“Vortex” Update 5a.21 — Escape from Boobulon!

Fellow role-players, here are Josh’s and my notes for Session 5a.21 of the “Vortex” space opera campaign. Team X met on Monday, 12 September 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?

Two aliens and their human allies encountered xenophobes and megacorporate intrigues on and around Earth. After visiting factionalized Mars and acquiring a starship in the Asteroid Belt from the Olvar Star League, they continued their mission of diplomacy and exploration to Titan, Tyche, and beyond….

>>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

-“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

>>”The Blackbird Chronicles, 8 to 14 October 2194 A.D./C.E. or 0 Terran Galactic Era:” After successful first contacts at Alpha Centauri and Van Maanen’s Star, the Blackbird evaded a trap at Cetus Eridani. From there, the Olvar scout ship went to Beta Canum Venaticorum on its way to Oasis Station, about 40 parsecs from Earth….

>>Scene 1: The caves of squeal/Thanks for the mammaries [From the notes of “Agent Prometheus:”]

On “planet Henson,” nicknamed for its exotic life forms, we left the drop ship Dragonfly under the watchful eye of the natives. Some of them approached us, but communications initially proved to be difficult. Lt. Kevin Reese tried to talk with the green-skinned humanoids until our ship’s translation program began to work.

Eventually, one three-breasted woman stepped forward as their leader and identified herself as Magabelka. She spoke English and somehow recognized the Morifaiwet — the Olvar scout ship we renamed the Blackbird — even though it was still in orbit, and we had seen no signs of high technology.

All of us were invited into a temple, carved into the side of high cliffs. The scantily-clad priestesses recognized Syzygy as a Trinoid. Magabelka, who wore a feathered headdress, explained that travelers from her home planet and beyond often offered goods in trade for enlightenment [insert Heavy Metal soundtrack here].

Three-armed Syzygy partook of alien food and offered a gift of a bioluminescent spore in return. Tela touched geometric patterns on the gold-encrusted pillars of the temple to the elemental mother. The local culture apparently had specialized roles for each gender.

I [Chris McKee] accepted acolyte Lirmapia’s offer of bliss, and Aughest-vor… had a similar, if less exciting, experience of “enlightenment” with “Boobulon” priestess Magabelka. He renamed the planet “Hefner.” I was unsure of how to process my experiences, which didn’t involve guns. Frustrated, Lt. Reese tried to communicate with Dr. Bucket in orbit.

That night, Tela sneaked off to explore, but she encountered spear-toting guards. Dr. Bucket eventually told Aughest and Kevin that the translator had parsed Old Norse [insert Stargate SG1 soundtrack here] and that our ship’s sensors had detected cloaked energy readings. The Interplanetary Patrol officer warily talked with sentry Lankpor.

>>Scene 2: Bugging out

The humans in our crew interrupted Syzygy’s sleep, and the scientist agreed to return to the Blackbird to analyze his biological samples. On behalf of Black Box Security Co., I went to talk with Magabelka about future relations (even though I would have liked something to shoot at). Pilot Aughest took Syzygy back to orbit on the Dragonfly.

Meanwhile, as we later learned, engineer Tela found a concealed door, behind which she saw gleaming technology and Ru’ulok (heavy-gravity reptilian aliens) in silver spacesuits! The Tharian tried to glide away, but she was spotted by the Boobulon guards and “treed” on a pillar.

Kevin and I were eventually reunited with Tela. He talked her down, and we apologized to the acolytes as we hastily departed with the Tiger Hawk Sandstorm modular ground-effect vehicle. Tela reported that she had found a Ru’ulok mining operation hidden beneath the Boobulon temple.

After Aughest-vor picked us up with the Blackbird, we debated whether to contact the interolopers via radio. We eventually talked with Ru’ulok miner Reveek, who claimed that he had negotiated for rights to the planet’s heavy metals, including gold and beryllium, a component in faster-than-light drives. We didn’t trust the Ru’ulok, so we sent warnings to the Kharvamid Alliance and United Earth Authority.

From the genetic and linguistic samples, as well as gaps in the Olvar records, Syzygy concluded that planet “Henson/Hefner” was seeded with genetically engineered organisms derived from Terran stock about 1,000 (Earth) years ago. However, the xenologist was uncertain of whether the Ru’ulok were responsible.

>>Scene 3: Back in deep space

Aughest-vor… scanned and set a course for BD+04-123, the next inhabitable system on the way to Oasis Station. Syzygy examined me and found no sign of drugs. Tela was still scared of the Ru’ulok, allies of her onetime captors, the Encegulans. Lt. Reese ordered an immediate departure from Beta Canum Venaticorum, although I would have preferred to investigate further.

Once Tela verified that our REM drive was working, the Blackbird reentered Transit space. This time in FTL, our crew experienced a shared dream of being in archaic garb in a dungeon setting!

>Out-of-character notes: Chris became addicted to “enlightenment,” and he and Kevin exchanged some harsh words. The issue was tabled for now, but we may return. Also, when Tela went off by herself, she did find Ru’ulok in containment suits in a lab hidden underneath the temple where the party was staying. This was not explored further.

It was good to see everyone in Team 1, and I look forward to the latest schemes of the Appomattox crew tonight (Monday, 19 September 2011). The Pathfinder/Skype: “the Vanished Lands” fantasy telecom team is still going through some scheduling hiccups. Please note that the next “Vortex” Team 1 game will be on Monday, Oct. 3. Be seeing you, -Gene

“Vortex” Update 5b.19 — On a mission from God?

Infinite diversity in infinite combinations

Fellow role-players, here are my notes for Session 5b.19 of the “Vortex” space opera campaign. Team 2 met on Monday, 29 August 2011, and is using FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures/Mindjammer, Bulldogs, Diaspora, and Limitless Horizons.

After encountering robotic probes, regional warlords, and other horrors in an old battlefield and the Ghanki undersea station, a band of grifters and near-humans escaped to the Shepard 2 orbital city. It conducted a successful heist in the Lunar Free State and was involved in medical disasters in the Venusian colonies before returning to Earth to steal a faster-than-light drive…..

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

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

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

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

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

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

-“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 10 October 2194 A.D./C.E. or 0 Terran Galactic Era:” Sometime after delivering the Dawn’s Retreat to the United Earth Authority, the crew of the Appomattox arrived at Saturn’s moon Titan. At the Eclipse Station infirmary, Mr. Richmond Garrett had posed as a faith healer with help from ARTHERR, who had tapped a medical database. They and Jasmine then conducted an impromptu rally at the local chapel.

Still in beta, ARTHERR scans the crowd for marks, such as people with mild or terminal illnesses not treatable by the infirmary. Jasmine, who had asked Delphine (“Uplifted” dolphin) astrogator Erta Garza to join her crew, tries to suppress her disapproval of Richmond’s latest scam.

Despite his ignorance of theology, Mr. Garrett eagerly lays hands on Marcus Schlager, a hunched miner unable to receive lung transplants. The space snake-oil salesman also convinces Camille Dubois, a well-preserved madam from the orbital casino, that her bad luck in needing organ replacements can be reversed if she gets boyfriend Howard to commit to holy matrimony.

Meanwhile, Capt. Gabriel Adams talks with gynoids Tanya and Galia in an attempt to get them to join the Appomattox crew and plan a heist of the Lucky Garden Casino. Hector Chavez monitors communications from the yacht and reminds his companions of their appointment at the United Ecumenical Movement (U.E.M.) offices in New Quebec.

Gabriel and Hector still don’t trust the cargo that Richmond accepted from fixer Ramon Sanchez [Josh H./Greg/Non-Player Character]. The Appomattox is supposed to take items from the Vatican Museums to an unknown recipient in the Epsilon Eridani system. (Several parsecs from there, the Blackbird escapes an ambush at Cetus Eridani.)

Mr. Garrett — not to be confused any longer with Dr. Garrett — uses the placebo effect to “cure” hypochondriac Halil Torralua, who promptly disrobes before the crowd in a new bid for attention. The spiritual revival meeting begins to break up as the sheriff and people in dark suits arrive.

One of the newcomers angrily quotes scripture and says that the false prophets will be punished. A canine Synth (genetically engineered humanoid) readily agrees, even as Jasmine tries to engage the angry man in conversation. Richmond slips into the crowd to get away from the constabulary and protesters.

ARTHERR finds some construction debris and shoots out a light fixture, but mighty Jasmine saves the zealot by shoving him out of the way. Capt. Garzan Cisneros and Lt. Yasmin Al-Ghuj order the crowd to disperse, as Rev. Winston Jones arrives from the casino and closes the chapel doors.

Hugh Doyle thanks Jasmine for saving him from possible electrocution, and he invites her to join a Brotherhood of Illumination protest against the U.E.M. presence in New Quebec. Richmond and company later regroup at their ship.

Hector pilots the Appomattox from Eclipse Station to Titan‘s methane-shrouded surface. ARTHERR does some research on Archbishop Javier Fuentes and learns that the Roman Catholic chaplain served alongside U.E.A. troops during the Second Interplanetary War. The robot explains to Jasmine that it occurred about 30 (Terran) years ago between megacorporations and Martian colonists, including Synths.

Richmond dons the captain’s coat with brass buttons, gold braid, and epaulets that he took from the Dawn’s Retreat and orders crewmen Nero Bartholomew and Averki “Deep Dish” Dyashenko to clean his cabin.

Still unsure why the U.E.M. has reassigned so many personnel to the Sol system’s outer colonies, ARTHERR, Jasmine, and Richmond find its outpost in domed New Quebec. Acolytes explain that monks will conduct a thorough brain probe, and Mr. Garrett balks.

As an alternative, Sister Indrani Bhai introduces the visitors to Mother Superior Magdelena de la Cruz. The matronly cleric offers Richmond a rare mint julep, which he later realizes was poisoned with some relaxant. ARTHERR, sensing that something is amiss, vacuums and emits a high-pitched sound as distractions.

The Southern gentleman parries most of the nun’s questions about his stint as surgeon general of the Venusian colonies during a plague and the disaster at Kardikea Stadium. With help from his droid and Tiger-woman friends, Richmond manages to convince Mother Superior de la Cruz of his improving morals with circumstantial evidence.

The trio then goes to the wood-paneled office of Archbishop Fuentes. The Jesuit-trained eminence remains skeptical of Richmond’s newfound piety, but he asks the Appomattox crew to volunteer to aid the outer colonies anyway.

Jasmine asks about the U.E.M.’s stance on Synths, and the priest replies that after the Second Interplanetary War and First Contact with aliens, the church has accepted that nonhumans may have souls and are free to worship as they see fit. He also apologizes for Shifu Nurdin Subaja’s previous insensitivity.

ARTHERR notices items in the room, such as silver crucifixes, a marble baptismal font full of holy water, worn space armor, a jar of salt from the Sea of Galilee, linen shrouds, and a leather-bound copy of the Malleus Maleficarum. He compares them against the ship’s manifest but finds no matches.

Richmond expresses interest in the artifacts, and Archbishop Fuentes explains that some people find foci of worship helpful, while others meditate in different ways. The soldier of God explains that, after the destruction of holy sites on Earth, religious leaders agreed to focus on their commonalities (and humanity’s nascent psionic abilities, notes Gabriel remotely). However, as Rev. Jones and Mr. Doyle demonstrate, not everyone wants to be under “the big tent,” he says.

ARTHERR is confused because his theory that the U.E.M. wants the cargo planted far from Earth to convert more Terrans and aliens isn’t supported by the archbishop’s statements. Jasmine records images for Hector, and Richmond recalls some of the horrors encountered near Karachi.

Sister Indrani interrupts with news from Eclipse Station: Hugh Doyle has been found murdered, his intestines splayed out in a pentagram. The archbishop expresses regret, because even though the preacher was no friend to the U.E.M., anyone who would harm him or try to create a martyr doesn’t serve the divine will. Fuentes asks the Appomattox away team to return to the station to investigate…

Paul and Beruk, we missed you at this week’s game! Please let me know when either of you will be available for upcoming sessions of “Vortex” or the Pathfinder/Skype: “the Vanished Lands” telecom fantasy group. In the meantime, “Vortex” Team 1 is scheduled to meet next on Monday, 12 September 2011, followed by Team 2 on Sept. 19. Have a good Labor Day weekend! -Gene

Summer 2011 winds down

Although I’ve been dealing with several big projects at work, I’ve also been out of the office a bit lately. On Wednesday, 24 August 2011, I joined Janice at her department‘s clambake at Steep Hill Beach on the scenic Crane Estate. We had met Corbin A.Y. and family on the North Shore just a few weeks before that at Malt Hill in Beverly, Massachusetts. The grounds of the vacation home he and Andria K.Y. rented with his boss provided a pleasant retreat.

I enjoyed the shrimp, clams, mussels, and lobster at the clambake, but Janice had few alternatives to seafood — a rack of short ribs and corn bread. Most of her co-workers went down to the beach, and we checked out the impressive grounds of the mansion. The traffic on Route 128/I95 both ways was heavy, even though we tried to avoid rush hour.

We probably won’t get to the Marshfield Fair or the King Richard’s Faire this year because of other travel. Hurricane Irene brought heavy rain and high winds to the entire East Coast of the U.S., but we were spared the worst damage. After last week’s earthquake and the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks approaching, skittishness was understandable. Needham Heights did lose power for a short time around midday on Sunday, Aug. 28.

Since as many as 20 people died, I think it was prudent to evacuate coastal areas from North Carolina through Long Island — it’s better to be safe than sorry. Fortunately, Janice and I had gotten some low-hanging branches removed and our gutters cleaned in the past few weeks. We did have to pick up numerous smaller branches.

I had hoped to see the Conan the Barbarian or Fright Night remakes with Thomas K.Y. and Josh C., but they and the Pathfinder/Skype: “the Vanished Lands” telecom fantasy game will have to wait until people’s mutual schedules clear up. At least the half-season premiere of Doctor Who was entertaining.

I had to work from home again yesterday because power to my office and the Riverside MBTA station was out. Unfortunately, I didn’t check my e-mail beforehand and drove to work, finding out about the building closure only after dealing with detours caused by fallen trees.

On a sadder note, I recently learned that Ray C. and a former co-worker at BNA in Washington, D.C., had died. Ray was a good friend in my early years of high school, and like the late Bill B., we shared budding interests in science fiction, fantasy, and role-playing games. They’ll be missed.

“Vortex” Update 5a.20 — It’s a trap!

Scene from Return of the Jedi — Adm. Ackbar

Fellow role-players, here are my notes for Session 5a.20 of the “Vortex” space opera campaign. Team 1 met on Monday, 22 August 2011, and is using FATE 3e Starblazer Adventures/Mindjammer, Bulldogs, Diaspora, and Limitless Horizons.

>>FATE 3e “Vortex” Team 1 (5a), crew of the Blackbird:

-“Syzygy” [Brian W./absent]-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

-“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

>>”4 to 7 October 2194 A.D./C.E. or 0 Terran Galactic Era:” The crew of the Blackbird had successfully negotiated a truce between the technocratic city-state of Albahaven and the Corvell Unity, a religious monarchy. The Salvorain were descendants of Aquarian miners beneath the oceans of “Dorian Gray,” a moon of gas giant “Methuselah” orbiting Van Maanen’s Star.

Syzygy realizes that although he has sent reports to the Kharvamid Alliance, the Aquarian homeworld probably won’t send anyone to Van Maanen’s Star anytime soon because it is threatened by the Zarkonian Armada. Tela readies the scout ship’s REM faster-than-light (FTL) drive with help from Dr. Bucket and spider drones.

Chris McKee stashes the crystal-tipped trident he obtained from the Salvorain, and impatient Lt. Kevin Reese asks Aughest-vor… to set a course for Oasis Station, about 40 parsecs from Earth. Aughest notes that because of the REM drive’s side effect of fatigue on the crew, the Blackbird should stop every few (Terran) days and explore.

The humans lay in a course for LP 771-095, or Cetus Eridani, a trinary star system about 7 parsecs from Sol. They don’t expect to find life because one of the stars emits hazardous flares. The Olvar (mammal-like arboreal alien) database lists three barren planets and numerous asteroids.

The Blackbird receives a distress call from the “Dezorici,” a vessel of unknown origin that says it was disabled by a flare. Syzygy translates using a galactic standard code, and Tela prepares rescue and salvage tools. Chris and Kevin hastily rearrange the cargo bay to accommodate up to 20 short-term passengers.

Aughest-vor taps his astrogation training to approach Cetus Eridani, cruising between complex gravitational pulls and asteroids. Syzygy detects life signs on the derelict ship, but Tela notices an energy surge as the Blackbird passes through a force field, disabling its FTL capabilities! Agent Prometheus suspects a trap and goes to his turret.

As Aughest-vor veers away from the Dezorici, six smaller craft begin pursuit. Lt. Reese scans the ships, which he and Aughest dub “squltures” because of their squid-like tentacles and vulture-like necks and metallic beaks. Chris shoots asteroids to clear an exit route.

Tela scrambles to restore the REM drive and asks for more information about the source of the disruption. Syzygy scans the local star and finds that it has been dormant and couldn’t have disabled any ship, confirming suspicions of a trap.

The squltures fire particle beams at the Blackbird, so engineer Tela sends robot Dr. Bucket and the drones to handle damage control while she focuses on the FTL. Hotshot pilot Aughest-vor flies perpendicular to the ecliptic and heads for open space, and Kevin reroutes systems to help Tela.

Gunner Chris provides cover fire with the particle cannon, and xenologist Syzygy identifies the attackers as Kutalrin, artificial intelligences and scavengers. Interplanetary Patrol officer Lt. Reese finds the FTL disruptor field emitters, which were hidden along a likely approach route through the asteroid field.

One of the pursuers is nearly destroyed by Agent Prometheus’ ion beam, as Syzygy verifies that the life signs on the Dezorici were too regular and therefore fake. Chris asks for a delay to finish off more of the enemies, but Lt. Reese overrules him, concerned about getting rammed.

Rather than swing back around toward the field emitters, Aughest-vor activates the afterburner (aftermarket Yoyodne Oscillation Overthruster) to outrun the squltures. The former solar-sail racer buys Tela the time she needs to finish repairs on the REM drive.

Trinoid Syzygy scans for intraship transmissions and observes that the Kutalrin, still in pursuit, may have a hive mind and might be working with or for someone else lurking in the system. Kevin sends warnings to the United Earth Authority and the Olvar Star League.

In a fraction of the time starship engine repairs should take, by the book, Tela restores the Blackbird‘s FTL. Aughest-vor lays in a course toward Mu Aquilae and punches it, leaving Cetus Eridani and the squltures light-years behind.

For once, pilot Aughest-vor and Lt. Reese aren’t affected by the REM drive in Transit space. They are disturbed to find Syzygy in his quarters, partly enveloped by his biomechanical laboratory, which is plugged into the ship.

Chris stumbles giddily through the corridors, offering brownies to everyone, including Dr. Bucket (whom he normally distrusts). Meanwhile, Tela falls into a deep sleep in her hammock in engineering. Aughest takes the Blackbird out of FTL, and Kevin successfully reprograms the ship’s computers after getting Syzygy to sheepishly disengage.

After a few pots of coffee, Tela is again fit for duty, and the Blackbird heads to Beta Canum Venaticorum, a binary system about 8 parsecs from Sol. According to a 1,000-year-old (Terran time) record in the Olvar database, stars Chara and Asterion are orbited by two gas giants, at least one rockball, and one “Goldilocks” world with two moons.

Leaving the Blackbird in orbit with Dr. Bucket keeping watch, the crew takes the Dragonfly drop ship down to the planet, which has water oceans, lush vegetation, and no signs of modern civilization. As he pilots over herds of feathered beasts and alongside pterodactyl-like avians, Aughest-vor nicknames the planet “Henson” for its exotic life.

Chris notices that some of the flying creatures have humanoid riders! They direct the Dragonfly toward a mountain, where the intrepid offworlders land and take the Tiger Hawk Sandstorm ground-effect vehicle up to some caves.

The Terrans, Trinoid, and Tharian shed their vacuum suits and walk toward the alien warriors, who have linked hands in some form of greeting or approach. Syzygy begins recording their speech to automate translation. Tela is greeted warmly because her glider wings are recognized by the beast handlers.

Aughest-vor and Lt. Reese declare that they have landed on “Boobulon” because the greenish female aliens each have three breasts. Three-armed Syzygy doesn’t think that is unusual, but he commences scanning the indigenous life forms as diplomatic overtures are begun….

It was great to see everybody after last month’s hiatus, and I look forward to continuing both “Vortex” teams’ adventures! Team 2, the crew of the Appomattox, is scheduled to meet on Monday, Aug. 29 (weather permitting), and Team 1 is set for Sept. 12. I also hope to resume with the Pathfinder/Skype: “the Vanished Lands” telecom fantasy game. Take it easy, -Gene

“Vanished Lands” Update T3.32 — Redcap and vines

Fellow role-players, here is my update for Session T3.32 of the latest adventuring party in my “Vanished Lands” heroic fantasy campaign setting. The teleconferencing team met on Sunday, 21 August 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 late summer 2011:

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

-“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. 3

-“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. 3

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

-“Gawain Keary” [Paul J./absent]-male Saganim human Illusionist (proto-Celtic Wizard); NGc, Age 20, Lvl. 2

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

“3 to 4 September 1229 B.C.E.:” After finding Paladins of Otih and Urda slain near Alarn, the adventuring party regrouped at a barn on the outskirts of the Hifalendorin (proto-Western European) human hamlet. The holy warriors had been sent ahead from the city of Nadwi.

Rather than disturb the scarecrow-like corpse constructs, Kovar, Jovinda, and Kazuo boldly decide to explore the abandoned community for clues to the whereabouts of the missing knights and peasants.

Scouts Digger and Asish ride out to check the perimeter and outlying farms for the spellcaster who recently summoned a tornado against them. Favelhorn and Gawain quietly study their arcane tomes and watch the steeds.

Armored Kovar notices relatively recent tracks in Alarn’s muddy streets, and Nezumi Kazuo keeps a wary eye (and nose) out for trouble. Jovinda spots a small demihuman running toward the ruined chapel, and the Grugach and her companions give chase.

As sunset lengthens shadows on the northern Plains of Sathendo, Jovinda casts Light on an acorn and tosses it into the temple. A wizened, bearded man about two and a half feet tall with a long, pointed cap growls in response. “Go away!” he says. “This is mine now.”

Undeterred, the Cleric of Mekkil, goddess of nature, enters the defiled shrine as Kovar dismounts and enters from the rear. Jovinda recognizes the creature as a Redcap, a murderous Unseelie Fae. He doesn’t give his name, but he sees Half-Orc Kovar and assumes that he’s in charge of the Half-Elf. Kovar wonders whether the fellow is something between a Gnome and a Goblin.

“Are you part of reinforcements?” the unnamed Redcap asks. Monk Kazuo notices that the Gnome-like man wears metal-tipped boots and has joined two sickles with a chain, like a kusari-gama. Wily Kovar plays along with the Redcap, trying to get more information, while priestess Jovinda notices smashed holy symbols on the dusty floor.

The trio manages to depart the desecrated chapel without a fight and continues walking through the village. The “Mellow Mule” inn is among the buildings left untouched by the tornado, but Jovinda resists the temptation to confront whoever she sees moving inside.

Kovar, a Paladin of Otih, lord of the sun and justice, believes that the inn may be the headquarters of an invading force. Kazuo notes, however, that no links have yet been found to secretive mage Octavius Karstus, the nefarious kingdoms of Zuromm and Gokuri, or the mysterious Vappu Lahja.

At the edge of nearby woods, Kazuo spots movement. A rodent of unusual size (no relation to the Nezumi) lopes away from abandoned Alarn. In an attempt to reconstruct where farmers or knights would have fled from the haunted inn, the Paladin, Cleric, and Monk enter the darkling woods.

Jovinda finds broken branches, and a little farther north, Kazuo sniffs human sweat of fear on shreds of clothing. The trees loom over the winding path, blocking out the emerging stars, and roots and rocks jut out from the damp earth.

Digger goes to check on those at the barn, while Asish follows his friends’ footprints into the edge of the Wisalef Forest. The Tsucharim Ranger whistles to his dog Genghis as he cautiously guides horse Onimusha through the scratchy branches.

Asish rejoins Kovar, Jovinda, and Kazuo just as they find another sign of refugees from Alarn — a shiny sliver of silver that turns out to be a bracelet around a wrist bone wrapped in roots. Jovinda is unable to explain how thick plants could have grown around a corpse in only a few weeks.

Her question is soon answered when grasping branches and vicious vines reach out in attack! Asish hops back into the saddle, recognizing the Assassin Vines from his servitude to the Nannuattan (eastern Dark Elves). Jovinda casts Shield of Faith on Kazuo and is given a hand up to Onimusha.

Kazuo launches a Flurry of Blows, and Kovar draws his masterwork longsword and also backs up from the writhing roots. Leafy tendrils and clod-covered roots whip at the group. One woody tentacle grabs Jovinda’s ankle and pulls her from Onimusha!

Asish turns his horse around to grab Jovinda, but Onimusha is slowed by the entanglement. Kazuo leaps in to help his fallen ally before she is strangled, and Kovar slices the vine with his sword but is smacked in return.

Jovinda clears a path with Wood Shape, and Kazuo and Kovar follow. The Paladin lays on hands, but the fleeing foursome is unable to escape injury from the carnivorous plants. As they bind their wounds by torchlight, Asish recommends returning to the barn rather than spend the night in wilderness full of feral monsters…

After last month’s hiatus because of summer travel, it was great to see most of you! Dexter, Paul, and Rob, we still missed you, and note that Paul and Sammy & Taum won’t be able to attend some upcoming sessions. How does Sunday, 28 August 2011, look for each of you? Byron, I’m glad that you were eventually able to join us, but please try to let us know in advance of any future delays.

We still need to discuss alternate times and games, but in the meantime, to keep the current campaign going, I’ll be lowering the bar to three players for quorum, exploring Google+, and working on backup scenarios. Like the FATE 3e “Vortex” space opera, we should be able to overcome future scheduling disruptions with a little forethought and communication. Take it easy, -Gene