tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12169807393750434632024-03-05T16:23:44.715-08:00 Towards the Black CityHorst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216980739375043463.post-47072342604537300772021-04-25T04:21:00.002-07:002021-04-25T06:16:34.712-07:00Cogflower Campaign Post Mortem<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">When I got the pdf of the Ultraviolet
Grasslands early in 2020 I didn’t read the whole thing. Instead I marveled at
the illustrations, traced the roads to the Black City with my finger and
decided to run UVG from beginning to end. I wanted to experience
the Grasslands in a leisurely pace, travelling together with the players over
the whole map. We left the Violet City, crossed the Trail of Vomish
Dreams, descended into the Three Sticks Lake and climbed the Totem of
the Sky. At the City Mountain we fought with the Veterans of the Psychic War and in the Umberlands we fulfilled the
last wish of a depressed Autofac. A year later the caravan arrived at the Black City.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Below is a look back at memorable moments, comments on the
specifics of our experience with the setting and suggestions about what I could do
differently if I’d run it again.<b><o:p> </o:p></b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: center;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1GIewIE7Tal1pxmjeyKqNxQW_CPUW_DGKB7UvGM_1PFrkKdhBk2EyZIK_KBXv4UBBuK6KvKBhbfNZOBdl5sfCBsCd5yY_-l854qoqDmCb7hzryA36iBubZmML8_1xgbVbTgoSiiyd1Mn/s2048/20200812_135227.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE1GIewIE7Tal1pxmjeyKqNxQW_CPUW_DGKB7UvGM_1PFrkKdhBk2EyZIK_KBXv4UBBuK6KvKBhbfNZOBdl5sfCBsCd5yY_-l854qoqDmCb7hzryA36iBubZmML8_1xgbVbTgoSiiyd1Mn/s320/20200812_135227.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">System and Characters:</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><b> </b>I love the
d40 hero table and chose Whitehack mainly as a flexible system that made
realizing these concepts easy, yet mechanically sound. We had a Redland District
Folk Hero, Yellowlander Climate Migrant, Secret Azure Cultist, Metropolitan
Accountant Monk, Volkan Diesel Dwarf, Purplefolk Doghead Anarchist, Black Gold
Industrialist, Tumult Fisher Wizard, Cogflower Necromancer Lawyer, Wildfolk
Demon Hunter and a Moon Mountain Witch, and they were all memorable characters.
The heroes were rolled completely randomly although when in later stages of the
campaign a player rolled a character type that was already chosen they would
pick another of the three numbers to determine the hero instead. The two
remaining results then decided the reason they were on the road and their
starting item. Initially I wasn’t entirely convinced by the second column (Why
are you on the road) but the quests turned out to be crucial for wrapping up
the campaign and finding a satisfying end. Luka skillfully equipped many
discoveries with potentially quest relevant content e.g. it is probably not a
coincidence that there are plenty of replacement bodies to be found and a
Mother Silicone in the Dark Hospital when “Finding a body for Mother” is one of
the character goals. To incentivize pursuing their goal, the PCs earned XP when
working towards it. In most cases it meant that there was a certain chance per
Discovery they would find something related to their quest or that they ticked
a progress clock when they used their action at a Destination to work on a
project.</span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">What I’d do differently:</span></i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> Maybe use a
different system. The Whitehack “groups” that allow advantages on rolls worked
well enough and performing miracles like Doodlebugging, Augury, Ghostly
Brotherhood and Fishing in the Sea of Dimensions were fun to see in action and
fitted the setting perfectly - but combat was slow and I never worked out how to make the Deft's attunement interesting. I’d
probably try something simpler like Will Hilton’s <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1216980739375043463/4707234260453730077">Into
the Grasslands</a> or Mike Fernandino’s <a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1216980739375043463/4707234260453730077">UltravioletWorld</a>. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2W1K3S5GVymBb116ioThX5lOgG_C1ZnIYUOevOdi5Ix9uJEsHf02N8fY3J_IJbs4nfZWya-GxxgkLTWkDAP6L9rvnnA7UIHREI93pEv6Sqo64DnlZQ4zPq5oNHsxoicrZjvkVTnQe-PaX/s2048/44c2058e089615a7407af341a51aff4a.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1151" data-original-width="2048" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2W1K3S5GVymBb116ioThX5lOgG_C1ZnIYUOevOdi5Ix9uJEsHf02N8fY3J_IJbs4nfZWya-GxxgkLTWkDAP6L9rvnnA7UIHREI93pEv6Sqo64DnlZQ4zPq5oNHsxoicrZjvkVTnQe-PaX/w400-h225/44c2058e089615a7407af341a51aff4a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Caravan and Travel:</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><b> </b>Travelling
through the vast landscape felt appropriately epic, every leg of the journey
taking at least one week. The travel procedure provided a satisfying structure
and we got into the groove pretty quickly. In the beginning market research and
trading was fun albeit not entirely successful. However they hit the jackpot when through some random rolls they first found Black Lotus at a
discovery and then sold it at the Puce House for a multiple of its value. At
that point market research and resource management became less of a focus but
the players enjoyed the freedom their wealth gave them. Likewise when they
arrived at the Behemoth Shell they encountered (again through a random roll)
Great Folk Bone Farmers who sold them the nutritious marrow beets that solved
their resource problems for large parts of the journey.</span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Seeing the caravan grow from one coach to several unique vehicles
and numerous retainers was certainly fun. Most of the time I forgot to take
vehicle speed into account, they only once accrued additional travel days and
we handwaved it away.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">What I’d do differently:</span></i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> I’d have
more travel vignettes and campfire scenes, give retainers a bit more character
by involving the players in establishing their irritating mannerism and alluring quirks. I could see giving vehicles traits as well and letting the players
describe how they decorate their rides to make them more memorable. Maybe taking inspiration from Into the Odd and introduce a
rival caravan.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"></span></p><div style="text-align: left;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivpu5GLN_YqZ79fAl0GXblAZPh1mSjo-1C-O-QNHfQeU1xJOWymBBMV8oni3AKz5FXgbhrSJxcYdPRP_KM2DUzyEYnQ7aN7X8HTWvkLgDzlj37MwzFsY6p90BZUoJtM27hOUReNTwXYgQV/s1733/Behemoth+Shell.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="726" data-original-width="1733" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivpu5GLN_YqZ79fAl0GXblAZPh1mSjo-1C-O-QNHfQeU1xJOWymBBMV8oni3AKz5FXgbhrSJxcYdPRP_KM2DUzyEYnQ7aN7X8HTWvkLgDzlj37MwzFsY6p90BZUoJtM27hOUReNTwXYgQV/w400-h168/Behemoth+Shell.png" width="400" /></a></div></b><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Destinations and Discoveries</span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: The stars of the show, incredibly evocative and visually
interesting. The encounters and misfortunes helped to reinforce the theme of
the place although the middle result of the misfortune table didn’t add
anything immediately gameable. I really enjoyed the intro descriptions and
often read them aloud as boxed text when the PCs entered a new destination. The
weather descriptions were fun as well and further defined the feel of the
place.</span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Memorable misfortunes include mysterious puncture wounds (Gall
Grass), blinded by a speck of biomechanical garbage (Trail of Vomish Dreams)
and a shard of hard light being lodged in one eye (Fractal Trees). The hands
down best discovery was Johnny-7 who became a major NPC in the campaign, followed
by the Lurid Pines - which took five sessions to clear out and bestowed Hamish
with hamster reflexes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">What I’d do differently:</span></i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"> It might be
more interesting to replace the middle result on the misfortune table where
nothing happens with a minor inconvenience that matches the theme of the area.
I could also see adding a destination-appropriate faction encounter (to
entangle the PCs with the factions) and maybe a caravan to the encounter table.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVbKwlLmMWnMp-hXec_zYnld4TmtqIM_JyAg7k94amhanhTWEPK8zLAzyiPoC0tjciOxe5TJ6PDjB_89fsfQj7TI0lBPvRXJxnA15XYeE5j8UA8FmYPu-7vBdgXS1qk3GjHEHsellCxmV/s500/Dt6kYPaXgAA7uZA.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="374" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVbKwlLmMWnMp-hXec_zYnld4TmtqIM_JyAg7k94amhanhTWEPK8zLAzyiPoC0tjciOxe5TJ6PDjB_89fsfQj7TI0lBPvRXJxnA15XYeE5j8UA8FmYPu-7vBdgXS1qk3GjHEHsellCxmV/s320/Dt6kYPaXgAA7uZA.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-weight: bold;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;">Factions:</span></o:p></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><b> </b>Early on the PCs aligned themselves with Syruss Sensible,
blew up the Broken Line and stole a Porcelain Walker. At the Jade Baobab the
PCs prevented members of the Second Hand Clan to sell Rainbowlanders into
indentured service for the Porcelain Princes. In the second half of the
campaign the Ultras organically emerged as the most influential faction of the
campaign after the players encountered Soba de Garoba at the Gemstone
Tomb in the Lake of Oil and Sama Zivani at the Lonely Lodge. Based on the rumor table on p. 167 it made sense to involve them in Azures plot to cause the end of the world. More
important than the major factions were the groups the PCs belonged to, mainly
the Cult of the Blue God and the Machine Humans. The setting with its
apocalyptic cults, trade companies and revolutionaries has a lot of potential
for faction play without actually involving the major factions.</span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">What I’d do differently</span></i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">: To make the
factions a bit more visible in the Grasslands I might add an entry to the
encounter table that indicates to which sphere of influence an area belongs
e.g. have one random encounter result for the Cat Lords East of the Porcelain Citadel<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span><o:p>Statistics:</o:p></span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">20 months
of in-game time <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">13 months
of real world time from March 14 2020 to April 10 2021<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">15
characters, 14 players<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">100+ hours
of actual play: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5BBgImD4UPRGy4yIEaL0HwYohPc-X8af<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 115%; text-align: left;">
<o:p>
<o:p>
</o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: left;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div>Horst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216980739375043463.post-22370553273414133882021-04-12T09:31:00.002-07:002021-04-18T04:19:01.607-07:00The Black City<p><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Characters in the Last
Session:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="DE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Naida</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="DE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: A Deft Yellowlander Climate Refugee and
Scope (member of the Legion of the Far Sight). The Legion is a semi-secret
society that tries to fight crime on the roads of the Grasslands and around the
Circular Sea. Bone grenade aficionada. She is accompanied by <b>Ajax</b>,
a grumpy exiled Cat Lord with a serpent tail and <b>Otis</b>, the
animatronic bear. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="DE" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Saffron</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="DE" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, a Wise Black Gold
Industrialist Machine Human </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="DE" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">whose personality was uploaded to a cybernetic prairie dog after
being killed by Johnny-7's auto immune system. Outfitted with positronic double
brain, extendable limbs and laser eyes. Accompanied by a<span style="background: white;"> furry animate kite. Seeking a prosthetic body for mother.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="DE" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kozue: </span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="DE" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">An Wise Elven Moon Mountain
Witch, a soothsayer from the Sister of the Near Moon. Her singing spirit
(appearing as a wingless, serpentine creature to those who can see it) in a
pink bottle aids her in her auguries. She has dreams of the world ending and
seeks hidden messages about the looming apocalypse.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Azure Dee:</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> A Blue God Cultist on her journey to the Black City
where she is supposed to bring the apocalypse by sacrificing Vile organs. The
Vile are a species of (demonic?) rulers from the Long Long Ago. She is
accompanied by Cataract, a Wire-and-bone biomechanical salamander. She has
undergone mutation after being exposed to a vome infection that made her
muscles grow uncontrollably. The mutation has slowed down after a week of
therapy sessions in the solarium of the Pylon Kraal.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Hamish Mac Rainbow:</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> A Redland District Folk Hero with a black motorbike
and rainbow-colored beard. Wielder of the Fractal Blade. Slayer of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a maddened Ka-Elemental. His heroic
reputation vastly exceeds his actual deeds but he's working on living up to the
legend.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="DE" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">N’Keth:
</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="DE" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
Strong Volkan Diesel Dwarf, bat eared, hyena snouted and with furry skin, who
is tracking a Vile intruder from the Void. Armed with a fierce Warhammer and
protected by his Holy Symbol, an unageing plastic spork.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Kozue and Azure traverse the ash
dunes on the stolen motorbike. Sama warns Kozue of the spatial-temporal dangers
of the Pre-City and the Moon Witch builds a simple construction from her tripod to
indicate distortions in the landscape to Azure. When they pass the
brutalist-fungus building of the Dark Hospital Kozue senses the presence of
Soba, who wishes her luck.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Naida shakes Hamish out of his drug
induced delirium and explains the urgency of the situation but Hamish had
already partially been informed by the Secretary and is ready to save the
world. They grab N’Keth and the reluctant Saffron (who convinces them to first visit the Dark hospital in order to bring Vicar's body to mother) and pursue the witches in the
Redlander Autowagon with Amberto in the turret protected by the ill-fitting
diving suit from the Lurid Pines. Naida spots the space-time anomalies through
the monocle that N’Keth made for her from the hard light that was lodged in her
eye and is able to evade them. They arrive at a moltenstone plaza surrounded by
hollowed out sculptures and enter the endless dusty corridors of the Dark
Hospital.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Azure and Kozue are hit by the
toxic dust of the Pre-City and feel jolts of pain running through their bodies.
Azure spots automatons in leather and lead armor who seem to extract something
from the grotesquely contorted bodies of dried up travelers with silvery rods.
Azure engages with a rather big one, manages to prevail and continues her journey with a new armor ... but when she touches
the rod she is overwhelmed by painful memories.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxDOd1MZAXxL8sNmcU97B1C6ZQ4050XLNdOjYRdWmYFDmUQb6DfIFSr7dhY4d2YfHQgSwloIHGADpi1SIocurrZ4lv6Cg5psLdMPQSW79Op6h8f843-lnsSYSbjqm4jDJC4hVhrsvWOFK/s2048/EsgkToQU0AEFfM4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1722" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBxDOd1MZAXxL8sNmcU97B1C6ZQ4050XLNdOjYRdWmYFDmUQb6DfIFSr7dhY4d2YfHQgSwloIHGADpi1SIocurrZ4lv6Cg5psLdMPQSW79Op6h8f843-lnsSYSbjqm4jDJC4hVhrsvWOFK/s320/EsgkToQU0AEFfM4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In the hospital old wooden tv-sets hanging
under the ceiling show the heroes on black and white vertically shifting screens, a boiler clicks
and gurgles, they hear the monotone beeping of a life support machine. Saffron
follows the sound of a ringing telephone while the rest fights off waves of plastic
faced nuns with blades and syringes. When Saffron picks up the phone they hear
for the first time in a long while their mother’s voice, and although she is
confused and unable to remember anything she indicates to Saffron her location.
They venture deeper into the building passing racks of synthetic limbs and an
auto surgery with the replacement body Soba inhabited for a while lying disemboweled
in one corner.</span></p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">The witches arrive at the Black City:
And then, in all that structured desolation, that tiered advancement of
fractured chaos, was revealed a city beyond the skills and fashioning of any
portion of humanity they had ever encountered; a city on a scale that beggared
belief; a city of twisted obsidian blades, outrageously curved, bizarrely
patterned structures of indecipherable purpose and huge, sweeping vistas
leading to canyons and strata and ranks of glistening, glittering edifices, one
after another after another. And then they blink and they see before them an
elegant city of glassy black towers, elegant promenades, parks and lakes of
molten mercury. In the parks they find statues that mock the Blue God and on
the walls of buildings the faces of the comrades they are about to betray. But Sama
Zivani, the Eater of Dreams spurs them on and leads them through the Black City
to a grassy cliff-top with a small black pyramid and a withered altar.</span><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1Nst3ov02Ro44nFcjMzLgqx1p8m3uyTBej0CC8zGig2SykfKYax1Gs0qEzUcEdSBf86SqBDofT_Umu8hgomOpIsL256jmu0tzCcYIW1VrSBz6Qkp1qnoq5OhfHN_UMoyOyxGpBuqMVRU/s846/Ep7pSIpXEAAK7qs.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="846" data-original-width="564" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1Nst3ov02Ro44nFcjMzLgqx1p8m3uyTBej0CC8zGig2SykfKYax1Gs0qEzUcEdSBf86SqBDofT_Umu8hgomOpIsL256jmu0tzCcYIW1VrSBz6Qkp1qnoq5OhfHN_UMoyOyxGpBuqMVRU/s320/Ep7pSIpXEAAK7qs.jpg" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Saffron lowers Vicar’s body gently
into a dentist chair surrounded by wired instruments and begins singing with the
sweet voice of a 56k modem, modulating and weaving together mother’s time-fractured
mind. Outside in the corridor N’Keth holds off the Soba-possessed body of the Quarter-Ling
Avatar while Hamish and Naida blow up an army of Dark Hospitallers. Finally
Saffron collapses into mother’s lap and she cradles her gently. Later she
leads them to an underground metro station that transport them to the Black
City.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At the cliff-top spirits in the form
of pale mice-deer graze peacefully. Azure performs the ritual placing the vile
organs around the pyramid while Kozue constructs a protective structure from
the poles of her tripod refusing to aid Azure in her preparations. When the
heroes emerge from the Black City they are too late: A blue glow spills out of
the five vile parts while at the same time a blue storm escapes the five
portals around the Black City. A mass of mouths and eyes and tentacles arises
from the oily sea. Naida finds an elevated position to take aim at the Blue God
while Hamish and Amberto draw their weapons and jump towards the apocalyptic
entity. Mother in Vicar’s body evokes source code that detaches the Black City
from their reality. When Azure realizes that she had failed the Blue God she enters
the Black City and blows herself up in an eruption of blue light. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQZ0Xh88JoPAmNLNf0NyGf13Plk56xx62TPtAcoYojDeHRIiC6gIp-4BchXFWjKidYdhiK-V9djM3Lhk7jU1WZiZzzrHQ96clS66WR_20dcApYgFWhawGxmuKear_5W6KVBGrCpnEFBHM/s946/Ex9dCWTWUAMZE1Z.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="946" data-original-width="693" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRQZ0Xh88JoPAmNLNf0NyGf13Plk56xx62TPtAcoYojDeHRIiC6gIp-4BchXFWjKidYdhiK-V9djM3Lhk7jU1WZiZzzrHQ96clS66WR_20dcApYgFWhawGxmuKear_5W6KVBGrCpnEFBHM/w293-h400/Ex9dCWTWUAMZE1Z.jpg" width="293" /></a></div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">N’Keth partially paralyzed from toxins injected by the plastic faced nuns takes
out his pipe and - invited by Kozue - sits down next to her, smoking and watching
quietly. Far above, inexplicitly, the Near Moon smiles over them.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> Actual Play: https://youtu.be/CnWgsy70yic</o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div>Horst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216980739375043463.post-44635043668753402652021-04-04T09:17:00.002-07:002021-04-05T02:55:09.017-07:00The Last Camp<p></p><b>Characters in the last Season</b><br /><br /><b>Naida:</b> A Deft Yellowlander Climate Refugee and Scope (member of the Legion of the Far Sight). The Legion is a semi-secret society that tries to fight crime on the roads of the Grasslands and around the Circular Sea. Bone grenade aficionada. She is accompanied by <b>Ajax</b>, a grumpy exiled Cat Lord with a serpent tail and <b>Bounty</b>, the animatronic bear. <br /><br /><b>Saffron</b>, a Wise Black Gold Industrialist Machine Human whose personality was uploaded to a cybernetic prairie dog after being killed by Johnny-7's auto immune system. Outfitted with positronic double brain, extendable limbs and laser eyes. Accompanied by a furry animate kite. Seeking a prosthetic body for mother who might create new machine humans. <br /><br /><b>Kozue:</b> An Wise Elven Moon Mountain Witch, a soothsayer from the Sister of the Near Moon. Her singing spirit (appearing as a wingless, serpentine creature to those who can see it) in a pink bottle aids her in her auguries. She has dreams of the world ending and seeks hidden messages about the looming apocalypse in order to power the Near Moon's departure from the world. She is a host for <b>Sama Zivani</b>, a powerful Ultra, who she vowed to bring to the Black City. <br /><br /><b>Azure Dee:</b> A Blue God Cultist on her journey to the Black City where she is supposed to bring the apocalypse by sacrificing Vile organs which will summon the Blue God. The Vile are a species of (demonic?) rulers from the Long Long Ago. She is accompanied by Cataract, a Wire-and-bone biomechanical salamander. She has undergone mutation after being exposed to a vome infection that made her muscles grow uncontrollably. The mutation has slowed down after a week of therapy sessions in the solarium of the Pylon Kraal. <br /><br /><b>Hamish Mac Rainbow:</b> A Redland District Folk Hero with a black motorbike and rainbow-colored beard. Wielder of the Fractal Blade. Slayer of a maddened Ka-Elemental. His heroic reputation vastly exceeds his actual deeds but he's working on living up to the legend.<br /><br /><b>N’Keth:</b> A Strong Volkan Diesel Dwarf, bat eared, hyena snouted and with furry skin, who is tracking a Vile intruder from the Void. Armed with a fierce Warhammer and protected by his Holy Symbol, an unageing plastic spork. <br /><br />They arrive at the Fool’s Wall, a berm of petrified wood and radiation blasted sand, poorly shielding the Last Camp from the bio hazards to the West. Beyond the wall, past dunes of ash they see the swirling black cubes of the Black City rotating in the distance.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNJdwTYH8xTPb42tjKK3ToVVEkX72M1UsZ5Qc6MRV0BDT-g90gxVRqeOWsDI5Pvdjfj7KsoXPWBKDhyTiCbv8b6KomakKHfmbYuMas95X5Vf61Dqqt1ekDXg_An3iZIKqTSWWVw3w7YXu/s2048/last+camp.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1789" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNJdwTYH8xTPb42tjKK3ToVVEkX72M1UsZ5Qc6MRV0BDT-g90gxVRqeOWsDI5Pvdjfj7KsoXPWBKDhyTiCbv8b6KomakKHfmbYuMas95X5Vf61Dqqt1ekDXg_An3iZIKqTSWWVw3w7YXu/s320/last+camp.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Last Camp</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Azure consults her tablet and memorizes the location of the obelisk where the ritual to conjure the Blue God will take place. Kozue notices half-thought glyphs unfurling in the corner of her eyes and sends her fetch to read them. A symbol takes shape in the dust telegraphing urgency and doom at the Black Obelisk.<br /><br />Hamish checks in at the Spectrum Embassy, a plasteel replica of the Behemoth Shell where he is greeted by techno shaman Aaris Max who runs the Fading Light Diner - and days of wild celebrations follow. Hamish starts speaking in tongues when the Last and Most Devine Secretary of the Black City possesses him. The secretary tells tall tales of voyages a true hero might undertake with a void ship that had been stranded in the city for a long time. <br /><br />Saffron talks to the Cogflower representative Executive Circolangolo who demands to see the books but is reminded that the journey is not over yet. They also inquire about the Dark Hospital and what lies ahead. A revolutionary tells them about those who enter the hospital but leave with a limb missing and about the plastic faced nuns who took it. Her spies whispered about the time fractured mind of mother that hides in the endless corridors of the hospital.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZpNDkqkQaicoHtO3SO_HQqWOVBt-LSYlQ9Ivoohw6cwRrPlm3CzdPIVOTR9Cr4ut95ANFYy4DM5avljZ-xC3E1k7vmxw9AcncBVBOLvp-Bgm0nqQVDLiO_lIPdH9DMPYsXv3qwSFaKWB/s1054/EuO8Hv5XEAQQiFU.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1054" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ZpNDkqkQaicoHtO3SO_HQqWOVBt-LSYlQ9Ivoohw6cwRrPlm3CzdPIVOTR9Cr4ut95ANFYy4DM5avljZ-xC3E1k7vmxw9AcncBVBOLvp-Bgm0nqQVDLiO_lIPdH9DMPYsXv3qwSFaKWB/s320/EuO8Hv5XEAQQiFU.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Dark Hospital</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Naida climbs the Shell to find Ostins reading a message from the Legion. He wordlessly hands over the strip of paper that proclaims Azure a Blue God cultist. They decide to take action.<br /><br />When Azure performs her augury a vision projects itself into the smoke of the incense: A shadow is cast over the black obelisk while she hears Ostins and Naida discussing her fate. She finds Kozue in discussion with a wildly gesticulating hermit in rags and persuades her to aid her in the final ritual. They bump into a drunken Hamish who happily lends them his bike. Azure and Kozue disappear into the night leaving a cloud of iridescent ash behind them on their way to the Black City.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_hx5shGJ7nW7WjDvBkDOopP_xu-SuBw20_kRiLtne6jEyAsLmbqCuBnczEaocHGMw3agDaFsI8SbmTx3ySRkN5LJyIr3cYhJt5a-1iAiSvVLZuGkDpnqpnWj5OM7sDVBwcQADJMPSe8h/s1024/Majestic-1930-ZMD-01.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs_hx5shGJ7nW7WjDvBkDOopP_xu-SuBw20_kRiLtne6jEyAsLmbqCuBnczEaocHGMw3agDaFsI8SbmTx3ySRkN5LJyIr3cYhJt5a-1iAiSvVLZuGkDpnqpnWj5OM7sDVBwcQADJMPSe8h/s320/Majestic-1930-ZMD-01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hamish's Black Metal Motorcycle</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Actual Play: https://youtu.be/cxYqIDRRdek</div>Horst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216980739375043463.post-4738776803972246172021-03-28T01:27:00.001-07:002021-03-28T01:27:41.502-07:00Discoveries in the Void<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Now that you have <a href="https://blackcitygauntlet.blogspot.com/2021/02/d6-sky-chariots.html" target="_blank">a working void ship</a> and taken to
the stars, what will you discover in the void?</span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxHa6gRKW4muzFHn0JyZ-gZ6ps2lk-N9guzjJQpX7Tvj0Dyw2e9eZHMJHG07S9zC0A41E07mXmSDQM7BA6R-c0RM1FdVo0pI2hbST0Hel06lF5l3BcFdDiAGKlpR8jWDwvnYjQZln6Xuo/s850/21083835845_153513f238_b.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="850" data-original-width="629" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuxHa6gRKW4muzFHn0JyZ-gZ6ps2lk-N9guzjJQpX7Tvj0Dyw2e9eZHMJHG07S9zC0A41E07mXmSDQM7BA6R-c0RM1FdVo0pI2hbST0Hel06lF5l3BcFdDiAGKlpR8jWDwvnYjQZln6Xuo/w474-h640/21083835845_153513f238_b.jpg" width="474" /></a></div><br /><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">d6 Discoveries among the Fast Stars</span></h2></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">1 Void Gate<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">
2 Abandoned Space Station<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">
3 Asteroid<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">
4 Abandoned Spaceship<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">
5 Anomaly<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">
6 Oddity</span></h3><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b style="font-size: large;"><br /></b></span></o:p></div>1 Void Gates</b></span></o:p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><b><br /></b></span></span></o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>1</b> <b>Mouth of a Dead Vile God</b> (<i>rotting</i>). Obstacle: Filed teeth</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
2</b> <b>Crystal Gate</b> reflecting the Sun (<i>radiant</i>). Obstacle: Blinded by light</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
3</b> <b>Ceramic Ring</b> with Neon-Runes (<i>non-Euclidian</i>). Obstacle: Unholy Fire</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
4</b> Swarm of <b>Von Neuman Probes</b> (<i>inquisitive</i>). Obstacle: Cracking the entry code</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
5</b> <b>Ivory Portal</b> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">(l</span><i style="font-family: arial;">ewd</i><span style="font-family: arial;">) </span><span style="font-family: arial;">covered in ivy and obscene carvings</span><span style="font-family: arial;">. Obstacle: Grabbed by
creepers</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
6</b> <b>Circle of Prismatic Fire</b> quickly rotating (<i>dazzling</i>). Obstacle: Hard light
piercing the hull</span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Destination of the Void Gate</b></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
1</b> Crashed through a <b>random gate in the UVG </b>10.000 years in the past (roll a d32
for Destination and set the gate near a Discovery). Roll</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> for the name of the
historic period you landed in (p. 182).</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
2</b> Crashed on the surface of the <b>Moon</b>. A
brutalist abandoned moon station and a ruined temple of the Moon Witches (L5, <i>obscure</i>) are
close by.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
3</b> A<b> Void Ship graveyard</b> circling around a black hole. Loot: Roll on Abandoned
Spaceship and Crashed Void Ship table. Obstacle: Sucked into the hole</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
4 </b>An<b> ancient battlefield</b> in empty space. Loot: Ship weapon</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
5</b> A<b> quasi-stellar lighthouse</b> guarded by Star People (L3, <i>cryptic</i>). Loot: Star metal</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
6</b> Surface of a <b>matryoshka world</b>, spheres within spheres illuminated by artificial suns.
Towers leading inside. Every level has a different biosphere.<br /></span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3B0igToKF8Zx7i4E1h5ZvublKvNwCA2TtKb8u8Cfj6ROrSdCVRzjMEOatxs4OJuKBcsxA6mYWH33dq_KQi1fxVz7PZN7lJ8I-MQDUUWGmgBlpBZA7frMajd8t5X0ab73doYQ3rkTIx-F/s960/EwTy-0xXIAI_H3h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="862" data-original-width="960" height="359" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3B0igToKF8Zx7i4E1h5ZvublKvNwCA2TtKb8u8Cfj6ROrSdCVRzjMEOatxs4OJuKBcsxA6mYWH33dq_KQi1fxVz7PZN7lJ8I-MQDUUWGmgBlpBZA7frMajd8t5X0ab73doYQ3rkTIx-F/w400-h359/EwTy-0xXIAI_H3h.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b>2 Space Stations</b></span></p></div><div><b style="font-family: arial;">1 Void Ship Refueling Station</b><span style="font-family: arial;"> (</span><i style="font-family: arial;">fully automated</i><span style="font-family: arial;">)</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">
Encounter: Service Robots (L2, <i>confused</i>)<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">
Hazard: Gas leak<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">
Loot: Fuel</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>2</b> Conglomerate of Brutalist Compartments: <b>Primitive Science
Station</b> (<i>byzantine</i>)<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">
Encounter: Thawed genetically modified Super Soldiers (L4, <i>soviet</i>)<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">
Hazard: Radiation<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">
Loot: Power Armor</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
3 Alien Observatory</b> (<i>non-Euclidean</i>)<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">
Encounter: Flying brains (L3, <i>tentacled</i>)<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">
Hazard: Weightlessness<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">
Loot: Optical instruments</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
4 Tomb of the Vile</b> (<i>sinister</i>)<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">
Encounter: Doom Druids (L5, <i>drumming</i>)<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">
Hazard: Cursed Wards<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">
Loot: Vile part</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
5 Alien Terraforming Dyson Sphere</b> (<i>musky</i>)<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">
Encounter: Fungoids<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">
Hazard: Alien Atmosphere<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">
Loot: Seed bombs</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
6</b> Rotating Wheel: <b>Von Braun Space Station </b>(<i>cramped)</i><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">
Encounter: Rogue AI (L8, <i>soft voiced</i>)<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">
Hazard: Laser Traps<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">
Loot: Processed Space Food</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY95wZ8inLt2AgYQIOup5nZIZE4qx7wG_gpAYMUOlKHaT9vtjkoHA8DhPc5OD1QfnlMkDwUZstnc2raGImGuYFU7QqpyszNFMC10Sq4p5mZMKiqjqaS9OVzXyPxcbSM5pQVr9foBMzT5JJ/s827/kxMB0dPeBnJcXtyLIOg51ZFi2hmub7rcyMn9zI4UMg4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY95wZ8inLt2AgYQIOup5nZIZE4qx7wG_gpAYMUOlKHaT9vtjkoHA8DhPc5OD1QfnlMkDwUZstnc2raGImGuYFU7QqpyszNFMC10Sq4p5mZMKiqjqaS9OVzXyPxcbSM5pQVr9foBMzT5JJ/w310-h400/kxMB0dPeBnJcXtyLIOg51ZFi2hmub7rcyMn9zI4UMg4.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><b style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">3 Asteroids</b></p></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>1 Endless pits</b> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">(</span><i style="font-family: arial;">rocky</i><span style="font-family: arial;">) </span><span style="font-family: arial;">with giant worms (L6, <i>cavernous</i>)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
2 Trash Asteroid </b></span><span style="font-family: arial;">(</span><i style="font-family: arial;">oppressive heat</i><span style="font-family: arial;">)</span><span style="font-family: arial;">. Between mountain of junk Ur-Ling villages (L4, </span><i style="font-family: arial;">polite</i><span style="font-family: arial;">) are at war over etiquette.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
3 Ice Asteroid </b>(<i>deceiving</i>). Underground Supercomputer (L12, <i>Apollonian</i>) runs simulated world as soon as someone enters the caves.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
4 Pirate Shanty Town</b> </span><span style="font-family: arial;">(</span><i style="font-family: arial;">Dionysian</i><span style="font-family: arial;">) </span><span style="font-family: arial;">inside Volcano</span><span style="font-family: arial;">. Loot: Treasure Map (roll Oddity for location of the treasure and Anomaly for obstacle)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /> </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
5 Sentient Meat Asteroid</b> (<i>apocalyptic</i>). Encounter: Butcher Priests (L3, <i>laconic</i>)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
6 Lumpy Felt Asteroid</b> (<i>cross-stitched)</i>. Encounter: Glass bats (L2, <i>vampiric</i>)</span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpwPQLc6b2npDG1TerKOFlwaBxwMcLngmLoOd364me-1Y_UjHUpE6eGHm_Z2VGmpVWmTmKt7bQExtuTDfrHhKDuc_TAJ3PREzJNbt46LwmrhTsoKm5KKJHttEquQRHrFrLUzVW4Wf9suw/s640/Ev-bp2fVcAAeSgg.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="640" height="349" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrpwPQLc6b2npDG1TerKOFlwaBxwMcLngmLoOd364me-1Y_UjHUpE6eGHm_Z2VGmpVWmTmKt7bQExtuTDfrHhKDuc_TAJ3PREzJNbt46LwmrhTsoKm5KKJHttEquQRHrFrLUzVW4Wf9suw/w400-h349/Ev-bp2fVcAAeSgg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>4 Abandoned Spaceship</b></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>1 Generation Ship</b> with Biomes. Ruination: Contagious disease</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
2 Hollowed out Asteroid</b>. Ruination: Hull breach.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>
3 Massive Freighter</b>. Ruination: Acid spitting aliens (L8, <i>stealthy</i>)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>4 Pilgrim Ship</b>. Ruination: Ritualistic suicide. Encounter: Ghosts (L2, <i>frantic</i>)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>5 Battleship</b>. Ruination: Mutiny</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>6 Bioship</b>. Ruination: Sentient Parasites (L1, <i>genteel</i>)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2NBJDBYNOPtGOcHIY4S6G8rfPVT2TL_3Fo3kv3vDMHAeaW5tiHyaLrszcy-85p1dsH32YmIYgp6X_p5fQe89N4cMxUJRIus2DeHX9YvOhF7BtLaFWtbWrqaltrbG8xuJE1T6LUCvqTgyN/s898/Ev2sZugWEAAjUHz.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="898" data-original-width="667" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2NBJDBYNOPtGOcHIY4S6G8rfPVT2TL_3Fo3kv3vDMHAeaW5tiHyaLrszcy-85p1dsH32YmIYgp6X_p5fQe89N4cMxUJRIus2DeHX9YvOhF7BtLaFWtbWrqaltrbG8xuJE1T6LUCvqTgyN/w298-h400/Ev2sZugWEAAjUHz.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>5 Anomaly </b></span></p><b><span style="font-family: arial;">1 Null Space Sink Holes</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">2 Time Loop Bubbles</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">3 Void Ghost Apparitions</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">4 Micro-Fungal Asteroid Storm</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">5 Radiant Fog Field</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>6 Solar Gale Turbulence</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><br /></b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUq8PtHUVa8lesCHY71SsdjbVQ9ASQ-1RBmTgfe5ZzhHgUqBsR3FZGJsc9IQX1gsjZWes5YFWRIvib30w3e6_GkXmVeNKjJNffm_LhjBL-aWtDO_g51PU9TtL8870vUtSKttz3k0RL3A6/s1280/qrafsijuiqj6bhbvkpcr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzUq8PtHUVa8lesCHY71SsdjbVQ9ASQ-1RBmTgfe5ZzhHgUqBsR3FZGJsc9IQX1gsjZWes5YFWRIvib30w3e6_GkXmVeNKjJNffm_LhjBL-aWtDO_g51PU9TtL8870vUtSKttz3k0RL3A6/w400-h266/qrafsijuiqj6bhbvkpcr.jpg" width="400" /></a></div></span><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><b>6 Oddity </b></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>1 Inverse Void Monolith</b> (<i>anti-geometrical</i>)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>2 Fractal Flesh Pyramid</b> (<i>cancerous</i>)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>3 Tentacled Black Hole</b> (<i>eldritch</i>)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>4 Populated Air Sphere</b> (<i>Cambrian</i>)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>5 Space Whale Mass Migration</b> (<i>sublime</i>)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>6 Eyeball Planet around a Red Dwarf</b> (<i>unblinking</i>)</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/1216980739375043463/473877680397224617"><span color="windowtext" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><v:shapetype coordsize="21600,21600" filled="f" id="_x0000_t75" o:preferrelative="t" o:spt="75" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" stroked="f">
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</p><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></div>Horst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216980739375043463.post-6708430546475976582021-03-21T02:29:00.003-07:002021-03-21T07:18:04.320-07:00The Endless Houses<p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The Quarter-Ling avatar looks up from the ground ready to
cut the fishing line, but Kozue manages to calm the confused creature down. He
can’t remember his name or how he had acquired the runes on his body. Kozue
takes him in, feeds him and starts to study the strange symbols. There is a map
tattooed on his back and words scratched into his skin: “Find Soba” on his
shoulder and “Mother Silicon” next to a building on the map. She identifies one
of the symbols, a triangle marked “Sky”, that signifies a portal to the fast
stars.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIDb5-rZ4CcG_MkfGQ8UCDiUQh16tEOrt2uC1C0aloBwj-Gi0OR7IeRY6dKio5ik8DPWP9A_b6SBvDSuymW4j-kZPMymv16SO0HR2a7whLVJoieQJ2bHDLXzCGdyhDEUDxha3CrgFTPI2/s1600/1920x1080_px_Concept_Art_The_Last_Of_Us_video_games-660410.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvIDb5-rZ4CcG_MkfGQ8UCDiUQh16tEOrt2uC1C0aloBwj-Gi0OR7IeRY6dKio5ik8DPWP9A_b6SBvDSuymW4j-kZPMymv16SO0HR2a7whLVJoieQJ2bHDLXzCGdyhDEUDxha3CrgFTPI2/s320/1920x1080_px_Concept_Art_The_Last_Of_Us_video_games-660410.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Beyond the Dead Bridge lays endless ruinland, a
mind-numbing grid of abandoned houses strangles by slow-ivy. Glowing figures
lurk in the shadows. They make camp in a surprisingly well preserved high rise.
Naida scouts the surroundings and spots a group of silk veiled nomads with
their velblood camels. Sherman befriends them with the rest of his rabbit
monkey stew. Naida buys a batch of their spider silk.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-n_B5GnoyEOhlOInZh3OdpnFZQffgY5iA0FiPgO6ptHO2Trgu1lV0ChQ0dIhImZUjh4ABCc90pJ0Oq5Frprynq92yGIlThYT_kjW-IKU4yiXN3_giwlWRpls6SkWJeUgiR9l74RsPWZCC/s600/EcBw7lgUMAI1KBp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-n_B5GnoyEOhlOInZh3OdpnFZQffgY5iA0FiPgO6ptHO2Trgu1lV0ChQ0dIhImZUjh4ABCc90pJ0Oq5Frprynq92yGIlThYT_kjW-IKU4yiXN3_giwlWRpls6SkWJeUgiR9l74RsPWZCC/s320/EcBw7lgUMAI1KBp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Kozue prepares a ritual to help the Quarter-Ling avatar recalling his name and trace back his memories. She carves a network of grooves
into the ground leading to a placeholder of the avatar's name. She then cuts
into a vein on his arm. When the blood finds its way through the maze the
mechanical eyes of the avatar light up and Teredo mutters: “I need to go to the
Dark Hospital”. Drained from the power of the reversed augury Kozue falls to
the ground, lifeless and without a heartbeat only to be revived by Naida.
However Teredo turns around and flees when Sami Zivani, the Ultra, steps forward
and asks him to take her to the Dark Hospital.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPr3HU7rZoqzwnRQ0Bclxv4I7E0ITCAtK5J_1tfo3dpfFG1MZtwSudqA8hCRVY3Rd30AVLYnR2rEyMqvo3vXfE2GrVWooDEtZO4-0GwrKl1ndq9iJs6O5rfPiwwgCCuVQZvgmWQPMjFFZ/s2048/last+camp.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1789" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkPr3HU7rZoqzwnRQ0Bclxv4I7E0ITCAtK5J_1tfo3dpfFG1MZtwSudqA8hCRVY3Rd30AVLYnR2rEyMqvo3vXfE2GrVWooDEtZO4-0GwrKl1ndq9iJs6O5rfPiwwgCCuVQZvgmWQPMjFFZ/s320/last+camp.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">They travel for a week and finally reach the Fools Wall, a
radiation blast berm of earth, sand and dead dryland coral that marks the edge
of the Last Camp. Inside of the Dwarven autowagon N’Keth hears the warning
sound of a hidden meter reading: “Electro-magnificent Radiation”</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3NhQeSrxxxEmo82tPqDvSLrucVJtYPWpeNIalCVg_JgrofsamfbcbekxRylwvQZ7svI_oMa4NAF1E2HIXEO3vPsi6FIdRGMcZ753tNt6rwU8cUF7DSuXjRwtwSh7dZmHgX4ocuVWDe0fj/s1452/Avatars+Map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1452" data-original-width="1245" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3NhQeSrxxxEmo82tPqDvSLrucVJtYPWpeNIalCVg_JgrofsamfbcbekxRylwvQZ7svI_oMa4NAF1E2HIXEO3vPsi6FIdRGMcZ753tNt6rwU8cUF7DSuXjRwtwSh7dZmHgX4ocuVWDe0fj/w343-h400/Avatars+Map.png" width="343" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p>Horst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216980739375043463.post-75998371704613613722021-03-14T00:50:00.000-08:002021-03-15T00:09:56.810-07:00Dead Bridge II: The Totem of the Sky<p><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">The next morning N’Keth returns to his task of locating the
power source of the bridge projector. He concludes that the machine is missing
a radiant stone and his mind immediately turns to building a converter who
would transfer the energy of the Bio-Diesel engine of the Dwarven autowagon to
the bridge projector.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SO7odFSl2JV3UC9_b2a2v45lsFhPr0iu1iQ4Jra-FRGniApdvhz3Z6z315Pf0w__YjVyxpMxZDnTXWEkh8t0yvdipJbNkDcIfai2rwetwa88VSaKEo6U38kT0e7bURW2nwU-hlsqiyhyphenhyphen/s1200/DpqjpuZXUAEpKm4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="905" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SO7odFSl2JV3UC9_b2a2v45lsFhPr0iu1iQ4Jra-FRGniApdvhz3Z6z315Pf0w__YjVyxpMxZDnTXWEkh8t0yvdipJbNkDcIfai2rwetwa88VSaKEo6U38kT0e7bURW2nwU-hlsqiyhyphenhyphen/s320/DpqjpuZXUAEpKm4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Meanwhile at base camp Kozue and Sherman prepare to cross
the Dead Bridge. Kozue conjures a fire elemental from a pyre she built and
Sherman fishes a lizard cologne out of the otherworld. Boldened by their
preparation they decide to abandon the plan of reactivating the projector and
start to cross the bridge. N'Keth who had returned to work on the engine abides.</span><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Repelled by the lizard stench the biomechanical spiders refrain from
engaging with the party. After two days they arrive at a huge skeletal tower,
miles high and buffeted by the winds that rises from the center of the bridge.
When they pass through they find warning signs in several languages and synthetic
veins pumping pink and red saps up the tower. Kozue is reminded of the pink goo
that was feeding the mother vome back at the Garnet Ford.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQwDrpxY6VdKTd399OjD5JoqQ-2VzyS4-p6yWk8-Stf60TGbw3xgVgswplWqktDj9SJUEmw9dyEbgxiv0H8kU0he4UbvDvWbPn2PY-8gFZ4tjqyLWZxqlZqj2InOqqNGJDJJos9Su2wJd/s948/Chasm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="948" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLQwDrpxY6VdKTd399OjD5JoqQ-2VzyS4-p6yWk8-Stf60TGbw3xgVgswplWqktDj9SJUEmw9dyEbgxiv0H8kU0he4UbvDvWbPn2PY-8gFZ4tjqyLWZxqlZqj2InOqqNGJDJJos9Su2wJd/s320/Chasm.png" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Before they start the ascend N’Keth cobbles together a
makeshift harness from fishing line and various bits and pieces to safeguard the climbers
against being blown off by the wind. After hours of climbing they find a platform to rest for a while
and enjoy the spectacular view. To the West lie the Endless Houses, the ruins of a city that must
have been destroyed by an apocalyptical event. On the platform they find the carcass of an Androform Husk gruesomely
killed by a large predator, which N’Keth concludes must have been the Vile he
is chasing. They continue until night falls and huddle together on a
barely wind protected platform high above the bridge. The next morning after
hours of climbing the air gets so thin that they finally decide to turn around.
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiti7JvoA966pW4yRO9o9iLM1JSZPbVilr3uVP8CTzRdry7NEdbqwAH0qOrdG6XlbfuJj1b64tpKTkii4ynNRzaryXkFFRNpmjlSt1SB-xkSuhTyg0akoBw5ZQGBTWnnWP3ZQI2862_JuAE/s2048/EwTnldjWUAYNPJk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1638" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiti7JvoA966pW4yRO9o9iLM1JSZPbVilr3uVP8CTzRdry7NEdbqwAH0qOrdG6XlbfuJj1b64tpKTkii4ynNRzaryXkFFRNpmjlSt1SB-xkSuhTyg0akoBw5ZQGBTWnnWP3ZQI2862_JuAE/s320/EwTnldjWUAYNPJk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Two days later N’Keth who is working on the biofuel
fermenter notices a figure from the rear of the caravan approaching fast: A
Quarter-Ling covered in apocalyptic runes and wielding an ancient spear. Kozue
quickly draws protective symbols on the dirt and elevates them into the air
such that the runes when viewed through the dust loses its terrifying effect.
Sherman unable to hear N’Keth shouting for support from the turrets (over the
loud country music Vigo is listening to) spots the attacker through the
rea-view mirror and convinces Vigo to turn the Truck so that he can get a nice
shot – with his camera! </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZt2QsMnO5dwTh7FRBjCSrpE1fcP346qwdEc7q8wLcIXCVdf-G6C1bDb6P1imqTcSP_5YI7HpvyPi5hbmJGQhUkFyDjanM-XR74uY_jKlwEcb1IfnD5bScC1xXo9oQ1Qi3eSzQfRRZp_c/s416/EvYdezmXAAMTmaZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="288" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJZt2QsMnO5dwTh7FRBjCSrpE1fcP346qwdEc7q8wLcIXCVdf-G6C1bDb6P1imqTcSP_5YI7HpvyPi5hbmJGQhUkFyDjanM-XR74uY_jKlwEcb1IfnD5bScC1xXo9oQ1Qi3eSzQfRRZp_c/s320/EvYdezmXAAMTmaZ.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Without slowing his advance the Quarter-Ling strikes at
Kozue who parries the blow. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">N’Keth runs to the truck and mans the turret but stricken
by fear he misses the attacker. The Quarter-Ling vaults over the truck dealing
another blow but missing N’Keth. With a flick of his wrist Sherman shoots the
fishing line at the tattooed creature trapping his legs. Unable to keep his
balance the Quarter-Ling falls to the ground.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></div>Horst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216980739375043463.post-17631712703849675062021-03-07T01:21:00.001-08:002021-03-15T00:09:47.918-07:00Dead Bridge<span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Characters in Season 13</b><br /><br /><b>Naida:</b> A Deft Yellowlander Climate Refugee and Scope (member of the Legion of the Far Sight). The Legion is a semi-secret society that tries to fight crime on the roads of the Grasslands and around the Circular Sea. Bone grenade aficionada. She is accompanied by <b>Ajax</b>, a grumpy exiled Cat Lord with a serpent tail and <b>Bounty</b>, the animatronic bear. <br /><br /><b>Saffron:</b> A Wise Black Gold Industrialist Machine Human whose personality was uploaded to a cybernetic prairie dog after being killed by Johnny-7's auto immune system. Outfitted with positronic double brain, extendable limbs and laser eyes. Accompanied by a furry animate kite. Seeking a prosthetic body for mother. <br /><br /><b>Kozue:</b> An Wise Elven Moon Mountain Witch, a soothsayer from the Sister of the Near Moon. Her singing spirit (appearing as a wingless, serpentine creature to those who can see it) in a pink bottle aids her in her auguries. She has dreams of the world ending and seeks hidden messages about the looming apocalypse. <br /><br /><b>N’Keth:</b> A Strong Volkan Diesel Dwarf, bat eared, hyena snouted and with furry skin, who is tracking a Vile intruder from the Void. Armed with a fierce Warhammer and protected by his Holy Symbol, an unageing plastic spork.</span><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>Sherman:</b> A Wise Tumult Fisher Wizard, Zoologist for the Tumult University Press and enthusiastic photographer, studying magic creatures for scientific journals. Skilled with his fishing rod and able to hook up objects from other dimensions. Equipped with a dwarven designed camera and a thermos of blood wine.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqqM6JmdMmoOygbfbOyC7U1H7feJBlT2YQkscVS3qgr-fmnhvhtPQX-LDFyGKjtpnRTxboZop70ro_nXSVdMuBwh3h5TVrPeHfA_BZuyME54FIcI-vHBqgt7k47d_PeXjW8fPNX1bVsJD/s1280/Ev2jL74WgAEY5FZ.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCqqM6JmdMmoOygbfbOyC7U1H7feJBlT2YQkscVS3qgr-fmnhvhtPQX-LDFyGKjtpnRTxboZop70ro_nXSVdMuBwh3h5TVrPeHfA_BZuyME54FIcI-vHBqgt7k47d_PeXjW8fPNX1bVsJD/s320/Ev2jL74WgAEY5FZ.jpg" /></a></div><br />They leave the Ivory Plain and reach the end of the world - or so it seems. As far as they can see there is a bottomless chasm filled with noxious fog. Ruined towers file the rim. A single archaic bridge of crumbling livingstone and dryland corals disappears into the distance. Warned by Kozue's vision of interdimensional monsters and biomechanical spiders they approach the bridge carefully - with the notable exception of Sherman, who runs to the rim eager to explore the strange fauna of the area. He takes photo's of the spider webs under the bridge and spots three short and squat figures with mechanical eyes hanging in the nets and wielding tools. Sherman identifies them as Quarter-Lings. <br /><br />Saffron discovers a perilous climbing route down the chasm but decides to not further investigate. Instead they try to communicate with the prisoners using Ostens as a translator. The Quarter-Lings proclaim that they are forced into maintaining the bridge by the spider queen. <br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNba_n42-AEsItVHLLJJZZvtxbZKRT_3bS0qzZb3To8KyT-9Ns4u4WsmF7ItFDl9-FmqDes3orQKELYxtqd6ioXSiQHBhgr-rF6AQlblZnA74ZK3O4hhQRet6kUdDUsfNuf9oMNBezuXL/s900/steampunk-spider-arachnia-automata-mike-savad.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQNba_n42-AEsItVHLLJJZZvtxbZKRT_3bS0qzZb3To8KyT-9Ns4u4WsmF7ItFDl9-FmqDes3orQKELYxtqd6ioXSiQHBhgr-rF6AQlblZnA74ZK3O4hhQRet6kUdDUsfNuf9oMNBezuXL/s320/steampunk-spider-arachnia-automata-mike-savad.jpg" /></a></div></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;">N'Keth investigates the towers and concludes that their purpose is to establish a force bridge over the abyss. Unfortunately the mechanism is destroyed beyond repair. However he notices a less damaged tower to the North. While Sherman tries to catch one of the monkey rabbits that the Quarter-Lings mentioned as being the favorite food of the spiders, the rest of the party takes the Redlander truck to the tower.<br />They arrive at a great plaza carved into the rim with seven great ironstone helices around a projector aimed at the other side of the chasm. When N'keth approaches the towers he spots a glowing radiation ghost stuck in a loop but ignores them. However, despite all efforts he fails to understand the complex mechanism that activates the force bridge and they decide to make camp on the plaza.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbRlVwb0AaspWQ3o7xP6Tv7AI7HjZmGYJ7ZRIyC7ufCKcmXr5OtNP8F0Eur9MCMb9IJl1luof43JfDitFxsBGb2Ised9k9-czIGpM829-ypDeCB-Z1KS9MkaugIoxfolCsbaRg0A5lJtl/s592/helix.png"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbRlVwb0AaspWQ3o7xP6Tv7AI7HjZmGYJ7ZRIyC7ufCKcmXr5OtNP8F0Eur9MCMb9IJl1luof43JfDitFxsBGb2Ised9k9-czIGpM829-ypDeCB-Z1KS9MkaugIoxfolCsbaRg0A5lJtl/s320/helix.png" /></a></div>Back at the Bridge Sherman manages to take a stunning photo of the flower encrusted spider queen drumming her orders through the vibrations in the web.</span></div></div>Horst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216980739375043463.post-25225462539118624772021-02-28T03:48:00.004-08:002021-02-28T23:20:35.214-08:00d6 Crashed Void Ships<div style="text-align: left;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">When you find a crashed Void Ship roll 3d6 for type, state
and special facility.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Void Ships</span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>1 Saucer:</b> Bigger on the inside, confusing controls<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Weapon: Claws<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>2 Rocket: </b>Cramped, many airlocks, jello food
dispenser<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Weapon: Laser Cannon<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>3 Bioship:</b> Intelligent, moody, contains hot
springs<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Weapon: Ink squirt gun<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>4 Golden Barge:</b> Luxurious but no cushions, polite
but forgetful service droid<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Weapon: Harpoon<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>5 Null-Space Submarine:</b> Dark and claustrophobic,
cloaked<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Weapon: Torpedo<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>6 Zeppelin: </b>Badly isolated, restaurant and bar<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Weapon: Bombs </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYAiFADLF3wdGz2tcFy3a9DvPHAsjldHEHgJUIa0VGc_wXY8aSlz8kSspi4HMcl-BmU-h-Q9xqiIjsZkLY01O-v2NtQzQ20nHZWx7InR-zM_dkvJRCo6vP-_dQsTJ48D_LDTsQzUsq5Mt6/s865/EmlB--LXMAAYsoK.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="865" data-original-width="736" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYAiFADLF3wdGz2tcFy3a9DvPHAsjldHEHgJUIa0VGc_wXY8aSlz8kSspi4HMcl-BmU-h-Q9xqiIjsZkLY01O-v2NtQzQ20nHZWx7InR-zM_dkvJRCo6vP-_dQsTJ48D_LDTsQzUsq5Mt6/s320/EmlB--LXMAAYsoK.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Void Explorers studying the crashed Sky Chariot</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">State of the Chariot</span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">1 Crashed and burned (toxic fumes and
fluids leaking)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">2 Destroyed (d6 scrap parts)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">3 Destroyed (d6 alien technology)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">4 Damaged but repairable<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">5 Fully functional<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">6 Fully functional with extra facility</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xYwRNtyfhGXvII6in75XDtF0Xoul8h4Zd1-w1qusc2iiED219d8xNY-NhEKk4Rrh7DIBtYRCRCf4-gaFXONsYyqvdXT4hAuZD3A3LPP_cL9LXzGSwNHvsXZm4CBI_RiVA9zsHGkbvlsA/s1200/20170528-IMG_2798.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7xYwRNtyfhGXvII6in75XDtF0Xoul8h4Zd1-w1qusc2iiED219d8xNY-NhEKk4Rrh7DIBtYRCRCf4-gaFXONsYyqvdXT4hAuZD3A3LPP_cL9LXzGSwNHvsXZm4CBI_RiVA9zsHGkbvlsA/s320/20170528-IMG_2798.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Damaged but repairable</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><h4 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Special Facilities</span></h4>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">1 Kettle and
assortment of tea bags (mostly rosehip)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">2 Coffeemaker<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">3 Cold
shower<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">4 Hot
shower or sauna <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">5 Fully
equipped bar withy animatronic bar keeper<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">6 Roll
twice </span><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UCLOOpY3Dby5dS4F2EztmK8OYjBZWaA88MHe5xK8TTzmZp0wpZqKZqRpeJ9PXNpsAJ26COlx7CdWr9jgQTh50tBIV0vY3YTSE0GH1nPY1dluYBidSNMZfrIkCqj3UQ0vdb8dWimRNXO_/s640/japanretro14.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0UCLOOpY3Dby5dS4F2EztmK8OYjBZWaA88MHe5xK8TTzmZp0wpZqKZqRpeJ9PXNpsAJ26COlx7CdWr9jgQTh50tBIV0vY3YTSE0GH1nPY1dluYBidSNMZfrIkCqj3UQ0vdb8dWimRNXO_/s320/japanretro14.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The only Void Explorer actually happy about the Rosehip Tea Bags</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><br /></div>Horst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216980739375043463.post-61891884144925652512021-02-21T03:48:00.000-08:002021-02-22T13:53:40.178-08:00Ivory Plain<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The caravan leaves the Spectrum Palace in the ultraviolet
twilight of the morning. N’keth moves from one vehicle to the other greasing
long neglected parts, tightening screws and loosening pistons. Saffron is
tending the machine human body while Naida keeps a watchful eye high on the
Porcelain Walker. Kozue - aware of the distress her presence causes to some in
the caravan - keeps her distance and walks next to the autowagons.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">They follow the trail West through regular hills until they
reach the deep flat landscape of the Ivory Plain where herds of beasts graze on
palely glowing grass. Although </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">most of the time </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">the endless sky is covered with grey clouds the UV radiation is strong and so focused in some places that
Saffron gets a terrible sunburn that makes their fur patchy and fries some
internal wires.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTjhXHMbzmqTeJVfy2kSB_oeWP7zkMFKWHAtyku1kMLo7I0AB4SmkSII9syaQnmaDJE7C8tOW4ug6iAxjAPxjwRN23A1XdL9ReE0nB57YGrDpgQxluJzjU-ccsshUvFX9wB-fPfPfUlKiR/s938/Lodge.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="847" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTjhXHMbzmqTeJVfy2kSB_oeWP7zkMFKWHAtyku1kMLo7I0AB4SmkSII9syaQnmaDJE7C8tOW4ug6iAxjAPxjwRN23A1XdL9ReE0nB57YGrDpgQxluJzjU-ccsshUvFX9wB-fPfPfUlKiR/s320/Lodge.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Lonely Lodge</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">They make camp on the plain. Kozue and N’Keth leave the
camp to visit the Lonely Lodge, where it is rumored wisdom can be gleaned by
those who spend a night there. They find a building carved out of a granite
outcropping, overgrown by vines with empty windows and a looming doorway. N’Keth
smells the faint odor of wild beasts that frequent the Lodge and Kozue senses
the presence of Fae in the multicolored vine blossoms and moving shadows of the
carvings. Inside, the building is bedecked by moss and vines, water dripping
from the ceiling and gathering in pools and fountains. Naked stairs lead to the
upper floor where they rest for the night.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">N’Keth lies down on the thick moss and immediately falls
asleep while Kozue is guarding him. The moon and stars cast strange shadows
that start to deepen and change when a powerful Ultra approaches. Kozue realizes
that N’Keth is in danger when Sama Zivani, Eater of Dreamers introduces
herself. The Moon Witch allows Sama Zivani to possess her body and take her to
the Black City. N’Keth unaware of the deal that protects him from being
devoured is visited by a massive Dwarven figure carried by turtles and holding
the holy manuals of Volkan. On the scripture a map of the western Grasslands
can be seen over which a shadowy creature moves with appendices on its head and
small human-shaped parasites hanging from its body. It must be the Vile N’Keth
is hunting! When the Diesel Dwarf awakes he can see Kozue gasping from the
intense coldness of Sama’s presence inside of her.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKB5RAALXUnt2PyRcWvxj1ds9KF5n-e6irK9lSt1nLygQjOr7tQpgxT4-4t6O1AfGSd9cx8ne5THtSG3hVqKSAWigxNebLMmf3HQvCG2K3ptTjd1dRl1MQK7n86uD926vHLa177NgpknHD/s731/EC4xlecWkAAn1x1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="631" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKB5RAALXUnt2PyRcWvxj1ds9KF5n-e6irK9lSt1nLygQjOr7tQpgxT4-4t6O1AfGSd9cx8ne5THtSG3hVqKSAWigxNebLMmf3HQvCG2K3ptTjd1dRl1MQK7n86uD926vHLa177NgpknHD/s320/EC4xlecWkAAn1x1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Sama Zivani</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Saffron, Naida and the caravan guards decide to use the
opportunity and go on a hunt. Saffron glides on their furry kite over a herd of
massive scaly bovines, trying to lure one away while Ostins and Naida take aim
from the Porcelain Walker. Suddenly the air is filled with the terrifying
screeches of gigantic predatory birds. Naida rappels from the Walker while
killing one of the birds with a head shot while Saffron keeps the other at bay
with laser rays shot from their eyes. Ajax comes to the rescue dropping down
onto a terror bird that pecks at Naida, and releases poisoned darts from his
tail. Amberto is laughing maniacally as he unloads the turret onto the last
remaining bird. The smell of grilled poultry fills the air.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3m4sDnZI0pxKTdfsLqR4Yf2TY2IMEEJQaaeAuvvCN7gtR3yMdnRN9sGgS3crFjMzyrGmOgDJmVOhhOK1QZGCXnOgK_lW9VIk_I8BNkMWRC93gfFIdCsBEL4Rq_9YzC5RMkM4dgpVUFVXE/s847/Avatar.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="847" data-original-width="847" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3m4sDnZI0pxKTdfsLqR4Yf2TY2IMEEJQaaeAuvvCN7gtR3yMdnRN9sGgS3crFjMzyrGmOgDJmVOhhOK1QZGCXnOgK_lW9VIk_I8BNkMWRC93gfFIdCsBEL4Rq_9YzC5RMkM4dgpVUFVXE/s320/Avatar.png" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Avatar of the Noetic Biosphere</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">When they leave the camp and move West they hear the sound
of singing and come upon a great herd of beasts, that stampede towards a Giant
looming in the distance. Naida recalls stories of a deity that reigns on the
Ivory Plain who the nomads call the Avatar of the Noetic Biosphere. They all
watch in wonder as the herd starts touching and fusing and melting together in
an act of self-sacrifice to the earth elemental.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
Actual Play: https://youtu.be/8lAwqS8sjqQ<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><br /><p></p>Horst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216980739375043463.post-19481922906472609392021-02-14T09:56:00.000-08:002021-02-22T13:53:32.956-08:00Spectrum Palace II<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Awoken by N’keth, who
decided to repair the janky heater of their room in the early morning, Kozue performs an augury by
concocting a tincture of eyedrops that blinds her but allows her to see beyond
the veil. In her vision she sees an iridescent horror emerging from below the
Dead Bridge over a chasm where flower encrusted biomechanical spiders build
their nests.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIv56jnKon59XoEoX7PyvJORzEycHDvF03XJQhw0-GLqqNJhKpgvleQPxcWT_cAb49gbhr5Pql8R-Z1vXGOydjB2FWo_irOjjJHmDNDmVRBIqaWhthmyg94wmc6acNVwe3Sj9CHR_rmt0/s1344/ErZldCeVEAAaDwN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1344" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvIv56jnKon59XoEoX7PyvJORzEycHDvF03XJQhw0-GLqqNJhKpgvleQPxcWT_cAb49gbhr5Pql8R-Z1vXGOydjB2FWo_irOjjJHmDNDmVRBIqaWhthmyg94wmc6acNVwe3Sj9CHR_rmt0/s320/ErZldCeVEAAaDwN.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Chasm</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Saffron and Naida search
for Amberto. When they finally find him on the Hill of Return polishing the
glass plate that covers its top they discover to their surprise that he is
wearing the dun garb and mindless smile of an Ecstatic. Saffron spots a
crystalline rash above Amberto’s ear and decides to have Kozue examine him.
They return and find the Moon Witch stumbling blindly through the room.</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">N’keth and Vigo visit the rehearsal of a Half-Elf theatre
company. The Volkan Dwarf is utterly puzzled by the experience. When Vigo
offers him a joint in order to make the experience more palpable N’keth eats
it. Vigo watches in disgust.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSpkzjekGPnoSbp7WgAsJR3fExMhIvdIGL4zj3vrUxf1j8-VC18Cny72ysFvAfUA136U2OgPj2Gzo0Y0RvF9_nuejyNwNUfUhJh8qbsqbG_zHe189f_m647k-38EEPLeFngMdyxakflvj/s1280/Eh24JgGXYAIO8U1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="954" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkSpkzjekGPnoSbp7WgAsJR3fExMhIvdIGL4zj3vrUxf1j8-VC18Cny72ysFvAfUA136U2OgPj2Gzo0Y0RvF9_nuejyNwNUfUhJh8qbsqbG_zHe189f_m647k-38EEPLeFngMdyxakflvj/s320/Eh24JgGXYAIO8U1.jpg" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A Disturbing Play</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Kozue finds out that Amberto is infected by crystalline brain fungi and after
some deliberation the party decide to remove the infection. The operation takes
the whole night: N’keth donates blood to lure the blood elementals out, Saffron
extracts them and Kozue applies them to the infected skin. When Amberto starts
shaking uncontrollably Naida and N’keth restrain him while Saffron guides the
elementals to the last tiny crystalline spores inside Amberto’s skull. Finally
he opens his eyes.</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">After two weeks the
caravan leaves the Spectrum Palace behind, slowly crawling over the trail that
lead West towards the Black City.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Actual Play: https://youtu.be/Vv8787nCuyo<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>Horst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216980739375043463.post-80554740753110416122021-02-08T06:31:00.001-08:002021-02-22T13:53:24.244-08:00Spectrum Palace<p><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Characters in Season 12:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Naida</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: A Deft Yellowlander Climate Refugee and
Scope (member of the Legion of the Far Sight). The Legion is a semi-secret
society that tries to fight crime on the roads of the Grasslands and around the
Circular Sea. Bone grenade aficionada. She is accompanied by <b>Ajax</b>,
a grumpy exiled Cat Lord with a serpent tail and <b>Otis</b>, the
animatronic bear. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Saffron</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, a Wise Black Gold
Industrialist Machine Human </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">whose personality was uploaded to a cybernetic prairie dog after
being killed by Johnny-7's auto immune system. Outfitted with positronic double
brain, extendable limbs and laser eyes. Accompanied by a<span style="background: white;"> furry animate kite. Seeking a prosthetic body for mother.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kozue: </span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">An Wise Elven Moon Mountain
Witch, a soothsayer from the Sister of the Near Moon. Her singing spirit
(appearing as a wingless, serpentine creature to those who can see it) in a
pink bottle aids her in her auguries. She has dreams of the world ending and
seeks hidden messages about the looming apocalypse.<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">N’Keth:
</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A
Strong Volkan Diesel Dwarf, bat eared, hyena snouted and with furry skin, who
is tracking a Vile intruder from the Void. Armed with a fierce Warhammer and
protected by his Holy Symbol, an unageing plastic spork.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In the modernist building
that the party is occupying during their stay at the Spectrum Palace <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kozue sends her fetch inside the perfectly
round puncture wounds on Naida’s neck. She identifies tiny micro-vomes that are
feeding on Naida’s energy. The witch conjures a star metal elemental from the
material she had harvested in the Cholan Woods and orders it to remove the
vomes with thin wire protrusions. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjP6GJq_iuXQ4Qzl165XKrItgdVXZUz2VOtvqZ9dCKURXk7Ule35GnD8IBXLND6dEMJFHhJIkOChwWUAU8QvjKUP5qLA6kKuFUHHOWCOaTdigzqs0aHs3WvuaTKoEw3do3SAEcJYQxPS4m/s830/Visitors+Camp.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="756" data-original-width="830" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjP6GJq_iuXQ4Qzl165XKrItgdVXZUz2VOtvqZ9dCKURXk7Ule35GnD8IBXLND6dEMJFHhJIkOChwWUAU8QvjKUP5qLA6kKuFUHHOWCOaTdigzqs0aHs3WvuaTKoEw3do3SAEcJYQxPS4m/s320/Visitors+Camp.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A building at the Visitor's Camp</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Having spent a couple of
weeks at the Spectrum Palace N’Keth, a Volkan Diesel Dwarf and new member of the
Cogflower Caravan, has made the acquaintance of Selesta, an Ecstatic for the
Satraps, who promised him to ask around about the Vile intruder he is tracking.
Together with Saffron they meet just outside the Rainbow Wall that protects the
entrance to the palace. Selesta tells him about a hidden lodge somewhere on the
Ivory Plains, that grants those who spend a night there an answer to their most
pressing question in their dreams.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GaWeIfklU9RNhP3IZKCp47dJVq961tdC8FdtLboIoSIGEcZtmIxmUMwDrYYPJpXoNI5Rp0hJ1HzTM2bQ6VOs81qfAoddCrHGIGyCv9VlKnd6Oq-LWcaSUlz88DMy3AVt7p4Px7R7GEll/s1177/EeyqR2qXsAAGzGn.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GaWeIfklU9RNhP3IZKCp47dJVq961tdC8FdtLboIoSIGEcZtmIxmUMwDrYYPJpXoNI5Rp0hJ1HzTM2bQ6VOs81qfAoddCrHGIGyCv9VlKnd6Oq-LWcaSUlz88DMy3AVt7p4Px7R7GEll/s320/EeyqR2qXsAAGzGn.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A Rainbow Wall (of sorts)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Selesta takes Saffron through the Rainbow Wall to the Hall of the Welcoming Eye, where Ecstactics and
visitors meditate around a giant gleaming shard, to the Crystal Fungal Field
deep inside the palace. A moss-green Satrap with spidery limbs and spindly
hoses plucks crystalline fruits from modified trees. Satrap 75 agrees to introduce
her to the art of soul transfer.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicMKy5PNgWkFhRBidFAvjfvJOl7V5E1DgqE0px-cX9yU99IZWbVSWavPzyo_Q-Y57poGeY7YfsN4H3JepmVATtar5FVM7ICqZsCZH2k-riS7Rv3rLPQyvlQ9yBqkNzX-RK6CCGpsicO77/s1280/Hall+of+the+welcoming+Eye.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicMKy5PNgWkFhRBidFAvjfvJOl7V5E1DgqE0px-cX9yU99IZWbVSWavPzyo_Q-Y57poGeY7YfsN4H3JepmVATtar5FVM7ICqZsCZH2k-riS7Rv3rLPQyvlQ9yBqkNzX-RK6CCGpsicO77/s320/Hall+of+the+welcoming+Eye.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Hall of the Welcoming Eye (artist's impression)</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Kozue visits the Blue
Paper Abbey, a former library of prim, pastel livingstone and finds a lumpy Satrap
in an Egyptian-blue suit sitting in front of an ancient board game. Satrap 226
invites Kozue to join them. The Moon Witch deploys a devious strategy for the
game. While they are playing Kozue asks them about possible signs of the apocalypse.
They are none around, the Satrap explains, but there are ghosts from the Long-Long
Ago who congregate at the Dead Bridge who might be able to help her. When the
Satrap falls for her in-game trap and loses, they glow in delight.</span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> Actual Play: https://youtu.be/YdD35s7cBYM</o:p></span></p>Horst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216980739375043463.post-85399855788262267542021-01-24T04:04:00.000-08:002021-02-22T13:53:14.352-08:00The Refracting Trees<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">They ride
the elevator in silence except for an outburst of anger from Naida. Flux climbs
onto Azure to comfort Cataract. They leave the observatory and Azure prepares
the funeral ritual for Sarqo in which the body is consumed by blue flames.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Back on the
road they traverse the Gall Grass where they are pursued by a Cold Vome Patrol
but Naida takes them out with her sniper rifle. A hypo-psychic miasma rolls
over the landscape an dampens the spirits. During camp Saffron inspects the
strange looking puncture marks that Azure and Naida display and concludes that
they are a sign of some kind of machine parasite infection. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmClMbAb9nAvT6K8rYbfyeCBIxMerAVo1WtQRdamhSvr5mqHsmn5w5fDX__CSk5ymuPE_QgQP5FxTuxxXuNfrh8gohy42E6aKNmv-1tCWeTTDAPYN3eizZO_awfedRknweLlxrEZwzjFtS/s880/Eh5GlCNVkAALJUS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="880" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmClMbAb9nAvT6K8rYbfyeCBIxMerAVo1WtQRdamhSvr5mqHsmn5w5fDX__CSk5ymuPE_QgQP5FxTuxxXuNfrh8gohy42E6aKNmv-1tCWeTTDAPYN3eizZO_awfedRknweLlxrEZwzjFtS/s320/Eh5GlCNVkAALJUS.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;">On the
horizon strangely bent lights announce the Refracting Trees. Inside the forest
of tree-silicon symbionts Naida is hit by a shard of broken light that lodges
in her eye. They follow the ditch road carved through the forest by centuries
of heavy vechs. One of these gargantuan creatures can be seen from afar
crushing through the trees apparently possessed by some kind of Phosphor Ghosts
who only Naida can see through her newly acquired vision. Saffron harvests a
bloom of chitinous flowers before they leave the forest.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9KpOv7H4VkZnOPN7KNoPngTrBP4cQm_VUY_CALmsN30-DlHYvQffnSLyeH-pbrlAc7y9cS9aAHQoLvYBeFlzpRMPdKE65O9uudTG-pLXtwnNZ8bgMlpAZCPvSm8jECMSvfuCOXKsyORA/s470/spectrum+palace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="204" data-original-width="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL9KpOv7H4VkZnOPN7KNoPngTrBP4cQm_VUY_CALmsN30-DlHYvQffnSLyeH-pbrlAc7y9cS9aAHQoLvYBeFlzpRMPdKE65O9uudTG-pLXtwnNZ8bgMlpAZCPvSm8jECMSvfuCOXKsyORA/s320/spectrum+palace.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Aurorae of
light dance in the sky when they approach the Spectrum Palace, an unassuming
drum-shaped building of dull metal and rivets that is guarded to the South by a
wall of rainbows. They arrive at the visitor camp between two hills where they
are welcomed by a</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">smiling woman in
ceremonial robes.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Before they settle
down in the cube shaped building that they are assigned to Naida hands over
Satrap 88’s crystal snail in order to update their memory.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Actual Play: </span>https://youtu.be/ODy8c8eP8rI</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Horst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216980739375043463.post-51754174422260901152021-01-17T07:34:00.006-08:002021-01-17T07:36:30.489-08:00Vicar's Beach IV<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">Sarqo
sends Flux into the keypad to unlock the vault door but the bone and wire
salamander returns with the message: +++unable to interface +++ no electricity
+++. They decide to scout the corridors and find another locked door to the
left and a big room to the right with vomes crawling around a giant maggot-like
creature they identify as the vome mother. Some of the vomes display weird
behavioral ticks like moving in circles, repeating actions etc. There is an
exit leading to a paternoster lift, vomes suspended in gelatinous cubes in one
corner and an old fashioned diesel generator in another. Naida sends Ajax to
reconnoiter the other exit from the pool room. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyO2ndKNRWVkpEaZfNAFrIKXc_7rxmcQ0Cm0zd1HLZ3PzCrVifPFhkuZV6XBvAfWg7orQIGYFnrKFde50FzNA5EGn68uvc3fVezsf4bRtfliULKK_HXISxHa5qu3A_cGmr3vcDrU-fEjIw/s1600/Cherenkov-radiation-core-Reed-Research-Reactor-Oregon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1263" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyO2ndKNRWVkpEaZfNAFrIKXc_7rxmcQ0Cm0zd1HLZ3PzCrVifPFhkuZV6XBvAfWg7orQIGYFnrKFde50FzNA5EGn68uvc3fVezsf4bRtfliULKK_HXISxHa5qu3A_cGmr3vcDrU-fEjIw/s320/Cherenkov-radiation-core-Reed-Research-Reactor-Oregon.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt;">The cat lord reports that the
corridor leads to an airshaft. Naida takes position at the junction and equips
everyone with grenades while Saffron sneaks into the room mimicking the behavior
of the vomes. When they activate the generator the vome mother immediately releases
a pheromone that whips the vomes into a frenzy. Combat vomes surround the
mother while white crab vomes begin to block the corridor where our heroes
await Saffron’s return. A small service drone makes its way towards the pool
room but is struck down by Azure. Saffron pretends to fill the gap between the
crabs using the maneuver to slink back towards the other party members.</span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXMnIRJqa_6QX4bkDbqY72pyQge_WTj52DqKNj-ARj4x3lQ-w5d9ytX9n4eKS23mlMpmSty-F_yV7S_jt4f1bDgDM293iGmKdLIGsUMietADXbDUlJKBEmkxNUl-RM4hM08RhO4L5lpg1/s1707/Er3a5ChXEAEtk1U.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1707" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaXMnIRJqa_6QX4bkDbqY72pyQge_WTj52DqKNj-ARj4x3lQ-w5d9ytX9n4eKS23mlMpmSty-F_yV7S_jt4f1bDgDM293iGmKdLIGsUMietADXbDUlJKBEmkxNUl-RM4hM08RhO4L5lpg1/s320/Er3a5ChXEAEtk1U.jpg" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">With
the electricity restored they finally manage to open the vault door, which
opens into a large room with irregular white walls. There is a coffin and three
gilt ornate boxes that indicate to Sarqo that it contains robot spare parts.
When Saffron opens the coffin they stare into the familiar face of a fellow
machine human who they assume is Vicar. They carry the body and all the boxes
to the elevator when the cold vomes who lurked under the water awake, alerted
by the noise. They throw grenades into the pool and retreat towards the closed
elevator door. Saffron and Sarqo are dragged underwater while a cold vome
blocks the door. Naida sends Ajax to rescue<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>her companions but for Sarqo it is too late: He stares into black
impassive eyes while his life is squeezed out of his body. Ajax shoots a
barrage of poisoned needles into the cold vome holding Saffron until they
manage to break free. They recover Sarqo’s body and retreat into the elevator.
When the doors close elevator music starts to play. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Actual Play: https://youtu.be/JH7POIu-wR8</span></p>Horst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216980739375043463.post-43929587555236866992021-01-11T07:25:00.003-08:002021-01-16T01:30:40.673-08:00Vicar's Beach III<p><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Characters in Season 11:</span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Naida</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: A Deft Yellowlander Climate Refugee and
Scope (member of the Legion of the Far Sight). The Legion is a semi-secret
society that tries to fight crime on the roads of the Grasslands and around the
Circular Sea. Bone grenade aficionada. She is accompanied by <b>Ajax</b>,
a grumpy exiled Cat Lord with a serpent tail and <b>Otis</b>, the
animatronic bear. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Azure Dee</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">: A Deft Blue God Cultist on her journey to the
Black City where she is supposed to bring the apocalypse by sacrificing Vile
organs. The Vile are a species of (demonic?) rulers from the Long Long Ago. She
is accompanied by <b>Cataract</b>, a <span style="background: white;">Wire-and-bone biomechanical salamander, who has been impregnated by
Flux, Sarqo’s Salamander. She has undergone mutation after being exposed to a
vome infection that made her muscles grow uncontrollably. The mutation has
slowed down after a week of therapy sessions in the solarium of the Pylon
Kraal.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Saffron</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, a Wise Black Gold
Industrialist Machine Human </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">whose personality was uploaded to a cybernetic prairie dog after
being killed by Johnny-7's auto immune system. Outfitted with positronic double
brain, extendable limbs and laser eyes. Accompanied by a<span style="background: white;"> furry animate kite. Seeking a prosthetic body for mother.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarqo</span></b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">, a Deft Purplefolk
Doghead Anarchist, looking for a clue to abmortality in order to break it.
After disappearing in the Maze of Light for what felt like a lifetime he is
able to cast Full Spectrum Radiation Blast. Honorary member of the Clan of
Sanitation in Red Bear Village. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Previously
in the UVG:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="background: white; color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our
heroes entered Vicar’s Ear an ancient complex in a remote area North of the
Ultraviolet Grasslands known as Three Sticks Lake. They have heard rumors that deep
under the structure the body of a machine human can be found. The ventured into
the dungeon, restored power to the system and now stand in front of a closed
elevator door, talking to Belle, the artificial elevator operator.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p><span style="text-decoration: none;"> </span></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Vicar’s Beach III<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Belle whispers in a frightened voice: “There is someone inside of
me. They are unwell…” Sarqo asks Belle to open the door just wide enough to
allow Flux to enter. When Flux returns he spits out a slip of ticker paper
reading: +++ woman inside w/ backpack and spear +++ foul smell +++ golden cube
projecting swirling geometric lights+++. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSZBUfKars9tUGvidIRYvpBStpD5o1IjFoQ9Q8f9c4XhgGePJH_ThoKXKjCSI2qCGlBw8_u75PJtMrC719NfBrQyx-fNt0JMoO5V1IgOfDzZjAK7yA6dBpmStVvf51tzyknJBVCAQdUdG/s1709/tumblr_oa0e6ljpYE1sjcsz2o1_1280.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1709" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSZBUfKars9tUGvidIRYvpBStpD5o1IjFoQ9Q8f9c4XhgGePJH_ThoKXKjCSI2qCGlBw8_u75PJtMrC719NfBrQyx-fNt0JMoO5V1IgOfDzZjAK7yA6dBpmStVvf51tzyknJBVCAQdUdG/s320/tumblr_oa0e6ljpYE1sjcsz2o1_1280.jpg" /></a></div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Sarqo enters the elevator protected by the mask of a porcelain
prince and spots the woman, who is slumped against the wall and unmoving - apart
from her twitching skeletal fingers. Sarqo carefully approaches the robed
figure, removing her hood which reveals a ghoulish dried face with flickering
eyes. He spots a golden puzzle box lying inn her lap and slips it into his sack
just before it starts to solve itself. There are symbols above the opposing
doors reading:</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Top Floor
/ Maintenance 6</span></span><span class="MsoHyperlink" style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> (personnel only)</span></span></li><li><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Exit / Observatory<o:p></o:p></span></span></li><li><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Visitor Center<o:p></o:p></span></span></li><li><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Reactor / Maintenance 7 (personnel only)</span></span></li></ul><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Belle announces that Vicar, the steward class machine human who is
supposed to greet visitors is currently undergoing maintenance and therefore
unavailable. They decide to take the elevator to the visitor center. The doors
open to a lush and colorful lounge with silver flying-saucer-shaped lamps and a
bar, staffed by an animatronic bar keeper, who serves Azure a fancy cocktail. There
is a gift shop to one side behind a glass wall and doors to the Media-Library
and Cinema 2000. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJU3QYzBtjsgwBfTS2aJCMl2NI3DKz1ZQJOssryjUE3WfdnqpKaF1RnWE-PjZZWSn9mo3sL24jEqWRTlEFBE63VW2beGx4ES0qDf5erT4oRA-pJh3_W1zy1RtBiMl62LSm9lYhsuplpfUq/s2048/7168720231_cec0dddb88_k.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1426" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJU3QYzBtjsgwBfTS2aJCMl2NI3DKz1ZQJOssryjUE3WfdnqpKaF1RnWE-PjZZWSn9mo3sL24jEqWRTlEFBE63VW2beGx4ES0qDf5erT4oRA-pJh3_W1zy1RtBiMl62LSm9lYhsuplpfUq/s320/7168720231_cec0dddb88_k.jpg" /></a></div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Their exploration of the rooms is first interrupted by a slightly
disoriented, shoe box sized insectoid drone vome belching black smoke and later
by a spidery detona-vome. Azure tries to grapple the creature but it wriggles
out of her grip and explodes, severely wounding her. Before they retreat to the
elevator Saffron grabs a bottle of champaign from the bar and Sarqo a mobile baby
toy with satellites and space stations. Sarqo patches Azure up while they
descend to the bottom floor.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span class="MsoHyperlink"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1rbyFcjEMp2fioDZyZddFzTdr-HZ0-rSxpfWKd2mgO0vVOX4j9EjBBN7vIUHC2NeN7nBzi-gKkG2IL1HCpD3wDTcVYoqaYaj_opU50IcNSNIW-1O1SqgdSWNiLBVMjjRu4Z2G3DfaFNU/s1024/tumblr_pol5fs6jTT1r9h4tno3_1280.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu1rbyFcjEMp2fioDZyZddFzTdr-HZ0-rSxpfWKd2mgO0vVOX4j9EjBBN7vIUHC2NeN7nBzi-gKkG2IL1HCpD3wDTcVYoqaYaj_opU50IcNSNIW-1O1SqgdSWNiLBVMjjRu4Z2G3DfaFNU/s320/tumblr_pol5fs6jTT1r9h4tno3_1280.jpg" /></a></div><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Saffron peaks into the dark room with her multi spectrum vision
that reveals a pool with a strange current and six immobile figures floating
under water. Led by Saffron they hold hands like children and tiptoe to a
corridor. Inside they come upon a junction where Saffron </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 16px;">senses warmth coming from the corridor to the right. and </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">a heavy vault
door ahead.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;">Actual Play: </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">https://youtu.be/2U48vKZ6Z8s</span></p>Horst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216980739375043463.post-43637967397568159352020-12-29T01:30:00.000-08:002020-12-29T01:30:09.101-08:00Long-form play and open table on the Gauntlet<p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Most events on the Gauntlet Calendar are</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #3c4043; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">part of a <a href="https://forums.gauntlet-rpg.com/t/how-many-sessions-do-you-normally-play-of-a-game/1819" target="_blank">four or five session campaign</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, long enough to explore setting and characters, to allow for character growth and to emulate the typical story structure of introduction, complication, climax, and resolution. However it is short enough to be manageable for grown-ups trying to juggle jobs, family, and hobbies.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-5b35d3e8-7fff-1c1b-05a0-8ab9bc8502d4"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Some games, on the other hand, demand more commitment: While Apocalypse World is designed with a definite <a href="https://thegamedesignroundtable.com/episode/227-meguey-baker-talks-apocalypse-world/" target="_blank">end of the story</a> in mind</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> it will most likely take more than four sessions to finish the story arc. While it is possible to play a satisfying single session of Night Witches it can be much more fulfilling to play a literal campaign from Engels Airdrome to the final duty station Buchholz—or to travel on the Orient Express from London all the way to Constantinople.</span></p></span><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvoYC9zEO6FiyqnhQUwUwn2UZ90Wa-FdWBC-qwQ5lgXs0CcD7cmwD34lPbNCPB0ealhLvHSFuKThwZCCaCjnN7TtCdlNNmy8ORYZ3DB3DNyuFrFyMFvH0c7SMSO7buURwhw-DuiYOyDaO/s880/C2IfaeUUoAEy7co.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="440" data-original-width="880" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOvoYC9zEO6FiyqnhQUwUwn2UZ90Wa-FdWBC-qwQ5lgXs0CcD7cmwD34lPbNCPB0ealhLvHSFuKThwZCCaCjnN7TtCdlNNmy8ORYZ3DB3DNyuFrFyMFvH0c7SMSO7buURwhw-DuiYOyDaO/w400-h200/C2IfaeUUoAEy7co.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Not the Orient Express</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Challenges</span><span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Apart from being difficult to plan and organize, longer campaigns also </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">exist in tension with</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the open table policy of the Gauntlet: As a player you have to sign up for sessions individually and GMs can’t be sure to have the same players over the course of a campaign, a feature that prevents the balkanization of the community when countless in-groups only ever play with the same few players. On the other hand, the series of events that are supposed to form a campaign might feel disjointed if the cast of players constantly changes. Another challenge is to manage relationships between PCs or PCs and NPCs. Many games track the relationship status—e.g. Strings in Monsterhearts—or prompt players to answer relationship questions. Others have NPCs tied to a certain player, for example in Urban Shadows or Apocalypse World. When the players don't take part in the campaign, Strings, relationships, and NPCs cease to be important or disappear completely.</span></p><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV1AijRS9_hwWpc5-Qhhrznbx5BJvLii1Ih9U1JeFpzKGA5j5T41VMX7XVhxA2j8or_qEAiDEiQaXCUC1bLPyqo1EKIVzGRUJ3eV8D3ftNrmrvrVDpsw4ZVgIa5wFL0HUOPaMUmULGvmN2/s1024/Emn8bFyW4AECGr8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="1024" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV1AijRS9_hwWpc5-Qhhrznbx5BJvLii1Ih9U1JeFpzKGA5j5T41VMX7XVhxA2j8or_qEAiDEiQaXCUC1bLPyqo1EKIVzGRUJ3eV8D3ftNrmrvrVDpsw4ZVgIa5wFL0HUOPaMUmULGvmN2/w400-h198/Emn8bFyW4AECGr8.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Discarded NPC judging you silently</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Solutions</span><span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">An obvious way to enforce coherence and continuity is to encourage signing up for all sessions. Almost every event on the Gauntlet Calendar will mention this. The Gauntlet GMing best practices document advises GMs to be cautious about going beyond encouraging this (e.g. by requiring that players sign up for all sessions of a series) so as not to undercut the open table policy. The GM or facilitator can, however, reserve a spot for a regular player, or—if it is a continuing series—limit signing up for returning players at least for a certain amount of time, usually 24h.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Another less intrusive way to provide a more cohesive experience is to use information on the character keeper (NPCs, places etc) and write session reports or in-fiction documents. Lowell made this adorable session summary in-character for his <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUKV1MEOXoTXs4AHFcGulCeltfyqZ8nTM" target="_blank">World Wide Wrestling series</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">and Puckett wrote <a href="https://blackcitygauntlet.blogspot.com/2020/06/a-shock-peddler.html" target="_blank">a slightly exaggerated account of events</a> for our campaign of Ultraviolet Grasslands. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">However this requires work for the person providing the information and for the new players to actually process them and in general continuity seems to be less of a concern on the Gauntlet. In a casual survey on the Gauntlet Slack most GMs declared that they weren't worried about it.</span></p><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVFttMrmKPNiCWuDwNFZX1Oan65TrGSGjfWt_7ThFRBg0Iz0hD2rKQnMHgobVbWeyJvswI4aq-dedHlYQigxlPnK3d-G1d7cLLS9TwHLoUV8trkWsF0hQfCGQXqN_Xi82kvpzSuL47vmG/s889/EY9fG-bXYAE-oSm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="889" data-original-width="695" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVFttMrmKPNiCWuDwNFZX1Oan65TrGSGjfWt_7ThFRBg0Iz0hD2rKQnMHgobVbWeyJvswI4aq-dedHlYQigxlPnK3d-G1d7cLLS9TwHLoUV8trkWsF0hQfCGQXqN_Xi82kvpzSuL47vmG/s320/EY9fG-bXYAE-oSm.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Wonders of the West</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Examples of long-form play on the Gauntlet</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">One way to organize campaigns on the Gauntlet is as a quarterly. While GMs are normally encouraged to keep all the sessions contained in one month they can opt to either put all 12 sessions of a quarterly on the calendar at once or indicate that the first four sessions are planned to be the start of an ongoing series. Notable examples are David Walker’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKaVqoVBo79gFK1PUnDZfCC94_M5xFRsr" target="_blank">Masks campaign</a> (14 sessions)</span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKaVqoVBo79gFK1PUnDZfCC94_M5xFRsr" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and Leandro running the entirety of the <a href="https://youtu.be/pHRF6eaQEIw" target="_blank">Band of Blades campaign</a> in 15 sessions.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Quarterlies can also be linked in order to play even longer campaigns: Leandro ran through all the playsets of Masks playing 41 sessions in total.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Alun R. approached long form play in a different way with his 30+ <a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJvz2EFnWIXNZrjLbiPArWDA1uoxUCWp" target="_blank">Eotenweard games</a>: he occasionally would put a couple of sessions on the calendar that are set in the same setting with characters from one campaign leaving their influence on the world:</span><a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJvz2EFnWIXNZrjLbiPArWDA1uoxUCWpt" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">t</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Likewise Donogh used the same class room setup and relationship map for his Balhir run of Monsterhearts 2. In Donogh's 20+ <a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbjxfTpYzkwyukDhGBRmQ5YINc0b8NFJb" target="_blank">3:16 campaign</a> NPCs had the biggest influence on continuity</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Both didn't limit their sign ups although Alun would sometimes reserve a spot for a returning player. Rich runs several sessions of his Star Wars Saturdays each month but picks a different system from one month to the next. Players can bring back characters from previous series or spinoff new ones based on events in the games they have played. There is a <a href="https://starwarssaturdays.miraheze.org/wiki/Main_Page" target="_blank">wiki</a> for Star Wars Saturdays </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that lists the PCs, links to the character keeper and the YouTube vids of the sessions. In December several Gauntleteers joined Rich in running Star Wars games in a big community event.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lastly, long form play can be organized as living world campaigns where several GMs run games in the same fictional world with events in one game potentially having effects on another game. Notable examples are the now defunct Gaunt Marches (a Dungeon World setting with four GMs), and the ongoing Gauntlet Comics, a multiple GM-effort that is set in the same city, with neighborhoods created by players and GMs. An introduction to Gauntlet Comics can be found here: https://www.gauntlet-rpg.com/blog/gauntlet-comics-101</span></p></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6O0YxtjSQDMpT7Eu-lP4pU1gJHVcxFY7LrE8jre_u86jyMUSvPXi2PY5WxCVUccT9v6Fp_9pkdkJR_Vi_iOC1mGZAes6LyjAEeDxKlQro1iWSFIqyOyZgM-Z1Ty7boYtkhejMRSmSgtS/s2048/EYMbvZDUwAEq7o5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1121" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo6O0YxtjSQDMpT7Eu-lP4pU1gJHVcxFY7LrE8jre_u86jyMUSvPXi2PY5WxCVUccT9v6Fp_9pkdkJR_Vi_iOC1mGZAes6LyjAEeDxKlQro1iWSFIqyOyZgM-Z1Ty7boYtkhejMRSmSgtS/s320/EYMbvZDUwAEq7o5.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">A Super Hero</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: 700; white-space: pre-wrap;">Conclusions</span></div><div><span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I am currently running an ongoing campaign of Ultraviolet Grasslands, an epic pointcrawl over a vast map, with more than 30 sessions played and no immediate end in sight. Initially I was worried that the series wouldn't be </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #3c4043; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">suitable for</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #3c4043; font-size: 10.5pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> the Gauntlet. Would there even be interest in long-form play? How would it work with a constantly changing cast of characters?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To mitigate that I reserved a spot for one returning player (Puckett, who only missed two of the sessions); set up this blog ); created a dedicated channel on the Slack; and designed a sprawling character keeper that tracks trade goods, market prices, locations, NPCs etc. to create a sense of coherence. But looking back I think I shouldn't have been worried at all.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not only is there a demand for longer campaigns, there is also supply: In October there were 20 events on the calendar that were part of a campaign with 7 or more sessions, in November there were 26.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not only is it possible to run longer campaigns with an open table policy, but Gauntlet GMs have the will to make new players coming into an ongoing campaign feel welcome and the players coming into a campaign have the ability to make the sessions stand on their own and feel meaningful.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Proofreading by: Alun R and Alexi Sarge</span></p></span><br /></div>Horst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216980739375043463.post-84716958273063145062020-12-20T06:49:00.017-08:002021-01-16T01:30:15.120-08:00Vicar's Beach II<p>They enter the narrow tunnel behind the security door, Sarqo’s flashlight revealing countless footprints in the inch deep dust. Saffron checks an air vent which seems to function has an exhaust for a heat source from down below. The corridor opens into a small room with 6 alcoves, one of them illuminated by blue radiation that reveals a motionless vome.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qHNq8BcQ_ZXkv93bIC3tvBZTgTW4xd1BOIiHzDzwRH7bpnigfJ3dGKU_hU-lT4PXqIcQ2wf7pPk3YA6kfxpB7rE8PVw4V3LCn8P85h8aMkJEf9xhyqPCKiztQDyi0A-kofschDYnxfjp/s1024/Abandoned-Estaci%25C3%25B3n-Astron%25C3%25B3mica-Austral-F%25C3%25A9lix-Aguilar-observatory-argentina-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1qHNq8BcQ_ZXkv93bIC3tvBZTgTW4xd1BOIiHzDzwRH7bpnigfJ3dGKU_hU-lT4PXqIcQ2wf7pPk3YA6kfxpB7rE8PVw4V3LCn8P85h8aMkJEf9xhyqPCKiztQDyi0A-kofschDYnxfjp/s320/Abandoned-Estaci%25C3%25B3n-Astron%25C3%25B3mica-Austral-F%25C3%25A9lix-Aguilar-observatory-argentina-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Vicar's Ear</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Azure
contemplates sending Cataract to interface with the vome but the bone and wire
salamander is hesitant indicating that she is pregnant, so Sarqo sends Flux
instead. Azure picks up a suspicious looking tiny creature looking like a tiny
flash drive with feebly moving legs. Flux returns and spits out a paper tape
that reads: *connection established * system programmable * danger of code
corruption *. Unsure about the ramifications they leave the vome behind. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgST0lORCZ0nMMMhDOHIMxITxNwOE0MrVhCLUu3kV9gipILS1stzTZ5jUW2lD4J1IX0FgQUgpQntRSLnDiNux6TRi3Ii5DIQOMIQSf4grLIfeahZ4VLTmI_ZENiMSv9Q5hEiKayZPmeha6M/s960/EeXoMg_WsAA6sei.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgST0lORCZ0nMMMhDOHIMxITxNwOE0MrVhCLUu3kV9gipILS1stzTZ5jUW2lD4J1IX0FgQUgpQntRSLnDiNux6TRi3Ii5DIQOMIQSf4grLIfeahZ4VLTmI_ZENiMSv9Q5hEiKayZPmeha6M/s320/EeXoMg_WsAA6sei.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Vome Slacking </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">They
hear the rhythmic hammering on metal against stone and come upon an excavation
site with worker vomes - one of them wearing the overall of a Red Bear villager
- breaking the stone with heavy tools. A conveyor belt transporting gravel
disappears into a tunnel. Saffron’s thermal vision reveals a blinding heat
source in the corner of the room that comes from a dozen corroded metal crates.
Sarqo sends Flux down the tunnel and when he reports no apparent danger they
surf the conveyor belt. Rattled and poked by stones they emerge on the other
side in a large room where the conveyor belt ends in the maw of a giant
biomechanical brick making machine with numerous drone vomes carrying the
bricks down another tunnel. Sarqo finds green glass shards and a dark stain on
the ground under a passageway and when he investigates a glassy slime drops
from the ceiling cutting and ensnaring him. Applying snake oil he manages to
liquify the slime. The discover a manhole cover hiding a maintenance tunnel
leading to a switch board and further down to an airlock that ends under
the lake. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDoAnGaO1P1mPlZIreJvTU34WkbJhukplTdGNTDfozYgoYTXq5YZxUA7K0wEWpXkd4bpgJF1Y7-e1cD9XoXI7Fdw4ym7iAEM7cPndjvCxqnSOf4PR8In-Ig1efq7Kem4UbNeiR2W7nI4jg/s474/b6bf6333241347fe5d172d27214629cd.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="315" data-original-width="474" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDoAnGaO1P1mPlZIreJvTU34WkbJhukplTdGNTDfozYgoYTXq5YZxUA7K0wEWpXkd4bpgJF1Y7-e1cD9XoXI7Fdw4ym7iAEM7cPndjvCxqnSOf4PR8In-Ig1efq7Kem4UbNeiR2W7nI4jg/s320/b6bf6333241347fe5d172d27214629cd.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">The Switchboard</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">The switches have different labels: Elevator, Observatory, Rector Door etc. and they flip them all on. Climbing back up they move through another passage
way to an entrance room with stairs leading outside, a postmodern fountain and
an open door to the observatory. Sarqo ignores the pyramid of stacked green
glowing screens where the Crab vomes left seashells and other found objects in reverence
and looks through the telescope that is pointed at a strange planet. They
return to the entrance room and press the silver button when a friendly android
voice announces: “I am Belle, how can I be of service?”</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-1xxYO1VkAbqIGOk0NL7X8WNG4kYZCoZMumlNVPHjy_dD6Qw8fZkUhYWRozkSG_BaPSbqub6Ofrfi52LU1fcwtNbjfFLa1fU5-cQnW4xSxZQeA1RCMQWktfRiZ9Imd0nm04t9d_RJT4W/s1249/Vicar%2527s+Ear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="1249" height="366" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi-1xxYO1VkAbqIGOk0NL7X8WNG4kYZCoZMumlNVPHjy_dD6Qw8fZkUhYWRozkSG_BaPSbqub6Ofrfi52LU1fcwtNbjfFLa1fU5-cQnW4xSxZQeA1RCMQWktfRiZ9Imd0nm04t9d_RJT4W/w640-h366/Vicar%2527s+Ear.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mapper's Impression of Vicar's Ear</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal">Actual Play: https://youtu.be/odF_RFUXyiY</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Horst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216980739375043463.post-34203700644548576882020-12-13T05:02:00.003-08:002021-01-16T01:30:07.770-08:00Vicar's Beach<p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Saffron connects with the Porcelain
Walker through wires growing out of their fingers. While their cybernetic prairie dog body slumps to
the side they take direct control of the machine. Naida keeping watch on top of the hill fires a
warning shot at the approaching Floating Barge and kills the pony after the caravan
guards ignore her. Aida addresses the sharpshooter and insists that she and the
other Greenlanders must be allowed to travel to the Porcelain Citadel to work
for the princes but Saffron intimidates Formatore through the speakers of the
walker until he tears up the contract. They promise the Greenlanders to escort them to
the Spectrum Palace where they might find work that doesn’t include selling
their body to the abmortal princes. Sarqo takes the Greenlanders back to the Jade
Baobab while the others ride the walker back to Vicar’s Beach.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXAAlWEEAipf8YD6nNv88j80fMRKFdrc51FV85zLJpL09QY7ULHu3s3v5O1LCFVj5GJe_HgfZtcYvYEwWkTR5AlBP_EohqPOUQ__0YUdl6GmTr2iHtnT7Czqg0b_zaNR9uZeR-IdMYFfe/s1280/wine+river2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="1280" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAXAAlWEEAipf8YD6nNv88j80fMRKFdrc51FV85zLJpL09QY7ULHu3s3v5O1LCFVj5GJe_HgfZtcYvYEwWkTR5AlBP_EohqPOUQ__0YUdl6GmTr2iHtnT7Czqg0b_zaNR9uZeR-IdMYFfe/w400-h208/wine+river2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">The walker gets trapped in
the shallow waters south of the Three Sticks and when Azure dives to free the leg she spots hundreds of geometrically arranged artificial lights glowing on the lakebed.</span><div><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDiQ36zkwmtDnhkyFK1h81CkB4XdJBIOuwA2C77eQRqQqL4lsu6-FYRlOvmSP92hxDZBVDyZTct2rW6GTA2LuRRr3yeHx3KH-ajxeI5d8Q0yMI88xCGIcWVGqaBSRe0ws6atT9VMpVs70/s2048/fgfs-20191027225904.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="2048" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDiQ36zkwmtDnhkyFK1h81CkB4XdJBIOuwA2C77eQRqQqL4lsu6-FYRlOvmSP92hxDZBVDyZTct2rW6GTA2LuRRr3yeHx3KH-ajxeI5d8Q0yMI88xCGIcWVGqaBSRe0ws6atT9VMpVs70/s320/fgfs-20191027225904.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They arrive at Vicar’s Beach at
night and while the others sleep Naida spots half a dozen White Crab Vomes
emerging from the waves carrying objects to the inverted dome lying in the
middle of multi-colored dunes.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlWwuTNgPK3aF7UU1_TS8T7iglM1BTA-WhyXg9vT7uVcbnOrLIMOtvwPy6lwyktmC7aZCWG_yLon9C9vWP-TqFqxNodTPDpf5yMmbw9ugh9WHv_0QDpUxJgHf5qXHyDqF9q5LZgMWufWh/s870/Ekd7dguW0AAbBo0.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="870" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZlWwuTNgPK3aF7UU1_TS8T7iglM1BTA-WhyXg9vT7uVcbnOrLIMOtvwPy6lwyktmC7aZCWG_yLon9C9vWP-TqFqxNodTPDpf5yMmbw9ugh9WHv_0QDpUxJgHf5qXHyDqF9q5LZgMWufWh/s320/Ekd7dguW0AAbBo0.png" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The next morning they find a
staircase under the dome leading down but decide to take the side entrance, a
metal door embedded into a nearby dune. Azure rips out the retina scanner and sends
Cataract to bypass the locked door that opens with a </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">pleasant</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> chime.</span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Actual Play: https://youtu.be/nIwFTf5C05E</span></span></span></div>Horst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216980739375043463.post-89427485345140933062020-12-07T05:40:00.007-08:002021-01-16T01:29:35.173-08:00Three Sticks Lake III: Return to the Jade Baobab<p><b>Characters in Season 10: </b></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Naida</b>: A Deft Yellowlander Climate Refugee and Scope (member of the Legion of the Far Sight). The Legion is a semi-secret society that tries to fight crime on the roads of the Grasslands and around the Circular Sea. Bone grenade aficionada. She is accompanied by <b>Ajax</b>, a grumpy exiled Cat Lord with a serpent tail and <b>Otis</b>, the animatronic bear. </span></p><p><b style="font-family: inherit;">Azure Dee</b><span style="font-family: inherit;">: A Deft Blue God Cultist on her journey to the Black City where she is supposed to bring the apocalypse by sacrificing Vile organs. The Vile are a species of (demonic?) rulers from the Long Long Ago. She is accompanied by </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">Cataract</b><span style="font-family: inherit;">,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> a </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Wire-and-bone biomechanical salamander. She has undergone mutation after being exposed to a vome infection that made her muscles grow </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">uncontrollably. The mutation has slowed down after a week of therapy sessions in the solarium of the Pylon Kraal.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="font-size: 16px; white-space: normal;">Saffron</b><span style="font-size: 16px; white-space: normal;">, a Wise Black Gold Industrialist Machine Human </span></span></span>whose personality was uploaded to a cybernetic prairie dog after being killed by Johnny-7's auto immune system. Outfitted with positronic double brain, extendable limbs and laser eyes. Accompanied by a<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"> furry animate kite. Seeking a prosthetic body for mother.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="white-space: normal;">Sarqo</b><span style="white-space: normal;">, a </span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: 17.12px; white-space: normal;">Deft Purplefolk Doghead Anarchist, looking for a clue to abmortality in order to break it. After disappearing in the Maze of Light for what felt like a lifetime he is able to cast Full Spectrum Radiation Blast. Honorary member of the Clan of Sanitation in Red Bear Village. </span></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKWpC30bVheJrm_3nAXvTDSoHmaEWuM_0HQ0SwwRf-Kc-alE5F3-3yAcHQFuYL-xhMkZbeOsSQ2fsNz7ex_HBMyVxfJomLR8Jgzh4mfk-wGEPKGW8iOChGczZdYmlu3G6zVjDAlsWKp5Z/s1159/Jade+Baobab.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1159" data-original-width="854" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbKWpC30bVheJrm_3nAXvTDSoHmaEWuM_0HQ0SwwRf-Kc-alE5F3-3yAcHQFuYL-xhMkZbeOsSQ2fsNz7ex_HBMyVxfJomLR8Jgzh4mfk-wGEPKGW8iOChGczZdYmlu3G6zVjDAlsWKp5Z/s320/Jade+Baobab.jpg" /></a></span></span></div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">While Sarqo, Saffron and Azure spend the night in the synthetic baskets, Naida awakes in the Redlander Autowagon to the smell of coffee from the nearby Floating Barge. Chatting with a caravan guard she realizes that they are professionals and although they don't like Formatore very much, they probably won't betray him even if offered substantial bribes. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;">Azure visits He-of-the-Second-Hand in the town hall where the current interims leader of the Jade Baobab discusses matters with his advisers from the different clans. But when she inquires about Formatore's reputation has a body dealer for the princes she senses that He-of-the-Second-Hand knows more than he admits.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRxfZECUeS633UM1MW1FBbFkf097Oo_AI2oZs7aWLKx5xmuk_uE5uoWrAvj_90A6Kav9C4lOEO9QnF6T1-nprfHAwOWXAhzlQr1vRyKIPMDhOCSFGmp8QW9qQljPo2sgG4XEhVKrxK6Vo/s1280/Eh24JgGXYAIO8U1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="954" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdRxfZECUeS633UM1MW1FBbFkf097Oo_AI2oZs7aWLKx5xmuk_uE5uoWrAvj_90A6Kav9C4lOEO9QnF6T1-nprfHAwOWXAhzlQr1vRyKIPMDhOCSFGmp8QW9qQljPo2sgG4XEhVKrxK6Vo/s320/Eh24JgGXYAIO8U1.jpg" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;">Saffron meets with Formatore in the Exibitorium, a scrimshaw paneled museum of Biomancy, and channels their Cogflower background to get him to talk shop. Formatore freely admits that he is making deals with He-of-the-Second-Hand and that his employer is Bone Kaolin 2-Body from the Porcelain Citadel. In the past trading Biomancy tech with the princes had been frowned upon among the villagers. Formatore also ponders to offer "service positions" for the Greenlander refugees who the heroes had just rescued from the Vome Nest. </span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;">Sarqo mingles with the Greenlanders but his vague warnings about slavers who sold naive travelers into indentured servitude is met with incredulity. Disillusioned he reunites with the others at the autowagon where they discuss the situation. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdY36KbvvcTnKDHngIrWHGevu2Z-3PzBJTM_nZDfGWeGOtDVeac8G7R5tt9YwAH1era5HwQmATA-jSQu7wWqlwg_dDyqHNAZes83WnHXETvy4VY7zCmKoxVz5uhW1pbO3KNzbWrbeHMQN/s1126/Untitled.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="713" data-original-width="1126" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCdY36KbvvcTnKDHngIrWHGevu2Z-3PzBJTM_nZDfGWeGOtDVeac8G7R5tt9YwAH1era5HwQmATA-jSQu7wWqlwg_dDyqHNAZes83WnHXETvy4VY7zCmKoxVz5uhW1pbO3KNzbWrbeHMQN/s320/Untitled.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;">When they see the floating barge being loaded and ready to leave with Formatore and half a dozen Greenlanders they quickly hatch a plan: First they will take out the Porcelain Princes, then they will address the problems at the village. On their way to the hidden camp Azure uproots a tree to block the road. Naida and Ostins take position on the hill above the camp while the others carefully approach the walker. Azure camouflages herself with shrubbery and manages to climb onto the walker unseen, while Naida sends Ajax to support her. To Ajax horror Azure quickly opens the hatch and throws him onto one of the princes while the other shoots Azure in the shoulder. Ajax stuns his victim while Naida snipes the other through the windshield. Covered in gore from the headshot Azure makes short work of the stunned princes.</span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;">Actual Play: https://youtu.be/-EoR32FAjl8</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: black; line-height: 17.12px; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></span></span></p>Horst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216980739375043463.post-88163455350947911952020-11-29T05:38:00.001-08:002020-11-29T05:38:28.965-08:00Wine River III: The Grey Glow<p> They take the road South towards the Jade Baobab past delicate towers rising above a devastated morass of ruins overgrown with slimes and molds. When they make camp for the night a great screen of flickering motes appear on the shore between minimalist ruins. From the glow figures appear phasing in and out of existence resuming their lives from a Long Ago. Hamish, Azure and Kozue decide to pass through the portal while holding hands. Nevertheless a different fate waits for them: While they all pass through the glow to emerge between the buildings they had seen before - now less ruinous - Kozue and Hamish merely flicker while Hamish is lost in phase space, a ghostly echo of him remaining, unable to speak or interact with his environment. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2yByADa4Sxj4PO73EPrtft2dgmyzDV4kSAelJORwUknyNX5FIU2Cns2CnhewEtj5nv6bceCSXE03sQ5GaOekHNp-AsSh4ZtpzceM4i4gkKuJlBU_mN-HwzTsJDYKr3Uj7-xJTyJ8cJKt/s996/grey+glow+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="819" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS2yByADa4Sxj4PO73EPrtft2dgmyzDV4kSAelJORwUknyNX5FIU2Cns2CnhewEtj5nv6bceCSXE03sQ5GaOekHNp-AsSh4ZtpzceM4i4gkKuJlBU_mN-HwzTsJDYKr3Uj7-xJTyJ8cJKt/s320/grey+glow+1.jpg" /></a></div><p>Among the numerous doors leading to underground shelters one in particular draws Azure's interest indicating the presence of Vile parts. Before they can investigate they hear a nauseating hum coming from a badly vome infected human. Azure delivers them from their pains with a shot to the head. Within its broken body the witch finds the code to open the vault door. Deep inside the shelter they come upon shelves with ceramic tins of biomorphic protein and a boiler room with a Vile lung inside a leaden container.</p><p>They pass through the gate again: This time Kozue's fetch is wrapped around Hamish to bind him to the mundane world ... but to no avail: The Folk hero remains a ghost of his former self. On the shore Kozue places items signifying the mundane world, phase space, sun and moon and swings a pendulum between them. When the pendulum circles the mundane world and the sun Kozue concludes that Hamish will be fine. Azure is not convinced, though, and performs her own ritual. She sees Hamish fully restored alone on his black metal motorcycle driving into the sun set. All of a sudden her vision changes and she sees calcinated tendrils snapping one by one and a giant floating island unmooring itself.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zATujPeSYId_Ad6E50Qrk3KpzcC0Q_rR-sCW83Qzvx2mcTCN1ezuR8U_G8LJ3ct_Vg_WyTw_lWqa-XGoL29kDYahqJAy4D9LWedegNeUt9ljW_R3WUnzhzzpx5yOW7XTDtTG-531vfbk/s687/El6SymqVoAAlaNC.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="687" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7zATujPeSYId_Ad6E50Qrk3KpzcC0Q_rR-sCW83Qzvx2mcTCN1ezuR8U_G8LJ3ct_Vg_WyTw_lWqa-XGoL29kDYahqJAy4D9LWedegNeUt9ljW_R3WUnzhzzpx5yOW7XTDtTG-531vfbk/s320/El6SymqVoAAlaNC.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>The next morning when Azure and Kozue awake they are back in their solid form. They continue their journey South, crossing the rusty bridge, carefully walking next to the autowagon while rat mechs eye them cautiously. Hamish, still in his ghostly body spots a giant porcelain walker peeking out from behind a hill. He finds a camp guarded by two porcelain princes and immediately decides to steal their ride - as soon as he is restored!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsewUHQRkKTOUgb6YYfPXmLtyN2FmT7OTKCAmeznmTrP3km0RcaykZYf42cuukH1Yn7Ayk16y5iD15FQY587sxTxeX1uDKYRbgZoGDtl_SjNsOD24_SligKJwYVX1MRiuO677JHRpbqDPo/s810/art-of-star-wars-jedi-fallen-order-concept-art-at-at-walker.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsewUHQRkKTOUgb6YYfPXmLtyN2FmT7OTKCAmeznmTrP3km0RcaykZYf42cuukH1Yn7Ayk16y5iD15FQY587sxTxeX1uDKYRbgZoGDtl_SjNsOD24_SligKJwYVX1MRiuO677JHRpbqDPo/s320/art-of-star-wars-jedi-fallen-order-concept-art-at-at-walker.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>The caravan continues to the Jade Baobab in front of which a barge floats above ground guarded by uniformed Rainbowlanders. When they enter the village they are greeted by Brother Of the Second Hand in discussion with a Greenlander lawyer. The brother has temporarily taken over from the leadership as Sister Mercy-is-Weakness is on a pilgrimage to the Three Sticks and Father Time-hath-no-purpose has fallen ill. Seniore Formatore, the Cogflower lawyer, inquires about the Greenlanders the heroes have arrived with. Azure, whose suspicion is awaken, reads the lawyers mind:"The Prophet has handed me a business opportunity. I will sell these fools to the princes!"</p><p>Actual Play: https://youtu.be/-M-JBG-8PCA</p><p><br /></p>Horst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216980739375043463.post-58561812708004113242020-11-22T10:16:00.014-08:002020-11-23T10:55:16.738-08:00Wine River II: Cholan Woods<p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #444444;">After leaving the vome nest they load the survivors into one of
the solid wagons, attach it to the Redlander truck and decide to check out the campfires
to the North. They find a camp of nomads dressed in pine needle garments and
canvas masks. The nomads invite them in and agree to help the party in crossing
the river. Saloc, the elder of the clan, offers to break burned Mandelbrot-flatbread
with them – a powerful psychedelic drug. While Naida nibbles on it and gets a
pleasant buzz, Hamish naturally takes the whole portion and his reality dissolves
into endlessly branching fractal patterns. Azure and Kozue approach the shaman
of the Pine Nut clan, his face hidden behind a frightening and improbably tall
tree bark mask covered in moss and red paint. Colpec warns Azure of the dangers
of collecting vile organs and Kozue of spending too much time in the Cholan Woods,
where nightmares roam at night.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRctMN-f6ZKcqKMwKZJMiWjO3ns74smm_Fbs6549K78NcFXQ0OEWTbcWVfxz-08QeV6aJzoWkxNu8t2qoDntz3puTYxdjYoGQj5wQkT5FJZ6BqLKkU033OIfIuzkprYwTD4dQ6gseOLd1/s2048/The_main_Mongolian_deity_Begtse_in_a_cham-dance.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1320" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRctMN-f6ZKcqKMwKZJMiWjO3ns74smm_Fbs6549K78NcFXQ0OEWTbcWVfxz-08QeV6aJzoWkxNu8t2qoDntz3puTYxdjYoGQj5wQkT5FJZ6BqLKkU033OIfIuzkprYwTD4dQ6gseOLd1/s320/The_main_Mongolian_deity_Begtse_in_a_cham-dance.jpg" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #444444;">The next day is spent crossing the river with ropes, poles and
makeshift pontoon bridges, Naida unsuccessfully tries to recruit one of the
nomads for the Legion and Azure performs another augury looking for dangers
ahead. But her vision of a rusty bridge is soon disturbed by a strange blue
glowing figure with three appendices and the red glowing eye atop a multi-colored
pyramid she had dreamt of at the Behemoth Shell announcing that they are coming
for her.</span></span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bBrCsDK4dbLkgPfgYynC4_QDnVuJVRh0FKg2D9_2XekukOe5M8ZG4mmVBiXtl5X3trbhojw3SEIejOzCOtdBxzr6XAyhTEOWj9DUfFiihBz32734Dn-ILGAK2mgavaRTirx3B9C1j16I/s992/zoa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="731" data-original-width="992" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2bBrCsDK4dbLkgPfgYynC4_QDnVuJVRh0FKg2D9_2XekukOe5M8ZG4mmVBiXtl5X3trbhojw3SEIejOzCOtdBxzr6XAyhTEOWj9DUfFiihBz32734Dn-ILGAK2mgavaRTirx3B9C1j16I/s320/zoa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="background: white;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #444444;">After an uneventful night they send the Redlander autowagon
ahead and ascend the path to the Cholan Woods in order to look for omens of the
world’s end. The plateau is sparsely forested by pine trees – many of them
dripping with viscous slime - and covered with skin sacks the size of houses.
Between them float gaseous jellyfish. Kozue sends her fetch to look for apocalyptic
signs and spots a place where the trees had fallen as if hit by an explosion. When
they finally arrive there, Kozue realizes to her disappointment that the fragments
of star metal that could have had a hidden meaning were partly removed. They spend
the rest of the day collecting the fragments. After sunset the nightmares emerge
from the toxic goo hanging from the trees. Kozue marks all of them with a ward
that enables them to face their worst nightmares with some protection and they
flee the Cholan Woods.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5i7U7Op1f_y97EGYeLcj8K6uBbIostLVekKPnT5_W23Qza2T2vUv9pyeqDqHBUIgvvT2TtQTlihFl25mSTcmbi8ZtMIfoNHOYoKcMen6ILWgslaHwPW9tedrt59AGzzOk4Olv21pHK0wE/s720/Baphomet_%2528Cabal%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5i7U7Op1f_y97EGYeLcj8K6uBbIostLVekKPnT5_W23Qza2T2vUv9pyeqDqHBUIgvvT2TtQTlihFl25mSTcmbi8ZtMIfoNHOYoKcMen6ILWgslaHwPW9tedrt59AGzzOk4Olv21pHK0wE/s320/Baphomet_%2528Cabal%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="color: #444444;">Azure has a vision of the blue god rejecting her offering at the
Black City and decides to kick off the Golden Amber for good. After a painful ceremony conducted by the Moon Witch, the Greenlanders who carry Azure's unconscious body to the wagon avert they eyes from Kozue.</span><p></p><p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #444444;">Actual Play: https://youtu.be/IDxnacCRisU</span></p><p style="background: white;"><span style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></p>Horst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216980739375043463.post-16986656901665970532020-11-16T06:13:00.003-08:002020-11-16T08:32:56.184-08:00Wine River I: Inside the Vome Nest<p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Characters:</b></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Naida</b>: A Yellowlander Climate Refugee and Scope (member of the Legion of the Far Sight). The Legion is a semi-secret society that tries to fight crime on the roads of the Grasslands and around the Circular Sea. She is accompanied by <b>Ajax</b>, a grumpy exiled Cat Lord with a serpent tail and <b>Otis</b>, the animatronic bear. Sometimes visited by Laila, a ghost.</span></p><p><b style="font-family: inherit;">Azure Dee</b><span style="font-family: inherit;">: A Blue God Cultist on her journey to the Black City where she is supposed to bring the apocalypse by sacrificing Vile organs. The Vile are a species of (demonic?) rulers from the Long Long Ago. She is accompanied by </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">Cataract</b><span style="font-family: inherit;">,</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> a </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Wire-and-bone biomechanical salamander. She has undergone mutation after being exposed to a vome infection that made her muscles grow </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">uncontrollably. The mutation has slowed down after a week of therapy sessions in the solarium of the Pylon Kraal. Addicted to Golden Amber.</span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b style="white-space: normal;">Hamish Mac Rainbow</b><span style="white-space: normal;">: A Redland District Folk Hero with a black motorbike and rainbow-colored beard</span></span></span><span style="background-color: white;">. Wielder of the Fractal Blade. Slayer of a maddened Ka-Elemental. His heroic reputation vastly exceeds his actual deeds but he's working on living up to the legend.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;"><b>Kozue:</b> An Elven Moon Mountain Witch, a soothsayer from the Sister of the Near Moon. Her singing spirit (appearing as a wingless, serpentine creature to those who can see it) in a pink bottle aids her in her auguries.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white;">Inside the Vome nest Naida, Hamish and Azure kill the acid spitting vomes while Kozue sends her fetch to establish a connection with the vomeish autofac. She realizes that the machine is experiencing fear but not of the heroes but some other faction within the vome community. Kozue senses an opportunity to establish the heroes as allies and deepens the connection. </span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8q6t-bNRTFCwK4lIBrt_jfxhZCUyIRU93whlYAF4-wyN0PAw53X56g23fNPW7XytW1Dmd4vl3tHFpNUUpM2UC2nql5Vd91VFwnHgp2-S0D2OYteoBLlFf5Opl4RVINnTXB6MF9zMbYnSZ/s1000/EkL1RycWkAA2hYD.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8q6t-bNRTFCwK4lIBrt_jfxhZCUyIRU93whlYAF4-wyN0PAw53X56g23fNPW7XytW1Dmd4vl3tHFpNUUpM2UC2nql5Vd91VFwnHgp2-S0D2OYteoBLlFf5Opl4RVINnTXB6MF9zMbYnSZ/s320/EkL1RycWkAA2hYD.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;">It appears that the autofac comes from the void or the Outer Dark as the Sisters of the Near Moon refer to it. Its purpose is to grow and harvest biofuel and it has captured the Greenlanders to add them to its resources. Deep in her trance Kozue doesn't hear the explosion coming from the East. While Naida and Hamish investigate the origin of the sound Azure stays behind to keep an eye on Kozue. Naida and Hamish find a cavern with rail tracks leading into a tunnel, concrete barriers that feel like cold meat to the touch and the dead bodies of three giant white crab vomes. Naida pokes at a smoking pile of scrap metal and concludes that it is a spidery kamikaze vome. She also finds some dead mushrooms and harvests them while Hamish cuts the shell of one of the crab vomes. Kozue learns that the Greenlanders are held prisoner in the mines and when the party reunites they head back North. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJiqLZcaUSFKNvL95FEefLOUwlvnfX2StEz-SEB1dAedu91y9_visNX2j7LUzldrVg4t-VjxRuYGOrNuJfvI61jt91qi2JVJV95sY4q0uiS-ZBcJuK3lmyxknQiztm7I_QFeBVxx_yGu4/s1022/Monster6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1022" data-original-width="630" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJiqLZcaUSFKNvL95FEefLOUwlvnfX2StEz-SEB1dAedu91y9_visNX2j7LUzldrVg4t-VjxRuYGOrNuJfvI61jt91qi2JVJV95sY4q0uiS-ZBcJuK3lmyxknQiztm7I_QFeBVxx_yGu4/s320/Monster6.jpg" /></a></div><span style="background-color: white;">Azure immediately recognizes the place from her vision: A dark room with pools and Spitters sitting inside. Kozue greets them and to her surprise the vomes bow and let them pass. In the mines they find the traumatized Greenlanders who had made part of the caves their home, surviving on pink goo. The leader of the group, a haggard looking woman, approaches them and whispers her thanks when she hears that they had come to rescue them. They lead them out of the nest leaving three of the travellers who had become obsessed with the goo behind. </span><p></p><p><span style="background-color: white;">Actual Play: </span>https://youtu.be/rnU7sVuSA0I</p><p><br /></p>Horst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216980739375043463.post-15724523355986472362020-11-07T03:53:00.002-08:002020-11-07T14:28:04.896-08:00UVG after 25 sessions: Example of Prep<p>Running UVG out of the book with no prep whatsoever can be extremely fun. As the referee you can discover locations together with the group, give yourself over to the randomness of encounters, read the entries as boxed text and prompt the players for additional details. One of my favorite location in the ongoing campaign was the Gemstone Tomb in the Lake of Oil, a random discovery at the Spectrum Run. I assigned numbers to the possible discoveries as they show up in the book and when the PCs scouted the area they rolled a 2 (Satrap Outpost) and a 3 (The Tomb) on a d4. I had skimmed the dungeon beforehand but didn't take any notes and improvised the whole thing. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLk__y6LVTF2Z27TYA3gVsJKts7bqYBbcHYNCw1tRKNSVzj63L1RnmzXe-afDuoJyqZ6LjUkkmjhfRotwT6X1gbsDWgaWgnMwRMenl2HWQ0xZ-vNNOecx9oNhsa0HPWSHjeZ5G25hJrYz/s1293/Gemstone+Tomb.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1293" data-original-width="854" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcLk__y6LVTF2Z27TYA3gVsJKts7bqYBbcHYNCw1tRKNSVzj63L1RnmzXe-afDuoJyqZ6LjUkkmjhfRotwT6X1gbsDWgaWgnMwRMenl2HWQ0xZ-vNNOecx9oNhsa0HPWSHjeZ5G25hJrYz/s320/Gemstone+Tomb.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Gemstone Tomb in the Lake of Oil</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p>You can also take a low prep approach, read likely locations and discoveries beforehand and / or pick the ones you find the most fun, as David Schirduan showcased in his <a href="https://www.technicalgrimoire.com/david/2020/08/UVGReview" target="_blank">auditory review of UVG</a>.</p><p>And finally you can take a location you expect the players to be interested in and use the outline given in the book as an inspiration for a fleshed out place. At the Behemoth Shell the players found the Ideal Island through augury and the Lurid Pines by climbing the Shell and scanning the area. The players were weary of the mysterious eye atop the pyramid on the floating island so they decided to explore the Pines. I had a week to prep the location.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">The Lurid Pines</h3><p>I wanted a small dungeon with several entrances, <a href="https://thealexandrian.net/wordpress/13085/roleplaying-games/jaquaying-the-dungeon" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">branching or looping paths</a>, random encounters, <a href="http://goblinpunch.blogspot.com/2016/01/dungeon-checklist.html" target="_blank">someone to talk to</a> and a risk reward structure for loot.</p><p>Here is the description of the Lurid Pines by Luka: </p><blockquote style="border: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 40px; padding: 0px;"><p style="text-align: left;">In the narrow defiles of a nondescript mountain ornate and buxom pines have grown fat on the biomantic pollution left behind by a magical test site. The surface has been thoroughly looted, but in the caverns below, amid ancient biomantic gear (€10,000, 40 sacks), generation after generation of mutated rodents has come and gone ...</p></blockquote><p>...followed by a d6 table of different inhabitants of the dungeon: Sessile photosynthesizing rodents, ornately baroque rats, tinker gerbils, hardy and grim hamsters (grown cannibalistic and vicious in tunnels beneath the pines), an eloquent mole rat hive and a vomish autofac which pumps out cybernetic enhancements to create higher life-form prairie dogs. I rolled the HP randomly and got a 22 for the cannibal hamsters: Ouch!</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkncLkZm8Xp1VIY3fer0pOPe5eLLP4dzM4bCerYn-wBc28YdiebiYSOkT4txCyYgrlWS-oEnYLGZ32MInU2hxw8zu7jEHieQQZ1iSUY9VFqArToDKsMB6nWG8ZIm4Bw8Qf4df3bUvbKYcC/s605/EdWGI4KUcAIDElV.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="605" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkncLkZm8Xp1VIY3fer0pOPe5eLLP4dzM4bCerYn-wBc28YdiebiYSOkT4txCyYgrlWS-oEnYLGZ32MInU2hxw8zu7jEHieQQZ1iSUY9VFqArToDKsMB6nWG8ZIm4Bw8Qf4df3bUvbKYcC/s320/EdWGI4KUcAIDElV.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Terrifying Rodents</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>There are three entrances to the first level: The main entrance through a vault door, a cannibal hamster tunnel and a service tunnel to the autofac - which I imagined was buried after centuries of immobility. There are two ways to get to the next level: A staircase to the ballroom of the ornately baroque rats and the hamster tunnel. The autofac and the cybernetic prairie dogs would provide a way to communicate and the cannibal hamsters and the ka-zombies served as a threat that made looting the crates of biomantic gear a trade off between risk and reward.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjak0lWo0ys178SAr6c9RP8-blkcjJrHPPoSK_9vfuICA3SHvK6sns9BSbdvC_ge5b8WGRFY5tYgccYWbULKjzDFkyTfZ2MzwmJjEY6fh28JrXTJCNHBq8R30a4ZFlSLz3NUHzvEHTXOFBm/s1780/Lurid+Pines+Lv+1.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1114" data-original-width="1780" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjak0lWo0ys178SAr6c9RP8-blkcjJrHPPoSK_9vfuICA3SHvK6sns9BSbdvC_ge5b8WGRFY5tYgccYWbULKjzDFkyTfZ2MzwmJjEY6fh28JrXTJCNHBq8R30a4ZFlSLz3NUHzvEHTXOFBm/w400-h250/Lurid+Pines+Lv+1.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>In the ballroom there is an opportunity for conversation (although the rats would never pass a turing test), the organ is slightly problematic loot (as it is fragile and heavy) and the proximity to the hamster nest in level 3 means constant danger. The magical testing site has some toys to play with, hazards and a major price to win: The Fractal Blade.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpPSMaYyjNCescEg8sEgkHbbx6dQ1WYR3HkaygqryEmDOxQi_t8lsaMzuj8Q7jy59bT15rfdd0MqD90WBrEhoJ6H6-b6FB2ogD8Z2K-EFAXoia9jpOnHe28KEkWkRDKYrRbw1GFntim-m/s1780/Lurid+Pines+Lv+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1114" data-original-width="1780" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpPSMaYyjNCescEg8sEgkHbbx6dQ1WYR3HkaygqryEmDOxQi_t8lsaMzuj8Q7jy59bT15rfdd0MqD90WBrEhoJ6H6-b6FB2ogD8Z2K-EFAXoia9jpOnHe28KEkWkRDKYrRbw1GFntim-m/w400-h250/Lurid+Pines+Lv+2.png" width="400" /></a></div><div><div>All in all the players spent five nail biting sessions in a handful of rooms. They never made it to level 3: After blowing up the force field around the Fractal Blade with the overdrive machine and being constantly harassed by the hamsters they decided to leave the place and never looked back.</div><div><br /></div><div>Actual Play:<span> </span>Session 1 https://youtu.be/jqlVGNuYNEI</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Session 2 https://youtu.be/TiFjLBCrWH4</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Session 3 https://youtu.be/M1Tkmop7pYA</div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Session 4 https://youtu.be/XhYiO1NQPZ8</div></div><div><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span><span> </span>Session 5 https://youtu.be/f6hZdDgKZYM</div><div><br /></div>Horst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216980739375043463.post-70724556983147833882020-11-01T10:48:00.001-08:002020-11-04T06:23:43.228-08:00Gall Grass II<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;">They travel
East, leaving the majestic towers of Three Sticks behind until they reach the
shores of a strikingly blue river. The wild water swirls around three huge,
slightly fake looking boulders with the faces of sages carved into them. As the
sun disappears a radiation ghost manifests </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">and sings a sad song in Old Steppe. Ostens who
understands the language is unimpressed. They spot a makeshift dam made from
lodged steel pines but it appears to be too difficult to traverse. Beyond the
dam the river is less wild but still too deep to cross. Moving North they come
upon large whale shaped structures with green patina. Saffron detects a strange
time distortion emanating from the hulls that gets stronger the closer they get
and which affects their positronic brain until it is completely overpowered. Naida
finds a ford across the river and they slowly make their way through the muddy
water. After a nights rest they continue travelling through marshland dotted
with groping willows and half phantom birches.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKmOsJfPdz5MAzaOy-q0DFELY03iQlQQpavktW0ZxcxTa_z93uL1Km1Tg__lgOfCCOjzb46ujO8BDSJ2aPlWbpdfnJZqBXNYlbtDoBNWKQNlpShe1O4acLZ_0wKL0bilfG9Lxw2cSWpWyP/s854/Hulls.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="716" data-original-width="854" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKmOsJfPdz5MAzaOy-q0DFELY03iQlQQpavktW0ZxcxTa_z93uL1Km1Tg__lgOfCCOjzb46ujO8BDSJ2aPlWbpdfnJZqBXNYlbtDoBNWKQNlpShe1O4acLZ_0wKL0bilfG9Lxw2cSWpWyP/s320/Hulls.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Copper Hulls</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Finally they
arrive at the Garnet Ford, where they expect to find the Greenlander Caravan. There
is a campfire nearby and indeed beyond a causeway of cinnamon stones on the
burgundy gravel alongside the Wine River they see wagons belonging to the
Cogflower Church. While Azure performs an augury and under the watchful eyes of
the Legionnaires, Hamish and Saffron search the wagons and the beach. The
wagons are picked clean but they find a wide concrete tunnel leading underground
and a steel pipe sticking out of the water.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">In her
vision Azure sees a cavern with pools of water and strange figures with long
limbs and elongated heads sitting motionless inside on them. She hears a
clinking sound and out of the dark a girl appears adorned with the metal beads
and coins of a Cogflower devotee. She puts her finger to her mouth and shushes
before the vision fades.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9Thb_RY6Bqq-R_Aak9sNOx7iBiFu1sG1XKltjtMgjPiJtX_jG0rlN4TUuMQQrSdlUPkpdIkla7tt70-5v3ZcBDtB-czuvcgIO1lwuI0V3uNn2RZfOe3FDj_0kjswm5SqxdT_ekbS6DfY/s780/1948322946_japanesesewer-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="780" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN9Thb_RY6Bqq-R_Aak9sNOx7iBiFu1sG1XKltjtMgjPiJtX_jG0rlN4TUuMQQrSdlUPkpdIkla7tt70-5v3ZcBDtB-czuvcgIO1lwuI0V3uNn2RZfOe3FDj_0kjswm5SqxdT_ekbS6DfY/s320/1948322946_japanesesewer-11.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Vomeish Caverns</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt;">When they
enter the tunnel Azure recognizes the luminescent moss growing on the walls.
They reach a cavern with many large silver vats out of which fleshy cables grow
that lead East. Saffron finds a straw doll and spots the shell of a large
crab-like figure leaning against a vat. They come upon several tunnels and a
staircase but follow drag marks South. In another cavern they sense movement
and identify a humanoid vome with just the barest of facial</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">features and large glands growing out of
their jawline. When Hamish approaches the vome it produces the whirring and
beeping sound of a dial up modem and sprays him with acid from its glands.
Hamish burns the acid with a swift movement of his Fractal Blade.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Outside Otis
the animatronic bear guards the Redlander Autowagon. On the flatbed something
stirs.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRC5VWjAsntnJh0oByyK0zp0SAHWxaOj4nqX3SkiWHi0KuXGDxLiZnQYy0zF97P38Cs8S6hZULgGOKLGPrDFRrN8uVMVVsSFZX1J8gYIIDbycB7WZsv7BSb2GeZNn52toU2x9HEjRqoj0/s2048/ElQEzKTX0AEwujh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYRC5VWjAsntnJh0oByyK0zp0SAHWxaOj4nqX3SkiWHi0KuXGDxLiZnQYy0zF97P38Cs8S6hZULgGOKLGPrDFRrN8uVMVVsSFZX1J8gYIIDbycB7WZsv7BSb2GeZNn52toU2x9HEjRqoj0/s320/ElQEzKTX0AEwujh.jpg" /></a></div><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Somewhere in
the Grasslands: Inside a pyramid. A figure clad in black metal with sharp angles and a
glowing red eye. A hologram of the Redlander autowagon. The vile organs in their
leaden sarcophagi slowly move.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Actual Play: </span>https://youtu.be/AmRZh7st7fQ</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p>Horst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216980739375043463.post-36520823386062850532020-10-19T01:03:00.000-07:002020-11-04T06:23:37.216-08:00Gall Grass<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfr2bcWE13cuMT2ExYwV1d0xIyrKq6_cqZZ__wmXqBJ3K137nbh42yFUIFV8Yd2DFkBYdWhn8MTpdSToMMYwbKlyYfd8OJzGodrWCCbkRkNQV3xYfIEMQzO7Fc0c0y7RhNgTHLu3x0M8FJ/s652/652px-RAS_Zimenki.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="652" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfr2bcWE13cuMT2ExYwV1d0xIyrKq6_cqZZ__wmXqBJ3K137nbh42yFUIFV8Yd2DFkBYdWhn8MTpdSToMMYwbKlyYfd8OJzGodrWCCbkRkNQV3xYfIEMQzO7Fc0c0y7RhNgTHLu3x0M8FJ/s320/652px-RAS_Zimenki.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Vicar's Ear</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The party
discusses their next steps inside the big walker of the Survivalists while
outside a glowing fog rises. They decide to hunker down until the fog dissipates. Saffron
is lost in thought about the half-meaningful shapes of the gravel sculptures of
Vicar’s Beach. Naida takes first watch and spots a suspicious faceless stranger
hiding behind one of the red fleshy trees of the Hairwoods. Azure sneaks
outside, camouflages herself with mud and hairy leaves and creeps up on the
intruder, who wears a trench coat, fedora and mold instead of a face. They
speak with a Bluentalk accent and sway like a drunk. Azure constraints the
stranger who admits spying on the walker to ascertain whether they pose a
threat to “Rudolph, the colony”. Hamish diffuses the situation with his typical
charm and the agent retreats into the fog as soon as Azure releases them. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKsLlZBviLEJzI79Cnt_fxPnIUbDJWtiM35w7_DI7bE0Sm8mpdRVb0AgM92aNaG-0B2XzdKrl1wcDKA6cPq85yLV0YOGgvFncOA4F7rCnjDAd3THQfolf43jL9P-ajJVEFhttaQPDxSOm/s840/blog-forest-light-5.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="560" data-original-width="840" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeKsLlZBviLEJzI79Cnt_fxPnIUbDJWtiM35w7_DI7bE0Sm8mpdRVb0AgM92aNaG-0B2XzdKrl1wcDKA6cPq85yLV0YOGgvFncOA4F7rCnjDAd3THQfolf43jL9P-ajJVEFhttaQPDxSOm/s320/blog-forest-light-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The Hairwoods</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The heroes
decide to aid the villagers by sending their retainers and the two autowagons
with them on their way to the Spectrum Palace only keeping the Redlander Truck
and bringing Ostens, the Marksman, with them. In the morning a heavy rain
dissipates the fog and they leave the road and travel North-West through the
forest. When they reach the high and dry grasslands the rain fizzles out. Naida
spots half a dozen wagons on the horizon. Could it be the Purplefolk settlers they are looking for? While they traverse the valley they feel the dryness of the place. Once they arrive at the
site they realize to their horror that the wagons do indeed belong to the
Purplefolk caravan but all its members are dead and desecrated. Ostens searches
the bodies in order to identify the dead while Naida finds tracks of small feet
leaving the area. Assuming an environmental hazard they refrain from following
the tracks and leave the area in haste.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8KmD2vyLUb3KzeiYAkIea1RS3RzbLCWmf8-yxkT068gVhjI2qf6pmHq1htHtdehuZJ3pFEy1icXqt1_h1p15RU3N9a7T2kZTEx9dOd8ieOiqOe-jfRS4uoWDHcZ9Gt0_6oOPPOz8_pCL/s1200/Gall+Grass.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge8KmD2vyLUb3KzeiYAkIea1RS3RzbLCWmf8-yxkT068gVhjI2qf6pmHq1htHtdehuZJ3pFEy1icXqt1_h1p15RU3N9a7T2kZTEx9dOd8ieOiqOe-jfRS4uoWDHcZ9Gt0_6oOPPOz8_pCL/s320/Gall+Grass.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The Purplefolk settlement</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Back in the
Hairwoods they find the road and travel West to locate the last missing caravan
that had been seen crashed at Garnet Ford by the Survivalists. Beautiful rainbows
emanate from the Three Sticks in pulses of healing light and raise the spirits …
until they approach the acrophobic madness that is the Skybridge: a razor thin,
invisible, three mile long piece of stuckforce high over the Skyriver. Hamish
walks in front of the truck tapping the floor, while Naida keeps a steady hand
behind the wheel. Halfway across the bridge a cascade of lights and water jets erupt from a plaza abuts the river but our heroes cannot find the peace of
mind to enjoy the spectacle. When they finally reach the other sight Naida gives
Hamish a big wet kiss while Saffron stares absent minded into the distant where
Vicar’s Beach lies.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bunPetx-LQjnzTG6g9HjYvxCC_TzcEEgYqSea1a0OMPRnFVq7GRYk_DY1Bt0b3_0smNd3SXMuzx6iOXmCbo55sgXxH946hxQtCNG6FjX7eNRuP3j-Bib1sqlKkEOfttPLi6tgIZbv1Ia/s1000/Invisible-Bridge.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7bunPetx-LQjnzTG6g9HjYvxCC_TzcEEgYqSea1a0OMPRnFVq7GRYk_DY1Bt0b3_0smNd3SXMuzx6iOXmCbo55sgXxH946hxQtCNG6FjX7eNRuP3j-Bib1sqlKkEOfttPLi6tgIZbv1Ia/s320/Invisible-Bridge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Skybridge</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Actual Play: </span>https://youtu.be/am34DVWvKns<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Horst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1216980739375043463.post-88932131209466836822020-10-13T06:32:00.004-07:002020-11-04T06:23:32.117-08:00Three Sticks Lake II<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Hamish and
Azure decide to carouse with the villagers to celebrate rescuing the van Staal
caravan and retrieving a Ka-battery to power the ferry. During the festivities Hamish
asks Mathilda about a body that could be inhabited. Shortly before Hamish loses consciousness Mathilda mentions a machine human body hidden deep under the
vicar’s beach. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">When he wakes up from
some commotion in the village he finds a metal tube he was sleeping on with a map inside showing
the location of the Obsidian Knives, a place where rare weapons can be found.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKJndoor3qgux81ZHssJKBMgcqG-sfepS3qABOALa5rbJHLH66n8IOkxKEskWVZjRc-cnniKy3zdRA1hUadkpEJWgPghKFTLEF5pJy82yyivjeYINJCoWoYGF3Ed9hAaQSGQLeeE03rA0/s1740/3+sticks+lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="1740" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfKJndoor3qgux81ZHssJKBMgcqG-sfepS3qABOALa5rbJHLH66n8IOkxKEskWVZjRc-cnniKy3zdRA1hUadkpEJWgPghKFTLEF5pJy82yyivjeYINJCoWoYGF3Ed9hAaQSGQLeeE03rA0/s320/3+sticks+lake.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">A drinking duel at night</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Azure and a
villager called Burbur get into a drinking duel on the lake, that ends in a
draw. Burbur drowns and Azure is thrown into the jail. Stressed out by her
withdrawal from Golden Amber and the claustrophobic cell, she experiences the
final stage of her mutation turning her body into that of a Bulgarian weightlifter
on steroids. Enraged by the injustice of it all Azure breaks out of prison and goes on a rampage through
Iron Pikes before she is confronted by the villagers. Hamish defuses the
tension by shaming Broadgrin, the village leader, for his alleged bigotry. A ferry from the Jade
Baobab arrives and they decide to cross the lake in order to reunite with the
rest of the group.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIwKxcrdb8WfnvzsJz189I1fvlSRJRTa8wcLVCJ3oa98ZFYrVYzx9TTRBHy3xN5Cb_f10CuaWx9XVG0M3a2JMuh3ZToMSKRFE_QCpDo4xd4XQnWvrtcLrksR5RxHGMOHrxbV9XLMaGl8m/s1707/EdiZio3UwAIgdVE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1707" data-original-width="1280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCIwKxcrdb8WfnvzsJz189I1fvlSRJRTa8wcLVCJ3oa98ZFYrVYzx9TTRBHy3xN5Cb_f10CuaWx9XVG0M3a2JMuh3ZToMSKRFE_QCpDo4xd4XQnWvrtcLrksR5RxHGMOHrxbV9XLMaGl8m/s320/EdiZio3UwAIgdVE.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Strange Sculptures on the beach</span><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Meanwhile
Naida and Saffron take a canoe to scout out the northern shore of the Three
Sticks Lake. Between two tall cliffs lies a colorful beach with strange cement
sculptures. High above the beach they spot a walker crawling over a road
through the woods. On her way up the hill Naida passes the sculpture landscape where
an auto vech bulldozer reshapes the cement constructions. She hails the walker
and is greeted by a suspicious guard called Susu, who she convinces to invite
them all into the walking village. They leave the canoes behind with Swiftstab, a villager from Iron Pike.
Susu tells them that they had passed the wrecks of a Greenander caravan
adorned with the Cogflower symbol a week ago at the Bolder Ford over the Teal
River. The next morning the party is reunited when a guard announces the
arrival of a ferry on the beach.</span> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZozLNMx4BXnCwghigODI2RT-53b2eCK7baQrml1DBC71Y7JoWgS3TeKf58NrH3WHUSdofsji4IdXLL_9UGE2FdP89aT7Gg84pDpWLfw9WptZikoVUu2a_k-2JdgEVuF1vc0ddTOohuwQT/s1852/Map+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1155" data-original-width="1852" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZozLNMx4BXnCwghigODI2RT-53b2eCK7baQrml1DBC71Y7JoWgS3TeKf58NrH3WHUSdofsji4IdXLL_9UGE2FdP89aT7Gg84pDpWLfw9WptZikoVUu2a_k-2JdgEVuF1vc0ddTOohuwQT/s320/Map+3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The updated map showing Bolder Ford, Vicar's Beach and Obsidian Knives</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">Actual Play: https://youtu.be/7lyUOiNySBM</p>Horst Wursthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14893387636818984848noreply@blogger.com0