OSR Commentary Thirteen Parsecs: Beyond the Solar Frontier Rpg By Jason Vey & The Arduin Grimoire rpg - Ruins & Weirdness

 This blog entry picks right up from where we left off here on the blog a couple of days ago. We've been talking about the PC's exploring Nexus Gates on 'lost planets'. Why?! 

 The ruins and dungeons of those who fell under the influence of the King In Yellow  are numerous especially those that have been dropped from the interstellar scene. These are still available from the Arduin rpg Nexus gates. Why explore such cursed and damned places?! One word, greed! Seriously this is all of the motivator that the players need. With lost knowledge, technologies, artifacts, trade routes, treasures and more it's only a matter of time as the Yellow sign spreads it's insanity. 

 Ages ago Arduin's ancient races saw the spread of the madness of the King In Yellow and the plague of the Yellow Sign. They isolated as many of the Nexus gates locations as they could. But the King In Yellow is not so easily defeated. With the opening of the interstellar lanes again in Thirteen Parsecs: Beyond the Solar Frontier. Things have gotten very dangerous again and add to this fact that knowledge of the Nexus gates have gotten into the general population. 

The influence of the King In Yellow has been both active and passive with it's power. According to the King In Yellow wiki entry; "There are few direct references to the King in Yellow in the book that bears his name by  Robert W. Chambers. There are implications that he (or it) is some kind of terrible, perhaps almighty being, of vast and insidiously penetrative reach, although it is unmentioned of just what substance or origin nor the true form it takes. Its machinations, though, appear born of a limitless desire for domination. As noted by Mr. Wilde in The Repairer of Reputations:

"The ambition of Caesar and of Napoleon pales before that which could not rest until it had seized the minds of men and controlled even their unborn thoughts ... He is a king whom emperors have served.""

 This means that the King's power is partially sustaining the ruins, treasures, and dungeons. These interstellar locations  are almost parodies of what they used to be. And still their legends continue to lure adventurers, treasure hunters, raiders, and other fools.  This also includes Arduin itself where the King's followers continue to subtly feed the flames of the cult.  Next time we dive into the cult of 'The King In Yellow' on Arduin and it's reach past the Nexus Gates.