“What’s the world’s greatest lie?” the boy asked [the mysterious old stranger beside him], completely surprised. “It’s this: that at a certain point in our lives, we lose control of what’s happening to us, and our lives become controlled by fate. That’s the world’s greatest lie.” — The Alchemist, Part One| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
One part of mental training is anticipation—that is, expecting a situation and acting upon it. This part of training occurs as much—if not more—outside the dojo as inside. For example, take the scenario of a person walking toward you on the street. Train by looking at his hands. Are they swinging normally at his sides, […]| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
[King] Jean II [of France], who succeeded his father, Philip VI, in August 1350 [C.E.], could have served Machiavelli as model for Anti-Prince. Impolitic and impetuous, he never made a wise choice between alternatives and seemed incapable of considering consequences of an action in advance. Though brave in battle, he was anything but a great […]| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
Excerpts from books, films, television, and other websites to inspire your role-playing. Also original fiction, game design ideas, and commentary.| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
In another tale from the Shahnameh, an Indian ambassador to Iran brings a puzzle to test the shah’s vizier, Bozorgmehr, famed for his wisdom. It consists of a cloth painted with alternate black and white squares, and two sets of tiny figurines, carved in ivory and teak. Bozorgmehr is given one day to study the […]| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
Doctor Strange: …Welcome to the Chamber of Extrospection. The Orb of Agamotto for the most part suffices for me, and so I do not come here often. Topaz: I—see…. Doctor Strange: This should be the portal by which we may see something. I need you to sit here. Topaz: Of course, Stephen. Doctor Strange: Now, […]| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
Once the sun set, Angira could become bitterly cold. [Lord Bhima] noticed, however, that the dozen sinha [warriors] made a point of ignoring the cold as they waited for his orders. He studied his young charges and decided that they really thought they were the same stuff as the heroes of the old legends. They […]| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
…More hoofbeats as the prince and Sir Manfred came up, and the attendants. Several of them were swearing in amazement [at the scene where Princess Sita—not part of the hunting party—had just killed a wild boar from horseback]; one gave an involuntary shout of “Shabash!” and then they were all crying it. All but the […]| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
Excerpts from books, films, television, and other websites to inspire your role-playing. Also original fiction, game design ideas, and commentary.| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
The carriage came around a bend in the road and approached the spot where [Sir] Sparhawk and [his Styric teacher] Sephrenia waited. [Queen] Ehlana was talking animatedly to Oscagne and Emban, but she broke off suddenly, her eyes wide. “Sephrenia?” she gasped. “It is! It’s Sephrenia.” Royal dignity went out the window as she scrambled […]| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
Excerpts from books, films, television, and other websites to inspire your role-playing. Also original fiction, game design ideas, and commentary.| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
…The Thousand Son [Space Marine] intoned words of power and an ellipsis of light burned into the deck plate. The Prosperine hieroglyphics on his staff flared bright vermillion. Spinning the staff around, Mhotep drove the scimitar into it pommel first and it became a spear. — Battle for the Abyss, Chapter 7| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
Just over 200 words, which is my usual fragment size. Elmö’s Obligation| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
Vir Cotto, in a dream: Prophecy is a guess that comes true. When it doesn’t, it’s a metaphor. — “The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari” – Babylon 5, Season 5 (1998)| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
I realized that I had not looked at my website traffic statistics in almost a year. I have web server access logs going back to 2018, so I can compile quite a comprehensive report. My usual report is most popular (non-index) URLs. The latest Top 20 shocked me. Here they are: 3774 /387/book-excerpt/money-in-medieval-england-and-france 2065 /101/book-excerpt/origins-of-european-army-ranks […]| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
…I don’t think that every class should get a raft of soldiers. The cleric should get less soldiers and more zealots and believers, but probably this was a bit creepy for the 1979 company [that published Dungeons & Dragons]…. I can cheerfully allow an “evil” cleric player character to gain eighty or so deranged, murderous […]| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
Excerpts from books, films, television, and other websites to inspire your role-playing. Also original fiction, game design ideas, and commentary.| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
This is the collection of RPG links I have recently shared on my Mastodon account. Fracture Your God: Clerical Variety through Orders, Sects, and Schisms [Ludus Ludorum] The Burning Dead [Spriggan’s Den] Enabling Curse of Strahd as a Sandbox [Dreams in the Lich House] abrakadabra [hex culture] 6 Types of Fear And How to Use […]| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
My…tutelage with the mist began, in earnest, only after I loosened my soul and softened my piercing gaze. Until then my eyes did not allow me to see the magic of life around me. In time, however, I slowly came to understand that when approaching nature and spirit, one must enter these realms with a […]| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
I have never been a fan of the chromatic and metallic dragons of Dungeons & Dragons, even when ignoring the Alignment aspect. Great variety but otherwise lacking both depth and need, in my opinion. Red dragons are the closest to traditional European mythology: flying fire breathers. That seems sufficient—with one exception. Regarding Alignment, something recently […]| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
Excerpts from books, films, television, and other websites to inspire your role-playing. Also original fiction, game design ideas, and commentary.| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
Excerpts from books, films, television, and other websites to inspire your role-playing. Also original fiction, game design ideas, and commentary.| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
Excerpts from books, films, television, and other websites to inspire your role-playing. Also original fiction, game design ideas, and commentary.| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
Excerpts from books, films, television, and other websites to inspire your role-playing. Also original fiction, game design ideas, and commentary.| Dojo Darelir, the School of Xenograg the Sorcerer
