Cæsar Ink has provided a sneak peek at the Kickstarter campaign for Thou Shalt Not Suffer The Wycce, the second full campaign book for their folk horror roleplaying game, Doomsong. The new volume plunges players into the dark task of hunting heretics within a kingdom slowly succumbing to the creeping terror of famine.
The project is set to launch on Kickstarter on 14 October at 4 pm (BST), with a preview page already live for backers interested in giving feedback. The new campaign, described as a ‘Roleplay Macabre’, retains the grim aesthetic and themes established in the previous award-winning title, Lord Have Mercy Upon Us.
Thou Shalt Not Suffer The Wycce places player characters firmly within the Wyccefinders’ Guild, charging them with rooting out heresy in the land of Cocytus. While whispers suggest the blessed Saint Asaph has returned, a mounting famine suggests that the kingdom is being consumed by a Traitor God.
The core of the new campaign focuses on a series of mysteries tied together by a single overarching conspiracy, with the developers promising an experience that can be played either as seven separate, fully developed investigations or as a grand, interconnected story.
Key features and mechanics in the new book include:
New Mechanics and World Features
- Wycce Trial System: Each investigation culminates in a formal trial. Players take on roles within the courtroom—acting as judge, accusators, or even shields for the accused—using evidence and opinion to determine guilt. This system promises genuine social impact, noting that burning a beloved local without popular support could result in the Wyccefinders being run out of town.
- Famine’s Candle and The Newynog: The game introduces a central time-pressure mechanic tied to a physical artefact. When Famine’s Candle is lit, the party enters The Newynog, a foreboding realm where time is strictly limited. The candle’s burn time acts as a real-world timer, with every minute burning away the fabric of the world and making the kingdom of Cocytus more desperate.
- Expanded Guild Ranks and Life Paths: Character creation, which features over 90 Life Paths, sees new options for players who meet a grim fate. The “Feed the Pyre” option allows a character facing death by hanging or burning to be offered an alternative—joining the Guild as a sinner or deceiver with unique blasphemous powers.
- New Enemies and Traitor Gods: The book expands the roster of antagonists with over 30 new creatures, including the bloodthirsty dryas and the armoured dwarrowsites. New Traitor Gods are also introduced, such as the Sublime Feast, the Dread Voracity, and the Lamentide Famine, which can be encountered and potentially fought.
Focus on Production and Design
In a move away from typical crowdfunding projects, Cæsar Ink confirmed the campaign will launch without stretch goals, stating that every content and production enhancement they planned for is already factored into the book’s design.
The physical production promises high-end quality, designed to evoke the in-world lore:
- Thermo-embossed faux leather covers.
- Two ribbon bookmarks.
- A world map integrated into the dust jacket.
- Built-in pocket for character sheets.
- Fold-out pages for particularly foul foes.
The original artist, Moritz Krebs (@blackcrabart), returns, joined by four other talented creators: Airi Avisen, Peter Johnston, Boyan Kazalov, and sculptor Alex Huntley (of Warp Miniatures), who designed the in-world Famine’s Candle ancillary product. The book is set to feature over 200 separate illustrations.
The team behind Doomsong includes award-winning designer Jack Cæsar, whose credits include Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: The Adventure Game (an ENNIES winner in 2020) and Jim Henson’s Dark Crystal: The Adventure Game. The writer is Morgan Finley, who previously penned the award-winning adventure Lord Have Mercy Upon Us.
For those curious about the grim world of Painyme, Cæsar Ink has provided a free demo adventure, Thou Shalt Not Suffer The Wycce Demo, involving the death of a giantess at Cotteburn Gaol. The company also hosts an online character creator for the Doomsong system.
PDF copies of Thou Shalt Not Suffer The Wycce and all digital content will be distributed via [suspicious link removed]. Physical shipping is planned in two waves: December 2025 for content from previous campaigns, and October 2026 for the new Thou Shalt Not Suffer The Wycce bundle.
