View from the Pelgrane’s Nest – August 2025

It feels like a mere month since I last peered out from the nest to let you know what’s up with Pelgrane Press. That’s because it was a month. Among our efforts to ramp up our activities with my coming on board as Creative Director, we’re endeavoring to return to regular publication for this very webzine.

Last time I teased it, now I can reveal it. Our first release in the GUMSHOE Labs line, highlighting designs that take our investigative rules set to its furthest limits, has had the veil of secrecy torn from it.

That game is Tristan Zimmerman’s brilliant and innovative Ballad Hunters. Your investigators report to Walter Scott as field agents in his bid to counter a bizarre supernatural crisis that has turned 1813 into a nightmare. Throughout England and Scotland, folk songs are coming to life, magically twisting the world and human behavior. Using your powerful compasses, which themselves contain numinous verses from traditional ballads, you restore order, saving people from the destructive power of this inexplicable phenomenon. Let Tristan tell you more about it here.

As mentioned last time, 13^th Age Second Edition has reached the print stage. Here Cat lovingly yet with a demanding eye for quality examines proofs of the interior signatures from the Heroes’ Handbook and Gamemaster’s Guide.

With the core books handed off, Rob now turns his attention to such matters as class-dedicated character sheets and the introductory box.

My main task this month has been to incorporate a deep trove of playtest feedback into the final Boundary of the Darkness manuscript. Taking on board incisive comments ranging from corrections on sheep behavior to a demand for additional fan service on the town of Chesterfield, the sourcebook for Mythos adventure in 1770s England has now been buffed and polished. As it passes into the proofreading stage, its interior art has come in. Unfortunately this beautiful still life of a jug and figs by illustrator Giles Meakin has been sullied by the uninvited appearance of a hideous Rat Thing. I hope Giles managed to get it out of his studio without any non-Euclidean portals opening up.

Boundary is one of the promised products from the Trail of Cthulhu Second Edition Kickstarter. Ken, Gar and Cat are finalizing the rest of its elements. It will also be available separately. Speaking of crowdfunding items, Gar is also filling in the last few blanks from the Fear Itself Shattered Veil Edition.

We have finally arrived at an official title for Gar’s sun-dappled, charmingly hilarious game of halfling mystery: Merryshire Detective Club. He is making his usual enviable progress on the game and its scenario anthology, The Dreadful Hare. Apparently this involves eating a lot of extra scones, to “properly research the necessary mindset.”

With her work in the Dragon Empire done, layout artist extraordinaire Jen McCleary has been able to jump back on Page Turners, continuing her dazzling work on the game of dramatic interaction for one player and one GM into the home stretch.

Art has also started to come in for the Cassilda’s Song mega-campaign. Dean Engelhardt has submitted his distinctive collages for the Paris book. They’re just as creepy and atmospheric as his pieces for the original Yellow King books and Absinthe in Carcosa setting book. I can’t wait to see what he does for the remaining three volumes.

Join us for more progress reports, sneak art peeks, and announcements in the months ahead.