MongooseMatt
First Post
Hi guys,
The Book of Hell, a study on the very nature and denizens of Hell itself, is available this week from Mongoose Publishing.
Written by Adrian Bott, the Book of Hell is a 256 page hardback that will literally take you to Hell and back, and is suitable for both fantasy and Modern d20 campaigns. It kicks off with a look at how adventurers may enter Hell (or the Infernum, as scholars know it), whether dead or alive. Here, you will find out what happens to the souls of the damned and why they are so valued by the denizens of the Infernum. Adventurers may find naturally occurring gateways to the Infernum throughout their world (if they would prefer not to die to get there) and the most powerful may be able to open a gate to Hell themselves. Hellmaws are the artificial creations of great sorcerers or demons, gaining them permanent passage to and from the depths of the Infernum.
Infernal Environments takes a look at the landscape and hazards of the Infernum - this is the chapter that tells you exactly what it is like to be within the pits of Hell. From shifting lands and charnel points to Mount Zeberrok and the Four Rivers, Hell quickly becomes a living, breathing place for your players. This leads on to the Lower Levels, which describes some of the actual locations that may be visited by both the intrepid and the damned. These include the Playground of Evil Children, the Belly of the Beast and the Angel's Prison, locations crying out to be explored by those who dare to enter the Infernum.
If you believe you can handle any demon or devil that comes your way, stand by for The Creatures of Hell, a collection of the most vicious, nastiest and terrifying creatures ever to grace a d20 campaign. Superbly illustrated, these include the Bile Devil, Night Oak, Black Roses of Hell and Titanic Stalker - all drawn from the darkest recesses of mythology and legend.
The Organisation of the Devils of Hell takes a look at the rulers, movers and shakers of the Infernum, the mighty forces that must be opposed by any visitor who is not one of the Damned. The existing fiends of the Monster Manual are integrated into a vast tapestry of ruling demonic Houses and Families which are all covered in exquisite detail. From House Astyanath the Cruel to House Zethu the Unveilers, each is described with notes on their domains, their interest in mortals, their highest members and rulers, and secrets that make each dominant in its field.
The Four Great Princes looks at the coalition that rules Hell with an iron fist, masters of even the demonic Houses. Throughout worlds and times, these beings are known by a variety of names. Here, we call them by names familiar to all readers in this world and this time - Satan, Lucifer, Leviathan and Belial. These are the Gods of Hell, for want of a better analogy and they watch all that goes on in their realms and beyond, plotting the greatest of evils.
The Devil and Demon Species chapters will allow you to populate the great demonic Houses with slaves, warriors, workers and rulers, enabling your evil characters to bring their machinations to fruition in the face of your players' adversity. From Herald Devils and Behemoths to Gremlins and Raving Demons, each is illustrated with some of the best artwork commissioned in a Mongoose book.
Demon Bikers From Hell seems, at first, to be a misfit for this book, but as you delve into the biomechanical evils possible in the Infernum, demons and their hellcycle steeds begin to make a great deal of sense, whether you are running a fantasy or Modern campaign.
The Laws and Customs of Hell depicts the rules that even demons and devils themselves must obey - and the penalties for non-compliance from their masters. From Your Seal Is Your Bond to Touch Not The Truly Pure, this chapter will give you a rare insight into the minds and workings of fiends.
Corruption introduces new rules that will bring even the greatest Paladin to his knees, given enough time and temptation. Even just travelling through Hell poses characters with a very real risk beyond anything they might actually encounter and this chapter gives full guidelines for corruption in all its many forms, from mere proximity to evil, to the fevered whisperings of demons in a man's sleep.
Corruption may not be enough for everyone, of course. There are those in the world who wish to be not merely evil, but purely satanic. The Sympathy for the Devil chapter shows just how such characters can establish relationships with fiends and call upon their masters for Infernal Favours, and gain demonic patrons.
Infernal Secrets of Magic is a central resource of all the magical abilities and spells available to denizens of the Infernum, though some few may be made available to characters who establish a bond with a demonic master. From the Abyssal Cauldron and Black Mass to Vomit Frogs and Wingbind, these are a collection of the nastiest and most evil spells you are likely to find.
The Harvest of Souls looks at how souls are actually collected in Hell, and what lies in store for them. Amulti-planar campaign, in particular, can benefit from this, as death may not always be the end of a character and, through torture, he may still be made to betray his allies as he drops to the surface of Hell as one of the Damned.
Infernal Equipment populates Hell with various constructs, from the minute to the gigantic. Here, you will find such things as Primal Iron, Devilish Frigates, Soul Trawlers (kinda like a fishing fleet but. . . worse. . .), Claw Sheaths, Telepathic Amplifiers< Cannon of Torment, Agony Engines, and Biomechanoids. Following on from this, Infernal Transfiguration shows how mortal bodies may be twisted and reformed into shapes more pleasing to the demons that rule Hell.
The Book of Hell winds up a section on ready-to-use adventure hooks (whether your players are already in Hell or not), and a complete index.
I usually don't blow our trumpet too hard in previews such as this but I urge everyone reading this to take a trip down to your local shop this week and have a look at the Book of Hell - this is one of the best books Mongoose Publishing has ever produced and whether you bring Hell straight into your campaign or not, you will find ideas for your games bubbling over with this mighty tome!
The Book of Hell is priced at $34.95 and is available this week from all good games stores and book shops.
The Book of Hell, a study on the very nature and denizens of Hell itself, is available this week from Mongoose Publishing.
Written by Adrian Bott, the Book of Hell is a 256 page hardback that will literally take you to Hell and back, and is suitable for both fantasy and Modern d20 campaigns. It kicks off with a look at how adventurers may enter Hell (or the Infernum, as scholars know it), whether dead or alive. Here, you will find out what happens to the souls of the damned and why they are so valued by the denizens of the Infernum. Adventurers may find naturally occurring gateways to the Infernum throughout their world (if they would prefer not to die to get there) and the most powerful may be able to open a gate to Hell themselves. Hellmaws are the artificial creations of great sorcerers or demons, gaining them permanent passage to and from the depths of the Infernum.
Infernal Environments takes a look at the landscape and hazards of the Infernum - this is the chapter that tells you exactly what it is like to be within the pits of Hell. From shifting lands and charnel points to Mount Zeberrok and the Four Rivers, Hell quickly becomes a living, breathing place for your players. This leads on to the Lower Levels, which describes some of the actual locations that may be visited by both the intrepid and the damned. These include the Playground of Evil Children, the Belly of the Beast and the Angel's Prison, locations crying out to be explored by those who dare to enter the Infernum.
If you believe you can handle any demon or devil that comes your way, stand by for The Creatures of Hell, a collection of the most vicious, nastiest and terrifying creatures ever to grace a d20 campaign. Superbly illustrated, these include the Bile Devil, Night Oak, Black Roses of Hell and Titanic Stalker - all drawn from the darkest recesses of mythology and legend.
The Organisation of the Devils of Hell takes a look at the rulers, movers and shakers of the Infernum, the mighty forces that must be opposed by any visitor who is not one of the Damned. The existing fiends of the Monster Manual are integrated into a vast tapestry of ruling demonic Houses and Families which are all covered in exquisite detail. From House Astyanath the Cruel to House Zethu the Unveilers, each is described with notes on their domains, their interest in mortals, their highest members and rulers, and secrets that make each dominant in its field.
The Four Great Princes looks at the coalition that rules Hell with an iron fist, masters of even the demonic Houses. Throughout worlds and times, these beings are known by a variety of names. Here, we call them by names familiar to all readers in this world and this time - Satan, Lucifer, Leviathan and Belial. These are the Gods of Hell, for want of a better analogy and they watch all that goes on in their realms and beyond, plotting the greatest of evils.
The Devil and Demon Species chapters will allow you to populate the great demonic Houses with slaves, warriors, workers and rulers, enabling your evil characters to bring their machinations to fruition in the face of your players' adversity. From Herald Devils and Behemoths to Gremlins and Raving Demons, each is illustrated with some of the best artwork commissioned in a Mongoose book.
Demon Bikers From Hell seems, at first, to be a misfit for this book, but as you delve into the biomechanical evils possible in the Infernum, demons and their hellcycle steeds begin to make a great deal of sense, whether you are running a fantasy or Modern campaign.
The Laws and Customs of Hell depicts the rules that even demons and devils themselves must obey - and the penalties for non-compliance from their masters. From Your Seal Is Your Bond to Touch Not The Truly Pure, this chapter will give you a rare insight into the minds and workings of fiends.
Corruption introduces new rules that will bring even the greatest Paladin to his knees, given enough time and temptation. Even just travelling through Hell poses characters with a very real risk beyond anything they might actually encounter and this chapter gives full guidelines for corruption in all its many forms, from mere proximity to evil, to the fevered whisperings of demons in a man's sleep.
Corruption may not be enough for everyone, of course. There are those in the world who wish to be not merely evil, but purely satanic. The Sympathy for the Devil chapter shows just how such characters can establish relationships with fiends and call upon their masters for Infernal Favours, and gain demonic patrons.
Infernal Secrets of Magic is a central resource of all the magical abilities and spells available to denizens of the Infernum, though some few may be made available to characters who establish a bond with a demonic master. From the Abyssal Cauldron and Black Mass to Vomit Frogs and Wingbind, these are a collection of the nastiest and most evil spells you are likely to find.
The Harvest of Souls looks at how souls are actually collected in Hell, and what lies in store for them. Amulti-planar campaign, in particular, can benefit from this, as death may not always be the end of a character and, through torture, he may still be made to betray his allies as he drops to the surface of Hell as one of the Damned.
Infernal Equipment populates Hell with various constructs, from the minute to the gigantic. Here, you will find such things as Primal Iron, Devilish Frigates, Soul Trawlers (kinda like a fishing fleet but. . . worse. . .), Claw Sheaths, Telepathic Amplifiers< Cannon of Torment, Agony Engines, and Biomechanoids. Following on from this, Infernal Transfiguration shows how mortal bodies may be twisted and reformed into shapes more pleasing to the demons that rule Hell.
The Book of Hell winds up a section on ready-to-use adventure hooks (whether your players are already in Hell or not), and a complete index.
I usually don't blow our trumpet too hard in previews such as this but I urge everyone reading this to take a trip down to your local shop this week and have a look at the Book of Hell - this is one of the best books Mongoose Publishing has ever produced and whether you bring Hell straight into your campaign or not, you will find ideas for your games bubbling over with this mighty tome!
The Book of Hell is priced at $34.95 and is available this week from all good games stores and book shops.
