Category Archives: Columns

Finding Tolrendor on the Roman Frontier: The Dungeon Beneath the Crag

A dark recess beneath a Northumbrian crag suggests a dungeon entrance—and a primordial beast whose petrified carcass has become the hill itself. Continue reading →

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Finding Tolrendor on the Roman Frontier: Shouldering the Pack

There was a definite point at which the walk became an expedition. On Day 1, I walked from Bowness-on-Solway to Carlisle with a daypack. On the morning of Day 2, I left Carlisle carrying everything I would need on my … Continue reading →

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Finding Tolrendor on the Roman Frontier

A nine-day journey along Hadrian’s Wall—and a new search for the landscapes, communities and forgotten edges of Tolrendor’s fallen empires. Continue reading →

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Finding Tolrendor in Ljubljana: The Crossroads of Velsar

Some places inspire a building. Some inspire a landscape. Ljubljana inspired several thousand years of history. When I arrived in Slovenia’s capital, I was already travelling through the landscape that would eventually become the inspiration for a large, still mostly … Continue reading →

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From Trogir to Talovar

One of the dangers of travelling with a fantasy world permanently lurking somewhere in the back of your mind is that eventually you stop seeing places simply as they are. You start seeing what they could be. That happened almost immediately … Continue reading →

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A Pirate City in the Palace of Dragons

Split, Croatia The first few days in Split were really just supposed to be a short city break before the backpacking ‘research’ journey got underway properly with my first train north to Zagreb. But that didn’t last long. Inspiration hit … Continue reading →

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Tales from the Tavern: The Feline Conspiracy

One of the things I enjoy most about organised play is that you never quite know what sort of adventure you’re about to get. Two and a half hours later you’re trying to stop a magical conspiracy involving winged cats, … Continue reading →

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Reimagining the Age of Strife for Norðrlǫnd

When I reviewed Kobold Press’s Northlands setting recently, Northlands has Landed … and Northlands — Playable Flavour Done Right, I mentioned that my intention is to use the setting and it’s companion Northlands Sagas as the foundation for my first Tales of the Valiant … Continue reading →

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RPG Tech Talk Returns — Dreams of a Smarter Table

There’s something slightly ironic about the fact that it took playing more in-person tabletop RPGs to rekindle my interest in RPG technology. Over the past few months, playing regularly at RPG Taverns has absolutely re-energised my love of the hobby. It’s also been a … Continue reading →

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Tales from the Tavern — Into the Fire

There’s something gloriously energising about organised play when the table composition is randomly thrown together. This was my first Thursday session rather than the usual Friday/weekend crowd. Noticeably quieter — but still with the same relaxed atmosphere. Thanks to train … Continue reading →

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