Tag Archives: Kamen, Land of Masks

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Where Heroes Stand

This is Where Heroes Stand

The peaceful village of Yamamura has had a good summer; the rice stores are full to bursting and even lord Honda looks pleased for once. So, as the momiji leaves turn to yellows and reds, the villagers gather for their annual autumn festival. Food stalls, games, gossip, the sweet sounds of shakuhachi and shamisen music, followed by colorful fireworks and dancing into the night. It will be a night to remember.

Where Heroes Stand Cover
Click here to get Where Heroes Stand on Drive Thru RPG

Yet, for Constable Hideo there are always things to worry about; the many visitors and the ample supply of sake for one. Mix the two together and this night may not be so peaceful after all. And then there are the Inoue girls, Ame and Yuki. In a village where everyone knows your secrets, they still manage to keep the gossip fresh, and biting. Old Sanae remembers when she too was young and beautiful, while the appearance of an old love interest does nothing to shake the reminder that the past will always come back to haunt you. And it’s the past that most concerns Father Vicente, the Spaniard, who remembers the fervor he once had for his faith; if only he could recapture that passion, yet his heart grows colder as the nights do.

And out in that darkness a malicious force moves, ready to strike a blow that will leave the village irreversibly scarred and in dire need of heroes to make their stand.

A Pathfinder Roleplaying Game adventure set in mythical Japan for 6 characters of level 3 and a GM.

Buy it on Drive Thru RPG, Open Gaming Store, or Paizo

Rodney Sloan
Rising Phoenix Games

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General

New Avernos Content

New pages in the Avernos Campaign Setting Wiki are:

 

Bastion, City: Bastion is the largest human settlement in Avernos, a city of spires that hides an ancient secret.

Bastion, The Kingdom of: The northern human kingdom of Bastion is the largest territory to fall under a single ruler, namely the King of Bastion and self titled King of Avernos.

 

There’s more Avernos content on the way, so stay tuned. I’ve also finished editing the Campaign Primer for Kamen, Land of Masks, which will go out in August.

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PFRPG Sumo

Here are some simple rules for sumo wrestling, for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game.

Inspired in Japan

The objective of sumo is to throw your opponent out of the ring, or dohyou, or to force them to touch the ground with any part of their bodies other than the soles of their feet.

Sumo Match by Kunisada, 1851
Sumo Match by Kunisada, 1851

To play, both contestants roll for initiative. They then attempt to grapple each other. The first contestant to successfully grapple and move their opponent is the winner of the bout.

When a contestant attempts to move an opponent, the opponent gets a free attempt to break the grapple with the usual +4, as if they were being moved into hazardous terrain. See the “Combat” chapter in the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook for more on grappling and moving grappled opponents.

The above rules will appear in a forthcoming supplement for the Kamen, Land of Masks Campaign series.

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Sneak Peek – Where Heroes Stand

I’m very proud to share this sneak peek of the book cover for Where Heroes Stand, the first adventure in the Kamen, Land of Masks Campaign.

Where Heroes Stand Preview
Copyright 2014, R. & J. Sloan.

All credit goes to my beautiful wife for putting this together so masterfully.

You can get the poster map of the campaign world over at RedBubble.com, or read more about Kamen, Land of Masks right here on the blog.

Till next time, Tell Thrilling Tales.

Inspired in Japan

General

Pathfinder Bestiary 3

I just picked up the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Bestiary 3, since it will form a major cornerstone of my upcoming Kamen, Land of Masks campaign. The campaign is set in mythical Japan, and Bestiary 3 has loads of monsters that can slot right in, like the Spirit Oni, Tanuki and Jorogumo.

I always thought any bestiary after the first to be a waste of money, but Paizo did a great job of providing groups of creatures that fit well together. I already mentioned the traditional Japanese monsters you’ll find. Can anything be more iconic than the Kappa and Yuki-Onna (Snow Woman)? There are also creatures of Chinese origin (Terracotta Warriors), RPG cult legends (Flail Snail and Flumph) and loads more.

A bad example though is the Jubjub Bird and Bandersnatch, from Lewis Carroll’s Through the Looking-Glass, since you’ll need the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game: Bestiary 2 for the Jabberwock. Still, the Jubjub Bird and Bandersnatch work well together, and the Jabberwock is a great loner. That’s the same with the Sasquatch, Axe Beak and Bogeyman, which are all in Bestiary 3.

Groups of monsters include Clockwork creatures, Asura, Kami and Oni, to name but a few.

Challenge Rating (CR) wise, I’m very happy, I hardly play high level campaigns but there’s plenty to throw at mid level players. If you are starting out though, this isn’t going to give you all your Orcs and Goblins.

On the art side, this is a gem. I love the Kappa. Living in Japan there are loads of Kappa illustrations around (usually comical), but they made it look believable and scary. I didn’t like the Kodama (watch Princess Mononoke by Studio Ghibli to see more of these cool little dudes) or the oni in general. But I am biased.

Overall, a great addition to the collection.

 

Savage Worlds: Fast, Furious, and Fun! - Available Now @ DriveThruRPG.com

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Inquisitive Kitsune Cub NPC

Inspired in Japan

 

Presenting the inquisitive kitsune cub. Unable to resist the temptations of the local mountain village festival, he dons his disguise and joins the crowd. Before long he’s in over his head.

Kitsune Cub & Vixen
Kitsune Cub & Vixen by R Sloan. Interior art for the upcoming “Where Heroes Stand” adventure.

Kitsune Cub
XP 200 CR 1/2
Kitsune rogue 1, CG Medium Humanoid
Init +7; Senses perception +5

DEFENCE_________________________________
AC 14, touch 13, flat-footed 11 (+1 armour, +3 Dex)
hp 5
Fort +1, Ref +5, Will +1

OFFENCE_________________________________
Speed 30 ft.
Melee dagger -2 (d4 – 2/19-20) bite -2 (d4-2)
Ranged dagger +3 (d4/19-20)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5ft.

STATISTICS _______________________________
Str 6 (-2), Dex 16 (+3), Con 13 (+1), Int 15 (+2), Wis 12 (+1), Cha 12 (+1)
Base Attack Bonus +0; CMB -2; CMD 11
Feats Improved Initiative
Skills Acrobatics +9, Climb +2, Disable Device +7, Disguise +5 (+15 in human form), Escape Artist +7, Perception +5, Sense Motive +5, Sleight of Hand +7, Stealth +7, Swim +2.
Languages Common, Sylvan, Tengu, Celestial
Combat Gear 2x Dagger (hidden in clothes), Blowgun and darts (20) in Den, Quilted cloth armour, Thunderstone (hidden in clothes).
Other Gear Flint & steel and small steel mirror in belt pouch. Baggy yukata conceals daggers and thunderstone for escapes (DC 19 perception to observe, DC 15 perception to frisk).
Special Abilities lowlight vision, change shape, agile (included), fast shifter (shift form as a move action), bite attack (natural form only)
Tactics When discovered he uses his thunderstone to stun opponents, then shifts form and flees back to his den. If cornered he makes ranged attacks with his daggers until he can shift and flee.
Description: A wide eyed teenager, who seems both a little out of place and uncomfortable in his own skin. He has little understanding for human ways and often makes mistakes that could easily give him away. He stares wide eyed at everything he sees and wants to take in as much as he can, knowing he won’t get such an opportunity again until next year.

Kamen, Land of Masks
Kamen, Land of Masks

This is the third of three NPC previews from my upcoming Pathfinder adventure, Where Heroes Stand. Check out the humble mountain villager and the samurai bodyguard from last week. For more NPC goodness check out my recently released NPC Strategy Cards on DriveThruRPG or Paizo.com.

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Samurai Bodyguard NPC

Inspired in Japan

Presenting the samurai bodyguard. He delights in pushing the peasantry around, roughing up his masters enemies and otherwise bullying anyone who stands in his way.

Samurai wearing a nodachi.
Samurai wearing a nodachi, or field sword.

 

Samurai Bodyguards
CR 3 XP 800
Human Warrior 5, CN Medium Humanoid
Init +0; Senses perception -1

DEFENCE_________________________________
AC 18, touch 10, flat-footed 18 (+8 armour, +0 Dex)
hp 39
Fort +5, Ref +1, Will +0

OFFENCE_________________________________
Speed 30 ft.
Melee  mwk nodachi +10 (1d10+3 /18–20 ×2)
mwk wakizashi +9 (1d6+3 /18-20 x2)
Ranged short bow +5 (1d6 / x3)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5ft.

STATISTICS _______________________________
Str 16 (+3), Dex 11 (+0), Con 12 (+1), Int 9 (-1), Wis 8 (-1), Cha 10 (+0)
Base Attack +5; CMB +8; CMD  18
Feats Intimidating Prowess, Skill Focus (Intimidate) , Weapon Focus (nodachi), Dazzling Display.
Skills Climb +3 (+0 in armour), Intimidate +14, Ride +8 (+2 in armour)
Languages Common
Combat Gear  master work Nodachi, master work wakizashi, dagger, short bow, 20 arrows and master work agile half-plate.
Other Gear Leather belt case containing (2x antitoxin, 2x meditation tea, 2x smelling salts, 2x soothe syrup, 3x vermin repellent) and light combat trained horse with riding kit. 72 gold.
Tactics Pairs of bodyguards use their Dazzling Display to demoralize foes, then focus their attention on the nearest threat; who they cut down without mercy.
Description
These heartless oafs love nothing more than pushing around peasants at their lord’s command. They carry huge swords both as a sign of strength and as an effective means of crowd control.

Kamen, Land of Masks
Kamen, Land of Masks

This is the second of three NPC previews from my upcoming Pathfinder adventure, Where Heroes Stand. Check out the target of the bullying samurai bodyguard,  the humble mountain villager, from last week. For more NPC goodness check out my recently released NPC Strategy Cards on DriveThruRPG or Paizo.com.

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Mountain Villager NPC

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Inspired in Japan

Presenting the humble mountain villager. Strong, hardy, and ready to run at the first sign of a katana wielding samurai.

Mountain Villager
CR 1/3 XP 135
Human Commoner 1, LN Medium Humanoid
Init +1; Senses perception +0

 DEFENCE_________________________________
AC 12, touch 12, flat-footed 10 (+0 armour, +1 Dex, +1 Dodge)
hp 6
Fort +0, Ref +1, Will +0

OFFENCE_________________________________
Speed 35 ft.
Melee dagger +1 (d4 +1 / 19-20 x 2) or club +1 (d6+1/ x2)
Ranged dagger +1 (d4 / 19-20)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5ft.

STATISTICS _______________________________
Str 12 (+1), Dex 13 (+1), Con 11 (+0), Int 8 (-1), Wis 10 (+0), Cha 11 (+0)
Base Attack +0; CMB +1; CMD  12
Feats Dodge, Fleet

Skills Craft (choice of carpentry, leather, pottery or traps) +3 or Profession (choice of brewer, butcher, cook, driver, farmer, fisherman, herbalist, innkeeper, merchant, midwife, miller, tanner, trapper or woodcutter) +4, Handle Animal +4.
Languages Common
Combat Gear Club or dagger
Other Gear Rice bowl and cup, well worn kimono, grass hat, jacket and woven grass shoes.
Tactics Villagers know that in a fight their best bet is to run away, and, having lived their lives on the side of a mountain, they are particularly fast on their feet.

 

Kamen, Land of Masks
Kamen, Land of Masks

This is the first of three NPC previews from my upcoming Japan based Pathfinder adventure. For more NPC goodness check out my recently released NPC Strategy Cards on DriveThruRPG or Paizo.com.