An Egyptian setting of dystopian tech, gods, and monsters for the :Otherscape Mythic Cyberpunk RPG + Neuro:OS, a cyberspace expansion
Latest Updates from Our Project:
First materials from the Neuro Playtesting Copy now released!
8 days ago
– Sat, May 30, 2026 at 08:14:02 AM
Hey there harnessed renegades evading killer protocol bots!
It's been three weeks since our last update and we have some things to share with you, so let's get to it!
Cairo hookah bars are a fantastic place from which to harness into the infinite realms of cyberspace
Cairo:Otherscape Playtesting Copy v0.6 and Neuro:Otherscape Playtesting Copy v0.1 are sending out!
The Ways of Magic subsection was added to Chapter 2 of the Cairo playtesting copy. We will continue to improve the layout, add art, an appendices section, and a backer list before we head to print.
We're happy to release the first materials from Neuro, and we're starting with Chapter 1, which introduces the cyberspace sourcebook, its main thematic pillars, expanded ideas about harnessing and cyberspace in :Otherscape, introducing the concept of Apotheosis, and more.
The updated version of the Cairo:Otherscape Playtesting Copy (v0.6) and the first version of the Neuro:Otherscape Playtesting Copy (v0.1) are now being sent out to backers via DriveThruRPG.
If you spot typos or any other mistakes, or if you have any other feedback for us, please let us know on the Discord threads below:
If you did not get your copy, or if you ran into any issues with receiving content updates, please reach out to [email protected] .
Release highlights
The updates to this release of the Cairo playtesting copy (v0.6) include the following:
Added the Ways of Magic subsection in Chapter 2
Edited the Cairo Glossary in Chapter 1
Added art, streamlined layout and design, and corrected typos
Tammer the Tank may know where to go to find a new power glove, but is it a bargain or a bust?
This release of the Neuro playtesting copy (v0.1) includes Chapter 1. Here are a couple preview spreads from this chapter:
The next release
Our next update will be two weeks from now on June 12th.
For this upcoming update we will continue to improve the layout and design of Cairo and add more artwork. For Neuro, we'll aim to add Chapter 4: Key Players, as well as some art and a more refined layout.
Timeline estimate
As we mentioned on our last update, the full digital release for the entire project is estimated for August. We want to be ready for print by September/October, which means that physical delivery will be at the earliest by the end of the year.
We'll continue to keep you posted if anything changes in regards to our expected fulfillment timeline.
-----
That's it for today - see you in the next one!
- Omer and the Son of Oak team
New Cairo/Neuro update + Legend in the Mist LaunchFest is here!
30 days ago
– Fri, May 08, 2026 at 11:40:20 AM
Hello there punks of the Binary Rot underground!
Two weeks have passed and we have an update for you. Let's go!
Iso-map for Neuro Job #1 - showcasing some of the rugged frontier lands of cyberspace
Cairo:Otherscape Playtesting Copy v0.5 is sending out!
Work continued on Cairo and we have added the two remaining Jobs to the Defying Death campaign (Chapter 5). We've also added the missing Vendors & Goods subsection at the end of Chapter 3.
We have continued to refine some of the texts and stat blocks for Challenges, as well as correcting typos and mistakes that were found. Moreover, our graphic design team has continued to improve the layout and general design of the book and it is shaping up quite nicely.
The updated version of the Cairo:Otherscape Playtesting Copy (v0.5) is now being sent out to backers via DriveThruRPG.
If you spot typos or any other mistakes, or if you have any other feedback for us, please let us know on the Discord threads below:
If you did not get your copy, or if you ran into any issues with receiving content updates, please reach out to [email protected] .
Release highlights
The updates to this release of the Cairo playtesting copy include the following:
Jobs #5 and #6 of Defying Death, the Cairo setting campaign in Chapter 5. Job covers are being reformatted and are awaiting a new design and location labels were added to all of the iso-maps.
The Vendors & Goods subsection was added to the end of Chapter 3 adding more loadout catalogue items.
Layout streamlined and graphic elements were added - mostly to chapter sections and subsections.
Updated Table of Contents, Footmarkers, and Bookmarks.
------------
Legend in the Mist's Launchfest is here!🔥
If you enjoy our Mist Engine which powers :Otherscape and you're looking for a rustic fantasy game to fall in love with, check out Legend in the Mist during our special pre-launch promotion event which will be the last opportunity to get it at pre-order prices!
Peddler's Cart: Daily Drops of new content for backers and LaunchFest supporters only. Every day until the books are here, you'll get a new theme kit, Challenge, Trope, or Journey!
New Unlockable Goals: We're adding more digital content to the game as more people join the Legend in the Mist community. The first goal (a new sidequest) has already been unlocked!
Cauldron of Mist competition, where you create, share, and sell your own Legend in the Mist creations, and we will pick three winning submissions that will win cash rewards! Submit by June 2nd.
It's going to be a hell of a party, in the best tradition of the Dales - and we do hope you'll join us there!
------------
The next release
Our next update will be two weeks from now on May 22nd.
For this upcoming update we aim to release a final playtesting copy of Cairo, containing all the text and final layout, but with some art missing that will be added later on. We're also aiming to release a first look from Neuro, which will be of Chapter 4, the Key Players.
Timeline estimate
Art production has been slower than we anticipated and we also hadn't hit some of our estimated writing deadlines.
As mentioned above, you can expect a full playtesting copy of Cairo later this month (May 22nd), but a full digital release of the entire project including Neuro is now estimated for August.
This of course means that our estimated timeline for physical release (originally estimated for August) will be similarly postponed by 2-3 months. We hope that we can hit print by September/October, which means that physical delivery will be at the earliest by the end of this year.
We'll continue to keep you posted if anything changes in regards to our expected fulfillment timeline.
-----
That's it for today - see you in the next one!
- Omer and the Son of Oak team
Start playing Defying Death - the Egypt setting campaign!
about 1 month ago
– Fri, Apr 24, 2026 at 09:19:04 AM
Hello there clones of Egyptian deities!
It's been two weeks and you're due for an update from us, so let's dig in!
Cairo:Otherscape Playtesting Copy v0.4 is sending out!
During these two weeks, work continued on Cairo and we are happy to add 4 out of the 6 Jobs of Defying Death, the Egypt setting campaign, to the playtesting copy.
This updated version of the Cairo:Otherscape Playtesting Copy is now being sent out to backers via DriveThruRPG.
Jobs 5 and 6 will be added to the playtesting copy in a future update.
If you spot typos or any other mistakes, or if you have any other feedback for us, please let us know on the Discord threads below:
If you did not get your copy, or if you ran into any issues with receiving content updates, please reach out to [email protected] .
Release highlights
If you are planning to play Defying Death as a player, you might want to skip ahead to the "Next Release" section of this update as there are potential spoilers ahead!
An iso-map of the Djed building, the Ennead's HQ, from Job #6
Chapter 5 - Defying Death
Defying Death is a six Job campaign for Cairo:Otherscape in which the crew explore the Cairo Megacity, wade through the vast social tapestry of Egypt, encounter many dangerous foes, and try to thwart the nefarious plans of an Ennead exec seeking to become immortal.
JOB #1: DEAD CHANNEL
A downtown investigation goes off the rails. Dead Channel is a neo-noir investigative scenario in which the crew looks into a recent murder in Downtown Cairo. Under the glow of neon, the PCs meet a varied array of locals and may even broker a bit of peace between two gangs, before facing the murderer in cinematic combat deep below the Megacity.
JOB #2: THE KNOCKOFF
On the hunt for a master imitator who cannot be replaced. Seeking and melding souls appropriate for an Avatar takes a lot of work, but perhaps another possibility exists. What if a soul could be copied or forged, allowing a single powerful soul to aid several would-be immortals in their quest?
JOB #3: LOST AN EYE
Ancient ruins, judgement and rebellion, and high payload missiles. Lost an Eye sees the crew enter an ancient temple of Horus to secure an ancient protective artifact, facing off against the Red Mercury Company in an abandoned mall in Damanhour.
JOB #4: KNOWLEDGE BURNS
An anything-but-peaceful visit to the streets of Alexandria. The crew make their way up to the district of Alexandria where they must navigate the narrow alleys of a souq, harness themselves to the old Library of Alexandria (now uploaded to cyberspace!), and confront Ennead goons atop the newly-built Pharos Lighthouse.
---
The two Jobs that conclude the Defying Death campaign will be added to the playtesting copy at a later date. Here's a short brief of what they contain.
JOB #5: THE OASIS HEIST
A high-stakes heist where nothing is as it seems. The Oasis Heist is a high-stakes incursion into the manor of an ultra-wealthy artifact collector in one of the most secure parts of the Cairo Megacity. It is up to the crew to get into the estate, steal a priceless artifact, and get out – but nothing is as it seems.
JOB #6: RETURN OF OSIRIS
The dead and returned god comes back once more. At the culmination of Defying Death, the crew must face the Ennead exec who's striving for Avatarhood and immortality, while watching their back from a potential betrayal by a previously-trusted ally.
The next release
Our next update will be two weeks from now on May 8th. On that update we'll aim to release the remaining two jobs from Chapter 5. Other sections that we hope to already share with you then are the Ways of Magic section from Chapter 2, and a small vendors subsection at the end of Chapter 3, which adds more loadout catalogue items to the book.
-----
That's it for today - see you in the next one!
- Omer and the Son of Oak team
Another update to the Cairo Playtesting Copy!
about 2 months ago
– Fri, Apr 10, 2026 at 09:29:30 AM
Hey there desert nomads tormented by mischievous Jinn and sinister Akhu!
Two weeks have passed and it's time for another update from us. Let's get straight to it!
Some beautiful pre-rendered character art by Isago Fukuda
Cairo:Otherscape Playtesting Copy v0.3 is sending out!
Work continued on Chapter 3: Akhu Database, which hosts common Challenges of Egypt that your players might be confronted with in your games. Along with Ifrit and Jinn, Akhu spirits and monsters, these Challenges include magical sandstorms, crumbling temple ruins, and more.
We've added this chapter to the Cairo:Otherscape Playtesting Copy which is now being sent out to backers via DriveThruRPG.
A small subsection from this chapter titled "Akhu Vendors & Goods" is still due for a final pass and will be added in a future update.
This update already includes some fixes to typos, updated faction logos in chapter 4, and other general corrections. If you spot typos or any other mistakes, or if you have any other feedback for us, please let us know on the Discord threads below:
But here are a few choice spreads from this chapter:
Play :Otherscape on Roll20!
If you're itching to play :Otherscape online, you can now do it over on Roll20!
When you create a new game, just pick out the :Otherscape character sheet from the drop-down menu:
Choosing this will unlock the following :Otherscape features for your game:
Character Sheets: include all the current themes and theme types, Loadout and Crew themes, and Essences.
Challenge Profiles: contain everything you need to create Challenge profiles for any adversary, monster, or event.
Tracking Cards: great for tracking your statuses, tags, and story tags, and can be set to positive or negative depending on how they affect your roll. This feature follows the highest status rule and tags can be burnt for a hit.
Go Out in a Blaze: automatically calculates your total themes for Self, Mythos, or Noise for Go Out in a Blaze.
An example of a filled Character Sheet, Tracking Cards for statuses and tags, and the dice roller
An example of a filled Challenge Profile
The next release
Our next update will be two weeks from now on April 24th. On that update we'll aim to release at least some of Chapter 5, which is the Cairo campaign titled Defying Death - six interconnected Jobs that see the players exploring the Cairo Megacity, wading through the vast social tapestry of Egypt, encountering many dangerous foes, and trying to thwart the nefarious plans of an Ennead exec seeking to become immortal.
Timeline estimate
With the current pace we're estimating a full digital release of Cairo around the end of May or start of June, and Neuro during June/July. We'll continue to keep you posted if anything changes in regards to our expected fulfillment timeline.
-----
That's it for today - see you in the next one!
- Omer and the Son of Oak team
Challenges for Cairo Chapter 3: Akhu Database being finalized!
2 months ago
– Fri, Mar 27, 2026 at 07:47:37 AM
Hey there harnessed mercs quizzed by crypto sphynxes!
During these last couple of weeks work continued on both Cairo and Neuro and we're happy to announce that, other than one Job that is still being written, writing for the Cairo book is essentially done!
After this Job is fully written, our writers will be able to fully concentrate on writing the remaining portions of Neuro. We'll start sharing parts of Neuro after we finish releasing the Cairo Playtesting Copy in its entirety.
While we hoped that Chapter 3: Akhu Database would be ready to be shared this week, dev has not yet released it for layout as they're still tweaking to make sure that all Challenges in this chapter walk the fine line of being mechanically interesting, well-balanced, representative of the Egypt setting, and most importantly, cool and fun to use (as an MC) or encounter (as a player)!
Chapter 3: Akhu Database
Here's a short summary of some of the things you'll find between the pages of Chapter 3 of the Cairo setting book:
The Akhu and the Jinn
Ahku is a catch-all term used by the people of Cairo for evil spirits and supernatural threats. It includes ghosts and other dead who haunt the living, as well as demons of Duat, and mythological monstrosities.
Jinn are magical beings whose personalities and appearance aren’t that much different from those of humans, but they are spirits able to transform into animals and create various magical effects. They exist both within the real world and in cyberspace.
You've previously encountered Jinn in Chapter 2, where we detail how your players can portray Jinn characters. In Chapter 3 we provide you with examples of Jinn as Challenges which can be encountered both in meatspace and in cyberspace.
Megacity Adversaries
The Challenges that you'll encounter in this section are divided between the following categories:
CYBERSPACE AKHU
CURSED LOCALES
FEARSOME AKHU
SOCIAL PHENOMENA AKHU
NEIGHBORHOOD LIFE
STREET ENCOUNTERS
MOVERS & SHAKERS
Power Sets
This sub-section provides you with ways of turning any encounter or adversary (from the Metro book or elsewhere) using Self, Mythos, and Noise power sets, into something befitting a Cairo Megacity Challenge.
Akhu Vendors & Goods
A list of hard-to-reach or hard-to-find suppliers of unique gear and items, enchanted by gods or tainted by Akhu, or are sold by supernatural beings.
In this section you'll find items that can be procured from the following:
Riah - a Jinn of the trade winds
Statue-Mart - an ushabti-run corner store
Shemsu-Heru Cafe - a tea shop run by near-Avatars
Abqarino's Truck - a salvaged technology vendor
Some more iso-maps
Work doesn't only continue with writing but also with art, where we're commissioning more and more beautiful pieces from various artists. You can expect to see more art from people who've previously created for :Otherscape, such as lead character artist Isago Fukuda or chapter cover artist Daniel Liang.
Though you are very familiar with her exquisite work on Legend in the Mist, we're happy to say that Cairo and Neuro will be the first :Otherscape books to feature some of Alejandra Pinal's incredible art!
Another newcomer to :Otherscape, we've previously shared two of his iso-maps that will be featured in the Cairo campaign Jobs. Here are a few more of these lovely creations by Rodrigo Artuso, who will also be creating the battle maps for the :Otherscape Scene Maps and Tokens accessory.
Created for Job #4 - Sometimes, the knowledge you seek is guarded
Created for Job #5 - What might you find in the basement of an Egyptian mansion?
The next update
Our next update will be two weeks from now on April 10th. We're quite confident that we'll be able to update the Cairo Playtesting Copy by then with Chapter 3: Akhu Database.
After Chapter 3 is added to the Cairo Playtesting Copy we'll work on finalizing and releasing Chapter 5, which contains the Cairo campaign - 6 interconnected Jobs that see the players exploring many districts of the Cairo Megacity, wading through the vast social tapestry of Egypt, encountering many dangerous foes, and trying to thwart the nefarious plans of an Ennead exec seeking to become immortal.
