Village Backdrop: Hulw’ma by Greg Marks is a role playing game supplement published by Raging Swan Press for use with the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game. As such, it is covered by the Open Game License and some parts are considered to be Open Game Content as a result.
This is a ten-page PDF that is available from DriveThruRPG for $2.45 but was purchased at a reduced price as part of a special bundle. Two pages are the front and rear covers, two pages are the front matter, Contents and Stat Blocks by CR and one page is the Open Game License.
Hulw’ma At a Glance is two pages long and starts with a couple of paragraphs on the village, which is a theocratic oasis dominated by the followers of the Living Water. Also here are the demographics, notable NPCs and locations, marketplace, lore and whispers & rumours. A labelled map of the village is also here.
The next two pages, Notable Locations, go into those previously mentioned in more detail. As well as the oasis itself there are the ruins of a lost city that now serve as a base for raiders.
The final page has the village’s trade & industry and law & order, as well as a d6 table of events and stats for the marid posing as the village’s god.
Village Backdrop: Hulw’ma in Review
The PDF is well bookmarked with everything but the stat blocks linked. The Contents only covers the major sections but is also hyperlinked. Navigation is good for a short supplement. The text maintains a two-column black and white format and no errors were noticed. The sole illustration is the black and white map of the village.
Hulw’ma is full of adventure hooks. There is the marid himself, who has his own agenda, and his religious followers, the leader of which is power hungry and believes the marid is truly a god; not a great combination. With it probably being the only viable source of water for some distance, the village can also have more influence than otherwise. The daughter of the village’s primary employer is also tied to the marid. Then there are those who object to the marid’s rule, who are a cross between freedom fighters and bandits, so are perhaps both. Finally, there is the forgotten city the bandits operate out of. Buried cities in the sands can be great places for adventure. There’s always the, not mentioned, possibility that the bandits may disturb something in the city they really should have left alone. Village Backdrop: Hulw’ma is a great little village and it can be found by clicking here.
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