We’re not exactly sure what kind of instruments the ven had, although a few engravings give us hints. We know the two most popular ven instruments strongly resembled the harpsichord and the guitar. The ven called these the pendala and the jiv, respectively. The pendala was a little larger than our own historical harpsichord, although…
One again, the redoubtable gobi has provided me with incredibleness. Check out the heraldry for the Houses.
First big news thing. Houses will not be at GenCon. I’m not done yet and if I wanted Houses to be at GenCon, I should have been done a month ago. This also means I won’t be at GenCon. Frankly, I have too much repair work to do on my life to get up and…
Devils and DetailsGamers seem obsessed with details. They ask a general question, you give a general answer. They ask a more specific question, you give a more specific answer. Then, their questions start getting really small. Like fit in your pocket small. Here’s an example. Question: The ven seem to have very particular rules on…
When it comes to justice, nobles don’t get a free ride. Yes, they are the most influential class in society. Yes, they are the wealthiest. Yes, they own armies, capable of destroying entire villages and cities. Um, wait. No. No armies. (We’re getting to it.) Nobles also have an obligation to those who serve them,…
We’ve talked about opera. Now, let’s talk about that “lesser” Art. The one the nobility ignore. The common man’s opera. Let’s talk about theater. No self-respecting man or woman of the Senate would ever be caught dead in a theater. Where the commoners put on their unremarkable pageants. Where actors summon inspiration from their own…
An expanded and revised entry on blood opera. Enjoy Nothing compares to opera. The high alchemical Art, incorporating all other Arts. Drama. Music. Architecture. Dance. And, of course, love and revenge. Ven opera (the actual ven word best translates as “The Art that encompasses all other Arts”) is full of spectacle. Jim Steinman meets John…
So, I’m including Player and Game Master chapters for Houses of the Blooded and I realized what I had just written would have made a great Play Dirty chapter. Specifically, a follow-up on the “play dirty for players” chapter. That’s right, more goodies for you player-types. Don’t worry, you don’t need to know anything about…
When a plot has been given poetry, a duel is not enough. A Hate. The holy and sacred declaration of Revenge.— The Duel There are circumstances when a duel will not satisfy honor. When an injury is so egregious, simple combat will not heal the wound. An elaborate plan to discredit and dishonor. A beloved…
The ven are civilized creatures. They agree upon a set of laws, and abide by those laws, surrendering certain civil liberties in exchange for safety. Without this mutual agreement, the ven would be reduced to chaos. Nobles are the keepers of civilization, the watershed against that chaos. Even still, there comes a time when words…