The Maniculum Podcast

Beyond Chaucer: John Gower's Medieval Retellings, Feat. Roger Ladd

Sun, 05 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0000

Spells, magic items, and questing galore! What other fanciful tales were being constructed in Chaucer’s time? This week, we host special guest Roger Ladd and discuss Chaucer’s contemporary, John Gower – and the fanciful works he produced. Join us as we explore a witchy, alternative version of Jason and Medea, as well as a mortality tale turned on its head.

Join our discord community!

Support us on patreon!

Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here!

Socials:

Citations & References:

Gower, John. Confessio Amantis. Edited by Russell A. Peck, Latin translated by Andrew Galloway, Medieval Institute Publications, 2013. Middle English Text Series.
Gower, John. The Lover’s Confession: a Translation of John Gower’s Confessio Amantis. Edited and translated by Brian Gastle and Catherine Carter, Latin translated by Andrew Galloway, Medieval Institute Publication, 2023. TEAMS Varia Series.
The Gower Project. https://www.gowerproject.com/.
Holsinger, Bruce. A Burnable Book. William Morrow, 2014.
International John Gower Society. https://johngower.org/.
Ladd, Roger. Antimercantilism in Late Medieval English Literature. Palgrave Macmillan, 2010. The New Middle Ages.
“List of Subjects and Tales in Confessio Amantis”. Wikipedia, 5 September 2025, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_subjects_and_tales_in_Confessio_Amantis.
McSheffrey, Shannon. Marriage, Sex, and Civic Culture in Late Medieval London. U Pennsylvania P, 2006.

Build a Fantasy Village: The Lord and the Law

Sun, 22 Mar 2026 15:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Mac and Zoe discuss how medieval peasantry worked, the complexities of the system, what sort of peasants there were, and how world builders, writers, and game masters can both accurately represent and adapt the village system in their medieval fantasy worlds and TTRPGs.

Join our discord community!

Support us on patreon!

Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here!

Socials:

Citations

Gies, Frances & Joseph. Life in a Medieval Village. Harper & Row, 1990.
Bennett, Judith M. Ale, Beer, and Brewsters in England. Oxford UP, 1999.
Graeber, David. Debt: The First 5,000 Years. Melville House, 2011.
“Medieval Settlements.” Historic England. A great PDF introduction. Link .
Ellis, Penny. “Medieval Thoralby.” Thoralby Through Time. Link .
Ray, T.J. “Manorial Language.” T.J. Ray: The Eclectic Eccentric. Link .
Ray, T.J. “Feudal Language.” T.J. Ray: The Eclectic Eccentric. Link .
The Middle English Compendium. (Note: this site often goes down.) Link .

Terminology & Spelling:

ale-taster
bailiff
beadle
cellarer
claviger
hayward
majordomo
messor
reeve
seneschal
serjant
steward
woodward

Legally Justified Kissing: Eric & Enide Pt 4

Sun, 08 Mar 2026 15:00:00 -0000

How many versions of one tale can we tell? In this episode, we’re diving back into Eric & Enide, and Mac has found two more versions of this classic chivalric romance. We discuss how various cultural differences affect the manner in which these adaptations are written, and explore how we can use cultural difference in worldbuilding.

Join our discord community!

Support us on patreon!

Get your copy of Marginal Worlds , a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here !

Socials:

Citations & References:

Check out our blog post with the names listed out here .
Blaisdell, Foster W., and Marianne E. Kalinke, translators. Erex Saga and Ívens Saga. U Nebraska Press, 1977.
Chrétien de Troyes. “Erec and Enide.” The Complete Romances of Chrétien de Troyes, translated by David Staines, Indiana UP, 1993, pp. 1-86.
Davies, Sioned, translator. The Mabinogion. Oxford UP, 2007. Oxford World’s Classics.
Gantz, Jeffrey, translator. The Mabinogion. Dorset Press, 1976.
Guest, Charlotte, translator. The Mabinogion. 1877. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1906. Everyman’s Library.
Hartmann von Aue. Erec. Translated by Michael Resler, U Pennsylvania Press, 2004.
Hartmann von Aue. Erec. Translated by Thomas L. Keller, Garland Publishing, 1987. Garland Library of Medieval Literature (Series B) 12.
Thomson, Robert L., editor. Ystorya Gereint uab Erbin. Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, School of Celtic Studies / Dundalgan Press, 1997. Medieval and Modern Welsh Series 10.

Terminology & Spelling for Reference:

abatis
brunet
Hartmann von Aue
umbo
vespereide

Build a Fantasy Village: Who are the Peasants, Anyway?

Sun, 22 Feb 2026 16:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Mac and Zoe discuss how medieval peasantry worked, the complexities of the system, unexpected laws, rights, and privileges, and how world builders, writers, and game masters can both accurately represent and adapt the village system in their medieval fantasy worlds and TTRPGs.

Join our discord community!

Support us on patreon!

Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system he¡re!

Socials:

Citations & References:

Gies, Frances & Joseph. Life in a Medieval Village. Harper & Row, 1990.
“Medieval Settlements.” Historic England. A great PDF introduction. Link .
Ellis, Penny. “Medieval Thoralby.” Thoralby Through Time. Link .
Hilton, Rodney. Bond Men Made Free. The Viking Press, 1973.
Ray, T.J. “Manorial Language.” T.J. Ray: The Eclectic Eccentric. Link .
Ray, T.J. “Feudal Language.” T.J. Ray: The Eclectic Eccentric. Link .
The Middle English Compendium. (Note: this site often goes down.) Link .

Terminology:

cottager
cotter
demesne
Dunbar’s Number
famuli
franklin
freeman
hamsoke
hayward
huckster
merchet
peasant
pheasant
reeve
serf
smallholder
sokeman
tenant farmer
villein
virgate
week work

Dear Sidrak: the Valentine’s Special

Sun, 08 Feb 2026 16:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Mac & Zoe debunk medieval love advice and discuss common misconceptions around medieval love and marriage. Reading the philosophical dialogue of Sidrak and Bokkus as an advice column, can we really say whether attitudes toward romance have changed that much, centuries later?

Content Warning: discussions of medieval and modern misogyny and sexual explicitness

Join our discord community!

Support us on patreon!

Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system he¡re!

Socials:

Citations & References:

Clapp, James E., et al. Lawtalk: The Unknown Stories Behind Familiar Legal Expressions. Yale UP, 2011.
Gibson, Marian. Witchcraft: A History in Thirteen Trials. Scribner, 2024.
Kelly, Henry Ansgar. “‘Rule of Thumb’ and the Folklaw of the Husband’s Stick.” Journal of Legal Education, vol. 44, no. 3, 1994, pp. 341–65.
Mason, Rebecca. “Violence Against Wives in Medieval and Early Modern Scotland.” 10 April 2022. Link .
O’Conner, Patricia, and Stewart Kellerman. Origins of the Specious: Myths and Misconceptions of the English Language. Random House, 2009.

The Art of the Manuscript: Les Enluminures & the Roman de la Rose

Sun, 25 Jan 2026 16:00:00 -0000

In this episode, Mac & Zoe host Sandra Hindman and Jacky Yao from Les Enluminures to discuss the craft and trade of manuscript illumination and creation in the Middle Ages, as well as the influence and popularity of the courtly romance Roman de la Rose.

Point of correction: Sandra is not currently serving as chair of art history at Northwestern, but was previously.

Join our discord community!Support us on patreon!

Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here!

Socials:

Citations & References:

Les Enluminures

website

Jacky Yao, Embodied Encounters with Roman de la Rose Manuscripts lecture (

Youtube

)

Read the Roman de la Rose

here

Les Enluminures, Video on the Sidrak and Bokkus manuscript (

Dropbox

)

Terminology & Spelling for Reference:

autograph
biocodicology
ekphrasis
Ge’ez
Guillaume de Lorris
Jean de Meun
Jeanne Montbaston
missal
Ormulum
palimpsest

Build a Medieval Fantasy Village: A Guide for Worldbuilding

Sun, 11 Jan 2026 16:13:29 -0000

This episode, Zoe and Mac begin a new series diving into life in medieval villages. This guide for world builders, writers, and game masters will introduce you to how life in medieval villages operated, from terminology to geography, laws and customs, and daily life -- and how to build one for your TTRPG or story.

Join our discord community!

Support us on patreon!

Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system he¡re!

Socials:

Citations & References:

Gies, Frances & Joseph. Life in a Medieval Village. Harper & Row, 1990.
“Medieval Settlements.” Historic England. A great PDF introduction.

Link

Ellis, Penny. “Medieval Thoralby.” Thoralby Through Time.

Link

Ray, T.J. “Manorial Language.” T.J. Ray: The Eclectic Eccentric.

Link

Ray, T.J. “Feudal Language.” T.J. Ray: The Eclectic Eccentric.

Link

The Middle English Compendium. (Note: this site often goes down.)

Link

Terminology:

abada
æðeling
champion country
cottage
croft
dovecote
furlong
green
longhouse
meadow
pinfold / punfold
sheepfold
solar
toft
villein
virgate
wattle & daub

Medieval Friendship Test & Other Tales: Gesta Romanorum

Sun, 23 Nov 2025 16:13:29 -0000

This week, we adapt three more medieval "morality" tales from the Gesta Romanorum, adapting them into unique puzzles, adventures, and scenarios for your tabletop campaign. Would YOUR party help you hide a body?

Join our discord community!

Support us on patreon!

Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system he¡re!

Socials:

Citations & References:

Swan, Charles, translator. Gesta Romanorum: or, Entertaining Moral Stories. Edited by Wynnard Hooper, Dover Publications, 1959.
N.B.: the “woman from Tumblr” briefly & obscurely referred to in the end segment is rabies educator @raccoonmilf, if anyone was wondering.

A Tale of Two Tellings: Eric & Enide Pt 2

Sun, 09 Nov 2025 18:46:14 -0000

While we may think of genre trends as a modern thing in fantasy literature, the chivalric romance of Eric & Enide paints another picture. We examine two versions of this tale: one gritty and grim dark, and the other an idealistic romantasy, and examine how we can use these story techniques in our own campaigns to tell the type of story we want to tell.

Join our discord community! Support us on patreon!

Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here!

Socials:

CITATIONS & REFERENCES:

Davies, Sioned, translator. The Mabinogion. Oxford UP, 2007. Oxford World’s Classics.

Gantz, Jeffrey, translator. The Mabinogion. Dorset Press, 1976.

Guest, Charlotte, translator. The Mabinogion. 1877. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1906. Everyman’s Library.

Thomson, Robert L., editor. Ystorya Gereint uab Erbin. Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, School of Celtic Studies / Dundalgan Press, 1997. Medieval and Modern Welsh Series 10.

“RIB 306. Curse upon Senicianus.” Roman Inscriptions of Britain, https://romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/inscriptions/306. Accessed 9 November 2025.

Tolkien, J. R. R. “The Name ‘Nodens’.” Report on the Excavation of the Prehistoric, Roman, and post-Roman Site in Lydney Park, Gloucestershire, by R. E. M. Wheeler and T. V. Wheeler, Society of Antiquaries of London / Oxford UP, 1932, pp. 132-7. Reports of the Research Committee of the Society of Antiquaries of London 9.

Halloween Special: Demonic Accounts, the Law of the Circle

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Happy Halloween! The demon has become a fantastic villain (or patron) in many TTRPGs, but their legalistic nature can sometimes feel overused. Join us this week as we analyze real accounts of medieval demons, how they behave, and how to get rid of them so that you can spice up your TTRPG this Halloween.

MOONSHOT NETWORK CHARITY STREAM: Streaming November 8-9 Watch the stream here: http://twitch.tv/moonshotnetwork Donate here: http://moonshotpods.com/donate

Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon!

Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here!

Socials: Tumblr Website Bluesky Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

Caesarius of Heisterbach. The Dialogue on Miracles. Translated by H. von E. Scott and C. C. Swinton Bland, Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1929. 2 vols. Broadway Medieval Library.
Kuang, R. F. Katabasis. Harper Voyager, 2025.
“A Rugrats Passover.” Rugrats. Nickelodeon, 13 April 1995.
String music by szegvari, downloaded from freesound.org.

A Court of Bleeding and Boiling: Medieval & Modern Courtly Romance

Sun, 12 Oct 2025 15:00:00 -0000

In this episode, we finish off the Lais of Marie de France and ask - what makes a medieval romance, and how can we apply that to our games and stories in fresh ways? How does medieval romance compare to modern fantasy romance?

Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon!

Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here!

Socials: Tumblr Website Bluesky Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

Marie de France. French Medieval Romances. Trans. Eugene Mason. 1911. Project Giutenburg. Read here.
Second translation by S.A. Kline, Poetry in Translation. Read here.
Gautier, Léon (1891) [1884]. "The Code of Chivalry". Chivalry. Translated by Frith, Henry. Routledge.
Damon, S. Foster. “Marie de France: Psychologist of Courtly Love.” PMLA, vol. 44, no. 4, 1929, pp. 968–96. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/457705. Accessed 21 Sept. 2025.
Lewis, C.S. Allegory of Love. Oxford University Press, 1958. Link.
Moore, John C. “‘Courtly Love’: A Problem of Terminology.” Journal of the History of Ideas, vol. 40, no. 4, 1979, pp. 621–32. Link.

Danse Macabre: Adapting the Medieval Mediterranean with Stillfleet Studio

Sat, 27 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

In this episode, we're joined by Chris and Wythe, the creators of Danse Macabre, to discuss their medieval horror TTRPG and how to create historical settings that feel both real and reasonable to a modern gamer. We discuss the concept of the "novum" in worldbuilding, medievalism, and why TTRPGs feel so set upon the Medieval Fantasy in this fantastic roundtable.

Support the Danse Macabre Kickstarter here!

Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here!

Socials: Tumblr Website Bluesky Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

Support the Danse Macabre Kickstarter here
Play Danse Macabre: Prima Mors (the quickstart guide) - on Stillfleet, Itch, and DTRPG
Find Chris at his website or @timespace.place on socials
Find Wythe at Stillfleet.com or @stillfleet on socials
Listen to Why We Roll on any podcast platform
Tuchman, Barbara W. A Distant Mirror: The Calamitous 14th Century. Ballantine Books, 1978.
Buehlman, Christopher. Between Two Fires. Ace Books, 2012.

The Hunt is On: Medieval Romantasy in the Mabinogion

Sat, 13 Sep 2025 15:00:00 -0000

When sovereignty myth declares that anyone who kills the White Stag can be king, stakes are high in King Arthur's Court. We're exploring the Welsh origins of Eric and Enide in the Mabinogion, and how two different versions of a text can bring to light important context in mythmaking and worldbuilding.

Socials: Tumblr Website Bluesky Instagram Facebook

Terminology & Spelling for Reference:

Bonedd y Saint
Bro Wened
Bro Weroc
Brunanburh
Culhwch ac Olwen
Cyfraith Hywel, ‘Laws of Hywel Dda’
Dumnonia
Erbin
Gereint
Gerontius
Guerec
Gwalchmai
Llongborth
Llyfr Coch Hergest, ‘Red Book of Hergest’
Llyfr Du Caerfyrddin, ‘Black Book of Carmarthen’
Llyfr Gwyn Rhydderch, ‘White Book of Rhydderch’
Mabinogionfrage
Madauc / Madog
Odyar / Odiar
Owain
penteulu
Peredur
Veneti
ystorya

References & Citations: Primary

Davies, Sioned, translator. The Mabinogion. Oxford UP, 2007. Oxford World’s Classics.
Gantz, Jeffrey, translator. The Mabinogion. Dorset Press, 1976.
Guest, Charlotte, translator. The Mabinogion. 1877. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1906. Everyman’s Library.
Thomson, Robert L., editor. Ystorya Gereint uab Erbin. Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, School of Celtic Studies / Dundalgan Press, 1997. Medieval and Modern Welsh Series 10.

Secondary

Bromwich, Rachel. “Celtic Dynastic Themes and the Breton Lays.” Études Celtiques, vol. 9, no. 2, 1961, pp. 439-74.
Crane, Susan. “Ritual Aspects of the Hunt à Force.” Engaging With Nature, edited by Barbara A. Hanawalt and Lisa J. Kiser, University of Notre Dame Press, 2008, pp. 63-84.
Harris, R. “The White Stag in Chretien’s Erec et Enide.” French Studies, vol. 10, no. 1, 1956, pp. 55–61.
Judkins, Ryan R. “The Game of the Courtly Hunt: Chasing and Breaking Deer in Late Medieval English Literature." Journal of English and Germanic Philology, vol. 112, no. 1, 2013, pp. 70-92.
Loomis, Roger Sherman. Arthurian Tradition and Chretien de Troyes. Columbia UP, 1949.
Middleton, Arthur. “Chwedl Geraint ab Erbin.” The Arthur of the Welsh : The Arthurian Legend in Medieval Welsh Literature, edited by Rachel Bromwich, A. O. H. Jarman, and Brynley F. Roberts. University of Wales Press, 1991, pp. 147-57.
Richardson, Amanda. “‘Riding like Alexander, Hunting like Diana’: Gendered Aspects of the Medieval Hunt and Its Landscape Settings in England and France.” Gender & History, vol. 24, no. 2, Aug. 2012, pp. 253–70.
Thiebaux, Marcelle. The Stag of Love : The Chase in Medieval Literature. Cornell University Press, 1974.

Medieval Heists for D&D: An Interview with Author M.T. Anderson

Sat, 30 Aug 2025 15:00:00 -0000

This week, we're joined by author M.T. Anderson as we dive into the thrilling tale of Nicked, the true story of a medieval heist to steal the holy body of Saint Nicholas and save Bari from plague. We take a step-by step approach to the heist and use it as an example for how you can adapt real relic thieves and heists into your TTRPGS & stories.

Check out Nicked here! Find MT Anderson's works on his website, here.

Transparency Statement: the Maniculum does not take sponsorships or paid promotions. We are excited to share Nicked with our audience because we loved the book and believe it is a perfect example of what we strive to do on the show: bring medieval tales into the modern day. We were gifted a copy of Nicked from Penguin Random House as part of the interview process.

Socials: Tumblr Website Bluesky Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

Nicked, MT Anderson - at your local bookstore & Bookshop.org, a storefront for small bookstores - find it here!
Anderson, M. T. Yvain: the Knight of the Lion. Illustrated by Andrea Offerman, Candlewick Press, 2017.
Farley, David. An Irreverent Curiosity. Gotham Books, 2009.
Geary, Patrick J. Furta Sacra: Thefts of Relics in the Central Middle Ages. Princeton UP, 1991.
al-Jawbari, Jamal al-Din ‘Abd al-Rahim. The Book of Charlatans. Translated by Humphrey Davies, edited by Manuela Dengler. New York UP, 2020. Library of Arabic Literature 64.
Birrell, Anne, translator. The Classic of Mountains and Seas. Penguin, 2000.
Christopher of Mytilene, “To the Monk Andrew…” The Poems of Christopher of Mytilene and John Mauropous, edited and translated by Floris Bernard and Christopher Livanos, Harvard UP, 2018, pp. 240–51. Dumbarton Oaks Medieval Library 50.
Einhard, “Translation of the Relics of Sts. Marcellinus and Peter.” Translated by Barrett Wendell, edited by David Appleby. Medieval Hagiography: An Anthology, edited by Thomas Head, Garland Press, 1999, pp. 199–225.
Farley, David. An Irreverent Curiosity. Gotham Books, 2009.
Geary, Patrick J. Furta Sacra: Thefts of Relics in the Central Middle Ages. Princeton UP, 1991.
Guibert of Nogent, “On Saints and their Relics.” Translated by Thomas Head. Medieval Hagiography: An Anthology, edited by Head, Garland Press, 1999, pp. 405–27.
Kurtz, Katherine. Saint Camber. Ballantine Books, 1978. Vol. 5 of the Deryni novels.
Map, Walter. De Nugis Curialium / Courtiers’ Trifles. Edited and translated by M. R. James, revised by C. N. L. Brooke and R. A. B. Mynors, Clarendon Press, 1983.
Novik, Naomi. His Majesty's Dragon. Del Rey, 2006. Vol. 1 of Temeraire.

Terminology & Spelling:

Bari
Manzikert
Myra
myroblyte
Seljuk

Astrology & Necromancy for D&D: A Practical Guide

Sat, 16 Aug 2025 15:00:00 -0000

We're getting into astrology this week! In part two of our final episode of necromancy, we explore the finer points of astrology and its importance in spell casting - so that you know exactly what moon phase is best to curse your enemies, conjure birds, or rout an army.

Open Question to the Listeners: What should the metaphysically-significant insects be for each day of the week? (Arachnids, myriapods, etc. also acceptable, in the spirit of Medieval English’s “everything is worm” approach to small animals.)

Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon!

Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here!

Socials: Tumblr Website Bluesky Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

Forbidden Rites: a Necromancer's Manual online version here
All of Richard Keickhefer's books on magic here
The Munich Manual of Demonic Magic: info and get one yourself here
Peter of Abano: Heptameron, or Magical Elements - read online here
Hindley, Katherine Storm. Textual Magic: Charms and Written Amulets in Medieval England. U Chicago Press, 2023.
Stanmore, Tabitha. Cunning Folk: Life in the Era of Practical Magic. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2024.
Storms, Godfrid. Anglo-Saxon Magic. Martinus Nijhoff, 1948.

Medieval Necromancy for D&D: The Demon Alignment Chart

Sat, 02 Aug 2025 15:00:00 -0000

The stars have aligned, but are you ready to conjure? In part one of our final episode of necromancy, we explore the nature of magic circles and how to ensure you're drawing the correct type for the demon you want to conjure.

Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon!

Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here!

Socials: Tumblr Website Bluesky Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

Forbidden Rites: a Necromancer's Manual online version here
All of Richard Keickhefer's books on magic here
The Munich Manual of Demonic Magic: info and get one yourself here
Peter of Abano: Heptameron, or Magical Elements - read online here
Beekes, Robert S. P. “θεός.” Etymological Dictionary of Greek, vol. 1, Leiden, 2010, p. 540. Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 10.
Beekes, Robert S. P. “God is Non-Indo-European.” Amsterdamer Beiträge zur älteren Germanistik, vol. 54, 2000, pp. 27-30.
“deiw-.” The American Heritage Dictionary of Indo-European Roots, revised and edited by Calvert Watkins, Houghton Mifflin, 1985, p. 10.
De Meyer, Isabelle. “L’étymologie du mot grec θεός « dieu ».” Revue de Philologie de Littérature et d’Histoire Anciennes, vol. 90, no. 1, 2016, pp. 115-38, 260-1.
“dhēs-.” [& cf. “dhē-1.”] The American Heritage Dictionary of Indo-European Roots, revised and edited by Calvert Watkins, Houghton Mifflin, 1985, p. 14.
“gheu(ə)-.” [& cf. “gheu-.”] The American Heritage Dictionary of Indo-European Roots, revised and edited by Calvert Watkins, Houghton Mifflin, 1985, p. 23.
Kulik, Alexander. “How the Devil Got His Hooves and Horns: The Origin of the Motif and the Implied Demonology of 3 Baruch.” Numen, vol. 60, nos. 2–3, 2013, pp. 195–229.
O’Shea, Stephen. The Perfect Heresy: The Revolutionary Life and Death of the Medieval Cathars. Walker & Company, 2000.
Rau, Jeremy. “The Derivational History of PIE *diéu-/diu-´ ‘(god of the) day-lit sky; day’.” Ex Anatolia Lux, edited by Ronald Kim et al., Beech Stave Press, 2010, pp. 307-20.
Watkins, Calvert. “‘god’.” Antiquitates Indogermanicae, edited by Manfred Mayrhofer et al., Innsbruck, 1974, pp. 101-10.

The Original Romantasy: The Medieval Romance of Erec & Enide

Sat, 19 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Romantasy has been all the rage of late, but its roots go further back than a TikTok trend. Join us this week as we dive into Eric and Enide, a medieval fantasy romance adventure perfect for those who love the genre, or who just want a new idea for their story or TTRPG campaign. Welcome to our summer series!

Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon!

Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here!

Socials: Tumblr Website Bluesky Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

Read Eric & Enide for yourself here
Eastin, Schuyler E. (Dis)Arming the Middle Ages: Chivalric Materiality in Medieval Romance. 2017. University of California, Riverside, Ph.D. dissertation.
Ffoulkes, Charles John. The Armourer and His Craft from the XIth to the XVIth Century. Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1912.
Wright, Monica L. Weaving Narrative: Clothing in Twelfth-Century French Romance. Pennsylvania State UP, 2009.

Dungeons & Puzzles for D&D: A Selection from Medieval Texts

Sat, 05 Jul 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Looking to craft your next dungeon delve for your campaign? Want a few puzzles your player have never seen before? We've found a few medieval tales with tantalizing puzzles and twisting dungeons, ready to be used in your next TTRPG. Sit back as we do the work to show you how to adapt these dungeons into your game.

Join our discord community!
Check out our Tumblr for even more!
Support us on patreon!

Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here!

Socials: Tumblr Website Bluesky Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

Read the Gesta Romanorum here
Francis Carmody. Physiologus, The Very Ancient Book of Beasts, Plants and Stones. San Francisco: The Book Club of California, 1953. Read an online version here.
Neri, Elisabetta, et al. “Unveiling the Paint Stratigraphy and Technique of Roman African Polychrome Statues.” Archaeological & Anthropological Sciences, vol. 14, no. 6, 2022, pp. 1–11.
Dull, Robert A., et al. “The Columbian Encounter and the Little Ice Age: Abrupt Land Use Change, Fire, and Greenhouse Forcing.” Annals of the Association of American Geographers, vol. 100, no. 4, 2010, pp. 755-71.
Faust, Franz X., et al. “Evidence for the Postconquest Demographic Collapse of the Americas in Historical CO2 Levels.” Earth Interactions, vol. 10, 2006.
Kopczynski, Noémie, et al. “Polychromy in Africa Proconsularis: Investigating Roman Statues using X-Ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy." Antiquity, vol. 91, no. 355, 2017, pp. 139-54.
Additional music for this episode from freesound.org; created by, in order of appearance: liezen3, Merrick079, holizna.
Maps referenced re: Roman elephants are the ones on Wikipedia.

The Medieval Prisoner's Dilemma: Old French Tales

Sat, 21 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

What does a goodly knight do when he's taken prisoner and asked to collect his own ransom? Comply, of course! Join us on another dive into medieval literature and pull out a few puzzles and dilemmas for your next TTRPG!

Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon!

Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here!

Socials: Tumblr Website Bluesky Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

Mason, Eugene, editor and translator. Aucassin & Nicolette and Other Mediæval Romances & Legends. Everyman's Library, 1949.

Fact & Fiction: Crafting Medieval Werewolf Tales for Fun and Profit

Sat, 07 Jun 2025 15:00:00 -0000

In our final episode about Irish werewolves, we compare medieval Arthurian romance tales to this Irish Arthurian tale from the 1700s. How has the genre changed, and what werewolf adventures can you bring to your table?

Join our discord community!

Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here!

Socials: Tumblr Website Bluesky Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

The Crop Eared Dog . Link.

Fact & Fiction: Real Irish Werewolf Tales

Sat, 17 May 2025 15:00:00 -0000

This week, we dive into two examples of Irish werewolf tales that you can adapt into your TTRPG! Learn a different story about the werewolf than the 21st century beast, and bring a few new traditions - and twists - to your table.

Join our discord community!

Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here!

Socials: Tumblr Website Bluesky Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

Gerald of Wales' Topographia Hibernica. Link.
Amanda Hopkins. Melion and Biclarel: Two Old French Werewolf Lays. University of Liverpool. Link.
Karl Steel. Wisdom, Freedom, and Animality: A Small Point on Gerald's Werewolves. Link.

This podcast is powered by Pinecast.

Necromancy Against Cheats and Other Stories: Gesta Romanorum

Sat, 03 May 2025 15:00:00 -0000

A cheating wife plots with a her lover, a necromancer, to kill her husband, a knight on pilgrimage... what could possibly happen when another necromancer decides to protect the knight? We're breaking down tales in the Gesta Romanorum to learn more about medieval law and necromancy!

Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon!

Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here!

Socials: Tumblr Website Bluesky Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

Gesta Romanorum link

Fact & Fiction: the Faoladh, the Wulver, and Irish Werewolves

Sat, 12 Apr 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Sometimes, internet lore takes on a life of its own. Join us this week as we debunk the popular internet myth of the Irish faoladh, and dive into the true history of the Irish werewolf and its medieval origins!

Join our discord community!

Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here!

Socials: Tumblr Website Bluesky Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

Bane, Theresa. “Wulver.” Encyclopedia of Fairies in World Folklore and Mythology. Link.
Bettini, Jessica Lynne. “The Rage of the Wolf: Metamorphosis and Identity in Medieval Werewolf Tales.” East Tennessee State University, 2011. Link.
Boyle, Elizabeth. “On the Wonders of Ireland: Translation and Adaptation.” Authorities and Adaptations: the Reworking and Transmission of Textual Sources in Medieval Ireland, ed. Elizabeth Boyle & Deborah Hayden (Dublin: Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, 2014), pp. 233-6. Link.
Briggs, Katherine. An Encyclopedia of Fairies: Hobgoblins, Brownies, Bogies, and Other Supernatural Creatures. Pantheon Books, 1976. Link.
Boyd, Matthieu. Melion and the Wolves of Ireland. Springer, 2009. Link.
Bernhardt-House, Philip. Philip. Werewolves, Magical Hounds, and Dog-Headed Men in Celtic Literature: A Typological Study of Shape-Shifting. Edwin Mellen Press, 2010. Link.
Coir Amann (The Fitness of Names); CELT- Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition - link
Coir Amann: A Middle Irish Treatise on Personal Names, Part Two. Ed. Sharon Arbuthnot. Irish Texts Society, Vol. 60.
Carey, John. “Werewolves in Medieval Ireland.” Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies. Carey’s profile link.
Faoladh art post
Faoladh pronunciation post
Maegen Stebbins’s website, tumblr, & Arthur and Gorlagon post
Stebbins’ debunking the wulver post
“The Story of the Crop-Eared Dog,” Two Arthurian Romances, compiled by Macalister, Robert Alexander Stewart, 1908 - link
Smith, Brian. “The Real Story behind the Shetland Wulver.” Shetland Museum and Archives. Link.
Lady Wilde. Ancient legends, mystic charms, and superstitions of Ireland. Link.
Saxby, Jessie. “Wulver.” Shetland Traditional Lore.
Summers, Montague. The werewolf in lore and legend. Dover Publications, 1933. Link.
Melion and Biclarel: Two Old French Werewolf Lays. Edited and translated by Amanda Hopkins. University of Liverpool. Link.
McCone, Kim R. Werewolves, Cyclopes, Diberga, and Fianna: Juvenile-Delinquency in Early Ireland. Cambridge medieval Celtic studies, 1986, p. 1-22. Source link.
Jakobsen, Jakob “The Old Shetland Dialect.”The dialect and place names of Shetland: two popular lectures. Link.
Gerald of Wales. The historical works of Giraldus Cambrensis. Containing the topography of Ireland, and the History of the conquest of Ireland, translated by Thomas Forester. The itinerary through Wales, and the Description of Wales, translated by Sir Richard Colt Hoare. Rev. and ed. With additional notes, by Thomas Wright. Link.
West, Marie. “Aspects of diberg in the tale Togail Bruidne Da Derga.” Zeitschrift für celtische Philologie, vol. 49-50, no. 1, 1997, pp. 950-64.. Link.
“Wulver.” The Encyclopedia of Celtic Mythology and Folklore. 2004.
“Wulver.” An Encyclopedia of Fairies: Hobgoblins, Brownies, Bogies, and Other Supernatural Creatures. 1976.
“Wulver.” Encyclopedia of Fairies in World Folklore and Mythology. 2013.
“Wulver.” The Encyclopedia of Vampires & Werewolves. 2011.

Medieval Philosophy Mad-Libs: The Game Show!

Sat, 29 Mar 2025 15:00:00 -0000

Can you think like a medieval philosopher? In this episode, we're challenging our guests -- medievalists and non-medievalists alike -- to answer the riddlesome questions presented in the medieval philosophy dialogue of Sidrak and Bokkus! Can you divine the reasoning behind why birds fly, or why some people are short? Join us this episode for weird wisdoms to put in your TTRPGs.

CHECK OUT OUR GUESTS' COOL WORK:

All guests are part of the Moonshot Network, just like us! All shows can be found here.
Check out HB's free games on gm36.itch.io, and check out the pod Indie Mixtape!
Check out Wheels' work on Very Random Encounters and The Disappearances of Lydia Fountayne
You can find Juliet at @follypersist.bsky.social, and their shows I’ll Be Pod for Castmas, the patreon shows Moonshot Office Hours, and Bath & Butler Works
Find Emma on twitter at @ematsca, and check out their work Unnatural Selection!

Socials: Tumblr Website Bluesky Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

Sidrak and Bokkus can be read here

Forger, Heiress, Postman, Spy: Prokopios' Final Episode!

Sat, 15 Mar 2025 15:00:00 -0000

What do postal service routes have to do with the national spy network, and how can it improve your worldbuidling? Find out this week as we conclude the Secret History of Byzantium! We conclude this epic text with a few final tales of vice, corruption, and an epic heist that you can set up for your players, too.

Join our discord community!

Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here!

Socials: Tumblr Website Bluesky Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

The Secret History and another version
Wikipedia: Byzantine Coinage
Prices and Wages in the Byzantine World by Erion Hoxha - Link
Prices and Wages in the Byzantine World by Cecile Morrisson - Link

The Party Therapist: The Knight in Panther's Skin

Sat, 01 Mar 2025 16:00:00 -0000

What happens when a wandering knight fails in his quest to get the girl? He needs a therapist, of course! Join us in this guest episode with Georgian lit scholar James Baillie as we walk through the Georgian poetic epic "The Knight in Panther's Skin" and come away with a thousand new ideas for your next TTRPG.

Check out James' work here:

The Exile Princess on Steam
The Exilian Articles
Find him on Mastodon and Bluesky

Join our discord community!

Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here!

Socials: Tumblr Website Bluesky Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

Amiran-Darejaniani, trans. Stevenson, R.H. (Oxford, 1958).
Shota Rustaveli trans. Wardrop, Marjory , The Man in the Panther’s Skin, (Tbilisi 1966).
Shota Rustaveli trans. Vivian, Katharine, The Knight in Panther Skin (London, 1977).
Visramiani, trans. Wardrop, Oliver. (London, 1914).

Build-an-Exorcism: Medieval Necromancy in D&D

Sat, 15 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

A lot of you want to bring medieval necromancy to life in your D&D and TTRPG games, so we delivered! In this ep, we break down the formulae for medieval exorcisms and conjurations, and provide some tips on how you can conjure safely at home - in your game or otherwise.

Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon!

Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here!

Socials: Tumblr Website Threads Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

The Munich Manual of Demonic Magic: info and get one yourself here!
Forbidden Rites: a Necromancer's Manual online version here!
All of Richard Keikhefer's books on magic here!

The History of Playing Cards, pt. 2: Back to the Beginning

Sat, 01 Feb 2025 16:00:00 -0000

We're back with part two of the history of cards! As we delve into the sheer variety of cards that blossomed throughout Europe, we begin to see the ripple effects that they had -- both impacting and reflecting world cultures. Why not use cards similarly in your TTRPGs? We'll show you how!

Images and list of suits here.

Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon!

Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here!

Socials: Tumblr Website Threads Instagram Facebook

Citations & References: Berry, John. “Chinese Money-Suited Cards.” The Playing-Card, vol. 31, no. 5, 2003, pp. 230-6. Caldwell, Ross Sinclair. “The Devil and the Two of Hearts.” The Playing-Card, vol. 37, no. 2, 2008, pp. 126-41. Caldwell, Ross Sinclair. “The Proto-Historiography of Playing Cards: Early Hypotheses and Beliefs about the Origins of Cards and Card Games in Europe.” The Playing-Card, vol. 38, no. 2, 2009, pp. 92-118. Chatto, William Andrew. Facts and Speculations on the Origin and History of Playing Cards. London, 1848. Culin, Stewart. Korean Games; with Notes on the Corresponding Games of China and Japan. Philadelphia, 1895. Decker, Ronald, Thierry Depaulis, & Michael Dummett. A Wicked Pack of Cards: the Origins of the Occult Tarot. St. Martin’s Press, 1996. Dummett, Michael. The Game of Tarot: from Ferrara to Salt Lake City. Duckworth, 1980. Dummett, Michael. “The History of Card Games.” European Review, vol. 1, no. 2, 1993, pp. 125-35. Hargrave, Catherine Perry. A History of Playing Cards and a Bibliography of Cards and Gaming. Houghton Mifflin, 1980. Janssen, Han. “The 14th Century and the Introduction of Playing Cards into Europe.” The Playing-Card, vol. 34, no. 3, 2006, pp. 173-80. Lo, Andrew. “China’s Passion for Pai: Playing Cards, Dominoes, and Mahjong.” Asian Games: the Art of Contest, edited by Irving L. Finkel et al., Asia Society, 2004, 217-32. Lo, Andrew. “The Game of Leaves: An Inquiry into the Origin of Chinese Playing Cards.” Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, vol. 63, no. 3, 2000, pp. 389–406. Lo, Andrew. “The ‘Yezi Pu' (Manual of Leaves): A Card Manual for Games of the Late Ming Period [1368-1644].” The Playing-Card, vol. 31, no. 2, 2002, pp. 86-96. Maggio, Emilia. “Early Dragons.” The Playing-Card, vol. 45, no. 3, 2017, pp. 131-41. Pollett, Andrea. “Tȗmȃn, or the Ten Thousand Cups of the Mamluk Cards.” The Playing-Card, vol. 31, no. 1, 2002, pp. 34-41. Singer, Samuel Weller. Researches into the History of Playing Cards; with Illustrations of the Origin of Printing and Engraving on Wood. London, 1816. Taylor, Edward Samuel. The History of Playing Cards, with Anecdotes of Their Use in Conjuring, Fortune-Telling, and Card-Sharping. London, 1865. van Rensselaer, Mrs. John King. The Devil’s Picture-Books: a History of Playing Cards. New York, 1893. Wilkinson, W. H. “Chinese Origin of Playing Cards.” The American Anthropologist, vol. 8, no. 1, 1895, pp. 61-78.

The History of Playing Cards, pt. 1: Modern Day & Medieval Europe

Sat, 18 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

We all like TTRPGs, but what about integrating other games into your tabletop play? This week, we're exploring the history of playing cards, their many variations and occult practices, and how you can utilize their unique history for your worldbuilding and campaigns.

Images and list of suits here.

Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon!

Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here!

Socials: Tumblr Website Threads Instagram Facebook

Citations & References: Berry, John. “Chinese Money-Suited Cards.” The Playing-Card, vol. 31, no. 5, 2003, pp. 230-6. Caldwell, Ross Sinclair. “The Devil and the Two of Hearts.” The Playing-Card, vol. 37, no. 2, 2008, pp. 126-41. Caldwell, Ross Sinclair. “The Proto-Historiography of Playing Cards: Early Hypotheses and Beliefs about the Origins of Cards and Card Games in Europe.” The Playing-Card, vol. 38, no. 2, 2009, pp. 92-118. Chatto, William Andrew. Facts and Speculations on the Origin and History of Playing Cards. London, 1848. Culin, Stewart. Korean Games; with Notes on the Corresponding Games of China and Japan. Philadelphia, 1895. Decker, Ronald, Thierry Depaulis, & Michael Dummett. A Wicked Pack of Cards: the Origins of the Occult Tarot. St. Martin’s Press, 1996. Dummett, Michael. The Game of Tarot: from Ferrara to Salt Lake City. Duckworth, 1980. Dummett, Michael. “The History of Card Games.” European Review, vol. 1, no. 2, 1993, pp. 125-35. Hargrave, Catherine Perry. A History of Playing Cards and a Bibliography of Cards and Gaming. Houghton Mifflin, 1980. Janssen, Han. “The 14th Century and the Introduction of Playing Cards into Europe.” The Playing-Card, vol. 34, no. 3, 2006, pp. 173-80. Lo, Andrew. “China’s Passion for Pai: Playing Cards, Dominoes, and Mahjong.” Asian Games: the Art of Contest, edited by Irving L. Finkel et al., Asia Society, 2004, 217-32. Lo, Andrew. “The Game of Leaves: An Inquiry into the Origin of Chinese Playing Cards.” Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies, vol. 63, no. 3, 2000, pp. 389–406. Lo, Andrew. “The ‘Yezi Pu' (Manual of Leaves): A Card Manual for Games of the Late Ming Period [1368-1644].” The Playing-Card, vol. 31, no. 2, 2002, pp. 86-96. Maggio, Emilia. “Early Dragons.” The Playing-Card, vol. 45, no. 3, 2017, pp. 131-41. Pollett, Andrea. “Tȗmȃn, or the Ten Thousand Cups of the Mamluk Cards.” The Playing-Card, vol. 31, no. 1, 2002, pp. 34-41. Singer, Samuel Weller. Researches into the History of Playing Cards; with Illustrations of the Origin of Printing and Engraving on Wood. London, 1816. Taylor, Edward Samuel. The History of Playing Cards, with Anecdotes of Their Use in Conjuring, Fortune-Telling, and Card-Sharping. London, 1865. van Rensselaer, Mrs. John King. The Devil’s Picture-Books: a History of Playing Cards. New York, 1893. Wilkinson, W. H. “Chinese Origin of Playing Cards.” The American Anthropologist, vol. 8, no. 1, 1895, pp. 61-78.

Scissors Beats Paper: Prokopios, Pt. 10

Sat, 04 Jan 2025 16:00:00 -0000

Sick of the same old "evil monarchy" in your TTRPGs? Looking to create a corrupt government for your players to dismantle? Look no further - we're adapting byzantine bureaucracy and it's finest villains into BBEGs for your next tabletop game.

Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon!

Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here!

Socials: Tumblr Website Threads Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

The Secret History and another version
Classical text translations here

How Grendel Stole Christmas: A Beowulf Retelling

Sat, 21 Dec 2024 16:00:00 -0000

When Grendel decides to steal Christmas from all the Whos down in Heorot... who else comes to save them but Cindy-Lou Who? Join us for our Christmas special as we do a unique retelling of Beowulf, and how Grendel and the Grinch may be more alike than you think.

Read along here!

Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon!

Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here!

Socials: Tumblr Website Threads Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

Read Beowulf online here
Follow along with Mac's version on our blog!
Magennis, Hugh. Anglo-Saxon Appetites: Food and Drink and Their Consumption in Old English and Related Literature. Four Courts Press, 1999.
Schichler, Robert L. "Understanding the Outsider: Grendel, Geisel, and the Grinch." Popular Culture Review, vol. 11, no. 1, 2000, pp. 99-105.

Medieval Necromancy: Powered by Virginity & Thumbnails

Sat, 07 Dec 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Curious about how to conjure a demon on-the-go? Never fear, your thumbnails will do! We're back this episode with our medieval necromancy series where we delve into divination spells using crystals, nails, and the power of virginity.

Socials: Tumblr Website Threads Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

The Munich Manual of Demonic Magic: info and get one yourself here!
Forbidden Rites: a Necromancer's Manual online version here!
All of Richard Keikhefer's books on magic here!
Blessing the World: Ritual and Lay Piety by Derek Rivard here.
Sanctifying the World: Ritual Blessings and Lay Piety in Medieval Religion and Society here
The Bond of Solomon translation by Digital Amber here

Three Wishes at Swordpoint: The Wooing of Emer, Pt 2

Sat, 23 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

The Quest for a Wife is harder than it seems... Learn just what it takes fro Cu Chulainn to woo the lady Emer, and what skills of cunning and swordsmanship you can use in your next TTRPG. We're joined by Irish folklore expert Dr Emmet Taylor, who regales us with the finer (and funnier) parts of this old Irish epic.

Check out Emmet's podcast: Guth: Reading Irish Myths and Legends.

Join our discord community. Check out our Tumblr for even more content. Support us on patreon.

Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here!

Socials: Tumblr Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Citations & References:

Read "The Wooing of Emer" online here or read an older, fragmentary version here
Meyer, Kuno, ‘The Wooing of Emer’, Archaeological Review 1 (1888): 68–75, 150–155, 231–235, 298–307
Meyer, Kuno, ‘The Oldest Version of Tochmarc Emire’, Revue Celtique 11 (1890): 433-457.
Toner, Gregory, ‘The Transmission of Tochmarc Emire,’ Ériu 49 (1998): 71-88.
Taylor, Emmet, 'Tricks of the Trade: The Origin of Clessa in Irish Heroic Literature', Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies 89 (2025): Forthcoming.

Cu Chulainn's Glorious Feats: The Wooing of Emer, Pt. 1

Sat, 09 Nov 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Check out Emmet's podcast: Guth: Reading Irish Myths and Legends.

Join our discord community. Check out our Tumblr for even more content. Support us on patreon.

Get your copy of Marginal Worlds, a deck of 50 magic items pulled directly from medieval manuscripts, built for any TTRPG system here!

Socials: Tumblr Website Twitter Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

Read "The Wooing of Emer" online here or read an older, fragmentary version here
Meyer, Kuno, ‘The Wooing of Emer’, Archaeological Review 1 (1888): 68–75, 150–155, 231–235, 298–307
Meyer, Kuno, ‘The Oldest Version of Tochmarc Emire’, Revue Celtique 11 (1890): 433-457.
Toner, Gregory, ‘The Transmission of Tochmarc Emire,’ Ériu 49 (1998): 71-88
Taylor, Emmet, 'Tricks of the Trade: The Origin of Clessa in Irish Heroic Literature', Cambrian Medieval Celtic Studies 89 (2025): Forthcoming.

Halloween Special: The Bathroom Fiend Side Quest

Sat, 26 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

What's better than the undead you don't know? The undead that you do! Join us in this Halloween special as we delve into the spooky nature of medieval undead tales and ghost stories, and teach you how to adapt them to TTRPGs!

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:

Saga Thing: The Tale of Thorstein Shiver -- listen here
Caesarius of Heisterbach. The Dialogue On Miracles. Translated by H. von E. Scott and C. C. Swinton Bland, vol. 2. Harcourt, Brace & Co., 1929.
The Chronicle of Lanercost. Translated by Herbert Maxwell. James MacLehose and Sons, 1913.
Saxo Grammaticus, The Nine Books of the Danish History of Saxo Grammaticus. Translated by Oliver Elton, vol. 2. Norrœna Society, 1905.
William of Malmesbury. The History of the Kings of England and the Modern History of William of Malmesbury. Translated by John Sharpe. Longman, Hurst, Rees, Orme, and Brown, 1815.
William of Newburgh. “The History of William of Newburgh.” The Church Historians of England, edited and translated by Joseph Stevenson, vol. 4. Seeleys, 1856.

The Grain Heist: Prokopios, Pt 9

Sat, 12 Oct 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Prokopios continues hyperbolizing this week, thereby compromising his account of Byzantine history. Highlights include Justinian being bad at war because he keeps thinking about the nature of god, barbarians nobody has ever heard of before showing up in Byzantium because they heard the emperor was giving out free money, and the Great Grain Embezzlement.

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
Wulfstan's Sermon to the English here

Law & Order: Scrying Vicars Unit (Necromancy!)

Sat, 28 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Spice up your spells in D&D with this episode on divinatory magic from a real medieval grimoire! We discuss the legal status of the warlock and patron relationship, and just how reliable devils are for divinatory experiments, anyway?

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 Munich Manual of Demonic Magic: info and get one yourself here!
Forbidden Rites: a Necromancer's Manual online version here!
All of Richard Keikhefer's books on magic here!
Mirror of Florin references: the Hermetic Hour podcast, and Giordano Bruno's works on magic, astrology, and math.

Mandatory Government Matchmaking: Prokopios Pt. 8

Sat, 14 Sep 2024 15:00:00 -0000

What if Bridgerton was set in Byzantium? What if the empress was the legal authority on matchmaking? Join us as we explore Prokopios' Secret History -- where the raunchiest secrets of the Byzantine court come to light -- and we teach you how to adapt it for function and gaming.

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
A novelization of Theodora's life: Theodora: Actress, Empress, Whore

Necromance Me, Baby: Love Spells

Sat, 31 Aug 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Magic has its uses, but also its dangers. In this episode, we discuss the more coercive, dangerous ways magic and necromancy was used in the middle ages -- and how, with care, you can use those themes in crafting your next bad guy in your TTRPG.

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!
The Munich Manual of Demonic Magic: info and get one yourself here!

Byzantium's Moby Dick Problem: Prokopios, Pt 7

Sat, 17 Aug 2024 15:00:00 -0000

A secret assassination by the empress against her husband's wishes... A giant cryptid whale that terrorizes the coastline and kills sailors... We adapt Prokopios' Secret History of Byzantium for your next TTRPG.

Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!

Danse Macabre: find it on DriveThruRPG here or at Stillfleet Studios here!

Socials: Tumblr Website Twitter Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

The Secret History and another version
More about Porphyrios

Leechcraft: Plague, Vampires, and Leeches with Ainsley Sunday!

Sat, 10 Aug 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Join us as we discuss Curse of Strahd, medieval medicine, and the weird connection between doctors, plague, and vampires in history. Inspired by the darkest days of the Black Death and the connection between vampires, doctors, and death, Ainsley Sunday shows how game masters of every level can use medieval inspiration to create games that feel real without getting bogged down in history.

Play Leechcraft!

Ainsley's Socials: https://addersmire.itch.io/leechcraft https://www.instagram.com/addersmire/ https://addersmire.tumblr.com/

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:

Leech by Hiron Ennes
Thousand Year Old Vampire by Tim Hutchings
Pathologic 2 (2019)
Vampyr (2018)

Necromancy for D&D: Spell of Notice Me Senpai

Sat, 20 Jul 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Spice up your D&D campaign with some real medieval magic! We're back with Necromancy 101 with new spells for TTPRG players, GMs, and witches alike. This week, we're discussing spells on charming a potential ally, embitter two friends against each other, and how to win the favor of your local lord. How does sympathetic magic work, and how can YOU adapt it to your game?

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!
The Munich Manual of Demonic Magic: info and get one yourself here!

Down & Dirty with a Demon: Prokopios Pt. 6

Sat, 06 Jul 2024 15:00:00 -0000

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

Necromancy: I Conjure You to Be Chill, Bro

Sun, 23 Jun 2024 04:00:00 -0000

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

Outlawing Astrology: Prokopios Pt. 5

Fri, 07 Jun 2024 04:19:46 -0000

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

Summon Party: An Introduction to Necromancy

Sat, 25 May 2024 16:00:00 -0000

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!

Not to Worry; I Have a Permit: Medieval Fables

Sat, 18 May 2024 15:00:00 -0000

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.

The Prince and the Prostitute: Prokopios, Pt. 4

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 15:00:00 -0000

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

Huzzah! The TTRPG Quest Tournament

Sat, 13 Apr 2024 15:00:00 -0000

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.

The Abbess Gambit: Eliduc Pt. 2

Sat, 30 Mar 2024 15:00:00 -0000

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:

Oh Ariana, We’re Really in It Now: Eliduc, Pt. 1

Sat, 16 Mar 2024 15:00:00 -0000

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:

All Hail the King of Sports: The Nika Riots, Prokopios Pt. 3

Sat, 02 Mar 2024 16:00:00 -0000

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!

Valentine's Day Special: Magical and Medical Contraception

Sat, 17 Feb 2024 15:00:00 -0000

Happy Valentine's Day! In this episode, we delve into medieval love spells, contraception, and the challenges women faced in matters of love and pregnancy. From mysterious plants and potions to debates among theologians on abortion ethics, explore the intersection of magic, societal views, and women's health in the Middle Ages.

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:

Magic items 101: A Historical Guide for TTRPGs

Sat, 03 Feb 2024 16:00:00 -0000

Ever wonder how realistic the magic items in D&D are, anyway? What are the lines between a religious token, a pagan amulet, and a giant-made sword?Join us this episode as we unlock the nature of how magic works in the middle ages, and how you can adapt historical magic techniques into your D&D campaign.

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:

On Wednesdays We Wear BLOOD: Prokopios Pt. 2

Sat, 20 Jan 2024 16:00:00 -0000

The drama of Prokopios' Secret History continues in this episode! We learn the secret backstory of how Justinian rose to power -- there's no dramatic coup, but we do learn the origin of the stencil, and learn how Theodora continues to strong-arm her way over a princely love triangle.

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

Sources & Citations

The Secret History and another version

A Tournament of Love Affairs: The Dolorous Knight

Sat, 06 Jan 2024 16:00:00 -0000

When four knights enter a tournament to win the same lady's hand (after she's led them all on), what could go wrong? Quite a lot, really. Join us in this episode as we explore this soap opera of a reverse-harem, medieval style. Plus, we discuss how medieval tournaments were actually set up, and how to adapt them to your D&D campaign!

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:

Christmas Special! Saint Nick Pt 2, or, The Miracle of Vehicular Manslaughter

Sat, 23 Dec 2023 15:00:00 -0000

Merry Christmas and happy winter holiday! Welcome to part two of our Saint Nick special, where we explore the miracles of Saint Nicholas - after his death. Join us as we explore how to adapt the humiliation of saints into your D&D game, and how you can compel your warlock patron to help you - or else.

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:

Life of Saint Nicholas
Green, Richard Firth. Elf Queens and Holy Friars: Fairy Beliefs and the Medieval Church. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2016. Link
Geary, Patrick J. “Humiliation of Saints.” Living with the Dead in the Middle Ages, Cornell University Press, 1994, pp. 95–115. Link

Yonec Pt. 2, or, Fairy-Tale Booty Calls

Sat, 16 Dec 2023 16:00:00 -0000

It's the final part of Yonec, and in this episode, we explore how to adapt the Fairy Ring of General Inconspicuousness into your game, and how meta you can get with your meta-textuality. Join us and turn your next D&D game into an extra-planar fairy adventure!

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:

Yonec Pt. 1, or, Bird-Man in Bondage

Sat, 09 Dec 2023 16:00:00 -0000

Alas, poor Yonec! He doesn't feature heavily in this story, despite being its namesake. Instead, join us as we discover how his parents, a fairy bird-man and a hapless damsel with a penchant for swooning, play meta-textual games within their tale. What pros and cons come with knowing you're in a fairy tale, and are they worth it, in the end?

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:

Prokopios, Pt 1, or, the Flamin’ Hot Cheeto of Love

Sat, 25 Nov 2023 16:00:00 -0000

Welcome to the first installment of Prokopios' Secret History - look no further for the next BBEG of your D&D campaign! In this episode, Prokopios, the court historian, explains the dangers of writing his record, and why he's waited so long to divulge the depravities of the Empress of Byzantium.

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

Sources & Citations

The Secret History and another version
Come Out You Cuck Flag

The Secret History, or, the Byzantine Gossip Rag, with Dr. Kaldellis

Sat, 11 Nov 2023 16:00:00 -0000

We're joined this week by Dr. Anthony Kaldellis, a professor of Classics of the University of Chicago and a brilliant Byzantine scholar. Dr. Kaldellis grants us an inside look into the creation of the world's first gossip rag: Prokopios' Secret History, detailing all the saucy and sordid details of the Byzantium court!

Check out Dr. Kaldellis' podcast, Byzantium and Friends! You can also explore his new book, The New Roman Empire: A History of Byzantium, which has just come out!

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

Halloween Special! How to Deal with the Undead

Sat, 28 Oct 2023 15:00:00 -0000

Happy Halloween! This season, we're covering some more spooky stories of the undead. So if you're looking to incorporate some real, historical depictions of how to deal with the undead in your next D&D game, don't delay! Learn the best kept secrets of How to Win Lawsuits against your Undead Neighbors and more in this episode.

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:

History of Hairshirts
Quest Friends
Poroniec
Caesarius of Heisterbach. The Dialogue On Miracles. Translated by H. von E. Scott and C. C. Swinton Bland, vol. 2. Harcourt, Brace & Co., 1929.
Grant, A. J. “Twelve Medieval Ghost Stories.” The Yorkshire Archaeological Journal, vol. 27, no. 4, pp. 363-79.
Map, Walter. De Nugis Curialium (Courtiers’ Trifles). Translated by Frederick Tupper and Marbury Bladen Ogle. Macmillan, 1924.
William of Newburgh. “The History of William of Newburgh.” The Church Historians of England, edited and translated by Joseph Stevenson, vol. 4. Seeleys, 1856.

Le Fresne, or, Ye Olde Instagram Stalker

Sat, 14 Oct 2023 15:00:35 -0000

Le Fresne, from the Lais of Marie de France, is like a medieval episode of "The Bachelor," but with a surprise twin twist. When two noble sisters are split up as infants and grow up to be equally gorgeous, it leads to a royal mix-up that even DNA testing couldn't solve.

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 and References

The Great Tang Records w/ Dr. Hartmann, Pt. 2, or Karmic Nepo Baby

Sat, 30 Sep 2023 15:00:00 -0000

We're back with part two of our chat with Kate! Follow the adventures of Xuanzang, a monk with a quest for enlightenment, as he embarks on a journey to India, meeting eccentric characters, facing weird monsters, and dealing with the inner turmoils of enlightenment.

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

Kate’s Website : drkatehartmann.com

Citations & References:

Introduction to Chinese Buddhism Video
What is Buddhism Video
Who was the Buddha Video
Buddhist meditation explained Video
Xuanzang by CoolHistoryBros Video
Hartmann, C. (2023), Karmic Opacity and Ethical Formation in a Tibetan Pilgrim's Diary. J Relig Eth. https://doi.org/10.1111/jore.12435
Gyatso, Janet. “One Plus One Makes Three: Buddhist Gender, Monasticism, and the Law of the Non-Excluded Middle.” History of Religions 43, no. 2 (2003): 89–115. https://doi.org/10.1086/423006.

The Great Tang Records with Dr. Hartmann, or, Reincarnation 101

Sat, 16 Sep 2023 15:00:28 -0000

We return to the Great Tang Records this week with a special guest, Dr. Kate Hartmann, as she provides some enlightening context surrounding Xuanzang's travel blog and hot takes on what kind of buddhism is best. Join us as we learn how reincarnation actually works, and why it's better to be a human than a god when it comes to enlightenment.

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

Kate’s Website : drkatehartmann.com

**Citations & References: **

Introduction to Chinese Buddhism Video**
What is Buddhism Video
Who was the Buddha Video
Buddhist meditation explained Video
Xuanzang by CoolHistoryBros Video
Hartmann, C. (2023), Karmic Opacity and Ethical Formation in a Tibetan Pilgrim's Diary. J Relig Eth. https://doi.org/10.1111/jore.12435
Gyatso, Janet. “One Plus One Makes Three: Buddhist Gender, Monasticism, and the Law of the Non-Excluded Middle.” History of Religions 43, no. 2 (2003): 89–115. https://doi.org/10.1086/423006.

Guigemar, or, Nonstop Patriarchal Bullsh*t

Sat, 02 Sep 2023 15:00:28 -0000

The Lais of Guigemar is a medieval tale of romance with a magical twist that could give any modern rom-com a run for its money. When a dashing knight accidentally shoots a white doe and falls under a love curse, he's destined for a quest filled with enchanted belts, hidden desires, and a whole lot of "deer"-ly beloved drama.

Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!

Socials: Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Citations & References:

Marie de France https://www.gutenberg.org/files/11417/11417-h/11417-h.htm#VI

Gesta Romanorum Pt 6, or, How to Lie to God

Sat, 19 Aug 2023 20:00:21 -0000

WHO or WHAT is the Abominable Whistler? What uncanny powers do they possess? These and other questions will be thoroughly elided in this week’s episode as we return to the Gesta Romanorum for more so-called "deeds of the Romans". Tune in to learn the best way to catch fish and how to lie to God. Don't miss it!

Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!

Socials: Website Twitter Instagram

Citations & References:

Hypnogoria - on Toads: Link

Lanval, or, Legally Hotter

Sun, 06 Aug 2023 05:18:02 -0000

Lanval, one of the Lais of Marie de France, is a medieval tale that puts the "knight" in "nightmare date." It tells the story of a guy who's so good-looking that even unicorns get jealous, but his love life takes a wild turn when he meets a fairy queen who can't keep her magical powers in check.

Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!

Socials: Website Twitter Instagram

Citations & References:

Read the poetic version of the lay here
Woods, W. S. (1950). Femininity in the “Lais” of Marie de France. Studies in Philology, 47(1), 1–19. Read here.

Two French Stories, or, Avian Lessons and Articulate Tweens

Sat, 22 Jul 2023 15:00:28 -0000

Stick it to the man with this week's weird medieval tales! We're back with two strange morality stories, each of which seems to teach the benefits of malicious compliance more than any true moral lesson. Hmm, maybe don't let your D&D party get ahold of these ideas, then...

Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!

Socials: Website Twitter Instagram

Egil's Saga Pt. 7, or, A Captain Kirk Moment

Sat, 08 Jul 2023 18:00:00 -0000

Welcome to the final part of Egil's Saga! In this episode, we learn Egil's approach to settling disputes with his neighbors is, of course, violence. How will he spend his last days, and what else can we pilfer from this text for our TTRPGs?

Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!

Socials: Website Twitter Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

Read Egil's Saga here

Pride! Trans Vikings and Ace Christians in the Middle Ages

Sat, 24 Jun 2023 15:00:28 -0000

Happy Pride! In this episode of the podcast, we explore the varied gender identities of Viking witches. While the modern stereotype of Vikings is that that of the masculine warrior and dutiful wife, grave goods found at several sites illustrate the fluidity of gender in the Nordic and Icelandic world!

Citations & References:

Bennett, Judith M. "'Lesbian-Like' and the Social History of Lesbianisms." Journal of the History of Sexuality, vol. 9, no. 1/2, 2000, pp. 1-24.
Bill, Jan. “Ambiguous Mobility in the Viking Age Ship Burial from Oseberg.” Materialities of Passing: Explorations in Transformation, Transition and Transience, 2016, pp. 207–20.
Colwill, Lee. "The Queerly Departed: Narratives of Veneration in the Burials of Late Iron Age Scandinavia." Trans and Genderqueer Subjects in Medieval Hagiography, edited by Alicia Spencer-Hall & Blake Gutt, Amsterdam University Press, 2021, pp.177-97.
Mayburd, Miriam. “‘Heizt Þóttumk Nú Heima í Millim⋯’ A Reassessment of Hervör in Light of Seiðr’s Supernatural Gender Dynamics.” Arkiv För Nordisk Filologi, vol. 129, 2014, pp. 121–64.
Murray, Jacqueline. “Twice Marginal and Twice Invisible: Lesbians in the Middle Ages.” Handbook of Medieval Sexuality, 1996, pp. 203-33.
Greenberg, David F., and Marcia H. Bystryn. “Christian Intolerance of Homosexuality.” American Journal of Sociology, vol. 88, no. 3, 1982, pp. 515–48.
Osberg Ship example - Link

Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!

Socials: Website Twitter Instagram Facebook

Happy Pride! Lesbians in the Middle Ages

Sat, 10 Jun 2023 15:00:28 -0000

Happy pride month! In this episode, we explore how women found ways to express their love for other women in the middle ages. In a time when homosexuality was limited and queer identities weren't as clear-cut, queer expression could be shown in a variety of ways.

Citations & References:

Twice marginal and twice invisible: lesbians in the Middle Ages, by Jacqueline Murray, Handbook of Medieval Sexuality (1996)
Greenberg, David F., and Marcia H. Bystryn. “Christian Intolerance of Homosexuality.” American Journal of Sociology, vol. 88, no. 3, 1982, pp. 515–48.
Bennett, Judith M. "'Lesbian-Like' and the Social History of Lesbianisms." Journal of the History of Sexuality, vol. 9, no. 1/2, 2000, pp. 1-24.

Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!

Socials: Website Twitter Instagram Facebook

Egil's Saga, Pt 6, In Which Egil Might Be a Literal Bear

Sat, 27 May 2023 15:00:28 -0000

Welcome back to Egil's Saga! This installment of the saga has everything you need for a compelling quest, whether you're playing D&D, Pathfinder, or any other TTRPG! Egil teaches us how to cure a botched curse of lovesickness, and when the king's men go missing, he takes it upon himself to journey into the northlands to find them, only to fall into an ambush! Will Egil make it out alive? Will your players? Join us and find out!

Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!

Socials: Website Twitter Instagram Facebook

The Peasants' Revolt, Pt. 2, or, Nobody Wants to Work Anymore

Sat, 13 May 2023 15:00:28 -0000

We're concluding our adaptation of the Peasant's Revolt this week - and adapting it to a D&D adventure that you can use in your home game! Everyone loves an underdog story where justice is served, but what happens when mob rule gets a little out of hand? We discuss ways to balance your game's revolutions with ease and style.

Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!

Sources: Dobson, R. B. The Peasants' Revolt of 1381. 2nd ed., Macmillan, 1983. Hilton, Rodney. Bond Men Made Free: Medieval Peasant Movements and the English Rising of 1381. Viking Press, 1973.

A great primer on the Peasant's Revolt is Ian White's "The Black Death, Economic and Social Change and the Great Rising of 1381 in Hertfordshire" - read it here!

Socials: Website Twitter Instagram Facebook

May Day Special: the Peasants' Revolt Pt. 1

Sat, 29 Apr 2023 15:00:28 -0000

Happy May Day! We know how tiring it is to work all day only to have a few hours to prep for D&D sessions on the weekend, and that's why we're celebrating international workers' day this week by recounting the Peasant's Revolt in England. This historical account is FULL of ideas for an impactful campaign no matter your play style - combat heavy, political intrigue, or story driven, we can adapt all of it!

Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!

Sources: Dobson, R. B. The Peasants' Revolt of 1381. 2nd ed., Macmillan, 1983. Hilton, Rodney. Bond Men Made Free: Medieval Peasant Movements and the English Rising of 1381. Viking Press, 1973.

A great primer on the Peasant's Revolt is Ian White's "The Black Death, Economic and Social Change and the Great Rising of 1381 in Hertfordshire" - read it here!

Socials: Website Twitter Instagram Facebook

Crispy's Tavern D&D Guest Episode!

Sat, 15 Apr 2023 15:00:28 -0000

We're so excited to welcome Crispy onto the show - you may know him from his D&D Horror Stories or his actual play game, and this week, he's giving is his best advice on some of our weird medieval RPG ideas!

Be sure to check out his YouTube channel here: YouTube: here

Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!

Socials: Website Twitter Instagram Facebook

Sidrak & Bokkus, Pt. 2, or, Who Wants to be a Mystic?

Sat, 01 Apr 2023 15:00:28 -0000

Welcome back to Who Wants to be a Mystic! As always, your host, Friar Mac of Roxburgh, is here to offer bright young novices an opportunity to become a respected prophet, visionary, theologian, or similar. For those of you who haven’t seen a copy of the relevant papal bull, our format (as chartered by Holy Church) is as follows. I will ask our aspiring mystic a series of questions about various topics, giving them an opportunity to demonstrate the knowledge they have received either through study or through revelation. Depending on how many questions our contestant answers correctly, we may be able to offer them a fast track into a comfortable and respected position where they can spend time recording their wisdom for posterity. Let's see how our contestant does today!

Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!

Socials: Website Twitter Instagram Facebook

Sidrak & Bokkus, or, Raging Paladins Destroying Pagans with Facts and Logic

Sat, 18 Mar 2023 15:00:28 -0000

Ever wonder what would happen if a medieval priest challenged a group of pagans to a god-off? Well, in this episode, we're diving into Sidrak and Bokkus, a lyrical poem of 415 questions and answers to the universe, framed by Sidrak, the Christian paragon, destroying a group of pagan priests with Facts and Logic (TM). We're more than confused by his approach, but hey, at least he makes his point with pizzazz!

Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!

Socials: Website Twitter Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

Egil's Saga, Pt. 5, or Bootlicking Surprise

Sat, 04 Mar 2023 16:00:28 -0000

In this episode, we delve back into the thrilling world of Egil's Saga! Egil’s wonders never cease as in a surprising turn of events, resolves his feud with the king through his mastery of poetry. And, if you've ever wanted to bring an actual Viking fight ring into your D&D campaign, we'll show you how! Get ready for another wild ride with Egil's Saga!

Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!

Socials: Website Twitter Instagram Facebook

Citations & References:

Read Egil's saga here.

Roll for References: Poison Books and Magical Libraries with Rare Book Historian Allie Alvis!

Sat, 18 Feb 2023 16:00:28 -0000

We're excited to welcome rare book historian Allie Alvis. Allie specializes in the intersection of book history and pop culture, and will be sharing their knowledge on how historical texts have influenced popular media such as TTRPGs. From the impact of medieval illuminated manuscripts on fantasy worlds, to the connection of rare books to games like Magic the Gathering, Allie will enlighten us on the ways book history is present in pop culture.

Check out her work here: Personal Site Etsy And take a look at the books we saw here!

Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!

Socials: Website Twitter Instagram

Citations & References:

Megan Cook's Dirtbag Medievalism article
The Poison Book Project
Pergamena Parchment

Gesta Romanorum Pt. 5, or, Embezzling for Heaven

Sat, 04 Feb 2023 16:00:28 -0000

Our return to the Gesta Romanorum in this episode provides a wide variety of tools for your TTRPGs. Need an unsolvable riddle for your players? What about a grave insult paired with the gift of a golden apple? Or perhaps you're looking for a more Lovecraftian plot element? Whatever you're looking for, this episode has it all. Plus, hear YOUR results from our first Tournament!

Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!

Socials: Website Twitter Instagram

Citations & References:

Afanasyev, Alexander. "The Tale of Ivan Tsarevich, the Bird of Light, and the Grey Wolf." Russian Folk-Tales, translated by Leonard Magnus, Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner & Co., 1916, pp. 78-90. Link.
Read the Gesta Romanorum here

Inside My Favorite Manuscript Guest Ep: Talking Book History in D&D!

Sat, 28 Jan 2023 16:00:28 -0000

In this episode, we're joined by Dot and Lindsay from the Inside My Favorite Manuscript podcast! Dot and Lindsay are book historians and nerds, and they'll be sharing their knowledge and insights on the world of medieval manuscripts and how you can incorporate them into your Pathfinder or D&D game. From the history and creation of these beautiful texts to the modern-day scholarship surrounding them, this is an episode not to be missed for any book lovers or history buffs.

Check out Inside My Favorite Manuscript for yourself here.

Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!

Socials: Website Twitter Instagram

Citations & References:

Dot's Coffee with a Codex videos are here.
Brandon Hawk's episode on IMFM is here.
The Luttrel Psalter film is here.

Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/e80d14f2-b148-4b78-9503-910ee20b8286

Egil's Saga Pt. 4, or Viking Bear Transfiguration

Sat, 21 Jan 2023 16:00:28 -0000

In this episode, we return to Egil's Saga, where we discuss how to incorporate legal battles, bard rap battles, and tricking enemies into thinking you're a bear - all without transfiguration!

Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch! Socials: Website Twitter Instagram

Citations & References:

Hollister, C. Warren. Anglo-Saxon Military Institutions on the Eve of the Norman Conquest. Clarendon Press, 1962.

Going Questing: a TTRPG Tournament

Sat, 07 Jan 2023 16:00:28 -0000

Episode Notes

In today's episode, Mac and Zoe are host a tournament to ring in the new year! Using their collected Courts, they create adventuring parties for quests that were submitted by listeners. Who will win the tournament? That is up to you... vote in our discord below!

Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!

Socials: Website Twitter Instagram Facebook

Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/37ee80eb-deca-421a-9ac8-c23f4073cb1b

Christmas Special: Saint Nick, or, Santa Claus Fcks Sht Up

Sat, 24 Dec 2022 16:00:28 -0000

Episode Notes

Happy holidays, all! To celebrate the season, we’re covering the life and times of Saint Nicholas - the patron saint of sex workers and criminals! Oh, and he’s also known for being Santa Claus. Join us this week as we take a great D&D plot from the devil and learn just who Saint Nick beat bloody.

Discord: https://discord.com/invite/ng7ufQRRbJ Linktree: https://linktr.ee/themaniculumpodcast

Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/d93f78f4-7e6e-4171-a5d1-f9bb65323fe6

Guest Ep: Twitch Streaming and the Middle Ages in Gaming with Ludohistory!

Sat, 17 Dec 2022 16:00:28 -0000

Episode Notes

Join our discord community! Support us on patreon! Check out our merch!

Ludohistory Socials: Twitch Discord Twitter Youtube

Our Socials: Website Twitter Instagram Facebook)

Citations & References:

Rambaran-Olm, Mary, and Erik Wade. “What's in a Name? The Past and Present Racism in 'Anglo-Saxon' Studies.” The Yearbook of English Studies 52.1 135–153. Link.

In this episode of the Maniculum Podcast, we welcome twitch streamer and medieval studies scholar Adam to the show. Adam, who holds a master's degree in medieval studies from the University of Iceland and is currently working on a master's in cultural heritage, has a passion for exploring the representation of the middle ages in gaming. He shares his unique perspective on the portrayal of this fascinating time period in modern gaming.

In our conversation, we discuss the ways in which the middle ages are depicted in games and how accurate these representations are. Adam shares his thoughts on the common tropes and stereotypes that are often used in games set in the middle ages, as well as some examples of games that offer a more nuanced and realistic portrayal of the time period. Adam also discusses his experience as a twitch streamer and how he uses his platform to educate and entertain his audience about the middle ages. He shares some of his favorite games to play and stream that are set in the middle ages, as well as his thoughts on the current state of the gaming industry in terms of historical accuracy.

Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/d08b5111-0770-44ee-8749-a042e8a6792e

Greenlanders Saga, Pt 2, or, Gaslight, Gatekeep, Girlboss 2: Boss Harder

Sat, 10 Dec 2022 16:00:28 -0000

Episode Notes

Happy Thanksgiving and Turkey Day! This year, we are revisiting the first European settlement of Greenland- this time from another perspective. The Saga of the Greenlanders is the other account of Erik the Red’s Saga, and it has a few… unique differences. Let’s dive in!

Discord: https://discord.gg/ng7ufQRRbJ Twitter: https://twitter.com/maniculum Linktree: https://l.instagram.com/?u=https%3A%2F%2Flinktr.ee%2Fthemaniculumpodcast&e=ATOhK7OGEdeJO7s_mei-E_ZrYN16moixl39tT390goCBfs3Gl8TVy24Hv5pZ4Y5-lyN2PDJpOybvLR0X4maAQHY&s=1

Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/ac87a384-2320-4d5c-b07a-e6a725a1b77c

Thanksgiving Special: Greenlanders Saga, or, A Not-so-Meet-Cute

Sat, 26 Nov 2022 16:00:28 -0000

Episode Notes

Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/ae41c0d8-5c43-4dac-a73e-afff14e6cbb2

Egil's Saga, Pt. 3, or, Warrior, Poet, Murderhobo

Sat, 12 Nov 2022 16:00:28 -0000

Episode Notes

The family drama continues in Part 3 of Egil’s Saga! This time, we watch Egil in his adult years, crashing parties and deepening the rift between his family and the King of Norway. Will anything ever be resolved between these dynasties?

Discord: https://discord.gg/q3CNjvzr

Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/d0fc4a15-5838-4b86-bb74-466303bc8391

The Undead Halloween Episode, or, Kill It With Fire!

Sat, 29 Oct 2022 15:00:28 -0000

Episode Notes

Happy Samhain, listeners! For our Halloween special, we’ll be showing you how to adapt four spooky medieval tales of the undead into quest adventures for your next TTRPG! Whether you’re looking for a political drama, a new character idea, or a hack’n slash against a zombie hoard, this episode has something for you!

Discord: https://discord.gg/ng7ufQRRbJ

Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/2bbcd3ce-38f3-4bd8-85a5-5d446bcfd4fa

Egil's Saga Pt. 2, or, A Legitimate Businessbear

Sat, 15 Oct 2022 15:00:28 -0000

Episode Notes

Welcome back to Egil’s saga, wherein we will finally meet our protagonist — after a generation’s worth of trauma and family feuding. Rest assured that the drama will continue with the rest of the family.

Discord: https://discord.gg/ng7ufQRRbJ

Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/25124c41-d9d6-4d17-9843-5975e7b2fee0

The Story of King Constant, or, Close Your Womb; It’s a Scorpio

Sat, 01 Oct 2022 15:00:28 -0000

Episode Notes

In this episode, we explore the strange tale of King Constant, a strange case of reverse-engineered divination, and teenage girls committing mail fraud. We're sure this will lead to a happy ending, right?

Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/6dd2c8e6-41fc-49a8-89a2-2f6ef1791a15

The Scribal Workshop, or, Talking with a Medieval Monk!

Sat, 17 Sep 2022 15:00:33 -0000

Episode Notes

This week, we'll be talking with Lucas, owner of the Scribal Workshop and master illuminator extraordinaire! Lucas walks us through the work of a medieval monk, how manuscripts and ink are produced, the pros and cons of the job, and his one-of-a-kind TTRPG system!

Check out his shop and support his work here: Website: https://www.scribalworkshop.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/scribalworkshop/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ScribalWorkShop?app=desktop&themeRefresh=1 Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/scribalworkshop Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/scribalworkshop/?hl=en

Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/88001c05-2d07-425b-9c25-4c3c8472cacc

Egil's Saga Pt. 1, or, Bard’s the Name, and Bard’s the Game

Sat, 03 Sep 2022 13:00:47 -0000

Episode Notes

We're beginning a new series on Egil's Saga this week! Don't miss out on the incredibly dramatic family sagas of the Icelanders, including grisly fights, magic, curses, deals with fate, and... incredibly long genealogies? Let the political intrigue begin!

Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/ec172738-a9e1-4df5-aa3c-a19a05984ad9

Gesta Romanorum Pt. IV, or, Prince So Fine He Blows My Mind

Sat, 27 Aug 2022 13:00:47 -0000

Episode Notes

Welcome back to the Gesta Romanorum! This time, we discuss wise men giving out wisdom while in towers, good-looking princes in disguise, and how to reverse engineer divination!

Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/fc066868-2eba-44ef-add9-04af204d90bc

Perlesvaus, Pt X, or, Lancelot Oversees a Genocide

Sat, 13 Aug 2022 16:12:35 -0000

Episode Notes

We're finishing up Perlesvaus with a bang this week! Will Percival redeem himself as the "Good Knight"? What will happen to England with King Arthur away on a pilgrimage? Mac and Zoe linger on the overarching themes of this incredibly weird text, and discuss how you can adapt this chivalric farce into your campaigns!

Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/575316dd-74e4-42af-ac38-9f496de57db5

Fafnir and Dragon Lore, or, The Hideous Transmogrification of Jeff Bezos

Sat, 23 Jul 2022 13:00:00 -0000

Episode Notes

Here there be dragons! Many different kinds of dragon, actually. This week, we're looking at the Lay of Fafnir, one of the earliest dragon myths known to man, and its variations throughout history. Turns out you may be more familiar with this tale than you thought....

Check out our socials! Discord: https://www.discord.gg/ng7ufQRRbJ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/themaniculump... Website: https://www.themaniculumpodcast.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/maniculum Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maniculumpo... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/manic...

Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/a37633c9-6388-482a-9222-97032e33fcfd

Perlesvaus Pt. 9, or, Lancelot's Pull-Out Game

Sat, 09 Jul 2022 13:00:00 -0000

We are back on Perlesvaus this episode, and our heroes have begun to resolve their quests. What will happen to our dear heroes? Will Lancelot prove he has the strongest pull out game of all the knights? It remains to be seen!

Check out our socials! Discord: https://www.discord.gg/ng7ufQRRbJ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/themaniculump... Website: https://www.themaniculumpodcast.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/maniculum I nstagram: https://www.instagram.com/maniculumpo... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/manic...

Send us your feedback online: https://pinecast.com/feedback/the-maniculum-podcast/d34a5d83-3313-4970-8090-debae235e77d

A Wider Variety of Articles, or, A Matter of Weevils

Sun, 26 Jun 2022 16:52:18 -0000

We've cultivated another set of wonderful, weird medieval articles for this episode. In case you thought the Middle Ages couldn't get weirder, we'd like to introduce you to the world of medieval animal trials, in which real lawyers had to defend animals in a court of law. No, we're not kidding.

Check out our socials! Discord: https://www.discord.gg/ng7ufQRRbJ Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/themaniculump... Website: https://www.themaniculumpodcast.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/maniculum Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maniculumpo... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/manic...

Perlesvaus Pt. 8, or, the Rom-Com Quest

Sat, 11 Jun 2022 07:01:00 -0000

We are back yet again with Perlesvaus, and our heroes (questionable) have found the one stretch of land in all England where there is no hermitage! Not only that, we get some interesting fourth wall breaks - our narrator knows he's inconsistent, but is that his fault? Nah!

A Variety of Articles, or, Dick Magic

Sat, 28 May 2022 07:04:00 -0000

We've collected some of or favorite academic articles to share with you! While these articles aren't attached to texts, they do contain a lot of fantastic ideas for you to use in your next game or novel!

S1E50 - Perlesvaus Pt. 7, or, Smaller than a Breadfox

Sat, 14 May 2022 06:52:00 -0000

Welcome back to Perlesvaus! What can possibly go wrong in this episode? Who will Knights of the Round Table behead this time? And what sort of terrifying creatures will we encounter? Something smaller than a breadfox, that's for sure!

Old English Elegy, or, Pokemon: Wræclasta

Sat, 30 Apr 2022 07:00:00 -0000

Join us as we dive into the world of Old English elegy! These poems have some of the most interesting imagery you can find in any English literature, from the beasts of battle to cursing ghost women.

4/20 Cannabis Special, or, the High Middle Ages

Sat, 16 Apr 2022 07:00:00 -0000

Come join us as we explore cannabis and hemp usage throughout the middle ages (and earlier) with special guest and marijuana expert, Alaina! Hemp has been grown and ingested worldwide for thousands of years. Don't let preconceived notions of this plant fool you!

Perlesvaus, Part 6, or, Giant Pillow (No, Literally)

Sat, 02 Apr 2022 07:00:00 -0000

Oh boy, we're back with another "season" of everyone's favorite medieval comedy soap opera, Perlesvaus! We've got classic Dungeons and Dragons shenanigans in this one, from sultry maidens to sleeping with your armor on. What mischief (and war crimes) will Percival get into next?

The Debate of the Carpenter’s Tools, or, Drunken Fantasia

Sat, 19 Mar 2022 07:00:00 -0000

In this episode, we take on medieval rap battles- that is, Middle English debate poetry! The Debate of the Carpenter’s Tools provides a humorous look inside the medieval guild life, carpentry’s specific tools, and the dangers of the love of ale.

The Green Knight RPG, or, Everyone Should’ve Died

Sat, 05 Mar 2022 08:02:00 -0000

Join us this week for a very special episode! Mac and Zoe DM the Green Knight RPG, inspired by the film, inspired by the poem. Our players are guests from some of your favourite podcasts: Saga Thing, Pontifacts, and BookSquadGoals. We hope you enjoy the assorted mess as we medievalists and lit nerds play this one-shot together.

Perlesvaus, Pt. 5, or, Gawain’s Homoerotic Thirst

Sat, 19 Feb 2022 18:00:04 -0000

We're continuing with Percival's Murderhobo adventure with part five of Perlesvaus! The rampaging continues for Percival, but we get some new homoerotic undertones from Gawain. Join us for more laughs, digressions, and meta gaming in this episode!

Brendan the Navigator Pt. 2, or, New Heresy Just Dropped

Sat, 05 Feb 2022 08:00:00 -0000

Join us for the conclusion Saint Brendan's Voyage, where we evaluate Brendan's leadership acumen, his seafaring ability, and overall sainthood. Spoiler: none of them are great.

Brendan the Navigator, or, Resplendent Hot-Boi

Sat, 22 Jan 2022 16:40:50 -0000

Come "row about" with us with the tale of Brendan the Navigator! This Irish immram explores the wonders of the Atlantic, but not too many of them, because Brendan just keeps going in a circle. His title really is quite the misnomer.

Perlesvaus, Pt. 4, or, The Sumptuary Laws of Target

Sat, 08 Jan 2022 08:00:00 -0000

Happy New Year! We hope you're jumping into 2022 with resolutions ablaze, but as for us, we're settling back into our goal to finish Perlesvaus. Our excellent narrator throws Percival and the other Arthurian knights into some pretty "hairy" situations in these branches!

Christmas Sermons, or, A$$, son of A$$

Thu, 16 Dec 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Happy holidays! It’s the end of another year, and we’re back with another Christmas special. Not really into candlelight mass? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! This year, we’re reading three medieval Christmas sermons, each filled with bad analogies and questionable theology. Come along as we break down these strange sermons to find the “true” meaning of Christmas — at least, according to these priests.

Perlesvaus, Pt. 3, or, the Murderhimbo and the Metaphor

Sat, 04 Dec 2021 15:29:06 -0000

Welcome back to another wacky week of Perlesvaus and the adventures of anyone but Percival, for some reason. Follow Gawain on his quest as he encounters fey statues that might not be statues, a magical chessboard with an advanced AI, and the Castle of Inquiry, where he rolls a Nat 20 on his Metagaming check.

Black Friday Special! A Thousand Thousand Islands with Zedeck Siew

Sat, 27 Nov 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Surprise! We've got a very special episode this week focusing on the medieval history of Southeast Asia and featuring game designer and writer Zedeck Siew. Come join us on this island adventure, where every land its different and you never know what's around the next bend. Please support A Thousand Thousand Islands on their Kickstarter, and check out their other works here!

Jelly Beef and Medieval Feasts, the Thanksgiving Special!

Sat, 20 Nov 2021 08:00:00 -0000

Happy holidays, and more generally, happy autumn! It’s getting close to Thanksgiving here in the USA, and that means lots and lots of food! So for this year’s holiday special, we’re diving into some medieval cookbooks and recipes you can try this season!

Perlesvaus, Pt. 2, or, Gaslight, Gatekeep, Girlboss

Sat, 06 Nov 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Let’s return to the strange and accursed world of Perlesvaus, where we rejoin Sir Gawain in his quest to find Sir Percival, the Good Knight. Remember, this tale is more medieval fan-fiction than anything, and boy does it deliver.

Trick or Treat! Halloween Special

Sat, 30 Oct 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Happy Halloween, Samhain, and All Hallows Eve! In our second annual Halloween episode, we’re going to go “trick or treating” with some Old English riddles! These are sure to surprise and thrill, and are fantastic fun to pull out in tabletop games, or sneak into a novel like Tolkien did.

Perlesvaus Pt. 1, or, Gawain Goes to the LARP

Sat, 23 Oct 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Welcome back to the wacky world of Arthuriana! We’re focusing on good Sir Percival this week, but his tale might be stranger than you remember — this spinoff from Chrétien de Troyes’ unfinished tale takes unexpected liberties, particularly in the number of decapitated heads present. Seriously, there are a lot of heads.

Embassy to Constantinople, Pt. 2, or, The Worst Yelp Review

Sun, 10 Oct 2021 14:29:03 -0000

Well, we're back with the final portion of Liuprand's No Good, Very Bad, Horrible Time in Constantinople! Will he ever get home, or will he be executed for his behavior? Come read the final portion of his letter with us in this episode!

Embassy to Constantinople, or, Diplomacy Through Melodrama

Sat, 25 Sep 2021 17:07:22 -0000

This week, we're jumping into the firsthand account of Bishop Liuprand of the Holy Roman Empire. After being sent on a diplomatic mission to Constantinople, he sent this letter back to his sire Emperor Otto with... incredible snark. We're surprised he wasn't executed for what we're reading now!

Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, or, Gawain Gets Fleshed Out

Sat, 11 Sep 2021 07:00:00 -0000

We just couldn’t get enough of goodly Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, so here’s a full episode dedicated to the Arthurian chivalric tale! Whether or not you’ve seen the new film, this romance has plenty of twists and turns, and (spoiler warning) our highest rating yet!

Great Tang Records on the Western Regions Pt. II, or, I Was a Bat Once

Sat, 28 Aug 2021 07:00:00 -0000

It’s been a while, but we’re back to one of our most popular texts: the Great Tang Records on the Western Regions! This week, we’re following Xuanzang as he journeys into medieval India, encountering wildly variable customs in education, law, and reincarnation.

The Green Knight - Film and Fiction with BookSquadGoals

Sat, 21 Aug 2021 15:01:55 -0000

We have a special episode this week, but you're going to have to wait for it. We joined the BookSquadGoals podcast to discuss the new Green Knight film and its medieval origins. The episode will come out this Monday, August 21, 2021, so don't miss it!

You can tune in on your regular podcast app, and check out their fantastic website at https://www.booksquadgoals.com

The Tain Bo Cuailnge, Pt. 4.5, or, Period Pains

Sat, 07 Aug 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Congratulations, you’ve made it! Welcome to our final episode of the Tain Bo Cuailnge and the grand conclusion of a war started with some undue pillow-talk. Will the Connachtmen be routed by Ulster? Will Maeb get her prized bull? Can we make it through to the end? Let’s dive in and find out.

The Tain Bo Cualinge, Pt. 4, or, Metaphor or STD?

Sat, 24 Jul 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Join us for the penultimate episode of the Tain Bo Cualinge! We've got brother-killings, shield decapitations, and much, much more. Will Maeb finally get the bull? Will the Ulstermen come out of their pains? Buckle up for the ride as Cu Chulainn continues to tear his way through the Irish countryside.

Oops, All Leeches! A Leechdom Special

Sat, 10 Jul 2021 07:00:00 -0000

This week, the Leech’s Corner takes center stage! We’re dedicating an episode to some of the longer (and stranger) parts of the Leechbook, including everything from common summertime ailments to elf-diseases.

Pride Month and Medieval Sexuality

Sat, 26 Jun 2021 13:48:32 -0000

We’re stepping away from our usual texts this week in order to celebrate Pride month and to take a look at the lives of queer individuals in the Middle Ages. Because homosexuality and queerness were marginalized and prosecuted, there are few records of queer individuals during the medieval period.

The Tain Bo Cualinge Pt. 3, or, Animal Husbandry with Malicious Intent

Sat, 12 Jun 2021 15:19:38 -0000

The Cattle Raid of Cooley can get weirder! The third part of this epic Irish saga highlights Cu Chulainn's fight with the Morrigan, his battle against Loch, and his first on-the-page Warp-spasm. Things are starting to get messy.

The Gesta Romanorum, Pt. 3, or, Vote for Skin Chairs

Sat, 29 May 2021 07:00:00 -0000

Not to be outdone by our other texts, the Gesta Romanorum continues it's wild foray into ahistorical legends and poorly written exegesis. This week, we are taking a look at seven new tales, many of which play on ancient tropes you might recognize.

The Seven Sleepers, Pt. 2, or, Once More With Feeling

Sat, 15 May 2021 07:00:00 -0000

We're continuing our journey into early Christian hagiographies with a second telling of the Seven Sleepers legend, this time with the dramatic flare of Ælfric's Lives of Saints. This version of the tale comes with more fire and brimstone, but even less historical accuracy than the Baring-Gould's translation.

The Seven Sleepers, Pt. 1, or, A Good Christian Mugging

Sat, 01 May 2021 18:25:44 -0000

In a unique twist on the traditional hagiography, we're delving into the story of the Seven Sleepers. This saint's tale features group of time-traveling, heresy-debunking lads from Late Antiquity. Versions of this tale are found in both Christian and Islamic tradition, and we'll be reading two different records ourselves!

The Tain Bo Cualinge Pt. 2, or, That Was Bad Cyning

Sat, 17 Apr 2021 13:02:21 -0000

We're returning to the old Irish epic of the "Cattle Raid of Cooley" this week, featuring Cu Chulainn's boyhood deeds and a plethora of killing. This slaughterfest demonstrates the blasé manner in which violence is portrayed in Irish epic, as well as the continued absurdity of this tale.

The Easter Special, or, The Y6k Plague-of-Locusts

Sat, 03 Apr 2021 12:40:23 -0000

So this week we are coming up on Easter, which is the biggest holiday in the medieval Christian calendar aside from Christmas! Since Easter constantly confuses with its jumping dates, we are going to look at the medieval "easter controversy" and this holiday's long, strange, and convoluted history.

The Wonders of the East, Pt. 3: Ratings!

Mon, 29 Mar 2021 15:25:13 -0000

We're concluding our guest series with Mary Osborne of BookSquadGoals this episode with our final ratings and thoughts! While we ordinarily put these in their own Master Lists (and you can still find them there,) we've also added them here with other conclusions and some tips from the Leech's Corner.

The Wonders of the East, Pt. 2, or, Everybody Can be a People

Sun, 21 Mar 2021 00:38:36 -0000

We're back with our guest, Mary Osborne of BookSquadGoals, to continue our tour of the furthest reaches of the medieval world. The bizarre illustrations continue, and we're all pleasantly surprised at how inclusive this text is in regards to what sort of races count as "people."

The Wonders of the East Part 1, or, Truly "Hot" Wings

Sat, 06 Mar 2021 14:49:54 -0000

We're excited to have our first guest on the show this week! A heartfelt welcome to Mary Osborne of #BookSquadGoals. This week, the three of us dive into The Wonders of the East, a guide to far-off places, some of which don't exist! This will be a three-part series, so stay tuned for the completion of this series later this month!

The Tain Bo Cualinge, or, Royal Spousal Arguments 101

Sat, 20 Feb 2021 13:49:07 -0000

This episode, we dive into the Tain Bo Cualinge, also known as the Cattle Raid of Cooley. The best known work of ancient Irish lore, this text details the rather odd pillow talk of King Ailil and Queen Maev, and the detrimental effects of wealth comparison.

The Gesta Romanorum Pt. 2.5, or, A Starchy Sort of Tale

Sat, 06 Feb 2021 17:17:55 -0000

Here's part two of our second episode featuring the Gesta Romanorum! This tale features tropes galore, though they may not be consistent enough to tell a single story. The Leech's Corner also spotlights medievalism meeting modern science, and answers hard questions like "Where do you find a medieval leek?"

The Gesta Romanorum Pt. 2, or, My Husband's a Witch

Sat, 23 Jan 2021 17:26:30 -0000

We're back this week with the Gesta Romanorum, those weird collections of folktales with questionable morals. This episode contains some diversions into the study of semiotics and a few rambles into Greek philosophy, so we've made it a two-parter!

Mac Da Tho's Pig, or, What's In YOUR Wallet?

Sat, 09 Jan 2021 19:18:13 -0000

Zoe brings us back to Ireland with the tale of Mac Da Tho's Pig -- a story that centers around a sequence of bad (and/or inexplicable) decisions, toxic masculinity, a good dog, and a very large pig. This short tale is linked in some ways to the longer and much more famous Tain Bo Cualinge, which Zoe will be serializing for us in the near future; consider this an appetizer.

Great Tang Records on the Western Regions Pt. I, or D*ck in a Box

Sat, 26 Dec 2020 17:05:07 -0000

We have a new collection to jump into this week, featuring tales which may or may not be considered too civilized to be 'medieval.' These wide-ranging tales cover the Middle East and furthest reaches of Western Asia, and are sure to include new surprises. Let's just say gift-giving conventions have come a long way...

The Second Shepherds' Play, or, Time Traveling Yorkshiremen

Sat, 12 Dec 2020 16:33:47 -0000

Happy holidays from the Maniculum Podcast! This week, we present a Middle English radio play that you can share with your friends and family- this play has everything: rage against the bourgeoisie, magic spells, and sheep theft. Oh, and the nativity is in there too.

Saga of Eirik the Red: Ratings & Rambles

Sun, 29 Nov 2020 12:50:01 -0000

This week, we're finishing up our Thanksgiving special with our ratings and reviews of the Saga of Eirik the Red. This shorter episode goes through our favourite characters and how you can adapt this saga into your writing and tabletop games. Be sure to check out the blog for more details, including a handmade geneological chart to help you keep track of who's who. Happy Thanksgiving from the Maniculum Podcast!

Saga of Eirik the Red Pt. 2, or Medieval Ghostbusting Etiquette

Sat, 21 Nov 2020 17:11:54 -0000

This week, the Maniculum is finishing the Saga of Eirik the Red for our Thanksgiving special! We discuss how to properly evict revenants and ghosts in your area, as well how to deal with the ever-relevant zombie plagues. Once the Icelanders finally get to North America, we discuss proper trade and negotiation techniques, and what we might learn from the Viking settlers.

Saga of Eirik the Red Pt. I, or, Old Icelandic Call-Out Culture

Sat, 07 Nov 2020 08:28:39 -0000

This week, we kick off our two-part Thanksgiving episode, talking about the first Europeans who arrived in North America in a riveting Icelandic saga about Eirik the Red. Epithets and navigation errors abound!

Samhain and Werewolves, or, The Liberal Art of Lycanthropy

Sat, 31 Oct 2020 08:10:13 -0000

Happy Halloween! Or All Saint's Day, All Hallow's Eve, or Samhain, to call the holiday by any of its other names. This week, we unfold the layers behind some common Halloween traditions, and take a look at two different medieval werewolf stories.

Niall Frossach's True Judgment, or Blushing Kings and Kinky Nuns

Sun, 18 Oct 2020 13:04:49 -0000

This week, we pick up an Irish tale that's a bit queer in more ways that one... This story questions what it means to be a true king in Ireland, and how to best serve all one's subjects.

The Gesta Romanorum Pt. 1, or, The Virgin Mary Told Me to Do It

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 12:58:45 -0000

Check out the Maniculum Podast this week as we dive into a wacky bunch of old "Roman" folk tales which include a variety of incredibly strange occurrences including talking deer, holy dog water, and blood sigils.

The Death of Mac Erca, or Who Gets Custody of the King?

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 12:55:04 -0000

The Maniculum Podcast is back this week with an Irish death tale of one of the early high kings of Ireland. Looking beyond the bizarre feud between an Otherworldly goddess and a cursing Bishop, this story asks some big questions about the nature of kingship in Ireland.

The Tournament of Tottenham, or Emotional Support Chicken

Mon, 05 Oct 2020 12:52:26 -0000

Welcomen! We're kicking off the Maniculum Podcast with a suitably festive text: the Middle English poem known as the Tournament of Tottenham. We learn a lot about the Middle English language and the Middle English middle class in this text, but most importantly, we learn never to underestimate the value of an emotional support animal, especially if that animal is a chicken.

Welcome & Introduction

Sat, 03 Oct 2020 17:13:46 -0000

Wes hal and welcome to the Maniculum Podcast! Get to know your hosts and what we're about in this introductory episode.