Agrik: Order of the Eight Demons by Marc Renouf is a role playing game supplement published by Columbia Games Inc. for use with Hârn and HârnMaster.
The supplement is available as a six-page PDF from DriveThruRPG for $4.98 but was purchased at a reduced price thanks to a special offer.
The first page gives some background on the order, which was founded when female clerics of the Order of Herpa the Mace schismed from that order, becoming the dominant Agrikan religion in the Thardic Republic as well as controlling lands in the Kingdom of Rethem. The Order of the Eight Demons has an esoteric bent and has a focus on pain, particularly that endured during childbirth. The sidebar has the heraldry of the order.
Origins and History goes into the founding of the order in more detail, coming from the ambitions of the original and current grandmaster and Herpan cleric who founded it, who’s covered in the sidebar. She wooed the female clergy to her cause, seized the Herpans of most of the temples in the Thardic Republic and everything the Red Shadows of Herpa had taken, including Themeson Keep. The sidebar also covers the Cohorts of Gashang, the military organisation originally founded by opportunistic Red Shadows who sided with the Order of the Eight Demons; though since that time the Cohorts have declined in quality.
Current Situation explains where the Order of the Eight Demons and the Cohorts of Gashang currently stand, and their relations with the Herpans. The Agrikan church in Hârn is controlled by the Order of Mamaka, and the Herpans are known to want to seize control, so the Agrikan primate may use the Order of the Eight Demons against the Herpans. A sidebar looks at the situation of Themeson Keep.
Membership and Ranks gives details on membership, which is exclusively female, and the sidebar covers how new members are recruited.
Life in the Order looks at how the order functions, including how they revere childbirth, what is done with children and how, their practices actually decrease the likelihood of pregnancies whilst increasing the chances of miscarriage. Symbols, regalia, the order’s relationship to the Agrikan concept of the Peerless Champion and their reputation for sexual torture are covered in the sidebar.
Scriptures and Lore looks at the most important written works held by the order whilst the sidebar looks at saints and martyrs and relics.
Agrik: Order of the Eight Demons in Review
The PDF lacks bookmarks and is short enough that they aren’t needed but would have been appreciated. Navigation is okay. The text maintains a single column with sidebar format and appeared to be free of errors. There are a number of colour and black and white illustrations. Presentation is okay.
This supplement is one aimed at Hârn rather than HârnMaster; there are no game stats included and it’s therefore suitable for use with any system. It describes one of the Agrikan orders found in Hârn, an unusual one given that it’s new and is somewhat at risk. Agrik: Order of the Eight Demons is a decent supplement, though as usual it’s expensive at full price, and it can be found by clicking here.
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