Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Dann Sullivan

@isleofdann.bsky.social

680 followers 110 following 210 posts

Editor-in-Chief Pocket Gamer Brand (Pocket Gamer, Pocket Gamer Biz, 148Apps, AppSpy, etc) | EiC BigBossBattle (B3) | Words everywhere | Games judge | Dann

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Dann Sullivan

@isleofdann.bsky.social

I've been a busy little so and so over the last few days and so fell out of my normal cadence, so here's two that I'd not popped out on time.

#MÖRKTOBER day 12 (Binding), day 13 (web)

Svilsen’s Shackles

It is said that Svilsen was a great hero who spent their life roaming the land, protecting the innocent and slaying fiends. It is sad, then, that his name mostly lives on through this cruel device which is named for it’s resembling the sucker-laden tentacles of the beast that grabbed him and pulled him deep beneath the waves to his death.

When placed over two appendages, be that hands, feet, mandibles or wings, this long tube-like device fastens tight around them, locking them in place.
In order to break free from Svilsen’s Shackles, a single captured individual must roll 2D20 and have the numbers match.

If two separate creatures are bound, and share a language then both captured creatures must test Strength and match, any score lower than 1 is rounded to 1, any score over 20 is rounded to 20.
If one person assists them then they must only be within three of each other on this test. Alternatively, the shackles must be destroyed or the appendage severed.
To sever Svilsen’s Shackles test DR14 strength, on each attempt (successful or failed) deal D6 damage to captured victim.
If one victim dies, or their apendage is severed then the other is instantly freed.

Mimicking Edderkape

An arachnid, not a bug nor an insect. The Mimicking Edderkape can instantly retain words and noises made in moments that suddenly break silence: Screams that break a silent night, or hushed whispers spoken in deep caverns away from prying eyes. As a result of this Edderkape’s have earned a reputation of being spies, witches, and informants, for a criminal to be named an Edderkape is a massive sign of disrespect and a warning that they cannot be entrusted in schemes.
On the other hand, while Edderkapes normally roam, they often only do so in a radius of about 15km, and in knowing this many militia and guard forces have been able to locate lost children, dangerous beasts and ultimately stop several major schemes and heists from taking place. It is not uncommon for town or city militia to have a tracker who knows the local Edderkape population’s movements, and they even sometimes feature them in their regalia or emblems or even use their thick silk for their flags. As a counterpoint to this, some bandit groups and clandestine groups will use the symbols of jackdaws or bluebirds as a symbol as these are natural predators to the spiders.

Plot ideas

- The whispering voices of missing villagers are suddenly being heard around town late at night.
- The local guard have heard rumours on the wind of a large attack on the town.
- A scream shakes the players awake, on investigation it is revealed that a snarling, rabid-infested wolfkin has been snatching away travellers at night.
- Everybody has just realised that the birdsong they’ve been hearing for the last two days has been mimicked by the Edderrkapes, and all the birds have left ahead of a devastating danger that is approaching.
- A local guard reveals that the recent whispers of the Edderkape have revealed that one of the senior guards are not as they seem; Instead replaced by an Outsider — but how far has it spread?

October 17, 2025 at 9:31 AM

Dann Sullivan

@isleofdann.bsky.social

Little pun here, sometimes it's nice to have a completely ignorable thing in a room that can really change things up. Cooldown is optional, but if it wasn't there it'd be like the Deck of Many things and everybody would just do it until they die, right?

#MÖRKTOBER day 11 (Scales)

Cassio’s Weighing Scales

Hanging from a cracked beam is an old iron scale with a small golden bell hanging from it’s centre point. Skeletal remains and discarded equipment almost mask the fact that this was, many many years ago, an administrative outpost for a long-forgotten people. Despite how rundown the ruin is, the scale is in pristine condition - warped by strange seemingly-arbitrary magic.

Once every d4 days, if the bell is rung (through shifts in weight, or otherwise) the scales judge the nearest person — be that 1m or 100m away. If you are the subject of the scales then you roll a d6 and cross reference it against your level. The scale will only work while suspended at this exact point, devaluing the moment it is moved — it can be replaced to restore the link.

October 12, 2025 at 2:58 PM

Dann Sullivan

@isleofdann.bsky.social

#MÖRKTOBER day 10 (Beetle)

Knechtdrömmare - Many gods aren’t born, they simply infect.

The Knechtdrömmare in an extremely territorial, ancient beetle that — if it survives to old age — can wreak havoc on humanoid population centres through taking on hosts to protect itself.
Life Cycle of a Knechtdrömmare
Born in a clutch that has already been abandoned by its parent the infant
Knechtdrömmare fight or scatter. A clutch of 200 can often only see one or two of the beetle survive through to the next life stage.
Knechtdrömmare do not breed with their own pod, and travel great distances to set up for mating. Once they mate (after about 2 years of life) the parents fight and the survivor leaves.
If the Knechtdrömmare survives to five years of life they become so sensitive and territorial that they suffer debilitating headaches if close to another of their kind. At five years they also gain the ability to transfer a bond to a host (Prophet) , often picking the largest species around.
Effects on the host
The host suffers similar headaches, often interpreted as speech and messages. These are sometimes confused with messages from a god. After continued exposure, for about a month, the beetle can pass emotions onto their main host, and start infecting others.
Over the years several patterns have been noted in communities started by Knechtdrömmare:
1) Removal and taming of creatures (to remove predators)
2) Tribalism and war on other Knechtdrömmare factions (hosts feel same chemical hatred to other Knechtdrömmare and their hosts).

October 12, 2025 at 9:46 AM

Dann Sullivan

@isleofdann.bsky.social

I've got some catching up to do! The idea here was something that simply ruins objects/areas to encourage a different kind of play/ineraction and also an easy 'quick quest' if handed off to a villain.

#MÖRKTOBER day 9 (Thorn)

Jape’s Reclaiming Thorn

Every so often somebody thinks they’re really clever and summons a daemon to invent a new spell. Everybody thinks that their stupid spell idea is ‘super foolproof’ and they’re going to outwit the djinn/daemon/trickster-god.
Jape was a royal botanist for King Althard, the eternal king, not long before the calamity. He tired of his work, instead preferring to spend his money, time and focus on sin. Caught up in his vices, he succumbed to the allure of darkness, splitting a rift within the grounds and allowing a flood of darkness to sweep through the castle. The trick, as ever, manifested as a simple play on words to a greedy soul in the exact moment when they are weakest. Within months the castle was on the edge of ruin, until Jape’s contract with the daemon was terminated through a timely interrogation and execution.
You hold in your hands that contract, a scroll that grands command over the limited flora that still blooms willingly.

Jape’s Reclaiming Thorn functions as a scroll.

Its manifested strength is based entirely on the materials and time dedicated to it. If uninterrupted, and additional value is added, the spell may expand in sequence.
60m, 2s: The object becomes thorny and hard to budge.
4hr, 40s: Weeds and plants cling to the object (no bigger than a small house/shed), anchoring to it and weakening it. A landmark might become unrecognisable, the sleeping person might be consumed.
7days, 80s: A (50² building is weathered an eroded as though 100 years have passed. Weeds and invasive species bloom and thrive; What little is left of the (small) building is unrecognisable and unstable

October 11, 2025 at 5:26 PM

Dann Sullivan

@isleofdann.bsky.social

I once misread the "Book: Wizard Fight" prompt from the MB screen as Wizard Monthly. It's become a regular loot item since then, cropping up whenever I get a steady group together. As such, it was really fun actually making it into something with a bit of a purpose here.

#MÖRKTOBER day 8 (Wizard)

In the muddied, splintered crates you find it; The latest edition of Wizard Monthly.

Nobody knows who is publishing and printing these, but every month new ones appear in the most popular taverns and the most obscure towers. Each is chockablock with inane ramblings of various notorious magic users from throughout the land.

Wizard Monthly: A tattered book on magic.

Once a day can be read for one of the below, for a maximum of seven days a month. On the seventh use it bursts into flames, however a new one appears in your satchel on the first day of the following month:

Locate Spellcaster: The GM explains the location of three Spellcasters that may (or may not) be relevant to the players and their quest.

Borrowed Expertise: The GM & player agree on one specific field of science or skill (Botany, scalping, whittling, etc) that would be learned from this month’s edition. They gain +2 in this field until the next sunrise.

Channel Energy: When placing one hand on the book and yelling “Wizard Monthly!”, a jet of 1) Fire, 2) Water, 3) Lightning, 4) Energy, 5) Flesh, 6) Bees hits a target within line-of-sight for 1D10 of damage.

October 8, 2025 at 4:26 PM

Dann Sullivan

@isleofdann.bsky.social

A new friend. A shiny new friend. A friend made of glass.

#MÖRKTOBER day 7 (Shard)

Pit of Hyalosyche

Nobody knows the name of the once thriving metropolis that filled this plain, in fact, if it wasn’t for etchings and stories passed down by generations of travellers, nobody would even know that a city had stood here.
They say that a lunatic zealot came to the lands, the last of their prophet’s flock, and they were so disgusted at the carefree lives of the people that lived here that they called down a thunder and astral storm so great that the entire city, and the zealot, were turned to a fine dust that instantly turned to glass under the pressure.
All that’s left is The Pit of Hyalosyche; An unnatural well that will create an almost identical, glass version of the viewer should they cast an item of religious importance (bishop’s finger, sacred idol, holy scripture, etc) into it.

Hyalosyche:
The Hyalosyche will be of the same stats, level and characteristics as the character they are a copy of — their appearance will be as though they are wearing the same clothes and armour, but are unarmed.
Rather than health, any time the Hyalosyche is hit the player must roll a d6, on a 1-5 the Hyalosyche is not injured by the attack. On a roll of 6 it is destroyed and the damage that would be taken is dealt to all objects and individuals within a 50ft radius as it explodes into shards of glass.

Attacks:
SHARD SWIPE: 2d4 (swipes fingers over opponent) GRATE: (once per day) Everything within 30ft drops their weapons to cover their ears as it rakes its fingers down its chest.

October 8, 2025 at 10:32 AM

Dann Sullivan

@isleofdann.bsky.social

Spent a long time trying to manifest some play on scarecrows, but after spending a lot of time looking at pictures of my family doing maize mazes over the last few years I settled on something a little different.

#MÖRKTOBER day 6 (Husk)

Crops of the Western Wastes

Hardy people require hardy food, and there’s nobody hardier than the various peoples continue to persist, scratching out an existence through the war-torn ruins of The Fourth Empire. Blood and betrayal might make excellent fodder of innocent citizens, but scarred hands needed to till the warped lands to create these scraps of a harvest.

CHARR

An ash-coloured grain that grows atop long shoots. Outer layers must be stripped back to reveal the individual heads which can be boiled, roasted or fried to create a somewhat moist - but not very nourishing - staple food. It’ll keep you alive, but it won’t keep you full.
Husk of Charr has mutated to repel vermin, and can be burned to create
an acrid smoke that scatters most wildlife, but causes eyes to weep and
severe coughing (Sight and Stealth related tests are 2DR harder). A good
way for a bad cook to ruin a campfire.

FATHER’S TEARS

It is said that they only grow where the blood of an innocent has been shed. Once only found in The Forgotten Marches — but now rapidly spreading beyond — these bright blue, teardrop-shaped flowers grow in dozen-strong bunches. For their sad connotation they’re incredibly sweet smelling and fast growing.
Once they’re done growing their flowers form heads. If dried, crushed and smoked you’ll feel no pain. While under the effect of this the user will still roll Toughness tests, however they won’t be shaken or stunned by any negative effects. The user can also add up to three additional damage to their unarmed attacks,
however any damage added this way is also dealt to the user.

October 7, 2025 at 1:28 PM

Dann Sullivan

@isleofdann.bsky.social

Maybe don't just stomp around the place without looking thoroughly before.

#MÖRKTOBER day 5(Stain)

Carcosian Stain

Laying in wait in places where great evil deeds have been committed, the Carrcosian Stain is a terrible sentient rift leading into an unending abyss. It normally subsists on dust, flies and insects, however even the breath of a human can cause it to swell and grow as it claims more and more matter. Many adventurers have met their end through not looking where they are walking, or foolishly feeding corpses into it only to be consumed by it as it balloons in size.

"You cannot kill a Carcosian Stain through violent means, you can only banish it through starvation.” Belthar

A Carcosian Stain is easily identifiable by the sudden appearance of endless, glaring astral light, streaming from a terrifying rupture in the fabric of reality.
Those who view it must test presence (DR14 or sacrifice an omen else become enraptured for five minutes

Grabbed by a Carcosian Stain? If paying attention (not enraptured, sleeping, unconscious or stunned) then test strength (DR14) or be pulled clean in.
If you save then you manage to grab onto the ground or a nearby object and you can be pulled free by another player or ally. If there is nobody to help you then you must immediately test strength (DR12) to escape or be sucked in.
Once in, there are around 10 seconds before the being cannot be saved.
The Carcosian Stain grows 5ft for each average sized human it consumes this way.

It feels not wholly unlike being rapidly claimed by the deepest, coldest reaches of space.

October 5, 2025 at 6:53 PM

Dann Sullivan

@isleofdann.bsky.social

Whoops, fell asleep rather than posting this. Don THE PELT OF GÖTÄRD to test your foe's bravery.

#MÖRKTOBER day 4(Howl)

THE PELT OF GÖTÄRD

Once a day you may don The Pelt of Gotard as a cape. Upon affixing the pelt around your neck, your head almost instantly mutates into that of a rather cheerful looking wolf, complete with massive snout and glinting rows of teeth.
Any sentient human that witnesses this transformation must TEST FOR MORALE with a -1 penalty.

With your new visage you gain several new abilities:
BITE: 1d4 damage and you may specify a body part to target. On your following turn you may attempt to Maul a non-vital bodypart (arm, leg, ear, hand, foot, outer torso), if you do this, note down the number you rolled.
MAUL: You may target the same declared bodypart as you bit on the previous turn. You must roll the same number on a d6, if so, you destroy that bodypart and — within reason — remove the creature you are battling from combat.
HOWL: Specify an enemy and trigger a morale check. If you succeed this still triggers any consecutive morale checks. Roll a D20, if you roll 19-20 a nearby wolf (where wolves would be) appears.

October 5, 2025 at 7:51 AM

Dann Sullivan

@isleofdann.bsky.social

X Marks the Spot - A little mischief, and some extra info for when players inevitably try to launch themselves, or each other, through it.

#MÖRKTOBER day 3 (Daggers)

Ataulf’s Twins

Rumours of aggressive wildlife from the South leads you to ATAULF’S TWINS: Two large metal shards that jut up from the ground, pointing to roughly the same point in the sky. A merchant (Euric) with a trebuchet is selling sundries and offering his slinging services. For 50s he will launch an object of your choosing perfectly between the tips of the twins.

Twice a day, any item thrown between the exact intersecting points of Ataulf’s twins has the following happen to it (d12):

1-3 The item is destroyed
4-6 The item becomes enchanted (Named & +15% value)
7-9 The item is enhanced (Combat/purpose effectiveness increased by one dice roll)
10-12 The item is duplicated

- Guards x4: HP7, Morale 8, Leather Armour -d2, Sword d6.
- Euric has a runner transport his silver every seventh day, so he never has more than 210s with him.
- If players decide to duplicate living things, the duplicate will turn sinister after d4 days at sunfall. After this they will try to kill and replace their original (it’s why Euric has guards). They will play very nice until then.
- The effect only applies to the first thing that passes the threshold. Fire a coin, you may get two coins; Fire a coin purse of 50s, you will have two coin purses, one with 1s and one with 50s inside.
- Yes, the wildlife were duplication gone wrong. If questioned vigorously Euric will reveal he’s only been set up here for two-dozen days, and there was some mischief before his got set up.
- Players can attempt to launch objects themselves but it is a near-impossible task

October 3, 2025 at 11:46 PM

Dann Sullivan

@isleofdann.bsky.social

Little bit of a trend going on with biting and swallowing this year, but, what's more terrible than teeth?

#MÖRKTOBER day 2 (Maw)

TIDEWATCHER'S MAW

Along a jagged coastline several miles North-East of town lies a cavern with a mouth resembles the petrified maw of a gigantic snake. Its position, not far from the coast and looking out towards passing fishermen and seabound scavengers, ensures its reputation.

Fisherfolk and hunters have gone to investigate it, following bloodied tides and body parts washing up on its nearby shore, but none have returned — in fact, the gory debris has only increased in the time since.

INSIDE four CLAMPERS that have grown too large to descend the neck have been gathering together sustenance which they have been ‘trimming’ down until they can fit it down the hole to a now burgeoning colony of the creatures.
Small valuables (random loot) can be collected from the victims once they are defeated.
THE NECK leads through to a narrow cavern a dozen, smaller CLAMPERS now thrive. Nestled at the end is a strange, mangled relic (25s) to a now long-dead god and a priest that summoned this mutation

CLAMPER - Small, bipedal creatures with massive, clam-like heads protruding from tiny necks.
HP: 4
ATTACK: Bite d6, or
LATCH (if not already latched): d4 and Grapple Limb (1: Arm, 2: Leg, 3: Leg, 4: Head).

If rolls the same score on next bite roll, D16 save or tears the limb off. If fails, grip remains until killed.

October 3, 2025 at 8:07 AM

Dann Sullivan

@isleofdann.bsky.social

ARTIS (City Zoo) Amsterdam

Little blue (with black freckles) frog looking out over their leafy kingdom

A particularly proud looking simian balancing on a rope between trees, staring straight at the camera - tail curled to compensate for weight.

A close-up of a (already quite large) grasshopper as it suspends itself upside-down from a clipped, thorny stalk

Four otters walking as a pack toward something off to the left of the camera. The one at the back is looking directly at the camera while the others are looking exactly where they are walking.

October 1, 2025 at 4:07 PM

Dann Sullivan

@isleofdann.bsky.social

Amateur hour here as I write from an Airport w/ only my phone to hand. (Will refine, rewrite & reformat through the week)

#MÖRKTOBER day 1 (Frog)

Croaker’s Potion: (10s to hags, ne’er-do-wells or other malevolent or mischievous beings) On consumption, roll d6.

1-3: After next long rest, becomes a small frog (tiny in size), evasive and compact, great for sneaking and thieving, albeit quite tempting to desperate hunters and hungry foxes
4-6: After next long rest, transforms into a massive frog (10m high - 6m wide) with hunger and abrasive tongue to boot. Tongue (d6) will grapple on (additional) roll of 4-6 and on next turn can consume the grappled object.

May grapple and consume up to three medium creatures or objects this way every five hours. Potion wears off after 15 hours or, at will.

Creatures may be passed from the mouth, at will (now unconscious) within the three hours. Anything still consumed when the potion wears off is lost forever.

October 1, 2025 at 3:01 PM

Dann Sullivan

@isleofdann.bsky.social

Amsterdam botanical gardens

Close-up of an orange butterfly atop a small yellow flower

I have no idea what this plant is, it looks like a coconut but the outer layers peel back into large petals. It extends from a stalk that grows out from itself like a textured rope

Pink Dahlia in the foreground, overlapping (breaking pattern petal at the top.

Large plants growing upwards amid a three-story glasshouse with metal structures against a blue sky. A man sits in the foreground, reading.

September 29, 2025 at 5:59 PM

Dann Sullivan

@isleofdann.bsky.social

Zwanenburg sunset by the Sugar Factory

Photo taken towards sunset, distant towers in the skyline, pocket of red sky between clouds and horizon

Sugar factory over the nearby body of water. Hot red sky between clouds clouds, reflected alongside silhouettes. Slightly tilted angle

Museum, facia lit up, alongside tree. Perfectly reflected in water. The moon between them, on the surface.

September 28, 2025 at 5:53 PM

Dann Sullivan

@isleofdann.bsky.social

Welcoming a new family member

April 4, 2025 at 2:10 PM

Dann Sullivan

@isleofdann.bsky.social

Milan trip highlights including one grumpy dude (not me) and a cat cafe!

Jupiter and I atop the Duomo, Milan’s skyline and The Alps in the background

Two very cool cats (actual cats, not a pun) in a cat cafe, lots of fluffy cat plushies in the background. In the distant foreground a Cafe still & counter

A grumpy red fish guy, I can’t remember the species but he’s got a big head, loads of lumpy textures and what looks like a massive, frog-like overbite

The Arch of Peace. I think we walked past this at least two dozen times.

April 3, 2025 at 11:40 AM

Dann Sullivan

@isleofdann.bsky.social

Despite the chaos getting back from GDC (Flight cancelled 4hrs into the flight) we’re getting back on a plane!

Jupiter and I, walking down a flight bridge to a plane.

March 29, 2025 at 6:12 PM

Dann Sullivan

@isleofdann.bsky.social

Incredibly proud of Robin and Amelia who both made it into a local art gallery with their art. They are so talented, I remain in awe of them.

Amelia’s bubble art alongside other pictures.

Robin’s sunset art alongside other pictures.

February 12, 2025 at 4:52 PM

Dann Sullivan

@isleofdann.bsky.social

We went to the coolest Mongolian Hot Pot place for a super cool date. Jupiter’s the best and I love every moment with her - but these little dates are super special and I don’t think I’ll ever forget today.

Jupiter looking at two hella flavourful broths, loads of meat and stuff nearby!

February 12, 2025 at 4:47 PM

Dann Sullivan

@isleofdann.bsky.social

I’m at #PGconnects on the Journalist Bar, if you’re there and have a game to show off then head on over and have a chat!

(Floor 1 opposite the Indie Zone)

Pocket Gamer Connects London main building signage

Crowded indie zone at Pocket Gamer Connects London

External shot of the approach to the main PGCL building

It’s Stephen, my deputy editor, at the Journalist Bar.

January 20, 2025 at 12:13 PM

Dann Sullivan

@isleofdann.bsky.social

Finally got the regular Charizard and finished the first Pokemon TCG Pocket expansion set.

Normal (Charizard) booster; Eevee, Gillette, Farfetch’d, Pawniadd and the normal, non-special Charizard card

“Genetic Apex. Congratulations! You’ve collected every (diamond) card in this expansion”

A screen showing the first screen of cards in the expansion and the rewards you get for completing the set

January 12, 2025 at 9:28 AM

Dann Sullivan

@isleofdann.bsky.social

Evening walk around Kentwell House as the final sign off for a season of light shows and night walks. Not explored the grounds since my school took me there on a trip about Tudors - was lovely going back.