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Miria and Kale tell stories to fight off the numbing effects of the land of the dead as they search for one of the Demenses where the recently passed await judgement. In a flashback, Silas, Tom, and Tina delve one of Yanghu’s dungeons seeking a way home. WARNING: This episode has lots of graphic violence. Even more graphic than usual for this podcast. It includes gory sounds and references to toxins and paralysis. Also, mild sexual innuendo. Another round with the Carrion Crawler in this episode! Miria and Kale struggle against subtle and very dangerous planar effects, inspired by the way planes were handled in Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Ed. It also included two custom monsters, The Jasconi, and the Riding Dragonfly Jasconi Jasconi: HD: 24; AC: 1 [18]; Att: spray (5d8); SV: 4; Special: undertow; MV: swimming 6; AL: Neutrality; ML: 10; No. Appearing: 2d8; CL/XP: 25/28,800 The Jasconi are 600ft. long archer fish who accrue soil and vegetation on their backs. They attack by spitting hot geysers of water, with a range of 500/1500/3000 Undertow: Any creature in the water within 60′ of a moving Jasconi must make a saving throw or be dragged under the water and risk drowning. Riding Dragonfly Riding Dragonfly: HD: 2; AC: 5 [14]; Att: bite (1d8); SV: 16; MV: 6, flying 18; AL: Neutrality; ML: 6; No. Appearing: 3d4; CL/XP: 3/160 A massive jewelled dragonfly with an 18′ wingspan; the Riding dragonfly is strong enough to carry an unarmoured man and some gear. Music in this Episode From the Free Music Alliance: King Edward by Mister Smith (CC-BY) from the Free Music Archive Used with Permission Combat: Cookie Tin by Jon Cohen Combat: Silver Cult by Jon Cohen From Pixabay: “Acidcore” by Jumping Bunny “Dark November” by O’Dennehy “Sigh of Autumn” by Amurich “The Horizon Always Wins” by White Fox “Hypnotic Mysterious Music” by Tunetank “A Windy Day at the Sea” by Billy Ziogas “Dawning Desert Heat” by Alessia Davina “Dark Pulse” by Samuel Fjohanns

A summary of Episodes 31-39 Swords Against Madness episode 40 is a summary of the plot from episodes 31 through 39. An opportunity to catch up on the plot or just refresh your memory. It adds nothing to the main plot-line. Music in this Episode From the Free Music Alliance: King Edward by Mister Smith (CC-BY) from the Free Music Archive From Pixabay: “Crossroads” by Alexander Nakarada “Scorched Fields” by Alexander Nakarada “Dark Suspense Trailer” by Nastel Bom “The Enchantress” by OB-LIX “Nepal” by Abydos Music

California 1974: four friends make a strange discovery while star-gazing that kicks off a strange journey across space and time that intersects with Miria’s own journey. The story of three teens in San Benito County, California that discover a meteor that drags them across time & space. This is the origin story of Tom Foreman, creator of the wizard van, and his allies Cyrus and Tina. This episode includes references to or oblique depictions of Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll. The World of Xen Interested in my setting bible for Xen? It is a campaign world that includes characters, places, and things from over 25 years of the 41 that I have been playing Dungeons & Dragons. Fin it here it is on my Google Drive. Voice Talent: Craig Husebo as Cyrus Katrina Rideout as Tina Music on this Episode: From the Free Music Alliance: “King Edward” by Mr. Smith a CC-BY song released through the FMA From Suno “Eternal Nightmare Initiation” by Doughnut Elemental From Pixabay: “Acidcore” by Jumping Bunny “Jökull” by Alexander Nakarada “Opus 7” by Kristen Guitar “Orchestral Suspense Scifi Undertone” by Cyberwave “Drawing Desert Heat” by Alesia Davina “Vintage Rock” by Twisterium

Crossing the Ashlands of Muspellsheim, Miria and Kale face a being far beyond their ability to fight… Voice Talent: Jon Cohen plays The All-Knowing in this Episode. Music on this Episode: From the Free Music Alliance: “King Edward” by Mr. Smith a CC-BY song released through the FMA From Pixabay: “Acidcore” by Jumping Bunny “Country Rock” by litesaturation “Orchestral Nebula” by Diogodelassivlavsmores “Jack the Lumberer” by Alexander Nakarada “Slabfall” by Vlad Annekov “Battle Metal” by Top_Sue “Awesome Pink Floydish Guitar Riff” by Palle Knudsen “Evidence” by meegistudios See the full show notes at https://swordsvmadness.stormheadproductions.ca for encounter tables, monster stats, and more commentary!

Miria and Kale begin a perilous journey through Ice, Fire, and Eternal skies to rescue their fallen friends.

Miria goes deep within her mind to commune with the All-Knowing and prepare herself for a dangerous journey.

We turn our attention to Yanghu as he hunts for those who had meddled with his Gorum and Carver tech. This session was played extemporaneously using Swords & Wizardry and the Mythic Game Master Emulator. Sometimes you just want to play the bad guys for a bit, and figure out what the heroes are really up against. The Master The Master was once a gifted and driven chirurgeon called Haidran. His failure to save South Nar from the purple plague drove him halfway to madness. He sought out the ability to perfect himself and discovered Yanghu’s secret cache of Carver Tech. With it he has made himself into a monster. The Master (human Ur-Cleric 9*): HD: 9d6+9; 54 hp; AC 7 [12]; SV: 7; att: Tentacle Orb (2d4+grab); MV: 12″; SQ: spells, +2 save vs. petrification & paralysis, mutations; AL C; Str 14** Int 15 Wis 16 Dex 10 Con 15** Cha 16**; Spells Prepared: 1st: Detect Good, Detect Magic, Darkness; 2nd: Hold Person, Snake Charm, Silence 15′ radius; 3rd: Bestow Curse, Cure Disease; 4th: Cause Serious Wounds; Cure Serious Wounds; 5th: Commune, Finger of Death Mutations: The Master can steal traits from any creature he has captured and experimented on. He can maintain one mutation in his body per two levels. He can change these after a week of research and some time spent in a Carver Surgical Pod. His current mutations include: the paralytic touch of a carrion crawler the ability to phase like a phase spider the immortality of the gorum Carried Equipment: tentacle orb, bracers of defence +2, blowpipe of inhaled poison, fine clothing, spawn of Frix *The Ur-Cleric is the equivalent of a Cleric, but Chaotic in alignment; they have no ability to turn the unholy. They worship themselves only, but make pacts with alien intelligence for their power. **The Master has used the art of flesh-crafting to increase each of these ability scores by 4. He will be able to improve a 3rd ability at level 12, and again at 15th and 18th levels. The Master’s Concubines Master’s Concubine: HD: 5; AC: 5 [14] Att: 4 claws (1d4); SV: 12; Special: speed, mutation; MV: 15; AL: Chaotic; ML: 9; Int: 9; #App: 2d4; CR/ XP: 7 / 600 Women who have been warped and mutated by the Master. They cannot fail morale if they are in The Master’s presence. They have a +1 on initiative. Each one of them possesses a random mutation granted to them by the master: d6Mutation1Paralytic Touch of the Carrion Crawler2Phase power of the Phase Spider3Cloying Pollen of the Yellow Musk Creeper4Immortality of the Gorum5Song of a Harpy6Bite and blood drain of a Giant Tick New Magic Item Tentacle Orb: This object serves as The Master’s unholy symbol. He may cause it to open and tentacles to reach out. These attack, dealing 2d4 damage if they hit. A target that is hit is coiled in tentacles and may not move or take actions except to attempt to break free, which requires a successful save. Music in this Episode “COMBAT: Classic Metal Chugga-Chugga” by Jon Cohen, used with permission. From the Free Music Archive: “King Edward” by Mr. Smith a CC-BY song released through the FMA From Pixabay: “Powerful Stylish Rock (Motivational Indie Rock Trailer)” by Sound for You “Scorched Fields” by Alexander Nakarada “Outlaw’s Reckoning” by Moodmode “This Heavy Metal” by Mr. Claps_ “Hate” by Mr. Claps_ “Game Show” by Mr Claps_ “Earthquake‘ by Leva “Dark Temple (Geisha)” by Yellowbird Beats “Powerful stylish rock” by Sound for You “Dark Pagan Ritual Chant” by Domarti Studios Acidcore” by Jumping Bunny

Edryk, Miria, and Kale face a terrifying onslaught on the dismal beaches of Abzû. This game sues the crocodile stats from Swords & Wizardry, It also delves pretty deep into the Dungeons & Dragons theory of the Soul that was made central to the concept of planar travel in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons starting later in the 1st edition and refined in the Planescape setting. I also wanted to share the Enuma Elish, if you want to read some ancient Mesopotamian myth. Roger Dean’s Cover for the first Asia album self-titled “Asia” was a huge inspiration for the setting of Abzu. I spent a great many hours staring at this album cover and listening to the record when I was a kid. In fact a great deal of the campaign aesthetics in – in my head at least – are inspired by Dean’s art. Roger Dean was a major influence on the aesthetics of the Psychedelic art and music movement and redefined what Fantasy looked like through the 60s and 70’s. I would be remiss if I didn’t send a link to his homepage where you can get prints of this truly amazing work. Abzu Random Encounter Table 3d6categoryEncounter#Mein3SettlementForlorn Camp*specialSuffering4SettlementDuregar mining camp**specialFeasting on HER flesh5IntelligentScorpion Men1d4Worshipping HER6IntelligentIxitchatil2d10Hunting7IntelligentBeast Men3d10Digging a burrow8TravellerJaani2d4Lost9TravellerNight Hag1Performing Dark Rites10MonsterGiant Scorpion1d3Frozen in despair11MonsterLarge Giant Centipede1d6Mating12MonsterCrocodiles2d6Sleeping14MonsterSea Serpent1Exploring14SupernaturalLarvae3d10Tormenting15SupernaturalShedu1Cultivating HER wisdom through alchemy16SupernaturalElsewhale1Desperately trying to get elsewhere17AtmosphericTiamat Stirs***n/aGoing Mad18AtmosphericStormm/aGrieving Notes *Forlorn Camp: a wretched set of huts of bone, skin, and scale overrun by wasp’s nests. Most inhabitants are dead, but 1d6 diseased and mad cultists linger. **Duregar Mining Camp: 2d10 Duregar oversee 5d20 beast-men slaves in mining scale and bone from Tiamat. ***Tiamat Stirs: The ground shakes and strange omens fill the sky before a deafening scream splits the sky. All creatures must save vs spells or be paralyzed with terror for 1d3 turns. Check for additional encounter. Voice Talent in this Episode: Owen Rideout as The Psisquid Music in this Episode “COMBAT: Classic Metal Chugga-Chugga” by Jon Cohen, used with permission. From the Free Music Archive: “King Edward” by Mr. Smith a CC-BY song released through the FMA From Pixabay: “Apex” by Alexander Nakarada “Scorched Fields” by Alexander Nakarada “Crossroads” by Alexander Nakarada “This Metal” by Mr. Claps “Melodic Metal” by Alex Koff “Powerful stylish rock” by Sound for You “Island of the Lost” by OB-LIX

Miria, Kale, & Edryk cross the shimmering plane of Amber, and then into the darkness of Abzû, beset on all sides by monsters and mysteries. This episode includes a classic Dungeons & Dragons monster: the Aurumvorax, reproduced here based on the stats in the AD&D2e Monstrous Manual for Swords & Wizardry. I did take liberties with the speed of the aurumvorax to make it more of a threat and more weasel-like. Aurumvorax The Aurumvorax or gold-gorger is an eight-legged weasel-like creature about 12′ long. It can burrow through solid rock. The aurumvorax eats gold, which it processes in order to produce teeth, claws, and fur of naturally shaped gold, and its flesh is infused with the metal. Aurumvorax: HD: 12; AC: 0 [19]; Att: bite (2d4 + grab); SV: 3; Special: grab, bludgeoning resistance; MV: 24 or Burrow 3; AL: Neutrality; ML: 11; No. Appearing: 1; CL/XP: 15/5,800 Grab: When an Aurumvorax hits with its bite, its target must make a saving throw or be grabbed. Once an aurumvorax grabs a foe only death can make it let go. At the beginning of each round, the aurumvorax deals 8 bite damage automatically, anc makes 2d4 claw attacks on the target that deal 2d4 damage each, Bludgeoning Resistance: An Aurumvorax takes half damage from bludgeoning attacks. Pelt: An aurumvorax pelt is worth 17,400gp The Amber Random Encounter Table 3d6categoryEncounter#Mein3WeirdnessChaos Shock Troops*specialMarching to war4WeirdnessThe Yearning**n/aWeeping5IntelligentTitan (Lawful)1Creating Beauty6IntelligentJaani2d3Wandering7IntelligentArcane1Trading8HumanoidElves2d10Exploring9MonsterArumvorax1Foraging10MonsterArchon1d3Guarding11MonsterGriffon1d6Hunting12MonsterLeucrotta1d3Plotting14HumanoidParagons†2d10Patrolling14SupernaturalSprite2d4Frolicking15SupernaturalSirine1d3Resting16SupernaturalDemon, Greater1Destroying17AtmosphericSight of the Palace‡n/aBlessing18AtmosphericScar of Chaos⁰m/aResearching Notes *Chaos Shock Troops: roll 1d6: 1-2: 3d6 Orcs, 3-4: 3d6 Gnolls, 5: 3d10 beast men; 6: 1d6 Ogres; led by an evil fighter level 2d4+2. **The Yearning: All mortals must make a save or feel compelled to rest, stay, and seek service at the castle. They become blissful, being automatically surprised by later encounters, and at -2 to attacks and damage until they leave Amber. If all members of the party fail, they will seek to serve at the castle. †Paragons: Nearly perfect divine reflectiosn of humanity. Generate an adventuring party but all statrs are at 2d4+10, maximum hit points, magical equipment. Loyalty to the Prunces of Amber ‡Sight of the Palace: A view of the crystal palace of Amber. ⁰Scar of Chaos: A rent in reality caused by wars to rule amber. Roll for an encounter from another random plane. Music in this Episode Original Music: “The Colonists’ Shanty” by Brian C. Rideout From the Free Music Alliance: King Edward by Mister Smith (CC-BY) from the Free Music Archive From Pixabay: “Cyberpunk Futuristic City” by INPULSMUSIC “Powerful Stylish Rock (Motivational Indie Rock Trailer)” by Sound for You “Gritty Blues Riff” by Catch-22 Music “Massive 90s Trip-Hop” Musinova “Dead Sci-Fi Ambient” by Everything is Dead “Dark Ambient Soundscape” by DELOsound “Danger” by SergePavkinMusic “Acidcore” by Jumping Bunny

Miria contemplates her past as she, Edryk, and Kale cross the Divine Seed of Amber, a place of beauty, perfection, and cruelty. This episode draws its inspiration from the setting of the Chronicles of Amber by Roger Zelazny, one of the top six inspirations for Dungeons & Dragons listed in AD&D‘s Appendix N. This scifi-dense story is mostly told in flashback. Much of my Scifi elements of my campaign are played using Cepheus Deluxe and White Star: Swords & Wizardry in Space, Galaxy Edition. I also mention a classic D&D monster, the Flail Snail. This issue introduces a race of humanoid cyborgs, The Zaeth. Zaeth: HD: 1; AC: 5 [14]; Att: Sonic Disruptor (1d6); SV: 18; Special: agility, bionics, sonar; MV: 12; AL: Neutrality; ML: 7; No. Appearing: 1d4; CL/XP: 3/90 Agility: Zaeth have thief abilities at a level equivalent to their hit dice. Bionics: Zaeth are immune to poison and disease. Their body temperature is always the same as the room. They cannot be healed with healing magic. Ultrasound: Zaeth can see texture in perfect darkness up to 120 feet away. I am also collecting emails for an AMA bonus epsiode!! Get in touch with me here! Music in this Episode Used with permission: “Classic Metal Chugga Chugga” by Jon Cohen From the Free Music Alliance: King Edward by Mister Smith (CC-BY) from the Free Music Archive From Pixabay: “Opus 7” by Christian D “Crystal” by Tyler Gill “Punk Rock” by Alex Grohl “The Enchantress” by OB-LIX “Turkish Bazaar” by Simon LeGrec “MR Arabian Nights 2” by Antipodean Winter “Dark Suspense Trailer” by Nastel Bom “Japan Background” by Yellow Bird Beats / Tunetank “Cyberpunk Futuristic City” by INPULSMUSIC “Stylish Blues Rock (Wild West)” by Brightest Avenue “Outlaw’s Reckoning” by Moodmode “Acidcore” by Jumping Bunny

Miria, Edryk, Kale, The All-Knowing, and the Squid set sail across the Astral plane and discover that it is anything but empty. This episode uses a mix of planar travel rules found in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, Dungeons & Dragons 3.5e, and the D&D3.5e Planar Handbook, as the players travel across the Astral Plane. It also features a monster from Dungeons & Dragons3.5e: The Elsewhale. Elsewhale Elsewhale: HD: 16; AC: 6 [13]; Att: bite (4d8); SV: 4; Special: plane shift, adaptation, telepathy; MV: swimming 18, flying 18; AL: Neutrality; ML: 9; No. Appearing: 1d3; CL/XP: 20/2,4,400 Elsewhales are magical cetaceans that can be found on almost any plane. They wander the multiverse endlessly in pursuit of their own ineffable ends, devouring astral krakens and other planar creatures. They can sometimes be bribed to carry small groups in their mouths from plane to plane. Elsewhales Originally appeared in the Dungeons & Dragons Planar Handbook. Adaptation: An elsewhale immedatiely adapts to any ambient hazards of a plane, anything within 1′ of the elsewhale’s hide is likewise protected. An elsewhale can create a bubble of breathable hair that can last for 4 hours in its mouth. Plane Shift: An Elsewhale can cast plane shift at will. Telepathy: An elsewhale can communicate with any creature within 100′ that is capable of using language. Music in this Episode From the Free Music Alliance: King Edward by Mister Smith (CC-BY) from the Free Music Archive From Pixabay: “Opus 7” by Christian D “Psychedelic Atmospheric Dream Guitar” by Sonican “Stylish Blues Rock (Wild West)” by Brightest Avenue “Outlaw’s Reckoning” by Moodmode “Psychedelic Atmospheric Dream Guitar” by Sonican “Dark Ambiental Experiments” by Natarjan Connection Western Duel Rock by Abydos Music “The Collapse” by Alexander Nakarada “Dark Pagan Ritual Chant” by DOMARTI-LAB “Saffron Skies” by Lumine Wave “Sands of Alba” by Lumine Wave “Culprit Massacre” by Alexander Nakarada “Crystal” by Tyler Gill Awesome Pink Floydish Guitar by Palle1958 “Acidcore” by Jumping Bunny

A summary of Episodes 21-29. Swords Against Madness episode 30 is a summary of the plot from episodes 11 through 19. An opportunity to catch up on the plot or just refresh your memory. It adds nothing to the main plot-line. Cast This episode includes performances by: Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore Music in this Episode From the Free Music Alliance: King Edward by Mister Smith (CC-BY) from the Free Music Archive REVELATION by Soularflare (CC-BY) from the Free Music Archive From Pixabay: “Acidcore” by Jumping Bunny

This is a special bonus episode of Swords Against Madness featuring my new TTRPG, Undeadwood: Weird West RPG. Follow the Lost Soul Carson Swift, as he tries to help a bounty hunter track down a stolen item, only to be dragged into a battle between a powerful land-owner and a dark cult of alien mystics. This episode is played using my Undeadwood: Weird West TTRPG system, and its dark, American folklore-enriched setting of Wonkatonkwa County. The game is available on DriveThruRPG. You can also learn more about it through the game development podcast, Dead Man’s Dice, and on my weblog: Welcome to the Deathtrap. All music and Sound Effects are courtesy of Pixabay.

Miria, Edryk, and Kale finally reach the place where the All-Knowing believes there is a means to travel to the planes. The object they discover is far stranger than anything they could have imagined. In this session I reference the amazing role-playing game Dungeon Crawl Classics RPG from Goodman Games. DCC catches the strange psychedelic vibe of the books that inspired D&D – and Swords Against Madness – better than any other game on the market. It also borrows some rules for planar travel and plane shifting from Advanced Dungeons & Dragons and Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition to fill in the gaps in the Swords & Wizardry rule-set. Magic Item: The Wizard Van The Wizard Van is an enchanted 1974 Ford Econoline with air-brushed fantasy art on the sides and comfortable couches in the back. It is fuelled by magic-user spells. Each level of spell cast into its Flux Capacitor provides two hours of fuel. The van can shift to the Astral Plane by using 2 hours of fuel. It can also fly at 55 miles per hour, but has a ceiling of 50ft. and consumes twice as much fuel. Some Inspiration I mentioned the song Wizard Wagon by Glitter Wizard; if you want to check out this awesome (if explicit) song, you can hear it here! Cast This episode includes performances by: Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore Owen Rideout of The Boy in the Submarine Music in this Episode From the Free Music Alliance: King Edward by Mister Smith (CC-BY) from the Free Music Archive AI Generated Pieces: Fire up the Wizard Van by Doughnut Elemental (That’s me!) From Pixabay: “Stylish Blues Rock (Wild West)” by Brightest Avenue “Outlaw’s Reckoning” by Moodmode “Night Detective (no beats)” by Amaksi “Deep Forest” By NNChannel “Psychedelic Atmospheric Dream Guitar” by Sonican “Acidcore” by Jumping Bunny

The party may have destroyed the Dread Silkworm, a half-giant-caterpillar-half-god monster… but there are still more creatures devouring the juju garden, and a mission to fulfill. This episode opens with rounds 8-14 of a brutal gruelling battle! The Dread Silkworm may have fallen, but it is far from the only threat that the party was facing! This is an AI-free episode of Swords Against Madness. Cast This episode includes performances by: Jon Cohen from Tale of the Manticore Music in this Episode From the Free Music Alliance: King Edward by Mister Smith (CC-BY) from the Free Music Archive Used with special permission: Combat Cookie Tin by Jon Cohen From Pixabay: Aggressive Metal (Sinister) by Brightest Avenue Cybertech (Tense News Background) by Tune Tank “Stylish Blues Rock (Wild West)” by Brightest Avenue “Outlaw’s Reckoning” by Moodmode Magical Ritual Shaman Amazonian Indian by Denis-Pavlov Music Night Detective (no beats) by Amaksi Interstellar Dark by Lumine Wave Undeadwood: Weird West RPG Sometimes folks head out West, and just fall off the edge of the world.  They end up here. Wonkatonkwa County.  They just show up, confused, frightened, missing a year off their life with no idea where it went. A place full of walking dead, prehistoric monsters, black magic. t takes a special kind of grit to make your way here. You gotta be crazy, or nearly so just to make sense of what you are seeing. And if you weren’t crazy before, circumstance will be happy to oblige you. Best thing to do is get yourself a gun, and sober up the preacher so that he can give it a proper blessing, then find yourself something to hold on To. A bible. A bottle. It don’t really matter which…  After all, You ain’t in Texas anymore. Undeadwood: Weird West is a dark weird west game that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It embraces some of the stranger, more offbeat elements of American Folklore. Along with the devils, ghosts, cursed treasure, and mad scientists, you can expect to see hodags, jackalopes, and thunderbirds. My goal is to play a game that has all the action and grit of a pulp Western story from Lariat or Triple-X, but fused with the humorously macabre of The Addams Family or Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Played using 2d6. And featuring work from some of the greatest artists to ever grace the pages of pulp western magazines. Now available on DriveThruRPG