I’m not sure which of these two fighters facing off are Essential and which one is Conventional, but it looks like they’re going to really mix it up!

And I’m really mixing it up right now, because I want to talk about both the Onyx Path Virtual Convention starting on Fri 4pm EDT on our Twitch channel and the ongoing BackerKit crowdfunding campaign we’re doing for the Exalted Essence Storyteller’s Guide!

I’ll roll into that one first since it is ongoing – we’re not quite halfway there and we’ve already almost tripled the funding thanks to over 800 backers, and we’re barreling towards the third Stretch Goal!

The SGs for this one have started out really meaty, so they are spread further apart than we normally set our SGs, but we think you’ll benefit more with quality over quantity!

But, I could be wrong and we’ll only know once the campaign is over in a few weeks.

Meanwhile, here’s a hefty teaser from the book from the legendary H:

Exalted has always been a game with interesting, powerful, and world-shaping magic close to its heart. Third Edition gave its sorcerers signature control spells, marking them both as practitioners of sorcery and giving them greater control over their chosen spell’s effects. The Storyteller’s Guide brings rules for control spells to Essence, enabling players to further their characters’ connections with the magics they wield. 

Control Spells

Control spells are the singular spells that epitomize the sorcerers’ magical preeminence. The spell is written in the sorcerer’s Essence, marking them with a visible otherworldly brand that identifies the Exalt as a sorcerer. The spell is shaped more easily, and performs beyond the range of its codified limits, performing flexible acts within the spirit of the spell, such as creating small electric webs with Lightning Spider or utilizing Death of Obsidian Butterflies to craft a statue of glass butterflies.

Control spells have the following benefits:

Choose one spell as the control spell. Each time the character initiates into a new level of sorcery or necromancy, she gains a new control spell to express this newfound understanding.

The spell costs 1 less Will to activate.

The Exalt gains a cosmetic mark, strange physical change, or peculiar occult phenomena reflecting their control spell, such as a brand-like sigil, casting no shadow, becoming a Creature of Darkness (Exalted: Essence p.61), or appearing in others dreams who sleep nearby. If this causes a significant setback, the Exalt gains a personal milestone.

The spell is flexible, and the Exalt may improvise with the spell, as though it were a charm (Exalted: Essence p.184). The Exalt may spend a personal milestone to learn a unique personal mode for the spell.

Example Control Spells

Wood Dragon Claw: The sorcerer’s arm is unnaturally withered or scaled with bark. The Exalt may blossom a single fruit or flower, barricade a door, or harmlessly shed a finger for kindling.

Thorn Limb Transformation: A wicked bounty of sharp growth. For 1 mote the sorcerers adds an extra tag, this may be changed freely each combat. If the sorcerer uses the Ensnare gambit successfully, the target takes a one-time environmental hazard with a difficulty of sorcerer’s Essence+2 and Essence in damage.

Magma Kraken: The sorcerer’s eyes are pools of fire, smoke issues from their mouth, or their footsteps smolder. The Exalt might dismiss smoke filling a room, cause a minor earthquake, be carried over lava unharmed, or terrify a kraken.

Embrace of Fiery-Depths: The molten cephalopod rises. The sorcerer and any allies in close range are protected within a lava dome (which counts as part of the spell’s environmental hazard). The dome moves with the sorcerer, acts as heavy cover, and characters protected by it ignore all heat-based environmental damage.

Chariot of the Blazing Sun: The sorcerer’s palms are writ a prayer to Mercury and the Unconquered Sun, a luminous halo hovers above her, no other horse or chariot will bear her. The Exalt might leave a message in the sky, cause a false dawn, or instantly tame a wild horse at sunset.

Unconquered Tribute: Hail who outraces the Sun. Once per Story the sorcerer may spend 3 motes when arriving on the chariot. All spirits with Essence equal to or less than the Exalt who witness the sorcerer’s arrival gain a Major Intimacy of respect for the sorcerer. Unless reinforced, it fades at the end of the Story.

Thanks, H! Of course, we’re having an Exalted (and Essence) panel during Onyx Path Virtual Con, so here’s hoping a bunch of our Exalted fans drop by!

Oh, wait. That does segue right into talking about the Con! What a coincidence! And even more of a coincidence that Travis would have a note about the Con:

Onyx Path Con 2026 is this weekend! We have a weekend stuffed with panels and live Q&A sessions on our Twitch channel! Tune in for all the news and updates on What’s Up With Onyx Path in our 15th year of business! If you’d like to see our games in action, we have a schedule filled with actual plays at twitch.tv/plasticageplays If you want to run or play games during the convention, there’s still time to sign up over on Startplaying! Visit https://startplaying.games/event/onyx-path-virtual-game-convention-2026 to see what’s on offer, find a game to play in, or sign up to run something yourself!

We hope to see you at the show!

He mentions something that we’re all just flabbergasted about, in that this is Onyx Path‘s fifteenth year in business! In honor of that, we’ve set up a little overall sale on DTRPG…and then maybe some flash sales during the show!

We’re going to be expressing our thanks to you all for coming on this journey; fifteen years walking/trotting/skipping/shambling together along the Onyx Path, but I’m gonna say thanks to all of you here, too!

Thank you one and all for 15 years of fun!

We’ll be revealing what we’re doing with the Curseborne “Secret Project”, and all those videos; what’s next for Scion with two cool announcements; what the end of the year crowdfunder for Exalted will be for; reveal the next game line in the Earthbane Cycle, and much, much more!

The Convention starts with the Opening Ceremonies at 4pm EDT on our Twitch channel, and continues through until the Closing Ceremonies on Sunday! I’ll be at both, and at many panels in between – hope to see you there!

You know who has his own panel about our featured charity and their game? Jolly Jack Berkenstock! He’ll be talking all about The Bodhanna Group and their TTRPG Branch Riders! (I might be on that panel too, now that I think about it…) Here’s Jack:

Hey friends, fans, and citizens of the Realms – Jolly Jack Berkenstock Jr. here with another missive from Branch Riders headquarters.  We are coming back this week with the final episode in our Expanding the Realms series – showing all the possibilities that Branch Riders offers players and GMs of all stripes.  This week’s focus will be completing our whirlwind tour of the realms by stopping by the final two.  The first destination will be the athletically consumed landscape of X-Games gone wild – filled with anthros aplenty – the Rails!  Hear all about the various mashups and how the milk-runners evade the vicious juice-induced Feral.  Then climb through the apocalyptic ruins of the Terminal as we avoid detection from Zepto – the malevolent A.I. that took its job of rooting out truth far too seriously, leaving the citizens to struggle for resources or attempt to jump to the Cloud.

As usual, join this week with Jack and Doug as they share backstories, secrets, and showcase the unique settings and how you can shape them for whatever your table needs.  The show will broadcast live at 8PM EST on Tuesdays on the Onyx Path Twitch channel.  Also, catch up if you have missed any of the episodes by going to the Onyx Path YouTube channel.  Follow the links below!  

And prepare for the next phase of Tuesday evenings as we chat briefly about the actual play series The Chase, run by our own Captain – James Kirk!

ONYX PATH TWITCH – To watch live!

ONYX PATH YOUTUBE – To get caught up!

And that’s not all!  We are double-checking any errata submitted for the Branch Facilitators Guide.  Please stand by for upcoming news regarding when the final version will be available for purchase, as well as codes for backers to receive their final versions.  We hope you all are enjoying the title and all of the great information contained within.

This weekend, join Jolly Jack as he presents two panels at the Onyx Path Virtual Convention.  Saturday night Jack will be running his players through an exciting actual play to further showcase the strength and fun of Branch Riders!  This will take place on the Plastic Age Plays Twitch channel from 9pm to 12am EST on Saturday, June 6th.  Then join the Jolly one himself as he and Rich sit down to talk about the future of Branch Riders and some of the cool stuff we have been cooking up.  This panel will be on the main Onyx Path Twitch on Sunday, June 7th at 12:30pm EST.  See you there!

And as we mentioned previously, If you’ll be in Columbus, OH, during Origins Game Fair, stop by Booth 1502 and see all the wonderful things as we launch Branch Riders at Origins!  We’ll have books, Condition Card decks, Exposure Trackers and themed minis that you can ONLY get directly from Bodhana.  Also enjoy some of the fundraising ephemera we have to help the cause – including rubber ducks, Bodhana books and some new dice enhancement strategies – in both dice reward and dice punishment varieties.  Pictures to follow soon or see them unveiled at Origins! Come by and pick up your copy of Branch Riders… or get signatures from some of the design team, who will be on hand!  Join us the week of June 17th – June 21st, 2026!  Look for the cool Autumn colors and the duckies!

Thanks, Jack! The list of all the panels, both on our Twitch and Plastic Age Plays‘ is below in the Convention section of The Blurbs! As usual, we also have other programming on our Twitch this week, just not when the OPVCon is running! Here’s the official info:

This week on Twitch Comrade Bubbles returns with a new installment of Behind the Screen. This week they will be planning the bullet point outlines for the adventures they’ll be running at Onyx Path Con! Join them on Tuesday at 9 AM EDT. After that, we have the final episode of Expanding Your Realms on Tuesday at 9 PM EDT, as Jack Berkenstock completes his delve into the world of Branch Riders! Don’t miss out on the conclusion of this deep delve into the eight realms, one mission of Branch Riders! On Wednesday at 7 PM EDT, Corbin comes back to the channel for more Accursed in Boston, and Thursday at 3 PM EDT Tom Murr comes back to the channel for another installment of Guiding the Path, leading us into Onyx Path Virtual Gaming Convention on Friday!

So there you go: portrait of a gaming studio gearing up for the weekend convention! Hope you can join us, and look forward to hearing your reactions even if you can’t, as we talk all about what’s new with our:

Many Worlds… One Path!

---

Blurbs!

---

Crowdfunding!

Funded in 2.5 Hours On BackerKit: Exalted Essence Storyteller’s Guide! Almost 300% Funded!

Follow this link to join over 800 backers!

https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/56e7c5a3-11a9-4eba-8c46-a4c306b51e57/landing

---

Onyx Path Media!

Check out our attached media schedule for the videos on our Twitch channel this week!

On this week’s Onyx Path News, Matthew discusses Dangerous Environs, the Exalted: Essence Storyteller’s Guide, and Onyx Path Con: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s97SrPzQu_M

And Matthew dives even deeper into Onyx Path Con previews over on The Gentleman Gamer YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/QcKKHYkVPBQ

---

Virtual Tabletop!

Scion Demigod Available on Roll20 NOW!

The Scion: Origin and Scion Hero Compendiums are now available on Roll20!
https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/publisher/1716/onyx-path-publishing

The first of our official Scion sheets designed for Foundry VTT are now available! https://foundryvtt.co

They Came From Beneath the Sea! on Roll20 VTT!
https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/bundle/22308/they-came-from-beneath-the-sea

Looking for more virtual tabletop resources? We have a selection of tokens, encounters, and more available now at DriveThruRPG! https://bit.ly/3SnrNJ7

---

Our Sales Partners!

We’re working with Studio2 to provide our traditionally printed books out into your local game stores. Game stores can order via their usual distributors, and can also contact Studio2 directly. And individuals can check out our projects via the links below!

Select Chronicles of Darkness Screens and Monarchies of Mau books,
screens, and dice 50% off at Studio 2:
https://studio2publishing.com/collections/onx-onyx-path-publishing

Some more deluxe books have popped up on Studio 2, with more on the way.

https://studio2publishing.com/collections/onx-onyx-path-publishing

As always, you can find Onyx Path’s titles in PDF and PoD versions at DriveThruRPG.com!

Amazon and Barnes & Noble!

You can now read our fiction from the comfort and convenience of your Kindle (from Amazon) and Nook (from Barnes & Noble).

---

On Sale This Week!

Being a god isn’t easy, so here’s a book of story prompts to make your divine existence a bit easier! Scion: God‘s Divine Inspiration – Wednesday on DTRPG in simply divine PDF and PoD versions!

On Sale Last Week!

This month’s Tasty Bit PDF gives you a fresh look at Dangerous Environs for SPU games! Only on DTRPG!

---

Conventions!

Here’s where you can find out more info on physical and virtual conventions we’re going to be involved with!

Onyx Path Virtual Gaming Convention, June 5th – 7th THIS WEEKEND!

Origins Game Fair, June 17th – 21st (We’ll be in the Studio 2 booth)

---

Project Status Updates!

Our full list of projects will be available monthly on our blog! Check out May’s full list report here: https://theonyxpath.com/release-roundup-may-2026/

DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM EDDY!

Here are the projects that moved to the next stage of production:

Redlines

Storypath – SPU Tasty Bit – Cybernetics (August 2026)

• Our August Tasty Bit will dig more into cybernetics! The first draft is done early, so I plan to give this a look for redlines soon.

Manuscript Approval

Exalted – Alchemicals Companion: Avatars of Brass and Shadow

• Lots of Alchemicals stuff going on! The companion book, created by stretch goals from the original crowdfunding campaign, is developed and ready for approvals!

---

ART DIRECTION FROM MIKE CHANEY!

In Art Direction

• Ex3 Champions of the Divine Flame – Sent over to DAC.
• Ex Essence PG – Slowly but surely….
• Curseborne PG – Getting there. I’m gonna contact some newer artists this week.
• Curseborne Tangled Webs – Awaiting the last of the half page art. Just a couple of pieces.
• Curseborne Solo – Art buy configured and art notes in hand.
• Curseborne Compact Edition – Figuring out the art needs.
• Monster Kingdoms – With Gong.
• Ex Essence STG (BK) – It’s a goin.

Layout Queue

• Pugmire 2e Unleashed – With Ron Thompson.
• At The Gates – Workin on it.
• TC Aeon Tasty Bit Omnibus #2
• Izzy Curseborne Novella – Doing up the cover.
• Curseborne Screen
• ATG Bookmarks

Proofing Queue

• Curseborne Community Content Stuff 
• Curseborne Jumpstart
• Ex3 Alchemicals – Second proof.
• Making of Curseborne – First proof fixes.

At Press

• They Came From the RPG Antho – Shipping from printer to fulfillment shippers.
• Curseborne – Reviewing printer quote stuff. Now we navigate the murky waters of getting books and the peripheral stuff printed up.
• Branch Riders Facilitator’s Guide – Backer PDF out to backers.
• TCF Cyclops Cave Jumpstart – Prepping Advance PDF.
• Scion God Jumpstart – PoD proof ordered.
• TCF the Danger Zone – PoD proof ordered.
• Scion God Divine Inspiration – PDF and PoD versions on sale this Weds on DTRPG!

---

Today’s Reason to Celebrate!

If you wonder about the many rainbow flags on our site, it’s because today is the start of LGBTQ Pride Month: a month-long observance dedicated to the celebration of LGBTQ pride, commemorating the contributions of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer culture and community. June became recognized as Pride Month in the United States to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising. President Bill Clinton officially declared in a presidential proclamation that June would be “Gay and Lesbian Pride Month” in 1999. Barack Obama expanded the official Pride Month recognition in 2011, including the whole of the LGBT community.