Hereticwerks: public domain

Showing posts with label public domain. Show all posts

Wednesday, January 1, 2014

Public Domain Day, 2014

Today, January 1st, 2014, is not only New Year's, it's also Public Domain Day. We only just learned about Public Domain Day thanks to Satyre over at the Fame & Fortune blog. Satyre has a couple of very good links at his post. The free pdf he points out over at the PublicDomain.org site is quite interesting for any of us who work with things from the Public Domain. Click on over and see for yourself.

Happy New Year

Happy Public Domain Day!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Found Objects: The Crystal Egg

A Truly Curious Found Object: The Crystal Egg

Before there were Palantir Mister Wells gave us The Crystal Egg, a marvelous mass of unearthly crystal that had been pain-stakingly worked into an egg-shape and brilliantly polished by some person or persons unknown. A shew-stone of clear crystal, a bit like John Dee's obsidian one, it allows the user to Skry or view scenes of distant worlds. In the story itself, they saw images of Mars, just prior to the launch of the fateful Martian Invasion and the subsequent War of the Worlds of 1898.

Some Details Regarding The Crystal Egg

"The dirty little place was impenetrably black except in one spot, where he perceived an unusual glow of light. Approaching this, he discovered it to be the crystal egg, which was standing on the corner of the counter towards the window. A thin ray smote through a crack in the shutters, impinged upon the object, and seemed as it were to fill its entire interior."

"It occurred to Mr. Cave that this was not in accordance with the laws of optics as he had known them in his younger days. He could understand the rays being refracted by the crystal and coming to a focus in its interior, but this diffusion jarred with his physical conceptions. He approached the crystal nearly, peering into it and round it, with a transient revival of the scientific curiosity that in his youth had determined his choice of a calling. He was surprised to find the light not steady, but writhing within the substance of the egg, as though that object was a hollow sphere of some luminous vapour. In moving about to get different points of view, he suddenly found that he had come between it and the ray, and that the crystal none the less remained luminous. Greatly astonished, he lifted it out of the light ray and carried it to the darkest part of the shop. It remained bright for some four or five minutes, when it slowly faded and went out. He placed it in the thin streak of daylight, and its luminousness was almost immediately restored."

H. G. Wells, The Crystal Egg

The Crystal Egg requires only a minute amount of light in order to begin writing with interior illumination. A slender ray of not more than a millimeter will do nicely. It also helps a great deal to place the Crystal Egg in an otherwise very dark place, or to fold a heavy piece of velvet over it, as Mister Cave does in the story. Too much ambient light usually drowns-out the inner luminance of the Crystal Egg, making it appear as just a nicely polished bit of egg-shaped crystal.

"Unless we dismiss it all as the ingenious fabrication of Mr. Wace, we have to believe one of two things: either that Mr. Cave's crystal was in two worlds at once, and that, while it was carried about in one, it remained stationary in the other, which seems altogether absurd; or else that it had some peculiar relation of sympathy with another and exactly similar crystal in this other world, so that what was seen in the interior of the one in this world, was, under suitable conditions, visible to an observer in the corresponding crystal in the other world; and vice versa. At present, indeed, we do not know of any way in which two crystals could so come en rapport, but nowadays we know enough to understand that the thing is not altogether impossible. This view of the crystals as en rapport was the supposition that occurred to Mr. Wace, and to me at least it seems extremely plausible. . ."

H. G. Wells, The Crystal Egg

So What Can You (or your players) Do With This Thing?

Once the interior illumination is set into motion, The Crystal Egg will reveal scenes of distant worlds. However, whatever it reveals to you, it also provides a similar view to those who are on the other side of the connection. You can see those other worlds, but the inhabitants of those worlds can likewise see into your world. They can see you.

It may be possible to tune the thing through various technical, scientific, or sorcerous techniques. If so, this could be a very powerful variant Crystal Ball, one that might well attract attention both from the Powers That Be and Those Who Watch From The Otherside.

The Crystal Egg might be a very dangerous artifact to have in one's possession, either knowingly or not. If the location of The Crystal Egg were to become known, there are almost certainly dozens of individuals, groups, factions, cults or worse who would very much like to recover it or prevent it from falling into the 'wrong hands.' It might be a strange sort of alien probe sent off in advance of an impending invasion. It could be a relic left-over from a civilization that employed a very highly advanced form of opticks. Maybe it is a ritual object from a cult of sorcerers who maintained a covert form of interplanetary communications through-out the so-called Dark Ages. Who knows? But it could be fun to find out...The Crystal Egg is only one of the Curiosities and Antiquities we're including in the random tables associated with Schroedinger & Cave: Naturalists & Dealers in Curiosities, Prodigies & Antiquities (discrete). Coming soon.

Table One: Worlds & Places Revealed by the Crystal Egg

Mars (see A Fighting Table of Mars)
Yuggoth
Tekumel
Middle Earth (roll to avoid attracting Sauron's notice)
Yezmyr
The Lost World
Mysterious Island
Kepler-11
Planet Algol
Xiccarph (more details at Eldritch Dark)
Zalchis
Carcosa
Altair 4 (IA! IA! Krell Fhtagn!)
Metaluna
The Planet of the Apes
The City
Skartaris or Pellucidar (30/70 odds)
Smithverse: Roll save or the Eddorians have you, otherwise you're talking to a bored Arisian.
Otherwhen
Special--pick some other fictional universe or wait for more tables like this to pop up, or click here for a really good list of Fictional Planets.

Table Two: Tuning It In and Getting Good Reception

Egg remains opaque. Perhaps you've broken it.
You've done it now--the Egg unfolds from its fractally-condensed state into a fully functional Interocitor and Trey is on the other end wondering why you called.
Egg explodes Irwin Allen style, with lots of sparks and noise, a good bit of smoke and the floor rocks back and forth a bit, but with relatively little damage (everyone save or take 1 point damage). Once the smoke clears, you get to roll on the Irwin Allen Sub-Table to see where the Egg now connects to--with a base 30% chance that it will form a temporary portal to this location.
Egg reveals the location of 2d10 other, similar Eggs and casts Quest or Geas upon everyone within 10' radius to go forth and collect these Eggs. The Egg will perform a strange form of Plane Shift to take the group to each of the other Eggs, one at a time on a once-a-week schedule. When the set is completed, it will merge into a translucent mass of hyper-intelligent--oh, but that would be telling. Finish the Quest, then you can roll on another table...
You see nothing. Those on the Other Side see everything, even your underwear.
Egg imprints the means to cast ESP once a day into the mind of one lucky(?) viewer.
Egg grants 1d4 viewers the ability to cast Clairvoyance once a week. Unfortunately each use of this ability has a cumulative 5% chance to burn their brain to a cinder from inadvertent feedback.
Egg becomes a gateway into whatever realm is currently being viewed.
You watch speeded-up old newsreel footage from the Great Depression that runs continuously for 1d4 weeks after which time egg displays a flashing green prompt.
The Egg displays every single episode of every single TV broadcast from across the Earth during 1950-59. It re-runs them all endlessly. Often out of order. The commercials are the worst. Save or go insane with a 30% chance of becoming convinced that you're caught up in some twilight realm. Your character needs to roll a save or be fixated by the flickering light of the dreaded cathode ray tube and slowly lose 1 point of wisdom or intelligence every hour they are mesmerized by this never-ending stream of images.
You can now view episodes of alien soap operas. There are subtitles if you know how to work the remote.
Egg bonds to one person and can only show scenes from their life, over and over again until they die or the Egg bonds to someone else. However, victim must save or die if they attempt to pass along the Egg.

A Fighting Table of Mars

Irwin Allen Sub-Table

Bonus Video: The first 9 minutes of City Beneath the Sea

Additional Background and Sources

H. G. Wells wrote The Crystal Egg in 1897. You can find a version of this story at Online Literature, or at Many Books, or within the collection Tales of Space and Time over at Project Gutenberg.

You can also watch a modernized (1950s-style) adaptation of The Crystal Egg for the classic scifi TV series Tales of Tomorrow either at YouTube (Below), or over at Hulu or Archive.org.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Fictional Works Mentioned in Gargantua (Random Table/Any System)

The following is a Random Table derived from Public Domain resources at Wikipedia and a few other sources. Not only is it designated Open Game content, it's Public Domain, so use it as you wish wherever you wish, it is doubtful that Rabelais will care overly much. Just be sure to include a poop joke or some mention of mustard...

Books and Manuscripts of Dubious Provenance as Mentioned in Gargantua

Abbots' Donkey-Size Pricks. Alleged to contain 1d4 quite inapproriate spells.
Advanced Asslicking, for Graduate Students
Adversus quemdam qui vocaverat eum fripponatorem, et quod fripponatores non sunt damnati ab Ecclesia, by Sutor
Alchemists' Windpipes
And Cheese, Too. Contains the spell: Call Cheese.
Antidotarium animae, by Merlin Coccaius
Antipericatamentanaparbeugedamphibricationes, or Discussions on All Manner of Subjects by Shit Monks. Possession of this book carries a base 30% chance of attracting the attention of the Shit Monks. Reading it has an 80% chance. Never read it out loud.
Ars honeste petandi in societate, by Hardouin de Graetz
Astrology's Chimney Sweep
Badinatorium Sophistarum
Ball-biting Promoters
Barbouilamenta Scoti, by Scotus
Batwing Hats for Cardinals
Begging Monks' Stew. Suspected of being the source of a variant form of Create Food and Drink.
Bell Ringers' Ballgames
Bigot's Stew
Bigua salutis
Bishops' Antidotes for Aphrodisiacs. Notorious source of the dreaded spell Cause Impotence.
The Bishops' Bagpipes. A rather loud book known to attract wandering monsters once opened.
Blinders for the Road to Rome. Save -2 or be struck blind.
Boots for the Stouthearted
Bragueta juris
Cacatorium medicorum
Callibistratorium caffardie, actore M. Jacobo Hostratem hereticometra, by Jacobo Hostratem
Campi clysteriorum, by Symphorien Champier
Cardinal Cajetan's Whinnyings
Catalogue of Academic Candidates
The Chains of Religion
Cheated Husbands in Court
Close-Shaven Clerks, by Ockham
The Clownishness of Little Priests
Commercial Rope Tricks
The Cost of Letting Monks Beg
The Crucible of Contemplation
Cullebutatorium confratiarm
De auferibilitate pape ab ecclesia, by Gerson
De Baboinis et cingis, cum commento Dorbellis, by Marmotretus (Presumed to be written by a sapient Marmot)
De batisfolagiis principium, by R. Lullius
De bobelinandis glosse Accursiane baguenaudis repetitio enucidiluculidissiam, by Pilloti Raquedenari (A known pseudonym of the infamous cutpurse 'Penny Squeazer')
De brodiorum usa et honestate chopinandi, by Silvester of Priero
De cagotis tollendis, by Justinianus
De calcaribus removendis decades undecium, by Aubry de Rosata
De capreolis cum chardoneta comedendis, tempore Papali ab Ecclesia interdicto, by Pasquilli
De castrametandis crinibus, by Ejusdem (Spurious forgery committed by a delusional doppleganger writing in mirrorscript)
De compotationibus mendicantium, by Friar Lubinus
De croquendis lardonibus, by Reverend Father Friar Lubinus
De Differentiis soupparum, by Guillaume Briçot
De emulgentiarum profectibus enneades novem, cum privilegio papeli ad triennium, et posteanon, by Bishop Boudarinus
De grabellationibus horarum canonicarum lib. quadraginta by Maîstre Fripesaulcetis (Mage with a Disembodied Tongue...)
De Magistro nostrandorum magistro nostratorumque beuvetis lib. octo galantissimi, by Chaultcouillon (Author also noted for creating the infamous testicle-destroying Hot Balls spell)
De modo cacandi, by Tartaretus
De modo faciendi boudinos, by Majoris
De moustarda post prandium servienda lib. quatuordecium, apostilati per M. Vaurillon, by M. N. Rostocostojambedanesse
De optimitate triparum, by Beda
De originbe patepelutarum et torticollorum ritibus lib. septem, by Moillegroin (Actually this book was penned by Moillegroin's dog who was notorious for having a wet nose)
De patria diabolorum, by Merlin Coccaius
De pelendis mascarendisque cardinalium mulis, by Marforius
De re militari, cum figuris Tevoti, by Franctopinus
De terribiliditate excommunicationum libellus acephalos, by Jo. Dytebrodius
De usa et utilitate escorchandi equos et equas, by "Our Master of Quebecu"
De vita et honestate braguardorum by Lourdadus (The Sage of Dubrame noted for creating the Stupefy Self spell, killed by a rogue dumb bell in Pasquo)
Decretum universitatis Parisiensis super gorgiasitate muliercularum ad placitum
Decrotarorium scholarium
Dribbling Tipplings by Useless Bishops
Fairy Tales of the Law
Faking the Holy Cross
Folk Dances for Heretics
Forcible Removal in Matters Requiring a Conscience
Formicarium artium
Fun With Dice -- The first RPG?
Garters, or Patience's Knee-Boots
The Guzzlers' Den, by Alcofrybas Nasier
Heretics' Hides
Heroes' Elephant Balls. Source of the Elephant Balls spell.
The History of Elves, Brownies, and Hobgoblins. Perusal of this book will reveal 1d4 rumors, legends or secrets of each of the three named races.
How a Vision of Saint Gertrude Appeared to a Nun, at Poissy, When She Went into Labor. Banned book known ot have caused at least 6 documented spontaneous pregnancies amongst various ecclesistics, two of whom were men.
How Fast Friars Fool Around
How Grabby Beggars Grab, collected by Brother Cut-your-wallet
How Priests Cover Themselves
How Priests Say No
How to Get to the Bottom, in Discipline
How to Keep It Up Till You're Ninety
How to Make a Nobleman Shut Up
How Virgins Shit. Illustrated by three blind men.
How Wine Spurs You On
Humility's Worn-out Shoe
The Hungry Jaws of Lawyers
Incessant Fartings of Ecclesiastical Scriveners: Scribes, Copyists, Abbreviators, Court Clerks, and Calendar Fixers, compiled by Regis
Ingeniositas invocandi diabolos et diabolas, by Guingolfus (Author was a notorious werewolf)
Judges' Bulging Bellies. Contains 2d4 spells of gastro-intestinal destruction and discomfort.
Ladies' Finger Bells
Landing in Brazil, by Antonio de Leva. Contains 3/4 of the outline of a spell for opening a gate-way to Brazil.
Lawyers' Complaints about the Abolition of Bribes
Lyripipi Sorbonici Moralisationes, by Lupoldus
Magistrates in Cat Fur -- There were furries back in the 16th Century? Surely it's evidence of time travel most foul...there truly is nothing new under the sun...
Magnanimity's Stewpot
Making Money on Indulgences
Malogranatum vitiorum
Maneries ramonandi fournellos, by Eccius
Marriage Tied Around with a String
Misers' Mountains
Monks' Cowls
The Musty Mustard-Pot of Penitence
The Notary's Basket
Official Swindlers
Old Soldiers and Other Bums
On the Clownishness of Country Priests
On the Serving of Mustard after Meals, fourteen volumes, collected by M. Vaurillon
Pantofla decretorum
Peas in Lard, with commentary
Perpetual Almanac for Those Afflicted with Gout or the Pox
The Pharmacists' Fart Sucker. Contains the spell Summon Fart Sucker.
Piety's Handcuffs
Pleasures of the Monastic Life
Poetasters' Bellybuttons
Poiltronismus rerum Italicarum, by Etienne Brulefer
Political Glue
A Pot for All Seasons
The Preacher's Featherduster by a bum
Prognostication, by Songecruyson, the "Master of Useless Dreams"
Quaestio subtilissima, utrum Chimera in vacuo bombinans possit comedere secundus intentiones, et fuit debatuta per decem hebdomadas in concilio Constantiensi
Rear-Flapping Trousers for Shitheads
Roman Fanfares
Stories of the Kings of Canarre, by Marotus du Lac
Stratagemata Francharchieri de Bagnolet
Stupid Noises by Celestine Monks
Surgery's Kiss-My-Ass
The Sweat Stink of Spaniards, by Iñigo de Loyola
Tarraballationes Doctorum Coloniensium adversus Reuchlin
Theologians' Rat Traps. Holds 2d8 different Clerical spells for trapping and getting rid of rats.
Theology's Tennis Ball
Thieves' Dens
Travelers' Trinkets
Tricks by Trixies and Elves
The Tripe-Pod of Noble Thought. Alleged to have a 40% chance to cause readers to develop a third lobe to their brain...
Virevoustatorium nacquettorum by F. Pedebilletis (Author afflicted by the dreaded Pin Head Curse...)
What Bothers Priests about Holy Confession
Why Hermits Have Pendulous Beards
Why Monkeys Smack Their Lips When They Pray
Widows' Bald Asses. Summons a herd of hairless Asses to trample the reader.
Worm Powder for the Poor (A notorious grimoire from Wermspittle)
(Dare we attempt to add more to this list? Maybe you have some suggestions? Leave us a comment.)

Now we just have to figure out what's inside each of these fictional books...

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