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by sdonohue

Squeaks in the Deep Companion is a 2024 release from Onyx Path Publishing. It was written by Eddy Webb and Jason Ross Inczauskis. It features art by a team of artists.

Presentation
This is available as a PDF and as a POD softcover. The PDF is 43 pages including front and back covers, credits and OGL declarations. Overall, there are 37 pages left for content. The book is in the standard (for Pugmire) 7" x 10" portrait format with a two-column layout. If follows the standard Pugmire layout conventions and is an easy read, particularly for those familiar with the line.

Content
This book expands the content of Squeaks in the Deep adding Lagomorphs (bunnies and hares) to the Realms of Pugmire and offering a number of new interesting locations to be dropped into any campaign; finally, it adds some new enemies for the Lagomorphs and any other underground dwellers.

The first section lays out the history of rabbits and hares. We learn that hares used to be nomadic families that would gather for festivals in the summer. Over time, it became clear that bad things were happening to hares and they were slowly being exterminated by their enemies. The rabbits, who had long enjoyed staying near their burrows, took in their cousins, but soon they too were hunted. The two species moved underground to avoid the depredations of a creature called the Forgotten Horror. The creatures is described in different ways by different lagomorphs, but all agree that only the efforts of one band of rabbits allowed them to escape; tales of "The Six's Last Stand are still told today. We also learn that the lagomorphs, especially rabbits, are not fond of Man and associate them with only pain and suffering. For this reason they don't get along as well with other species as they could.

After this explanation of their culture and history, we are given character generation rules. Although they live in mixed settlements, rabbits and hares remain two different breeds. They have four callings: boxer (rabbits who fight with bare hands or weapons), diggers (who can create things), runaways (risk takers who always know where the exit is), and sentinels (patient warriors who serve as guardians). Each calling is presented with the typical information including notes on their mindset, attitude towards other callings, six sample character types, and starting character rules. Each calling also has a knack of its own and there are two additional knacks open to any lagomorph, meaning six knacks in all.

One feature in Squeaks is the notion of set pieces. There is no game map of all the tunnels in the Underneath and instead there are some random locations (typically tunnels) and then set-pieces, small locations which the gm can add as needed. Here there is a table for 8 new tunnels/passageways to be used as needed with mostly descriptions and a couple more which have more detail and might be recognized by players. Following this are a series of locations including Azuresky (a town with real sunlight and grass which is terrorized by the Wolpertinger at night), The Chalice Gate (a room which guards the entrance to the lair of some Painted Faces), The Feeding Pit (lair of a spelunking gullet), Molehill Mountain (lair of some dire moles), The Orphanage (but these children are not what they seem), The Shard Gauntlet (razor sharp crystals line the tunnel), and The Temple of Coln Mal (home to more of the Painted Faces). Some of these pieces have just a few paragraphs while others stretch to pages and include maps and multiple encounter areas.

The final chapter describes two new enemies. Wolpertingers are lagomorphs by day who turn into great carnivorous demons by night. They are as big as a bear and having wings, antlers, and sharp claws and teeth. The Painted Ones are group of rabbits who believe that Man will return soon and that cruelty will allow them to stand at Man's side when it happens. There are actually three different enemies here; Broken Minds are the footsoldiers of the Painted ones, masked zealots are CR3 shock troops, Masked Menaces are CR5 spies and infiltrators, and Resplendent Seers are CR8 leaders who consider the Unseen their allies and the emissaries of Man.

Evaluation
There is a lot to take in here, and it's pretty much all good. The addition of lagomorphs as the first species that actually considers Man their enemies is a great touch and the history and culture is different enough from the existing breeds to make them standout as is their belief that they are being hunted to extinction by an unseen enemy. The new callings, while similar to those of other species, do have a different flavor and are interesting options.

The new set pieces and tunnels are interesting and some of them are probably large enough to serve as a one-shot or an evenings adventure for characters who can handle them. Likewise, the new enemies add more to the game and either could easily interact with other creatures of Pugmire.

This is a great companion and expansion to Squeaks in the Deep and to the Realms of Pugmire in general.

by Rachel

I actually played 134 matches of Ascension: Deckbuilding Game in January! Yep, that final figure shocked me too :D. Today, I worked a bit on getting my play logs updated, still behind, but interesting to see just how much play time I managed to squeeze into January even with my ongoing sinus infection.

In other news, we finally opened our candy hearts and filled up the candy dish:

Shrinkflation seems to get a bit worse each year, but candy hearts are still a festive treat

Tomorrow: logging, comms, some work, and hopefully some play time...

Game Over On borrowed time...

Happy Sunday and happy playing!
-Rachel

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