The Night Watchman's page

Thief-Taker comes out on 9th August in the UK.

And Wert, the third book was ready to submit as of yesterday, so the wait won't be any more than it needs to be :-)

Purple and Black by KJ Parker. Then New Model Army by Adam Roberts, I think.

The Night Watchman wrote:

KJ Parker: Purple and Black

I read something by him (her?) a few years ago. It was a trilogy about weaponcrafting, but I forget the names of the books. The first book was about swords, the second about bows, and the third about siege weapons.

Colours in the Steel, Belly of the Bow and something else.

KJ Parker: Purple and Black

All feedback appreciated, but particularly if I did something real stupid thai I missed!

The Helm of Subtle Dominion
Aura Faint enchantment, moderate necromancy; CL 15
Slot Head; Price 57,000gp Weight 5lb
Description
To outwards appearances, the Helm of Subtle Dominion (or the Subtle Helm as it's also known) is a steel open-face helm exquisitely worked with gold inlay. The helm provides a +1 armour bonus to the wearer, but its principle power lies entirely elsewhere. Once per day, the wearer of the helm may engage a target in conversation; this may be as little as a single word or a full-blown debate, but the result is the same. From the moment the first word is spoken, the victim must make a Will save or suffer the effects of the helm: a permanent -1 penalty on all Will saves, and an additional temporary (for the next 10 rounds) additional negative modifier equal to the wearer’s charisma bonus (no charisma bonus, no temporary effect). These penalties are cumulative with each other and with any previous attacks from the Helm.
The effects of the Subtle Helm are extremely difficult to detect. A successful Perception check (DC 30) when the helm is activated will reveal the patterns in the helm are very slightly shifting. Any form of True Seeing, however, will see a shimmering ghostly form launch itself from the helm’s wearer and strike the victim with a strange cleaver-like knife.
A Break Enchantment or Remove Curse (DC 20) will remove the helm’s effects. One spell is sufficient to eliminate all cumulative penalties.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, Mind Fog, Symbol of Weakness Cost 28,500gp

The Crown of Resistible Humour
Aura Strong enchantment; CL 10
Slot Head; Price 1gp for six Weight -
Description
The Crown of Resistible humour is usually found wrapped in a gaudy parchment canister. When opened, there is a small (non-damaging) explosion, and a folded piece of golden parchment will will emerge – this, when unfolded, takes the shape of a crown. When the crown is put on, the wearer must immediately begin making a will save every round. Each failed save compels the wearer to abort any other actions and tell a joke. These jokes are bad, causing all who hear them to make a Will save (DC 5) or fall temporarily insane (this includes the wearer, who has to save merely for even thinking them – silence may save everyone else, but not the poor fool wearing the crown).
A Break Enchantment or Remove Curse (DC 20) will remove the crown's effects. Once removed, the crown loses all enchantment.
Construction
Requirements Craft Wondrous Item, Symbol of Insanity Cost -

Wolfsangel by MD Lachlan. Dripping with viking-y goodness so far. Annoyingly well written too.

Ring to Avoid Disappointment

Aura Divination; CL 1800th
Slot Hand; Price Always a bargain Weight -

Description
This ring works only in conjunction with scrying devices and is completely useless without one. In conjunction with any kind of scrying the wearer is able to place a geas on the adventure location at the other end, preventing any other adverturing party from looting the location until the wearer and their friends has arrived.

Construction
Requirements Craft Wonderous Item, Message, Geas Cost Usually free, but with a monthly tariff of around 1000gp (operator charges may vary)

Tone of the Undergates by Sam Sykes. Many role-players will recognise the bickering characters...

A Feast For Crows. The series was already extending itself a little too wilfully for my tastes, but hey ho, still great writing and great characters so no matter. Then we get Feast for Crows. All my favourite characters get side-lined in favour of the all the ones I find interminably dull, and they largely proceed to do nothing of consequence. Maybe it'll all make sense in the big scheme of things, but it read like what I suspect it actually is: 'Oh, and here's what Brienne and Arya et. al. did for the next five years until important things started happening again.'

Meh. All purely subjective personal opinion, of course. Bring on Dances with Dragons. And **** better not actually be dead.

"My throne!"
"No, mine!"
"Mine!"
Stab. Bleed. (slightly more slowly). "No, mine. See."
"Ha!" (gurgling) “Look behind you."
"Ha. No."
"Seriously."
(stamping noises. Sounds of bones breaking).
"Right. Bet there's nothing there."
(pause).
"Oh. B@$%&%@s."

Was supposed to be The Adamantine Palace in sixty seconds but on reflection reads more like Hamlet. Hey ho.

Rats and the Ruling Sea by Robert Redick.