Well this is something new that I've added to White Knight. It is designed to review the role of books in that influence gamers. Believe me as an avid book reader, books give a budding game master some fresh ideas.

The Mage in the Iron Mask
by Brian Thomsen
TSR 1996

Well its a pretty good guess on where the author got the idea for this book. While The Man in the Iron Mask may have been set in 16th century Europe this book has a couple of twist that the original never had The main characters are: a prince of Mulmaster, his bastard twin brother, the Tharchioness of Eltabbar, and Volo. the Forgotten Realms version of AAA.

The outcome is rather predictable. There are some chapters that still make it a good read. Espically when the Tharchioness of Eltabbar plans to charm her "beloved" husband to enslave him and his kingdom. What she never realizes, instead of attempting to charm her husband, she attempts to charm the bastard brother. Boy is she in for a suprise when her spell just doesn't go off as planned.

To help the bastard brother survive his encounter with his noble brother, is Volo Passepout, a travelling thespin, a harper named Chesslyn and a few older members of the court. It is surprising that with all the treachery, the plans set in motion succeeded at all.

The book moves like a play with numerous scenes and players. I rather liked that the reader was told where things were occuring rather than leave him or her guessing.

If you see it available in your bookstore I do recommend it. It's light hearted, comical at times, and of course predictable.

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