The TTRPG space is often only limited by the imagination of the creator, which is why, when we had the opportunity to talk to Albyon Absey, we took the chance with both hands, a creative conglomerate of talented writers and artists who are pushing the boundries of world building with interesting quirks and locations that any game system can visit and get lost within as they explore the flora, fauna and cultures of this mysterious world. Here are their responses to our questions:
Totally Pawsome: As a creator of modules for TTRPG's, what inspired you to write the one
you're most proud of?
Albyon Absey: This is an awfully difficult question, in truth, as I am quite proud of every creation. This is not to say I believe them to be of equal value, or that I have not learned from each one as I have progressed, but rather that each one was precisely what I needed to write at the precise time at which it was written. Each was a great labour, and even where I failed in my task, I succeeded simply in tackling, working upon, and finishing.
Sometimes this is all we need to do - to work, and to finish the work.
As for inspiration - I am deeply steeped in folklore, esotericism, natural history, myths and magic, and a great many ancient books that are stacked and piled about my writing desk. When bereft of inspiration, I need only pass an eye across a random page, and find myself invigorated by the old spirits towards a fresh path, renewed and invigorated!
TP: What would you say is the best selling point of your TTRPG's?
AA: I should hope it is several fold; the first being their strange & fantastical nature! The second being their accessibility and ease of use, housed as they are upon our wondrous website; the third being that they inspire and give birth to new ideas and adventures in the GM and Player, alike. Lastly, I would think that our offerings -being free and system-agnostic - should garner the interest of even the most cautious reader.
TP: Why the TTRPG space?
AA: T'is a vast and expansive land of boundless creativity, where a great many interests may sit 'pon a single disc to spin in the sun of our shared imaginings!
AA: Alas, I produce one thing, and one thing only : strange & fantastical locations! A veritable A-Z of them!
TP: What is your current work in progress and what can you tell us about it?
AA: I always have at least 3 new locations in progress, as it suits my workflow and temperament to dance between them like a merry pixie at play at spring-feast!
We will be releasing 26 locations for our first volume (as of April 2023, 17 have been published), encompassing the entire A-Z. Thereafter, our attention shall turn to 26 more, to encompass a volume two!
In the months ahead, we shall be publishing Kaerwynn, Imbruustafal, and Woedælma; respectively, a battle-worn wall 'pon a hill where yearly two armies come to play a fiery game; a vast and shattered steel tower overgrown and on the verge of collapse at the top of which sits an artefact of immense power; and a time-stealing, milky-watered ditch into which an accursed village offers their children for sacrificial penance.
AA: Our strange & fantastical locations are perfect for the GM seeking something strange & fantastical to drag & drop into their game; a location that can moulded to the greater story of their campaign, whilst providing a concise, easy to follow tool-set for the location they have plucked from our humble A-Z. Our stories are often dark, sometimes ridiculous, often wondrous, and always fantastical, and are quite the gift for any wishing to delve into strange stories.
TP: Where do you see your TTRPG writing career taking you in 5 years?
AA: To a point where I may feel proud of having worked with many talented creators to produce a great many works that have been enjoyed by a great many people. I should hope it might also have led my library towards having one or two very special additions upon its shelf.
AA: With time and opportunity, I should like to develop the Geographical Almanac into a publishing house to support young, new, and emerging writing talent from all over the world, offering a safe, inclusive space to explore their creativity, and with a generous wage in exchange for their labours.
TP: Who do you admire in the Independent TTRPG writing space and why?
AA: Those who push on with their dreams, despite the many cruel trials and tribulations of life; those who do so with boundless creative spirit intact, supporting others as they go, and never needing to pull others down in the pursuit of their own path.
TP: What got you into TTRPG's in the first place?
AA: A book published in 1983, called "City of Thieves".
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