Tales From the Magician's Skull Special #02

Welcome to this, the second special issue of the Skull’s favorite maga- zine. What, you may ask, was the first special issue? While it is marked with the word SPECIAL on its masthead in place of a number, it is known in some circles as Issue 0, and it contained all the essays written for the first Kickstarter of Tales From the Magician’s Skull as well as the first tale of Hanuvar, reprinted from its appearance in the Goodman Games GenCon 2016 Programming Guide. Physical copies today are extremely rare, as this one is likely to be. Cherish its contents! 

STORIES

Agnar and the Shadow Dragon by Simon Kewin 

Agnar threw himself into a dive, attempting to roll clear. The beast caught him effortlessly, pinning him under one of its claws. Distantly, Agnar was aware of the seething roar of the crowd as they demanded blood. 

The Secret of the Heart Eater by P. J. Atwater

Kasmir fought doggedly on. His mail had saved him a dozen times, though his frame shuddered under each new shock. He turned his guard on the newest opponent, and immediately knew he had made a grave mistake. 

The Gremlins of Las Vegas by James Stoddard

“Your words confuse me, as might those of a Honey-Tongued Deceiver.” He ran his hand along the top of his axe.

Jewels of the Sea Hag by Adrian Cole 

The fog, a churning gray mass, contorted itself violently, and from its coils a number of shapes emerged, bloated figures with swollen heads, black pits for eyes and wide, gaping mouths filled with utter darkness. 

The Idol in the Well by Ali Short

“We have not come this far, nor fought this hard, for earthly concerns, Master Worm,” Adrais laughed. “Come. Let us shake the pillars of heaven.”

The Fisherman’s Wife by Gregory L. Norris 

She wandered toward the secret hiding place and drew the decorated reliquary from beneath the loose floorboard. Inside were all the talismans she’d been gifted during past sleepwalking incidents — the pouch filled with ashes, the fat, square ruby gemstone the color of blood, the coil of desiccated serpent skin, and the gray pearl.

The Bronze Helm by Ken Lizzi 

“I’ll try to leave your face unmarked,” I said, “as a courtesy to such of your family as might wish to view your body.” 

ARTICLES

The Monster Pit by Terry Olson 

Enter the monster pit! Down here in the pit, we provide tabletop RPG fans with playable DCC RPG game statistics for the creatures in this issue of Tales From The Magician’s Skull.

The Skull Speaks by The Skull Himself