A fantasy TTRPG about insatiable hunger in a blighted land, inspired by Hollow Knight, Bloodborne, Dark Souls, and Elden Ring.
We aim to start shipping physical rewards by June 2026. Digital rewards for already-existing books will be sent when orders are locked down (July 2025). Once they're ready, all other digital rewards will be made accessible (estimated Q2 2026).
Pre-order sales are final. Shipping will be charged closer to fulfillment. You can check estimated shipping pricesHERE (Shipping and Fulfillment section)
Latest Updates from Our Project:
Bookmarks unlocked, Escape the Mud Fields and that series airing right now
11 months ago
– Thu, Apr 17, 2025 at 10:04:24 AM
Hello Dowsers,
TL;DR: We've unlocked Counter Bookmarks, we'll explain who you're playing in Escape the Mud Fields, and if you're into The Last of Us, we might have the game for you.
Stretch Goals
45 000€ UNLOCKED - New Item - Counter Bookmarks
We’re adding a new item to all Upgrade Packs: Counter Bookmarks!
These pre-printed, rectangular bookmarks are designed to help you track Achievements required to complete specific tasks during the game—whether it’s unlocking a prison door, completing a ritual, or triggering a key event. The included pad will feature 50 bookmarks, giving you a handy, immersive way to manage progress without cluttering your play space.
50 000€ (UPCOMING) - New Art Print in the Bundle
We're adding a fourth illustration by Harry Conway to the bundle of prints at no extra charge.
Escape the Mud Fields
We’ve had a few questions about how the story in the introductory campaign Escape the Mud Fields differs from the main campaign in the Core Book—so let’s clear that up.
In Escape the Mud Fields, players take on pre-generated characters from “the other side”: members of the Company of the Veil—the garrison tasked with keeping the madness of Vathan locked behind its colossal walls—or intruders sent by the United Churches sealed outside. Needless to say, things don’t go as planned, and they soon find themselves at the mercy of the Blighted Lands…
This mini-campaign is designed as a learn-as-you-play experience, guiding players through the basic rules organically instead of frontloading them with information. While some of the locations overlap with the main campaign, all the events in Escape the Mud Fields are unique to this scenario—offering a fresh, self-contained narrative that complements the core story.
Into TLOU? We have a game for you.
You’ve probably noticed we’ve made a few other games before—and if you’re one of our returning backers, welcome back!
Now, it’s no secret we’re HUGE fans of The Last of Us. And with the second season of the TV series airing right now, maybe you’re feeling that itch to dive into a game that captures a similar emotional tone—not the usual post-apocalyptic zombie fare, but something deeper. Something about people, community, survival, and how far someone will go to protect what they love. A game about survival, choices and consequences more than anything else.
Well, good news: we wrote that game.
It’s called Dead Air: Seasons, and it was nominated for Best Setting at the ENNIE Awards last year (incidentally, Enrico, now on Bitter Chalice, is one of the writers of DAS). The game lets you tell the story of a survivor community living through the “Seasons of the Blight”—a brutal, ever-shifting force of nature that changes what threatens your people, from eco-abominations to other desperate groups closing in on your haven.
You can find Dead Air: Seasons and all its materials in the Add-On section of this campaign—and remember, increasing your pledge (click "Manage Your Pledge") helps us unlock more Stretch Goals for Bitter Chalice.
Curious to see it in action? Check out this unboxing video:
– Tommaso
Reminders
Our Community Manager Cassidy has started a Let's Read for the Overview of Bitter Chalice on Discord. Join us to check it out, as Giacomo and Enrico, the two authors of the game, are dropping in with their comments and notes.
You can find us on multiple platforms:
• Discord: Join our community and chat directly with us.
• Facebook: Follow The World Anvil Publishing page.
• Telegram: Get quick updates straight to your device.
• Instagram: See behind-the-scenes content and more.
Path of the Distiller #2, and friends
11 months ago
– Tue, Apr 15, 2025 at 09:17:36 AM
All right, it’s that time of the week Dowsers,
In this update, we tally the votes from the first chapter of Path of the Distiller and reveal who will be sent to confront the Ramul. And the winner is… Ghildan, Captain of the Vathan Knights—whose devotion to the Holy Water runs deeper than even his loyalty to the Sovereign.
Was it the right call? Only time will tell.
Just a reminder: the choices you make in this interactive story will directly shape how we develop Orios Volghir, Grandmaster of the Order of the Distillers, as a fully realized NPC in the Core Book.
The Bladecup by Fabio Porfidia
Path of the Distiller #2
“Do you know what a fossil is, Grandmaster Volgir?”
The question took the Grandmaster by surprise. The woman with ebony skin continued:
“A living being which, upon death, becomes trapped in some form of pliable material—usually clay.”
As the scholar spoke, a stone sarcophagus was positioned at the center of the room. Once in place, a reluctant prisoner was escorted inside from a door by the Alchemists of the School of Lachmir.
“After decomposition, the remains leave behind a sort of mold. Over centuries, other substances settle inside: mineral powders compacting, creating a copy of the original.”
The prisoner was forced into the sarcophagus, which, once sealed, was filled with a substance unfamiliar to the Grandmaster.
“An immortal and imperishable copy.”
Though the process was undeniably macabre, Orios watched attentively, undisturbed by the unfortunate man’s anguished screams.
“And yet, my lady,” he said softly, “is it truly correct to call this the same entity? A copy remains a copy. If its essence differs from the original, isn’t it merely a substitution?”
The woman rolled her eyes.
“I thought you would be more cunning than your predecessor, Orios. Edel was similarly prone to sophistry, but these petty arguments won’t advance the kingdom nor defend us from invaders.” A spark flashed in the woman’s eyes. “Holy Water can halt aging, but it cannot stop the blades of our enemies. This is the only solution that guarantees our survival.”
After a prolonged vibration, the sarcophagus fell silent. The Alchemists opened the coffin, and the man who emerged had definitively changed. His skin was yellowish, rough rather than smooth. His face appeared gaunt, his eyes vacant and devoid of will. Coira approached the creature, offering it a curved sword. The being stared at the sword momentarily, then grasped its hilt, lifting it uncertainly. Yet, it merely stared at its own hand.
“It’s as though it’s surprised to have a body,” Orios murmured. “Why have you shown me this process? I thought you didn’t look kindly upon the Distillers.”
Coira looked at him sharply.
“We need a militia to repel the Thorns, and what you see here is the future. This is the first member of the Hook Guard. They will be our protectors—and the scourge of anyone who dares attack us again.” The woman opened her arms dramatically. “Holy Water belongs to the past… but the Distillers still hold influence. The Sovereign won’t easily authorize the use of this new substance—Dust. Will you support me, Grandmaster, or follow the path of your careless predecessor and become my enemy?”
---
What will Grandmaster Orios Volgir do?
A) Agree to Coira and the School of Lachmir’s request, advocating for the study of Dust before the Sovereign.
B) Refuse to betray the Order of the Distillers, continuing to support research into Holy Water and thus antagonizing the ambitious Coira.
---
Voting is important, as should be self-evident by now. So vote, vote, vote! Only the comments under THIS POST will count!
Projects we love
The tabletop space is going through a complex moment, so I’d like to take this opportunity to spotlight some projects that truly deserve your attention.
Today, I want to highlight Densetsu and The Book of Yō, two new expansions for the excellent Rōnin—a rules-light TTRPG inspired by samurai cinema, Japanese folklore, and dark fantasy. These come from our friends at Slightly Reckless Games, and they’re currently live on crowdfunding.
Densetsu is a book of legends, uncovering the myths, warriors, and folklore of Kage no Shima. It introduces new character classes, mythic relics, and adventures woven from authentic Japanese folklore, enriching the world with deeper history and playable stories.
The Book of Yō is a descent into horror, featuring 100+ yōkai, corruption mechanics, cursed artifacts, and dark rituals. It transforms Kage no Shima into something far more terrifying, where monsters lurk, the dead do not rest, and returning from Yomi is never guaranteed.
And if you’re new to Rōnin, the new campaign also features a Starter Set.
Our Community Manager Cassidy has started a Let's Read for the Overview of Bitter Chalice on Discord. Join us to check it out, as Giacomo and Enrico, the two authors of the game, are dropping in with their comments and notes.
You can find us on multiple platforms:
• Discord: Join our community and chat directly with us.
• Facebook: Follow The World Anvil Publishing page.
• Telegram: Get quick updates straight to your device.
• Instagram: See behind-the-scenes content and more.
All Classes Unlocked, and an Interview
11 months ago
– Mon, Apr 14, 2025 at 07:19:32 AM
Welcome to a new (bitter) week, Dowsers.
This will be a quick one. We'll just see what's been unlocked, what's next, and I'll share an interview I did on Saturday that you might find interesting.
Stretch Goals
40 000€ UNLOCKED - New Class - Shaman
A new Class Sheet will be added to the box. A pagan priest, guided by the spirits. They can enter into communion with the ancestral forces linked to death and nature.
This is the last class we'll add to the game. We don't want to overreach and make things too complicated to balance as we wrap up the game. But don't worry, we've got more Stretch Goals in the works, like…
45 000€ (UPCOMING) - New Item - Counter Bookmarks
We’re adding a new item to all Upgrade Packs: Counter Bookmarks!
These pre-printed, rectangular bookmarks are designed to help you track Achievements required to complete specific tasks during the game—whether it’s unlocking a prison door, completing a ritual, or triggering a key event. The included pad will feature 50 bookmarks, giving you a handy, immersive way to manage progress without cluttering your play space.
An Interview
Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of joining Mildra the Monk on his TTRPG show to talk about Bitter Chalice and how it came to be. Mildra managed to pull a few details out of me that we haven’t shared anywhere else—like the mystery behind the Chalice in the title, and how it actually factors into the game. It’s a great conversation with some fresh insights, so give it a listen!
That’s it for today!
– Tommaso
Reminders
You can still VOTE under the Path of the Distiller #1 to shape what happens next. The second episode will drop TOMORROW, and votes will be tallied just before that.
Our Community Manager Cassidy has started a Let's Read for the Overview of Bitter Chalice on Discord. Join us to check it out, as Giacomo and Enrico, the two authors of the game, are dropping in with their comments and notes.
You can find us on multiple platforms:
• Discord: Join our community and chat directly with us.
• Facebook: Follow The World Anvil Publishing page.
• Telegram: Get quick updates straight to your device.
• Instagram: See behind-the-scenes content and more.
Solo Mode, Fabio's art and more stuff in the Recharge Pack
12 months ago
– Fri, Apr 11, 2025 at 09:08:12 AM
Hello, Dowsers.
It’s Friday—arguably the best day of the week—and the Bitter Chalice campaign is moving along nicely, which makes us very happy. Today, we’re shining a spotlight on the Solo Mode, checking in on what we’ve unlocked so far, and giving you a behind-the-scenes look at the work of one of our artists, Fabio Porfidia.
Fabio is a veteran illustrator whose name you might recognize from projects like Brancalonia, Memento Mori, Inferno, Lex Arcana, and more. He’s the mind behind the map and stickers of Bitter Chalice, but once we saw how deeply he connected with the tone and atmosphere of the game, it was a no-brainer to have him contribute additional illustrations throughout the book. He's got great hair too, the kind you see on posters at the salon—so the choice was easy.
Below, you’ll find a glimpse into Fabio’s creative process, focusing on one of the minor enemies you’ll encounter in the Blighted Lands: the Brute.
Solo Mode
We’ve received a few questions about Solo Mode, so let’s take a moment to clarify how it works.
The solo game is a GM-less adventure that lets you explore the Blighted Lands by moving through Areas and triggering Events—much like a choose-your-own-adventure gamebook. The twist? Each Location contains a structured hierarchy of Events that shift depending on factors like time of day, items you’ve found, or NPCs you’ve interacted with.
You’ll build your own team of support characters who will accompany you and influence how the group tackles combat and objectives—and yes, sometimes they’ll have a mind of their own and throw your careful plans into chaos.
To handle what a GM normally would, we’ve included tables and mechanics that simulate key decisions and unpredictability. Combat is driven by a mix of player choices and mandatory actions dictated by the Challenges you face—each one with its own unique behavior outlined on their dedicated sheet.
As for the lore, the Solo Mode includes certain “fragments” you can collect, which allow the reader to access specific passages within Dirge of the Dust King, the Companion Book, ensuring that the story is still revealed progressively.
In short: it’s the full Bitter Chalice experience, designed to feel rich, reactive, and narratively deep, even when you’re playing alone.
Stretch Goals
35 000€ UNLOCKED - Extra Items in the Recharge Pack
All Recharge Packs now include one extra map and one extra set of stickers. That means you'll get 3x maps and 3x sticker sheets, at no extra charge. And yes, that includes the Add-On you see at checkout, even if we can't change that picture.
40 000€ (UPCOMING) - New Class - Shaman
A new Class Sheet will be added to the box. A pagan priest, guided by the spirits. They can enter into communion with the ancestral forces linked to death and nature.
Reminders
You can still VOTE under the Path of the Distiller #1 to shape what happens next. The next episode should drop on Tuesday.
Our Community Manager Cassidy has started a Let's Read for the Overview of Bitter Chalice on Discord. Join us to check it out, as Giacomo and Enrico, the two authors of the game, are dropping in with their comments and notes.
You can find us on multiple platforms:
• Discord: Join our community and chat directly with us.
• Facebook: Follow The World Anvil Publishing page.
