- David was both frustrated and excited by this session. Finally a chance for some action and lots of hints/clues which he knew were Eidolon, but his character did not.
- For a game like this one, you can either give your PCs a mentor figure who can teach them the ropes, or they find out the hard way. This is the hard way ….. trying to find a Lord of Gossamer who is either dead, has moved on, or possibly doesn't want to be found ….
Realm 5 - The Bar (Brown Door)
- The session opens with Grant munching on what he assumes are buffalo wings in Ethan's favourite bar. Grant is pretty convinced that this "Greywalker" fellow is Gandalf from "The Lord of the Rings" books.
- They discuss returning to Tyndam but Grant convinces Ethan that they do not know enough about the shaping magic that was used to transform the landscape and that they themselves could be 'changed'.
- They also discuss what they would do if they encounter people in future. Ethan suggests that they carry chocolate in order to provide a pleasing tribute or bribe to whoever they meet. Grant agrees to this.
Grand Stairway Section 0 - Proximate to Home Shadow
- On their way back to the Tyndam Door, Grant finally convinces Ethan that they're not ready. Ethan is concerned that whatever is in Tyndam may be capable of opening the Door from the Tyndam-side and stepping onto the stair. He suggests that they 'trap' each of the nearby Doors with a thread of hair which would be displaced if opened. This would give them a simple way of knowing if there was anyone or anything else moving around on the Stair. Grant agrees and this is put into place.
- They decide to go through the Red Door. As he is about to open the door Grant senses that something has changed on the other side. Ethan can also feel it - it is as though they are about to walk in on a conversation. It feels awkward, but not dangerous. Grant opens the Door …. and sees that the field of yellow flowers which was there previously is gone. Instead there is desolation. There has been a great battle here, and the plains are littered with the fallen. They step through….
Realm 1 - The Middle Kingdom
- Grant and Ethan find that the Asian temple they have stepped out from is being defended by less than two hundred 'samurai' in black armour. These brown-faced men are weary, many are wounded. More than a kilometre away is a much larger army - thousands of men and horses dressed in red livery.
- The two are greeted immediately by the black samurai, who fall upon their knees in gratitude that 'The Lords have returned'. Grant assumes command and demands a report as to what has happened.
- The black samurai are all that remains of those loyal to the Emperor Shang Zhou, who upon hearing that the Lords had returned (GM's note - it had been almost a month of time since Grant and Ethan first appeared in this realm and were seen)had rallied the bulk of his army and attempted to hold the sacred temple. It comes out that the Emperor is old (92 years old), and his ancestors have had dealings with the Lords before. "Greywalker" is known to have healed his grandfather and restored his virility. The Emperor is seeking rejuvenation and restoration to his youthful prime and he believes the Lords can do this. (GM's note - at this point, David laughed and groaned. He could spot the Eidolon connection but struggled to think how Grant or Ethan could solve this problem)
- Meanwhile the Shang Dynasty is but a shadow of what it was, and a new warlord General Xia now controlled a significant portion of the so-called 'Middle Kingdom'. It was Xia's army that Grant and Ethan could see in the distance but they have not attacked in two days. They appear to be waiting for fatigue to set in before attacking again.
- By this time, Grant and Ethan have retreated to inside the temple and are confronted by many wounded soldiers. The soldiers' spirits have been significantly lifted by their arrival, but they are outnumbered, sore and hungry. Grant is determined to fix that.
- Grant and Ethan discover that they can talk in their native tongue when they wish to, but can speak in the local tongue when talking to the Shang loyalists. This enables them to have a private conversation about what to do next.
- Grant wants to restore the Emperor but believes that neither he nor Ethan have the powers that Greywalker possesses to be able to do so. Initially they discuss searching for a cure/elixir of youth from the many worlds that can be reached from the Stair, but Ethan expresses concern that whatever they find may not work in the Middle Kingdom. Instead, he suggests that they take the Emperor to the cure - to take him to another world. Grant likes this idea and prepares ten of the best to accompany him, under cover of darkness, into the mountains and to the Emperor's secret retreat. Ethan is to remain behind and provide food and medical supplies.
- While Grant learns more about the Middle Kingdom, Ethan returns to Shadow Earth….
Realm 0 - Shadow Earth 1985 (Brown Door)
- Making haste, Ethan goes down to the local supermarket and buys food. Lots of food - rice, meat, vegetables. Then he drives back to the house and unloads all of the provisions into the house. He then treks back across to the Middle Kingdom, and takes a dozen men with him back to Shadow Earth to help him to carry the provisions back to the Middle Kingdom. GM's note - by doing this, Ethan proves that he can lead others onto the Stair and across worlds, even mundane/non-magical people.
Realm 1 - The Middle Kingdom
- As darkness descends, Grant slips away and heads east into the mountains. He hopes that the enemy has not detected this…. he expects to be back in 4 days.
- In the meantime, Ethan and the rest of the army hold the temple and the Door. With full bellies, the Shang loyalists are feeling even more optimistic about the situation.
And that's where we left it…..
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