It’s been a little since I’ve contributed to an anthology but one of the many perks of working for the estimable Modiphius Entertainment is you get to write across a variety of lines and historical time periods.
Cohors Cthulhu is the brand new RPG incarnation of the eternal battle against the minions of the Mythos. It moves the action to Roman times with a whole new array of enemies, cults, creatures and evil entities to face—all set against the backdrop of imperial Rome.
Ever before it was announced I was privileged to be able to contribute a little toward the writing and design with some thoughts and advice on what we learned developing Achtung! Cthulhu.
RPGs rely on rules and mechanics to frame their action, but narrative is equally important, helping bring the setting to life, build an intriguing game world and populating it with interesting characters and personalities to interact with.
Legends of Laurium attempts to do just that, a character-led short story collection based in Cohors’ starting area of Laurium. Working with the estimable Douglas Seacat and Matt Goetz of Privateer Press, I’ve fleshed out six stories and characters from this intriguing new world.
Herein, you’ll find tales which explore the destiny of Germanic hunter Ekkehard, the fate of dour spear wife Attreba and the mystical insights of Irish druid Tadgh as he explores an ancient set of standing stones.
Even though all were immense enjoyable to write and big thanks to Doug, Matt and world creator and Modiphius overlord Chris Birch for allowing me to play in their world.
However, I really enjoyed exploring a trio of female characters in this anthology. There’s patrician Octavia, a devotee of the occult, who has uncanny insight through am unseen companion. Amalthea is an Aegyptian herbarius with healing hands, an interesting familiar and a dark secret. I also really loved writing about Nashiram, a female bestiarii, orgladiatrix, who fights animals in the arena, but has a fickle but deadly pet out of it in The Mantichore’s Tears.
Both Doug and Matt’s stories have some amazing characters and stories too with a set of loosely connected tales which bring this world to life and a linked narrative which builds towards an epic finale, as a diverse cast bands together to confront a great evil.
Cohors itself is the second instalment of the Against the Gods Themselves series which chronicles the eternal battle against the minions of the mythos, and if you’ve never checked it out, the Pledge Manager and Legends of Laurium are the perfect place to begin. Enjoy!
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