- GM’s note: When we started this game, the GMing was split roughly 50/50 between David and myself. I’ve been GMing for the last year, and the reality is that a significant majority of the sessions in the last few years have been run by me. Session 263 was meant to be the session where I could play Ethan for a bit and we could get back to having some balance, so that I could have someone entertain me for a bit rather than having to do a significant part of the entertaining, plus of course doing all of the session writeups.
I was tired on the day when David GMed Session 263 and I asked to cut the session short at 2 hours. Unfortunately David has not been able to run a session since due to problems on his end, so I’m currently in limbo because we have an adventure in progress. I don’t know where the game goes from here.
An Unexpected Call
- Ethan and Hilda are on the Stair, heading back to Tyrnador. They both have backpacks of provisions and niceties. They are both looking forward to seeing Scarlet, the King’s new capital. However, before they get there, Ethan receives an unexpected Icon contact.
- It is Abbie (Abigail). She is injured and needs urgent assistance. Ethan quickly extends an invitation and pulls her through. She brings Macavity (Ethan’s old friend) with her. Abbie is dressed in formal business attire, but her jacket has a scorch mark in it and the plastic plating woven into the fabric is exposed and badly melted.
- As Ethan attends to her blistering wound, Abbie explains that she was ambushed. Ethan asks about bodyguards and she indicates that Macavity was operating in this capacity. Ethan is surprised by this but says nothing. After offering some basic healing, Ethan uses Mental Invisibility to cloak the group and he calmly suggests that they go for a walk. He wants to leave their location just in case someone can track them on the Stair.
- Abbie is feeling much better in Ethan’s care (although her jacket is ruined) and Ethan suggests that they return to the protection of Fiveways (in Realm 0). Ethan knows that Shadow Earth is warded in many ways and it would be difficult for Abbie’s attackers to locate them there.
- They return to Westgate Manor. The ravens and cats are pleased to see them, but surprised because they thought that Ethan and Hilda would not be coming back so soon. Ethan offers Abbie some tea and takes time tending to her injuries. Macavity shows an injured paw and Ethan heals this too. Ethan notes that the wards on the house seem to be stronger than before - he doesn’t know why but he wonders if it is in reaction to whatever is hunting Abbie. Of course it could also be that the house is somehow ‘pleased’ to see her again, not that the house has ever shown signs of sentience before. Nevertheless, Ethan is somewhat pleased to have a reason to see Abbie again so soon, even though the circumstances are poor.
- They talk. The Dragon Emperor had tasked Abbie to perform some negotiations - but nothing unusual or particularly confrontational. Nothing that would likely result in this sort of attack. Ethan thinks on this while Abbie freshens up - she still has clothes in Westgate Manor, even though they are quite dated. Hilda is pleased to show Abbie her room - there are posters of Harry Potter and Gryffindor all over it. Abbie knows nothing about Harry Potter but she is quickly offered the first book in the series.
- Abbie needs to tell Lofwyr what has happened, but an Icon contact won’t work for her from Shadow Earth. Ethan performs a Divination which indicates that it is currently safe and they are unlikely to run into trouble if they take a short trip. Heading out, they go to the nearby Treasure Cave and Ethan finds that most of the valuable gems have been removed near to the Door, as if whoever is protecting this horde is aware that someone has been stealing from it. While Ethan collects some silver and gold coins, Abbie contacts Lofwyr via Icon to let him know what has happened. He is not happy that his emissary has been attacked and promises to ‘deal with it’. He directs her to stay out of trouble for a few days.
- Returning to Earth, Abbie reacquaints herself with Westgate Manor and the nearby township of Fiveways. She finds it interesting that so much has stayed the same - it’s still a little English country town. But there are jarring moments too. She is recognised on the street as the famous singer that she was decades ago - the one that disappeared suddenly and hasn’t been seen since. The topic of time and how much time has passed is discussed. Ethan points out how much Abbie has changed and she admits this to be true. She remembers that she called herself Abbie Powell, taking Ethan’s surname, figuring that when Meridian was destroyed that her place was on Earth, with Ethan.
- The topic of Meridian is a difficult one. Ethan’s subsequent interference and prevention of Meridian’s destruction completely upset Abbie’s world again. She still thinks it was a marvellous, miraculous thing to have done, but it left her lost. She admits to still feeling a bit torn between her new life (in Lofwyr’s service) and wanting to spend time with Ethan, but she doesn’t regret working for the dragon who has become the Dragon Emperor. It’s given her a new purpose.
- During the conversation, Hilda mentions that Ethan’s brother in Marindar has teenage kids. After the initial shock, Abbie is very curious about this and she persuades Ethan to take her to Marindar to see them. Macavity promises to look after Hilda for a few days, and Hilda hugs the capital-C Cat in delight.
- It is only a forty minute walk on the Stair between Earth and Marindar. Nevertheless, Ethan is worried that whoever ambushed Abbie is probably still hunting for her. On the way, Ethan meets a creature on the Stair that is disguised as a chandelier. He’s met these creatures before - normally they would seek to devour a traveller, but they are wary of Wardens of the Stair. The creature lets them pass.
- Further on, they meet a handful of people on the Stair. Ethan greets them - they are travelling to the Agora. They warn Ethan to beware of the Shadows - as they are currently hungry. Ethan knows of the Shadows - they will prey upon the unwary, slaying their victims by devouring their shadows. With these warnings, Ethan decides to take a detour and find another route to Marindar.
- Eventually they reach a Door which Ethan opens. On the other side is a city street, and it is morning. The buildings remind Ethan of Tudor style structures given that they lean into the streets and there is an open drain running down the centre of the road. Ethan does a quick Divination and feels that things are not right here. As they walk down the street, the feeling intensifies. Ethan puts an arm around Abbie and takes to the sky with a Fly spell. Looking down at the township from above, Ethan explains that he is certain that they are still after her and something was about to happen. He feels that whoever is hunting her doesn’t mean to kill her, but they certainly mean to harm or capture her.
- They land about a mile away and continue walking to the next Door to exit the realm and return to the Stair. Reaching the Stair safely, they decide to make a stop to get some lunch. Ethan opens a Door which leads out into what looks like an American diner from the 1950s, except that some of the cars outside are taking off and landing. Ethan casts another spell to cloak their presence and they sit down to eat. The food is good. Abbie contacts Lofwyr to update him - again, the Emperor tells her to stay out of trouble and that he will handle it.
- Outside, a car lands badly outside the diner - its engines cut out about two metres above the ground. It diverts their attention, and when they look back, Ethan realises that there is another person in the diner who wasn’t there before. He can’t sense their presence but they are definitely there - it’s not a projection. The individual has dark hair and wears a grey suit. He orders coffee. Their eyes meet and the man realises that he’s been noticed.
- Ethan doesn’t like this. This means that whoever is after Abbie is capable of following her (or something she is carrying) from one reality to the next. Furthermore, the people who are pursuing her are capable of hiding themselves in a crude way.
- GM’s note: And that’s what we have so far. It’s been six weeks since the last session.
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