A new episode has been added to the database: Tyrant But Deadly Ep 185--Dealing with the Dead

A new episode has been added to the database: WYD Series 2 Ep 85: Death of a Failsman [5e D&D]

by Patrick McElfresh

I hear something is going on with football...is it like March Madness? IDK, I just avoid all of it. Books to read, games to prep, bundles to watch. 😉(I know what this all is, of course, don't explain it to me.)

As a reminder, I cover bundles from Monday last week to this last Sunday so I can draft the post in advance. I'll cover yesterday's bundle's next week.

Bundle of Holding
:kF::ki::kr::ks::kt: << these are the links Runs from 7/6/2026 to 7/27/2026

Last Monday we got a shot at the Oldskull Generators bundle, by Kent David Kelly. This is a series of random generators and aids for AD&D or compatible Old School systems like OSRIC and many others. There's a lot of stuff here - treasure, characters, dungeons, and even worlds.

These volumes are chock full of ideas, but are otherwise perhaps sparse - not much in the way of art and whatnot, but that just means super efficient filesizes, right?

This single tier bundle is priced at $18, and includes Magical Swords I & II; Armor and Shields; Rods, Staves and Wands; Potions; Scrolls; and Miscellaneous magic. Where are all these items? Well, consult the Oldskull Dungeon Generator, of course included in this bundle. But where is the dungeon? Why, somewhere in whatever you create from Oldskull Game World Generator Deluxe ed. And it's filled with monsters from the Monster Generator and NPCs from the D100 NPC Generator. Why bother? Consult the Adventure Generator.

:kS::ke::kc::ko::kn::kd: Runs from 7/7/2026 to 7/28/2026

Fantasy not your thing? Well, Bundle of Holding's Vast Grimm bundle might be for you then. This strange space-opera game is inspired by Mork Borg, at least visually. You play a survivor of the six strains of parasitic wurms unleashed 663 year ago. At least...a survivor for now since it likely won't last forever.

This $10 single tier bundle includes Vast Grimm Skeleton Crew Rules (the bare-bones rules), intro one-shot A Grimm Outlook, solo option Grimm Solitude, dungeon crawl Helltrap Barges, fantasy crossover Into the Asteroid, crime supplement No Safe Haven, and finally Sqwurmish, a standalone minis game.

Humble Bundle
:kF::ki::kr::ks::kt:Runs from 7/10/2026 to 7/31/2026

Friday we got another shot at some Pathfinder 2e items from Paizo and Humble. I am happy to see the three core books in a single tier this time (again?) as opposed to some recent offers where they were split up. That second tier is where it's at, I think. If you're a fan of Pathfinder, and haven't gotten Howl of the Wild or Extinction Curse AP, that's a good deal too.

I'd wager that most GMs looking at that tier have most everything at the lower tiers, so while still a bargain, it's not quite as good as tier two. And there's always some of the flip mat item count padding. I'm sure they're useful for some, I'm just not that into playing online with a VTT, so I guess i could print things...but honestly I'm too lazy. I'll draw on a basic flipmat or a Chessex mat instead...but that's just my opinion.

Tier 1 - 7 total items - $5
- Pathfinder Tales: The Swamp Warden (ePub)
- Pathfinder: Swampsong (ePub)
- Pathfinder Flip-Mat: Bayou Hideout (PDF/JPG)
- Paizo Printables: Welcome Pack Demo Adventure: Last Croak (PDF)
- Pathfinder Character Sheet Pack (PDF)
- Pathfinder Core GM Screen (PDF)
- Pathfinder Second Edition Beginner Box: Remastered Edition (PDF)

Tier 2 - 24 total items - $15
- Pathfinder Flip-Mat Classics: Anceint Dungeon (PDF/JPG)
- Pathfinder Society Intro #1: The Second Confirmation (PDF)
- Pathfinder Flip-Mat Classics: Woodlands (PDF/JPG)
- Pathfinder Society Scenario 2-17: Lost Maid of Anactoria (PDF)
- Pathfinder Flip-Mat: Ambush Sites Multi-Pack (PDF/JPG)
- Pathfinder Society Scenario #1-24: Lightning Strikes, Stars Fall (PDF)
- Pathfinder Flip Mat Classics: Falls & Rapids (PDF/JPG)
- Pathfinder Flip-Mat: Wicked Dungeon (PDF/JPG)
- Pathfinder Flip-Mat: Planar Tavern (PDF/JPG)
- Pathfinder Flip-Mat Classics: Deep Forest (PDF/JPG)
- Pathfinder Flip-Mat: Swamp Ruins (PDF/JPG)
- Pathfinder Society Scenario #6-14: Twice in Steel (PDF)
- Pathfinder Society Scenario #5-02: The Blackwood Lost (PDF)
- Pathfinder Society Scenario #1-05: Trailblazer's Bounty (PDF)
- Pathfinder Monster Core (PDF)
- Pathfinder GM Core (PDF)
- Pathfinder Player Core (PDF)

Tier 3 - 39 total items - $30
- Paizo Printables: Dawn of the Frogs Miniatures Bundle (STL)
- Paizo Printables: Welcome Pack Demo Adventure: Last Croak (Foundry VTT)
- Pathfinder Adventure Path: The Apocalypse Prophet (Extinction Curse 6 of 6)(PDF)
- Pathfinder Adventure Path: Lord of the Black Sands (Extinction Curse 5 of 6)(PDF)
- Pathfinder Adventure Path: Siege of the Dinosaurs (Extinction Curse 4 of 6)(PDF)
- Pathfinder Adventure Path: Life's Long Shadow (Extinction Curse 3 of 6)(PDF)
- Pathfinder Adventure Path: Legacy of the Lost God (Extinction Curse 2 of 6)(PDF)
- Pathfinder Adventure Path: The Show Must Go On (Extinction Curse 1 of 6)(PDF)
- Pathfinder Game Night: Dawn of the Frogs (PDF)
- Pathfinder Lost Omens Character Guide (PDF)
- Pathfinder Lost Omens World Guide (PDF)
- Pathfinder: Tales of the Zoetrope (ePub)
- Pathfinder Howl of the Wild (PDF)
- Pathfinder Player Core 2 (PDF)
- Pathfinder Adventure Path: Extinction Curse Player's Guide (PDF)

Tier 4 - 40 total items - $40 + S&H
- Pathfinder Game Night: Dawn of the Frogs physical boxed set

by Eric R.

A long time ago, I bought a used 3DO just to play Star Control II, and it was totally worth it. SC2 is such an amazing game that fans started taking the elements in the game and rearranged them to try and make their own versions. But among the many great things about the game is when you went into Hyperspace. The music is so great people keep making riffs on it decades later.
Youtube Video

Youtube Video

Youtube Video

by Rachel Carpenter

After-action report from confrontation with Shudde M'ell in the Streets of Arkham on Saturday, June 20, 2026, Part the Second: (Note, this is the actual date the game was played, not necessarily the story date...)

Quick Situation Update
:d10-1: Darrell Simmons and William Yorick had successfully sealed Rhan-Tegoth away (again) in the Frozen North (Alaska).
:d10-2: Akachi had called out from her museum shift to stay with Wendy, who was suffering from food poisoning. She called Tommy Muldoon to replace her.
:d10-3: Doctor Vincent Lee... was around.
:d10-4: Skids had gotten his illegal gambling empire back on track.
:d10-5: Dexter Drake was still working as a stage magician on The Spell of the Seas (cruise ship) while investigating elder threats for the Guardians.
:d10-6: Father Mateo was keeping an eye on the Lightless Pyramid.
:d10-7: Monterey Jack had returned from Egypt early due to Mandy Thompson's concerns about Tommy Muldoon. He showed up at the Museum to only to find that Mandy Thompson and Mark Harrigan had lost most of the weekend during their fight with Abhoth.
:d10-8: Mandy Thompson wrote up a report with what she could remember of her and Mark's investigation, then went home.
:d10-9: Mark Harrigan, Monterey Jack, and Tommy Muldoon met at the Arkham Museum at 5 PM to begin investigating the recent outbreak of time-space wrongness affecting Arkham.
:d10-1::d10-0: Fallen Investigators: Patrice Hathaway, Kate Winthrop, Amanda Sharpe, Sister Mary, Rex Murphy, Gloria Goldberg, and Diana Stanley.
:d10-1::d10-1: Ongoing Effects: Permanent-1 Max Sanity on Mandy Thompson (penalty from Strange Lights over the Streets of Arkham)

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Previously...
Time continued to behave badly and the way forward seemed blocked. With NO Elder Signs on the board and Shudde M'ell's influence only growing, it's up to Mark, Monty, and Tommy to curtail the cracking of the time-space continuum and fix the fabric of Arkham before the city is torn apart. Are they up to the task? Or will Arkham and the rest of our world be doomed to darkness? Read on to find out!

Mark checked out Ye Olde Magick Shoppe

where a Moment's Respite

helped him figure out some Chants and Incantations and even gain an Elder Sign!

[+1 Elder Sign, our boys are now back on the board!]

Monty made for South Church,

regained some Sanity,

benefited from some Rare Knowledge,

and gained the protection of a Blessing. [+ Blessed]

Tommy also sought out South Church

and benefited from a Chat with the Father.

Mark visited the General Store,

purchased a Museum Map,

and stumbled upon a Shipment from Innsmouth,

finding an Obsidian Statue for his trouble.

Time continued to act strangely.

[Phooey!]

Tommy took a hit for the team.

Monty delved into Necromantic Rites.

Tommy stopped in at the Police Station, but was careful to keep things on the DL

as he investigated a Cold Case.

Mark ventured to the Black Cave,

got Lost in the Dark,

and faced Hungry Creatures.

Successful, it at least allowed him

to keep the Clock at bay...

Monty visited the Curiositie Shoppe,

faced a deadly truth [Curiosity Kills],

used a Gate Box

to open a door to an Other World,

used an Ancient Tablet

to face a Fruitless Struggle,

and succeeded without benefit.

Stolen Strength

gave Tommy

a much-needed boost

as he dealt with Open Graves.

Mark braved the challenges of Ancient Sarnath [+2 Elder Signs!]

but Time continued to play its horrid tricks

A

gate!

A

monster!

[Stirring Darkness...Opens the Way]

Holding at 3 Elder Signs...

Monty braved the Vaults of Zin

and made A Foolish Mistake,

but he still managed to come out on top! [Go Monty!]

[+1 Elder Sign, now at 4]

It was Tommy's turn to visit the Curiositie Shoppe,

where he gained an Alien Statue,

and found another Elder Sign [hidden in an Ornate Chest]!

[+1 Elder Sign, now at 5]

Mark stumbled upon a Gypsy Curse,

made a Lucky Find

An Enchanted Arrow!

and managed to break the curse!!!!!!!

[+1 Elder Sign, now at 6] "We're halfway there!" Mark shouted.

Halfway there, and yet Shudde M'ell continued to influence Time in strange ways.

The boys were starting to lose ground...

Another

gate!

Gah! [A Dark Purpose...Invokes Madness] [This is just plain mean!]

Things were looking bleak.

Monty trekked to Unknown Kadath

and with some help from Tommy;

he made it to the summit, where he found not 1, but 2 Elder Signs!

"That's 8!"

Tommy explored a ring of Standing Stones off the beaten track

with some help from Mark

and survived to return to the city limits.

Mark made the leap to the City of Gugs... and found 2 more Elder Signs!

"That's 10! 2 more and we can start the sealing ritual!"

Monty sought Psychiatric Assistance

and triggered a time warp!

"Ut oh! Mark, I think we're running out of time!" Tommy yelled.

[Dark Portals...Steal Memories Away]

With things getting desperate, Tommy took a chance on R'lyeh...

it was worth it!

[+3 Elder Signs, 13/12] "That's it! We've even got an extra! Meet me back at the Museum!"

Mark

Monty

and Tommy

rushed back to the Arkham Museum.

Tommy reached the Atrium first and started laying down the Elder Signs along the outside wall in a rough circle. Mark followed close behind with Monty bringing up the rear. "I'm getting too old for this sh*t," the archaeologist panted.
Tommy ignored Monty and addressed Mark, "how you wanna play this?"
"Place the signs," Mark took chalk from his jacket pocket, "I'll draw the sealing circle and Shudde M'ell's sigil, then trip the signs to flare using the new warding."
"What about the extra?" Tommy asked, holding up the 13th Elder Sign.
"Toss it here, I'll use its energy to trigger the warding," said Mark.
"Sweet," Tommy tossed it to Mark, who caught it easily.
"This way you don't need to cast or channel anything," said Mark. Tommy grimaced. "Magical exhaustion is a real concern," Mark continued. Tommy just rolled his eyes.
"I'll just stand here and look pretty," said Monty as he leaned against the wall. A tentacle pierced the window next to Monty and sent shattered glass everywhere. The tentacle grabbed Monty around the middle and slammed the archaeologist into the window frame before he even had a chance to scream. Dr. Monterey Jack crumpled to the floor.
"Monty!" Tommy yelled as he placed the 12th Elder Sign.
"Stay where you are!" Mark yelled to the rookie. "And don't channel! Just give me a sec. I'm almost finished." Mark continued drawing the sealing circle.
"Mark!"
"Nearly there," Mark gritted his teeth.
"Mark!"
"Almost."
"Mark, watch out!" Tommy called his warning just as Mark completed Shudde M'ell's sigil in the very center of the sealing circle. Another tentacle whipped through the broken window and grabbed the soldier. The 13th Elder Sign clattered from Mark's hand to the floor as the tentacle raised Mark high into the air. He yanked a dagger out of his jacket and started hacking at the tentacle.
"F*ck it," Tommy breathed as he darted for the fallen Elder Sign.
"I'm almost free. Don't cast, don't channel. We can't risk it," said Mark.
Tommy stood on the sigil with the 13th Elder Sign now in his hands. "But I can," Tommy looked to Monty's fallen form, "and it's my call." The rookie closed his eyes and reached. He could feel his own magic. Dim, tired. Could magic be tired? Reaching farther, he could feel the magic in the Elder Signs, the one pulsing in his hands and the 12 others. He could feel the magic in the new warding too. It felt strange, not bad, just unfamiliar. And he could sense the powerful magic in the leyline that passed deep beneath the museum. He didn't need to tap that. Not today. For today, the Elder Signs would be enough. Hopefully. He summoned the magic from the 12 signs in the circle to the 13th in his hands. He could feel the magic building. When it felt like enough, he threw the 13th sign down onto the sigil and jumped clear.
There was a loud, otherworldly roar. The very fabric of space and time tore above the glowing sigil, forming a portal. There was a horrible screeching, squealing noise. The tentacle dropped Mark as Shudde M'ell was pulled towards the portal. Mark rolled to break his fall as a shrill voice pierced Tommy's mind.
"Insolent mage! You play with forces you do not understand." Shudde M'ell hissed.
"Go back to the void!" Tommy yelled.
"I will go because I must."
Tommy struggled to keep the portal open as the magic of the Elder Signs began to fade.
But before I depart, I have a message."
"Don't care. Go!" Tommy gritted his teeth.
"Artie says hello" Tommy paled. Parting shot delivered, Shudde M'ell allowed itself to be pulled through the portal. As the creature was returned to the void between worlds, the Elder Signs flared. In response, the portal flared before collapsing inwards. Then as the portal sealed itself, the remaining magic exploded outwards, striking Tommy and throwing the cop into the wall with a loud thud.
"Tommy!" Monty yelled, running to Tommy's crumpled form. Mark joined him.
"You okay, you got thrown pretty hard?" Mark asked the archaeologist as he started checking Tommy over.
"Bruised, but fine. I only stayed down to avoid attention. I thought you had it handled then..." Monty trailed off.
"So did I," said Mark.
Tommy groaned.
"Hey, welcome back."
Tommy tried to sit up.
"Nope, how about you stay down," Mark turned to Monty, "How about you call Dr. Lee?" Monty removed his cell from his pocket- crushed.
"I'll call from the office," the archaeologist ran.
"The wall's harder than I remember," Tommy joked.
"Stay still. I think you hit the warding."
"Huh?"
"The warding strengthens the wall. And I think it was active when you hit," Mark explained.
"I guess that makes sense," Tommy said. He closed his eyes.
"Ut uh. Stay awake. You might have a concussion. Did you hit your head?"
"Hit my back first. Knocked the wind out of me. Then my head snapped back and hit." Tommy reached up to feel the back of his head, "ow."
"No blood though, that's a good thing. Dizzy?"
Tommy shook his head. "Okay, now I'm a bit dizzy. Gonna be sick." Nothing came up.
"Just stay still and keep breathing. Monty went to get Dr. Lee."
"And what's he gonna do?" Tommy continued to move and managed to sit up.
"Make sure you're not going to die on us."
Tommy glared at Mark. "What, that was a h*ll of a hit."
Tommy fought to get his right arm free of his jacket.
"What are you doing? Just stop moving and wait."
"I wanna know how bad the damage is." Sensing that Tommy had no intention of sitting still, Mark helped him get the jacket off.
"Now what?"
"I don't think I can get my shirt off. I need you to look and tell me how bad it is."
"Tommy..."
"Just look."
From what Mark could see, much of Tommy's upper back was already starting to turn a nasty shade of purple.
"Verdict?"
"It's bad. Looks like you lost a barfight."
Tommy huffed. "What time is it?"
Mark checked his watch, "Midnight. It just rolled to Tuesday. I guess time's fixed itself."
"Well, at least I won't miss Roll Call," said Tommy.
"You can't be serious?"
"I don't have a choice, Mark."
"I'll call the Captain myself."
"Like h*ll you will! I've got 3 weeks left as a rookie. I'm not washing out."
"You can't patrol like this! Dr. Lee's probably going to want to take you to Arkham General."
Tommy snorted. "Sure. Arkham General's a no-go."
"What?"
"Unless I want a one-way ticket to Arkham Asylum, this needs to be handled in-house."
"I didn't think of that," admitted Mark.
Monty reappeared with Dr. Vincent Lee in tow. "Monty told me what happened. Anything broken?"
"I don't know," said Tommy.
Dr. Lee gave Tommy a quick once-over. "Pupil response is fine. No concussion. Not sure how you managed that to be honest. Amazingly, I don't think you broke anything. Can you stand?"
"Haven't tried yet," said Tommy.
"Let's get you up then," Dr. Lee helped Tommy up. The rookie's vision swam briefly, but Tommy managed to stay upright.
"I don't like this," said Mark.
"Dr. Lee, you sure Tommy's fine?" Monty asked.
"I'm as sure as I can be without taking him to the hospital."
"You on patrol today?" Dr. Lee asked Tommy.
"Yes."
"This is ridiculous," said Mark.
"I'll just go back to my place. A shower, a nap. I'll be fine."
"You're not fine."
"No, I'm not. But I don't have much choice."
"Enough. Tommy, you're coming back to my place. I'll keep an eye on you. If you get worse, I'll call HQ. See what they can do," said Mark.
"And if I don't get worse?"
"Then I'll drive you to the station for 5 AM Roll Call. There's no way you're up for riding your bike right now," said Mark.
Tommy smiled. "Wouldn't even try it in my state."
Monty handed Tommy his jacket from the floor.
Tommy reached in the pocket, found his keys and handed them back to Monty, "take care of her for me?"
Monty smiled, "Sure."
"You're not allergic to dogs are you?" Mark asked.
"Nope," Tommy smiled. "Looks like I finally get to meet Buster."
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Comments:
Everyone survived! Though Tommy's a bit worse for wear... Next week, we'll see how Tommy fares. Buster makes an appearance. And we'll catch up with the girls. Things are heating up in Arkham. Hopefully, Mark and the Guardians will be able to help our investigators hold the line. And who's Artie? You'll have to tune in to find out!

------------------------------------------------
Quick Summary:
Investigators: Mark Harrigan, Monterey Jack, and Tommy Muldoon
Mode: Streets of Arkham
Old One: Shudde M'ell
Elder Signs Collected: 13/12
Expansions: Elder Sign, Elder Sign: Grave Consequences, Elder Sign: Unseen Forces, Elder Sign: Gates of Arkham, Elder Sign: Omens of Ice, Elder Sign: Omens of the Pharaoh, and Elder Sign: Omens of the Deep
Time: About two hours
Victory!
------------------------------------------------

Past Mythic Mondays:
Mythic Mondays- Arkham Adventures: Back to the Beginning
Mythic Mondays- Against Azathoth with some Grave Consequences
Mythic Mondays- Grave Consequences on the Streets of Arkham
Mythic Mondays- Grave Consequences in the frozen North
Mythic Mondays: Rhan-Tegoth Rematch, Part I
Mythic Mondays: Rhan-Tegoth Rematch, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Akachi returns to Arkham, Part I
Mythic Mondays- Akachi returns to Arkham, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Cthulhu calls
Mythic Mondays - Sisters in spirit take on Atlach-Nacha at the Gate, Part I
Mythic Mondays - Sisters in spirit take on Atlach-Nacha at the Gate, Part II
Mythic Mondays- My First Final Hour
Mythic Mondays: Uh-oh! Better hit Undo! aka First Impressions: Undo: Forbidden Knowledge
Mythic Mondays- First Impressions: Eldritch Horror
Mythic Mondays- The Killing Cold
Mythic Mondays- The Killing Cold: Redux
Mythic Mondays - Meanwhile with Mandy, Part I
Mythic Mondays - Meanwhile with Mandy, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Mandy and Akachi try to save the Museum, Part I
Mythic Mondays- Mandy and Akachi try to save the Museum, Part II
Mythic Mondays - An Arkham Nights 2023 Interlude
Mythic Mondays- The Cop and the (Ex)Convict, Part I
Mythic Mondays- The Cop and the (Ex)Convict, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Strange Lights over the Streets of Arkham, Part I
Mythic Mondays- Strange Lights over the Streets of Arkham, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Breaking News in Arkham
Mythic Mondays- Alaska's on its own, Part I
Mythic Mondays- Alaska's on its own, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Monterey Jack's back, Part I
Mythic Mondays- Monterey Jack's back, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Alone against Azathoth, Part I
Merry Christmas 2023: Mythic Mondays- Alone against Azathoth, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Lots to learn, Part I
Mythic Mondays- Lots to learn, Part II
Mythic Mondays- Three against Shudde M'ell, Part 1
Mythic Mondays- Three against Shudde M'ell, Part 2
Mythic Tuesdays- Three against Azathoth, Part 1
Mythic Mondays- Three against Azathoth, Part 2
Mythic Mondays (occasionally on Tuesdays) - The Shaman & The Rookie, Part 1
Mythic Mondays (occasionally on Tuesdays) - The Shaman & The Rookie, Part 2 & Happy Veterans Day
Mythic Mondays- Four against Arkham's darkness, Part 1
Mythic Mondays- Four against Arkham's darkness, Part 2
Mythic Mondays- The Rookie and the Soldier, Part 1
Mythic Mondays- The Rookie and the Soldier, Part 2
Mythic Mondays- Meanwhile up North... Part 1
Mythic Mondays- Meanwhile up North... Part 2
Mythic Mondays- Into the Sands, Part 1
Mythic Mondays- Into the Sands, Part 2
Mythic Mondays- The Researcher and the Soldier, Part 1
A Sunday in Arkham
Mythic Mondays- The Researcher and the Soldier, Part 2
Mythic Mondays- Something's wrong in Arkham, Part 1
--------------------------------------------------------

RIP Sam Neill, Dr. Alan Grant

Happy Monday and happy playing!
-Rachel

Thank you for reading my blog. If you liked it; then please click the green thumb [microbadge=23724] at the top of the page. If you really liked it; then please subscribe. And follow me across social media with my Linktree:
https://linktr.ee/rachelncarpenter

Disclaimer:
Prydera and the Guardians are very much my creations. Charge the Circle, Read the Runes, and The Seventh Seal are also mine. Pythia belongs to the ages, though the particular version that appears in the Mythic Mondays campaign is very much mine. I have altered the backstories of many Arkham characters significantly to suit my storylines. Buster (Mark's dog) is also mine.

A new episode has been added to the database: 3.3 Coerced Compliance

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A new episode has been added to the database: 405 | A TON of D&D news (with special guest Mike Shea!)