TheRPGSite

Spent first hour and half explaining a thumbnail sketch of amber the universe and recent Amber history to players.

Did a Silent bidding war which was actually interesting as some players did end up biding each other up unknown who was bidding up whom.

Only weird part is almost every one bid something on all the stats. I use five stats and most of them bid in all five or at least 4 of them. Of course doing that only one got top bids on anything which was endurance.

The players were also bidding against NPC youngers I had created.  explaining why only one got a top bid. I don't use ranking so much as compare actual numbers invested in stats.

Have some interesting ideas. Best so far is a son of Julian who chose him ,based on how I described him as sort of a Butthole. He wanted Julian to have castrated him to keep him from breeding. Guess he sees butthole as a slightly meaner word than I did. I plan to make it sort of an Amber thing and have Julian do it using a power instead of physically.

I also have a possible son of Gerard and a Daughter of Random. Last is of unknown parentage but took pattern so is of the blood.

No one took advanced powers, which is good since they are all new to Amber.

Campaign is post first series about 50 amber years of Random ruling. Elements of the second series used but not the plot so should play out. I am excited to be running Amber again.

We'll see how it goes!

Player Characters

Trace - Possible son of Gerard. An athletic outdoorsy type who loves animals. Somewhat Foolhardy. Thinks of himself asa ladies man. Has Pattern and Conjuration as well as second rank Dexterity and Psyche. With a smattering in other attributes.

Caroline - Is of unknown parentage, A polynesian girl who just likes to relax and hang around but who often has an inquisitive mind if somewhat unfocused. Has Pattern and Power Words. Ranked at least 3rd in most things except Strength.

Rhiannon - Child OF Random. Slightly Goth and tech orientated. HAs some Pattern, Shapeshift and Fixed Logrus (technology Focused). Gets along well with dad and adopted mom Vialle as well as Martin. First ranked in Endurance, smatering of Dexterity and PSyche

Kal - Child OF Julian. Trained woodsman and hunter. Likes Animals as well. Has Pattern and Shape shift. Second In Strength, 3rd in endurance and Psyche and a smattering in other attributes.

Quote from: Artifacts of Amber;631848I also have a possible son of Gerard and a Daughter of Random. Last is of unknown parentage but took pattern so is of the blood.

Just a quick note.  Having a player be a child of Random, thus an heir to the throne, might be more trouble then its worth.  

 Might be interesting to have them think they are a child of Random and find out later they are not, or have them be a child of another Elder and find out later, if they play well, that random is the true father.  Fun and games, eh?

Tolknor

"Just a quick note. Having a player be a child of Random, thus an heir to the throne, might be more trouble then its worth. "

Well since Martin would be ahead of her its not an issue.

Also succession rules are not clear, what examples do we have really. Oberon was the first king (in my game) and then Eric "who assumed" the throne then Random. None of which are family earns the right to rule. This was explained to her. May be the line falls back to the elders. I didn't want a new player with that hanging over their head.


Thanks

The order of succession is important to any game - half of the books were about the legitimacy of Eric's claim to the throne versus Corwin's. However, if you're the child of Random or not really should not matter. You are very far down the line, and at that point you're depending on divine intervention.

It was Zelazny's hat trick that brought out the unicorn to choose a King. If the unicorn can pick an Amberite out of the crowd at "random" (and he was the second youngest of his entire generation) and make him King, then the GM has the same resource.

//Panjumanju

Quote from: Artifacts of Amber;632597Tolknor

"Just a quick note. Having a player be a child of Random, thus an heir to the throne, might be more trouble then its worth. "

Well since Martin would be ahead of her its not an issue.

Also succession rules are not clear, what examples do we have really. Oberon was the first king (in my game) and then Eric "who assumed" the throne then Random. None of which are family earns the right to rule. This was explained to her. May be the line falls back to the elders. I didn't want a new player with that hanging over their head.


Thanks

Oh I didn't say its don't do it!  It can be hilarious!  Certainly the succession is hardly a regular thing.   Its gonna be fought over to be sure.  It certainly can get a character in the middle of the mix fast as people play politics with them.   I had Random squash a bunch of player maneuvering by declaring that he had no heir and who succeeded him would rest on the Unicorn's Horn.  That shut the whole family up, especially the PCs who thought they were going to become Crown Prince.   Of course Random was bluffing and figured he had thousands of years to work out the details.

The order of succession is important to any game - half of the books were about the legitimacy of Eric's claim to the throne versus Corwin's. However, if you're the child of Random or not really should not matter. You are very far down the line, and at that point you're depending on divine intervention.

It was Zelazny's hat trick that brought out the unicorn to choose a King. If the unicorn can pick an Amberite out of the crowd at "random" (and he was the second youngest of his entire generation) and make him King, then the GM has the same resource.

//Panjumanju  
Today 01:00 AM


I guess it is important but not relavent right now. I am more concerned about the players being new to Amber without throwing them into the deep end so quickly. It may at some point become very important so we will see.  

As to if it matters that you are a child of Random I guess that depends on the succession rules.  I like to run Oberon as the sort of bastard who didn't set down any clear cut rules so It may just depend on it coming down to a fight. I want the players to be more experienced in Amber before I start that sort of Plot.



Tolknor, that is more the way I would probably handle it. Random's reign is not like any of the previous two reigns. He is more, I guess, Progressive. He has handed out new titles to the Elders to help smooth things out and sharing the power more than Oberon or Eric ever did. We will have to see if this is a good thing or a bad thing :)

In Throne wars, I made order of succession one of the things the players could bid for, giving them more legitimacy and more support form the Amber court.

Quote from: Croaker;634035In Throne wars, I made order of succession one of the things the players could bid for, giving them more legitimacy and more support form the Amber court.

That's a nice touch.  I would love to run a throne war scenario.   Need to figure out how to do it though since my players are no longer really near each other anymore.  Pity.

Quote from: Tolknor;634115That's a nice touch.  I would love to run a throne war scenario.   Need to figure out how to do it though since my players are no longer really near each other anymore.  Pity.

A Throne War is a very different animal.
Having run a few of them at conventions, I find the more auctions you do at the beginning, the better prepared novice players are at entering the world. First I would look to the auctions Erick suggested: Warden of Arden, Admiral of the Navy, and so on. Order of succession, Jewel of Judgement, even "how well did you know Dworkin? (And how well did he train you?)" is a good one.

Still, when these things are set out early it makes actual play more fast and furious, something that I would not want from a more long-term game.

//Panjumanju

Quote from: Panjumanju;634128Still, when these things are set out early it makes actual play more fast and furious, something that I would not want from a more long-term game.

//Panjumanju

I can see the fast and furious side of it.  In my first campaign i had a very difficult time convincing a couple players that the point of the game was not to pick another of the players and attack them immediately and ruthlessly.   Yet this seems to be the point of the Throne War.  Its interesting reading to be sure.

Ran first session and it went well.

Everyone seems to slowly getting the grasp of playing Amberites. Funniest part is they spent most their time in Amber (and the city) and had trouble getting use to everyone being so obedient and helpful. Usually they have to pull teeth in other games and argue to get officials to do things for them or whatever but here they are the royal family and get treated as such.

Doing a murder mystery sort of thing to start off with as Random has asked that they look into some recent gruesome murders at the request of the mayor/constable in town since it seems to be of a possible supernatural origin. Unfortunately the players/characters are not skilled investigators though they have already done/discovered more than the constable has.

Explaining how some powers work in Amber has been fun as well, They are surprised or amazed at the freedom to create or define how things work. For example I asked one player where she was and she said basically I'm out in a high tech shadow learning how things work there at a school and then she asked me if she was a student or not when I told how should I know I didn't find the shadow she did, she began to see how free she was to define who she was in the shadow and what it was like.

So first session report is things are going well. New players certainly revived my interest as I get to let them explore, not only a New world, but a new style of gaming though they did say it was weird not having any dice to roll :)


As far as the throne war discussion goes, I haven't run one shots before, only ran campaigns here or at Ambercon (So many years ago).

I can see games were auctioning off positions and such would work as long as the game was centralized around those things such as a Throne War in Amber were those positions have more importance. :)

Sounds really great, congrats!  Please keep us informed how its going.

RPGPundit

Had another decent Session.

The players are seeming to really enjoy dealing with the ongoing plot of a serial killer in Amber.

They have figured out it is indeed a shapeshifter and probably coming in from shadow to do its deeds.

I got to show everyone what a difficult person Julian can be in my Campaign and to also show how Random is as King.

One player (Trace) is really trying to figure things out powers wise which I enjoy though communicaticating some core concepts on how powers work in my game is proving to be a task. Explaining nuances of reality is not easy. He is having fun with that though.

The one player (Caroline) who has been told or has heard her father is Caine is striving to not be like him while being very suspicous of others so I get to comment about how that reminds her of him, that and he trumps her on occasion just to see how she is doing. She is scared / nervous and excited by his calls.

My only issue right now is the secrecy of some characters is limiting how much effort they are applying to the investigation since they aren't using all the powers at thier disposal. Limiting thier choices. I want them to feel a little more free or at least attempt to check things out behind the others backs.

Also introduced a new player who just joined. A chaosian in Amber. Having fun reiteratting how weird it is things are not shifting and changing. He is a Babe in the woods.  After having all the other players spread points among stats and buy only basic powers this player gets advanced shapeshifting and advanced logrus with only a few points in stats. (yes I give them more points than a 100 but also have a 5 stat system.)

Marcuis - Chaosian Delegate sent top investigate events to make sure Chaos does not get the blame without due process. Advanced Logrus and Advanced Shapeshift. Decent Endurance.



So things seem to be going well. Now to compilcate the plot as the murders are reflected in Rebma and ships start going missing along the Golden Circle routes.

Hope you enjoy the blathering :)

Well, I sure do! :) So please, keep this up!

Quote from: Artifacts of Amber;636403Now to compilcate the plot as the murders are reflected in Rebma ...

Now that's a great idea.
Good job!

//Panjumanju

"Now that's a great idea.
Good job!

//Panjumanju "

Thanks.

I was really just looking for a way to allow more Younger NPC's to interact with the players so I had a larger cast in the background they were familiar with. Then I thopught about how I could do that and one Younger is Corwin and Miore's son so I had my "in".

I do think people forget how Rebma may be affected by events in Amber but  there was a solid reason Miore did not help corwin in the series as the results would have reflected below. "as is above so shall be below" I think was the phrase or at least close to it.

Also by doing this the players will start to relaize how real an effect these events are having while the Elder's consider it a minor problem.

Thanks again

Quote from: Artifacts of Amber;636699I do think people forget how Rebma may be affected by events in Amber but  there was a solid reason Miore did not help corwin in the series as the results would have reflected below. "as is above so shall be below" I think was the phrase or at least close to it.

Also by doing this the players will start to realize how real an effect these events are having while the Elder's consider it a minor problem.

Thanks again

I talked to a GM when i was running a game store who had run Rebma rather then Amber, with a full court of Elders, nobles and a shadow spanning empire of moist amberite strength PCs.  I liked the idea.   Toyed with it myself for awhile.   It does have its appeal.  The gm told me that his favorite parts was when the whole black road war, upside down and underwater.  

What i did get out of it was a desire to at least remember Rebma and create its own cities and trade routes and such for both my games.

Sounds quite interesting so far: "serial killer in Amber" is a new one to me.

RPGPundit

The serial killer is just the opening gambit of a shadow conspiracy against Amber. I basically generated a Shadows of the Elders place with a broken pattern who as the flaw of the Broken Pattern see Amber as a threat. So the show is being run by a Shadow Benedict and several other "Elders"

I am running it as a terriorist attacks on Amber with the serial killer being only one part and other things starting to occur to cause strife amongst the Amberites.

Only some Elders ae taking it serious at this point leaving the youngers to deal with the issue. I thought it would be a way to let the youngers run with this without the Elder's hovering above/around them all the time.

With new players it is not too warped or Amber based plot a plot that they can grasp it as players.

I have it broken up in phases and escalation of attacks for the Shadow people who have some real powers just not enough to be a super serious threat unless they are ignored. Their Benedict is pretty good if slightly insane do to the broken pattern's influence.

Just my opening, "get your feet wet" plot. A murder mystery that develops into something much bigger.

So the game continued with the characters getting a request from the crown prince of Rebma to come see him. A child of Corwin and Miore'. Appears the murders have been happening down there as well.

They try to develop a pattern to the murders and think another may occur in Rebma soon. So one player creates some watch fish and another patrols shapeshifting into a fish.

The suspected daughter of Caine (Caroline) gets a call from him to please invetigate a missing ship of the line since he is occupied with ferrying around Random on official Golden circle trip and Gerard is busy incharge of the navy and being regent.

She heads out with some conjured escorts and a Blood Octopus created by the visiting Chaosian. The Octopus tells here to run as she sees demonic shapes in the hull of the wrecked ship.

She returns to Rebma and the other players get called to another attack in Amber, at the actual castle. So two players (Caroline and Kal) stay in Rebma the others go investigate in Amber. I teased them about spliting the Party :)

The Chaosian (Marcuis) shifts into a fire elemental and the other (Rhiannon) being attacked shapechanges into a non porous steel form revealing her shapeshifting abilities.

The attack scene in Amber triggers a Blood spawned creature who attempts to cover them and succeeds. the Chaosian learns that skimping on stats can hurt since he takes the brunt of the attack, while others side step it.

The scene was of another horrific killing and with lots of gore and blood. Meanwhile another attack occurs in Rebma with the remaining two players. They chase the culprit and it throws out to demons to slow them down which does and the bad guy trumps away.

Everyone compares notes and realizes that maybe there is a much bigger picture here. Ended the session with everyone having alist of things to do next week.

Highlights were playing some of the Elders.
Caine as a smarmy and casual guy who mentions his daughter to the character that thinks she is the unrecognized daughter of Caine really pissing her off.

Meeting Benedict. Which through them off becuase I stood Up and stepped up to the player with my hands held behind my back and talked to her like I feel he would. I went on talking then causually mentioned the war going on behind them after she came through his trump to learn something from him. As if the war meant little to him.

One player talking to Fiona and seeing how little she was concerned about the average citizen and ttheir life. Her being cold about shadow people. He wanted her to help him but she merely told him how would he ever learn, Especially since he approached her about learning sorcery a week or so before.

So far the game is developing well and I am managing to engage every one. So as each week goes by they seem to getit a little more :)

If you have any questins about my rambling let me know :)

Quote from: Artifacts of Amber;637864The serial killer is just the opening gambit of a shadow conspiracy against Amber. I basically generated a Shadows of the Elders place with a broken pattern who as the flaw of the Broken Pattern see Amber as a threat. So the show is being run by a Shadow Benedict and several other "Elders"

O_O

I JUST posted in another thread how I could see benedict being not that different from a dexter-like serial killer

Quote from: Artifacts of Amber;637864The serial killer is just the opening gambit of a shadow conspiracy against Amber. I basically generated a Shadows of the Elders place with a broken pattern who as the flaw of the Broken Pattern see Amber as a threat. So the show is being run by a Shadow Benedict and several other "Elders"

I am running it as a terriorist attacks on Amber with the serial killer being only one part and other things starting to occur to cause strife amongst the Amberites.

Only some Elders ae taking it serious at this point leaving the youngers to deal with the issue. I thought it would be a way to let the youngers run with this without the Elder's hovering above/around them all the time.

With new players it is not too warped or Amber based plot a plot that they can grasp it as players.

I have it broken up in phases and escalation of attacks for the Shadow people who have some real powers just not enough to be a super serious threat unless they are ignored. Their Benedict is pretty good if slightly insane do to the broken pattern's influence.

Just my opening, "get your feet wet" plot. A murder mystery that develops into something much bigger.

Sounds like a great intro to the game!

So some time has passed (a afew days) One Character (Caroline) learning new powerwords from Benedict another learning from Fiona. While others study the on going events.

Having 4 players (one was sick(Trace)) ended up two heading to a hellride to find something similiar to what the serial killer shapeshifter is using while the chaosian and another explore the sunken ship where they think A demon awaits.


The Hellriders went first finding a similiar form to the serial killer who tells them of their goddess then they travel to the Goddess who is a primal creature and speak with her discovering she has allowed others to assume her form according to a Pact. (the players do not know it is due to a Primal power called the Endless seige which allows shapeshifters to learn/borrow forms for a price without having to learn them the hard way)

The Other two (Marcuis and Caroline) head to the sunken ship and the Chaosian attempts to communicate with the Demon as it approaches it hears but blows him off. With silt making it hard to see their escort of triton soldiers (Loaned by Rebma's Younger the crown prince) jump in front and get ripped to shreds.
   The Chasion (Marcuis) shifts to his chaos form while the Amberite (Caroline) users her new powerword to attack the demon which stuns him for a while and disrupts the logrus being used by the chaosian. (making an effort to point out he has lots of abilities but no real stats to back up his powers)

They eventually run leading the demons back to Rebma and leave the problem in the Crown princes lap, possibile pissing him off.

They get back together and talk thinsgover when Julian's son (Kal) gets trumped by dear old dad for an update and to be told more storm wolves have been killed off.

the investigate and discover the wolves of which several have been killed by magic, When the Chaosian (Marcuis) uses logrus to dissect the magic residue the Broken Pattern magic splits his head open (Literally almost) and everyone is at first shocked then spends time helping him recover.

They follow the trail through shadow feeling that it is sharp edged (due to the broken pattern) and talk/mind (Kal does) meld with a shadow storm wolf and get descriptions of the two wolf killers.

They return and Random's daughter (Rhinnanon) gets a trump from dad where he tells her to watch the Chaosian (Marcuis) he may be an agent for them. and sends Vialle back through to the castle.

Later they go to inform their shadow detective of what has been up and find him dead from what appears to be pain. One player (Rhiannon) finally reveals she has Fixed Logrus (kind of like broken pattern) that fills her with pain and though she can take it her Pet Kitten almost bites it (a danger sensing kitten).

And thus we ended the session

No real Highlights or great moments but it is nice they are grasping the powers and how things work.

Tried to get one of the players to engage the Demons but they ran instead. I think the pass fail nature of amber (as they see it) is scaring them. Though I keopt saying as long as he doesn't grab you, you think you can beat him. She decided to be more timid. Which is okay just wanted to give them a littel action. So far action has only been in the form of reacting to traps and such.

So allis well. Next week is no game. So any questions I'm open :)

Fixed Logrus?  I like it.

Fixed Logrus came from the idea my first Amber gm and I got froma discussion on how it was weird that Pattern which was all logical / ordered required one to move while Logrus seemed to be the opposite and required you yo stay still. Then that lead into if the pattern is reflected in Shadow and you have Broken Pattern would Logrus be Liewise affected hence Fixed Logrus.

It operates around out base idea is that the Pattern was one Thing and only one Thing at a time while Logrus was everything at one time. So Fixed Logru was a piece of the Logrus focused on only a piece of that everything Like an emotion or in this players case, Technology. It works well and interacts well with technology but fails when dealing with other things. Also Its lens is this hi-tech veow screen sort of thing that doesn't show magic and other forces so well.

It is a hard thing to keep in my head at times but a lot of fun for the player.

I had split the shadows of the pattern into Shades and Broken Patterns.  Shades were shadows of the pattern that were just a bit imperfect visions of the pattern.  These were found in the Shadows of Amber where different family dynamics existed.  Benedict as king, Llewella as Queen, Amber fallen, etc.   Each had a certain % of proximity to Amber.  People from Shades of a higher percentage could walk Shades of lower percentages.  Amberites could walk any of the Shades.  

broken Patterns had cracks and missing sections.  Anyone who was determined enough could try the broken patterns and use the Sign of the Broken pattern as in the rulebooks.

I also had a variety of other initiations.  Mal at Riess, Kangular, etc.  I didn't run chaos sided games and didn't have chaos oriented characters so i didn't think about that end of things much.    That's why the Fixed Logrus appealed to me.  Gives me something to think about as i put together my new game.

Yeah Fixed Logrus as well as other Primal powers were born of a comment Mandor made in the second series about lots of power sources in shadow. So by extension we created quite a few and have tailored some for new characters.

we also did it for a Chaos Campaign we ran at Ambercon ( or I ran after the first year) so we had to really think about Chaos and how it was different from Amber and give it a very different feel Adding more Powers seemed the thing to make it different so you never know what a Chaosian may be able to do its not all shape change and Logrus.

Using those and the Primal Powers (Logrus, Trump and Pattern) to "Back" or power sorcery and conjuration merely added more variety.

So far no one in the game has a Primal Source other than Fixed Logrus while it is mostly what the bad guys have since non are royals (hence no pattern) and they are not from the Chaos side of things so no Logrus or Shapeshift is common.

Thought that would enhance the mystery a Little. Make it slightly less straight forward :) And isn't that what it is all about!

Fixed Logrus; awesome. Why didn't I think of that?

Yeah fixed Logrus is a blast especially in giving the player a description of what they see and can feel while using it. My player with it in this game has one focused on Technology so her Logrus sight comes up like a high tech display sort of like Iron Man' Jarvis in the movies. Makes for som fun descriptions becuase everything I tell her is very exacting like the wieght of an object she looks at, exactly how hot something is but doesn't tell her ipressions or emotions of things like a different sight may reveal.

I had a player that had a Fixed Logrus of Speed at Ambercon, he couldn't do as much as a normal logrus user but he did it a lot faster, also made him hyper when he used it, was fun and funny since he really embraced it and used it as part of his character.


NO game this week BTW. I'll update again when we have our next one :) have lots of fun stuff planned. Escelation of the terrorist plots :)

Quote from: Artifacts of Amber;642578Yeah fixed Logrus is a blast especially in giving the player a description of what they see and can feel while using it. My player with it in this game has one focused on Technology so her Logrus sight comes up like a high tech display sort of like Iron Man' Jarvis in the movies. Makes for som fun descriptions becuase everything I tell her is very exacting like the wieght of an object she looks at, exactly how hot something is but doesn't tell her ipressions or emotions of things like a different sight may reveal.

I had a player that had a Fixed Logrus of Speed at Ambercon, he couldn't do as much as a normal logrus user but he did it a lot faster, also made him hyper when he used it, was fun and funny since he really embraced it and used it as part of his character.


NO game this week BTW. I'll update again when we have our next one :) have lots of fun stuff planned. Escelation of the terrorist plots :)

I can totally see the way this stuff can work in a campaign.  The question is whether its restoring balance to the multiverse (a counterbalance to broken pattern), or leading to a further degradation of reality as we know it?

RPGPundit

Cue the sinister pipe-organ!

I can totally see the way this stuff can work in a campaign. The question is whether its restoring balance to the multiverse (a counterbalance to broken pattern), or leading to a further degradation of reality as we know it?

RPGPundit


Well out of game it was inspred by Broken Pattern.

In game I have two answers.

A) it is a counter balance / reflection of Broken Pattern

or

B) it is a natural extension of the power itself. Meaning it is normal for Pattern and Logrus to have such extensions of themseleves.

Players seldom get deep enough into the actual realities for itto matter, but I keep both answers a viability as long as I can just so I can go with which ever one feels right at the time. I usually play with a back up plan or two for plots/events and then go with whatever inspires me during game even if it makes little sense at that moment I have learned to trust I will work it out and will be better than anything I preplan.


For me it is more about having a really cool power for players to play with.

Though I use Ideas from the second series and base a lot of powers on info fro it I don't feel the need to slave myself to them. For example the Sentient powers goes against the way I see things. If they are sentient then they are something so far above even an Amberite that is would never make sense to them. :)

Quote from: Artifacts of Amber;643589For example the Sentient powers goes against the way I see things. If they are sentient then they are something so far above even an Amberite that is would never make sense to them. :)

Ya, thats a pet peeve of mine too.   I'm willing to concede they may be sentient but i never had them act as a NPC.

Yeah, my preference is that when the Pattern or the Logrus seem to be sentient it's really Dworkin or Suhuy faking it, for purposes deep and cosmic, irritable or merely humorous.

Yeah the Senient part of major powers is something I just didn't Care for in the second series much like I didn't care for Undershadow, or whatever it was. Doesn't fit in to my games.

If someone ever thinks the Powers are sntient then it will just be that person projecting themselves into the power, sort of like a mirrored/spli personalitythink which I could see as interesting.

I do like the idea or Mirror copies imbeded in the Pattern, not that I have done much with them, but I do keep that open as something I may use some time if it feels right.

Okay so ran another session.

Started off in the room with the killed by pain shadow detective. Everyone gets trumped in to take a look. Player brings Fiona's Daughter (Christina an NPC) in as well think she may have some ideas. Unfortunately she is not anything like her mother as the soon discover. Yeah she knows a lot about powers and Pattern but personality wise she is not what they expect. Sweet, shy and kind to a fault the whole scene disturbs her. Playing her as a nerdy about the powers wallflower who fades away if someone is not directly engaging her. She has her own interesting tale that allows me to play her well enough the players are finding her endearing.

In any case they all take a look and find the traces of pain infused in  the air fading away. Victoria (Benedict's Daughter) who is their NPC contact in the castle says she has seen this sort of killing before out in shadow. So they get some descriptions from her and want to go looking after they deal with the demons loose near Rebma.

They travel through Rebma and send a message to the Crown prince Sebastion who is not around then head after the demons. With Christina's awkward help they find them and have their first real fight in the game easily beating it with their combined abilities. First chance to point out who is better than whom as no one holds back much. Most characters have some inkling what the others can do.

The one bad stuff character (Caroline) who has done most the demon stuff thinks that maybe the demons have gotten Sebastion.

I use bad stuff differently. It is basically spent by me to either do something extra freaking mean to them or to basically sell part of their back story to me to use as I wish. So now she thinks, due to her bad stuff, maybe getting Corwin's son and crown prince of Rebma killed is a "Bad Stuff" event. I will allow her to believe so.

So they investigate and check out the sunken ship learning nothing of import. then decide to head out after the Pain inducing sorcerer who Victoria noted earlier. The hell ride for a constant two days exhausting one player in doing so (But tops in endurance) and find the shadow were the pain originated from, possibly. They find an old couple who know about the pain and rest in their pain insulated house/cabin. they learn more about the cult who worship the pain.

The pain is caused by a Primal Source called the Anvil of Hell. Didn't plan for them to go this way but is fine since I have the Anvil all prepped in any case. Will offer them the opportunity to join and initiate into it if they want to learn more.

Had 4 plot points to throw out if needed but they are actually being fairly pro-active and searching for things without prompting. So I can hold unto those points until I need to kick them out of a rut. Next session should prove interesting since they want to learn more about the source of this Pain, Pain real enough to cause them injury and even cause death to a shadow person.

I tend not to develop clues to a mystery so much as decide as they search would a clue be there. This way I am not anticipating them doing any particular things or look under any specific rocks. They are following one potential path to the bad guys. Soon I will have to give up a bad guy so they can feel as if they are making some serious headway instead of spinning their wheels which I have found is a sure way to kill interest in a Mystery.

Hope this wasn't too long :)

As always open for comments or Questions

I don't have a problem with sentient powers as long as said powers act really alien.

I mean seintient is ok. Just so alien that their ability to communicate or motives are not understood is the way I see it. So, for me, it is largely irrelevant if they are "alive". I guess I am agnostic when it comes to Pattern and Logrus :)

Excited about game, since the players have gone off plot, which is the most exciting thing for me.

So another session goes by.

The characters preceded to the center of pain which they discover is the Anvil of Hell a place that is as real as the Fount of the Four Worlds. The "cultist" refused to talk with any one unless they are an initiated. So after going back and forth one character decides to become initiated into the Anvil (Rhiannon).

The other characters are allowed to watch as the "volunteer" is taken before them in the nude and laid upon a large cold iron anvil hanging above a pool of lava and as they are seared to the top of the Anvil a hammer  is pounded down around her and causes her and others intense pain. She is then crushed as each of her bones are crushed and her flesh rent asunder until she has but one choice acceptance of the pain and embracing it then becoming able to transform pain into pleasure.

The players didn't take it too seriously to be honest and maybe I'm rusty in getting them into that place of being in tune with their characters but it didn't gel like I had hoped though the initiated player is starting to enjoy this new found power which is quite real.

They then got the info they were looking for and rode after a possible lead. An Initiate named Obier Which they thought sound like Oberon but he's dead right. (He is it is just his very near real shadow)

They Hellride to him then discover what people can do to prevent such things by running into a Guardian that then begins to kick their butts. Being new players they go at it physically and don't key on doing much else. I pound them for a while and severely injure 3 of the characters (Trace, Kal, Caroline) before it is beat and it calls for his "Brothers" but now they know what it is like to lose and are smart enough to run away.

In retrospect I will perhaps hint that using things like Psyche to attack may have been helpful or even trying to sneak by or something other than a head on fight was possible. Still they learned some useful info and feel like they are on something since that was a serious guardian.

Highlight of night was one player explaining my description in ranks in each stat showing they can see the difference between themselves and the opponent and that helping figure out what to do. Not like numbers but that one character was faster but it had more tactical sense and the other player lacked enough of both for it to be threatened and so forth. It was nice to see a player getting the system without it hurting the immersion into the scene.

I may be the only one reading this but at least I have a log now :)

I forgot to mention last session the Chaosian (Marcuis) got a message to come home there has been a murder in chaos (not unusual) of one of the chaos ambassador's assistants's (ok little unusual) when he gets there he discovers it was done "supposedly"  by someone looking like Fiona who used Pattern magic according to the investigators.

He heads back lets the group know. One player (Trace) is checking on Vinta Bayle an earlier victim they rescued. while everyone else heals up. A week goes by uneventful when I tell a different player (Random's daughter, Rhiannon) Vinta Bayle was found murdered. Meanwhile another player (Caroline) gets a note from Sebastian (Crown prince of Rebma) that his personal shadow was attacked as well. so everyone kind of heads in different directions for a little while checking on things then gather for lunch and a quick catch up session. With the new Fiona info from chaos they are afraid to talk in the castle but instead decide to go see what happened to Vinta and a message left behind at her murder. Vialle goes along to offer condolences. They talk on the way and decide to tell Fiona someone might be impersonating her in Chaos. she doesn't seem to care about some chaos rumors.

They discover a message at Vinta's house written in her blood that says "You can't hide from us" they group spends some lengthy time trying to figure out what is happening but only end up agreeing the are reacting more than acting so try to figure out the next step.

session closes.

So stuff happened but most the time was spent throwing out ideas and the level of mistrust about things was pretty high, not so much mistrust of each other but of Fiona and who may be up to this, is someone setting her up, who could be involved etc.

Highlights was the player trumping Fiona with the "Facts" and after he gets done talking she deadpan ask him when he is going to start covering the facts.

another was a combo, a Julian's son, Kal (who has been neutered by Julian using a some power) trumps and gets Dworkin which is a comical scene for a moment as both seem surprised but then Dworkin remembers why he was thinking of him and ask about the neutering, making a comment he didn't make Julian the protector of that power for him to abuse it. and he offers to fix the Neutering and does so by painting away the Stain of it.

Was fun watching the other players try to figure out all the inuendo we used. plus meeting Dworkin is always fun.

Quote from: Artifacts of Amber;648313I may be the only one reading this but at least I have a log now :)

I've been reading these as you post them. I don't really have any commentary other than I find this to be a good example of how I plan to do my GM log. Keep posting please. :thanx:

Thanks Sydius Mendoza.

It is nice to know that someone is paying some attention. It willinspire me to keep up with the entries :)

Ys, im reading these too.  

Its interesting to keep a log this way.  In my first game in the 90s the level of computer involvement was extremely low.  Early 92ish.  almost no one had personal computers and being online for those that did meant BBS. I had a crappy little computer that was good for typing and used Word Perfect.   We made trumps by cut and paste but it was cutting with scissors and pasting.  We had access to a xerox machine that could change image sizes!  It all seems so archaic now.   I have a few character diaries from this game, one i really enjoy.  The player had copied hand written diaries into Lotus which eventually converted to Word.

My second game was almost all on computer and had an extensive Geocities based webpage.  After yahoo ate geocites and digested it i moved the page to other places and its remnant can be found at http://www.geocities.ws/dinersofamber/  

As that game became an online game i was able to save copious amounts of logs and chat files.  Some got edited into stories.  They make entertaining reading.  


As i read your game sessions and get ready to start the first phase of my new game I find that the forum base is going to be interesting and fun.  It may be more time consuming and broken up depending on how often people can post, but i am looking forward to it.

Did i miss it?  Are there trumps of the players online?

Keep posting, we'll keep reading.

Thanks Tolknor

I didn't plan for this to be a log but hopefully a place to discuss my game with people I don't have to keep the secret workings of the universe from :) so sort of a narassistic thing to do.

When I ran on line Pbem's I did have a website that had all sorts of info on it but it has long since been lost to the web. I know it can be found on the way back machine I think it is that stores wen archives. I ran We all Fall Down and Sins of the Father.

We Fall was a sort of post apacolyptic Amber were so many things went wrong. Imagine If you ran several campaigns wer characters failed to save the world and what you had left was a few elder's still living barely holding the fabric of reality together and the youngers having to sort it out. It as a sad and dismall Amber. I was running it for advanced/experienced Amer players, with tons of Dead Amberites both elder and younger.

Sins was a chaos campaign I ran mostly at Ambercon. It was sort of the results of the idea that We all fall also went tits up and now there was no Amber left and the Members of house Barimen in had to deal with that. Which was an awesome game with excellent players. Helped me flesh out Chaos to an extreme I normally wouldn't invest.

I won't do a website for this game mainly becuase my lack of knowledge plus the effort it would need for the return is just not worth it. Sometime I would love to get my Stuff up on line since I am fairly proud of my version of Amber which is not a total hack of the original game rules.


I wish I had an artist in the group to do trumps but alas I do not. Plus with no trump artist in the group not many trumps pop up.

Thanks again for reading makes it worth the effort so I will keep it up :)

So another session.

In this one the party splits up with three headed for Chaos (Marcuis, Caroline and Rhiannon) and two (Kal and Trace) deciding to try necromancy to speak to murder victims to gain mor einformation.

The necromancy group first talks to Fiona to see wht she thinks she suggest it is a questionable endeavor and not worth the risk involved for a shadow person even one she liked, since they plan to question vinta bayle.  They decide to hunt a person in shadow who can do this since they lack the skill. They hunt up a person who can do it (dragging Vinta's body through Shadow) and encounter an 8 year old boy who can speak to the dead a listed Ectomancer. he tries but says though the body is here the spirit is no weher near. So they ask him to go and he says no. so they hunt for an older version of him who will go to Amber. they find him a few shadows over in an asylum heavily drugged they undrug him and carry him off creating cover stories. A solid use of Pattern seen here showing the players get more accustomed to Amber as a game.

The take back the older boy and he says the spirits rest up there pointing to where Tir-na-n'goth appears. He tries and fails to reach her saying Vinta's spirit is close but need to wait till tonight to try when Tir may be in the sky.

Meanwhile the chaos group trump hop through their personal shadows to get to Chaos from amber. they Mostly do this amongst them selves showing a comfort with the game and themselves not needing me for much.

The arrive where the Chaosian is told he is responsibile for them and the go looking in a Library ways to find info on the demons they have run into. The Library Demonologist suggest the Amberites need to be kept on leashe swhile here do to the danger they preent. this is first time so one has been seriously disrespectful to them and it seems to actually peeve them a Little. Which is fun for me.

The demonologist says these particular demons are contracted with the Pentacle another Primal source. He won't give them info about it but says it is in the courts somewhere along the Abyss. They head back to amber.

Here they get a message from the crown prince of Reb,a his personal shadows are under attack though he can deal with it thought they should know. The trump him and fight off the demons but he says they'll be back and Caine says another ship is missing in  a trump call. this one holding the Kashfa delegation who is heading to Amber to negotiate the eregon fields (I think it is called the disputed land in the second series)

So they all head off except one character (Trace) who went back to guard the ectomancer fearing he may be attacked. they find the ship finally broken against trees on the shore. They save a few survivors and start letting gerard know they found the ship and Vialle who is rullingin Amber while Random is visiting the Golden circle realms. Turns out the ship is on the begman shore so they try to destroy the evidence to prevent a war by the Chaosian taking the primal form of a devouring worm who eats the ship, corpses and etc while the two others (Caroline and Rhiannon) steer Begman patrols away.

Meanwhile the two original characters (Kal and Trace) contact Vinta's spirit and she says female servant killed her / a man killed her finally it was a servant who came in but a man killed her fitting the description of the shapeshifter who they have tracked before.


An actual lot happened but it was only serious a few times as we all for some reason started making smart ass comments most the night , but since we all seemed to be in a goofy mood it was okay. We accomplished a lot despite our laughing at inapproprate times.  Occasionally those sessions happen and i I have learned to just let them. Was a good session with everyone seeming to get Amber as I hoped they would.

thanks for reading,

as always open for Q and A :)

Another lovely night of gaming.

So once again our intrepid group continued on. They spent a few minutes together sharing information and getting caught up. then decide to ride with the Begman delegation in hopes of preventing another attack.

So the conjureror (Trace) summons some fish and sea gulls to keep a watchful eye out. he gets first indication that something is flying toward them rapidly after their first few days out of port. It seems a dragon is approaching them. A very big dragon but undaunted they prepare to fight.

One (Kal) shape shifts into a large peregrine and provides a ride to another character (Trace). Meanwhile the other (Caroline) climbs the mast ready to jump out on the dragon if it closes. The chaosian (Marcuis) dives into the water and assumes a Primal Kraken form. Second one in as many days and starting to run a serious risk with the primal creatures. Finally the last character (Rhiannon) summons up her Fixed Logrus to shock the Dragon if she can.

A fight ensues with two characters (Trace and Caroline) ending up on the dragon and the Peregrine (Kal) pecking it. It takes some minor logrus shocks and the Kraken starts to way it down.

Then things go horribly wrong. One character (Trace) who is second ranked in Dexterity (fighting skill split from warfare) and Second rank Psyche sense there are two minds within one the dragon and the other something else. He is the only one trying a mental assault (The first mental assault all game). Offers to help the dragon win the conflicting battle. I warn him his warfare (low rank) says this is a bad Idea and he does it anyway, Unfortunately another character (Caroline) also hanging on the dragon hits it with a Power word (Backed by Pattern) of Distraction. In this moment the primal dragon takes over and starts to fly off but not before doubling in size and more or less flicking characters off or just ignoring them.

Since they are on the path to Amber the dragon heads that way. The one (Trace) who triggered this event was knocked out when he tried to overthrow/negotiate with the dragon. He was rescued before he drowned. Some (Kal and Marcuis) try to slow the dragon down and fail. Finally they start trumping people in amber to warn of the dragon coming in. This sets off a panic there.

Soon the characters can't trump to the Amber courtyard. Vialle who was the one the warned says she call Benedict to help. Random trumps his daughter and bitches her out, which has never happened in game wanting to know who caused this.

They all try to make it back to amber on the shapeshifters backs while the person who caused this stays on the ship, "protecting" It.  When they get back Benedict has dealt with the dragon though they only see the dragon cowed before Benedict. The arrive and Benedict aks what happened and they give him an abridged version and he ask the dragon to give up the shifter. It spits it out and leaves.

Benedict speaks to the person (Trace) who caused this via trump.

Now the group finally has a prisoner which they secure in a cell below the castle. One leftover from the Black road war and still proof against Shifters.

Now they lack any skill in interrogation so the talks between the characters and the prisoner were funny as he is quite past caring wondering when the torture will begin. He does reveal a little but only if they paid attention.  

We stopped game atthis point to give them time to talk/think about what to do next.


So long action scene of the fight, I find it hard to pace but descriptively it went well, They felt like they were winning which they were as the bad guy dragon shifter did not realize his dilemma until to late.


Highlights

A pissed off Random who so far had been the cool dad everyone wants for the Daughter. Was interesting him yelling and being king more than father. It set her off and she did the same thing, yelling at the other characters.

Benedict being a bad ass. Which I like but he didn't yell at the guilty character who triggered this event. Merely asked if he learned from this, hinting a no would be a bad answer.

The characters working well together despite them having some personal issues so still Amber like but more cooperative then most Amber games which I like. I want conflict but not backstabbing intrigue, in this group that wouldn't be fun for the players in my mind.

Slight Flaw - Yeah an Elder had to step in and save the day to some extent but I am mostly okay with that. It shouldn't happen again and there will be repercussions.

Looking forward to the interrogation. Also Going to make people feel bad about dumping this on Vialle as she will have a reaction to this whole thing. Though strong I like playing her more emotional than most Elders. Also benedict didn't seem hurt by the dragon so his injuries will be played up more as well just to drive it home. He doesn't show his weakness/pain but it will be revealed as well.

So overall an exciting session with a lot more to come. will have to work on plot to reveal that capturing this guy affects the bad guys overall plan. Make it more apparent this is bigger than they think. They suspect only 2-3 others are involved but it is more like 8-9 Bad guys. non individually powerful enough but together and striking as terrorist it should be fun.

As always open to Q and A for whatever didn't make sense :)

Thanks, that was a cool read :-)

Thanks for reading Croaker.

I will keep posting and hopefully things will evolve along well. It has been interesting with an all new group of players. The paths they follow are not what I think more experienced players would follow which keeps me on my toes.

Thanks again

So we begin another session with a prisoner and repercussions of a Primal Dragon in Amber.

Several characters (Kal, Marcuis and Trace) (all the guys) decide to interrogate the prisoners. They receive dossiers on previous interrogations by two retired interrogators from the black road war. The Chaosian player (Marcuis) tells them  these guys had only questioned no bodies with Benedict questioning major people. I described it like the Interrogators had walked into someone's yard and questioned the dog about military movements. They were good but hey this is chaos no shadow push overs they had dealt with.

Here the one player (Trace) who caused the dragon to be free went to Benedict to help trying his trump first which failed. then asked around to find out Benedict was in the infirmary with a punctured lung and other major injuries. I find impressing them only called for me to play him last session as if the fight was nothing then this session revealed how close to dead he was. Now the players are really feared / respecting of Benedict.

Player (Trace) who caused all this went to see him but ran into another NPC who cussed and fussed at him threatening, more or less, to put him in a bed beside Benedict if he didn't leave. Player then realized this NPC who had been playfully flirting with him saying she would bed him if he ever won a duel with her was benedicts daughter, a fact he forgot until now.

They (Kal and Trace) learned or reaffirmed that Pattern defense would most likely protect them from Shapeshifting or other powers they feared but would be tiring.

They questioned the bad guy and he merely led them in circles (His warfare was pretty decent) So they decided to go for a mind reaming. Two players melded together to do so while the Chaosian player watched (he was nervous how his powers would be affected by the Prison Cell designed by Fiona) I warned that mind linking was potentially dangerous and exposing so I took a secret from each of them and shared it with the other. I don't mind them "Ganging up" on someone but don't want it to be done without risk or cost. This put them both at ill ease but still willing to do so. They easily overpower the Shapeshifter. One character outranked him in psyche by a good ways and was close in warfare. All they Bad guy had on them was a good Endurance. So he fought a defensive battle and segmented his mind as a defense then consumed / suicided certain thoughts memories. I basically let the players ask questions and gave answers from the shifters point of view her are some examples.

Where are you from - - Home
Why are you attacking us -- because of you
Why us - - This got them a vision of the Unicorn prancing on the pattern and then charging and killing a group of people one of which they recognized as his partner in a recent attack. and some others had attributes they recognized.

While this happened two things also were occurring.

One the shifter was trying to get help from his Primal source The Endless Siege which provides shapeshifters with enhanced access to various forms. It couldn't breach the cell

The second was his other Primal source the Cauldron which enhances blood shifting allowed him to try to spew forth a blood copy of himself based on stored additional blood he had. The Chaos player stepped in and stopped that from being successful.

Then the third thing his Endless Siege power and mind reaming manifested in him shifting partially into a unicorn and gouging the wall with his horn breaking the enchantment.

then the guy died. they got a good deal of info now knowing he had committed the crimes they thought he had and that 5-8 other partners were helping him including Frost who looks like Fiona and Obier whom they think is the Leader. They think a guy the saw on a throne of Demons is Obier. this is wrong but not too bad an assumption on what they know.

One player is convinced that Christina, another Younger, is part of the scheme since one of the people looked like her. Which is fun to watch how much the suspect other Amberites.


The other two players are left out. One is just relaxing In rebma (Caroline) earning browny points with the crown prince of Rebma, another younger, since she is avoiding and he feels Rebma is the red headed step child of Amber.

The final one had her own (Rhiannon) excitement as her half brother Martin trumps her while being attacked and she drags him through. He is half dead and missing his lower left leg. He had been attacked by Demons. She gets like 6-7 trump calls from various people in a short while including Vialle who calls to check on her since she seem to think something wrong.

They finally all get together to discuss things and decide to Hellride to Frost as their next move. When they did the very same thing going after Obier they ran into a Guardian who kicked thier ass. Should be fun since they sort of suspect te same thing will happen again.


Highlights

Discussion of exactly what Benedicts Balls must be made of for him to walk around as badily injured as he was and repeating it would be stupid to show weakness to a Dragon or anyone else.

Fiona coming to see all of them and asking what happened to her enchantment on the cell.

Random leaving his travels as king to see Martin and telling his daughter that not as king but as a father to find out what the hell was going on.

Giving the players all sorts of Info that just makes things more scary.

Being trumped while in the shower!!

And the exploding Chihuahua defense the conjureror (Trace) created in case the shapeshifter tried something. They weren't made to explode the shifter did that.

Love the way you make use of power sources to give the opposition an edge and keep players on their toes.

Thanks.

To be honest it has also worked well to give out clues and enable the players to track / identify the bad guys. The big draw back to the Primal sources is even though they are primal powers and can affect "real" things they can only do so in very specific / focused ways so leaves traces.

If I told them some used pattern the mystery leaves way too many suspects. It also gives the players some toys to play with. One player has already adopted the power of one of the bad guys. and it is fun but weird for her since when her brother Mratin came through suffering and passing out from pain her ability to "enjoy" find pleasure in pain made her feel twisted and sick since she enjoyed his suffering.

Now I have to figure out where else they can head and how to deal with their shadow of desire Hellride which they plan to do next week.

And away we go . . .

Marcuis player was caught at work and did not make it.

The characters gather after a nights rest to go a hellriding after Frost since she is the one they have the clearest picture of and also there are two events to link to her (one in Darma's mind and the other from a recent storm wolf attack)

first they realize the closing of Arden only leaves two paths out of Amber via the sea / Rebma or over Kolvir. They opt to trump out to a players shadow (Rhiannon) and leave from there. Of course I have fun as they use shadow tech to teleport within the shadow. I have it overload the grid working with so much realness, since usually it is just the player in her shadow and it is attuned to her. They find it funny and figure out why quickly showing a basic understanding of the "Physics" of shadow and reality.

The ride off and run into a Crevasse in shadow and try to circumvent it to find at its very begging where it is only a crack in the ground Frost. They know only she is a sorceress. She is actually a reflection of Fiona who has Broken pattern and sorcery as well as conjuration. So with spells already in place they attack her. They also her guardians in the distance closing on them. The ones who kicked their butts before.

The pacing of the fight went much better. I prepared a list of ranks to use in rounding the table and calling on people for what they were doing. Which also illustrated who ranked where in dex and warfare as I handed out info and reaction speeds.

First One player (Trace) tried to lock her down mentally and though he is high ranked (among the youngers) in psyche she was better and held him off. Another shifted into a storm wolf (Kal) to attack and slammed against her magical barrier (which they had sensed earlier) and got ripped in two. (this and the crevasse were manifestations of her broken pattern) This ripping didn't  kill or hurt him as much as he thought it should. The other two (Caroline and Rhiannon) prepared for the guardians to arrive.

Long fight scene short eventually they attacked her physical as well as mentally she held them at bay. And as she tried to get away through a Pattern lens teleport spell one player (trace) leaped in after her. This BTW was the one that released the Primal dragon on Amber. He is getting known for rash decisions and forward only aggression.

So the other players beat one guardian and see no reason to stay trump back to Amber. I tell them when they get there the missing player who went with Frost is laying in a pool of blood stabbed through the chest just below the heart.

Of course I hadn't told him anything about what happened, seemingly removing all choice from him. I wanted him to realize how out classed he was at the moment.

 I took him aside and described him going through the teleport into a throne room were he saw one of the suspects on the throne, Frost bleeding out from a knife the character had thrown and then someone who looks a lil like Benedict run him through and order another person who had screamed and run to Frost to dispose of the Characters body. She trumped him away. She also looked a lot like Fiona's daughter.

So Highlights were.
The player who got run through suspects these are a bunch of Shadows of Elders and such, which is correct.

One player (Caroline) attacking a guardian asking "It has only two eyes right?" after hitting it in one.

And me telling the player after the game of his character (Trace) who jumped through the teleport and who ignored his warfare with the Primal Dragon that his Warfare was not high enough to know how bad a decision it was to follow Frost.

Over all it advanced the plot with a big reveal only one player knows as he has not had time to tell the rest.

It also advances the bad guys plot as they had already started attacking youngers and consider the character just another one to hurt as they further up their terrorist attacks.

Now I have to decide what things to advance as the character recovers from the chest wound. How the terrorist will handle being seen though not found out yet where they are. Should be fun.

And another exciting Monday night.

A great deal of this session was spent in characters theorizing on why the one character (Trace) was not killed. A lot of talking was done so I will hit the highlights as I know them since I was not present for all the discussion.

So the critically wounded character (Trace) exits surgery and the Chaosian (Marcuis) hears of the attack wondering how they could almost lose someone while he was busy. (he couldn't make game last week)

One younger NPC slips in to see him before the others, Fiona's daughter Christina. The wounded character saw her shadow when he was attacked helping Fiona's shadow (Frost). He thought it might be her in his drug induced haze and she had some sort of power active while she talked top him. he later asked her and she merely told him it was so she could come and go unseen.

He was wheeled in to the recover room and everyone checked on him and he made a comment about not being sure if he was himself or a plant, which made everyone nervous so another character (Kal) tried to mind probe him he resisted and was barely hanging on upsetting his already severe injuries when the doctor asked them to stop.

He shared what he saw with them, the man on a throne, Frost most likely critically wounded, the young girl rush to her and the one armed patch wearing man who dispatched him with no effort.

they all left to other things while he rested and came back a day later to talk.

During this time they learned of a new murder in town a nobleman's guard.  so while they started a long drawn out discussion the Chaosian (Marcuis) leaves, easily bored, and goes to investigate. He learns the guard erupted and sprayed the crowd with spiders and several bystanders got bitten. He gets to examine one dead spider and uses a Logrus lens to see it is a demonic spirit bound to the spider form and talks with it. It isn't very bright and reveals he failed to complete his contract because he was rushed before he could infect a bystander.

So the Chaosian calls for help (Using a blood shifted Spider, cause he is a smart ass, to deliver a message.) and two players (Caroline and Rhiannon) arrive the investigate the hospital to discover patients with bites going wild. The knock them all out and logrus lens the patients and find and remove the demon spirits who now completed their contract fade away.

They then spend a while discussing why is this all happening and I have Fiona visit the bed ridden patient who is her student of sorcery at this time.


Session more or less ended here. Mostly they talked but the time was not wasted as they role played and tried to get a handle on things.

Highlights

Benedict was in the bed next to the wounded character who was the same one who got him injured in the first place. Playing Benedict was fun. They asked him for advice and he more or less told them if he helped them how would they learn. Eventually he did tell them a few things but not sure it was helpful.

Fiona when asked why would the wounded character be left alive said. "You are after all my student do you not think I would be offended if someone killed you . .. and would you want to be the person who did."

And on why she was not concerned some shadow of her was running around "If I concerned my self with things like that I would have an infinite amount of concerns in shadow. I concern myself with what is Real and what is before me, nothing more."

I love playing my elders :)

Hope it was a good read.

It was! Thanks!

And it Begins again.

This was a great session though not as much to report as everyone gathers around Trace's Bed in the infirmary. (Beside Benedict) and reexamine evidence and try to figure out what is going on.

Kal's player could not make it having fallen ill so he was called back to Arden.

Something I didn't cover last week was Kal (Julian's Son) and Rhiannon (Random's Daughter) were called before the Queen (Vialle) for a reason they could not figure out as she ordered Julian to reopen Arden. Gerard was present as well, as he is advisor to the King. He at first refused and she asked him, "Will you make your Queen ask a second time?" he capitulated and started to Stalk out when Vialle said she had not dismissed him yet then did dismiss him. She did not explain to Kal and Rhiannon why they were there. It was fun to listen to them guess.

So the discussion was fruitful as they figured out several major plot points which were.

Some of the Bad guys are Elder Shadows.
Some of the bad guys are using Broken Pattern
there may be two sections of Bad guys as some are definitely Chaos based (The now dead shapeshifter and the Demon Summoner)
They seem intent on causing terror and chaos with one character (Rhiannon) thinking they are terrorist.

Another NPC younger appeared Dillon son of Florimel. He pumped them for info without telling them squat. Not realizing not all the Youngers are good folk.

Highlights were the discussion of how they assumed Benedict knew about their personal secrets Like Rhiannon's Fixed Logrus. I pointed out he didn't have to be the best fighter if everyone thought he was.

Also at one point after they had made some good guesses they wondered, aloud, how many Broken Patterns there were and Benedict held up 9 fingers then rolled over back to sleep. He was rewarding them for thinking and working and it sort of surprised them since he had been laying there listening the whole time.

They trumped Fiona and she admonished them again about how Shadow was unimportant.

So now they have several leads.

The Anvil which is linked to Obier
The Pentacle which is linked to the Demon summoner since some of the Demons are unique to it.
Descriptions of Frost, Obier to Hellride to
The Broken Patterns

Should be interesting.

Also everyone got updated Powers sheets.
Caroline is well into Trump now
Trace has Sorcery now
Rhiannon finished basic Pattern
Kal got some attribute boost and Some Advanced Shapeshift
Marcuis got several Attribute boost but mostly Psyche.

They don't know how many points in attributes they had but I told them their new ranks some were very happy some peeved they slipped in the Ranks as people passed them.

I am giving out experience every session and pretty rapidly but after running so many short session games (2-3 Hours once a week) I have learned players need quicker rewards to feel they are progressing, and I can handle the game well enough.

Also I edited a bunch of previous post adding the Characters names and the first post got their very short bios. Hopefully this will make all of it make more since.

Thanks for reading

Skipped a week since I was on Vacation.

So they started the session slow filling in Kal who had been sent by the Queen to make sure Julian was following her wishes in a Timely Manner. Of course he was not.

They batted about where to head first and settled on going to the closest usable Broken Pattern.

Rhiannon and Caroline notice in the hallway Vialle hurrying off and later they all get summoned to the Throne room. There Corwin and Vialle inform them that Corwin was recently attacked. Seems his "New" Home has been under military assault for the last year and he has now just heard of Amber's "Issues"  So thought they might be related. Seems the general leading them would not face Corwin in the field and fit the description of the person who stabbed Trace. They think he is a shadow of Benedict (Correctly). Corwin then leaves to return home.

They ride out guided by Kal who knows the usable shadow paths of Arden during the partial lock down and then Hellride. to the Broken Pattern realm. They investigate to learn a Sorceress rules there. She is primarily benevolent and well liked. Kal and Marcuis Shift into birds and fly to the citadel of the Sorceress and discover that some barrier makes it difficult to maintain shape but they manage to do so. They find the Broken Pattern engraved in a room at the top of a tower surrounded by Stained glass windows with various woman depicted in them.

Meanwhile Rhiannon gets a trump from Gerard and learns that 4 ships of Amber have gone missing all major shipments of Coal. He impresses upon them that they might need to hurry in their Investigation.

They finally get an audience with the Sorceress. She admits they wield power well beyond hers and will answer whatever questions they have for fear they may stomp her out like a bug. They ask if anyone else has her power she states she would never share her only source of strength.

They decide to head back and try to figure out a quicker method of finding the enemy as this took a week in Amber time. They hear of more attacks on the Rebma Coral Reef (Much like Arden).

Seems the bad guys are moving more quickly.

Also Marcuis gets a trump which sort of freaks him out as the player knows it is not  from any players. Seems the Chaso delegation is close enough in shadow to trump. They say they are being belayed by shadow conditions.  Marcuis gets a quick lesson in politics after he says he can get the Amberites to help and the Ambassador says that would be a show of weakness. He offers his help and the Ambassador laughs him off. Saying No thanks.

So things are coming to a head.

Looks like more fun for next week.

So as usual they all meet in the infirmary as Trace while getting better is still confined to the recovery area. They discuss their next move thinking to go after Obier whom they think is the leader of the Shadow movement. But then are reminded of the Amber ships that are missing so they plan to head out an investigate. Florimel comes by to visit during the meeting and since she is planning for the arriving chaos delegation request a report on what they have all been up to. Trace remains in the infirmary.

So off after the ships following the under sea shadow paths that are mirrored in Rebma they go to the last coordinates of one of the ships and don't find it. they force a Hellride though this is difficult in this close to Amber but since everyone bid something in Psyche is still possible.  They find the ship (The Anna Maria of Shadow Cabra a Golden Circle nation) Rammed against some reefs. They each investigate and learn the following.

Kal - Julian's son - stays under water and searches the reef to see with his tracking skills that the disaster seems natural and the cargo of coal is spread across the sea floor in a fairly natural/ normal pattern for a ship wreck.

Marcius summons up a Logrus lens and looks for information on the dead crew and using Tendrils picks apart their bodies performing an autopsy that shows faded alterations via Logrus of their personality centers and emotions.

Rhi Mentally links with him and observes.

Caroline has noticed the bodies are positioned so that a few killed each other and some may have been dragged out of hiding and murdered. She also finds the captains log which has nothing unusual in it. She Trump sketches the Cabin to get a psychic feel for it and gets a flash vision of the Captain lurching then running out side. She trumps Gerard who looks at the maps and sees they are miles off course and according to the logs did not know it as the reef was a documented hazard. He mentions he will have to replace the cargoes loss himself keeping another Elder busy. He also mentions to Rhi (Random's Daughter) that she might want to talk to Random The king since she has not actually reported any of her findings in some time.

They Hellride to a second location / ship to discover a whirlpool they think sucked down one of the ships but don't wish to brave the whirling waters.

The Third ship is found marooned on a be stilled Sargasso and find the crew dead. The find little here as the trail is older at this ship. Though Caroline does another trump sketch to see the crew killing each other and accusing each other of hiding food while they are stranded etc.

They return to the first ship for her to confirm the captains lurching was running aground on the reef and not being pushed into it which she does. She has been hiding her trump skills so far but now people are starting to suspect she is doing something with a new power since she is not very good at lying despite her upbringing :)

Rhi Does Trump Random who is busy getting ready for a meeting in a Golden Circle nation and more or less tells her to write a report and trump him. And that Vialle is keeping him informed which Rhi has been doing is keeping her informed.

Meanwhile Trace gets a visit from Christina and has a conversation about how she is not very capable and he tries to convince her she is but fails as she points out Fiona thinks she is useless and how could his opinion be worth more than Fionas.

After they trump back to Amber everyone goes to grab gear for a hellride and they plan to go after Obier. Marcuis Gets a trump from the Chaos delegation Service Minister who wants to come through and prepare "Security" His name is General Talon and a big scary dude. Marcuis shows them to the Embassy and the others ride out to catch up with him. He trumps The Ambassador to make sure this guy is indeed part of the group and while the Chaos delegation is in a pitched battle merely says yes and when offered help laughs off Marcuis request and show shim one of the Delegates a High Priestess of the Serpent Rip apart a Gruff attacking them. The Gruffs (A nickname used by the Characters) are the guardian's they have tangled with before having had their butts handed to them in the first fight and doing okay in the second encounter.

During the Hell ride the players stop to rest and look for a safe shadow to do so in and run across an Inn were the owners says someone was expecting them and Lady Dara waited inside. So they get to finally met Dara. She says they are nearing the domain she is protecting and to stop or make sure they go around or else. Caroline thinks they need Trace who is a better speaker / negotiator and more willing to risk offending her since he has a certain foolish streak, so she trumps him and pulls him through.

After she evades their questions she offers them a deal that if they would perform a task or aid her Son Merlin whenever he ask she would answer a direct question for each with a direct answer. Most agree except the chaosian Marcuis who is afraid it may interfere with his duties. So she says it is so sad they can't work this out after a while. They banter a few minutes then she says she would be willing to help if they agree to also keep the fact their aid, when Merlin ask for it, is not connected to her and keep her involvement a secret. Even The chaosian must agree which they all do. So she excuses herself to let them talk while she changes out of her traveling clothes.

The Questions
Are our theories sound ones - That they are indeed terrorist shadow elders. She says it is a sound theory but she does not know for sure.

What piece of information would help us the most that you can give - The answer is they are on the right track at least applying pressure to upset their plans.

Could the Pentacle lead to the bad guys - Maybe tough getting their would require some extreme effort from the right people. She was hinting she could help but I think it went over their head.

How many people do you think are involved - Well If you extrapolate that they are close shadows to the elders no Cabal was ever very big in Amber according to history so probably 4-8 people if she had to guess.

If they kill the head will that cause them to fall apart - She once again tells them to extrapolate if someone killed the king would Amber fall apart. Probably not it would have an effect but not fall apart.

They retired for the evening sipping wine and making small talk. When Trace pressed for information they would end up talking about other things without him realizing it so after the third time he tried she turned to him an said "Really Trace?" and acted tired of the game.


High Lights

I walked away from the group as they talked at the first meeting and unlike many games I am very Physical in this one standing and using body language for my elders. So as Florimel entered the infirmary I strode back in the middle of the group leaned over and kissed Trace on the head and told him not to fear auntie Florimel was here to see him get better. I have been friends with this player for 12 years and this is only the second game he has Played in ever and only played in the first a month or so. It completely stunned him that I actually kissed his forehead and then hopped up on a table and sat demurely and continued talking. Took him like 5 minutes to become unstunned and everyone had  great laugh. I am his age (Late 40's) and not thin or graceful like Flora so it was doubly a shock.

I loved channeling Dara. I have been lucky so far and can fairly easily step into my NPC's shoes and as above I sat with my legs crossed and held an Imaginary fencing blade in my lap. I used the picture in the ADRP book as inspiration. I also got to set deep plot hooks with the agreement fro future plots.

Frustrations - My only frustration is everyone bid in Endurance so when in other games players would start getting tired and started to have to make decisions based on whether to keep going or not these guys can just keep moving along. I don't want to make things tougher since they spent their points they should get the benefits but I wish they would just be more tired. Not a big or in any way serious problem but I gotta bitch about something :)

So another session starts.

Marcuis Player could not make it was in an auto accident and will be out for a few weeks, but is Ok. According to him :)

They started off with Waking the next morning and Caroline's Suggestion that maybe instead of facing off with Obier on his home turf they should set an ambush for him. Since there were only three people to fight (Trace still injured returned to Amber and Marcuis was called away to deal with the Chaos Delegation(see above). I think how Dara created a shadow of destiny inspired them. They realized they could do so as well and make it so the bad guys would cross their path.  They kept assuming the bad guys could hellride, or had some other Pattern way to move through shadow. I guess not thinking Hellriding with A broken Pattern would be dangerous. I knew what the bad guys would be doing next so had two of them to send into the ambush as they had little way to avoid it.

The Players chose a late 22nd-23rd century post apocalyptic world, one with tech but over grown forest and jungle to let the Tech character (Rhi) has some advantage and the woodsman (Kal) have some advantage. While Kal set up traps along the edges of the path Rhi built a Laser/plasma net/trap to cut people apart. Caroline helped direct and used Pattern to reinforce the destiny of the shadow, as well as, obfuscate its intent. They Trumped Trace in who was up and around but still hurt to act as a back up support. He was willing since he wanted to use his new "Toy", Sorcery and hung conjurations.

They set up the ambush and waited as a few days passed before bad guys showed up. They were riding big red lizards that were from near the Anvil of Hell and one was Obier the other wrapped in chitinous like plate armor.  Obier (Having much better warfare) Sensed the ambush and started heading around when the party struck. I can't give a moment by moment but will hit most the highlights.


Kall had shifted into a Large hunting Cat like the one he had dominated earlier that week in this shadow.

Trace started dropping lynchpins and releasing conjurations. Most did little to affect the fight though he tried.

Caroline ended up dealing with Obier alone. They were only points apart in Dexterity and Psyche though he was better at warfare. He maneuvered into the woods separating Caroline from everyone else since he knew he could deal with her maybe but if they all jumped him it would go badly.

Kal went for the Armored guy and as he attacked the armor peeled off and grabbed him. (It was a summoned demon conjuration) Allowing The guyto summon a Gruff which is a big demon the players had dealt with before. The Gruff went to get Rhi but ended up having to come after Kal to try and Save The guy (Who's name is Coletran though the players were frustrated to never learn that. He was known as the demon throne guy, From an earlier mental vision).

Kal had mind controlled a large hunting cat while he set up the ambush and it aided him but when he sent it after Coletran, Coletran had enough psyche to turn it on Kal.

Meanwhile Caroline was trying to lead Obier to Rhi since he had these painful tendrils coming at her and she could feel the pain radiating from them. She thought Rhi (An Initiate of the Anvil of Hell) Could handle that better. Obier was having known of that and withdrew in the woods then ambushing Caroline (With his superior Warfare) And was channeling pain through the Logrus. Actually he had fixed Logrus. Fight continues as Rhi uses the Weapons in the trap (Using her fixed Logrus of Technology) to shoot the Gruff and Coletran.  Gruff barely noticed Coletran was pretty hurt. Kal managed to get a hold of Coletran ignoring the Armor trying to choke him and Ignoring the oncoming Gruff. He was willing to take a few shots to kill Coletran. And he did Gruff Broke his spine while Coletran played dead (Unsuccessfully) finally Kal Bite through his skull and killed him before the others could get the Gruff and Cat attacking Kal to stop by killing them. So Kall was pretty badly hurt. Luckily he is a Shape shifter and will be mending wounds. (Also Luckily Player is gone next week so character will be mending and off screen)

Caroline finally escaped from Obier but not before he slipped away.

So they managed to kill one bad guy, making them happy and One got away now knowing more about the capabilities of the characters.

The trumped back to Amber with the wounded and Rhi Got a royal note from Random who was back in the castle finally.

She had to go see him carrying the report he had asked for a week before and she had not given  to him. She knew she was in trouble so when she got to his chambers he brought her in and asked if she wanted to deal with the King or Her Father. She chose as her father and he showed how pissed he was but didn't yell. She tried to make excuses but he shut her down. He finally told her he would see her and her friends in the throne room officially tomorrow and stalked off.  The Character and Player were kinda scared of what he would do. Vialle was watching the whole thing. It was fun to playing Random as King and not so happy go lucky as she had seen him before.


Highlights - Trace Conjurations/spells are all animal based, so his Acid rain spell is Pigeons that crap acid everywhere. His Emergency room spell creates an small emergency room area staffed by animals. His spells to absorb magic shaped like various animals. Though his spells had negligible effects they were entertaining.

Them trying to figure out how to get Kal's wounded 1500 lb cat body back to Amber was also fun. It stymied them for a minute then they quickly worked it out. They are still getting use to being able to define so much of the world and not waiting for me to tell them everything.

Quote from: Artifacts of Amber;667418So another session starts.

Marcuis Player could not make it was in an auto accident and will be out for a few weeks, but is Ok. According to him :)

Slacker. I hope you don't plan to go easy on his character!

Well considering he has had it "Easy" since there has been little asked or expected of him until now. With the Chaos Delegation here he has to actually Work and With the bad guys plans he is going to seriously be caught in the middle of the crap storm to come. So I might be kind while he is away he definitely has it in for him when he gets back :)

We were a few players down.

Marcuis Player still in hospital; from car accident but on the mend
Kal's player out of town
Trace Player on business trip.

So left Caroline and Rhiannon to run the show.

Best thing about Amber is I can run only two players and still have a good game.

So all the characters get a summons before the Crown at 1 pm the next day.

Caroline gets a visit in the morning from Caine, whom it has been hinted is her father. She was having trouble getting her hair ready to see the King when Caine walks in brushes it out and braids it putting it in a bun. I reminder her many other elders have said having Caine at your back is seldom recommended. :) It weirds her out that her, maybe, dad is doing up her hair while they talk.

Martin pops in to see Rhiannon letting her see he is okay as the castle readies for the Grand ball to welcome the Chaos delegation. She lets him know they demons that attacked him are "Dealt" with since they killed their summoner. She shows him some crystals they found on him to learn they are hung spells that are deteriorating and maybe unsafe.  Rhiannon takes them out in shadow and ditches them somewhere safe.

They attend the royal meeting and Rhiannon hands out her report and addendum. Fiona, Julian, Caine , Victoria (Castle guard and Benedict's daughter), Random and Vialle are there. Only Gerard is missing of who they thought would be there. She adds the latest ambush report as well.  Random thanks them and goes over everything and ask if they had anything to add. Then reminds them with the Chaos Delegation almost here that the potential Chaos (No pun intended) and Mayhem factor have decided increased and even though they may have some responsibilities concerning the Delegations arrival they should not lose sight of their duties concerning this. Rhiannon adds the Pentacle stones taken off the Summoner may  be dangerous and Trace admits he still has some in his room. Though Christina (Fiona's Daughter) had checked them out.

Fiona mentions that perhaps keeping this primarily amongst the people present would be best to avoid undue panic or stress. Random agrees. While the investigation is no secret maybe how things are developing are best left secret or at least not advertised.

They are dismissed.

Trace goes to secure the Pentacle stones and Caroline and Rhi decide to have a drink and bullshit session. Which they do in Rhi's room talking tactics and possible suspects, as well as, current events such as the Delegation. Rhi also details how Black threads are different than Shadow walking since Caroline thinks they bad guys are hellriding to Amber.

When suddenly . . Dun . DUN . . Dun a chunk of wall explodes and they dive out of the way of flying masonry. Serena, Rhi's Kitten warns them just before it burst through. Seems Trace did not get to his room in time and several demons have escaped. The two look out in the hall to see Gerard facing off with a gruff (as the players have named them), Trace and his Dog Mouse (Player loves Dresden and has spent points on this Dog as well as still spending points) fighting some minor Demons as an unsuspecting Vialle is walking on the floor below is being targeted by a Dark Grey Swarm.

As Gerard takes A shot from the Gruff (They stand 12-15 feet tall and use Trees as weapons this one had A wooden beam he pulled from the castle ceiling) then leverages him down to grab him by the neck. Gerard shouts "The Queen" and Rhi jumps from the Balcony down to Vialle as the Swarm impacts her. Caroline hesitates thinking to grab a weapon but decide to follow Rhi, Remembering both are still dressed in court Clothes. Rhi is trying to get out dads trump (Random)

hey reach Vialle as blood pours from her eyes, ears, nose, mouth etc and she stops breathing. Rhi does CPR as Caroline grabs the trump and calls Random. She finds him walking in the Amber Hedge Maze with Martin and Caroline reaches for him to drag him through panting "The Queen". He grabs Martin and comes through. Wanting to help defend Vialle Caroline grabs her Trump from Rhi's Deck that is now spilled across the ground. She trumps Vialle to contact a Statue of her that seems to be some form of mental Trump defense called up by Vialle.

Random ask Rhi what is going on and she says she doesn't Know so He tells her to look and makes a gesture to indicate for her to use her Fixed Logrus to see. He sends Martin to get something as Trace runs off to get help. As Rhi finishes pulling up the Logrus Lens, Caroline sees the swarm attacking the statue and she helps reinforce the Statue with the Trump contact pushing energy through trying to keep the contact at its fullest hoping it would act as a Trump defense for Vialle.

Rhi sees Martin returning with something on a silver chain, she thinks it's the Jewel of Judgment as she can now see into Vialle with the lens and sees the demonic Nanite invasion. She is from a high tech world and understands nanites and so extrudes Tendrils to scrub them away as they are consuming Vialle physical to create more while they attack her Psychically.


Caroline and Rhi both feel the time differential to Amber shift as they slow down in comparison.


I let everyone with Pattern have a sort of Amber Mean Time awareness that they know how much time passes in Amber when they are in Shadow. It simplifies my campaign a lot and makes a sort of sense.


Rhi and Caroline fight off the infection/Demonic Nanite invasion with Caroline helping Vialle summon up a Trump trap to pull the demons in (Vialle unknown to them is an advanced Trump artist though they suspect she is at least a basic trump artist already) They feel as if 20 minutes has gone by in Amber when only a few minutes has gone by inside Vialle. Caroline wants to Talk to Rhi but the Time distortion makes this physically impractical but since she and Vialle are sharing minds Vialle brings up a Trump image of Rhi (Slightly distorted) and trumps her. they talk a moment and Vialle tells Rhi to go help her father (Random) before he kills himself and she couldn't live with that if it was on her account. So Rhi tries to back out of the contact but has trouble before Martin Helps sending his Logrus (Fixed) to help her.

She Finds Random on his knees covered in a red haze with Caroline and Vialle also covered. She can tell they are moving at a fraction of the speed Amber is, Thanks to the Jewel.  Gerard, Florimel (She just showed up), Victoria, Martin are all unsure how to break the Jewel's affect and Martins attempts have failed. They all look to Rhi to do something, She decides for physical contact but tells Gerard to knock them out if he has to in a minute if she fails. She starts to dilate with Random when she realizes in a few seconds to her a minute or two has passed and Gerard tackles them both away breaking the Jewels affects. Random looks somewhat aged.

Meanwhile Caroline stilled trapped in Vialle's mind killing the Demon Bugs sees a vision of Rhi on the Throne with her as the Lord general. (Vialle has a primal source that foresees the future, Sometimes) They manage to wipe out almost all the Nanite demons.

Everyone is helped to the infirmary as Trace shows up with Fiona and her daughter Christina. Fiona goes in with Random and Vialle while they others collapse exhausted outside the trauma room. Random comes out later and Thanks them giving Rhiannon a big hug and tells her to go rest.

They go back with Rhiannon getting a spare room until her door is repaired. And this ended our session.

Highlights - The discussion between Caroline and Rhi on how to get Julian to relax and pitying Kal the other players character who is Julian's Son.

Their guessing that Fiona may have something to do with what is going on as her mysterious absence until the last moment.

Rhi realizing she may have fucked up giving Florimel a full report like the one she gave the crown just cause Flora asked for one. That maybe Dad doesn't want Flora to know everything and everything about the Characters.  She starts to realize she had been duped Me thinks :)

Had convinced the players it was just gonna be a role play night and the action scene caught them by surprise. but was something I had planned for a while.

Well nota terrifically exciting night at least not for casual reading since it was mostly role playing and a number of questions about how Amber does this or that.

We picked up not long after last post with Marcuis returning from chaos and Kal awaking from healing. Everyone was filled in on the previous few hours events and then went to bed.  Caroline went out to her home shadow a Golden circle nation on a ship.

So next day everyone gets invitations to the Grand Ball in one week and they dither about what to wear and what to do now. They make a few attempts at organizing going on the offensive but as told be Random other duties keep popping up. Since we jumped back and forth I will hit the highlights for each character and what happened.

Kal
Returned to Arden to find out some Rangers went missing and some Storm wolves killed each other (Unprecedented)

Julian (his estranged father) did stop by to see how he was in the infirmary While he was asleep.

He had to escort a Arden golden circle countries delegates to Amber, They asked why was Arden closed. He handled it delicately.

He had to "Watch those Bastards"  or so his father called them when the Chaos delegation reached Arden. He escorted them to the Embassy.

Asked Florimel to dress him for the part but she chose colors other than his (Which match his fathers)

Trace
Reloaded his conjuration / spells.

asked Florimel to dress him for the party. which she did.

Had Chirstina apologize and feel guilty for delaying him since that is why the King and Queen almost died.

Had Mouse, His guard dog, Strut around in his clothes made for him when his suit was made.

Spoke with Fiona about more lessens as she disparaged his guard dog as a toy.

Rhiannon
Was asked by Dillon (Flora's Son) To give him a report she agrees heavily editing it not realizing he has already gotten information from other characters so he will tell she is veiling the truth.

Is fearing Flora coming and Dressing her.

Spent time with Caroline discussing her issues. More to come later :)

Had a dozen trumps happen in a day from her brother asking her to go for drinks to Merlin asking how his trumps were working he did for her including the special computer/cyber space one (Hints of Ghostwheel to come), Other characters trumping her etc.

Gotta  Trump from her shadow saying they were also attacked by demons (She assumes from the Shards she dropped off in shadow)


Caroline

Went home to visit mom and  make her first Trump. She succeeds only to discover her mother is some form of construct and not physically her mother though she believes she  is. Currently Caroline thinks Caine is her father and assumed her mothers was her mother now the whole thing is in question.

while at home gets a visit from the queen of the shadow asking how Random is as king. (She has not recognized Random as king holding he is only the regent and Oberon is the true king)

Got a lovely dress in Amber and thought it was from Flora until she read the note that said "To my Darling" and looked like Caines handwriting. She sent Flora a thank you note but she said it wasn't her dress.


Marcuis

Dealt with the Chaos Delegation a lot.

Requested the MInister of Sorcery teach him sorcery but was passed off to the assistant to learn.

Was quizzed by Florimel on many Chaos protocols for the Ball.

Played with his powers always fascinated by what they do in Amber compared to Chaos.

Checked on Vialle and when she touched his face to "See" him asked if he would sit for a Sculpture of himself for her but to wear his true form. HE thought it was weird she knew his Amber form was not his Real one.


So nothing major happened but did a lot of Set up for the Ball.

Quote from: Artifacts of Amber;669153Well considering he has had it "Easy" since there has been little asked or expected of him until now. With the Chaos Delegation here he has to actually Work and With the bad guys plans he is going to seriously be caught in the middle of the crap storm to come. So I might be kind while he is away he definitely has it in for him when he gets back :)

That's good to know!

Well he has felt the brunt of being the "Chaosian". Only a few Amberites, Besides the players, Openly engage him and almost always seem to be asking questions about Chaos (Pumping him for info). The Citizens see him much like a German may have been viewed in the 1940's. It would be open hostility if not for other Lord and Ladies around him. As far as they see things "Chaos" attacked them unprovoked. The Citizens and Golden Circle nations lost a lot of sons and daughters to that war and is still fresh in their mind due to their slow aging.

He also gets snubbed occasionally by the Elders and Random has ordered his Daughter Rhi to watch him.

But since it has been subdued hostility or distance he has had it Easy. :)

With The delegation here we will see which way this will go. The bad guys are trying to push for open warfare between Amber and Chaos.

Playing As terrorist has been fun in a way since I can be cowardly knowing as the bad guy I don't have the power to directly face even some of the youngers so I get to be underhanded and Mean. Forces the characters to an active stance. They want to keep being proactive but the delegation and ball are screwing with their plans. So the moment the started making progress Life got in the way. Maybe the bad guys planned it that way :)

Thanks for comment, Nice to know someone is reading my meandering Prose :)

Sort of a slow night building up to the Grand Ball  so will cover things in a similar fashion as last week.

Kal's player was absent since he was out of town.

THE GROUP

Everyone go with Martin and Merlin out on the town to the docks and eat dinner and drink at Bloody Smittys. Only thing of interest is Old John comes in and talks with Merlin for a moment.  Trace's squirrel watch he conjured up has 2 squirrels go missing. When he investigates he finds two dead bodies and no squirrels when he ask about it the squirrels have no idea what happened to them he ponders why and I only whisper to him that maybe they were witnesses?

Merlin suggest they head someplace more fun too hear some Jazz and tells them it is a secret place then trumps to a Mardi Gra new orleans like street and find the Silver Rose a jazz club, He makes some money passing his hand over it and they have fun with several people dancing and Martin wooing Caroline for a night of fun.

Rhi ask Merlin to teach her trump but he cries that he is too busy with ongoing projects (Ghost Wheel). Tells her Fiona, Bleys or even her Mother (Vialle is her step mom) could teach her. Trace Ask Merlin about the Pentacle (known to be in Chaos) And he says he has heard of it but never been their though he thinks his mom and older brother have. No one is willing to ask them for help.

So they head back in about 4 am to the courtyard though Caroline spots two interesting things, One The money has Corwin's face on it, Two the back of the Trump card for the court yard is not a serpent nor a unicorn but not sure what it was.


So On to the individual Rounds of stuff.

CAROLINE

Sends Caine a note so she can ask him about Queen Stephanie from her home shadow. He arrives soon there after saying he always has time for her. When she ask about Stephanie ignoring Random as king instead treating him as a regent he explains the situation and alludes to the large amount of time he had spent their in the past and how lovely a woman her mother is which is getting to Caroline since he has never "recognized" her as his. (She's Not) But advises her as to the present situation and Random's tolerance may only extend until he can replace her with a more suitable candidate, A native. (Hinting Caroline would be a likely choice)

Martin spends the night with her BTW. A casual fling for fun.


RHIANNON

Goes to her appointment with Florimel fearing ending up in pink or something but Flora designs her an outfit she finds awesome (Cause she's Florimel). I know the player and Knew exactly what she would love.

Flora ask about the night before and since it is a secret where they went she evades the questions and answers in a leading way leaving Flora to only comment how odd it is that they chose to Trump back from the docks instead of walking her calling a carriage. Showing she was diving for information as always.

MARCUIS

Didn't do much else except start training with the Sorcerer assistant Fade Vanderghast. They talked some about powers and sorcery in general and such.

TRACE

Took time to talk with Fade as well on the traditions behind Chaos sorcery compared to Amber sorcery etc. He allowed him to examine Mouse. Its like him showing off his new toy, for what he is investing he might want to stop people from closely examining his underpinnings. I'll have to teach him a lesson someday.

He also examined the MArdi Gra (Yeah I know Probably Misspelled) beads Mouse came back with as they still seem bright / shiny and plastic which should have started breaking down (In Amber). He learns little about them though.


So we Fast forward a few days and started the Grand ball and I gave descriptions of everyone of note and have a list of conversations to initiate and power groups etc. for them to deal and interact with, mostly so I don't forget to mention some things.

The Purely social thing should be fun to run and they have not been caught up to much in the political ramifications of the terrorist attacks and such.

The Grand Ball occurs in which I figure out my players have zero interest in politics and it was sort of a waste of time except for some roleplaying. Plt advancement was close to nil which left my players cooling their heels just wanting to get back to dealing with the threat to Amber.

Much like previous post I will break things down by Character since that is primarily how things fell out.

Only two truly public events of Note.


One Fiona publicly embarrasses Christina before Queen Vialle Grabbing her and ordering her to Apologize again for something she stammers she has a million times and Fiona storms Away.

Victoria and Trace have a short Duel (1/2 Hour) out in the Garden. Cover this more in Traces section.



Rhiannon

She got off relatively easy despite vying the Kings daughter as far as actually role play went. Many people courted her interest but she maintained a polite deflection to it All.

Mainly Begma and KAshfa politically fighting over Ereganor fields again. She studiously avoids both sides of the conflict.

King Arkans makes commentary of Queen Jasra recently being deposed after some long absences and getting them into a War with Begma again.

Her brother, Martin tells her he did much the same thing when Random was first King and now they seldom Bother him seeing it as pointless.



CAroline

Caine makes comments about how much like her mother she looks. This sets her on edge wondering how he knows her.  HE admits to having met her several times and finding her company charming just like her daughter. (Remember she just found out this was not her mother and she thinks Caine is her Father)

She seeks out Queen Stephanie of Medina and says upon research that Random seems a good king, Stephanie says she is more interested in her opinion not research. Caroline says he seems Ok so Far. Stephanie makes some non-committal comments. She mentions that because some dancing horse gave him some trinket doesn't make him king. Caroline Reiterates the Jewel is no Trinket but wields serious power.

General Talon of the Chaos delegation ask her to dance but due to his immense size he picks her up setting her on top of his feet as they dance.

Caine's Daughter Cynthia attempts to chum it up with her but they don't Click Very much.



Kal

Talks with King Harleson of Alluvium , the only Golden circle nation along the Arden Border. He complains of Arden being closed though now understands as Julian has given him further details into the Why. He offers what aid he can.

Kal dances with several of the Chaosian Delegation ladies.

He spends some time sizing Up Elders as he is looking for allies


MArcuis

Marcuis Notices he was announced separately from the Chaosian Delegation and not falling under their Political Umbrella and lacking diplomatic immunity etc.

After witnessing one of the Ladies of the Golden Circle nation being watched hostilely is approached by her and she ask him to dance. While dancing a Duke of her nation tries to cut in but Marcuis, More or less, Tells him know and the Duke threatens him which he blows off doubting the Duke would throw down him at the ball. He had called Marcuis just some Chasion of little consequence. The Dukes "Henchmen" Bristle up when General Talon cast a shadow over them all and the Duke basically breaks and shuffles quickly away. She tells him she is in a Civil war with the Duke with both making claims to the throne unfortunately Random has not t hrown in with either side.
After this Mouse starts hanging out with him having been sent by Trace to keep an eye out in cae anyone else hassles him.

Marcuis Speaks with several members of the Delegation and answers the High Priest of The Serpent's question on why the High Priest of the Unicorn seems so uncomfortable it seems he is only a Shadow person which the Serpent high priest scoffs at.


Trace

Sends his squirrels out to watch over the Castle. They tell him security is too tight and Guards Almost kill them. When he says hide in the shadows the Squirrels comment then the guards don't even give them a chance to surrender.

He witnesses the altercation with Marcius, though he won't call Marcuis by name only referring to him as the Chaosian he won't let others mess with his Chaosian "Pet", So sends Mouse to watch over him.

He rescues Christina after the embarrassment with Fiona and walks her to the guardian, Thi sis when the above incident occurs so he abandons her to Queen Stephanie (The only person besides Coral he recognizes) and goes in to watch. When he comes out Stephanie and Christina have gone into the Hedge MAze. He tries to follow.
He runs across Merlin, Dara and Corwin in the Maze but hears nothing of interest and they speak for a moment before moving on.
He finally hears Christina and Stephanie and ask they meet him at the begging of the Maze.

SIDE NOTE - The Amber Hedge Maze is Patterned after the Pattern and though people can walk in it they become lost and cannot get out however those with Pattern never seem to have that issue.

Trace ends up talking with Victoria who seems to have finally forgiven him for getting her Father hurt now only using it to get a dig in on him once in a while. Traces lapses in Wisdom are now being called his Passions since he seems to never do the smart or wise thing when excited but is only Wise when calm. Since calling him stupid would be improper. He mentions he is up to snuff to duel and she say they could right now if he likes. So they head out with Marcius being lead by MOuse to see what is up. The go to Benedicst  Japenese  Garden are where Benedict is waiting with two swords. Victoria chooses Benedict as her Second and Trace ask Marcius who amused accepts to be  his Second. They star the duel, people hear it and rush to watch. they go for about 1/2 an hour with Random and Bleys showing up at some point to watch as well as Rhi. Victoria clearly wins the fight.



Concerns / Comments

Over all I know I could hammer the Political Climate in more but since I run  a short game 2-3 hours I have learned you really have to focus on what the players like. I have spent 3 weeks on the ball, more or less and the players are growing bored so I will probably go much lighter on the Political arena. I may make it more prevalent in games I run for 5-6 hours, I can afford players to be bored uncomfortable for a little while but not in the Short game.

No real highlights though some interesting Roleplaying was done nothing stands out, Like I said slightly lack luster so back to the main plot next week. More bad guys  to hunt and kill/remove as a threat.

Now with all the politics of Amber carefully avoided by the characters they agree to meet the next morning for brunch.

About 3 am a castle guard knocks on each of their rooms (Except Rhi) and is informed there is trouble on the royal docks. They grab some weapons and, in some cases, some clothes then head down the stairs to the docks. Rhi get's trumped by her dad, Random and told someone is sinking his ship.

Victoria is securing the docks seems someone tried to sink the flagship of the realm.

Trace dives in the water as crews are bailing and such above deck. He sees a sorcery construct / manifestation that is a blue green disk with 10 foot long tendrils that are slowly and quietly boring holes in the ship all along the hull.

He gets attacked as he approaches having conjured a light to see himself. Meanwhile everyone else is watching except Caroline who runs to get a sketch pad to do some trump sketches.  Since he is barely holding the construct off, he mentally ask Mouse for help who nudges Kal and woofs toward the water. Kal dives in and forms gills as Trace slowly sinks spending his time defending himself and not sinking. The construct detaches from the ship and attacks Trace wounding him slightly but forcing him on a total defense to avoid serious injury. Marcuis steps off the wharf and shifts gills as well as better eyesight underwater. He then summons the Logrus. Kal is meanwhile shifting into a large squid to fight the construct.

Rhi dives in and summons up her Logrus as well but forming a lens instead. As Marcuis extends a tendril to slap the Construct it implodes with pattern energies backlashing and knocking him out. Kal has finished his squid shape and grabs both Trace and Marcuis and tossing them to the pier. He then attempts to support the ship as he gains mass. (One of his favorite tricks). Rhi is slightly dazed at the explosion but examines the remaining energies that indicate it was a Logrus/Pattern explosion. She then swims for the side of the ship to help keep it from sinking.

Caroline is still getting her sketch pad. Trace heads up to the ship deck and then below to Conjure wood (yes lots of jokes were made) to seal the holes as Rhi uses Logrus tendrils to plug the holes till he can.  Marcuis just sits having a Pattern induced migraine. Kal continues to lift the ship. As the ship slowly stops sinking Caroline makes it back. Marcuis decides he''s tired of this crap shifting into a large whale to help Kal lift the ship enough so the bilge pumps can catch up.

Caroline draws a trump sketch of the ship and sees either Frost or Fiona's face etched on the Royal standard with a skull and crossbones. She informs the others and they all end up heading back to bed. Complaining how tired they are however I point out losing a nights sleep isn't crap to an amberite, also considering they all have decent bids in endurance. Trace heads to the infirmary to be patched up. Christina looks at the Sketch and says its not her mother (Fiona)

Rhi gets a trump from her father asking what the know and she tells him. He ask what they plan to do and she says they plan to ride out in the morning. He simple ask "the morning?" in a waiting tone. It takes her a few exchanges with him to get the point he doesn't except them to wait. So a round of trumps start going off between her and others (Elders etc) that puts everyone on edge as to wether they want to answer anymore trumps that night. Caroline gets a visit from Queen Stephanie who ask what happened down at the docks. She evades the question by saying she didn't see much.

They ask Christina to go along and she seems timid but excited as she has never been along on an adventure. Trace begs out knowing since he has not paid points for hanging constructs and spells a Hellride is really disruptive to them so wants to be trumped should they need him, an early enough to attune his sorcery to the shadow.  Not that he bothers to explain it.

Kal gets a Trump from Julian telling him an Army is marching on Arden but to deal with what he is doing as this is merely a symptom.

They start to hellride and run into a deep chasm as they had before looking for Frost. They find no way around it as of yet but have a couple serviceable ideas, and that's where we stopped, a Literal cliff hanger.


Highlights
Christina getting gear for the trip as she is left with Marcuis to help her, She creates a shadow pocket and starts stuffing it with food and adventuring gear even asking if she need 50 feet of rope and a 10 foot pole. Then says she may need to make a few servants in the pocket to hand her stuff. Everyone thinks this is really cool. As all she does is make hand gestures as she manipulates the pattern.

I like that everyone is careful about trump calls without being afraid of them. I have struck a happy balance in that regard especially considering they have never been attacked through them but just want to avoid talking to some people.

Julian and Kal's exchange during the Trump contact with commentary by Dworkin in the background about how Arden isn't Julian's he is just the Guardian.

When Christina opens a Pattern gate to Ygg. Mumbling about how it is the balance point of the two worlds and etc . ..Sounding like a tour guide but suggesting it would be faster than riding through Arden. Everyone who has pattern is now looking at picking up advanced like she seems to have.

Caroline's Player saying she wishes she could have a store house and me telling her why not you just make a trump of one and viola. She doesn't even think of trump that way yet. Hopefully she will start realizing some of its potential.

So we started with our cliffhanger and the knowledge of the ever closing Gruffs. Kal shifts to explore the "Divide" of the canyon to find that it continues upwards for a while , if not ever, and is fairly solid though no one has tried to truly break through it, thinking it is impassable. He spots an army marching from a breach in the barrier of 10 - 20 thousand humanoids. He also sees the Gruffs stalking the party and a few more laying in ambush along the trail they are on. Though they are a few miles away.

They decide to attack the rear Gruffs and then the "Ambush Gruffs" . They ready various weapons and someone wonders if guns work here so Christina pulls out a 9mm (From her shadow pocket) and shoots down some pine cones saying yes they do. She gives the gun to Caroline and others ask for some, she hands out a few saying she packed for variety not depth and has an assortment but not tons of ammo for each.

Kal does Trump Victoria to let her know an army is on the march for Amber and she basically says she has her own issues in Amber as more death's have occured and various delegations have lost members throwing Amber into a tizzy. Also it is just an Army he's an Amberite with several more companions they should be able to deal with that. Kal wonders if this army is a serious threat to Amber, I tell him they aren't to Amber but if they march on a Golden circle nation or something like that then Amber has a mutual defense treaty which would call troops away from Amber, so potentially could be bad.

They have a fight with the Gruffs but since they easily out number them and play very defensively the battle is soon over. The Gruffs have proven to be less of a challenge as the players get better. They are not (nor should they be), as scary as, when they first met.  The battle runs a little while as they are all being way to cautious but it does end though Marcuis shift into a fire elemental sets the woods on fire.

They head off for the army watching for the Gruffs who never appear. Caroline and Marcuis go to scout out the army. Marcuis takes the form of a Chinese wind dragon and Caroline grabs her sword. They fly off to discover the Army is a demonic one with larger ones with spines that fire at them as they fly closer. Marcuis realizes he is not fast enough to dodge them but following Caroline's lead she can guide him so that most hits are glancing ones but the missiles ooze acid as well scoring his sides. After making sure his fiery electric breath works on the demon troops by killing a few hundred. They retreat.

A contingent of the army 500 or so and some heavy horned demons break free to follow on the ground. I described the whole scene as the orcs leaving Mordor from Lord of the rings.  The rest of the party prepares for the coming troops and discusses options for slowing or stopping the army. Trace thinks it is yet another distraction from what they are doing, He could be right.

Marcuis Decides he needs more firepower and wants to take the form of a specific Primal Red Dragon. He spends some time bargaining since he is getting tired and fears he may not be able to subsume the dragon in a contest of wills. The finally agree to use of the dragon form for 5 minutes to destroy the army if Marcuis gives over his body for 5 minutes as well. And the dragon can't kill his Allies naming all but the pets Serena and Mouse. So the dragon then tries to eat Serena knowing this will give him leverage to renegotiate the contract on better terms. Which he does ending up with a pint of Caroline's blood as payment. Then he tells Caroline to say hello to her parents. He flies off to decimate some of the army or at least what he can do in 5 minutes. They follow behind to see he has and then head to rest as the battles and hell rides and power use has worn them all down. I will have to have some more major consequences happen from these breaks they take, Way to fuckin cautious for Amberites, IMHO.


Highlights

Christina's Vault - Christina pulling stuff from her shadow pocket seemed to impress everyone and they said she was actually Useful. I might have over played her as the weak and shy Amberite so much they forgot she is a fuckin Amberite trained by Benedict as well as her mother. Admittedly she is no real fighter but still knows more than the average joe about such matters.

Christina's Magic - Christina killed off a Gruff with a pattern backed lightening bolt and then stood studying her hands seemingly shocked by her deeds. I am still playing up her isolated sort of socially dysfunctional personality which tickles the players and shows a different side of a typical younger.

Dragon bargain - The Dragon bargaining with the was fun as well. Someone who doesn't mind insulting them, is not afraid of them and demands something for his services. He out thought them and increased his position seconds after talking with them. I want them to deal with such creatures but not lightly.


Low - Lights

I know at least one player is reading these post. Luckily I haven't been throwing out too much Plot or other character secrets but now instead of feeling as free to post I will have to be somewhat more cautious in what I say. Luckily the bad guys keep their plans close to their chest.  Does sort of suck some though. I was hoping to be able to discuss plot with interested posters but may not be able to. In the end This is for me so I will probably take my chances anyway.

This session was a little slow.

Kal's player had to drop out due to school but is going to keep on Via E-mail. I will have to set that up tonight. I have run PBeM before so shouldn't be hard. Just gotta decide what to do with him that will keep him somewhat isolated from the others. He can Always Trump (Text) them if needed.

Also Rhi's player was sick. I will do a mini session to keep her up with the rest.


So on to the actual session.

So the remove themselves a few shadows over to one that would be hospitable to them. It is a 1920's Parisian 5 star hotel. The rest, bathe etc. When they wake in the morning, cops are showing up and such. They discover everyone in the hotel has been murdered by physical means. They Discuss it a little then just trump out back to Amber.

Victoria fills them in on the recent murders.

A Cabra Delegate GC Nation
A Medina Delegate GC Nation
A Chaos Delegate was attacked.

Plus 2 random murders in Amber and two in Rebma.

The random murders seem to be just that. Citizens ripped limb from limb. Just more terror for the populace.

The Chaos delegate attack was by an average amber citizen in the market. They go question him with Trace using his Ocelot of Truth spell. Between Logrus lens, Pattern Lens and Sorcery they discover the Attacker was infused with some sort of Rainbow energy mixed with Fixed Logrus spell that was slowly fading.

The Medina scene was old and had been cleaned up with only the report for useful info. The person had been tied up by their own entrails while living.

The Cabra murder scene is fresh having occurred the night before. Here the see a mixing of The Anvil, Fixed Logrus, Broken pattern and some power that dilated time. After The application of Sorcery, Pattern lens, Logrus lens and Trump Sketches they think the Jewel represented in the sketch is a Shadow reflection of the jewel of Judgement, since Caroline had been exposed to that.
They start hunting for Obier thinking since he has the Anvil he is the culprit. They discuss going after him like they had before but ran into the gruffs, at that time, that kicked their butts.

They are still at an impasse about who to go after as their few suspects have managed to keep them at arms length.


Highlights

Spent about 30 minutes discussing things you could potentially do with trump and other powers and the players are just now realizing how little they have scratched the surface in terms of the powers.

Trace trying to get Christina to tell him how to craft a spell when she keeps telling him he will never learn if he doesn't do it for himself then he tells her she is a lot like her mother. She blanches and says to never say that again. (Fiona is rather abusive to her).

That about covers it. Things get worse while they spin wheels being indecisive and lacking direction. Soon I think they will realize that all this is distraction more than anything.

So forgot to add last week that Caroline went to see the Broken Pattern sorceress to discover more about it.


Marcuis player was absent so Only Rhi, Caroline and Trace were there.

A few days passed as Rhi took instruction from Vialle on Trump and Visited the Anvil of Hell to learn more.

Trace went to talk Fiona who gave him the impression she had other things to do and saw educating him as an obligation to which he took offense. He thought he could befriend Fiona. Not quite so easy. She explained that while he was an obligation did not mean she had no affection for him.

Caroline learned more about broken pattern and how it could be harnessed and little about the sorceresses back story.

Rhi was told by her father to get moving on the investigation as the elders were now becoming involved in having to smooth things over with the various factions.


The Characters had a meet and decided to seek out armies in shadow to help deal with the ones coming from the place where they think the broken pattern is.  Caroline and Rhi went for one army and Trace wanted his own.


Martina also trumped Rhi to tell her he was involved in a war helping out Merlin. It seems it is the same army they had seen earlier leaving the broken pattern domain.

Rhi seeks out an army that is loyal, has endurance, fights demons, and can use technology compatible with that at the broken pattern barrier. They find in a desert an army of werewolves with shotguns and lever action rifles who bow before the princesses on a holy quest.

Trace once again focusing too much on the technical things wants an army of viscous rabbits with fangs that will reproduce a 10 litter group who matures and breeds more. He is very focused on how many he can produce versus what they are thinking a million rabbits in 9 minutes is some how powerful.


He finds them and talks them into coming with him and they have issues with the shadow environment as he didn't define that well when he meets up with Rhi and Caroline.

And that's were we stopped. A lot of role playing and talking with people not much action.

I am not sure if I should step in with Trace and tell him how his warfare would be saying this is a bad plan considering the several times he has been told this and still ignored the "Warfare" advice. I am torn between this just being his character flaw (Ignoring his better judgment/training) or telling him again how his warfare sees flaws in his plans. He isn't being silly to be an ass he just loves his animal motif, it allows him to stretch his imagination and I don't want to step on that. Something to ponder

Thanks for reading

So standing before the enemy gates with an army and potential army.

They Trump Marcuis who is finally free to join them.

They march their werewolves and have their bunnies start making more bunnies. As more Gruffs start to arrive the Werewolves maintain a perimeter. They finally march on the place with more and more Gruffs appearing to guard the shadow.

Trace of course makes several tactical errors and I give him hints but he ignores them. Sending the bunnies off on a wild goose chase after the demon army which left this shadow. The bunnies have no cross shadow ability so ignore the Gruffs looking for demons. Meanwhile they are deforesting the area as they multiply.  since they number in the hundreds of thousands they also restrict the others ability to move about under the carpet of bunnies.

While Trace goes off hunting the demon army in shadow leading his bunnies. Caroline, Rhi and Marcuis attempt to circumvent the barrier using a land bridge when the Werewolf scouts go over it they fall into a Crevasse (The Barrier) Rhi summons a Logrus Lens and sees the land bridge is an illusion but powerful enough to fool the werewolves. The barrier though weaker here still exist. So Marcuis experiments with Logrus and shapeshifting while Rhi and Caroline summon Pattern defenses and try to breach the barrier. Both have some success then they decide to combine their minds to breach the barrier. I take both aside and share some secrets each has. Though I don't want to stop then from unifying it should not be done lightly. With this they almost penetrate the barrier. Caroline calls Trace on trump for help. He has meanwhile pulled Christina through to help them. She says the demon army is long and away and that Benedict says it is not their concern. So they stop looking for it. Trace starts to head back but notices the shadow where the barrier is has a sort of red haze and some time dilation.

The others notice (While waiting for Trace who hopes in and out of shadows trying to see what is happening) The Gruffs are up to 50-60 and slowly overtaking the werewolves. Trace does send bunnies in to help and they do for a while, Slowing he growing tide of Gruffs. The also notice the Gruffs are moving exceedingly fast compared to everyone else.

Realizing the battle may be lost for now, Caroline grows even more impatient with Trace ignoring her request for help and seeming to putz around. She thinks with his help they may have penetrated the barrier. (they would have) She is getting overly emotional and decides to retreat leaving the bunnies to die and save as many Werewolves as possible.

Marcuis meanwhile is determined to penetrate the barrier Trying some Primal creatures forms that he feels he can handle even though he is growing tired.  He almost Decides to assume his Avatar Form. (Avatar form is the height of ones power but that heady rush of power may overwhelm the character and they become lost within it. A dangerous thing to do)

As everyone else leaves. Marcius ends up a mile or so away from were they were working on the barrier. Having flown up and made sure it didn't end a mile up and having tunneled around it or tried. He decides to go Avatar form which shatters the barrier where he is. Of course he quickly shifts out and the barrier shoves him backwards again. But he succeeds and is happy. Of course 4 Gruffs are waiting for him when he is kicked out. They say they have lost enough brethren and he has one chance to get out and he does.

He is kinda pissed the Ladies left him behind and he trumps back to Amber.

Rhi Prepares reports. for the crown.

Caroline goes to make a trump of an armory for access to weapons.

Trace Trumps Bleys (out of the Blue) and he actually answers. Trace is pulled through starts spilling the beans to Bleys who calls him a dumb ass for spilling what amounts to state secrets. He takes him to a private office and talks with him. My first time running Bleys. It was funning playing the bitter loser of the crown calling Random the Boy king and Rhi his Piss-ant Daughter. He gave  Trace a few ideas in a dismissive manner. Then asked him to leave.

That is where we stopped.

Highlights

Playing Bleys since he shows off and is bitter a great combo. He made his exit from his "Secure" office by jumping out the window and told Trace "Hope your a fast trumper"

Describing the power of the Gruffs as they continued to multiply and compared them to Arden Storm Wolves.

Christina being upset by the caranage of several hundred thousand bunnies smeared across the country side.

Rhi's player could not make it she was ill.


The group having been slightly beaten by the last encounter with the Shadow Terrorist. Take a break to lick wounds and regroup. Marcuis and Caroline have been talking about exploring the Pentacle as most other avenues they have poked at have yielded a piece or two of new puzzle.

Caroline finishes making a Trump of a Shadow warehouse filled with weapons and devices of war. Caroline gets a trump call from Caine who ask how everything is going and sensing her anger ask what is up, She relates the tale of how Trace failed to help when he said he would. Caine says he will deal with this.

Marcuis continues his education with Fade and starts crafting his own spells. He test one in the open field outside Amber when he runs into an older fellow he tells him to quit blowing up his Amber. While in Amber he sees Cynthia (Caine's daughter) and talks with her. He tells her about what is going on at the moment and she says she will help if needed just hunt her up.

Trace gets a visit from Caine who ask about the incident and how he didn't help but Trace says oh well he is fine with that. Caine merely nods and ask If he is sure to which he says yes and Caine leaves.

Marcuis trumps Trace to invite him along since Caroline clearly is still not happy with him for failing to help last week.

They meet at Christina's room to ask her to "Port" them to Y'gg so they can get to Marcuis shadow then to Chaos. Fiona answers the door and ask them what they need as Christina stands demurely by looking to Fiona whenever they ask her a question. Fiona offers to move Marcuis to his shadow if he has a trump creating a Trump gate for them.

From Marcuis shadow they move to Chaos. The arrive at the Central Plaza which I describe as a Chaosian version of Times Square only more freakish. I describe the palace of Hellbane seated on an island above the Abyss. The Abyss spews forth reality and consumes pieces of reality before them in the distance.

The Amberites start having breathing issues as the Chaos environment is unfriendly to those who cannot shift automatically to adapt. Marcuis keeps wondering why they are having difficulties as it happens without conscious thought for him. People notice the Amberites and even more so when they call up Pattern Defenses to stop the environmental effects.

Marcuis takes them ti his house (Minobee) and seeks entrance. The Mistress allows them in and sets the House ways environment to be Amber friendly.  They rest their formulating spells to protect them without using as much energy or disrupting the Chaos shadow nature. Caroline makes a trump sketch that helps focus a Trump defense for her. So once ready to journey out again they head for the grand Library of Chaos.

Where Marcuis inquires about someone who could maybe lead them to the Pentacle. The Door Demon doesn't know anyone it's a god damn secret p;ace and he is an idiot for asking, so they return to the House Minobee to ask for help. The House Mistress tells Marcuis that while they have house members who can tell them or lead them to the Pentacle no one that Marcuis would be willing to cut a deal with. (Marcuis studiously avoids "deals").

Knowing that Merlin had mentioned some members of House Sawall knew about it they decide to go their for help. They are greeted at the door by Mandor who offers his services. They have a nice meal and Mandor says he can take them there but could do little more to help them. So at the end of the meal he leads them out to a garden where they see a large silver sphere he opens it with his hand and they step inside. He reaches across lays his hand on the far side and it opens unto the edge of the Abyss.  Mandor points to a cave/tunnel mouth and says it is within, he will wait here for them.

The traverse the tunnel catching occasional; glimpses at the Abyss as they descend along the cliff face marking the border of non-existence. Then around a curve they meet two turtle like demons with tentacles slithering at the edge of  their shell.  They ask who wishes to become Initiated. Surprisingly they all agree to. They are allowed within having been silently measured by the guards. The tunnel opens out into a cave that opens into the Abyss.  A creature stands in dark red pulsing robes and a face mask something obviously writhing underneath the cloth. He ask who is first.

Marcuis steps forth and is led up the steps to the platform that hangs over the Abyss. The platform is formed of a silvery cold stone that despite his bodies attempts to adjust cannot keep up with the intensity of the cold. A red pentacle is engraved upon the surface and as he steps over the lines they shock him and drag him to a kneeling position in the center as his body slumps his mind is pulled into a shadowy world.

Within that shadowy world small demons lunge out and start tearing away parts of his mind consuming bits and pieces of his soul. He remains trapped for what seems like an eternity within each little piece of them slowly learning their weaknesses and what he can offer them to gain their obeisance. Eventually he begins to dominate each one.  Eventually he drops back into his body whole and refreshed.

Caroline and Trace both go through the same experience with slightly altered descriptions to personalize it somewhat.

They questioned the gentleman that initiated them and he refused to answer questions about other initiates (which is why they came and joined). He did answer questions about general contracts and how that works. So they gathered some information that may be useful and had even more questions about how primal sources interact with sorcery and things.

Mechanics
 I usually bank a few points but the players had just spent some. I didn't want to kill them or do anything too bad since I want them to not be too fearful of new things so I had to adjust things to work out. Caroline had enough points to pay for the Initiation. Marcuis had about half the points needed so I told him one demon consumed his connect between sorcery and the Logrus, so I shaved points from his recent powering his sorcery with Logrus. Trace had no points so I stripped Mouse of some of his points which really seemed to hurt him the most since Mouse had warned him not to do it. Mouse is hurt and angry at him which bothers him more than the other characters being angry. I also dropped a few points from his Warfare since he never listens to it. I guess you can get dumber.

Rhi character still unable to attend.

Caroline, Trace and Marcuis absorb the process they have just endured playing with their new ability to summon Imps.

Caroline tries to summon an Imp that knows about Coletrans contracts. She gets a trussed up imp about 2 feet tall that is completely chained up with a seal over his mouth. She tries to converse and question it ut it seems unable.

Marcuis summons and imp to question it on general magic and such. It is not very helpful.

Trace summons one and ask it how he can apply the imps to his magical studies, How things are different now.

They discover that while they can do unique things and are helpful they do not magically know everything nor can they do an incredible amount of things. They are loyal unique servants.

They decide to head back to Mandor and thank him for his hospitality. He sees them off as they head out Trumping to Marcuis shadow and starting a new line of research by a casual comment into atomic warhead deliver systems hidden in cows. (Marius shadow is a wartorn shadow that does R&D into items of warfare and battle. He leaves it mostly to run on automatic while he occasionally catches up on new research. Sort of a War petri dish)

The travel from there to Caroline's warehouse shadow and from there back to Amber in time to see some one leaving. When a guard acts startled he explains to Trace that he just saw them leave. This weirds out the players and helps drive home the bizarre nature of Chaos. Trace is much more freaked out then the rest. Caroline finds it interesting and Marcuis just considers it home.

Each goes their own way deciding to digest their new initiations.

Trace summons an Imp in his room to study Mouse and see what all has happened to him and what was lost when he was initiated. The Imp shows up and explains some obvious facts to him treating him like an idiot. Shortly a knock comes to his door and he yells for them to come on in. Whoever it is pauses then opens the door. Fiona is standing there looking at Trace and Ask why is he summoning Imps into the castle, and even more importantly why has he tainted himself with these unnatural creatures. She then ask him not to so boldly summon them within the confines of the castle as it upsets her wards. The entire time she is rather icy and cold, then ask if he wants her to get the door again to which he nods, She comments, "Lovely a job for servants left for me"

Marcuis heads out and plays with the Imps trying to get a handle on what they can do. He realizes his connections to the Logrus and his Sorcery have suffered greatly. And he starts working on that again not quite getting what happened.

Caroline decides that she is tired of hunting around and following up behind these guys and wants to ambush them, thinking through several plans but deciding in the end what worked before should again since it has been a while since they ambushed them.

The Three meet. And decide that Caroline will go and recruit/retrieve her werewolf warriors or at least a commando unit of them, While Trace and Marcuis head out into shadow. Marcuis for the first time uses Logrus Black threads to try exiting Amber. He finds it difficult and taxing then realizes traveling along the established paths near Arden would work best. With Trace escorting him through the heavily patrolled woods. They exit near a path and start using Black threads to head out. Trace finds the threads, upsetting in how they differ from walking in shadow as they glide along being pulled by the threads through shadow and its barriers. Marcuis spends some time tossing threads to get as close to the defined shadow they need.

Caroline finds her werewolves running from a demon unit running low on supplies. She re- supplies them from her warehouse.  Caroline trumps Marius letting him know she has some troops but will be a day or two so Trace can for the Shadow of Desire to intercept the Shadows the are fighting. She spends some time after their surprise counter attack to create a trump of the shadow.

Trace creates a shadow of desire that will cross the Shadow folks path, supply a good area for ambush, and be technological compatible with Caroline's troops and their weapons.  The final element is that they will not arrive sooner than a few days so they can prepare.

Once all this is done Caroline trumps in with her "Bitches" the all female werewolf commando unit. They start to set up ambush positions with Trace trying to tell them what to do but they ignore and insult the "male".  Finally Caroline gets it all set and that is where they stopped.


No particular highlights beyond the after game discussion on firearms with Caroline's player not being very knowledgeable.

So as the characters wait in ambush Marcuis receives a Trump call fro the Chaos Embassy needing his presence (Yeah the player was unable to attend). But Rhi is finally free from her political duties to Random and is able to arrive for the Ambush.

Trace prepares his spells seeking out the shadow magic levels and attuning them to his spells.  The Bitches (Commando werewolves) are ready as well. Caroline fetches a Tommy gun for Rhi since the weapons warehouse is running a bit thin on guns since she armed all her Marrow Hunters (The werewolves) previously.

A few days pass when off in the distance a Werewolf whistles using a nature call to indicate they see something which is shortly followed by the scout screaming in pain and shuddering as they die from it. The bad guys have arrived.

A fight ensues with Obeir's obvious warfare advantage not only spotting the ambush early enough to avoid it but also maneuvering amongst the trees so that the snipers can never get a clear shot or most the characters at that rate. His Dexterity (Which governs fighting skill) is also superior to everyone but Trace who always rather would cast spells which are slower than just fight the guy heads up. But with his warfare I'm not hinting that may be ore effective.

Well the fight goes on with Frost (Fiona's Shadow) disrupting Trace's spells with her own and some small scraggly dude they have never seen before turning invisible and fading away.

Trace manages to get a spell off at the begging of the fight that throws out a wall of smoke hundred feet out that sweeps inward grabbing bad guys as it goes and enveloping them obscuring vision and constricting them. However as the spell attacks Obier he uses his powers (of which he has several) to subvert the spell rewriting it to see friends as enemies.

The spell attacks the werewolves and others with Caroline starting to be engulfed. She also feels a tendril along her leg whispering in her mind this is all Trace's fault he is against her. Since she is slightly predisposed against him she follows along yelling at him. She summons some Imps to hunt down whoever is trying to subvert her mind. Then finally tires of shooting at Obier and failing so shoots Frost who fails her casting and goes down with a shoulder wound.

Rhi finally acts having climbed up a tree with her Logrus and shoots at Frost and Obier, While Obier is still concealed the bullets start flashing off a shield Frost has erected. The bullets however are wearing the shield out. Obier summons up a Logrus barrier to protect them both as he grabs Frost up.

Meanwhile the Imps hunting the source of Caroline's paranoia have driven it away as her mind clears slightly then to add to the utter confusion as spells flip back and forth Trace cast a Stampede spell that summons a ton of varied animals from chipmunks to elephants. They trample the rest of the werewolves on the ground which (With the help of the Paranoia Logrus) sends the Bitches over the edge and they start turning on Trace blaming him for all the trouble (With a huge kernel of truth). At this point Frost has ripped off another spell opening a rift (much like the one she had done before) And Caroline and Rhi have almost hammered her Shield away. A shot gets through spinning her around as she goes through the rift followed by Obier (And a chipmunk).  Trace defends himself tossing a dagger into the werewolves throat as she uses her 50. Cal sniper rifle to try to shoot him. Just as the Rift closes a gnarled hand puts a pistol through and shoots Rhi in such a way she falls out of her perch unto the returning Stampede. Trace moves across slings her on his shoulder and climbs a tree to avoid it.

The three remaining werewolves are now converging on Trace with grenades, pistol and Sniper rifle. Even though he holds Rhi one of their Princesses Caroline has to argue with them to keep them from trying to kill the turn coat bastard male. He takes a few moments to dissipate the Stampede. Caroline sends the still searching Imps after the three Werwewolves to find what is driving them crazy. They manage to latch on some invisible tendrils and hold on then they go away and the Imps flop tothe ground surprised and the Werewolves come back to their senses.

Trace creates a bird dome (force field) but traps the Sniper in with him and after a staring contest he lets her go. They then clean up trying to find any werewolves that may yet live, two other survive and Trace summons his Er and they all start to recover.

Caroline takes them back to their (new) home shadow. Rhi and Trace head back to Amber. Caroline goes back as well later meeting with Rhi, When they turn and see Dworkin sitting in Rhi's room listening to huge head phones (from like the 70's) (Rhi uses her Logrus of Technology to allow Some Tech to work in Amber when she is focused on it like her MP3 player She has a stack of burned out tech stuff in a pile in one corner.)

They talk with Dworkin who demands Brandy . They don't really discover much despite his apparent willingness to help, some at least. They enjoyed the encounter but underutilized the help.

Trace came back and took Mouse out for some fun but Mouse treats him indifferently with the recent Soul sucking at the Pentacle he suffered and Trace completely forgetting him during the fight using him as A spell storage battery but never mentioning him once. When you make your toys so independent it means they can be mad and pissed at you. And despite his intelligence he treats him like a Dog, instead of a Smart dog.


Highlights - Though Caroline was not overwhelmed by the Paranoia Logrus attack she played along with it as she was pissed at him already so it was fun RP.

Lows - Though the understand who may be better in certain areas and even get which bad guys are fast, strong minded etc. They seldom are putting the two things together and using better tactics.

So had a nice long post written up and lost it so now am disgusted so will hit the very short highlights probably in a sardonic tone :)

Everyone did sort of their own thing.

Trace recruited Christina and went to try to break the barrier and gather intel. Failed as the Gruffs overwhelmed them and retreated to have his retreat point murderized as has happened before. He then heads back to Amber to recover.

Caroline handled correspondence talking with Cynthia, Dillon, Sebastian, Her mother and Queen Stephanie then hung out with Rhi.

Rhi talks with Victoria and then hangs out with Caroline. Random trumps her and tells her to tell the rest of her Crew to quiet spilling their guts to everyone.

Most of the session was them seeking out better tactical advice from more tactical minded people, mostly Dillon and Victoria.

I'll try to write up a real write up later.

Okay the official Log of last session

Marcuis couldn't make the session


Each person kind of did their own thing so I will go by each character

As each person returned from licking their wounds from the failed ambush more a spiritual defeat than a physical one they had notes from various parties. I didn't want people Trumping each other all the time like it was a Cell phone.

TRACE

He answered his various notes politely but basically blew off everyone. He caught up with Christina asking her if she wanted to join him when he went to do more recon on the Barrier/Crevasse. She acted surprised he would want her help since sh thinks she performed badly before during the fight so didn't get invited along on the Ambush. Trace tried to reassure her otherwise but her damaged psyche just seemed to doubt him. She did say she would be ready to go after changing since Caroline had taught her how to prepare a bug out bag. Trace agrees to meet her in an hour.

When he returns she is dressed in Camo pants and shirt with a tactical sort of vest with Pockets filled with magical objects and gear. I described her much like a first time fishermen who bought all sorts of cool (or so they thought) gear to go out fishing when all yo might need is a rod and reel.

So they leave and grab a hotel room for the night in a nearby shadow to the Barrier. There Christina thinks Trace is making a move on her by getting a single room with a single bed and when he communicates he is sleeping on the couch she seems both relieved and hurt. She ask him if she should get her night clothes on or sleep in her gear. He tells her it is up to her but who knows who will visit in the night, so she uncomfortably tries to sleep in her commando gear with Mouse joining her to comfort her. The night passes uneventfully (remembering last time the entire hotel staff and guest were killed when they stopped near the Barrier shadow)

The travel 5-6 shadows over and arrive at the barrier and cast defensive spells. They proceed to the barrier hearing Gruffs approaching in the distance. As they push on the barrier slow breaking through Gruffs start arriving one by one. While They both cast spells and melee with them Trace eventually realizes (Because despite the hints I had to just tell him his Warfare thought he was falling behind the curve) that they need to bug out but he feels he has gathered more info on the barrier to improve his spells and improve spells against the Gruffs.

They head a few shadows away to prepare again and he finds a hotel with a suite available and two bedrooms, Once again maybe hurting Christina's feelings. They rest for the night to awaken to sirens in the distance, Once again everyone else (so they assume) is dead in the hotel. Thsi upsets Christina since she thinks though not directly their fault and though they are just "Shadows" She doesn't want to be callous like her mother and knows it is because of them the shadows died. She wants to just Trump back to Amber and Trace agrees.


He returns with her and addresses his correspondence. He has a sit down with Dillon who pumps him for information using not only what he had learned from Caroline (Covered later) but offering what seems like useful tactical advice and what to do from here. When Trace ask if he wants to go along next time he says his diplomatic skills are much more useful here than any sort of fighting skill he may have. So he bows out gracefully.

Trace also goes to see Fiona who merely inquires how things are and even ask about his pet project, Mouse, whom she has always been disdainful of as a waste of his time. She ask about his visit with Bleys and why Trace went to him. Trace Replies that he just didn't know him well and wanted to talk. Fiona seems to question this but doesn't press.

Trace then retires to work on his spells then trumps Rhi and Caroline.


CAROLINE

Caroline deals with her correspondence. Setting up several meetings through out the day first to see Cynthia (Caine's daughter) at her Duchy. They talk for a while over tea in the Garden. Cynthia inquires about how things are going offering her tactical advice on what to do next. She tells Caroline to think of her as more than a cousin but a sister (This relates back to Caroline thinking Caine is her father but being mad he hasn't recognized her yet but treats her much like a daughter)

She goes horse back riding with Dillon and he pumps her for information about what is going on. He does try to offer useful advice on how to proceed from her but says he is busy keeping things under control her with all the horrible things the shadow folk are doing.

She meets with Sebastian but primarily they just shoot the shit and hang out for a while. She then heads to see her mother and Queen Stephanie. She trumps her mother (Whom she knows is not her mother but some form of created/crafted person) she stays with her that night and awakes to breakfast which is then interrupted by Queen Stephanie who arrives unannounced and talks with Caroline. (Showing she is having Caroline's mother watched) She ask about the horrible events and what is Random the Amber regent doing (She refuses to recognize him as king) and goes about most the conversation correcting Caroline when she says King by saying Regent.

Caroline is later trumped by Rhi and they go hang out in Rhi's shadow discussing tactics until Trace Trumps them.


RHI

Rhi spends time writing a report for Random and the others involved. She is trying to avoid getting her butt reamed again by her dad and King.

Rhi heads to the library at a loss what to do now. She grabs some books on Ambushes and such with most being things she already knows or they go over her head. She decides to talk to Victoria about this knowing as Benedicts daughter, head of the castle guard and Basicallythe general for the Amber army when her Benedict is not around (Which is most the time) would be sound tactical advisor and she is actually assigned to help the characters by Random so is in the chain of knowledge.

Victoria comes in to meet her for dinner obviously from the field and they eat. Victoria listens and is brutally honest calling Trace a child for his use of odd little animals as spell focuses. And saying he should forget the magic crap since it is by its nature slow while he is one of the best swordsmen and fighters in Amber amongst the youngers with only Victoria his clear better. He should get in and mix i up instead of letting them escape or at least prepare some magic that makes getting away a little harder. She does say it is clear the Bad guys are threatened by the youngers since they run whenever they are face to face with them. Even though it seems to Youngers are losing they aren't it is just maybe not the goals the are seeking that they succeed at.

Rhi gets a Trump call from Random telling her he is rather sick of hearing information second hand from people who shouldn't even know anything. Basically tell everyone to shut up about this mission.

Shortly After Trace trumps Rhi and Caroline planning another assault.

And that's where we stopped.


General Info - All the shadows around the Barrier shadow have been 1900-1940 paris, new orleans or something similar. I think the players are missing that these are shadows of the Barrier Shadow which has a Broken Pattern in it. This is with some other knowledge they have would help them see a lot clearer what is going on.

When they went to speak with all these others about Tactics Most actually outranked the characters in warfare so I gave them useful advice but slightly different from each person colored by their Personality. It was a fun way to show that personality effects the black and white numbers of the game. Also the players are only sure of one person (Victoria) had a better warfare, they were mostly using the other NPC's as sounding boards.



If any one has questions fee free. I had hoped to open a dialogue on what I am doing since I can't talk to my players about it :)

This continues to be great stuff, thanks for sharing it with us!

Thanks.

Glad someone is reading it but feel like I need a synopsis/primer so much has happened.

I feel it is moving slowly sometimes but since we only game 2-3 hours a session it isn't to bad.

Thanks again

I just finished reading your campaign notes. Yeah, I got a few questions.

First and foremost: Is Trace trying to actively sabotage the party? I mean... wow! An army of copulating rabbits... If they were Monty Python rabbits I'd understand, but no. Then later a stampede to run over allied troops. Sheesh. And doesn't he have a clue that he's the best Warfare guy in the group? If he knows why is he wasting time with spells? (Reminds me of a session at a game convention when a player wanted to clear out swamp gas with a fireball spell! Later he decided to levitate some Hell Hounds up to the party so we could use our swords on them. WTF? I nixed both of those ideas real fast. That guy was a fount of bad ideas. At the end I asked the GM about it, whether that character was supposed to be working against us. Nope, just the way the player was.) I can appreciate the guy wanting to play up this Animal Love personality but still...

You mentioned that Rhianna went through the Anvil of Pain ceremony to gain some powers from them. What did she gain and does she ever use it?

The group does seem to be stalling. They do seem to know that the Anvil of Pain temple/place is a source of the bad guys (isn't it?) Why haven't they actively scouted it out and planned an attack on it? Or am I missing/forgetting something?

I'm surprised by how much Trumping is going on. Looks like it's used more than any other Power.

There were supposed to be at least nine Broken Patterns, or so you hinted. But the party has stuck to one. Have they given the others at least a little examination? Or maybe that's not an important detail.

You mentioned that none of your players were artists so no Trump portraits. But at another website I saw where people just copy a photo of some actor or other person their character resembles and paste that onto a card-like background. Can't your friends do that?

Anywho... sounds like a fun game (although 2-3 hours each does suck.) Someday I'll get back into gaming. Someday. Not many people in South Florida play though.

Doughdee222 Quotes in Bold :)

I just finished reading your campaign notes. Yeah, I got a few questions.

First and foremost: Is Trace trying to actively sabotage the party? I mean... wow! An army of copulating rabbits... If they were Monty Python rabbits I'd understand, but no.

They were actually were Monty Python Rabbits, but able to kill sucky knights does not make them that much more dangerous.


Then later a stampede to run over allied troops. Sheesh. And doesn't he have a clue that he's the best Warfare guy in the group? If he knows why is he wasting time with spells?

Yes the stampede was him just adding Chaos. I think he is getting perturbed by the players complaining about his childish spells and the elders not reacting the way he would like them to as well. Also he is not the best at Warfare but the best in Dexterity. I have split the two finding Warfare too powerful and difficult to run since I wanted NPC's and PC's alike to be tactical without necessarily be great fighters. Generals are not always brilliant swordsmen.

(Reminds me of a session at a game convention when a player wanted to clear out swamp gas with a fireball spell! Later he decided to levitate some Hell Hounds up to the party so we could use our swords on them. WTF? I nixed both of those ideas real fast. That guy was a fount of bad ideas. At the end I asked the GM about it, whether that character was supposed to be working against us. Nope, just the way the player was.) I can appreciate the guy wanting to play up this Animal Love personality but still...

Like I said at some points he sees things falling apart and just throws stuff in for chaos effect.


You mentioned that Rhianna went through the Anvil of Pain ceremony to gain some powers from them. What did she gain and does she ever use it?


She gained the ability to process pain as pleasure, Doesn't make her immune but she can handle pain better then most now. She later returned to the Anvil (Off screen) to gain the ability to inflict pain at a touch. She doesn't use them much but they do at to roleplaying a lot more since when others are hurting she seems to enjoy it somewhat.


The group does seem to be stalling. They do seem to know that the Anvil of Pain temple/place is a source of the bad guys (isn't it?) Why haven't they actively scouted it out and planned an attack on it? Or am I missing/forgetting something?

It is more the fact that some bad guys have gained Real Powers from these sources and not the sources themselves being bad. Imagine someone bathed in The Fount at the keep of the 4 worlds but not being the Keeper of the 4 Worlds. They just use that Real power but it is not the Fount controllers fault.


I'm surprised by how much Trumping is going on. Looks like it's used more than any other Power.

True while they Trump a fair bit they also send written messages when they are all in the castle and I occasionally have someone trump them when another player says they are trumping someone. I use the bait and switch like in the rule book, So though people Trump a decent amount they do not do so with out some caution. I haven't attacked them through the trump but there are people they would rather not talk to who Trump them.


There were supposed to be at least nine Broken Patterns, or so you hinted. But the party has stuck to one. Have they given the others at least a little examination? Or maybe that's not an important detail.

They have visited one other Broken Pattern and the Sorceress there has talked with them with Caroline returning to gather info from her about Broken Pattern in general. And yes I have told them there are 9 viable broken patterns that reflect off Amber's Pattern.


You mentioned that none of your players were artists so no Trump portraits. But at another website I saw where people just copy a photo of some actor or other person their character resembles and paste that onto a card-like background. Can't your friends do that?

Surprisingly they don't bother much with contributions, Only Rhi's player has done a few diaries. I haven't pushed the issue since everyone is sort of busy in private lives. Rhi has pictures of her guardians for her shadows and pictures of the Tattoos her character has. No portraits though. They could do that for points but like I said are fairly busy.

Anywho... sounds like a fun game (although 2-3 hours each does suck.) Someday I'll get back into gaming. Someday. Not many people in South Florida play though.

It is actually fun though from my perspective is starting to drag. They just get to the edge of getting it together and making some serious progress then I throw something at them and it derails them.  The 2-3 hour thing hurts the most. Luckily I have run games in that time frame for about 6 years (different systems) So I understand the issues with that and work with it. Luckily I have a weekend game that runs 5-6 hours to help me keep my sanity.



Thanks for being interested. Sometimes feel like I am typing all this up for my own entertainment. :)

Well, okay, Dexterity. But still, sounds like Trace is the best melee guy in the group. He shouldn't be hiding somewhere casting spells, he should be on the front line hacking and slashing. It sounds like the guy has two competing ideas for his character and is having trouble reconciling them. In battle one can't both be a cavalryman and a cannoneer, the jobs just don't mesh well. Pick one and go with it.

You know, I played World of Warcraft for about seven years, played all sorts of characters, was a fairly big name on my server. I knew how to tank when needed, I knew how to heal when needed, I knew how to DPS and CC when needed. I think Trace's player could use a small lesson here.

So... Rhiannon volunteered to go S&M Dominatrix / Mord Sith? (Goodkind's Sword of Truth series.) Interestingly kinky. I wonder how far she'll go with that and if there will be some potential dangers in mastering those powers (a shift toward insanity, an urge to study dentistry.) The decor of her bedroom will probably change... But then she's supposed to be a goth chick, so maybe no real change there!

Marcuis seems to like pushing the envelope quite a bit. Lots of Logrus and Shape Shifting with that one. For some reason I thought SS was more limited (probably a remnant thought from other game systems) then I checked the book and it does say one can memorize and practice any number of animal forms. Interesting. Poor guy seems to get hurt by his Power use more than it helps though.

Caroline looks to be on top of things.

I'm curious: by now usually the group would have settled down and a leader or key motivator would have emerged. Have you seen a player becoming dominant and setting the agenda? Maybe two?

It's surprising that there has been two mass murders at the hotels but none of the players have cared to investigate or gather clues.

So, by now they have seen the faces of the enemy, have some names and killed some of the demon soldiers. The group knows where the bad guys have been and know their route into Amber. Seems to me it's time for them to take the offensive, and not just by setting ambushes. There should be some way to trace the bad guys back to a home base. I hope the group gets on it real soon.

Yeah he is the best melee guy. I think mainly he wanted to be athletic and be a decent fighter not realizing how closely those are tied in the system. The player, in his defense, has not RPged a lot(one or two games ever). He started playing mainly because Monday is a game night for him and I was gonna run this game regardless of anyone else playing. Missed Amber badly :) He is a Good player and plays like his character but his character is overly foolhardy when the player actually does know better. He also doesn't play much else than board games and card games so his idea of roles and such are not as ingrained as ours.

Rhi is having fun, she is a sort of new toy person. loves new toys and powers. She started Goth sort of so it wasn't a big step for her. She loves her shadow which is a Shadowrun sort of place with a heavy Fae influence, including her guardians.

Marcius bought advanced Logrus and Shapeshifting. He skimped on stats and has been trying to advance those as of late. Yeah his number of forms is based on several factors, 1) he is always spending down time practicing and learning new forms, so I take that as he has done this a while. 2) his personality dictates what forms I let him "already" know.

Caroline would be shocked someone thinks she in any way has it together. She is maybe slightly more decisive but laid back. meaning when she finally gets involved she is passionate about it.

Yeah the mass murders have been dealt with by  them camping out and not risking anyone else. But they have never keyed on when the murders happen. They seem to expect it whenever they get near the home base shadow but have not put it together it only happens when they leave the home base and only go a few shadows over to rest.

As to being proactive. my next post will tell you how that went. :)

So the assault is on.

The group gets together again to assault the home shadow of the "bad" guys. Trace asked for Rhi to help and Rhi asked Caroline to come and make sure Trace doesn't get her killed and they both ask Marcuis to come for the same reason.

Marcuis is freed up from his Chaosian duties. Christina joins them as well. They have camping gear ready as well. They Trump to Y'gg where everyone experiences a calm state including the chaosian though what makes him calm is different from everyone else. Trace picks up a branch he finds on the ground (I assume to study later) and they hell ride to within 4-5 shadows of the Barrier.

They camp and rest without incident with Caroline summoning Imps to watch out during the night. Trace rehangs spells and reworking Mouse since Hell rides are rough on both of those. They rouse and head to the barrier. It is becoming almost common place. The Gruffs start approaching. Trace, Christina and Marcuis assault the Barrier while Rhi, Caroline, Mouse, and Marcuis's Logrus Creature hold off the Gruffs.  Also Caroline summoned some acidic spitting imps to slow down the Gruffs which worked but didn't take out their eyes, which Caroline is overly fixated on as the means to kill them.

The three assaulting the barrier link up mentally which allows each to see things they might otherwise hide, such as Trace thinks Julian is his father, Marcuis is a Spy in Chaos, and Christina is a virgin. Every few moments I have them reveal another secret about themselves. The Gruff fight is fairly mundane except Trace realizing although mouse can cast spells now his Psyche is fairly weak making the spells much less effective. The next secret is that Christina was disappointed since she thought Trace was making his move last session when they stayed at hotel and only had one room and it hurt her feelings, Trace despite correcting him self and calling Marcuis by his name (it upset Christina he did that) thinks of him only as the Chaosian, and that Marcuis thinks that is both childish, rude and annoying. They make it 3/4 of the way through when on the far side they see a one armed man with an eye patch waiting for them with an enormous Morganstern sized horse (With flesh ripping teeth).

Trace pauses to cast a spell to increase his Dexterity and Warfare hoping this will give him some edge in the coming fight.  And then proceeds. The Gruff dealing crew are losing ground backing toward the rest of them and as they get almost all the way through Trace calls them to follow. The last secrets are shared as Christina reveals the first time she walked the Pattern was not the first time. Yeah, she doesn't know why either. Trace is just being a dick sometimes no real hidden agenda (No big secret) and Marcuis didn't real get mentioned. I think he slid through maybe shape shifting his mind to hide any real secrets away.

They penetrate the barrier and stand facing what they had assumed to be Benedicts shadow but with the horse now they think it might be Julian as well.

Trace begins to cast spells as the man watches. He thinks he is getting a way with this happy to not engage while he buffs up. The Horse steps closer to a tree and eats a squirrel noisily chomping away at the animal bones and all.  Finally Caroline grows tired and charges the man as does Marcuis who has shifted to his Chaos form. The man finally whips around his blade that he has had his hand rested on before she can do much the man catches her arm and spins her around placing his blade against her throat. The blade sizzles and agonizes her
with its very touch. He then suggest maybe they should all leave. Finally they so no and he spins Caroline away and awaits their attack.

Trace goes for the man after summoning his Ethereal Swordsmen and yelling for back up from the group. Too bad he basically has everyone pissed off at him and they show it.

He engages Trace and the swordsmen. Nothing can lay a hand on him as Trace tries to be defensive and slowly probe his defenses. Every time I describe the man fending off an attack from the spell Swordsmen, Trace thinks it is and opening to attack but I explain he always does it so as to leave Trace out of position or exposed to a serious counter attack or simple it happens so fast the window of opportunity is not open long enough for him to react to it.

Caroline actually handily beats down the horse who was trying to eat Marcuis. Seeing it regenerate they fear it will come back so they make sure it is throughly chopped up. Rhi is pulling up her Logrus wanting to at least study the blade and see if the man has other things helping him. Marcuis begins shifting into an Iron Golumn to shield himself from the blade and any incoming magics.

Then Frost steps from the forest nearby (showing her shoulder still injured from the previous fight) and the man points to Christina and says "That one" Frost releases a lightening bolt at her. Everyone is too busy to react as the blast throws Christina against the Barrier.  With everyone busy no one can help her. Caroline goes to help Trace as the man's sword has disrupted and destroyed most of his spells and when Trace sends Mouse forward to help by flanking the man, the Man aims killing blow at Mouse which Trace intercepts mostly. The Man continues to score hits on mouse which not only seems to be physically hurting him but also unmaking him as an enhanced construct as well.

Finally Trace goes all out against The man as Caroline comes to help, allowing Mouse to break free. Meanwhile Still Shifting and Summoning Logrus everyone sees a flash and bang as A lightening bolt comes from Christina to smash Frost back into the woods, Christina then starts to cast again. They glance and see she is marked by the bolt but not particularly hurt by Frost attack.  
Trace starts taking blows from the man each a small but painful nick that starts him slowly bleeding out and slowing his fighting down. By the time Caroline engages it is obvious Trace is becoming exhausted in all the casting, Barrier breaking and fighting. As Rhi summons up a Logrus lens and Marcuis almost gets his form complete Christina Summons an Astral Unicorn that charges after Frost. The Man responds by tossing his blade in the air for a second while he flicks a blade at Christina that sends her down and her spell away.  Marcuis stops shifting to revert and goes to help her. He starts to shape shift what appeared to be a dire wound but missed all vital organs but sliced her cleanly between two ribs without sticking.

The Man Continues to poke holes in Trace and Caroline though it is obvious that had they been a little fresher maybe they could actually injured him. So far they have not done more than nicked him.

They decide now might be time to run. Especially when Trace decides he might be able to get to Frost. This is when the Man flicks another blade at Trace who seems surprised he doesn't get chance to react. He isn't quite getting how much better this man is. But he tries to dodge and fails. This ham strings him making it difficult to continue toward Frost. Trace finally giving up Trumps back to Amber while everyone else slightly busier Trumps a few moments afterward.

In the Courtyard Trace ask where Random is and the guards tell him most likely in his Chambers. Everyone else arrives and start to all leave, Rhi to catch up with Trace, Caroline to get a hot bath and Marcuis to his room, almost leaving Christina alone. They realize that would be cruel. So Marcuis take her to the infirmary along with the guards. Rhi goes to try to save Trace from himself.

In the Royal Chambers Trace gets in to See Random and tells him this isn't gonna work unless they get help. Random of course responds by asking Trace if he is making demands of his King. Trace just says no, just telling you how it is. Random Merely points out that Trace might be better served talking to him later, That it is his job to solve the issues at hand. Trace realizing (I hope) he is not winning this one leaves still pissed.  Rhi Goes in afterwards and makes sure Trace didn't end up before a chopping block and tells Random she will forward a report later.

They both head for the Infirmary to see Christina.

And there the Saga ends for another week.

Highlights - Running someone who is superior top the party in Dexterity and Warfare and managing to keep the battle on those grounds. His Psyche and Strength are weaker than some of them. Caroline was even told she felt stronger than him but he always seemed to anticipate her moves before she made them. A case (In my games) of when a vastly better Warfare can nix a small advantage in Strength. But it had to be pretty vast like 3 times better.


Next week should be most interesting as repercussions start occurring for both good and bad guys.

The Group started out as usual heading in different directions looking for solutions.

Trace Left the Crown and went to visit Christina. When he arrived Fiona was there. She was holding Christina's hand and when Trace asked how she was as she began to answer Fiona squeezed her hand making Christina wince and answered for her, That she was fine. She then asked Trace if he was done. He tried looking past Fiona to talk to Christina who now seemed uncomfortable and pained before he finally thought he should leave.
Trace heads to his room to repair the damage done to him by the Broken Pattern sword and to renew some of his magic. He sees how badly damaged Mouse is by the sword as well. Then he heads out into shadow to play with mouse and possible to think.
Trace Trumps Bleys and they talk in a casino like place. Trace begins to tell him what has happened and Bleys reminds him it is treasonous to do so, since Random warned them to keep a tighter lip. Bleys says he may be a Boy King but he is still King. So Trace ask about Pattern swords and can we make one. Bleys shows him Werewindle which he possesses. Commenting according to legend Dworkin made them but even that is only legend.

Caroline took a long bath and first sending notes to Victoria and Caine to ask for more physical training having grown tired of getting her ass whooped as she put it. She also sent a Note to Vialle postponing further Trump education.
When Bath was done she had received replies from Caine and Vialle. Vialle said no issue I know how busy you are with the current situation, Caine said come visit I am at my Dockside Manor house at the moment. So she heads to go see him but gets caught by Rhi how tells her about the Broken Pattern Sword. So a short while later she is visiting Caine and they hold a discussion about learning less "honored" forms of fighting. Caine is nonchalant about his reputation at skulduggery. He says he would be more than willing but may be called away to execute duties for the Crown so maybe Victoria or Cynthia (his Daughter) could be of help both being well educated in all forms of War and or Skulduggery in Cynthia's Case.
Caroline returns to her room to see Victoria has left a note to meet her at 5 am on the Horse hide fields for practice.  Which she does and Victoria starts running her through the paces and we get a short Training Montage.

Rhi tries to get a meeting going that evening but seems everyone is out and about, Trace says he can meet for breakfast but not dinner, Caroline called it and early night and Marcuis is Indisposed not receiving the note.
She decides to head to her shadow then on unto the Anvil to do more training. There she has to torture people to learn how to draw strength from others pain and then how to project pain over a distance. This concludes her training here. She returns to her shadow to see that it reflects this new change in her with violence rising and more suffering and brush wars occurring through out.

Marcuis simple goes to sleep then following day heads to the Embassy to pick up on his Sorcery Lessens.

Now they all get a message from a variety of birds. Trace has a pigeon deliver a note on his leg in the woods, Caroline has a small falcon arrive on Victorias shoulder and hold out its leg with a message, Rhi's was an eagle that arrived while she was at the Anvil so it comes in cawing in pain and twitching having seizures as it delivers the message, Marcuis gets a dark blood red bat with scars and a war torn look about it that kicks its leg out like a jack booted WWII Nazi parody.  The note says "meet at 7 for Dinner in the Blue Dining hall" No one recognizes the writing except Victoria who doesn't say who it is.

Marius comes on time, Rhi a few moments early, Trace not bothering to clean up shows up a minute before 7 and Caroline shows up still dripping wet from her shower and slightly clinging clothes as Victoria made her run back to the castle with only a few moments to spare.  Trace paces about impatiently expecting that who ever summoned them should be there when they called the meeting. The rest sit and start to eat. After the meal the door opens at the far end and Benedict comes in. He stands at the head of the table and simply states. " I understand you asked for help" He stands waiting for them to talk. She ask questions and he reiterates a few things they had already been advised by others. Trace keeps asking about what to do about the Broken Pattern sword and Benedict says like 3 times Don't get hit. Seems Trace was expecting an answer that included magic or some other power to counter it perhaps not realizing that is not how benedict would deal with it. He mostly reminds them that as individuals they will constantly lose or fail. Even as mistrusting as his brothers and sisters are when the enemy came to their doorstep they set that aside and chased them all the way home, to which he ask the Chaosian "Right?" Marcuis merely says it was before his time. Then he says he is done if they have nothing more but he will be about the castle for the next few days if they have need.

As he leaves he steps outside and they here him say "Brother" and someone answer in Kind. Bleys then steps in and walks up pulling out a chair and sits. He comments on now that benedict is gone they can talk casually. Bleys even tells Trace he can finish up committing treason because Bleys has been read in. Bleys seems much more casual and happy then when they have dealt with him before. He has an honest conversation with them though they cover much the same ground about Pattern swords and such. Though he does say it is possible to make something Imbued with Pattern energies that may be effective but it is a weak toy compared to the real blade.

After the talk the group starts talking over tactics and what to do. This was way too much to relate so I will cover the highlights. They do come up with some good ideas but had trouble deciding on which of the two main ideas to do. Ambush more people to undercut the Benedict shadow's power base or to directly assault their home base.

The group, being typical Amberites, keep making petty comments and bickering which was fun for me to watch, sadly they just won't or don't seem like they can get it together in a real fight.

Caroline and Trace snipe at each other quite a bit. Marcuis remains quiet not commenting when they finally ask him what he thinks he says what does it matter since some people think of him just as the Chaosian.

They finally settle on more Ambushes to see how that changes the battle field.

Need to record their talks so I could remember all that was said a little better.

This story is getting funnier all the time.
I can just imagine Rhi thinking to herself: "I need to practice some torture. Where should I go? What place has a few dozen guys who deserve to be tortured? (Endor? Naboo's Gungan city? Middle Earth? ...)"

Teacher: "Next week, class, we'll be firebombing an orphanage. Trust me, it's for a good cause. Read chapter 7 in your texts, Ignitions and Accelerants."

So now that Trace knows Christina is a virgin and likes him he goes and visits her in her bedroom. The boy is starting to get his priorities straight. Too bad a cockblocker was in the way. Maybe next week (after he proves his prowess in battle.) Now if only we can get him to stop blabbering State Secrets to everyone he meets...

Asking help from Benedict. Yeah, that worked out well.

Poor Marcuis. I feel for the guy.

Here's a question: a couple sessions ago there was an army marching on Amber and they had a dragon chew on it for a few minutes. (Although where the dragon came from I'm not sure.) Did they destroy the army? Or cause enough damage to force a retreat? Or is it still marching across the shadows?

Well everyone knows she initiated into the Anvil of Hell but don't know she has been going back and getting more into it.

There was mention of capturing one of the minion bad guys and questioning him, Rhi jumped right to torturing the guy for Intel. Everyone made the point/comment that the first guy they captured (The shapeshifter) was going to be tortured/questioned and she didn't like the idea, Now suddenly she is.

Trace went to see Christina in the Infirmary and not to take advantage. Every time he suggest it even jokingly the players remind him that Benedict told him when they were both laid up in the infirmary. "If you take advantage of Christina, I will end you"

Yeah I think Random is going to have a discussion with him about that. And his childishness.

Yeah I told him playing the Chaosian was gonna kinda suck, Kinda like bad stuff but It balances out because no one in Amber trust him enough to ask anything of him so he has less obligations. Even the Chaosian delegation sort of ignores him since he is not a member (and afforded no Diplomatic immunity etc.) He only has whatever power/authority/freedoms the others give him in Amber and has to be escorted on occasion.

The players released the Primal dragon on them after making a deal with it. It had a time limit so didn't destroy the Army. The demon Army disappeared into shadow. Everyone assumed it was headed to Amber but that was an assumption.

Of course if they thought about it they know (or at least Rhi does) that Martin was fighting off a demon army attacking Corwin's Shadow/Pattern.

There is an army attacking Arden at this time (Explains away Kal's absence until the player can play again) but it is a human army.

Players may have assumed it is the same army despite them being completely different people in the army a demon one versus a human one.

So A session happened again :)

Beginning with everyone Tired from their discussion and wanting to mull over things as to what exact step to take next. Most headed off to sleep or do some studying on things (such as spells) that may help.

The next day Caroline and Rhi meet planning a breakfast/brunch meeting for the group. Trace Gets an Official summons from the Crown A letter sealed with the jewel of Judgement. He dresses in his normal clothes clean but not fancy even after getting a Florimel voice in his head that maybe he should dress appropriately. He is escorted to the Throne room where he is announced. He comes in and pays his respects, I tell him how can he since he has already ignored the proper dress or attitude but he does his best.

Random accuses him of treason but he says he did what he wanted to do. Random points out he had already been advised then ordered not to talk outside approved sources, which he violated. When asked what he would do in Random's situation he tried to avoid giving an answer saying he would never allow himself to be placed in such a position (As if having that done means your an idiot) Random presses him and he finally says "Probably Nothing". Vialle meanwhile reaches over to take Random's hand and he brushes it off. Finally after mulling for a few moments sends Trace to the dungeons for time to think on an appropriate punishment .

He is escorted and disarmed politely by the guards and locked in a cell. Mouse curls up outside. Later Christina comes to see him but is turned away and he sends Mouse to watch over her since she is crying.

When Rhi sends her note to Trace about the meeting it is returned and she is told he is "Detained" But before she has a chance to see what is going on a Summons to come before the Crown is delivered to her and Caroline. It request their attention "at their leisure" Which means as soon as you can properly present yourself.

Caroline after hearing about the detainment decides to go all out calling in body servants to help her dress and fix her hair. While Rhi (more accustomed to official events) gets dressed as well. Once done they approach the Throne room and are announced. Random ask them much the same question, Knowing of his treason what would you do.  They both him and haw not really suggesting anything. He ask them to think on it and dismisses them.

They go back to their room and pull open the liquor cabinet and start some serious thinking. Trace is difficult for every punishment they think of his uncaring attitude would mean it truly would not be punishment. They boil it down to three things he cares about Mouse, Sorcery and Christina. Some serious discussion to using Christina is had but angering Fiona is dangerous.

Then Christina shows up crying and Rhi gives her a hug and invites her in. The hug causes Christina to wince as everyone has forgotten her recent injury. Mouse curls up outside. Not long afterward they hear Mouse growling and then a heavy handed knocking at Rhi's door. She opens it to find Fiona staring her down, flush with anger. She calls for Christina saying that she is suppose to be in the infirmary. Christina' shoulders slump and she stands turning slowly and walking to the door, Rhi gives her a small hug and she steps out to walk with her mother. Fiona orders Mouse to stay but he ignores her.

Soon Trace feels his connection to Mouse disappear completely.  Soon after he is brought his meal of a water jug and gruel. He conjures the water into wine. Soon after he is moved to a new cell that cuts him off from magic and the Pattern.

After much discussion Caroline and Rhi come to the conclusion that Christina has enough problems as does anyone else Trace may feel bad about being punished except mouse. Also that his sorcery may be denied or curbed as well as some prison time, a few years should do. They freshen up and send word to the King they are ready to meet.

Trace is summoned to the Throne room. They all meet outside and are announced. Random ask Caroline and Rhi their thoughts. Standing before Trace they relate what they had thought, Reduce Mouse to a normal dog again, Restrict Trace's Sorcery and Imprison him for 5 years. Random mulls it over and announces that He will hold Mouse hostage against Traces' good behavior, that when he is not actively engaged in the endeavor he has assigned he is confined to the dungeon, and that he takes orders from Caroline while in the field.

Trace makes a comment about what kind of person punishes a Dog, to which Random replies what man loves a dog but cares little so little for anything else. Trace then admits he does not know where Mouse is at this time. And he does make it clear that Mouse is being well treated to which the King replies you are being punished not him.

They are all dismissed. Trace grabs some study aids for his work on spells in his cell, Rhi and  Caroline wander back to their room to think.

Trace stops by to see Christina but Fiona answers for her as he spots a little blood stain on Christina's side from her earlier wound, perhaps she tore it open when she was gallivanting about. He ask where Mouse might be. Fiona says he didn't listen to her and therefore was dealt with but since the king needs him, Trace feels the connection return. He meets Mouse and explains to him the situation and sends him off for confinement.

"He did what he wanted to do."

You know what that reminds me of? Back in the early 80's when my buddies and I were first playing D&D and AD&D they latched onto the idea of playing "Chaotic Neutral" characters with the idea that it provided unlimited freedom of choice of action. Technically, they were correct, they could do anything they wanted and I couldn't call foul on alignment grounds. But when they started robbing and murdering peasants, clergy, wealthy families, etc. at will the local lords and nobility still got angry with them. Soon they were being chased by law enforcement as well as dealing with whatever bad guys were in the area. Some places saw the PCs as just another group of bandits.

"Reduce Mouse to a normal dog again." How cruel! Like saying "Let's give the kid a lobotomy." Sheesh. I bet it was Rhi who came up with that idea. I'm glad Random didn't consider it.

Marcuis may feel like an outsider, but with this group most of them are. Caroline and Kal still have their dignity.

Serious thinking requires liquor. Yep, love it.

He does play his character that way. Talking about beheading or a death sentence say he would just roll up a new character. I read him a quote from the book about loving your character and would you stay in a dungeon for a ton of sessions like Corwin's player would have had to do. I think it surprised him. I told him,as I was told, Dead characters can't be tortured. Also said I'm doing roatary characters ya Die, Ya die.

Actually it was Caroline's Idea to "neuter" Mouse. Her reasoning being that he could be "Re-Moused" later so that it wouldn't be permanent.

Marcuis and the player like doing Outsider sort of characters. Not so much a Loner that it is disruptive but never just part of the crowd.

Tonight should be interesting as we see if Trace can behave or not, Exactly how much does he care about Mouse?

Session began with everyone having a nights rest.

We begin with Trace while the others waken and plan their days. Trace tries to figure out how to enlarge his 10 by 10 cell into something the size of a Gym but realizes that in Amber his ability to conjure that level of permanent effect is beyond his ability. The effort used would not be with the extremely shortened results as the Patten Corrected everything. So he decides to work out.
   He has a visitor that morning and is told by the guards that he must kneel whenever another Lord or Lady comes to visit him. He refuses and the first visitor leaves with no one knowing who he is. He then feels as if Mouse can no longer run. He doesn't know if he has been imprisoned further or had his legs amputated.

   Meanwhile Marcuis chases down Rhi to discuss a plan of attack seemingly growing bored with the progress of the group. He discovers Caroline is out training with Victoria still. So they decide to go visit Trace and discuss the next step.

   Thinking they are to be announced I tell Trace he has a Lord and Lady visitor please kneel. He capitulates since he now realizes Mouse is punished each time he does not follow the rules. Gerard and Florimel come in and talk with him. Gerard more or less tells him his is trying to be his advocate so quit making it hard on him by being a Dick. Florimel wants to make sure he is properly cared for commenting on how his clothes don't match the environment. She'll send him something and visit everyday if need be. His normal leathers are not at all suited to this chilly cell and all this working out just means sweat stains all through the leathers. So she'll bring him something more comfy. She also starts fixing his hair but Gerard ask her to stop seeing how uncomfortable Trace is. They then exit.

   Later Rhi and Marcuis arrive and Marcuis has fun with him exacting his revenge for always being called the Chaosian by calling Trace the Prisoner. They talk for a little while and plan to meet later. Trace ask Rh to check on Mouse for him fearing he is being abused. Not lng afterward a few piles of clothes arrive, enough to cover Traces only surface his bed. He conjures some shelves to hold them and changes into them.

   Marcuis goes to see Caroline in the field. She is practicing with real blades against Victoria then multiple Amber guard. 4 then 6 then 8. Caroline talks with Marcuis about meeting for dinner and Victoria calls up her archer unit and then tells Caroline if she wants to make dinner she better get moving pointing to the Castle cliff face about a half mile away telling her better get moving, she doesn't want to lose her lead,  as the 10 archers line up behind her. Marcuis watches as she jogs to the cliff face and starts climbing and the archers start catching up and firing arrows up at her in volleys. Marcuis wanders off in thought.

   Rhi visits her Father while he works in his office. He talks with her a while and she ask about seeing Mouse, He ask why she says why he answers no, Not if it is to sooth Traces nerves. They small talk and as they do Random starts to pivot his head around and tilting it as if trying to hear something. Then he spins to his liquor cabinet and grabs a shot glass and pours a quick shot then steps to the window throwing it open. Rhi watches trying to figure out what he is doing as he leans out and hands the shot glass to Caroline as she climbs by telling her "Hi". He stoes back closing the window and Rhi excuses herself to go meet Caroline on the roof. Caroline finishes climbing up the Ramparts as guards watch. The arrows having failed to reach her for some time when she turns to wave, Victoria nods and draws backa bow to send an arrow whistling past Caroline's hand. Victoria's voice echos in Caroline's mind (not literally) "Remember who you are fighting not everyone is of Shadow stuff."

   Trace receives some more clothes from someone. One in particular is an brownish orange jumpsuit with his name embroidered on the back. Upon description on of the players realizes it is an Orange prison jumpsuit.

   Caroline and Rhi go get ready for dinner and send for Trace from his cell. Trace ask for his weapons but the guards tell him they understood it was only a meeting. He heads up to the meeting. The have a nice pasta dinner and discussion of which Marcuis leads it the most. They settle on the shadow conditions they want and what equipment they want functional there. They agree to meet in the morning. Trace says little and Caroline comments that he is pouting. Some discussion is had over taking prisoners or not, Marcuis needs to know because it will effect how he attacks. They decide more Intel would be helpful so plan to capture at least one of them.

   Rhi and Caroline go to see Random and here his drums being played up in the tower. They find him however in with Vialle having a brandy. He pours them some and small talks for a short while. Finally Rhi ask who is playing and Random says Martin was working out some frustrations on his kit. Caroline ask to see Mouse, Random ask why she says just so he doesn't Think he is being punished by them. He says Mouse is at Gerards Manor house down by the docks. She sends him a note asking if she can drop by in the morning to see Mouse. Rhi and Caroline go up stairs to see Martin and they jam for a lil while with Rhi being an accomplished Guitarist and Caroline managing to pick out a few keys on the piano (Straining to remember lessons from Florimel in music appreciation).

   In the morning Caroline goes and sees Mouse who is in a small pen, she lets him out and they play for an hour before he with resignation goes in and shuts his own gate behind him. Trace gets the feeling of fun and freedom from Mouse for an hour or so before it becomes an inability to run and sadness. Marcuis creates a Logrus Creature outside the Castle proper disturbing some early merchants.

   The next morning they gear up then Trump to Rhi's shadow and witness some violence their she says she needs to do some tweeking but has been busy. They use the Transporters to teleport outside town only now the Transportation is extremely painful which Rhi sort of likes but she can't warn the others as they come through all comment "WTF" basically. She says she has some work to do on it.

   So from there they move over a few shadows and Hell ride to a shadow that meets their conditions with Rhi leading the way. By first finding some form of transportation, She finds some Jet ski looking hover bikes and they take off. Comments are made about Marcuis Logrus Creature who looks like a lizard with preying mantis like scythes for front limbs riding tandem on his bike.

   They arrive crossing some surf to a flat island about 2-300 yards across and little tidal movement. They set up in the center with Caroline getting her gear from her shadow warehouse. The Logrus Creature digs itself a fox hole as do some of the others. Trace sets up several long lasting defensive spells . And they wait.

Next week is the Ambush!. Boy do they have some surprises.


Highlights - How easily they buy into the Florimel only cares about fashion and etiquette, not realizing they are thinking exactly what she wants them to.

Also now knowing the worse punishment for Trace is he can't avoid people like he once did and has to be vaguely polite to whoever visits him.

Well One player is out of town and another grew ill so I only had two players. We decided to do a prequel sort of adventure. With Marcuis and Caroline available they chose to go back to their time in Chaos with Trace. Since Trace disliked Chaos and had no interest in exploring he stayed at Marcuis family shadow ways.

Both Marcuis and Caroline were interested in the different Primal sources since this seems to be a source of power for the Shadow adversaries they are dealing with.

So we picked up shortly after initiating into the Pentacle the two are eating and talking with Mandor. They start questioning him on the origins of these Primal Sources. He explains they usually originate in one of three ways; A reflection of a Primal Power such as Broken Pattern or Fixed Logrus; an Interaction of two Primal Powers such as a path or place that lets one Trump or transport to Shadows of Desire; or an ancient power or result of shadow environment interactions (Such as the Keep of Four Worlds or the Blue Crystal Caves  in the Merlin series which have not happened in this campaign.). He admits to being aware of a few but information as always in Chaos has value. He offers to share two such places for each of them, one of specific interest and the other of general interest if they agree to do him a favor or if they help Merlin sometime in the future he would feel the debt had been paid.

He tells Marcuis of a Place called the Endless Siege which allows extended access to shapes and forms when shape shifting. He also tells him of a place called the Schism which is a reflection of the Abyss that has some power to sunder or destroy things.

He tells Caroline of a Place known as the Lodestone that allows one to perceive the connections between things. The other place is the Neverending Stairs. A place that one can stride through to find shadows of desire or objects but that exist outside or perhaps hidden within the normal shadow barriers.

So the bold adventurers set out first heading for the Schism as it is close to the Abyss itself. Marcuis throws Black threads out and only has one slip into the Abyss and begins reeling him in. Caroline uses a Pattern defense to reach out and snap the Logrus Thread connection before Marcuis is dragged into the Abyss. They find a creator/well/pit where Marcuis feels something similar to the nothingness of the Abyss he felt before. Within is a pool of slowly simmering Abyss that seems calmer than the roaring explosive interaction of reality being destroyed not so far away.  After studying it for a little while a small hunched backed and ebony skinned old lady wanders up the lip of the Pit and starts turning the almost volcanic rock around the pit to a soft powder and making herself a comfortable seat. The characters wave at her and she smiles waving back as she sits and seems to listen to something they cannot hear. Not music or conversation her face shows but perhaps something else. They approach her and she nods and smiles in somewhat tattered clothing. They ask her about the place. She says with smile that this is the Schism and doesn't it have the most beautiful sounds. All they can perceive is a low rumbling with the occasional pop of reality being consumed. She tells them this place is about the ending of all things nothing last forever even forever will end. That by truly listening to the sounds of the Schism they can gain mastery over that destruction. They Thank her not wanting to learn to much about this power.


Next they head fr the Endless Siege since it too is located near the Chaos Courts. After Marcuis throws out Black threads seeking something that has those characteristics. He spends hours skirting around the outer edge of the Courts and finally comes upon a Black Kingdom port seemingly run by House VanderGhast. After speaking to a Three mouthed Porter/Dock Laborer they learn that it is whispered the Siege lies on and island out in the Orange sea they are standing before. Marcuis shifts into a bat large enough for Caroline to ride. They cross this strangle undulating sea to find an island with a grey sand and an angled cave mouth. As they land they see the cave sone and sand has drawings/carvings in them of various animals, elementals, demons and primal creatures. The waters lapping against the shore do not seem to be changing these images. The cave mouth is at an angle and below the sun shines into what appears to be a cool pool of water. The sandy shore feels cool as well. As they walk though their feet sink into the sand normally, as they step away the images resurface leaving no prints behind. Once inside the cave They see the asymmetrical nature of the cave and multiple tunnels leading away of varying sizes. Nearer the pool a small Imp like creature slowly crawls forth from the sand. He looks at Caroline and shakes his head saying "No...No...No" (She has no shapeshifting) but he looks at Marcuis and ask if he is ready for the Endless Siege. He hesitates for a moment which is all the Imp needs to gesture and step back as a huge snake erupts from the pool snatching off Marcuis leg. As it tilts its head up to gulp it down more animals, Elementals, demons and other creatures poor from the tunnels and begin consuming Marcuis body. Birds circle and peck at his leg held by the Serpent and worms burrow from the earth and into his body. Even the Imp leaps upon his chest pulling out his screaming tongue. Caroline watches as he is literally torn to small tiny bits and various nameless and sometimes almost formless creatures consume her companion. Each time she steps to interfere the Imp wags Marcuis Tongue at her in a No-No gesture. After Marcuis is reduced to various component parts the creature start passing him or puking him up into a pile that slowly melts and shifts into multiple forms becoming Marcuis once again. Marcuis now feels as if he can call up any animal shape he may need and that is ability to auto shift has become more refined. They ready to depart as the Imp watches on smiling.

Now they are done in Chaos and Marcuis flies back to the Black Kingdom and Trumps to his Shadow. In his shadow the war has gotten worse as his shadow dwellers are fighting using cybernetically enhanced animals and animal themed implements of war. Bear cavalry, Cow bombs, and any number of truly chaotically odd things. Marcuis enjoys there development as he talks to them they start running off on other tangents such as fruit based attack weapons. He request two mounts and they ride off into shadow looking for the Lodestone.  Soon the mounts start dying and falling apart as they expected. So Caroline finds more suitable mounts, a pair of armored horse sized wart hogs and they ride off. Caroline finds her ability to locate the shadow of the Lodestone (Desire) futile though they end up at the foot of Y'gg. There they find a young girl eight or nine playing with a stick hitting a pine cone. She engages them in a game of stick and cone making up rules as she goes along. They have fun and when she finally tires she sits down and looks at Caroline pointing her fingers at her own eyes and then at Caroline in the I'm watching you signal and says that Caroline is looking for the Lodestone, she can see it. She continues making the gesture as she speaks saying her mother is at the Lodestone and the little girl can see their connection. They ask if she can take her to the Lodestone but she says she has to ask her mom first and wanders off fading into shadow. Carline also uses the weakened barrier created by her rid eto send to wart hogs away as well.

So with some time to kill Marcuis reaches out into shadow with his tendrils and brings back some camping supplies including one tendril on fire with a camping fire. They set up camp and since they have time Caroline works on a Trump of Y'gg finding it a difficult / weighty exercise that takes a lot of her energy and time. Much more than usual. Meanwhile Marcuis explorers Y'gg climbing the branches and seeing that they each lead off to other shadows with central anchor points represented such as an oasis in the desert or a grand tree in the forest or a mountain peak looking over a valley where a small trickle forms a grand river etc.

After 4 days the Girl returns with a 30-35 year old woman and the girl starts teasing Marcuis and they play while the woman watches and talks with Caroline. She tells her that she can lead them to the Lodestone as it cannot be found unless someone shows them the path. The girl finishes playing and they then follow her mother through shadow in a slow almost methodical manner. Soon the reach a hill with a blue/green monolithic stone. Caroline ask how does one become an initiate. The woman responds that she merely faced away from the Lodestone laying her back on it allowing herself to slip into a trance and start feeling/perceiving as the stone did.

Caroline does so sitting before it her skin touching it gently and slowly sinking into a trance / hypnotic state where she can feel the forces in the universe tugging and pulling at her skin then each pull and tug grows deeper within her and she feels as if she is melting into the stone. It slowly pulls her apart along threads of power and possibility. She feels and sees the connections between all things as nothing truly exist except as a part of something else a reaction or interaction between all things. Soon she recovers having felt as if she was for a moment pulled across a spider web of reality.

Marcuis follows suit becoming one with the stone though his experience is slightly darker and more ominous and his connections are not positive ones.

They thank the lady and her daughter and head out once again into shadow seeking the Final Source the Neverending stairs. They relocate their mounts and ride across shadow finding themselves at a 1950-40's mall parking lot. Where it is snowing. They go inside with Marcuis slowly shifting himself to match their clothing and Caroline weaving through the crowd to find an abandoned bag of period appropriate clothing. They wander through the mall until the come to a door with "No Access". Opening the door they see a set of stairs winding upward and downward in a blue sk with clouds floating by. Their are landings and doors through out as far as they can see. They realize stepping across the threshold may strand them within this space. So leaving it there they travel back to Chaos to retrieve Trace and continue on their way back into normal time stream.

Highlights - Marcuis player indicated he was unhappy with his character so he developed another one but I was unsure of introducing another character when his was, in my mind, perfectly viable. So we talked it out and he felt he had roleplayed himself into a corner. He felt the character was an outsider and not really meshing with things which he admitted I had forewarned him of. I reminded him as a shape shifter and a Chaosian it was possible to literally become someone else in a sense. I told him since he had not to far in the past gone into Primal form that it could have brought him back "different". He played this session with some renewed enthusiasm for the character which I was happy about.

Highlight - Being able to run two players. One of the reasons I love Amber.

Highlight - Spending bad stuff on a cautious player/character. Marcuis initiated into 2 Powers putting him into some serious negative points for advancement. He usually is so very wary of Bad stuff or promises so between agreeing to Mandor's request for a favor and dipping into potential bad stuff it gets interesting. I give out points every session for advancement spending it when I feel the need and I will float a player a few points without penalty but dipping to far top fast means Bad stuff. I also run bad stuff differently as well. I use it as selling away part of your past or future bad things happen to you, not luck or impressions.

Ever read Raymond Feist's novels? He has an idea similar to your "Neverending Stairs": an infinitely long hallway with countless doors that connects to countless worlds. Technically the doors can be used by anyone but typically only advanced magicians can find and use them. Usually they are located in the back of bars, brothels, etc. A few times throughout the series Pug or a buddy has to use the hallway to get to some special world and find something or someone.
(Now there's an ugly powerful character. There's nothing Pug can't do. He's a demigod of magic.)

They wait four days for a kid to return? Now that's patience bordering on stupidity! I doubt I would have waited four hours. It worked out for them, but... geez!

Poor Marcuis, getting the outsider blues.
One of the things I thought about making a thread on was the squishiness concerning the Logrus tentacles and Pattern defense. The books don't really describe the things very well, I suppose so every GM and player can define their own uses and limits.
Can the (or do you allow) tentacles be used as long range fists to punch or whip with? Can you use them to lift or move objects (levers, buttons, steering wheels?) Can they entangle or trip up an opponent? And what range would that be? 20 yards? 100 yards? 1 mile? (Ever see the TV show Lexx? The character Kai has two claws he can shoot out a long distance and do multiple things with: grab items, crush hearts or throats, haul himself up a building.)
Same with the Pattern shield. How large can that thing get? How far away can you push it? Can you swing it around and block blows like a metal shield on the arm? How is it for bashing things with?
Maybe you just need to give Marcuis hints on how to use his Logrus tentacles, so he can see how neat they really are (if they are neat in your world.) Maybe he can watch two Logrus users dueling in an "Octopus Kung-Fu" manner, for example.

No have read some Raymond Feist but not that I think. I was inspired for that from some fantasy drawing so not like it was all that original an idea.

Yeah my players now me too well. They figured out waiting would be rewarded even for the kid, she did admit forgetting about the players.

Logrus and Pattern are not matter/antimatter in my game. They conflict but don't explode. I tend to describe it as a certain sensitivity to each other. They can interact but are a little harder to control. Since Merlin proves they can coexist I didn't feel they should be to dangerous to each other.

Doughdee222
"Can the (or do you allow) tentacles be used as long range fists to punch or whip with? Can you use them to lift or move objects (levers, buttons, steering wheels?) Can they entangle or trip up an opponent? And what range would that be? 20 yards? 100 yards? 1 mile? (Ever see the TV show Lexx? The character Kai has two claws he can shoot out a long distance and do multiple things with: grab items, crush hearts or throats, haul himself up a building.)
Same with the Pattern shield. How large can that thing get? How far away can you push it? Can you swing it around and block blows like a metal shield on the arm? How is it for bashing things with?

Yeah they can form physical weapons from fist to swords etc. You can use them for anything you would use your hands for plus you can even taste through them if you wanted. They are extensions of the user and the downside is they are extensions of the user anything really bad happens to them happens to the user. You could whip people, trip, lift things etc. Rhi likes to use hers to "Doc Ock" around since she is not stronger than an average Amberite. Range and most other factors such as strength and ability to manipulate things are based on Psyche.

The Pattern Shield (Defense) is nothing more than an anchoring of reality for that Character. I have had people try to extend them but it is difficult. it would be in a way making something else part of your personal reality. You could ram or bash someone with your Pattern defense I guess but it would be unpleasant. It is not like a physical shield, A separate part of you it is in reality you.


Doughdee222
"Maybe you just need to give Marcuis hints on how to use his Logrus tentacles, so he can see how neat they really are (if they are neat in your world.) Maybe he can watch two Logrus users dueling in an "Octopus Kung-Fu" manner, for example."


Yeah I had thought of that and I think he is starting to embrace all the things he can do. Not having other Logrus users handy makes it harder to highlight the abilities of what it can do. I just need to suggest more and remember not everyone has the experience in Amber that I do and having done or seen players do all sorts of neat shit with the powers. HE is still grasping the basics. I think part of it is a New to Amber player having two advanced powers. Maybe should have backed off on the number of points a new player campaign should start with.

Thanks for the comments though. Lets me know someone is reading this besides me and Marcuis Player. :)

This weeks exciting tale . . .

The group was short Rhi again as her player will not be back till next week.

So they settle on going for the ambush. They have dug in and since Caroline is going to provide cover fire with Marcuis's (now working) MLA (Magnetic Linear Accelerator). Marcuis and Caroline summons Imps to man the 50. Cal Browning. The Gunnery Imp appears with a WWII german spiked helm and overly large hands designed to operate the machinery. They also summon some more Imps to act as gun crew since they are afraid the Gunnery imp, only weighing a few pounds, may just end up spinning the 50 cal around in circles as he fires. So the Crew secures the weapon.  At this point Trace is maintaining some defensive spells and spells to prevent escape. Marcuis is ready to adapt and deal with any unforseen issues and Caroline is leading the attack and acting as Commander a role she does not want.

After cooling it a day or two the see on the beach a Tendril start to emerge from the sand. It seems to look about moving in a sensory gathering manner sniffing the air and looking about. A second then third join it exploring the beach but too far away to sense the ambush. Slowly a scrawny thin man starts to push his way through the sands and rising up. Caroline decides to take the shot. She wavers for a moment about going for the head shot but decides against it.

So it is pretty devastating when a .75 cal tungsten ball impacts a target. The description is theer was a smallish hole in his chest but everything behind it was a crater in his back. Pieces of him were sprayed back across the landscape and his Logrus tendrils shrieked "Betrayer" as they too faded back into nothingness.

They waited a moment to see if anyone else emerged into the shadow. Non did. Marcuis roped the body and dragged it closer to them and they decided to take no chances of it reanimating so Marcuis transformed into a fire elemental and went about turning the body to ash. As he did something in the dead man's leg popped and snapped making his corpse invisible. Marcuis tore pieces apart to see if that changed things and they played with it a while before the determined it was most likely a stored spell that had been released (Much like the Demon Summoners had at the castle). He eventually destroyed enough of the target that the spell failed and the ashy burned parts of him returned. Marcuis cleaned the area to remove the evidence of his destruction.

Marcuis also pulled up a Logrus Lens to chekc the guy out before he was destroyed. He say the fading remnants of the "Bastard" Logrus like Rhi's except it made him think Trace was going to betray him. They comment about the Paranoia focused Fixed Logrus pointing out the places in the past investigation that pointed to its use. Marcuis also checked up and down the Black thread that remained the guy was using to travel but found nothing of interest except he seemed to come from the barrier Shadow.

The group debated on to stay or leave, finally settling on waiting to see if anyone came after him. A few days pass without incident. They decide to try to set up another ambush. Marcuis tosses his MLA rifle doubting it would survive a Hellride. The imps look disappointed that did not get to fire the gun. So Caroline allows them to. After about half a belt of rounds the .50 cal explodes blowing the gunner and crew to littler bits. Caroline realizes had she been firing it would have been bad for her probably losing a hand. Caroline trumps her warehouse and shows the scene to the Manager who acts evasive and sorry then says he look into it.

So they head out on a Hellride to set up another ambush, stopping at get mounts (Leopard/Lion mix with saddles and recently dead riders nearby.) Then after tiring herself Caroline slows and stops to find and inn (In an old west town with weird mounts that accept the players weird mounts) Caroline shifts some probability to find some Gold she steals off an old drunken bum. They bunk for the night. After another short Hellride, Caroline feels as if she is not getting closer. So they abandon the Hellride and Trump victoria to head report then decide after some discussion to head back to Amber.

Caroline sends Victoria a note who happens to be nearby, They plan to all meet in an hour and give reports and strategize. Trace heads to his Cell, Marcuis to his room and Caroline plans to take a bath. She finds several letters notes of interest from various Youngers and Elders.  Most are just friendly reminders if she needs help etc. But in taking time to answer them misses her bath.

Trace also finds something in his room. What appears to be a Trump of Mouse. He cast spells to see who had touched it (Fiona, Vialle and Christina) ,and who touched it last (Vialle). Some discussion was had why would someone do this kindness to him but I pointed out it may be a cruelty as the temptation to use it to run away is strong and being so much closer to Mouse is not necessarily a kindness.

Marcuis tries to reabsorb his Logrus creature who initially balks having evolved slowly but it eventually allows itself to be reabsorbed without a fight.

They meet and make their report with Victoria saying since Rhi si gone she will file it with the appropriate people. Victoria does wonder why the didn't try to capture the guy instead of killing him and why they did not at least search his corpse for information. Caroline says they didn't want to take chances and they didn't think to check him afterward but was afraid of him healing or coming back. Victoria merely reiterated that all the groups advisors said Intel was the way to win a war.

The Group then spent some time discussing tactics and how to approach the rest of the group the figure going after the Benedict shadow or the Oberon shadow (Obier) is dangerous but honestly the next logical step. But how to do that with some small chance of success.


Highlights - Caroline reading her Messages especially when she got to Christina's as the rest were upbeat and offering help hers started out "Sorry I won't get to see ya much. ..." She went on to say she missed them and tell Trace she is thinking of him etc.  One player was laughing since I switched voices telling her the letter contents in each NPC's voice including Christina's sad sack voice. Caroline told her to get a back bone and stand up to her mother. Yeah- Christina has never heard that before.

"I've been waiting 120 years for retirement! Been carefully saving, found a nice quiet Shadow, plan to build a little tropical hut right on the beach. Will spend the rest of my days fishing, drinking mai tais, perfecting my sand sculpting. No more cruddy bosses, no more dirty floors to mop.

"Ahhhh, here it is. No one about. Let the relaxation begin. Think I'll name the first sand sculpture Bet--" Traaahhhhhhhhhccchh! Gurgle. (WTF???)

(Later that week.)
"Grandma, where's uncle Thinbones?"
"I don't know. Pretty sure this is where he said to meet him. Look, here's the remains of a fire, bet he made some tea. He's probably just hiding with his invisibility trick again, you know how he always loves to surprise you with that."

Would be funny but she ID'd the dude from a previous encounter that is before she holed him :)

Funny thing is he was the weakest person in that group. Head and shoulders above shadow folk with some rather cool powers but still the wuss of the group. I think the characters were shocked how easy it was compared to the rest they have fought. Of course the only time they saw him he turned invisible and ran away more or less.

Thanks for reading though. Makes it worth it :)

Rhi and Marcuis could not make it but it proved to be an interesting session despite this. One of the many things I love about Amber.

So we start off just post the meeting and everyone returning to do things. Trace went back to his cell and Caroline went to see Sebastian in Rebma for dinner. She stayed in Rebma for the evening at the Palace.

Next day they decide to look into what has been going on in their absence. The "Symptoms" of the Terrorist at work. Caroline reviews the reports submitted to her by Victoria who has been the hub of information gathering concerning the current mission. Trace remains in his cell.

I point out to both players they have "staff" that deal with correspondence and such as well as ladies in waiting sort of help, They can personalize them or not as they see fit. Caroline chooses to have Abigail her lady in waiting/secretary who came from her home shadow to be her assistant, and Trace writes up a war wounded lady Valerra that he had saved during some skirmish. She of course like most his attendant (Mouse) have issues with his actions. As if he is insulating himself from his own stupidity.

While Caroline is getting reports Trace gets nothing. Having finally read the Proscripts that detail the rules of engagement for prisoners he knows that only other members of the royal family are allowed access.

Caroline spends time with Mouse that morning and checks in with Victoria to discuss the reports. Basically Caroline is concerned about Queen Jara taking over Kashfa again and reports of a Shapeshifter in Helicet. She schedules a meet with Caine after weighing asking other youngers for help or even Random. Deciding against pestering he King the decide to ask Caine for his input as his knowledge of the Golden Circle is stronger than theirs.

Caroline heads up to visit Christina after speaking with Trace who has the impression Christina is forbidden to see them. Christina is sitting u in bed and motions for Caroline to come over and when she reaches out for her hand starts a monologue while making mental contact with Caroline. The reason being that her lady in waiting followed Caroline in and seems to be Fiona's girl. They have a conversation about how Christina is subservient to Fiona. How despite others can say you need to get your own life they moment they take her out in the world, as soon as Fiona sweeps over her they abandon her fearing her mother. How do you think she must feel. Christina seems to be more mature and confident while in mental contact, sort of another face to her. They agree to go for a walk that evening after dinner.

Trace had sent for Valerra earlier and she waits for him outside the Dungeon and manages to intercept his guard as they leave for the meeting with Caine. The guards unsure of what to do allow them to talk for a moment before forcing the issue to continue on to the meeting as instructed. She waits for him outside.

When they arrive Caine is already their fixing tea. He follows a ritualized set of steps serving the tea. (My Caine loves to just do the unexpected and throw people off.) They begin talking and Caine mentions Jasra being a bitter bitch but an Ok ruler who dealt with Amber fairly well. The matter in Helicet he just laughs at says not be concerned they'll find out. (Marcuis is doing a PbeM that is him in Helicet helping the current Regime during the civil war.). He suggest that they steer the course and strike at the people who are causing the issues/symptoms.

When they mention that the opposition id quite skilled he starts to point out the true issue at hand. Something of a revelation to the players. If they fail in dealing with these shadow folk their whole generation may pay the price. He goes on to explain that Random did not choose them out of a hat but instead chose them to prove that the Amber blood line had not thinned too much. If he had chosen the perfect team then it might seem he is cheating so to speak but instead he chose competent youngers even going so far as to send his own daughter. The whole culling of the herd conversation is held by Caine in a matter of fact way.  Thinning of the blood is a concern and once you let the youngers continue to live you run some risk of them further thinning the blood. He ask casually if the thought had actually crossed their minds of the size of responsibility they care and they only say that it was a small thought in the back of their mind but it is quite different put so plainly before them. Caine says his intent was not to put more pressure on them but to let them no exactly what is at stake, it also goes o explain why the Elder's have not jumped in to help, in doing so they would be admitting the blood has thinned too much.  Leaving that hanging in the air he leaves.

Valerra meets Trace outside, it seems the guards have confirmed their orders as to what he is allowed to do. She gives him his "mail" telling him that his social engagements have seriously dropped off since his imprisonment which is Ok with him but she sours saying associating with a known traitor has its drawbacks.

With much weight on their minds they go check on other things. Trace mentions that he would like to work out and improve himself to help with the mission but he needs permission. Caroline talks to Victoria about it who bounces it up to higher authorities to see. Caroline has dinner and then meets Christina for a walk. The wander around the royal gardens having pleasant conversation and Caroline passes her a note from Trace. Which is cute but Trace just says hi keeping it light. They have a light pleasant evening

Meanwhile . . .

Trace hears the guards shuffle and snap to attention outside his door. The door opens and Random stands there with two swords and tosses one to Trace "So you want to practice" He proceed to duel with Trace for an hour talking about his day but not really engaging Trace in conversation other than correcting him in his technique.

He disarms Trace commenting about his grip and telling him he may want to be willing to give up the blade and change tactics. Trace says he usually fights two swords. He tosses Trace his blade and drops into a martial arts pose and tells him to come on. Trace feeling honorable won't attack him unarmed. Random says he's an idiot and does he think Trace could actually hit him. He offers a three day furlough which Trace passes on then offers one for Mouse instead. Trace launches him self at him and Random hold shim off for about two hours before he starts chuckling and then disarms Trace. Trace comes to understand while Random is not terribly faster or stronger, he seems to be able to read and anticipate his attacks easily. He final ends covered in sweat says nice work out and leaves.

Here we stopped the session.

So everyone is in attendance this game. Unfortunately Rhi's Player will be moving away within the next week or two and will no longer be part of the game. This will leave the game often with only two players so I will have to make some adjustments.

Everyone I think was tired so the game moved along slowly, we are all sort of loopy I think but It came together at the end much better.


So we started with where we left off. Marcuis had been trying to learn more about Amber while Rhi had been wrapped up in personal obligations as the King's daughter trying to be diplomatic and keep the kingdom's nobles happy. They both caught up with Caroline after her walk with Christina.

Caroline filled them in on recent events. Rhi was interested in the exploration of Primal Sources. Then had to have Caroline and Marcuis explain the culling of the thin blood thing that Caine had shared. I think she never considered the possibility. They did go over shortly what plans they may have for the immediate future. They are torn between assaulting the barrier and dealing with whoever shows up to stop them or trying to ambush Frost as they know she is not physically very powerful just mystically so.

Marcuis goes to see Trace but is not allowed to without Caroline's, ok. So he goes to get it shape shifting parchment like materials out of himself which Caroline looks askew at and says she'll just use regular paper. Marcuis checks in on Trace and they have an almost civil conversation and them Marcuis says he wants to see Mouse and goes to get permission from Caroline who says why do you think she has any authority over that, She only has authority over Trace when it comes to Mission specific events.

They decided to meet with in the morning with Christina and take her for a surprise visit to see Mouse while they mulled over their choices. Marcuis heads to the Library to study what recorded order the youngers walked the Pattern. The official notices are not particularly telling though they can see Christina had walked it fairly early on compared to the rest. ( this mostly springing from my comment to them when they were mental contact with her that the first time when she was 17-18 or so and walked the Pattern it was not her first time.).

Next morning Trace gets woken up by someone kicking his bunk. He springs out of bed and faces Random who has brought in an advanced form of Go or Chess to teach Trace tactics. Random grabs a stool while Trace stands and they play for several hours with Random giving small bits of advice to Trace.

The rest meet at Christina's door which she answers and they all head out. It is suppose to be a surprise for Christina but she seems to know where she is going and when they arrive the servants let them in to Gerard's villa on the waterfront. After a few moments Gerard come sout with a huge mug of coffee and offers them some. Christina leads them all back to the kitchen showing how well she knows Gerard's house. Seems Marcuis loves coffee and Gerard gets down several large mugs and serves them coffee, calling Rhi and Caroline wusses since they wanted cream and sugar. He makes Christina some hot tea. He yells to let Mouse out who pads into the kitchen and lays his head in Christina's lap. She pets and talks with him. Gerard talks with them a while finally saying get off your butts get going (Concerning the current events) then he excuses himself as he needs to meet with Random. He heads off and they hear him showering then singing loudly in the distance.

They all head out to the yard to let Mouse run and Christina goes to a shed and pulls out a stool to sit and watch. Trace can feel Mouse having a good time including the scratching that Christina was giving him.

Fiona finally gets back to Caroline (She had been reported out of the Castle) to see her saying come her laboratory. Caroline gets Rhi, Marcuis and has Trace brought to meet her. They end up in a side corridor of the dungeons before an iron bound door. They knock and Fiona answers dressed in blue jeans, green cotton button up and a used /stained leather apron. She continues to work around the Lab while the talk, paying attention but keeping busy. The Lab has all sorts of arcane sigils, tapestries and other materials. A Frankenstein like place but not dark or cluttered.

Caroline ask about the Barrier and since she lacks knowledge of Sorcery and magical things. Fiona explains that it is a physical and metaphysical barrier, much like any other out in shadow and is stronger than most because of the level of Reality it holds. Caroline ask about methods of Breaching it. Fiona says she had been over most of that with Trace and the biggest secret since it seems to be based off Broken Pattern is that it must, therefore, have a flaw like the Broken Pattern does.

They all head up stairs to talk and try to figure this entire thing out. So the group makes a list of everyone they have knowledge of in the shadow Cabal and start to try to think of the common thread. Rhi thinks that since they all have Primal source powers that may be it. They say they are all terrorist and cover several other common threads but like in a murder mystery they lack one fact, Motive why are they terrorist. They finally go back to the Benedict shadows conversation of why they attacked, Because Amber was out to get them. Finally they key on that they group is Paranoid, convinced that Amber will destroy them without evidence.  So with that information we ended the session.


Interesting notes

No one noticed Christina answered her door not the hand servant or others. Seems they would have but, Guess not.

Playing the Elders as real people is fun, catching Gerard in the morning, Fiona in her lab and not dressed in more formal ladylike clothing.

There might be a way that Rhi can continue playing. Have you considered using Skype or some such service? (Are there other skype-like services? I dunno.) It depends on how your play area is set up and what people have. Is your PC in the same room? Do you or someone else have a laptop? You might have to buy a good video capture camera and microphone. It would be awkward but doable. (Raiding in WoW is near impossible without a guild Ventrilo account.)

"Seems Marcuis loves coffee." Uhhhh... he's a Shapeshifter! "I hate coffee!" (Shift.) "I love coffee!"

"Trace can feel Mouse having a good time including the scratching that Christina was giving him." Gives new meaning to "threesome."

You know, instead of learning tactics through Chess or Go I think the group needs to learn better what they can and ought to do through direct practice. Have one of the elders drag them to a generic bad guy filled Shadow. He observes while they squash an increasingly difficult series of foes. For example: go to the Forgotten Realms and first clean out an orc cave (maybe use TSR's Keep on the Boarderlands and the "caves of chaos.") Then they move onto a band of slavers. Later they take out a castle of Hill Giants (G1) and a glacier of Frost Giants (G2.) Maybe toss in a McGuffin to help motivate them: The Scepter of Oberon has been stolen! We must find it! We've tracked it to... (Perhaps Lolth, the Queen of the Demonweb Pits, is just a nasty Chaosite with a spider fetish.) It may take a few play sessions but it will help solidify how good their sword and magic skills are, what Logrus tentacles can do, etc. Maybe at the end the elder gives each a graduation gift of some sort, a silvered hardened weapon for example. (You can put this in a speeded up time Shadow so it wont adversely affect your main course of events.)

Just a thought.

Thanks for the Reply Doughdee222.

We game in the store I work at which is a hobbystore with some gaming stuff. So I don't have access to any means to play long distance. I know she does since she plays in another game via Remote.

I found the Threesome comment funny especially since it would be Anonymous since Mouse is still pissed at Trace and is not telling him anything that he can't get from the Mental connection as his Item. So Trace in character has no idea why he is happy, just that he is.

Well they Game Random was playing was to see where he is flawed at. I picture it as being ranked in Warfare means you don't make the common mistakes anymore. It is more about overcoming their inclinations personality wise. Overconfidence, lack of confidence, Brashness etc are the things that get in the way. His advice was to watch out how he approaches situations. Taking big risk is okay but you better know the odds even then.

By example this is why Corwin beat Benedict (in the book) along the black road. He was angry and emotional not listening to his Warfare. Or he would have seen the trap coming. But that is just my interpretation.


As far as running training episodes. I have played with them for a while and the players are not gonna improve drastically as tacticians. Secondly I run 2-3 hour sessions and have learned my plot/pacing has to be more like a Movie than a series. I don't do any intentional Red Herrings (players provide enough of their own), I can't stop and change the campaign but have to keep it rolling. I have run games on a week night for like 6-8 years now and with that time frame and these players I sort of Know how off the rails I can allow the game to go before it loses energy and enjoyment. Third I don't want the to Play Amber like a D&D adventure game. I am trying to get the out of that vein as is.


If I had been smarter I cold have used something like you suggest in the beginning and built them toward the campaign. I have done that in the past and it works fairly well. Starting with shadow folk and advancing them to Amber status. But like I said the Short session time kills a lot of possibilities unfortunately.

I do appreciate the comments and advice though, It helps me consider things I haven't. :)

Thanks Again

Finally had another session after almost a month break due to holidays and personal events. It started slow as the two players were reminded of what had happened last session and we slowly got traction.

No huge reveals or events this week well except one, since Rhi's player has moved had to introduce the means of keeping her player "occupied" but not incapacitated as she may be PbeM or occasionally visiting.


So the session started out with a meeting of Caroline and Trace deciding on a course of action and realizing that perhaps they need to get some more help since the started with 5 people in the group and are now down to 2 sometimes 3. The run through their list of youngers finding reasons most are not suitable to ask for aid. The settle on trying to recruit Christina again and asking Cynthia to help as well. Though they realize though know very little of what Cynthia would bring to the table. Agreeing to speak to Christina one at a time and for Caroline to speak with Cynthia since they have an already established relationship. As the meeting goes on the notice a disturbance in the castle as servants scurry to look busy or away from the central concourse and halls. A heavy rain starts to fall and thunderous lightening sounds. A storm unlike most others starts to rage outside Amber. An unusual occurrence, though foul weather happens it is not common for it to come so quickly and harshly.

Caroline finds out through her secretary that something has upset Random. Trace gets permission to go see Gerard outside the castle. Caroline has to assign guards and sign paperwork for him to be allowed outside the castle were before she could just give oral consent for his travel within the castle. As they leave the meeting room they see the Chaos Delegation leaving or at least a large portion of it.

Caroline contacts Cynthia through her secretary and agrees to come see Caroline soon. They meet and talk for a while. Cynthia agrees to join the group and Caroline fills her in on the current events. (While Trace's player comments on committing treason :) ).

Meanwhile Trace weathers the storm to see Gerard who is busy securing the ships in harbor and tells Trace he will see him when he is free sometime after the storm. So then Trace goes to see Christina.

Caroline receives a Trump call from Rhi telling her that she is to be Chaos's "Guest" due to the number of attacks on Chaos delegation members and other "Incidents" that indicate the delegation is not safe with out some assurances. Rhi packs up her trumps and such, putting them away.  General Talon is waiting ion her room with her, his arms crossed watching as she packs.

As Trace and Christina sit down in the library and start to talk, Trace expresses how he misses her to which she blushes and he explains he would feel more confidant if she could come along to help them in their duties. As they are talking Random burst in shouting at Trace "Practice, Now!!" and storms out. The guards file in frog marching Trace along to the courtyard. Christina says she will come see Trace later in his cell.  Random strips off his shirt in the muddy courtyard as the storm continues to rain down and spends the next hour wrestling with Trace. Though he shows that his mind is else where he still soundly whups Trace, even when Trace tries to take advantage of his distraction he still gets batted around. Finally after an hour Random grunts and tosses Trace 20-30 feet then stalks back into the castle. Trace slowly follows after Victoria helps him up and smirks saying something about being seen with a traitor.

So by the time Trace gets cleaned up in his cell he realizes it is late and gives up on Christina making it that night. Caroline has her breakfast with Christina explaining how much she needs Christina's 'Badd assery" though Christina thinks while she may be powerful she is not a "badass" like her mother. Caroline does manage to convince her to help out and come along on the next outing. She seems shocked when they say that Cynthia will be joining them. Christina exclaims not to trust her, she's Caine's daughter and one that follows his "ways". She is not to be trusted. Christina goes on about this for a while.

So Trace, Caroline Christina, and Cynthia meet to discuss what to do next. During the casual dinner Trace tries to quiz Cynthia on her skills but she evades him handily and turns around pumping him for info.

They agree to head out for the Barrier and attempt another run at it but should gather some ground forces. With each getting a small unit, quality over quantity then trump to a point to start the attack.

This is where they ended things. Next week should be moved along at a better pace.

We had a session and Trace's player was Being extremely difficult so Caroline's player is done trying to game with him so The Game is officially Over.

Thanks for reading.

Quote from: Artifacts of Amber;721610We had a session and Trace's player was Being extremely difficult so Caroline's player is done trying to game with him so The Game is officially Over.

That's always a sad thing. Too bad they couldn't work things out, but this kind of thing seems to happen a lot in an Amber campaign. :(

Damn. It was fun to follow.
I can see Caroline's point though.

Quote from: Artifacts of Amber;721610We had a session and Trace's player was Being extremely difficult so Caroline's player is done trying to game with him so The Game is officially Over.

Thanks for reading.

Yeah does suck.

The Players for Rhi, Caroline and Marquis all want to do something Amber related on line. trying to decide what.

When I let Trace's player know we were stopping game he just said OK, No questions why. Trying to decide if he just doesn't care or was trying to sabotage the game. Since he is a freind otherwise it sort of sucks I suspect that though to be honest this was like his second role-playing game. I don't think he really ever got it. Oh well live and learn

Its hard sometimes when friends you want to hang out with don't fit the game.  I had a game with 6 people that played in a long series of games.  When I started an amber game with them one of the players really couldn't wrap his head around the concept, despite being a fan of the series.  He had a hack/slash game style and couldn't shift to heavy Rp.  He eventually stopped coming over if we were running am Amber session.  

In my first Amber game, a large one, there was a player who didn't understand the game.  He had read Amber and thought the point of the game was beating the other players.  So day one he attacked another character for no reason other then that he didn't like the player and wanted to kill his character(with the assumption that it meant that player would have to not be around as much). After many explanations and discussions he decided Amber was stupid and dropped out.  He then snarked at the rest of us as the game went on.  The game lasted several years, no part of it including him.   He played in other games, just not Amber.

Shit happens.  Its not a game for everyone.    Enjoyed the read along the way.

Quote from: Artifacts of Amber;721777The Players for Rhi, Caroline and Marquis all want to do something Amber related on line. trying to decide what.

When I let Trace's player know we were stopping game he just said OK, No questions why. Trying to decide if he just doesn't care or was trying to sabotage the game.

Well, why not just continue the campaign with the other three players? No reason why they have to stop just becasue he's not interested.

finarvyn

Because Rhi's Player moved away, Marcuis Player had a schedule change and can't make it but 1 out of every 5-6 sessions, leaving Trace and Caroline. The ones having the issue. Kal is also out of the picture as he is in school till may and can't Play either.

RHi, Caroline, MArcuis would and could play on line, Started a Thread about that!

Yeah, that is sad. As the others said, some players just don't mesh well or don't understand the campaign.

Sometimes the problems can be papered over. 20 years ago when I moved to Florida I joined a group and played a female wizard character (I'm a guy.) The GM and other players thought this strange, they weren't used to people playing opposite-gender characters, but it was a common thing with my last game group. They felt better when I played the character like "Mrs. Doubtfire." (Still though, about 1/3 of the spells I had chosen for the character were useless in the campaign, just not the GM's style of play. In the previous game they would have been very useful. I think it's often true: we do try to refight the previous war.)

I'm not sure how I would have handled Trace's player. As I mentioned before I am not totally against what he tried to do. He sounds like a younger me, in ways. But...

Doughdee222

I'm not sure how I would have handled Trace's player. As I mentioned before I am not totally against what he tried to do. He sounds like a younger me, in ways. But...


Yeah but there is also being such an ass or douche that the one other player can't put up with you and it isn't fun. He broke the cardinal rule "Don't be a dick" And since he so seldom games RPG's I don't know if it was intentional or not which makes it worse that I even think that. And it isn't like I didn't try to talk to him about it.