I became interested in the Shadows of Esteren as soon as I watched the video intro. The video transported me to another world, one of snow and danger and ancient power. I find myself returning again and again.

I started asking questions about the game online and I backed the kickstarter. The kickstarter promises to translate the successful French version of Book 1 to English. I look forward to reading more about the world the music and the art creates through sound and sight.

The creators put out a contest for the kickstarter with a free book as a prize. So I decided to take on the contest by writing about Shadows of Esteren here and how anyone, backer or not, can enhance their world building by borrowing art and music from this mythic world and adding both to their own RPG world. Of course, backers and buyers will be able to use the art and music to enhance campaigns run using Shadows of Esteren itself. I hope to get the chance to do so myself at Gen Con this year (if the book is ready by that time).

The art and music for Shadows of Esteren set a tone and mood that I enjoy. Art is something I want in my game books but it has been a while since an RPG painted a game world for me through art. And music has been something I have rarely used in RPGs but have always wanted to use more often.

With Shadows of Esteren I get both. And the best part is, I can access both without being a backer and before the kickstarter ends. Not that I wouldn’t want to be a backer and get the entire book (plus many extras). The art and music promise to support a story set forth in the book provided from the point of view of inhabitants of the setting itself (according to online posts provided by kindly French-fluent gamers). And the mechanics sound like they will support the setting quite well, honing in on sanity and madness and interaction between people (PC and NPC alike).

Art

Art is offered as part of the contest to aid those interested in the world in making their own banners to promote the kickstarter. You can also use it to paint pictures of any world you want to imagine.

Journey to the Castle

A traveler on the road to a mighty castle. Why travel alone? Is this wanderer a 1st edition AD&D ranger? Maybe a bard weary from a long trek. Who rules from the castle and what realm do they guard?

Woman and her Raven

Maybe the wanderer on the road to the castle is a hero like this woman. Someone connected to the land, perhaps opposing the rulers of the next stronghold.

Brooding Fortress

A darker fortress. No light shines through the clouds and the trees are barren. Does the land lie under a curse with only the castle to keep back the encroaching darkness? Or is something more sinister going on, a cruel ruler perhaps, draining the life from her helpless subjects?

Pensive

Is she a worried ruler of one of the castles? Or perhaps a prisoner, longing and hoping for escape?

Cave Art and Ancient Bones

Are the bones those of the dragon drawn on the stone or its final meal? Did the man carrying the light find the answer to the mystery he has been trying to unravel? Or does he hope that dark magic may benefit from the altar and the bones and cave art?

Music

A sample of the music and a link can be found on the Shadows of Esteren blog. A sample is also included with the kickstarter video.

This music conjures forth images of a gothic, haunted land of ancient brooding forests and steep sided hills and valleys. A land of snow and cold and predators but also of beauty and life as well. Threatening the natural world is the temptation of man to gain power by destroying both land and beasts. And opposing all is the underlying violence and malevolence of a dark supernatural power that seeks to destroy humankind as well as the wondrous works of nature.

You could use this music to enhance your Shadows of Esteren game. It would also add atmosphere to Ravenloft and Call of Cthulhu games, Pathfinder games set in the far north of Golarion, and other RPGs.

Final Thought

Shadows of Esteren has much to offer to fantasy and horror gamers: art, music, story, and an international shared community. If you’ve been to recent conventions in Europe you may have already met the creators. If you’re coming to Gen Con you’ll get another chance to meet them. And if I win this contest, you have my deepest gratitude for reading!

I hope you enjoy the art and music of Shadows of Esteren and can use them in your world building and in your games.

Safe Journey, Charlie