Oh boy..
Grant and Ethan
Grant (left) and Ethan (right), with Macavity the Cat
Wednesday, 29 January 2014
Tuesday, 28 January 2014
GM Commentary
And ..... the breaking news is that another LoG&S Campaign has just started, based on this same campaign world but set 30 years in the future (so on Shadow Earth it will be 2016). There will be a second thread created shortly .... and yes, I'll have to be very careful that events in the present Grant/Ethan campaign don't create a paradox in the new campaign setting. There are two of us co-GMing, but I'm the 'lead' GM who will maintain the rankings etc. More on that in a separate thread ....
Does this mean that you'll see Grant and Ethan in both campaign settings? I have yet to discuss with Lurker37 as to whether he wants to contribute into the new game, but it's certainly possible that Grant and Ethan are still around. 
I'll be writing up Session 1 for the new LoG&S Campaign very shortly.
Monday, 27 January 2014
Session 23 - Meliander
GM Observations
- In many ways this was a short session. A lot of a discussion but not much movement, hence I’m tacking on ‘what happened to Ethan’ to move the plot along (effectively I’m GMing my own character, but this is often what happens in Amber… ahem, Lords of Gossamer)
Realm 15b - True Marindar(Grey Door)
Conversations with Meliander
- Grant and Ethan politely excuse themselves while Meliander and Clarabelle adjust to the reality that Meliander is back. Meliander is physically weak and he tires easily so he takes matters slowly.
- Grant decides to contact Lucien via his Icon but is unsuccessful. The contact is different to anything Grant has seen before though - it is as if Grant is touching smoke or a mist - the connection is made but there is nothing to latch onto. Grant is somewhat disappointed. He shows Ethan the fake Icons that he was given by the Queen, and Ethan studies them. (Grant has previously shown Meliander the fake Icons and Meliander has said that all enchantments and magics have a signature pattern on them) Grant asks Ethan if the enchantments on the fake Icons match any patterns on Galatea. This surprises Ethan, and he deflects, saying that he hasn’t studied her that closely. Ethan says that he will consider it.
- Clarabelle advises Ethan that if he’s still planning to leave that he should leave immediately before the storm hits. Ethan takes her advice and leaves in an airspeeder. Shortly after, the storm front hits. It is a torrential downpour, with lightning and thunder but little wind. Each raindrop that hits the window sets off a small sorcerous bloom as the shield deflects it. Clarabelle is able to precisely gauge how long the rain will last and it becomes obvious to Grant that the Marindans use powerful magics to control the weather and insulate themselves accordingly. Clarabelle serves him some hot soup which is plain and earthy. It is very different from the more elaborate meals that he has been served in Central but the simple meal gives him a different perspective of life on Marindar. Meliander, Clarabelle and Grant talk over dinner and into the evening. Gradually they fill Meliander in, and Grant listens to what Clarabelle tells him about how life has changed in the past few years. He becomes even more convinced that whatever has happened to Marindar has happened gradually, not suddenly - it has happened so slowly that most of the locals have not even been aware of the change until very recently.
- The next day the rain continues and they talk further. Meliander’s strength is returning. Grant tells him of his story, and Meliander confirms that the Red Wizard that Grant ‘killed’ in the Middle Kingdom was Shimrod, and it was Shimrod, his old mentor, that incapacitated Meliander. Meliander says that he should advise the Queen of his situation, but Grant easily convinces him to delay advising her until he feels up to it. Grant gets the perspective that Meliander was once respected in the Queen’s Council as a prominent advisor. Grant asks if Meliander would be willing to help him to contact Lucien (using the Icon that he has) - Clarabelle is immediately concerned and Meliander refuses, saying that he isn’t suitably recovered to make the attempt. Meliander looks over the Icons that Grant has, including those which Grant acquired from the Dwimmerlaik, and Meliander indicates that all but one are Shimrod’s work (which astonishes Grant).
- Grant and Meliander talk at length about the present situation, and particularly about Morrison. Meliander knows Morrison as a patriot, fiercely protective of Marindar - he thinks it unlikely that Morrison is a traitor, but he is likely to either be part of the plot, or strongly reacting to it. Grant resolves to attempt to contact Lucien, but he also considers following Mithrandir back to Middle Earth to attempt to find him.
Ethan’s Return to Central
- The black storm front moves swiftly behind Ethan as he speeds to Central, and he returns to Grant’s residence only a few minutes ahead of the rain. Sophia welcomes him back, but he distances himself from her. He watches the rain for a long time from a balcony, watching the lightning flash across the sky. Ethan has seen many wild storms before off the shores of Wodenland, but he finds this particularly interesting. Using Eidolon, he can see the magical structures within the wild weather and he ponders it. As the sun sets, he decides to leave the residence and go for a walk. Sophia recommends that he stay indoors until the rain passes, but he refuses. She asks him why he doesn’t trust her advice or her help. Ethan says that she is mistaken and he does trust her, but he’s still going out. Sophia is left puzzled as to why Ethan is behaving so strangely.
- The rain is coming down hard as Ethan steps outside, and he is quickly drenched. He is the only one on the streets, and it becomes obvious why no one goes out and no doors are open. It is as though the whole place shuts down when it rains. Ethan wanders through the streets until his boots are full of water. After hours of wandering, it is Sophia who finds him. She carries a simple stick which wards off the rain like an umbrella, and asks if he needs any assistance. Ethan again refuses, and Sophia tells him that he is not being rational. She calmly tells him that he is clearly disorientated and he needs help. She says that if he does trust her, then he should let her help. Ethan again refuses (GM’s note - we’re talking about a mixed up 18/19 year old here) and she firmly tells him that he is a Lord of Gossamer, not some petulant child. She tells him matter-of-factly that there are things in this universe who would kill him just because he is a Lord of Gossamer, and to survive he needs friends and allies whom he can trust. She tells him to choose wisely, and then she leaves.
- The streets are still empty. Ethan uses Sorcery to leap onto the roof of one of the houses, and he calls out for Galatea. Fully expecting her to be listening somewhere nearby, he is somewhat disappointed when she is not. He sits down on the roof and looks towards the floating constructs that hold the Doors; then towards the Central Museum, and decides what to do.
- As Ethan crosses the doorway back into Grant’s residence, the water is instantly stripped off his clothes. Only his hair is wet. Sophia politely welcomes him back and closes the Door. She asks if he has had a pleasant walk, and Ethan asks if she will tell him more about the Arcadians, and Morrison. Sophia gives a thin smile, and nods. They talk a little over a hot cup of tea, and Ethan admits that he doesn’t know where to start. On the Stair he was confident that he could escape if the situation was dire. On Marindar it seems to be common knowledge that he is a Lord of Gossamer, and he feels that this puts him at a disadvantage. He doesn’t know enough about being a Lord of Gossamer to know how to approach the situation where everyone knows him to be a Lord. He also admits that he finds Sophia’s company uncomfortable as he finds her very attractive. Sophia acknowledges the compliment but says that Ethan should not even be trying to impress her. She simply advises that Ethan should learn all that he can from her. She reasons that they may both live a very long time and have a very long association but the best way that she can help him now is to provide him with enough information and education to help him to survive. Ethan listens carefully to what she says and he can see the sense in it. He agrees to heed her counsel. (GM’s note - and that’s where I have to leave it, otherwise it would become a spoiler for David)
- In many ways this was a short session. A lot of a discussion but not much movement, hence I’m tacking on ‘what happened to Ethan’ to move the plot along (effectively I’m GMing my own character, but this is often what happens in Amber… ahem, Lords of Gossamer)
Realm 15b - True Marindar(Grey Door)
Conversations with Meliander
- Grant and Ethan politely excuse themselves while Meliander and Clarabelle adjust to the reality that Meliander is back. Meliander is physically weak and he tires easily so he takes matters slowly.
- Grant decides to contact Lucien via his Icon but is unsuccessful. The contact is different to anything Grant has seen before though - it is as if Grant is touching smoke or a mist - the connection is made but there is nothing to latch onto. Grant is somewhat disappointed. He shows Ethan the fake Icons that he was given by the Queen, and Ethan studies them. (Grant has previously shown Meliander the fake Icons and Meliander has said that all enchantments and magics have a signature pattern on them) Grant asks Ethan if the enchantments on the fake Icons match any patterns on Galatea. This surprises Ethan, and he deflects, saying that he hasn’t studied her that closely. Ethan says that he will consider it.
- Clarabelle advises Ethan that if he’s still planning to leave that he should leave immediately before the storm hits. Ethan takes her advice and leaves in an airspeeder. Shortly after, the storm front hits. It is a torrential downpour, with lightning and thunder but little wind. Each raindrop that hits the window sets off a small sorcerous bloom as the shield deflects it. Clarabelle is able to precisely gauge how long the rain will last and it becomes obvious to Grant that the Marindans use powerful magics to control the weather and insulate themselves accordingly. Clarabelle serves him some hot soup which is plain and earthy. It is very different from the more elaborate meals that he has been served in Central but the simple meal gives him a different perspective of life on Marindar. Meliander, Clarabelle and Grant talk over dinner and into the evening. Gradually they fill Meliander in, and Grant listens to what Clarabelle tells him about how life has changed in the past few years. He becomes even more convinced that whatever has happened to Marindar has happened gradually, not suddenly - it has happened so slowly that most of the locals have not even been aware of the change until very recently.
- The next day the rain continues and they talk further. Meliander’s strength is returning. Grant tells him of his story, and Meliander confirms that the Red Wizard that Grant ‘killed’ in the Middle Kingdom was Shimrod, and it was Shimrod, his old mentor, that incapacitated Meliander. Meliander says that he should advise the Queen of his situation, but Grant easily convinces him to delay advising her until he feels up to it. Grant gets the perspective that Meliander was once respected in the Queen’s Council as a prominent advisor. Grant asks if Meliander would be willing to help him to contact Lucien (using the Icon that he has) - Clarabelle is immediately concerned and Meliander refuses, saying that he isn’t suitably recovered to make the attempt. Meliander looks over the Icons that Grant has, including those which Grant acquired from the Dwimmerlaik, and Meliander indicates that all but one are Shimrod’s work (which astonishes Grant).
- Grant and Meliander talk at length about the present situation, and particularly about Morrison. Meliander knows Morrison as a patriot, fiercely protective of Marindar - he thinks it unlikely that Morrison is a traitor, but he is likely to either be part of the plot, or strongly reacting to it. Grant resolves to attempt to contact Lucien, but he also considers following Mithrandir back to Middle Earth to attempt to find him.
Ethan’s Return to Central
- The black storm front moves swiftly behind Ethan as he speeds to Central, and he returns to Grant’s residence only a few minutes ahead of the rain. Sophia welcomes him back, but he distances himself from her. He watches the rain for a long time from a balcony, watching the lightning flash across the sky. Ethan has seen many wild storms before off the shores of Wodenland, but he finds this particularly interesting. Using Eidolon, he can see the magical structures within the wild weather and he ponders it. As the sun sets, he decides to leave the residence and go for a walk. Sophia recommends that he stay indoors until the rain passes, but he refuses. She asks him why he doesn’t trust her advice or her help. Ethan says that she is mistaken and he does trust her, but he’s still going out. Sophia is left puzzled as to why Ethan is behaving so strangely.
- The rain is coming down hard as Ethan steps outside, and he is quickly drenched. He is the only one on the streets, and it becomes obvious why no one goes out and no doors are open. It is as though the whole place shuts down when it rains. Ethan wanders through the streets until his boots are full of water. After hours of wandering, it is Sophia who finds him. She carries a simple stick which wards off the rain like an umbrella, and asks if he needs any assistance. Ethan again refuses, and Sophia tells him that he is not being rational. She calmly tells him that he is clearly disorientated and he needs help. She says that if he does trust her, then he should let her help. Ethan again refuses (GM’s note - we’re talking about a mixed up 18/19 year old here) and she firmly tells him that he is a Lord of Gossamer, not some petulant child. She tells him matter-of-factly that there are things in this universe who would kill him just because he is a Lord of Gossamer, and to survive he needs friends and allies whom he can trust. She tells him to choose wisely, and then she leaves.
- The streets are still empty. Ethan uses Sorcery to leap onto the roof of one of the houses, and he calls out for Galatea. Fully expecting her to be listening somewhere nearby, he is somewhat disappointed when she is not. He sits down on the roof and looks towards the floating constructs that hold the Doors; then towards the Central Museum, and decides what to do.
- As Ethan crosses the doorway back into Grant’s residence, the water is instantly stripped off his clothes. Only his hair is wet. Sophia politely welcomes him back and closes the Door. She asks if he has had a pleasant walk, and Ethan asks if she will tell him more about the Arcadians, and Morrison. Sophia gives a thin smile, and nods. They talk a little over a hot cup of tea, and Ethan admits that he doesn’t know where to start. On the Stair he was confident that he could escape if the situation was dire. On Marindar it seems to be common knowledge that he is a Lord of Gossamer, and he feels that this puts him at a disadvantage. He doesn’t know enough about being a Lord of Gossamer to know how to approach the situation where everyone knows him to be a Lord. He also admits that he finds Sophia’s company uncomfortable as he finds her very attractive. Sophia acknowledges the compliment but says that Ethan should not even be trying to impress her. She simply advises that Ethan should learn all that he can from her. She reasons that they may both live a very long time and have a very long association but the best way that she can help him now is to provide him with enough information and education to help him to survive. Ethan listens carefully to what she says and he can see the sense in it. He agrees to heed her counsel. (GM’s note - and that’s where I have to leave it, otherwise it would become a spoiler for David)
Thursday, 23 January 2014
GM Commentary
David and I both got very busy with work. We ran Session 23 last week but I haven't had a chance to type it up. It'll pick up again shortly.
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