Guardians of the Forests: The Rhine Tribunal

Ars Magica 5th edition #AG0276

by Andrew P. Smith, Mark Shirley

Guardians of the Forests details the birthplace of the Order of Hermes, Mythic Germany. From the sinister faerie heights of the Black Forest, home to Durenmar, through the prosperous and venerable cities of the Rhineland, to the fog-ridden Harz Mountains, to the lowland plain and Crintera's island retreat on the Baltic coast, the northern Holy Roman Empire is a diverse landscape of countless magical and faerie forests, interspersed with a patchwork of powerful realms, where prince-bishops vie with dukes and merchant gilds for temporal power. This is the land of the epic Nibelungenlied, the heroic conquests of Charlemagne and Frederick Barbarossa, the miracles of St. Boniface, the splendour of the Imperial Cathedrals, the gifts of minstrels and wood-wives, and the curses of witches and the Wild Hunt.

Guardians of the Forests reveals the many unique traditions of the First Tribunal, its archaic politics and lost glories, its reverence for its founders and its woodlands, the workings of the Great Library of Durenmar, and the secrets of those who pursue obscure wilderness paths in search of the primal power of the Forest. The richness of the German landscape is fully explored, replete with numerous story and saga ideas. The region of the Rhine Gorge receives a special focus -- its lost covenants, vis sources, sites of legend, towns, castles, inhabitants, and a mysterious curse are all detailed -- providing a perfect location to jump-start an Ars Magica 5th Edition saga.

Genres: Role Playing Games

144 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2005

Reviews

[Matthew J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't particularly have interest in Germany as a setting for Ars Magica, but "Guardians of the Forest" definitely won me over. The book is packed with information, character & story ideas, and useful bits for someone who might want to run or play in this tribunal.
There's a lot going on, and a lot of options for different styles of play. This would be useful for anyone who's thinking about running a game in Germany, and would have a lot of good stuff if your game were to take place in neighboring tribunals, too.