Legend! (and Lore!) [Monday Meeting Notes]

Legend:

The Scion: God crowdfunding on BackerKit is approaching its final week, and we have passed $100,000 in funding and 1850 backers! The comments section has some great commentary in it, with Hiromi and Matthew popping in to expand and clarify people’s notes.

Please do use the feedback link if you are a backer, besides leaving comments in the general campaign page, as the link provided with the revealed text from the book goes right to the team. Much like our errata links later in the book creation process.

We’re all really happy with how well this campaign has gone so far, and we hope all of you are as well!

Lore:

At the top of the page, you’ll see the pantheon symbol for the Mayan gods, the K’uh. As always with the Scion pantheon symbols, I worked with a set of art notes and links that gave me a selection from the writers and devs of what they considered the most important imagery. For the K’uh, time – as in months and years – was stressed as a visual motif.

Now, I had to deal with a bit of a complication for this one, as I wanted to provide a unique symbol as always, yet there are environmental and cultural similarities between the Mayans and the Aztecs (I had already veered away from using anything visual near them for the Incan symbol).

For example, it was suggested that the K’uh symbol include a jaguar motif, but that was already where I had gone years ago with the Aztec symbol. Instead, I leaned into the fact that both cultures have a feathered serpent legend (and god) and used the huge Incan sculpted heads of Kukulkan as models for those. For the Aztec, I included a disc of gold to represent part of the story, but for the Mayans the loss was different and I wanted to represent that.

The red-bordered page behind the other imagery represents a page of one of the few (four?) surviving Mayan Codices – the rest having been destroyed wherever found by the Spanish invaders. Astronomical and cultural information up in flames. Combined with the large central calendar stone, based on one representation of their calendar, I thought the two elements provided a poignant connection to that theme of Time we wanted to stress.

(For anyone hoping that there will be other Scion: God pantheon symbols revealed before the crowdfunding campaign is done, please accept my apologies for only just having finished this one. Our recent move dovetailing right into Inktober just ate up my available time. Fear not, though, all of them will be done in time for the book itself!)

Exalted Essence art by Melissa Uran

Legend:

It’s Legendlore month!

I only touched on this last week, but now we’re right here in November and as part of our Tenth Anniversary Celebration for Onyx Path, we’re focusing on the Legendlore game line! Legendlore is a fantasy game based off a long-running comicbook about people from our world traveling to another world of magic, dragons, and demons. And lots of other stuff. It’s a game using the 5e system from the most beloved and awesome TTRPG evah, so it’s easy to play, with a great background to jump right into, and you can play the game as yourself (newly transported from our world), a version of yourself redone so you have adapted to the “rules” of that world, or as a full-fledged inhabitant.

Part of the monthly celebration is that Legendlore and its Screen‘s PDFs are 90% off on DTRPG, so if anything we talk about all month is something you find intriguing, it’s a relatively painless way to sample the game. And if you need a physical book to sample it – why, our friends at IPR have the physical versions of the gamebook and screen on sale for 50%off this month, as well!

Don’t worry, we’ll be talking a lot more about the nitty-gritty of the setting before the month is over. In fact, this coming Friday’s Onyx Pathcast features Matthew interviewing Legendlore‘s developer Steffie de Vaan, and they’ll be taking a deep-dive into the lore.

Lore:

Speaking of lore, here’s just a little bit about what is known as The Crossing; that transit from our world to the fantasy one. It can just be treated as a portal, albeit one that can transform the user, but Matthew and Steffie go into a sort of designer brainstorm to suggest that The Crossing can be an integral part of your campaign. Leading into the transit, there’s potential for an epic quest in our world to uncover the secrets that allow The Crossing. It can be something more object-oriented like a puzzle-box you (your character) needs to solve, or a ritual you might not even be aware that you are participating in.

Maybe there are ramifications in the fantasy world based on how you arrive – did you remember to bring the puzzle-box with you, and how does that affect things? Did you come willingly, were you tricked? How and by whom…and can you get back? If you even want to.

There’s certainly a lot of potential playing with the dials and levers that determine what sort of campaign you are playing, and that’s just an example using that very early, yet pivotal and common, moment.

Please do let us know if you have used, or just conceptualized, other methods for utilizing a dimension-spanning portal in your games – right there below in the Comments!

TC: Adventure! art by Durwin Talon

Legend:

Last week, I revealed that all the art I was creating daily for Inktober was concept art illustrating creatures from The World Below, our new game line using the Storypath Ultra system to play in a dark fantasy genre game where characters are surviving below ground because of some sort of extinction event on the surface.

Matthew created the game, and has set up a channel for it within our Onyx Path Discord. He re-posted all 31 pieces of art, so that’s the only place you can see them all before we make the game itself. There’s already some commentary there and some questions that the devs and writers are answering..mostly. As our newest game line that we’ve gone public with, we’ve still got tons of secret stuff and just generally info that we want to roll out only once we’re sure of.

Since my lil’ drawrings are very clearly concept art, there’s plenty of room for change as concept art does, and so we felt it was OK to present them to everybody. Some other ideas, though, we still need to kick the tires on.

The World Below Provides.

Lore:

Not really Lore about The World Below, but we didn’t want any of you to miss this Red Bubble Sale https://www.redbubble.com/people/theonyxpath/shop which contains many of our merchandise items on our Red Bubble store.

Nor do we want you to miss the ongoing massive Exalted sale on DTRPG! Check it out here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/sale.php

Exalted Essence art by Priscilla Kim

Legend:

I kind of hinted at the idea that The World Below is just the announced new game line, but to put it out there outright: we have more. As we’ve been able to push forward a bunch of projects that got stalled – including non-fatsplat Exalted books – that has opened us up bandwidth-wise for tackling new projects.

And we have.

Lore:

You’ll be hearing about those as we move into next year in a couple of months, as The World Below and Storypath Ultra are really the beginnings of some very exciting times! And exciting games! Basically, we’ve still got a ton of stories to tell in all genres, and games to make so we (and you!) can tell them, even after:

TEN YEARS, MANY WORLDS, ONE PATH!


BLURBS!


KICKSTARTER/CROWDFUNDING!

Over $101,000 raised so far on BackerKit crowdfunding… Scion: God!

Join over 1850 other folks who have already backed the Scion: God Backer Kit crowdfunding campaign! Can you help us make it to over 2000?

https://www.backerkit.com/call_to_action/a0c8d51d-83cd-4f6c-8577-f80482b2c1f8/landing


Onyx Path Media!

This week:

Matthew does a Legendlore deep dive with developer Steffie de Vaan! Get all the inside info on this fantastic fantasy game!

As always, this Friday’s Onyx Pathcast will be on Podbean or your favorite podcast venue! https://onyxpathcast.podbean.com/


Onyx Path Media now has its own blog on Tuesdays! We’ll continue posting our highlight of the week here, but Tuesday will be the day to visit if you want to catch up on actual plays, interviews, deep dives, and other assorted Onyx Path media!

Please check out our attached media schedule for the impressive number of videos on our Twitch channel this week! In particular, keep those eyes open for our Storypath Showcase, where we give an excellent profile of our various Storypath games and how to play them!

MEDIA HIGHLIGHT OF THE WEEK:

We profiled Devil’s Luck Gaming last week, but we have more to say! They’re back with Hymns of the Unconquered Sun for Exalted, all in magnificent costumes as ever. Check out their website here and give them a follow (and subscribe!) on Twitchhttps://devilsluckgaming.com/shows and https://www.twitch.tv/devilsluckgaming

The Onyx Path News discusses recent and upcoming releases! You can find it on our YouTube channel (click the bell to be informed when we go live!) but if you missed the last episode, here it is: https://youtu.be/8HbqbT6SBxw


Virtual Tabletop!

The Scion: Origin and Scion Hero Compendiums are now available on Roll20!

https://marketplace.roll20.net/browse/publisher/1716/onyx-path-publishing

Scion is just the start! They Came From Beneath the Sea! and other
Onyx Path RPGs are in development for Roll20 virtual tabletop!

The first of our official Scion sheets designed for Foundry VTT are
now available!

Direct Link: https://foundryvtt.co

Looking for more virtual tabletop resources? We have a selection of
Tokens, Encounters, and more available now at DriveThruRPG!

Get ’em here: 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!

Looking for our Deluxe or Prestige Edition books, dice, and screens? Try this link! http://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Onyx-Path-Publishing/

The Legendlore Hardcover and Screen are 50% off on IPR: https://www.indiepressrevolution.com/xcart/Deals-and-Specials/

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

Here’s the Exalted Sale! https://www.drivethrurpg.com/sale.php

The Legendlore PDF and PDF screen are 90% off on DTRPG!

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/370797

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product/377510

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).

Check out the Trinity Continuum: Aeon novellas Dawn and Meridian in the Kindle store!


On Sale This Week!

Claws and wings and fiery breath! Scion: Dragon explodes across The World of Scion this Weds in PDF and physical book PoD formats on DTRPG!

You have been chosen by a Dragon, gifted with magic and the incredible ability to shape shift into one of their terrible and awesome forms. In a World of myth, yours has been rewritten time and again, and yet Dragons remember all truths. You are an agent in an ancient war, working behind the lines and preparing for a battle for the fate of The World.

Discover the Truth. Find yourself. Make your own destiny.

Scion: Dragon details the stories of Heirs, those chosen by Dragons to act within The World as their agents. It is the story of discovering history, subverting enemies, and espionage. Your Draconic patron seeks to embroil you in millennia old plots and ancient grudges as shadowy manipulators. All the while, you must learn their secrets, and either embrace the Dragon’s goals for you or make your own. 

The Scion: Dragon is a standalone game in the World of Scion, and is meant for use with Scion: Origin. Inside, you will find:

• Character creation system for Heirs; those chosen by Dragons to enact their plots in The World.

• Knacks, Spells, and all the draconic magic wielded by Heirs, powered by the Storypath System.

• Six Flights: Draq, Joka, Lindwurm, Long, Naga, and Serpent Dragons, all suitable for patronage of your Heirs.

• Information about The World from the Dragon’s perspective, complete with plots and hooks to get your characters deep into draconic intrigue.


Conventions!

Because dates for physical conventions are subject to change due to the current COVID-19 outbreak, we don’t yet have a list of upcoming physical conventions. Instead, keep an eye out here for more virtual conventions we’re going to be involved with!

Game Night With Onyx Path Publishing at Start.Playing is the last Friday every month! Our special focus this month will be Legendlore! (But any of our game lines are welcome!)

Please spread the word about GMing games as much as
possible. Details on how list a game are at the bottom of the page in
the FAQ:

https://startplaying.games/event/game-night-onyx-path


And now, the new project status updates!

Our full list of projects will be available monthly on our blog! Check out October’s full list report here:http://theonyxpath.com/release-roundup-october-2022/

DEVELOPMENT STATUS FROM EDDY

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

First Draft

They Came From! – Tasty Bit – January 2023

  • Eddy: The first of the Tasty Bits for next year. We’re trying something new this year, so all I’ll say at the moment is that it’ll be for They Came From Beneath the Sea!

Development

Storypath Fantasy – The World Below

  • Matthew: This project has jumped ahead to development as I wade in to tackle the pieces needed to get this book functioning as a whole! It’s a very exciting time and the team on this game have done sterling work so far. Hopefully it won’t be too long before we can start sharing some concrete concepts from the game on this blog!

Scion – Tasty Bit – Companions

  • Eddy: Our Tasty Bit about animal companions for Scions is zooming along! The first draft was really strong, so aside from a few tweaks, it’s now ready for development!

Editing

Exalted – Sidereals

  • Eddy: The dev team have been really kicking ass on this, putting Sidereals in queue for editing (after a quick review by the in-house developers, of course).

ART DIRECTION FROM MIKE CHANEY!

In Art Direction

  • Ex3 Exigents – Putting together art buy for the remaining art.
  • Ex3 Sidereals KS – working on fancy KS graphics.
  • Ex3 Crucible of Legends – Contracting… I’m looking over some new artists samples for that one.

In Layout

Proofing

  • TCFBTG Monsters from the Crypt – 1st Proof.
  • TC Adventure! – 2nd Proof.
  • Ex3 Adversaries – At Paradox.

Indexing

  • M20 Victorian Age

At Press

  • Scion Dragon Screen – Printing started.
  • Scion Masks of the Mythos – Files at traditional printer.
  • Scion Masks of the Mythos Screen – Printing started.
  • CtL 2e Kith and Kin – PoD proofs on the way.
  • TC: Mission Statements PoD proofs ordered.
  • Squeaks in the Deep Jumpstart – Gathering backer errata this week.
  • TC: Aberrant – Proteus Nova Compendium – Gathering backer errata this week.
  • CtL Hollow Courts Novella – Getting that out to KS backers this week.
  • Scion Dragon – Files sent to traditional printer. PDF and physical book PoD versions on sale this Weds on DTRPG!

Today’s Reason to Celebrate!

If the results of the Tuesday elections here in the US allow us to get there, we can celebrate that this Thursday the 10th is the 25th anniversary of the publication of the original Aeon/Trinity core book – the one with the plastic cover and neon red day-glo spiral binding. We won a printing award for that! Plus, in a timely coincidence considering the month, Thursday is also the one year anniversary of the publication of the Legendlore RPG!


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14 responses to “Legend! (and Lore!) [Monday Meeting Notes]”

  1. Maxime Lemaire Avatar
    Maxime Lemaire

    This AMAZING pantheon symbol is perfect timing as I was planning to come here and beg you guys to add more of them to your redbubble store! We’re missing the Nemetondevos and Teros from the companion, as well as all five Demigod ones. They make for great t-shirts, I’d love if you could add the rest of them!

    1. richt Avatar
      richt

      They would indeed! And thanks, glad you liked the K’uh symbol – it was a lot of fun to figure out and create!

  2. Pineapple ? Avatar
    Pineapple ?

    Crossings?

    Like walking into a heat haze on a summer’s day on a road but you do actually get closer to it till its right in front of you and stepping through?

    Or the shadow of a big ol ominous tree or a mid-distant mountain that swings round through the day and sneaks up on you while you’re not paying attention until it swallows you up?

    1. richt Avatar
      richt

      Both are kind of poetic – nice!

  3. Chris jones Avatar
    Chris jones

    Thinking about portals here, and how to push through the gateway to the realm of calm; where all pain is gone, and the mind clears itself of all distractions.
    Crossing over requires you to lay in a bath, set the tap to drip slowly onto your forehead, and hang a bright light above you. As the tub slowly fills and the light burns an echo into your vision, you feel yourself slipping over. Only when the water covers your ears and drowns out any distractions do you finally slide across.

    1. richt Avatar
      richt

      Is this for a game, or real life? 😀

      1. Chris jones Avatar
        Chris jones

        We have crazy saturday nights here!

  4. Matthew Lutz Avatar
    Matthew Lutz

    I’m at the car dealership getting an oil change and discovered that their free wifi actually blocks Onyx Path’s website, forcing me to use a VPN. Commence conspiracy theories…

    1. richt Avatar
      richt

      Darn Hasbro car dealership!

  5. PHP_Princess Avatar
    PHP_Princess

    A portal with a hospital on top.

    Years ago, a doctor returned from the world of Legendlore and realized he could monetize Crossings. He built a hospital atop the portal that once returned him home. Now he whispers in the ears of sick patients, telling them he can send them to a place where they are well…if they give him a payment of his own choosing first.

    When the patients agree he collects the payment, has them sign a contract in a foreign language, and sends them into the hospital basement for an ‘MRI scan.’ Patients enter the MRI and never come out the other side, transported into the world of Legendlore instead.

    The patients come out the other side as healthy as they want to be. To whom and to where they are sent is a story for another day.

    1. richt Avatar
      richt

      Cool- and deviously nasty-

      1. PHP_Princess Avatar
        PHP_Princess

        Ty! I was considering versatility as well as how spooky a Crossing could be. The ST could have the doctor working for any Legendlore faction and the PCs could be sent to anyone, making it an integral-but-easy plot hook to bring into any campaign

  6. bouik Avatar
    bouik

    Hello,

    Does “Fallen Worlds” sourcebook for Mage the Awakening is still in the works?

    1. richt Avatar
      richt

      Is it a book we’d still like to do? Yes. Is it a book approved by Paradox? No. Until it is, we can not proceed.