The Maniculum Podcast

So you want to be a necromancer - in your next D&D campaign, sure, sure. But what IS necromancy, really? Join us in this episode as we dive into the real sources of medieval necromancy and black magic, and discover ways that real magical practices can fit into your next TTRPG campaign. Our Kickstarter is just a week away! Be the first to get a deck of 50 magic items straight from medieval manu...

What can animals teach us about TTRPGs? Join us in this episode as we explore the world of Medieval Fables and just what they can teach us about life, death, and min-maxing with fables & medieval animal specialist Linnet Heald! Check out our Kickstarter ! Check out Sam's DEATH OF THE AUTHOR on Backerkit here ! Check out Linnet's Blog posts & her new work! (Website coming soon!) The Raven’s...

This week, we're delving into Empress Theodora's early life and rise to power as empress of the Byzantine era. From her breathtaking performances as a prostitute to her love-at-first-sight romance with Justinian as a young guard, we gather that Theodora was one hell of a woman, regardless of Prokopios' distaste for her. Check out our Kickstarter ! Also, check out Gals and Goblins podcast here , an...

It's our 100th episode! Come celebrate with us as we host our second tournament - Mac and I compete with each other to see who has the best approach to listener submitted quests, with parties compiled of the characters we've collected from each episode. Special thanks to all the listeners who submitted quest ideas and questions for us to answer! WHO WON? VOTE HERE ! Check out our Kickstarter ! Joi...

It's part two of the drama-filled adventure of Eliduc, the two-timing knight! In the final part of this tale, we discuss how medieval writers poke fun at the chivalric system, and explore how to adapt knighthood - in all its forms- into your D&D campaign. Our KICKSTARTER is coming up! Sign up & try it out yourself here ! Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Suppo...

The drama of courtly love affairs - and their consequences - is back with the Lay of Eliduc! When Sir Eliduc abandons his vows after becoming a knight errant overseas, his wife and young mistress are not left helpless - together, and with a little magic, the two of them subvert expectations to force Eliuduc's hand. Check out the Kickstarter here ! Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr f...

Looking for a new political-intrigue campaign, but on't want to compromise on combat and craziness? Join us this week as we explore the Nika riots, where sports fans create a gang war that nearly brings down the Byzantine empire. With unique faction styles, a political coup, and a pretender emperor, the Nika riots are the perfect ground for a successful city-wide campaign or one-shot! Check out th...

Happy Valentine's Day! In this episode, we delve into medieval love spells, contraception, and the challenges women faced in matters of love and pregnancy. From mysterious plants and potions to debates among theologians on abortion ethics, explore the intersection of magic, societal views, and women's health in the Middle Ages. Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Suppor...

Ever wonder how realistic the magic items in D&D are, anyway? What are the lines between a religious token, a pagan amulet, and a giant-made sword? Join us this episode as we unlock the nature of how magic works in the middle ages, and how you can adapt historical magic techniques into your D&D campaign. Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon...

The drama of Prokopios' Secret History continues in this episode! We learn the secret backstory of how Justinian rose to power -- there's no dramatic coup, but we do learn the origin of the stencil, and learn how Theodora continues to strong-arm her way over a princely love triangle. Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon ! Check out our merch ! The B...

When four knights enter a tournament to win the same lady's hand (after she's led them all on), what could go wrong? Quite a lot, really. Join us in this episode as we explore this soap opera of a reverse-harem, medieval style. Plus, we discuss how medieval tournaments were actually set up, and how to adapt them to your D&D campaign! Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even mo...

Merry Christmas and happy winter holiday! Welcome to part two of our Saint Nick special, where we explore the miracles of Saint Nicholas - after his death. Join us as we explore how to adapt the humiliation of saints into your D&D game, and how you can compel your warlock patron to help you - or else. Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon ! Check...

It's the final part of Yonec, and in this episode, we explore how to adapt the Fairy Ring of General Inconspicuousness into your game, and how meta you can get with your meta-textuality. Join us and turn your next D&D game into an extra-planar fairy adventure! Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon ! Check out our merch ! The Beastiary Challenge!...

Alas, poor Yonec! He doesn't feature heavily in this story, despite being its namesake. Instead, join us as we discover how his parents, a fairy bird-man and a hapless damsel with a penchant for swooning, play meta-textual games within their tale. What pros and cons come with knowing you're in a fairy tale, and are they worth it, in the end? Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for eve...

Welcome to the first installment of Prokopios' Secret History - look no further for the next BBEG of your D&D campaign! In this episode, Prokopios, the court historian, explains the dangers of writing his record, and why he's waited so long to divulge the depravities of the Empress of Byzantium. Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon ! Check out o...

We're joined this week by Dr. Anthony Kaldellis , a professor of Classics of the University of Chicago and a brilliant Byzantine scholar. Dr. Kaldellis grants us an inside look into the creation of the world's first gossip rag: Prokopios' Secret History, detailing all the saucy and sordid details of the Byzantium court! Check out Dr. Kaldellis' podcast, Byzantium and Friends ! You can also explore...

Happy Halloween! This season, we're covering some more spooky stories of the undead. So if you're looking to incorporate some real, historical depictions of how to deal with the undead in your next D&D game, don't delay! Learn the best kept secrets of How to Win Lawsuits against your Undead Neighbors and more in this episode. Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Supp...

Le Fresne, from the Lais of Marie de France, is like a medieval episode of "The Bachelor," but with a surprise twin twist. When two noble sisters are split up as infants and grow up to be equally gorgeous, it leads to a royal mix-up that even DNA testing couldn't solve. Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon !  Check out our merch ! Socials:...

We're back with part two of our chat with Kate! Follow the adventures of Xuanzang, a monk with a quest for enlightenment, as he embarks on a journey to India, meeting eccentric characters, facing weird monsters, and dealing with the inner turmoils of enlightenment. Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even more! Support us on patreon !  Check out our merch ! Socials:  Tumblr Websit...

We return to the Great Tang Records this week with a special guest, Dr. Kate Hartmann, as she provides some enlightening context surrounding Xuanzang's travel blog and hot takes on what kind of buddhism is best. Join us as we learn how reincarnation actually works, and why it's better to be a human than a god when it comes to enlightenment. Join our discord community! Check out our Tumblr for even...

The Lais of Guigemar is a medieval tale of romance with a magical twist that could give any modern rom-com a run for its money. When a dashing knight accidentally shoots a white doe and falls under a love curse, he's destined for a quest filled with enchanted belts, hidden desires, and a whole lot of "deer"-ly beloved drama. Join our discord community! Support us on patreon ! Check out o...

WHO or WHAT is the Abominable Whistler? What uncanny powers do they possess? These and other questions will be thoroughly elided in this week’s episode as we return to the Gesta Romanorum for more so-called "deeds of the Romans". Tune in to learn the best way to catch fish and how to lie to God. Don't miss it! Join our discord community! Support us on patreon ! Check out our merch ! Soci...

Lanval, one of the Lais of Marie de France, is a medieval tale that puts the "knight" in "nightmare date." It tells the story of a guy who's so good-looking that even unicorns get jealous, but his love life takes a wild turn when he meets a fairy queen who can't keep her magical powers in check. Join our discord community! Support us on patreon ! Check out our merch ! Socials:...

Stick it to the man with this week's weird medieval tales! We're back with two strange morality stories, each of which seems to teach the benefits of malicious compliance more than any true moral lesson. Hmm, maybe don't let your D&D party get ahold of these ideas, then... Join our discord community! Support us on patreon ! Check out our merch ! Socials: Website Twitter Instagram

Welcome to the final part of Egil's Saga! In this episode, we learn Egil's approach to settling disputes with his neighbors is, of course, violence. How will he spend his last days, and what else can we pilfer from this text for our TTRPGs? Join our discord community! Support us on patreon ! Check out our merch ! Socials: Website Twitter Instagram Facebook Citations & References: Read Egil's S...