“Vanished Lands” Update T3.37 — Elves and Ettin

Fellow role-players, here is my update for Session T3.37 of the latest adventuring party in my “Vanished Lands” heroic fantasy campaign setting. The teleconferencing team met on Sunday, 1 January 2012, and has been using Pathfinder, Skype, and an online dice roller.

In one ancient world, there was a region where strange majicks and demihuman races thrived. After “Holy Steel‘s” journey to the distant empire of Khemet, another motley group gathered in the northwestern “Vanished Lands” to explore a world full of perils and wonders….

After meeting in the Wisalef Forest, an unlikely band of adventurers encountered the hostile Centaur followers of Vappu Lahja on the Plains of Sathendo….

>>Telecom party Player Character roster, as of spring 2012:

-“Asish Chen Ti” [Byron V.O.]-male Tsucharim human archer (Mongol-style Ranger), escaped from the kingdom of Gokuri; owner of Akita dog Genghis and horses Onimusha and Gashmu; NGl, Age 20, Lvl. 4

-“Jovinda Halflight” [Sammy H.]-female Half-Elf (Grugach/Hifalendorin) Cleric of Mekkil, goddess of nature; owner of horses Wyth-Amoi and Meth-Fenna; NGl, Age 23, Lvl. 4

-“Kazuo Takenaga” [Taum D’A.]-male Nezumi (Rat-kin) Monk from the Zedu kingdom in the Therud Forest; LNg, Age 20, Lvl. 4

-“Favelhorn Riftbringer” [Dexter V.H./absent]-male Mountain Dwarf Summoner; CGn, Age 51, Lvl. 1

-“Gawain Keary” [Paul J./absent]-male Saganim human Illusionist (proto-Celtic Wizard); NGc, Age 20, Lvl. 3

-“Kovar” [Beruk A./absent]-male Half-Orc/Saganim human Paladin of Mithras, god of contracts and brotherhood; LGn, Lvl. 3

-“Davven ‘Digger’ Hollysharp” [Robert A.S./absent]-male Faldine Halfling archaeologist (Tallfellow Rogue) from a pipeweed farm in Tarken; CGn, Age 45, Lvl. 3

>>”10 to 13 August 1229 B.C.E.:” On the way northwest from the haunted hamlet of Alarn to the city of Alfendi, the party met a band of Elven hunters deep in the Wisalef Forest. They rode together for a time and traded news of threats in the borderlands.

Asish tells Caliran Gelos that he is a fellow scout and asks for contacts at the Rangers’ Guild. They also tend to the horses and dogs, including Cooshee, an Elven breed. The rugged woodsfolk refrain from commenting as Asish and Jovinda discuss rituals for their animal companions.

Jovinda explains to Delvalatar Juteriel that she is looking for onetime traveling companions Digger and Kovar, as well as the retinue of “Jade” [Sammy/Non-Player Character]. The haughty Alvari (Sylvan Elf) says that the Waletku kingdom is unlikely to rush to aid displaced farmers in the (proto-Western European) human kingdom of Hifalendor.

Feldostram Owedoc and Aelwyn Kisto admit to Kazuo that they’d rather be hunting a dire boar and goat-horned stag than worrying about Goblin witches or Unseelie Fey followers of the mysterious Vappu Lahja. Feldostram challenges Kazuo to a spear-throwing contest, and the nimble Nezumi acquits himself well.

Asish, Jovinda, and Kazuo show their old map of border communities and Ley lines. Delvalatar notes that any abandoned fortresses should be approached from the northeast, in the direction of capital Alfhileno, rather than from the direction of the nefarious kingdom of Zuromm. He also says it’s possible that some Ley line nodes have been contaminated in much the same way one would poison a well.

Cleric Jovinda warns Feldostram to beware of unnatural beasts. Monk Kazuo describes how Vappu Lahja can turn even the chaotic Fey into her intolerant followers, worrying Caliran and Aelwyn. That night, the Elves share watches with the Tsucharim human, Grugach, and Nezumi.

Shortly before dawn, something crashes through the frosted woods. Kazuo quietly wakes up his companions, then creeps forward to see the source of the noise. The rat-kin sees a pair of giant legs swathed in hides, followed by a grizzly bear. He also soon hears two voices in conversation and realizes that the giant is a two-headed Ettin!

Brave Kazuo yells at the brute to divert it from the camp, and Delvalatar moves the steeds away. Priestess Jovinda is disgusted by the ugly giant, and Ranger Asish shoots arrows into the dark (the campfire was extinguished).

Feldostram hurls spears, and Caliran and Aelwyn draw their longbows. The Ettin debates with itself whether to smash the demihumans and swings huge clubs at Kazuo, hitting him painfully. The bear charges into camp and hugs and bites Asish.

Kazuo is surprised to be caught off balance and misses the Ettin. Jovinda casts Light on an acorn, throws it, and hides behind a tree. Asish struggles to break free from the bear‘s clawed embrace, as the Elven hunters continue to rain spears and arrows on the leather-armored giant.

The enraged Ettin again clubs furred Kazuo, who hits him back with a Flurry of Blows. Jovinda slides past the bear and invokes Mekkil, goddess of nature, to cast Sanctuary on Asish [see also Sammy’s prayer lyrics]. The Tsucharim archer does a backspring and draws his bow as his dog Genghis harries the grizzly.

Wise Jovinda tells the bear to leave and tags Kazuo with Aid and Shield of Faith. The martial artist also uses Ki to avoid further blows, and acrobatic Asish rolls to flank the Ettin. The wounded giant staggers on, swinging his clubs wildly. Asish finishes off the Ettin with his katana, and the bear ambles away, unhindered by the Elves.

Asish takes the giant’s leather and hide armor. The Tsucharim horseman also finds an idol of a pale woman carved in sandstone. The Elves are unable to identify it, but they say it could represent Sherma, lady of the night, or even Vappu Lahja.

Jovinda reclaims her acorn and uses Wood Shape to turn the Ettin’s clubs into a chair and a statue of her patron deity to leave behind. Kazuo and Asish are grateful for her healing. Now that they have fought side by side, Delvalatar tells the three wanderers about Cullen O’Shea, a former member of his household in Alfendi.

The hunters eventually leave Asish, Jovinda, and Kazuo to continue on their own on the trail to the Elven city. The trio soon beholds orchards around Alfendi‘s white stone walls….

I hope you enjoyed our first regular game of 2012. This year also marks the 30th anniversary of the “Vanished Lands!” I look forward to getting back to a regular campaign — we meet next on Sunday, Jan. 8 — as well as to occasionally continuing the adventures of other parties, such as “Holy Steel” or the “Broken Chains.”

In the coming months, I also hope to try out Google+, Lorefinder (Gumshoe for Pathfinder), and FATE 3e Legends of Anglerre. Boston-area role-players Sara F. & Josh C. may sit in on upcoming virtual sessions. The FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures: “Vortex” space opera game will resume next Monday, Jan. 9. Be seeing you, -Gene

Catching up again on comics

The Batfamily, late 2011 — The "Batfamily"

In addition to celebrating the holidays and catching up on movies in the past few weeks, I picked up comic books at New England Comics, Newbury Comics, and The Outer Limits near Boston. There’s still a sense of community at these shops that no digital subscription can yet replace.

My tastes run toward mainstream superhero comics, which I’ve been sharing with college chum David I.S. in return for some indie and horror titles. Despite controversies around its revised continuity and treatment of female creators and characters, I’ve enjoyed much of DC Comics, especially its various Batman titles. Detective Comics, Batman and Robin, Batwoman, and Birds of Prey are among my favorites, with a young Superman in Action Comics and the latest attempt to refocus Wonder Woman coming close behind.

On the Marvel Comics side, I’m still following Captain America, even if I can’t keep up with the various teams of Avengers and X-Men. Of the indie comic books I’m getting or looking forward to, I like sword and sorcery (Conan, Red Sonja), high fantasy (Mouse Guard and Avatar: the Last Airbender), steampunk and pulp (Zorro), some humor (Muppets and Liberty Meadows), and science fiction (Warlord of Mars and Flash Gordon).

Dave and I are looking forward to TV adaptations of Powers and other comics and graphic novels, not to mention upcoming movies and direct-to-DVD releases such as Justice League: Doom. We’ll have no shortage of viewing or reading material for 2012!

Swashbuckling cinema

The late Bob Anderson — Sword master Bob Anderson

Over the holidays, I caught up a bit on movies on DVD, in theaters, and on cable television. While spending Christmas with my in-laws, I saw the 1934 version of The Scarlet Pimpernel and 2011’s Cars 2 and Pirates of the Caribbean [4]: On Stranger Tides.

I’ve seen other adaptations of the Orczy stories, but the black-and-white Scarlet Pimpernel is noteworthy because of its reflection of Anglo-American concerns about dictatorship and war in Europe and as a forerunner to characters such as Zorro and Batman. Speaking of swashbuckling, fellow fans of everything from Errol Flynn’s films to Star Wars, Highlander, The Princess Bride, and The Lord of the Rings should note the passing of sword master Bob Anderson.

Cars 2 was reasonably entertaining, with nicely rendered international backgrounds (not unlike Kung-Fu Panda 2) and an espionage-flavored plot. The character development and pathos weren’t at Pixar’s usual level, but I’d still give the computer-animated flick a B+, three stars, or a 7.5 out of 10. My favorite animated movies of the past year or so include The Illusionist, Rango, and Winnie the Pooh, and I look forward to The Secret World of Arrietty, The Pirates! Band of Misfits, and Pixar’s next, Brave, in 2012.

Pirates 4 was better than its muddled predecessor At World’s End, with a more linear plot involving the Fountain of Youth, less pointless backstabbing and visual effects, and somewhat less mugging by star Johnny Depp. The romantic subplots were still extraneous but less annoying, and Penelope Cruz as pirate Angelica and Ian McShane as the notorious Blackbeard were worthy foils to Depp’s Capt. Jack Sparrow and Geoffrey Rush’s Capt. Barbossa. Not surprisingly, Disney’s On Stranger Tides leaves the door open for yet more sequels. I’d give it a B, 7 out of 10, or three stars.

I have yet to watch other recent swashbucklers, including Sinbad: the Fifth Voyage, the reboot of Conan the Barbarian, and the latest Three Musketeers. On TV, I enjoyed the latest Star Wars marathon and rewatching David Lynch’s adaptation of Dune for the umpteenth time. As David I.S. and I have noted, it’s OK for fans to turn to the visual equivalent of “comfort food” from time to time.

As previously mentioned, Janice and I also screened The Adventures of Tintin: Secret of the Unicorn at the Showcase Cinemas de Lux at Legacy Place in Dedham, Massachusetts, and we met Thomas K.Y. & Kai-Yin H. and Beruk A. for The Artist at the Kendall Square Cinema in Cambridge.

I’m somewhat familiar with the young hero of Belgian artist Herge’s comic books, and Stephen Spielberg and Peter Jackson’s adaptation is fairly faithful. I liked Tintin‘s globe-trotting, 1930s adventures (similar to those of Indiana Jones), and the “uncanny valley” of realistically animated humans didn’t bother me as it does with Zemeckis’ works, partly because they were slightly caricaturized. I’d give Secret of the Unicorn a solid B, three stars, or 7.5 out of 10.

The apparent theme of many of the movies I’ve mentioned here is that retro films, especially swashbucklers, never truly go out of style. The Artist is no exception, both following and paying homage to the tropes of the silent era. The French film is set in Hollywood of the late 1920s and early 1930s and follows the charismatic George Valentin (Jean Dujardin as an analogue for Rudoph Valentino) and young actress Peppy Miller (played by Berenice Bejo) as their industry deals with changing technology and audience tastes. Valentin’s dog steals the show. I definitely recommend The Artist, which I’d give an A-, or four out of five stars, or 8.5 out of 10.

What were your favorite movies of the past year? I didn’t get to theaters quite as often as in previous years. In addition to those mentioned above, I liked The Mighty Thor, Captain America: the First Avenger, The Muppets, and Sherlock Holmes [2]: A Game of Shadows. In the next few months, I hope to catch Hugo (another retro film that Janice saw), the remake of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, and the actioner Haywire.

Looking further ahead, there’s planetary romance John Carter, superheroes Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises, dueling fairy tales Mirror, Mirror and Snow White and the Huntsman, James Bond in Skyfall, and of course, The Hobbit [1]: An Unexpected Journey!

Catching up from Christmas

I hope that all your holidays were happy and that you have a healthy and Happy New Year! Janice and I drove in my new car to her family in Upstate New York for Christmas. The capacious Honda Fit served us well, even if it got its first ding (in the windshield). Fortunately, the weather was mild and traffic was relatively light, even if children and skiers were disappointed by the lack of a white Christmas.

Among other things, I received more reference books on Arthurian lore, some cool Star Wars and gamer garb, food baskets, and a toaster oven. As usual, we also ate very well, caught up on Disney/Pixar movies, and played with my nephews’ superhero action figures and Lego sets. My thoughts are with ill relatives and friends.

Unlike several of my friends, I was busy with work in the week between Christmas and New Year’s, so I was unable to post to this blog. However, I don’t foresee any shortage of genre entertainment, food and travel, or politics to talk about in 2012!

In between work and the holidays, Janice and I ate at our usual haunts: Wild Willy’s Burgers, Acropolis, Subway, Chipotle, and the Ninety Nine (I’ll have to work it all off). I met fellow role-players Beruk A., Brian W., and James B. for lunch in Central Square, Cambridge, as well as fellow blogger Thomas K.Y. with his brother Tony and girlfriend Kai-Yin at Elephant Walk in Waltham, Massachusetts. I’ll look more at recent movies, comic books, and games in upcoming posts.

For New Year’s Eve, Janice and I walked to the First Night events in Needham, Mass. We enjoyed listening to the West Newton Ceili Band, Melodius Funk, and comedian John Colliton. In addition, we saw the newly renovated town hall, melting ice sculpture, and the colorful Quinobequin Quilters show.

This morning, Janice and I watched the annual Rose Parade, and we’ll be taking down our decorations as the holidays wind down. I hope that the global economy improves, people strive to peacefully overcome their differences, and to find time for all my friends and interests!

“Vortex” Update 5b.25 — Deal or no deal

Shadow vessel from "Babylon 5" — Spidery starship

Fellow role-players, here are my notes for Session 5b.25 of the “Vortex” space opera campaign. Team 2 met on Monday, 19 December 2011, and is using FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures/Mindjammer, Bulldogs, Diaspora, and Limitless Horizons.

In one future, humanity has begun to colonize the Sol system, but ecological degradation and internecine conflicts persist. Open and official First Contact with Galactic societies, themselves at war, threaten Terra’s very survival. Will heroes rise to the challenges?

A band of grifters and near-humans retrieved dangerous samples from a battlefield north of Karachi and the Ghanki undersea station. It stole starship engines from a lunar base and an orbital city and was involved in medical disasters in the Venusian colonies. After finding a dimensionally displaced derelict, the team made inquiries into its cargo amid religious turmoil on Titan….

>>FATE 3e “Vortex” Team 2 (5b), crew of the “Appomattox:”

-“Gabriel Adams” [Paul J.]-male North American Terran near-human with telepathy, courier and pilot

-“Hector Chavez” [Beruk A.]-male Latin American Terran human, “burned” operative and communications expert

-“Jasmine” [Sara F.] female Martian Felinoid (Synth, “Uplifted” tiger), former professional pit fighter

-“ARTHERR” [Greg D.C./absent]-Advanced Resonance Theoretical Heuristic Exploration and Research Robot created by megacorp Vimeco

-“Mr. Richmond Garrett” [Dave S.C./absent]-male Southern American Terran human, space snake-oil salesman and social climber

-“Dr. Dieter Klein” [Rich L./absent]-male European Terran human, semi-retired physician, altruist and thrill seeker

-“Nero Bartholomew” [Non-Player Character]-male Terran human, former owner of the “Fortune’s Fool,” ship’s cook

-“Averki ‘Deep Dish’ Dyashenko” [N.P.C.]-male reptilian Synth (genetically engineered humanoid), onetime Venusian miner

>>”8 to 14 November 2194 A.D./C.E. or 0 Terran Galactic Era:” After side trips to colonies on Venus and Saturn, the Appomattox delivered items from the Vatican museums to Epsilon Eridani, about 10.5 light-years (ly) from the Sol system. There, it met the Kazador, a trade vessel of the spider-like Nolath.

Hector Chavez briefs Jasmine on internal and external security precautions. Gunner Jasmine also checks on the yacht‘s missiles. Capt. Gabriel Adams, who distrusts the Nolath, scans for other ships in the area but finds none.

ARTHERR bids farewell to Titanian gynoids Tanya and Galia, who stay behind at Epsilon Eridani B to prepare for the Chengdu, a slower-than-light Terran generation ship. Richmond Garrett stalls for time, asking Capt. Stroja if he is interested in “Talosian wonder ointment.”

Engineer Hector customizes a missile to be remotely controlled and to carry a warhead to deliver an electromagnetic pulse (EMP). Burly Jasmine watches for potential drone boarders. Gabriel scans the Kazador and finds particle-beam weaponry. The pilot also sets a retreat course back to Earth.

Robot ARTHERR notes that the arachnid aliens may merely be intermediaries for someone else, who might be waiting at Luyten’s Star, a relatively close and potentially inhabitable system. Con artist Richmond instructs crewmembers Nero Bartholomew and Averki “Deep Dish” Dyashenko to rearrange the cargo bay.

Hector asks Jasmine to pose as captain to continue negotiations with the Nolath, but the tiger Synth declines. The former spy recommends backing out of the deal, and Gabriel agrees. Richmond, who accepted the mission from fixer “Ramon Sanchez” [Josh H./Greg/N.P.C.], sees no reason not to take payment of the remaining 20,000 credits (or NeoYen, kilocalories, or U.E.A. dollars).

ARTHERR argues that turning over cultural artifacts to the Nolath may not be in humanity’s best interests. Capt. Adams tells Capt. Stroja that his manifest does not match the cargo, so there must be a mistaken identity. The Appomattox goes to faster-than-light (FTL) Transit before the Kazador can scan it again.

During the week’s journey back to Earth, Hector considers diverting power from ship systems to improve the Appomattox‘s Ru’ulok (heavy-gravity reptilian alien) Transit drive beyond 1 ly per Terran day. Jasmine is disappointed at having to return to human space, and Gabriel wonders if his underworld contacts can help him find a proper recipient for the Vatican relics.

ARTHERR suggests the United Earth Authority or the United Ecumenical Movement, while Richmond entertains the castaways from the Razorfeather shipwreck — Olvar (mammal-like arboreal extraterrestrials) Maj. Mohing Lankel, Lt. Doina Claren, and Mr. Kares Mussur, as well as Cestolar (badger-like) envoy Yiushef of Geruno.

Hector and Jasmine warily watch the guests, since Yiushef warned that one is likely a saboteur. Gabriel asks his companions where in the Sol system they should go next….

Greg and Dave, we missed you at the last regular game of 2011! Weather permitting, Team 1 (the crew of the Blackbird) is scheduled for Monday, 9 January 2012. “Vortex” Team 2 will meet again on Jan. 16.

A makeup session for the Pathfinder/Skype: “the Vanished Lands” fantasy telecom team is planned for Friday, Dec. 30, 2011, and various one-shots have been proposed for next week and beyond. I hope that all your holidays are safe and happy, and I look forward to our adventures in the coming year! -Gene