Beyond Palannia: A Guide to the Labyrinth
Recently, I backed my very first Kickstarter campaign, a project called Tales of the Valiant (ToV) by Kobold Press. Spurred by D&D OGL fiasco of early 2023, ToV is a 5E-compatible alternative to Dungeons & Dragons. It’s based on a new open-source rule system called Black Flag Roleplaying (BFR).
In addition to the core rulebooks, “the kobolds” are publishing a resource called Guide to the Labyrinth. In June 2023, they invited submissions from Kickstarter backers for inclusion of their own worlds in the guide. The following month, they announced 70 winners selected from more than 600 submissions, including the Realms of Palannia!
According to the call for submissions, “the Labyrinth” is the collective term for the magical, labyrinthine pathways that connect the “Ten Thousand Worlds.” Much like the Gabbadan Tavern, “various factions know and control those paths and the spaces between the worlds.” The Tavern is thought by some sages and seanchaithe to be part of the Labyrinth, a mystical doorway for laochra galacha to explore the lands within and beyond Palannia.
We’re thrilled at the chance to welcome ToV players to the world of gaelQuest. The following synopsis will be published in Guide to the Labyrinth, expected to be released in 2024.
The Realms of Palannia: Celtic fantasy in the lands once known as Tír na nÓg
Long ago, the wise King Breannas led his people to Tír na nÓg, the Land of Youth, triggering an epic war between mortals and the Daoine Maithe, a.k.a. the Good Folk. The seas rose and the mountains crumbled until the land itself was split asunder. This gave rise to the realms now known as Palannia. In the centuries that followed, saints and scholars have sought out the lost secrets of the Good Folk. From the smoke-filled streets of Brencaster to the dark groves of Witchwood, from the giant-plagued highlands of Loch Anann to the mysterious dunes of Mionn na Mara, valiant heroes embark on quests to learn the language of the Daoine Maithe, reclaim their mystic heritage, and discover secret pathways beyond Palannia — or else spend eternity in the shadowy halls of Teach Duinn, the House of the Dead.
