- GM’s note: This session concludes the two part story arc which saw Abigail threatened by unknown forces. David is not in a position to GM for the foreseeable future, so I’m back to GMing once more after this session. I found this session to be a bit surprising, because he let me focus on Ethan’s social interactions rather than focus on the plot.
Out of interest, we did use FATE Cards to randomly determine some aspects as we went along - eg: how successful was the family reunion with Mark (Ethan’s twin brother). I like Diceless but there are aspects that I think work better with dice or cards. If we defer to ‘Good Stuff’, then such interactions tend to be always positive and I think that’s incorrect.
Relationships Rekindled
- Ethan and Abbie can both sense that something is wrong in the diner. There are sounds of an altercation coming from the bathroom. (The Door to the Stair is also the door to the bathroom). There is a sudden crack and one of the light fittings crashes to the floor. The globe itself shatters into a hundred fragments. The brass fitting rocks slowly on the ground. The light fitting is missing above the booth where Ethan and Abbie are sitting. Ethan can sense competing magics at play - one group seems to be threatening them, and the other is interposing.
- Getting to their feet, Ethan takes Abbie by the hand and leads her swiftly to the Door. They reach the Stair without interference. Quickly, Ethan reinstates a spell of invisibility and he leads them swiftly away. While they walk, Ethan asks Abbie what she is carrying that could be used to trace them. His invisibility spell only works to cloud minds - it is imperfect and there are ways to bypass it. Abbie admits that she is carrying some items that are rare or unique. The body armour that she is wearing as part of her suit was crafted specifically for her. She is carrying a stick-like artefact which will be used during the diplomatic negotiations but it is not activated. She is also carrying a brooch which was given to her as a gift by a fellow diplomat. Ethan frowns and decides not to take any chances.
- Ethan seeks out a Door which leads to a dangerous world. The Door opens out onto a molten plane of lava. Ethan flatly tells her to get rid of all of the items that could be uniquely traced to her. She throws the ‘talking stick’ into the hellscape below. Her reinforced jacket and pants are discarded, leaving her with a buttoned shirt, her leggings and comfortable shoes. She hesitates on discarding the brooch for a moment before discarding it. Ethan isn’t carrying much, but he throws away the utility tool that he won in the last poker game from Cal, just to make sure.
- When the Door is shut, Abbie asks where they should go next. Ethan again leads them away. He isn’t armed, and neither of them have protective or armoured clothing. He has a place in mind - a tailor that he has visited before - however the most direct route is via another realm and Ethan has no wish to go through multiple Doors. Hence they will take the long way to Verun, keeping on the Stair and on major routes. It takes them almost forty minutes to reach their destination.
- The realm of Verun has a very British feel to it, but the township that they arrive in is much cleaner than any English township that they have seen. Everything seems to be maintained in immaculate condition, and there is no grime or decay to be seen here. Ethan and Abbie head to a tailor shop with the name ‘Sterling’ above it. The proprietor greets them and agrees to help outfit them, but he also gently chastises Ethan by name for not making a prior appointment.
- The four tailors of Sterling work as a team to fashion both Ethan and Abbie some new formal suits. The fabric being used is no ordinary cloth - they are quite used to working with fabric that has both ballistic and ablative properties. After their measurements are taken, Ethan and Abbie are offered tea and freshly made cakes while the garments are being made. Ethan does a Divination spell and concludes that there are multiple groups seeking them, and the groups are working cross-purposes and they do not currently know where they are. He suggests that Abbie contact Lofwyr for further guidance, but Abbie reminds Ethan that the Dragon Emperor said that he would personally deal with the situation and she cannot just ask him to ‘hurry up’. She has no idea how long she needs to keep a low profile. Ethan smiles pleasantly and suggests that they make the best of the situation - he suggests that they head to Midas. They have previously holidayed there and it holds pleasant memories for them.
- Abbie thinks for a moment, then offers a thin smile and agrees to this proposal. Once the suits are made and the tailors compensated for their craftswork, they return to the Stair and head to Midas. Both of them are exquisitely clothed.
- Midas is a realm that is very close to Earth. Grant and Ethan discovered it very early in their journeys and it is always highly receptive to visitors from the Stair. As usual, they are warmly received (as they are returning guests). Ethan notes that the concierge seems to approve of the quality of their outfits, even though he says nothing. A room is arranged, and they are assigned an immaculately groomed personal concierge to see to their needs.
- After freshening up, Ethan suggests that they enjoy an evening in Midas and if Lofwyr has not provided guidance by the morning, he recommends that they hire a boat. There are plenty of good diving spots in Midas and he’d rather not waste precious time worrying about Lofwyr, but instead make the most of the time that they have. Abbie agrees to this and they spend a pleasant evening together.
- The next morning, a boat is provided. It is fully provisioned and has diving gear onboard. Abbie is keen to go - she has received an Icon contact from Lofwyr and he has advised her that this should be sorted out in a week or so. There are no other duties that she needs to perform - he will contact her when the current situation is resolved. Ethan and Abbie are happy with this news. Ethan contacts Hilda via Icon to tell her what is going on (she is still safe and sound on Earth with Macavity for company). Then they put the little vessel out to sea.
- The two of them have a wonderful time, reminding them of 1988 when they first went sailing together on a romantic vacation. (GM’s note - way back in Session 58) Ethan learns a lot about Lofwyr from her. Dragons love to acquire possessions. Some love gold. Lofwyr likes ‘people’. He likes to have good people on his staff, and he takes it very personally if people threaten ‘his people’. Lofwyr is like an overprotective (and sometimes over possessive) boss. Lofwyr sees Abbie as part of his ‘dragon hoard’ - a precious thing to be looked after. He clearly wants Abbie to take a vacation while he is straightening matters out. Ethan wonders if Lofwyr could have engineered the whole situation, but Abbie thinks that is unlikely.
- Even though they are out on the sea and they have their privacy, they feel like the concierge is never far away should they need anything.
- They return to Midas as an intimate couple once more. Both Ethan and Abbie are relaxed in each other’s presence once more, and the relationship feels like it once was. They enjoy a day on-shore back in Midas itself before Lofwyr contacts Abbie once more. He tells her that the situation is resolved - she was not the only delegate who was targeted and some of the delegates did not survive. He has firmly dealt with the situation and the danger has passed. He tells her that he needs her to return in two days to prepare for the negotiations once more.
- With the danger passed, Ethan asks what she would like to do for the next two days. She is still keen to visit Marindar and visit Ethan’s brother, Mark and his family. As such, they leave Midas and head to Marindar. Ethan has a house there that overlooks the bay. He contacts Hilda and Macavity and brings them through. That evening, Ethan cooks a meal for them and they have a relaxing family evening. Macavity comments that it’s ‘about time’ that Ethan and Abbie got back together, and Hilda offers an encouraging smile.
- The next day, Ethan goes to meet his brother, Mark. They are twins, but Mark has aged significantly more than Ethan has. Mark looks about twenty years older than Ethan is - he is thinner, his face is lined and his hair has streaks of grey in it. Mark welcomes Ethan, Abbie, Hilda and Macavity in. His wife Asteria is pleased to meet them. Mark’s two daughters, Danae and Perimede, get along well with Hilda and Macavity. The younger of the two, Danae seems to have the same mischievous streak as Ethan and Mark had when they were young.
- Ethan and Mark talk for a long time. They used to be so close but they haven’t talked in a very long time. They seemed to stop talking about the time that their parents died, and Ethan admits that he didn’t know what to say. Mark doesn’t regret being in Marindar. For a while he resented Ethan - he was always good with mechanics (particularly cars) and being here meant that he had to start over and learn a whole new set of skills. But he likes the people and he still finds ‘wonder’ in this place. Whatever resentment he felt has long since gone. Mark accepts that he will probably grow old and die in this place. Ethan thinks about this - he could prolong his brother’s life using Eidolon - but he chooses not to offer and simply listens to him.
- The day with Ethan’s family is a marvellous one - much better than Ethan could have expected or hoped for. Mark seems to be much older and wiser now (he was always the rebellious one), and Ethan finds himself listening to his brother’s counsel. Mark is surprised when he hears that Abbie will return to her employment as one of the Dragon Emperor’s advocates, and Ethan will probably journey further onto the Stair with Hilda (and Macavity if it suits the Cat). Mark has seen the way that Ethan interacts with Abbie (and even Asteria has noticed it) - Ethan seems happy, and Mark advises him that this is a precious thing.
- In the evening, over a glass of wine, Mark goes for a walk with Abbie and leaves Asteria with Ethan. Ethan finds that he has many questions of Asteria, and she has many questions of him. He wants to know how the two met, and how his brother has become such a family man. She is curious about Ethan and why he did not stay in Marindar, and why it has taken so long for him to visit. Ethan finds Asteria very curious. Marindans are not necessarily monogamous, and yet Asteria seems to have settled into a monogamous relationship with Mark - so how did this happen? She answers it very simply - she feels fulfilled in the relationship and didn’t feel the need for other partners. She admires Mark’s sole interest in her and now in their family - this is a curiosity for her, and something which she finds quite pleasing. She loves Mark’s ‘energy’ - given that he will have a shorter lifespan, he seems determined to make the most of it and not to waste time. She is greatly flattered that he is choosing to spend his limited time with her.
- This gives Ethan a lot to think about.
- It is so late that Hilda is almost asleep on a couch. Ethan decides to carry her home. Mark extends an open welcome and asks his brother to come and visit again soon. Ethan promises to do so. They return back to Ethan’s residence well after midnight. Ethan puts Hilda to bed and Macavity curls up at her feet. Then Abbie and Ethan retire for the evening. Abbie surprises Ethan by making a point of telling him that she loves him.
- The next day, Hilda sleeps in. Abbie and Ethan go for a walk along the shoreline of Central Bay, walking hand in hand. They return to the residence so that Abbie can say goodbye to Hilda, and then Abbie and Macavity leave via Icon. Hilda wonders openly when she’ll see Abbie again, and Ethan is certain that it will be soon.
- Returning to Lofwyr’s employ, the Dragon Emperor is pleased to see one of his prized staff being suitably refreshed. Abbie is quite competent and powerful, and if she needs the companionship of Ethan ‘the Dragonslayer’ to keep her well balanced, then he decides that he will arrange for future breaks. Lofwyr thinks a long way ahead - months, years, decades and centuries. He must keep his valuable assets in good health. Apart from the need for good, competent tools, there is also the matter of personal prestige to be considered. He wants to have the best, shiniest hoard - and be able to ‘show off’ the best pieces of his hoard. Abbie is a ‘shiny’ piece of his hoard, and he wants to keep her ‘shiny’.
- GM’s note: And that’s the end of that mini-arc. I will then take over GMing for the foreseeable future. We last saw Grant and Tinkerbell off to pursue ‘mischief’. I’m not yet sure if I’ll focus on that, or on the many Courts of the Shadow Fey flashbacks that are needed to fill in the gaps.
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