Thanks Skywalker…. (PS I don't know what AP means - can you explain please?)
Long post this time, two topics.
Before moving onto Session 15 and the conversation with Sophia, here is a slight diversion.
The Jedi of Gossamer
So you want to be a Jedi? Here's how it could be done:
1. Mind Reading - yes, with ranked Psyche this is possible. The difference in Psyche between the two parties would determine how easy this is to accomplish, as well as whether the target has the thought 'on the surface' or 'buried'.
2. Affect Mind - "These are not the droids you're looking for" - yes, also possible with ranked Psyche. Same basic rules as Mind Reading above.
3. 'Feel the Force' - ranked Psyche can be used to provide magical or spiritual awareness. Eidolon and Umbra powers also confer a art of augmented perception to feel the order or lack of order. As per my previous post, I see this as being 'always on', like seeing an extra colour in the spectrum, or being able to hear frequencies which are not normally heard. It extends to all of the five senses so a Eidolon Master might be able to smell the presence of order just as well as he/she could see it. I can also see the potential here for a 'Highlander-style' danger sense - i.e.: where an Immortal can sense the presence of another Immortal, just because he/she is there and his/her presence creates a natural disturbance to the natural order of things.
4. Telekinesis - there are a number of options here. Firstly, a Cantrip can used for a simple pull or push, enabling a user to 'Force Push' someone aside, or summon a weapon back to the user's hand. But this is not a sustained effect which would enable a target to be lifted or to stop something truly massive (no pulling down Star Destroyers with a Cantrip). Secondly, a greater power like Eidolon, Umbra or Sorcery can be used to mimic telekinesis, but it requires concentration (or in the case of Sorcery, it requires preparation/casting time). Thirdly there is High Channelling (a Dwimmerlaik power) which is true combat telekinesis - that should be outside the realms of what a PC should be able to learn.
5. Force Lightning - there's really only one option here and that is Sorcery. It can be linked to Eidolon or Umbra to increase the spell's potency.
Another difference between Amber DRPG and LoG&S here is that there is no equivalent of 'bringing the Pattern to mind' in the Eidolon description. The Eidolon Master just uses his abilities as second-nature. His consciousness is expanded, his body is strengthened etc. A lot of the abilities are (deliberately) focused on the empowering the self and awareness of order in one's surroundings.
But I wanna Lightsaber! Ok, ok, simmer down….
6. Lightsabers - Snap-hummmmmm, cool, my character has a lightsaber. Now I pay one point and it works anywhere, right? Right. So why is this a really really bad idea? Because a smart PC will have a Cantrip ready to disrupt it. Then the blade disappears and you have only a hilt. That's why….
Session 15 - The Ambassador of Marindar
GM Observations/Summary
- This time we decided to run the conversation between Grant and Sophia via a combination of chats via Google Hangouts, and also via email. This has taken a few weeks but then that gave me time to think about what Sophia would say and how the backstory would be exposed.
Realm 15 - Marindar (Grey Door)
- The setting is that Grant is talking to Sophia. It's daytime and they're on the balcony together overlooking the sea. It's restful and they can talk comfortably.
* Image by Mictones on DeviantART
Q1 - What was the nature of those portraits and mirrors? What are they drawing their images from?
She says that they are part of 'The Approach' to Marindar, designed to confuse and distract. Very few would be able to traverse The Approach without a guide (she refers to the Red Robin nearby) and even then very few would be able to acquire the Key to the right Door.
Follow up question - She says that one of the Lords (Lucien) created The Approach.
Follow up questions - It is hard to get into Marindar without being invited (she again refers to the Red Robin), and even harder to find The Approach once the way has been lost.
Follow up question - If you had lost the guide, you would not have been able to find the way back to The Approach again.
Follow up question - Lucien is one of Lords of Gossamer. (she doesn't say more at this point)
Follow up question - The Lords refer to the realms as being woven from Gossamer. They call themselves the Lords of Gossamer.
Q2 - You're all being excruciatingly careful not to offend me: Are others like me really that volatile? Are there any things I should myself be careful about when meeting one?
No, the others are not volatile, but one can never be sure who the Robin will find, nor who the Stair will Choose.
Follow up question - I am told that the Stair chooses the Lord, and the Stair is very selective. (if pressed, she says that this is what Lucien told her. She gives no indication as to whether she believes this or not. On further reflection, Grant realises that she speaks of the Stair choosing a single Lord, not Lords.)
The other Lords and Ladies are powerful, and many are old. They will likely be friendly and cordial for their numbers are few and the years that you will live are very long, but trust is earned.
Q3 - Are you able to get a message to Greywalker?
Possibly. (She would ask what sort of message Grant would like to convey) She says that they have means of sending a message but Greywalker will likely not respond. In fact, she would not expect any of the Lords to respond. This is why she sent her messenger (the Red Robin) out onto the Stair.
She would explain simply that the Lords have not come to Marindar for many years and 'The Doors are Disappearing'.
Follow up question - There were once many Doors in Marindar, eighty-one at the peak. Now there are only eight. They have lost nine in the last year alone, and some of the Doors that they have been able to open in the past are no longer accessible. They only have Keys to five of the remaining doors and are becoming more and more isolated. They have not heard from Lucien or the others in many years.
She would then volunteer that you are important to her people. Marindar was effectively built by the Lords of Gossamer as a bridge to many realms, but none of them have the powers of a true Lord to investigate why the Lords no longer come here. But she will not ask you to do this on her behalf - she asks simply that you spend some time amongst her people, and she believes that Grant will find that Marindar has much to offer him.
Follow up question - she offers knowledge, friendship, companionship. Her people live a long time and have had contact with many worlds. They have skills that Grant would find useful. She would be happy to find suitable companions for him. (she uses the term loosely, quite deliberately as she's not sure what Grant wants).
Follow up question - there is nothing Sophia or her people can do to stop Grant from leaving. He is a Lord of Gossamer and is free to come and go as he pleases, but she hopes that he will find what he is seeking here in Marindar.
Follow up question - if if if Grant were to ask about Icons (which he did), Sophia would express surprise and confess that they do have Icons for the Lords of Gossamer, but admit that the people of Marindar cannot use them.
Q4 - Do you need this Key back?
Yes. There is only one Key to the Marindar Door. (she would like it returned)
Q5 - How many more like me are there? What are we collectively known as? (There's a difference between knowing that one culture calls us by a title, and knowing that it is in widespread use)
She knows of many, but some may no longer exist. She describes them as the Lords and Ladies of Gossamer. She believes there may be as few as eight remaining, including yourself.
Q6 - What is Ben?
The Guardian in the Approach is Lucien's handiwork to test the limits of those who reach the final chamber. The Guardian is only formed when an individual enters the chamber, and it is as strong as its target. The Guardian takes the form of a sickly child to see how the visitor will behave.
Q7 - Did Grant learn in character that the Dwimmerlaik was preparing to sever the Door to the Middle Kingdom?
For memory, the Dwimmerlaik bragged that he would sever the Door and dump the Middle Kingdom into the Void (he may have said 'Abyss'). So the answer is 'yes'
Q8 - What exactly did you send Red Robin to look for?
The Red Robin was sent to find a Lord of Gossamer.
Response to follow up question: The Robin had been searching for a long time. Three years, eight months, five days. At that time there were thirty-five Doors remaining.
Response to follow up question: The Robin doesn't have any power of its own to open Doors. It could only search on the Stair itself. (Grant later clarified that the Robin is drawn to recently opened Doors, so it is drawn to 'activity on the Stair')
Q9 - Will I be able to find the Approach again now that I have been here, or will I need to use another Door in future?
She says that the Approach will be different should you next find your way into Marindar by that way. (She does not personally know this, she says this is what she has been told)
There are many Doors into Marindar. (GM's note - Grant attempted to sense for Doors using his 'Warden of the Stair' ability and could only sense three in close proximity)
Q10 - You said Marindar was 'created'. Were the Doors originally set up by someone?
She pauses at the question and says that Marindar pre-dates the Lords of Gossamer, but there have been changes made over the centuries. She makes reference to a number of Lords of Gossamer who have made alterations - most notably Lord Lucien, Lady Vala and Lord Bastiano, but there have been others.
Q11 - Grant would ask about the Icons once the topic of messages is raised, and would offer to attempt to contact a Lord on her behalf.
She thinks for a moment, and says that the Icons can be brought to him when he is ready. She then changes the topic.
Response to follow up question: She would admit that she thinks he will be unsuccessful in contacting them.
- At this point, Grant shows Sophia the icons that he captured from the Dwimmerlaik. (He avoids calling them by name). He shows the Icon of the Red Wizard first and then asks politely "Would Robin be able to tell us if anyone else in town is carrying one or more of these? It doesn't need to be of the same person, but it should be the same in most other ways. Please don't send him yet, just let me know if he could do it, and if he could do it without drawing attention to himself and alerting anyone he found."
- Sophia looks at the Icon and asks Grant where he got it. (GM's note - Superior Warfare means that Grant recognises that she is ever so slightly ruffled, even though she is still controlled and polite)
- Grant says that they encountered a hostile group which had stirred up a war simply to try to lure Grey Walker into a trap. "When we showed up, they tried to kill us instead. We won. They carried these symbols," he says.
- Sophia asks many questions. She wants to know when this happened? How many symbols does he have? Did the one called Greywalker appear?
- Grant checks his pocket and admits "As to how long ago, I am sorry - I seem to have a large gap in my memory - I do not know how much time has passed since I left the Middle Kingdom." He finds the discs and pulls them out. "Each underling had one of these, the leader had this set. There were four underlings, each apparently set a different task, in a different world trying to stir up enough trouble to lure Greywalker back. The final battle was in a world called the middle kingdom. The leader boasted that he would would sever the Door and dump the Middle Kingdom into the Void. I'm afraid I did something rather violent at that point."
- Sophia listens carefully, looking over the symbols and then returning them to Grant.
- Grant continues in his story. "He - is rather thoroughly killed, as were two of his four underlings. The third seemed to have been serving him under duress. She quit the field of battle, but not before warning me about the fourth and final underling, and that there would be more of these 'Dwimmerlaik' hunting us. The fourth brought an army of demons with him - fortunately the local army was at hand to hold them back." The word 'Dwimmerlaik' makes her stiffen but then she regains her poise. Grant asks her about them.
- Sophia refers to them as "The Great Enemy", but says "But the Enemy is long gone. This must have happened long ago."
- At this point Lurker37 needs to decide how long the memory blackout for Grant has been. (GM's note: As GM I left it up to him) "No, this was..." Grant thinks for a moment, " only a few months ago."
- The wind on the balcony blows colder and Sophia looks out to sea in thought….. (GM's note: at this point Grant starts looking for a cause for the change in air temperature, but the GM admits that the wind is for dramatic effect)Sophia says "The Great Enemy were defeated …. long ago."
- Grant says "It would not be the first time a defeated force regrouped and rose again." He produces the sword that he captured from the fallen Dwimmerlaik. "The one who carried this said he was going to sever the Door. That sounds to me a lot like what is happening here. Sophia, it doesn't matter if this is your old foe, or a new one borrowing the name. You may not have much time. We need to find allies, and stop them."
- Sophia considers the sword thoughtfully, and says "Perhaps, but then the Robin found only you. The other Lords are proving most difficult to contact. What do you intend to do next?"
- Grant then asks "Didn't you say that the Robin cannot open Doors? That means he can only find Lords while they are on the Stair."
- Sophia says that the Robin cannot open Doors but it can sense when Doors have been recently opened. The Robin was drawn to the section of Stair which had recently opened Doors. Grant doesn't like the sound of that. Sophia asks "If you have encountered the Enemy and the Enemy has truly returned, what will you do next?"
- Grant says that he will contact Ethan, but if Ethan blocks him she would like to try contacting another Lord. He asks if she has another Icon that could be used.
- Sophia changes the topic and asks him more about where he comes from, leaving Grant confused as to whether he has offended her. Sophia says that she is not offended, but she says that it is a significant thing to say that the Great Enemy have returned after so long. She says that she does not doubt Grant's word, but does not know him well enough to know if he might have been misled. So she would like to learn more about him. Grant finds it difficult to say no to her. She is clearly holding back, but is being diplomatic and patient. Grant is acting like an 18 year old and wanting to rush things, and she is clearly wary of that.
- Grant opens up and starts telling her more about himself and where he comes from. Sophia draws closer and listens intently. It is an intimate and candid conversation. Both parties relax. Time passes. A lady in white brings drinks later in the day (some sort of wine). Grant learns more about Sophia, about Marindar and about the Enemy.
- The conversation with Sophia is very pleasant - she is highly intelligent and a capable diplomat. They are close enough that it is difficult for either party to avoid questions without it being obvious. She answers questions truthfully - Grant can tell. A level of trust is built between them.
- They chat a little over dinner which is brought to them, and there is a moment or two where Grant catches a glimpse of a different Sophia. A natural smile appears from time to time when Grant is at his most relaxed. Sophia suggests that she take him on a short journey on the next day and Grant accepts.
- After a slice of delicate cake for dessert, Sophia excuses herself and leaves Grant alone with her thoughts.
And with that, I leave with another picture of the Red Wizard….. yes, Grant thought him dead in Session 8, but he never did look for the body, did he? (bwahahahahaha)
Anyway, that's the expository out of the way. The plot hook is well and truly established and we can get into the action…..
No comments:
Post a Comment