- It’s been a month since Session 30. David (Lurker37) and I have both been busy and David wasn’t in the mood to play Grant, but he was happy to GM this session. Hence a sudden shift back to Ethan and his search for Lucien.
- I had given David some ideas as to what I’d like to see woven in to challenge Ethan and I can already start to see that he’s put some of those ‘wish list’ items in motion. It’s always a good thing to know what your players want to see and cater for it to some degree. After all, the GM wants to tell a story that the players enjoy.
- One minor rules detail before get into things. Since Ethan has only paid 1 point for a ‘Lightsaber’, it doesn’t automatically work in all realms. Unlike a sword or spear which is a rather basic weapon, a Lightsaber is technological (or even magical) and so is still subject to the rules of the local realm. Ethan could use Eidolon to adjust it to suit local conditions, but it doesn’t automatically work in all realms (unless I was willing to pay points to have it Mould Gossamer Reality, similar to Cal’s Pistol in the main rulebook). With that established, we begin….
Realm 29 - Nexopolis (Copper/Gold Clockwork Door)
Ethan’s Arrival
- Ethan arrives in Nexopolis, a city made of clockwork. There is even a sign welcoming him, as if the natives are used to receiving arrivals from the Stair. Ethan can sense many many Doors in this place, and he can sense other Lords of Gossamer, both close and far. The air tastes flat and lifeless. It lacks any vitality or vibrance. There are a multitude of different kinds of vehicles - clockwork vintage cars, zeppelins, propeller-driven aircraft; and an extreme variety of different races. Ethan spots a centaur with a mechanical leg, and an 11 foot tall lumbering fellow in a tailored suit. No one pays Ethan any attention.
- Ethan notes the extreme amount of magic being here. Everyone is using it, even to breathe. It seems part of the fabric of society. Above him towers many structures and different levels of Nexopolis, and looking over the edge of the nearest landing the city extends downwards into the dark. There is a strange twilight haze over the place, like it is not quite day or night. The architecture is also a mismatch of different styles all meshed together.
Using the Force
- Ethan mingles with the crowd and looks around for an hour. He doesn’t feel threatened, and he decides to find something to eat. He is not hungry, but he wants to see how the populace purchase food - what do they use for currency? He uses ‘the Force’, letting Wayfinding guide him. He heads down a flight of circular stairs, then heads down a clockwork escalator with glass steps, crosses a plaza and a suspension bridge. He enters a stadium which is one enormous market and watches many individuals buying things from a myriad of different hawker stalls. Ethan can’t identify most of the things being sold but he notes that the currency being used varies enormously - coins, notes, gems, trinkets - it seems as though they are bartering and the inhabitants accept almost anything as barter.
- Ethan senses other Lords of Gossamer as he moves through Nexopolis. Many of them - he does not feel comfortable lingering. He has an innate feel for how to return to the Door leading back to Arcadia, and he has a feeling as to which direction to head should he wish to return to Shadow Earth (Realm 0) and Cepharus VII (Realm 16). He finds this intriguing, but the presence of so many other Lords is disturbing to him.
- Ethan takes out the Arcadian Queen’s token for Lucien and concentrates on finding Lucien. The feeling is faint but Ethan decides to head in the direction of the feeling, expecting to head towards another Door. However, after a few minutes he realises that his target is not stationary. He wonders if Lucien is able to somehow mask his presence and is in fact close-by. He decides to pick up the pace.
The Lady in Blue
-Ethan heads to the lower levels of Nexopolis. He spots a griffon-construct being ridden by a strange meerkat like creature as he descends. It takes him almost an hour before he arrives in a downtown district where there are many music clubs. He hears jazz music, and blues but does not recognise any of the melodies…. then he is surprised to hear someone crooning to Elvis’ “Love Me Tender” and he is tempted to find out who else has come from Earth (Realm 0), but he carries on.
- Carrying on he sees a great casino with flashing signs, sporting illusionary flames pouring from its top like a volcano. He feels like he is heading in the right direction.
- Then suddenly the feeling has passed and he realises that a woman in a blue dress is pushing her way through the crowd a few metres away from him and heading in the opposite direction. Whereas everyone else is walking, she is moving as fast as she can through the throng of people. A short distance behind her are three clockwork guards. They are skating through the crowd, communicating with one another with short clicks and clacks. Curious, Ethan follows the guards. He can sense her mind - she is scared and running for her life. She is afraid of the guards. She is desperate.
- As she breaks through the crowd and picks up speed, the guards pursue and Ethan follows behind. She is too difficult for them to catch however, and after 5-6 minutes, she loses them by ducking into a fabric shop. Ethan continues to follow the guards and when he is sure that they have lost her, he doubles back. He finds her in one of the change booths and attempts to reassure her that they are gone, at least for the moment. She jumps at this, but Ethan tells her that he’ll stand watch until she’s ready to leave.
- The lady has long black hair and pale skin, is of slight build, and wears a classic blue dress that does not inhibit her movement. She wears flat shoes. It is hard for Ethan to tell if she is a native or not - but she appears human.
* Image by jas-tham on DeviantART
- She asks what he wants and Ethan asks why she is being chased. She tells Ethan that she has been robbed, and they now want to prevent her going to the authorities. Ethan doesn’t completely believe her, but he believes that she is the link to Lucien that he has been after, so he offers to help. They are interrupted as Ethan notes that her pursuers are returning. They make their way out the back.
- She leads Ethan through the back streets of Nexopolis. Ethan follows her closely, half-expecting the clockwork guards to appear at any moment. He ignites his light sabre to test it and the blade is much stouter than usual, and shorter. It works but Ethan doubts whether it will be as effective as normal. She asks what he is doing and Ethan responds that he is ‘just checking’. When they reach a more crowded road, she offers Ethan her arm (which he accepts) and she starts acting as if they have known each other for a long time and have just been out to dinner. Ethan plays along, and asks that she take him to another establishment where they can indulge in another meal of such excellence.
The Blue Note
- The two of them head to a jazz club called the Blue Note. At the door she snaps her fingers and the door knocker knocks. She then whispers a passcode and the door opens. Apparently the place is “by invitation only”. They head inside and a clockwork droid offers them a private booth. They take their seats and the curtain is drawn, offering them some privacy.
- Immediately the lady demands some answers of Ethan, but he plays it cool and looks through the menu for something to eat. He asks if she’s hungry, and then asks her opinion as to what he should try off the menu. She relaxes and says that her name is Isabelle. Ethan asks how long she’s been in Nexopolis and she tells him she’s been here for three years, but was stranded when her companion disappeared. Ethan nods and asks whether what was taken from her was important. Isabelle clams up, and wants to know why Ethan is here. Ethan shrugs and says that he thought she was in trouble. Isabelle looks at him doubtfully and asks if he has an affinity with the Doors. Ethan avoids the question, and also avoids giving his name. The entree arrives and Isabelle is less than impressed. Ethan tells her that he’s looking for a man named Lucien. She appears to recognise the name. Ethan asks if she knows Lucien, and she admits to being his Great Great Great Grand-daughter. Ethan finds this assertion too far fetched to believe, but he notes that Wayfinding did lead him to her. She also says that her companion was Lucien, who abandoned her three years ago in Nexopolis.
- Ethan gently asks what was stolen from her and Isabelle tells him that she lost her life savings, and also the device which might have one day helped her to get out of Nexopolis. Ethan asks if she wishes to leave. She nods and Ethan gives her the indication that he might be able to help her leave. She asks what favour he would want in return. She gives him a suggestive smile which Ethan misses completely, as the main course has arrived.
- The moment broken, Ethan starts eating and the food is very good indeed. Ethan asks her more about Nexopolis and she tells him that there are between twenty and thirty Lords of Gossamer in residence. Ethan is astonished by this. He asks what keeps them here and Isabelle explains that they compete with one another for control of the city and its Doors. There is no other life on the planet except for the city - the world outside the city limits was destroyed by the Dwimmerlaik during the Great War. There are many Doors in Nexopolis and it is possible to procure Passes to get through the Doors. She was saving all of her money to buy a Pass to escape Nexopolis but her things were stolen.
- Ethan asks how people buy things in Nexopolis and Isabelle explains that any currency will do, but all vendors have a ‘magic’ mirror which helps tell them what the object being offered is worth. The magic mirror gives this information based on an appraisal provided by the Central Authority in Nexopolis.
- Isabelle returns to her story and she tells him that the casino owner, Caius, stole her possessions. She attempted to steal them back again but almost got caught - she mentions a clockwork parrot (a security system) that she was not expecting. Given that she was staying at Caius’ residence, she has nowhere else to go now. Ethan asks again why her things are important as most items can be replaced. Isabelle ignores the question and asks for Ethan’s name again. Ethan shakes his head and says that he prefers to remain a Man of Mystery. She is not impressed by this and refuses to tell him what Caius has taken that cannot be replaced.
- There is a stalemate, and Isabelle refuses to say anything more. Ethan ups the ante and gets up to leave. She says that he’ll never find Lucien without her, and Ethan smoothly says that he’ll find another way without her. Isabelle looks defeated and gives in. She says that she has part of Lucien’s compass - even though it’s only a piece, it does point to one of the Doors but she doesn’t know whether it’s pointing to Lucien himself or to the missing pieces of the compass.
- Ethan reseats himself. Isabelle asks if she’ll help her and Ethan nods. He asks if she is sure that she knows where Caius has been keeping her things, and she says yes. He also asks her whether Caius is himself a Lord of Gossamer, and she says that she does not think so. Ethan asks whether Caius would be in residence now or out eating dinner. Isabelle considers for a moment and decides that Caius would definitely be away from his residence. Ethan suggests that they go to get her things. There is a pause. “You don’t want dessert?” she asks. Ethan considers, and decides to stay until the meal is over.
- She asks him to tell her something more about himself. She asks if he means to kill her Great Great Great Grandfather. Ethan shakes his head and says that it will probably sound ridiculous but that he is “on a quest”. He tells Isabelle the story of the elven queen of Arcadia who fell in love with a Lord of Gossamer named Lucien. Ethan says that the elven queen asked him for help, so he is trying to help her. Ethan says that it doesn’t look like Isabelle is descended from elves - she doesn’t have the ears for it. Isabelle muses over it - she mentions that Lucien had mentioned Arcadia before, and the elf-queen - but only in passing. She finds it interesting.
- They finish their dessert and head off together towards the casino. Isabelle asks if Ethan has a plan ….
And that’s where we left it, mostly because I was all ready to ‘bust in’ and then thought that perhaps Ethan would use diplomacy instead. Not sure… still weighing up what he would do in character….
PS: Will add a picture of Isabelle when David provides me with one. Then will update this post.
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