Oh wow, it's been a month already? Guess it's time to update everyone on what's going on in the Realms of Pugmire!
PIRATES OF PUGMIRE
It's off and running! I've hired my writers, and we had a great meeting to go over the outline and bounce ideas around. Everyone's bring so many good suggestions and positive energy to the book, and I'm really looking forward to how it turns out! It'll be a while before I have anything more to say on it, but I'll post an update if there's something cool to talk about!
PUGMIRE: HOMEWARD BOUND
October had the three-part series "Homeward Bound" by Saving Throw, and it was a blast! If you missed it, all three episodes are now on YouTube and conveniently linked on the official Pugmire website: https://www.realmsofpugmire.com/pugmire-media/
MEOW'S THE BEST TIME TO CONTRIBUTE TO CANIS MINOR!
The Canis Minor community content program is going great, but we want to give everyone even more reasons to contribute! So, if you submit a Canis Minor project through the month of November, all projects that fall within the program's guidelines will receive a small gift from us! Keep an eye on the Onyx Path social media sites for more information!
MAU FICTION EXCERPT
After the project status updates, we have another fiction excerpt. This one is from "Arrows, Blood, and a Long Overdue Catnap," a Monarchies of Mau short story by Monica Valentinelli. So stick around after the updates!
PROJECT STATUS
Speaking of which, here's the status of all the Pugmire-related projects we can talk about!
First Draft
Tales of Excellent Cats (Monarchies of Mau)
Pirates of Pugmire (Realms of Pugmire)
Second Draft
Tales of Good Dogs – Pugmire Fiction Anthology (Pugmire)
Editing
Adventures for Curious Cats (Monarchies of Mau)
Layout
Roll of Good Dogs and Excellent Cats (Pugmire/Monarchies of Mau)
At Press
Fetch Quest
Shipping
Monarchies of Mau
"ARROWS, BLOOD, AND A LONG OVERDUE CATNAP" EXCERPT
Zachary slumped against the side of the Sneakin’ Inn to wait for his next client in the alleyway. He’d have preferred to meet inside at midday instead of outside at sunset, but while the Sneakin’ Inn served award-winning mead, the noisy tavern was also a popular destination for opportunistic thieves and spies. Zach hated all that cloak-and-dagger stuff because he couldn’t sneak around or pick a pocket—even if he wanted to. No, Zach was good at two things, punching and napping, but only liked one of them. If Zach could afford it, the older orange tabby would spend his afternoons dreaming about his younger days, back when he was a lithe scrapper taking on those oh-so-proud members of House Rex. He didn’t have the fancy pedigree, House, or coin required to lay about in his hammock all day, however. What he did have was an intimidating reputation. His closest friends called him “Lord” on account of his sunny-yellow eyes, meaty paws—seven digits on each one!—and extra heft in his tailless, round bottom. When his massive fists landed a blow, most cats didn’t know what hit them and often exclaimed “Lord!” out of habit, no doubt hoping they wouldn’t slip into unconsciousness.
Thankfully, Zachary figured out a way his unique “talent” could earn him enough coin to keep his thatched roof from leaking. Being a guard-for-hire wasn’t enough to get him off a steady diet of dried cod and the occasional pinch of lakegrass, though, not for a poor tomcat like himself. Oh, what he wouldn’t offer to the Temple of the Nine for a freshly-cooked hen? Or a smoked duck! But, Zach wasn’t the wishful thinking type; he knew no amount of prayer could whip up an expensive feast. Coin was the only thing that mattered. He preferred to earn his coin legally, but sometimes he didn’t have the luxury of picking his clients. Hopefully, Zach still had a few lives left. If not? Well, he didn’t want to think about it. Nobody paid him to be a philosopher; his clients gave him coin to ensure their safety.
“Zach? Von...Shadow?” A cloaked figure stepped from behind a stack of empty barrels; the waning light of the sun behind them cast a long shadow as if to say: “Be careful, Zach. This cat’s not to be trusted.”
“Just Zachary,” the orangey tabby grunted at the hooded newcomer. Only prideful cats dared to add “von Shadow” to their name. He was a member of the Shadow Bloc, but he certainly wasn’t notable or high-ranking. “Before I hear what you’re offering, I have to know who referred you. Call it a precaution. How’d you get my name again?”
“F-f-f-f-f-friends...” Zachary couldn’t see the length or color of the cat’s fur underneath his oversized woolen brown cloak and large hood. A bad sign, he thought. If the client was anxious enough to hide their face, then either his client was “new” or they were in over their whiskers. “Just f-f-f-friends we share in common, my Lord,” the cat stressed.
“Which friends? Be specific.” Strange, the cat knew his nickname and the voice sounded familiar. If they did know him, why go to all this trouble to pretend like they didn’t? “You’re acting odd. What’s going on? Is this some kind of prank?”
The hooded cat shrank into the shadows but did not respond. Then, the stranger twitched his cloak over his muscled shoulder. Much to Zach’s surprise, the client was wearing plain, battle-ready armor. No House sigil? No obvious signs of his client’s identity—save for a few, white tufts?
“I’m done. This meeting is over.” Zachary stood up, dusted off his knee-length coverings, and started to turn the corner. His new “client” was clearly inexperienced and too skittish for his liking. Didn’t matter what the job paid; if his client was scared, that spelled life-threatening for him. No job was worth dying for. “You’re on your own, kid.”
“No, wait!” the cat shouted after him. “Lord Lardbottom! Don’t go!”
Zach stopped just outside the Sneakin’ Inn’s front door. There was only one cat who’d dare mock him by using that nickname: his best friend and sparring partner, Carlo von Korat.
“Carlo? Is that you?”
Shoooom! Shoomp!
“Help–”
SHOOMP!
Zach heard the tell-tale thud of arrow hitting their mark. Then: a loud crash, a soft cry—Arghhhh!—followed by “RAT!” cough “RAT!” Zach pivoted and bumbled back into the alleyway; Carlo’s slumped body was draped over a fallen barrel, his cloak splayed out behind him like a crow’s broken wing. Three long arrows had punctured his neck, leg, and back. Lumbering over to his black-and-white friend, Zach could tell Carlo was struggling to survive. His fangs were stained with blood, his tail was limp, and his fur twitched. For the first time in this life, Zach didn’t know what to do.
AND NOW OUR LATEST KICKSTARTER!
Chicago lies at the center of the web that is the American heartland. Tendrils of power, wealth, and reward stretch outward, ensnaring the selfish, greedy, and unwary.
Yet, Chicago attracts its predators, too.
There are creatures that would have the city for their own, spinning their own webs of malice and intrigue. But among the city’s towering skyscrapers and wind-swept streets, who is the spider and who is the fly?
Chicago By Night, an updated edition of White Wolf’s bestselling city book, will be Onyx Path Publishing’s first supplement for Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition.
In this hardcover supplement, you will find descriptions of most of the Kindred inhabitants of Chicago, complete with 5th Edition write ups; the secret history of Chicago with detailed maps and geographical details; relationship details and factions; and dozens of encounters organized by theme, which provide Storytellers a means to make the setting come alive for the players.
If you're interested in checking out the shadowy streets of Chicago, head on over and join us: Here's the link: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/200664283/chicago-by-night-for-vampire-the-masquerade-5th-ed