Continuing from my prior entries in Log 1 and Log 2, I wanted to find a distinct, bright and colourful style and theme for the card game. Something that would stand out but be rooted in the mythology and nature of a biosphere.
In this, I settled on Dartmoor as a primary inspiration. I felt the rich, vibrant greens, the ancient history and the diversity of natural life would contain the required breadth, whilst remaining cloaked in something recognisable. My idea was to embed a fantasy aesthetic and spirit powers into the mix.
Next, I looked at myths, legends and the natural life of the area throughout time.
During regional and even global research into myths and legends, I found some interesting snippets that could be incorporated into both visual theme and narrative elements. I was most taken by the often mentioned Beast of the moor (as made famous by Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles). This would be a perfect addition to the mythical elements that emerge from the natural wonders.
I find these moments of transition between initial idea (where vague images of characters, game mechanics and styling) and diving headlong into graphic design, to be very satisfying. Wispy ideas find form and become real by making connections to history, culture and the reality of an environment. Ancient stories entwined with an area can inspire and shape or give substance to the abstract mechanics of a game.
Through the Mists of Time
300 million years ago, Dartmoor sat near the equator. It was once a violent volcanic lava-filled landscape surrounded by colliding sections of crust forming granite rock. The remnants remain in the rolling landscape of stony hills.
Grey Wethers Stone Circle
Two broken stone circles sit on the south eastern slopes of Sittaford Tor, formed of thirty rough blocks of granite. These are known as the Grey Wethers. It is said that from a distance the stones look like a flock of sheep grazing, and another name for sheep is ‘Wether’.
True or not, a local legend has it that a farmer made some critical comments about the sheep on sale at Tavistock market. But after many pints of ale, he was convinced by the locals that a flock of sheep meeting his standards were for sale nearby and he should buy them.
Through the Dartmoor mist and an ale haze, the farmer was convinced by the fine flock. He agreed to buy them, and returned to the site the following morning to discover that the sheep were actually the stones of Grey Wethers.
The Mists of Ermwood
A brook eroded the soil to reveal a ring of rocks formed at the beginning of the world. Each of the eleven stones became the foundation for the mightiest trees in the forest. The civilisation that lived here built their temple within the centre of this stone circle. Wherever it originated, the power of the entire forest navigated to and flowed through this circle like streams finding a lake. The circle of stone with their oak trees was called “The Weathered Masks”.
Fitz’s Well
There are a couple of “holy wells” in Dartmoor. Fitz’s Well can be found near both Okehampton and Princetown and a similar tale is told about both. John Fitzford and his lady were lost on Dartmoor when the mist came down. The tale tells that they were led by pixies, yet, turning their coats inside out broke this mischievous spell. When the fog finally cleared they found themselves at a spring. Gratefully, they replenished their thirst and in gratitude, they built a simple well house around it. This is engraved ‘I.F. 1568’ and can be found near Princetown. The Okehampton well is known for its eye cures and was visited on Easter morning by youths and maidens.
The Mists of Ermwood
Uncountable centuries ago, a travelling group had become lost on the moor. When they could walk no further, spirits of the area guided them to a cave and a spring. Drinking from its deep pool of water they became immediately refreshed and energised. The water was special indeed. In time, they stayed and built the village around the well. They also explored the caves below and found a labyrinthine network of tunnels. And they found a sleeping beast. Respecting its space, they vowed to let it sleep and returned to their village, mindful of the water and its origins. Now, with disturbances happening to the forest from within and without, the ancient beast awakens. A snake-like dragon creature with the best eyesight of any beast alive or past.
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Whilst staying at the Duchy Hotel in Princetown (now the High Moorland Visitor Centre), Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was said to have been inspired to write the Sherlock Holmes novel The Hound of the Baskervilles. He’d heard tales about Squire Cabell (reputed inspiration for Hugo Baskerville) who had an evil reputation, and a pack of black hounds that ran howling across Dartmoor. Having died in the late seventeenth century, Cabell is buried in Buckfastleigh and his coffin was entombed in a small building to stop him from riding out with his hounds.
The Mists of Ermwood
A black beast roams the moors beyond the forest. It is an outsider, a reject from the forest community due to its isolationism and violence. The panther-like creature enjoys prowling and patrolling the moor beyond the forest, and appreciates being asked to help protect its environment, knowing that if the forest is destroyed it will have no home. The beast is mostly absent, appearing only on blood moons. Yet when the need arises and the threat becomes dire, it awakens and returns home to heed the call. This character is represented as a special “Spirit” card.
Dewerstone
The Dewerstone is a large granite outcrop over 100 metres high. It sits close to Shaugh Prior National Trust car park. Its name derives from ‘Old Dewer’, the local term for the Devil. The legends say that he used to terrorise the moor at night with his pack of Wisht Hounds (from Wistmans Wood) and drive poor travellers to their deaths off the top of the Dewerstone.
The Mists of Ermwood
The panther-like hound established in above is called Dewer Cat. None of the spirits living in and protecting the forest know where he makes his home, but some think its atop an outcrop of granite with a cops of trees called Wisht Wood. Here, he can observe the entire area including the valley and forest of Ermwood.
Ghosts of Lustleigh Cleave
During a full moon, legend has it that the ghosts of Roman legionnaires, or a Tudor hunting party have been spotted on the tor. These seem to originate at the old Roman hill fort on Hunters Tor above Lustleigh Cleave.
The Mists of Ermwood
Ghost legions can assemble on the “Verge” cards in order to assist in a fight. These originate from spirits fallen in ancient wars to preserve the area among the tors who now consolidate in this new war.
Soinster’s Rock
The Soinster’s Rock is the only recognisable Neolithic Dolmen left in Devon. It is a formation of three upright stones and one large capstone. Legend has it that it was erected by three maidens one morning before breakfast. Woven with many other tales, stone circles and structures on Dartmoor are commonly told about maidens being turned into stone for dancing on the Sabbath.
The Mists of Ermwood
Within the heart of the forest, a set of three vertical stones replete with capstones act like a waypoint for some conflicts outside or within the forest. As depicted on a “Verge” card. Created by 3 fallen maidens who combined their powers, capped by the stone that once sat under the oldest oak before it died. Combined, they create a portal to channel the strength of the forest.
Bowerman’s House and Hound Tor
Near Manaton, a granite stack is linked to a few tales. In one of them, Bowerman the hunter was in pursuit of a hare. Without care, he ran right through a coven of witches. Angered by an upset to their ritual, they set their trap. The next time Bowerman went hunting, a witch turned herself into a hare and led the hunter on a chase all over Dartmoor. Exhausted and lost, Bowerman became prey to the witches who turned him and his hounds to stone.
The Mists of Ermwood
Character cards represent aspects of the forest, yet they combine with transformational states for the deeper spirits of the land. Each has a clear capability and an alternative, hidden power that needs to be activated. These can be activated by special moves or at certain aspects of gameplay.
Roundhouses
Common throughout Europe and the UK from the Bronze to the Iron Age, Roundhouses were circular dwellings with conical roofs. Little is known about them, and much of what is known is conjecture established by archaeological fragments.
The Mists of Ermwood.
The progenitors who established the village, created roundhouses surrounding their cave and the rejuvenating well. Each is constructed at the base of a great oak tree to provide support and protect the eldest and wisest of the forest spirits. Now, centuries after the villagers mysteriously departed, the roundhouses are little more than overgrown stone circles.
Native American Ghost Dance (Wikipedia)
The Ghost Dance was one of two movements influenced by Christian traditions. It announced the imminent return of the dead and the restoration of Native Americans’ traditional way of life. Although the Ghost Dance tradition suffered a terrible tragedy at the massacre at Wounded Knee, South Dekota, in 1890, it was for a time a powerful expression of both hope and despair as the Euro-American conquest of the continent neared completion. It also continued in modified form until the 1950s and underwent occasional revivals in the later 20th century.
The Mists of Ermwood
Several cards can be set aside during gameplay in order to activate their combined special ability. These character cards will need to match in their class, eg, all woodland fauna, or all types of fungus.
Log Conclusion
Although this article represents only a small fraction of research, I feel the need to draw all these inspirational elements into a fully realised backstory to contain ancient lore and interwoven legends. Once complete, I can thus draw upon the narrative of the environment to influence special gameplay abilities, basic rules, inspirational spirits and structural elements within the environment.
Next though, I will publish some photos from Dartmoor to give some visual inspiration to the game.
© JD FitzRoy 2024-2026
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