Monday Musings #88 🤬
Getting Mystical.
Good Monday, Gamer!
“Divination is a mirror reflecting what's in the soul” — Hermes Trismegistus
Waay back circa 70s. Hoboken NJ. My big momma used to 'play numbers': Black Cat, Lucky Seven, IYKYK. She would take me to Kindergarten in the afternoons. She was into Astrology, I'm a late Cap/early Aquarius. Scorpio Moon and a Rising Cancer. And she had a tarot deck, which always fascinated me. She also made some mean baked goods, so sometimes being the first great-grandkid (first kid of the only granddaughter) and nearest kid is a great thing!
Is it magic? Are you psychic? What I do know is that when I use tarot in my game sessions—when I ask what the fictional future holds—it never disappoints.
BSH: The Cycles of Errazu - Penultimate Session Prep
Both of my Black Sword Hack games have about two sessions left. We have four sessions of game history—so I ask, "What challenges lie ahead for our ragtag heroes in the Northlander Territories?" or something like that. I pulled five cards to find out. Five feels right—more to work with than three, better patterns emerge for me...it's a feel, go with the feel.
The Chariot – Time is of the essence. Another force is already moving to claim what the Order seeks.
The Hierophant – The Order of Truth is following an ancient tradition, law, or prophecy to justify their search.
Seven of Swords – Mercenary groups or raiders are operating in the area—someone is profiting from the violence.
Page of Wands – A messenger or spy holds crucial information; their letters could change everything.
King of Wands – A hidden stronghold or lost city lies ahead, the true heart of the mystery.
The Inspired Game Prep
The Blue Smoke Cultists are back! They’re the rival force racing against the Order.
Vanderjack, a former PC-turned-NPC, makes his villainous return, and he’s got new friends!
The Page of Wands presents opportunities for investigation—the PCs can track down witnesses to the caravan attack.
The King of Wands tells me this all leads to somewhere—a place where everything will be decided.
Try it yourself.
Pick an open-ended question about your campaign. Draw five tarot cards. Let your brain do the pattern-matching work. If you don’t have a deck, Google a tarot spread—most online generators will even interpret them for you.
Session Recap: The Cycles of Errazu
The crew journeys south into the Northlander barbarian territories, pressing a group of exiles to guide them to the ruins of the caravan ambush. They find clear signs of sorcerous destruction—some of the wreckage still smolders. Tracks lead away from the site, but Wulf finds two ominous artifacts: an engraved skull and a worked obsidian stone piece.
Then, something strange happens.
Wulf, normally cautious, feels compelled to loudly declare, “I found IT!” as if announcing to the world.
And someone answers.
Vanderjack returns. No longer a lost exile, he arrives with new allies:
A half-giant enforcer
Two ghost warriors
A mercenary archer from the Broken Bell
He’s not here to talk.
He’s here to kill his old friends who left him in Ambersoul.
What’s Next?
A friend of mine is running Burning Wheel as a 101 session, teaching folks the ins-outs of the game. It got me thinking what 101-style games would you like to see me run? Because I'd do it!
ICYMI
🔹 The Coriolis Beta dropped—I’m absolutely going to run this soon.
🎙️ The Critshow Podcast is doing a fantastic actual play of The Clockwinders—my first published RPG work! Check it out
Catch ya next week!