Scented waters stir,
unbound strands aching in search
for a lover’s touch.
The Haiku of Horror series depicts iconic mapped locations for use in Kaidan or other Asian based settings with labeled maps with complete descriptions and full-scale maps ready to print and use, plus image files for use with virtual tabletops. The location includes a complete, detailed, complex encounter featuring new monsters, haunts, and all necessary mechanics to run it. The mapped site is designed for ‘plug-in-play’ use ready to insert into any existing module or Asian campaign.
Autumn Moon Bath House serves as the oriental version of the typical fantasy tavern where adventures begin and end. However, rumors persist of a spectral woman with long black hair, who is seeking vengeance against the living and redemption for her soul.
Author and Cartographer Michael K. Tumey Cover Artist: Mark Hyzer Pages: 19
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This pdf is 61 pages long, 1 page front cover, 1 page editorial, 1 page ToC, 1 page author's note/dedication, 1 page SRD, 1 page back cover, leaving us with 55 pages of content, so let's take a look!
The first of Michael Tumey's Haiku of Horror series of supplements details a bath house and as such, since in Western culture they are not that common, we kick this supplement off with an introduction on the concept of bath houses that essentially takes the basic concept from Japanese culture and introduces the audience to Kaidan's particular take on the concept as well as providing concise lists of prices. Throughout the supplement, terms ranging from the distinction between "onsen" and "sento" as well as "tatami" are explained in concise boxes that not only help immerse into the given setting while providing some additional knowledge and bits of trivia that may broaden your horizon if you are not that familiar with Japanese culture.
Now this does not mean that this is some dry textbook, mind you - instead, we are introduced to the Autumn Moon bath house, fully mapped in gorgeous full color on 4 full-page maps. The house itself gets a room by room description and after that, a fluffy summary of the current servants/attendants introduces us to a basic net of allegiances that represent the social dynamics of the house.
Here are some SPOILERS. Players should jump to the conclusion.
A tragedy has befallen the bath house and ever since then, the place is haunted: An attendant called Kana has met an end most foul: The young beauty (and secret witch-in-training) sought to escape the bonds of her servitude and find love in one fell swoop. Enjoying a secret wedding ceremony with her betrothed, the chaste maiden set out to commemorate her marriage with her beloved. This act was, unfortunately, misinterpreted by the bath house's mistress and former proprietor of Kana. Thinking her subordinate was conducting prostitution under her roof, the rage at the humiliation and loss of face prompted her to use her brush and drown both poor Kana and her beloved. Said dread secret is still tied to the place, Kana's pillow book (=diary) is still hidden in the bath house and at night, her ghost is still roaming the place.
Speaking of ghost: We don't get only one incarnation of her, but rather a massive array of 5 (!!!) versions of the build, spanning CRs from CR 6 to a whopping CR 22. Beyond that, she is not a regular ghost, but rather uses the new, also featured Yurei no kami (grappling hair ghost)-template, at CR +3 and even 4 new haunts (one of which has a very minor formatting glitch) as well as a new curse, the Ju-on - a grudge, in case you're not familiar with the movie. We also are introduced to traditional Kaidanese marriage gifts, since they are relevant for properly dealing with the spirit.
/SPOILERS
In addition to the content, we get 33 pages featuring the map of the bath-house to cut-out and use with miniatures as well as high-res versions of the gorgeous maps.
Conclusion:
Editing and formatting are very good, though not perfect, I didn't notice any significant glitches. Layout adheres to Kaidan's bamboo-lined 2-column full color standard and Mark Hyzer's stellar b/w-artwork complements the excellent maps well indeed. The pdf comes fully bookmarked for your convenience.
This essentially is both a map, a mini supplement of a nice location, some complex stats and finally, a sandboxy mini-adventure/ bare-bone-style red herring to be inserted into a campaign, all in one - whether you want to use it as a diversion, blow it up to full-blown adventure-status or just use it as a backdrop, this bathing house has something to offer - and at a very fair price to boot! That being said, as the first installment, I think there's some room for improvement, namely the environment of the place - whether it is the hardness of the wall, slippery floor or similar minor DCs and details that make places come to life - the bath house, as awesome as it is, could use some small bits and pieces like this to make it feel a bit more organic: Locking doors, vortexes (including swim checks) etc., perhaps a page from the pillow book - in short, some action for the skills (perhaps using one set of DCs for each intended level range) would have made this even better.
As written, we still get a cool location oozing flair and some VERY creepy imagery and crunch for a very fair price. Nevertheless, I feel like this misses the highest echelons by a slight margin, making me settle for a final verdict of 4.5 stars, rounded down to 4 for the purpose of this platform - still, a recommended purchase if you're looking for some easily inserted horror, though!
1. It's a recognizable Japanese word and concept to westerners.
2. I've included an appropriate haiku, that elucidates the mystery and location of the site.
3. Since a haiku is a very concise poetry format, this is intended to be a very concise product: as a mapped site, with a single encounter and included mechanics. It's just a slice of Kaidan, so using 'Haiku' in the title is very fitting, I thought.
This is my first published release as author/designer - I hope you enjoy it, as I have plans for many more!
I need to thank Justin Sluder who designed the higher CR stats and the additional special abilities for the yurei no kami ghost of the bath house.
1. It's a recognizable Japanese word and concept to westerners.
2. I've included an appropriate haiku, that elucidates the mystery and location of the site.
3. Since a haiku is a very concise poetry format, this is intended to be a very concise product: as a mapped site, with a single encounter and included mechanics. It's just a slice of Kaidan, so using 'Haiku' in the title is very fitting, I thought.
This is my first published release as author/designer - I hope you enjoy it, as I have plans for many more!
I need to thank Justin Sluder who designed the higher CR stats and the additional special abilities for the yurei no kami ghost of the bath house.
Major kudos to you, gamer-printer! I hope to join the ranks of the published myself someday, and as an avid dark/horror RPG player/GM I will definitely be purchasing and DLing this.
Major kudos to you, gamer-printer! I hope to join the ranks of the published myself someday, and as an avid dark/horror RPG player/GM I will definitely be purchasing and DLing this.
Huzzah!
I thank you, sir! Tell us what you think about this product.
You might also look into the many other products for Kaidan, the setting of Japanese horror.
In the included custom haunts of this release, I've opted to add a Knowledge DC check as part of the stat block. RPGChronicle.com review of #30 Haunts for Kaidan, included a mis-step of not including a Knowledge DC check - even though Paizo's own standard haunt stat block has no reference to such. I agree with that review's assessment, so have included that in each haunt stat block.
Also, I've included a new trigger for haunts - specific time. In ghost lore it is believed some ghosts reenact the final moments of their life, at the same hour every day, like a recorded event. Which means, to me, that some haunts might not be triggered by proximity - entering into the affected area. One of the custom haunts in this production has the trigger of midnight (hour of the rat) - the haunt manifests whether anyone is around to witness it or not. This should attract the PCs attention, and begin a series of related haunts that lead to the first encounter with the yurei no kami ghost of the site.
I can see many haunts triggered by a specific moment in time, depending on the backstory of the event that caused the haunt to form.
The first review of this product is posted at Roleplayers Chronicle and it's 5 stars! Woot! Being my first authored work I've been dying for some feedback and this is a great start!
Thanks, End! Looks like I need to pick up some Raging Swan Press material to get a better idea on the 'tiny bits of detail' I need to better improve the series. I have plans for many more, so I better get this right!
Incidentally, I'll be doing a written interview (Word in Edgewise) with Roleplayer's Chronicle in a day or two, regarding me, Kaidan and the Haiku of Horror series. I'll post a link to that when it's available.
