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Black Market Guide to Immortality

Created by Nine Heavens Press

What are you willing to become for eternal life? The Black Market Guide is a 5e/PF2e sourcebook expanding the worldbuilding of Undying Corruption into the obsession of immortality that gripped East Asia. New subclasses, ancestries, and bestiary galore!

Latest Updates from Our Project:

Nov 2025 Update
6 months ago – Sun, Nov 02, 2025 at 08:10:34 PM

Hello again!

We're one month past the crowdfunding campaign and the dust has just begun setting. You'll be pleased to know that we've been busy making more progress with the book, so allow me to address some questions we've received and what the rest of this year looks like.

Late Stretch Goals

Combined with early pledges, we're currently at $129,787!! Late pledge stretch goals (every 5K after 120K) are still active until early next year. Meaning, we've unlocked one and are about to unlock another!!

We've already begun work on the first, a new species/ancestry: the Yaoqi. They're based on the mythical qilin, offsprings of the Golden IMA, the Primordial Beast upon whose corpse the entirety of the Iseung region sits upon. Just as qilins are harbingers of peace, the Yaoqi were once upon a time heavily sought and exploited by various kingdoms wanting to justify their rule.

They've since raised sky islands and retreated from the earth, taking it upon themselves to observe and determine whether they, the children of the earthly beast gods, could coexist with the children of the gods. Some have begun to take more proactive roles in building a peaceful world, returning to the world below to shape history.

Once we reach 130K, we'll either go down the list in terms of ancestry/subclass poll winners or pick out something new and special!

Current Progress

  • Black Market Guide progress: Now that we have the funds to compensate our editors, we've begun work in earnest on fine-tuning material before the playtest doc launch. We appreciate your patience as we take the time to put out material that's largely free of grammatical and syntax errors so that we can focus on tightening the mechanics.
    • Playtest Doc Multiple Releases (ETA: Doc 1, Q4 2025/Doc 2, Q1 2026): We're planning on releasing multiple documents in waves. The first will be released sometime December, early January at the latest. Our editors are wrapping up some prior engagements and will soon be able to focus their attention on this project. Doc 1 will contain species/ancestries/heritages and subclasses. Doc 2 will include revisions to Doc 1 + a large selection of creatures and our custom immortality mechanics. Doc 2 will likely be sent out around mid to late Q1 2026, early Q2 at the latest.
    • NPC Guide (ETA: TBA dependent on playtest docs): The main book will be our highest priority, but we'll put out an alpha version of the NPC Guide to test waters on what folks generally think of progress. Beta version will include more characters and setting lore. We'll have an ETA on the alpha dependent on how things go with the playtest document since, again, we want to focus our time and resources on the main book first.
    • VTT modules (ETA: TBA dependent on playtest docs): We can integrate our playtest document into Roll20 and Foundry and release them at around the same time, if not simultaneously. We're new to this, so this lets us test the waters on production towards the final products. 

Speaking of progress, we've been busy during this month! I'm happy to share a bit of what we're working on, particularly with our wide selection of new gods:


One of the three children of Izanagi and Izanami, Susanoo-no-Mikoto, god of storms. Of the three siblings, Susanoo is far more capricious, preferring to test his swordsmanship over wasting his time with court intrigue. After Izanami's death, when the houses of the divine realm of Takamagahara prepared to war with one another, Susanoo happily broke the tension with a light... rampage.

Accepting self-banishment, his tenure in the world below was exciting to say the least. He slew the fell earthly deity, Yamata-no-Orochi, took a mortal wife, and left behind arms revered as sacred artifacts. For every warrior scaling the heights of their art, Susanoo is said to wait at the peaks to test their mettle.


Finally, we have an illustration for the patron deity of all Dangukese Mudang. Princess Bari is a demigod that has taken a governing role in Jeoseung, the Dangukese underworld. Once an ordinary girl, abandoned by her parents, she didn't hesitate to bravely sneak into the underworld to look for a cure to help those who threw her away. She endeavors to guide lost souls, ensuring that there is a gentle rest after death at the end of all beings' lives.

She has a somewhat contentious relationship with the Ten Narakwang, the stern judges that ensure there is punishment awaiting the sinful. They scare the kids too much.

Community Concerns

To address some community comments and questions we've received over the month:

  • 5e FoundryVTT: Many people messaged me over the month asking if we could integrate 5e BMG to FoundryVTT. While at first I was hesitant at how much I would have to code myself given some lack of official support, I've talked with many people saying that situation has improved a lot more. So I'm willing to give it a shot. We'll try integrating our 5e material to FoundryVTT and launch it on both Roll20 and FoundryVTT. 
  • Why haven't I received my survey yet?: We've run into two scenarios:
    • People who are paying in increments will receive their surveys after they've finished paying. You have a bit of time there. If you know what you want for your character commission, you can just email us at [email protected] and contact us with all your references. We can discuss matters there. 
    • If the above doesn't match your situation, I suggest contacting BackerKit support. It's possible that when you tried accessing your survey, you weren't logged into the proper email that you backed us with. Regardless, I'm more than happy to see what the issue is on our end as well.
  • Can I back BMG with PayPal?: So it seems like PayPal's payment structure conflicts with how BackerKit runs their pledges, hence why we've had to keep PayPal payments deactivated for early pledges. However, there is a workaround: please email us at [email protected] and I can send you a BackerKit link that will facilitate a one-time transaction. We appreciate your patience. If folks prefer paying with PayPal, we would have to cancel early backing and move to the preorder storefront model. Which we're happy to do if that's what people prefer.
    • Caution: On this note, someone was scammed on Bluesky by an account pretending to be us as we were trying to help them back us through PayPal. We would never ask you for sensitive information publicly and send you links to sites where we don't already have a storefront set up. I was happy to set this person up with their pledge tier just because it was an unfortunate situation all around.
  • Where can I download our 5e Undying Corruption files?: So we can send out DriveThruRPG links to download them, but with the way digital downloads are set up, we can either do it when orders are locked and people have paid OR just, send them out prior to that. This has made me hesitate somewhat. I can lock orders now to facilitate sending these links out, but if someone changes their address or want to update their survey, they'd basically have to contact me. Which I'm happy to do! I just want to make sure if people are comfortable with that first. Please let me know if you'd be okay with that or if you'd prefer to wait. I'm largely uncomfortable sending out links until orders are confirmed and finalized, personally.

I believe that's everything, but I'm happy to answer questions and respond to comments if there's anything that I missed. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at [email protected], comment here, or join our Discord server!

Late Pledges Open, Post-Campaign Stretch Goals, Surveys Sending
6 months ago – Wed, Oct 15, 2025 at 07:24:43 PM

Hello everyone, we hope you've all been properly scared this Spooky Month!

Very happy to report to everyone that late pledges are officially open.

Click here to access late pledges


In addition, we had a number of stuff we still wanted to do. I mean, we love designing new playable content and monsters, so we have a very special holiday offer.

Until February 2026, we're keeping some very informal stretch goals open. At 125K and every 5K after, we'll add another playable species/ancestry/heritage, subclass, or monster! As long as we're still working on the book, I don't see a reason why we shouldn't add more to it if we can help it.

Surveys

A small number of surveys has been sent out to test the waters. If folks don't report any issues in the next 24 hours, we'll send the rest out. You can expect them soon! As folks fill out their surveys, we'll be sure to give you guys a month by month update on where we're at production-wise. So far, everything's up to speed and I'm hoping to knock out a conclusive draft of the book by the end of the year, in time to be edited Q1 of next year.

I'll work out digital downloads and get them up and running by the end of the week. We are distributing all digital content through DriveThruRPG, so I want to make sure I can figure out how to set that up properly. Folks have been excited to access Undying Corruption, so I want to prioritize that.

Previews

To show you that we've been busy since the crowdfunding campaign, we're happy to show you a couple things we've been working on.



As per the latest stretch goal, here is the Ohachisuye, our variant Roper based on a monster from Ainu folktale. It uses illusions and trickery in addition to the usual Roper tricks to reel in unsuspecting travelers. Any GMs out there will totally give their players a fright when they realize, oh, that's not a house at all, is it!


The Imoogi Dragonborn has also been designed! They appear more serpentine, certainly a bit like a naga. Unlike other dragonborns, they possess the power to "evolve" and temporarily access different dragon forms that empower their physical strength and natural dragonborn abilities. Like a tougher breath weapon.

We'll continue to touch base with you! If you have any comments or questions, you can reach us by replying to this update or emailing us at [email protected]. We've also got an increasingly active Discord server!

End of Crowdfunding! Thank you all so much!
7 months ago – Fri, Oct 03, 2025 at 07:05:51 AM

We've wrapped up crowdfunding at 120K!! All things considered, not too shabby at all, so thank you all very much for your support in reaching this point.

Within a week or so, you can expect the surveys to reach your inboxes. There, we'll collect whatever information we need such as your game system of preference for books and if you backed us at higher tiers, a form to fill out with references and descriptions of characters you'd like for us to illustrate.

At the same time, preorders will open up including late pledges. We know that times are tough, so we want to keep the bundled pledge rewards open for ease of choice for folks whenever finances allow.

After a month, we'll send out a new version of the playtest document for your approval. As we work on the newly voted on classes, we will update it periodically with new mechanics as we finish and proofread them.

Speaking of, the winners of the polls are as follows:

  • One-Shot Tier: Tier 2 (Lvls 5-9)! This is about when options start to open up for players without sacrificing challenge, so perfectly understandable. We'll tailor the one-shot to fit around a tier 2 challenge!
  • Top three 5e Lineage: Dragonborn, Tiefling, and Elf
  • Top three PF2e Lineage: Leshy, Elf, and Orc
  • Top two 5e class: Warlock, Rogue
  • Top two PF2e class: Gunslinger, Psychic

Everything listed above will be included in the playtest document. We'll build new mechanics around these choices, so thank you all for participating in shaping our book! Likewise, for those who backed both us and Nightfell The Witches' Path, we will start work on the Lunar Cultist subclass.

From here on, you can expect production updates and various previews as we complete this book.

Consider also clicking the banner below to join our Discord server!

Project Update: 120K CLEAR! 123K and every 3K after, new heritage/lineage or subclass
7 months ago – Thu, Oct 02, 2025 at 10:04:05 PM

We have unlocked the new one-shot, 10 new monsters, and a new homebrewed subclass!

Pardon my rush writing this message, but in the hopes that people see this, I'm making a risky offer: for every 3K that we make from here, we will design a new subclass or lineage/heritage based on the community polling!

These will count as last minute bonus stretch goals. Let's make this a grand finale! And again, thank you for your generosity through these tough times. This whole experience with crowdfunding, all the highs and lows, will be a lasting memory for all of us in the Nine Heavens Press team.

Project Update: Under 15 Hours Left! 130K Stretch Goal and Goddess Preview
7 months ago – Thu, Oct 02, 2025 at 08:56:54 AM

We're at the final several hours! And we've got about under 6K left from meeting the 120K stretch goal!

And the preview for 130K has been revealed: we're excited to put out printable monster and item cards based on what we've produced in Undying Corruption and will produce in Black Market Guide.

To give an example of what they'd look like, here is a sample from our collaborative partner, Mithral Canvas:

They would look something like this, but of course, we'd toy with the layout in our personal team.We're thinking about doing the same and folks in our livestream today. Since folks were interested in seeing cards with our monsters for easy access, we're happy to expand on that idea and include them!

To sweeten the pot, we're also happy to add another lineage/heritage of an existing ancestry/species based on results from our community polls. In other words, the top 4 will be chosen in total if we clear 130K!

Once again, we'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who backed us and we do not take your generosity lightly. Here's to taking this all the way home!

Preview


Goddess of Drought, Hanba. Once a water goddess and daughter of the Jade Emperor, she joined the war on his behalf against the rival deities for dominance over the heavens and the earth. She reversed her authority to overwhelm the storm and wind gods on the opposing side. The traumas of war left her as a goddess of drought, banished from the heavens to wander the earthly realms and lower planes as a bringer of drought.

Though an omen of disaster, she simply wishes for a place to belong.

If you have any questions or comments, do reply here or click the banner below to join our Discord server: