Sorry for the delay in writeups. There has been one session in the last month but only one. Unfortunately I've been sick for about two weeks.
Writeup of Session 149 will be split into two parts. The next part will be up in the next day or so.
Grant and Ethan
Grant (left) and Ethan (right), with Macavity the Cat
Sunday, 8 July 2018
Saturday, 23 June 2018
Session 151 - End of the Road
GM’s Observations
- The end of the story arc, this one sees Grant battle Bastiano and try to undo everything (most things?) that Bastiano has changed. Unfortunately this is easier said than done because Lucien and Grant do not see eye to eye. Lucien has an agenda and both Lucien and Grant consider double-crossing the other.
Major Characters
- Grant, Ethan, Lucien, Greywalker, Isabelle
Adversaries
- Bastiano
Adventure Hook
- This session concludes the story arc where Bastiano has changed the past, and therefore has changed the present. Lucien has been restored but Grant and Lucien disagree as to what to do next.
Adventure Summary - Part 1 - Helping Jalt
- Grant, Lucien and Greywalker discuss what to do about Jalt. They have reached the conclusion that they cannot interfere in the past in the events that ‘created’ Jalt - it would have broader implications. Grant asks what Eidolon would do to Jalt. Would it cure him or kill him? Lucien and Greywalker aren’t sure but they guess it might actually help him.
- Grant is taken aback by their answer. If the Lords of Gossamer knew of a simple way to help Jalt, why didn’t they help him centuries ago? Lucien becomes evasive. Greywalker sighs and admits that Jalt has been useful over the years and there are those who didn’t want to change what he is. Grant thinks this is even worse - the Lords of Gossamer could have helped Jalt and chose not to. He imagines how angry that Jalt will be if he finds out the truth. Lucien admits that the timing has never been quite right to help Jalt - there has always been some crisis which has stayed their hand. Neither Greywalker nor Grant is impressed by this, and Grant is even less impressed when Lucien fleetingly suggests using the Breath of Eden to blank Jalt’s memories.
- Neither Lucien nor Greywalker seem to have the will to actually want to help Jalt, even though they know he has been tainted by Umbra. Disgusted, Grant decides that he will help Jalt when he returns to the original timeline. He will ask Ethan to help.
Adventure Summary - Part 2 - Advice from Vala
- The topic of conversation shifts to how to undo all that Bastiano has done. They argue and argue - Lucien still wants to interfere with Isabelle’s past and ensure that she becomes a Warden. Grant strongly argues against this. Greywalker also counsels Lucien not to interfere, but Grant remains skeptical that Lucien has been convinced.
- After more than one go at trying to convince Lucien and reaching an impasse, Lucien asks to consult with Vala. Greywalker and Grant agree. They reach Shatterlight approximately two hundred years before the Great War. Vala is a younger woman but no less wise and powerful. Lucien suggests that the others stay on Clockworld, but Greywalker and Grant insist on going with him. They don’t trust Lucien not to use this opportunity to interfere with the timeline in some subtle way. Greywalker then asks Ethan and Isabelle to join them, arguing to Lucien that it is more of a danger to leave them on Clockworld (where they would be unsupervised in a time machine). Lucien agrees but tells Ethan and Isabelle not to interact with anyone.
- Vala is just as serene as Grant remembers. She doesn’t seem surprised to see them. She greets Grant by name, much to his surprise. Lucien explains the technical problem facing them. Vala responds with a spiritual answer, advising them not to disturb the natural flow of events. What will be, will be.
- Grant watches the exchange between Lucien and Vala carefully. He can tell that Lucien came close to saying something to Vala - perhaps a warning of some sort - but he refrained.
- Vala comments that Ethan is marked (a reference to the demon mark placed on him when he exchanged his blood for information in the Broken Reach) and this needs to be removed. She says that ‘Evil’ will be drawn to it.
- They return to Clockworld and Lucien relents, agreeing to writing a letter to himself not to build the Faraday Queen and leave it in a place that his future self will read, thereby changing the timeline.
Adventure Summary - Part 3 - Ethan and Isabelle
- Lucien seems disappointed with Vala’s counsel. Grant keeps an eye on him. Meanwhile, Greywalker advises Ethan of a place where the demon taint can be removed. There is a Silver Lake in the Gossamer Realm of Erebus which can be used to purify the taint. Greywalker warns him that it is not a pleasant experience to be immersed in the waters of the Silver Lake, but it is necessary to cleanse the damaged spirit.
- Greywalker, Ethan and Isabelle go on the journey to Erebus whilst Grant and Lucien continue to debate the next steps. When asked by Ethan, Greywalker expresses his hope that Lucien will do the right thing for all and not just the right thing for one. Isabelle comments that if Bastiano had not altered the timeline, she might not have met Ethan - for all the bad that Bastiano has done, some good has come of it. Ethan and Isabelle both hope that whatever the timeline becomes that they will at least know one another. Ethan does wonder if it is possible to somehow ensure that this does happen. Isabelle smiles, and he can tell that she is thinking over the situation, trying to find a way.
- The Silver Lake in Erebus is extremely painful. It is not a gentle cleansing or purifying place. It is a scouring and it hurts Ethan greatly, but it does remove the taint.
Adventure Summary - Part 4 - Departures
- Greywalker, Ethan and Isabelle return to Clockworld to find that Lucien and Grant have come to some sort of arrangement. Neither Lucien nor Grant are completely happy but Lucien has resigned himself that this is an acceptable outcome. He clearly doesn’t want to double-cross an Umbra Master (Grant) who is immune to paradox and will remember.
- Lucien steers Clockworld back into the future, and Greywalker bids them farewell. He leaves Clockworld and begins his walk back to the Draconian Empire. He figures that if something does go wrong, this is a place of strength from which to resist Bastiano’s rule. He has an Icon of both Ethan and Isabelle, just in case.
- It is then Isabelle’s turn. Isabelle doesn’t want to leave Lucien but Lucien patiently explains that she cannot remain on Clockworld for what he intends to do next. Isabelle is disappointed but Ethan takes her hand and says that it is time to go. Grant wishes Ethan all the best and they begin a long walk to the ‘end of the Stair’, hoping to avoid Bastiano’s minions and stay out of the conflict for as long as possible. Isabelle retains an Icon of Greywalker, just in case.
- Leaving behind Clockworld, Isabelle and Ethan wonder if their own plans will work. Isabelle has made Icons of both herself and Ethan and hidden them carefully in Clockworld. She hopes that someone in the newly restored timeline will find the Icons, perhaps even herself or Ethan, enabling them to meet each other once more if they have not already done so.
Adventure Summary - Part 5 - Bastiano
- Lucien returns Clockworld to Realm 0 (Earth), and stabilises the realm once more. Lucien has written a letter to himself which he intends to hand deliver to the Athenaeum, which should change the timeline when Lucien inevitably finds it in the future. Grant has not been able to look at it, although he would very much like to.
- Lucien and Grant enter Northgate Manor from Clockworld. It is a cold and frosty morning in 1601 AD. They decide to walk to Westgate, crossing over fields. At last, Westgate cottage comes into view. Grant notes that the stables are in use and some dogs begin barking as they approach. Grant can tell that the wards on Westgate are active. Lucien opens the front door. There is an odd smell coming from within and he takes two steps across the threshold.
- THUNK! A black crossbow bolt hits Lucien in the chest. He crumbles to one side. Grant realises that Lucien has been hit and tries to drag him outside, but Lucien is then hit by a second bolt. THUNK!
- Bastiano’s voice cackles from within the house. He tells Grant to stand still as it will all be over faster.
- Dragging Lucien outside, Grant notes that there are black veins coming out of the crossbow bolt. He recognises that these bolts come from Gorgorin the Shatterer. They will most certainly kill Lucien if they remain in the wounds. Tearing the bolts out, Grant prepares to hurl them down the corridor at Bastiano but Bastiano has already vanished. His black robes are on the floor.
- Grant swears. He realises that Bastiano has adopted a shadow-form, using the same Umbra-stealth-tactics that Grant uses. He glances at Lucien - Lucien is turning a strange shade of green. Grant shifts into Umbral form and glides into Westgate manor. Bastiano taunts him, saying that he’s been waiting a long time for Grant to turn up. Grant spies dead, decaying bodies in the house. He tries to focus on finding Bastiano, but both of them are Umbra Masters and it is difficult to find where Bastiano has gone.
- Suddenly the front door shuts and Grant realises that Bastiano has slipped past him. If he doesn’t take immediate action, Bastiano could kill Lucien, preventing them from changing the timeline. Grant bolts for the first floor and hastily opens a window.
- Below, the silver-crowned Bastiano is concentrating on the front door. Grant takes careful aim and hurls one of the Gorgorin bolts at Bastiano (GM’s note - Grant has paid full points for Gorgorin so it is technically his weapon). He is aiming for the crown, or Bastiano’s head. It is an extremely difficult shot, but the strike takes the crown off Bastiano’s head and slices off his ear. Bastiano shrieks. Eyes blazing, he leaps for the crown.
* Image by Jason Rainville
- Leaping from the first storey window, Grant is unable to prevent Bastiano getting his hand to the silver crown and returning to his feet, but Bastiano cannot put the crown back on his head as Grant presses the attack. As blades clash, storm clouds gather overhead. Lightning begins to flash. Thunderclaps can be heard near and far. This duel is stirring up primal forces in the realm. Lucien has passed out.
- A great battle is fought between Grant and Bastiano. Bastiano is stronger and has Gorgorin but Grant is lucky. The battle rages around the grounds for more than fifteen minutes. Grant tries to disarm Bastiano but cannot manage it. (GM’s note - Bastiano outranks Grant in Warfare) Grant’s sword, which was forged by Ethan, is slowly having chunks taken out of it. It is only a matter of time before Grant loses the fight.
- Then suddenly Grant’s sword shatters. He instinctively adopts an Umbral form and feints to the side of the house. Bastiano puts the crown back on his head and pursues. Bastiano is angry.
- Grant reaches Lucien’s body and he drags him down into his shadow form. He has never done this before but it works. He then makes a run for the shack that he knows holds a Shoggoth (Ethan ran into this long ago and it melted part of his car). Sure enough, he makes enough of a disturbance for it to come out snuffling and then he bolts again. Hence when Bastiano comes after him, he runs straight into a very pissed off Shoggoth, delaying him further.
Adventure Summary - Part 6 - The Battle for Clockworld
- Grant returns to Northgate and the sanctuary of Clockworld. He puts Lucien in a healing chamber, and takes Lucien’s Master Key (to Clockworld) and the letter that Lucien meant to leave for himself.
- Grant is tired, but he orders from tea and crumpets and eats quickly. He hopes the Eidolon charged food will help his recuperation and he wonders if it is possible for Bastiano to access Clockworld. It seems unlikely but Bastiano has the crown and the crown enables Bastiano to achieve the impossible.
- Suddenly there is the clatter of machinery and Gearwing clicks into life. A tape printout tells Grant that an intruder has entered via the Northgate Door. Grant gets to his feet and notes that the Eidolon ghosts are already moving to defend Clockworld against the invader.
- Bastiano faces Veronique and defeats her. Bastiano then faces Jessamyn and defeats her. Then, he faces a Eidolon ghost version of Jalt, which tires him greatly as they are closely matched in terms of skill and stamina. It takes Bastiano a long time to defeat all three, by which time Grant has joined forces with the last Eidolon ghost defender of Clockworld, Drake. Drake agrees to fight alongside Grant (because they have been talking over the last few months, and sparring against one another). Drake does not normally relish dishonourable combat but he is happy to make an exception in Bastiano’s case.
- A battered Bastiano reaches the Clockworld control room and he confronts Drake. Bastiano wields Gorgorin in one hand, and Jalt’s Eidolon-ghost sword in the other. Bastiano is clearly tired, but the silver crown sustains him. He engages Drake in combat, and Grant pops into the fight when Bastiano is distracted, stabbing him with an Eidolon blade. But even this is not enough to stop Bastiano. Bastiano runs Drake through with Gorgorin, blowing apart his ghostly form into many glowing fragments but in doing so, Grant is able to inflict another blow to Bastiano’s head, knocking the crown to the ground. Leaping on the crown, Grant puts it quickly on and continues to fight Bastiano. Grant has no idea how to use the crown, but while it is on his head, Bastiano can’t use it. Bastiano suddenly begins to tire, and he fights more desperately.
- At last, exhausted, Bastiano shifts into shadow form and escapes into the machinery of Clockworld itself. Frustrated but not surprised, Grant orders Gearwing to awaken Lucien. Lucien is semi-lucid but he orders the Time Elementals to repair Clockworld wherever it has been damaged and to hunt down Bastiano. They quickly focus restoring Drake, reforming the shattered glowing pieces into a single form. The reformed Drake also agrees to find Bastiano and ‘flush him out’.
- With the crown on Grant’s head, he feels content, assured and invincible. He channels his will into intensifying the Eidolon power of this realm to flush Bastiano out of the Clockworld machines. Bastiano gives up on trying to acquire Clockworld - he uses an Icon to flee the realm. Grant has won, even though he has not managed to recover Gorgorin.
Adventure Summary - Part 7 - End of the Road
- Tiredly, Grant removes the crown and opens Lucien’s letter. He reads Lucien’s instruction to himself not to build the Faraday Queen. It doesn’t tell his future self why. There is another letter within the letter which his future self is advised not to open until a set future date. It appears to be a clue to how to restore Isabelle - to help her to become a Warden. Grant is relieved that Lucien appears to have been restrained in his meddling.
- It takes eight days for Lucien to recover. Grant is also weary and he needs recovery and quiet time. Gearwing keeps him company.
- It is 1601 AD. It is the time of Elizabeth I, but she is quite old and frail. Grant investigates and finds the law firm of Bartholomew Smith exists in this time. He scries on Realm 0, seeking to learn more about the time. To his surprise, Southgate exists in this time period. He wonders why it doesn’t exist in the 21st century.
- Grant thinks about what messages he should leave for Ethan and himself, and he begins to pen a letter for Ethan which he will give to Bartholomew Smith. In it, he intends for Ethan to tell him not to become the King of Bloodstone, to tell him to be honest with Aethelwyne, and to tell him to find a certain object in Clockworld. He tells him of his thoughts regarding Abbie and Isabelle, but encourages him to make up his own mind. He writes a few different versions of the letter before he comes up with a final draft that he is happy with.
- Grant then heads out from Northgate and flies to York in bird-form. There, he leaves the letter with the law firm, and a reasonable sum of money for their trouble. On a whim, he decides to head south to London and goes to see the original Globe. He sees the third performance of Hamlet, William Shakespeare’s new play. He returns to Fiveways and has a drink at the Tipsy Elephant. The beer is not as good in 1601 as it is in the 21st century, but at least it’s wet.
- Returning to Clockworld, Grant updates the memory sphere with all of his latest memories and then he hides it in Clockworld in a place where Jacob and Lucien will not likely find it. Only the letter that he has left for Ethan will give precise enough instructions to find it again.
- After eight days, Lucien is ready to travel once more. Lucien wants to know what Grant has been up to, and whether he has been doing any ‘meddling’ of his own. Grant tells him what he has been doing. Lucien chuckles. He and Grant leave Clockworld, travel to Westgate Manor and then out onto the Stair. They return to the Athenaeum, where Lucien places his letter into a book.
- The timeline changes once more …..
Other Impacts
- Obviously the restored timeline is not the same as what the original timeline was. Here are some of the major points:
As of 24th July 2018, we have been playing this game for 5 years. We now begin Year 6 of this game.
- The end of the story arc, this one sees Grant battle Bastiano and try to undo everything (most things?) that Bastiano has changed. Unfortunately this is easier said than done because Lucien and Grant do not see eye to eye. Lucien has an agenda and both Lucien and Grant consider double-crossing the other.
Major Characters
- Grant, Ethan, Lucien, Greywalker, Isabelle
Adversaries
- Bastiano
Adventure Hook
- This session concludes the story arc where Bastiano has changed the past, and therefore has changed the present. Lucien has been restored but Grant and Lucien disagree as to what to do next.
Adventure Summary - Part 1 - Helping Jalt
- Grant, Lucien and Greywalker discuss what to do about Jalt. They have reached the conclusion that they cannot interfere in the past in the events that ‘created’ Jalt - it would have broader implications. Grant asks what Eidolon would do to Jalt. Would it cure him or kill him? Lucien and Greywalker aren’t sure but they guess it might actually help him.
- Grant is taken aback by their answer. If the Lords of Gossamer knew of a simple way to help Jalt, why didn’t they help him centuries ago? Lucien becomes evasive. Greywalker sighs and admits that Jalt has been useful over the years and there are those who didn’t want to change what he is. Grant thinks this is even worse - the Lords of Gossamer could have helped Jalt and chose not to. He imagines how angry that Jalt will be if he finds out the truth. Lucien admits that the timing has never been quite right to help Jalt - there has always been some crisis which has stayed their hand. Neither Greywalker nor Grant is impressed by this, and Grant is even less impressed when Lucien fleetingly suggests using the Breath of Eden to blank Jalt’s memories.
- Neither Lucien nor Greywalker seem to have the will to actually want to help Jalt, even though they know he has been tainted by Umbra. Disgusted, Grant decides that he will help Jalt when he returns to the original timeline. He will ask Ethan to help.
Adventure Summary - Part 2 - Advice from Vala
- The topic of conversation shifts to how to undo all that Bastiano has done. They argue and argue - Lucien still wants to interfere with Isabelle’s past and ensure that she becomes a Warden. Grant strongly argues against this. Greywalker also counsels Lucien not to interfere, but Grant remains skeptical that Lucien has been convinced.
- After more than one go at trying to convince Lucien and reaching an impasse, Lucien asks to consult with Vala. Greywalker and Grant agree. They reach Shatterlight approximately two hundred years before the Great War. Vala is a younger woman but no less wise and powerful. Lucien suggests that the others stay on Clockworld, but Greywalker and Grant insist on going with him. They don’t trust Lucien not to use this opportunity to interfere with the timeline in some subtle way. Greywalker then asks Ethan and Isabelle to join them, arguing to Lucien that it is more of a danger to leave them on Clockworld (where they would be unsupervised in a time machine). Lucien agrees but tells Ethan and Isabelle not to interact with anyone.
- Vala is just as serene as Grant remembers. She doesn’t seem surprised to see them. She greets Grant by name, much to his surprise. Lucien explains the technical problem facing them. Vala responds with a spiritual answer, advising them not to disturb the natural flow of events. What will be, will be.
- Grant watches the exchange between Lucien and Vala carefully. He can tell that Lucien came close to saying something to Vala - perhaps a warning of some sort - but he refrained.
- Vala comments that Ethan is marked (a reference to the demon mark placed on him when he exchanged his blood for information in the Broken Reach) and this needs to be removed. She says that ‘Evil’ will be drawn to it.
- They return to Clockworld and Lucien relents, agreeing to writing a letter to himself not to build the Faraday Queen and leave it in a place that his future self will read, thereby changing the timeline.
Adventure Summary - Part 3 - Ethan and Isabelle
- Lucien seems disappointed with Vala’s counsel. Grant keeps an eye on him. Meanwhile, Greywalker advises Ethan of a place where the demon taint can be removed. There is a Silver Lake in the Gossamer Realm of Erebus which can be used to purify the taint. Greywalker warns him that it is not a pleasant experience to be immersed in the waters of the Silver Lake, but it is necessary to cleanse the damaged spirit.
- Greywalker, Ethan and Isabelle go on the journey to Erebus whilst Grant and Lucien continue to debate the next steps. When asked by Ethan, Greywalker expresses his hope that Lucien will do the right thing for all and not just the right thing for one. Isabelle comments that if Bastiano had not altered the timeline, she might not have met Ethan - for all the bad that Bastiano has done, some good has come of it. Ethan and Isabelle both hope that whatever the timeline becomes that they will at least know one another. Ethan does wonder if it is possible to somehow ensure that this does happen. Isabelle smiles, and he can tell that she is thinking over the situation, trying to find a way.
- The Silver Lake in Erebus is extremely painful. It is not a gentle cleansing or purifying place. It is a scouring and it hurts Ethan greatly, but it does remove the taint.
Adventure Summary - Part 4 - Departures
- Greywalker, Ethan and Isabelle return to Clockworld to find that Lucien and Grant have come to some sort of arrangement. Neither Lucien nor Grant are completely happy but Lucien has resigned himself that this is an acceptable outcome. He clearly doesn’t want to double-cross an Umbra Master (Grant) who is immune to paradox and will remember.
- Lucien steers Clockworld back into the future, and Greywalker bids them farewell. He leaves Clockworld and begins his walk back to the Draconian Empire. He figures that if something does go wrong, this is a place of strength from which to resist Bastiano’s rule. He has an Icon of both Ethan and Isabelle, just in case.
- It is then Isabelle’s turn. Isabelle doesn’t want to leave Lucien but Lucien patiently explains that she cannot remain on Clockworld for what he intends to do next. Isabelle is disappointed but Ethan takes her hand and says that it is time to go. Grant wishes Ethan all the best and they begin a long walk to the ‘end of the Stair’, hoping to avoid Bastiano’s minions and stay out of the conflict for as long as possible. Isabelle retains an Icon of Greywalker, just in case.
- Leaving behind Clockworld, Isabelle and Ethan wonder if their own plans will work. Isabelle has made Icons of both herself and Ethan and hidden them carefully in Clockworld. She hopes that someone in the newly restored timeline will find the Icons, perhaps even herself or Ethan, enabling them to meet each other once more if they have not already done so.
Adventure Summary - Part 5 - Bastiano
- Lucien returns Clockworld to Realm 0 (Earth), and stabilises the realm once more. Lucien has written a letter to himself which he intends to hand deliver to the Athenaeum, which should change the timeline when Lucien inevitably finds it in the future. Grant has not been able to look at it, although he would very much like to.
- Lucien and Grant enter Northgate Manor from Clockworld. It is a cold and frosty morning in 1601 AD. They decide to walk to Westgate, crossing over fields. At last, Westgate cottage comes into view. Grant notes that the stables are in use and some dogs begin barking as they approach. Grant can tell that the wards on Westgate are active. Lucien opens the front door. There is an odd smell coming from within and he takes two steps across the threshold.
- THUNK! A black crossbow bolt hits Lucien in the chest. He crumbles to one side. Grant realises that Lucien has been hit and tries to drag him outside, but Lucien is then hit by a second bolt. THUNK!
- Bastiano’s voice cackles from within the house. He tells Grant to stand still as it will all be over faster.
- Dragging Lucien outside, Grant notes that there are black veins coming out of the crossbow bolt. He recognises that these bolts come from Gorgorin the Shatterer. They will most certainly kill Lucien if they remain in the wounds. Tearing the bolts out, Grant prepares to hurl them down the corridor at Bastiano but Bastiano has already vanished. His black robes are on the floor.
- Grant swears. He realises that Bastiano has adopted a shadow-form, using the same Umbra-stealth-tactics that Grant uses. He glances at Lucien - Lucien is turning a strange shade of green. Grant shifts into Umbral form and glides into Westgate manor. Bastiano taunts him, saying that he’s been waiting a long time for Grant to turn up. Grant spies dead, decaying bodies in the house. He tries to focus on finding Bastiano, but both of them are Umbra Masters and it is difficult to find where Bastiano has gone.
- Suddenly the front door shuts and Grant realises that Bastiano has slipped past him. If he doesn’t take immediate action, Bastiano could kill Lucien, preventing them from changing the timeline. Grant bolts for the first floor and hastily opens a window.
- Below, the silver-crowned Bastiano is concentrating on the front door. Grant takes careful aim and hurls one of the Gorgorin bolts at Bastiano (GM’s note - Grant has paid full points for Gorgorin so it is technically his weapon). He is aiming for the crown, or Bastiano’s head. It is an extremely difficult shot, but the strike takes the crown off Bastiano’s head and slices off his ear. Bastiano shrieks. Eyes blazing, he leaps for the crown.
* Image by Jason Rainville
- Leaping from the first storey window, Grant is unable to prevent Bastiano getting his hand to the silver crown and returning to his feet, but Bastiano cannot put the crown back on his head as Grant presses the attack. As blades clash, storm clouds gather overhead. Lightning begins to flash. Thunderclaps can be heard near and far. This duel is stirring up primal forces in the realm. Lucien has passed out.
- A great battle is fought between Grant and Bastiano. Bastiano is stronger and has Gorgorin but Grant is lucky. The battle rages around the grounds for more than fifteen minutes. Grant tries to disarm Bastiano but cannot manage it. (GM’s note - Bastiano outranks Grant in Warfare) Grant’s sword, which was forged by Ethan, is slowly having chunks taken out of it. It is only a matter of time before Grant loses the fight.
- Then suddenly Grant’s sword shatters. He instinctively adopts an Umbral form and feints to the side of the house. Bastiano puts the crown back on his head and pursues. Bastiano is angry.
- Grant reaches Lucien’s body and he drags him down into his shadow form. He has never done this before but it works. He then makes a run for the shack that he knows holds a Shoggoth (Ethan ran into this long ago and it melted part of his car). Sure enough, he makes enough of a disturbance for it to come out snuffling and then he bolts again. Hence when Bastiano comes after him, he runs straight into a very pissed off Shoggoth, delaying him further.
Adventure Summary - Part 6 - The Battle for Clockworld
- Grant returns to Northgate and the sanctuary of Clockworld. He puts Lucien in a healing chamber, and takes Lucien’s Master Key (to Clockworld) and the letter that Lucien meant to leave for himself.
- Grant is tired, but he orders from tea and crumpets and eats quickly. He hopes the Eidolon charged food will help his recuperation and he wonders if it is possible for Bastiano to access Clockworld. It seems unlikely but Bastiano has the crown and the crown enables Bastiano to achieve the impossible.
- Suddenly there is the clatter of machinery and Gearwing clicks into life. A tape printout tells Grant that an intruder has entered via the Northgate Door. Grant gets to his feet and notes that the Eidolon ghosts are already moving to defend Clockworld against the invader.
- Bastiano faces Veronique and defeats her. Bastiano then faces Jessamyn and defeats her. Then, he faces a Eidolon ghost version of Jalt, which tires him greatly as they are closely matched in terms of skill and stamina. It takes Bastiano a long time to defeat all three, by which time Grant has joined forces with the last Eidolon ghost defender of Clockworld, Drake. Drake agrees to fight alongside Grant (because they have been talking over the last few months, and sparring against one another). Drake does not normally relish dishonourable combat but he is happy to make an exception in Bastiano’s case.
- A battered Bastiano reaches the Clockworld control room and he confronts Drake. Bastiano wields Gorgorin in one hand, and Jalt’s Eidolon-ghost sword in the other. Bastiano is clearly tired, but the silver crown sustains him. He engages Drake in combat, and Grant pops into the fight when Bastiano is distracted, stabbing him with an Eidolon blade. But even this is not enough to stop Bastiano. Bastiano runs Drake through with Gorgorin, blowing apart his ghostly form into many glowing fragments but in doing so, Grant is able to inflict another blow to Bastiano’s head, knocking the crown to the ground. Leaping on the crown, Grant puts it quickly on and continues to fight Bastiano. Grant has no idea how to use the crown, but while it is on his head, Bastiano can’t use it. Bastiano suddenly begins to tire, and he fights more desperately.
- At last, exhausted, Bastiano shifts into shadow form and escapes into the machinery of Clockworld itself. Frustrated but not surprised, Grant orders Gearwing to awaken Lucien. Lucien is semi-lucid but he orders the Time Elementals to repair Clockworld wherever it has been damaged and to hunt down Bastiano. They quickly focus restoring Drake, reforming the shattered glowing pieces into a single form. The reformed Drake also agrees to find Bastiano and ‘flush him out’.
- With the crown on Grant’s head, he feels content, assured and invincible. He channels his will into intensifying the Eidolon power of this realm to flush Bastiano out of the Clockworld machines. Bastiano gives up on trying to acquire Clockworld - he uses an Icon to flee the realm. Grant has won, even though he has not managed to recover Gorgorin.
Adventure Summary - Part 7 - End of the Road
- Tiredly, Grant removes the crown and opens Lucien’s letter. He reads Lucien’s instruction to himself not to build the Faraday Queen. It doesn’t tell his future self why. There is another letter within the letter which his future self is advised not to open until a set future date. It appears to be a clue to how to restore Isabelle - to help her to become a Warden. Grant is relieved that Lucien appears to have been restrained in his meddling.
- It takes eight days for Lucien to recover. Grant is also weary and he needs recovery and quiet time. Gearwing keeps him company.
- It is 1601 AD. It is the time of Elizabeth I, but she is quite old and frail. Grant investigates and finds the law firm of Bartholomew Smith exists in this time. He scries on Realm 0, seeking to learn more about the time. To his surprise, Southgate exists in this time period. He wonders why it doesn’t exist in the 21st century.
- Grant thinks about what messages he should leave for Ethan and himself, and he begins to pen a letter for Ethan which he will give to Bartholomew Smith. In it, he intends for Ethan to tell him not to become the King of Bloodstone, to tell him to be honest with Aethelwyne, and to tell him to find a certain object in Clockworld. He tells him of his thoughts regarding Abbie and Isabelle, but encourages him to make up his own mind. He writes a few different versions of the letter before he comes up with a final draft that he is happy with.
- Grant then heads out from Northgate and flies to York in bird-form. There, he leaves the letter with the law firm, and a reasonable sum of money for their trouble. On a whim, he decides to head south to London and goes to see the original Globe. He sees the third performance of Hamlet, William Shakespeare’s new play. He returns to Fiveways and has a drink at the Tipsy Elephant. The beer is not as good in 1601 as it is in the 21st century, but at least it’s wet.
- Returning to Clockworld, Grant updates the memory sphere with all of his latest memories and then he hides it in Clockworld in a place where Jacob and Lucien will not likely find it. Only the letter that he has left for Ethan will give precise enough instructions to find it again.
- After eight days, Lucien is ready to travel once more. Lucien wants to know what Grant has been up to, and whether he has been doing any ‘meddling’ of his own. Grant tells him what he has been doing. Lucien chuckles. He and Grant leave Clockworld, travel to Westgate Manor and then out onto the Stair. They return to the Athenaeum, where Lucien places his letter into a book.
- The timeline changes once more …..
Other Impacts
- Obviously the restored timeline is not the same as what the original timeline was. Here are some of the major points:
- Jalt is gone. When Ethan heals him with Eidolon, Jalt comes to terms with his many lifetimes of violence. He gives up the sword, makes a promise never to kill again, and walks to the far reaches of the Stair in an attempt to atone for his past deeds. His story is effectively ended.
- Bastiano is also gone. Lucien has secretly disposed of Bastiano, preventing him from coming back. Again, his story is ended. However, this opens up a whole new problem because Bastiano had an empire of realms under his control. This would fall apart and new powers would rise to take their place.
- Greywalker and Oscar have disappeared again (not unusual)
- Vala, Lucien and Drake are back as a ‘high council’ of Gossamer Lords who take their responsibility seriously to protect the Gossamer Worlds.
- Grant chooses Sophia over Aethelwyne. At first Aethelwyne is sad, but then she is determined to rise above this and ‘win Grant back’.
- In the original timeline, Ethan went to Bloodstone to fight in the Bloodstone Wars alone. I need to think on whether he does this in this timeline or whether Abbie goes with him.
- Ethan restores Meridian but it isn't the place that he was expecting. Effectively he's restored an quasi-fascist regime with aggressive expansionist tendencies. Abbie might also have 'rose-tinted glasses' regarding her homeworld. She may be happy to have it restored, but she would not necessarily want to stay. I'm trying to imagine Abbie's place in a universe where Grant and Ethan are effectively defenders of the Gossamer Worlds. Would she want to be based in a single realm, or she is a competent sorcerer and effectively an independent character and ally? Would she stay with Ethan, or move on?
- Isabelle becomes a Warden - presumably she would want to go exploring on the Stair to see what she has not seen before. I think should would seek out Ethan to see if he would go with her. There is genuine affection between the two of them - I think it would depend upon where Ethan is with Abbie in terms of whether he goes with Isabelle or stays with Abbie. It could even be the situation that he parts ways with Abbie in order to journey with Isabelle. I think Ethan's relationship with Isabelle is more of affectionate friendship rather than a pairing. I'm still thinking this over.
- What happened to the Typhonian that 'died' in Jalt's home realm? The problem was never dealt with.
- Have any other unforeseen changes occurred in the timeline reset? (eg: Arcavia is alive. Leyla exists in this timeline etc).
- The Draconian Empire and the various Demonic Lords have already been introduced. These should be active on the Stair without being 'multiverse-ending' level threats.
- The regular card game between many of the young Lords of Gossamer would welcome Isabelle.
- In the alternate timeline, there were energy weapons which worked on the Stair. The source of that power has not been discovered yet (but Bastiano had it).
- The situation regarding Fambol is still out there.
- No more Breath of Eden
- No more time travelling
- No more Dwimmerlaik Empire.
- No 'big threats' - give the PCs a chance to interact with (and flesh out) the other Lords and get to expand their network.
- More interpersonal interactions with the other Lords of Gossamer.
- More development of relationships with senior Gossamer Lords like Drake, Vala etc.
- Building a broader network - eg: with useful flunkies like Belimicasi, Shimrod etc. People that are not Lord of Gossamer power but who are useful allies.
As of 24th July 2018, we have been playing this game for 5 years. We now begin Year 6 of this game.
Tuesday, 12 June 2018
Session 148 - The Draconian Empire
GM’s Observations
- The Draconian Empire has been mentioned previously in this campaign as a power in its own right but no PC has gone out of his way to find it. I wanted to introduce it again as it’s a major power on the Stair which could be used again even after we’ve finished this story arc and are back to the original timeline.
- This session revealed a lot about how Bastiano changed the timeline. They don’t know how to stop/undo this yet, and I suspect that many of the Lords of Gossamer will have differing opinions on what should be changed. We’re building up to the culmination of this story arc.
- We also reveal what was meant by Belimicasi’s comment last session that “even loyal subjects can have grievances.”
Major Characters
- Grant, Ethan, Greywalker
Adversaries
- A Balrog, A Guardian Dragon, Jalt (the mad-elf).
Adventure Hook
- This session carries straight on from the preceding session.
Adventure Summary - Part 1 - Leaving Outlands
- Grant and Ethan leave the demonic bordello, Broken Reach. Ethan recasts his Mental Invisibility spell. Both Lords of Gossamer are sure that this break in their sorcerous protection will not go unnoticed. They expect an ambush and they get one in the red-purple gloom that passes for starlight in this place.
- Within sight of the Door, Ethan gives a little jerk. He has stepped on a sigil which has bloomed to life. Grant uses Umbra immediately to break the immobilisation spell and hops off Ethan’s shoulder, shifting back into his normal human form and drawing his new blade. Ethan draws the Blade of Hoth as two gaunt, bearded demons with long polearms charge them. They are preternaturally quick and hard to hit as Grant blazes away with his wrist blaster. It takes considerable effort to gun one down, and Ethan engages the second.
* Image sourced from Google Images but this one is from one of the D&D 3.5 edition supplements
- Sensing that this is only the beginning, Grant whirls and finds that another demon has arrived. This one is a huge festering mass which resembles a minotaur. Baphomet’s back is radiating heat and flames and it carries a great, unholy-looking axe. Grant throws an Umbral attack at the demon lord to disorient it but it still manages to bring down its axe in fury, shattering the pavings up and down the street with the force of the blow.
* Image sourced from Google Images but this one is from one of the D&D 3.5 edition supplements
- Ethan dodges the thrusts from the demon’s polearm, hacks the weapon in two with the ice blade and then fights at close quarters. However, four more vulture-headed demons see the battle in progress and swoop down to join the fray. The longer the battle goes, the more attention is being drawn. Ethan kills the bearded demon and goes to engage the nearest vulture-demon. Meanwhile Grant tries to use Umbra to overheat Baphomet. Using Umbra in the middle of a battle is hard but worse still, Baphomet seems to be immune to heat. Even though the demon lord seems to be ‘on fire’, the worst it does is to enrage him further. Grant switches tactics and decides to push Baphomet into a berserk rage. The demon lord smashes buildings and chops through other demons in his rage to deal with Grant, and as more demons arrive, Grant and Ethan decide to make a run for it while confusion reigns.
Adventure Summary - Part 2 - Pursued
- They make it to the Stair safely but they know that pursuit will not be far away. There are no easily accessible Blank Doors here so Grant severs one of the Doors and repurposes it. They quickly shift away and Grant finds a realm near Trollworld which is a long way from where they were previously. Grant has sought out a world with ‘holy ground’. The Door leads to a high tech chapel with huge chambers and vaulted ceilings. Somewhere above them there is a choir singing and the fluttering of wings (angels, or just pigeons?). Grant spots imagery of a ‘Saint’ Grant amongst the stain glassed windows. The figure holds aloft a black sword. Curious, he looks around for imagery of Ethan and finally finds a less prominent stain glassed window. ‘Saint’ Ethan is portrayed as a cautionary figure rather than a heroic one. (GM’s note - alas, Bad Stuff again.) He is beset by various ‘evils’ who are pulling at his robes and hair.
- In this ‘holy place’, Ethan looks at the parchment that they acquired from Belimicasi. The paper appears to be blank at first but silvery words appear when Ethan uses Eidolon. Unfortunately neither Grant nor Ethan can read what is written. Grant is frustrated once more but determined to know what the letter says.
Adventure Summary - Part 3 - Translation
- Trying to find the person who wrote the letter leads them straight towards Bastiano’s Empire and guarded outposts. They try to find an alternative - a person who can read the letter - and unfortunately the strongest pull takes them in the direction of the Agora. They then try to find someone else who can read the words who is not in a place that they want to avoid.
- This takes them to an ultra-modern Door made of high density plastic which slides open. The Door opens into a transport hub for maglev trains. They look to be in good condition but are worn by frequent use. The people on the platform appear healthy and are dressed well. Some carry smart devices. Others have obvious cyberwar. Grant spots some individuals who look like they have Orcish or Trollish blood in them. Picking up a newspaper, they find that they somewhere in this world’s equivalent of Europe.
- Drawn east, they travel to the city of Essen in Upper Germany. By this point they have realised that they are seeking a dragon as the writing on the parchment is almost certainly draconic. Reading the paper it seems that the richest and most powerful creatures here are dragons. Grant and Ethan organise to see a Dragon Lord named Lofwyr at very short notice, through a combination of bribery (offering him a gift), judicious use of the Beguiling Jewel to charm Lofwyr’s receptionist and sheer panache.
* Image sourced from Google Images but I believe this one is from a Shadowrun game
- Lofwyr appears as a caucasian man with golden eyes. He is pleased to meet two Lords of Gossamer (he recognises them as such) and shares jasmine tea with them. The gift is gratefully received and Lofwyr agrees to translate the parchment. It is an instruction to let the bearer pass, and clearly the bearer is meant to be Lord Ethan.
- Lofwyr explains that the Draconian Empire has been under attack from many sides for a long time. They have many enemies and the Stair is choked with the bodies of their attackers in many places. However there is a bridge over a ‘bottomless’ abyss which none of their enemies can send an army across because it is too narrow. A dragon lord guards that bridge and the note is clearly for him to allow Ethan to pass.
- They relax and have a pleasant chat. Grant gets the impression that Lofwyr is apolitical. He doesn’t care for either side and won’t sell them out - he seems to be relishing a friendly chat with other beings ‘of power’.
Adventure Summary - Part 4 - The Narrow Bridge
- In parting, Lofwyr teleports Grant and Ethan onto the Stair to assist them on their way. The teleport is a gross display of dragon sorcery to show them just how powerful a Dragon Lord is. At a glance, this new section of Stair is very ordinary. Wood panelling on the walls, occasional Doors, and occasional paintings. However there are dead bodies on the floor - or at least bits of dead bodies - scattered here and there. The smell is unbelievable. There are sounds of movement from nearby corridors. They are not far away from a horde of demons.
- Heading to the right Door, they find it is made of finely-carved stone. Perhaps dwarven-made. Grant shifts into a tiny form and stows away on Ethan’s shoulder. Ethan ensures that his Mental Invisibility cloak is working before proceeding.
- The Door opens into an underground cavern. The walls and pillars are fine stone work. It is very quiet here. Ethan proceeds carefully, feeling for another Door in the distance.
- As he travels away from the Door, he feels the temperature increase. Ethan smells a burning smell like sulphur. Down a set of broad stone stairs there is a reddish glow, and there is vapour on the ground like smoke. He senses something powerful down here.
- Ethan travels quietly across the gravel floor. They spot the creature which is radiating heat and smoke. Grant recognises it as a Balrog but Ethan only recognises it as a demon. Clearly this is the demons’ guardian on this side of the bridge. Ethan creeps around it at a distance and avoids waking it.
- Descending further, the next chamber ends suddenly on one side in a yawning abyss. A narrow bridge, little more than a foot wide, extends into the blackness.
- Ethan readies a fly spell but Lofwyr has already warned Ethan that any attempt to leave the bridge will result in winds blasting him away. He carefully crosses the bridge. It takes him almost a quarter of an hour before he sees the other side. The dragon guardian is waiting for him. It is an enormous red-gold scaled dragon.
* Image by Keith Parkinson (I own a print of this)
- The dragon refers to Ethan as ‘morsel’ but it has been expecting him and it allows him to pass.
Adventure Summary - Part 5 - Draconian Empire
- On the other side, Ethan is met by big and scary looking draconians. His welcome is a cold one, and he is escorted swiftly onto the Stair through multiple Doors and realms. His escort isn’t interested in talking. They appear to be alert for trouble.
* Image sourced from Google Images but this one is from one of the D&D 3.5 edition supplements
- The empire appears to be large, well organised and relatively sophisticated. Ethan spots a mix of alien technology and sorcery, and they large space-faring warships. Boarding a dreadnought, Ethan is taken directly to a chamber where the old Lord of Gossamer sits brooding.
- Greywalker flashes a smile when he sees Ethan. He was hoping that Ethan would receive his message. He needs him to “cure a man’s madness” which is beyond his skill to heal. At this point, Grant returns to his normal form and says hello.
* Image sourced from Google Images
- Greywalker is astonished by Grant’s appearance. He was expecting Ethan but not Grant. They properly introduce themselves and talk for awhile. Greywalker explains that the draconians are more curt than usual because Bastiano has attacked in full force, no doubt to prevent Greywalker from making new allies. Grant asks about who needs to be cured, and Greywalker explains that Lucien has lost his mind. Isabelle has been caring for him ever since. Grant asks Greywalker to describe the symptoms, and Greywalker describes symptoms consistent with Lucien being exposed to the Breath of Eden.
- Grant remembers that Bastiano was one of the few who weaponised the Breath of Eden to use against the Dwimmerlaik - but that means that he has captured Lucien’s memories and is storing them somewhere. Both Ethan and Greywalker are amazed by this information. Greywalker was expecting Ethan to be able to heal Lucien but instead Ethan has brought someone with him who has intimate knowledge of Lucien’s condition. Grant’s knowledge of the Breath of Eden is the cure that has eluded them all.
- Grant theorises that Cooper Nasser must have helped Bastiano to build a storage device for the memories, then Bastiano crippled Lucien. But why? Ethan suggests that it might be because Lucien built the Faraday Queen, whose wreckage is in the Central Museum in Marindar. Bastiano wanted to stop Lucien making another Faraday Queen.
- Grant starts piecing this together - somehow Bastiano used both Clockworld and the Faraday Queen - but there are pieces missing from his understanding. He advises that reaching Lucien is now a priority - if Bastiano realises that Lucien’s memories could be restored, then Bastiano may simply decide to kill him.
Adventure Summary - Part 6 - The Heart of the Stair
- Greywalker, Grant and Ethan leave immediately and they hurry to the Heart of the Stair where Lucien dwells. Again, they are on guard, expecting Bastiano to have pre-empted this move.
* Image sourced from Google Images
- Arriving at the Athenaeum, they quickly find Lucien. He appears to be mindless and Isabelle is pushing him around in a wheelchair. Isabelle looks drawn and tired. Greywalker declares ‘peace’ and explains that Grant and Ethan can help Lucien. Isabelle looks nervous, even afraid. At that moment, Jalt (the mad elf) walks in. Again he exudes a murderous aura.
- There is a pause as Grant weighs up the situation. Jalt could kill Lucien before he can make a move but what can he say to the mad elf to convince him to parley. But before Grant can think of what to say (GM’s note, I counted to five and David was stumped), Jalt asks Ethan if he gave Grant the locket. Ethan explains that it was broken in a fight with Oscar but he’s repaired it as best he can. Jalt looks even angrier that his precious Icon has been destroyed. He gives Grant a hard look and asks ‘can you fix him?’ (referring to Lucien).
- Grant nods and says that he can. Jalt tells him that he will help them. There is a moment’s silence as they take in what has just happened. The mad elf has switched sides. Grant assumed that he could not be reasoned with, could not be bargained with - and yet here it is. Before Grant can ask why, Jalt says that he was with Bastiano, Lucien and Banatar on the Faraday Queen. He helped Bastiano to change history but doesn’t like this future. Promises were made but nothing changed for him.
- Grant and Ethan now have three allies - Greywalker, Isabelle and Jalt. Possibly four if Lucien can be brought back.
- But where are Lucien’s memories stored? Grant theorises that an Icon can be used to retrieve the memories but how to do this without tipping Bastiano off.
- Grant and Ethan talk about the Faraday Queen. From his research, Ethan knows that the Faraday Queen was destroyed on Marindar - and Grant knows that Bastiano was hanging around Marindar in the original timeline, perhaps to find a clue as to where it lay. He also muses over whether the Ambrosia was taken from Olympus in order to bring Banatar back from the dead - Banatar surely must have been involved in the construction of the Faraday Queen - he must know something useful. Even though Zeus said that no soul had been taken from Hades, Grant wonders if Hades could actually be wrong. Either that or the Ambrosia was never actually used and Bastiano got the information he wanted from Banatar another way.
- Grant now has most of the pieces of the puzzle but not all. He believes that Lucien connected Clockworld to Marindar in order to recover the Faraday Queen. The Faraday Queen was then used to go back and change things. But then Bastiano needed to stop his allies from altering things further. He exposed Lucien to the Breath of Eden and somehow got rid of Vala (Belimicasi suggested that Bastiano had a hand in this). Banatar must be somewhere - living or dead. Jalt was loyal but he didn’t get whatever Bastiano promised him and this has eroded his loyalty. It might even explain Jalt’s unrelenting rage. Something in the past happened to Jalt, and he would do almost anything to change it.
- But there are still many missing pieces. What did Lucien want that would have convinced him to change the timeline? (was it as simple as Isabelle becoming a Lord of Gossamer?) What did Jalt want that wasn’t achieved? Where is the Faraday Queen now? Has it been destroyed? Where is Clockworld and is it the cause of the damage witnessed elsewhere on the Stair? Why did Bastiano set out to change so many things? Does Bastiano have the warptime ring that Ethan acquired from the Dragons’ Graveyard? What role did Banatar play in all of this?
Other Impacts
- So we’ve reached the point where Grant has most of the pieces of the puzzle but he doesn’t yet know how he’s going to be able to undo this mess and what steps Bastiano is taking to prevent him from doing so.
- The Draconian Empire has been mentioned previously in this campaign as a power in its own right but no PC has gone out of his way to find it. I wanted to introduce it again as it’s a major power on the Stair which could be used again even after we’ve finished this story arc and are back to the original timeline.
- This session revealed a lot about how Bastiano changed the timeline. They don’t know how to stop/undo this yet, and I suspect that many of the Lords of Gossamer will have differing opinions on what should be changed. We’re building up to the culmination of this story arc.
- We also reveal what was meant by Belimicasi’s comment last session that “even loyal subjects can have grievances.”
Major Characters
- Grant, Ethan, Greywalker
Adversaries
- A Balrog, A Guardian Dragon, Jalt (the mad-elf).
Adventure Hook
- This session carries straight on from the preceding session.
Adventure Summary - Part 1 - Leaving Outlands
- Grant and Ethan leave the demonic bordello, Broken Reach. Ethan recasts his Mental Invisibility spell. Both Lords of Gossamer are sure that this break in their sorcerous protection will not go unnoticed. They expect an ambush and they get one in the red-purple gloom that passes for starlight in this place.
- Within sight of the Door, Ethan gives a little jerk. He has stepped on a sigil which has bloomed to life. Grant uses Umbra immediately to break the immobilisation spell and hops off Ethan’s shoulder, shifting back into his normal human form and drawing his new blade. Ethan draws the Blade of Hoth as two gaunt, bearded demons with long polearms charge them. They are preternaturally quick and hard to hit as Grant blazes away with his wrist blaster. It takes considerable effort to gun one down, and Ethan engages the second.
* Image sourced from Google Images but this one is from one of the D&D 3.5 edition supplements
- Sensing that this is only the beginning, Grant whirls and finds that another demon has arrived. This one is a huge festering mass which resembles a minotaur. Baphomet’s back is radiating heat and flames and it carries a great, unholy-looking axe. Grant throws an Umbral attack at the demon lord to disorient it but it still manages to bring down its axe in fury, shattering the pavings up and down the street with the force of the blow.
* Image sourced from Google Images but this one is from one of the D&D 3.5 edition supplements
- Ethan dodges the thrusts from the demon’s polearm, hacks the weapon in two with the ice blade and then fights at close quarters. However, four more vulture-headed demons see the battle in progress and swoop down to join the fray. The longer the battle goes, the more attention is being drawn. Ethan kills the bearded demon and goes to engage the nearest vulture-demon. Meanwhile Grant tries to use Umbra to overheat Baphomet. Using Umbra in the middle of a battle is hard but worse still, Baphomet seems to be immune to heat. Even though the demon lord seems to be ‘on fire’, the worst it does is to enrage him further. Grant switches tactics and decides to push Baphomet into a berserk rage. The demon lord smashes buildings and chops through other demons in his rage to deal with Grant, and as more demons arrive, Grant and Ethan decide to make a run for it while confusion reigns.
Adventure Summary - Part 2 - Pursued
- They make it to the Stair safely but they know that pursuit will not be far away. There are no easily accessible Blank Doors here so Grant severs one of the Doors and repurposes it. They quickly shift away and Grant finds a realm near Trollworld which is a long way from where they were previously. Grant has sought out a world with ‘holy ground’. The Door leads to a high tech chapel with huge chambers and vaulted ceilings. Somewhere above them there is a choir singing and the fluttering of wings (angels, or just pigeons?). Grant spots imagery of a ‘Saint’ Grant amongst the stain glassed windows. The figure holds aloft a black sword. Curious, he looks around for imagery of Ethan and finally finds a less prominent stain glassed window. ‘Saint’ Ethan is portrayed as a cautionary figure rather than a heroic one. (GM’s note - alas, Bad Stuff again.) He is beset by various ‘evils’ who are pulling at his robes and hair.
- In this ‘holy place’, Ethan looks at the parchment that they acquired from Belimicasi. The paper appears to be blank at first but silvery words appear when Ethan uses Eidolon. Unfortunately neither Grant nor Ethan can read what is written. Grant is frustrated once more but determined to know what the letter says.
Adventure Summary - Part 3 - Translation
- Trying to find the person who wrote the letter leads them straight towards Bastiano’s Empire and guarded outposts. They try to find an alternative - a person who can read the letter - and unfortunately the strongest pull takes them in the direction of the Agora. They then try to find someone else who can read the words who is not in a place that they want to avoid.
- This takes them to an ultra-modern Door made of high density plastic which slides open. The Door opens into a transport hub for maglev trains. They look to be in good condition but are worn by frequent use. The people on the platform appear healthy and are dressed well. Some carry smart devices. Others have obvious cyberwar. Grant spots some individuals who look like they have Orcish or Trollish blood in them. Picking up a newspaper, they find that they somewhere in this world’s equivalent of Europe.
- Drawn east, they travel to the city of Essen in Upper Germany. By this point they have realised that they are seeking a dragon as the writing on the parchment is almost certainly draconic. Reading the paper it seems that the richest and most powerful creatures here are dragons. Grant and Ethan organise to see a Dragon Lord named Lofwyr at very short notice, through a combination of bribery (offering him a gift), judicious use of the Beguiling Jewel to charm Lofwyr’s receptionist and sheer panache.
* Image sourced from Google Images but I believe this one is from a Shadowrun game
- Lofwyr appears as a caucasian man with golden eyes. He is pleased to meet two Lords of Gossamer (he recognises them as such) and shares jasmine tea with them. The gift is gratefully received and Lofwyr agrees to translate the parchment. It is an instruction to let the bearer pass, and clearly the bearer is meant to be Lord Ethan.
- Lofwyr explains that the Draconian Empire has been under attack from many sides for a long time. They have many enemies and the Stair is choked with the bodies of their attackers in many places. However there is a bridge over a ‘bottomless’ abyss which none of their enemies can send an army across because it is too narrow. A dragon lord guards that bridge and the note is clearly for him to allow Ethan to pass.
- They relax and have a pleasant chat. Grant gets the impression that Lofwyr is apolitical. He doesn’t care for either side and won’t sell them out - he seems to be relishing a friendly chat with other beings ‘of power’.
Adventure Summary - Part 4 - The Narrow Bridge
- In parting, Lofwyr teleports Grant and Ethan onto the Stair to assist them on their way. The teleport is a gross display of dragon sorcery to show them just how powerful a Dragon Lord is. At a glance, this new section of Stair is very ordinary. Wood panelling on the walls, occasional Doors, and occasional paintings. However there are dead bodies on the floor - or at least bits of dead bodies - scattered here and there. The smell is unbelievable. There are sounds of movement from nearby corridors. They are not far away from a horde of demons.
- Heading to the right Door, they find it is made of finely-carved stone. Perhaps dwarven-made. Grant shifts into a tiny form and stows away on Ethan’s shoulder. Ethan ensures that his Mental Invisibility cloak is working before proceeding.
- The Door opens into an underground cavern. The walls and pillars are fine stone work. It is very quiet here. Ethan proceeds carefully, feeling for another Door in the distance.
- As he travels away from the Door, he feels the temperature increase. Ethan smells a burning smell like sulphur. Down a set of broad stone stairs there is a reddish glow, and there is vapour on the ground like smoke. He senses something powerful down here.
- Ethan travels quietly across the gravel floor. They spot the creature which is radiating heat and smoke. Grant recognises it as a Balrog but Ethan only recognises it as a demon. Clearly this is the demons’ guardian on this side of the bridge. Ethan creeps around it at a distance and avoids waking it.
- Descending further, the next chamber ends suddenly on one side in a yawning abyss. A narrow bridge, little more than a foot wide, extends into the blackness.
- Ethan readies a fly spell but Lofwyr has already warned Ethan that any attempt to leave the bridge will result in winds blasting him away. He carefully crosses the bridge. It takes him almost a quarter of an hour before he sees the other side. The dragon guardian is waiting for him. It is an enormous red-gold scaled dragon.
* Image by Keith Parkinson (I own a print of this)
- The dragon refers to Ethan as ‘morsel’ but it has been expecting him and it allows him to pass.
Adventure Summary - Part 5 - Draconian Empire
- On the other side, Ethan is met by big and scary looking draconians. His welcome is a cold one, and he is escorted swiftly onto the Stair through multiple Doors and realms. His escort isn’t interested in talking. They appear to be alert for trouble.
* Image sourced from Google Images but this one is from one of the D&D 3.5 edition supplements
- The empire appears to be large, well organised and relatively sophisticated. Ethan spots a mix of alien technology and sorcery, and they large space-faring warships. Boarding a dreadnought, Ethan is taken directly to a chamber where the old Lord of Gossamer sits brooding.
- Greywalker flashes a smile when he sees Ethan. He was hoping that Ethan would receive his message. He needs him to “cure a man’s madness” which is beyond his skill to heal. At this point, Grant returns to his normal form and says hello.
* Image sourced from Google Images
- Greywalker is astonished by Grant’s appearance. He was expecting Ethan but not Grant. They properly introduce themselves and talk for awhile. Greywalker explains that the draconians are more curt than usual because Bastiano has attacked in full force, no doubt to prevent Greywalker from making new allies. Grant asks about who needs to be cured, and Greywalker explains that Lucien has lost his mind. Isabelle has been caring for him ever since. Grant asks Greywalker to describe the symptoms, and Greywalker describes symptoms consistent with Lucien being exposed to the Breath of Eden.
- Grant remembers that Bastiano was one of the few who weaponised the Breath of Eden to use against the Dwimmerlaik - but that means that he has captured Lucien’s memories and is storing them somewhere. Both Ethan and Greywalker are amazed by this information. Greywalker was expecting Ethan to be able to heal Lucien but instead Ethan has brought someone with him who has intimate knowledge of Lucien’s condition. Grant’s knowledge of the Breath of Eden is the cure that has eluded them all.
- Grant theorises that Cooper Nasser must have helped Bastiano to build a storage device for the memories, then Bastiano crippled Lucien. But why? Ethan suggests that it might be because Lucien built the Faraday Queen, whose wreckage is in the Central Museum in Marindar. Bastiano wanted to stop Lucien making another Faraday Queen.
- Grant starts piecing this together - somehow Bastiano used both Clockworld and the Faraday Queen - but there are pieces missing from his understanding. He advises that reaching Lucien is now a priority - if Bastiano realises that Lucien’s memories could be restored, then Bastiano may simply decide to kill him.
Adventure Summary - Part 6 - The Heart of the Stair
- Greywalker, Grant and Ethan leave immediately and they hurry to the Heart of the Stair where Lucien dwells. Again, they are on guard, expecting Bastiano to have pre-empted this move.
* Image sourced from Google Images
- Arriving at the Athenaeum, they quickly find Lucien. He appears to be mindless and Isabelle is pushing him around in a wheelchair. Isabelle looks drawn and tired. Greywalker declares ‘peace’ and explains that Grant and Ethan can help Lucien. Isabelle looks nervous, even afraid. At that moment, Jalt (the mad elf) walks in. Again he exudes a murderous aura.
- There is a pause as Grant weighs up the situation. Jalt could kill Lucien before he can make a move but what can he say to the mad elf to convince him to parley. But before Grant can think of what to say (GM’s note, I counted to five and David was stumped), Jalt asks Ethan if he gave Grant the locket. Ethan explains that it was broken in a fight with Oscar but he’s repaired it as best he can. Jalt looks even angrier that his precious Icon has been destroyed. He gives Grant a hard look and asks ‘can you fix him?’ (referring to Lucien).
- Grant nods and says that he can. Jalt tells him that he will help them. There is a moment’s silence as they take in what has just happened. The mad elf has switched sides. Grant assumed that he could not be reasoned with, could not be bargained with - and yet here it is. Before Grant can ask why, Jalt says that he was with Bastiano, Lucien and Banatar on the Faraday Queen. He helped Bastiano to change history but doesn’t like this future. Promises were made but nothing changed for him.
- Grant and Ethan now have three allies - Greywalker, Isabelle and Jalt. Possibly four if Lucien can be brought back.
- But where are Lucien’s memories stored? Grant theorises that an Icon can be used to retrieve the memories but how to do this without tipping Bastiano off.
- Grant and Ethan talk about the Faraday Queen. From his research, Ethan knows that the Faraday Queen was destroyed on Marindar - and Grant knows that Bastiano was hanging around Marindar in the original timeline, perhaps to find a clue as to where it lay. He also muses over whether the Ambrosia was taken from Olympus in order to bring Banatar back from the dead - Banatar surely must have been involved in the construction of the Faraday Queen - he must know something useful. Even though Zeus said that no soul had been taken from Hades, Grant wonders if Hades could actually be wrong. Either that or the Ambrosia was never actually used and Bastiano got the information he wanted from Banatar another way.
- Grant now has most of the pieces of the puzzle but not all. He believes that Lucien connected Clockworld to Marindar in order to recover the Faraday Queen. The Faraday Queen was then used to go back and change things. But then Bastiano needed to stop his allies from altering things further. He exposed Lucien to the Breath of Eden and somehow got rid of Vala (Belimicasi suggested that Bastiano had a hand in this). Banatar must be somewhere - living or dead. Jalt was loyal but he didn’t get whatever Bastiano promised him and this has eroded his loyalty. It might even explain Jalt’s unrelenting rage. Something in the past happened to Jalt, and he would do almost anything to change it.
- But there are still many missing pieces. What did Lucien want that would have convinced him to change the timeline? (was it as simple as Isabelle becoming a Lord of Gossamer?) What did Jalt want that wasn’t achieved? Where is the Faraday Queen now? Has it been destroyed? Where is Clockworld and is it the cause of the damage witnessed elsewhere on the Stair? Why did Bastiano set out to change so many things? Does Bastiano have the warptime ring that Ethan acquired from the Dragons’ Graveyard? What role did Banatar play in all of this?
Other Impacts
- So we’ve reached the point where Grant has most of the pieces of the puzzle but he doesn’t yet know how he’s going to be able to undo this mess and what steps Bastiano is taking to prevent him from doing so.
GM Commentary
I made some minor grammatical corrections to the Session 147 write-up, and also pointed out in my closing notes that because Ethan's Mental Invisibility spell failed on entering the demonic bordello, the hunters that are pursuing them will have an easier time. Also, the fact that Ethan traded nine drops of his blood might give the hunters another avenue to trace him.
Monday, 11 June 2018
Session 147 - The Search for Greywalker
GM’s Observations
- This session continues Ethan’s time on Meridian (in a world influenced by Starship Troopers) while Grant tries a number of things. The duo quickly get back together again as they hunt for Greywalker.
- In this session I also introduced multiverse-aware ‘demons’, leveraging ideas from some of the Dungeons and Dragons v3.5 books.
Major Characters
- Grant, Ethan, Belimicasi (a beholder)
Adversaries
- Demons, Bastiano’s traps
Adventure Hook
- Ethan has been left in Meridian whilst Grant goes in search of someone who can fabricate an Icon.
Adventure Summary - Part 1 - Opening Moves
- Leaving Ethan behind, Grant looks for someone unusual who has the talent to craft Icons. He heads well off the normal travelling paths to find this individual. The realm is populated by a flightless avian race, and one of their master craftsmen is able to produce an Icon of Grant.
* Image sourced from Google Images
- The Icon takes the craftsman seven days to make. During that time, Grant heads back onto the Stair to lay false trails. He pops up in Heldon’s Pass, in the Agora, and he baits the hunters who are pursuing him. There seems to be a number of them.
Adventure Summary - Part 2 - Ethan on Meridian
- Ethan has taken to heart that Meridian is important to the future. He considers ‘signing up’ but they want multi-year terms and he doesn’t know if he will have that long. He decides to meet with Harrison again but this time he uses the Beguiling Jacinth to convince him to take Ethan to meet a representative of the so-called Scientific Elite on military premises. There, subtly using the Jacinth, he is allowed access to work alongside the many scientists and engineers who are seeking to develop and improve the weapons and armour used by Federation forces.
- In the space of three days, Ethan moves from upgrading small arms to working on power systems. The scientists can’t keep up with him - Ethan is using his knowledge of other realms and his Eidolon abilities to create advanced weapons. The scientists work hurriedly to reverse-engineer what Ethan has developed as Ethan starts working on the next area. Ethan hardly takes a break in three days. He doesn’t sleep - he’s enjoying himself. He has even managed to fix his walkman, repair the two tapes that he has, and he works away listening to Pat Benatar, Kim Wilde and Blondie. (the music seems to alarm the people here - they aren’t used to rock).
- Ethan also notes that these Meridian people are relatively easy to ‘listen to’ - he can hear their thoughts if he concentrates just a little. He finds it funny to listen to their thoughts about him. On the third day, another Military Intelligence officer (they all wear black uniforms) turns up. Ethan senses that Colonel Morello is a psychic. He is surprised and more than a little alarmed when Ethan talks back to him using telepathy.
- On the fourth day, Ethan receives a visit from a two-star General named Menken. An experienced officer, Menken presents himself kindly to Ethan and seeks to have a private conversation with him. Menken wants to know who he is. Ethan used a fingerprint when buying guns - a fingerprint that has never been recorded anywhere before. The Federation has done a lot of checking and no one knows who he is. Ethan tries to be honest and says that he isn’t from here but that he is very good at building things and he wants to help. Ethan has listened to the FreeVee - it sounds like the Federation is at war on no less than seven fronts (Meridians are not just militant, they are warlike). Ethan hasn’t heard mention of the Rhan on the FreeVee but he was advised that Meridian will be destroyed by the Rhan in a few years unless he intervene in this way. Menken is skeptical. Ethan tells Menken the tale of ‘The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg’ and explains that he may not have very long before he has to leave. He wants to make use of the time as best he can.
- To his pleasant surprise, Menken allows Ethan to continue working with the Scientific Elite. He is guarded and watched by two Military Intelligence officers (both psychics) and given more weapons systems to upgrade. In his ‘spare time’, he kit bashes a repulsorlift to add to a bike (the genesis of speeder bikes), creates a primitive shielding system and upgrades one of their man-portable reactors.
- By this point, Ethan has effectively ‘enlisted’ with special dispensation. He has a rank of Cadet (the lowest of the low) and permission to delay Basic Training for the foreseeable future. A news crew has recorded Ethan with some of his early successes and broadcasted ‘what a cadet can do with the right coaching’. Propaganda seems to be normal here. He gets along well with the two psychics from Military Intelligence, Captains Shenke and Roe, who are assigned to watch over him. They seem more concerned about his lack of sleep than anything else.
- But this doesn’t seem to bother Ethan. He has too many ideas and a long list of things ‘to do’. Now based in a military installation with a crack team of eager, competent engineers, he keeps working on his ideas. It does occur to him that he is effectively helping a fascist regime to become even more warlike and expansionistic towards its neighbours but he thinks simply that he has to trust Grant in his judgement.
Adventure Summary - Part 3 - Returning to Middle Earth
- Grant pays the bird-man a pretty jewel in exchange for the Icon, and he uses his Icon of Ethan. It seems that Ethan has been busy. Grant explains a little about what he has seen and says that it’s time to move on from Meridian. Even if Ethan is using Mental Invisibility and the items that they took from Marindar are theoretically untraceable, he fears that someone will be able to find them sooner or later unless they keep moving. Ethan asks for a few hours.
- Ethan curses that he didn’t have more time on Meridian. He leaves a ‘package’ of ideas for Shenke and Roe to find - including a working lightsaber, a blaster pistol, a slew of ideas for the Meridian scientists on things to pursue and one of his tapes of 80s Hits.
- Grant contacts Ethan and pulls him through. They are back on the Stair - Grant has kept on the move and he still feels that the hunters are out there, trying to close the distance. They are almost back to the Home Landing which Grant is sure will be trapped or guarded. This is why he wants Ethan with him. His best guess as to where Greywalker is hiding is Middle Earth which is on the same landing as Earth (Realm 0). They approach very carefully - there is a chill in the air. Within a hundred metres of the Home Door, Grant spots a substance on the walls that is radiating cold. The nearest patch reacts to proximity of a heat source. At Grant’s suggestion, Ethan draws the Blade of Hoth and the temperature in the corridor plummets. Grant shifts his form to become furrier. Ethan doesn’t feel the cold at all - the Blade of Hoth protects him.
- Carrying on, Grant spots a sorcerous mark at the base of the Door to the Middle Kingdom. He doesn’t recognise the caster but the style of mark suggests that it was made by a Dwimmerlaik witch. Grant uses Umbra to remove the mark so that someone can’t suddenly appear here.
- They inspect each Door. Ethan senses danger in each of the proximate realms, including Middle Earth. Nevertheless, the friends enter Middle Earth in search of Greywalker. They find themselves once again in the tunnels beneath Minas Tirith but there are no torches lit. Heading to the surface, they find that the White City has fallen. It is in ruins and is completely silent. There is no movement and a thick layer of snow hugs the ground. Clearly whatever happened here happened a long time ago. This place is dead. Years, perhaps decades have passed. Grant spies the mountains of Mordor in the distance - they look as menacing as ever.
* Image sourced from Google Images (clearly this came from one of The Lord of the Rings movies)
- Ethan asks what they are doing here. Grant is surprised by this question - he has to explain quickly about Tolkien, and the Lord of the Rings - that Tolkien was a companion of one of the Lords of Gossamer, he travelled here and wrote the book based on his experiences. Ethan has never heard of Tolkien, Middle Earth or the Lord of the Rings, suggesting that whatever Bastiano did also affected that part of history. This Ethan has never heard of the book - it was never written in this timeline.
- Grant wishes that Ethan had a better grasp of Divination spells. He can’t seem to use Wayfinding to locate Greywalker. He has no wish to return the way that they came and he would like to travel to Osgiliath to create a door there but it looks like Osgiliath has been reduced to rubble. They don’t have suitable gear for a long trip to another city and it is extremely cold here. Looking for a suitable functioning door to turn into a Door, they climb to what is left of the Citadel at the summit where there is an intact door that has been smashed off its hinges. Ethan repairs the door and then Grant is able to connect it to the Stair.
- Frustrated, Grant returns to the Stair with Ethan in tow. He connects and disconnects Doors, seeking to put more distance between them and Middle Earth. He is angry - he needs to find someone or something to teach Ethan what he previously knew - he needs Ethan to be more effective. Grant explains to Ethan the array of spells that he commonly used, and suggests that he focuses on these. Ethan senses how upset Grant is and asks how he can help. Grant says that he needs a sword. One that won’t break the first time he goes up against Bastiano.
- Rather than find a place which has an uber-powerful sword, Grant seeks out a place where Ethan can make an uber-powerful sword. They find a place where trolls forge weapons and armour from molten metal drawn from great pits in the earth. The trolls are unfriendly but Ethan uses the Beguiling Jewel to convince them to give him access to the forge, and Ethan begins forging a weapon. It is basic in design but extremely strong. It is made stronger still by applying the Eternal Oil stolen from Marindar, and using Eidolon throughout the process to reinforce it further. (GM’s note - effectively Ethan forces a 2 point sword, with 2 points of invulnerability)
- While Ethan works, the two talk about their next move. Grant is sure that Greywalker is alive but he is very difficult to find, so how can one track someone who doesn’t want to be found. They talk about trying to find an object that he routinely carries but this seems unlikely to work, so they settle on the idea that they will have to find someone who knows where Greywalker is - and follow the trail of breadcrumbs. Wayfinding has been shown to work but it can be slow process.
Adventure Summary - Part 4 - The Hunt for Greywalker
- Looking for someone who knows Greywalker is, Grant and Ethan start on the Stair once more. Grant uses Mastery of the Stair to take shortcuts - he is certain that Bastiano and his Imperial Wardens are tracking them. They must be as frustrated as he is. The journey takes them to sections of the Stair which have clearly seen recent action. There are blood stains, bones and pockets of ash. The staircase is made of stone here - it does not look like it was wrought by human hands. It is not alien but perhaps something more sinister. Demonic, warped and evil, the Stair here is a foul thing. It is darkly lit. There is a strong smell in the air - the smell of blood and rusted iron. Shadows move on the Stair here. Ethan feels that danger is never far away here.
- Following the path laid down by Wayfinding, they leave the demonic Stair and enter a realm of restless, cold sand, bleak and expansive. Crossing the plains, they pass fortresses of twisted iron and carry on. Again there is the feeling that danger is all around, simply waiting to be disturbed. They tread carefully, finally entering one of the distant towers of cold iron and return to the Stair.
- The next section of Stair is equally disturbing, and there are large puddles of dark purple liquid pooling on the floor. The liquid moves slowly, trickling away but never dissipating. Grant shifts into bird form to fly over the liquid. Ethan uses raw sorcery to follow him but the effort is draining.
- It takes them days to reach the destination Door. Days where they encounter no enemies but it feels that their enemies are always only one step behind. The target Door is made of solid stone. It bears a plague symbol and is heavy and would be hard to move. Nevertheless, Ethan opens the Door with a wave of his hand.
Adventure Summary - Part 5 - Broken Reach
- Grant and Ethan arrive in the stone city of Outlands. The Door opens out from the strong city wall. A number of the watch towers are broken and worn down but this place is inhabited by an array of demonic creatures. Everything in sight has bat-like wings, or horns, or tails. Some are gaunt. Some look like they have orcish, giantish or troll-blood in them. Many look like surviving soldiers, or perhaps deserters given the state of their attire. Many are heavily disfigured, either by war wounds or pestilence. Ethan uses Mental Invisibility to hide himself, and Grant shifts into the form of a demonic imp to ride on his shoulder. This feels like the right place. Someone here knows where Greywalker is.
- Ethan tries to keep a low profile. He decides that the right place is a bordello called the Broken Reach. The door is guarded by two massive demon minotaurs, and Ethan’s invisibility spell collapses as he enters the place. Inside, it is a ‘hive of scum and villainy’. There is a bar where many types of venomous-looking drinks can be bought. There are sinuous and muscular demons of both sexes here, and a handful of human and humanoid patrons. Some of the patrons are openly cavorting in the main atrium but there are stairs leading upstairs to more private chambers.
- Trying not to look, Ethan goes to get a drink whilst Grant looks around. Grant surmises the whoever knows of Greywalker is not in this room. Perhaps upstairs.
- Ethan is handed a bubbling green drink by the over-muscled bartender who has no eyes in his eye sockets. The ‘ladies’ at the bar are greedily looking Ethan up and down. Ethan asks who owns this place, and he is told ‘The Red Shroud’. Then suddenly one of the demonesses is beside him, her naked body against his. She asks for a ‘taste’ of him. The predatory look in her eyes reminds Ethan not to let down his guard. He refuses but says that he is looking for information. A bargain is struck - she will take him to ‘Belimicasi’ for nine drops of his blood. A wine goblet is produced, and Ethan cuts himself. She drinks the concoction and smiles sensuously.
- The demoness leads Ethan upstairs. Ethan notes that more than one of the demons below is casually watching as he ascends the steps. Led to a room on the first floor, a curtain is drawn back, and Ethan is introduced as ‘A Seeker’ to a massive orb-like creature with a great single eye and tentacles. The great beholder lord is surrounded by beakers of body parts and brains.
* Image sourced from Google Images but I think this one comes from one of the Wizards of the coast Dungeons and Dragons rulebooks
Adventure Summary - Part 6 - Belimicasi
- Speaking in a deep bass voice, Belimicasi greets the two Lords of Gossamer, and mistakenly refers to Grant as ‘Bastiano’. Belimicasi tells ‘Bastiano’ that he has not changed his mind, and that if he knew the location of Greywalker that he is not sure that he would share it. (This indicates to Grant and Ethan that he does know where Greywalker is). He asks if ‘Bastiano’ has a different offer to make.
- Grant asks for other information such as those who would threaten ‘him’ (as Bastiano). The beholder chuckles and says that the Draconians are strong, that many of the Dwimmerlaik are uneasy about Bastiano’s position, and that even loyal subjects can have grievances. (GM’s note - this last point foreshadows something significant which is revealed in Session 148) Grant asks about Vala, Greywalker and Lucien. Belimicasi says that Vala remains ‘out of the way’, suggesting that Bastiano has somehow removed her but not killed her. Regarding Greywalker, Belimicasi chuckles and says ‘who knows’. Regarding Lucien, Belimicasi is more cryptic - he says that Lucien’s situation is ‘unchanged, so that should please you’. Again this implies that Bastiano has done something to Lucien.
- Ethan asks Belimicasi how he operates, and the beholder explains that he deals in favours or information traded. Grant thinks hard about what he will ask to convince Belimicasi to tell him where Greywalker is. Before he does, Belimicasi asks for Ethan’s name, and he gives it. A little surprised, Belimicasi comments on Bastiano’s ingenuity, and telekinetically passes a piece of folded parchment to Ethan. It explains that the favour has already been rendered, and the parchment may well lead them to what they are seeking as this is a letter from Greywalker for Ethan. Grant thinks fast, realising that Greywalker is also a sorcerer and must have predicted that Ethan would come here but that Belimicasi is still thinking that Bastiano has somehow engineered this situation into acquiring Greywalker’s location.
- Grant thinks this might be a trap - he thanks Belimicasi and they make a quick exit. As they descend the stairs to the exit, Grant notes that their exit is being noted by some of the other patrons.
Other Impacts
- Note that Ethan’s Mental Invisibility spell failed when he entered the demon bordello of Broken Reach. This means that he is more easily traceable. Incoming!!!!
- Also notable is that given that Ethan traded his blood for information, this may also provide a method of tracing him - but this would not be immediate.
- This session continues Ethan’s time on Meridian (in a world influenced by Starship Troopers) while Grant tries a number of things. The duo quickly get back together again as they hunt for Greywalker.
- In this session I also introduced multiverse-aware ‘demons’, leveraging ideas from some of the Dungeons and Dragons v3.5 books.
Major Characters
- Grant, Ethan, Belimicasi (a beholder)
Adversaries
- Demons, Bastiano’s traps
Adventure Hook
- Ethan has been left in Meridian whilst Grant goes in search of someone who can fabricate an Icon.
Adventure Summary - Part 1 - Opening Moves
- Leaving Ethan behind, Grant looks for someone unusual who has the talent to craft Icons. He heads well off the normal travelling paths to find this individual. The realm is populated by a flightless avian race, and one of their master craftsmen is able to produce an Icon of Grant.
* Image sourced from Google Images
- The Icon takes the craftsman seven days to make. During that time, Grant heads back onto the Stair to lay false trails. He pops up in Heldon’s Pass, in the Agora, and he baits the hunters who are pursuing him. There seems to be a number of them.
Adventure Summary - Part 2 - Ethan on Meridian
- Ethan has taken to heart that Meridian is important to the future. He considers ‘signing up’ but they want multi-year terms and he doesn’t know if he will have that long. He decides to meet with Harrison again but this time he uses the Beguiling Jacinth to convince him to take Ethan to meet a representative of the so-called Scientific Elite on military premises. There, subtly using the Jacinth, he is allowed access to work alongside the many scientists and engineers who are seeking to develop and improve the weapons and armour used by Federation forces.
- In the space of three days, Ethan moves from upgrading small arms to working on power systems. The scientists can’t keep up with him - Ethan is using his knowledge of other realms and his Eidolon abilities to create advanced weapons. The scientists work hurriedly to reverse-engineer what Ethan has developed as Ethan starts working on the next area. Ethan hardly takes a break in three days. He doesn’t sleep - he’s enjoying himself. He has even managed to fix his walkman, repair the two tapes that he has, and he works away listening to Pat Benatar, Kim Wilde and Blondie. (the music seems to alarm the people here - they aren’t used to rock).
- Ethan also notes that these Meridian people are relatively easy to ‘listen to’ - he can hear their thoughts if he concentrates just a little. He finds it funny to listen to their thoughts about him. On the third day, another Military Intelligence officer (they all wear black uniforms) turns up. Ethan senses that Colonel Morello is a psychic. He is surprised and more than a little alarmed when Ethan talks back to him using telepathy.
- On the fourth day, Ethan receives a visit from a two-star General named Menken. An experienced officer, Menken presents himself kindly to Ethan and seeks to have a private conversation with him. Menken wants to know who he is. Ethan used a fingerprint when buying guns - a fingerprint that has never been recorded anywhere before. The Federation has done a lot of checking and no one knows who he is. Ethan tries to be honest and says that he isn’t from here but that he is very good at building things and he wants to help. Ethan has listened to the FreeVee - it sounds like the Federation is at war on no less than seven fronts (Meridians are not just militant, they are warlike). Ethan hasn’t heard mention of the Rhan on the FreeVee but he was advised that Meridian will be destroyed by the Rhan in a few years unless he intervene in this way. Menken is skeptical. Ethan tells Menken the tale of ‘The Goose that Laid the Golden Egg’ and explains that he may not have very long before he has to leave. He wants to make use of the time as best he can.
- To his pleasant surprise, Menken allows Ethan to continue working with the Scientific Elite. He is guarded and watched by two Military Intelligence officers (both psychics) and given more weapons systems to upgrade. In his ‘spare time’, he kit bashes a repulsorlift to add to a bike (the genesis of speeder bikes), creates a primitive shielding system and upgrades one of their man-portable reactors.
- By this point, Ethan has effectively ‘enlisted’ with special dispensation. He has a rank of Cadet (the lowest of the low) and permission to delay Basic Training for the foreseeable future. A news crew has recorded Ethan with some of his early successes and broadcasted ‘what a cadet can do with the right coaching’. Propaganda seems to be normal here. He gets along well with the two psychics from Military Intelligence, Captains Shenke and Roe, who are assigned to watch over him. They seem more concerned about his lack of sleep than anything else.
- But this doesn’t seem to bother Ethan. He has too many ideas and a long list of things ‘to do’. Now based in a military installation with a crack team of eager, competent engineers, he keeps working on his ideas. It does occur to him that he is effectively helping a fascist regime to become even more warlike and expansionistic towards its neighbours but he thinks simply that he has to trust Grant in his judgement.
Adventure Summary - Part 3 - Returning to Middle Earth
- Grant pays the bird-man a pretty jewel in exchange for the Icon, and he uses his Icon of Ethan. It seems that Ethan has been busy. Grant explains a little about what he has seen and says that it’s time to move on from Meridian. Even if Ethan is using Mental Invisibility and the items that they took from Marindar are theoretically untraceable, he fears that someone will be able to find them sooner or later unless they keep moving. Ethan asks for a few hours.
- Ethan curses that he didn’t have more time on Meridian. He leaves a ‘package’ of ideas for Shenke and Roe to find - including a working lightsaber, a blaster pistol, a slew of ideas for the Meridian scientists on things to pursue and one of his tapes of 80s Hits.
- Grant contacts Ethan and pulls him through. They are back on the Stair - Grant has kept on the move and he still feels that the hunters are out there, trying to close the distance. They are almost back to the Home Landing which Grant is sure will be trapped or guarded. This is why he wants Ethan with him. His best guess as to where Greywalker is hiding is Middle Earth which is on the same landing as Earth (Realm 0). They approach very carefully - there is a chill in the air. Within a hundred metres of the Home Door, Grant spots a substance on the walls that is radiating cold. The nearest patch reacts to proximity of a heat source. At Grant’s suggestion, Ethan draws the Blade of Hoth and the temperature in the corridor plummets. Grant shifts his form to become furrier. Ethan doesn’t feel the cold at all - the Blade of Hoth protects him.
- Carrying on, Grant spots a sorcerous mark at the base of the Door to the Middle Kingdom. He doesn’t recognise the caster but the style of mark suggests that it was made by a Dwimmerlaik witch. Grant uses Umbra to remove the mark so that someone can’t suddenly appear here.
- They inspect each Door. Ethan senses danger in each of the proximate realms, including Middle Earth. Nevertheless, the friends enter Middle Earth in search of Greywalker. They find themselves once again in the tunnels beneath Minas Tirith but there are no torches lit. Heading to the surface, they find that the White City has fallen. It is in ruins and is completely silent. There is no movement and a thick layer of snow hugs the ground. Clearly whatever happened here happened a long time ago. This place is dead. Years, perhaps decades have passed. Grant spies the mountains of Mordor in the distance - they look as menacing as ever.
* Image sourced from Google Images (clearly this came from one of The Lord of the Rings movies)
- Ethan asks what they are doing here. Grant is surprised by this question - he has to explain quickly about Tolkien, and the Lord of the Rings - that Tolkien was a companion of one of the Lords of Gossamer, he travelled here and wrote the book based on his experiences. Ethan has never heard of Tolkien, Middle Earth or the Lord of the Rings, suggesting that whatever Bastiano did also affected that part of history. This Ethan has never heard of the book - it was never written in this timeline.
- Grant wishes that Ethan had a better grasp of Divination spells. He can’t seem to use Wayfinding to locate Greywalker. He has no wish to return the way that they came and he would like to travel to Osgiliath to create a door there but it looks like Osgiliath has been reduced to rubble. They don’t have suitable gear for a long trip to another city and it is extremely cold here. Looking for a suitable functioning door to turn into a Door, they climb to what is left of the Citadel at the summit where there is an intact door that has been smashed off its hinges. Ethan repairs the door and then Grant is able to connect it to the Stair.
- Frustrated, Grant returns to the Stair with Ethan in tow. He connects and disconnects Doors, seeking to put more distance between them and Middle Earth. He is angry - he needs to find someone or something to teach Ethan what he previously knew - he needs Ethan to be more effective. Grant explains to Ethan the array of spells that he commonly used, and suggests that he focuses on these. Ethan senses how upset Grant is and asks how he can help. Grant says that he needs a sword. One that won’t break the first time he goes up against Bastiano.
- Rather than find a place which has an uber-powerful sword, Grant seeks out a place where Ethan can make an uber-powerful sword. They find a place where trolls forge weapons and armour from molten metal drawn from great pits in the earth. The trolls are unfriendly but Ethan uses the Beguiling Jewel to convince them to give him access to the forge, and Ethan begins forging a weapon. It is basic in design but extremely strong. It is made stronger still by applying the Eternal Oil stolen from Marindar, and using Eidolon throughout the process to reinforce it further. (GM’s note - effectively Ethan forces a 2 point sword, with 2 points of invulnerability)
- While Ethan works, the two talk about their next move. Grant is sure that Greywalker is alive but he is very difficult to find, so how can one track someone who doesn’t want to be found. They talk about trying to find an object that he routinely carries but this seems unlikely to work, so they settle on the idea that they will have to find someone who knows where Greywalker is - and follow the trail of breadcrumbs. Wayfinding has been shown to work but it can be slow process.
Adventure Summary - Part 4 - The Hunt for Greywalker
- Looking for someone who knows Greywalker is, Grant and Ethan start on the Stair once more. Grant uses Mastery of the Stair to take shortcuts - he is certain that Bastiano and his Imperial Wardens are tracking them. They must be as frustrated as he is. The journey takes them to sections of the Stair which have clearly seen recent action. There are blood stains, bones and pockets of ash. The staircase is made of stone here - it does not look like it was wrought by human hands. It is not alien but perhaps something more sinister. Demonic, warped and evil, the Stair here is a foul thing. It is darkly lit. There is a strong smell in the air - the smell of blood and rusted iron. Shadows move on the Stair here. Ethan feels that danger is never far away here.
- Following the path laid down by Wayfinding, they leave the demonic Stair and enter a realm of restless, cold sand, bleak and expansive. Crossing the plains, they pass fortresses of twisted iron and carry on. Again there is the feeling that danger is all around, simply waiting to be disturbed. They tread carefully, finally entering one of the distant towers of cold iron and return to the Stair.
- The next section of Stair is equally disturbing, and there are large puddles of dark purple liquid pooling on the floor. The liquid moves slowly, trickling away but never dissipating. Grant shifts into bird form to fly over the liquid. Ethan uses raw sorcery to follow him but the effort is draining.
- It takes them days to reach the destination Door. Days where they encounter no enemies but it feels that their enemies are always only one step behind. The target Door is made of solid stone. It bears a plague symbol and is heavy and would be hard to move. Nevertheless, Ethan opens the Door with a wave of his hand.
Adventure Summary - Part 5 - Broken Reach
- Grant and Ethan arrive in the stone city of Outlands. The Door opens out from the strong city wall. A number of the watch towers are broken and worn down but this place is inhabited by an array of demonic creatures. Everything in sight has bat-like wings, or horns, or tails. Some are gaunt. Some look like they have orcish, giantish or troll-blood in them. Many look like surviving soldiers, or perhaps deserters given the state of their attire. Many are heavily disfigured, either by war wounds or pestilence. Ethan uses Mental Invisibility to hide himself, and Grant shifts into the form of a demonic imp to ride on his shoulder. This feels like the right place. Someone here knows where Greywalker is.
- Ethan tries to keep a low profile. He decides that the right place is a bordello called the Broken Reach. The door is guarded by two massive demon minotaurs, and Ethan’s invisibility spell collapses as he enters the place. Inside, it is a ‘hive of scum and villainy’. There is a bar where many types of venomous-looking drinks can be bought. There are sinuous and muscular demons of both sexes here, and a handful of human and humanoid patrons. Some of the patrons are openly cavorting in the main atrium but there are stairs leading upstairs to more private chambers.
- Trying not to look, Ethan goes to get a drink whilst Grant looks around. Grant surmises the whoever knows of Greywalker is not in this room. Perhaps upstairs.
- Ethan is handed a bubbling green drink by the over-muscled bartender who has no eyes in his eye sockets. The ‘ladies’ at the bar are greedily looking Ethan up and down. Ethan asks who owns this place, and he is told ‘The Red Shroud’. Then suddenly one of the demonesses is beside him, her naked body against his. She asks for a ‘taste’ of him. The predatory look in her eyes reminds Ethan not to let down his guard. He refuses but says that he is looking for information. A bargain is struck - she will take him to ‘Belimicasi’ for nine drops of his blood. A wine goblet is produced, and Ethan cuts himself. She drinks the concoction and smiles sensuously.
- The demoness leads Ethan upstairs. Ethan notes that more than one of the demons below is casually watching as he ascends the steps. Led to a room on the first floor, a curtain is drawn back, and Ethan is introduced as ‘A Seeker’ to a massive orb-like creature with a great single eye and tentacles. The great beholder lord is surrounded by beakers of body parts and brains.
* Image sourced from Google Images but I think this one comes from one of the Wizards of the coast Dungeons and Dragons rulebooks
Adventure Summary - Part 6 - Belimicasi
- Speaking in a deep bass voice, Belimicasi greets the two Lords of Gossamer, and mistakenly refers to Grant as ‘Bastiano’. Belimicasi tells ‘Bastiano’ that he has not changed his mind, and that if he knew the location of Greywalker that he is not sure that he would share it. (This indicates to Grant and Ethan that he does know where Greywalker is). He asks if ‘Bastiano’ has a different offer to make.
- Grant asks for other information such as those who would threaten ‘him’ (as Bastiano). The beholder chuckles and says that the Draconians are strong, that many of the Dwimmerlaik are uneasy about Bastiano’s position, and that even loyal subjects can have grievances. (GM’s note - this last point foreshadows something significant which is revealed in Session 148) Grant asks about Vala, Greywalker and Lucien. Belimicasi says that Vala remains ‘out of the way’, suggesting that Bastiano has somehow removed her but not killed her. Regarding Greywalker, Belimicasi chuckles and says ‘who knows’. Regarding Lucien, Belimicasi is more cryptic - he says that Lucien’s situation is ‘unchanged, so that should please you’. Again this implies that Bastiano has done something to Lucien.
- Ethan asks Belimicasi how he operates, and the beholder explains that he deals in favours or information traded. Grant thinks hard about what he will ask to convince Belimicasi to tell him where Greywalker is. Before he does, Belimicasi asks for Ethan’s name, and he gives it. A little surprised, Belimicasi comments on Bastiano’s ingenuity, and telekinetically passes a piece of folded parchment to Ethan. It explains that the favour has already been rendered, and the parchment may well lead them to what they are seeking as this is a letter from Greywalker for Ethan. Grant thinks fast, realising that Greywalker is also a sorcerer and must have predicted that Ethan would come here but that Belimicasi is still thinking that Bastiano has somehow engineered this situation into acquiring Greywalker’s location.
- Grant thinks this might be a trap - he thanks Belimicasi and they make a quick exit. As they descend the stairs to the exit, Grant notes that their exit is being noted by some of the other patrons.
Other Impacts
- Note that Ethan’s Mental Invisibility spell failed when he entered the demon bordello of Broken Reach. This means that he is more easily traceable. Incoming!!!!
- Also notable is that given that Ethan traded his blood for information, this may also provide a method of tracing him - but this would not be immediate.
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