For Faerie, Queen, and Country

by David Zeb Cook, Karen S. Boomgarden (Editor, writer)

“It’s a right pea-souper, innit, guv’ner! No telllin’ what kinds a’ bogie’re out slippin’ ‘round tonight.” The fish vendor tips his filthy porkpie hat to the passing inspector, who hardly notices the vague shape lurking in the shadow of the narrow alleyway behind him. “Certain and it’s not a fit night out fo-“ His voice is cut off sharply as a clawed hand closes around his throat, its iron nails digging into his skin. His screams shatter the silence of the foggy waterfront.

Inspector Prescott realizes, with a start, that he has been standing rooted to the pavement, while a black annis has jus killed another victim. He’s been warned that one’s been about, striking silently and without warning, but he certainly never thought to get this close to one.

From behind him come a hideous cackle,. Turning, he sees a misshapen, four-limbed creature that seems to be sprouting leaves. In its bony hands it clutches a large knobby club.

”Never a Peeler around when you need one,” Prescott mutters, formulating a spell in his mind…

For Faerie, Queen, and Country is the first fantasy Universe Book created for the AMAZING ENGINE game system. The Victorian England, 187-. The Tuatha de Danann are represented in Parliament. America is a British penal colony. And your character? She could be a governess to a family in Bloomsbury, skilled in herbal lore and fairy lore because she was raised in Ireland. He could be a consulting detective, half-faerie himself, with training in phrenology. Or, your character might be a full-blooded Tuatha de Danann, bent on wreaking mischief throughout London!

Step into the universe of For Faerie, Queen, and Country. And don’t forget the bit of cold iron for your pocket!

Genres: Gaming

128 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1993

About the author

David "Zeb" Cook is an American game designer best known for his work at TSR, Inc., where he was employed for over fifteen years. Cook grew up on a farm in Iowa where his father worked as a farmer and a college professor. In junior high school, Cook playing wargames such as Avalon Hill's Blitzkrieg and Afrika Korps. "I was primarily a wargamer, but there wasn't any role-playing available then," although in college, he was introduced to the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game through the University of Iowa gaming club. Cook earned his B.A. in English (with a Theater minor) in 1977. He married his high school sweetheart, Helen, with whom he had one son, Ian. Cook became a high school teacher in Milligan, Nebraska, where his students gave him his nickname of "Zeb"; the name derives from his signature, which is dominated by a stroke resembling a 'Z'.