout: ”Go!” The Company of the Black Fleece spend the night outside the cave knowing that the Seer will not speak again.

The Veiled Seer (sans the horns)

2nd Stonesday of Petals

In the morning the acolyte calls Sir Anastaz to come forth and speak to the Seer. “How can we stop the Elf to advance the seasons before their due time ”? And the Seer says:”Duel!” The Tome Knight observes the movement of fish to recall the location of the Dried Well where they expect the Elf to reside. Three times he asks and three times a carp swims to the surface and mouths its answer. They ride South.

Who is who in Barowia?

 The Company of the Black Fleece

active

Sir Perilake The Gilded Knight and his Squire Zoltan of Kranach. Proud and poised

Sir Anastaz The Salt Knight and his Squire Gundhilde of Szalai. Scowling and taciturn

Sir Heldris The Dove Knight, one-armed and formerly cursed by the Hound within. Calm and serene

Sir Heldris ambushed by the Hound in Shadow

inactive

Sir Ludmer The Trail Knight

Cormorant The Gull Knight

Lady Dragana The Hooded Knight

Lady Cadwyn The Mule Knight (dead)

The Houses

There are 6 major houses (ancestral seat / crest): ruler

Barow (current Seat of Power is Castle Barow / buck-head and star): King Andrasz

Karpat (Karpat Fortress / Crown and Flame): Lady Lamberta

Kranach (Kranach Castle / Key & Crane) Lady Zdenka

Masur (former Seat of Power is Castle Loadstone / honeycomb and crescent moon); unknown

Szalai (Szalai Keep / Rearing Horse): Sir Adalbert

Urban (unknown / Lock and Quill): unknown

A short history of Barowia

The Realm is ruled by King Andrasz of Barow who claimed the throne after invading from the North and driving out the old King Tadeausz of Masur.  During the war Szalai and Kranach joined forces with house Barow, the former rather quickly, the latter after terrible losses. Karpat surrendered eventually but never changed sides. The wounds of war have not been healed.

Dwellings (resource: leadership)

Swinjo: Pig farmers and fishers: Mayor Bogdan
Kozamost: goat herders and peat farmers: Mayor Mira
Bohat: farmers and apiarists: Lady Wendela of Urban

Factions

The Beekeepers: A secret society of nobles and vassals loyal to the former King Tadeusz of Masur. Their crest is a Beehive and Sickle
The Merchants Guildry of Szolnok and Mohacs: An association of merchants from the North  

Neighbours

Barowian Crownlands. A vast Realm of warring Duchies
East Masuria. Ruled by house Masur
Svenrijk. Landsknechts from Svenrijk supported King Andrasz during the war.
Altenburg. Rich and powerful supporters of house Kranach
Waldochia. Home of nomadic horse people and ruled by house Waldoch

Session 13

 Night of the 1^st Kinsday of Sprouts

A unnaturally warm wind plays with the campfire on a hill overgrown with brambles. Heldris and Anastasz join the Hooded Knight and hear the Jewelled Seer's question:”Have you seen The Child?" The Knights admit that they haven't seen it. They learn that the Seeker Knights search for the Child who holds the key to The City and are handed jewels that will allow the Seer to see through them. The next morning they leave westwards and at noon they reach the foot of the mountains. They search the area for a path that would lead them across when they notice smoke coming from a forge and see two gaunt figures in ornate bark armour emerging from a cave, dragging a struggling man between them. “Your blood will bring about the next season”, they declare with cold eyes and alien faces. The Hooded Knight slides into the shadows while Anastasz and Heldris draw their weapons and demand the release of the prisoner. The elves announce their names: Kilunar and Tasiviza and meet the Knights with their golden falxes. 

Kilunar

Kilunar inflicts a deep wound and breaks Heldris' spirit by matching every blow with one of their own until Lady Dragana skewers them with her glaive. The Salt Knight exchanges wild attacks with Tasiviza and the elf is finally struck down. The Knights ask the dying Season Destroyers for their goal but they only laugh. “Blood has been spilled, it is time for the tide of the seasons to rise.” Lady Dragana deals the final blow. The smith invites the Knights into his forge where he treats Heldris' wounds. He wears a wooden symbol around his neck, two crosses connected by a line (x-x) that symbolizes a cradle and he tells them about his faith: The Mother who will birth The Child. He promises to lead them over the mountains to the dried well that marks the place where the Feaster was slain.

Tasiviza

They follow the mountain path under a sky drained of all colours. When they reach the peak they see for a moment the beauty of the realm: a still lake to the west, ancient forests to the south and the fertile Ryba valley when suddenly a cold mist rises around them until all is hidden under a blanket of fog. They press on but soon get lost and if not for the Hooded Knight's foresight (to have Heldris mark their path with his glowing herbs smeared on the rock) they wouldn't have found their way back to a small copse of fir trees where they make camp for the night. Defeated by the mountain they return to the forge.

Mist covers the Realm