Prokopios is back at it with bad takes in his Secret History, spouting off what should only be found on Byzantine Twitter. Dive into his absurd takes on why the emperor is actually a demon, and why his wife is SUPER into him. Plus, explore the possibilities of actually having a demon emperor in your TTRPG game, and the complications of a nosy court historian for your players. Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon!  Check out our merch! The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!) Socials:  Tumblr Website Twitter  Instagram Facebook Citations & References:   The Secret History and another version

We're delving back into the Munich Handbook of Necromancy this week with transportation and reanimation spells. With so many spells to choose from, we're walking you through how to adapt a horse summoning spell to your TTRPG campaign, and maybe even give your players an invisibility cloak to boot. Our Kickstarter is LIVE! Be the first to get a deck of 50 magic items straight from medieval manuscripts! Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon!  Check out our merch! Socials:  Tumblr Website Twitter  Instagram Facebook Citations & References:   Forbidden Rites: a Necromancer's Manual online version here! All of Richard Keikhefer's books on magic here! References to Socrates' "Book of Magic: here & here The Ring of Gyges Wikipedia

The Byzantine world continues to make for a perfect D&D setting! In this episode, Justinian outlaws astrology, while he and Theodora pretend to be an the embittered couple in order to play both sides of the sport-fans-turned-rioters, and "Pumpkin," the city prefect, is ousted from power by these sports fanatics. What could possibly go wrong? Our Kickstarter is LIVE! Be the first to get a deck of 50 magic items straight from medieval manuscripts! Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch! Socials: Tumblr Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Citations & References: The Secret History and another version

So you want to be a necromancer - in your next D&D campaign, sure, sure. But what IS necromancy, really? Join us in this episode as we dive into the real sources of medieval necromancy and black magic, and discover ways that real magical practices can fit into your next TTRPG campaign. Our Kickstarter is just a week away! Be the first to get a deck of 50 magic items straight from medieval manuscripts! Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon!  Check out our merch! Socials:  Tumblr Website Twitter  Instagram Facebook Citations & References:   Forbidden Rites: a Necromancer's Manual online version here! All of Richard Keikhefer's books on magic here!

What can animals teach us about TTRPGs? Join us in this episode as we explore the world of Medieval Fables and just what they can teach us about life, death, and min-maxing with fables & medieval animal specialist Linnet Heald! Check out our Kickstarter! Check out Sam's DEATH OF THE AUTHOR on Backerkit here! Check out Linnet's Blog posts & her new work! (Website coming soon!) The Raven’s False Greeting: Animal Language and Medieval Fable - link Learning to Fear in Two Medieval Fables - link The Stag and the Dogs: A Medieval Fable - link Imagining the Medieval Bestiary - link Linnet Heald, "Wicked Wolves, Culpable Sheep: Animal Lessons in Medieval British Fables," New Medieval Literatures 25 (2025) . (Forthcoming) Medieval Panther Woodcut: link Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch! The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!) Socials: Tumblr Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Citations & References: Caxton’s Aesop ed. by Joseph Jacobs, 1889 - link TEAMS Middle English Robert Henryson, The Complete Works: Fables - link & the Modern English Translation Loeb Library's BABRIUS, PHAEDRUS, Fables - link Davide Ermacora, “The Comparative Milk-Suckling Reptile,” Anthropozoologica 52, no. 1 (2017): 59–81. Lion Symbolism: Nigel Harris, "The Lion in Medieval Western Europe: Toward an Interpretive History," Traditio 76 (2021), 185–213.

This week, we're delving into Empress Theodora's early life and rise to power as empress of the Byzantine era. From her breathtaking performances as a prostitute to her love-at-first-sight romance with Justinian as a young guard, we gather that Theodora was one hell of a woman, regardless of Prokopios' distaste for her. Check out our Kickstarter! Also, check out Gals and Goblins podcast here, and check out their TikTok and other cool content here! They've been gracious enough to share the pod and Kickstarter with their audience, and we're sharing the love - their actual play is goofy, lighthearted, and fun to listen to on commutes, in the kitchen, or while pruning your garden of poisonous plants you're planing to use to poison your evil overlord. Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch! The Beastiary Challenge! Socials: Tumblr Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Citations & References: The Secret History and another version

It's our 100th episode! Come celebrate with us as we host our second tournament - Mac and I compete with each other to see who has the best approach to listener submitted quests, with parties compiled of the characters we've collected from each episode. Special thanks to all the listeners who submitted quest ideas and questions for us to answer! WHO WON? VOTE HERE! Check out our Kickstarter! Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch! The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!) Socials: Tumblr Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Citations & References: Ulrich, Laurel Thatcher. “Vertuous Women Found: New England Ministerial Literature, 1668-1735.” American Quarterly, vol. 28, no. 1, 1976, pp. 20–40. Richard Keikhefer, Magic in the Middle Ages & Forbidden Rites - find both here! Bailey, Michael D. ‘The Disenchantment of Magic: Spells, Charms, and Superstition in Early European Witchcraft Literature.’ The American Historical Review, Vol 111, No. 2. April 2006. pp. 383-404. —. ‘The Age of Magicians: Periodization in the History of European Magic.’ Magic, Ritual, and Witchcraft, Vol. 3. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2008. pp. 1-28. —. ‘The Disenchantment of Magic: Spells, Charms, and Superstition in Early European Witchcraft Literature.’ The American Historical Review, Vol. 111, No. 2. University of Pennsylvania Press, April 2006. pp. 383-404.

It's part two of the drama-filled adventure of Eliduc, the two-timing knight! In the final part of this tale, we discuss how medieval writers poke fun at the chivalric system, and explore how to adapt knighthood - in all its forms- into your D&D campaign. Our KICKSTARTER is coming up! Sign up & try it out yourself here! Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch! The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!) Socials: Tumblr Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Citations & References: The Lais of Marie de France Physical and Mental Cruelty in the "Lais" of Marie de France, Renee L Curtis Two for the Price of One: Courtly Love and Serial Polygamy in the "Lais" of Marie de France, Sharon Kinoshita

The drama of courtly love affairs - and their consequences - is back with the Lay of Eliduc! When Sir Eliduc abandons his vows after becoming a knight errant overseas, his wife and young mistress are not left helpless - together, and with a little magic, the two of them subvert expectations to force Eliuduc's hand. Check out the Kickstarter here! Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch! The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!) Socials: Tumblr Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Citations & References: The Lais of Marie de France Physical and Mental Cruelty in the "Lais" of Marie de France, Renee L Curtis Two for the Price of One: Courtly Love and Serial Polygamy in the "Lais" of Marie de France, Sharon Kinoshita

Looking for a new political-intrigue campaign, but on't want to compromise on combat and craziness? Join us this week as we explore the Nika riots, where sports fans create a gang war that nearly brings down the Byzantine empire. With unique faction styles, a political coup, and a pretender emperor, the Nika riots are the perfect ground for a successful city-wide campaign or one-shot! Check out the Kickstarter here! The Beastiary Challenge! (<-- Don't miss it!) Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch! Socials: Tumblr Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Citations & References: The Secret History and another version Check out the Burgs & Baliffs Poor Pilgrim's Almanack! Check out the TTRPG indie publisher Lost Pages!