For many long-time fans it came as somewhat of a shock when – in the mid-2000s and seemingly out of the blue – Chaosium ‘handed’ their Eternal Champion gaming licenses over to Mongoose Publishing. For myself personally, as a big fan of the Elric, Hawkmoon and Corum games, I never really expected Chaosium would willingly give up their control these properties, despite their somewhat ‘love-hate’ relationship with these worlds over the previous quarter of a century. Of course, the reaction to this shift was typical of what one sees when any big changes occur with anything we love; a mixed of anger, excitement and not a little trepidation. What would come of my favourite game? Would we get to explore new aspects of the Eternal Champion? And – hang on – just who are these Mongoose guys, anyway?
While history speaks for itself, it is undeniable that Mongoose Publishing’s stewardship of the Eternal Champion was another high point for the licence, not only bringing in new players and fans into the Multiverse, but also creating games that reflected more closely the actual worlds Moorcock had laid out all those years before. More importantly, Mongoose had a new way of working, one that ensured that the lines would be actively supported and would see regular releases. And to do that you needed talent.
It is fortunate, then, that our guest today was the very person shoulder tapped to bring Mongoose’s vision of Hawkmoon’s Tragic Millennium to life. An author young and raw enough to hold no fear leaping into a new property that had a long and complex history, and which therefore brought with it much expectation. None other than the now well-known and immensely respected, Gareth Ryder-Hanrahan!
