A bad joke I know, but it is true! The latest Codex will be quite a complex tome of Mythic and historical data to use at the gaming table for sure. Last year I started on it and wrote in earnest, flying on it like mad, making progress by mid-Summer until I had reached 38,000 words and then I had to rest for a time. I was over six months ahead on my projects because I produce quickly, but now, a year later, I need to keep that pace and speedily make sure I do not slow down. With the Codex Nordica now released and the next, the Codex Germania, to come very soon, I want to get the next edition in the series ready. So I returned to where I left off from last summer, almost exactly to the week!
Similar to the plethora of Celtic tribes that once populated Europe, the Slavic peoples were a plurality as well, but unlike them a commonality wasn't so easily found and there was room for much variation. What balances out this unfortunate high level of diversity is their more recent entry into history. They came into history following in the wake of the Fall of the western Roman Empire during what is generally termed the Migration Era, and so their period is better documented than the earlier Celtic peoples. These early Slavic peoples are grouped into the category of 'Old Slavs' for an easier reference. It is from this period and peoples that the Codex Slavorum is based.
I introduce three new character classes in this Codex. The Vampirdzhija or 'Vampire Hunter', derived from the real historical counterpart that existed not more than 6-8 hundred years ago that also functioned as a Witch-Hunter in Eastern Europe. Next is the Koldun, or Wizard, not the typical wizard one finds in basic fantasy gaming or other European cultures, but a more modest and humble nature that serves the common man, and finally the Molfar, or Shaman, the most ancient of all spiritual holy-men. In addition to these classes I also have other very particular Slavic racial breeds that can be chosen and played that will be a welcome addition in any game. They are blessed and cursed both.
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The monster and mythical beings section is very large, possibly the largest of the Codex series to date, pulling from every Slavic nationality, and there are many! I will be digging ever deeper before this book goes to press still to find more, making sure I don't miss any because as it stands I have plenty now. The chapter is huge. Between the many beings and monsters alone, it could be a mini-book nearly. There isn't much left to go in the completion of this book and it will be finished by the end of the summer. The only section in the book that will be nearly as large is the deities from the Slavic peoples I suspect and that will be written soon by Perun's Bolt!
Once this Codex is done, I take a breath and then dive into the next volume - the Codex Classicus!
I'm very curious about this. I loved the Codex Celtarum and I've recently had an itch to do an Eastern Eurpean-themed game, which led me to Slavic mythology.
ReplyDeleteThe Slavic Codex expands on the often shadowy and not-well documented or understood beliefs of the Old Slavs in the same way I covered the Insular Celts. I have slowly been reconstructing, to a point, the Cosmic outlook of their perspective as well.
ReplyDeleteOn a related note, I am also thinking about returning back to my Codex Celtarum soon and expanding on it by adding the entire Continental Celtic aspect in the second printing in the future. This would include the Gauls, Galatians, Celtiberians, and the other Celtic peoples since the whole of the Celtic peoples are my expertise.
I can assure you the Codex Slavorum will be a guide of perfection with LOTS of new ideas, beings and more in it never had before in gaming. I cannot wait to see it out in print!