Clever Vikings with axes

I happened across this Viking-centric amateur experimental archaeology site, and thought I'd share these two pics of Vikings being clever with axes:

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Maybe you could reasonably hold a torch and a shield in the same hand?

Maps from the Denver Public Library

An article about a behind-the-scenes visit to the Denver Public Library had a couple interesting a potentially D&D-useful things:

Peeling, partially unstuck, and warped into curling waves like oceans, the pages play host to a century or more of built structures, renovations, and replacements, keeping close tabs on what can be insured, for how much, and under what circumstances.

"Botanical Profile representing the Forest Trees along the route explored by Lieut. A. W. Whipple, Corps. of Top. Eng., near the Parallel of 35º North Latitude, 1853-1854." Prepared by J. M. Bigelow, M.D., Botanist to the Expedition. U.S. Pacific Rail Road Exploration & Survey, War Department.

I can imagine this style of visualization being useful in adventure design, particularly for wilderness adventures.

New releases at dndclassics.com

Zeb Cook's Expert rulebook is now available from dndclassics. They've also added B10, the 1e Dungeoneer's and Wilderness survival guides, and MMII.

This is a modest release compared to the initial offering. Unfortunately, there's no sign yet of the OD&D booklets.

Official, legit D&D PDF's from WotC

Wizards of the Coast has released a bunch of vintage D&D products as PDF's. I understand that that quality is better than the PDF's they released a few years ago. I'm off to buy some.

Lovecraft interview

Check out this interview with H.P. Lovecraft conducted on a single postcard by a friend from small-town Vermont. The postcard is a wonderful artifact, and interview is quite good. I'd love to read a long interview with Lovecraft.

Court officials

The Wikipedia entry on Court (royal) has a bulleted list of court officials. I reproduce it below as a numbered list suitable for dicing:

1. Almoner
2. Butler
3. Chamberlain
4. Chancellor
5. Chapelmaster
6. Chaplain = Arch
7. Cofferer
8. Confessor
9. Constable
10. Cup-bearer
11. Dapifer
12. Doorward
13. Eunuch
14. Falconer
15. Gentleman of the Bedchamber
16. Gentleman Usher
17. Grand Almoner
18. Grand Panetier, Panifer
19. Grandmaster
20. Grand Master of the Hunt
21. Great officers
22. Groom of the Stool
23. Herald
24. Intendant of the civil list
25. Jester = fool
26. Keeper of the seal
27. King of arms
28. Knight / Earl Marshal
29. Lady-in-waiting
30. Maid of Honour
31. Majordomo
32. Master of the Horse
33. Master of the Hunt
34. Page
35. Panter or pantler
36. Secretary
37. Pursuivant
38. Seneschal
39. Stolnik
40. Standard bearer
41. Steward

Ancient emperor's tomb filled with deadly traps

You know the thousands of terracotta warriors found in the tomb of China's first emperor? Archaeologists recently discovered a hidden 22-square-mile burial palace believed to be filled with deadly traps at the site.

What probably are intact are the countless treasures that—according to the ancient scrolls that describe the emperor's long lost burial site—fill the interior of the tomb. And perhaps the deadly traps guarding them too. [...] nobody wants to be the first to get inside because of the mausoleum's dangerous traps—they're detailed in the same texts that recount its abundant riches.