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Don't ask why. Ask why not. |
Tales of the Lunar Lands
Musings on Tabletop RPGs, Pop Culture, Perytons, and Other Nonsense
Thursday, October 16, 2025
The Sci-Fi Kitchen Sink Setting
Monday, October 13, 2025
Timekeeping in the Lunar Lands
Frostmoon: January
Snowmoon: February
Windmoon: March
Seedmoon: April (the time of planting)
Flowermoon: May
Fallowmoon: June
Haymoon: July (the time where hay is made)
Harvestmoon: August
Barleymoon: September
Winemoon: October
Bloodmoon: November (the time the livestock is slaughtered)
Oakmoon: December
Weeks
A week is seven days, and there are usually four weeks per month. Each day of the week is sacred to a different god, and their temples tend to hold rites on those days. These days, and their corresponding real-world days, are:
Sunday: Sunday. Sacred to Solenna.
Moonsday: Monday. Sacred to Mondi, god of the moon and husband to Solenna.
Huntsday: Tuesday. Sacred to Kerne.
Fieldsday: Wednesday. Sacred to Eostre.
Starday: Thursday. Sacred to Torvald.
Kingsday: Friday. Sacred to Voltan.
Queensday: Saturday. Sacred to Marseah.
Days
Days are measured from midnight to midnight. There are 24 hours per day, with 12 AM being midnight and 12 PM being noon.
Holiday
Different kingdoms and cultures celebrate different civil and folk holidays, ranging from local festivals to grand official fetes. However, almost every culture observes the Wheel of the Year, a series of holidays plotted around the solstices and equinoxes (quarter days) and the midpoints between them (cross-quarter days). Because these dates are important for agriculture, they are celebrated in most regions, though the customs of celebration are variable and multifaceted, and they may be celebrated in different ways. These dates are:
Imbolc (First of Snowmoon): A cross-quarter day marking the start of spring. Festivals celebrate the end of winter and the rebirth of life, and oaths are traditionally made to be completed in the coming summer. Many also visit oracles in this time to learn of what the coming year will bring.
Eostrefest (Spring Equinox): A quarter day corresponding to the midpoint of spring. This day is associated with Eostre, the goddess of fertility, and the greatest celebrations of her cult are held then to ensure good crop yields in the fall.
Beltane (First of Flowermoon): A cross-quarter day marking the start of summer. Cattle are sent out to pasture on this day, often garlanded in flowers, and bonfires are often lit in celebration. This is one of the two dates at which the borders between this world and the realms beyond are at their weakest, making it easier for beings to cross between worlds. For this reason, it is often celebrated as Hexennacht - Witches' Night - as it is a popular date for rituals and summonings to be performed. In western Vardessy, it is celebrated as Saint Kriemhild's Day, largely in response to this.
Midsummer (Summer Solstice): A quarter day celebrating the longest day of the year. It is the most sacred day in the cult of Solenna, goddess of the sun. Devotees spend much of this day outside observing the sun's path.
Lammas (First of Harvestmoon): A cross-quarter day marking the official start of the harvest season. Typically celebrated with great feasts, often held outside on hilltops, in which the first fruits of the harvests are offered as a sacrifice to the gods. In many towns, elaborate festival days have grown around this feast, with public markets, contests, and performances held.
Mabon (Fall Equinox): A quarter day marking the midpoint of autumn, and the end of the harvest season. Also a time of feasting and thanking the gods for the harvest, though usually a more solemn affair than Lammas, as the days begin to get shorter thereafter and all must start to prepare for winter.
Samhain (First of Bloodmoon): A cross-quarter day marking the start of winter. Most notably, it is one of the two days at which the borders between this world and the realms beyond are at their weakest, allowing beings from other planes to most easily be contacted or summoned. This includes the shades of the Land of the Dead, and it is known that Morthanos, god of the dead, and his agents roam the roads on this day in search of souls that have escaped his domain. For many revelers, this is commemorated by walking the roads in costume. In Valossa, it is also the holy day of the Lady of Death, a local funerary goddess, in which people make offerings to their ancestors.
Midwinter (Winter Solstice): A quarter day celebrating the longest night of the year. In the dead of winter, it is often spent inside with much feasting and merriment to keep the morale during the cold, dead season, and to inspire hope for the spring to come. This date marks the end of the current year and the start of the next.
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
Magic Items of Erdland
1. Rabbit
2. Sheep
3. Pig
4. Bird
5. Toad
6. Dog
7. Cat
8. Horse
9. Wolf
10. Slime (stats of a grey ooze)
11. A different specimen of the user's race, of the same age and sex.
12. A different specimen of the user's race, but 1d20 years younger.
13. A different specimen of the user's race, but 1d20 years older.
14. A different specimen of the user's race, of the opposite sex.
15. Elf (as 10 if the user is an elf)
16. Dwarf (as 10 if the user is a dwarf)
17. Hobbit (as 10 if the user is a hobbit)
18. Beastman (stats of an orc. If the user is a beastman, roll 1d6: 1-4, as 10; 5-6; they become a beastman with the features of a different animal)
19. Dragovian (if the user is a Dragovian, roll 1d6: 1-4, as 10; 5-6; they become a Dragovian of a different color)
20. Young Red Dragon
Friday, October 3, 2025
Friday Encounter: Interrupted Summoning
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One square equals five feet. |
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
Magic Items of Torland
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Art by Yanavaseva |
Monday, September 29, 2025
Magic Items of Alefgard
The original Dragon Quest doesn't have a lot of notable magic items, but there's definitely enough for us to work with - and what's there is iconic enough to frequently show up in later games. Here's a few magic items for The Saga of the Ortegids - they may also work in other campaigns.
Sphere of Light
Wondrous Item, Artifact
12 lb.
Undoubtedly the most prized of the Kingdom of Alefgard's crown jewels, the Sphere of Light has a long and storied history. Originally forged by the hand of Gaius himself and presented to the royal family of the Kingdom of Dragons as a sign of his favor, it was given to Erdrick the Aliahanian by their Queen on her deathbed, and subsequently brought to Alefgard when he descended the Pit of Giaga. Its legendary power and its sacred significance to all dragonkind have made it the subject of multiple wars, though under most circumstances it is kept under close guard in the castle of Tantegel, for its presence there blesses Alefgard with fair weather, fine harvests, and continual sunlight - an asset of no small significance in the otherwise sunless Torland.
The Sphere of Light is a ball of solid light about the size of a bowling ball. It continually glows with a bright light (but not heat), and casts bright light in a 30-foot radius and dim light for an additional 30 feet. However, because of its glow, creatures carrying the Sphere have Disadvantage on all Stealth checks if the Sphere is uncovered. Additionaly, the Sphere's light automatically dispells any Darkness spell it enters.
As an action, the Sphere can be used to project a spark into the air, which erupts into a self-contained miniature sun. The sun projects bright light over a area roughly the size of a large country, and dim light over the rest of the world. Any area within the bright light becomes especially fertile and fecund. The sun does not emit heat or alter meteorological patterns. This effect requires unrestricted access to the sky, and ends if the Sphere is moved.
Flute of the Fairies
Wondrous Item, Instrument, Rare
1 lb.
The fair folk are rare and elusive beings, known to the people of Alefgard mainly through legend and rumor. Few can say to have beheld any of them in person, but they are blamed for many strange occurences and misfortunes - and the magic they work has made its mark upon the world.
In particular, fairy flutes are known to have the power to weave and work magic. A creature can use an action to play from a fairy flute to cast the Dispel Magic, Heroism, Remove Curse, or Sleep spells, casting them with Charisma as their spellcasting ability, and the spell save DC of a bard of their current level. Additionally, a creature can attempt a DC 12 Performance check, adding any proficiency bonus for playing the flute if applicable, to cast Antimagic Field using the flute; they have Disadvantage on this check if they have taken more than 10 points of damage since their last turn. Each spell can only be used once per long rest.
Silver Harp of Galen
Wondrous Item, Instrument, Artifact
5 lb.
This harp belonged to Galen, a legendary bard who would later go on to become a thane in the service of King Lars I the Despondent and found the port of Galenholm. Galen is a figure of legend in his own right, and there are many sagas that tell of his exploits, some more truthful than others. One point that is known, however, is that he was in the possession of a silver harp, said to be given to him by the goddess Astrella herself. Galen's already skillful fingers were guided by this harp to work songs capable of commanding the attention of all who heard it.
A creature who uses an action to play the Silver Harp of Galen must roll a Performance check, adding any proficiency bonus for playing the harp if applicable. Any creature that hears this music must then make a Charisma saving throw, using the result of the Performance check as the DC. If the save is failed, the creature falls into a trance-like state, guided by the music; it must spend its next turn moving its full move speed toward the musician and cannot do anything else on its turn. This effect can only be used three times per long rest. Additionally, any spell that causes its target to be charmed on a failed save that has a somatic or verbal component may be played on the harp; if so, the target has Disadvantage on their save.
Staff of Rain
Staff, Rare, Requires Attunement
This staff is carved in the shape of a billowing raincloud. It can be used as a magic quarterstaff that grants a +1 bonus to attack and damage rolls made with it. In addition, the staff has 5 charges; as an action, a creature attuned to the staff can expend 1 charge to summon a miniature raincloud five feet across in all directions. The raincloud continually pours rain for 1d10 minutes. Any creatures beneath the raincloud must make a DC 10 Concentration check every turn they are under it if they are casting a Concentration spell. The rainwater functions identically to mundane water, and the cloud can be conjured even indoors. The staff regains 1d3 charges at dawn.
Thursday, September 25, 2025
The Arms of Erdrick
Optional Rule: I should note that in Dragon Quest I, carrying an amulet belonging to Erdrick is considered acceptable proof that you are descended from his line. Based on this, and the fact that in DQ3 the equipment is only accessible to the main character, you may wish to allow only PCs with the Ortegid Scion background to attune to these items. In a tabletop RPG with multiple players, this would limit their utility and may be unfair to players playing non-Ortegid characters, especially if they would mechanically benefit from the items. If the only Ortegid in the party is a wizard, it's not very fair if the fighter can't equip items designed for more martial characters, for instance. Thus, I've made this an optional rule for if you care about authenticity.
Cynebrand, the Sword of Kings
Artifact
The sword Cynebrand was forged by Erdrick the Aliahanian himself from orichalcum - a rare and nigh-unbreakable metal, so hard that it can only be shaped and formed using advanced techniques known only to a select few. This in and of itself makes it a weapon of considerable power.
When wielded by a character that has not attuned to it, Cynebrand behaves as a +2 longsword; additionally, due to its unique construction, it cannot be broken or bent by any nonmagical means. The latter property is a physical property of orichalcum and not an enchantment; thus, it will behave as such even if subject to anti-magical effects.
However, in the hands of a trusted wielder who understands and masters the blade, Cynebrand posseses additional magical powers. If used by a character that has attuned to it, Cynebrand instead behaves as a +3 longsword. If the wielder is also attuned to the Shield of Heroes and the Mail of Erdrick, as an action, its wielder can hold the sword in front of them to call forth a thunderclap that shakes the earth with the effects of a thunderwave spell at a spell save DC of 10. This can be used three times per long rest.
Haelescyld, the Shield of Heroes
Artifact
Originally carried by a legendary hero of ancient times, this shield was swallowed by the earth after his death in battle. Centuries later, Erdrick retrieved it from the depths of the Nailmark, the vast cavern formed when Zoma, Forbidden God of Death, dug his way into reality in the God-War. Now dubbed Haelescyld, the Shield of Heroes, it protects the user against magic.
When wielded by a character that has not attuned to it, Haelescyld behaves as a +1 shield. When attuned, it instead behaves as a +2 shield, and grants the user Resistance to fire and cold damage. If the wielder is also attuned to the Sword of Kings and the Mail of Erdrick, it also gives the user Advantage on all saving throws against magical effects.
The Mail of Erdrick
Artifact
This suit of armor was forged by Gaius, god of fire and the forge, as a favor for Rubiss, the goddess of life and creation, who in turn gave it to Erdrick as a token of thanks after he freed her from a curse of imprisonment put on her by Zoma, her twin brother and equal and opposite in power. In addition to its legendary resistance, it is wound with potent healing magics.
When worn by a character that has not attuned to it, the Mail of Erdrick behaves as a suit of +1 plate armor. It is forged from adamantine, which causes critical hits against the wearer to be treated as regular hits instead. When attuned, it instead behaves as a suit of +2 plate armor. If the wearer is also attuned to the Sword of Kings and the Shield of Heroes, it also allows the wearer to heal one additional hit die of damage, plus their Constitution modifier, when healing during a healing surge or short rest.