The Yellow Book of Brechewold

A significant departure from the typical Lamentations of the Flame Princess horror-fest, The Yellow Book of Brechewold dials down the gore and tunes into a gentler wavelength. The standard 17^th century setting is replaced by a medieval one, and the players are students at a school of wizardry rather than grown-up adventurers. Has Lamentations gone soft? Who cares! They make great books, and this is one of them.

Setting a Lamentations adventure in a Medieval, Harry Potter-style school might seem a bit incongruous, except for the fact that the standard setting is one of weird fantasy. Many Lamentations adventures are mini-settings in themselves, and Brechewold is no different. Have your players walk through a magic mirror, and there they are, in Brechewold.

As the blurb indicates, it’s what you would get if you smooshed the tales of Harry Potter with King Arthur and added a modest handful of magic mushrooms. This concoction might take you just about anywhere: it’s your trip. Brechewold accommodates a lighter style of play, but can easily turn dark if that’s what you and your players prefer.

Players start as children studying in the magic college located in Castle Brechewold, but needn’t worry about studying or passing tests. Rather, they develop relationships with the teachers there, who give information about people and places in, under, and around the college.

Players then trot off to explore whatever takes their fancy. And there’s a lot to explore: the castle itself, the dungeon under it and the forest surrounding them both. There are secrets, intrigue, danger, puzzles, traps, weirdness, and wonder to be found at every turn. Also, scary things that might kill you.

The cast of characters in the castle is particularly charming, and ripe for some entertaining roleplay. They have their own motivations and don’t always get along, which can be fun. There are interesting denizens in the other areas too. In fact, Merlin can be found somewhere, as well as a range of interesting characters, human and otherwise.

GMs will be pleased with the quality of the book, the high production standards and the lovely watercolour illustrations (done by the author). Clocking in at 160 pages, there’s enough material for months of play and, at the end of it all, the PCs will be all grown up. Or dead. What more could you ask for?

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If you’re interested in Lamentations adventures, take a look at Magic Eater, The Pale Lady, The Yellow book of Brechewold, or Lamentations of the Gingerbread Princess. All dogs go to Hell is free on Drivethrurpg.

Resource books include the Core Rulebook and Mayhemic Missile Method, and The Works of John Williams.