Disclaimer: The author of this work, Nikki DeKeuster, is one of my colleagues and friends. I was a beta reader for her connected novelette Red String. I was not solicited to review her debut novel. The finest compliment I can give to a work of fiction is my time. I bull-rushed through the back half … Continue reading REVIEW: The Spiral
Author: Austin Conrad
Self-styled scholar and author. I read a lot and write occasionally.
2021 Year in Review
Well, I'd intended to process what I wrote and published in 2021 sometime in January, but that didn't end up happening. No fear, though! We're here, now. Let's get into it. To Hunt a God—Quick Update I'm delighted to share that To Hunt a God has earned its first Bestseller medal on DriveThruRPG! Cover by … Continue reading 2021 Year in Review
REVIEW: The Armies & Enemies of Dragon Pass
I originally posted this review over on my Facebook page, but decided to repost it on the blog as well upon a friend's suggestion—easier for posterity to find than through FB. If you think A&E sounds interesting, it's available over on the Jonstown Compendium. (Oh, and I am still working on that yearly round-up. Hopefully … Continue reading REVIEW: The Armies & Enemies of Dragon Pass
Reading List 2021
Curious where a writer's ideas come from? It's really not all that mysterious. Ideas come from stories—movies, TV shows, and, of course, books. This post meanders through what I read last year, and explores how it impacted my writing. I enjoy looking back at the start of each year as a way for me to … Continue reading Reading List 2021
An End to MOTM
Well, yet again I've neglected the blog! This time around I have two Monster of the Month (or MOTM) releases to discuss, and also the related larger news indicated in the title—why I've decided to stop creating monthly releases on the Jonstown Compendium. November—Burning Engines Issue cover composed using stock artwork—in hindsight, this needed to … Continue reading An End to MOTM
Kickstarter — The Tomb of Palu
Oh man, I am so excited to share this one. An adventure I wrote is being published by Menagerie Press! It's currently on the crowdfunding site Kickstarter, where you can back us and help fund the book's publication. The Tomb of Palu is a mythic adventure where beginning D&D 5E adventurers explore the tomb of … Continue reading Kickstarter — The Tomb of Palu
The Salt Man — MOTM #22
Hey all, this month's issue managed to come out a bit early for once—early enough that it's still October when writing this post! Huzzah! October's issue of Monster of the Month is titled The Salt Man. Like last year's October issue, The Salt Man presents a horror-themed monster for the gamemaster. The Salt Man is … Continue reading The Salt Man — MOTM #22
Jallupel Goodwind — MOTM #21
September's passed away, so we have another issue of Monster of the Month to share! This month's issue was primarily penned by Diana Probst, of Beer With Teeth infamy. Beer With Teeth is a collective of fellow creators for Chaosium's Jonstown Compendium, which makes some really amazing stuff. If Diana's name sounds familiar from around … Continue reading Jallupel Goodwind — MOTM #21
The Bad Winds — MOTM #20
Yet again a month has ended, and I've forgotten to talk about the new issue of Monster of the Month over here on the Akhelas blog! Let's correct that, shall we? For those not in the know, Monster of the Month (or MOTM) is a monthly supplement from Akhelas, which provides new creatures, adventure hooks, … Continue reading The Bad Winds — MOTM #20
Sylthi—Sessions Four & Five
It's been several months, but we've managed to get my nascent RuneQuest campaign playtesting material in Esrolia running once again! "Real"-life scheduling complications forced us to go on a hiatus, but hopefully lives have settled back down, and we can return to gaming consistently. This series of blog posts publicly records our campaign exploring ideas, … Continue reading Sylthi—Sessions Four & Five
Akhelas 