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In Second edition, there was a magus mentioned called Pendule. He refused to join the Order, but met with some members in secret, teaching them his techniques. The key sentence is that his magic was more sensual than Hermetic magic. He expected the magic to change the magus, not be dominated by the magus, as…

This week, we continue our charge through the Pentamerone. Thanks again to Joy Chan for her recording. I’ll be popping in with bits of folklore, and a surprising amount of culinary lore. XXIII: THE TWO CAKES In the penguin edition, the word “pizza” is used wherever “cake” is used here. It’s not a modern pizza,…

And here we see Venice’s absolutely stupidest causus beli. Literally ever. It starts six years before the game period, and ends four years before, so a new group of magi might meet at a gathering held to watch the festivities. During his dogado a year of Jubilee was appointed by the Pope—1214—in thankfulness for the…

A short episode this week, to fill the hole caused when two episodes went live last week. This is a weaker section of Staley, but a necessary one for a few reasons. It covers the game period for Ars Magica. It lists the industries which the magical skills hide behind. It contains a terrible sin…

A long episode this time, to cover an arc in the novel. We start with a truly excellent description of the “Way of the Woods” virtue. I won’t be inculcating a lot of comments this time. Here we are seeing the plot pay out the bits of folklore Dunsany has collected up in earlier chapters.…

In this little fragment of The Dogaressas of Venice, Edgecumb Staley gives the origin of Venetian lace weaving. There’s an idea I’ve had in earlier writing for the podcast, although not so much in the formal line, that the representation of a thing grants a weak material bonus related to that thing. So, if a…

Welcome to one of the longest, and sweariest, episodes of Games From Folktales If you usually listen in with small children nearby, you’ll want to skip this one. The Neapolitans nobles are still indulging in their great love for potty humour, but things also get violent in these stories. XX: THE STONE IN THE COCK’S…

I’m a huge fan of Clark Ashton Smith, but have not been able to record his material for two reasons. First, he died after the US public domain year, which prevents me using his work. Second, TSR had a license for his work, and even used in in Dungeons and Dragons. It’s in X2 Castle…

This trio of stories doesn’t need a lot of work. I shall, therefore, laze about and let you listen, breaking in for minor notes. XVII: CANNETELLA It is an evil thing to seek for better than wheaten bread, for a man comes at last to desire what others throw away, and must content himself with…

We’ve covered this ritual in City and Guild, but time for some extra material. I thought this ritual was a pagan survival, but no, it was begun by the Pope himself. Ah, Catholics, doing pagan-sounding things right up until you research. We’ve reached the dogado of Sebastian Ziani. He’s from the richest family in Venice,…