This past year was a busy one for genre television. I had meant to post my first impressions of the new fall season, but I struggled with how to organize it: short lists, or detailed analyses? By subgenre, night of the week, or network? At least a few additional months have given me perspective on the shows I like most and least.
Janice and I tend not to watch a lot of reality shows, situation comedies, crime dramas, or serialized soap operas, so you’ll have to look elsewhere for reviews of those types of shows. In live-action TV, we do watch some procedurals, with Masterpiece: Mystery and the secondseason of the modernizedBBC/PBS Sherlock as favorites.
Doctor Who and Sherlock Holmes
The competingElementary is decent, if not quiteas brilliant as its British forebears. Castle has managed to balance humor and drama, as has White Collar, even though both have occasionally veered too far into gruesome melodrama on the one hand or silly romance on the other. At the same time, I look forward to the goofy shout-outs to the 1980s and ’90s in Psych.
I’d put do-gooder capers such as the original Mission Impossible in a closely related category. This includes the recentlycanceledLeverage (whose tabletoprole-playing game is the best implementation of the Cortex system) and Hu$tle. I haven’t been following popular detective shows such as Bones and the remake of Hawaii Five-O.
In the related genre of supernatural crime fighters, I thought that the canceled Awake was decent. I preferGrimm, which has inherited some of Buffy: the Vampire Slayer and Angel‘s writers and style, to the fairy tale soap Once Upon a Time.
Fringe is in a league of its own, with the mind-bending perspectives of Farscape and the procedural style of The X-Files. I’ll miss Fringe, which is at least going out strong. I haven’t been following Supernatural.
On the slightly more realistic side, thrillers such as Homeland, Person of Interest, and Last Resort have been pretty good, but I dropped Nikita, which of course outlasted much of its competition. What have you been watching?
6. Skyfall. James Bond made a triumphant return, melding modern grit and parkour with many small homages to 50 years of films. Skyfall also served as a “soft reboot,” restoring a status quo familiar to fans of the superspy. I haven’t yet seen female-led actioners Haywire or Underworld [4]: Awakening.
5. Looper. I was initially wary of this time-travel tale, but the world-building and seasoned actors won me over. To be fair, I didn’t see MenInBlack III, which used a similar plot device for comedic effect, or the remake of mind-bender Total Recall. Dredd and IronSky were other speculative fiction flicks I missed.
4. ParaNorman. This heartfelt gothic Halloween story ended up being my favorite animated picture of the year, edging out Studio Ghibli’s Borrowers adaptation The Secret World of Arrietty, the funny The Pirates! A Band of Misfits, Disney’s beautiful Brave, and the syncretic Rise of the Guardians. I haven’t seen Hotel Transylvania, Frankenweenie, and Wreck-It Ralph, but I’m sure I’ll catch them eventually thanks to nieces and nephews.
3. John Carter. Several mainstream media critics have put this planetary romance on their “worst of 2012” lists, but I enjoyed the film, which combined the precursor to much space opera with modern visual effects and pacing. It was also less pretentious than Avatar or Prometheus. Speaking of retro sensibilities, I haven’t yet seen likely Oscar contendersArgo, Lincoln, or Django Unchained.
2. The Avengers. After years of buildup, Joss Whedon’s superhero teamup flick turned out to be perfect popcorn escapism. I preferred it to the dour Dark Knight Rises, which was well-done but less fun. I preferred the gonzo first Ghost Rider to its wan sequel Spirit of Vengeance. The Amazing Spider-Man was a decent comic book reboot, but the strong cast wasn’t enough to overcome the feelings of déjà vu.
1. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Peter Jackson’s fantasy prequel has garnered much criticism for stretching out J.R.R. Tolkien’s slender novel, but it was still satisfying to return to Middle Earth. The first part of another trilogy may not equal Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring, but it was better than Snow White and the Huntsman or Mirror, Mirror. I’ve heard mixed reviews for the mythic Wrath of the Titans.
At the movies in Boston
In 2013, I’m most looking forward to continued revival Star Trek: Into Darkness, kaiju vs. giant robots in Pacific Rim, a new Superman in Man of Steel, and The Hobbit: the Desolation of Smaug.
I don’t yet know whether fantasy flicksJack the Giant Slayer or Oz: the Great and Powerful, the postapocalyptic After Earth or Elysium, or the superheroic sequels Iron Man 3, The Wolverine, or Thor 2 will be worth the hype. So much to see, so little time!
Fellow role-players, here are my notes for Session 6 of the “Vanished Lands: Vistel’s Circus” fantasy campaign, which Rich C.G. hosted at his apartment in Waltham, Massachusetts, on 17 December 2012:
In one ancient world, there was a region where strange majicks and demihuman races thrived. The “Vanished Lands” were blessed by the gods and cursed by prophecy. Travelers became adventurers, and adventurers strove to be heroes in the face of many perils and wonders.
Various groups of mercenaries and diplomats have fought humanoids in the northwestern borderlands, encountered pirates on the Sea of Nagendwa, and wandered the hostile Halmed Desert and the wide Plains of Sathendo….
“Giacomo ‘the Mysterious’ Du Vane” [Beruk A.]-male Hifalendorin human Mage (Gypsy Wizard) and stage magician, embittered by experiences in Hesolin’s Magisterium; NGc, Lvl. 2
“Scully Strongbow” [Sara F.]-female albino Gnoll (Flind) Ranger, archer, knife thrower, and scout, with owl “Owlicious”; NGl, Lvl. 2
“Tempestade” [Josh C.]-male Barbari human Monk (Battledancer/capoeirista from outside the “Vanished Lands”), roustabout; CGl, Lvl. 2
“Corwin Windsong” [Bruce K.]-male Half-Elf Bard, runaway aristocrat, ladies’ man, and ringmaster with a mandolin; CNg, Lvl. 2
“Elsa Fairbottom” [Rich C.G.]-female Hill Dwarf Druid outcast, cook/brewer, and animal handler with owlbear cub “Oswald”; NGc, Lvl. 2
“Hamfast Hammerfist” [Brian W./absent]-male Zeda human Fighter, mountaineer, “barbarian” strongman, and laborer; TNg, Lvl. 2
“Radius” [Jason E.R./absent]-male Modron Paladin of Primus, lord of Nirvana; exiled to the Prime Material plane; LGn, Lvl. 1
Old-school fight against Undead
“15 to 16 February 1228 B.C.E.:” The circus had visited Androth and Tensar, two agricultural communities on the Plains of Sathendo, but some of the performers had encountered more trouble than usual outside of their tents and wagons.
In the Saganim (proto-Celtic) human town of Tensar, the wanderers learned that relatives of escape artist Seamus Fenor had died from a plague and were haunting a nearby farm. Corwin had narrowly escaped Undead roaming the moors the night before.
Miranda Barrowright, a Halfling priestess of Yondalla with the circus, returns from the local church of Edillon, lord of the sky. She says that Seamus has escaped from his exorcism by Fr. Wallace and that the group should follow him.
Giacomo takes giant centipede venom [2d4 damage], and Scully grabs some torches. Tempestade needs nothing besides his fists and feet, but Elsa obtains holy water and a scroll of Protection From Undead [+2 AC, saves] from Fr. Wallace.
Corwin buys three flasks of oil and a mace and heads to the Fenor farmstead. Hamfast is busy with roustabout duties, and Radius has returned to his home plane. “Black Raven” [Michael C./Non-Player Character] stays with “Lady Alcye” [Kim A.G./N.P.C.] to help defend the town.
Corwin, Scully, Elsa, Tempestade, and Giacomo go into the dusty parlor of the Fenor farmhouse. The shutters rattle on their hinges, and a cold winter wind blows through the rafters. The kitchen is empty except for some broken furniture and crockery. The intrepid band bars the door to the basement.
The group is horrified to find the dining room caked in dried blood and mystified about why there isn’t any anywhere else. Cloth in the sewing room has long since rotted away, but implements are meticulously laid out on a strangely clean table.
Giacomo picks up a thimble and puts it down again, only to see it slide back to its exact original location. The adventuring party climbs creaky stairs to the second story. Corwin finds Seamus in the master bedroom and tries to convince the possessed performer to come with them.
When the escape artist resists, Corwin smashes his mace into the bed, knocking Seamus through two floors! Elsa wants to go after him immediately, but she is temporarily outvoted. In the next bedroom, the team finds two ghosts clad in tartan and arguing.
Seamus’ parents, Karen and Cullen, seem disappointed that their youngest son ran off to join the circus. Giacomo asks them what happened, and he and Corwin have a vision of a similar argument years ago, when everyone on the farm was still alive.
Cullen initially stormed off, leaving Karen to answer the door to a tinker with his cart. The farm matron invited the itinerant salesman into her parlor, where Cullen found them and angrily addressed his wife. He smashed her head with a farm tool but immediately regretted it.
As the farmer sobbed over his wife, the tinker took a knitting needle and jammed it into Cullen’s ear. With a malicious smirk, he took out a pair of shears and created a disguise for himself from the peasants’ skin!
Giacomo and Corwin are unable to turn away as the vision’s point of view shifts. They see sometime later, when Seamus’ siblings returned from the field, and someone resembling their mother invited them into the dining room….
The Mage and Bard relay what they have seen to the others. Ranger Scully says that the ghosts of Cullen and Karen disappeared as they were transfixed. Elsa notes that the Necromancer who committed the murders must still be around. This would explain not only the ghosts and thimble, but also the other Undead in the area.
In the next bedroom, Corwin finds a mattress stuffed with skulls. At this point, Druid Elsa convinces most of her companions to go after Seamus in the cellar. Tempestade neglects to check for traps and tumbles down the stairs. Fortunately, the Monk is able to alter his descent to evade serious injury.
Gnoll Scully jumps down, while Giacomo, Elsa, and Corwin follow via rope. Scully sniffs, but there is no sign of Seamus. Dwarf Elsa quickly finds a concealed door.
Amid the debris in the basement is a bottle of wine, dried herbs, a silver mirror, and a small chest. Corwin unlocks it and finds coins and jewelry. He is about to claim the booty when Elsa points out that it belongs to Seamus as the sole surviving member of the Fenor clan.
Giacomo and Elsa put the treasure back in the chest while Corwin impatiently charges ahead with Scully and Tempestade. The Monk opens the door and is hit by a shriveled ghoul.
Corwin’s first sword swing misses, while Elsa drags paralyzed Tempestade to safety. The Druid invokes Gaia and heals him. Giacomo uses a spell burn to cast Chill Touch, and Scully burns the Undead with a torch.
Fortunately, the cannibalistic Ghoul is unable to grab anyone else, and Corwin’s next blow lands true. Elsa sprinkles holy water on the creature, and Giacomo helps finish it off with his quarterstaff.
After Corwin, Scully, and Tempestade enter the tunnel, the concealed door magically slams shut behind them, cutting them off from spellcasters Elsa and Giacomo. The trio presses ahead, coming to a ladder leading up to the barn that Corwin and Alcye fled from the previous night.
Elsa and Giacomo leave the chest and climb out of the basement. They hear more movement from one of the unexplored bedrooms upstairs and run out to find their companions.
Meanwhile, the others find possessed Seamus sitting on a rotten bale of hay like the farmboy he must once have been. He refuses to come with them, and sharp tools begin to hover between the interlopers and the main door.
Corwin tries to talk with Seamus, but the agricultural implements spike the trap door shut. Tempestade knocks Seamus unconscious, and Scully carries him outside. Elsa and Giacomo call for help as someone emerges from the farmhouse.
Brawny Scully blocks the front door, which shatters between the Gnoll and the tinkerer. Wise Elsa sets the barn on fire, as wary Giacomo casts Magic Shield. The smirking Necromancer begins chanting, and Tempestade kicks at him but misses.
Scully draws her bow and begins firing flaming arrows, while Elsa reads the Protection From Undead scroll. Giacomo casts Magic Missile, and the tinker begins Summoning Undead. Corwin hits the evildoer with his long sword, and Tempestade has better luck with his fists in close combat.
More skeletons emerge from the ground, and Elsa casts Bless. The Dwarf Druid also throws vials of oil at the Necromancer and farmhouse, helping Ranger Scully set them alight. Wizard Giacomo throws a torch and reaches for the centipede venom.
The murderer is forced to stop his chanting because of the flames around him, and Monk Tempestade gets in a few solid hits. Scully slays the Necromancer, whom the others hastily search as the directionless Undead begin to wander off.
They find an iron amulet, a signet ring with a rampant unicorn engraving, and the simple shears. The travelers smash a few more skeletons on the way back to Tensar. Scully carries Seamus to the church of Edillon to be fully exorcised.
At the town’s gates, two knights in full mail armor and surcoats with a gold disc and a sword symbol greet the group at lance point. “Lady Perrin” [Carolyn M.P./N.P.C.] and Brion Black Elk explain that they are Paladins of Otih, god of the sun and justice. Lady Alcye and Fr. Wallace had sent for them to help defend Tensar.
The holy warriors dismount and escort the circus folk to the temple. In return for the Necromancer’s symbol of chaos, which they intend to destroy, they reward Elsa and the group with a scroll of Circle of Protection vs. Undead.
Giacomo and Corwin decide to keep the enchanted shears for later study (they are of infernal design). Lady Alcye identifies the ring as belonging to the Sable clan, a noble house represented in the royal court at Thadenis.
Corwin worries about Lord Colin, the previous ruler of Tensar. Alcye suggests that the Necromancer must have still traveled and was using the Fenor farm as a base of operations, since there haven’t been many unexplained murders in the town.
Between the secret silver mine run by Sir Banor Finney’s late squire Adric and a corrupt Necromancer of aristocratic lineage, Corwin realizes that something is wrong in the capital of the kingdom of Saganim, his homeland. The other adventurers agree with his recommendation to circus founder Orlando Vistel to travel west….
Please note that we’ll be taking a break for a few weeks. Here are when our games are tentatively scheduled to resume, weather permitting:
The “Vortex” telecom space opera: Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012
On Saturday, 15 December 2012, Janice and I met Beruk A., Thomas K.Y. & Kai-Yin H., Ken G., Josh C. & Sara F., and Robin H. at the AMC Loews Boston Common to see The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. We all enjoyed Peter Jackson’s latest adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic fantasy novels.
The gang for An Unexpected Journey
I’ll try to avoid plot/script “spoilers,” but if you haven’t yet read the original book, do so! An Unexpected Journey follows eponymous Hobbit Bilbo Baggins as he evolves from a retiring country gentleman in the Shire to become an adventurer alongside 12 Dwarves and the wizard Gandalf. On the way to the Lonely Mountain, they encounter warg-riding Goblins, Elves, Trolls, and more, all harkening back to the Norse tales that Tolkien studied and loved.
Director Jackson and company fold in plot threads from the appendices of The Lord of the Rings, expanding many scenes and characters. Since Jackson filmed more than four hours’ worth of footage for each installment of the previous trilogy, it should come as no surprise that he expanded on The Hobbit. I have fond memories of a marathon screening of the first trilogy’s extended editions in New York City with cast members present, so I am perhaps the target audience.
That’s what Bilbo Baggins hates!
The tone of the prequel is close to that of “LotR,” but with a bit more humor, as in the book, and slightly less violence — but maybe still too much for young children. I was pleased to hear much of Tolkien’s language in An Unexpected Journey, including a few songs and poems (some of us still remember the Rankin-Bass animated attempt). As a longtime Tolkien fan, this helped balance out the newer additions to the story.
One of the strongest components of An Unexpected Journey was the cast. It was nice to see familiar faces again, including Ian Holm as the older Bilbo and Elijah Wood as young Frodo in a framing scene. Of course, it’s now difficult to imagine mischievous Gandalf without picturing Ian McKellen, and Hugo Weaving and Cate Blanchett are back as regal Elves Elrond and Galadriel, respectively.
Fans of British genre television and movies should recognize many of the actors, at least by name. Martin Freeman is ever the befuddled Englishman, whether it’s in The Office, Shaun of the Dead, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Sherlock, and now as young Bilbo in The Hobbit. But as Gandalf notes, he’s more clever, hardy, and ethical than meets the eye.
Bilbo Baggins, the bravest little Hobbit of them all
Even with a three-hour runtime, we get to know only a few of the Dwarves in The Hobbit, but Robin Hood‘s Richard Armitage stands out as honorable Thorin Oakenshield, and Being Human‘s hunky Aidan Turner as young Dwarf Kili might be a rival for the affections of fans of Orlando Bloom’s Legolas. Jekyll‘s James Nesbitt has some sympathetic moments as Bofur, and Ken Stott is sagacious as older Dwarf Balin.
Far over the Misty Mountains cold….
Doctor Who‘s Sylvester McCoy is the twitter-pated (literally) wizard Radagast the Brown. Those playing the villains are just as experienced. Andy Serkis, now also second-unit director for The Hobbit, is a delight as the nasty Gollum. Comedian Barry Humphries, best known as Dame Edna, is unrecognizable as the Great Goblin, while Spartacus‘ Manu Bennet is fearsome as Orc leader Azog.
It was also nice to see familiar Middle Earth locations, such as Bilbo’s comfy estate of Bag End in Hobbiton and Elrond’s Last Homely House in Rivendell. Jackson also shows us Dwarf cities in their full glory and violent decline, a Goblin town beneath the Misty Mountains, and the depths of Mirkwood. All of the architecture, costumes, and props are again excellent.
Many critics have taken issue with the movie’s length and editing, and I agree that they could have been tighter. Still, trimming a few sequences of Bilbo and company hiking or computer-enhanced battle scenes wouldn’t make An Unexpected Journey much shorter, and I’m glad that so many character moments and scenes from the book made it into the film. The flow of the story from scene to scene could have been smoother — reminding me of both tabletop and computer role-playing games — and I hope it will improve in later chapters of this new trilogy.
Unlike practical visual effects and makeup, the storm giants and the aforementioned Azog and Goblin king do look computer-generated, unlike the expressive but still realistic Gollum or Trolls. I think that comparisons to Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, even if they’re accurate, reflect “nerd rage” more than a fair critique. I didn’t see the movie in 3-D, IMAX, or high frame rate formats, so I’ll leave that to other reviewers to describe. Howard Shore’s latest soundtrack was also good, and it alluded to the soaring themes of Lord of the Rings.
Overall, I’d give The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, which is rated PG-13 for violence, an 8 out of 10, four out of five stars, or a B+/A-. For me, that’s about on par with The Two Towers, if not as satisfying as The Fellowship of the Ring or Return of the King. Compared with most other fantasy films, I’d still recommend the The Hobbit and remind moviegoers that it has been a generation since we’ve had so many to choose from.
Most of the trailers we saw before The Hobbit were for science fiction flicks rather than fantasies. Both Tom Cruise’s Oblivion and Will Smith’s After Earth post-apocalyptic visions had cool hardware but seemingly predictable plots. Romantic zombie comedy (when did you think you’d see those together?) Warm Bodies looked mildly amusing.
After the movie, we went to the Rock Bottom Brewery for a late lunch. On Sunday, Janice and I attended “A Celtic Christmas Sojourn” at the Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston. I hope that all your holidays are happy!
Fellow role-players, here are my notes for Sessions 3-5 of the “Vanished Lands: Vistel’s Circus” fantasy campaign, which Brian W. hosted at his home in Newton, Massachusetts, in October and November 2012:
In one ancient world, there was a region where strange majicks and demihuman races thrived. The “Vanished Lands” were blessed by the gods and cursed by prophecy. Travelers became adventurers, and adventurers strove to be heroes in the face of many perils and wonders.
Various groups of mercenaries and diplomats have fought humanoids in the northwestern borderlands, encountered pirates on the Sea of Nagendwa, and wandered the hostile Halmed Desert and the wide Plains of Sathendo….
“Giacomo ‘the Mysterious’ Du Vane” [Beruk A.]-male Hifalendorin human Mage (Gypsy Wizard) and stage magician, embittered by experiences in Hesolin’s Magisterium; NGc, Lvl. 2
“Hamfast Hammerfist” [Brian W.]-male Zeda human Fighter, mountaineer, “barbarian” strongman, and laborer; TNg, Lvl. 2
“Scully Strongbow” [Sara F.]-female albino Gnoll (Flind) Ranger, archer, knife thrower, and scout, with owl “Owlicious”; NGl, Lvl. 2
“Tempestade” [Josh C.]-male Barbari human Monk (Battledancer/capoeirista from outside the “Vanished Lands”), roustabout; CGl, Lvl. 2
“Corwin Windsong” [Bruce K.]-male Half-Elf Bard, runaway aristocrat, ladies’ man, and ringmaster with a mandolin; CNg, Lvl. 2
“Elsa Fairbottom” [Rich C.G.]-female Hill Dwarf Druid outcast, cook/brewer, and animal handler with owlbear cub “Oswald”; NGc, Lvl. 2
“Radius” [Jason E.R./absent]-male Modron Paladin of Primus, lord of Nirvana; exiled to the Prime Material plane; LGn, Lvl. 1
While on watch one night, Scully goes into some woods in search of her owl “Owlicious.” Branches slam into the Gnoll, but fortunately Stuffy, one of Elsa’s trained dogs, is able to lead the others to her before the evil Treant can do any further harm. It takes the entire group to fell the monster, which later feeds a bonfire.
As the circus, Sir Banor, and scout “Black Raven” [Michael C./Non-Player Character] ride across the Plains of Sathendo, they sense a winter storm approaching. In the middle of the blizzard, the camp hears a stampeding herd of aurochs pass nearby, as well as something large hunting them on the wing.
The travelers avoid the wyvern — “Cows don’t fly” — but Tempestade helps grab a bovine for food and its hide. The adventuring party also finds 80 silver pieces and 20 gold crowns while sheltered in a cave.
Orlando Vistel and his wagons pull into the Saganim town of Tensar. Giacomo orders an ale at the “Tipped Disc” tavern, while Scully carves an auroch horn. Hamfast demonstrates his prowess by lifting a bench of Halflings.
Corwin avoids Black Raven and flirts with “Alcye” [Kim A.G./N.P.C.], an attractive lady apparently related to Laird Colin. This earns him a cold shoulder from Tamara, a dancer in the circus.
Cerdwyn, head of the roustabouts, tells Hamfast that disgruntled clown Graham Tervin and escape artist Seamus Fenor have gone missing. Hamfast finds Graham drinking and learns that the Fenor clan had a farm on the town’s outskirts until it died off from “the dropsy.”
Orlando gives ringleader Corwin leave to take a group and retrieve Seamus. They find the Saganim human seemingly talking to himself in a family graveyard next to a dilapidated farmhouse and barn.
Bard Corwin approaches Fenor and soon realizes from the escape artist’s grimaces and jerky movements that he is possessed. Eight skeletons burst forth from the ground, grabbing at the circus folk!
Druid Elsa reaches for holy water, and Tempestade stomps on the emerging Undead. Giacomo and Hamfast are hurt, and Corwin smashes a skeleton with his long sword. Ranger Scully slides over a gravestone and shoots arrows, which have a limited effect.
Mage Giacomo casts Shield before swinging his quarterstaff. Hamfast Hammerfist fights as mightily as his name implies, eventually crushing five skulls. Elsa tends to the injured and draws her mace “Grimtooth” in the names of patron deities Mekkil and Vulkan.
Monk Tempestade dodges and kicks, but is attacked in return, along with Scully and Elsa. Corwin covers Hamfast, as Scully switches to a sword. After defeating the skeletons, the team ties up Seamus and returns to Tensar.
Miranda Barrowright, the Harfoot Halfling priestess of Yondolla in the camp, refers Seamus and company to the local church of Edillon. At the temple of the sky god, Fr. Wallace agrees to prepare an exorcism. Scully and Cerdwyn help keep watch.
Corwin reluctantly reports to circus founder Orlando, Sir Banor, and Alcye. Elsa offers prayers to Yondolla and Edillon, while Hamfast and Tempestade eat and rest with the other roustabouts.
Alcye accepts Corwin’s offer to escort her home (he has prepared his Seduction Stash for the occasion). However, a thick fog envelops them, and Corwin is forced to slay Alcye’s butler, who has been zombified! Her cook takes a cleaver to Corwin’s clothes.
The couple soon finds itself fleeing from shambling zombies and sees a building up ahead. Corwin realizes that it is the Fenor farmstead. He takes Alcye’s hand and runs to the barn. They climb to a hay loft and use a rope to get around the gathering horde.
Corwin and Alcye race back to the walls of Tensar, shouting for help. More Undead appear on the misty moors. Tempestade wakes all but Hamfast and Elsa and runs out the gate. Scully checks on Seamus and grabs torches.
Alcye casts Magic Missile, and Corwin knocks down two more zombies, but they’re still overwhelmed. Black Raven, Sir Banor, and three Dwarf newcomers to the town come to their rescue. For once, Corwin is glad to see Black Raven, and he hands Alcye to him to ride back.
With help from Giacomo’s Color Spray spell, Tempestade’s blows, and Scully’s flaming arrows, Corwin and company fight their way back to the town. Fr. Wallace looks at the wounded.
The haughty Dwarves introduce themselves as Ivar Giantslayer, Dmitri Sminkevitch, and Yurgi Twoblade. Hamfast defends the honor of “sundered Dwarves” Elsa and River Dwarf rigger Baskor Steadyhand.
The priest, Alcye, and Orlando agree that a more organized force should return to the Fenor property during the day. Alcye asks Sir Banor and Black Raven to help fortify Tensar, while Corwin prepares to lead another expedition to the haunted farm….
It was good to see some of you for The Hobbit [Part 1 of 3]: An Unexpected Journey this past Saturday. I look forward to seeing most of you at tonight’s face-to-face game, our last for this year. Brian and Jason, we’ll miss you, and I hope that all your holidays are happy!
In the coming months, I also look forward to meeting new role-player Joe T. and playing in Jason’s Savage Worlds: “Barsoomian Adventures” and Bruce’s Pathfinder: “Hyborean Age” scenarios. Take it easy, -Gene
Gene's Worlds 