- This is the beginning of reuniting Grant and Ethan together so that they're not running separate, concurrent plotlines. I know that Lurker37 really likes Castle Falkenstein, Steampunk, Cyberpunk and Shadowrun so I’ve been doing a lot of reading up on Castle Falkenstein to weave in some elements that will appeal to him. (more on this at the end of this Session writeup)
- On a separate note, it really does seem like Grant is getting 'all the girls'. Far out! It clearly pays to have Good Stuff in this game.
Realm 30 - The Sparrowhawk (Wooden Door)
Part 1 - Arrival into Florin
- Following on from Session 43 (and Session 33 Part 3), Ethan contacts Grant via an Icon and convinces him to come through to the Sparrowhawk. The Sparrowhawk is en route to Florin and is only an our away from berthing there. Grant is introduced to Isabelle, and Isabelle remains guarded (at this point she's only recently met Ethan, and she doesn't know Grant at all). Ethan offers Grant some tea and then fills him in with what has happened since he left Marindar - the journey back to Earth, his time in Nexopolis and how he 'rescued' Isabelle. Isabelle frowns at this but says nothing.
- Ethan provides him with a likeness of Bresh, the Dwimmerlaik, using soft sand which is used as pillow stuffing in some of the cushions, and then tells Grant all about what has happened onboard. Ethan tells him of their escape from Nexopolis, and how they fled to this location - Ethan tells him Grant that there is a Door onboard but it is difficult to sense. Grant realises that his Wayfinding does not work here - there is interference from the vessel’s superstructure. They chat amicably, and then Grant tells Ethan about his adventures. Ethan can hardly believe everything has happened on Marindar, Arcadia, Peladon and elsewhere. Isabelle listens intently and shows a little more interest in Grant. (GM's note - again, contrasting Ethan's Bad Stuff with Grant's Good Stuff)
- The time passes quickly and all too soon it is time for Ethan and Isabelle to leave. Ethan reminds Grant that he will probably need a ticket, and Grant produces one from thin air. Ethan is astonished by this, but says nothing. Finally, he tells Grant that it is possible that Ichabod who they escaped from in Nexopolis may be following them - Grant nods and agrees to keep an eye out for pursuit.
Part 2 - From Florin to Dinar
- During the six-hour stopover in Florin, Grant shapeshifts into another form and convinces the staff onboard the Sparrowhawk that he has recently come on board. The staff are apologetic that his room is not yet made up and work hurriedly to prepare it. Grant relaxes in the bar with a view from the top decks of the Sparrowhawk over the city of Florin. The rest of the passengers board over the next few hours, and shortly the Sparrowhawk is underway, heading for Dinar which is two days away.
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- That evening Bresh appears at the Skybar for a light meal, and Grant keeps an eye on him.
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- The place is boisterous and rowdy, especially one Prince Rinaldo and his entourage. There is much mirth and merriment in the place, and the Prince is definitely at the centre of things. Prince Rinaldo boasts that shortly he will rescue the Princess imprisoned on Glass Mountain, which piques Grant's curiosity.
- Grant inquires further about Glass Mountain and finds that the stopover in Dinar will be for two days, just in time for the Midsummer Contest where Princes of many nationalities attempt to reach the top of the mountain and free the Princess imprisoned there. The mountain is a strange and beautiful peak of transparent crystal which has existed for almost five hundred years. As Grant inquires further, a merchant named Tolliver shares this story:- Tolliver goes on to say that for almost five hundred years brave knights and princes have tried to scale the peak but it has defeated them all. The peak is made of smooth, indestructible glass and the slopes are very very steep. It is possible to fly to the top of the mountain, of course, but the crystal will not open for anyone who has not actually climbed up the side of the mountain. Prince Christian of Normark flew up on dragon-back some twenty six years ago but it still would not open for him. Even magicians have tried to break the spell but none have succeeded.
- Grant is very interested in the story but at last he retires from the festivities. The next day he explores the Sparrowhawk vessel. He morphs into multiple forms, impersonating a cleaner, a valet and other staff members to figure out more about where Bresh is staying. After a few hours he is able to locate Bresh's cabin and confirm that he has booked passage to Dirham, the next stop after Dinar. Grant then waits in the bistro for Bresh to become hungry, and when he appears Grant heads to Bresh's cabin. To his surprise none of the amenities have been used - the bed has not been slept in, nor have any of the consumables (soap, tea, sugar) been touched. Grant leaves the room and muses over this. His Umbra Sight detected no use of residual magic so he is perplexed as to whether Bresh is using the room or not.
- In his wanderings, Grant finds the Door which Ethan spoke of that leads back to the Grand Stair. It is a long way from both cabins - Grant makes a mental note of it and moves on.
- That evening, Grant goes back to the Skybar and once more finds Prince Rinaldo having a good time with his entourage. However, a gaunt fellow named Count Ducat (who reminds Grant of the actor Basil Rathbone) seems to have had too much to drink - he complains about the food and when one of the waiters tries to calm him down, the Count hits him across the face with a glove and demands 'satisfaction', challenging him to a duel.
- All attempts to placate the irate Count fail miserably. Even the Captain leaves the bridge and tries to talk some sense into him, but the Count considers it to be a matter of honour. Despite trying to maintain a 'low profile', Grant can't resist - he offers to take the duel and defend the Sparrowhawk's honour, much to the applause of the crowd. Even Prince Rinaldo seems to be enjoying the situation, as the Count reveals that he is anything but drunk - he just needed an excuse to get into a fight.
- The duel is quickly arranged on a gantry above the Skybar where everyone can see the fight. Grant gives his name as Roderic and he asks to borrow a sword. The Prince happily passes him one of his bodyguard's swords and cheers them both on.
- Count Ducat is a skilled swordman, and Grant (Roderic) feigns being a bit inept and 'out of practice'. What follows is a "Court Jester" style fight (GM's note - Danny Kaye v Basil Rathbone - it is very funny - here’s the YouTube clip if you haven’t seen the movie.). Grant is a vastly superior swordman, but he fights like a lucky dunce, blocking all of Ducat's attacks at the last moment and 'accidentally' cutting Ducat's belt buckle, causing his pants to fall down. Ducat fights on, losing a sleeve and half his moustache, before declaring that 'Roderic' is a better swordsman than he and asking if he is now 'satisfied'. Grant says that he is now satisfied and the crowd roars with approval. Prince Rinaldo organises a toast to 'Roderic', and the party takes on a new vibrancy.
- Not once has Grant seen Bresh, and he forgets all about the Dwimmerlaik. Instead he has a very good evening, and he ends up dancing with another traveller called Anna-Lise. As Grant heads back to her room, he notes that one of the valet's from the Sparrowhawk clearly wants to talk with him, but respectfully backs off given that he is in the company of a lady. Grant and Anna-Lise spend the night together. (GM's note - it clearly pays to have Good Stuff!)
Part 3 - Glass Mountain
- The next morning Anna-Lise asks 'Roderic' where he will be staying in Dinar, and Grant confesses that he has not made any plans. Anna-Lise asks him to stay with her and he agrees. The Sparrowhawk arrives in Dinar and they disembark. Grant marvels at the size of the mountain - it is over 300 metres high with very sheer sides!
- There are three Princes who have gathered at Dinar to climb the mountain and they begin preparations for ascent the following morning. In the meantime, Grant spends a pleasant day with Anna-Lise. They stay at the Moon Shadow inn and have a romantic dinner and evening.
- The next morning the three Princes start their climb. Prince Rinaldo uses pitons with some sort of chemical adhesive to stick to the crystaline surface. Prince Pedro uses magic to enable him to climb like a spider, and Prince Horatio uses a mechanical spider with large suction cups. Grant watches them make their way up the face. Unfortunately Prince Rinaldo eventually runs out of adhesive and pitons and is forced to descend. Prince Horatio's mechanical spider malfunctions part-way up the face and he is forced to descend via a long rope to the ground. Prince Pedro makes it all the way to the crystalline cave at the top - he disappears for but a moment and then he is seen to be falling to the ground as if he has somehow lost his footing. Prince Pedro does not survive.
- The crowd is transfixed by the long climb, and shocked when the last of the Princes falls. Grant is left wondering whether there was foul play involved, but he is conscious that the Sparrowhawk is leaving later that afternoon for Dirham. With the event over and other festivities now drawing the crowd's attention, Grant spends more time with Anna-Lise, but eventually finds a way to get away for a few minutes. He takes on the form of a local bird, and he flies up to the summit of Glass Mountain to look inside the cave at the top.
- Grant warily enters the cave but finds no obvious hazard which could have ejected Pedro from the Mountain. He wonders if only a Prince can free the Princess, but his musing are cut short when he comes face to face with a lovely lady imprisoned within the crystal. She is the most beautiful woman that Grant has ever seen and he is utterly smitten (GM's note - yes, I discussed this with Dave and he agreed to it - it's nice playing this sort of game with mature adults who are just prepared to 'go with the plot device')
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- There is no prison door which his Warden powers might open - she is within a wall of transparent crystal - frozen motionless as if she's been captured at a moment in time when fast asleep. Grant just stares at her, completely mesmorised by her beauty. Something turns in his mind and he comes to the realisation that if only a Prince can free her that he must become a Prince. (GM's note - has he forgotten about Anna-Lise so quickly? Who knows..... we'll just have to find out.)
GM Observations - Part 2
- And that's where we left Session 44. I truly did not think that Grant would end up wanting to pursue the Princess - but hey, why not.
- To properly credit where ‘Glass Mountain’ came from, there is a free Castle Falkenstein module on the Steve Jackson games website - you can find it here: http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/samples/ ... ntain.html
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