The Brimstone Sleep – Svavelvinter in Swedish – was first published in 1987 as an adventure to the first version of Swedish table top role playing game Drakar och Demoner, aka Dragonbane. It was followed by three sequels and a booklet about Tracoria, the nation where it all takes place. These publications together are usually referred to as The Conflux Suite, and are still played. I later published four novels, in total 2300 pages, built on the Tracorian setting. As Free League Publishing started out, their first game was Svavelvinter, based on those novels. I also wrote the lyrics for a full album by metal band Svavelvinter, taking inspiration from the setting.
Now it's all started anew! Me, Tomas Härenstam and Svante Landgraf are currently working on republishing The Brimstone Sleep for Free League Publishing's version of Dragonbane.
This post is a status update.
The Brimstone Sleep – Svavelvinter
I've already gone through all the texts, editing and rewriting while trying to keep the spirit of the original. For those unfamiliar with the setting, Tracoria mixes a renaissance, back stabbing setting with Mesopotamian polytheism, philosophical depth, war, horror, dark humour and a parody of our own times. The first part however takes place on the far northern island of Marjura, which the Tracorians have occupied in order to harvest precious sulphur. Svante and Tomas are now adapting the material for the Dragonbane rules and format.
The original publication contained a number of adventure sites which are all there, as well as a brand new one based on material from the novels. Since I this time know what will follow, I've made adjustments accordingly and indulged in some foreshadowing.
Concerning the maps, I've already proof-read two nice drafts of a Marjuran map by Francesca Baerald. We've also prepared material for main illustrator David Brasgalla and now look forward to seeing his first sketches. Johan Egerkrans will do the cover illustration.
Beyond The Brimstone Sleep
The next adventure in the conflux suite – original title The Four Eyes of the Oracle – takes the game back to Tracoria proper, where the adventurers try to rescue a number of important persons that simultaneously are hunted by the assassins of RhaboRana (which also hunts the adventurers). I already submitted suggestions on how that part might be adapted, and while nothing yet is decided, me and Free League are pretty much agreed on the structure. I will probably start editing and rewriting the material right away. In analogy with The Brimstone Sleep, I plan to add an extra adventure in the form of an extra person that needs to be saved.
We are in all probability looking at a Free League three part conflux suite, so the material of the Tracoria booklet and the original third part ”The Crystal Bull” will be worked into the remaining parts. For instance, I plan to put more focus on the island of Palamux already in this second part, where the adventurers have to cross the desert Focal Plains to reach one of the savees.
In this part, the players will be introduced to Tracoria, to The fifth conflux and the prophetic mountain of Ranz, having to interpret its prophecy Vox Ranzina.
It is likely that some of the original Tracorian material will appear in Helmgasts Dragonbane project Ereb Altor (the continent of which Tracoria originally was part and still is). We will in that case try to sync the two project to let game masters seamlessly include those parts in Free League's conflux suite if they so wish.
Exciting times!
