Cat's Eyes : Doctor Who

07/20/2014

Cat's Eyes

Doctor Who : Adventures in Time and Space

This was to be our second Doctor Who adventure with Rocky being the Game Master.  For this game, I decided to reprise my role as Dame Judi and this time our adventure through time would be accompanied by a new Companions: Rose Tyler whose feistiness frustrated Dame Judi, Catherine Tate whose calm focus annoyed Dame Judi, and a scientist named Emmett Brown IV who was good with gadgets and had resourceful pockets.   We had emerged from the T.A.R.D.I.S. expecting something exciting given the Doctor having gathered the group without really explaining why.  "So what I really want to show all of you is this fantastic.."

The doors open to show an old hotel.

"...Hotel."

Dame Judi sighs, "This always happens with the Doctor.  You wouldn't know," she sneers at Rose.  The Doctor admits they are where they.. should be... but not where he wanted them to be.  Rose slowly looks around and notes they are in the reception lobby of some old hotel which had fallen to disrepair.  Yellowing wallpaper.  Mold.  Water falling from the ceiling.  No lights.  Dame Judi notes she fails to detect any technology active in the area.  She does not find the place familiar.  The art deco style however seems to possibly suggest Earth period of the 80s.  Catherine Tate jokingly walks straight up to the counter and rings the bell as she calls out for service.

There is a blur of motion, and something jumps out from behind the reception desk.  It stares at the group then saunters off.  Judi searches for the nearest light switch, cracks it open, and tries to reroute energy to light up the area but realizes she will need some kind of power supply.  "Here," the scientist comes up to Judi and draws out a futuristic power cell from his pocket, "Use this."  With a bit of tinkering, some lights engage and offer a bit more light.  All see now better a sign that reads, "The Majestic Hotel."  Judi rolls her eyes, "We are not amused."

"Well, it could have been called the Meow-Meow hotel," Donna jokes.  Without waiting for the others, Rose heads off to explore upstairs.  The Doctor asks Judi to go with her given she's the only one he "trusts."  Judi is more excited than anything to do what the Doctor suggests.  Judi asks Rose for the cellphone in her pocket and tweaks it to make it a decent flashlight.  The two start looking through the rooms for anything interesting.  The two discuss a bit about how the T.A.R.D.I.S. has been taking them to strange places lately and how they both feel the T.A.R.D.I.S. seems to be jealous of them.  Judi's annoying tendency to compare herself to Rose starts frustrating her.  As they pop open one of the doors, a bunch of feral cats rush out.  They stare at the two for a moment, then leave.  The two continue looking around and find a room with breaks in the ceiling exposing it to the elements.  And then, a flash of blonde hair in the corner of a room they just opened.  Judi is startled and trips on her own legs and falls down, clumsy as usual.  Rose pulls her to her feet and the two approach, calling out for the person to show herself.

"You're making a lot of noise," the voice responds.  Judi leaps behind Rose in fear and allows the two to talk.  The young teenager steps into view as she replies, "Well of course I am blonde."  The girl is not unattractive, with rather roughly cut hair.  She is wearing an oversized coat and fingerless gloves to keep warm.  Rose asks if she is alone, and she returns the question to them and asks if they are looking for a place to stay.  Judi suggests they should return to the doctor.  Rose mentions they are here by accident and its probably because there is someone who needs help.  The girl mentions the two should probably talk to Peter and Judi asks if Peter is a cat.  "He sort of runs things here, but he should know what to do with you."  She asks if any of them are doctors, and Judi grabs the young woman's hand to drag her back.  The girl reminds the two to be quiet, given people are sleeping, and she drags Judi back downstairs.

Downstairs, the Doctor finds strange readings on his sonic screwdriver.  The three look around, seeing a restaurant area, a pool, and other rooms.  Donna looks around, wondering if there's a basement area or a furnace with the power supply to the building.  Emmett looks around and realizes the place smells very old - but feels very out of place for him.  They find the main dining room with the kitchens and other places.  The Doctor wonders if it would be a good time to swim, which Donna finds obnoxious.  Donna stars to worry about how many cats are in the place.. and worse, what they had been eating.  As they approach the pool, a figure emerges from the shadows towering above them.  Emmett rushes behind the group, worried given his lack of fighting skills.  Donna steps forward, confronting the figure, "Okay, so... introduce yourself please."

The figure is in a long coat and towers at over six feet.  He gives no response.  The man looks confused on what to do with them.  Donna starts miming "Do-You-Understand-English?  We-Are-Strangers. We-Don't-Know-What-Is-Going-On-Here?"  The man seems to understand and motions towards the pool area.

From another door, Rose, Judi and the young girl emerge from a door and see the others.  Rose introduces them to Kate.  When they ask who the man is, Donna admits he has not introduced himself yet.  Kate tells them he's Chad.  When Emmett introduces himself, Kate looks curious, "You the Doctor?"  Judi directs her to the Doctor instead and explains, "He's the Doctor."   They share that there are a lot living here and that Peter is the one in charge of the place.  "Hopefully you can help," Kate muses.

They make their way to the physical center and there find the man named Peter.   Kate tells him that the strangers had come to help.  Rose introduces them all, referring to Judi as "the annoying old lady."  She then asks how they can help, but Peter challenges them and asks how they can be trusted.  The Doctor explains they were passing through, but couldn't help stop by the establishment.  The room has more of the people who stare at the group with worried eyes.  Judi asks if they can be bothered for some tea.  Donna calls out to the people and asks them to ignore the old woman. "We are just here to help."

A man calls out and "apologizes" for not having accommodations to their liking.  When Donna tries to explain that they want to help, the man still expresses how none of them trust the group yet.  Judi tries to explain that they are here to help and that they have helped a lot of people in many places... and times.  Much to Rose's regret she vocally admits this is one time she does agree with Judi.    The people gather closer, uncertain what will happen next.  Donna notices the group defensively around Peter, and how they seem to also be gathered towards the door in the rear.  "Why is everyone huddled in this room here when there are so many other rooms in the hotel?  What are you hiding from?  There seems to be a door there that you are all not.."  Rose hears the mention of the door and heads straight for it, but the people stand up and block her.

Judi uses her Voice of Authority and tells them all that the point of the matter is they are trying to help them and they won't be able to if they don't tell them what is going on.  "The least you CAN do is tell us what you are afraid of so we can help you."  Peter finally asks, "Which one is the doctor?"  The group all point at the Doctor.  Peter leads the Doctor to the side room and the rest follow.  Chad keeps the others from being as close.  At the side room, there are two makeshift cots.  There are some over-the-counter painkillers, some jugs of water, and signs of sickness on the two patients within.  Emmett sits down beside them to check what is wrong with them.  The two had been feeling unwell  for two days now.  Typical signs are responsive and well, but beyond the reflexive reactions, the two have been unresponsive to words, touch, and the like.  Peter admits they've been force feeding the two soup to feed them.  Peter shows them the only time the two react however, and this is when he splashes the two with water on the face.  The two seem to respond for a moment, then return to the odd state.  Donna wonders aloud if splashing on their face works, why not try dipping them in the pool?  Rose rolls her eyes and wonders why not start with something simple, like a basin.  Judi rolls her eyes and wonders why to not bring them out into the rain, since it is currently raining and that seems to be the more obvious solution.  The Doctor admits all the ideas sound good, and he feels he is in a good experimenting mood.   Judi's suggestion wins.

The group carries the bodies out to the courtyard.  As the two get more and more wet, they start to be responsive.  One asks what had happened and Donna admits they were all hoping the two could explain what happened to them.  "What was the last thing you remember?"  The man admits it was dark, he was off the bed and there was a cat or something.  Emmett wonders if it is something contagious.  Judi asks for the key to get something in the T.A.R.D.I.S.  but the Doctor ignores her and turns back to the rest.    More cats seem to gather in the area.  Emmett suggests everyone stay away from the cats, but Peter tells him there are more cats in the building than people.   He admits the cats were already here before they took residence in the place.  Rose tries to prod and ask for more information but the man admits that is all he can remember.

The Doctor mumbles about this being familiar.  As if he was trying to remember something about cats.  Water as a cure.  Emmett calls everyone's attention to tell them there are more cats in the area now, watching them.   The Doctor asks if there are others similarly afflicted and Peter suggests they head upstairs to check.  He warns them, however, of Eddings - someone who is a bit territorial and unliked by most.   Kate guides them back upstairs.  The group now can't help but notice more and more cats in the area, watching them from higher vantage points and the shadows.  Judi considers rigging something to the rain water to generate electricity, but Kate points out the floor of the carpet is soaked in water.  The group nearly falls victim to a trip line laid down the corridor.  Kate reminds them that Eddings is a tad territorial.  As they disable the trap, a man emerges at the doorway with a knife in his hands.  Rose moves to intercept.  He raises the flashlight at the man and he stops.  "Thought you were cats.."

After a quick series of explanations on who they are and why they are here again and Emmett explains that there is something going around and people are getting ill. Rose feels he's being defensive and the two argue about things.  Donna however agrees that his arrival coincides with these incidents.  Rose asks Emmett to check if he's infected, but the man refuses to let them touch him.  Judi tries to convince him to submit, but he shoves her attempt to the ground.  "Just because I slipped through the cracks does not make me a horrible person."  Rose asks why he hasn't taken a shower and he counters that the pool is brown and he rather not catch pneumonia.  As the group argues with him, Rose slips away to his room at the far end of the corridor.  The bed is made of newspapers, with many pages stuck on the walls with tape.  All the clippings are about fires in different places.  The man starts telling the others to get out of his personal space.  Donna tries to call out to the hallway if anyone wants to help out.  But in response a cat leaps into view.

Rose opts to follow the cat.  Judi turns to Donna, asking if she's heading off to follow Rose.  The Doctor opts to follow as well, and seeing that Donna and the rest opt to follow as well.  They enter another room and fail to see the cat.  It probably has slipped out of the window, deftly darting to the other room.   The group follows and notice things on the walls.  The terribly graffiti reads:  The Are Coming!  The Earth Shall Be Taken In Fire And Flame And Only the Dark Shall Remain, The Burning Is In the Mind But Shows In the Eyes.  The Doctor admits that line is odd.  Suspicious even.  When asked who wrote these things, Kate talks about Roger who supposedly always talked about strange things like aliens, eyes in the dark, and the like.  They eventually find an old danish tin usually with cookies.  Inside, however, they find a rock.  It looks glassy with a purple stain on one side.  The purple part of the rock appears to be some sort of gel that was super-heated.  A meteorite of some sort?  The Doctor admits he likes a good mystery.  They joke around about how Judi liked it more back when they took a journey to Rome and the Doctor had to become a gladiator.  Rose asks if anyone knows more about the rock.  As they wonder about finding more info on the meteor, Emmett suggests they check the room with newspapers on the wall.  The Doctor peers through a door and all the others see another one of the homeless lying on his back, staring at the cat's eyes.  Rose asks Emmett to grab some water.  Judi suggests they watch and see what happens first, though.  "We know the cure, but we don't know the cause.  And if it doesn't work, we can test it on Rose.  She's young, she can handle it!"

The guy and the cat neither move, locked in their hypnotic gaze.  Rose images the cat telling the man "Feed me."  Donna and Judi, however, don't grasp the idea, being indomitable.  The man's eyes start to cloud over.  Rose starts to worry, asking if they should do something to stop it, but the Doctor admits it might be best to keep watching.  As they all lean in to watch, another cat appears, emerges from the darkness and makes eye contact with Judi.  The old companion stares deeply into the cat's eyes, even as she tries to remind herself the whole time to not make eye contact.  There is a presence in her mind, but Judi feels it crawling into her head but she resists.  The cat runs off, slipping past everyone as it flees.  

Judi stares at them all, asking if they felt what she felt.  She tells them how it made eye contact with her and tried to reach into her mind.  The doctor struggles to try and remember which alien race has cat forms and telepathic powers.  The Doctor admits cats aren't that common unless they are nurses.  The wood of the building creaks loudly, then suddenly the ceiling breaks and rain pours into the room!  Everyone grabs something to hold on to, but Judi is pulled by the torrents and finds herself washed away.  She slams into some walls and furniture, knocking her out.  Rose inwardly admits a feeling of joy that Judi's finally shut up.  The man on the matress awakes, the water breaking the cat's spell upon him.  Emmett rushes to Judi to try and revive her.  He succeeds, and though dazed, she opens her eyes.  "Emmett, I know I could trust you... Rose gloated didn't she."

The Doctor admits the cat thing still confuses him.  Emmett notices the cats are gone from the room.  Rose peers out to see where the cats have gone and finds one cat drenched and pressed against the wall.   Donna wonders if they should catch the cat, but the Doctor thinks the cat is fine.  The group decides to head back to Peter.  They make their way quickly to the leisure room where the others are.  They find Peter stressed out and two other homeless people have been brought inside also in a state of unconsciousness.  Peter admits if they should do the rain thing on the two.  Judi admits she thinks it would be better if all left the premises thinking of it collapsing due to the water damage.  The Doctor however feels they best leave for a different reason entirely.  Kate admits there's something wrong and she knows the cats are involved.  Donna asks if there's a way to capture a cat and analyze them.  The Doctor jokes that is a lot of cats.  Emmett wonders how they will interrogate the cats.  Three cats suddenly enter the room in an arrowhead formation and walk up to the two homeless unconscious men to sit beside them.  The two men suddenly sit up and strart to speak in unison: "This place now belongs to the Pock unity.  Our many bodies dwell here.  If you stay, you too will belong to us and never be along.  We will hunt here and take what we need to bolster our numbers.  While one remains here, we will survive.  While one of us carries the seed in their mind, we will continue."  As they are talking, more and more cats enter the room, catching the gazes of more and more of the homeless people in the room.   Emmett asks aloud, "Is it time to run?"

"Pock entity," the Doctor mumbles aloud, "That explains the water.  They're sort of like a meme, if you get my drift.  Like how you have a song you can't get out of your head?  What if the song could think? And could spread around?  The cat's were just temporary bodies..."

"So they were transferring to human bodies," Donna gasps.

"Not just transferring," the Doctor admits, "More of.. multiplying?"

"Are they turning.." Rose gasps and turns to Judi, who realizes an alien thing just tried to "do her" in her brain!  Rose laughs it out and admits, "I think you would have enjoyed that."

"They're taking over," the Doctor realizes.    Peters asks them if they mean all cats and Chad emerges from a doorway with a kitten in his hands.  "Not a good thing..." the Doctor admits.  "So.. suggestions everyone.  Room. Group of people being dominated by an alien presence.."

All reply in unison: "Water.  The pool."

They all break into a run, heading straight for the swimming pool with the murky brown water.  Donna sticks her tongue out upon seeing the horrible water.  Rose does not even hesitate and leaps into the dirty water.  Donna wants to jump in but can't.  Emmett hesitates and to everyone's surprise Judi tries to stare down a cat.  The Doctor scratches his head. "What if we tried it the other way around and threw them into the pool?"

Judi stares at the cat and tries to telepathically tries to tell the cats, "Go after Rose!" hoping to trick the cats into leaping into the water after Rose.  Judi resists the compulsion but before she could do anything, the Doctor swats the cat from her hand.  Donna calls out, asking if anyone has ideas on how to make everyone jump into the pool.   Emmett calls out, asking why the water breaks the effect and the Doctor admits it sort of short circuits their communication.  Rose calls out from the waters, "Can we build something to..."

The Doctor pulls out a water gun.

Emmett and Judi look up.  They both have the same idea: The Fire Alarms.  They tell the others to buy them time and they hurry off.  Rose and Donna grab the nearest buckets and begin splashing those that get too close.  More possessed homeless people emerge, taking chase after Judi and Emmett.   Emmett turns a corner and escapes the cats, but Judi falls to evade them and the crowd chases after her down the corridors.

Reaching a maintenance shed, Emmett sees the sprinkler system and realizes he can probably get it running, but the piping and tubes will be a challenge to get working again.  Not even the Engineer's Mate he has with him will help.  He gets it working with a bit of jiggery-pokery while Rose, Donna and the Doctor continue to splash people with their buckets of water.  They work as efficiently as possible as they splash any who get too close to the pool area.  Donna tries to splash one homeless man who gets too close, but she drops the bucket and the man starts grappling her.  Donna shakes him off with a good twist to the side.

As Donna grabs the closest basin to start splashing again any more possessed who get too close.  Rose splashes others too, but clearly all they are doing is daze the victims.  The water doesn't keep them drenched long enough to break free completely from the alien control.  Another grabs Rose's arm but the grapple fails.  Peter drenches Chad with a bucket of water and the group pull Chad into the pool as well.  But they all them tumble into the pool, much to Donna's disgust.

More cats, but more parts of the hotel begin to break.  Emmett unleashes the sprinklers and water begins to drip down from above.  Judi runs and runs, and to her surprise, she runs straight into the possessed homeless.  Panicked, she raises her hand and declares to them that they should surrender as they acting against the grounds of the Shadow Proclamation.  The people turn to look at her, wet but normal.

The group regathers at the reception even as the water drains away finally at the floor.  Rose wishes she could bring buckets.  Donna wonders if there's a way to toss a the possessed into a hole into the pool below. Most of the cats clear off, running away.  The group eventually learns that the alien unity has been dealt with, save for one last member of the unity.  Eddie is possessed and the question of killing an entire race is acceptable.  As they consider how to deal with the last member of the unity, Judi offers to stay and watch over the last member.  She asks for Rose's phone and promises to call the Doctor if she ever needs help.  And as they consider whether or not Judi's call is the decision, the Doctor uses the sonic screwdriver to blind Eddie, keeping him from allowing the Unity to "spread" even more to others.  A tiny sacrifice in exchange for living on.

"You better behave yourself," the Doctor tells it then tells Judi she doesn't have to stay.  Judi tells them to pick her up after a year.  "Its enough time to make this place more decent."  She teases the people to be followers and they remind her this is America.  They ask if they really have to leave her?  Judi grins.

"Sees like she has a plan," Donna laughs.

"This problem wouldn't even exist if they understood hygiene," Judi sighs.   She grabs clothes from the T.A.R.D.I.S. and asks about the wedding dress among them.  The Doctor shakes his head and reminds her they are not hers.  She laughs and asks for a sonic screwdriver.  The Doctor teases that she will probably pick up one of those he left behind.  She hands back Rose's phone and gets back her Engineer's Mate.

The group wave their final goodbyes and the T.A.R.D.I.S. dematerializes.

"Rule number one," Judi turns to the homeless, "Bathing."

Mark it down : APRIL 11, 2015

What games will you be playing?

The Century Club ep04 : Spirit of the Century

08/13/2014

The Century Club
Spirit of the Century

Episode Four
"The Plan"

The Silver Line was the first intercontinental train that was to cut through all of Europe and the neighboring countries.  It was capable of immense speeds and was affordable only by the rich, the popular and the influential.  It had just opened its doors to the public after a few weeks of testing and monitored travels and had a passenger capacity of 150.

The train had been taken over by the Normalists.  Faceless and dangerous, these vile agents of terror had taken over the technological marvel.  And the Century Club learned only of this when Whilemina Wheeler, Fearless Reporter Extraordinaire happened to call them using the strange futuristic portable telephone that she was able to filch from one of the enemy agents.  Wheeler warns them that faceless soldiers have commandeered the vessel.  Knowing they should best try to go help in secrecy, Walter Le' Frogge is able to contact an old friend, a human-animal hybrid like himself who had also escaped the clutches of the Brotherhood.  The ally is part of a travelling circus, and he knows someone who has a plane.  The ally flies them to the next upcoming bridge that the Silver Line was to pass and on the right moment, the three leap to land on the car's roof and get there stealthily.  There is golden light surrounding the front of the train's engine as it approaches.  Kenji Katana wishes Cosmo was still with them.  Victor Knightfellow wished Svetlana Sol was with them but she quit the group after getting tired of hearing them repeatedly lamenting the loss of a member of the group which she had no recollection of:  Cosmo.  True enough, as Percy warned them, only they recalled Cosmo's existence in the team, and after his disappearance, Svetlana felt the three were teasing her about an imaginary member, to the point she felt they were insulting her for being part of the Soviet Union.  Victor had the added issue of no longer being in touch with his Spirit Companion.

They land, but Kenji's metal body slams against the roof too hard and the train's Shifting Directions does not make it easier.  Victor Jumps At the Call and gently lands on the roof.  Kenji bounces off the roof and begins to roll down its length!  Walter laments all these attempts to do stealth with the man of steel.  A crash!  Kenji crashes through a sky roof in one of the cabins and hits the carpeted floor.  The people dressed in their wonderful clothes and rich garments stare at Kenji realizes he had just landed on the food tray.  As Victor and Walter make their way to see what happened, Kenji finds Wheeler holding a young sixteen year old girl behind her.  She mouths, Get Out Of There, and Kenji rolls to the side with the table cloth wrapped around him to cover him.  The door slams open.

A soldier steps into the caboose, and he demands an explanation for the noise.  The man is dressed in a military uniform, with no insignia or political markings on his clothing.  There is a thin wire extending from his ear to his mouth.  He demands for an explanation and Wheeler misdirects and explains that the food cart smashed into the sunroof when the train hit a bump.  Walter laments how she is not a good liar.  The soldier asks if she is trying to make a stupid joke.  Walter watches from the roof, balanced perfectly with his sticky feet as being the First Human Frog.  Victor notices Walter does not see the incoming tree with a low hanging branch!  Unable to call out to warn him, he uses the Talisman of the Wylde to attempt to usurp control of Le'Frogge.  It works!  But that split second, Victor's unconscious body nearly slides off the roof from the moving train.  Dropping control, Victor leaps back into his own body and Walter reaches out to grab the Man of Mystery before he falls off the edge.   Thankfully, Victor's coat snags on to something on the train.  Back in the train, Wheeler insists that is what really happened and Kenji realizes she is motioning him to throw him OUT of the train.  "Well you never know if it will happen again."  Kenji grabs the soldier's leg and with his incredible might from his New Metallic Body, he flings the soldier out of the caboose and the man slams into another low hanging branch.

With the three gathered together, Wheeler quickly updates them on what is going on.  She tells them it seems to be the same people who attacked the welcoming party.  Victor wonders if the Normalists had this kind of masks.  The other captives ask the group to help, citing their daughters and family members in trouble.  Wheeler reminds them there isn't much time.  The faceless soldiers are working with a group calling itself EGO or Earth's Guardian Order.  And they are lead by a talking dog.  Victor mutters that the day has finally come.. a day which they worried about how they would fix given the mistakes of the past.  Kenji cites they are more or less the in middle of the train, and that whoever is controlling the train is possibly at the front.  Wheeler admits most of the best and Europe's finest are in the train.  Today was the first public opening.  The train doesn't have any special cargo.  Five of the trains contain first class guests.  The rest was wine, caviar, and other wonderful things for the guests.  The security had been forced to sleep and locked into the rear of the car.  Walter admits that would be something Cosmo would do, but even Wheeler does not know who Cosmo is.  One bystander adds that one of the members is a Mister ID, who uses strange lights.  Another shares the frightening tale of a dog that talks.  It calls itself Sputnik.  Victor mumbles about Sputnik sounding like a Russian name.  There is mention of one last member, a woman who is always in the shadows. She appears as an afterimage after Mister ID used his abilities.

That moment, one of the Normalist soldiers asks if all is well.  Wheeler pushes the three to head down to the next train.  Victor trusts the Devil's Luck, mumbles to somewhat supposedly match the voice, and says some glass broke when the cart hit the sky roof window.  "This might take a while.  I'm still here cleaning it up."  The soldier counters that they were supposed to work in pairs.  The sixteen year old girl pulls at Walter to hide.  Walter confirms only one soldier is approaching.  Victor stands in front of the door, at eye level, ready to entrance the man.  The girl tells Walter, "I'm very scared. I wish my papa was still here but he is dead."  Walter turns to Kenji but the man of steel is ready to grab the soldier in the distance.  Wheeler calls out, "Are you really letting your friend join us?" as she mutters aloud in a french accent.   The man opts to wait outside.   Quietly, they all make their way to the back.  Walter hands the young girl back to Wheeler.  He notices Wheeler's expression though of panic upon seeing her with Walter.  He muses there is something special about the girl.  Victor searches his mental map of who would be important at that age and possibly on the train.  As a Scion of Merlin, Victor finds himself remembering the tale of the missing Grand Duchess Anastasia Nikolaevna.  Could it be her?

As they move through the next two cars, the group considers their next move.  Walter feels unsure about things.  The doors to the other trains seem to be unlocked.  Kenji considers that given the two guards are roving, there probably are not that many guards to deal with.  Kenji does wonder if there is something in the rear of the train given Wheeler's insistence to head to the back.  Walter asks who the girl is and Wheeler claims she is no one important.  Victor counters, asking if Royalty is really not important.  Wheeler admits she might be someone of import, and she is safer so long as no one knows who she is.  Wheeler shares there was supposed to be a contingent of sixteen staff on the train, but none of them have seen any of the staff since the hostage situation.  Victor muses they are all in front.  Kenji and Walter however consider that the staff are actually the enemy.  Wheeler hands them the device she used to call them, and tells them it supposedly is a telephone though it has no wires.  She demonstrates to them as the phone glows and responds to her touch.   The three realize the lit up parts resemble some parts of Cosmo's uniform.  Victor starts pressing the buttons, watching what happens.  Suddenly, a very loud alarm breaks out from the phone.  In panic, Victor flings it out the window!  Walter grabs it before it flies out and as they all get frantic Kenji asks for it and smashes it under his foot.  From the opposite car, the soldiers call out asking if there is anything wrong.  Wheeler ducks behind a seat.  Walter has slid out of a window to hang in concealment.  Victor ducks to the opposite side to Walter.  The door slams open with Kenji right behind the door.  As the two soldiers step in, they notice the open window.  As one steps forward, the other reaches into his pocket and speaks into the wire, "Something is wrong here in the rear.  Check the other cars."  One approaches the window.  The other waits.  Victor figures the device allows the soldiers to keep in touch.  Kenji takes that moment to act and he grabs the first one and slams him against the second guy.  The two hit the ground.  Victor quickly tells Kenji that the soldier has one of those telephone things.   Victor scans to see if there are any other soldiers.

Walter crawls up to the roof and moves further down to the car the soldiers came from.  Through the window, he sees the clothes folded in neat piles on the floor which confirms their suspicions that the staff are the Normalists!  From the window, a blur of motion shatters the glass.  Walter spins to the window beside the one he is looking through to barge in and slam into his attacker.  The attacker turns out to be a woman!  Walter pulls back at the last second, and he pins her against the opposite wall instead of hurting her.  The woman turns out to be a deadly Asian woman with dragon markings.  She recognizes Walter by name and declares herself to be the Lady Shi.  She admits she has heard of him many times before and has always wanted to meet him!  She tells him that Sputnik has said so much about him, and that as the member of the Sisterhood, she was vowed to someday kill him!

Victor checks the door and hears nothing.  Wheeler complains about how the team does not seem to have a leader.  Kenji pulls out the phone and notices wires sticking out of it, like dynamite or something. Victor takes it from Kenji and fiddles with it, making sure not to press the earlier combination that caused the alarm.  Kenji asks Wheeler to use the phone to contact the other guards and to tell them that everything is fine in this car.  Victor watches intently as she manipulates the phone.  She locates a list in the phone and shows there are sixteen numbers listed. Victor checks the soldier's clothes and there are numbers marked on their sleeves.  They quickly identify the soldiers they've already dispatched but before they could do more, there is a gold spark on Wheeler's forehead.  Victor and Kenji turns to each other and they realize they too have gold sparks on their foreheads as well!  "If Cosmo can read our thoughts, we are screwed," Victor mutters.  The light flares from gold to red.  They all hear telepathically:  *Comrades.  I have found the interlopers.*

Metal locks into place as Walter Le'Frogge activates his signature weapon, Spitze.  Lady Shi unleashes her Dragon Talons.  The two enter a deadly dance as they parry each others strikes amidst banter and quips.

"How is your Brotherhood?  I heard they are dead?"

"Not yet.  I still live!  Where is Sputnik?!"

"Sputnik is everywhere!"

She swings but he dodges and pins her against the wall.  He hears a click, and he pushes her away as she throws a bladed knee at him.  It misses.  She leaps but he keeps a hand clamped around her wrist.

"Did Sputnik tell you to do all this?  Is he your leader?"

"We are the EGO.  We exist to serve the ID!"

"You will know soon enough."

As the footfalls close in, Wheeler turns to the rear door and runs for it knowing Walter should be there.  Victor runs to join her, but Kenji Kanata focuses on the door.  As it slams open, Kenji moves gracefully  as he tackles them backwards both back out into the earlier car.    As Victor gets into the car, he notices two new guards running into the car.  He tells Walter to handle the guards and barks at Shi, "Hey Lady!"  The martial arts mistress, however, flings a dagger at him.  Used to Playing With The Big Boys, Victor catches it at the last second and locks eyes with her.  Walter jumps forward past Lady Shi and closes in at the guards by the door.   With two blades drawn, Walter stabs the Normalists in a swift motion.  The two scream in pain as they drop to their knees with bleeding stomachs.  Victor's eyes lock with Lady Shi's.  "I am a Daughter... The Daughter of the Seven Warlords of Japan. You will not-" but her words are cut off as Victor mesmerizes her to fall asleep.  But crimson light flares that moment in her eyes as Sputnik takes over!

As Kenji slams to the earlier car, the soldiers are knocked down.  But more hostages scream for cover as two more soliders emerge at the other end.  The two open fire with their semi-automatic weapons.  The bullets fail to penetrate Kenji's New Mettalic Body.  The two stop firing, realizing its not wise to keep shooting.

A bladed knee is swung at Victor as Sputnik-controlling-Lady Shi moves in to strike.  Victor reaches out with the Talisman of the Wylde once again to usurp Walter to protect him, but even with the Devil's Luck, the edge finds flesh.  Victor drops to the ground with blood gushing from his ripped leg.  The crimson glow swirls upon Victor again as Sputnik attempts to reach into his mind.  Using Walter, Victor  flings the weapon to help himself, but Lady Shi easily catches it.  Victor takes that moment to sucker punch her in the groin. Even as a Martial Arts Mistress, Lady Shi is unable to resist the pain completely.  But given Sputnik is in charge, the woman remains standing.

Shimmering silver and rainbow hues.  Kenji Katana watches as the two soldiers fall back and a man dressed in shifting silver comes into view.  He proclaims himself as Mister ID, the ideas man, and as Kenji draws his sword to intimidate the man with his Iron Determination, he discovers the enemy is not easily intimidated. He uses his powers to dazzle Kenji with his mirrored clothing like a strobe-light, as he talks about how a warrior is useless if he cannot see.  Kenji turns away, and throws his blade into the air.  Mister ID is confused by Kenji's actions, unaware of Kenji's plan. Kenji charges forward at Mister ID attempts to tackle the man instead, making full use of the Narrow Passageways to his advantage.  Even as the lights flare, Kenji crashes into the opponent.

Victor rolls away from the Lady Shi, bleeding from his leg.  Walter regains control of himself and sees Lady Shi snarling about needing only one hit to kill her targets.  Walter rushes at her, drawing the garrote string to choke her as he was Trained by the Brotherhood.  She howls about bringing honor to her family, but cannot break free.  Victor realizes Shi is possessed by Sputnik still, and wonders if he can mesmerize him using his gaze.  He stares into her eyes and tries to possess him but instead he discovers Sputnik was never in control:  Instead, she was being psychically boosted by the canine.  Lady Shi runs up the wall in an attempt to leap over Walter and break free.  But Walter does the same that moment and the two land, still locked in the entangled state.

Crippled from the tackle, Mister ID attempts to use what he calls science to bring Kenji Katana down.  Kenji Katana unleashes steam out, being a Man of All Seasons, but Mister ID releases a low frequency throb that forces Kenji down as he feels what would be his bowels rebelling against him.   Kenji still tries to use his martial arts training to defeat the man.  His metal fist smashes into Mister ID's chest, forcing him to the ground.  Mister ID feels too Winded to fight.

While the two are entangled by the garrote wire, Victor quickly rushes through his thoughts for an idea to use.  He wonders where Wheeler has gone and wonders if there are knives and forks to use in the kitchen side of the restaurant.  Lady Shi and Walter, on the other hand, bark at each other about their historical training under their specific secret sects.  Walter however has been holding back from hurting Lady Shi, given his unwillingness to hurt a woman.  But seeing how injured Victor is, Walter jumps over Lady Shi's head and twists to try and entangle her despite her training.  In the last moment, Shi attempts to cut the wire to free herself but fails! "It doesn't have to end this way," Walter snarls at her as she is choking.  Victor grabs a nearby saucepan and smacks it on her head to knock her out, but she suddenly shifts to have Walter be in the way instead.  Walter attempts to kick her foot at the last second with his Ninja Skills to force her forward, but fails.  As the pan smacks Walter's head, Walter tumbles backwards slightly stunned.  Victor drops to the ground, and attempts to tie her shoes together.

Kenji looks up and sees the nozzles of guns trained at him.  However, the bigger danger is the pair of nozzles trained at everyone else.  He realizes the soldiers are threatening to open fire at everyone else.  A crimson glow then fills the room as Sputnik enters the area.  "Cosmo," Kenji gasps, "What are you doing?!"  Sputnik declares "Fire" and all the soldiers open fire.  Sputnik however freezes the bullets in mid-air.  He warns Kenjit that if he is injured in any way, the bullets get released.  When asked why he is doing this, a figure steps through the doorway, "He is doing it for me."

The Count Baron von Duke.

The Count speaks about being happy about waking up and realizing the world is a little bit different.  Somehow, he too remembers that the world is a little bit different.  "Comes with being a Millennial," he admits, "As there are people like you who are Spirits of the Century, there are beings like me who are not too happy that there are Centurions like you who are meddling with the world."  He talks about how the world is leading to a self-destruction and that the Centurions have a too-narrow-point of view to see how their actions are supporting thing.  He warns how the events in Hiroshima would pale in comparison to the acts of terror that are to happen daily, to the diseases and other injustices happen all over the world.  He even relates how more violence is to happen to animals like Sputnik as more are used for experimentation and the like in an arms race to reach the moon.  Kenji tries to say how he can try to stop such things, but the Count warns him that again he does not see the bigger picture.  He fiddles with one of Mister ID's arms and a projection is cast on the wall of a Monarch Butterfly.  He asks if they heard of the story of how a butterfly's wings can cause weather to change miles away - and relates how the same thing happens when Centurions try to change history.  "A small nudge here and a whole Millennium is affected:  Climate Change, Global Cataclysms, Chronal Disruptions, Quantum Fluctuations.  All of these are threats non-existent now but will threaten things in the future."  Kenji counters that like all rivers, it can be stopped.  To his surprise, the Count stresses that is true.  He stresses that is why he is here.  He talks about the Faceless Army needing a figurehead, and he cannot do much as merely a Count.  He was focused merely on the Century Club as a threat, but when he bore witness to how much the world has changed due to a single man's final wish, he knew the world needs more than a Count.  "The world needs an Emperor Duke."

When Kenji asked again why are they here this very moment, that's when the Count admits, "We came to lure YOU."  He stresses how they were supposed to be allies.  "Now, that will come to pass."  He reminds Kenji that if he does not surrender, Sputnik will release the bullets to kill the people in the car.  Sputnik growls at how he was left to burn in space vessel had it not been for the Count's actions that saved him.  He even stresses how his loved one, Laika, was the first to burn and how the humans still did not stop their experiments to throw animals to space.     "Fight and they die.  And you will probably defeat us but live the rest of your life knowing all these people died because of your decision.  Or you can submit, and who knows, perhaps your friends can someday rescue you.  You get to fight another day!"

Kenji surrenders.   Sputnik tells him to swear.  The Count tells Kenji to swear on his sword.  "Mitsurugi, to let these people live - I swear on the sword," Kenji declares.  The Count pulls out a screwdriver and walks up to Kenji to unclasp the soul gem once again.

"Wait, take me instead!" the young girl Wheeler was protecting calls out.  When the Count questions why she would be of any import, she reveals she has some kind of ability.  She claims to carry the essence of the last true Wizard, Rasputin.  She reveals she is the missing Grand Duchess and that she fled from her family's massacre to hide the last remaining Bloodline within her.  When the Count asks her to prove it, Sputnik reminds him he cannot do much while he holds the bullets.

Back at the car, Lady Shi finally drops unconscious.  Victor excitedly things he finally was able to disable her.  But as he confers with Walter what to do next, they realize the Cosmo they know could only do Telepathy and Telekinesis one at a time.  If Lady Shi was no longer telepathically boosted, that suggested that Sputnik was using his telekinesis for something else.  As they consider going after Kenji, they realize the next cab is currently empty.  Victor turns to Wheeler as asks her if they can use the mobile phones to contact him.  In response, she throws the second phone to Walter and suggests they try something.  As they both press the buttons on the phone at the same time as she suggested, they both suddenly hear the sound of a gunshot.  Victor slams against the side of the train as a bullet slams into his chest.  Walter turns and sees Wheeler with a drawn pistol.  "Sorry boys, but the Count offered me a position.  And I think I like the word Empress."  When Victor insults her for liking the Count, she admits she actually prefers frogs.  But luck is against the heroes as Wheeler's second shot nearly hits Walter.  Walter ducks behind cover.  "Do anything, Walter, and your Man of Mystery will have a new Mystery to solve: How does a man without a head think?"

As Victor tries to lean forward to grab her leg, she pulls it away at the last second.  That's when she admits Victor's own reflection told her to watch out for his grab! Victor discovers that his spirit companion, the Demon, had just betrayed him!  Victor growls and forces a conversation with the Demon while Walter sneaks out of the car, being a Friend of the Shadows as he tries to maneuver into an advantageous position.   Victor demands the Demon explain what is going on given the Demon broke the original deal with him already.  The Demon asks Victor remembers the day they watched that play called Aladdin and the story of the wish-giver and the lamp, and how Victor never made a wish to free the Demon.  The Demon did not change the terms to be completely free.  He just gave himself the chance to have one free wish: that Victor would have such a hard time and will need him.  Victor counters he does not see the need to ever made a deal with the Demon again, but the Demon asks him if he doesn't feel the urge to learn the things that Percy knew how to do.  The Demon does remind Victor that he doesn't know any other demons and that Victor only really learned to do things that Crowley did.  "You  simply became a Master of all these things that don't exist anymore.  All the demons Crowley commanded are now free.  They probably aren't even demons anymore."  Victor admits he finds the bargain interesting - but questions how he can trust someone who is working for the enemy.  The Demon corrects him, explaining he is not working for them.   He just was silently with Victor all this time, and waited for him to feel what it was like when he was not helping.  The Demon offers a new set of terms:  Quid Pro Quo.  A favor for a favor.  The terms are changing.  Victor will have to do something first before the Demon does something.  The first exchange is offered; if Victor makes his wound worse, the Demon will help him.  As their conversation ends, natural time flows again.

Wheeler trains the gun at Victor, who then yells at her and goads her to hurt him.  She turns, and fires a shot at the Man of Mystery.  The bullet takes out one of Victor's eyes!  Walter then witnesses from his hiding place as Wheeler's own eye explodes as well.  Victor sees his own reflection do a dance of joy.  Walter swings back into the car and kicks Wheeler's gun hand.  He does not notice Victor grunt in pain as his own arm feels the impact as well! "Oooh I'm gonna love this one!" the Demon exalts and only Victor hears his joy.  As Wheeler drops to the ground, Victor slams a bloody hand against the glass and curses the Demon for this trade off.  Walter kicks Wheeler from behind one last time to knock her out and only then realizes Victor is down as well.

"Oh," Walter gasps, "The Demon.  Right.  That's what you get for doing stuff on me with your Talisman," he huffs.

"I guess it is time to go," The Count tells Kenji.  Anastasia  asks them to wait and she shows a glowing orb that swirls from her chest.  The Count glances at it, unfazed, then has Sputnik knock her out with a telekinetic shove.  As she hits the ground, the Count merely mutters how people nowadays don't realize that the Count is a man of science.  "I don't believe in Magic.  Are you ready?" he asks Kenji.  Kenji asks them to take care of the people as part of the deal.  As the gem is pulled away from its socket, Walter and Victor in the distance hear Kenji's body slam to the ground.

The Count, Sputnik, and  his Faceless men are lifted off the ground with Crimson light.  For a brief moment, Sputnik stares at Kenji's body - as if there was a recollection.. a memory... but then its gone.  They leave and Walter arrives at the car with Kenji's body and discovers he has gone completely lifeless.

"Not quite the ending I was hoping," the Demon admits, "I was kind of hoping this would be some kind of last hurray before you died..."  Victor drifts to unconsciousness but just before he does completely so, a glowing woman leans over him and whispers, "You can serve me instead... you know my name... just save my name..."

Glorianna Sheeda smiles.

dollhouse ep01 : Orpheus

08/03/2014
dollhouse

Episode One
"This Is"

Orpheus

New recruits had just joined the company.  Misha Rusanov (played by Teddy), a 26 year old immigrant had hoped the job would pay well and found himself meeting Wendell Pruce (played by Rocky), a 26 year old gay man who had nearly overdosed on Pigment.  Misha was eager to learn more this new vista that bordered on the supernatural and considered the Orpheus Group his family away from home.  Wendell on the other hand silently fought against an anguish within, as he suffered from the survivor's guilt of recovering from the drug abuse-related death that claimed his college lover, Charlie Matthews.  As Orpheus worked in Crucibles, the two would soon learn that they were intended to team up with Shepherd, a 40 year old bum who had long passed on and now sought to find a new life (and a means to protect his homeless friends in the alleyways) as a Hue.

Misha Rusanov, Skimmer - Marrow

It would soon, however, be apparent to them all that Kate Dennison had her own plans for the three.  First, she had them experiment a team up with Alexander Carter, a Bible-thumping Baptist who had control issues and Ellie Baker, an idealistic religious woman with an eagerness to make friends.  They are assigned to handle a simpler Mission: a Retrieval Mission.  Martin Lazlo, a wealthy businessman who had suddenly passed away due to what seems to have been an intense allergic reaction.  His wife, Rebecca Lazlo, had hired Orpheus to attempt to regain the dead man's password.  The bereaved had a son, David, who was autistic.  They discover, upon arrival, that Rebecca Lazlo had also contacted one of Orpheus' larger competitors, Terrel and Squib!  Karen Adams and Roger Voight are unpacking their things and preparing to enter the estate grounds.   The group hurries inside, with Alexander taking point as he charms his way into Rebecca's trust.  Misha finds the young David and attempts to reach out to him.  Wendell and Shepherd, on the other hand, attempt to investigate the rest of the house hold.

Shepherd, Hue - Banshee

Secrets are revealed as the group discovers another Spirit in the premises.  And while the identity of the Ukranian woman in the basement is not clear, the group realizes that Terrel and Squib have to be kept from interfering.  Shepherd uses his Wail Horror to hurt the agents, bringing them down to the point that hospitalization will be needed, while Misha and Wendell discover a locked suitcase in the trunk of Martin Lazlo's car.  The threads of secrecy and cruelty, however, come to light when Wendell finds hidden passageways beneath the house, as well as the remains of a young woman who had been buried in secret.  When Rebecca Lazlo heads down the basement while the others attempt to reach out to the Spirit, they hear from her an unexpected confession. Rebecca Lazlo, as it turns out, had buried the woman's body with Martin's help.  The Ukranian woman, it turns out, was murdered by David! The boy hated how her visits always interrupted their play time.  The woman is named Valerie and the group quickly sense that she is a Banshee, just like Shepherd.  She declares that Martin was planning to run away with her and that Rebecca had hired people to convince him to kill himself!   And as her screams of anguish begin erupting outwards and hurting the team, the team use their combined Horrors (with Misha embracing the advantages of his ability to call forth his Stains using his Marrow Horror) and eventually reach out to Valerie and help her Sever the Strand.   Valerie desires to rejoin him.  Misha and Wendell find themselves synching as Misha throws a Benefit upon Wendell without realizing it.  As Wendell throws an image of Martin within the glow in his body, Valerie reaches out and admits she wishes to go to him.  Wendell uses the  illusions to have Valerie admit where her body is buried.   Misha manifests fully and uses his Hammerfists to shatter the floor open and uncover Valerie's remains.  Rebecca tries to stop them, but Wendell leaps into the hole and takes the bones away.  Wendell blocks Rebecca from approaching even as she complains about this not being what they discussed.  "It is time to go home," Wendell tells Valerie using Martin's voice.  And to finally set her free, the group shunts Vitality into the Spirit to finally guide her to her eternal rest.  Misha feels a reassurance within his soul that though he is far from his family, there is a place for them to be safe in the afterlife.

In the silence that follows the chaos, Alexander and Rebecca give excuses to the guests in the wake that all is well.  He explains to the crowd it was just "the washing machine" and then he tells the others to head back to the car and leave him to close up in the house.  He vanishes, and suddenly Rebecca talks to the crowd about doing the laundry too loudly.  The group realizes he had been projected all this time.

Wendell Pruce, Sleeper - Wisp

Back in the van, Misha and Carter both return to their bodies and feel the pain they suffered while projected.   Ellie is there, worried about how the Mission went. The suitcase, thankfully, has been kept safely out of the hands of Terrel and Squib.     The group heads back to the office to cremate Valerie's remains.

It would not be until around seven hours later when Wendell awakens in the Cradle.  Shepherd is there, waiting.  Shepherd warns Wendell that if he ever crosses the line once again to him or anyone else in the Cradle, he will beat the crap out of him.  Wendell stresses that he was right.  Shepherd grows that it does not matter.  Outside, Shepherd finds Ellie outside.  She confronts him that he is just as bad as Carter.  Shepherd admits he is much worse.  "At least Carter admits he's an asshole.  He doesn't pretend to be nice."  Misha talked to Carter, surprised that the man kept out of the action for a large majority of the time.

Ellie Baker, Skimmer - Phantasm 

Carter seems to lament that the group had not become a Crucible, but the others seem uncertain if they should tell him they already "linked up" as one.  But he admits it might be for the best given some Crucibles get so intimately connected, they share surface thoughts.  He still holds strong bigoted views towards homosexuals and other people.  Wendell throws statements suggesting they already are connected, and before Carter can ask, Kate Dennison arrives to give them the debriefing.

She asks Shepherd for an assessment of the mission and he admits they fulfilled the requirements of the contract, that being the passwords, and the signed papers from Rebecca Lazlo that the Mission had been completed to their satisfaction.  When asked who was the team's weakest link, Shepherd admits Ellie was the one.  He goes through the contributions of each member of the team in the Mission to express why Ellie was the one who contributed the least.  She, however, followed orders.  Kate then compares the assessment with that of Hoyt Masterson's, who was with them to simply observe how they tackled the Mission.   She asks the rest of them what they feel of the Mission and in the end asks if Shepherd feels he had found a team.  To their surprise, she informs Carter that she will find him his own Crucible. He is surprised that they actually already are together.

Alexander Carter, Skimmer - Skinrider

Days pass.

The other missions that come are less dramatic.  Observation missions, spying missions, a few investigative ones.  Nothing too dangerous.  They learn Alexander Carter has his own Crucible now.  They are all dressed in suits and seem to carry themselves with a tremendously serious demeanor.  They start to realize that performance is important in Orpheus and Carter's group has started to gain prominence in the number of successful missions they have accomplished.

In many ways, they realize they now have a rival.

One Game To Go!

So my current list of new games so far has the following:
1) Demon the Descent
2) Spirit of the Century
3) Tremulus
4) Wicked Heroes
5) Storium games
6) Fiasco : The Search for the Golden Panda playkit
7) The Letter: Fiasco Medici playkit
8) Dresden Files
9) Doctor Who : Adventure in Time and Space
10) Cthulhutech
11) Mouse World

I am now one single new game away from completing my 12 new games goal for this year.  Eleven games done and I'm pretty psyched that I just need one last game to hit this year's gaming dozen.  And thankfully, there has not been a shortage of players who want to try different games.  As to what game will be the twelfth, that remains to be seen.  Already, there are some that stand as the likely candidates.

There's Companions, the Doctor Who inspired game using the Apocalypse World engine.  The prospect of being able to run a Doctor Who game excites me.  And given how my partner, Rocky, has been running our Doctor Who: Adventures in Time and Space sessions, I'm happy to be a player in those games.  Companions would be a Dr. Who game I can run.

Then, there's the upcoming Dark Ages game by Vincent Baker.  Teasers have been shared in his site and my friend Erich has been sharing information about how cool the game will be.  From what I've seen, it reminds me of John Wick's Houses of the Blooded with a dash of the Apocalypse Engine and reminds me of shadows of Exalted's City and Mass combat systems.  And yes, for me, those are good things! I've shot out an e-mail hoping he's still accepting playtesters.

I'm a bit sad that the Orpheus and the Cthulhu games haven't been moving forward (oh schedules), but I'm happy at least they're being played.  My own games, mem:RE and A Single Moment are currently on hold given the workload I have to juggle, as well as the A World of Dew supplement I owe Ben Woerner (first draft submitted, but still editing the next version).  Got to proofread a bit for Jim Pinto, which by itself is an amazing feeling since I really love his Dominare board game and I'm pretty impressed with his Protocol Game series.  That would be another system to try to wean my players to try someday (Gods know it took a while for them to open up to trying Fiasco).

And yes, there's my deepest desire to finally see the supposed 2nd edition of Houses of the Blooded, which I have not heard more of in the months that have passed.  I've been supporting John Wick's Patreon publication, Wicked Words, and I will admit I feel sad to realize most of the Houses stuff that has been released there were actually already stuff in his old blog posts.  I guess I was kind of hoping for more new stuff, but I understand it can take time to write.   Crossing my fingers that the later Wicked Words release more Slumming and new Houses stuff.  The latest one was okay, but I will admit I'm really more there for more Ven happiness.

Still no concrete updates on Exalted 3rd edition, which is just sad.  Same with the I Am Zombie project, which is also sad.   But I'm crossing my fingers that both will have shining releases when the time comes.

First Adventure : Classic Dungeons and Dragons

07/26/2014

First Adventure
Classic Dungeons and Dragons

A highly respected friend of mine, Jay, has a gaming place called LUDO: BoardGame Bar and Cafe in Manila, and they opted to celebrate one day as Gary Gygax day.   I was lucky enough to have been invited to run a game there so I opted to run a classic Dungeons and Dragons game.  Back when I was truly new to role-playing games, the old color-coded multiple sets of Dungeons and Dragons were the games that broke my geeky gamer hymen. Rocky, my partner, had never played any iteration of Dungeons and Dragons so I felt it would be a great time to share with him the hilarity and grit of the original system that I grew up with.  Wonderfully, four other players opted to join the game that day.  Erich, Rachel, Karra and Titus all grabbed a character sheet as well and joined us in what was to be a throwback thank you to Gary Gygax for creating such a memorable game.

This book.

After rolling up stats and deciding on their characters (yes back then you had to ROLL for your stats, then see what character classes you can qualify for thanks to the stats you rolled up), I explained to them the rules for the game and how each character class had this or that feature.  Oh and because this was meant to be a celebration of how hard core the game was back then, I required everyone to start at level one.

Yes.  Level one.

I began running for them the same original Basic set adventure which the book contained as a walk-through for first time players.   Anyone who had played through this book before would remember that would be the dungeon with the giant snake, the goblins, and eventually the most memorably tragic fictional characters that would scar us for what may have been for many the first time in their lives.

Yes, these two.
THESE TWO.

I also handed out graphic paper because as anyone who played Dungeons and Dragons knew back then, graphing paper was the best way to actually mark down the map for the session and find your way around.

Embracing fully the tropes of a fantasy adventure, I opened the game with the players having with the classic opening spiel: They were all at a tavern when they are tasked to undertake a mission for the town.  The quest was to enter the nearby dungeons and hunt down the villainous wizard, Bargle.

Their journey into the depths eventually has them meet the lovely Cleric Aleena who was the only survivor of an early party on the same quest.  With her joining them, the group manages to evade a room filled with horrible zombies and find a passageway leading further into the evil Wizard's abode.   As they reach the next level of the dungeon, however, tragedy strikes as Bargle slays the lovely Cleric with a well-timed Magic Missile!

Without wasting time to mourn her death, the group find themselves in a darker underground dungeon with winding passageways, a spiral staircase, goblins, and traps.  The fights against the goblins were swift, with the players managing to disable most of them quite easily.  But in their search for the path leading to Bargle they encounter a magically trapped room with a Magic Mouth that asks them to solve a tricky riddle.  Those who failed were locked away in an illusionary prison that made the others think they were devoured.

Erich (in black), Me (in light blue near wall), Karra, and Rocky (also in light blue) at LUDO!

Thankfully, however, the last remaining member of the party was able to solve the riddle and the group hurriedly attempted to chase after the goblins and question them further on their allegiance to the wizard.   The goblins fled, leading them into the waiting lair of a strange monstrosity that scavenged amidst a chamber of red dust.  A RUST MONSTER!  All were quick enough to evade the thing, with the cleric sacrificing a shield to delay the beast.

By the end, the group had found another passageway that lead deeper into the dungeon and all knew that if anything, the true adventure was just about to begin.

*

It was a one shot game, so we did the most of what we could with the time.  Ultimately, all had a great time reliving what at one point was the ONLY role-playing game I actually played.  There was a lot of laughs with how cruel the system was towards the players (with the thief struggling to roll the needed percentages to Move Silently and the like, or the damned Saving Throws and the hit rolls) but all in all, there was a general appreciation of how far gaming has evolved from what was once the Basic red box system of Dungeons and Dragons.

Favorite line for the session:  "Humans..." said with extreme derision by Karra's elf who hated how all the other human characters couldn't properly work together to deal with each threat and obstacle that appeared before them.

Thank you Gary Gygax for all the worlds we now can explore since you started one that you were willing to share.

After the Rain ep13 : Houses of the Blooded

07/27/2014
After the Rain

Episode Thirteen
"The Boarder"

It is Autumn.

Galeo Silja is with Hero and the two are quietly on the balcony overlooking their land.  They share a quiet moment with their child as they talk about how  it has been a few weeks since Galeo had returned.  Galeo talks about the dangers of definition and about how there are things out there that defy it.  Cassalanter is the name the child is given; a name that means: Rise from Defeat.  Hero shows Galeo a missive that came for her and she sees that it is a formally prepared invitation from a Duke.  The seal is unfamiliar.  Hero explains it is from the Duchess of the Ruins Beneath and it is the third letter.  He tells Galeo she has been visiting and has helped them handle trouble in her absence.  She was welcomed to join for dinner once, Hero admits, and he found her fascinating but admits he is not certain she can be trusted.  She seemed to be deeply concerned of all of them.  

Seran Throne sits in an empty chamber.  The Staff are gathered outside, afraid to speak to her.  One finally gains courage enough to step inside and asks if she will be having dinner.  Once again Seran says no.  She has not had dinner in a month.  She continues to stare at the empty seat across the table.  The Seat where Lukas used to sit.    She scans on the notations and papers that Lukas has been maintaining through the Seasons and feels more the pain of his absence.  His meticulous and resourcefulness shows in how he has kept track of the duties.  She finds a letter from the U'vshanadir and finds it talking about the Meridian House supporting their petition for additional seats in the Senate.  She finds it shocking that they now have a voice in the Senate.  To her surprise, she finds the letters to be penned by Maja Thayl - Jaric's mother!

Jaric Thayl and Nia Jalan are with the other survivors from the ruins of the fallen City.  Many remain in states of intense shock and disbelief, the world around them having fallen asunder.   Camps have been set up, with many of the Ven still struggling to cope with the reality of now being... outside the Mistweir.  Haroun is busy working on the Ritual to form a new Airship, using the Secret Name which had been whispered to him by Nia Jalan.   Jaric finds Haroun in another part of the camp, however, and is surprised to see him not working on the ritual.  As Jaric chases after him, he slips and injuries his leg.  Haroun stops to help Jaric and upon exhaling reveals that he is actually Szaz.  He learns that Szaz had been stealing resources from the camp and learn that many of them Spiders are being targeted by others as being reason their City had fallen.  Jaric suggests they trust in the Ork friends to lead them home, just as they did in the stories before.

Nia and his ork talker, Bowen, are watching Haroun working on the Ritual.  Miralia Yvarai watches over Bowen with a bloodsword.  Other ven in the area display anger towards them, and blame Nia for the destruction of the city.  But when Miralia challenges them and even throws away the Bloodsword to allow him to prove the challenge, the man leaves.  Nia learns the bloodsword is Seran's; it was left with Miralia at the port.   Miralia asks if all *this* was expected or part of the plan, but Nia admits they planned to just slip away in secrecy.  Miralia laments how her three children are dead, how she now stands in the Ruin and wonders if she shouldn't have helped them.  Nia counters that if they could have done this, they wouldn't have needed their help.  They notice that the airships are still flying their preordained paths in the sky.  Nia peers and realizes the orks that swarmed around the ships in formation are no longer there!  When they discuss the orks that rescued them, Bowen shares they are known as "Ghosts" in their people, spoken of only in legend.

The Demon Lillandra

Then come the screams.
Accompanying the sound, buzzing.

None anticipate the sudden attack of orks - massive gigantic wasps - that swarm around them and begin assaulting the ven!  The gigantic insects tears into the survivors, with stingers almost a foot and a half long.  Nia and Miralia start running, dodging the orks that close in.   They run for the closest body of water and submerge within to hide.  Jaric and Szaz hide with Szaz using her Prayer to hide them once again.  Then, footfalls.  A foot stands close to Jaric's face.  He peers and sees a naked woman with red flowing hair.  A wasp lands near her and she holds its head gently.

"Do not kill them all.  Let us let this Terror last a few more nights.  Recall the rest and return to the hive."

The wasp flies away.  She smiles and mutters, "I'll find you eventually.  You do know that.  There is no escaping me forever."  Szaz trembles, feeling the need to breathe soon.  Jaric watches as the red-haired woman draws out a broken piece of pearl.  She cuts her cheek to call out to Galeo.

Galeo hears the voice.  All across the distance, Galeo hands Cassalanter to Hero and the two leave quietly.  Jaric overhears the red-haired woman's side of the conversation.  The woman seems amused that Galeo has named her that way.  She offers to allow Galeo to let them see how the others are.  Galeo turns the offer down.  The woman asks Galeo for a "favor" and in return, she gets to see how the others are.  The boarder is to have full hospitality.

Jaric, not having a plan, speaks up and is now visible.  The red-haired woman offers them a chance to speak to each other.  The two can see each other now.   Jaric asks why the red-haired woman is dragging out the punishment upon the ven given they've already destroyed the city.  She talks about Galeo having let her "in" and how Galeo is the one who knows where the single person she is looking for is. Jaric asks for the red-haired woman to leave the survivors alone.   Red-haired woman offers one Season.  Jaric suspects a Season is not enough.  Galeo asks what the nature of the border is and she tells her it is an old friend of yours.  Jaric hears only the demon's side and retorts, "I have no Friends!"  Jaric hears about a boarder, about a place to stay, about him being at her door but then the conversation with Galeo ends.

Szaz, unable to hold her breathe longer, stands.  The demon admits she did not expect the Spider there, and Jaric muses the demon doesn't seem to know everything.  She stresses to Jaric that they are not her enemy, and wonders if he has finally met "the Author".  About finally helping him remember.  And about why of all names, he chose Jaric's.

Galeo goes to gate and finds the boarder turns out to be Lukas.  Lukas is terrified and tired, and does not quite understand why no one knows who he is.  When Hero walks up to check on what's going on, Galeo discovers not even Hero recognizes Lukas!  Lukas mentions he was praying to Thalia for help, and she whispered to him to go here for help.  Galeo asks if Lukas is a Fox and he admits he is one. He was Blooded in their absence.  She worries he is an Yvarai.  Lukas trembles as he asks why can't others recognize him and presses to know why Galeo can.  She let's him in.


It is Winter.

Strangely, this has been one of the strangest Winters in Shanri.  Not a single place experiences Trouble.  No wandering orks.  No avalanches that endanger roads.   Galeo and Seran receive invitations from Maja Thayl, Jaric's mother, to an Althua to welcome the Duchess of the Ruins Beneath as she formally plants her Castle.   Seran opts to attend alone.   Galeo decides to bring her husband and child with her.  Lukas asks why he cannot speak to Seran and she reminds him that it is best not to go against a near omni-potent force.  Lukas accepts that is also what Thalia demands.

In the Wilderness, Haroun's airship finally completes.  With the vessel now floating above them, the survivors cheer believing they have found salvation in sight.  A former Earl asks Nia if this is when they say goodbye and when the ork ven leave them.  Nia throws back that she is sure she can find them a tribe to fit in with.  Dalvinosh Steele asks her if she is sincere in her Insult but then retracts it given there as so "few of us left".   He asks Nia what their demands will be.  Nia admits that might be best discussed with Haroun and the others, although she admits it is the intention.  Haround declares to all from above that safe passage is to be granted and hospitality granted save for all those who voted against him in the Senate hall.  He adds that for those who want reconsideration, to gather below.    Nia and Jarik explore a nearby ruin to gather what artifacts they can before they leave.

At the Althua, Maha Thayl meets Galeo, Cassalanter and Errol of the Forgiving Hands, a vassal.  Errol is the identity Lukas is to start embracing.    Hero, however, pulls Galeo aside to question why they suddenly have a new Vassal.  He suspects she is lying to him about something and confronts her about it.  He outright asks her if she is having an Affair.  She angrily outbursts about how if she was having an affair, he would be a painter again.  He begs her to just answer directly and say who he is.  Galeo admits she has voices in her head and just need some time to decide on things.  Hero reminds her he trusts her.  She reminds him he only loves her.  "Trust and love are different things."

Seran Thorne arrives.

Errol stares at her with yearning.  Galeo reminds him to keep himself distant from her.  Hero introduces Seran to the baby.  Seran asks for Galeo and Hero shows her where they are.  Errol is stunned, staring at her.  Galeo has to kick his knee to make him curtsy.  Seran does not recognize Errol at all.  Seran asks why he was staring at her and who he is and Galeo just explains he's a new addition to her household.  Maha Thayl interrupts the conversation and pulls Galeo to meet the crowd, introducing her as the mother of the baby.   Seran ends up standing alone.

Maha Thayl talks about how this is the first baby in the year, and how the other child that has been born has been of the Duchess.  They all turn to watch the balcony as the music changes, announcing the arrival of the guest of honor.

Back in the Wilderness, Haroun surveys the passengers and directly asks Bowen to give count on how many of the ven are arriving.  Jaric turns to ask Jeeves something, but then realizes he isn't with him.  He had gone missing since the storm.  Jaric turns to Nia and asks if she thinks they are still in the ruins somewhere.  When Nia asks who, Jaric wonders how the two others have fared.  He also wonders about the records lost in the ruins.  Haroun asks that the two share their views on the ven that voted against him.  He admits he planned to leave them to die but now is considering to still bring them given that would be something they would like less.  Nia reminds them that their Senate does frown upon the unblooded and the House-less ones.   She tells them she did claim some to be under his shadow.  Jaric admits that he suspects the Spiders will be spreading out in Shanri once they arrive.   Haroun also wonders where Pyotr is, given the man was kind to him.  They offer the views that they should help them so they owe him.

Haroun address the ven below after rappelling down on a rope.  He tells them someone once inspired him to do that as a show of courage.  He tells them they are all welcome to ride with them back home if they can hold on.  Haroun heads back up and tells them they will handle honorifics when they return.  He snarls that he recalls how long they all left him in that cell.  Bowen reports there are a total of 139 ven on board.  Not counting the ven hanging on from below.  Addressing in the Old Tongue, Haroun commands the ship to set sail and it rises.  Nia wishes they had archers to shoot the ones that let go.

Bowen whispers to Nia that he is uncomfortable that Haroun commands him.  Nia admits Haron has gone through many things.  What he suffered has transformed him.  Jaric realizes he thinks Seran is probably dead.  Szaz asks if they are headed back to their Shanri and Jaric even tells Szaz she has a place in his Castle.   "Obviously the Spiders will need to restablish themselves in order to be of use again.  If I know my wife, I will have a city of my own waiting for me.  I can trust you to manage it in time."  Jaric does have one request in mind and he motions to the man in yellow.  He asks Szaz to watch over her personally.

Dranna Ru, Duchess of the Ruins Beneath

"So this is us heading home?" Jaric asks Nia.
Nia admits she thinks so.

At the Althua, the curtain opens.

The Duchess wears a headdress as large as the woman herself.  Her clothing is disturbingly animated and while everyone claps, Seran and Galeo share a horrified glance at each other as they recognize the clothing.  The Duchess is wearing people, who adjust their legs and arms to hold poses.  Seran and Galeo recognize the swarming orks that nearly attacked them back at Isolde's Castle.  Then they recognize her face.

It is Dranna Ru.

"The Duchess of the Ruins Beneath!" Maha Thayl declares.   And everyone applauds.

Galeo turns to Hero.  "And you had her over for dinner?"
"She came to visit," Hero explains, "She left her Vassals outside."  He explains how a carriage of ven bodies was at their gates.  Bodies of ven clutching each other.  Bodies hugging one another.

The two ask why no one seems to notice seems to notice that Dranna Ru is dressed in orkish clothing.  He explains that during the Senate's Winter gathering, during the Morning Invocation, part of the building began to collapse.  That was when a hand made of ven bodies rose from the ruins beneath.  The hand rose to support the Senate Hall.  The ven expected an attack or a moment of Mass Murder but a week passed without threat.  It was a day after that week when Dranna Ru emerged from the depths to speak for the hand.  She even told Hero Galeo's Secret Name.  "That's why I believed she knew you."

Dranna Ru surveys the crowd.  Her eyes catch Galeo and there is the moment of recognition.  Seran, on the other hand, stares at the woman she failed to saved.  Dranna Ru also recognizes Seran.  She then pulls back and closes the curtain.

"Isn't she lovely?" Maha Thayl asks the two, talking about how Shanri has become so unique and special. "Who would have ever thought there would ever be an Ork House?

Back in the Wilderness, the screams continue every night as someone else falls from the ropes.  Szaz petitions to Haroun and the others to not have this happening.  She reminds them of Ven law and that they should be treated as Ven.  Jaric counters with the famous saying, "What you hold you own," and tells her if they wanted to live, they should have held on.  She counters that the ven are all "under their shadow" and is their responsibility!  She turns to Haroun and reminds him all on the vessel are to be given hospitality.  Nia counters that the ven are not "on the Ship" instead they are "below it" but Szaz then questions if that means any Vassals outside their Castle then are free game?  Haroun just settles this by asking Jaric, Nia and Szaz if they want them.

Szaz does not answer.

And finally in the Althua, Errol (Lukas) watches Seran in the distance, wishing he could speak to Seran.  His willpower eventually fails and he starts to take steps towards Seran to speak to her.  But before he gets close enough, someone grabs his hand and forces him to turn.  The man smiles at Errol and makes him stop.

"Zsanos Yvarai, Count Kether.  I am friends with your wife."

"My life?" Errol asks, shocked.

"You're Lukas, aren't you?" Count Kether grins.  He tugs at his arm, "Come... let us talk."

Zsanos Yvarai, Count of Kether