The Radiant Citadel just isn’t a dungeon. It’s a means cease, a spot for Dungeons & Dragons characters to relaxation on the street… particularly, roads to and from the varied dimensional worlds of D&D. It’s a spot the place any participant can discover themselves, maybe embarking on the 13 adventures discovered within the upcoming Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel anthology—and io9 has an unique have a look at one in all them.

The Radiant Citadel is understood for its variety, being house to so many broadly diverse cultures from throughout the multiverse. The creators of Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel have been simply as numerous, bringing their histories and lives and cultures collectively to make a Dungeons & Dragons location in contrast to some other. That contains Tletepec, created by Alastor Guzman, together with its accompanying journey “Trail of Destruction.” It boasts new gods, characters, and monsters, impressed by Guzman’s youth in Mexico City. Here, Guzman explains what and who gamers can count on in Tletepec, and the way GMs can take advantage of it—all together with some attractive art work.

Linda Codega, io9: Can you inform me slightly about Tletepec, the world of the Citadel the place “Trail of Destruction” takes place? Typically,after I consider historic Mexico/Aztec settings, I think about lush jungles and farmland, and this appears very totally different.

Alastor Guzman: Mesoamerican cultures are sometimes tied to lush jungles as widespread within the south of Mexico. The Mexico City valley, the place the Mexica dwelled, is a highland between a number of mountain ranges, producing a forest biome. While Mexico City has an energetic volcano, earthquakes are frequent. I wished to discover how civilization would develop the place these situations are extra prevalent and you’ve got magic to counter it.

io9: I’d like to know extra concerning the characters of Ollin and Xocopol. They have such eye-catching, shiny designs.

Guzman: The thought for Ollin got here from one of many cores of Tletepec, which is the thought of embracing life and having fun with it. This attracts from my very own expertise as a result of Mexican tradition is about having fun with every thing. One of the principle concepts got here from our Day of the Dead, the place the ambient, mournful, is stuffed with pleasure. I wished to convey that with Ollin, even throughout disasters, you may at all times smile and search artwork.

For Xocopol, I wished to create a special idea for fireplace giants, one thing that’s within the area and may work together with the choices of the gods all the identical. The core thought for Xocopol as an encounter is that he’s interfering with the choices and has his personal agenda however just isn’t straight antagonistic to the characters until attacked. I wished to present choices within the journey to indicate that you may additionally save the day speaking with individuals and understanding their factors of view.

io9: Izel the Tlexolotl is an enchanting new creature and antagonist. Can you inform me concerning the inspiration behind this elemental drive? 

Guzman: The Tlexolotl has two origins. One is that axolotls are one in all my favourite animals, and they’re native to the place I grew up in Mexico City. They are an iconic animal of the borough of Xochimilco, and are well-known for with the ability to regenerate any harm executed to them. The second inspiration is my love for gigantic creatures and encounters that may be solved in other ways. The thought is that Izel is a drive of nature that you may work together with and have to cope with as a result of they don’t care concerning the penalties for the small mortals round them.

io9: Are there some other Mexica/Aztec legends you drew from to create “Trail of Destruction”?

Guzman: The legend of the dual gods is predicated on the story of the Popocatépetl and Iztaccíhuatl, with the addition of how they turned gods and now assist their individuals. The thought of the tlexolotls is predicated on the cipactli legend of a large creature that dwells within the primordial sea. And lastly, extra on the historic foundation, the legend of a volcanic chain eruption destroying civilization is predicated on the Cuicuilco metropolis that was razed when a close-by volcano destroyed the settlement.

io9: Your different work, the creator-owned Tales from the Gods RPG, additionally offers with huge, supernatural, godlike forces in play with humanity. What about this theme of gods and mortals attracts you in as a recreation designer? 

Guzman: Religion and the thought of godlike forces have been part of human historical past for generations. The theme of gods and mortals and the way they intermix and weave right into a story attracts me in because it permits two sorts of tales to be created. How mortals can work towards targets that make them nearer to the divine, and the way they will use this energy to form historical past. On the divine facet, I like how you should utilize your energy to assist them in oblique methods, just like the boons of Tletepec, whereas nonetheless permitting them to be free to develop on their very own.

io9: Are there any particular private tales you tied into this module?

Guzman: When the [Mexican] earthquake of 2017 occurred, everybody was attempting to assist, however it took a while to get issues organized as totally different concepts and good intentions clashed. Everyone was searching for the way to assist, and the primary hours have been chaotic as information got here by and other people tried to assist one another. The emotion I wished to transmit from this expertise was that whereas it may be chaotic in the mean time, every thing can come collectively when serving to one another.

io9: Do you will have any recommendation for GMs or gamers who’re excited to play this module?

Guzman: My recommendation for GMs is to take care of the sense of urgency within the journey and hold within the gamers’ minds that they have to transfer shortly or the village could possibly be destroyed. Use the panorama narration to transmit the thought of how the pure catastrophe is closing in each minute. Play the monsters as if they’re getting ready for one thing huge and are desirous to see it occur quickly. This will hold gamers on edge and able to actively advance the story.

When taking part in with Izel deal with them as a Kaiju, the primary of a future invasion of large creatures just like a drive of nature that may destroy every thing on their means. With each narration and outline present the sheer harmful drive they characterize for the atmosphere. Show their confidence of their energy and the way they will’t be stopped. Keeping all this in thoughts can change the environment for the ultimate encounter utterly.

Journeys Through the Radiant Citadel shall be accessible July 19.

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