This past week, I attended another going-away party for a co-worker, this time for Pat O., with whom I share a birthday. We went to Watch City Brewery on Waltham’s Moody Street. It’s a bit more spacious and easier to park near than Union Station in Newton, Massachusetts. However, it’s also farther from the “T,” which causes difficulties for those without cars. I’ve been busy with editing assignments in advance of Thanksgiving.
Byron V.O., an alumnus of the local role-playing groups who now lives in St. Louis, was in the Boston area this past week for work. On Friday, 18 November 2011, Byron met Thomas K.Y. & Kai-Yin H. at Janice’s and my place. We had dinner at Bertucci’s and hung out for a few hours afterward, talking about food, history, and movies.
I’ll post separately about the session, in which an adventuring party reunited in the Halmed Desert to deal with devils and return the city of Falit. The quick-and-dirty conversion worked fairly well — we’d have to review magic more carefully for an ongoing campaign — and I hope everybody had fun getting back into character.
I think Legends of Anglerre would be good for a new group and for simplifying higher-level characters. Most of my midlevel D&D and Pathfinder gamers would likely resist, however, because they have a lot of money and attachment invested in the current system and numerous powers/items. A few people have suggested using the modern supernatural Dresden Files, but I’d rather stick with Legends of Anglerre for traditional fantasy.
After another late night talking about politics, religion, and family, Byron and I drove back out to Framingham to pick up his gift basket. We saw a few morecostumes and had an easier time walking around the show, which was quieter on a Sunday morning. Janice had made breakfast, and we grabbed lunch at Wild Willy’s before Byron headed to the airport. Soon, millions of Americans will also be traveling!
Here are my results from an online survey. In the past, such tests have come up with the results of a Lawful Good human Paladin, a Neutral Good Half-Elf Ranger/Bard, and a Chaotic Neutral Halfling Rogue/Wizard.
>You Are a: Lawful Good Elf Wizard (5th Level)
>Ability Scores (and what I’d give myself):
–Strength: 12 (11)
–Dexterity: 12 (12)
–Constitution: 12 (11)
–Intelligence: 14 (13)
–Wisdom: 12 (12)
–Charisma: 13 (12)
>Alignment: Lawful Good — A lawful good character acts as a good person is expected or required to act. He combines a commitment to oppose evil with the discipline to fight relentlessly. He tells the truth, keeps his word, helps those in need, and speaks out against injustice. A lawful good character hates to see the guilty go unpunished. Lawful good is the best alignment you can be because it combines honor and compassion. However, lawful good can be a dangerous alignment when it restricts freedom and criminalizes self-interest.
>Race: Elves are known for their poetry, song, and magical arts, but when danger threatens they show great skill with weapons and strategy. Elves can live to be over 700 years old and, by human standards, are slow to make friends and enemies, and even slower to forget them. Elves are slim and stand 4.5 to 5.5 feet tall. They have no facial or body hair, prefer comfortable clothes, and possess unearthly grace. Many others races find them hauntingly beautiful.
>Class: Wizards are arcane spellcasters who depend on intensive study to create their magic. To wizards, magic is not a talent but a difficult, rewarding art. When they are prepared for battle, wizards can use their spells to devastating effect. When caught by surprise, they are vulnerable. The wizard’s strength is her spells, everything else is secondary. She learns new spells as she experiments and grows in experience, and she can also learn them from other wizards. In addition, over time a wizard learns to manipulate her spells so they go farther, work better, or are improved in some other way. A wizard can call a familiar- a small, magical, animal companion that serves her. With a high Intelligence, wizards are capable of casting very high levels of spells.
>>FATE 3e “Vortex” Team 1 (5a), crew of the Blackbird:
-“Syzygy” [Brian W.]-Trinoid (trilateral amphibious alien) xenologist with an organic laboratory and a pet cat named “Mr. Sniffles”
-“Tela” [Sara F.]-female Tharian (winged reptilian humanoid alien) escapee from the Encegulans, engineer
-“Chris McKee/Agent Prometheus” [Josh C.]-male Terran cyborg human sniper working for eugenicists at Black Box Security Co.
-“Aughest-vor…” [Jason E.R.]-male human from the Lemuria orbital city, onetime dilettante, solar-sail racer, pilot
-“Lt. Kevin Reese” [Bruce K.]-male Terran human, burned-out officer and explorer in the Interplanetary Patrol
-“Scoop Chang” [Rich C.G.]-male Jovian “near-human,” interstellar reporter kidnapped by the Olvar; psi interested in First Contacts
-“Tariq Asrad Saladin” [Beruk A.]-male Terran “near-human,” seeker of enlightenment and investigator met aboard the Ma’ari ship Cyan Horizon
-“Gombo Shisel” [Rich L./absent]-male Mongolian/Martian human, former horse rancher and wilderness survival expert
-“Dr. Bucket” [Non-Player Character]-United Earth Authority astromech robot assigned to the Blackbird
>>”25 to 31 October 2194 A.D./C.E. or 0 Terran Galactic Era:” At BD+04-123, or 96 Piscium, the Blackbirdhad found a planet with ancient canals and dinosaur-like creatures. The explorers also encountered a Talari — a huge ark ship of the mysterious Ma’ari.
After some debate in reaction to the brusque invitation from the Ma’ari, the crew agrees to visit the Cyan Horizon. Aughest-vor… pilots the drop ship Dragonfly into a landing bay, where he is greeted by trade envoy Rilga and Asdann Fre’vel, an impatient Gustrall (orange-furred, antlered, avian/raptor-like alien) guard. The Ma’ari themselves turn out to be pale humanoids with large, dark eyes and are only about 1 meter tall.
Rilga, who is more relaxed in attitude than many of her fellow wanderers, takes the Terrans, Trinoid, and Tharian on a tour. She intensifies the ambient light locally since the Ma’ari see in the ultraviolet.
Tela asks to see engineering, and Rilga takes the group to a compartment that uses zero-point energy for both inertialess maneuvering and faster-than-light (FTL) travel. Syzygy notes that the Ma’ari have been starfarers for about 10,000 Earth years, so some of their technology is more advanced than the Blackbird‘s or even that of the Trinoids.
Asdann warns Chris McKee that because the Ma’ari have been traveling for so long, several areas of the Talari don’t respect central authority and may thus be dangerous for visitors. Aughest-vor notices that his party is being quietly watched by the curious Ma’ari as they walk around their vessel.
Lt. Kevin Reese shares superficial details about the Sol system and asks for a holographic display of the various species aboard the Cyan Horizon. He sees the positions of a few other humans, Olvar (arboreal, mammal-like mystics), and even Tharians! Tela manages to tear herself away from the power generators and is excited to meet others of her kind for the first time as an adult.
Scoop Chang instructs EVE, his hovering robotic camera, to record everything. He and Kevin warn robot Dr. Bucket back on the Blackbird to move confidential data to protect it from unauthorized Ma’ari scans. Syzygy and Aughest believe the effort is futile because of the difference in tech levels.
Rilga and Asdann escort Syzygy and company through garden levels and a waste processing plant. The xenologist is happy to obtain samples from scientist Murilo for later study and learns that Ma’ari biochemistry is different from that of humans. They then go to residential areas, including an Escher-like maze of passages with localized gravity and a space for artistic performances.
A group of Ma’ari sit with their legs folded as one named Kasfel telekinetically shapes and colors a living mass. Syzygy, who normally objects to the creation of artificial sentience, has no problem with this strange sculpture. Tela looks for other Tharians.
Aughest-vor, normally friend to all, finds the small, staring extraterrestrials disconcerting. Observant Lt. Reese spots a human in the audience, while Scoop briefly joins the circle telepathically. The retro hipster journalist finds that the Ma’ari do not have a hive mind.
Kasfel invites wary Chris to join him in Heliconian Twisting, a “biomechanical self-defense form of expression.” Agent Prometheus steps into the circle, thinking that he’ll be sparring with just Kasfel, but four groups of three Ma’ari each emerge!
One martial artist leaps toward Chris, who knocks him down and puts his knee on his chest. However, the diminutive foe is double-jointed and easily slips out of a joint lock. Syzygy, who has brought along his cat Mr. Sniffles in a carrier, senses nothing untoward.
Stealthy Tela sidles up to the Terran in the audience. Tariq Asrad Saladin places bets on the newcomers and describes himself as a “seeker of enlightenment.” Aughest grabs a bo stick, and Scoop uses Genurgy to grow wings and pick him up. Kevin goes to sweep the leg of yet another Ma’ari, and the lights go out!
Scoop activates EVE’s spotlight, and Syzygy asks Rilga about the rules of the sparring match. A second Ma’ari is hurled at Chris, but he blocks the blow. When all sound in the chamber is dampened, Tela uses an EMP gun to against the counterwave emitters, knocking out artificial gravity in the process!
The acrobatic Ma’ari have little difficulty maneuvering in weightlessness, but Mr. Sniffles isn’t happy. Scoop and solar-sail racer Aughest slam into a wall before pushing off back into the fray with bo sticks and mental bolts. Chris and Kevin hold their own until Kasfel agrees to call the match a draw, disappointing Tariq.
Rilga brings the away team to the main bridge of the Cyan Horizon, a spherical room whose crew stands on hovering platforms amid multicolored displays of ship functions and interstellar space. Capt. Lurandi directs drones that resemble hummingbirds and coolly greets the humans, still sweating from their recent exertions.
Syzygy asks the Ma’ari for help removing Chris’ cranial implants, and Lurandi orders physician “Felana” [Jenna R.P./Non-Player Character] to prepare the patient for surgery. While Tela and Aughest hope to learn more from archivist Hublo, Agent Prometheus’ self-preservation subroutine activates, and the sniper bolts for the door!
Lt. Reese tackles his onetime brother in arms (back on Mars), drawing a stun grenade — and the ire of Scoop and Lurandi. Kevin explains that Black Box Security Co. has compromised Chris’ health and free will, but Scoop and Tariq worry about offending the Ma’ari and that his faculties would be diminished if his cyberware is removed.
Felana reassures Syzygy that the microprocessors could be reimplanted if so desired by Chris and company. Asdann confiscates the interlopers’ weapons (and promises to return them later). Syzygy and Kevin stay with Agent Prometheus as Felana and her drones operate.
Rilga leads the others through twisting tunnels until they come to a nest of conduits near a sensor array. Tela sees a male Tharian, whose glider wings and low frill resemble her own, rather than that of another caste. Kedar seems just as awkwardly excited as Tela, unexpectedly bringing out Aughest, Scoop, and Tariq’s paternal instincts. They reluctantly give the gargoyle-like pair some privacy as they compare technical notes.
While Chris recuperates and Tela canoodles, the rest of the Blackbird‘s crew and Tariq go to meet Kligba Onagan, an Olvar who had contacted Syzygy on behalf of the Kharvamid Alliance. They enter a darkened apartment and talk with a hooded figure seated behind a curved desk.
Syzygy and Aughest respond that they are no assassins, and Scoop detects no mental activity. Tariq hangs back as the person is revealed to be a xenoid (alien android). The real Kligba arrives and warns that the Sol system is in the path of the dreaded Zarkonian Armada! Laransu and other worlds have already fallen [see earlier update for a list of alien species].
The agent of the Olvar Star League tells Syzygy, off the record, that the crustaceans will reach human space in about a Terran year. The Ma’ari are neutral, he says, but they encountered the Zarkonians millennia ago, and their arks could be helpful. Syzygy agrees that while they are often divided, humans have potential and are worth trying to save.
When the humans express a desire to head home to relay the warning to the United Earth Authority, Kligba responds that a Precursor FTL gate has been set up at Oasis Station, about 40 parsecs from Sol (three weeks’ travel for the Morifaiwet). It would enable them to communicate with or travel to Earth even more rapidly than with its REM drive.
Aughest-vor recognizes the need for Terrans to find allies and not to dawdle, as Kligba reminds him that humans will soon be traveling through the space they’re exploring. Lt. Reese hopes to gain strategic information from Kharvamid contacts at the interstellar crossroads, but Scoop is more optimistic about the Ru’ulok (reptilian heavy-gravity pirates) and Zarkonians.
The crew of the Blackbird reconvenes with Lurandi. Syzygy thanks the Ma’ari for their hospitality, and Tela invites Kedar to come along to Oasis Station. He and Tariq accept, with Kedar and Tela bunking in their scout ship’s engineering and Tariq taking Tela’s cabin. (Scoop had already taken Gombo’s quarters.)
Chris seems happy to be free of his cranial implants, but he is still interested in going hunting with Asdann. Aughest-vor asks xenoid Hublo for astrogation advice for avoiding Kuvor’s Veil, a nebula between the Sol system and Ru’ulok territory.
During a private meeting, Capt. Lurandi tells Lt. Reese that she’ll send Felana and a delegation to advise the U.E.A. as soon as possible. Kevin also wants to ask for a cloaking device, but Scoop instead recommends improving long-range FTL communications. Syzygy says they should weigh their options before making any more requests and departing….
I hope that everyone had a good time, even as we had a full basement! Brian, thanks again for picking up dinner from Pronti Bistro, and thanks to everyone for replenishing our munchies. Beruk, I’m glad you were able to make a cameo. I hope that Bruce and Rich can return the favor sometime to Team 2 (the grifters aboard the Appomattox).
I hope to see some of you at the Super MegaFest or whatever game we play during Byron V.O.’s visit this coming Saturday, Nov. 19! Remember that we won’t be role-playing on Nov. 20, 21, or 27, or Dec. 5, and let me know your availability for Nov. 28 and Dec. 12. Have a Happy Thanksgiving, -Gene
Fellow role-players, here is my update for Session T3.35 of the latest adventuring party in my “Vanished Lands” heroic fantasy campaign setting. The teleconferencing team met on Sunday, 13 November 2011, 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 autumn 2011:
-“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 horse Onimusha; NGl, Age 20, Lvl. 4
-“Jovinda Halflight” [Sammy H.]-female Half-Elf (Grugach/Hifalendorin) Cleric of Mekkil, goddess of nature; owner of horse Wyth-Amoi, or “Wind Spirit”; 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
-“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
>>”2 to 5 November 1229 B.C.E.:” Upon emerging from the barrow of a talking unicorn and Sidhe, the trio of Asish, Jovinda, and Kazuo found that nearly two months had passed. They visited the border village of Tarken to learn the whereabouts of their traveling companions and steeds, as well as the fanatical followers of the mysterious Vappu Lahja….
Asish rises shortly after dawn, little the worse for wear after drinking too much cider the night before. The Ranger finds Jovinda praying and Kazuo meditating outside the “Charging Cow” inn.
After breakfast, Halfling innkeeper Dwight directs Asish to the Hollysharp pipeweed farm. Jovinda and Kazuo talk with Holsaf Silbirch and Charon Galacticus [Carlos R./Non-Player Character], two Sylvan (Wood) Elves, to ask about their onetime traveling companions.
Holsaf, an arcanist with a bejeweled longsword, says he is visiting colleague Charon, who carries scrolls and a longbow. The latter Elf recalls meeting Digger, Kovar, and Gawain a few weeks ago [in “game time”]. Holsaf is visiting from Evesboro, which he says has been relatively quiet since the Orcs and Drow of Zuromm turned their attention south, to the human kingdom of Saganim.
Unaccustomed to hiking on foot, Asish makes his way to the farm of Digger’s family. The Tsucharim human finds industrious Faldine Halflings processing pipeweed for shipment. In one low-ceilinged hall, Asish meets Jamian, Digger’s eldest brother.
The brusque merchant accepts a gift of dried tea leaves and complains that Davven would rather wander than stay at the academy in Alfendi or work in the family business. Jamian admits to trading harsh words with his brother when he last visited, and he believes that the scholar and his retinue headed north, toward the Elven city of Alfendi, after looking for Asish.
Serious Holsaf and flirtatious Charon express some interest in trading and studying enchanted items, which Jovinda hopes to trade in exchange for cash for replacement steeds. Monk Kazuo wants for few provisions, but Cleric Jovinda is curious about the party of “Jade” [Sammy/N.P.C.] and notes that paying missions would be nice.
Asish asks for help acquiring travel rations and horses, so Jamian directs him to another brother, Panros, whom he had met previously. After some haggling, Panros sells Asish two riding horses and a mule with harness, tack, and feed for 292 crowns (gold pieces). The scout agrees to collect them the next morning and to not tell Jamian about any bargains.
Meanwhile, Jovinda and Kazuo go to a stable at the edge of the village to offer their services. The priestess of Mekkil, goddess of nature, asks ostler Gothard if any stray animals have been found in the past month or so. The wiry human says that some peasants found a horse wandering several weeks ago.
Jovinda is delighted to be reunited with Wyth-Amoi (“Wind Spirit”), and she and Kazuo agree to tend to injured or sick animals for 40 crowns. The Nezumi later tells Asish of their good fortune, and the scout is determined to find his own horse and dog again. Gothard recovers Jovinda’s saddle and clothing, which she had also thought lost, from the farmers.
Asish sells a magical dagger to Charon and decides to still get two horses even though Jovinda has recovered Wyth-Amoi and Kazuo has no interest (or skill) in riding. The next day, Asish, Jovinda, and Kazuo head north, following the Aevril Stream and a map of Ley lines.
Kazuo’s keen nose detects that a dog has recently marked trees at the edge of the wide Wisalef Forest. Asish is excited to find tracks of a horse, presumably Onimusha, and a dog, likely Genghis, and he presses on. The Tsucharim rider soon detects another set of footprints, belonging to a creature he can’t identify.
The trio hears barking and runs to see Onimusha and Genghis raggedly defending themselves against a large monster with canine hindquarters, long forelimbs ending in grasping claws, and a head that resembles a steaming rabbit skull!
Angry Asish draws his bow, wise Jovinda invokes her patron Mekkil, and nimble Kazuo maneuvers around….
Even though we’ll have to wait until Sunday, Dec. 4, to play this game again, I’m sure we’ll be eager to pick up where we left off! Byron, I look forward to seeing you when you visit the Boston area this coming weekend! Sammy and Taum, I’m sorry that you won’t be able to join whatever one-shot we play next Saturday, but I’ll try to touch base with you between our virtual sessions. Take it easy, -Gene
On Thursday, 10 November 2011, Janice and I had dinner at the Acropolisrestaurant in Needham, Massachusetts. The next evening, we settled in for the usual night of animation and genre television. We enjoyed Cartoon Network’s premiere of Green Lantern: the Animated Series, which combines Bruce Timm’s streamlined style from his superb 1990s shows with computer animation similar to that in Star Wars: Clone Wars.
Speaking of Clone Wars, I think the darkening tone befits a war that began with idealism and ended with critically weakened democracies, much like World War I. On a related note, famed comic book creator Frank Miller lobbed a rhetorical grenade into debate around the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street movements. I don’t deny that there have been difficulties with latter’s focus and safety, but I also believe that questioning economic fairness is no less patriotic than fighting terrorism. Science fiction author David Brin posted a strong retort, and I wish that both liberals and conservatives alike would strive harder to stay civil.
After raking leaves on Saturday, we ate at the Texas Road House, whose Dallas filet steak I enjoyed. I also liked Masterpiece: Contemporary’s Page Eight, an all-star musing on British national security and bureaucracy (not unlike Homeland). On Sunday, Janice and I attended a performance of works by Bach, Respighi, Haydn, and Brahms by the Rivers Symphony Orchestra at Christ Church in Needham.
Gene's Worlds 