12 Books in the Common Collection
A library is nothing without books. Some libraries hold but a few dozen tomes while others hold thousands. No matter the size of the library it no doubt has books on a variety of subjects.
Use the lists below, to generate the details of books the library keeps available for the general public.
History Books
The Bloodstained Prince: This small leather tome is a recounting of the (doomed) attempt of Crown Prince Ilasual Nenonen to seize the throne of Ashlar from his sister, Aelliah Nenonen. The book ends with a chapter speculating on the Bloodstained Prince’s unknown fate.
Five Ships: This book recounts the story of the legendary Lost Treasure Fleet of the Five Sisters. It tells how the five sisters—refer to both as freebooters and pirates—sailed to a far off land and discovered a vast treasure. On their voyage home, the sisters fell to arguing before a savage storm blew up from the west. The tempest sunk all five ships and only a few sailors survived the tragedy to return to their home ports with wild tales of islands rising from the deep and many-tentacled beasts that slew their shipmates.
Doom Among the Gray Spires: Almost two centuries ago, an adventuring party—the Company of the Blue Shields—penetrated deep into the Forest of Gray Spires. This book is the story of their expedition. It tells of encounters with demon-worshipping elves, the discovery of stone statues depicting a race of one-eyed giants and other strange events and discoveries.
Vilimzair Aralivar—His Amazing Life: This oft-read book tells the incredible story of Vilimzair Aralivar. Vilimzair rose from humble origins to become both a fearsome pirate captain and the greatest bard the world has ever known (according to the book). Strangely, the book is graffitied as if the readers had grown angry at Vilimzair’s incredible escapades.
Religious Books
I Walked the Earth: This small dog-eared, singed book is an autobiography of Juhana Ehtaro the so-called “Walking Priest”. Juhana was a devout half-elven follower of Behron reputed to have seen more lands and strange places than any other traveller. The book contains interesting descriptions of many far-off, hidden or mythical places of potential interest to adventurers.
The Book of Tides: The Book of Tides is the scared text of the Storm Mistress. It not only teaches of the timeless beauty of the ocean but also records details of tides, storms and other nautical phenomena stretching back centuries. It records shipwrecks, the faithful’s strange sighting at sea, details of the many monsters dwelling in the sea’s deaths and more. Every copy is slightly different as individual worshippers add to the store of information therein.
Cults and their Doings: This short pamphlet features sensationalised stories and a series of lurid pictures depicting foul cultists in the midst of their blasphemous rites. Much of the pamphlet’s contents are clearly rubbish and are based on public misconceptions of various evil religions. However, one section detailing the Fellowship of the Onyx Trapezohedron is accurate and depicts be-robed worshippers slowly crushing their victims under a gigantic trapezohedron suspended from huge chains.
Scripture of Law: This vast tome contains teaching, stories and lessons by some of Darlen’s (LG greater god of law, order, justice and the sun) early, prominent followers. It is the faith’s most important book and a bedrock of the church.
General Interest Books
On the Road (An Accounting of the Many Journeys and Hardships of Hilppa Jutikka): Hilppa Jutikka was a merchant dogged by bad luck, happenstance and ill-fated events. To read his book is to marvel he survived long enough to write it. A careful reading of the book, however, reveals, Hilppa was simply inept.
The Beauty of Numbers: This book deals with mathematics and its application in a wide range of situations. As well as providing practical instruction in numeration, the book includes a rambling appendix dealing with the study of probabilities, numerical patterns and the like that apparently shapes the world and everything in it.
Beyond the Horizon: This small book contains the sea diary of Jegor Kalamies, and details his many journeys. He describes terrible storms, desperate battles against pirates and more. Jegor also included some rough sketch maps of various locales that might be of interest to adventurers planning a sea voyage.
The Deeds of Power: This slightly treasonous book relates—in breathless detail—the alleged deeds and doings of the Nenonen family. Much of the book may—or may not—be true, but some interesting nuggets, particularly of Arndul Nenonen’s exploration of Gloamhold, appear within. Other scandals—hints of illegitimate children and a dark, unrecorded secret—also appear in the book.
Want More?
This article is an extract from GM's Miscellany: 20 Things V. Add the book to your GM’s toolkit today! Alternatively, check out the 20 Things Archive for more handy, flavoursome and time-saving 20 Things articles ready for immediate use in your campaign.
GM's Miscellany: 20 Things V comprises over 70 pages crammed full with system neutral tables designed to help you add depth, detail and verisimilitude into your games with virtually no effort.
If you have alchemist's laboratories, archives and libraries, black dragon's lairs, ghasts, ghouls, green dragon's lairs, items most wondrous, local landmarks, mummies, ruined cities, ruined monasteries, ruined wizard's towers, skeletons, smugglers' villagers, vampires castles, wights or zombies in your campaign GM's Miscellany: 20 Things V has got you covered!
This System Neutral GM’s Resource can be used either before or during the game session.
A System Neutral Edition GM’s Resource by Creighton Broadhurst and Steve Hood.
About 20 Things
Are you a busy GM? Does session prep take too long? Do you never have time to work on the cool little details that can bring your session to life? Well fear not! That’s where the 20 Things line comes in. Compiled from the free 20 Things posts available at Raging Swan’s website, this short, focused compilation gives you, the time-crunched GM, the tools to effortlessly add verisimilitude and detail to your adventure. Use the material herein either before or during play and bask in your players' adulation.
Design Creighton Broadhurst Art William McAusland
