project-image

Monster Kingdoms

Created by Onyx Path

A fantasy TTRPG world where the monsters we fear are the rulers, and we are the monsters.

Latest Updates from Our Project:

Our journey has come to an end! [Travelogue #12]
9 months ago – Thu, Sep 25, 2025 at 11:00:23 AM

Hello Mosnters,

We've named our sceptres! We've captured our crowns! We've claimed our kingdoms! The Monster Kingdoms!

Thanks to the support of 766 backers, Onyx Path will be able to develop PDF and print versions of Monster Kingdoms!


There's more to celebrate! Not only did we fund the project on the first day, we unlocked SIX Stretch Goals over the campaign. We defeated every challenge that was laid out in front of us!





Achieved! - At $20,000 - NEW ADD ON: STORYGUIDE SCREEN

NEW ADD ON: STORYGUIDE SCREEN - A three-panel Storyguide Reference Screen with charts and information for running a Monster Kingdoms game will be created and offered as an Add On to any hardcover reward tiers for +$25.

Achieved! - At $30,000 - READY-MADE CHARACTERS PDF

READY-MADE CHARACTERS PDF - Do you want to game but your players aren’t sure what to play? Looking for inspiration to get you into the world of Monster Kingdoms? These five characters cover a range of Kingdoms, Mantles, and Dusks are ready to make their mark in the Monster Kingdoms! This PDF will be added to the rewards list of all backers receiving the Monster Kingdoms PDF as one of their rewards.



Achieved! - At $32,000 - BACKER SHIRT DESIGN

BACKER SHIRT DESIGN - A Monster Kingdoms-themed Backer shirt will be hosted on Onyx Path’s Redbubble store for a limited time. Backers will be notified when the shirt becomes available for purchase.

Achieved! - At $35,000 - JUMPSTART PDF

MONSTER KINGDOMS JUMPSTART PDF - A basic rules overview and a starting scenario will be added to the Ready-Made Characters PDF, expanding it to a full Monster Kingdoms Jumpstart PDF supplement. Everything you need to kick off your own story in the Monster Kingdoms in one PDF that will be added to the rewards list of all backers receiving the Monster Kingdoms PDF as one of their rewards.



Achieved! - At $37,000 - DIGITAL WALLPAPER

MONSTER KINGDOMS DIGITAL WALLPAPER - Marvelous Monster Kingdoms artwork will be used to create a wallpaper for your computer desktop. This digital wallpaper will be added to the rewards list of all backers supporting this project.

Achieved! - At $41,000 - VTT TOKEN PACK

VTT TOKEN PACK - Digital assets will be created to support online play for Monster Kingdoms, including key character and creature tokens from the book. This online asset pack will be added to the rewards list of all backers.


So a huge congratulations to Matthew and the team on this project, and to all of the backers who've joined in to make this possible. I'm happy about the goals we hit and rewards we introduced, but I'm also always amazed and excited about having more than 760 backers join in to support this weird and wonderful game!



COMMUNICATION

So, as noted in today's earlier update, starting in about a month I'll be sending out updates once a month and whenever we've got a new goal, survey, or other item to cover. If you have any questions or need clarification on something related to the campaign, feel free to get in touch. I may take a bit to answer as I recover from these past four weeks and take some time to unwind and clean up my desk!

I'll also see if I can sneak a compiled draft manuscript out to you in a week or two. Nothing changed, just smashed together in order.


TO CONTACT ME

  • Via E-Mail: Onyx.Kickstarter [at] gmail.com
  • Via BackerKit: Click "Need Help?" from your forthcoming survey page, and then fill in the Contact Us form. BackerKit will pass your message along to me.

ONYX PATH DISCUSSION CHANNELS

If you've got questions about the rules or setting, or just want to discuss this game with other fans (as well as the Onyx Path writers and developers!), you can check out these Onyx Path discussion zones:


Backers make it better! Now, get ready to march into the Monster Kingdoms!


BUT... even as our campaign is complete and we look upon a promising new phase of our adventure, not all journeys come to such a positive conclusion! The Monster Kingdoms are aptly named, and peril hides around every corner. 


Monster Kingdoms Travelogue

Our journey so far...



XII: Suffocated Hope

I write this in haste and apologize for the unintelligible scrawl. I had naively assumed that after all I had witnessed and experienced, a kingdom of uncivilized, raiding and drooling orcs would pose little threat to me. 

I am a crownbearer. I still hold my sceptre. I am fearful, as established in Iom, but I am brave with it. Yet never before have I seen such toil and suffering. I thought the empire was cruel to its subjects. Here, subjects are literally fed into machines and mills to help grease the gears. Here, goblinoids are master artisans, but only for so long as their hands and digits function as desired. After their purpose is served, they are deployed in mines and never again see the (dim) light of day.

The orcs are no better, and they hold command in this kingdom. Smithing and smelting, crafting and training. They militarily drill repeatedly, night and day. You cannot cross the land without breathing in toxic fumes and almost stumbling blindly into an open mineshaft or the open doors of a giant furnace. The orcs here are addicted to conflict. They fight interlopers like myself, and where we’re not visible, they fight each other.

One orc — slightly more lucid than her peers — explained it’s rare and dishonorable for any being of Krr’szch to live longer than 25 years. What misery!

I must stress again that I write this in haste. Straighose Balikossus (a feared commander here in the delightfully named city of Lygmunt) issued a warrant for my immediate capture, and I have spotted more than four squads of Krr’szchians hunting for me close to my present location. 

I do not believe I will escape this one, nor will I overpower quite so many armed gauntlets and marauders. I witnessed a crownbearer among them, a wreath of tall, curling horns above his head. He sweeps the air with a jagged greatsword, which sends his foes flying apart in pieces.

Despite my proximity to the Kingdom of Dys I do not believe I will make the border. Therefore, I choose to take drastic action. I hate to part with you, my dear reader, but I will be placing you safely here, in this hollow wall. If all is well and I survive or return with allies, I shall recover you, or dispatch someone else to do so. I am heartened that at least archlich Khufu has been able to see everything I have seen, and hear everything I have heard. That is what he told me. I have felt his protection in every place until now. Now, he feels curiously absent.

I must finish this entry. Tis time to bolt for the border, and if not the border, then my glorious doom.

Dear reader, I thank you.


What an ending! I hope that Domina Neferkare has underestimated the chances of survival and will live on to write another day!

But now the Monster Kingdoms story is yours! Create your characters, name your sceptre, and claim your crown! And begin your own journey across the Monster Kingdoms!

FINAL HOURS: CHECKLIST & WHAT COMES NEXT
9 months ago – Thu, Sep 25, 2025 at 04:57:06 AM

Hello Monsters,

Welcome to the final hours of this campaign! We've had a fun run - funding the book, following along with the travelogue, adding more than 700 backers to our legion, unlocking all of the Stretch Goals!

That's right! We smashed this one as we head into our final hours!



ACHIEVED! - At $41,000 - VTT TOKEN PACK

VTT TOKEN PACK - Digital assets will be created to support online play for Monster Kingdoms, including key character and creature tokens from the book. This online asset pack will be added to the rewards list of all backers.

Our final mission before the end is to finish strong ... and bring Domina Neferkare's journey to a conclusion. We'll get the final travelogue entry before our time ends! 

The most important part of this campaign, though, is that we have successfully funded this project! Thanks to everyone who's come out to support this campaign, we'll be getting this cool book!



FINAL DAY CHECKLIST

Whether you're just setting out to make a name for yourself and build your legion or a seasoned warleader with a fiery crown returning after a victory, these are some good topics to review over these final hours...

1.  KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SUPPORTING

A plethora of videos, interviews, articles and more for you to check out to learn more about this game


Backers can read the entire current draft of the manuscript <HERE>. Please make sure you read the manuscript before the campaign concludes so you know exactly what you're pledging to support.


2. PLEDGE TIERS and ADD ONS

This update breaks down your best starting point for figuring out which Backer Reward Tier to choose to help support this project in a way that works for you.

The first decision you need to make is what form your rewards will take. Do you want your main rewards in digital form and are going for the PDF rulebook? Or do you have space on your shelf for the hardcover book? Or, better yet, do you go all in with the limited deluxe edition?  (Note - both hardcover versions include the PDF as a bonus!).

ELF

Not ready to commit, or just looking to offer general support? This pledge tier is for you. This does not include our primary reward, but allows you to select some digital optional Add Ons, as well as participate in the post-campaign Pledge Manager as a backer. You'll also be able to read the draft manuscript of Monster Kingdoms that we post throughout this campaign.

WRAITH

This is the PDF-only reward tier. So, if you're saving trees or saving shelf space - or avoiding the ever-increasing shipping charges - this is the reward tier option that you should begin with. The PDF will be fulfilled by our partners at DriveThruRPG.com - when it is ready, you will receive a link to add it to your DTRPG library at no cost for you to download at your leisure.

DWARF

This reward tier includes the standard hardcover version of this book. Shipping costs ARE NOT included in the cost of your pledge. You will be charged for shipping after the campaign through the pledge manager. In addition, this option also includes the PDF version, so you will get a digital copy as described above.

DRAGONKIN

This reward tier includes the limited edition deluxe version of Monster Kingdoms hardcover book, with a leatherette cover, special cover design, and bound-in silk bookmark. Shipping costs ARE NOT included in the cost of your pledge. You will be charged for shipping after the campaign through the pledge manager.  In addition, this option also includes the PDF version, so you will get a digital copy as described above.

ADD-ON OPTIONS -  The other half of our Reward Tiers update, including information on the second step of pledging. There are a few Add On options that you can add as part of your pledging process, including the World Below and At the Gates rulebook PDFs. Since At The Gates is still in the pre-order phase, you'll get the draft manuscript for that one until the Backer PDF becomes available.

ADD ON selections will be available in the post-campaign Pledge Manager as well.

SO: Ensure that you've selected the Reward Tier you want, and select any Add On options you wish to include. AND - make sure that you are comfortable with the Pledge amount, in terms of it covering everything you want and the affordability of the pledge at this moment!


I'm going to speak against my own self interest for a moment, and repeat something I say at the end of every campaign - 2025 has been pretty wild so far, and there's even more uncertainty ahead. Ensure that your circumstances enable you to afford this pledge at this moment - BackerKit will begin processing payments late tonight after the campaign ends and neither Onyx Path nor I have any involvement in that process. If you are unsure of your financial situation but don't want to miss out, please pledge for a tier you can afford right now and know that you will be able to upgrade to open pledge levels in our post-campaign Pledge Manager for some time before the book is completed. There are no refunds for regret, and the funds raised start being spent immediately on paying for the work done thus far and the additional work ahead plus the projects unlocked via Stretch Goal. So please be financially responsible.

  • Choose a Reward Tier You Can Afford
  • Read the Manuscripts and Make Sure You Know What You're Getting
  • Be Aware of the Projected Delivery Date (Onyx Path will try to deliver earlier than this, but the book will take some time to get perfect, and we're dealing with an imperfect world. Schedules sometimes go awry)

3. PAYMENT AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Once you're comfortable with your pledge, please ensure that the payment and contact information in your BackerKit account is up to date and correct. Making sure your e-mail is entered correctly and your credit card isn't expired will speed up the next step process. (I have learned from experience!)




4. OVERTIME MODE

Overtime Mode extends the campaign past its original end time to give backers a final chance to make their pledge and adds an interesting twist to the end of the campaign. How long will it extend? That’s entirely up to backers: The campaign will keep going for an additional 10 minutes as long as pledges keep coming in – a chain of back-to-back pledges is called the Backer Train. The campaign will end only when the Backer Train stops after a period of 10 minutes passing without any pledges.

You’ll know we’re in Overtime Mode when the campaign’s Backer Train counter displays a bright rainbow border and a new countdown that resets to 10 minutes after each new backer joins that final Backer Train ride.

So, we've scheduled the campaign to conclude on September 25th at 2:00 PM Eastern Time, but it'll be extended in 10 minute chunks as long as backers keep pledging. Will we add an extra 10 minutes? An extra 20? Or will it all finish up as planned? Who knows, but we'll find out together! Rally the troops!

WHAT COMES NEXT?


5. AFTER THE CAMPAIGN ENDS

First, we celebrate. The campaign page will subtly change, locking out the ability to pledge and showing the final totals. We'll give socially-distanced high fives and digital fist bumps in the Community section and over on Discord.

Then, the BackerKit payment process begins. Starting late tonight and continuing over the next week, Backerkit will begin charging your payment methods for the total amount you've pledged.

If there is an issue with your payment method (expired credit card or incorrect number or pre-paid Visa awaiting funds, for example), BackerKit will keep trying to process payment during this time.

Once this step is done, which will likely be by early October, BackerKit will confirm everything with Onyx Path and I can begin to set up the project in the Pledge Manager and load in all of the campaign data.



In addition to providing the crowdfunding platform for this campaign, BackerKit is also Onyx Path's regular Pledge Manager partner.

BackerKit provides a robust fulfillment integration and pledge management program that will allow us to work with all of the data and distribute the rewards to you. It will take me about a month to set the project up. Once I've got it all entered and built, the team from BackerKit will review to ensure I didn't mess anything up too badly, and then I'll make any changes they've suggested and we can move on to the Survey stage.

6. BACKERKIT SURVEYS

Once BackerKit says I'm good to go, I will send out a survey to all backers. This is why confirming your e-mail is important!

The BackerKit survey is both a verb and a noun - it will collect data for the analysis of some aspect of a group (enabling Onyx Path to set schedules, prioritize new projects, and fine-tune future campaigns), as well as providing a general review or summary of the reward tier you've chosen, confirm all of the rewards associated with that reward tier, and confirm your total pledge amount.

I expect Surveys to go out before November 2025.

During the Survey period, you can choose to increase your reward tier and add on additional options. If you've found $20 in your spring coat or found an alternate income source and decide it's time to trade up to the hardcover edition or Deluxe Edition tiers or include another add-on, you can do so at this time. Note, you will not be able to reduce your reward tier selection, only increase.

If you selected Add On options, they'll be added to your reward list automatically.

Note that you'll be able to upgrade your pledge tier for quite some time - until we're getting ready to distribute the hardcover books and know the shipping costs. So don't feel pressure to have it all figured out right away - we'll make sure there's plenty of time to get it all sorted before the books go out.

I'll also use the Survey to confirm details for the premium reward tiers.

7. REWARD DISTRIBUTION

Once the surveys are up and running, I'll prepare fulfillment for the existing rewards - the Add On options that are all currently available, like the World Below core rulebook PDF, and the At the Gates draft manuscript. Depending on how smoothly the Pledge Manager process goes, those should be out fairly soon after the survey stage starts. So, let's say the existing PDF rewards will be out to you by mid-November. That's only the beginning, though.

This is a long process, but I will send out regular updates (usually at the end of the month) to keep you up to speed on Onyx Path's progress. There will be strings of updates that are just "still working on it," but I will share new artwork or information when I can.

Eventually, we will have a completed PDF of Monster Kingdoms. Onyx Path will take some time to distribute, review, and compile any errata or corrections that need to be made. When they've made any necessary changes, they'll make an updated version of the PDF available in your DriveThruRPG digital library and then begin creating print-ready files for the Print-on-Demand hardcover version.

It's yet another long road ahead, likely full of twists and turns and surprises, but one that we wouldn't be undertaking if not for your ongoing support.

So - one final time - please spread the word to any potential backers and fans, and thanks so much for a great campaign!



Final Day Review - Stretch Goals
9 months ago – Wed, Sep 24, 2025 at 09:27:52 AM

Hello Monsters,

We're closing in on the final 24 hours of the campaign as I prepare this post. Within this final day,  I wanted to review some important topics, most especially our current Stretch Goal situation. Let's get to the review!



We're in the Final Days countdown for this Crowdfunding campaign. Monster Kingdoms finishes the crowdfunding campaign on September 25th at 2:00 PM EDT. There's still time to capture a crown, but we're definitely getting closer to the finish line. With that in mind, I wanted to touch on some of the basics over these final three days to make sure everyone has the information they need to support this project in the way that works best for them.

Final Week Program


Whether you're just setting out to make a name for yourself and build your legion or a seasoned warleader with a fiery crown returning after a victory, these are some good topics to review over this week to make sure we all end up where we want to be.

(An aside, if you're a new backer, make sure you check out our Final Week Countdown / Resource Update. It has links to the manuscript previews,  youtube videos, our travelogue, and other helpful information.)



Refresher Course
Note for New Backers: Please check out the updates listed above. There's a lot of information there that will be important to know about before the end, like which books are included in our pledges for this campaign and what additional Add On options exist. Plus, you can read the entire draft manuscript before the end of the campaign and any pledges are processed.

Note for Since-the-Start Backers: It's probably a good idea to review that stuff as well. Never hurts to make sure you haven't missed anything! 

We've had, and will have, a bunch of new backers join in during these last days. I want to take a moment to highlight some key Update posts that new backers may want to check out (and existing backers may want to read as a refresher!).

MANUSCRIPT PREVIEW - As noted, the complete Preview Manuscript for the book is available for you to review prior to the conclusion of the campaign. If you're a backer, you'll have access to this preview manuscript after the campaign. Remember, though, there are still some minor edits, development and proofing that need to be done, but you can consider it most of the way there and a good representation of what you'll get in the final book. Making the manuscript available for review before the campaign ends ensures that everyone knows exactly what our goal is - making this book - and are on board with our aims for this project. Thanks for your support, we're all in this together!

PLEDGE TIERS - This update breaks down your best starting point for figuring out which Backer Reward Tier to choose to help support this project in a way that works for you.

The main reward offered in this campaign is, of course, the main goal of the entire proposition: the finished book for Monster Kingdoms. The first decision you need to make is what form your rewards will take. Do you want your main rewards in digital form and are going for the PDF rulebook? Or do you have space on your shelf for the hardcover book? Or, better yet, do you go all in with the limited deluxe edition?  (Note - both hardcover versions include the PDF as a bonus!).

With that decision in mind, we've got four key reward tiers to choose from:

WRAITH

This is the PDF-only reward tier. So, if you're saving trees or saving shelf space - or avoiding the ever-increasing shipping charges - this is the reward tier option that you should begin with. The PDF will be fulfilled by our partners at DriveThruRPG.com - when it is ready, you will receive a link to add it to your DTRPG library at no cost for you to download at your leisure.

DWARF

This reward tier includes the standard hardcover version of this book. Shipping costs ARE NOT included in the cost of your pledge. You will be charged for shipping after the campaign through the pledge manager. In addition, this option also includes the PDF version, so you will get a digital copy as described above

DRAGONKIN

This reward tier includes the limited edition deluxe version of Monster Kingdoms hardcover book, with a leatherette cover, special cover design, and bound-in silk bookmark. Shipping costs ARE NOT included in the cost of your pledge. You will be charged for shipping after the campaign through the pledge manager.  In addition, this option also includes the PDF version, so you will get a digital copy as described above.

ELF

Not ready to commit, or just looking to offer general support? This pledge tier is for you. This does not include our primary reward, but allows you to select some digital optional Add Ons, as well as participate in the post-campaign Pledge Manager as a backer. You'll also be able to read the draft manuscript of Monster Kingdoms that we post throughout this campaign.

ADD-ON OPTIONS -  The other half of our Reward Tiers update, including information on the second step of pledging. There are a few Add On options that you can add as part of your pledging process, including the World Below and At the Gates rulebook PDFs. Since At The Gates is still in the pre-order phase, you'll get the draft manuscript for that one until the Backer PDF becomes available.

Choose Wisely

Choosing the correct Reward Tier for your desired rewards, and then filling in any "gaps" with add-ons, ensures that you'll be claiming all of your desired rewards as a thank you for supporting this project and bringing this world to life.

Remember, your PLEDGE AMOUNT is equal to your REWARD TIER + ADD ONS. You will also be able to select Add On options in the Pledge Manager after the campaign, but remember that only funds added during the campaign count towards Stretch Goal funding targets.

Also to note, only those who participate during the campaign are able to have Stretch Goal rewards added automatically to their rewards lists. If you're waiting to pre-order at a later time, it's better to pledge to the Elf tier now and then simply upgrade your pledge later to include these bonus rewards.

Tomorrow I'll be posting one further "Final Day" update, covering What Happens Next and outlining what to expect once the campaign ends.

But until then, let's review our Stretch Goal success story!


Over the past 27 (or is it 28?) days as we've worked through this campaign, we've not only funded the book but unlocked five fearsome Stretch Goals! That's right - we unlocked a Stretch Goal that was just announced in Tuesday's update!





Achieved! - NEW ADD ON: STORYGUIDE SCREEN

NEW ADD ON: STORYGUIDE SCREEN - A three-panel Storyguide Reference Screen with charts and information for running a Monster Kingdoms game will be created and offered as an Add On to any hardcover reward tiers for +$25.

Achieved! - READY-MADE CHARACTERS PDF

READY-MADE CHARACTERS PDF - Do you want to game but your players aren’t sure what to play? Looking for inspiration to get you into the world of Monster Kingdoms? These five characters cover a range of Kingdoms, Mantles, and Dusks are ready to make their mark in the Monster Kingdoms! This PDF will be added to the rewards list of all backers receiving the Monster Kingdoms PDF as one of their rewards.



Achieved! - BACKER SHIRT DESIGN

BACKER SHIRT DESIGN - A Monster Kingdoms-themed Backer shirt will be hosted on Onyx Path’s Redbubble store for a limited time. Backers will be notified when the shirt becomes available for purchase.

Achieved! - JUMPSTART PDF

MONSTER KINGDOMS JUMPSTART PDF - A basic rules overview and a starting scenario will be added to the Ready-Made Characters PDF, expanding it to a full Monster Kingdoms Jumpstart PDF supplement. Everything you need to kick off your own story in the Monster Kingdoms in one PDF that will be added to the rewards list of all backers receiving the Monster Kingdoms PDF as one of their rewards.



Achieved! - DIGITAL WALLPAPER

MONSTER KINGDOMS DIGITAL WALLPAPER - Marvelous Monster Kingdoms artwork will be used to create a wallpaper for your computer desktop. This digital wallpaper will be added to the rewards list of all backers supporting this project.


Five Stretch Goals is pretty good, and I actually thought we'd be unlocking that final one just before we ended tomorrow! So, while we still have 26 ... 25 ... hours to go, let's see if we can maybe sneak one more in there!



At $41,000 - VTT TOKEN PACK

VTT TOKEN PACK - Digital assets will be created to support online play for Monster Kingdoms, including key character and creature tokens from the book. This online asset pack will be added to the rewards list of all backers.

We're in a good position and unlocking this is certainly possible, though it's aptly named since we will have to really Stretch to get there before the end! Still, we've done amazingly well so far, so let's see where we get before the conclusion! For my group, 98% of our games are played online - we are really only able to get together twice a year in person, and those meetings take about 3 months of scheduling. So any extra tools to facillitate online play are appreciated by me!




YOUR REWARDS!

That's right! You backed this project to help make and publish Monster Kingdoms. Our primary reward - the big thank you that we'll send out in appreciation for your support - are PDF and hardcover copies! BUT AS A BONUS, you may also have a digital wallpaper, a jumpstart with ready-made characters, an opportunity to expand your wardrobe, possibly a Storyguide Screen, and maybe some tokens for online play?

NOT MUCH MORE TIME

Unfortunately, we seem to continue to move forward at a regular pace, and our campaign will some come to the inescapable end. We've achieved our primary goal of funding the book, but there is still one possible Stretch Goal reward that is almost within grasp! It's certainly within reach, but won't be easy, so let's keep at it!

So, as every update concludes: let's keep the enthusiasm rolling! Keep spreading the word and letting others know about this project. They've got this final day to jump in and share the Stretch Goals we've achieved!

And every backer who joins in as we approach the end is not only able to enjoy the additional rewards already added by the early fans and backers, but also help reward those early backers by maybe unlocking that final bonus reward!

Remember, only the funds generated during the Crowdfunding campaign go toward achieving these Stretch Goal targets, so the time to act is now! Together, we can bring this game to life and make great things happen!



MONSTER KINGDOMS enters OVERTIME MODE on Thursday, September 25th at 2:00 PM Eastern. 

We will finish up as soon as our backer train ends after that point! So let's see if we can't hit a final Stretch Goal and then keep that train running for an extra 10 or 20 minutes!!

#MonsterKingdoms

The Elemental Reach [Travelogue #11]
9 months ago – Wed, Sep 24, 2025 at 05:24:17 AM

Monster Kingdoms Travelogue

Our journey so far...



XI: The Elemental Reach

Dearest reader, I am almost at the end of my journey around Gewinn, yet I know there remain so many other places I have not visited. The Disputed Lands. The many cities, towns, castles, and tombs of each kingdom. The holy and unholy places our faithful deem spiritually significant. Yes, I should also visit Verot for the sake of completion, though I do not feel the compulsion. Krr’szch is next, though, and from there I intend to travel home.

Before I do so, allow me to write on the subject of Branduur. In many of these entries I have described locales rife with chaos, where environments and people are unpredictable and dangerous. Dear reader, in Branduur the land, the water, the fire, and even the air you breathe is unpredictable. This is a kingdom in flux, but unlike Pandemion, the elementors who call this place their realm (and it is a mighty, impressive realm of intense climates and environments, the tallest mountains and deepest pits, and places where lava flows as swiftly as water) master their elements. They can predict the elemental cycles. They know when lightning will dominate, when darkness will descend, when salt will devour it all. My understanding is that the Branduurians worship 27 elements in total, but I could not get one to confirm all 27 to me.

Let us begin with Frontereton, which must be the most accommodating of all the settlements in Branduur I encountered. Coastal, on relatively flat land, and with elementors who prayed to the sea at the expense of all other elements, I could at least discern their motives. Frontereton isn’t all that it seems, however (and what is, in these Monster Kingdoms?), as it must be one of the only places outside the Kingdom of Shards to trade with that kingdom, and the first place I’ve found where mass drownings are committed as sacrifice to the Old Ways. None of the bodies held under the tide ever wash up again, because an underwater city exists beneath Frontereton, and each sacrifice is dragged within to feed the submerged inhabitants. Allegedly, a council of water elementors rules down below, and each of them bears a glowing crown of power.

From Frontereton I traveled south across land until I reached Scabeton on the banks of the Supherg Canal, though I was forced to extinguish more than one ferine purity (the worst a crackling cloud of electricity sparking flames) on my way. The canal has dried up, supposedly due to Branduurian sorcery used to stymie any attempts by the imperials to invade the kingdom by water. Scabeton has an unpleasant name and an even less pleasant atmosphere. I avoided the people as well as I could, because the remains of some form of plague seem to strike here without notice. Almost everyone I encountered had open wounds, sores, or oozing scars on their skin, including the stone elementors.

What I was hoping to find amid the fire hurricanes and frozen gales that intermittently washed over me in Branduur was one of the legendary crownbearers. Many who face the monsters of Gewinn and overcome them become crownbearers, tis true, but the legendary crownbearers are notorious for their powers. The one known as Justice was said to have caused a recent earthquake close to Brindlescar in the south, so I passed through the dried canalbed, avoided patrols of what appears to be Branduurian dreadnauts (my archlich, I swear these monsters exist), and narrowly avoided being evaporated in a tidal wave of erupting magma.

Alas, once I had reached Brindlescar the people of Branduur were mining the fissure Justice had opened for them, but the crownbearer had departed. My initial belief was that Justice opened the earth as a means of attack against his own kingdom, but it became clear to me that his motive was to release valuable elements and ores into the hands and claws of his fellow Branduurians, likely to fuel the coming war against the imperials.

My hope of meeting a legendary crownbearer denied, my purse utterly empty of coin, and nothing left to me but my sceptre, my crown, my books, and my wits, I ventured east. At time of writing, I can see the bristling Krr’szch border, which is more tightly patrolled than any other border I’ve witnessed so far (this is not to imply it’s the harshest borderland, as I have yet to witness every one of them, but tis the most ominous of those I have seen).

From this wagonhouse, where I rest my head tonight, I shall formulate a plan to convince the orcs and elementors guarding the border that I am a chronicler and magus who means nobody in this region harm. 
I am so close to the smog and fire of Krr’szch that I feel I can grab it with my hands and coat my body in its pollution and feel the burn. Gods, I am so close. I am almost home. Thank you, dear reader, for your faith in me. It warms me like a spark of something I cannot describe in words.

Storyguiding Monstrosity [Draft Manuscript Preview #6]
9 months ago – Tue, Sep 23, 2025 at 05:50:39 AM

Hello Monsters,

We're in our final days, and it's time for our final section of the draft manusript! As of this update, backers have access to the entire approved draft and can read the book before any pledges are processed or payments collected. If you're with us beyond this point, you know exactly what this project is you're backing and a key member of the supporters bringing this project to life!

Before we get to the manusript download link, I just wanted to quickly go over a few key pieces of info. We're in the Final Days countdown for this Crowdfunding campaign. Monster Kingdoms finishes the crowdfunding campaign on September 25th at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. There's still time to capture a crown, but we're definitely getting closer to the finish line. With that in mind, I wanted to touch on some of the basics over these final three days to make sure everyone has the information they need to support this project in the way that works best for them.

Final Week Program

  • Sept 22 - Reward Tier & Add On Review 
  • Sept 23 - Manuscript Preview # 6 - Chapter 6 + Appendix I (that's today!)
  • Sept 24 - Stretch Goal Review
  • Sept 25 - Final Day Checklist & What Comes Next



Whether you're just setting out to make a name for yourself and build your legion or a seasoned warleader with a fiery crown returning after a victory, these are some good topics to review over this week to make sure we all end up where we want to be.

(An aside, if you're a new backer, make sure you check out our Final Week Countdown / Resource Update. It has links to the manuscript previews,  youtube videos, our travelogue, and other helpful information.)

I want to highlight the Reward Tier and Add On Review post. Please review it prior to the conclusion of this campaign, as it outlines important information about your pledge selection, your rewards, and supporting this campaign that you should be aware of before we get to the end.

Tomorrow, we'll have a review of our Stretch Goal achievements, but here's a reminder about our current target.



At $37,000 - DIGITAL WALLPAPER

MONSTER KINGDOMS DIGITAL WALLPAPER - Marvelous Monster Kingdoms artwork will be used to create a wallpaper for your computer desktop. This digital wallpaper will be added to the rewards list of all backers supporting this project.



CHARACTER SHEET

Since we're in the character building portion of the game, it's not a bad idea to have a character sheet to start scribbling down your ideas and choices! One of the writers on the game, Chris Jones, has put together this awesome character sheet for you to use when you pick your paths!




Shipping Costs will be Collected in the Pledge Manager

First up, it's amazingly expensive to ship, especially from Onyx Path's home base in the US. And that's as of today - we're all in the dark about how things will look in 2 years. We get that, but there's not much we can do at this time. Onyx Path is in a difficult space where the company is big enough that they're not saving money by fulfilling out of Rich's garage, but small enough that they haven't been able to set up ongoing international partners to handle portions of the fulfillment. So we are where we are - for now.

The best we can do at this point is to plan carefully, advise everyone up front that shipping will likely be expensive (see our projections on the main page) and only charge what it costs us when the time comes. We’ll be charging for shipping in the Pledge Manager once the books are being printed and we can deal with the actual shipping charges rather than using our best-guesses this far out. If you aren't sure you want one of the hardcover editions, you can pledge to the PDF tier now and upgrade your pledge in the Pledge Manager once we know the final shipping costs.


Draft Manuscript Previews

Over the course of this campaign, backers will receive the entire current draft manuscript for Monster Kingdoms, but it's not going to come to you all in one go. The previews will come out in monster-sized sections throughout the campaign. This helps me seem interesting over the next several weeks, but it's more about guiding the conversation and helping steer feedback for the developers.

Because they want your feedback! These manuscript previews are of the current draft manuscript – the document in its latest, approved form. This may not be the final form after editing and any additional development, but you can consider it about 95% finished, so keep that in mind.

In fact, you can help guide the team through the next stages of development by providing feedback on these manuscript previews! The Onyx Path team has set up a special Feedback Form just for campaign backers for this very purpose: https://forms.gle/TpaaPsUqJ79zD1kE6


You can use this Feedback Form to share your thoughts directly with the Monster Kingdoms creative team to help guide them through the next rounds of development and editing.


DRAFT MANUSCRIPT PREVIEWS - BACKERS ONLY

Remember, thanks to BackerKit magic, these download links are visible to Backers only - you must be logged in and reading this on the website to have access to the manuscript preview links. So, if you're reading this via e-mail, click that "Learn More" link on the bottom and I'll see you below the banner.