Dies ist Folge 26 der DSA-Romantasy-Serie “Serenissima”.

Jeden Samstag erscheint eine neue Folge hier im Scriptorium. Serenissima ist von vorne bis hinten 100% menschengemacht, keine KI. Alle Illustrationen zu diesem Projekt sind selbst erstellt (von Ramona von Brasch).

Du kennst die Serie noch nicht? Dann findest du hier ihren Anfang:

>> www.ulisses-ebooks.de/product/541071 <<

Hinweis: Serenissima richtet sich an ein erwachsenes Publikum. Es enthält sexuell explizite Szenen, die nicht für Kinderaugen bestimmt sind.

When designing a RPG campaign, scenario or adventure, it’s the task of the GM to come up with unique situations for the participants to battle or problem solve their way out.  However, there are many different types of problem solving skills the GM can require from the participants.  This puzzle was specifically designed to be incorporated within a RPG and to provide the players with an opportunity to solve an in-game puzzle that is woven into the story.  The statistics have been intentionally left out so that it might be used in any number of systems as well as formats (i.e. tabletops, LARPs, etc.) 

This puzzle was designed to be used in a variety of ways. Although we include a brief possible back story, the story details are omitted from the clues so that the GM has the maximum amount of flexibility. They can either just be cut out (once printed), but ripping the edges can make them look a lot cooler!

Introduction: This puzzle involves the collection of three different logical statements. How you choose to award/give the three statements is up to you, though we provide a fun way to do so in our back story detailed below. The three pieces of paper from this packet that you’ll need for this puzzle are “Do not put the diamond on the first altar”, “Put the sapphire on the 2^nd altar, but not in the iron goblet” and “Put the ruby in the silver goblet.”

credits

Hobgoblins: The Legion

Hobgoblins: The Legion is a monster supplement for 5e that presents hobgoblins as a disciplined military civilization rather than scattered warbands. Instead of treating hobgoblins as slightly more organized goblins, this book frames them as a fully structured legionary war machine built on hierarchy, doctrine, and relentless battlefield discipline.

The intent of this product is mechanical clarity and encounter variety without chaotic escalation. Each stat block represents a defined military role within a functioning army: skirmishers, legion infantry, siege crews, cavalry, and officers who maintain strict command structures. Hobgoblins fight as a coordinated force where formation, positioning, and command authority determine the flow of battle.

These hobgoblins are not raiders driven by impulse. They are soldiers trained for war from youth, operating within a rigid chain of command that mirrors organized human militaries but with the brutal efficiency of hobgoblin culture. Breaking their formations, isolating officers, or disrupting their doctrine becomes the key to defeating them.

Use these stat blocks to represent a hobgoblin warhost on campaign, a fortified legion encampment, or the expanding frontier of a disciplined conquering army.

Hobgoblin Legion Ladder

Hobgoblin Velite (CR 1/4): Light skirmisher who opens battles with javelins and rapid repositioning.
Hobgoblin Legionary (CR 1/2): Disciplined heavy infantry soldier forming the backbone of hobgoblin armies.
Hobgoblin Shield Legionary (CR 1): Defensive formation soldier trained to anchor shield lines and hold ground.
Hobgoblin Phalanx Legionary (CR 2): Spear infantry specialist maintaining tight formation control.
Hobgoblin Veteran Legionary (CR 3): Hardened frontline soldier experienced in maintaining battlefield discipline.
Hobgoblin Crossbow Legionary (CR 1): Ranged infantry providing disciplined missile support to advancing formations.
Hobgoblin Ballista Crewman (CR 2): Siege engineer operating heavy legion artillery.
Hobgoblin Siege Centurion (CR 4): Officer commanding artillery crews and siege formations.
Hobgoblin Worg Equite (CR 1): Fast-moving wolf-mounted scout used for flanking and reconnaissance.
Hobgoblin Heavy Worg Equite (CR 2): Armored shock cavalry riding trained worg war mounts.
Hobgoblin Cavalry Centurion (CR 4): Mounted officer coordinating worg-mounted strike forces.
Hobgoblin Centurion (CR 3): Core battlefield officer commanding infantry cohorts.
Hobgoblin Primus Centurion (CR 5): Senior officer coordinating multiple centuries of troops.
Hobgoblin Tribune (CR 6): Strategic officer responsible for battlefield maneuver and discipline.
Hobgoblin Legate (CR 7): Commander of an entire legion operating on campaign.
Hobgoblin Imperator (CR 10): Supreme war leader directing vast hobgoblin military conquests.

Hobgoblins: The Legion

Hobgoblins: The Legion is a monster supplement for 5e that presents hobgoblins as a disciplined military civilization rather than scattered warbands. Instead of treating hobgoblins as slightly more organized goblins, this book frames them as a fully structured legionary war machine built on hierarchy, doctrine, and relentless battlefield discipline.

The intent of this product is mechanical clarity and encounter variety without chaotic escalation. Each stat block represents a defined military role within a functioning army: skirmishers, legion infantry, siege crews, cavalry, and officers who maintain strict command structures. Hobgoblins fight as a coordinated force where formation, positioning, and command authority determine the flow of battle.

These hobgoblins are not raiders driven by impulse. They are soldiers trained for war from youth, operating within a rigid chain of command that mirrors organized human militaries but with the brutal efficiency of hobgoblin culture. Breaking their formations, isolating officers, or disrupting their doctrine becomes the key to defeating them.

Use these stat blocks to represent a hobgoblin warhost on campaign, a fortified legion encampment, or the expanding frontier of a disciplined conquering army.

Hobgoblin Legion Ladder

Hobgoblin Velite (CR 1/4): Light skirmisher who opens battles with javelins and rapid repositioning.
Hobgoblin Legionary (CR 1/2): Disciplined heavy infantry soldier forming the backbone of hobgoblin armies.
Hobgoblin Shield Legionary (CR 1): Defensive formation soldier trained to anchor shield lines and hold ground.
Hobgoblin Phalanx Legionary (CR 2): Spear infantry specialist maintaining tight formation control.
Hobgoblin Veteran Legionary (CR 3): Hardened frontline soldier experienced in maintaining battlefield discipline.
Hobgoblin Crossbow Legionary (CR 1): Ranged infantry providing disciplined missile support to advancing formations.
Hobgoblin Ballista Crewman (CR 2): Siege engineer operating heavy legion artillery.
Hobgoblin Siege Centurion (CR 4): Officer commanding artillery crews and siege formations.
Hobgoblin Worg Equite (CR 1): Fast-moving wolf-mounted scout used for flanking and reconnaissance.
Hobgoblin Heavy Worg Equite (CR 2): Armored shock cavalry riding trained worg war mounts.
Hobgoblin Cavalry Centurion (CR 4): Mounted officer coordinating worg-mounted strike forces.
Hobgoblin Centurion (CR 3): Core battlefield officer commanding infantry cohorts.
Hobgoblin Primus Centurion (CR 5): Senior officer coordinating multiple centuries of troops.
Hobgoblin Tribune (CR 6): Strategic officer responsible for battlefield maneuver and discipline.
Hobgoblin Legate (CR 7): Commander of an entire legion operating on campaign.
Hobgoblin Imperator (CR 10): Supreme war leader directing vast hobgoblin military conquests.

Well… here we are.

Issue #14 of Mad Scribe, and yeah, we knew this one was going to rattle a few cages.

If you’ve seen the cover, you already get the joke. It’s our tongue-in-cheek nod to one of the most infamous covers ever published by National Lampoon, a reminder of a time when satire didn’t ask the algorithm for permission. That spirit runs through this entire issue.

Inside, we dive deep into the chaotic genius of National Lampoon, a magazine that shaped my sense of humor and, in many ways, gave me the guts to publish this one. I’ve always admired that brand of irreverent comedy that pushed boundaries, risked backlash, and sometimes went too far. I’ve always admired satire that wasn’t afraid to test limits.

Speaking of controversial voices, we’ve got an interview with comedian and writer Graham Linehan (of Father Ted and The I.T. Crowd), a creator who’s no stranger to debate. Whether you agree with him or not, I believe in honest conversations. It’s a thoughtful discussion about comedy, culture, and independent thought. The kind you won’t find in mainstream media.

RJ from the Fourth Age YouTube Channel contributes a provocative essay examining how to walk the path of a hero. It’s a strong perspective piece, the kind designed to make you pause and maybe reflect.

Of course, this is still Mad Scribe, so we’ve packed the issue with fuel for your hobby life. Jon Del Arroz delivers a sci-fi trench story with a twist. The team at Elven Tower provides maps and adventure hooks ready to drop into your next campaign. Mike Fairchild returns with another brilliant painting tutorial in Blood, Sweat, and Paint.

Vic Dorso of Dave Con shares practical wisdom on improvisational weapons. Charles Hernandez drops in with another interesting creature feature. Kyle Woods polishes his monocle and ranks his top five board games for this quarter. We have an exclusive battle report from my playthrough of Johnny Reb III.

Finally, professional prop maker and cosplayer Liancheng Wan (连城琬) shows us some amazing cosplay costumes from far-off China.

This issue might be a little controversial, but these are controversial times. I personally think it’s a real banger of an issue, and I hope you’ll enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed making it.

P.S.  A Note to Our Readers

Some readers may have recently noticed that certain QR codes printed in previous issues of Mad Scribe Magazine are no longer functioning. These codes were generated through a third-party service that appears to have changed or discontinued its system without warning, which unfortunately caused many previously printed codes to stop working.

I sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this may cause. We know many of you enjoy using the QR codes to explore music, videos, and other content connected to the magazine.

Going forward, Mad Scribe will use static QR codes, which do not rely on outside services to remain active. In addition, we will begin printing the full URL alongside each QR code so readers can still access the content even if scanning is not possible. Thank you for your understanding and for continuing to support independent publishing.

Chris Miller

Editor-in-Chief, Mad Scribe Magazine

Welcome to Patch Notes #11, a ‘zine we’re producing with extra content for Infinity’s Edge: Isekai Edition. This series will run for at least the first year following the release of Isekai Edition as part of the terms of our Kickstarter campaign. All backers will receive the year’s releases free of charge! And they will be released shortly thereafter to the general public for a nominal fee. The purpose of Patch Notes is to introduce additional people, places, things, and ideas (basically all of the major noun categories) for GMs and players to bring to their table. They’re meant to inspire and entertain, and we certainly hope that they make your table experience just a little bit better.

In this installment, we answer requests for a few more monsters! Demons, undead, fey, and weird stuff, all accounted for! Let's get that basilisk on the table!

You died on Earth, but that wasn’t the end. Whisked away by the emissaries of strange gods, you were brought to a new world to serve as the champions of those gods in some strange contest that you don’t understand. Now you have a class. You can gain levels. Take quests. Get XP. And when the worst happens, you can respawn. But it hurts, so be careful.

Isekai: Through the Portal is a role-playing game about being a stranger in a strange land, where everyone takes for granted a mysterious system that you only know from video games. With a new life and a new job, what will you make of yourself, given all your previous knowledge? Will you be a hero? A villain? Something in between?

It’s time to find out what you’re really made of.

The Split-Curse Maiden

Beauty. Horror. One Body.

She was perfection. Now she is… both. Half of her still remembers courtly halls, silk, and whispered admiration. The other half? It remembers hunger.

A War Within

• Striking half-and-half sculpt, cleanly split between elegance and corruption
• Regal princess detail—flowing gown, composed poise
• Grotesque mutated side—bulbous flesh, clawed limb, creeping disease
• Seam of transformation—where the curse still spreads
• Dual-state base—pristine marble giving way to corrupted ruin

The Curse Made Flesh

She does not transform. She exists… in both states at once. Every step is a struggle. Every moment, a decision: Hold on— or let go.

Perfect For

• Tragic boss encounters
• Cursed royalty storylines
• Transformation-themed campaigns
• Display pieces that demand attention

Sunscar Huntress

Daughter of the Red Expanse

Two suns. No mercy. No mistakes. She was not born to survive this world. She learned. Clad in hammered bronze and wind-torn battle harness, she walks the wasteland where others burn, starve, or vanish beneath the dunes. Every scar is earned. Every step is watched. Every hunt ends the same.

The Red Expanse Warrior

• Barsoom-inspired battle harness with layered bronze and desert wraps
• Obsidian glaive, jagged and lethal
• Lithe, predatory stance—always hunting, never idle
• Braided hair with bone and metal adornments
• Scarred, marked skin shaped by sun and survival

Survivor of a Dying World

No armies. No cities. No safety. Only strength—and the will to use it.

Perfect For

• Desert survival campaigns
• Alien worlds & sword-and-planet settings
• Elite scouts, hunters, or champions
• Player characters with grit and presence

NOTE: THIS MODEL IS NOT PRE-SUPPORTED.

Emberblade Tiefling

Infernal Duelist Miniature

She doesn’t chase. She hunts. Scars etched across infernal skin. Armor worn like a weapon. One horn shattered—proof she’s survived worse than you.

The Infernal Lash

With every strike, the air burns.

• Asymmetrical gladiator-style armor, built for dominance
• Broken horn detail—not lost, but shattered
• Scaled, scarred skin blending beauty and brutality
• Living ember whip, captured mid-crack
• Secondary blade ready for the kill

A Fighter, Not a Fiend

She isn’t chaos. She’s control. Every movement deliberate. Every strike practiced. Every victory earned. 

Perfect For

• Boss encounters
• Infernal bounty hunters
• Arena champions
• Player characters with edge

NOTE: THIS MODEL IS NOT SUPPORTED. SUPPORT AS NEEDED FOR YOUR PRINTING.

The Ioun Codex is a 32-page, full-color sourcebook exploring ioun stones, from origins to NPC experts, uses both standard and unusual, monsters and locations, as well as a way to create a wide variety of ioun stones from a selection of over 50 powers.

Featuring:

• Welcome to the Ioun Codex

• Orbitals: An Introduction to Ioun Stones

• Cynosures: Ioun Masters, Crafters, and Seekers

• The Ioun Matrix: Tapping Into the Chaos of Magic

• Unorthodox Uses: Affixed, Enclosed, and Implanted Ioun Stones

• Bestiary: Creatures of Stone, Crystal, and the Cosmic Beyond

• The Bluestone Quarry: What Secrets Hide in the Old Tunnels?

• Tales and Rumors: Lore, Hearsay, and Folk Tales

BONUS ZINE!

The Ioun Codex: Appendix is a 16-page, full-color zine featuring material from and inspired by The Ioun Codex for the Old-School Essentials roleplaying game by Necrotic Gnome.

Featuring:

• Welcome to the Ioun Codex: Appendix 

• Iounmancer Prestige Class 

• Jeddan Character Class and Ancestry 

• Knight of Jeddus Character Class 

• Unorthodox Uses: Rules

• Bestiary: Rules

• New Spells