- Another session split between Grant and Ethan. Grant continues to following the stolen memories, getting ever closer to his destination. Ethan finally has a ‘date’ with Abbie, with some consequences of falling in love who has changed.
- Regarding the stolen memories, I tried to think about how the Dwimmerlaik would hide/store these memories, and also to think about what their ultimate goal was of acquiring these memories. Lurker37 of course thinks that their purpose is to disadvantage the Lords of Gossamer, but what if they were after something … something that only the Lords of Gossamer know which they desire badly. Ah, I wonder what that would be ….
- For Ethan, I really tried hard to think about Abbie as as Eidolon-enhanced human who has adopted Earth as her homeworld. In some ways this is self-GMing (with a bit of input of course), but Lurker37 didn’t feel comfortable running some of this so I thought really hard about what an ordinary person who had been Eidolon-enhanced would make of Earth and the difference in perspective. If you’ve read this far, you’d recognise that Lurker37 and I are very different people. I can run a romance story for Sophia and Grant without it feeling awkward (fading to black where appropriate), but David does not feel the same way. No criticism - we’re just different people. Back to Abbie, she doesn’t see things the way that a normal Earth-born human would, but that’s the point. Abbie doesn’t perfectly understand Ethan because she’s not an Earth-born human and there are differences.
Part 1 - Preparations for Midas
- Ethan prepares for a date with Abbie. He eats a good breakfast, spends time in the workshop and deliberately avoids anything which could get him into trouble and miss his date. He decides to dress well and dons a suit and tie. He ignores the catty laughter from the felines as he irons a shirt (after dusting cobwebs off the shirt, and then having to use Eidolon to ‘purify’ the iron so that it would not stain the shirt). Ethan tries not to be nervous but he doesn’t want to mess it up with Abbie.
- About half an hour before the appointed time, the phone at Westgate manor rings. It is Abbie, calling from the Tipsy Elephant (the local pub in Fiveways). She sounds a little odd - she was driving to Westgate cottage but turned the car around when she saw the desiccated grass ringing the house and smelt the terrible odour emanating from it. She can tell that the creature that ‘ate’ the building that she was staying in (GM’s note - this occurred in Session 72) has visited Westgate and she is unwilling to cross where it has been.
- Ethan agrees to come and collect her, and he sets off in the Eidolon Car. Meeting her at the Tipsy Elephant, he is astonished to find her in hiking gear with boots suitable for trail-walking, and carrying a daypack with two water bottles. She is equally astonished to find Ethan in a suit, but she laughs and asks her if he would take her to the cottage. A few curious onlookers watch as Ethan opens the car door for Abbie, and then they drive away. Abbie asks after the creature and Ethan explains that he is aware of it, but hasn’t had a chance to deal with it yet. Abbie presses and Ethan promises to deal with it when he returns. Abbie is pleased by this and she relaxes.
- Arriving at Westgate Cottage, Ethan and Abbie head inside. Stolvir wakes up when Abbie arrives - he wags his tail but he does not get up. Macavity opens one eye and then closes it again and pretends to ignore Abbie. Ethan leads Abbie to ‘The Door’ and she asks whether they are going anywhere dangerous. Ethan promises that this will not be the case, and she seems disappointed. Abbie teases a little and says that she would appreciate a little excitement and she asks where they are going. Ethan explains that he plans to take her to Midas, which is an island resort. Abbie smiles evenly and asks about sailing and diving, and perhaps some dancing. Ethan nods and they head off.
Part 2 - As the Sun Goes Down
- As they walk, Abbie asks if she’s dressed appropriately for Midas (as she has no idea what type of place it is). Ethan explains that they will have clothes there. A short walk later and they are there. Stepping through the Door, they are greeted by a well groomed man named Ferdinand, who shows them to a comfortable room and explains some of the facilities available. When Ethan asks if they could be given some time to walk and explore, they are introduced to their personal concierge named Bonnie (whom Ethan has met before) who gives them some guidance as where to go. Abbie leaves her pack behind and Ethan changes into some more comfortable clothes.
- It is late afternoon when they set off down to and along the beach. Ethan points out that they can go inland and climb the peak here, and from there see about half the island from the lookout. Abbie asks when he has been here before, and Ethan explains. Abbie smiles and says that she is already enjoying this.
- They reach the peak before dusk and watch the sun set before heading back down. Abbie reiterates her thanks, explaining that it’s hard for her to get away like this, and she says that she’s missed Ethan. Ethan says that he’s missed her too, but she shrugs off a kiss when one is offered.
- Walking back as the light fades, Abbie takes Ethan’s hand. She asks him if he’s going to come back to Earth and is pleased when Ethan says that he will. She asks about his adventures and Ethan is candid about what he remembers and what he does not. She listens as they make their way back. Bonnie is waiting for them, and she organises some refreshments for them. They sit down beside the pool, with the small waves on the beach lapping only a short distance away. Ethan asks about what Abbie has been doing, and this is where the conversation starts to go awry.
- Abbie has become aware of the problems on Earth. Big problems. She refers to Earth as her “adopted home” and she is determined to do something about the problems she sees, but she can’t do it alone. She wants Ethan to help her. Ethan listens as she outlines some of her plans to tackle world hunger, health care, education and so on. She speaks passionately about the need to make a difference, and points out just how much of a difference Ethan can make. From her point of view he’s already made a huge difference (e.g.: to the ‘Make a Wish’ kids) to small groups of people and he could do so much more. Ethan begins to wonder if she is trying to ‘save the world’ to make up for the fact that her own world was destroyed and she was powerless to stop it. Is she spending with him because she needs his help to achieve her goals, or because she actually enjoys his company?
- After talking for awhile, Abbie realises that she’s said something wrong - she’s been talking too much and Ethan has said too little. She attempts to backtrack, and apologises. Ethan tries to move on but Abbie stops him, and pleads with him to explain. She doesn’t want to blow things with Ethan. Ethan finds it hard to articulate. Taking a deep breath, she explains that Ethan saved her life, and he has inspired her to do something with this second chance. She wants to make a difference, and she knows that she can. She asks him if she is doing the wrong thing?
- Bonnie approaches and offers them another drink. The interruption gives Ethan time to think. He knows if it’ll be costly if he says the wrong thing.
* Image by Haryarti on DeviantART
- Ethan tries to gently and carefully explain that while he thinks that what she is doing is ‘beautiful’, he sees it as truly unusual for someone who is born on Earth to think this way, almost selflessly. They talk a little, realising that there is a gulf between them. It slowly comes out that Abbie sees the problems of her world as her personal responsibility to solve or contribute to. Ethan explains that most people on Earth don’t see things that way. He illustrates the point by talking about litter - most people on Earth wouldn’t pick up garbage that they see on the street because they didn’t drop the litter, and hence it’s not their responsibility. Abbie finds this surprising - where she came from, whoever saw the litter would pick it up, and whoever dropped it would be ashamed if they knew of it.
- Abbie is astonished as she thought Ethan had a similar ideal to herself. He saved her, he cured kids, he healed all of the sick people in a hospital. None of these are selfish acts in her mind so she had no idea that he didn’t see things the same way. They discuss their different philosophies - surprised at just how different their viewpoints are.
- At last Ethan admits that he thinks that she is right. He’s thinking like he is still a powerless ordinary man. He does have the power to change things, but has been thinking like everyone else that it is not his responsibility to do something about it. He admits that it is his responsibility, and he just hadn’t thought of it before. Abbie encourages him and reminds him of all of the amazing and generous things that he has done. In her opinion it was ‘right’ then, and it is still ‘right’.
- By this point Bonnie has brought them some dinner, and they sit by the seaside, picking at food and talking in the cool of the evening. Ethan admits that he can’t imagine being in the public eye like Abbie is. Once in the public eye, it can’t be undone. She points out that he doesn’t have to do it that way - he can operate in other ways, like what he did at the hospital. She admits that she would like him with her, but not if would make him uncomfortable. She asks about his family, whom he moved to Marindar - if they are gone, does this not make him feel more comfortable? He admits that it does. Abbie says that she wants him her life - she’d prefer that he’s not hidden away but if he’s not comfortable being in the public eye, she’d accept that. Ethan agrees to give it some thought.
- After dinner, she smiles and thanks him for listening. She doesn’t think they’ve ever quite talked like this before. It’s late, but she’s not tired - she asks what else there is to do and is pleased when he suggests that they go for a late night swim.
- Drifting in the pool, occasionally pausing to talk, Abbie reiterates that it’s lovely just to relax for a bit. Ethan observes that Abbie seems to have chosen a hard road, and she explains that it’s a lonely path, and no one would believe where she really came from, just Ethan. Ethan doesn’t know what to say to that.
- At last, Abbie leaves the pool, dries herself off and relaxes by the poolside in a robe while Ethan continues to float and relax. Abbie asks if she can ask Ethan a question, at which point Ethan knows that it’s going to be something hard which is on her mind. He comes over to the side of the pool, and Abbie asks if he’s met someone else. Abbie says that he doesn’t mind (Ethan isn’t sure whether to believe that), but she’d like to know. Resting on the edge of the pool, Ethan says that there isn’t, but he does remember kissing Isabelle when he didn’t have his memories. Abbie asks about when he lost his memories - she asks if he remembers everything again, and Ethan confesses that although he remembers almost everything, most of it feels a bit muted. The feelings are there, but they’re somehow not connected properly. Abbie observes that it sounds like a trauma which just needs time to heal. She asks Ethan that he thinks of Isabelle. The line of questioning makes him feel uncomfortable. He admits that he liked having her as a travelling companion on the Stair. Abbie further sums it up that Ethan liked having company on his adventures, and he agrees. Abbie smiles, and says that she thought as much.
Part 3 - The Stair Frightens Me But
- Ethan wonders what she is smiling at. She asks if there is much else to do on Midas when the sun goes down. After a short discussion they go inside to change before heading down to the bar. Bonnie has organised a booth with lit candles and sound-baffles to screen out nearby conversation and the noise from a nearby dance floor. After a glass of nectar-wine, they dance. They have a pleasant time but Ethan can tell that Abbie has something on her mind. Ethan can tell that she doesn’t really want to be dancing so he makes a joke of the situation and makes some other suggestions, trying to gauge what she would prefer to be doing. Abbie asks Ethan gently to stop pushing. She says she’s enjoying the dancing, and asks him not to spoil things.
- After a while there is a natural pause, and they head out to a balcony overlooking the beach. It is cool and dark outside. By starlight, Abbie thanks Ethan for bringing her out and for reminding her just how much he means to her. Ethan tries to say something but she shushes him. She explains that what she has to say will take a few minutes but it’s important. She admits that she loves Ethan and that nothing has changed for her - it scares her that he can simply walk off onto the Stair and she won’t know when is coming back, but she wants Ethan in ‘her world’ but she also wants to be ‘in his’. She admits that the Stair still frightens her, but she’s no longer the immature waif that he first met. She says that she is stronger, and better prepared physically and mentally. That’s why she dressed for walking when she arrived - she has realised that she can never be in ‘his world’ if she limits herself to Earth. While she wants to make a difference to Earth, she knows she will lose him if she demands that he stay, or if she refuses to venture on the Stair. So, she asks him to take her onto the Stair.
- Ethan is rather astonished by this. He remembers almost dragging Abbie around, rescuing her repeatedly because she was ill-equipped for the perils of the Stair and other worlds. But she seems to be serious, and she has changed.
- Seeing Ethan’s hesitation, Abbie pushes. (she has clearly prepared for this) She reminds him that she has the weekend off. She asks if he’s tired, and he isn’t (because he prepared for this date and he got extra sleep). She says that even though she’s been working hard, she made sure that she rested before the weekend because she didn’t want to spoil the fun by being overtired. They could stay here in this very pleasant resort, maybe do some sailing or diving; or maybe they could ‘have an adventure together’.
- Ethan agrees to take Abbie back onto the Stair. He asks why she didn’t ask in the first place, and she says that she was enjoying the conversation, but also she was afraid he might say no. Perhaps he was seeing someone else. Perhaps he’d forgotten about her somehow. Ethan laughs. He didn’t realise that Abbie wanted to travel with him on the Stair or he would have offered. He thought she was so busy on Earth that she couldn’t afford the time, or just wasn’t interested. Abbie admits that she thought she was a burden in the ‘early days’ of their relationship, but she has worked hard to change that. Ethan reassures her, further explaining that he was trying hard not to interfere with her new life on Earth and give her an opportunity to be her own person. He admits to being in love with her, but didn’t want to smother her by always being around.
- Blinking, Abbie says that she never expected the conversation to go this well. She sums it up that Ethan loves her, and she loves Ethan, and she asked to be more involved in Ethan’s life and he agreed. She asked Ethan to be more involved in her life, and he seemed to agree to that too. Just reiterating it astonishes her further. She thinks, smiles and asks if they can go have an adventure ‘now’? Ethan gives a shrug, kisses her on the forehead and suggests that she change back into her hiking kit. He proposes that he pop back to Westgate, get his things, come back and they’ll go find ‘an adventure’.
Part 4 - Assault on Skymax 616
- Meanwhile, Grant is travelling with Greywalker, Dash and the Birdman and headed to Skymax 616 on the world of Stratospheria. Skymax is a maximum security penitentiary, but Dash and the Birdman have been persuaded to carry on. As they approach, the cabin vox crackled to life and they are instructed to identify themselves. Greywalker nudges Grant to answer but before he can do so, Skymax warns them that they are entering restricted airspace and will be fired upon if they do not answer.
- Grant uses Umbra to distort his voice when he replies. He says that they are a food delivery and gives a fake ID. Despite the far fetched nature of his explanation, he is given permission to land but Skymax warns him that the ship will be shot down if they deviate from their course, and upon arrival they are to surrender and be boarded.
- Dash breathlessly does as he is told and lands the ship. A group of glittering robots comes out onto the platform to apprehend them. Grant shifts into a shadowy form to get past them, whilst Greywalker simply walks by them and they do not notice him.
- As Dash’s ship is impounded and the crew are arrested and taken away for questioning, the two Lords of Gossamer head into the complex with Greywalker leading the way. After almost fifteen minutes of avoiding doors that are likely to be monitored, they run into a slender four-legged canine creature in one of the corridors. It cannot see them, but it can clearly smell Greywalker.
Part 5 - Busted
- Grant fully expects Greywalker to be able to easily overcome this obstacle, so he surprised to hear “Oh dear” from the veteran Lord of Gossamer. Grant decides to take action, and uses Umbra to make the dog-creature very sick (with a belly ache). It growls and then runs away. Greywalker frowns and advises Grant that they should split up. “Go do your thing,” he advises, as a klaxon goes off somewhere, sounding the alarm. Grant then uses his shadow-form to slip away.
- Making sure that he isn’t leaving any scent, Grant makes his way into a different section of the Skymax. He takes his time, avoids traps and takes special care when opening and shutting doors to temporarily disable any monitoring mechanisms. After an hour of searching, he finds his quarry in Cell 1138 (GM’s note - yes, another Star Wars reference)but he chooses not to bypass the sensors and enter the room as he can’t interrogate the courier psychically without triggering the ‘Breath of Eden’ and mind-wiping him. Without Greywalker, he can’t get the information he needs.
- Backtracking, he goes looking for Greywalker is being held and he finds him being interrogated by two guards in sandy brown uniforms. Greywalker is being obstinate and is refusing to answer any questions without a decent cup of tea. He is clearly stalling so Grant goes looking for the control centre that is monitoring the interrogation room. He finds it run by one guard, whom he then subdues. Grant then deactivates the alarms in the area, but doing so triggers an alert which he has to subsequently recall. Now impersonating the control centre guard, he heads to the interrogation room and overpowers the two guards, taking a communicator from one of them but taking the time to disable the positioning beacon in the device.
- Grant explains that he has found the target and they make their way directly to the detention block.
On the way, Grant asks if Greywalker learnt anything useful, to which Greywalker comments that the dog-creatures are intelligent and can hold a decent conversation. He doesn’t think the facility itself is Dwimmerlaik controlled.
Part 6 - Undercover
- As they make their way back to the detention block, Grant is faced with having to pass through Restricted Areas with Greywalker. In opening the door, he receives inquiries from one of the other monitoring stations as to why he has deviated from his station. He is advised that his locator appears to be damaged and instructed to hold position. Ignoring the instructions, they choose to carry on, and Grant increasingly uses Umbra not only to hide their passage, but also to cause confusion in other areas.
- Their luck eventually runs out and the prison guards put the entire Skymax on lockdown. This doesn’t stop the Wardens but simply slows them down. In one corridor they encounter a sentry drone with a very large calibre gun - they are able to pass it very carefully without it noticing, but it is unnerving for them both to pass so close to an armed sentry.
- At last they reach Cell 1138, Grant opens the Door and Greywalker strides in, telling the serpentine courier (who is now fully awake/alert) not to be afraid, and that ‘this won’t hurt’. Greywalker makes a psychic link with the courier, then gently blanks his memories of ever meeting the two Wardens.
- The mission accomplished, Grant insists on finding Dash and the Birdman. They quickly find them (they are in a low security part of the installation) and they escape back to the ship. As they flee, Grant decides to wipe the Skymax’s records of Dash and the Birdman, hoping that this will help them.
- Back on the ship, Dash laments that they will be shot down as soon as they take off. Grant reassures them, and tells them to make a power dive straight down, and he’ll take care of the pursuit. Dash does as he is told and the ship launches, then dives. Incoming fire from the Skymax is absorbed by an Umbral Shield projected by Grant, and the pursuit ships are not quick enough to catch them.
- Returning to Aerion station, Greywalker thanks the pair for their help, and then alters their memories so that they do not remember meeting either of them. Instead they remember taking some rich people on a sightseeing trip, and Grant leaves them some gemstones from his stash to reward them.
Part 7 - The Teahouse
- Returning to the Stair, the two discuss next steps and Greywalker suggests that find a quiet place to have a cup of tea. Grant finds a Door to a world where the people are tall, thin, quiet and very reserved. They make their way to a quiet teahouse, and have tea and cucumber sandwiches.
- While they rest, Greywalker uses a fist-sized orb as the focus of a spell to scry the Stair and check the way ahead. Once he has found a safe passage, they return to the Stair with Greywalker in the lead. Again he takes a ‘long’ route through many Doors and sections of Stair. In one section there are many recently slain Dwimmerlaik and red-skinned orc-like creatures. At last, they reach the Starfield section of Stair and return to the Door where the courier transferred the memory canister to someone else. Greywalker produces a fist-sized crystal orb which he uses as a focus and he begins to study where the completed spell would take them. The spell was designed for the courier and only the courier, but Greywalker is capable of tracing the spell. When he is sure, Greywalker initiates a sorcerous teleport with Grant.
Part 8 - Return to the Sparrowhawk
- The two of them appear on an airship which is familiar to Grant. He’s been here before. It is the Sparrowhawk (GM’s note - which Grant first boarded in Session 33 Part 3. Outside the Sparrowhawk there are white capped mountains, pockets of thick cloud and snow falling.
* Image by TerryLH on DeviantART
- Greywalker notes that there is another Warden onboard and he advises Grant to mask his presence. Grant’s presence is already masked - he has been in the habit of doing so ever since he started working undercover as Trell to infiltrate the Dwimmerlaik Empire. He assumes the form of an ordinary guest and asks one of the attendants and asks about their journey. He finds that they are headed north to the Ice Mountains of Shaar, and they are 4 days into the journey. This is a stroke of luck because it means that they have probably caught up to the individual who is carrying the memory canister. With the use of Wayfinding, Grant confirms this. It is another 5 days to their destination, so Grant asks for a suitable cabin. He had prepared a suitable explanation for why he would be asking for a cabin half-way through the journey, but the attendant does not ask.
- Grant and Greywalker settle down for the journey, although Greywalker is clearly less than keen to stay onboard. He clearly has other matters that he would prefer to attend to. Greywalker wonders why the courier is taking ‘the long way home’. Grant speculates that maybe it is easy to get memory canisters out, but hard to get them back in.
- Over the course of the next few days, Grant decides to have dinner in the main dining hall with its many windows looking out across the ice-capped mountains. There he identifies a tall, dark-skinned man as the other Warden. He is well dressed and looks very physically strong.
* Image is by Ian Napier - one of two unnamed NPC images included in the Core Lords of Gossamer Rulebook (p102). I’m using this image for Khalim
- Grant does not know that this man is Khalim, one of the Imperial Wardens. Only Ethan has met him. (GM’s note - last seen in Session 84) Grant finds Khalim very difficult to read, but he thinks he doesn’t like cold places.
- Apart from the occasional stroll, Grant spends the rest of the time in their shared cabin. He asks Greywalker about ‘Gandalf’ and Tolkien’s epic tale about Middle Earth. Grant is curious as to how much of the story is true. Greywalker tells him that part of the story is true, but his old friend Tolkien has taken some of what really happened and turned it into a greater narrative. Grant inquires further, and Greywalker explains that there was a renegade Dwimmerlaik warlord named Sauron. He was an Umbra Master, and a powerful one who had managed to ‘cheat death’ at least once by imbuing part of his essence into other artefacts, including a golden ring. Grant listens to the tale but it sound very different to the one he has read. There was a Fellowship who set out to destroy Sauron’s Ring, but the importance of hobbits in the tale was very much smaller than in the book. But there are also elements that are not in the books - that Sauron was trying to escape Middle Earth, and conquest was only part of his plan. Being an Umbra Master with no ability to open Doors, he was seeking to drain enough of the land’s life-force in order to accumulate enough power to leave. After listening to the tale, Grant is left with the distinct impression that Sauron may not have been defeated. He asks Greywalker about this, and Greywalker replies thoughtfully that he believes that Sauron is gone, but some Umbra Masters are capable of opening doors to very dark places - places between and underneath the realms. He calls those places Shadows because they are not Realms as a Lord of Gossamer would comprehend. They are holes in the universe from which few return. After thinking of this for some time, Grant asks if it is possible to reach from the Shadows to other worlds, to which Greywalker gives him a grave look.
- They also talk at quite some length about the war, and Greywalker shares a little about what he knows of the others. With Mordecai and Drake missing in action, Bastiano is the most competent general that they have in the field, and he has brought considerable forces to bear. The Dwimmerlaik armies have been very well coordinated though, and there are many more Dwimmerlaik Lords than there are Wardens. Greywalker tells Grant that they will have to be prepared for the Dwimmerlaik reclaiming large sections of the Stair, at least for a time. Lucien and Cooper have been hard at work for some time working on the Breath of Eden and they have no doubt made a great deal of progress (but Greywalker claims not to know the details). Then there are a few others, like himself, Yaeger, Cordelias and Kelric who have been working to destabilise the Enemy and stop them spreading out too far. Greywalker is particularly concerned with Drake’s alliance with the Mandragora - the Dragon Lords - but he understands that this mission is more critical, at least for the time being.
- Grant asks about Yaeger, and Greywalker explains that he’s been trying to locate “Velheka”. Grant has heard of this place as Trell for it is known to be the Dwimmerlaik Afterlife. He asks why Yaeger would do such a thing. The Dwimmerlaik believe it to be a sacred place, semi-divine, perhaps even mythical. Greywalker gives a smile and asks what Grant knows of the Afterlife. Grant shares what Trell knew - when a Dwimmerlaik dies, they have to pass by the guardians of the gate - and if the guardians judge the Dwimmerlaik to be unworthy, the individual is destroyed and his soul-ashes scattered. But if the guardians judge the Dwimmerlaik to be worthy, then they are reunited with their glorious brethren. As Grant continues to describe the Afterlife, he realises that that their ‘Heaven’ appears to be a universe where they are greatly superior to all other lifeforms and dominant over all. He wonders if the Dwimmerlaik are motivated to create ‘Velheka’ in the real world. He asks Greywalker’s opinion but Greywalker changes the topic. Instead, he explains that Mowbray’s Ailsiliar are very much warlocks and priests. It wouldn’t surprise him if Mowbray believes that Velheka is a real place with a real Door to access it, in which case the Dwimmerlaik would be effectively ‘immortal’. Grant thinks that such an idea is mad, but Greywalker kindly points out that all Umbra Masters are more than a little mad, and Mowbray is the greatest Umbra Master in the service of the Empire.
Part 9 - The Ice Fortress
- At last they arrive in the far north, the Ice Mountains of Shaar. The town of Torvaal is bathed in snow and almost no one is there to welcome the Sparrowhawk’s arrival. Both Greywalker and Grant can sense a Door nearby, and they spot Khalim as he leaves the airship with a bag slung over his shoulder. They watch him leave, and then Greywalker walks off the ship, ‘invisible’ to mortal eyes. Grant decides to become a black bug (as he has done many times before) and he peeks out from Greywalker’s collar.
- High above in the mountains is a massive castle made of white rock. Khalim is seen heading towards the foot of the mountain and then starting to ascend a narrow rocky stair. They consider following him, but then they would run the risk of being caught in an exposed space. Instead, they find one of the ‘unclimbable faces’ of the mountain and Grant transforms into a colossal white spider which is capable of climbing the rock face. Greywalker holds onto Spider-Grant’s back as he makes the ascent. Spider-Grant climbs swiftly, vanishing into the falling snow and reaching the castle unseen.
- Creeping over the battlements, he finds that the people here are blue-skinned with wholly black eyes and white antlers. They wear armour that is made out of a white-silver metal. They look a little like Dwimmerlaik but they are not quite Dwimmerlaik. Realising that the Imperial Warden has vanished through the Door (he senses the Door being opened), Grant and Greywalker covertly follow. In an icy cold chamber, they find a Door made of black crystal, and in front of it is a white and blue serpent lying across a multi-coloured carpet made of tiny pieces of crystal. There is no mistaking that to cross the carpet would result in sound being made which would wake up the Door’s guardian. Despite this, Grant is able to keep the guardian asleep whilst Greywalker crosses the floor and lays his hand upon the guardian’s brow. Greywalker succeeds in putting the guardian is put into an even deeper slumber.
- Greywalker and Grant take turns at the Door, trying to sense what is on the other side. Neither of them has much luck. Grant is about to open the Door when Greywalker points out that the Imperial Warden may still be nearby on the other side. Disappointed, Grant sits down to wait, shifting into a more comfortable form to withstand the cold. Greywalker takes out his pipe to smoke.
Part 10 - Fortified
- After two hours of waiting, Grant decides that it’s time to go through. He knows that even if the Door is being observed on the other side, he should be able to emerge without being seen, such are the properties of the Doors. So he opens the Door a crack and peers through. On the other side is finds a black glossed corridor with some ambient lighting coming from the floor. Two Dwimmerlaik warriors, ready for anything, are standing right by the Door. There are other Doors in the corridor, and they are guarded too. Shifting into his shadow form, Grant slips into the nearest warrior’s shadow just behind his heel.
- The Imperial Warden is no longer here - he has left by another Door - but can Grant get across the corridor without being detected?
Part 11 - A Call to Adventure
- In contrast, Ethan and Abbie have a marvellous time on the Stair, wandering here and there and exploring a range of ‘safe’ Realms. Abbie is given a glimpse of the broader multiverse that exists and she demonstrates that she has learnt some minor magic from Sophia, including a spell that enables her to quickly translate spoken languages into a form that she can understand.
- At Abbie’s request, Ethan opens the Door to Middle Earth and they explore the White City of Minas Tirith. It is very beautiful but Ethan feels a chill wind coming from the north and he is keen not to linger too long. Abbie asks what Ethan knows about the place and he confesses he knows very little, but there is a book written by an English author that tells a story of this place. Abbie decides that she will read the book when she returns to her ‘adopted home’.
- They venture to the orbiting bazaar of Oasis Seven (last seen in Session 68) where Abbie is most fascinated by the enormous windows that allow her to look down on the rocky world below. Both Abbie and Ethan try to find some sort of knick-knack for the other but both fail.
- Further on the Stair, Ethan takes Abbie to a wondrous realm inhabited by intelligent teddy bears, dolls, trains and all kinds of children’s toys. The toys are very excited to see them, but don’t want to let them leave. They make it very difficult to do so.
- Ethan attempts to find the Legendary Realm, but is unable to do so. The Door has moved. So he decides to find a world where there is there is some adventure.
- Ethan takes Abbie to one of his favourite haunts, named Versais. He learnt swordplay here, and although some of his friends have moved on, his favourite inn is still there. Arriving in time for dinner and a goblet of wine, the two have a merry evening together, interrupted only by a drunk noble’s attempt to claim Abbie for his own - and she flattens him much to amusement of everyone present. The next morning they explore the countryside for a few hours, ending up in the town of Versais. From a modern point of view, the town smells very bad, but it is still an experience. Heading back to the local chateau with its Door, Ethan and Abbie evade the owners and re-enter the Stair.
- About a mile away on the Stair, Ethan seeks a world where there is a festival on, and to his surprise he finds a world where it is “Startica”, or more correctly, the day before Startica. The Door opens into a village covered in snow and every tree is covered in magical lights. Ethan and Abbie wander around the township, looking at the festive windows and all of the goods for sale. It seems a little like Christmas. After a few hours, Ethan suggests that they come back here in the evening.
- Walking further, and climbing up ladders, they emerge from a trapdoor onto a cruise ship. They spend hardly any time in this realm. Abbie asks whether it is possible to find ‘wisdom’ on the Stair, not just a physical thing. Ethan frowns and thinks, then he sets off. After about an hour, they reach a weathered Door.
- Behind the weathered Door is an ancient monastery, but this is only the gateway to a mountain trail which snakes higher and higher up the mountain into the clouds. Abbie is astonished by this - she asks what this place is and Ethan says that he’s never been here before, but that he searched for a place where she would find the ‘answers’ she is seeking, and it brought them here. It looks bitterly cold up the mountainside, and Abbie declines, thanking him but deciding to come back another time.
- As they head back, Abbie asks what Ethan would like to do next given that they have only one evening left. He suggests that they go dancing and she agrees to this. They head to Nexopolis, where they buy new clothes and head to a swanky dance-club. Ethan can sense the presence of multiple Wardens here but he ignores them - instead he focusses on Abbie and they have a good time.
- Time passes by quickly they almost forget to return to “Startica”. Rugging themselves up in Nexopolis, they head back as darkness settles in across the village and the locals begin singing carols. They quickly make friends with the locals and are guided to a respectable establishment for an evening meal. Over mulled wine and a roasted dinner, the two discuss what a good time they have had. The two drink a little too much (even for them), dance and talk long after the band has stopped playing and everyone has gone to bed, and just enjoy each other’s company while the snow falls outside.
…. and that’s where we left Session 96.
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