RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026: Day 12

12. What do people for entertainment around here?

"Like other Zem villages, we have the usual team sports of mob zoccer, crakkit, lacrosse, polo, badminton. We have the individual sports of archery, atl-atl, boxing, wrestling, free-for-all, running, swimming. Sitting games are also popular: chezz, goh, domi-knows, pyramids, kah-tahn. In the village center, when rituals are not held, there may be plays, concerts, dances, puppet shows. In the grove of Zhaga, there is storytelling of legendary quality. Roaming the village, you may meet wandering magicians, acrobats, and comedians. It is considered proper to offer such wanderers hospitality in the form of food, drink, lodging, or tokens of appreciation. At night, once a week, some of the villagers host a dance ritual in the caves by the glow of phospherscent fungi and glitter ore."

—Fernettica, Chief of the Zem in Null

[For more information about RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026, read this.]

[Read Barking Alien's RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026.]

Should I Shadowdark?

I do not need another role-playing game, least of all another fantasy role-playing game as I try to find time to run DCC RPG, DCC Lankhmar, DCC Dying Earth, and MCC RPG (with added DCC RPG classes), but Shadowdark RPG strongly appeals to my long-held desire for a game that straddles the line betwixt DCC RPG and Swords & Wizardry White Box. No matter what I play, there will be a few house rules (because I struggle with perfectionism), but Shadowdark RPG already does so much that is so right even down to the layout. It is one of the very few rule books that seems made for me. It's good for the way my brain works. How can I not run it? I will run Shadowdark RPG eventually, but I will not turn my back on the other games I write about on my other gaming blogs. I'll undoubtedly write about it here. Unless I start another gaming blog...

RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026: Day 11

11. Where would we go to find 'adventure'?

I will pass on answering this prompt due to spoiler hazards except to say that anywhere beyond Zem tribal territory has the potential for adventure.

I could point out the Obsidian Lake, the Fortress of Quartz, the Blue Abyss, the Dreaming Mounds, and the Haunted Ravine, to name just a few, but that would be telling.

[For more information about RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026, read this.]

[Read Barking Alien's RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026.]

RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026: Day 10

10. What's the first thing we should do?

"You are a member of our tribe who is about to go on a Quest following the First Rite of Adulthood. The first thing you should do is have the formal words of parting with your closest kin. Then you will receive from them the gifts that will aid you in your journey. With these gifts and your chosen weapons you will begin your Quest, leaving your village and childhood behind. You may wear the paint of the Contender and go forth, beyond Zem territory. When you return, you will complete the Second Rite of Adulthood and assume your new status in the village according to your path."

—Fernettica, Chief of the Zem in Null

[For more information about RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026, read this.]

[Read Barking Alien's RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026.]

RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026: Day 09

9. Who's in charge here?

Again, I don't want to risk spoilers, so I'll limit this to an overview of community leaders known by the player characters who are all Zem residing in the village of Null.

Fernettica, as mentioned before, is the chief of the Zem in Null and the eldest member of the tribe. She is a fern Plantient. She is the only member of the tribe to have memories of the most recent disaster, the Mass Herbicide, which happened long ago. She is addressed as "Chief of the Zem in Null."

The Holy Seer, also known as Zonzmizz, is a teacher and spirital leader in charge of counselling, instruction, and rituals. He also serves as an advisor to the village chief. He is a Pure Strain Human shaman or cleric. He is addressed as "Holy Seer of the Zem in Null."

Kregg is the head of the Longhouse of Trade, the village guild that arbitrates trade disputes and sets exchange values for Null. He is a Mutant. He is addressed as "Guild Boss of the Zem in Null."

Fyto is the subchief in charge of the village guard and a champion intervillage fighter. He is a wolf Manimal. He is addressed as "First Subchief of the Zem in Null."

Zirina is the head of the tribal messengers, whom she directs from Null. She is a Pure Strain Human rover. She is addressed as "Supreme Messenger of the Zem."

Zhaga is the head storyteller of Null and the entire Zem tribe. Zhaga is a live oak Plantient. Zhaga is addressed as "Supreme Storyteller of the Zem."

[For more information about RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026, read this.]

[Read Barking Alien's RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026.]

RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026: Day 08

8. Tell us about the local peoples and their cultures.

"The Zem are a tribe composed of the refugees of many tribes of all genotypes. Together, we are stronger. We honor many of the traditions of our pre-Zem ancestors according to our individual choices, but we unite as Zem to observe Zem holidays, participate in Zem rituals, and uphold Zem oaths of hospitality, diplomacy, and defense.

"The Z'Nee are a tribe of Humans and Manimals who dwell on the coast to the southwest. They are devoted to a cult of which their leader is the high priest. Attempts at diplomacy have failed. We often call them the Smiling Killers.

"The Zogwor live inland to the south. They are a tribe of Manimals who guard their territory fiercely. They distrust non-Zogwor, but those who know how to approach them and respect their customs can sometimes negotiate or even trade with them. Their tribe is organized into familial packs, and they are primarily Hunters.

"The Zerf reside on the coast to the east. They are a tribe of Humans who fish and gather nutrients and treasures from the sea. They are our nearest trading partners.

"The Bah-Uu are a tribe of Plantients who grow inland to the northwest. The Zem and the Bah-Uu are at peace, but there is little trade. The two tribes primarily exchange information. Both honor the oaths of hospitality.

"Many smaller tribes of varying genotypical composition live in the north, northwest, and far south. Some are friendly; some are hostile; some are isolationist. We are willing to meet with any who abide by the oath of diplomacy."

—Fernettica, Chief of the Zem in Null

[For more information about RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026, read this.]

[Read Barking Alien's RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026.]

RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026: Day 07

7. What's the weather like today?

"Today, the weather is like most days in Ridia: hot and humid. Plantlife is abundant. Beastlife also flourishes. It rained heavily but briefly this morning. Now, mist hangs in the air, and by afternoon the sun will shine brightly. Rain may come again before nightfall.

"On rare occasions the air will cool, perhaps for a few days. There may even be frost, which can be uncomfortable or even painful for the plantfolk of this land. Sometimes there are atmospheric disturbances that can cause suffering and ill portents: thunderstorms, negastorms, psiclones, hurricanes, and other dangerous weather phenomena. Today, however, is like most days in Ridia. The world is lush and vibrant.

"The climate and lands of the Great Continent vary. There are regions where nothing grows and the air is dry. There are regions where the frost lasts longer or never ends. There are regions where fires burn for many seasons before they are quenched.

"We are thankful to live in Ridia. We have our hardships, but we live in a beautiful and bountiful land. Today is a good day."

—Fernettica, Chief of the Zem in Null

[For more information about RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026, read this.]

[Read Barking Alien's RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026.]

RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026: Day 06

6. Where shall we begin?

"You begin where you are, in your home village of Null, the first village of the Zem tribe. At the end of the Harvest Festival, the Holy Seer conducts the First Rite of Adulthood in the sacred longhouse for all who are eligible. He takes the ashes from the bonfire and traces circles around the eyes of each who undertakes the ritual. Then he covers his own face with ashes and dons the Eye Bracelet [gold eyeglass frames]. He chants. Then he instructs. Before he sends you off on your Quest, he parts a curtain of seashells revealing a tall cabinet. From it he distributes cubes of translucent orange, advising you to hold them by the stick that protrudes from each one. Then he licks one, commanding you to do the same. From that moment on, you have been inducted into the First Mystery of Maturity and initiated as a Contender for Adult Status in the tribe of Zem. May your Quest be fructuous."

—Fernettica, Chief of the Zem in Null

[For more information about RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026, read this.]

[Read Barking Alien's RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026.]

RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026: Day 05

5. Can you tell us about the campaign's history?

Once it has a history, I'll be able to tell it, but the campaign hasn't yet begun.

Should I run it for more than one group? If I do, should I have the groups merge at some point if possible? Should I post session reports? I like session reports. They become the history of the campaign and a secondary source of notes accessible to everyone. I'll definitely try to post session reports. If this reads like stream-of-conscious blogging, that's because it is. "Sorry about that, chief." If I decide to post session reports, I will link them here.

[For more information about RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026, read this.]

[Read Barking Alien's RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026.]

RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026: Day 04

4. Is there a map?

There is no map that I can share... yet. To share it now would be a spoiler hazard to players, and Mutant Crawl Classics RPG is very much a game of exploration in a post-apocalyptic setting that may or may not take place on Earth in the possibly distant future after certain world-changing events may or may not have happened. What I can say is that Jee-Oh is not identical to the default setting presented in MCC RPG, Terra A.D. Jee-Oh is my own creation inspired by Thundarr the Barbarian, early editions of TSR's Gamma World, and what little I've seen of certain out-of-print post-apocalyptic comic books. Plus some Ark II, Logan's Run, Mad Max, Road Warrior, etc. But it's mainly a mash-up of Thundarr and Gamma World. Perhaps I can share a map someday, but not today.

[For more information about RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026, read this.]

[Read Barking Alien's RPG Campaign Tour Challenge 2026.]