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Tales from the Sanctum

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The Sanctum Secorum podcast plumbs the depths of Appendix N as it applies to DCC RPG. Each show reviews one piece of Appendix N media — be it literature or film — and then discusses how to bring aspects of it to the table for your DCC game. We explore how the selected piece might already easily fit into particular modules and DCC settings, and we highlight one specific DCC module that really ties into the Appendix N material.

Enter the Sanctum Secorum… and be inspired.

News: Abasezi

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Sanctum Media, in its partnership with Ugandan game designer, Ashraf Braden, is pleased to announce the fifth in our line of ongoing monthly DCC micro-releases. These mini-zines cost only $1, and are appropriate for printing and folding.

This month we present the abasezi…

There are things that move by night, feasting on flesh, and forcing others to do their bidding. These are a cursed people, the abasezi, cursed to dance through the night, digging up corpses, and ever gathering more power. Pulled directly from African folklore, even modern African media discusses the Night Dancers and spreads their infamy.

This month’s release features a blood-chilling for for Dungeon Crawl Classics. Able to craft diabolical traps, and able to weidl a number of unearthly powers, whether facing off against one (a musezi), or a band of them (basezi), the abasezi are a foe to truly be feared. Also included are pronunciation notes and audio clips provided by the author, for those wanting to get the most out of these Ugandan creations.

Also included with your drivethrurpg purchase are pronunciation notes and audio clips by Ashraf himself, providing the Ugandan pronunciation for a number of new terms, and the whole is brought to life with another evocative piece by cover artist Ari-Matti Piippo.

Ashraf is already at work on next month’s release, and there are other potential projects in the works, beyond the scope of we here at Sanctum Media, that are all quite exciting. So, join us in celebrating new content from a new voice in the RPG community.

All of Sanctum Media’s proceeds from the purchase of this, and future releases created by Ashraf, go directly to the author. You can purchase it here!

Did you miss a prior release? Get them at the links below, still only $1 each!
ASH001 – The Kakondo
ASH002 – Lukwata
ASH003 – The Bachwezi
ASH004 – Kamila

Additional Content, Ashraf Braden, Monsters, News, Shameless Self-Promotion,

NEWS: Sanctum Secorum Quarterly #1

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Yes, we know, today is the day where people tend to make outrageous claims in the name of April Fool’s Day. Well, we here at the Sanctum Secorum were hard at work on March 31st and, just under the wire, released the premiere issue of Sanctum Secorum Quarterly (the March 2023 issue), in the nick of time.

It is loaded with great gameable content such as monsters and spells, and also includes film and fiction reviews and a brand new adventure – The Pillar of the Pachyderm – based on Robert E Howard’s The Tower of the Elephant. It is a hefty PDF and, as always, it is completely free!

SSQ wouldn’t be possible without the fantastic team that we’ve assembled: Daniel J. Bishop, Morten Braten, Bob Brinkman, Jen Brinkman, Marc Bruner, Blair DeMarco-Wettlaufer, Gord Hanson, Michael Harrington, Brett Hess, Ian McDonald, James A. Pozenel jr., Matt Robertson, Stefan Surratt, Joan Troyer, and Keepers Nafets & Zinolestimus. An amazing pool of talented individuals made this happen and, are already at work on the June issue.

Again, utterly free. Our gift to the community which we are all a part of.

You can get it HERE and, if you enjoy it, please write a review. It is a great way to thank the team for all of their hard work.

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News: The Bachwezi

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Sanctum Media, in its partnership with Ugandan game designer, Ashraf Braden, is pleased to announce the third in our line of DCC micro-releases. Issued monthly, these mini-zines cost only $1, and are appropriate for printing and folding.

This month we present the Bachwezi, a tribe of invisible herdsmen who roam the African plains. Descended from the ancient Batembuzi gods, the Bachwezi have strange powers that allow them to remain unseen and to force others to do their bidding. This release brings them to your table as a fully playable character class for your campaign. Also included with your drivethrurpg purchase are pronunciation notes and audio clips by Ashraf himself, providing the Ugandan pronunciation for 4 new terms.

Ashraf has been working on the next few months of releases, and there are other potential projects in the works, beyond the scope of we here at Sanctum Media, that are all quite exciting. So, join us in celebrating new content from a new voice in the RPG community.

All of Sanctum Media’s proceeds from the purchase of this, and future releases created by Ashraf, go directly to the author. You can purchase it here!

Additional Content, Ashraf Braden, Classes, News, Shameless Self-Promotion

News: Lukwata

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Sanctum Media, in its partnership with Ugandan game designer, Ashraf Braden, has released the next in our line of DCC micro-releases. Issued monthly, each of these mini-zines is appropriate for printing and folding.

This month we present Lukwata, a lake monster who haunted the waters of Lake Victora. The release also includes write-ups on three weapons, and the most brutal Mighty Deed of Arms you are likely to come across (Dismembering Attack). Also included are pronunciation notes and the drivethrurpg purchase also comes with audio clips by Ashraf himself, providing the Ugandan pronunciation for 11 terms.

Ashraf has been working on the next few months of releases, and there are other potential projects in the works, beyond the scope of we here at Sanctum Media, that are all quite exciting. So, join us in celebrating new content from a new voice in the RPG community.

All of Sanctum Media’s proceeds from the purchase of this, and future releases created by Ashraf, go directly to the author. You can purchase it here!

Additional Content, Ashraf Braden, Mighty Deeds, Monsters, New Releases, News, Shameless Self-Promotion, Weapons, ,

News: The Kakondo

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Sanctum Media is pleased to announce its partnership with Ugandan game designer, Ashraf Braden. The release of the Kakondo, a monster torn from African urban legends and folklore, is the first in what we hope to be a long line of $1 micro-releases. Also included is a short write-up on the yakoma, a Ugandan sickle-sword.

All of Sanctum Media’s proceeds from the purchase of this, and future releases created by Ashraf, go directly to the author. If you want to support a new voice in the RPG gaming sphere, you can purchase it here!

Ashraf Braden, Monsters, New Releases, News, Shameless Self-Promotion, Weapons,

Sanctum Secorum Reading Room – Tuesday, Dec 20 at 9pm EST

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The Keepers of Mysteries return to the Goodman Games Twitch channel with an all-new live show on Tuesday, December 20th at 9pm! Join Jen and Bob Brinkman as they take a deep dive into the progenitors and contemporaries of Appendix N.

Burn, Witch, Burn! by Abraham Merritt isn’t specifically listed on Appendix N, but certainly is an important work by this often overlooked author. As a writer, Merritt drew upon the works of earlier authors (such as Gertrude Barrows Bennett) to create dreamlike words and sinister antagonists.

Join us as we close out the 1st Season of the Sanctum Secorum Reading Room, with our trademark discussions plus a number of listener giveaways – including a very special giveaway sponsored by Levi Combs and Planet X Games. Come for the Appendix N, stay for the holiday giveaways!

Enter the Sanctum Secorum… and be inspired.

Contest, News, Podcasts, Shameless Self-Promotion,

And the Winners Are…..

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Wow! What a great response to our contest! Thank you to everyone who submitted their entry. We only wish that we had tons of free books to give away instead of pounds (but that require the Prize Storage Unit of Mystery).

Our domestic/US winner, recipient of a box of over 10 lbs (this killed our mailing scale) of vintage sci-fi/fantasy books is…. Brian Tieman. Brian should have his prize in a few days, in time for the holidays.

As previously announced, the overseas prize was different, due to shipping costs. While we couldn’t send oodles and oodles of paperbacks, we wanted to send out something that was really special. In the end, we think that the prize is pretty cool.

Our overseas winner is David Gallico, who receives a copy of The Shrouded Grimoire (#9 of 10). This is currently the only copy of the book’s limited run to be outside the US! Sorry David, but barring a true miracle, it is going to take a bit longer for your prize to get there. Still, we hope that you’ll find it worth the wait.

Now then, if you didn’t win, never fear! There is more to come on the next episode of the Sanctum Secorum Reading Room – Tuesday Dec 20th. The Prize Closet of Mystery is not yet done with the holiday season!

  • First, we have last month’s giveaway to announce. One lucky winner will be getting Robin Wayne Bailey’s Swords Against the Shadowland and William Hope Hodgeson’s The House on the Borderland.
  • In honor of the current Kickstarter from Planet X Games, An Occurance at Howling Crater, Levi Combs will be joining us to help us give away a (for now) mystery package of Sci-fi/Fantasy novels and comic books to one lucky live viewer.
  • Of course we will be announcing our next giveaway for January.
  • Finally, one second chance entry will be drawn with the recipient receiving a copy of Keeper Bob’s favorite science fiction novel, Armor, by John Steakley. Perfect to provide inspiration for your next Star Crawl session, with plenty of great ideas to draw from, this is the book of which Bob has said “Out-Heinlein’s Heinlein for the Starship Troopers concept” (Bob rereads the book annually, so he may be a smidge biased).

So many giveaways!

Regardless of which holiday(s) you celebrate, best wishes of the season to you from us at the the Sanctum Secorum. We look forward to seeing you in a few short days for more discussions, more giveaways, and more fun!

Contest, News, Shameless Self-Promotion