Ancient #RPGaDAY2025

 The random results of today random rolls inspire me to talk about the novel Vahtek, written by William Beckford in 1782,  its an epic narrative of ancient times that features several characters and creatures that can easily be added to our games.

In Vahtek, we are presented with another example of the typical fable of the inevitable punishment that sinful and evil people will suffer. However, the way in which the characters' actions are carried out and the wealth of lore shared about the Muslim faith the Middle Eastern cultures and their mythology greatly enrich the reading experience. Additionally the narrative is carried out in a lighthearted manner, allowing us to travel between actions at a rapid pace. 

Personally, I loved it.

The story offers a variety of lessons. On the one hand, its structure appears linear but is deceptive, since before the halfway point it seems inevitable that the narrative will come to an end. but that does not happen. The main character fails, and upon failing, must take a long and arduous detour to try again to succeed in the main mission, something quite common in role-playing games, where secondary plots repeatedly steal the players' attention in the middle of a campaign and sometimes strayaway from the path never to return.

In the story, the protagonist is a completely fickle character, guided by his selfish desires, which explains why he seems to be stumbling around the region where the narrative takes place. I think that adds a lot to a certain human factor; people do that throughout their lives, having a plan, a goal, and then stumbling around everywhere.

A variety of creatures and brief descriptions of impressive settings are another element that can be easily drawn from Vathek. Some examples:

-The Caliph and Nouronihar beheld each other with amazement, at finding themselves in a place which, though roofed with a vaulted ceiling, was so spacious and lofty, that at first they took it for an immeasurable plain.  But their eyes at length growing to the grandeur of the objects at hand, they extended their view to those at a p. 138distance, and discovered rows of columns and arcades, which gradually diminished, till they terminated in a point, radiant as the sun, when he darts his last beams athwart the ocean.  The pavement, strewed over with gold dust and saffron, exhaled so subtile an odour, as almost overpowered them.  They, however, went on, and observed an infinity of censers, in which ambergris and the wood of aloes were continually burning.  Between the several columns were placed tables, each spread with a profusion of viands, and wines of every species, sparkling in vases of chrystal.  A throng of Genii, and other phantastic spirits, of each sex, danced lasciviously in troops, at the sound of music which issued from beneath.

-He then conducted them into a long aisle adjoining the tabernacle, preceding them with hasty steps, and followed by his disciples with the utmost alacrity.  They reached at length a hall of great extent, and covered with a lofty dome, around which appeared fifty portals of bronze, secured with as many fastenings of iron.  A funereal gloom prevailed over the whole scene.  Here, upon two beds of incorruptible cedar, lay recumbent the fleshless forms of the preadimite kings, who had been monarchs of the whole earth.  They still possessed enough of life to be conscious of their deplorable condition.  Their eyes retained a melancholy motion; they regarded each other with looks of the deepest dejection, each holding his right hand motionless on his heart. 

The writing style makes my legs tremble, which reminds me of an obvious but brilliant piece of advice:

 -every storyteller, DM, or person interested in conveying stories should read widely and read all kinds of literature. By expanding your inner world, it becomes easier to provide meaningful narratives about all those adventures and battles we have stored in our heads.