Only Children and Gaming

 

I will say that I am a proud only child. When I was seven, my mother sat me down and told me about boat children from Cambodia. They had no homes, and they needed to be adopted. She said we could adopt one so I would have a brother or sister, my choice. I started crying and said “Give them my clothes! Give them my toys! But I don’t want a sibling!!” My mom left, going to the other room. I thought that I upset her, but it turns out that she was laughing her ass off.

 

The irony is that skip forward a few decades and I have a large extended family – my gaming family. I have siblings I love, a few that have driven me nuts, but we are all there for each other at each and every crisis and life point. Recently, when Jason and I talked about starting a family, I evaluated a local birthing center. I found myself making sure that the immediate waiting area for family would support a game of Lords of Waterdeep or Cthulhu Munchkin. Sometimes my Mother-in-Law talks about ‘family only’. Not to hurt anyone’s feelings, but when your biological brother does not invite you to the Christmas party and your friend on 30 years shows up the instant he finds out you need help picking a lock at your own house at midnight, how do you define ‘family’?

Now learning how to game late in life and as an only child has not been without its own challenges. Sharing is something I still struggle with at times. I have always been unique – a fact I pride myself on. I am unique for a few reasons: being an only child, having red hair, being a female comic book nerd in my youth, and knowing Star Wars front to back while still being able to ‘pass’ in society as my mother calls it… all things that are rare. I LIKE being rare. I LIKE being unique.

 

This does not always work in the RPG world. I play with people I think of as siblings. We think alike. We act alike. This means that if I come up with something that is cool and ‘unique’… well, Solomon said a hell of a long time ago that there was nothing new under the sun, and we was right then and now. Does this sometimes cause me ‘chaos’ as we say in my group? Yes. Have I learned to live with it a hell of a lot better? Yes. At 30 something I have learned the concepts of sharing (most things) with at least an air of grace… and now those in my group can stop laughing at me making that statement.

 

At the same time, I would love to hear from all of you. Do you care if you have something who creates things very similar to you, or do you think that there should only be 1 ranger in a party of 4? What do you think?

 

-Madelyn

School Wars - Dark Sun Notes from 12 10 12

Notes for Dark Sun 12/10/12 – School Fighting

 

Barok was approached by the templars to a great display in the arena. Tosh from Nibenay arrived and he wanted to see the best of what the school had to offer. Barok was even invited to sit in the posh seats with the other dignitaries. He was asked to select five of the best gladiators from Barok’s School for Gladiator Who Want to Fight Good and Do Other Things Good Too (now called Barok’s School). Barok chose Xraneth, a thri-kreen from Xanus’s clutch, Tryranicus Thawk, the younger nearly identical brother of Adamicus Thawk, Red Teeth, a Halfling with teeth stained red from blood, Mighty Nautilus a dwarf in a mask, and El Draque, a Dray with yellow and black armor. There would be five challenges.

 

After arriving at the arena, they learned they would be facing two other teams of gladiators. One group was from Nibenay, and the other was from a famous but unnamed school within Tyr. There were nicely dressed elemental priests from all the elements, plus one. The challenges would be based on these elements. Each gladiator could only represent their team once and then would only be relegated to a helper role.

 

The first challenge was the challenge of Earth. Barok’s team fronted Nautilus the dwarf, while the other two teams but in a human and a mul. Everyone else on the teams could throw rocks at the other two school’s entries as they scrambled to get to the top of a small hill of jagged rocks. At the top was a crown of obsidian. The winner would scramble up, snatch up the crown, then they would win. The three tiers they had to climb were covered with sharp rocks, though. Once the competition started, Team Barok pelted the mul with a ton of rocks. He was almost dead before he made it to the third tier, but the human remained pretty unpelted. He made it to the top at the same time as Nautilus and snatched the crown. Nautilus used his giant hair belt as a whip to snatch the crown away and won at the last minute. In reward, he received a very nice set of armor.

 

After the game of the Earth, everyone got a small rest. The mul was dead, and the human battered. Barok’s team used some of their special items to bribe the attendants to learn the next contest was the contest of fire, and that one of the opponents was a half giant. Tryranicus bribed an attendant to slip a laxative into the half-giant’s drink, and then the game began.

 

The challenge of fire was to defeat a fire elemental in a ring of hot coals. Everyone only had a dagger, but better weapons could be obtained from burning braziers around the ring. The dray competed for Barok’s school and there was also a half elf. The dray grabbed the half-elf and face planted her into the elemental, beating her until she was unconscious. The half-giant attacked the fire elemental a few times before the Dray turned her attention on him, breathing fire in his face. Then she attacked the elemental, almost killing it, but the half-giant could have stolen the victory. Tryranicus Thawk distracted the half-giant, giving the Dray a chance to make the killing blow, which she did and got the gem.  In reward she got a nice sword.

 

The next competition was the competition of air. Barok’s team selected Red Teeth. In this chariots of various colors and prestige would attack those teams who summoned them. Each had two colored kestrekel tails and if the gladiator could grab those they would score points. The other members of the team built the stands to attract the chariots. Red Teeth proved very effective, as did the rest of Barok’s team. Because they had good teamwork and better tactics than the other teams, Red Teeth was able to attract the best chariot, the Golden chariot, twice. Both times he took the tails, and he won. In reward, he got a new cloak of kestrekel feathers.

 

There was a small break before the next two contests to be resolved next game…

Grandmother's Notes 12/8/12 - Warhammer

Grandmother’s Report 12/8/12

 

Aloysia

Just before riding out to the group, Aloysia joined the group. She was hired by Grandmother to keep an eye on the group. Then everyone took the coach out to the Holtz farmstead, the lead that Kat got from the Tilian. Riding up to the Hotz farmstead, smoke and fire were seen off to the right. After some “quick” caucusing, everyone decided to investigate the smoke and fire, even though it was to the right of their  destination.

 

Bloodbath

The farmstead was in ruins when the group arrived. The barn was still on fire despite the rain, and after a few party members investigated, they found the animal pens had been smashed and there was a torch tossed in to start the fire. There were no animals left in the barn. The house was also in ruins, with blood on the floor in splotches. There was a chaos star painted in blood. There were a few bedrooms in the house with empty bunks. Since no one was alive, everyone decided to quickly ride to the Holtz farmstead to warn them or see if they needed assistance.

 

The Farmstead

It took 20 minutes to get to the Holtz farm, and when they did they found two people arguing. One was a mutant, the other man normal. The other members of the farm were also mutants. The larger man said “I warned you not to stop Tristan” but the other man said “My whole family are dead, damn you!” and tried to stab the larger man. Aloysia managed to net Tristan and other members of the Holtz family pounced on Tristan beating him into unconsciousness. When the group said they were looking for Reiner Holtz, one man started looking uncomfortable and an older man ordered him to talk to the group. He said that he did encounter Florian but Florian sold him his cart and horse and said he was leaving town quickly. However, he broke under further interrogation and explained that he had taken Florian to sacrifice to the Beastmen at the Hag Tree. Everyone in the area did this once a month or their farms were attacked. Tristan’s family stopped making the sacrifices and they were attacked. However, the Holtz’s wanted to stop. They wanted to save Stromdorf. An older woman offered to take the group to Fredrik who was a shaman of the Beastmen and willing to help. He said the only way to stop the beastmen was kill the leader and capture the white stone in the clearing that was emitting lightning. The group agreed to help, and started walking out into the woods.

 

How to Commit Suicide, Quickly

After about 30 minutes, the group came to a large tree in a clearing that looked like a hag. Once there, Fredrick (the shaman beastman) explained that Iska of the Mad Teeth clan wanted to destroy man. But Fredrick’s mother was human and he did not want to see that happen. After scoping out the clearing where Iska was having his meeting, the team could see the stone and an altar was the symbol of Khorne painted on it in blood. There were about 25 beastmen in the clearing, and Florian who was bloodied. The team made a plan to attack and launched an attack on the leader of the beastmen while Kat crept forward trying to rescue Florian. Quickly, the beastmen attacked back. Shortly after reaching Florian Kat was attacked and fell to the ground, as Heinrik shot Iska and then got cut down. Aloysia climbed a tree and shot the beastmen that tried to come after her, as Hanz launched into a fury with his halberd. Franz used the stone’s augmentation of his Celestial magic to cast several spells, wounding beastmen. Geita rushed to Kat’s aid then got cut down herself. Finally, Iska fell with only three beastmen left. Hanz, Franz, and Aloysia threw the stone and their unconscious party members in the cart and left for the town.

Oh Sigmar! It hurts!

While most of the team were in the temple of Shallya trying to heal their horrific injuries, Franz (or Franz the Uninjured as certain members of the team started calling him behind his back) took the stone to his friend Nicholas Shulman, another Celestial Wizard for viewing. After saying he would need some time to look the item over, he stole it. Franz and Aloysia gave chase, on horse, then in boat when Nicholas stole a boat and rowed out to a vortex the stone was helping channel. In his attempt to draw the power into himself, Nicholas was destroyed, and Franz almost died. Aloysia recovered Franz and the stone, taking them back into town.

 

 

Aftermath - A Dark Sun Short Story

**This story takes place between the 9/12 and the 9/19 gaming sessions**

Aftermath

                Carefully, Zarnian wrapped a single sweaty curl of Trakas’ hair around her finger. His hair was wet with sweat from their love making, but just yesterday that sweat was from the chilling shock of Sorin’s constant attacks. She felt as if he almost died yesterday. Today they agreed to start over, making love in Trakas’ room carefully, respectful of each other’s injuries. In his arms all she wanted was to forget everything except that she was here and that in his arms she was not a warrior, leader, or rebel. In Trakas’ arms she was a woman – the only place that was true.

                Suddenly, he held her a little tighter, his energy shifting a bit, just enough for her to notice. “Is all well?” Zarnian inquired, hoping that the panic remained away from her voice. Yet, it was in her heart. Their new start was a very small sprout, and such sprouts were easily crushed by a misplaced step.

                Trakas turned, looking at her with his deep green eyes, the color of lush vegetation that never suffered from lack of water or soil. Eyes that were the color of everything pure and right. “I just want to savor every moment that we have.” The rest remained unspoken but understood.

                Nodding, Zarnian agreed, “Yes, we will. Even when our bodies are not joined, our hearts will be.”

                This seemed to trouble him slightly. “Zarnian, my heart is with yours. If I had my way, I would take you and Timmuth and Sorin and smuggle you out of town. I’d tell you to not stop running until you got back to the House so you would be well away from here before the fight, before Kalak defiles.” Anger crept over his face as his hands tightened into fists. “I would give anything for that.”

                “Yet, you cannot have it.”

                Trakas shook his head. “You’re integral to this, Zarnian, in a way that I don’t even think you understand. This will fail without you.” He traced the tip of her ear with a single finger, a move that made her blush. He smiled at that, warming with her. “When all this is over, I am going to take you to the most beautiful place you can imagine. It’s green and beautiful and there is water and all the plants there just radiate joy. You’ll love it, and the thought of showing it to you is what is getting me though all of this.”

                Shifting, she sat up, twining her fingers in his. “You are getting me through all of this.” She kissed his forehead. “Trakas, seeing you suffering under Sorin’s assault, you almost…” She shook her head free of the thought. “I cannot have that occur. You cannot die during the upcoming battle.”

                “Zarnian…” He reached up, cupping her face in his hands. He smiled, yet it held too much sorrow to truly be a smile. “I don’t know what is going to happen during this battle. I have a mission, a mission that is bigger than you or me…than us. We’re two lives against the lives of a city, or perhaps all of Athas. That is why I haven’t told you yet those words I hold in my heart. Even if that is how I feel, I want to wait until we’re past all that. If we survive, then I can look you in the eye and tell you.”

                “I can wait,” she promised, surprised by the truth of it. “Besides, I would rather say those words to you once I can be sure that I won’t have to lie with anyone I do not wish to. That still might occur before all this is over. I will do what I have to in order to protect this house.”

                “ I know.” All traces of his smile fell and he gathered her into his arms holding her against the upcoming storm. Though neither one wanted to leave the embrace, finally, Trakas announced, “It’s been about an hour. We should probably make sure that C’aro doesn’t have Gahaz standing over the kids with a whip while they make their pots.”

                Zarnian’s eyes flashed with fear and rage. Lightly, she hit him in the chest. “Do not suggest that to either one of them.”

                “I won’t,” he promised, his old mischievous look in his eye. Silently, quickly they dressed. He reached the door first. Zarnian was still buckling her chest armor in place. “I won’t, for now.” He added, dashing from the room and down the stairs before she could catch him.

                Shaking her head, Zarnian finished buckling her armor, picked up her spear and dashed out of the room after him. Her legs were longer and when she caught him, he would pay.

Dark Sun Gaming Notes 9 5 12

Gathering the Conspirators

Cael and Zarnian returned to the estate and informed the rest of the House that they all had to report to Ageis’ estate that night to meet with the other members of the conspiracy and Kalak’s oracle. After some discussion Cael decided to take Bellesaria, Bay decided to take all the noble members of his Cabal and the scribe, and Zarnian asked Trakas and C’aro to attend. Ohzon mentioned bringing Horchada, and idea everyone else rejected, and Barok said he was fine with who was going but decided not to bring anymore.

 

Waiting for the Gathering

While everyone waited for night to fall, Ohzon rented some penthouses in tenement buildings, with holes in the ceilings for his Skyfollowers.  He secured several. Then Bay went to visit Mitzrah the Lion, to inquire if Mitzrah was able to get slaves for him. Mitzrah said he had found and could get slaves for Bay, but they would be porters, and 1 gold each. Bay balked at the price, and said that he wanted discount slaves. Mitzrah said he could accommodate that, but he would need 100 ceramic down, and he got to keep it whether Bay wanted the slaves or not. The deal was agreed on, and Bay left.

 

Rising Tension

Back at the house, everyone heard shouting and screaming outside. The templars were rounding people up for just being outside, making up charges out of nothing. Zarnian made sure the kids and guards were inside, so they could not be taken. The Urikite ‘businessmen’ looked on with increasing fear. After seeing this, Zarnian took all the children to C’aro’s office and showed them the bolt hole. C’aro reminded them they could not use it unless it was an emergency, then sent them back to work making pots. Timmuth called Barok up to the loft so he could place his hand in the wet clay.

 

Gilded Chariot

Bay went to the bar to recruit Inicles for the meeting. At the Gilded Chariot was the gigolo who had been with Drugar. Bay did find Inicles and he agreed to come to the meeting with Bay at Ageis’ estate. When Bay asked who the gigolo was, Inicles said that he was some trash that Hericles picked up at the elven market. Inicles was going to ask to have him removed, but Bay asked him to wait.

 

Leaving Town

Finally, at night, everyone left. They decided to use the Stadium Gate to say that Barok was going outside the city walls to train so no one could see his moves for the upcoming games. During the journey, Zarnian got a slight feeling they were being followed, but did not really notice anyone. Then when everyone arrived at the gate, there were four half giants, several guards, and a handful of templars. They announced that the gate was closed, and it was unlawful to be out in this area after curfew, although no such law had been announced. They said one of the party had to become a slave for the brickyards to pay the fine. Instead, Zarnian gave up her agafari and iron spear, so the group was allowed to pass. Then, after the gates had closed behind them, they heard Drugar’s protests as he was being hauled away for the brickyards. Though Bay considered intervening, at the end he decided not to.

 

The Missing Oracle

Once at Aegis’ estate, the group found the courtyard deserted. The entire estate was deserted, with no slaves and slowly dying fields. Finally, Zarnian knocked and Aegis came to the door, but did not want to admit the Noble Cabal, who had arrived before us. Finally, everyone was allowed in the small sitting room (which was too small for Barok) and there was Meticles, Lycinia, Thaxos Vordon, Meticles, and another noble, named Lord Vericles. He was a noble of a moderate level, and he was a philosopher. Here was also a redheaded chic that Bellesaria knew. There was a mood of crankiness in the room because Kalak’s oracle never appeared, and suddenly there were many people that they did not know in the conspiracy. There was some bickering, but Aegis and Zarnian tried to calm everyone down. Zarnian ended up giving Thaxos Vordon the verbal smackdown. It was also revealed that Tithian had not yet agreed to help, and though Aegis was placing pressure on him, it had not been enough, yet. The members of the conspiracy who had already been together said they had a plan, but would not share with us. Zarnian explained about the obsidian orbs under the ziggurat and said that Astinicus knew a secret entrance into the ziggurat and he was not dead, but in the clutches of Sericles. After much talk and debating, little was accomplished. Vericles pulled Barok outside and said that Aegis and Sadira were trying to recover a special spear. He wanted to know if Barok could get into the games and throw that spear at Kalak. After everyone left, without the oracle ever appearing, C’aro complained that they whole thing had been a waste of time. The group got in again through the merchant gate.

 

The Day After

The following morning, Bay sought out Rodrigo and Jugalo. He paid them 10 silver pieces to find out information on the Templar that had Zarnian’s spear. Ohzon went to see Mitzrah and wanted to have the skyfollowers smuggled in. At first, Mitzrah was going to charge 10 gold but once he learned who they were, he wanted 20 gold, and 3 gold to smuggle in just Searchion. Aein returned and said he had news of Malik. Malik went to a whore house called the Unsheathed Sword and never bought a whore, but drank alone. Rodrigo came to see Bay and told him that the templar in question drank for free at the Gladiator’s Blood bar, then worked the gate and went home to the Golden City. Cael was going to watch the gate during the day, but then got distracted when Bellesaria said she wanted someone to track Aegis and Sadira, so Cael was going to do that. That night, Zarnian dressed in clean clothes and armor, before making her way to the Unsheathed Sword. She talked to Malik and learned that he was dying, poisoned by Hamdi for trying to protect a boy Hamdi was trying to rape. Malik’s only strength in his last few days came from plans of revenge and thoughts that Zarnian was safe and having a happy life. Though she wanted him to come with her so she could try to get psionic healing he refused and turned away from her, saying that if she loved him at all, she would go, so she did.

 

Sorin

Before Cael left for her mission, she decided to talk to Sorin about what he was talking to. She had to haul him off the assembly line (to his discomfort since he did not want to get in trouble with C’aro) and Cael took him up to their room. There, she asked him whom he was taking to. It was revealed that he was talking to Tzitch, the insane nature spirit grew insane from being defiled. It blamed Cael for its pain, and said she tried to kill it like she killed Sorin’s father. Then, Sorin revealed that Tzitch said she would kill him, too. Zarnian and Trakas got in on the conversation when Cael returned the child to his workroom, and Trakas offered to take him away to be trained as a druid. However, Zarnian objected. She was drunk from mescal she had borrowed from C’aro. Since her own heart was broken, she did not want the children to be separated, since Timmuth thought of Sorin as a brother. Trakas said he would try to dispatch the spirit again.

 

Afternotes

After that, Cael left to follow Aegis and Sadira. They headed into the mountains and disappeared. Back at the house, all the sky followeres simply showed up at the gate and were let in. The Tyrian templars also started shaking down the Urikites.

Calam - A Dark Sun Short Story

                Calam watched the mul out of the corner of his eye. She stood off to the side, armored, wearing weapons the way other women wore jewelry. One by one, the cook dished some of the savory soup onto one of the spongy flatbreads he first placed on their ceramic dishes. One by one, guards and mercenary soldiers big enough to break him in half all said ‘thank you’. The ugly mul male, the disgustingly muscled one, never did, but he also did not strike out and hit him the day Calam spilled a few drops of soup on the mul’s boots. There had been murder in his eyes, but the mul woman tightened her grip on her sword, and nothing was done. Calam hadn’t stopped shaking for a few days afterwards, but beatings never came.

                Life here was not bad at all. It was actually as pleasant as it could be, while still enslaved. The mistress - Zarnian, he reminded himself, she does not want to be called mistress. She wants to be called by her first name like another slave - bought him comfortable enough bedding,  and made sure he had enough water and food. Even his tasks were not overly difficult. In the morning, he would get the coin from the house and the mul woman to purchase ingredients at the market to make everyone’s meals. Then, one or two of the “guards-that-laughed-a-lot” (there were five of them in this category) would escort him to the market and help carry everything back to the house. Then he would spend the day making food for the guards, but it was not overly difficult.

                Before this, he had been the slave in a noble estate from well outside the city. When the templars came to claim him and the other slaves for King Kalak long may he reign he added in case anyone was reading his mind, they had marched them toward the city. It was a long, blistering trek to the city and when everyone rested at night, elves came and stole him and a few others away. After he had been taken by the templars and then the elves, Calam expected an even harder life than his noble house. His overseer at the noble house was no worse than many. The overseer did beat him and the other slaves, and routinely burned those that burned the master’s food, but Calam was sure this was common in many kitchens. He was never allowed to eat what he prepared, since that would result in a horrible whipping if he was discovered, but he had gotten enough gruel to survive.

                He was snapped from his reverie by the arrival of the first child. It was the smallest one, the one that talked to himself. Standing at his shoulder protectively, holding both their plates was the mistress’ son, the one the others called the murderous boy behind the child’s back. Calam gave them a smile, and more food than he should for children their size, as was the mistress’ direction. Zarnian, he reminded himself again. Not for the first time, he wondered why others called the older, thin child the murderous boy. Yes, he seemed happiest when he was training with his spear, yet the boy had not hurt anyone and was quite polite to the cook, saying please and thank you. One thing was apparent, though. The mis… Zarnian, loved him. Once, she had given the kitchen worker a small heart attack. He had been asleep when he heard someone trying to sort through pots in the night. He woke to find her trying to put together a snack. The idea of his owner trying to prepare food for herself had nearly frightened him to death. He pleaded with her not to sell him or beat him, and whatever offense he had given her he would rectify. Her answer stunned him- she wanted Calam to sleep and her child had a nightmare, so she was trying to find a treat for him. He quickly made something based on what he had around, which she took gratefully. He would never forget how his fear and begging made her look perplexed and uncomfortable. Now, he tried to send the pair to their rooms for the night with a snack or two for the boy.

                Finally, Zarnian came through the line with her plate. She always wanted to be last, even after the children. In other circumstances, her actions could be seen as being less than the others, or dominating them by watching. With her, it came across that she was protecting them all somehow, except possibly the other mul. With her own plate full, she gently reminded, “Make sure to serve yourself, as well.” It was something she said after every meal, when he was the only one left. Then, she took her plate and sat down among the others, next to the murderous boy and the other guards, talking to them casually about the events of the day. As he made his own plate, a roar of laughter came from the group as the youngest guard stood up and used his hands to imitate the eyebrows of the bushy browed guard. After timidly tasting his first bite of dinner, he hoped that the mistress would not sell him. This house was a good place to be a slave.

Timmuth - A Dark Sun Short Story

                Timmuth’s cry of fear and pain ripped though Zarnian’s body more than any blade. Before he was finished sitting up in bed, her arms were around him. “What happened?” she demanded, her fear making her voice harsher than intended. Covered with a thin sheen of sweat, Timmuth shook his head, shivering against Zarnian’s arms. Then she realized what happened. “Did you have a nightmare?” He nodded against her chest. Sparing an arm just for a moment, she wrapped the blanket around him again to keep off the chill of the night, and held it in place as she rocked him for a moment. Since she freed him from Esticles the nightmares came frequently. When they did, for a short time Timmuth reverted to the child of six who did not speak for a year in the wake of his parent’s death. Over the last few weeks Zarnian had learned to be much more intuitive about what he needed or had happened.

After a few moments in her arms, he stopped shaking. She kissed the top of his head, and relaxed her arms a little. She didn’t ask him what his dreams had been about. After trying to get an answer several times over the last weeks, and only getting shakes of the head in response, she gave up. Her guess was that while the physical scars of his slavery had begun to heal, his mental scars remained. She had her own mental scars from her slavery, and most of the trauma happened when she was much older than Timmuth. Not for the first time, she wished she could whip Drugar so he could see how it felt. Reaching down, she poured Timmuth a cup of water which he took, and a bit of sponge bread soaked in weezer nectar to make it a little sweet. It was a small comfort but one he took and consumed quickly. Once he was done eating and drinking, he said, “Zarnian, I can’t go back to sleep.”

“Well, I am not sleeping tonight. What do you want to do?”

“Train. I want to get better with a spear. I want to be as good as you. You can kill anyone you want with your spear.”

“Not anyone,” she corrected. “That is why you have to train with your mind and not just your fists, or your weapons. If you strictly rely on brute force, with no cunning and no thought, you will harm yourself and those you seek to protect. But, if you use your mind, you can disable your enemies sometimes with no violence, sometimes with very little.”

The boy’s eyes brightened. “You mean the Way? I want to learn.”

“And I will get you a teacher someday very soon, but I actually meant reactions, mental and physical. You have to be intelligent about all your actions. When I was younger, I had the best physical reaction times at the school. I was quick, graceful, and I was undefeated for a very long time. That made me cocky.” She smiled at the admission. “When Malik came, he could not move as quickly as me, but he used strategy and battle intelligence to defeat me in less than a minute. I was humiliated, but I learned. The battle is won here,” she tapped his head. “You have to plan, you have to know what your enemy will do before he does it, and then you have to know how to stop him without even picking up your weapon.”

A few moments of silence passed between them, before the boy again asked, “Zarnian?”

“Yes?”

“You love him, don’t you? Malik.”

Now it was her turn to pause. “I do,” she finally admitted, “but it is very complicated.”

“What if he doesn’t want you to raise me? I’m the son of the man that separated you and sold him away. What if he hates me?”

“Then I will not be with him. You are my son. You come first. If he cannot accept that, then he is not the man I loved.”

“Then will you be with Trakas again?”

The question shocked her. After taking a breath, she replied, “I do not know. That is also quite complicated.”

“You are very confused about him.”

“And how can you tell?”

“Well, you kissed him, and then you punched him.” Timmuth’s answer made her smile. “But you are also very confused around him.”

She raised a single brow. “You can read my emotions?”

Timmuth flinched reflexively, expecting a blow. “I’m sorry, I don’t mean to. When they’re really strong, sometimes I can’t help it.”

His reaction softened hers. She hugged him. “Try not to. I prefer to keep those things private. Yet, you are correct. I do have very mixed emotions about him. But, Timmuth, no matter who I chose to share my body and heart with, they will have to accept and love you first. They will have to honor your place in my life, or I will not be with them.”

“Even Malik?”

“Even Malik.”

“And I can train with a psionicist?”

“Soon. First, you are going to learn how to use your mind to think. We will speak to Aein about starting your lessons tomorrow. I also want you to help around the warehouse. Learn from whoever you can, anything you can. Educate yourself. We will work together on reading and writing dune trader code, and standard writing.” He looked like she had just sentenced him to prison. “And every day you will also have weapons training.”

“Yay!” He made motions of training with his spear. Then, he relaxed a little against her chest. “I’m getting tired again.”

Gently, she moved herself and fluffed his pillow, before letting him recline. Tucking him in, she kissed his forehead. Returning to her small desk, she waited until she heard his breathing slip into deep, soothing rhythms before allowing her face to fall. She did love the child, and wanted to raise him. She wanted the chance to be everything for him that Carn had been for her. When Malik said she would be a good parent it was all she could do to not scoff at him. He may or may not yet be right about how good she was, yet she loved every moment of it. But, in less than a month he would be safe at the house and she would be dead. With a sigh, she returned to her careful sketches, mapping the entrances to Undertyr that were near the ziggurat, and to thoughts of how to kill a god.

Dark Sun Game Notes 8 8 12

Taking Care of Business

Zarnian sent some of her guards to return Sericles’ tokens to him, per his request. This decision was almost immediately called into question by Aein when she asked him to find the Lord of Thorns, and he was worried about being picked up to work the brickyards, but still agreed to find the gladiator for Zarnian.

 

In the Lion’s Den

Ohzon went to the Elven Market and purchased some Urikite delicacies that looked at least edible. Then he went to see the Urikites. The door to their trader’s offices were guarded by a black bearded guard that did not speak much Tyrian. Still, Ohzon was accepted inside. Once inside, Ohzon politely but firmly called them out on being templars of Urik, telling them he saw them using the Lion’s symbol in their magic. They surrounded him to show force, but the Sky Father countered that the House had information that the ziggurat is a defilement siphon, which might suck all the life out of Tyr. With that said, the templars said they would be interested if Ohzon could get them inside, they would give him more information that they currently had. With that, the Halfling left for the House.

 

Gathering Friends

Back at the House, everyone tried to come up with ways to get inside the heavily guarded ziggurat.  C’aro suggested delivering jugs of wine with the colossus’ seal as a bribe, but after some planning, everyone started doing their own thing. Cael told her friend Polanna that things were going to get bad and dangerous and she needed to possibly get out. Polanna agreed to do so. A messenger came from the house of Esticles to tell Bay that the lady of the house would be at the market between the noble and caravan districts this afternoon, then he left. Meanwhile, the kids were running around the loft. When Barok went to check on them, he noticed that little Sorin was talking to himself. He asked Timmuth who reported that Sorin talks to himself a lot. Barok asked him to keep an eye on the kid. Ohzon sent Searchion a message to come in with the other Sky Followers. He agreed. C’aro left to see Maribel, to warn her of the danger, and Ohzon started a training montage with the Sky Followers currently in town at the Salt House. Zarnian talked to Trakas and the two quickly repaired their friendship. Though he would not tell her who he was working for, or why she had to risk her life, he promised to take her to who he worked for if they got out of this.

 

Blood, Sand, and Massages

Barok went to the Great Gladiatorial School. The owner, Possio, was an older, retired gladiator. He is known for being a task master and not lenient but he rewards his champions well. He also is known for not throwing fights. He is, however, a bit of a bootlicker with the higher templars of the games. He was very happy to see Barok and ordered water to be brought for him, and showed him around. There were about 60 people out practicing. He offered assistants and money for Barok to fight for him, and he even has his own metal smith on staff to work on Barok’s sword. Barok offered to spar with 4 of his fighters, but beat them all. Possio put them on gruel and water for their punishment and several slaves came over to offer him a message. He sat next to Deverin, who Barok knew. He says that Possio treats him well because together, they both make money. Barok tried to create interest in an alliance when the storm comes but was not openly successful. After that he went to a independent school with free gladiators and worked with them to try and create an alliance with them.

 

Different Hats

Bay dressed up in his fine clothing, and wore a scarf to cover his newly shaved face. He even wore his new cologne. He went to the market at the designated time and did some light window shopping, when he saw his ex-wife there with her guard (the same one that came to the house earlier). She had blue stained lips and dull eyes. She is showing her years with graying hair and crow’s feet. The guard points Bay out and she went to the hat stall, where he was and pretended to browse as well. She admitted that she did not expect to see him again, and they traded false compliments. Then they carefully asked how the years had been for the other. Finally, Bay wanted to know what happened to his daughter Calitha. Annali said that she was in a safe place and she wanted him to stay away from her children. He bought her a hat from her favorite designer, left it in the empty space between them and walked away. After their encounter, Bay went to the noble cabal where he spoke to Mormot Kancles and asked the Cabal to help him find Calitha. After that, he went to see Lord Hericles, who is selling his chariot. Hericles also has a guard for a new butler, and he assumed Bay was a noble. However, not long after arriving, Bay discovered that the chariot had just been sold to Drugar Esticles. Bay left.

 

Gilded Chariot

When Bay returned, the group headed to the Gilded Chariot, which was named that because before the city became crowded, they used to race chariots there. It is a wine bar, and a very exclusive wine bar. Everyone got dressed to go, including Cael who wore her 1 gold dress and Zarnian who dressed to show off her assets. When the group arrived there was a very nice chariot outside, then Drugar walked out with a guy on one arm and a girl on the other. He got in the chariot and banged it up as he left. Then everyone entered the bar. There was both public seating and private seating. While Cael and Bay got a private booth, Zarnian went to the bar and ordered a glass of Asticles wine and paid a hefty bribe to the bartender to tell Aegis that she wanted to talk to him. Meanwhile, Lord Inicles greeted his friend Lord Damocles. The two talked about politics and philosophy. Then Lord Inicles wanted to know why Varius chose this time to reappear. He said he reappeared because times were dangerous, that Kalak posed danger to them all. That if Kalak no longer wanted to be a king, he would no longer need a city. He will consume it rather than letting them go free. The two tried to figure out even a starting place on stopping a god, then Inicles suggested Esticles. Meanwhile, Aegis called Zarnian over to his private booth. After a few words they decided to have a more private meeting at his estate the next day.

 

Under the Ziggurat

Later that night (it was a busy night) the group readied themselves to go to Under Tyr to try and find a way into the ziggurat. Haser the wise was a man who owed Cael a huge favor, and knew under tyr well, so he begrudgingly offered to act as a guide. He warned her though that other presences were heavily at work there. He took everyone to a well known entrance where there were squatters and addicts, but beyond that there was a small opening to another set of tunnels that felt like a graveyard, and then they arrived at catacombs. Many had drawings of plants on them, and the people depicted were human like. Some of the graves had been disturbed. A presence that was horrible, nasty, and malicious sensed the group and knew they were there. Then, there was tunnel after tunnel of caves with the same date on them, the date that Kalak took over the city. The presence tried to invade everyone’s minds. Bay felt the terror of a caged animal being tortured, and Zarnian felt the terror it suffered. The catacombs then opened up into a pit, with a ton of bones about 100 years old, which is when the ziggurat began construction. They were all in slave worker clothing, and they were piled up to the ceiling. The ghostly form of a worker slave appeared and said that this was not a place for the living, that they could not get to the ziggurat from there. He also said Kalak and Astinicus knew the way in. But, in exchange for that information, he wanted to see one more sunrise, so Zarnian agreed to allow him to use her body. The presence got jealous and started trying to chase them out. The group escaped the thing, but since it was still curfew they could not go up into the streets, so they all hung out and talked to the entity. He was a slave who did not want to be remembered. He also said that Kalak has perfect obsidian orbs inside his tomb and two severed heads that he keeps alive as a punishment. He said Astinicus would know secret ways inside. After sunlight came, he stepped into the light, enjoyed it for an hour, then left into the gray.

 

The Show

When everyone was leaving, there was a huge commotion on the steps of the ziggurat, where everyone was in attendance, including Kalak. Sericles was with a man who was beaten beyond recognition, tortured, and barely alive. Sericles introduced the man as the tunnel lord, and said this was his gift to the city. Then he slit the man’s throat and tossed his body down to the mob, who tore it apart.

 

Veiled Telegrams

Cael went to the market to make the symbol for the Veiled Alliance to contact her, since she now had much more information.

 

Aegis

The next day, Cael and Zarnian went to talk to Aegis at his estate outside the city. His crops had fallen to disrepair since no one was there to tend them. There were only a few guards. To cement their trust, Zarnian allowed Aegis free access to her mind to view the battle against Ardoth, and just after that, Kalak’s oracle appeared and said that on the day of the great games she saw many deaths, including her own. She wanted everyone to gather at Aegis’ estate at midnight to determine their next set of plans.

Where on Earth Have I Been?

If you are wondering where in the hell I am, and what in the hell I have been doing, then you’re probably related to me or already in our gaming group, so you know. For those select few of you who are reading this and don’t know, I am taking a little bit of a quasi break from gaming. Jason is taking a break from running our Warhammer Fantasy game because he needs and deserves it, and Gregory is running Deadlands. I have not been doing notes for that game, just to give myself a little break, so there has been less to post.

 

Also, we have had some gaps in our Dark Sun gaming. There has been group travel and group sickness, so that means less notes to post. I was going to try and fill this gap in with getting some fiction done, but for several reasons, that has not worked quite as well as I hoped. One of those is a bit of writers block. It will clear up soon.

 

In an attempt to turn this time into something even more productive, I am going to start a third blog. This one will be random, about my life adventures and many projects.

 

I am not ditching out on my gaming blog, but I might only be posting once or twice a week right now.

 

So for those of you who have been wondering what the crap happened, there you go. And wherever you go, there you are.

Warhammer Interlude Notes

Star Lily

Star Lily rode with Speaker Tuckerberry, hunting down Bluefinger. They tracked him down to an old watchtower with every intent to put him down, especially since he was eating other Halflings. While they tried to shout him down, they discovered he had taken a young Halfling girl hostage. Speaker Tuckerberry went in to perform the rescue, with Star Lily behind. She tried to shoot Bluefinger but missed. Speaker Tuckerberry grappled with Bluefinger and though the Speaker fired all the shots from his three pistols, Bluefinger was still going to be able to turn him, when Star Lily staked Bluefinger, killing him. Then, the little girl said there were other Halfling vampires alive.

Milgrom

Milgrom wrote his father for help starting his silvertrade, but got the reply that he was on his own, but if the venture was profitable, to remember dear old dad. Milgrom took the time to pen an epic song about Wilhelm’s battles against the vampires, which he sent back to the dwarfhold. As Milgrom tried to start his ventures he went out to dinner. There, Florenza Shinypipe waited for him to get done with first dinner, then moved in. Milgrom knew the local stories that Shinypipe always tried to grow new and better tobacco varieties. Together, they met to broker a deal, but Shineypipe insisted that Milgrom leave his axe. Milgrom argued this point, and in the end Milgrom went with him. They wound through back alleys and the more out of the way areas until they came to a building that had faint light inside and the smell of tobacco smoke. There was a desk and carpet with a portly Halfling, smoking the finest smoke. His name was ‘Big Belly’ and he heard that Milgrom was setting up a lot of trade. He gave Milgrom some very mild tobacco, and explained that only dwarves can handle the intensity of the smoke, but it is illegal to export. Therefore, he wanted to use Milgrom as a way to get the tobacco dwarves’ land. For this, Milgrom would get 2-5 gold crowns a shipment, and cover tobacco would have to be shipped as well. As Milgrom contemplated where to get a smuggling wagon he finished getting mobbed up.

Wilhelm and Bartleby

Bartleby shined up the carriage and the two set off to respond to the letter by another Von Krieg asking for help. They were so anxious to get there that they slept on the road. They came to an area with thick fir trees and saw a stone walled castle. They came across a road house and coach. The men who guarded it had breast plates, sigils, swords, and shields. Wilhelm and Bartleby stated they were there to see Magda, but were told to wait, as the Lady was having a rest. While they waited, they gambled with the guards. Eventually, a carriage came down the road. It had a lone driver and he was a Vanderheit, one of Bartleby’s long lost relatives. He said he had orders to take Wilhelm back to the house, Bartleby had to stay behind. Though Wilhelm objected at first, he eventually allowed himself to be taken to the mansion alone. The new Vanderheit offered his back for Wilhelm to step on to get down and when he wouldn’t, the coachman grumbled that he would have to talk to Bartleby about his skills as a servant. Inside the mansion, lit by candlelight was a wide range of art items from a wide range of times. Back at the guard house, the soliders turned on Bartleby. A voice inside his head said Kill Them All. It Will Be Easy. Then, back inside the mansion, Wilhelm watched as a woman appeared at the top of the stairs. She seemed to be in her mid-twenties and beautiful. She offered her hand to him but it was cold to the touch. She said her name was Magda Von Krieg.

At Stony Hollow two weeks passed without Wilhelm or Bartleby returning…

Others, and Why You Should Care

Everyone loves different stories for different reasons. If this were not true, there would be no industry in literature or books. We all want to be engrossed and we all want a story we love. For some of us, this love of story and love of friends leads us to tabletop gaming.

For the sake of full disclosure, I do not have the hubris to call myself a ‘writer’ really, but I have written my own stories featuring my own characters since at least 2 years old. I used to just try to write out the words and cry when my mom could not read them. True story. Some of the stories I have written have received attention from others, and some are not half bad.

This all comes together at the game table. I game because I like developing my characters. I like finding out more about their backstory and how it really can be a cool process of discovery. At times it is frustrating, and at times exhilarating. The best part of playing a tabletop game with good friends is that you want to find out more about their characters, too. What are their pasts? What brought them to where they are now? It’s great! I live for those moments. You need  to pay attention to the other players at the table because their insights are valuable. You can learn from your friends and your friends’ characters. If that is a horribly untrue statement, get to another gaming group.

But wait! There are wonderful other people in these worlds. The official term for them is NPCs, or Non Player Characters. To me they are as alive and real as the other people at the table. These people also have a background, people they love, things they hate, and causes they believe in. Interacting with these people, finding out what makes them tick, and helping them is a fun thrill. It is as much fun as interacting with the other players at times. It is in essence, meeting new people.

So how do all these disparate points coincide? When you are in the game world, get out there and meet new people! Get to know the NPCs. Have a quick cup of coffee. If you have great GMs, as I have been blessed with, usually those NPCs will have things to offer both you and the other players – but if you never ask, you never find out. If you are gaming only because you want to explore YOUR character and YOUR backstory, then by all means, write a short fiction or long fiction yourself. Write about you doing what you want all day long. But, when you come to the table pay attention to your friends, pay attention to the NPCs, and immerse yourself in this wonderful world that everyone has created together.

Update

Hi everyone! I know it has been a few days since I updated. I taught a few classes, went on vacation for a few days, got back tonight and cut the tar out of my finger. Luckily, it was not near any of the food I was cooking, but I still had to step out of the kitchen and let Jason clean up and finish. He was both kind and a gentleman about it. He helped me with my finger and then took over all the cleaning for the day.

So I wanted to let you know that I have not forgotten about my beautiful blog. When I can type again normally (might be a few days) I’ll  get some new items posted.

-Madelyn

Dark Sun Gaming Notes 8 1 12

Haseldel’s Hassle

Cael went to the warrens to look for her friend Haseldel. She found him and he had a nervous demeanor. He offered her a drink, but kept looking past her. They got down to business and she offered him a position hunting artifacts for the House of the Painted Eye. He thought that sounded like a good idea as long as it was outside of Tyr. She said she needed good people, loyal people. He agreed but was still nervous. He explained that now that the Tunnel Boys are gone it is a free for all in the street. Then they spotted a group of three thugs at the end of the street. At that, Haseldel and Cael decided to leave but the thugs followed them. Though they tried to lose them in the warrens, that did not work, but she did manage to lose the trail by ducking into Under Tyr. Then, once they were safe they decided to get his sister, Imladri who is a half elven stripper. Cael did warn her about C’aro, first before bringing her to the House.

Placating the Painted Alliance

Bay headed off to the merchant alliance. He went to see the baker first and psionically contacted the hairdresser. Bay also hired an assessor to see how much damage was done. He paid two gold overall to help everyone out and they were very appreciative. The hairdresser contacted him to come in, and the shop was empty. The hairdresser was flirting a bit, but he got the feeling that even though the guy was playing it up, he was not actually gay, though he did say that Varius Damocles was back. Then he started cutting Bay’s hair while talking about how the nobles were needing money, one was even selling his chariot. Though Bay skirted around the issue of wanting allies in the fight against Kalak the hairdresser said that killing mekilots was not something he was interested in, but Bay should go to the Gilded Chariot and order some Asticles wine. The name of the noble with the chariot for sale was Lord Jericles. Bay paid 50 ceramic for his haircut and left with his new information.

Worth his Weight in Salt

Ohzon investigated buying the salt house or a similar building, only to find that such a building would currently be 30-40 ceramic. Though he could not easily find a place immediately, it was suggested he should talk to Rodderick for other leads, as Roderick might be willing to help for a share of the profits.

Back at the Warehouse

After meeting back at the warehouse, Cael approached Bay about talking to Aristophaneles and trying to hire him for her new group that would find the artifacts for the warehouse. Bay said that Aristophaneles was his own man so she could do as she wished, but then he said he had a block in his mind that seemed to be magical in nature, and he wanted to see if she could help him with this. Cael checked and saw there was a block that was magical in nature. It actually seemed to be part of an artifact or even a magical item and it was implanted in his mind. Actually, everyone had one. It was defensive in nature, hiding people from being searched and located. It also had several layers of defense and not all of it was magical. It would take a powerful wizard and a powerful psionicist to do such a thing. Cael wanted to see if Undead Rokan or Bali had such a thing in their heads and if any was left.

“I swear by my pretty bonnet…”

During the free hour in the afternoon most of the group went to the Elven Market in an attempt to purchase replacements for their jacked items. However, the Elven Market was horribly crowded, and the prices were at least triple what they should have been. Ohzon bought a bolt of nice cloth to replace his curtains and bedding, and some crodlu feathers. Bay bought clothing and saw his own hat. The elf not only sold it to him for the horribly exorbitant price of 14 ceramic but then sold him a scarf. Bay asked about any slave markets and found out about one that would take place that night at 2am. Zarnian bought clothing for herself and Timmuth, and bought nice bedding for Timmuth. She also bought a supply of food and water so if there was a shortage, he could still have enough food and water for a time. Cael bought some clothing for Sorin. Most everyone got pick pocketed for some money. Then, two sky followers approached Ohzon. They wanted Barok’s stamp on their pottery. Their names were Ados and Thamos. Ohzon arranged to meet them at the Elven Bridge at midnight.

Checking on the Kids

Back at the warehouse, Cael checked on Sorin. He and Timmuth were chatting and playing. They were putting things away in sacks because C’aro had put them to work. Zarnian told Timmuth what she bought then Timmuth reported that C’aro was in his room with the elven girl. Zarnian told him that after he got his chores done she would arrange some training time for him. Cael asked Sorin to train, and at first he was reluctant, but then Timmuth got him excited about training. Cael also went to where Sorin lived and picked up some things for him. Then she heard a voice in her head tell her to make herself available to join the alliance at midnight.

Sky Followers

At midnight everyone headed to the bridge. Ohzon meets his followers and gives them the trinkets he had from Barok. Then he delivered a sermon on the dangers of worshiping false idols. He got a nice crowd working but when templars came by he made it sound like he was telling people to worship Kalak which made it better and he was not harassed.

The Council

Cale went to the secret hideout and Bellesaria was already there. After 10 moments she heard a voice in her head calling her to join them, so she went to the nexus. It was a dark and shadowy place. People had robes and their heads were covered so no one could see who they were. One began by telling Cael she had done a great service by bringing the defiler to their attention. They asked her for a recap of all that happened and she gave them one. They asked Sheenan to collaborate and he did. He accepted his punishment but asked for it to be quick. Then he disappears from the circle. Then they asked Cael how much she told about the Veiled Alliance when she was captured by Astinicus. She confessed she told about Trakas, Padrus, the members of the house and Aegon. Then she was told that if she can go into the ziggurat, the Alliance needs to know what is inside. Lastly, there was the matter of Sorin to discuss. Cael spoke up to save the boy and though there were ones there who wanted to kill him, he was given to her to raise. She will be responsible if he grows up to defile. When she and Bellesaria awoke, Bellesaria said she hated the council and they were assholes.

Slave Market

At the Elven Bridge, Bay used his new scarf to hide his newly shaven face, and Zarnian used a turban to hide her topknot. Many of the people at the slave market were also at Esticles party because they are nobles there to get slaves in secret. Two of the nobles were the jerks that made fun of Bay. When they started bidding, he drove the price up so they could only afford to get one slave. Zarnian bought a kitchen slave to act as the House cook for the horrid price of 700 ceramic. It was a quick auction because not many slaves were able to be purchased. Bay did not find what he was looking for and left empty handed.

The Ziggurat

Cael went to scope out and explore the ziggurat as a kestrekel munching on some bread. There were two apparent entrances, but she wanted to look for an under Try entrance later. The ziggurat was covered with scaffolding and Jozal scampering around. She used magical sight to see that there was lots of magic and already something inside the ziggurat.

Mobbing it Up

The next day the curfew was lifted but there were many soldiers in the streets. Zarnian went to see Mitzrah and the others went as well. She marched into his lair as if she owned it, sat down without being asked, and presented the promised dust. Bay took the time to ask Mitzrah if he knew of any slaves for sale. Mitzrah said he did know of a pair of dwarves that were exotic sisters named Tereni and Jereni and gave Bay the name of the bar where they could be found. Then, the group went to see the Carrion King. He controls an area of the warrens with archers, guards, etc. But, when Zarnian mentioned the dust she got an audience. She gave him a taste of the dust and told him to leave the House alone, and that he owed her a favor for the dust, then they all left before there could be trouble.

More Ziggurat Action

Cael used more magical sight to see that there were a ton of magical wards all over the ziggurat. There was also a nice balcony. There are even ‘don’t blow up the ziggurat wards’ and wards against other magical and non-magical attacks. She then came back to the house and told everyone that the ziggurat was only one week away from completion. Unfortunately, each block is enchanted at this point.

Barok’s Kids Kidnapped

Three of Barok’s kids came running to the warehouse, crying and saying that the templars took their friends and the nice lady that was caring for them (the healer). Though Barok checked, there was no easy way for a rescue and they were taken to the brickyards. C’aro told everyone to give the kids food and water and a place to stay. Cael investigated the brickyards as a kestrekel. The slaves are no longer being worked to death and there were tons of new slaves to make up for the work that could not be done without killing people. There were a ton of guards around and in 5 minutes an army of 500 could easily be assembled, so it as decided to not rescue the kids.

Time to Pack

C’aro announced that everyone needed to pack up their rooms since there was possibly only one week from Kalak defiling the entire city. Trakas was lurking in the background, listening. C’aro said there was a caravan coming with his nephew and Jingleheimer so everyone could use that to go home. Then Trakas and C’aro went to C’aro’s office and argued. Zarnian listened in at the door and heard Trakas say things like ‘we saved you’ and ‘you owe us’.  Then Bay got called to play telephone so C’aro could talk to Trinidas. Trinidas confirmed that they owed Trakas and the House needed to see the battle with Kalak through. If C’aro did not want to stay then Trinidas would take his place. C’aro agreed to stay but was not happy about it. He said that anyone who wanted to stay could, but anyone who wanted to go could be on the caravan. Everyone besides Zarnian was happy about staying to fight Kalak. Ohzon said he will call the sky followers back to fight. There was a large discussion of resources before the game was called.  

Warhammer Game Notes 7 18 2012

Werewolves by Moonlight

At dusk, the group rode on the area where they suspected the werewolf camp to be, and saw a fire burning off in the distance. Though everyone was trying to ride in with some quiet, Milgrom’s horse persisted in making noise. They sent Star Lily ahead on a scouting mission and she saw the werewolf camp with them laughing and talking. Posey was there, staked to the ground, as was Jonas Von Krieg. He was disheveled, but at one point he had amazingly perfect clothes. She watched as one werewolf urinated on Jonas and they talked about leaving them staked down so the sun could fry them both. She went back to the group and reported. As everyone starting debating what to do about storming the camp they noticed that the camp had become very quiet. A few had a fine last meal of Sausage Man’s sausage then the battle truly began. Everyone rode in and shot some of the werewolves killing one and maiming another, just as Varadoc came in with a few of his vampires, Bluefinger and Odo. Bluefinger and Odo freed Posey while Vadadoc jumped on Jonas, starting to drain him in a bid to gain more power.  The werewolves wolfed out. Milgrom taunted the leader werewolf, and the leader jumped on Milgrom and Milgrom put up a brief but honorable fight. Wilhelm had to decide between stopping Varadoc or helping Milgrom, and chose to help Milgrom. Then Bartleby decided to throw a firebomb on Varadoc and Jonas, which incinerated Jonas and damaged Varadoc. The other Halfling vampires were finishing off werewolves as the werewolves tried to finish off the Halflings. Bartleby fell under a massive werewolf assault. Star Lily also fell to the werewolves, gravely wounded. Then, after the werewolves were defeated it was Wilhelm and Tuckerberry against Varadoc, Posey and Bluefinger. Wilhelm shot Posey, Bluefinger ran away, and Tuckerberry and Wilhelm managed to finish off Varadoc. That was when Tuckerberry turned on Wilhelm and commanded him at gun point to take his wounded comrades and ride away. Wilhelm was also perturbed to discover that the Halflings had relieved the others of their coin purses.

Jacked

Riding back to the Halfling camp where Petra had been left, the men discovered that they had also been robbed there. Petra’s horse Zwei was missing, as was other loot. With little more than their armor, weapons, and the clothes on their backs, they went to Eicheschatten. Petra regained consciousness, but did not have even a brass to her name. At the capital, Milgrom, Bartleby, and Wilhelm discovered that Heimy Stoutheart the Elector Count of Middenheim invited them to stay with him as his honored guests. While everyone else suggested that they just find Petra a comfortable place to stay, Wilhelm insisted that she stay with him and he slept on the floor so she could have a room of her own. Since Bartleby and Milgrom still had their silver bars they had them melted down, then bought nice clothes, etc, but Petra watched in anger since she had nothing left. At the dinner, the four were honored with a masterwork mead cup, the silver sausage, a fine wheel of Halfling cheese, a fine bottle of Halfling mead and praise from the Elector Count. Wilhelm sold his cheese and wine, and Petra sold hers. Then everyone agreed to return to Belle’s village.

Warhammer Gaming Notes 7 16 2012

Loot!

After ‘searching’ the now burned and maimed house of Jonas Von Krieg, the group discovered silver bars, a smelting kit, and additional silver in the form of silverware and a silver platter, both of which Milgrom took. Star Lily took the smelting kit, and everyone took some of the excellent bottles of wine. Milgrom wanted to smash the ones they did not take, but Star Lily gave him the look of death so they left them alone. The nobles who were rescued said their thanks for the rescue and then left, but not before extending an invitation to the group to come visit them at Von Bruner’s estate in Übersreich. The group then left for town before nightfall.

Distraction

Milgrom wanted a distraction incase the vampires could track down the defilers of their keep by their wine, so he pitched a fit in Bogglewort Gardens while Star Lily tried to sneak a bottle inside. The innkeep and his wife would not leave the back so she could not get it behind the counter as intended, but she left it inside the door. Fearing reprisal, the group decided to collect Petra and ride for the Halfling camp. Petra was doing way worse. She was unconscious and flinched when silver touched her. Gathering her, they made their way to the camp. Another of Tuckerberry’s crew – Byery Fallowhide greeted her from a tree. He said they could ride ahead, even though she had ‘stretchies’ with her.

Camp

When everyone arrived in camp, Star Lily was stunned. Her group had been slaughtered. While they rode out to defeat Olo’s group of vampires, they were attacked by werewolves. The vampires started attacking the werewolves and vice versa or everyone would be dead. Tuckerberry was shellshocked, a few of the group were dead, another was mortally wounded and many were mangled. Byery was the least wounded among them. Tuckerberry did report that Jonas killed a werewolf, and Tuckerberry himself killed one. There was a leader of the pack. There were also five Halfling vampires, including Olo and Posey, but Olo was killed. Tuckerberry also spoke to Jonas who reported that he was there to kill werewolves. Once Star Lily said that they had Varadoc they set out to find a place where the interrogation could take place.

Interrogation

After finding a dark copse of trees, and tying Varadoc securely to one, Tuckerberry pulled out the oak stake from Varadoc’s chest. He came back groggy and said he talked Jonas into turning some Halflings into vampires so they would have the power to defend their homeland. He also reported that Jonas has a total of five resting places. There was an offer of alliance, but Speaker replaced the stake since he had not decided whether or not to ally. Wilhelm and the Speaker discussed any potential deals with the vampire, then discussed how best to attack the werewolves and vampires if necessary.

Feeding Time

Finally, it was decided to let Varadoc loose to get help from his remaining vampires to attack the werewolves, but he was weak from lack of food and stake torture. Star Lily offered to give him some of her own blood. He asked for his knives back, but Bartleby only gave him half his knives back. He was kept tied up until just before he could be released safely. To pass the time, Varadoc told how Jonas changed him against his will, which was horrible because all food tasted like ash now – a fate worse than death for a Halfling vampire. Star Lily also took the time to tell Tuckerberry about the human female being bitten by a werewolf. Then, they bided their time until it was time to ride against the werewolves.