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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: 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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Sanctum Secorum Reading Room – Tonight, March 28 at 9pm EST

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Remember to be sure to join the Keepers of Mysteries tonight on the Goodman Games Twitch channel with an all-new episode of The Sanctum Secorum Reading Room! This month, Jen and Bob Brinkman explore and discuss the final published Conan story of author Robert E. Howard, Red Nails.

Robert E. Howard described the story as,

“A Conan yarn, and the grimmest, bloodiest and most merciless story of the series so far. Too much raw meat, maybe, but I merely portrayed what I honestly believe would be the reactions of certain types of people in the situations on which the plot of the story hung…”

Join us as we dive into this classic piece of Sword & Sorcery literature and uncover the mystery of the Red Nails.

Enter the Sanctum Secorum… and be inspired.

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Sanctum Secorum Reading Room – Tuesday, March 28 at 9pm EST

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Fresh from (or exhausted by) Gary Con, the Keepers of Mysteries return to the Goodman Games Twitch channel with an all-new episode of The Sanctum Secorum Reading Room! This month, Jen and Bob Brinkman explore and discuss the final published Conan story of author Robert E. Howard, Red Nails.

Robert E. Howard described the story as,

“A Conan yarn, and the grimmest, bloodiest and most merciless story of the series so far. Too much raw meat, maybe, but I merely portrayed what I honestly believe would be the reactions of certain types of people in the situations on which the plot of the story hung…”

Join us as we dive into this classic piece of Sword & Sorcery literature and uncover the mystery of the Red Nails.

Enter the Sanctum Secorum… and be inspired.

podcast, Sanctum Secorum Reading Room

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

Sanctum Secorum #50 – The Tower of the Elephant

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Tonight, in their 50th episode, the Keepers of Mystery are joined by guests Stephen Newton, Francis Roberts, and the Dark Master himself – Joseph Goodman. The Keepers and their guests discuss Joseph Goodman’s favorite Appendix N work, Robert E. Howard’s The Tower of the Elephant.

In the Zamorian city of Arenjun,also known as the “City of Thieves,” a young Conan  is drinking in a rowdy tavern when he overhears a Kothic rogue describe a fabulous jewel known as the “Heart of the Elephant,” which is kept in a tower by an evil sorcerer named Yara, of whom even the King of Zamora is afraid. Conan ventures into Yara’s garden to steal the jewel and encounters Taurus of Nemedia, known as the “Prince of Thieves,” who has the same agenda. Taurus is wily and fat, but amazingly agile. Impressed by Conan’s daring, Taurus agrees to work together.

Also, be sure not to miss the information on how you may win the very last unclaimed copy of the Shadowed Grimoire, #10 of 10.

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Sanctum Secorum #50 – TONIGHT (SPECIAL TIME – 7pm EDT/Midnight UTC)

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The Sanctum Secorum celebrates its 50th episode in style with a few very special guests, beginning with the Dark Master himself – Joseph Goodman – to discuss Mr. Goodman’s favorite Appendix N story, The Tower of the Elephant by Robert E. Howard.

But wait, there is more. Tonight, we will also be joined by Francis Roberts, who recently composed music for The Spine of Night (starring Lucy Lawless, Richard Grant, and Joe Manganiello) to truly dig into the musical inspirations for and from Robert E Howard and Conan.

There may even be other guests and surprises in store! Be sure not to miss our 50th show special at its special time – March 14th at 7pm EDT/midnight UTC. So, join us over on the Goodman Games Twitch channel.

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Sanctum Secorum #50 – March 14th (SPECIAL TIME – 7pm EST/Midnight UTC)

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The Sanctum Secorum celebrates its 50th episode with a special guest, at a special time. Join the Keepers of Mysteries (Jen, Marc, and Bob) along with their special guest Joseph Goodman – the Dark Master himself – as they discuss Mr. Goodman’s favorite Appendix N story, The Tower of the Elephant by Robert E. Howard.

Plus, we may need to dig something truly special out of the Prize Closet of Mystery in celebration…

So, join us over on the Goodman Games Twitch channel on March 14th at 7pm EST/midnight UTC

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Obituary: Chris Carpenter

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I bear the sad tidings that we’ve lost another one of our own. Chris Carpenter was a DCC fan and a personal friend. He fought with Glioblastoma for over two years before it took him. Chris’ passing wasn’t sudden, I suppose it wasn’t even wholly unexpected, but it is still a blow

In our gaming circles, Chris was the guy who always showed up with a friendly smile, a welcoming attitude, and a great story. While we played DCC with him a number of times, attendees of Brinkmanomicon might best know him for bringing Gaslands. His Gaslands games were so popular that we set aside the “perfect” table just for him – even raising it to increase the ease of play.

Spending time with him was… comfortable. We didn’t see one another often, especially once the pandemic hit, but we’d always pick up right where we left off. It was a rare thing.

There are many who knew him better than I, and he leaves behind a grieving family who are suffering from the loss of a husband and father. Things I can’t really wrap my head around.

In the end, Chris Carpenter was a good man, and our community is diminished by his passing. The world is a bit darker for the loss of his smile, and grown quieter for the passing of his voice.

News, Obituary

The Sanctum Secorum Reading Room: Armor

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Join two of our Keepers of Mysteries as they examine Armor, by John Steakley.

The planet is called Banshee. The air is unbreathable, the water is poisonous. It is home to the most implacable enemies that humanity, in all its interstellar expansion, has ever encountered. Body armor has been devised for the commando forces that are to be dropped on Banshee—the culmination of ten thousand years of the armorers’ craft. A trooper in this armor is a one-man, atomic powered battle fortress. But he will have to fight a nearly endless horde of berserk, hard-shelled monsters—the fighting arm of a species which uses biological technology to design perfect, mindless war minions. Felix is a scout in A-team Two. Highly competent, he is the sole survivor of mission after mission. Yet he is a man consumed by fear and hatred. And he is protected, not only by his custom-fitted body armor, but by an odd being which seems to live within him, a cold killing machine he calls “The Engine.” 

Armor is the story of humanity’s war against an alien race whose foot soldiers are three-meter-tall insects, referred to as “ants”. It is also the story of a research colony on the fringes of human territory which is threatened by pirates. The two plots intertwine and finally join at the end, with each providing answers and insight into events of the other. 

For those wishing to support Ashraf Braden’s RPG releases – click here and here!
Find the Armor II teaser that was released prior to Steakley’s death here.
Plus, tune in for our latest fantasy book give away!

Originally broadcast live on the Goodman Games twitch channel on February 28, 2023.

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Sanctum Secorum Reading Room – Tuesday, Feb 28 at 9pm EST

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The Keepers of Mysteries return to the Goodman Games Twitch channel with an all-new season of The Sanctum Secorum Reading Room! This month, Jen and Bob Brinkman explore and discuss Armor, by John Steakley.

Armor is the story of humanity’s war against an alien race whose foot soldiers are three-meter-tall insects, referred to in the book as “ants”. It is also the story of a research colony on the fringes of human territory which is threatened by pirates. The two sub-plots intersect at the end, with each providing answers and insight into events of the other. Join us and find how this book connects to Appendix N…

Enter the Sanctum Secorum… and be inspired.

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