Savage Saturday Hiatus

It's that time of year again... Savage Saturday is going on hiatus for a bit. I might start again later in the summer... might be fall... we shall see. I seem to do this every spring… Things get busy with various kids activities winding up – final concerts and recitals and all the extra practices and rehearsals that entails. I also like to start getting out and doing some long distance bike rides on Sunday mornings.

I have some other stuff I want to focus on, game-wise; mostly Zulu War and Great War projects using Ever Victorious Armies/Contemptible Little Armies/Black Powder/etc maybe even some DBA or HOTT. I’ll be pretty busy painting new forces and preparing games for Toon Con in the fall. This I'll probably be doing most of this on random weeknights. You can follow all that action over on Tim’s Miniature Wargaming Blog.

I'd also like to do some more board gaming. I had actually planned to play Age of Conan this afternoon… but the whole family is sick so I had to call it off... I have a whole lot of board games, many of which I've picked up over the last couple years and played very few of them - I want to actually get around to playing a few more!

I also want to do some more painting of pictures, drawing of comics, get some more reading done and, as I mentioned, start getting up early for long distance bike rides on Sunday mornings, etc, etc... (You can read about some of that over on The Bike Blog and The Art Blog)

So I just don't have time to prepare and run a regular game on Saturday nights.

When I DO start up again I want to have a complete campaign planned out - toys painted and any required terrain/vehicles built, adventures read, cards for extras and wild cad NPCs all filled out, etc. It will be Realms of Cthulhu or Savage Space:1889 (so those of you playing in those campaigns that haven't completed a background for either of those characters - get on it!).

I did just order a schwack-load of Martians from Rafm (seriously… like 200 of them…) and I’ve been eyeing up Black Cat Bases Deep Ones and Mi Go and other assorted Cthulhu Critters (they’re on sale – 20% off - right now… doh…) - not to mention Rafm’s Cthulhu stuff. I guess that’s where some planning might come in handy – figure out which of those cthulhu critters I might actually NEED for the various adventures I’m going to run…

Cheerio for now…

Death in the Post

I’ve been a bit remiss in updating this. It’s been busy… Since the new year (when I haven't had to cancel due sickness or other stuff) we’ve been playing an adventure called Death in the Post from Green and Pleasant Land; a Call of Cthulhu source book for Britain in the 1920s and 30s, published by Games Workshop, strangely enough, back in 1987 when they still did stuff for… y’know… other games…

It’s a great sourcebook and a fun adventure. You can read the players entries (scroll down or check archives for Jan/Feb2001) to get a sense of their perspective of what went down.

Unfortunately it ended with Shivansu Malaker being torn asunder in the streets of London by a Hunting Horror – while a Scotland Yard C.I.D. inspector, three heavily armed police constables, a crowd of drunk and/or stoned bright young party-goers, and the rest of the PCs stood and looked on in utter terror!

Shivansu will be missed…

I’m trying to stay on track and continue with the Realms of Cthulhu campaign, with occasional visits back to the East Front … but I’ve been exceedingly tempted by Space 1889: Red Sands… and then Kapitan Mors BRILLIANT post about Lord Chelmsford’s Expedition, a clever blending VSF and Star Trek, over at Tea and Tiffin just about put me over the edge – ready to drop everything and start painting spare ancients with blue skin!

Stay on target… STAY ON TARGET!!!

From the Journal of François Serrurier

7th of April 1922 half-past eight P.M.

I am very happy that I ended up with this group of quite varied backgrounds. Even on the days where we seem to accomplish nothing I do something I haven’t done before. The best thing yet was just the other day. Shivanshu and I went into Briggs old house, to wait see if he would return there to make the next papyrus. We went in through the back door and once again I broke my record for an 1879 pin tumbler, this time I got it down to 1 minute and 9 seconds! Anyways once we were in we looked around. The place didn’t look like it had been lived in for a while; there was nothing much in the pantry and there were other similar clues. Then we went upstairs and I took a spot by a window that had a view of anyone coming up to the front door, Shivanshu did the same except he was watching the back. The night was uneventful so I spent my time disassembling and studying locks made by the new Master Lock Company, I didn’t learn much.

In the morning, around ten, someone showed up. I recognized Inspector Carlton and Constable O’Malley, the two officers looking into the murders in and around London. There was a third man which I learned later was the owner and landlord of the estate. I didn’t know this at the time and it isn’t usually a good thing to be found uninvited in a suspected murderers house. So Shivanshu and I left through the back window, sealed with just a simple latch, and then we scarpered.

It seems that we are getting closer and closer to finding Briggs, and I most certainly hope we do. He has already succeeded in killing two of his targets with the papyrus’ and twice as well the papyrus has been passed on to an innocent, who in turn died. It is said that all things come in threes and for the sake of the possible victims I hope that that is just a saying.

Francois Serrurier

From the Journal of Robert Weizz

April 6, 1922, London

I find myself filled with a sense of unspeakable dread, and fear that I have entered into something that I should not have come anywhere near.

Whereas, after my time in the orphanage, I have grown up under the wing of my father Hardeen and my uncle Harry Houdini, I find their teachings of debunking of the supernatural more and more distant. This dream of mine to return to Europe and follow my Hungarian ancestry, while earning a living as a magician, to be turning into something of a nightmare.

My life here in London started well enough. With my father and uncle's letters of introduction, the task of landing my first job at the well know Adelphi Theatre was not difficult. Until now, I have achieved modest success as the introductory magic act for a number of more well known performers. I fear that all that has now changed after falling in with the Baron and Professor Wraight.

Our initial investigations seemed innocent enough - tracking down the source of the recent death of one Professor Masters, obviously by an escaped zoo animal. The descriptions of the "facts" associated with the event were all events easily replicated by techniques taught to me by my father and uncle (or so I thought). But as we progressed further into the investigation, I started to feel more and more uneasy.

After interviews with the suspected next target, Doctor Winterton, the Baron convinced us that keeping the purported victim under bright lights last night would help avert the tragedy expected to unfold. I seized upon this as the perfect opportunity to set us up for the evening on the stage of the Adelphi, where under the bright lights I would have all my props at hand to more easily debunk the supposed upcoming attack. What a fine opportunity to show my father and uncle of what stuff I was made.

This was a mistake. I cannot bring myself to put down to paper all the details. Suffice it to say, last night was filled with horror beyond words. Bright stage lights or no, an immense winged beast terrifying beyond words burst in upon us and proceeded to tear the theatre to pieces - and make mockery of any attempt by us to resist. It made short work of dispatching the unfortunate Doctor Winterton.

And something else happened..... This beast did something to me that has placed me in a different state of mind. Gone are my foolish ideas of debunking. This horror is terrifyingly real - and I fear myself close to losing my mind.

I expect that my (likely former) employer will be ending my brief career at the Adelphi. But this is of minor importance to me now. All that I can think of now is this - How can I rid the world (and my inner mind) of this unspeakable horror????????

Ivan Jozevich Trotsky

Ivan Jozevich Trotsky (Dave)
Ag d6, Sm d8, Sp d10, St d6, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 5, Toughness 5
Skills: Fighting d6, Shooting d6, Notice d8, Stealth d6, Knowledge (Antiquities) d10, Persuasion d10, Streetwise d8, Driving d6, Boating d6
Edges: Luck, Alertness, hard to Kill, Connections (Russian Mob)
Hindrances: hard of Hearing, Caution, Greedy (Major)
Languages: Russian, Ukrainian, English, Arabic
Gear:Pistol (Range: 6/12/24, ROF1, Damage: 2d6, AP:1), Sawed off Shotgun (Range: 5/10/20, ROF1-2, Damage: 1-3d6, AP: 0)

Ivan was born on August 20, 1890 to Jozef and Paraskevia Trotsky. Third oldest of an eventual brood of six surviving children, Ivan was the first boy-child and became Jozef's pride and joy. After considerable financial struggle, Jozef finally got a good position as a prison guard Odessa prison when Ivan was three. As Ivan grew, Jozef would take him to see the prisoners and to show his son how important a man his father was. Jozef openly enjoyed the power of being a guard, and enjoyed extracting bribes and information from the criminals in his charge. The information proved more valuable than the bribes and he developed extensive connections to the Russian underworld that helped pad the family income. Ivan would sit with his father and hear the secrets the prisoners would whisper in exchange for a little extra food, or a little easier work detail. He would often be enlisted to help turn those secrets into money and food for the family, learning how to work the locals for information, whether through calculated banter or deliberate intimidation. Always armed, and always alert, Ivan thrived in the underworld of crime and political intrigue.

The most notorious prisoner in Odessa over the years was Lev Davidovich Bronstein who was a political prisoner at the jail in 1898. Eight-year-old Ivan loved to hear Bronstein talk; he stirred the spirit of the other men in the prison, at least until he was sentenced to Siberia in 1900. When Bronstein escaped from Siberia in 1902, he evidently took the Trotsky name for his own, becoming Leon Trotsky, a leader of the Russian Revolution and second only to Lenin in the Bolshevik army. Ivan grew up and married Katerina in the spring of 1912, and after many miscarriages, Katerina finally gave birth to a healthy boy, Boris Ivanovich Trotsky on July 15, 1918 during the height of the Russian Civil War.

Complications during childbirth prevented Katerina from having further children, so Boris ended up as Ivan's only child. Though proud of his son, Ivan has had little to do with him, and enjoyed the challenge and intrigue of business much more than family life. Katerina raised Boris on her own. Ivan leveraged his father's connections to develop a most-satisfactory career as an international smuggler/black marketer. He traveled extensively, both overland and by ship from the busy port city of Odessa, and gained a reputation as a man who could get what you needed. Ivan dealt with both sides during the Russian Civil War, securing suppliers and even personnel as needed. One unfortunate accident with a shipment of explosives in early 1919 burst his eardrums and permanently damaged his hearing. Travelling extensively, Ivan developed a lucrative knowledge of antiquities. There were always buyers for fantastic artifacts both archaic and arcane and this line of work proved satisfyingly profitable. A singular collection of otherworldly grotesques from the African sub-continent led him to a lasting friendship, both professional and conspiratorial, with the Russian Occultist Alexsey Borsokovski. Soon after Alexsey emigrated to England to escape some awkward troubles, Ivan soon followed and from then on he spent most of his time abroad.

Ivan established quarters at the Ormonde House Hotel, in close proximity to the recently completed King George V docks in East London. Ivan corresponded regularly with his wife Katerina and his father Jozef, who both remained actively involved with the business. While Ivan was abroad, Katerina received many visitors, mostly men, some with coloured skin and exotic accents.

Through his regular contact with Alexsey, Ivan became drawn into the activities of an eclectic group of self-proclaimed cultist-hunters. His knowledge of antiquities impressed them, of course, and he was sure to prove himself most effective and useful in their adventures. Though skeptical of the otherworldly stories, caution dictated an assumption of grave danger, even if only half of what they said was true. Though very confident in his discretion and certain that the group had little knowledge of his driving motivations, Ivan's primary interest was to secure obscure and valuable articles for sale to his international clientele.

From the notebook of Ivan Trotsky

1 Apr 22 George Edmonston
- papyrus, Egyptian? poss. forg.?
- prodigious qty obscure books and lit.
- gothic statuary, Italian?, num. bas relief
2 Apr 22 Edmonston murdered!
- papyrus police evidence.
- estate auction?
3 Apr 22 Prev. Res. Dr. Briggs
- superior artifacts! daemonic temple? basement
- brief glimpse, locked, return with Frenchman?
- careful of neighbours, police
4 Apr 22 Greyfell Institute, Northumberland
- panel painting, lobby, Dutch, van Eyck?, ca 1400?
- tell Nikolai
4 Apr 22 Dr. Winterton, Harrowgate, Yorkshire
- another papyrus, burnt! Idiot.
- good rugs, Persian?
5 Apr 22 Baron reports a Dr. Masters, Oxford, Murdered Apr 3
- also papyrus, obvious ca 1922!
- ask Baron if artifacts? Watch for estate.
- Took Winterton to London, protect from Dr. Wraight's "hunting
horror". Is it real?

Francois' Journal Entry

2nd of April 1922 9 o’clock p.m.

Today has been the most interesting of days. It was just this morning I received a telegram from the Baron and the Professor, asking me to come to London for a break and enter. Quite insulting actually, implying that I might actually have to break something. Of course I accepted the request, I quite enjoy new experiences and I had never tested the locks on a London townhouse.

I arrived in London and I was informed of the quite disturbing details of my summoning. It was about one Mr. Edmunston I think, I’m not quite sure. You see, the lock on the Baron’s dresser was an exquisitely made combination lock, it was not only beautiful but it looked like it would take at least four minutes to solve. I always do love those 1892 combination locks but I didn’t even get to ask what it was guarding before I was swept off to look around the loony Mr. Briggs’ previous residence.

When we arrived we asked around about the ownership of the house. One neighbour in particular was helpful after answering the door (1867 mortise lock, an ancient thing) she told us that Mr. Briggs had sold his house, and that she hadn’t yet met the new neighbour, he hadn’t replied to her invitations to tea. We then went and knocked on the door of Briggs’ home. There was no answer so I asked if I could try to open the door. The lock was another Mortise lock just like the neighbour’s, given it was newer, so it would have been easy to open. But, it was decided that I shouldn’t and that we should go around back. We did and I got to try that door, easily opened in 1 minute and 13 seconds to be exact. I think that is my record for an 1879 pin tumbler.

Once we were in we searched the house, what we found in the basement was quite disturbing, there were most foul symbols and drawings everywhere. Professor Wraight said it was a Demonological temple, and we all believed her. Then the Bobbies arrived at the front, so we took our leave out the rear. There was a lone cop back there but the Baron gave him what for. It was hard to keep a straight face while seeing the look on the constables.

Tomorrow the Baron, Mr. Wiez and I plan to warn the other possible targets of the infamous Briggs of their danger. This will hopefully prevent anyone more from being harmed. I admire both the Baron and the Professor in their crusade and I hope to be as much help as I can in stopping these evil people and their horrific actions.

Francois Serrurier

POLICE INVESTIGATE BODY FOUND IN BAILLIOL ROOMS

Early the morning of the April 4th, the body of Reginald Masters, 64, Professor of Medicine, was discovered in his rooms at Balliol College. Dr. Arthur Smith, Master of Balliol, told the Times that "Professor Masters was a valuable and much loved Fellow who will be greatly missed as a professor, colleague, and friend. Our thoughts go out to his surviving children and their families." While most declined interview, several of the college's fellows described Masters as a genial and highly competent doctor and professor who was liked and respected by all.

The manner of the professor's death is as yet officially unknown, but it has come to light that the death was not a natural one. Inspector Peters of the Oxfordshire Constabulary, placed in charge of the investigation, has stated that inquiries are being continued with all diligence, but has declined further comment. The Times, however, has learned from several sources that there are some baffling aspects to the professor's death that seem very bizarre indeed. Extensive damage to the second floor window of the Professor's bedroom, indicating entry through that window, was visible until University workers covered it up on the evening of the 4th. Furthermore, witnesses to the finding of the body have stated that they believe that the Professor was attacked by some sort of large animal in his rooms, although no sightings of such a beast in the area has been reported before the event or since.

While unconfirmed by police, the Times has learned that respected Doctor of Zoology Sir William Stevenson has been called in to consult on the case. When contacted for an interview, Sir Stevenson confirmed that he had both studied the body and the professor's room. "I have never seen anything like it. Were it not for the death of Dr. Masters, I would put this down to some sort of elaborate student prank. While I cannot go into details, I will say that the size of the wounds to the late Professor is far greater than anything I have seen in the wild, and that no reptile that I know of has ever had a scale the size of the one found on the scene."

When asked by this newspaper about the possibility of a dangerous wild animal being on the loose, Inspector Peters declined to comment or to issue a warning to area residents, but stated that anyone who possesses any information regarding the death of Dr. Masters should contact the Oxfordshire Police immediately.

From the Diary of Jochim v Furchtberg

We have been playing "Death in the Post" from Green and Pleasant Land (using Realms of Cthulhu, of course). The following is a diary entry by Jochim v Furchtberg (written by Christian).

4 April 1922, 2300 hrs.

It is clear that the monster which the accursed Dr Briggs has summoned is yet another THING from Beyond the Veil. I have counseled my compatriots who have found another parchment in Harrowgate that the monster will likely not attack this night, but I believe that it will the next. The postmark came from Chester. I will travel there in the morning, and hope to somehow catch Briggs and his henchman Phelps before they summon the Horror. The Russian, Trotsky, wishes the rest of us to join them in helping fend off the monster, but I believe that so long as Herr Doktor Winterton is kept under bright light that the beast will not attack. Fraulein Doktor Professor Wraight believes that only daylight will dissuade the beast, but I feel that she must be wrong in this. As well, I do not believe that our newer companions, the Frenchman and the Hungarian magician, will be able to stand the mental strain of seeing the beast. I hope that I am right in my decision, but the Horror is only the symptom. It is Briggs who is the disease.

Instead, I will take another step in fulfilling my vow. Briggs must be destroyed. If I am able to kill him, then warning Lord Elwood, Herr Professor Masters in Oxford, and Dr Collinbury in Petersfield will be academic. I will then be able to purchase the papyri and destroy them quite easily. Should I fail to find Briggs, then the others must be warned and protected. We must find out what will happen to the Horror if we are able to drive it off. What will it do if it fails in its mission?

Alexei has told us of the Elder Sign. I am torn as to whether we should learn more of it. Is it effective against the hell spawn? By using it, do we tar ourselves with the same brush as those I am sworn to eradicate? Or is it acceptable to use the weapons of the enemy, so long as the overall aim is maintained?

Perhaps I need to spend more time reading the horrible books that we have collected. The accursed work of v. Junzt scared me badly, and my dreams remain... troubling. I have seen THE BLACK MAN in them again, standing silently amidst shadowy figures and that hellish piping noise. I fear that in my dreams he will speak, and if he does I will surely go mad. But perhaps some of the works that we possess have been written by persons sharing the same views as I do, and who have weapons that can drive back the darkness.

I do not trust our new companions, but especially the Hungarian "magician" and the Frenchman, and have decided to keep them both where I can keep an eye on them. They share a naivety which when mixed with their desire to know more is dangerous. The Frenchman's eagerness after seeing some of the... things in THE LOCKED BOOK was unwholesome. As for the Hungarian, he has already stated his desire to find out "new tricks" for his so called "magic show". He must not be allowed to read any of the books. If his curiosity and desire for knowledge continues after he SEES ONE OF THE THINGS, I fear he may well find himself among the hunted. I feel somewhat better about the Russian, but I will keep an eye on him as well. He is out for himself, but I think he realises the threat posed by THAT FROM THE OTHER SIDE, and those who serve them, is real.

Tomorrow I will kill Briggs and his henchman. They will suffer for their crimes, and for their betrayal of humanity.

v. Furchtberg

François Serrurier

Dramatis Personae Cthuliana

More Character backgrounds... this time Patrick's new character from our new Realms of Cthulhu campaign.


François Serrurier - Locksmith - (Patrick)
Ag d10, Sm d8, Sp d8, St d4, Vg d8,
Pace 6, Parry 4, Toughness 6
Skills: Fighting d4, Shooting d6, Notice d6, Stealth d8, Lockpicking d8, Climbing d6, Repair d6, Investigation d4, Knowledge: Locks and Traps d10, Boating d4, Swimming d4, Streetwise d4
Edges: Theif
Hindrances: Quirk (must investigate locks), Curious,
Gear: Lockpicks, Electric Torch, Pistol (Range: 6/12/24, ROF1, Damage: 2d6, AP:1)

François was born and raised in the port town Calais, France, where he lived with his father, Aldéric a locksmith, and mother, Madeline. He had no brothers or sisters. Madeline did not have a job other than at their home, just a few blocks from Aldéric’s shop. On August 10th, 1903, she was killed in the Paris Métro train fire along with her sister Antoinette whom she had been visiting. She was 29 at the time. Francois was only 6 when she died so he doesn’t have many memories of her.

During his childhood he spent hours upon hours tinkering with different locks in his father’s shop. If there was something he couldn’t figure out, he would go to his father’s collection of books and research the topic. When François was only eight years old Aldéric started to give him jobs that he didn’t have time to do. They never told customers that it was Francois doing some of the work, and the customers never noticed.

In 1914 François was recruited as a mechanic for the French navy. In 1916 while Francois was installing a gun on the Dreadnaught Lorraine a support strap snapped and the gun fell. The gun hit and cut Francois’ head but did not land on him. He was injured quite badly and was put into a hospital. He had healed by the end of the war, and was very thankful of the English nurse Jean Roberts, who he claims “healed him single-handedly”. After he proposed to her but she declined, saying she had to return home to Cambridge. He followed her there, and after he had opened a locksmith shop, in 1919 he proposed again. This time she accepted, and they now live in the flat above the shop in Cambridge. Jean works at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and is studying medicine at Cambridge and plans to become a doctor. Before entering the School of Medicine she also studied anthropology, at Cambridge. François plans to keep his shop in Cambridge until retirement.

François met Dr. Wraight and Baron von Fürchtberg when they brought a very large locked tome to him. They wanted him to make a key to open it so that they would be able to close it again afterwards. For François to do this they had to trust him with the tome for a few weeks. François had no trouble manufacturing a key for the lock but he wondered why there would be such a heavy lock on a book and what could be in it. He started asking questions of Dr. Wraight and The Baron. Because they realized his talents could be helpful, they didn’t ‘quiet’ him. Instead they answered his questions and told him the basis of their adventures. François wasn’t sure he believed them and wanted to see for himself.

François is 24 in January 1922; his birthday is February 19th, 1897.

Jean is 25 in January 1922; her birthday is November 8th, 1896

Aldéric is 51 and was born on October 7th, 1970. He still lives in Calais and does small repair. He gave his book collection to François as a wedding gift.

Madeline’s birthday was April 14th, 1974 she would have turned 49 in April 1922.

Savage Saturday Back in Session

Dave, Patrick, Christian and Amanda all showed up to play Realms of Cthulhu this evening. They are playing through "Death in the Post" from Green and Pleasant Land.

Christian and Amanda reprised their roles as Freiherr und Ritter Jochimm von und zu Höllenstadt-Fürchtberg and Doctor Emma Wraight, professor of Archaeology and Anthropplogy at Cambridge, respectively. Dave and Patrick had not played in the Cthulhu campaign so they started new characters: Ivan Trotsky and François Serrurier. so we had a Prussian Noble, Ukranian smuggler, a French locksmith and a "respectable" Englishwoman traipsing about London trying to determine the whereabouts of a evil sorcerer that killed their friend by summoning a particularly nasty beastie from beyond.

More on that soonish...

Shivansu Malaker

Sgt. Shivanshu Malaker – Gurkha (Darrin)
Ag d8, Sm d8, Sp d8, St d8, Vg d10,
Pace 6, Parry 7, Toughness 8, Sanity 5, Corruption 1
Skills: Fighting d10, Shooting d8, Notice d8, Stealth d8, Intimidate d8, Climbing d8, Swimming d4, Survival d10, Tracking d8, Knowledge: Mythos d6,
Edges: Brawny, Woodsman, Alertness, First Strike
Hindrances: Heroic, Code of Honour
Gear: Rifle (Range: 24/48/96, ROF1, Damage: 2d8, AP: 2), Kukri (Str+d6)

Shivansu Malaker served as a Sergeant of Gurkha Rifles. While detached to The Kings African Rifles in East Africa during the Great War he met Miss Wraight and later Mr. Höllenstadt-Fürchtberg under most bizarre and unworldly circumstances. Shivansu was honorably released from service follwing the war and traveled to England to work for Miss Wraight.

Shivansu is the son of Krish and Ema (father and mother, respectively) and brought them much honor when he was accepted into the Gurkha Rifles.

Shivansu’s oldest brother Parul will be taking over the family farm and trading business, it has grown since Shivansu had been sending money home throughout his service. His other older brother Prabia died leaving behind a wife, Kritee, and an almost grown daughter Kulnja. Shivansu’s sister Rohin, only a year older, has married into a fine family. They have two girls and are expecting another child very soon.

Shivansu’s little brother Upendra, has twice honored their family by also being accepted into the Gurkha Rifles. Shivansu has told him of my travels and experiences, even the extraordinary ones and prays he does not find such things.

Campaign Plans for 2011

It’s getting to be that time of year when I start to look back at what I’ve done over the past year and start to think about plans for the next year. I know I am far more productive when I have a plan – and especially when there is some specific goal worked into that plan.

At the beginning of this past year we were playing a campaign set in Rokugan (The Asian fantasy land that is the setting of the Legends of the Five Rings series of card and role-playing games). That fizzled. I would like to run that campaign again sometime – at the end of 2009 I bought a whole shwack of the RPG setting books and adventure modules and even some of the novels – dirt cheap. On one hand it’s great because there’s all that rich background already fleshed out for you… on the other hand it’s daunting because there’s all that rich background already fleshed out for you… One day I’ll get back to reading through it all and pick it up again. Probably not this coming year.

Then we ran a short far future sci-fi campaign. It fizzled too. I do have a lot of old Traveller stuff that I’d like to make use of some day… again, a lot of work… I’ll get to it some day…

Around April I started TWO simultaneous campaigns! On Wednesday nights I was running a World War Two (occasionally “Weird” War Two) East Front campaign and on Saturdays I started a Realms of Cthulhu campaign. They both started to fizzle in August as I got a bit burned out. I tried to get them BOTH going again in September but after another month burned out again and took another break. Since November I’ve got the WW2 campaign going again and everyone seems to be having fun..

I’m sick right now (bleh!) and so there’s no game tonight, and won’t be one next week as that’s Christmas.

So… Next Year…

I’ll definitely be pressing on with the (Weird) World War Two campaign. Ultimately I’d like to see it through to the end of the war… or until all the characters are killed in some climactic battle against some ultimate German evil nasty….

The Realms of Cthulhu campaign has really just been on the back burner and I’d really like to get playing that again. I’m sure how I’ll be abl to do that…? Alternate between the two…? Or put the WW2 campaign “on the back burner” for a bit…?

One part of the reason for wanting to get back on the Cthulhu campaign is that Dave has cleverly linked his two characters – his character in the Cthulhu campaign is the father of his character in the WW2 campaign!? I’d kind of like to tie those together game-wise, but obviously I can’t drop the elder into the WW2 campaign from time to time if I don’t know how his life plays out through the 20s and 30s – his life could very well end on some uncharted island in the pacific in 1926 or in the Antarctic in 1934 (unless, of course,we assume they are alternate parallel universes). What do I do – put the WW2 campaign on hold until his fate has been determined – either by his demise or that campaign catching up to the WW2 campaigns timeline!?

Whatever I do I’m pretty sure this year will be mostly weird war and cthulhu…

Possible Distractions…

Space:1889

The release of the Savaged version of Space:1889 poses a very real possible distraction. I loved that setting. I have almost all of the original GDW printed modules and source books. I also have a lot of Victorian era miniatures; largely Victorian Horror minis from playing Rippers, but I also have a few “colonials” and even some old Space:1889 Martians. Oh, I also have a lot of “old West” figures, which would be entirely appropriate.

Of course I’ve often thought of running a Space Rippers:1889 campaign too… Werewolves on Mars, Vampires on Venus…

North West Europe 44-45

I’ve finished my Canadians and will be working on some more Germans in the new year. The ultimate goal will be to run a campaign following a platoon of the Regina Rifle Regiment through the campaign in Northwest Europe, startingwith their assault on Courseulles on D-Day. I have a lot yet to do on this… but as I get closer to finishing up the Germans and new terrain…

Other campaigns I’d like to run… someday… that I have some miniature and/or campaign material for... that I occasionally get out and look over and consider… include Twilight:2000, Zombie Run, Traveller/Far future/Sci-fi, Rokugan/L5R, Tour of Darkness, Supers, Pirates, etc…

Hmmmm… Actually I think having typed this out has helped me focus a lot and I’m not feeling so distracted by other things at the moment…

Probably won’t be posting anything else on here for the next two weeks (unless any of my players get a character background to me that I decide to post!) so I hope you all have a happy holiday season and a joyful new year!

From the Diary of Jochim Freiherr von und zu Furchberg-Hollestadt

Dec 25 1921

Frohe Weihnachten! And yet I can find no merriment on this supposedly holy day. The dreams were worse than ever last night. In them, I battle endlessly against shadowy figures, while in the background vast and malevolent, yet somehow unseeable things await my destruction and marshal their pawns against me. They are the merest suggestions of shadow, yet they fill me with dread and mindless fear. With every passing moment in the dream, I feel weaker, and the malevolence, and anticipation, grows.

I had hoped that our victory against the horrible corpse-cult of the debased sorcerer Artemis Gordon would lighten my mood, and lessen the severity of the dreams. I should have never read that accursed book.

When I saw the tear in reality and the thing in darkest Africa, I, a man of reason, was affrighted by the fact that there were things horrible out there that clearly science had no explanation for. I have spoken to the learned men of the Berlin Academy, but they tell me that the hole in space that I saw could never happen, even with the new scientific revolutions of the Schweitzer, Einstein. Despite the wound which pains me every day, I am grateful to the savage that cut me down in that clearing, as I did not see the THING clearly. Poor Otto did, and I have learned never to speak of it with him. But I remember the face of the accursed wizard that summoned it as though he stood before me now. What I would give to cut him down!

Yet the existence of things outside the small knowledge of man is not, in the light of logic, a surprise. Nor is it too hard to imagine that there are other forms of life that would do us harm, much as we harm the cattle in the field or the grain from the ground. I am embarrassingly grateful that we never saw what made those hellishly smooth and huge tunnels under the mine. These things are horrible, but what really brings me fear is that there are humans in league with these hateful creatures. It is these humans, whether they be slaves or, worse, willing servants, whom I am sworn to eradicate by any means. The others tell me that the thing in the Scottish Bog had been worshipped and fed for thousands of years, and it is clear that the fiend Lucas was only the latest in a long line of those sworn to the tunnel creatures.

Yet I had no idea of the sheer scale of the horror until I read the book written by the accursed v.Junzt. There are many such men and groups of men, and have been since time immemorial. These hellish cults wield monsters as their tools, and are thus damned. They must be eradicated root and branch, as the English say.

But the greatest shock is that the philosopher Neitsche was right. I have seen horrible things, and violations of what we previously thought was reality at the hands of those that the accursed cultists see as gods. Yet I know now that the God I venerated as a youth, and to whom I swore a holy oath, is dead, if ever he existed as more than a construct of the human mind. Maybe the human gods were invented as a sort of protection against the true horror of the cosmos, but it is clear that they have no power when compared to the creatures worshiped by the cults that spread across the world like a spider's web of evil and horror. So while I wish others a Frohe Weihnachten, I know that it is meaningless. Yet there is hope. If there is no God, then there is only man, and strength, against that from outside which besieges us. There is also no sin, only victory, or death. So I do not dream with horror of the Indian's execution of the wizard, nor of the slaying of his debased servants. Those who side with the horror from outside deserve no better, and I will not pause to exterminate them where I find them, by whatever means. I originally feared that I might damn myself in this endeavor. Now I know that there exists no morality outside of what we make, and thus, so long as we defeat the dark threat from outside our small lamplight of reason and science, and those that serve it, we will never be judged except as victors.

A Letter from Tom

A letter from Tom Cranston to his mother back in Canada

Dear mum, how are you and dad doing? I hope you had a good christmas as you will get this letter after the season. I have recently learned my letters, and that is all thanks to the job I have at the university. I am still doing work as a gardener here. I am no longer paying a student to write you letters, as I can do it all myself. Hopefully you will get them more often now.

I am going to try and visit your family in Ukraine, and see how my cousins are, now that you have told me where they are I will go there early in the new year as I don't have much gardening to do right now.

I will ask Kathie's mum if she wants to move to Canada now, I will let her know there is room at the farm for her. I was pretty saddened by both Kathie's death and her dad's but it has been a year since he died and I think it is time for her to start living again, I know Missus Conrad is the same way, and hopefully being out there with you will make her happier. I send her a little money now and then, helping her seems like the right thing to do.

Just last week I was out to London with my chums, the germans, the indian, and the two Lady professors from the university doing some christmas shopping. We saved a banker we knew in London from a gang of murderers that burnt his house down and we met a barrister in Oxford that was attacked by the very same group, I was not able to save him and he died. They burnt his house down as well, I think some of the gangs here are getting more and more dangerous. Mr Ronson (the banker) was very grateful that we helped him by scaring the gangsters away, I think it was the sword that the indian carries, it looks pretty frightening. Mr Ronson told us that his friend Mr Gordon (the barrister) might be in danger too so we hotfooted over there but we were not in time, his house burnt down as well.

I have taken up boxing so I can better defend myself from these thugs as well.

Tell Sarah I am happy that she is expecting again, and tell Louis I can still beat him in a foot race! Tell the rest of them that I am doing well and have job where I can still do an honest days work and get paid an honest days wage.

I hope everyone likes the gifts I got them!

I have to go back to learning my reading, so I will write again soon.
Your son
Tom

Necromancer No More

Finally a return to our Realms of Cthulhu campaign!

December 1921

SITUATION

In our last episode our heroes were contacted by Mr. Bartholomew Ronson, a London Bank Manager that they had previously encountered raising the dead in a remote graveyard in Wales. He bid them to travel to London at their earliest possible convenience to meet with him. Upon their arrival they found his house on fire and, after sending the cab off to summon the fire brigade, ran around back to find Mr. Ronson being dragged off by some masked cultist types.

Our Heroes rushed to Mr. Ronson’s aid! The Cultists were all slain and hidden in the bushes at the back to the property until the fire brigade was finished.

Some occult tomes were later recovered from the secret cellar deep under the ruins of Mr. Ronson’s mansion.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Dr. Emma Wraight – Cultural Anthropologist and Archaeologist (Amanda)
Ag d6, Sm d10, Sp d10, St d6, Vg d8,
Pace 6, Parry 6, Toughness 6, Sanity 5, Corruption 2
Skills: Fighting d8, Shooting d8, Notice d10, Stealth d4, Knowledge: Anthropology d8, Knowledge; Archaeology d8, Investigation d8, Survival 4d, Tracking d4, Swimming d4, Healing d4, Knowledge: Mythos d6, Streetwise d8,
Edges: Scholar, Linguist, Alertness, Investigator, Well-Adjusted
Hindrances: Curious, Phobia (Major – Snakes)
Gear: Clothes, Anti-Snake Boots (Armour +2), Webley (Range: 12/24/48, ROF 1, Damage: 2d6, AP: 1), Knife (Str+d4),

Tom Cranston – labourer – (John)
Ag d8, Sm d6, Sp d6, St d10, Vg d12,
Pace 8, Parry 7, Toughness 9, , Sanity 5, Corruption 0
Skills: Fighting d10, Shooting d8, Notice d6, Stealth d8, Riding d4, Throwing d4, Knowledge ( Farmin’) d10, healing d4, Repair d4, Survival d4,
Edges: Quick, Brawny, Fast Healer, First Strike, Scrapper, Fleet-Footed
Hindrances: Illiterate, Loyal, Quirk (Depressed – over the loss of his wife), Heroic
Gear: Work Clothes, Shovel (Str+d6, -1 to hit), Lee Enfield Rifle (Range: 24/48/96, ROF 1, Damage: 2d8, AP: 2)

Sgt. Shivanshu Malaker – Gurkha (Darrin)
Ag d8, Sm d8, Sp d8, St d8, Vg d10,
Pace 6, Parry 7, Toughness 8, Sanity 5, Corruption 1
Skills: Fighting d10, Shooting d8, Notice d8, Stealth d8, Intimidate d8, Climbing d8, Swimming d4, Survival d10, Tracking d8, Knowledge: Mythos d6,
Edges: Brawny, Woodsman, Alertness, First Strike
Hindrances: Heroic, Code of Honour
Gear: Rifle (Range: 24/48/96, ROF1, Damage: 2d8, AP: 2), Kukri (Str+d6)

Freiherr und Ritter Jochimm von und zu Höllenstadt-Fürchtberg – Retired German Army Officer - (Christian)
Ag d10, Sm d6, Sp d10, St d6, Vg d8,
Pace 4 (+d4), Parry 5, Toughness 6, Sanity 7, Corruption 1
Skills: Fighting d8, Shooting d10, Notice d6, Stealth d6, Intimidate d10, Persuade d10, Driving d4, Streetwise, d6, Survival d4, Stealth d4, Knowledge: Occult d6, Knowledge: Mythos d4
Edges: Well Adjusted, Rich, Dodge
Hindrances: Vow (major), Quirk (?), Vengeful, Lame
Gear: Fine Clothes, Luger (Range: 12/24/48, ROF 1, Damage: 2d6, AP: 1), Knife (Str+d4), Sword Cane(Str+d6)

Feldwebel Shultz – NPC – aide/driver for Von Höllenstadt-Fürchtberg
Ag d8, Sm d6, Sp d8, St d8, Vg d8,
Pace 6, Parry 6 (7), Toughness 6, Sanity 5, Corruption 1
Skills: Fighting d8, Shooting d8, Notice d8, Stealth d6, Intimidate d8, Throwing d6, Knowledge: Mythos d4
Edges: Command
Hindrances: Mean
Gear: Luger (Range: 12/24/48, ROF 1, Damage: 2d6, AP: 1), Knife (Str+d4),

Laurel Trebeau – Administrative assistant (Brenda)
Ag d6, Sm d12, Sp d10, St d4, Vg d8,
Pace 6, Parry 4, Toughness 6, Sanity 5, Corruption 1
Skills: Fighting d4, Shooting d6, Notice d8, Stealth d4, Investigation d10, Riding d4, Healing d8, Knowledge (Psychology) d8, Taunt d6, Swimming d4, Streetwise d8, Persuasion d6, Knowledge: Mythos d4
Edges: Alertness, Psychotherapist, Linguist
Hindrances: Quirk (wears glasses, but doesn’t really need them…), Loyal
Gear: Pistol (Range: 12/24/48, ROF 1, Damage: 2d6, AP: 1), Silver Letter Opener (Str+d4, -1 to hit),



THE GAME (The Extremely Short Version)

The group decided to take action and, after a brief nap, headed straight to Oxford to confront Gordon, the leader of the Cult.

The following day…

Oxford Times
21 December 1921

Found dead this morning, Artemus Gordon, prominent Crown Prosecutor. Circumstances suggest a violent death.

The fire brigade was called out to Mr. Gordon's estate, early this morning. Upon their arrival the main house was fully engulfed in flame. Fire personnel were engaged in fighting the blaze and searching for any persons that may still be within the building.

It was not until the out building here being searched that the body of Mr. Gordon was found. At which time the police became involved. Mr. Gordon's body was found, the apparent result of a violent attack, his body may have been moved to this location. His body was surrounded with various strange and possibly occult objects.

The house fire is considered to be suspicious.

Mr. Gordon's personal staff are missing as well.

Police are conducting an intensive investigation, and are asking anyone to come forward with any information regarding Mr. Gordon's death or possible ware a bouts of his staff. They are considered missing and are persons of interest by the police.

(Thanks to Darrin for the Oxford Times article!)

What's Been Going On...!?

I’ve come to the realization that I fend RPG session reports dreadfully boring to read… and even WORSE to have to write… I don’t mind skirmish wargame reports – just take lots of pictures, add caption, done. But describing what went on while role-playing… too much work. I have very little time, and I’d rather spend time preparing the next adventure…

Just a little update however…

In the last Realms of Cthulhu adventure (after “Anarchy in the Ukraine”) the group was contacted by Bartholemew Ronson (The London Bank Manager from “Dueling Necros”). He bid them to travel to London at their earliest possible convenience to meet with him. Upon their arrival they found his house on fire and, after sending the cab off to summon the fire brigade, ran around back to find Mr. Ronson being dragged off by some masked cultist types.


Our Heroes rush to the aid of Mr. Ronson.

The Cultists were all slain and hidden in the bushes at the back to the property until the fire brigade was finished.

Some occult tomes were recovered from the secret cellar deep under the ruins of Mr. Ronson’s mansion.

I can’t remember what happened after that.

The last couple Savage Saturdays I didn’t have anything ready for another Cthulhu adventure so we played a coupel Fantasy games.

First we made some characters using the Fantasy Character Generator Toolkit to make some completely random characters. While this is fun, and it does a really good job of fleshing out a character background in a way that most players are too lazy or lack the imagination to do, it often makes characters that are virtually unplayable – and even harder to come up with an appropriate figures for!!

Here’s what everyone came up with…

Jerrot “the Hawk” Twoflowers (John)
Ag d10, Sm d6, Sp d4, St d6, Vg d4,
Pace 6, Parry 2, Toughness 4, Charisma -4
Skills: Shooting d4, Notice d10, Stealth d10, Persuasion d8, Lockpicking d8, Climbing d8, Streetwise d6, Riding d4
Edges: Low-Light Vision, Strong Willed
Hindrances: Overconfident, Loyal, Phobia (Major-Stairs), Very Ugly, Enemy
Gear: clothes, backpack, blanket, lockpicks, flask, Dagger (str+d4), Bow (Range: 12/24/48, ROF 1, Damage: 2d6)

The Hawk (Jerrot Twoflower) is an adult elf. He has strawberry blond hair and brown eyes. He is otherwise pretty average – other than the fact that he is fuckugly.

His parents were powerful merchants who owned three stores in the capitol city. Their family had residedt there since the very founding of the city untold generations ago. Jerrot’s dad is alive but going a little funny in the head, and his mother is also in poor health. While his mother treats him fairly his father thinks him a disgrace. Jerrot had two younger siblings. He has a sister (only 10 years younger) who is terribly jealous of him. He also had a brother who was about 30 years younger, but died in a work related accident (took up with a human and became a traveling merchant, fell off wagon and got run over).

In his youth Jerrot tried to make up for his lack of fine physical features with a charming personality (+persuasion). He was also very good at Hide and Seek (+notice and stealth). He somehow also developed a frightful fear of… stairs (fell down them a few too many times…?)

During his adolescence fell in with a bad crowd and became a petty thief (+lock pick and stealth, may become thief). He became very good at what he did (overconfident), and was fiercely loyal to his friends (loyal).

Theiving seemed more interesting than working in his parents shop so he continued his nefarious teenage hobbies as a profession. He mostly flitted about the city pulling off minor jobs, and tried his hand at being a highwayman. At some point he robbed the wrong person who swore he’d see Jerrot hanged (Enemy – Male, half-orc, entertainer, seasoned, leader of a small group - 2d6 followers – will attempt to kill Jerrot)

Ilesha (Brenda)
Ag d8, Sm d6, Sp d6, St d6, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 5, Toughness 5(7)
Skills: Fighting d6, Shooting d4, Notice d4, Persuasion d6, Knowledge (geography) d4, Intimidation d6, Knowledge (Law) d6, Streetwise d6
Edges: Low-light vision, Berserker
Hindrances: Bad Temper, Young, Outsider, Major Delusion (I am the captain of the city guard)
Gear: Clothes, Chain hauberk, Backpack, bedroll, blanker, canteen, flint an steel, handcuffs, rope, Shortsword (Str+d6)

Ilesha is a spirited young half-elf girl of 12 or so… She is bald and has red eyes(!?). She is Jerrot’s niece.

Her parents were powerful traveling merchant/traders. Her dad (Jerrot’s younger brother) fell off one of the family’s wagons and was run over and died. Her mother is alive and well but is struggling to keep the family business going while raising seven children. Ilesha has two older sisters One treats her well, while the other ignores her. She also have four younger brothers. Three are alive and well and treat her fairly, the thirs was sold into slavery…!?

The family operates from a large village surrounded by farmland. They mostly brought farm goods to the city and returned with goods for the regions farmers.

Ilesha was an angry child, when bullies tried to steal her toys the red mist descended (berserk). A strange old man once told her she’d have a glorious career (+1 roll on professional table – so…one roll… as , being a youngster she would have none…).

As she entered her adolescence she was sent to the city to live with the elf side of her family as her mother could not handle her any more. Upon her arrival in the city she decided she was the new captain of the city guard…

(yeah… okay this is how it worked… despite being a “youngster” and having no rolls on the profession tables I let her roll for a career and gave her the basic career package; she became a City Guard. Then I gave her the one roll on the professional table – from the “strange old man” event in her childhood. She rolled 99; “Promoted to Captain”… as she had also rolled a “Major Delusion” on her sole roll on the adolescence table we dicided that she, in fact, believed herself to be the captain of the city guard and wandered around the city inspecting and giving orders to all the guardsmen – the guardsmen, of course, humor her most of the time, thinking it rather hilarious…)


Brother Tobias
Ag d4, Sm d8, Sp d8, St d8, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 2, Toughness 5
Skills: Throwing d6, Knowledge (Battle) d4, Knowledge (Religion) d6, Intimidation d4, Climbing d4, Healing d8, Persuasion d4, Faith d10
Edges: Secret Friend (Trow King), Arcane Background (Miracles), Healer, Power Points x2
Hindrances: Enem, Cautious, vow (pray five times a day)
Gear: Clothing, prayer mat, 2x Throwing Axes (3/6/12, Str+d6), Backpack, bedroll, blanker, waterskin, flint an steel, candle, soap, torch, food

Brother Tobias is a middle-aged human with red hair and brown eyes.

He grew up in a large village in the hills. His family had only recently settled there having fled their ancestral homelands due to political upheaval. His father had been an officer in a unit of Light Infantry loyal to the king who was deposed. He has recently returned to his homeland to fight against the tyrant and has not been heard from since.

Brother Tobias mother alive and in poor health and thinks Tobias a disgrace (perhaps for not going along with his foather…?). He has five siblings. An older sister (by two years) wh o ignores Tobias), a sister less than a year younger who left home some time ago, but had always taken an interest in Toias. He had one brother, a year and a half younger, who dies of the plague. He has two other younger sister,s 2 and 4 years younger, the elder physically bullies tobias, while the younger takes great interest in him and all that he does.

A god (of healing) called tobias to serve him at an early age (may become priest, lots of bonuses). In his spare time he used to climb trees that were too high for his friends (+climbing). A strnge old man also paid him a visit to proclaim he would have a glorious career (+roll on professional table)

In his teenage years he was accepted by a knight as a squire (not skill bonus but had the option of becoming a knight..). At one point he thought he’d fallen in love and eloped. After a couple weeks he grew bored and sent her home. Her father has never forgiven Tobias and wants revenge (Enemy – Mercenary- Cavalry, Seasoned, DWARF(!?), swears to kill family). Afterwards he realized he should think before he acted (cautious). He also made friends with a Trow King. It swore Tobias to secrecy and he never broke that promise. The Trow King remains friendly to this day.

Tobias became a Novitiate in the church of the god of healing… He had strong faith (+Power Points). He became a full priest (+Spirit, Faith, healing, Knowledge). He took a major vow (to pray five times a day), Received a blessing… was strong in the lord… bla-bla-bla… oh, and then he became the member of s secret society… “The Faithful” a sect of hard-core believers in a diety (at first I thought it’d automatically be the diety that he is already a priest in… but, oh no! “If the character is a priest and rolls a different diety, he is a turncoat to haid faith (not the sect). The Faithful perform acts of intimidation against priests of rival gods and despoil their temples”… and so he became a member of The Faithful… for the God of Death…

yeah…

We decided that Brother Tobias was the cousin of

Anyway I made a character for myself for fun…

Nelwyn Darkleaf
Ag d10, Sm d8, Sp d4, St d6, Vg d4,
Pace 6, Parry 4, Toughness 3
Skills: Fighting d4, Shooting d10, Notice d6, Stealth d6, Knowledge (silversmith)d6, Gambling d4, lockpick d4, Streetwise d6, Tracking d6
Edges: Jack of all Trades, Ally
Hindrances: Small, Cautious, Minor vengeful, Enemy, Minor “vow”
Gear: Clothes, Cloak, Quiver, Arrows (20), Bow (Range: 12/24/48, ROF1, Damage: 2d6)

Nelwyn Darkleaf is a smallish adult half-elf. He has platinum blond hair and dark blue eyes, and a perpetually reddish nose…?

He comes from a family of silversmiths that lived in a small village in the jungle…? They have lived there since the dawn of time.

Nelwyn’s dad is alive and well and treats him fairly. His mom, also alive and well, more or less ignores him. He also has three sisters. An older one that hates him, one that’s about the same age that worships him and a younger one that “left home” and no one has any idea where she’s gotten to, who used to always tattle on Nelwyn.

While not a super genious, Nelwyn certainly showed an amazing ability to recount facts his parents never knew he had ever learned (“Lesser Prodigy” - Jack of all Trades). A foolish dare almost got him killed, however, and he quickly learned to look before he leaped (cautious). When someone picked on him or stole his toys he never cried or grassed on them. He got even (Minor Vengeful)

In his adolescence he turned out to be a bit of a book-learner, reading a smuch as he could (+smarts). He and a friend swore to remain friends forever, becoming “blood brothers” (Ally – Female, Halfling, bounty Hunter, Heroic)!? His father let Nelwyn accompany him to the tavern where he took up with some ill-favoured sorts (+gambling)

One thing led to another and somehow Nelwyn moved to the capitol and became an Assassin!? He started out in surveillance (+notice, streetwise, tracking) but then had an opportunity for a Big Hit , unfortunately the mark had powerful friends (Enemy – Assassin, seasoned, Human, male, leader of large group – 5d6 – out to kill Nelwyn…). Things went from bad to worse after that. He assassinated a Druid and the God of Nature took offense – Nelwyn can not sleep outdoors (equivaent to a vow – gains level of fatigue – presumably he is harassed by birds and squirrels and instest if he tries to do so and thus cannot – gaining him the level of fatigue…). At some point along the road he grew a conscience and had a change of heart and decided to become a… City Guard… further rolls on the professional table would have been on that one… but I didn’t have anymore – ti did however give me a reason for knowing one other member of the group – the CAPTIAN of the City Guard of course!!

That night we played a quick encounter. I said Nelwyn, through his contacts, had found out that a group od assassins, disguised as City Guard, were going to assassinate a visiting dignitary… He wormed his way into the dignitaries personal guard detail…


They were unsure who the other assassins were or when they would strike, to they had to follow the dignitaries around.


Turns out it was the guys out front…. Before the group could do anything the Dignitaries wife and personal body guard were down.


The whole group jumped in and took out the assassins saving the dignitary.

Here is “The Hawk’s Journal” entry on the evenings shenanigans (submitted to me by John):

The day dawn brisk and clear, I was in my usual perch, high atop a building. I was both vigilant and planning, always planning, for my next job.

I am still unsure of my niece Alisha, or her cousin, the priest. Her eyes seem to be glowing angry and red all the time (note to self, get her checked for pinkeye), she also claims to be captain of the guard, but she wears no tabard and her "office" is the shed behind our home. The priest seems to spend all his time on his knees... praying. The next thing I suppose is the priest will claim to be the God of Thunder. The other one is Nelwyn, the midget, he is a mixture of dangerous like a rattlesnake and skittish like a newborn colt, a bad combination for a city guard. I think, based on his looks, he tends to spend too much time in the wine. It appears my job will be to protect them all, a job I do not take gladly. The Hawk was born to fly solo.

The Hawk has heard rumblings of an assassination attempt on the Ilien Ambassador's life, I guess it will be up to me to protect him as well. I set up my forces, with three pikeman on the ground in front of him, the Ambassador, his wife and his security guard together. Behind them I station the bowmen, Alisha and the midget. Tobias brings up the rear, struggling to keep up, because he needs to pray every 3 minutes.The Hawk soars above, on a building. It is hot out here, hot and dirty, but I fear the work will get hotter and dirtier before too long because too late, I realise that the three pikeman are all assassins!

They strike before I am able to warn my team, killing the ambassador's wife, and his body guard. The fight commences, my bow whistles and critically wounds one, to be kill by another bowman. The ambassador wounds one, and Alisha kills him with a lucky shot. I almost have another one as my bow sings death again, Fie these men are tough, and Alisha kills the one I had severely wounded. The midget meanwhile tags one with a lucky shot but it must have only hit his cape as he is attacked again immediately. The midget and the crossbowman tag team the final assassin and the Amabssador is safe for now. I instruct the priest, Alisha and Nelwyn to guard the ambassador while I fade into the background. The Hawk needs no recognition, he only does what must be done.


THE NEXT WEEK

The Game Room still being in a state of… um… reorganization… and me still not having anything prepared for our Cthulhu campaign… I ran another little fantasy skirmish scenario.

This week Christian also made it. He also rolled up a random character… I can’t be bothered to type out another right now…

For the encounter I had the others wandering down a dark alley when Nelwyn Darkleaf came skittering around the corner. He ran up to them and said “Thank goodness I found you! You have to help me!” Before they could do anything 5d6 ninjas came following him around the corner


The gang


I think Nelwyn was killed….

Surprisingly none of the others were. I had kind of thought it’d be a party-kill encounter and I could have them all make new character for Rokugan and rekindle my Legends of the Five Rings campaign… The feeling has past, however, and after taking this past Saturday off, I’m hoping next week they’ll be back battling cosmic horror in the 1920s!

Anarchy in the Ukraine

Wow… had the whole crew out Saturday… Christian warned all that they were all going to die. He seemed to be under the impression that I’d had such bad luck on Wednesday that the pendulum was sure to swing and take them all out in the process.

October/November 1921

SITUATION

After securing the Golden Fugazi and sending it back to England with Henry Davis, Professor Wraight found herself in Alexandria getting ready to return to Suez where she and her crew would sail for Mombassa and another expedition to East Africa. Before they could get going they received an urgent telegram from von Höllenstadt-Fürchtberg, urging them, with all haste, to make for Bucharest where he would meet them.

They sailed immediately for Athens and made their way by train to Bucharest in just under a week. Upon their arrival von Höllenstadt-Fürchtberg explained that for some time he had been trying to ascertain the location of the famed Russian occultist Aleksey Borsokovski – and his extensive library (reputed to have Rasputin’s personal papers).

He discovered Borsokovski had escaped the Bolsheviks in St. Petersburg and made his way, along with his books, to Ukraine and had take up with the anarchist “Black Army” . Since the demise of the Black Army in August, von Höllenstadt-Fürchtberg became more desperate to track down Borsokovski. He was relieved to find, only two weeks ago, that Borsokovski was alive and well enough and hiding with other Black Army fugitives in a small village west of Chenovstky.

Von Höllenstadt-Fürchtberg has arranged a truck and an anarchist guide to take them through the Carpathians, on a forgotten cart track, to Borsokovski’s hiding place and collect him and his books and sneak back through the mountains into Transylvania.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Dr. Emma Wraight – Cultural Anthropologist and Archaeologist (Amanda)
Ag d6, Sm d10, Sp d10, St d6, Vg d8,
Pace 6, Parry 5, Toughness 6, Sanity 6, Corruption 1
Skills: Fighting d6, Shooting d6, Notice d10, Stealth d4, Knowledge: Anthropology d8, Knowledge; Archaeology d8, Investigation d8, Survival 4d, Tracking d4, Swimming d4, Healing d4, Knowledge: Mythos d4, Streetwise d8,
Edges: Scholar, Linguist, Alertness
Hindrances: Curious, Phobia (Major – Snakes)
Gear: Clothes, Anti-Snake Boots (Armour +2), Webley (Range: 12/24/48, ROF 1, Damage: 2d6, AP: 1), Knife (Str+d4),

Tom Cranston – labourer – (John)
Ag d8, Sm d4, Sp d6, St d10, Vg d12,
Pace 6, Parry 7, Toughness 9, , Sanity 5, Corruption 0
Skills: Fighting d10, Shooting d8, Notice d6, Stealth d8, Riding d4, Throwing d4, Knowledge ( Farmin’) d10, healing d4, Repair d4, Survival d4,
Edges: Quick, Brawny, Fast Healer, First Strike, Scrapper
Hindrances: Illiterate, Loyal, Quirk (Depressed – over the loss of his wife), Heroic
Gear: Work Clothes, Shovel (Str+d6, -1 to hit), Lee Enfield Rifle (Range: 24/48/96, ROF 1, Damage: 2d8, AP: 2)

Sgt. Shivanshu Malaker – Gurkha (Darrin)
Ag d8, Sm d6, Sp d8, St d8, Vg d10,
Pace 6, Parry 6, Toughness 8, Sanity 6, Corruption 0
Skills: Fighting d8, Shooting d8, Notice d6, Stealth d6, Intimidate d8, Climbing d8, Swimming d4, Survival d10, Tracking d10
Edges: Brawny, Woodsman, Alertness, First Strike
Hindrances: Heroic, Code of Honour
Gear: Rifle (Range: 24/48/96, ROF1, Damage: 2d8, AP: 2), Kukri (Str+d6)

Freiherr und Ritter Jochimm von und zu Höllenstadt-Fürchtberg – Retired German Army Officer - (Christian)
Ag d10, Sm d6, Sp d10, St d6, Vg d8,
Pace 4 (+d4), Parry 5, Toughness 6, Sanity 7, Corruption 0
Skills: Fighting d8, Shooting d10, Notice d6, Stealth d6, Intimidate d8, Persuade d8, Driving d4, Streetwise, d6, Survival d4, Stealth d4, Knowledge: Occult d6
Edges: Well Adjusted, Rich, Trademark Weapon (Luger)
Hindrances: Vow (major), Quirk (?), Vengeful, Lame
Gear: Fine Clothes, Luger (Range: 12/24/48, ROF 1, Damage: 2d6, AP: 1), Knife (Str+d4), Sword Cane(Str+d6)

Feldwebel Shultz – NPC – aide/driver for Von Höllenstadt-Fürchtberg
Ag d8, Sm d6, Sp d8, St d8, Vg d8,
Pace 6, Parry 6 (7), Toughness 6, Sanity 5, Corruption 1
Skills: Fighting d8, Shooting d8, Notice d8, Stealth d6, Intimidate d8, Throwing d6, Knowledge: Mythos d4
Edges: Command
Hindrances: Mean
Gear: Luger (Range: 12/24/48, ROF 1, Damage: 2d6, AP: 1), Knife (Str+d4),

Laurel Trebeau – Administrative assistant (Brenda)
Ag d6, Sm d12, Sp d8, St d4, Vg d8,
Pace 6, Parry 4, Toughness 6
Skills: Fighting d4, Shooting d6, Notice d8, Stealth d4, Investigation d10, Riding d4, Healing d8, Knowledge (Psychology) d8, Taunt d6, Swimming d4, Streetwise d8, Persuasion d6
Edges: Alertness, Psychotherapist
Hindrances: Quirk (wears glasses, but doesn’t really need them…), Loyal
Gear: Pistol (Range: 12/24/48, ROF 1, Damage: 2d6, AP: 1), Silver Letter Opener (Str+d4, -1 to hit),


Alexsey Borsokovski – Wild Card – Russian Occultist
Ag d6, Sm d6, Sp d6, St d6, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 5 (6), Toughness 5, Sanity 5, Corruption 0
Skills: Fighting d6, Shooting d6, Notice d6, Stealth d6,
Gear: Rifle (Range: 24/48/96, ROF1, Damage: 2d8, AP: 2) and/or Pistol (Range: 12/24/48, ROF1, Damage: 2d6, AP: 1)

Black Army Anarchists (8)
Ag d6, Sm d6, Sp d6, St d6, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 5 (6), Toughness 5, Sanity 5, Corruption 0
Skills: Fighting d6, Shooting d6, Notice d6, Stealth d6,
Gear: Rifle (Range: 24/48/96, ROF1, Damage: 2d8, AP: 2) and/or Pistol (Range: 12/24/48, ROF1, Damage: 2d6, AP: 1)

Black Army Anarchists (8)
Ag d6, Sm d6, Sp d6, St d6, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 5 (6), Toughness 5, Sanity 5, Corruption 0
Skills: Fighting d6, Shooting d6, Notice d6, Stealth d6,
Gear: Rifle (Range: 24/48/96, ROF1, Damage: 2d8, AP: 2) and/or Pistol (Range: 12/24/48, ROF1, Damage: 2d6, AP: 1)

Bolsheviks

Valery Malenkov – Wild Card – Cheka Agent
Ag d8, Sm d8, Sp d8, St d6, Vg d8,
Pace 6, Parry 5, Toughness 5, Sanity 3, Corruption 3
Skills: Fighting d6, Shooting d8, Notice d10, Stealth d8, Streetwise d8, Investigation d6, Knowledge: Mythos d6
Gear: Pistol (Range: 12/24/48, ROF1, Damage: 2d6+1, AP: 1)

Natashya Kasakova (6) – Wild Card – Bolshevik Commissar
Ag d6, Sm d8, Sp d8, St d4, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 4, Toughness 5, Sanity 6, Corruption 1
Skills: Fighting d4, Shooting d6, Notice d10, Stealth d6, Streetwise d8
Gear: Pistol (Range: 12/24/48, ROF1, Damage: 2d6+1, AP: 1)

Bolshevik Riflemen (15)
Ag d6, Sm d4, Sp d6, St d6, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 5 (6), Toughness 5, Sanity 5, Corruption 0
Skills: Fighting d6, Shooting d6, Notice d6, Stealth d6,
Gear: Rifle (Range: 24/48/96, ROF1, Damage: 2d8, AP: 2) , Bayonet (Str+d6, parry+1)

THE GAME

The Truck and company made it through with little trouble – other than the road which reduced their rate of travel to only marginally faster than walking. Hopefully they could make it in and back before it began to snow too much!!

The group met with Borsokovski and the Black Army Anarchists at a farm house west of Chenovstky it didn’t take much convincing to get them to come, but Borsokovski refused to leave his Anarchist comrades and so all left together – and not a moment too soon! Just as they were out of the yard and down a side road the Cheka raided the farm and executed all that remained!

Just as they though they were about to cross the border and be in the clear they came round a bend and saw their way was blocked up ahead – someone had tipped off the cheka – or those devious bastards had guessed the Anarchists intentions…



(click on the pics to see a larger version)


Bolsheviks blocking the way


The pendulum wasn’t showing any sign of swinging the other way to start….


Our heroes and their Black Army Anarchist allies.


Shivansu and Tom lead groups of anarchist through the woods to flank oneither side. Jochim, Otto, and Laurel were in the cab of the truck. Proffessor Wraight and Alexsey Borsokovski rode in the back of the truck.


First contact – a few wild shots fired at half-seen ghosts in the woods.



Malenkov scores a hit – with a raise – with his pistol… apparently it went right through a loose haning part of the anarchists jacket without them even realizing it…

Where’s that awesome luck, Christian!?


The Anarchists with Cranston move up under cover while the Bolsheviks fire wildly (and ineffectively).


The truck slowly creeps forward trying to keep pace with the advancing anarchists. Jochimm, leaning out the window fires at any Bolshevik he sees.


The firefight intensifies. Bolsheviks are dropping.


Otto takes a bullet – luckily while the truck is stopped. Laurel pushes him out and follows so Jochimm can move over and take overdriving and she can attempt to administer some first aid.


The battle continues at very short range. Bolsheviks still taking the worst of it.


One unit of Bolshevkis fails morale (the for one). The others soldier on despite heavier losses!?


Seven men firing on one… sounds more like a firing squad than a fire fight!?


The Anarchists overrun the Bolsheviks position accepting the surrender of the few surviving (uninjured) soldiers.


Both Malenkov and Natashya Kasakova scarpered and made it out, despite their wounds, and Cranston's attempt to pursue!



“Curses, foiled again!”

At least I had an excuse to wear my budenovka!

The Black Army anarchists suffered one dead. That’s it. (oh, and Otto was wounded…).

The Bolsheviks suffered, I think, four dead, four seriously wounded (would probably die out there in the wilderness) and four lightly wounded. The other four that surrendered were disarmed and sent on their way…

The group made it over the mountains into translvania. The Anarchist dispersed and the rest of the group made their way back to England…

Sunny Sudan

Well… Christian phoned at the last moment to say he wouldn’t be coming so that kind of deep-sixed my original plans for the evening which were kind of dependant on the sausage sucking kraut being here… So I had to come up with something completely different in a manner of minutes. Ah well.. it will give me another week to paint up MORE bad guys and flesh out the background a bit… If everyone dies next week – blame Christian!!

Fall 1921, Sudan

SITUATION

Shortly after the incident involving the Necromancers in Wales Professor Wraight and her field team joined Professor Davis and Professor Stevphenson on a dig in the Sudan, some 200 miles west of Khartoum. Things were going well and they had found what they were looking for; The Golden Fugazi.

DRAMATIS PERSONAE

Dr. Emma Wraight – Cultural Anthropologist and Archaeologist (Amanda)
Ag d6, Sm d10, Sp d10, St d6, Vg d8,
Pace 6, Parry 5, Toughness 6, Sanity 6, Corruption 1
Skills: Fighting d6, Shooting d6, Notice d10, Stealth d4, Knowledge: Anthropology d8, Knowledge; Archaeology d8, Investigation d8, Survival 4d, Tracking d4, Swimming d4, Healing d4, Knowledge: Mythos d4, Streetwise d8,
Edges: Scholar, Linguist, Alertness
Hindrances: Curious, Phobia (Major – Snakes)
Gear: Clothes, Anti-Snake Boots (Armour +2), Webley (Range: 12/24/48, ROF 1, Damage: 2d6, AP: 1), Knife (Str+d4),

Tom Cranston – labourer – (John)
Ag d8, Sm d4, Sp d6, St d10, Vg d12,
Pace 6, Parry 7, Toughness 9, , Sanity 5, Corruption 0
Skills: Fighting d10, Shooting d8, Notice d6, Stealth d8, Riding d4, Throwing d4, Knowledge ( Farmin’) d10, healing d4, Repair d4, Survival d4,
Edges: Quick, Brawny, Fast Healer, First Strike, Scrapper
Hindrances: Illiterate, Loyal, Quirk (Depressed – over the loss of his wife), Heroic
Gear: Work Clothes, Shovel (Str+d6, -1 to hit), Lee Enfield Rifle (Range: 24/48/96, ROF 1, Damage: 2d8, AP: 2)

Sgt. Shivanshu Malaker – Gurkha (Darrin)
Ag d8, Sm d6, Sp d8, St d8, Vg d10,
Pace 6, Parry 6, Toughness 8, Sanity 6, Corruption 0
Skills: Fighting d8, Shooting d8, Notice d6, Stealth d6, Intimidate d8, Climbing d8, Swimming d4, Survival d10, Tracking d10
Edges: Brawny, Woodsman, Alertness, First Strike
Hindrances: Heroic, Code of Honour
Gear: Rifle (Range: 24/48/96, ROF1, Damage: 2d8, AP: 2), Kukri (Str+d6)

Professor Henry Davis – Archeologist
Ag d8, Sm d10, Sp d8, St d6, Vg d8,
Pace 6, Parry 7, Toughness 7, Sanity 6, Corruption 0
Skills: Fighting d8, Shooting d8, Notice d8, Stealth d6, Knowledge: History d8, Knowledge; Archaeology d10, Investigation d10, Survival d4, Tracking d6, Streetwise d8,
Edges: Scholar,
Hindrances: Loyal
Gear: Clothes, Webley (Range: 12/24/48, ROF 1, Damage: 2d6, AP: 1), Knife (Str+d4), Shotgun (Range: 12/24/48, ROF 1, Damage 1-3d6, +2 to hit)

Professor Donald K. Stephenson – Professor of Classics
Ag d6, Sm d10, Sp d8, St d6, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 5, Toughness 5, Sanity 6, Corruption 0
Skills: Fighting d6, Shooting d4, Notice d10, Stealth d4, Knowledge: Ancient Literature d8, Knowledge; Ancient languages d8, Investigation d10,
Edges: Scholar, Linguist, Alertness, Great Luck
Hindrances: Phobia (Major – Snakes)
Gear: Clothes, Umberella (Str+d4, -1 to hit)

Diggers (5)
Ag d6, Sm d4, Sp d6, St d6, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 6 (7), Toughness 6, Sanity 5, Corruption 1
Skills: Fighting d6, Notice d6, Intimidate d6,
Gear: Shovels (Str+d6, -1 to hit)

Mason R. Roberts – Collector of Antiquities
Ag d6, Sm d10, Sp d8, St d6, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 5, Toughness 5, Sanity 4, Corruption 2
Skills: Fighting d6, Shooting d8, Notice d8, Knowledge: History d8, Knowledge; Antiques d10, Streetwise d8, Knowledge: Mythos d6,
Edges: Scholar,
Hindrances: Loyal
Gear: Clothes, Pistol (Range: 12/24/48, ROF 1, Damage: 2d6, AP: 1)

Jacques Benoit – Ex-Legionairre, Tomb Raider
Ag d10, Sm d6, Sp d8, St d8, Vg d8,
Pace 6, Parry 6, Toughness 6, Sanity 4, Corruption 2
Skills: Fighting d8, Shooting d8, Notice d8, Stealth d8, Intimidate d8, Climbing d8, Swimming d6, Survival d8, Tracking d8, Lockpick d8
Streetwise d8, Knowledge: Mythos d6,
Edges: Combat Reflexes, Dodge, Thief
Hindrances: Greedy
Gear: Clothes, Pistol (Range: 12/24/48, ROF 1, Damage: 2d6, AP: 1)

Ex-Legionairres (4)
Ag d6, Sm d6, Sp d8, St d6, Vg d8,
Pace 6, Parry 6, Toughness 6, Sanity 6, Corruption 0
Skills: Fighting d8, Shooting d8, Notice d6, Stealth d8, Survival d8, Throwing d10
Edges: Combat Reflexes
Hindrances:
Gear: Rifle (Range: 24/48/96, ROF1, Damage: 2d8, AP: 2)

Mercenary Thugs (6)
Ag d6, Sm d4, Sp d6, St d6, Vg d6,
Pace 6, Parry 5, Toughness 5, Sanity 5, Corruption 0
Skills: Fighting d6, Shooting d6, Notice d6, Stealth d6,
Gear: Single Shot Rifle (Range: 24/48/96, ROF1, Damage: 2d8, AP: 2, 1 Action to Reload)


THE GAME

As the Diggers were starting to pack up their supplies for the trip home, Mason R. Roberts and his vile Henchman, Jacques Benoit, appeared on ridge not far from the ruins and called out for them to hand over the Golden Fugazi, promising that no one needed to get hurt. When the response was less than acquiescent he signled his cronies to move in…

(click on the pics to see a larger version)


The Team packing up getting ready to go home.


Mason R. Roberts and Jacques Benoit called for the Team to cough up the Golden Fugazi


There was much whining when I dealt myself these on the first hand. I think the players highest was a 6… only after Tom, who is “Quick” turned down the first four cards I handed to him!! They were already blaming Christian for their characters dying THIS week!


The Mercenary Thugs moved in.


Roberts and Jacques ducked for cover as Cranston sent his reply via the Led Express!


Everyone took cover and started shooting back. Well… those that COULD!


The Mercenary Thugs continued to advance and fire upon the defenders in the ruins.


Jacques Benoit made an extreme long range shot and hit Shivansu in the back!


Tom Cranston fired on Roberts.


The Ex-Legionaries advance and support the Thugs advance with covering fire.


A turn of withering fire stopped the Thugs charge cold!


The Thugs retire to cover.


The Ex-Legionnaires continued to fire on those in the ruins. The shot one of the diggers…


Another round of withering fire set the surviving Thugs to flight.


Next, attentions were turned to the Ex-Foreign Legionnaires and the fire from the ruins was accurate and deadly!!


Quickly they were taken care of. As the last one turned to flee, Henry Davis shot him in the back!


“Curses, foiled again!”


Benoit made a clean getaway, but Mason R. Roberts took a could shots in the back and just made it out alive!