An evocative meal is an excellent way of establishing your alternate reality as a real place, just not in the regular world... and if you find it difficult to think of much beyond what you had for dinner yesterday, here are some delights to lay on the tavern table.

How about spicy caremelized unicorn stuffed with pheasant cooked in Good Hook Brandy (# 43)? Just 16 sp to you, sir. Seared apples and blueberries pie (# 11) you could maybe get around here, but a juicy sphinx and blackberries stew? Or maybe our renowned half a roasted dragon doused in a wolverine, and apples puree? Or juicy charbroiled snake and rice... hang on, I had that in China, once. But it was a memorable occasion :)

Dining out ought to be special. So should dining out in your favourite fantasy world... and here are some ideas to make that happen.

Sages and wizards (and me!) like to have piles of books around them to pore over, quote from, argue about.... and on rare occasions let other characters look through them. But unless you are very well prepared, there will come a day when a character turns to the bookshelf and asks what volumes he can find there....

... don't panic, start rolling against the hundred different tomes listed here. And then sneak in a book or two that's relevant to your plotline, that holds the relevant information, without it being too obvious!

Roll a 12, for example, and find "Illusion and Summoning: A Tract" by Susan Taylor the Trifold. You can see the words "Igira kali kini dolibix!" inscribed on the inside cover.... now, I wonder what happens if you say them aloud. What if you said them at midnight whilst burning incense...? Perhaps it's better not to know.

Or maybe you found "The Huge Pamphlet of Flower Arranging and Alchemy" - OK, why those two together? Watch the characters going nuts trying to work it out!

Just plain useful, and entertaining, and... cannot really go wrong at the price!

Ah, technobabble, the duct tape of science fiction – when you need to tie an action and a resolution, and hope that people don’t examine the connector too closely, this is what you use. After all, it’s not important that people know what “multi-modal reflection sorting” or “de-polarizing the phase discriminators” actually is; what’s important is that it’s an excuse to move the scene along.

This can often be the case in sci-fi RPGs, where the PCs need to make a particular skill check regarding some futuristic system. When you’re developing a cure for an alien plague, for example, which sounds more fun? Saying that you’ve made the skill roll, or saying that you’ve successfully utilized an astrophysical tetryon mutation? That’s where this product comes in.

Russ Morrissey’s 1d100 Technobabbles is pretty self-explanatory in its title. The brief introduction quickly takes us to the table of technobabbles, which are laid out in no particular order that I can see. Most of these appear to be nouns – that is, these are things that you use, rather than things that you do. Of course, that’s not really a barrier to a creative player, since it’s easy enough to turn a “photonic quantum disturbance” into “I’m disturbing their quantum photons,” etc.

Other than that minor presentation issue, what’s here is, well, about as plausible as any other technobabble you’ve ever heard. More relevant is that it can be surprisingly difficult to come up with good technobabble, especially on the fly. It’s instinctual to want to make sense of things, so coming up with nonsense that sounds at least somewhat plausible can be surprisingly difficult. Having it done here for you can be more helpful than you’d think.

Pick this up and start working on your phased dampening signal today!

Some people struggle to come up with character names, other people seem to produce an endless stream of them... and some folks have some really strange names for their characters (she says, remembering DMing a 'Samian Ware' and struggling to keep a straight face over a character named after a type of mediaeval pottery!).

So, if it's a dwarf you have to name and you are bereft of ideas, grab your dice and a copy of this list. There's an hundred names, first and last, to choose from... and if you need even more, why roll twice, taking the first name and last name separately instead.

They all sound properly dwarvish too, the sort of name any dwarf worth his beard will be happy to be tagged with... and as time goes on, to hear the bards sing about!

Again, really useful if you need some sort of ships - not just the names but the types/cargo/crew etc. Each one could be a mini-setting by itself. Maybe not as universal as the books but for the price it is great.

This is cheap, simple and practically universal. It's brilliantly useful to have and a bit of a time saver if you're an improv type of DM/GM/ST/Whatever.

SEAN'S PICK OF THE DAY: Another one of those brilliant sourcebooks that all GMs should have in their collection. This one is a Pathfider revamp of a classic 3.5 book that covers all the things a GM will want for when the PCs are dealing with games and challenges at fairs, carnivals, and taverns. A must-have for the library.

Tournaments, Fairs, and Taverns is a 70+ page Pathfinder Compatible supplement by EN Publishing, a part of EN World. Members of the EN World community helped contribute to this book, adding a great amount of creativity (including Bear Wrasslin!) to this somewhat crunchy book. In addition to a wide variety of staid and creative tavern, tournament, festival, and even magic tournament games, rules for drinknig and gambling are provided. GM advice is provided, along with a sample tournament, an exotic market night, and large gambling house. An appendix of tables for merchandise, tavern drinks, etc. ends the book, along with a roster of ready-to-use NPCs.

This book is pretty much a must-have for those neglected scenes in which the party has a bit of recreation in the tavern, before the inevitable stranger asks them for help. (And why did he ask for help? Because he saw how well they did in the tavern game!) A party's proficienty in a tournament will catch the attention of a noble who is looking for services. Taverns, fairs, and tournaments can be sources of rumors, information, and the occasional thief. Even if you don't use Pathfinder or OGL, you can let the book do the creative work of the backdrop, so you can focus on the plot and adventure.

My problem with this product? It is NOT Pathfinder compatible. I don't care what the label says, everything is in 4e stats. All of the rules draw on 4e tropes. I imagine it works perfectly fine as a 4e supplement. It is entirely useless to me as written. Just because they both use a d20, doesn't mean they are interchangeable.

The third part of En Publishing's steampunk-AP is 99 pages long, 1 page front cover, 1 page editorial, 1 page ToC, 1 page SRD, 1 page back cover, leaving us with 94 pages of content, so let's check this out!

This being a review of an investigation-heavy adventure, this review contains SPOILERS for both this module and its two predecessors. Potential players should jump to the conclusion.

All right, still here? After the rather trademark smart and complex narrative of Zeitgeist has been expanded and the adventure sketched (which includes a new form of madness and a feat to benefit slightly from insane clarities) we'll return to the matter at hand. The agents of the RHC have recently achieved a stunning victory against Macbannin, only to be stumped by their boss's boss, lady inspectress Margaret Saxby, who subsequently took over the investigation. in the rainy autumn months, though, the constablers will still have something to do. After all, the Kaybeau Arms and Technology Expedition is going into full swing: Modeled slightly after the World Exhibit, the PCs are commanded to guard the peace there in a village of tents full of experimentational weaponry -what could go wrong? After a short briefing by Sara Lockheart, the PCs will have opportunity to see some prototypes (and even help fine-tune some, engage in philosophical debate with the dwarf Kvarti Gobatiy and generally enjoy themselves - until the incident happens - not via an exploding prototype, but via the incursion of alien, nightmarish creatures! What could have been a mishap of magic turns weirder yet, as the creatures don't just disappear. If the PCs manage to save Simon Langfield, the unwitting arcanist who got these creatures here by using his staff of the ancients, they'll have a massive mystery at their hands. Of course, first it's time for the constabulary to confiscate bodies and items and Martial Scientist-PCs will also have a background-related benefit waiting from what happens here. The investigation of the fair should prove interesting, as a gang of thieving street urchins and the family complicates the investigations - yet another way for the PCs to get on the good side of notorious Morgan Cippiano, though.

If they are smart, the PCs may well determine the origin of the illegal magic staff that caused the mishap and contact the responsible seller, posing as interested buyers. Hence, they are off to the Lanternwood Subrail Station, where they meet up with Kaja Stewart. If they think the fence helpless, they'll soon learn otherwise, for the woman has not come unprepared: Multiple walking turret constructs as well as her eidolon (she's a summoner) as well as her refreshingly smart use of the terrain should make this a challenging encounter indeed. While an interrogation of her might yield results, the conspiracy will move on to kill her - with a surprisingly apt plan, nonetheless. Also, her death is not required and if the PCs make the connection, she can describe a tiefling surprisingly like Caius Bergeron in the context of the McBannin-case. With her dead or not knowing more, the investigation, for now, is stumped and in a dead-end, which the module uses for a foreshadowing of module #5, in the form of a dead body and a mangled golem, mysteriously torn to shreds . Reactivating the golem, who now houses the mind of a rogue Obscurati, will be a project that spans multiple modules but eventually yield success.

But back to the weird magical items: Seeing that they seem old, the logical step to check for their origins would be the Pardwright University of Natural History's Professor Hans Weber. The professor heard rumors about a recently unearthed ziggurat in the High Bayou and that Dr. Xambria Meredith led an expedition there. Being the only survivor of the ill-fated trip, the woman has been slightly addled by the now blurred ordeal. The constables may make ample conversation with her, though, and thus fill in gaps in their knowledge of the ancient secrets. Now also rather interesting: It was Caius Bergeron who financed the expedition of Dr. Xambria and while, for now, they can't really nail the elusive noble down - for now.

With all resources exhausted in town and work slowing to a crawl/busy-work at best, it is time for the PCs to leave Risur behind for the city of Bole via train and from there to the village of Agate and from there to the High Bayou's creepy swamps. (Also nice: If the PCs are versed in folklore and offer sacrifices to the sleeping fey titan, they can avoid fighting the native creatures of the bayou - great to award immersion and smart thinking.) The ziggurat's otherworldy aura promptly starts to erode the sanity of the PCs and in a break from investigations, they have a dungeon to explore at their hands - one that makes the spirit-seers see bad omens and features fun components like hallucinations and dead bodies! Have I mentioned the notes of the lost expedition, the traps galore, the actually intelligent puzzle based on planetary correspondences and teamwork and weird aberrations? Yeah. They're there. Better yet, the obscurati have not been idle and have added their own trickery to the already formidable dungeon. If the players persist, though, they may in a vision witness the sealing of the planet Apet (from which the weird creatures at the fair hailed) and the dysfunctional portal to the place that was once sealed by the confiscated staff and the legendary axis seal. Once the PCs have loitered enough, things get UGLY: A flood of poison spreads throughout the Ziggurat, forcing the PCs to make a run for it. Worse yet, EACH and every mummy they have seen animates, making the escape a running fight through the step-pyramid's corridors. Upon their escape, the Voice of Rot, the fabled fey-titan, demands sacrifice: One thing, sentient, has escaped and the titan wants it dead and rotting - and the PCs better oblige. the detect Planar Energy-spell here is a great help, in fact, it is throughout the module: A concise and interesting list of clues helps DMs run the investigation of this particular lead.

Upon their return to Risur, the PCs hence have a fey titan to appease and find the suspect - but other news also ask for their attention. Their main suspect, Caius Bergeron, has been murdered, in a locked room. Witnesses report a woman fitting Xambria's description having a lively discussion with Caius as well as a ring that could be the first clue the PCs have for the Obscurati's means of identifying one another - or get into the deep end. More pressing is a map with coordinates... And celebrity bard Rock Rackus, who also shows traces of Apet energy and is currently languishing in jail. The man with the apt name is something of a rockstar who claims to have visited the unseen court of the fey (on the moon) and also happens to be a specialist in teleportation magic. He also has this particular scroll he misplaced that may lead to quite a bit of interesting treasure and information (in module 12) - if only the PCs could get these pesky charges dropped? Better yet, dockers are looking up to the man, though he is just riding the wave right now and after his own gain - if the PCs are convincing, they may stir him to become, quite literally, a better man and thus influence the future modules as well. Another seal has been discovered (and can be conjectured from Caius' notes) and Dr. Xambria's ship, the dagger, is already waiting when the PC's vessel arrives there. While Dr. Xambria might seem like a good suspect and she indeed does show traces of massive Apet energy, it's not that simple and her cooperation and demeanor hold up. When Il Dracon de Mer, a war vessel shows up, it's time for naval battle with a vessel crewed by loyalist's to the now deceased Caius. After having defeated the opposing vessel (optionally via the simplified naval combat rules also featured in here), the PCs will have to get to the seal, which is defended by specialists that are well-trained for defending the seal beneath the waves and also have an array of animal companions at their beck and call. Aquatic combat is thankfully quickly summed up and while I prefer Cerulean Sea's more complex take on underwater combat, terrain wise there is nothing to complain here. The sunken dig site has an inactive portal that the leader of the specialists tries to open and a further skyseer dream complement a battle that should prove to be both tactical and interesting - especially when insane water-creatures erupt from the portal and the PCs have to work potentially with their adversaries to re-seal it, establishing the procedure for further situations. (Btw.: I love it when modules do this - establish a cohesive "law" or "way how things work" and then actually stick to it - that lends a sense of cohesion to any given setting!)

The return to Flint with their captives will prove the mettle of your PCs, especially their paranoia: The mastermind of the latter troubles makes its move if the PCs don't use their wits: A creature called Sijhen, a spy and scout from the planet of Apet that has lain dormant in Xambria's consciousness - rising from the body when needed and forcing her/modifying memory it tries to assassinate PCs, crew, anything alive on the ships, really and the creature also has an evil array of summoned monsters attack. Probably , the dread creature beats the PCs back to flint, with the golden icon of Apet, enacting its masterplan, thankfully befitting of a creature of its intellect. Upon their return to Flint, they'll realize that the strange madness from the ziggurat has spread to Flint and by now, the PCs hopefully can connect the items of the ancients with the madness. The Museum of Natural History host a grand gala and the PCs may socialize - until Xambria/Sijhen make their move and assault with a contingent of deadly creatures from Apet - if the PCs manage to defeat the duo, Xambria seems to wrestle free of Sijhen's influence and realize her mutated, eye-sporting arm, surrendering. Xambria hopefully can retain control long enough and thus, the PCs get her back to HQ while she can stave off the influence of Sijhen. Unfortunately, this is also part of Sijhen's plan - it contacted the Obscurati, threatening to expose them: And indeed, Xambria reveals the existence of the conspiracy to the PCs, connecting Mcbannin and Bergeron, adding the information that Caius had the plan "to ride the train" (to be featured in adventure #4). Worse, She exposes Saxby as a member of the Obscurati before being taken over by Sijhen again and the creature floods the RHC headquarters with planar energy before phasing through the ceiling.

The whole headquarter turns first translucent, then transparent and the game is on: Members of the RHC become mad due to the planar energy-influx and not only is Sijhen escaping, the PCs will have to rally the maddened RHC operatives, defeat the obscurati kill squad sent to dispatch them (which unprofessionally mentions notorious crimeboss Lorcan Kell) and catch Lady Saxby, who is guarded by fellow RHC-officers unaware of her duplicity and trying to make a run for it. Oh, and Sijhen is opening a gate in the subterranean railway-tunnel, trying to escape to its home planet. Worse, Sijhen is conjuring a truly interesting unique vast creature the PCs will have to defeat and worse, Xambria is doomed to die unless spirit mediums intervene - alternatively, her consciousness may end up in one of the PC's bodies.

The first appendix includes multiple optional encounters, like an audit with Lord Viscount Inspector Nigel Price-Hill (husband of Saxby who does her best to discredit them), Lorcan trying to frame a murder on the PCs for taking down Kaja's smuggling operation and a radical Vekeshi plot of a less than smart being wanting to assassinate Rock Rackus - trying to recruit a PC for the job. The pdf also provides stats for the new creatures, new magical items (including the experimental steam suit), the boon of sharing Xambria's consciousness, dramatis personae, 3 beautiful hand-outs, 5 pages of quick naval combat rules, and 14 pages of beautiful maps.

Conclusion: Editing and formatting are top-notch, I didn't notice any glitches, which is quite a feat. Layout adheres to the 2-column standard and is full-color and beautiful. The original artworks are GLORIOUS and supplemented with stock-art here and there. Cartography deserves a special mention, since the maps are beautiful indeed. It should be noted that the pdf comes with layers that enable you to print-it out without draining your printer as much - though there is a problem pet-peeve for me: The maps lack player-friendly versions (with one exception) and are studded with numbers. While I don't mind regarding the RHC-headquarters, the other locales should also come with player-friendly versions.

That remains the only gripe I have with this module, though: While less complex than the webs of intrigue featured in issue 2 of the AP, we still get a truly superb module of backstabbing and conspiracy, of weirdness and horror that is indeed a glorious addition to the stellar AP. My final verdict for the third gutsy, intelligent module of the Zeitgeist AP will thus clock in at 5 stars plus seal of approval.

Endzeitgeist out.

Awesome pics for Zeitgeist or any rpg that can incorporate NPCs in Victorian dress. The fantastic art is, in some cases, reminiscent of celebrities, which helps make the NPCs memorable to the players. Would love to see more of the same!

Enworld Publishing pushes out the fifth installment of this masterpiece of an adventure path, Zeitgeist, with Cauldron Born, a climatic mega adventure that serves as the final piece to the first arc of the Zeitgeist campaign.

What Makes it Iron As I have said time and time again, Zeitgeist is written by dungeon masters for dungeon masters. I am not talking about a few novice dungeon masters who cling to xp tables and random charts. I am talking about the die hard dungeon masters who still like to create their own side quests and enjoy freedom in a module. Cauldron Born is a very free type of module. In the first Act alone, there are 4 adventure hooks the PCs can explore.

The dungeon master is free to expand or deexpand this as much as possible. If the DM decides that he wishes to act out the major raids on the local crime family, he can draw up some maps and get down and dirty into small squad fantasy tactics. There are options on some hooks to side with the not so good guy to achieve a greater goal. These are things you see parties attempt to do all the time but the restrictions of a module make for a broken adventure if you allow it. In Zeitgeist, its all there.

The 93 page book centers around the PCs attempt to keep peace during the peace talks while exploring a secret organization. The organized thieves’ guild are not the only threat. Other problems include a dark fey army, mad dwarves and a very large and angry golem. The handouts designed are exceptional. Helping catch players up on a yearlong campaign by providing cliff notes of the PCs exploits complete with insults by their boss.

Not So Iron The book has a couple of awesome subgames in a minigame to take down the organized family and a b-team to show the PCs what is going on in other places. Both of these are good, but felt like they could have been fleshed out more. The minigame needed more ways to get the win condition for smaller actions. After all All Capone was caught on tax evasion. The alternate team is a bit fumbly, frequently breaking up the action of the game for characters the PCs couldn’t care too much about. DMs attempting to correct this should let the PCs make their own b-member characters of 5th level, giving them a slight more chance to survive. Also, only switch once, at the beginning or end of a game session.

The Iron Word Zeitgeist: Cauldron Born is every bit the epic conclusion to the first arc that it should be. All of the plot threads either complete or further into the next arc. The combat, as usual, is not over done. DMs who want more of something can easily insert it into the many unseen vignettes that occur. I should also note that even if you have not played a single adventure, this one can be easily adapted for a campaign as most of the premises are basic, thieves guild needs to be taken down, king’s in town and attempting to be assassinated and 100 foot golems are never a good idea.

Enworld Publishing pushes out the fifth installment of this masterpiece of an adventure path, Zeitgeist, with Cauldron Born, a climatic mega adventure that serves as the final piece to the first arc of the Zeitgeist campaign.

What Makes it Iron As I have said time and time again, Zeitgeist is written by dungeon masters for dungeon masters. I am not talking about a few novice dungeon masters who cling to xp tables and random charts. I am talking about the die hard dungeon masters who still like to create their own side quests and enjoy freedom in a module. Cauldron Born is a very free type of module. In the first Act alone, there are 4 adventure hooks the PCs can explore.

The dungeon master is free to expand or deexpand this as much as possible. If the DM decides that he wishes to act out the major raids on the local crime family, he can draw up some maps and get down and dirty into small squad fantasy tactics. There are options on some hooks to side with the not so good guy to achieve a greater goal. These are things you see parties attempt to do all the time but the restrictions of a module make for a broken adventure if you allow it. In Zeitgeist, its all there.

The 93 page book centers around the PCs attempt to keep peace during the peace talks while exploring a secret organization. The organized thieves’ guild are not the only threat. Other problems include a dark fey army, mad dwarves and a very large and angry golem. The handouts designed are exceptional. Helping catch players up on a yearlong campaign by providing cliff notes of the PCs exploits complete with insults by their boss.

Not So Iron The book has a couple of awesome subgames in a minigame to take down the organized family and a b-team to show the PCs what is going on in other places. Both of these are good, but felt like they could have been fleshed out more. The minigame needed more ways to get the win condition for smaller actions. After all All Capone was caught on tax evasion. The alternate team is a bit fumbly, frequently breaking up the action of the game for characters the PCs couldn’t care too much about. DMs attempting to correct this should let the PCs make their own b-member characters of 5th level, giving them a slight more chance to survive. Also, only switch once, at the beginning or end of a game session.

The Iron Word Zeitgeist: Cauldron Born is every bit the epic conclusion to the first arc that it should be. All of the plot threads either complete or further into the next arc. The combat, as usual, is not over done. DMs who want more of something can easily insert it into the many unseen vignettes that occur. I should also note that even if you have not played a single adventure, this one can be easily adapted for a campaign as most of the premises are basic, thieves guild needs to be taken down, king’s in town and attempting to be assassinated and 100 foot golems are never a good idea.

Designed as a DM's Guide to a science-fiction setting for D&D4e, especially for those intending to run the upcoming 'adventure path' campaign (which rather confusingly appears to be known both as 'Myths of the Far Future' and 'Santiago'), this opens with a bit of atmospheric fiction - at least I think it is, trouble is small black text on a stridently striped background is very hard to read and I gave up and moved on to the meat of the product.

The first section is a campaign overview, and is very much DM only, with such insights to the overall campaign as key players and synopses of each of the adventures that compose the campaign arc. It gives a clear idea of the campaign as an entirety, and includes trouble-shooting hints for dealing with characters who persist, for example, in being on the wrong planet, as well as ideas for mixing in your own plotlines and other modifications. Perhaps you do not like giving characters the freedom of a ship of their own, and prefer them to rent or book passage when travel is required. There is a sidebar (again on that annoying striped background) about using D&D 4e as a science fiction ruleset including how to modify the terminology of the ruleset to suit a futuristic rather than a fantasy setting.

Section two is a gazetteer of planets, giving comprehensive yet compact details about many worlds. Although the DM ought to have the Myths of the Far Future Player's Guide as well, the notes here give additional information on the planets described therein, often things not readily discernable on a casual visit or from reading the databases. It's a useful and fascinating resource, both for running the campaign and for those who want to run their own adventures in this setting.

Next, section three looks at campaigns in space, beginning with thoughts on travel and a glorious-looking (but too small and unclear for actual use - it would make a lovely poster!) starmap. Resources are provided for those who like to create their own planets to add to the worlds of the previous section, as well as notes on dealing with aliens, currencies and adventures.

On to section four, which contains new game rules honed specifically for a science fiction game with this ruleset. These cover new features for characters, firearms and spaceships. It's to be noted that the intention here is to concentrate on adventures taking place on different worlds in the setting, the actual travel is just something you do to get there.

Finally, the fifth section provides enemies. Lots of them. Most walk on two legs, being anything from bandits to native dwellers on particular worlds to law enforcement officers. Some can be used as player characters and there are notes on playing them to good effect. There are one or two beasties, but if it's beasties you are after, hit the Monster Manuals and other bestiaries!

Overall this is a good introduction to science fiction gaming with the D&D 4e ruleset, and this campaign in particular.

The second module in EN Publishing's steampunk AP ZEITGEIST is 95 pages long, 1 page front cover, 1 page editorial, 1 page ToC, 1 page SRD and 1 page back cover, leaving us with 90 pages of module, so let's check this out!

This being an adventure-review, the following contains SPOILERS. Potential players may wish to jump to the conclusion. All right, still here?
In the last adventure of the AP, the new constables of the RHC have not only foiled a dastardly assassination/sabotage-plot and even prevent a war - but in the process of doing so, have helped the hereditary enemy of their nation. Now if one of the PCs is aligned with the mysterious Vekeshi, they will have a gift for a specific individual they'll meet during the module, setting up a component of the AP's massively complex meta-plot: Speaking of complex: The complexity of this module's investigation is rather refreshing and has some neat guidelines for DMs - the RHC Protocol. In the absence of phones and similar means of communication, the office and fellow constables can deliver clues, hints etc., people can be questioned and gleaned information consolidated. To help the DM, a roster of NPC-table is provided. When field work comes around, it does so in the form of a woman jumping from the fourth floor window of the Danoran consulate, crashing on the fence. When they arrive at the scene, Julian LeBrix, security chief of the Danorans gives them the run-down: The woman is question was known by the name of Nilasa Hume, supposedly stealing some valuables and making off to escape and subsequently shot by Julian - he makes clear that he wants this resolved ASAP. But do the PCs resolve this mystery - it turns out the lady in question has actually managed to smuggle fey peppers in and in the resorting lull that still affects the staff. Moreso, the woman, with her dying breath, entrusted a couple of things to a man who subsequently vanished - and there are A LOT of other clues that slowly start to tie together - via the clues gathered and the criminal record of the deceased, the PCs will hopefully have a lead towards the Thinking Man's Tavern.

And even if the PCs both/mess up, you still have the newspaper, the fellow constables and even the PC's very own background and associates - a masterful entwinement of storythreads. While researching contacts at the tavern, a minor quake foreshadows the things to come and may even partake in a philosophical discussion about the validity of the very authority they represent. If the RHC's agents do their job well, they may learn about the smugglers Nilasa was in league with - they are currently incarcerated in the Goodson Esturial Reformatory - a glorified prison barge. There, they can negotiate a deal with one or both incarcerated burglars. Both know about Nilasa's association with newcomers to town, a shadowy organization dubbing itself "The Family". They also know about her having a whole cache of magic wands and that the delivery would happen on the 4th of Summer by someone called "The House Elf". So who is this strange "House Elf"? Via the fey pepper or clues gained from the smugglers, the constables can track the conspiracy to a weird couple of gnomes - who actually have a valid escape plan and some precautions that make sense and should make arresting them or getting meaningful information from them rather difficult. Now if they manage to interrogate one of the gnomes and find out more details about the planned smuggling.

There are multiple ways the PCs can plan to take up the accomplices of the late Nilasa and find more clues about this mysterious "Family" - the trail leads them to the Family's wharf and an exchange of goods between strange ships which will culminate a nice chase of ships that will be resolved via a skill challenge. Or, if the PCs miscalculate the boldness of their foes, they may actually get a fight on their hands - anyways, they can get the wands. Or be captured. Whether they are defeated and captured or not, on the next day, they will get the infamous offer:

Morgan Cippiano, head of the local Family, invites them to coffee and cakes to talk about a business proposal of common interests, allowing the RHC constables to get prestige and an understanding with the family - and offering yet another help for stumped investigators. With the family's involvement cleared for now, the PCs might wish to check out Heward Alkahest's Factory, where Nilasa once worked - here, they can also stock up on acids and alchemical compounds, should they so desire. He also drops the name of the famous Skyseer Nevard. On their way to seeing him, they can foil a kidnapping attempt, save a life and generally do their job while on the way to seeing the ancient titular skyseer - who is dying and knows about Gale, the mysterious individual that put Nilasa on the tangent that led to her doom. His dying wish to the PCs is to be escorted to the top of the restricted area on Cauldron Hill - which the PCs can arrange with mayor Mcbannin. If they oblige, they may even perform a rather strange ritual that, while stemming from a dark magical tradition, may grant the old man the strength temporarily to not be as much a burden for the PCs. The meeting with Macbannin is also rather cool in that it foreshadows not only the things to come, but also sets up some interesting complications as well as driving home one point: The Hill is dangerous - goat's blood circles to ward off evil spirits and amulets to stave off the cursing effects of Cauldron Hill's peculiar brand of magical saturation due to a thin veil between the real world and the shadowy realm to which it's tied. After all this investigation, let's start the trek up this inhospitable place while hopefully keeping the dying prophet alive - by any means necessary!

A whole encounter is devoted to getting up the hill and making camp - and should be used to drive home the tension and dread of the place - at the top, though, something goes wrong - horribly. Even with the strange visions and foreshadowing, the PCs should be rather on their heels when their defenses are sabotaged and the spectral creatures of Cauldron Hill start assaulting the PCs. It's a hold-the-line-scenario of the finest caliber. And the scenario does not end here - Alkahest factory is ablaze in the vision they receive and the PCs will have to hurry down the hill - only to meet Macbannin, who is trying to cover his tracks, which could come off as suspicious, but should not lead to more - at least for now. The PCs are also contacted by the mysterious Gale via a bird whispering to them. And she has important tidings: In the Bleak Gate, the strange mirror image of the city of Flint is bustling with a strange activity - there is something being built on the other side. And the PC's trials and tribulations on Cauldron Hill make them attuned to the strange energies of the Bleak Gate, enabling them to potentially trek the conspiracy, which seems to be linked with the Danorans. If there's the aforementioned Vekesh, s/he can also hand over the package and sway Gale in either a violent or non-violent direction. Unearthing the clue of the Danorans means that the story seems to be starting to come full circle - perhaps, with some of the clues unearthed over the course of the module, they'll now have a good chance of tracking down the mysterious fugitive person - after all, he seems to not have been in league with Gale. The man in question is one Dr. Wolfgang von Recklinghausen, who, via his contacts, has managed to go underground and seeks to escape - unfortunately, the thugs are on the payroll of Cillian Creed, who turns out to be the shadowy hunter that has been the source of their troubles on Cauldron Hill. He and an elite-squad of operatives try to take the Dr into custody/silence him. That is, the PCs could sneak out, deal with yet another hostage situation etc. - the stakes are set against them in this encounter and they better be smart or they'll also have to deal with the telekietic master of steelshaping Leon Qital. Whether they can or cannot save the Dr. or make off with his documents (which provide incriminating evidence linking the Danorans with a SMART, SUBTLE smuggling operation) - the ties come together slowly and the factory, as foreshadowed by the prophecy, will burn. Whether the constables have done their job and stopped the arsonists, Nevard is now gathering favors, while Gale is expecting an attack on the skyseer - to prevent that/following up on the arsony-attempt, they may find a creepy warehouse, containing a witchoil-infused golem (witchoil is made from souls, btw.!) and may question further technicians, though they fade back to the Bleak Gate. The speech of the skyseer will be attacked anyways, though the PCs can hopefully prevent the assassination attempt on Nevard, who imparts his visions to the crowd, warning them with a vision that is rather clear and providing a tantalizingly cryptic prophecy as well. Whether by a final warning/appeal sent by Creed or not - by now the PCs should have pieced together that mayor Macbannin is partial to what is going on and in fact the pupetteer. Taking down the mayor, though, is not as easy as it seems - he has allies, after all. Plus: A geyser of witchoil erupting from the ground turns out to be the result of the latest quake hitting his underground lab - thus a flood of witchoil is heading towards the nettles: Unless the PCs (with or without Macbannini) can stem the flow of the substance in his underground laboratory, resulting in a highly complex and imaginative climax. When he's off to court, though, he dies under mysterious circumstances - the conspiracy will not be thwarted that easily!

The pdf also provides a quick reference list of NPCs and investigation-running for DMs to help them in juggling this complex scenario, a page of dramatis personae, 3 pages of ship rules, 2 pages handouts,3 new feats and new magic items and 11 pages of player-friendly maps sans keys - all in gorgeous full color.

Conclusion: Editing and formatting are top-notch, I didn't notice any significant glitches. Layout adheres to a beautiful, paizo-level quality full-color 2-column standard and the artworks range from awesome to mediocre comic-style to unnecessary public domain art. The pdf comes fully bookmarked (with nested bookmarks) and with layers that let you strip it down to become printer-friendly. The second installment of the Zeitgeist AP is highly complex, intelligent and HARD to run. Even with all the help provided for the Dm, the amount of ways in which the players can solve this complex mystery, the module still remains delightfully complex. A DM has to be up to his a-game and some experience under his/her belt to pull this off, but OH BOY! This investigation is actually better than most CoC-adventures I've recently read - it's complex, daunting and assumes thankfully that the players are intelligent and not some bumbling idiots. The NPCs react logically to PCs, have plans and believable motivations that don't make them look like lobotomized jerks and the writing is top-notch. this is one of the best investigation modules out there for PFRPG and actually imho a step up from the already excellent first offering of the AP. Congratulations and kudos to EN Publishing for a final verdict of 5 stars + endzeitgeist seal of approval!

endzeitgeist out.