I want to thank Christian Eichhorn for sending us a digital copy of Purgatory in order to write this review. It is a supplement for Mörk Borg including new character options, three adventures and a myriad of possible random encounters.
In case you are considering the purchase, you can find this manual on DriveThruRPG and on Itch.io for the price of $14.95 (currently just over €14).
In order to enjoy Purgatory it is necessary to know the Mörk Borg ruleset, which I analyzed in my review.
Now, however, let us not delay any longer; let’s open the manual and let the damnation begin!
A Journey Full of Unexpected Events
The first 15 pages of the manual are a collection of 100 random encounters. The number is decidedly comfortable: a roll of d100 and the event for your characters is chosen. Given the doom metal and decadent tones that permeate everything designed for Mörk Borg, there is no risk that they will be off topic; it is implicitly clear that these contents are suitable as much for the places described later in this manual, as for any other adventure based on this role-playing game. What I appreciate about this section is the great variety; the author’s fantasy does not seem to run out even to the last one! The challenges offered are often lethal for normal characters but, as we will see later, Purgatory puts the tools in the hands of the players to face them.
A simple ruined building can become a death trap; the characters relive the massacre of its last inhabitants and, if they themselves become victims, they remain imprisoned in an eternal loop of suffering. Alternatively you may encounter a demon kitten looking for souls; who can resist such a cute creature? Some other ideas are much more essential and seem created specifically to make players worry unnecessarily. Adorable.
Review of Purgatory Aesthetics
This first part of the manual has an almost classic layout, structured in two columns. The simple font is clear and legible thanks to the yellow background; only the titles of the encounters and a few other details are characterized by variations in style. The absence of illustrations also helps to make the list easy to consult even during game sessions.
If you think that this aesthetic is not suitable for a product compatible with Mörk Borg, do not despair; as you can see from the images included in this review, the rest of the manual explodes in the inevitable chaos of strange fonts, eccentric layout and effective and macabre illustrations… And it’s beautiful! Fuchsia, green and red also strongly enter the color palette. Some illustrations are reminiscent of classic paintings and fit perfectly into the general context. The artistic evolution in the 65 pages of the manual is noticeable and embellishes the contents.
Purgatory Character Options Review
The next 20 pages are totally dedicated to new options with which to customize the characters.
First of all we find 6 new classes, deliberately and explicitly created to be stronger than the classic ones. Both in the initial random encounters and in the upcoming Purgatory content there are threats that would otherwise easily frustrate “normal” characters. The new classes are:
- Fallen God – one of the basilisks has stripped you of your followers and you are left with only a fragment of your old power.
- False Saint – it’s very easy to find gullible people to fool with false hopes in this ruined world.
- Haunted Scapegrace – always drinks to shut out voices, but sometimes it’s not enough and ghostly entities manifest through him.
- Pact Conjurer – has no qualms about giving a piece of his soul in exchange for a demonic ally.
- Quack Doctor – expelled from the college for his unconventional methods, now he has all the freedom to continue practicing them.
- Unversed Alchemist – they started too early to discover the secrets of the transformation of matter and still suffers the consequences.
Then we can find some Special Skills that are acquired in limited quantities due to their impact. They donate many additional capabilities and are divided into three categories:
- Sacred Skills: Blessings, Protections, Meditations… They are what remains of the sacredness in this setting.
- Unclean Skills: Bone collecting, macabre candles, acupuncture, and other sinister methods of harnessing unholy energies.
- Wordly Skills: Sometimes even mundane abilities such as tanning, crafting, and medical training allow you to survive a few extra days in this world.
The Scenarios of Damnation
The manual contains three locations ready to be played. They aren’t exactly adventures because they don’t have a plot (although this is by no means a priority in an OSR game); rather they are (micro)settings characterized by everything needed to play: descriptions, places, inhabitants and context. Let’s find out!
The Karpyl Bridge crosses a chasm and there is no other way to pass. Above it stands a tower, in which a mad and tormented enchanter is confined. In addition to its statistics, the manual also provides us with the map and description of each floor of the tower.
In a remote monastery in the mountains is The Cult of the Knotted Snake; this sect travels the ruined world in search of adepts. The bravest (or most incautious) follow them and, having returned to their base, undergo tests to be admitted into the ranks. If they pass them, they become followers of the same mysterious being and will obey his will.
The last location is instead the one that gives the name to the entire manual.
The Protagonist of the Manual: Purgatory
Purgatory is undoubtedly the most structured setting. The method of entry is certainly suggestive: death; however, the characters will have a way out of it.
Using a hex-shaped map, they travel through many different and ever-changing environments, each featuring 12 unique and atmospheric encounters. A short bestiary contains 6 typical creatures of these lands, fearsome opponents that I strongly suggest you to face using the classes included in this manual.
However, the chances of dying are very high, also considering the fact that magical cures, potions and sleep do not heal wounds in Purgatory; the bodies are just simple vessels and if they are destroyed the soul is left helpless. A lost soul can attempt to occupy a new body, before being devoured by someone to strengthen itself or captured by hunting angels or demons.
In case the characters are strong enough to resist all this, they can seek out one of the four rulers of this place. These are four very powerful entities, from which the characters can obtain a pass to the world of the living. They are a fallen angel, a demonic flaming dancer, the patron saint of knights, and a mechanical horse; the first three convinced me, while I think the last one is a bit far from the tones that Mörk Borg usually wants to convey. It seems to me more suitable for the context of CY_BORG. In any case, by appeasing these creatures you get a document which, presented to the supreme bureaucrat, allows you to return to your world.
Conclusions of the Purgatory Review
The first two scenarios are much more generic in terms of themes and tones, while the last one deserves to be on the cover of the work. It represents the best way to play all the contents of this manual; for once you can experience a Mörk Borg adventure and feel similar to playing at a high level in more classic RPGs, such as D&D. Here, however, lethality and tension always remain very high.
Since we are talking about what happens after death, one would think that you can use this content after any TPK, not to conclude the narrative arc of those characters. However, it is not that simple. Classical characters would probably be too weak to survive in Purgatory; at the same time, the new classes proposed in this manual would be far too strong to face a classic Mörk Borg adventure while maintaining the same mortality. It’s not an impossible thing to do, but it still requires balancing work for the storyteller.
In any case, I conclude this review by stating that Purgatory is a product of undoubted value, which allows you to experience completely new Mörk Borg adventures. If you thought the worst thing that could happen to your characters was death, this book will change your mind!
