Under Pashuvanam’s Lush
Under Pashuvanam’s Lush is a pulp fantasy adventure for Shadow, Sword & Spell written by Gabriel Brouillard and published by Rogue Games.
By Aaron T. Huss
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Under Pashuvanam’s Lush is part sourcebook, part adventure, all pulp fantasy (with a bit of horror) that does an excellent job of representing the genre for Shadow, Sword & Spell. When you consider what pulp stories were like when mixed with fantasy horror, you come upon a very unique look and feel that is not regularly replicated. However, Under Pashuvanam’s Lush not only replicates that feel, it does so superbly and takes Shadow, Sword & Spell to a new level of gaming excitement. If you ever want to know what a game of Shadow, Sword & Spell should look and feel like, this is the adventure that truly defines it.
CONTENT
Kingdoms of Jade and Bronze is a sourcebook detailing the kingdom of Beidha (where the Pashuvanam’s Lush forest resides). This includes an overview look at the different major locations, a bit about their society, information on the war with Nipur, and general other information about the people in Beidha. As itself, this sourcebook can easily be used to run your own adventure or campaign.
Adventure is the actual adventure. This adventure is a combination of location and journey as the characters travel across Beidha to perform certain acts within a handful of different locations. Without spoiling too much, some of the events between locations are linked by specific acts that occur at other locations, all fully detailed within the adventure. It is laid out very nicely and navigation from location to location (through the content) was quite simple.
Experienced Characters is a short section with suggestions to scale-up the adventure. As-written, the adventure is designed for Basic characters and Expert characters may require more work to avoid it being too easy.
References is a grouping of quick in-game references including masculine and feminine names for Beidha, a mileage chart for the different locations, and a quick list of terms from the adventure and sourcebook.
OVERALL
Under Pashuvanam’s Lush is an awesome adventure for Shadow, Sword & Spell. It has the perfect mixture of old pulp-styled stories and fantasy horror presented in a human-only setting. It is full of vivid descriptions of the applicable areas and the actual adventure makes full use of the Beidha sourcebook. This adventure truly defines what Shadow, Sword & Spell is about and has no shortage of horrific action and adventure.
RATINGS
Publication Quality: 9 out of 10
Unlike other Rogue Games publications, Under Pashuvanam’s Lush is published in color, although the illustrations (not the maps) are in sepia tones. I find it odd that the book was published in color without color illustrations, but having the maps in color is a definite plus. The overall layout and formatting are clean and clear and only a handful of editing errors can be found (although none that break the flow of the content).
Storyline: 10 out of 10
Under Pashuvanam’s Lush has an excellent storyline that I will avoid spoiling. It has a very gradual build-up but requires the PCs to pay full attention to the world around them and everything they encounter as it may have an effect in the end. Sharing that effect would truly spoil the adventure, but know that while the storyline is seemingly slow and meandering (through the sourcebook locations), it has definite purpose and really comes to an exciting climax at the end.
Desire to Play: 10 out of 10
As stated before, Under Pashuvanam’s Lush really defines the pulp fantasy and horror inherent to Shadow, Sword & Spell. With that in mind, playing this adventure would present both the players and the GM with the atmosphere of the game and a look at what is possible.
Overall: 10 out of 10
I don’t think I can recommend Under Pashuvanam’s Lush anymore than I already have. It is a must-have adventure for fans of Shadow, Sword & Spell unless you’re looking for more pulp-like adventures instead of the fantasy horror style. In my opinion, Shadow, Sword & Spell has always felt like it was designed for the fantasy horror elements of pulp and a great homage to the pulp magazines of old that had as much horror in them as they did action and adventure.
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