What About a “Realm of ___” For Non-Undead?

We’ve now wrapped up writing, layout, editing, revising, re-editing, just-add-this-new-idea, no-make-that-4-ideas, re-editing, and so on for our Hexploration Decks and Tiles.  We crowdfunded them back in March when they were 75% done–and now the files have been sent off to the printer. You can still pre-order them here. –31May 2025.

But in all of that chaos, even though we had good previews for where we started, we didn’t do a great job of previewing all the new stuff in the decks.  So here is another preview from one of the five Hexploration Decks.  The “Stranger Places” deck has a number of campaign location ideas that are still fantasy, but on the fringe.  And in that deck, four cards answer the question in the title of this article: What would a “Realm of ____” be like for a Non-Undead ruler?

The four cards we use to answer this each cover one type of person: artist, inventor, mage, and cosmic guardian. Here is the text of two of the cards:

Make it Stranger: Inventor’s Realm

A realm skews with an inventor’s perspective.

What Is Different?

1. Atypical materials. Freed from reality’s rules, the inventor dabbles with making an environment and objects out of flesh, light, chocolate, or ice.
2. Blueprints. The surroundings are wireframes or detailed diagrams; sensing depth is a challenge.
3. Folding space. Glyphs connect different areas. Activate them to tesser between areas.
4. Simulation. Each area has a reset, so you can try something over and over (even if you die).
5. Optical illusions. Stairs and halls are endless, entrances and exits to areas are cunningly hidden.
6. Test subjects. Activate glyphs to summon foes, victims, targets, or other experimental aids.

What Is the Impact?

1. You must “think outside the box” to move from one area to another by finding the seams.
2. A supernatural compulsion makes the problems fascinating; it is easy to forget why you came.
3. Maybe 1 in 10 tools remain real if removed.
4. Anything self-aware here cries out against the cruelty that would trap it here for endless use.
5. Inspiration for an invention may dig into your mind; you’ll be restless until you’ve built it.
6. You magically gain understanding of the tech.

It Was Created To Be A

1. Superior trap to hold a dangerous prisoner.
2. Lab to rapidly mock-up prototypes for a patron without all the expense and effort in reality.
3. Relaxing retreat freed from mortal distraction.
4. Teaching space for hands-on learners.
5. Museum to honor technological innovation.
6. Tomb of a famed inventor, whose spirit lingers.

What Keeps the Order Here?

1. The Omniguard, a polite clockwork octopus-like mech librarian worked into the background.
2. Censorium constructs strike down anything that doesn’t align with approved religious teachings.
3. Hollowed-out apprentice shades make sure nothing disturbs the Master or his many works.
4. Chaos reigns. Surroundings are constantly scribbled over, erased, redrawn, or modified. A colorless flickering energy like fire ebbs and flows.
5. The self-repairing harmony of perfect order hums along, regenerating to remove changes.
6. Three floating incorporeal judges loudly evaluate every move, ejecting failures from the space.

How Do You Enter?

1-2. Solve a clever puzzle box with a portal inside.
3-4. Touch your blood to a book of designs.
5-6. Build a doorway precisely matching plans.

Make It Stranger: A Cosmic Guardian’s Realm

Divine, infernal, or weird; an outsider waits here.

What Is Different?

1. 1. The deep shine of cosmic light suffuses the air.
2. Prayers and worship filter up through the background in glittering curtains of life energy.
3. A flying chorus sings alien hymns of worship.
4. Eroded statues, tributes, and trophies of past champions loyal to the guardian are plentiful.
5. A majestic throne overshadows everything; the guardian can see the whole realm from there.
6. The open-air temple is anchored in the guardian’s favorite weather and season.

What Is the Impact?

1. No need for rest or nourishment here.
2.  Scuttling vendors offer blessings, in exchange for promises of worship, service, or memories.
3. Those who are loyal to the guardian shine. Those who are neutral are shadowed. Those with other cosmic loyalties are black shadows.
4. Visitors may trade curses for obligations here.
5. A shining fountain MAY cure any wound.
6. Visitors transform into their spirit animal visage.

How Do You Enter?

1-2. Sacrifice an offering at the hallowed shrine.
3-4. Get a blessing from the guardian’s oracle.
5-6. Fit all 5 amulets into the cosmic gauntlet.