Tag: Inspirisles

Gogmagog, First of the Giants

‘Why are creation myths always so gory?’
On Gogmagog’s Fate, Matilda Oakley

The storied history of the Inspirisles and the fey that inhabit them differs depending on whom you speak to,but all agree on how it began.

The first of the giants, Gogmagog was suffering. The Crone of Craft had cursed him for stepping on her latest sculptures, a set of beautiful carvings now crushed under his massive, hairy feet.
Outraged, she conjured a hungry Lindworm inside of him, which slowly poisoned his every organ.

Desperate to stop the pain, Gogmagog reached down his own cavernous throat and pulled out his stomach, lungs and bladder before collapsing with an earthshaking thud.

And thus the four elemental gods were born. From his stomach came Kilna of the Fire, from his lungs Vorm of the Air, from his bladder Eathelyn of the Water and 
from his rotting body, Egrain of the Earth.

Feeling guilty over Gogmagog’s death, the Crone 
of Craft took his four children in and raised them as her own. And in return they gave her sculptures life, awakening the races of the Inspirisles.

Inspirisles History, Scriv the Bard

Monday 15th July

This week I began the art for Inspirisles. Whilst I had previously decided to hire an artist and advertised this position, after experimenting in the Apple shop with an iPad Air, I was convinced I could complete the project independently. I will post some examples of the setting art and character designs forthwith. I will need to consider if I can handle environmental vistas and location maps too.

My RPG Workshop mentee sent my the spooky cover for his adventure and it looks great. He is doing really well to keep up with the lessons and I will tackle them posthumuously when it comes time to write the Inspirisles adventure ‘Foundlings‘.

The adventure for TTRPG group Dark Galaxies Gaming (@DarkGalaxiesDM) has now been sent to the editors, who will tweak our writing and transfer it to the desired format using something like InDesign (jealous!). I can now move on to the first adventure following the introduction.

For the week ahead, I will continue to produce art for Inspirisles. As I’m away in Devon, I’ll get used to the iPad Air I’ve purchased and develop an illustrative style predominantly using watercolour brushes.

Go to relevant pages for these updates.

Monday 8th July

This week I finished planning Inspirisles. This was an important milestone, as I regard the systems, mechanics and concepts as the toughest part of the development process. On top of incorporating BSL through the Shaping mechanic, I have also added a teen-friendly way of handling character death and am working with Andre Domingos of ModBits in Bath to 3D print custom dice for the game. These bespoke d6s will be used for the Dusting mechanic.

I have edited my RPG Workshop mentees’ draft adventure. Though it was rough around the edges, I am used to workshopping material and I hope he will find the feedback helpful and informative.

The adventure for TTRPG group Dark Galaxies Gaming (@DarkGalaxiesDM) is really coming alone. I finished the introduction for the world of Dolderia ready for the Kickstarter launch sometime in September. My initial writing was declined due to its experimental format. However, instead of becoming disillusioned, I listened to the director’s feedback and rewrote the section. I’m really pleased with the result and it bodes well for my future TTRPG future and my modules for Inspirisles.

For the week ahead, I will begin to flesh out the Questing section of the Inspirisles, create a Descriptive Skill List for Hatchlings players new to Dungeons & Dragons and start work on the setting art with my new iPad Air!

Go to relevant pages for these updates.

Wyrm Art

My first experience using an iPad and stylus pen and it has been a revelation. I have long believed I can’t produce the art for Inspirisles, but this painterly, watercolour style would suit the setting perfectly and create that Celtic storybook feel I’ve been looking for.

Project Planner (wider)

Over the next 2 months, I will attempt to complete everything on the below list, starting with emails to local organisations about backing/artists. Once these elements are finished, I will strikethrough sections.

  • Contact emails to Action on Hearing Loss, National Deaf Children’s Society and Sion Hill art college, enquiring into backing/endorsement/collaboration.
  • BSL alphabet to match Hatchlings aesthetic.
  • Art list for Inspirisles, describing visuals throughout setting.
  • Make up Inspirisles player packs.
  • Business cards x250.
  • Character sheet skills list with simple descriptions.
  • Inclination table to determine Friend/Path.
  • Hire artist (doing myself)
  • Send promotional material to BristolCon 2019 contact for advertisement on Facebook.
  • Enlist deaf colleague for Kickstarter video.
  • Seek funding from Arts Council and other initiatives.

Dusting

A misspent youth, a creative adulthood.

The use of British Sign Language through the Inspirisles setting isn’t its only defining feature. I have a love for the history and folklore of Britain, but also a passion for film and in particular, the coming of age genre. Movies such as Stand by Me, Kes and This is England have had a huge influence on my writing and on my life and I wanted to have some element of these in my setting.
My Dusting mechanic allows DMs to transport their players to any era in British history. Throughout campaigns, players will travel through the All’s Well to influence the children of Earth and restore belief in the Fey. And this isn’t restricted to contemporary culture; DMs can choose to focus on any point in our history.
For me, the 1980s are the most influential and I can imagine the Fey entering amusement arcades with the cacophonous lights and sounds of a dozen cabinets and gamblers and the youngsters whittling away their pocket money for another round of Street Fighter II. This is where I’d set my Inspirisles campaign. Where will you set yours?

Creation Myth

The Inspired

The storied history of the Inspirisles and the Fey that inhabit them differs depending on who you speak to, but all agree on how it began. The first of the giants, Gogmagog, was suffering. The Crone of Craft had cursed him for stepping on her latest sculptures, a set of beautiful carvings now crushed under his massive, hairy feet. Outraged, she conjured a hungry Lindworm inside of him, which slowly poisoned his every organ. Desperate to stop the pain, Gogmagog reached down his own cavernous throat and pulled out his stomach, lungs and bladder before collapsing with an earthshaking thud. And so the four elemental gods were born. From his stomach came Kilna of the Fire, from his lungs Vorm of the Air, from his bladder Aqualis of the Water and from his rotting body, Egrain of the Earth. Feeling guilty over Gogmagog’s death, the Crone of Craft took his four children in and raised them as her own. And in return they gave her sculptures life, awakening the races of the Inspirisles.