- It is winter time. Ethan is tinkering in his workshop in Westgate manor. He has also organised some major renovations in the manor house itself. There is still so much unfinished. He still hasn’t had the guts to face his brother Marc and talk about the death of their parents. He misses having a companion in his life – he wants Abbie but it will take time. Hilda alternates between them. Still, Macavity seems happy keeping Ethan company. However, Macavity has gotten very fat of late. Too much fish and not enough exercise. Hilda also seems very happy with Ethan when she is with him - she never seems to run out of books.
- Ethan keeps in touch with the other Lords of Gossamer via Icon. Grant is relaxing in Marindar. Eric maintains that Nexopolis is a mess and will be for some time. Ethan wonders to himself how long it will be before one of them figures out where Ethan got his ghostglobes from.
- Ethan has wondered about whether the Red Eyed Dwimmerlaik (RED) was involved somehow. Is it possible that the RED influenced him to detonate the ghostglobes? Ethan tests this via Divination and confirms that the RED was not involved. It was all his own doing.
- A conversion with Macavity turns to the problem of the RED. He has to deal with the RED sooner or later. Macavity warns him that if he ignores the problem of the RED, it will probably become a problem at some point and then be too late to do anything about it. Macavity notes that Ethan has just ‘knocked off’ Nicol Bolas. That will have attracted a lot of attention, possibly even RED’s attention. It makes Ethan a more attractive target.
- Ethan sighs and wonders how many of Bolas’ lieutenants are still out there. He has absolutely no idea. This feels like another Bastiano situation all over again.
- Ethan has no idea how to find the RED. He projects himself so he could be anywhere. Ethan tries Divination but can’t find a way forward. He cannot figure out how to find RED. Hilda warned him that Ethan needed to find RED’s name in order to find him. But how to find RED’s name? Again, it’s impossible.
- Frustrated, Ethan contacts Lucien via Icon. Lucien takes the contact but when Ethan explains that his Name is compromised, Lucien cuts the contact. Two days later, a letter arrives from the solicitors (Bartholomew) providing advice and a set of instructions for Ethan. It tells him that he can change his Name but this is only useful if he changes his Name faster than someone can determine it. He also warns that changing one’s Name also changes who and what they are. It’s not a trivial thing. He suggests that Ethan could temporarily hide his name but again this is not a permanent solution. He warns that an Eidolon Master such as Ethan would find it very difficult to change.
- Lucien also warns in his letter that removing a Name permanently creates long term problems. Hence it is better to change one’s name and hide it in a way that it cannot be easily determined. He provides some suggestions as to how a device might be constructed to hold a name, leaving Ethan to figure out the details.
- Ethan mulls over the idea of using Eidolon to improve himself – to change himself enough such that he would have a different Name. He wonders about this. He is sure that he can build an artefact capable of storing his Name, but he wonders if it is right to change who he is.
- After a while, Ethan contacts Isabelle. She takes the contact but has defences in place. When Ethan mentions that he wants her help to build an artefact which can hold a Name, she is keen to help and she comes through with a backpack – tools and clothes. Isabelle seems like her old self – she is made to feel welcome and Hilda presents her with a drawing of Isabelle as the blue lady that Ethan originally met. Isabelle loves Hilda’s artwork.
- Over tea, Ethan explains what he is thinking of. He shares his plan and Isabelle agrees enthusiastically that the plan would likely work. She does point out that he could die if it goes wrong, or he could lose his memories or even his identity. Ethan’s physical self is the least important aspect to worry about.
- Ethan remembers Grant’s memory orb which Grant acquired in Agora. He suggests this to Isabelle as a possible way of retaining his memories and Isabelle leaps at this idea. Together they start working through the design of an artefact capable of storing a Name. It takes them three attempts and ten days before they get it right – using Invocation, Wrighting and a little bit of Eidolon to finish it off. In ten days, the spark between Ethan and Isabelle is definitely still there – they both love working together on technical projects like this – but it is a little awkward. After ten days, they have a vessel which could be used to store a Truename.
- Then comes the conversation about what to change. What should Ethan become? He has some ideas but he asks Isabelle for her thoughts as to what should change and what shouldn’t change. He then seeks out Abigail and asks her thoughts over dinner. Abigail is quite surprised by this – initially she thinks it is a joke, but when she realises that Ethan is serious, she thinks it over carefully. Before he departs, Abigail asks if she can talk to him again before he makes any ‘permanent’ changes. Ethan agrees to this.
- Ethan talks further with Macavity, and Grant. He listens to Hilda too. He seeks counsel from those who know him best and love him in their own ways. He then talks to those he thinks are wise – Lady Sophia, and Vala.
- In his conversation with Grant, something odd happens. When Ethan explains what he is doing and why, Grant reminds him of Prometheus’ prophecy about seeking out the Archive of Dilmac (GM’s note – way back in Session 57 Part 2).
- The Man in the moon
Denied his prize
Now seeks those who stole it
With blood red eyes
Long has he laboured
To avoid all fame
But the archives of Dilmac
Records his name
- Ethan is astonished. He doesn’t remember this at all. Is it possible that the RED has actually suppressed Ethan’s memory of this? Nevertheless, Grant remembers and as an Umbra Master, he is very difficult to trick in this way. Ethan knows that he still needs to change his Name, but now he has a lead to find the RED’s name too!
- Grant and Ethan talk about using Umbra to change Ethan in slight, subtle ways. And then Ethan would use Eidolon to make those changes permanent. Grant isn’t completely sure that he can do this so he tries some alteration on a sick person and to his surprise, it works. (GM’s note – we used a FATE Card and got +2 Dumb Luck. That with Good Stuff means it works)
- Ethan carefully plans what changes are to be made. What will make him a better person. Then, when he is sure, he keeps his promise and goes to see Abigail.
- Abigail asks to go for a walk with him. She asks what he has decided and she listens to what he has to say about how he will change, if all goes to plan. At last she says that it’s natural to want to improve oneself but this feels different. She feels somehow that this is the last time that she’ll ever see him. It feels like she’s about to say goodbye and the next time she seems him he’ll be someone else.
- Ethan comforts her and promises her that everything will be okay. He says it with enough sincerity that she believes him. He takes her back to her home on Lofwyr’s estate and kisses her on the hand to wish her goodbye.
- He goes for a further walk after that before returning to Westgate manor. Isabelle is waiting for him – she asks how the conversation with Abbie went and Ethan explains that she’s clearly afraid of losing him as he is. Isabelle reassures Ethan that he won’t be lost. Nothing is being erased – there’re just going to make some minor tweaks. If anything, he should be even more amazing.
- Ethan is surprised by her language. He asks if Isabelle really thinks that he’s amazing. She blushes and retracts her words. Ethan curses himself for flirting with her – if it weren’t for Abigail things would be so simple.
- The next day, Grant and Ethan work to make the changes. (GM’s note – this was done in four stages. Stage 1 – FATE Card 0 (By the Numbers/First Steps – ie: everything going according to plan). Stage 2 – Fate Card -3 (Bad Omen/Slow Motion Disaster) – ie: oh no, things are not going as planned. Stage 3 – Fate Card +3 (A Good Day/Bullseye) – ie: situation recovered and ends up back on track. Stage 4: Fate Card +4 (Incredible Luck/Perfect Form) – ie: oh wow, this ended up even better than expected)
- The end result is an Ethan who is a healer, who helps people, who sticks around and involves himself with others. He keeps his skills and his memories. He is more confident with Eidolon. He has come to terms with his past. He has accepted it. He is whole. There is a nobility in his character that wasn’t there before. No more second guessing. He has a sense of purpose. He is …. brilliant! He is a good stuff character (GM’s note – yes, after 179 sessions of being a Bad Stuff character, Ethan is finally a Good Stuff character)
- His name has been successfully changed.
- Isabelle asks Ethan how he feels. Ethan thinks for a moment and he apologises for lying to her and putting her in danger in the Legendary Realm. He says that he hopes to make it up to her at some point. Isabelle blinks….
- Between them, they complete the process to write Ethan’s Truename into the artefact and he then asks Isabelle to look after it for him. Again, Isabelle is speechless…. Is this really the same person?
- GM’s note: And at this point, we have a major advancement. The last time we got a points increase was around Session 104. Well, Ethan is now 450 points (up from 350 points). He has done a lot and he deserves a major upgrade. More on that in the next session writeup.
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