Redwolf's Journal (continued)

Odd dream this afternoon that made more sense (in it's own way) than usual. In a Musketeering era (with elements of romance, revenge, and intrigue that I was vaguely aware of), a man was fulfilling some prophecy that involved rescuing a wounded animal and being at the city docks at night with a metal trash can. He knew he was supposed to use this trash can as some sort of boat, but without any real idea how or where he was going. Then a figure stepped out of the shadows behind, shooting him in the back with a pistol. He fell into the trash can, which in turn rolled off into the water, drifting away... But this was okay, because he survived, the evil consortium thought him dead, and he would return with the freedom to act behind the scenes as he was believed dead. Then I was a GM outside the game, talking to the players about the scene and asking how much longer they wanted to play the campaign so as to gauge how much work I needed to do. It seemed as though we were in college...

Relatively low-key session, and probably best that was with people still drained from the holidays. Also only three players and the GM present. Speaking with Rufina's grandmother, Cassandra, provided some small measure of enlightenment. Though her little display of fate witch magic unsettled Sylvia, she did provide some answers. The symbol found earlier is one that caused her to bring up a secretive Illuminati-like order she called "NOM" - Novus Order Mundi. She felt the heroes' fates to be entwined in this mess and that Rufina's cousin was already involved in the order (as if they didn't realize those things already). Apparently, the symbol itself is not directly related to that, however. Rufina also talked of a city under the sea she saw in a vision. Cassandra warned against revealing anything about it, saying the Caligari (a prominent Vodacce family) would do most anything for it. She asked the others to watch over Rufina. All-in-all, it wasn't tru...

Not much involvement on my part this time around - which is okay, 'cause I was tired last night. After a couple days spent at the estate waiting for an invitation to see our mysterious playwright, Rufina ends up following her "evil" cousin through a secret passage into the wine cellar. There she overhears a conversation between Verona and an as-yet unidentified bad guy who seems to be manipulating events to our heroes' disadvantage. Ironic, perhaps, because they are looking for "the Manipulator" - whoever that is. He confessed to turning Sebastian's brother on him and spoke of potentially using something at home to get Sylvia out of the way, if needed. In getting away, however, Rufina attracted attention (proving once again the lesson learned from GURPS sessions: "It's all fun and games until someone fails a stealth roll"). Verona went after her. The mysterious baddy got away. Unable to get Rufina to meet her eyes for a Vodacce curse, ...

So we ease into December with a cold front, but little snow. I had lunch with my parents for my dad's birthday. Now I need to be more seriously thinking about Christmas. Ugh. Actually, I have perhaps half the gifts I need to get. I'm not sure I'm going to be gifting to my offline roleplaying group this year, though. It may still be doable, but I can't I can't say for sure yet. Finances are lower than I'd like. Seems they always are around December. I managed to finish a little bit of writing I started back in March. Heh. It emphasizes why I don't participate and National Novel Writing Month, though: I wrote more like five thousand words (plus the two thousand or so already there) instead of the fifty thousand mark in NaNoWriMo. Still, I feel more accomplished for it. Social play this week. Sylvia and Adam took to sparring (which is, for those two, a social activity). Rufina became a little more acquainted with her family. And Sebastian got close wit...

Not much to report this week. Sebastian, not willing to trust any more people-turned-puppets, suggested renting a coach and the group safely reached the vineyard of Rufina's uncle Guido. Prompting Nina's Outlandish reference: "Is he a wild stallion guido?" it was, of course, a somewhat emotional reunion, though it could probably be played out in more detail. For the rest of us, the place appears to be a safe haven for the moment, giving a chance to rest. Elapsed Time: 'tis late in the day when the group settles in.

We've been running into delays on and off the last few weeks, but thankfully got in a 7th Sea game Monday night. The morning after the rooftop combat and the fire, the party has mended their wounds to a degree and gathered their wits. Lucien is missing in, though his sword was found in the rubble of the neighboring building (as the player isn't playing that character anymore). And so Rufina has taken the blade and wants to get in touch with her half-remembered family. Over a somewhat awkward breakfast, Sylvia agreed to do things that way. The playwright the group came to Vodacce seeking has a nearby residence, though his primary estate is on another island apparently. Going to visit Rufina's uncle first is a detour - and the Eisen doesn't like that - but not too much of one. And, thanks to Sebastian's suggestion, it does allow time for a formal request for an audience to be sent to Horatio Caligari. No major action, though a bit of banter and much hugging by ...

Thankfully not in real life. This week's session was primarily action. Perhaps that makes up for last week. It was also a lesson in certain facets of the rules. While settled in at Romero Villanova's home, some party members having just gotten to sleep, Sebastian heard figures moving about that didn't belong. Confronting them, he found a group of masked and cloaked people with weapons. A shrill whistle had the rest of the PCs up and scrambling into the hall half-dressed and half-armed. This first engagement wasn't too bad. One got in a lucky hit on Sebastian, wounding him, but the others were taken down by Rufina and (mostly) Adam. Upon collapsing, the figures turned into wooden puppets not unlike the coach driver some sessions back. Foul magic indeed. Just as Rufina was inspecting Sebastian's wound, however, a more dangerous figure made his appearance by crashing in the window, grabbing Phedre, and swinging back out onto a rooftop. "If you wish to know ...

Odd session. While we were mostly awaiting a duel between Lucien and an unnamed antagonist, his player didn't show 'til last so the fight was entirely off-screen. That's very unfortunate, as it shaded things for the rest of the group. With a bar brawl breaking out and friends of the duelist eager to mix it up with those at the table with Lucien, everyone stood ready. Rufina, though, lept to a diplomatic approach, threatening the would-be assailants with some local authority she didn't really seem to have. Things were tense, but she talked them down much to the GM's displeasure. Talking one's way out of a bar fight, after all, isn't exactly the hallmark of swashbuckling adventure. This scene put Sylvia in an awkward position - one I, in retrospect, did not handle as well as I could have. With most of the conversation in a language she didn't understand, she was at a disadvantage as far as reparte. Plus, being very familiar with the war-torn state o...

Things feel busy at home. In truth, I can't imagine they really are much moreso than usual. But still, there are some things going on. My computer is futzing up. Actually, it's not as serious as it sounds. The power switch does not always turn on the computer. In fact, it usually fails to do so. I can push that button over and over for fifteen minutes before the thing finally comes on, and I'm afraid it will get worse, so I've actually taken to leaving the thing on more than usual. After some investigation, I suspect the actual switch in the case more than any of the main components of the system, but I can't get to that without breaking plastic. Urgh. But this has just led to me fast-tracking a project I was starting on anyway... I'm making a new computer. Some parts I have, some I'll recycle, others are on the way. I'm hoping the case and CPU fan live up to the hype, because I want something quieter than what I've got now. Our mid-week rolepl...

Entering a new chapter, and having spent many experience points, our protagonists set off onto the high seas, bound for Vodacce. Much to Sylvia's displeasure. She still doesn't like ocean voyages, and (even though she's my own character) I'm starting to understand why. It's never seemed to be a fear of drowning or being shipwrecked necessarily. Rather, it seems to be a matter of control. On land, she feels she can always fall back on something familiar whatever happens - even if it's just her own two feet on solid ground. At sea, if things go bad, she's at the mercy of ship, crew, weather, and current. The thought of being powerless because she can't control those factors disturbs her on a very deep level. Which, of course, came up a little when a trio of Castillian ships stopped Sebastian's El Vagamundo . They turned out to be under the command of Sebastian's own brother even, Filip, acting with royal papers and as a Vaticine inquisitor. ...

Having finally reached and spoken to the singer of the opera, the heroes found little more information to go on. Since the incident, she had been plagued by nightmares. She did sing the opening, though this seemed of little assistance, and recounted an encounter with a Vodacce man before the chaos. She was kind enough, though, to offer a coach ride back to town. Even this couldn't go uneventful, however. Six dark-clad riders caught up with the carriage, and another figure lept onto it from a tree to knock out the driver. Thankfully, Sebastian was paranoid enough to be up there too. He kept the reins from getting away entirely and engaged the man - starting with a glancing pistol blast - while the other assailants rode into position to support their apparent leader. Rufina and Phedre handled themselves reasonably well, harassing the one who had boarded the coach. The headbutt to the groin... ow. Yes, Rufina can fight dirty. Sylvia took a more aggressive approach which would ha...

The 7th Sea game continues, picking up in the middle of combat. The heroes huddled around (or in) their former transportation, awaiting the next attack from the devil-dog with an ability to tear in and out of their reality. It struck next at Sebastian, wounding him as it had some with Sylvia before. It wasn't, however, fast enough to get away. With Phedre taunting it and the others (even Rufina) pressing the attack, it didn't last much longer. It did get its teeth on Phedre briefly, but she seemed to be protected by some trick of Avalon glamour. The beast's wounds pile up until, finally, Sylvia was able to bring her dracheneisen broadsword down on it in a blow that finally put it down. Then, to mixed reactions of her companions, the Eisen swordswoman removed its head with another stroke. One never can be too safe. Afterward, the weary band made their way to the manor they had set out for in the first place. Rain-soaked and wounded, they were greeted with hospitali...

So, Tashiro has geared up for a 7th Sea game run on (but completely disconnected from the rest of) the MUCK. 'Tis an interesting game, but it's taking some getting used to as my play experience has hovered right around nil. Restoration-era RP in a sort of alternate Earth with magic and such. So we have: - Sebastian, the Castille (Spanish) nobleman Captain-of-his-own-ship - Lucien, the Montaigne (French) nobleman engaged to... - Rufina, a Vodacce (Italian) noblewoman with a case of amnesia - Phedre, a mysterious Avalon (English) woman who seems to be sidhe-ish, and seems pseudo-guardian for... - Adam, a glamor-blessed Avalon boy with a big sword (NPC) - Sylvia, my Eisen (German) noble swordswoman In previous episodes: Lucien and Rufina were, to start with, fished out of the water (after a nasty fate befell their last ride) to join the rest on Sebastian's ship. After arriving in port, arrangements were made to see a local opera. The heroes, however, missed the...