Underworld visions - a little scene I wrote.

Rain slashed down onto the muddy track that served as a road between buildings. The architecture itself was ramshackle and random, held together by proximity as much as design, as if the walls had agreed that if one stayed up they all had to. Lost souls who had no shelter, or had sampled too many of the delights available in the district, were huddled in corners and under makeshift covers. He stepped between or over and he moved further down the street, splashing in the waste and mud.

The broken neon sign glowed and fizzed in the wet and gloom, casting a rainbow of light around a dark stone archway below where it hung. The words were descriptive and succinct "Booze & Girlz" 

He stepped inside the archway, following steps that led down into a dive of a place. The humid warmth hit him moments before the atmosphere infected his nose and stung his nostrils. A variety of different smokes and ingestible fumes blended and conspired to make a heady and unique brew. He stopped, steadying himself for a moment as he surveyed the scene.

A bar, tended by a single brute of a man extended along the wall to his left. In the far right hand corner on a small stage a lone musician sat playing some sort of wind instrument he didn't recognise. A haunting, melancholic tune that spoke wordlessly of love lost, hopes shattered and misery found. Fitting, he thought. Between the steps and the musician were a series of round topped tables, some with patrons, some without. The smoke hung heavily in the air but he could make out some faces, most he'd never met but could read as clearly as the neon sign outside.

To the far right, tucked against the wall he saw her, puffing on an elaborate enamelled hookah pipe.

He walked to the bar and ordered a drink. There was no way he was doing this without one. As if it caused him actual physical pain the solid slab of beef masquerading as a bar tender took his money and handed him a worn and scratched glass of what was known literally in the local lingua as "water of fire". He drank, was raw and burning but after the conditions outside it wasn't completely unwelcome. Glass in hand he moved across the room and sat before her.

She took a long drag at her pipe, never looking away from the musician on the stage. He broke the stand off in response, taking the scabbard and holster from his belt and placing them on the table.

"I hear you want someone ended. I'm your man."

"You are indeed sir," Her eyes flicked across to meet his, venom burning behind them. "and your end has come..."

The rest of the patrons in the bar stood, weapons drawn.

Session six

This was a heavy "talking" session with lots of discussions about what to do and some great in character role-play, both within the group and with NPCs.  In summary:

Hemlock and Lawrence spoke with Pufflenaff the Reeve who argued that without evidence all their arguments seemed to be faithful friends or retainers protecting their lady. He dismissed "Fairy tales" of psychic powers, bemoaning the fact that there was no longer an Inquisitor on site who might have helped identify such witchcraft.  He points out that Hasimir assaulted the one witness (in and of itself not an issue as he's a noble and Timmy is a serf) but he did it at night and in secret, Josay was condemned and killed by the Inquisition (who were opposed by Hemlock and a "mysterious assailant), and now they are bringing stories of magic powers and unprovable "gifts"; none of which looks good on Arcadis. He did however take on board Hemlocks lead of where did "Arcadia" go after walking behind the competitor's tents.

When they leave the evening "party" Beorn explains what he had previously privately told Lawrence; before arriving at the tourney he had been hired by Façade (who knew of his connection to Lawrence) to report on Arcadia's activities to her.  He has not shown Arcadia a picture of Façade (for fear of her reaction) but can confirm she is Marjorie. 

The party comes up with a plan to try to provoke a reaction in "Marjorie" or Sir Selwyn. Beorn drops her a note stating that Arcadia has had enough and will be "telling all" to the Reeve while Lawrence and Hemlock have a similar conversation at breakfast within earshot of Selwyn.

Following that Hemlock goes to keep watch on the Reeve for fear that Façade will attack but finds that he and the Baron are already with Arcadia conducting their interview.  He listens from outside to the interview which goes on for most of the morning.  While most of it seems like a reasoned discussion (he can't make out the details it ends with Arcadia raising her voice and the sounds of a scuffle.  The Reeve and Baron leave and Hemlock follows

Lawrence then takes the chance to speak to the Lady and finds that she has been shackled and has a growing bruise on her cheek after "resisting". She seems deflated and somewhat resigned to her fate.

At lunch the party happens to see Selwyn being waited upon by "Marjorie" and both Hasimir and Hemlock notice that while he hides it well he seems to be seething with anger towards them.

After lunch Hasimir then visits Arcadia. He tells her that they have seen Façade and that she is with Selwyn.  Arcadia is shocked and flabbergasted at the news (and that she is only just being told...) but warns that while Façade might be manipulating her brother he may well be a willing or equal party in this.

Hemlock maintains his watch on the Reeve as the criers and heralds announce that the Baron will be holding court shortly to hear the case of his brother's murder.

Hasimir goes to speaks with the Reeve & Baron to explain his actions regarding Timmy.  Such explanations are considered irrelevant but the Reeve points out how the weight of evidence is against Arcadia. There is no other suspect.  Hasimir says that he believes there is...

Revising De Havilland

So I originally created this miniature for The Marquis Anton De Havilland Hawkwood...

 

 

He's a soldier, a Questing Knight and skilled marksman...I'd discussed it at length with the player and it seemed right...then we started play... It became apparent that De Havilland wasn't quite like that.  He is all those things but he's a much more practical man.  He has a title but he's not a man of means.  What he has he's invested in his kit and gear. Plus he doesn't carry a rifle, he leads the charge and is used to front line assaults.  His weapons of choice became a two handed sword and a full auto shotgun.  The miniature just wouldn't do - it was a distraction from what he was really like and therefore pointless*. So I went back to the drawing board.

 

Above is what I came up with....lots of cutting and filing, bits from fantasy and sci-fi kits and even some generic military models...

 

Then on went the base coat - the player suggested that his colours weren't the traditional reds of his family but would be blues (the horse rampant of his personal heraldry was kept - but is only on the shield slung on his back).

 

Washes, highlights and detail later we have our finished De Havilland mk. II.

 

* Miniatures are great in play - as long as they add more than they detract.  If they really don't match what they are trying to illustrate or become a physical distraction (players fiddling with them rather than focusing on play) then they shouldn't be used.

Session five; "His bowels loosened and he said he wouldn't tell anyone.."

Picking up where we'd left off, Arcadia decides to have further plans; before they leave she wants to kill the woman she believes is orchestrating events. If possible she wants to make it appear as suicide and leave a note saying that she was the Baron's murderer.  The party gather together with her and try to talk her down a bit.  The discussion goes on for some time and they manage to learn from her that the woman she has seen and believes responsible is known as "Façade"; she is a Scraver, a psychic and very dangerous. They had an association three years ago before Arcadia left Ravenna and their parting was acrimonious.  Façade swore revenge but Arcadia believed her dead or imprisoned.
The party agree to remain at the tourney and convince Arcadia to stay under guard while they try to find Façade using the limited description the lady is able to provide.

Lawrence also introduces the group to the mysterious man who cut down the Inquisitor; a Muster guilder by the name of Beorn. He appears to be obligated to Lawrence and was called in by the Scraver the previous day when things started to go sour.

After breakfast the following day (day four of the festival) the party start to try to track down Façade:

Beorn uses his cybernetic eye to record images of possible suspects then shows Arcadia.  None of them are Façade

Lawrence gets in touch with his network of contacts via Squwarker to try to find out about Façade.  What he learns corroborates what Arcadia has told them and he is left in no uncertain terms that this is a very dangerous, and possibly psychopathic, individual. He also tries to find out a bit about the Reeve and learns that he's very procedural and "by the book" adhering strongly to the literal letter of the law.

Hemlock sneaks and snoops around for clues but doesn't manage to spot anyone suspicious but does try to rule a number of people out.  It certainly doesn't seem that Façade is amongst the Baron's staff.
De Havilland and Hasimir go to speak with Baronet Christopher Hawkwood.  They find he is packing to leave "Guards be damned!" and is bored with all these antics when he had come for a proper tourney. They talk about his disagreements with the previous Baron and the situation with the Austram islands and are left feeling content that he is not responsible for the murder.

At dinner that evening De Havilland is invited to dine with the Baron and brings Hasimir too. With them are the Decados and the Reeve, Pufflenaff.

Lawrence ends up sat with the Hazat and spends the time crowd watching.  He notices for the first time that Sir Selwyn, Arcadia's bother, has a lady companion who seems to fit Facade's description.
Meanwhile Beorn and Hemlock are taking advantage of the nobles being at table to go through their tents looking for suspects.  Hemlock tries to intimidate his way in but if that fails it works as a distraction for Beorn to sneak in the back. The plan works well but they turn up no new leads.

The conversation at the Baron's table turns to Pufflenaff's progress and he mentions that he has conducted most of his interviews and interrogations. He feels confident that he will have reached his verdict (so that the Baron can then pass sentence) by sunset tomorrow, thereby securing the bonus payment he's been promised for a timely resolution. He also alludes to knowing that Hasimir "got at" Timmy.  De Havilland challenges Hasimir about this privately and he confesses that his methods may be considered somewhat enthusiastic or drastic by some but that they get results.  In his own words; "His bowels loosened and he said he wouldn't tell anyone.."

When Beorn and Hemlock eventually turn up for dinner the party has moved to "drinks and nibbles".  Lawrence shares his observations and tells Beorn to take a picture of the girl with Sir Selwyn and show it to Arcadia straight away. He rushes off to do so.

De Havilland and Hasimir go to speak to Sir Selwyn and he introduces them to Marjorie (their Façade suspect...) and explains that she was one of his household servants but he took a shine to her and that they are currently lovers. Hasimir takes her hand and tries to read her thoughts, she attempts to block instinctively, confirming her psychic abilities, but fails.  He reads that she knows he is one of "the witch Arcadia's pet psychics" and is still relishing the fact that she arranged for the other one (Josay) to be taken out of the picture.

Beorn returns to tell Lawrence that Arcadia says the picture he showed her wasn't Façade... 

The Tourney Field (a map)

I drew a map of the location of the St Gavin's Festival tourney for my own use but ended up transferring it onto a white board to use during play.

The tents shown are illustrative only, meant to give a feeling for where the encampment is rather than specifics.

The white board version has come in particularly handy when the players started to try to track suspects movements prior to and shortly after the murder.

Of notebooks and notes

I like stationary.  Always have.  I'm also compulsive and subject to Autistic spectrum behaviours.  I tell you this so that you will understand a little of both the passion and curious idiosyncrasies I have about note taking when I'm running a game.

For a start each campaign has it's own separate note book and woe betide anything get's written in the wrong book (I've copied EVERYTHING by hand into second books and thrown away the originals before...).  The same applies with what I use to write *with* - certain pens for certain books etc.

See...I told you there were idiosyncrasies.

Anyhow, starting a new Fading Suns game meant I needed a suitable note book to transcribe everything.

Oh, I should point that out as well, the book (and pens, pencils, notelets, post-its and whatever else) have to feel "right".  They have to fit with whatever mental visual aesthetic I've got  in mind for the game.  As an extension of the game they have to fit *with* the game. At least in my head. Sometimes it's an undefinable thing, I will know what is "right" and "wrong" without being able to explain it.  Thankfully as I love stationary I buy cool books and pens when I see them and keep a stash ready for use. Sometimes one leaps out straight away, sometimes none fit and I have to trawl the shops for the imaginary notebook I've conjured up in my head...

Yeah...we're moving away from idiosyncrasies into bat-sh*t crazy now, aren't we?

I'd also point out that even in this electronic and technological age I prefer to write things down.  NPC stats, maps, character doodles, background notes, plotlines, family trees, histories etc. All of it goes in the notebook. Sometimes in pencil first then ink once it's definite.  I'm old skool.

So, the Fading Suns note book.  It started as a simple purple soft touch "Not-Moleskine" notebook from a local supermarket. Functional, roughly the same size as the Revised Rulebooks, and PURPLE.  Purple is good. It also seemed reminiscent of the Phoenix Empire...so that settled it.

Then I decided it needed some annotation.  I don't often do this but for this book it seemed right - I drew the imperial Phoenix  crest on the front and (at my seven year old daughter's suggestion) the Jumpgate cross on the rear.  They've worn a little and smudged through use but I think that only adds to the effect of a "lived in" chronicle.

Session four

We've now added a sixth (occasional) player to the group. He'll be running Tonbei vo Khaan, an Ur-Obun warrior and Imperial Cohort of the Marquis De Havilland. Up until now (while the other characters have been at the tourney) he's been spending the last few days outside the camp site, waiting for the events to finish.

• We pick up just as the Reeve and his Bailiffs have arrived but the party are currently more interested in discussing Baronet Christopher Windsor Hawkwood and why he would have been arguing with the Baron the night before his death. Putting two and two together (with Gossip network rumours and Planetary Knowledge skill) Lawrence discovers that the source of their disagreement is the current war between the Austrum Islands. The Baron supported the northern island and it's ruling Countess while the baronet supported the southern isle and it's Count.
• An announcement is made that the new Baron's entitlement ceremony is about to be held and all except Hemlock (who remains to guard Arcadia) attend. With all pomp and ceremony the new Baron is granted his titles, the various legal papers are finalised by the Reeve, Hubert Pufflenaff, and blessings are read by the Bishop with prayers said for the soul of the previous baron. The party keep watch for any notable suspects not being present but everyone seems to be in attendance (even the Decados). Baron Cuthbert then appoints Pufflenaff as the judiciary to investigate and try the case of his brother's murder, states that no one will leave until the case is decided (but that he believes that will be resolved before the end of the festival so no one should be inconvenienced) and invites everyone to repair to the dining tent for the celebratory dinner.
• During dinner Hasimir, Josay & Lawrence speak with Arcadia's brother, Selwyn. Once more he seems to think things will just blow over and that there is little risk to his family as a whole. He also seems to believe that Arcadia will just run off "like she did last time."
  Hasimir sneaks away from the meal and heads to the Trusnikron encampment. There he finds the tent containing Timmy the page and the stable boys, fast asleep. He grabs Timmy, blade at his throat and drags him out, finding a secluded spot some way away (with some serious Sneak rolls....). There he continues to threaten & question the (completely terrified) boy while scanning his mind. He sees what the child saw, it certainly appears that Arcadia left the Baron's tent as he said. He returns the boy to his tent, threatening what he will do if the boy tells anyone of his visit, then returns to the meal as if nothing has happened...
• Shortly after a peculiar guest appears in the banquet tent, an albino Ur-Obun, dressed in armour. He manages to attract the attention of De Havilland and they step outside to speak. This is Tonbei vo Khaan, De Havilland’s Cohort who has remained outside the encampment for the last few days to avoid causing any embarrassment or insult to the Baron by his presence. He has pressing news for his lord; an inquisitor leading a zealous lynch mob of rabble is bearing down on the camp.
• De Havilland decides that the (new) Baron should be informed, while Hemlock (who has come to grab some food) rushes back to Arcadia. The arrival of the Inquisitor appears to be a surprise to the Baron who instructs Appleby to investigate. The rest of the party then follow Hemlock, unaware that Josay had left a while before.
• Hemlock sees the glow of torches and hears the braying mob ahead. The Hawkwood house guards have left the tent to confront the mob so Hemlock enters. He wakes Arcadia and informs her of what is going on. She falls into her military mind set and takes a weapon(a knife) from Hemlock. Hemlock hears the mob outside and peeps out to watch. They have gathered around Josay's tent and have begun to torch it, from the sound of things with him inside, he burst out and is promptly set upon and beaten by the mob, the Inquisitor accusing him of heresy and betrayal of the Faith. Hemlock snaps and bursts forward challenging the Inquisitor. The priest, an obvious Avestite engages him and they trade blows, the Inquisitor's flames failing to harm Hemlock while the noble knocks the priest's Inquisitional warrant from his grasp.
• In the second round of combat the rest of the party arrive. Tonbei uses his Soma techniques to prepare for combat, Hasimir and De Havilland try to cow the mob, Hemlock wounds the Inquisitor and Lawrence notices a mysterious figure just behind the mob. He signals to him...
• Third round of combat; The mysterious figure strides forward, through the mob and effortlessly cuts the Inquisitor down with double strike with his paired sabres, he melts back into the mob. Capitalizing on this Hasimir successfully intimidates the rabble into inaction allowing Appleby and the House guards to take control of the situation. De Havilland checks on Josay and finds he has died of his wounds. Hemlock pockets the Inquisitors official warrant and casts it into the flames that were Josay's tent. He then returns to Arcadia's side who tells him to tell Lawrence "Ut nos hinc" - their personal code for "Get us out of here."
• Lawrence tells Hemlock to gather everyone in the garage ASAP then indicates to the mysterious stranger that he has other plans for him...

Fading Suns in miniature...

I do like miniatures, I like converting them and painting them.  I'm not that good at either, but any excuse.... Having a new roleplaying game campaign is such an excuse so I've had the bitz box out and created characters for our main characters.  Here's a couple of pictures...

 



 Above, L-R, Our heroes: De Havilland, Lawrence, Hasimir, Hemlock and Josay

 

Above: Dame Arcadia Justinian in full battle attire

Session three

• Arcadia gets a message to Lawrence to get them out of here and he starts trying to formulate an escape plan, getting access to the Baron's hover bikes and convincing the staff that he has authority to oversee their preparations and repair. He also does some information gathering to try to gauge possible suspects for the murder.
• The party hustle Dame Arcadia away to their tent. There they question her but she is coy and while states her innocence she will not divulge what she was doing at the time of the murder.
• Meanwhile Josay and Lawrence continue intelligence gathering and learn that most people present seem to think Arcadia could be the murderer (she's a trained fighter, the only witness to come forwards places her there at the time and she has not provided any other alibi). Taking things on face value she's likely to be found guilty. Also the Decados have retreated to their own tents and have placed armed guards outside. Sir Selwyn (Arcadia's brother) seems completely unconcerned and seems to believe that this will all blow over soon.
• Appleby informs the Baron's brother (Sir Cuthbert) of his death and that he is the new Baron, a Reeve has been summoned to prepare the official papers and also act as judicial authority over the murder - Cuthbert is full of bitterness and rage and demands that Arcadia be held accountable.
• The new baron summons his men-at-arms and they (accompanied by a growing crowd of nosey noble onlookers, having nothing to do seeing as this has brought a halt to the tourney) arrive at Arcadia's tents to demand her surrender.
• Sir Hasimir argues that she is only being accused by a mere peasent, at which point Baronet Theodore Trusnikron jumps at him for daring to impinge his honour (by casting aspertions on the word of his page). He is pulled off by two of the Baron's household guard.
• The players manage to negotiate her "house arrest" within her tent as long as she surrenders all arms. Which she begrudgingly does.
• She still refuses to divulge what she was doing at the time of the murder but conceeds that she will tell Hemlock and take his council (as they are now betrothed to be wed and Josay gave her a penance of telling one of her house her confession).
• Arcadia reveals to Hemlock <Details redacted> ;) and that is why she has been serving on other worlds until recently. She has seen <Details redacted> ;) at the tournament and believes she is the party responsible for framing her.
• Hemlock tells the others about the old enemy but not why she might be trying to kill Arcadia. He then goes to confront the Trusnikron Baronet and interview his page personally.
• Theodore Trusnikron is initially full of bravado and insults but eventually calms down a little - placated by Hemlock. They talk to the boy together and the child seems to honestly believe what he tells them. Theodore suggests that may be it is Hemlock who is being lied to...
• There was then much discussion of possible suspects and ruling out certain of the assembled guests and competitors
• Then, in the early evening, a VTOL flyer arrives bringing the Reeve and his entourage of Muster Bailiffs...

Session two

Key points:

• The first day of jousting continued with Dame Arcadia winning her match and progressing to the quarter finals
• Mr Lawrence took the Lady's command to heart and started to try to get in with the Decados servants, posing as a shady bookmaker trying the take bets on the competition. He didn't get very far but did make some cash...
• Sir Hemlock befriended a Hazat knight (and competitor) who was sat near their party watching the competition. He proved to be a useful commentator on the sport
• The Trusnikron Baronet who had been so offended by the use of hover bikes refused to use one and rode his Urroc, losing his bout and killing the bird in the process, but badly wounding the Li Halan knight he faced in the process.
• Count Innocence Decados greeted De Havilland and congratulated him on his win, It seems that he bears no grudge...
• During that evening's feast the Baron once again tried to woo Dame Arcadia while De Havilland noticed that she still seemed to be wary and watchful of *something*
• While narrating events to him, De Havilland and Sir Hasimir overhear the Baron arguing with his (distant) cousin Baronet Christopher Windsor Hawkwood. They don't catch the nature of the argument but it seems heated.
• The following day the sport began again, Sir Selwyn lost his match up and then it was Hassimir's turn...
• Sir Hasimir requested Dame Arcadia's help to prepare and took that opportunity to try to convince her to accept the Baron as her betrothed. She argued against but conceded that there was benefits to marrying a Hawkwood
• Sir Hasimir was drawn against the Baron's younger brother, Sir Cuthbert, a young noble only recently come of age. The fight was pretty much a farce. Cuthbert fumbled his landcraft roll to control the hoverbike and it caught fire, Hassimir claimed that this was technically a "dismount" and earned 3 points...The rest of the match was spent with them proceeding to miss each other until the final round when Hasimir connected with and ineffectually hit, ending the Joust at 4-0 and proceeding to the next round
• At lunch Sir Hemlock finds a chance to speak privately with Arcadia and try to find out what is wrong. She tells him he cannot help, but he obviously makes her think and she decides that there may be someone who can assist her. She thanks him and says that she trusts him to help her when the time is right. He assures her that he'd do anything for her.
• After the rest of the bouts (and Mr Lawrence has fleeced more serfs of their coin) the guests assemble for another night of feasting
• Arcadia refuses to sit at the Baron's table and when the announcement of the match ups for the following day's quarter finals is read out and she is paired against Sir Hassimir she stands up and objects. The Baron says that he was going to wait until the final day but he can no longer hold back, this has all been in her honour - will she put aside these petty squabbles and marry him? No, she retorts, because she loves another, she turns, kneels and before the shocked throng, proposes to Sir Hemlock, who accepts! The assembly are stunned and shocked - marry for love? And a lesser noble than the Baron? Some radical or uncouth nobles (e.g. the Trusnikron and Al Malik) cheer and celebrate but amongst most others there is stony silence or open disapproval. The Baron storms off.
• The party begins to wind down, Hemlock believed that the "proposal" was just a cover but discovers that Arcadia is deadly serious: why should House Justinian dilute their bloodline and marry away their heirs? They can be wed, take concubines (to bring in fresh genes) but retain their lineage and assets within the House. Hemlock seems to make a reluctant peace with this, for now.
• Sir Hasimir is still looking for a way to bring the original union with the Baron about so makes a wager with Arcadia. If she beats him in the joust she may marry whomever she likes, but if Hassimir beats her she will marry the man of his choosing. She agrees.
• Hemlock is cautious and takes to patrolling the outside of their tents overnight but spots no nefarious activity.
• The following morning is the quarter finals, opened by the Baron facing the Hazat that Hemlock befriended. The Baron's face is set like flint and he wastes no time in despatching the knight. He strides off to his tent, job done.
• Meanwhile (and unbeknownst to the rest of the players as we'd run this scene separately without them...) Brother Josay is summoned by Arcadia to hear her confession. She swears him to secrecy but confesses to him a sin which has come to burden her heart. She seems to think that she will soon meet the Pancreator and needs to unburden herself. She confides in him that <Details redacted> ;) . She is a firm believer that the traditional stance of the Justinian house is wrong - they must rebuild themselves, not through alliances of convenience or marriage, and that, at the time, <Details redacted> ;) She fled Ravenna, serving as a knight in numerous battles until her recent return. She believed enough time had passed but *something* has made her believe that her sins cannot be so easily escaped or avoided. Josay weighs it up and grants her absolution on the proviso (and penance) that she tells someone within her family what she has done.
• De Havilland prepares to face his opponent, Baronet Christopher Windsor Hawkwood when a commotion breaks out near the competitor tent that the Baron had entered. Servants and Appleby (the Baron's major domo) come running, along with De Havilland (who dismounts), Hassimir and Hemlock (who had noticed Arcadia's absence and was looking for her). They find that the Baron has been murdered!
• Hassimir uses his psychic abilities to probe the thoughts of the serf who discovered the body - he sees that the Baron was killed by some form of blunt force trauma, breaking his neck.
• Dame Arcadia then joins Hemlock from somewhere in the crowd.
• The Trusinkron Baronet comes forward with one of his staff, a small page named Timmy. The boy says he saw the murderer leave the baron's tent when he was on a errand for his master. Brother Josay softly consoles the boy and encourages him to speak up, he tells the assembled throng that he has seen the murderer and he can see her now, it's her! He points straight at Dame Arcadia.....

So it begins...

So after being a fan of the 1st edition of the Fading Suns Roleplaying Game (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fading_Suns) but never having a chance to run it I stumbled across the new Revised edition books in our local game store the other week (oh, ok my friend who runs the store held them in front of me and essentially said "You NEED these..."). Three days after buying the books I found myself running a new campaign for our weekly gaming group

The concept of the campaign is currently that the players are the entourage of a young & able Justinian Knight, Dame (she prefers "Lady") Arcadia Justinian (hence the name of this blog...). Things are not quite as they seem, but when are they? Hopefully all of that will come out over time....

Dramatis Personae (the player characters):
Sir Hemlock Justinian - Justinian knight, childhood friend & cousin of Dame Arcadia Justinian. Was sent away as a youth to apprentice with the Charioteer guild before returning to his household
Sir Hassimir Fenring Torenson - A landless knight from House Torenson. Hassimir has been employed/tasked with acting as an advisor to Dame Arcadia seeing as her House consider her somewhat uncouth and un-lady-like
Mister Lawrence - A Guilder from the Scravers. He is an expert in "acquisitions" and has entered into a contract with Dame Arcadia for shady & undefined reasons.
Proctor (Brother) Josay - A missionary from the Eskatonic Order of the Church. A secret Psychic, when Arcadia was told she needed to appoint a Confessor she chose this quiet, unassuming and a little strange, wandering priest who's turned up preaching to the serfs who live in her family's holding.
Marquis De Havilland Hawkwood - A Hawkwood noble and old friend of Arcadia's. He has always been a soldier and has now sworn allegiance to the Emperor and joined his order of Imperial Knights (The Order of the Phoenix). He bears an Imperial charter and as such carries the Emperor's authority, he is also the highest social rank of anyone in the group.

We ran a session of character generation and followed that with the first "proper" game. The characters have found themselves on Ravenna (Arcadia's home world within Hawkwood space) and they are guests of local young Baron. The Baron has organised a five day jousting tourney, nominally to celebrate the festival of St Gavin of Syrgada but really because he likes a party and wants to impress Dame Arcadia.

Key points so far:

* They've met a lot of the cast of nobles (& Appleby the Barona's Major Domo) I think they are already suspicious of the Decados Count who is attending.
* Hassimir & De Havilland have both agreed to compete in the joust
* Hassimir had to take Arcadia to one side to try to convince her to wear a gown, rather than a dress uniform, for the opening ceremonial dinner. He lost the argument
* The guys were very entertained by the tale of Saint Gavin (who is known for defending a Dormouse farm from a Vuldrock raiding force armed only with a Spatula) and Hemlock got into trouble with a priest when he tried to draw too near to the Holy Spatula (which is now considered an Orthodox Relic
* Arcadia & De Havilland were invited to dine at the top table with Baron Cedric and other honoured guests (her brother, the Decados, the Bishop and a Truniskron Baronet)
* The Baron very obviously wants to court Arcadia
* After dinner the Baron unveiled the "mounts" for the joust - a set of rare hover bikes. The Trusnikron Baronet is outraged after being prepared to ride and face exotic beasts while most of the rest of the nobles are bemused.
* The following day the joust is opened with the Baron facing Sir Jet Li Halan. The Baron wins convincingly.
* 2nd bout of the day is De Havilland vs Count Innocence Decados. The count seems to be aiming to strike (to score single points but wound his opponent) rather than knock down his opponent (harder to do, less incapacitating but scores 3pts). 1st round Count 1pt vs Marquis 1pt, 2nd round the Marquis knocks down the count but takes another hit: Count 2 vs Marquis 4, 3rd & final round the Count misses while the Marquis strikes him, the Marquis wins but is critically injured and succumbs to unconsciousness.

As a tease for the next session I then circulated the following teaser scenes to my players:

The Hospital tent curtain was torn open as Baron Cedric burst in upon teh Marquis De Havilland. The Marquis was attended by a group of industrious medical staff. He lay on a gurney, having been stripped of his armour. His worst wounds already dressed as the physickcians started pumping precious Elixir into him.
The Baron was permitted to draw close (who of his own staff would dare refuse him?) and he clasped De Havilland's hand tightly and leaned close to his face. Even semi-conscious the knight caught the grain alcohol on the baron's breath.
"Brother! That cur to have done this to you! I will see you well, my staff shall expend their full resources to have you fit for the next round! I saw it all, or saw enough and heard plenty. My men-at-arms say he struck to wound, not dismount each time. That insolent Decados whelp! When I invited him and his brat I never expected them to actually come! They never come to social events! This is my fault, and I will deal with that scoundrel! You mark my wordszzzzzz" The rest of the Baron's words were lost to De Havilland as the soothing Elixir lulled him into a deep unconsciousness as it began to do it's duty.

***

Hassimir had collected some food from one of the hospitality tables after while the Tilt was cleared and prepared for the third bout. De Havilland's care was well in hand things weren't to awful. Why the Scraver couldn't get his own snacks though...still it seemed that Arcadia wanted him for something at that precise moment so Hassimir did as he was asked. Dormouse pate, Apricot chutney, a selection of warmed nuts (in this weather?) and some crudités, that should keep the Guilder and priest quiet for five minutes. The bottle of wine (a delightful looking '93) was Hassimir's.
"Sir? Excuse me, Sir Fenring Torenson?" The voice came from a young, very well turned out noble loitering by the side of the bleachers. Hassimir recognised the familiar resemblance, it was Selwyn, Arcadia's younger brother.
"Sir Selwyn, how may I..?" The young fellow had already stepped forwards and taken a vegetable stick and dipped it in the pate.
*crunch* "Well, sher Towenshun, I need to shpeak wid you in tha capashitty as my shisters advisher."
"Sir?"
*noisy swallow* "You may have noticed that our host, the Baron, is unwed and he seeks a suitable union. He has determined that my adorable sister would make a good wife, Pancreator knows why, the woman is an absolute bore, anyway our House considers this a good and suitable match, strengthening ties etc...I need you.." he prods Hassimir's chest gently for emphasis "to ensure she sees this is the right choice and a suitable path for her. Got it? Jolly good." Taking anther crudité loaded with pate and chutney the young knight spun on his immaculate heels and headed back towards his seat.

***

Mister Lawrence pulled open the competitor tent doorway to find Dame Arcadia in a state of undress. He knew by now that this caused her no embarrassment when in front of those she considered allies or equals. Apparently he still fell into that category.
"You sent for me, m'lady?"
"Yes Lawrence." She continued to apply the grease she applied before donning her armour. "I have need of your exceptional services."
"Our contract still holds...what do you need?"
"Information. I didn't trust that Decados Count when I saw that he was here. I trust him less now he has sent a dear friend to the hospital. Find out what you can. Decados do all things for a purpose, the Count does not socialize unless in the capital, and then only rarely. To emerge from his self imposed exile now...there is a reason, and I would know it."