Each of the flash fiction releases for the “Figments” series are inspired by a creature entry found in the OGL product, “Minions: Rebirth” by Bastion Press. I’ve just recently come to realize that the entirety of the book’s contents are deemed “open game content”. I can’t encourage OGL gamers enough to pick up this book, the digital “Minions: Rebirth” is available at DriveThruRPG.
The flash fiction connected to this blog post (“Bartering Immortality“) is released under the Creative Commons License (By-NC-SA) and is published as a different post to keep the licenses separate (for legal reasons).
The content under the header, “OGL Influence” is considered Open Game Content. Anything else on the entirety of this website is considered Product Identity unless content is specifically deemed Open Game Content in the appropriate blog post entry, and as such is Closed Content.
Commentary
The “owliksir” used in the flash fiction, “Bartering Immortality“, comes from the creature entry for the “amberjuron” on page 3 of “Minions: Rebirth” by Bastion Press. I very nearly skipped this entry for days, deeming it not relevant to Hellmouth. Re-reading it again, I challenged myself to MAKE it relevant.
Before the concept of the plot came to mind–concerning the Philosopher’s Stone–I started to research the owl. I wasn’t a fan of the name “amberjuron”; it just didn’t feel right to me. I wanted to work in some sort of word play, or dig up some sort of etymological reference, something that’s come before that could add an additional layer to the creature’s concept.
This led me to the horned owl and its genus term, “bubo”. I was convinced I’d get some derivitive name off that… but alas “bubo” comes from the Greek base “groin” and “the swelling of nymph nodes”. Although, the connection to “bubonic plague” was intriguing, I resolved in letting this naming direction slide.
This did lead me to start reading about other “bubo” genus owls–this led me to the barn owl. The barn owl felt like a perfect fit to me as it reflected the idea of for an owl-cat arcane-collector wonderfully. I imagined the creatures as hermits, and this got me my story location: A barn. Imagining where an owl-cat thing like this could make its home, I imagined Angland. If there’s anywhere on the World of Hellmouth with some relatively “quiet abandoned countrysides”, it’d be the England-inspired country equivelent.
From there, somehow, I was led to looking up alchemy, which in turn led me to the Philosopher’s Stone. That gave me the object being traded for. While researching the Philosopher’s Stone, it’s historical relevance, the alchemists involved in its lore, I discovered that the 8th-century Persian alchemist Jabir ibn Hayyan theorized that any metal could become another metal, a process called ”al-iksir” in Arabic. Not only did the Western term “elixir” come from al-iksir, but I all-of-a-sudden had the word-play I need. Thus, the “owliskir” came into being.
Quick References:
Horned Owl
Bubo
Philosopher’s Stone
OGL Influence
The below entry details the “amberjuron” found in “Minions: Rebirth” by Bastion Press. You will not find the OGL core statistics, game mechanic terms, or rules-related subject matter in the following text. I recommend getting the digital copy of the book if you’re interested in using this creature in your OGL game.
The entry has been slightly edited to include detail more relevant to the World of Hellmouth setting. Please refer to the Product Identity section on this blog post to know what is closed content.
The Owliskir
Rare and mysterious, the owliskir is an enigma of the forest. The owliskir, when stationary and from afar, is indistinguishable from a normal barn owl. If viewed closer, or when it’s in flight, it becomes quickly evident that it is not a normal owl for it may be wearing fine jewelry, may carry a wand in one of its four talons, has the movements and mannerisms on all fours like that of a house cat, and has an odd look of intelligence in its eyes. No one quite understands where the owliskir came from or how. Some speculate that a noble familiar was once granted by the gods a dying wish to found a new race, but there is no evidence to support such a claim.
To those that know how to find them, owliskir are invaluable. Owliskir spend their time collecting knowledge, thinking, crafting magical items, and studying ancient books. Their knowledge, intelligence, and creative powers are unmatched. An owliskir is a brilliant sage, a gifted oracle, and a veritable encyclopedia of lore, both mundane and arcane. Almost all of the owliskir’s knowledge is obtained second hand, through bartering for heretofore unknown knowledge. For every bit of arcane lore or advice that an owliskir gives out, it requires an equitable exchange of information. This trade can be of any sort of information, as long as the owliskir finds it new and interesting. It can be a recipe for dragon liver, the command word for a long lost magic item, recent political happenings, or even a personal anecdote. Since the owliskir lives almost 1,000 years and never forgets anything it hears, it eventually collects an amazing array of knowledge.
Owliskir also have a great love for creating magic items, exceeded only by their love for jewelry. In addition to swapping information, an owliskir is often willing to trade its magical creations for a particularly lovely sapphire necklace or two. An owliskir typically has a wand or two available, or a minor magical ring. Frequently, owliskir have rather unusual magical items, as they enchant whatever they have on hand. If they have a spoon lying around, they will enchant it. They are especially fond of enchanting their beloved jewelry. No more lovely a pair of magical bracers is likely to be found than those gracing the limbs of an owliskir. They aren’t fools though, and owliskir usually only trade for jewels of equal or greater monetary value than their magical creations are worth, assuming they make the correct assessment concerning the item’s value. An owliskir may also offer divination services in return for interesting knowledge or items.
It’s not clear where owliskir stash all their loot. Most believe they hide it in far-off trees, scattered around the forest. Some speak of hidden treasures stashed in abandoned buildings. Others speak of hidden pocket dimensions only they know how to open. Killing an owliskir is not really a good way to get rich quick. It’s best to stick to trading with them and swapping information. Besides, they’re rather useful to have around.
Owliskir usually speak most of the common languages of the region they call home as well as a few other not-so-common languages, some exceptionally strange to common man. What languages they don’t speak naturally, they can eventually speak with the casting of a simple spell when required.
Combat
Owliskir aren’t interested in combat. If attacked, they are most likely to fly off and disappear into a nearby forest, using spells that make them invisible, turn into mist, or simply teleport away if cornered. If somehow forced into combat, they attack with spells, as they only use their talons for hunting. An owliskir always has a powerful offensive spell tucked away in the back of his mind for just such an emergency. If obviously doomed, an owliskir offers its magic items in return for sparing its life. It brings out one or two devices from their hiding places, and then flies off.
Abilities
An owliskir never forgets any-thing that it sees, hears, or learns. Anything that has happened during its long life can be recalled instantly and with complete clarity. Owliskir are not immune to spells or effects that modify memory, although mind reading attempts will likely fail due to the enormous and confusing volume of information contained in their minds.
An owliskir has the spellcasting abilities of a highly experience wizard. A typical owliskir can detect and read magic, charm a person, understand and communicate in all languages, shield itself with protective magic, or retreat from danger with evasive magic, arm itself with a high-damage offensive spell, remove curses, and has mastered the magical arts of divination.
Owliskir, like owls, have superb hearing and even better eyesite, especially in dusk and darkness, and they are almost entirely undetectable when moving.
Roleplaying Encounter
The owliskir is intended to provide a resource and oracle for the party in the wilderness, as well an opportunity for roleplaying. It is best to introduce the owliskir when the party is in desperate need of some information or guidance. Have an supporting character drop them a rumor of a mysterious and wise sage or oracle that lives deep in the woods or in some abandoned barn, one that knows an amazing amount of forgotten lore. Of course, finding the creature may be difficult; usually it is best to contact a local druid or ranger for directions. When the party first approaches the owliskir, give the party a chance to impress it with their manners and offer it their problems. Owliskir don’t normally deal with ruffians. Don’t forget to have the party provide a piece of information in return for any help from the owliskir. This gives the players an opportunity to brag of their exploits and generally ham it up.
At some point in the encounter, have the owliskir comment on a piece of jewelry one of the characters is wearing. Have it offer one of its items in trade for the piece. Don’t allow the party to negotiate too long: the owliskir is not a magic shop. If the party is respectful and kind to the owliskir, it will welcome them back again. The owliskir can become a resource for their adventures, providing knowledge, services, shelter, and even a storage space for some of their belongings. The most powerful of owliskir are even rumored to provide transport to and from other planes.
There are a couple things that have influenced me that were released in the last 20 years. Things I mentally consumed in my early teens primarily. Nothing has been more determined to stay with me than the 
WHY IT INFLUENCED ME
. It’s something I strive to be aware of and part of the major concern for me and why I’ve opted to expand the project instead of congest the content.
Commentary and OGL Influence: “Bartering Immortality”
Each of the flash fiction releases for the “Figments” series are inspired by a creature entry found in the OGL product, “Minions: Rebirth” by Bastion Press. I’ve just recently come to realize that the entirety of the book’s contents are deemed “open game content”. I can’t encourage OGL gamers enough to pick up this book, the digital “Minions: Rebirth” is available at DriveThruRPG.
The flash fiction connected to this blog post (“Bartering Immortality“) is released under the Creative Commons License (By-NC-SA) and is published as a different post to keep the licenses separate (for legal reasons).
The content under the header, “OGL Influence” is considered Open Game Content. Anything else on the entirety of this website is considered Product Identity unless content is specifically deemed Open Game Content in the appropriate blog post entry, and as such is Closed Content.
Commentary
The “owliksir” used in the flash fiction, “Bartering Immortality“, comes from the creature entry for the “amberjuron” on page 3 of “Minions: Rebirth” by Bastion Press. I very nearly skipped this entry for days, deeming it not relevant to Hellmouth. Re-reading it again, I challenged myself to MAKE it relevant.
Before the concept of the plot came to mind–concerning the Philosopher’s Stone–I started to research the owl. I wasn’t a fan of the name “amberjuron”; it just didn’t feel right to me. I wanted to work in some sort of word play, or dig up some sort of etymological reference, something that’s come before that could add an additional layer to the creature’s concept.
This led me to the horned owl and its genus term, “bubo”. I was convinced I’d get some derivitive name off that… but alas “bubo” comes from the Greek base “groin” and “the swelling of nymph nodes”. Although, the connection to “bubonic plague” was intriguing, I resolved in letting this naming direction slide.
This did lead me to start reading about other “bubo” genus owls–this led me to the barn owl. The barn owl felt like a perfect fit to me as it reflected the idea of for an owl-cat arcane-collector wonderfully. I imagined the creatures as hermits, and this got me my story location: A barn. Imagining where an owl-cat thing like this could make its home, I imagined Angland. If there’s anywhere on the World of Hellmouth with some relatively “quiet abandoned countrysides”, it’d be the England-inspired country equivelent.
From there, somehow, I was led to looking up alchemy, which in turn led me to the Philosopher’s Stone. That gave me the object being traded for. While researching the Philosopher’s Stone, it’s historical relevance, the alchemists involved in its lore, I discovered that the 8th-century Persian alchemist Jabir ibn Hayyan theorized that any metal could become another metal, a process called ”al-iksir” in Arabic. Not only did the Western term “elixir” come from al-iksir, but I all-of-a-sudden had the word-play I need. Thus, the “owliskir” came into being.
Quick References:
Horned Owl
Bubo
Philosopher’s Stone
OGL Influence
The below entry details the “amberjuron” found in “Minions: Rebirth” by Bastion Press. You will not find the OGL core statistics, game mechanic terms, or rules-related subject matter in the following text. I recommend getting the digital copy of the book if you’re interested in using this creature in your OGL game.
The entry has been slightly edited to include detail more relevant to the World of Hellmouth setting. Please refer to the Product Identity section on this blog post to know what is closed content.
The Owliskir
Rare and mysterious, the owliskir is an enigma of the forest. The owliskir, when stationary and from afar, is indistinguishable from a normal barn owl. If viewed closer, or when it’s in flight, it becomes quickly evident that it is not a normal owl for it may be wearing fine jewelry, may carry a wand in one of its four talons, has the movements and mannerisms on all fours like that of a house cat, and has an odd look of intelligence in its eyes. No one quite understands where the owliskir came from or how. Some speculate that a noble familiar was once granted by the gods a dying wish to found a new race, but there is no evidence to support such a claim.
To those that know how to find them, owliskir are invaluable. Owliskir spend their time collecting knowledge, thinking, crafting magical items, and studying ancient books. Their knowledge, intelligence, and creative powers are unmatched. An owliskir is a brilliant sage, a gifted oracle, and a veritable encyclopedia of lore, both mundane and arcane. Almost all of the owliskir’s knowledge is obtained second hand, through bartering for heretofore unknown knowledge. For every bit of arcane lore or advice that an owliskir gives out, it requires an equitable exchange of information. This trade can be of any sort of information, as long as the owliskir finds it new and interesting. It can be a recipe for dragon liver, the command word for a long lost magic item, recent political happenings, or even a personal anecdote. Since the owliskir lives almost 1,000 years and never forgets anything it hears, it eventually collects an amazing array of knowledge.
Owliskir also have a great love for creating magic items, exceeded only by their love for jewelry. In addition to swapping information, an owliskir is often willing to trade its magical creations for a particularly lovely sapphire necklace or two. An owliskir typically has a wand or two available, or a minor magical ring. Frequently, owliskir have rather unusual magical items, as they enchant whatever they have on hand. If they have a spoon lying around, they will enchant it. They are especially fond of enchanting their beloved jewelry. No more lovely a pair of magical bracers is likely to be found than those gracing the limbs of an owliskir. They aren’t fools though, and owliskir usually only trade for jewels of equal or greater monetary value than their magical creations are worth, assuming they make the correct assessment concerning the item’s value. An owliskir may also offer divination services in return for interesting knowledge or items.
It’s not clear where owliskir stash all their loot. Most believe they hide it in far-off trees, scattered around the forest. Some speak of hidden treasures stashed in abandoned buildings. Others speak of hidden pocket dimensions only they know how to open. Killing an owliskir is not really a good way to get rich quick. It’s best to stick to trading with them and swapping information. Besides, they’re rather useful to have around.
Owliskir usually speak most of the common languages of the region they call home as well as a few other not-so-common languages, some exceptionally strange to common man. What languages they don’t speak naturally, they can eventually speak with the casting of a simple spell when required.
Combat
Owliskir aren’t interested in combat. If attacked, they are most likely to fly off and disappear into a nearby forest, using spells that make them invisible, turn into mist, or simply teleport away if cornered. If somehow forced into combat, they attack with spells, as they only use their talons for hunting. An owliskir always has a powerful offensive spell tucked away in the back of his mind for just such an emergency. If obviously doomed, an owliskir offers its magic items in return for sparing its life. It brings out one or two devices from their hiding places, and then flies off.
Abilities
An owliskir never forgets any-thing that it sees, hears, or learns. Anything that has happened during its long life can be recalled instantly and with complete clarity. Owliskir are not immune to spells or effects that modify memory, although mind reading attempts will likely fail due to the enormous and confusing volume of information contained in their minds.
An owliskir has the spellcasting abilities of a highly experience wizard. A typical owliskir can detect and read magic, charm a person, understand and communicate in all languages, shield itself with protective magic, or retreat from danger with evasive magic, arm itself with a high-damage offensive spell, remove curses, and has mastered the magical arts of divination.
Owliskir, like owls, have superb hearing and even better eyesite, especially in dusk and darkness, and they are almost entirely undetectable when moving.
Roleplaying Encounter
The owliskir is intended to provide a resource and oracle for the party in the wilderness, as well an opportunity for roleplaying. It is best to introduce the owliskir when the party is in desperate need of some information or guidance. Have an supporting character drop them a rumor of a mysterious and wise sage or oracle that lives deep in the woods or in some abandoned barn, one that knows an amazing amount of forgotten lore. Of course, finding the creature may be difficult; usually it is best to contact a local druid or ranger for directions. When the party first approaches the owliskir, give the party a chance to impress it with their manners and offer it their problems. Owliskir don’t normally deal with ruffians. Don’t forget to have the party provide a piece of information in return for any help from the owliskir. This gives the players an opportunity to brag of their exploits and generally ham it up.
At some point in the encounter, have the owliskir comment on a piece of jewelry one of the characters is wearing. Have it offer one of its items in trade for the piece. Don’t allow the party to negotiate too long: the owliskir is not a magic shop. If the party is respectful and kind to the owliskir, it will welcome them back again. The owliskir can become a resource for their adventures, providing knowledge, services, shelter, and even a storage space for some of their belongings. The most powerful of owliskir are even rumored to provide transport to and from other planes.