Splitting Heirs: Session Eleven

Still no siege, as this session ended up being very light on screen-time for Scharf and his expedition southward. Instead focus was on events in Himmelfeuer and (to end with) Drachenmalstein.

We began with the private audiences that the baron had offered. Only Pou and Lady FitzCarstein took up the offer [of the PCs], as Scharf left to see to organising his men – 30 or so – who would rendezvous with local Kupfers once they reached the southlands.

Pou was first to see the Baron, and they talked about the common man, faith and the plans for Die Kupfers. Pou mentioned official militia status, and how the men were all volunteers, the Baron countered with talk of chains of command, formalised structure and the need to stand down for their future if a given fight was un-winnable. Pou had concerns about how his men would react to being placed under the direct command of Scharf and his small cadre of career soldiery, and as a result – stressing the need for order, men of faith, and standards/reliability, Pou quickly found himself officially named Lieutenant, officer in charge of the Militia. He was a little taken aback by this – formalised rank being the last thing Pou craved – but was at least happy that the Baron agreed with his plans to man the castle from the ranks of the newly official militia. He was to choose his men, prepare them, and present them to the Baron in a week, when they would take occupancy of the castle.

Lady FitzCarstein’s meeting followed Pou’s directly; she caught wind of his title from Gottfrid as she was presented to the Baron, retorting with telling and touching questions about the nature of the box(es) the steward held for Werner. Once alone with the Baron, Lady F counselled the unthinkable – that the Baron disowned his only offspring and sever his family line, thus permitting him to name a worthy heir (and the Lady presented herself as willing to take this role). She spoke of how she knew it was not possible for him to do this, as a father, but how it was the only way that she could see the Barony he had built surviving the oncoming troubles. The Baron, naturally refused. Helena also spoke of the lands to the North and how she was requesting aid – from her father and the Order of the Raven, but also from other lords in the south of the Empire. Alas, she also wanted to be able to send refugees there to harbour, but the Lords would require assurances beyond the tax breaks on travel and trade that she could offer. She tied this in to needing the Baron to offer the prize, and intimated this could only be realised if he did sever ties with Josephine, naming Helena heir in her place, then offered the Lady’s hand to a Lord or his heir. Again the Baron had none of it – it would be too big a betrayal, at least before the Templars had arrived. He did, however, bid Lady FitzCarstein to take his addled brother, Gerhardt, to Drachenmalstein for safe keeping. The Baron argued that if the plan was for them all to shelter there if the attack did come then Gerhardt in his fragile mental state would need more time to prepare and travel than would the rest. The Lady agreed and said she would do this. However she left the meeting angry [for more reasons that outlined here, I suspect] and instead left Himmelfeuer that night, alone, and rode through the night to reach Drachenmalstein.

Next morning Scharf was up, prepared and leading his men off early – but only after stopping by Pou’s foundry for some bits and pieces. Pou wasn’t there, though they had arranged terms the previous evening, and Scharf let himself in to seize the goods. As he led his men out from the castle courtyard, the word was already going round that Lady F was missing.

Pou had got up late(ish) and was in the inn, talking over his “promotion” and wedding plans with Herbert, whose daughter Cornelia was also present and, as a trained book-keeper, quickly assumed responsibility for number-crunching the nuptials. A little later, as he was overseeing a drilling practice, Pou felt a hand on his shoulder, and turned to find Jonn, his hitherto missing foreman, looking him in the face, and seeming worse for wear. Jonn bade Pou follow him to the shop – where they found evidence of a break-in and hoped it was down to Scharf taking the arranged goods, though the thought of the theft irked Pou all the same – and more so after Jonn told his tale as the foreman didn’t trust Scharf at all. But the majority of his tale had been how he’d disappeared to track the retreating Tileans in the aftermath of the attack on Gunter, only to get jumped by bandits, who had tortured him and from whom he had only just managed to escape. Jonn spoke of hearing that Scharf was asking about him from a barkeep who had overheard the Captain’s conversation with Pou some nights before and felt that Scharf was trying to divide and conquer a bit.

Pou still had time to arrange for a few trusted Kupfers to head west looking for Josephine, with strict instructions to make her aware that people were looking for her, and to try to keep her safe.

Meanwhile Lady FitzCarstein reached a silent Drachenmalstein as it approached midday. There was no answer to her approach, knock or call – a truly unusual and disturbing find. It was only after a while when the wind died and she heard faint sounds of life from inside the castle proper carrying out. Annoyed before she arrived, and angry now, she tried the gate and found it unlocked. As she moved in it was clear the noise was coming from the great hall. She proceeded through, and upon throwing open the hall doors found almost her entire staff present. Jurgen was on the dais along with a figure tied to a stake. Helena’s brother hit him once, causing him to pass out.

Helena strode to the dais angry, shouting a challenge to her employees that they had work to do. As she got closer she recognised the limp figure: Helmut von Schicksal, the self-styled “lord” of another Border province. Jurgen claimed he was the poisoner who murdered the four monks of Morr – he was found uninvited and unwelcome in the Underworks, some time after their deaths.

Helena brought the man round and interrogated him. He confessed to the trespass (which could not be denied) but asserted it was accidental whilst pursuing academic interests from caves outside the castle, and categorically denied murder. Lady F laid out her position – including that she had hoped von Schicksal might be an ally in the coming trouble with vampiric forces, the mention of which caught him by surprise. She inquired much of him, his past and how he claimed to be where he was, then consigned him to the cells to await further decisions. Jurgen was livid but Helena would not summarily execute him without talking to him further and learning of how he came to be inside the walls.

Ended promisingly, and with the knowledge that the next session will start (and likely focus) with Scharf’s march southwards and what he finds there, and giving enough information to Lady F to convince her to keep von Schicksal alive was a big bonus for me.

Need to figure out how to write these sooner and quicker though – much missed, much forgotten and still too long and too late!

Splitting Heirs: Session Ten

Bit overdue, this; where to begin?

There was a flurry of email traffic after the shocking revelations that brought session 9 to a close with a bang. Reactions to, and continuations of, the conversation Scharf instigated were flying through cyberspace as fast as they could be typed – it was clear that IC trust dropped through the floor, but out of character enjoyment was riding high. A lot of the substance of the emails was replaying in person at the table at the start of this session – partly because one player had been away and missed the avalanche of messages, and partly because the conversation had more to run that was covered in either the previous session or mails.

Recall of specifics is weak, however:

1) Trust issues were thoroughly laid out – with Scharf essentially being sidelined by the others as far as making wartime plans went, for (paranoid, but vaguely justified) fear that said plans would get back to the enemy somehow.

2) Basic arrangements – largely those in line with what Scharf had already laid out – agreed upon; chiefly this meant arranging for the Baron to move to take residence in Drachenmalstein for the time being.

3) Whether Pou and Lady F would support Scharf if he made his accusation of Werner. Pou was hesitant, citing a lack of solid evidence as a particular worry, and Lady FitzCarstein was supportive, yet careful to make sure everyone knew the potential risks. In the end both seemed (outwardly, at least) ready to support the motion.

The discussion was petering along and out when they heard and saw the clamour of a coach arriving at the castle. Somehow Brunnenhing had found a way to get himself back to Himmelfeuer and, with all the councillors back in town, should the Baron live up to his word, he was due to make an appearance. The arrival of the coach broke up the picnic altogether, Pou rushing off to confirm who it was and Scharf insisting he had another meeting to make. Before he could go, however, Lady FitzCarstein was overcome by impulse and – with Pou retreating into the distance – suddenly grasped the Captain and kissed him full on the lips, before turning away and storming off, angry with herself for her loss of control.

The three PCs then split and went their own ways – Scharf to his meeting with an unspecified individual, Pou to find some of the Coppers and arrange for riders to be sent to gather more in number, as well as to try to find the Baron’s wife to table a proposal regarding the future (not that he found her). Meanwhile Lady FitzCarstein paid a visit to the brothel – seeking to congratulate the future Mrs de Burns, and to pry a little about Pou, without much luck – before retreating to her room to pen urgent letters – to Pou (concerning mercantile matters), to her father (begging troops), and to the steward she had sent to manage Brunnenhing’s lands to warn and advise him of the dark horizons.

All three were interrupted part way through their doings by the bell summoning them to council.

The meeting began with all bar Pou and Lady F present – along with Georg Bodendreck, who was standing at Werner’s right shoulder. The Baron was not yet anywhere to be seen but the general milling of servants and Gottfrid began to strongly suggest he would be making an appearance. The atmosphere was testy, and got slightly darker as Lady FitzCarstein arrived bearing a note of bad tidings. She did not share with the room at large but did let Scharf know: Jurgen had just sent word that the four monks of Morr were dead, poisoned by assassins unknown whilst resident in Drachenmalstein!

Not long thereafter Pou appeared, also looking concerned, for he too had received a message as he made his way to the council chamber. Purportedly from Gunter down in the southern reaches of the barony, it said simply: “Help. Under siege!”

The first business at the table was what Georg was doing there; Werner claimed a motion would be tabled to add Georg to the council at the Baron’s decree, but beyond its mention it was pushed down the pecking order by Pou’s revelation of his note, and the talk of war it demanded. The urgency this imbued stayed Scharf’s hand and the accusation he was to level at the chancellor stayed under wraps. Instead Werner was pressed on how the coffers fared and what, if any, provision might be available for spending as a war chest – hiring mercenaries, paying soldiers and so forth. This pressing was harsh, but not unfair and Werner (grudgingly) revealed a fair amount. Motions were then taken to prompt securing said outside help through contacts maintained by individual councillors.

The further discussions were postponed by the Baron’s appearance. Hubst von Feuerwaffen may have been frail but he was abreast of goings on and rumour and coherent. He was keen to dispel thoughts of his ill health, and then moved swiftly on to the most pressing matter that concerned him directly – the succession, should he come to harm. He asked each councillor in turn for their candid and honest opinion on who should inherit the title and land in his passing. Captain Shcarf spoke first and mentioned Lady FitzCarstein as an astute politician, land manager and suitable noble, also mentioning Pou’s standing with the people and solid financial head. Lady F herself somewhat played down her case, but indicated she thought many of those at the table would do aptly in the role. Herbert spoke up and surprised Pou by mentioning him very strongly, whilst Brunnenhing unsurprisingly mentioned himself as his standing as heir by default suggested he might. Pou was unsure, but re-stated his support for the Baron and the continuation of a noble line; Werner, too, was unsure, answering last and committing a common thought to word: he would rather the Baron survived the coming conflict and give more time to find Josephine a suitable suitor.

The Baron thanked everyone for their input, before unsurprisingly revealing his own position; he would rather the control stayed within his family if possible. However he revealed deep seated worries about Josephine’s suitability and possible “taint”; he had, he said, been confined praying to Sigmar for guidance over what to do about her – something he had neglected for “too long” and claimed his God had given him answer and guidance at last: he had sent for Templars. Witch Hunters. He claimed that he needed to know whether Josephine was “tainted” as he feared, and that if not then matters of succession would be solved by his daughter being given proper training and tuition for the role of heiress. If she should be found to have such a stained morality… well, it was a gambit, but one he had already committed to. This cast a further dark mood over the gathered councillors and it was almost enough to prevent the vote on Georg’s councillorship taking place, but for Lady FitzCarstein’s remembering of the issue. The Baron did indeed sanction the move, and so Georg was voted in, no doubt his case strengthened by the fact his lands ran the southern border of the Barony and were even now possibly under assault.

The Baron left, then, pausing only to leave open invites to each of his councillors to a private session that evening should they wish it. There was still time, if not the right mood for it, for Pou to announce the details of his forthcoming wedding before the meeting broke up and the councillors went their separate ways to make preparations for meeting the threat to the south, and whatever else they had planned…

Interesting session that in the end turned out very differently from the expected; I had pitched the notes given to Lady F and Pou for a situation where they would be revealed after the accusation of Werner – designed to perhaps lessen their support for incarcerating him now and possibly leaving Scharf – gambit played – in a difficult position.

Instead they probably just funnelled the silence. The Baron’s revelation added urgency – especially given no-one knows where exactly Josephine is right now; she did not arrive with Brunnenhing – but not necessarily the depth of concern it would have had the news of a southerly “siege” not been broken.

The council scene was tense, and it was interesting to see how people answered when put on the spot by their liege. I enjoyed setting Pou up for being recommended – it is the last thing the character actually would want – and changing the dynamic on the council, which had become somewhat predictable.

Not yet decided who or what the siege is (it should play out tomorrow) or just how I’m going to advance from here. Hoping that some of the players will take up the offer of one-on-ones with the Baron as it will give me a source of ideas if nothing else. Feeling that it is certainly all drawing in now, but I’ve been under the weather since this session was played and so the game has been something of a tertiary thought – to its detriment and my dissatisfaction. I just hope that will not cloud the potential strength of the next session or few…

Things what need doing

I am pondering, on the litany of endless small chores.

There are always more, and how few ever get done... Is it any wonder I feel perpetually ineffectual? Weekends aren't long enough, sleep deserts me too long and my mind is atrophying yet any sense of knowing what I want to do, or of the drive required to realise it are sadly ever absent.

And so I remain - endlessly fed up.

The Joy, and Frustration, of Achievement Points

One of the things I both love and hate about gaming on the Xbox 360, achievement points are surely a point of interest about the platform.

Yes, they are very pointless and measure nothing; gamerscore is utterly pointless and representative of nothing (except perhaps the amount of time and money one has to put into gaming). Where they shine is pointing out potentially fun stuff that one might otherwise miss, or not bother to investigate. Where they incense, enrage and frustrate is where they apply to things that can almost be reached but then are whisked away by some failure of skill, concentration or other such failing, only to then require starting over (on the path to that achievement, at least).

In the former case come things like putting novelty masks on zombies in Dead Rising, or climbing to the top of - and jumping off - the top of the Agency Tower in Crackdown. These kind of incentives are great; the processes of getting them are amusing, fun, and (generally) voluntarily accepted challenges. On the other hand, the single achievement that frustrates me the most is that to get 5 consecutive shutouts in NHL2k7. This, by contrast, falls into the category of achievements that frustrate purely because they exist. If it did not, then conceding for the first time after 4 games and 2 1/2 periods would be a minor annoyance, not a "oh god, now I have to do all that again!" moment. (Yes, that did happen to me; and yes I realise this makes me a sad man, but I've known this for a while - hell the very fact I write anything here at all lends credence to that idea).

This observation of minor standing comes after I finally caved and ordered my 7th title for the console. The sheer number of people I vaguely know who are playing Shadowrun, plus the tactical depth they have reported it as supporting, combined with rewarding support play, have worn me down, and I expect it to drop through my door during the week. I might well come to regret the decision, but I'm sure it will be good for a few solid hours of laughter and fun all the same.

So long as I don't fall into the trap of trying to get the achievements, at least!

Splitting Heirs: Session Nine

Between the end of the last session and the beginning of this one I had asked for insight on how the characters were seeing things – expressed thoughts from their point of view; in addition Scharf’s player emailed me a scheme and plan to be carried out in between sessions such that it had been completed “off-screen” by the time we got to the table. These two things have combined to massively increase out-of-game email and communications traffic, increasing the flow of ideas and, I think, the impact of the game.

This session really sparked the beginning of the climax, the power moves and has really set a (suitably vague) timetable for the end of the run. Not much seemed to happen for the most part, but it was all just build up for a cracking final scene which, I think, left everyone gaping a little.

It was the morning after Georg had arrived at Drachenmalstein, and already Lady FitzCarstein was planning to leave: the potential appearance of the Baron at a full council meeting had to be answered, after all. Georg would have protested, but instead saw fit to accompany Helena, not divulging his reasons for doing so. The Lady was content to have him along, though not with the huge wagon train he had brought to Drachenmalstein, which Georg had to abandon to his servants.

They arrived in town that evening, and whereas the Lady would normally take residence in the castle, this time she bought herself and her brother in law rooms in Herbert’s inn, to the consternation of the Mayor and fellow councillor. Helena admitted to Georg that the reasons for this were just to unsettle Herbert, whose positions on the council and activities outside of it were putting him very much at odds with the Lady of Drachenmalstein. As they were sitting down to dinner, the four Monks of Morr that Pou de Burns and Captain Scharf had met down south the previous day arrived looking for warm food and beds for the night. Recognising them for what they were, Helena joined them for a meal and introduced herself. She was keen to ask about their time down south, their origins, and what they would do now; they told her, as they had Scharf the day before, about fleeing a violent peasant reaction to their presence whilst within Duke Mörder’s borders, about their 5 years or more of spreading Morr’s tenets and word across the less than civilised lands of the Border Princes and their plans now to head back to the civilized lands of the Empire.

Lady F bade them stop at Drachenmalstein on the way, to acquaint themselves with Jurgen (a knight in the service of Morr, whom the monks knew by reputation) and further inform him of their findings. Helena had suspicions that she may need to call on the Order for assistance if Duke Mörder did prove to be more than human and the tensions exploded into full blooded war, and wished to forge as close a friendship with them as was possible. Georg wandered off part way through, and it was clear staying at the inn was not what he had in mind in Himmelfeuer, so the next day Lady F headed to the castle and arranged for him to stay there. She also tried to find the Baron, failing in that, but managing to sneak a look inside the private family chapel – the door was ajar, and inside it was a shrine to Sigmar, a thankful finding that their ruler was not confining himself in worship to less worthy deities. Lady FitzCarstein also made to deliver the Stirland Ravens to Ravenmeister Fedem, prompting glee in the old man of the birds. The encounter left the Lady chilled – for all that she needed his eyes on the coming and going mail, she found him disturbingly reminiscent of the birds he handled.

Pou, now strong enough to make the journey back to Himmelfeuer from down south, was also returning to the capital, having been unable to locate the missing Jonn, and leaving Gunter to his “stewardship” role. He arrived back in Himmelfeuer that evening and, after a visit to the Madamme of the brothel, whom he often spent time with, he made his way to the inn, spying Lady F in the corner when he got there. However first on the agenda was a chat with his old friend Herbert. The two disappeared off into a back room where Pou divulged details of the deal he had made with the Madamme, Helga, and how he had come to be shot in the shoulder. They also talked about Die Kupfers, and what to do about the forthcoming council meeting; talk of potentially declaring power in the name of the people until a suitable heir could be found was mentioned, but largely dismissed as a last resort. They did agree, however, that they wanted to have a squad of Coppers available at a moments notice in case things at the meeting turned sour. Lady FitzCarstein had manoeuvred herself to overhear bits and pieces of this conversation under the auspices of buying a drink, and was keen not to be thought to have eavesdropped when they reappeared.

After his conversation with Herbert, Pou looked to take the time to have a good, friendly, chat with Lady FitzCarstein but, as it tended to do, the discussion turned to the Coppers, their role and whether it was “right” to place peasants in harms way should it come to war. Not the most eloquent in these situations, Pou tried to use a metaphor involving Hedgehogs and Cartwheels [“the spikes may not save it, but at least the hedgehog would feel it had done what it could” – stated to much general mirth] which fell flat on the disbelieving noblewoman’s ears.

They met up in the inn again a couple of days later, only now Captain Scharf – who had been missing around Himmelfeuer – had returned and joined them. More witterings about the morals of putting the peasants in harms way were surprisingly interrupted by the Captain inviting both for a walk and a picnic (it was a rare dry day) somewhere more private. He had something to tell them that he could not risk letting others overhear…

[Summary of the conversation written by Scharf’s player]

Over impromptu breakfast in the fuller's field outside of town, Scharf revealed that he had spent the last three days meeting with Mörder to offer himself as a convenient mercenary and inside man. He'd done this mainly to scout out the land and the man. He learned that Mörder seemed human and competent enough, and was accompanied by two self-effacing advisors who may well not be human. Which, as Lady F pointed out, meant that they may have read his mind. Glossing over this, S added that his main advice to Mörder had been to attack Drachenmalstein for all sorts of entirely sound tactical reasons. This meant, he added, that the Kupfers would have to assist in the defence of Drachenmalstein, something to which the Lady was rather opposed. To the question, "so what will you be doing?” S replied that he intended to put his men to best use harassing the besiegers from outside. Pou cleaned his guns ostentatiously and wondered aloud whether they should just shoot him now.


Lady F asked archly if S had any other secrets he wanted to bring up; a question he'd wanted to answer for ages but now avoided by expanding his next plan, to arrest Werner at the next council and essentially declare martial law in doing so. This would involve arresting Werner's mercenaries (and possibly any other soldiers that S doesn't command) as well. S explained he intended the following things with this:


1) Get Werner somewhere where he could be questioned
2) Allow P and Lady F to search Werner's rooms and look over his ledgers
3) Put someone else in charge of running the Barony's affairs
4) Send a message to other important folk, especially Herbert, that if they didn't win S's trust they were next
5) Put S and his men in popular control


P said S was talking like a noble and that he shouldn't try and be in charge; S retorted that P, as an honest and capable man, should be in charge. S ate his breakfast while the others paced a lot.

We cut there, with the meeting still having a lot to run (potentially); it was a charged revelation, which prompted surprise in- and out- of character. Essentially Scharf unilaterally went and bargained with the enemy – who may or may not be (in thrall to) a vampire.

His gambit was great for the game, because it has set the stone rolling down the hill, as it were. Inviting attack will mean dealing with defence and following through with actions that permit this to be achieved effectively. It has also both solidified and split the characters; Lady F, for instance is greatly pleased that someone has shown the initiative and stones to actually do something about the situation, but feels completely incapable of sharing or trusting Scharf at all for fear that the contents of his mind belong – knowingly or otherwise – to vampires. Pou was shocked that the captain would even try to deal with something as objectively “evil” and wondering whether to remove the potential traitor right there and then.

In essence, everyone is agreed IC that something needed to be done; the way it was done is not at all how the others would have approached it, which is where the tension comes in. The next session will, barring unforeseen other stuff coming up, include the pivotal council meeting with Werner’s accusation which has the potential to go one of many different ways. Scharf’s sledgehammer is very different to the political stilettos Lady F would have used to achieve a similar goal, but what tricks might Werner have up his sleeve, and what will the Baron make of all their squabbling (assuming he appears)?

Splitting Heirs: Session Eight

I’m a session behind now, and with things kicking into gear it is a real challenge to keep up (not least because writing these reports – useful as it is in myriad ways – takes a whole damn evening away from me!). And with the events of this session now 10 days old, my memory is flighty about some of the content; never mind…

Lady FitzCarstein awoke, reconsidering her decision to send Father Cantati to trial (and probably summary execution); instead she had in mind setting him to work redressing the sins of his past by helping build a future for those like his long-past victim. Informing him of this, she also had a first task for the condemned priest: he was to go through the records her brother Jurgen had brought from Stirland, and in so doing compile a précised report on the rumours of vampire sightings in the southlands, specifically any mention of the von Carsteins. The Lady also decided that now she would not be escorting a fugitive, there was no pressing need to return to Himmelfeuer; Brunnenhing would not be back in the town for days, and the Baron’s missive expressly stated he would only address the entire council. Thus Captain Scharf was left to head back alone. He planned to head further south, too – ostensibly investigating the ties between Georg Bodendreck, Werner and the Tileans, but planning to privately visit an old outlaw chief named Gretel the Rabbit, whose band lived in that region of the forest.

Pou was convalescing; no doctor available, but a decent self-administration of alcohol to clean the wound and a bit of a makeshift bandage to hold the blood in were enough to keep him alive and awake. Georg and Gunter had meanwhile stripped and examined the body of the Tilean that Pou had shot and gone through his things. They had not found anything of interest or significance, but when the unstable, yet now mobile, Pou noticed a distinctive mark on some of the man’s effects, confirming they were of the same bunch who had been running Brunnenhing’s lands until recently, and when he examined the man’s jacket he found something sewn into the lining: a small booklet of hand-drawn portraits. One of them resembled Gunter to a tee. This discovery made Pou confront his errant lad, wondering what he could have done to make himself known to, and a target of, these overdressed foreigners. It turned out that Gunter had dealt an underhand deal with them, taking weapons that had not made the grade from the De Burns foundry and selling them to some Tileans at full price. Pou was under the impression that there was a serious risk of backfiring amongst the weapons that did not meet his standards, and suddenly a reason for the men to be seeking Gunter’s downfall – quite literally! – became clear. Gunter, despite his shock, was adamant that it was better if Georg (who had since returned to his packing) were to believe he had been the target, the younger De Burns sensing the chance of profit in the stewardship role. Pou acquiesced to this, not saying anything, and before long Georg was mounted up and, with a wagon train far too large for a mere social call, was heading for Lady FitzCarstein’s seat in Drachenmalstein.

Pou, feeling faint, had a brief sit-down to gather his strength, and then made his way to the inn and accommodation. Somewhere along the way his trusted second, Jonn, disappeared; he has not been seen since. Meanwhile Scharf had travelled at some pace; the Captain made it to the same inn Pou had taken residence in the evening after his fellow councillor had been shot [Pou’s events of the previous session were a day or two ahead of the others]. They met, and talked, Scharf asking after Jonn and whether Pou had any relatives named Pieter, having been given those names by Father Cantati when he had been first quizzed in the drawing room at Drachenmalstein. Pou claimed ignorance, and the Captain let it drop, believing the names had been made up, possibly with the intent of causing him to investigate Pou (who everyone sees as a bit of a straight arrow).

Their conversation was cut short by a bit of a commotion; four black-clad figures had been spotted on the road, making haste towards the small settlement. A tense few moments passed – Scharf and Pou readying themselves for conflict if it were required – but as the four walkers closed, banging large staffs on the road with every step, it became clear that they were four monks from the Order of the Raven; monks of Morr.

Scharf took command, publicly inviting and welcoming them into the inn; they had, they claimed, fled persecution in the south – beyond the border in Duke Mörder’s territories. The claim was that the peasants had taken exception to their teachings and – after several years wandering the Badlands spreading Morr’s word and minding the dead, they had been forced to flee northwards to escape a pitchfork-wielding mob. Scharf listened, pulling in details that might pertain to the state of play south of the border; it was clear that someone was stirring the peasants into this action, though the monks had said the authorities had welcomed them wherever they had been. Scharf also asked them about Jurgen FitzCarstein (they knew him by reputation) and then proceeded to tell the monks of Lady FitzCarstein’s residence in the Barony and where she and her brother might be found. The rest of the evening passed without note.

Next morning, Pou was continuing his convalescence whilst Scharf rode out to meet Gretel the Rabbit, an old bandit chieftain whom he knew (and he consequently turned something of a blind eye to the activities of her band). Meeting at a glade in the woods (clearly a common meeting spot, and a place of thanksgiving), they discussed movements south of the border (where Gretel’s bandits were active, and had good intelligence on troop movements and so forth), as well of mutual acquaintances. Gretel was interested to know more about Lady FitzCarstein, having been asked to pass her information by a mutual friend, and Scharf asked about Aachen, the fellow he had seen in the forest outside Brunnenhing’s manor, both giving guarded responses but learning a little. However it was the information about Mörder’s troop movements that was most readily useful; the Rabbit was able to confirm the rumours amongst the populace about troops now doing exercises on the southern border, with Mörder’s general, Großewaffe, in attendance. Various other small-talk, veiled threats and implorations later, Scharf departed amicably for the inn and rest.

Meanwhile in the damp halls of Drachenmalstein Lady FitzCarstein and her brother Jurgen had a chance to talk about life, the situation at hand, and family – with Jurgen touching a nerve by mentioning his sister’s frosty relationship with their father, after Helena had asked how many men she might be able to procure from the North if it was required. Lady FitzCarstein bears some bitterness against the patriarch who sold her to a drunk and violent man from an unfancied backwater. Her response prompted Jurgen to ask her about the death of her Husband, Hans, but Helena replied as she always did that “he went adventuring”, and from there the conversation quickly died, and the Lady sent her Brother out to begin the gathering of information about the Coppers in the area (with strict instructions that none were to be harmed).

It was a few days later when Georg arrived, carriage and wagons carrying enough junk to give the impression he had horribly misread the Lady’s invitation, and thought he was to be moving in! In the event he received a rather frosty welcome as once initial pleasantries were out of the way, Lady FitzCarstein was quick to fire a barrage of questions and accusations at her hapless visitor concerning the communications he and Werner had been having. Georg revealed that he was, in a sense, working for Werner – providing him with information and service in return for having an ally on the council, something the Lady’s brother in law would sorely need if he was to ever realise what he felt was his right: a seat of his own.

Skippage and misremembering are likely in this case (alas) so I’ve tried to keep it short. There was, additionally, talk in Drachenmalstein of a theory of “talented” young women, all around the same age as Josephine, Jarla and Lady FitzCarstein, who may or may not have some unconscious talent, or attunement to the winds of magic (aka “herbalists”).

The scenes with Lady F and her brothers (one by birth, one in-law) were very charged by my recall, giving good insight to the character, her motivations and one of the possible decisions she will face in the near future: will she prevail of her father’s aid if the Barony is attacked as seems likely? Her slap-down of Georg was amusing and I was squirming for him even as I portrayed his responses. There is more yet to run in that…

Pou has been sidelined a bit by his injury, but this is very much the calm before the storm; how he deals with the Coppers and their place in the wrangling for power could make or break him.

Scharf meanwhile gave hints to his past and set up what would then become the boldest move of the game (played out by email between the end of this session and the start of session nine – completed and awaiting write-up – thus setting up a slew of forthcoming events), one that has the potential to split the council, bring war to the forefront of everyone’s minds and thus bring forward the shaping of the future.

Session nine has been played and will hopefully follow soon.

"Braaaaaaaaaaaaaaiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnsssssss"

I love console "classics" ranges; come to the game late, get it cheaper.

I picked up Dead Rising the other day and, frustrating and tough as it has proved, running around a mall saving people, shooting psychos and slaughtering the shambling dead in myriad amusing, brutal and interesting ways is dead good fun.

The comedic tone is set when the zombies manage to get into the mall when an old lady cannot bear to leave her poodle outside the barricade, thus dooming herself and several others. Oh how I chuckled, even as I struggle to actually progress.

I've also finally acquired Microsoft Points and bought Catan (an electronic adaptation of the Settlers of Catan boardgame). Much fun, even though I've yet to play against a thinking opponent.

Splitting Heirs: Session Seven

After a delayed start (and associated ad-libbing with what Pou was doing in a very quiet Himmelfeuer, chatting with Herbert and chasing up news from the South where Gunter had run to), we picked up the scene in the feast hall at Drachenmalstein; it ended up being a lot less dramatic than I had envisioned, yet at the same time ultimately working out in a way that felt right.

Lady FitzCarstein naturally invited the Captain to the feast, it would not have been proper not to; a place was made at the top table, along with the Lady and her brother and a couple of other local dignitaries. Father Cantati, meanwhile, slunk off to a low table near the exit, after having given the requisite blessings. Conversation was lively during the meal, though understandably steered away from the issue at hand; that would be discussed in relative privacy in the moments after the feast. Jurgen and Scharf poked and pried about each other, and about the nature of the tasks the Lady had invited her brother to Drachenmalstein to perform (investigating the copper-ring wearing individuals in and around Drachenmalstein and Bardslaughter, and then investigating the truth or otherwise to the involvement of vampires in Duke Mörder’s expansionistic plans). This in itself was news to Scharf, who had assumed it was merely a familial visit, and it sparked much talk of the state of the Barony, the threats facing it, and the status of Baron and (lack of) heirs. [An update of who is who and what fingers are found in which pies might be a good idea before long, eh?].

After dinner the two FitzCarsteins and the Captain retired to a more private chamber where they could talk freely. It was at this point that Scharf raised his reasons for appearing, unannounced and uninvited, at Drachenmalstein; the Lady understood, Father Cantati having given her notice that he might be wanted for questioning as a result of long-past indiscretions. Before too long – after Jurgen’s tasks had been fully outlined, and their ramifications discussed openly with the Barony’s military mind – the Lady’s brother was “called away” to deal with a “sickness amongst his retinue”; Jarla, who had been present as the maid in waiting, disappeared at the same time, casting doubt on this claim. Lady FitzCarstein and Captain Scharf then deigned to go and find the Father and question him past the point of the interruption; to get the fifth name, and take what steps were needed.

They found him seated at the back of the castle’s dark, damp, library, reading by the meagre light of a candle stub. Approaching as one, the question that had been pregnant in the air around Cantati since Vod rescued him from the pre-dinner grilling was asked: who was the fifth member of Leuchttern’s ring? Speaking slowly, clearly, and resignedly, knowing that he had to come clean and there was no dodging the question this time, Cantati revealed it had been him, following it up with weak, pointless and barely coherent ramblings of qualification. Scharf had heard enough, though; he had suspected as much, and with the nature of the crime hitting a hot button of his, he stormed over to the other side of the room so as not to unduly lose his temper whilst the Lady dealt with the inevitable need for judicial arrangements. Cantati would be taken to the cells for the night, and then brought to Himmelfeuer for due process; she thanked him for his frankness and admission, and then walked with Cantati and Scharf to the cells, where her guard were shocked, but complied with her order to lock him up.

The Lady and Scharf then retired to her private suites; taking wine, they talked – first about Cantati, how personally the Captain had taken the admission, and how Lady FitzCarstein would not take the consequences of choosing to confess from her former instructor, despite misgivings of the worth of a formal trial. Then, as they drank more, they talked about their childhoods, relationships with fathers (distant, though they were), and even their romantic lives. They spoke, too, on the state of the Barony, and about whether Herbert’s visions of Die Kupfers were a threat or challenge to social order; both were inclined to think Pou’s visions more innocent. Mooted amongst these words was the proposition of Lady FitzCarstein as Baroness in future, as Scharf was well abreast of much of her politicking. They ended with talk of secrets and trust, Lady F giving nothing away, and claiming to need to know little to trust her staff; her closeness on the issue, and seeming lack of interest in whatever he was hiding, (along with, perhaps, a misinterpretation) left Scharf feeling a little uneasy, and wondering how the noblewoman actually saw him. The evening tailed off in more wine and small-talk, before the Captain fell asleep in his armchair and the Lady retired to her bedchamber. Jarla returned sometime early in the morning and found the Captain asleep in the Lady’s chambers, sparking rumour and curiosity as to what had passed the night before.

The whole of Drachenmalstein was a rumour factory, however, with Cantati’s incarceration the talking point. Lady F was forced to tackle the rumours head on, assuring them of the solid grounds for detention and the Father’s willingness to accede to it, before handing the castle over to Jurgen for the time being and making ready to accompany Scharf and his captive back to Himmelfeuer. Not only the prospect of the trial awaited, but so, perhaps, did an audience with the Baron, if the entire council could be assembled.

Pou, meanwhile, had been kicking his heels a little; nothing much was happening in town and without a shipment due for a fair while the gunsmith was at something of a loose end. Herbert suggested it might be time to nail down Gunter and see what he was up to; incidentally there had been less news than might have been expected from their network down south, and it might be worth looking into it. Figuring he had nothing better to do, and that it would prove useful, Pou set off; Gunter had been seen liaising with Georg Bodendreck – the brother of Lady FitzCarstein’s late husband – which gave his father a place to start the search.

Travelling swiftly, but asking for general news from copper ring-adorned men and women on the way, Pou headed off to the southlands and the Bodendreck Manor, worried in part that the overlooked lordling, (and to a lesser extent his wayward bastard), might have mixed loyalty to the barony, so close were their lands to the borders with Mörder’s territories. He first met up with his foreman, Jonn, and the smattering of men he had left on Gunter’s trail when the lad had first skipped town, then – posing as the merchant he was – set off for the Manor house. He found it busy; wagons and carriages were outside and servants were busy attending both. A little prying revealed that the Lord of the manor had cause to be away a while – supposedly visiting Lady Helena FitzCarstein – and had left stewardship of his lands in Gunter’s hands in the meantime. This was a shock to Pou; he was unaware Gunter knew Georg that well, and knew how unsuited his lad was to estate management!

Walking in through the open door, Pou enquired as to where the Lord was, claiming he had business, and received directions to the main chambers upstairs. Passing through the garishly opulent hallway and up the stairs he heard someone giving a serving boy an ear bashing. His entrance was not appreciated, however, as the Lord, busy in his preparations to leave, and not the best tempered of men, demanded to know who he was and what he was doing, barely stopping to listen before screaming for Pou to get out. Non-plussed, Pou left and was just outside when he saw Gunter riding up. Careful to keep the busy loading of wagons between him and his son, he watched Gunter ride up, dismount and enter the manor; Pou and Jonn then ducked back inside, taking inconspicuous seating on a bench in the hallway and hoping to overhear something of interest.

They did not. However after a brief conversation with Georg, Gunter reappeared on the balcony overlooking the hall, at which point Pou engaged him in startled conversation (centred around both of their pretexts for being there, the sale of firearms). It was during this conversation, with Georg unknowing in his main chambers, that a stocky man in bright pink tailored clothing and a foppish hat walked in seemingly unnoticed and began to climb the stairs. Thinking nothing of it at first Pou and Gunter carried on their exchange, but then Pou realised that the man was going to attack his son, attempting to throw him over the handrail. Springing into life Pou began up the stairs after him, having given Gunter a warning to hold on! The warning was not enough to prevent the small man tipping Pou’s son over the rail, but had given Gunter time enough to get a hold. Pou reached the top of the stairs and confronted the man, holding a pistol level at him, but undeterred the man stepped in and swung a punch at Pou, missing, but then lunging for, and grabbing, Pou’s weapon arm. At this moment Georg came hurtling out onto the balcony, pistols waving, and loosed a poor shot at the stocky man’s back (shattering a rather expensive looking vase when he missed). Jonn (and, once he got his bearings, Georg) then combined to try and haul Gunter back to safety, whilst Pou faced off with the intruder. Unable to use his firearm, Pou looked to use the stairs and gravity; the little man’s momentum was taking him down, past Pou, and towards the rail, and by shifting his foot just so, Pou sent him tumbling, though he lost the grip on his pistol as his arm was yanked round with the small assailant.

Remarkably the little Tilean (whose feathered hat had somehow stayed atop his head throughout his tumble) managed to roll to his feet and make for the front door, astonished servants standing off as he did so. Pou gave chase but could not see him by the time he got to the door. Reasoning he must be hiding behind a wagon, Pou braced himself for a shot the second the man broke cover, then when he saw nothing moved to look the other side of the assembled carriages, calling for the figure to come out. The only response was the ping of an arrow off the stonework nearby; his assailant had had friends on the roof! A snap shot back missed, before a second figure appeared on the rooftop and loosed an arrow that caught Pou in the shoulder. Bleeding, Pou fell back to the doorway, bracing himself through the pain, his aim at the rooftop; when one figure stood to loose again, a ball of shot caught him between the eyes. Gunter was safely down by now, but with aerial cover of the courtyard outside and Pou bleeding profusely despite the arrow shaft still stuck in his shoulder, the group fell back inside the house, reasoning to take sightlines on the barn roof from the upper floor of the main house. There was a “click”, like a weapon firing, but when he turned, Pou saw no imminent danger and thought nothing further of it. It was only a minute or so later someone happened to spot the pink-clad man riding off across the fields on a stolen horse. Pou took aim from the doorway, but given the pain in his shoulder and the range, the best he could manage was catching the horse on the rump, which served no purpose but to spur the beast on in agonised flight, it’s rider hanging on for dear life…

Good fun, and the dice, when used, backed up the vision of events I had hoped for to boot. The scuffle mixed it up a bit, and probably asked even more questions than were answered; the motives for the failed assassinations down south are far from clear (though there is at least one body to search for clues). It’s worth noting that I write “Tilean” in the summary, but just said “foreign” in game; the obvious link is that this guy was either the scout seen leaving Brunnenhing’s manor or affiliated to those guys. Whether the obvious is true or not is another matter.

We’re nearing the point where something really big has to happen; small things tick over fine and everything which is going on plays to at least one of the PCs’ personalities, but shifting focus to the southern reaches of the Barony should pave the way for ramping up talk of impending war (the peasants have certainly been gossiping about it down there).

The trial of Cantati should prove an opportunity to dig at Scharf’s taking the crimes personally, whilst the possible appearance of the Baron should be a centre point of an episode in the near future.

So, I'm finally watching Firefly

---

Yeah, that's right.

Me, who "doesn't like Sci-fi or westerns"; me who has previously stated (amongst other things) "Whedon is an overrated hack"; me who just does not get the slavish (or even non-slavish) praise thrown at Buffy or Angel (and no, no way that is going to change; I've seen enough to remain thoroughly unconvinced).

I was shown the pilot and the first episode a few weeks ago. Neither really captured me, and indeed the former rather played to my preconceptions by trying to do too much (unnecessarily introducing each and every one of the ensemble) whilst actually achieving very little. However there was enough there to hint at what everyone [on RPGnet] was banging on about for years; spots of brightness in the dull gloom, if you will.

So I've borrowed the discs, and I'm ploughing through it. Mainly it's making me laugh - both through genuine "yes that is funny" moments, and "oh my god, could that be any more corny?" moments - but there is more to it to my continued watching. Visually it does not work for me (two stunning beauties aside); the planetside sets make me cringe, the camera work and cuts leave a lot to be desired (YMMV etc.); this more than cancels the humour.

I thus grudgingly have to admit, stepping back a little from my "hack" remark in the process (though his other two big shows still support it, damnit! ), that the reason I am still watching is well written characters. Some more-so than others, granted, but there is something about all of them to hold interest. That said, I don't really like Mal; sure he's a little interesting (they all are a little), but - and I'm not sure if it's performance or writing - something leaves me a bit cold there.

For me Simon is proving the heart of the show - his relationship with River, Kaylee's crush on him and the edginess between him and (most of) the rest of the crew is the primary dramatic force holding my attention.

So, um, yeah; nothing more. I'm less than half way through so far and opinions may change yet further, but I'm finally getting hints as to what all the fuss was about.

So, it's another year in the Conference (and other Assorted Random Snippets to Entertain)

Another in the vein of Everything and Nothing; a sure sign that the combination of lifestyle, mental state and the work I'm doing is not good for me. A happy, healthy and alive me would be seeking to write discrete entries for these things. Oh well, it's not to be for now.

The title refers to the disasters of last week when, despite winning the away leg 1-0, Oxford conspired to lose on penalties to Exeter in the conference playoff semi-finals, ending the hopes of an immediate return to the top flight. I'm not actually as gutted about this as I would have been as, generally, I find my interest in football waning some across the board. Still, it would have been nice if the excellent early season performance had been more the "real" nature of the team than the dismal end to it.

Also on the sporting front, this week signals the beginning of the (international) cricket season in England, with the first Test at Lords kicking off on Thursday. Despite the pratfalls of team and tour party over the winter (the still somewhat unbelievable CB series win aside) England should really be looking for convincing wins over a West Indies team that has lost it's talisman of the last 15 years or so. Brian Lara retired after the World Cup and whilst his brilliant best was, I feel, some years behind him, losing someone of that talent is going to be a major hurdle for their side to straddle. England, meanwhile, have injury problems galore and a new coach to boot. The one good thing to come from the World Cup was Duncan Fletcher's resignation; hopefully new coach Peter Moores (and his new assistant, former Zimbabwe world #1 keeper/batsman Andy Flower, who I reckon will be a fantastic appointment) will revitalise a team that has great potential but has looked light of belief and direction of late. I'm hoping without real belief that Moore's pet pick, wicketkeeper Matt Prior, proves himself worthy, but more than that I'm hoping that a sea-change is signalled and that whilst we only really have 4 truly classy bowlers (Hoggy, Harmy - assuming his mind is right, and his early-season form for Durham suggests it might be - Freddie and Monty) the extra batsman is picked and any surplus overs can be cobbled from the likes of Collingwood, Bell and Pietersen, who can all turn their arms over decently. I think it would make for a stronger side, especially as and when Vaughan returns and could lend his under-rated offspin to the equation. I fear, though, looking at the make-up of the squad, the mindset is currently too firmly set on 5+5+Keeper. Time will tell.

Away from sports, I'm coming up to the end of the free trial Gold membership of Xbox Live, and will be paying for the service soon. That said, it's proving fun, even if I have so far limited myself to playing with the one person on there that I know well offline - my idiot threshold is low and whilst I'm sure there are plenty of good folks out there (and some I know I'd love to game with if our tastes and times overlapped) at the moment I haven't fully abridged myself of the opportunities. That said I have had a chance to smack Garry at Cricket, and was thumping him at Table Tennis too before my connection dropped. Hopefully thumpings will not continue, it's more fun if there's contest. Those aside, there has been more co-op shooting alien-zombies in the face in Gears of War, which is a nice wind down to any evening.

There was a bit of excitement this week when the gaming group were briefly discussing Primetime Adventures, the game I most want to actually play - by the rules and everything! Ultimately though I suspect we shall not - it really isn't a good style match for everyone and whilst people might be willing to give it a try, the success or failure would appear to ride on peoples' initial buy in and enthusiasm for the concept, which is far enough removed from standard RPGs to not be a given. It will be a shame if it does not happen, but perhaps more of one if it does and falls flat. In any case the current game is set to continue a few weeks yet (at the very least) , and what happens thereafter is up in the air for now.

To end on a thoroughly positive note, musically life is good. A couple of weeks ago I had a few days off and headed down to see a mate in Bristol. Whilst there I not only saw Thea Gilmore play an acoustic set at the Fleece (my primary reason for booking holiday and descending on Bristol), I was also back in the same venue the next night to see Nick Harper who, whilst he did not thrill me with his music, certainly knew how to entertain a crowd. In between the two - God Bless Fopp! - I found a copy of Tom Waits' Orphans for £20, so finally persuaded myself to make it mine. Even better than all of that, though - and surely worth a post to itself but for my tired mind - is the album that has been on constant play for the last 5 days since it arrived.

Ma Fleur by The Cinematic Orchestra is a stunningly good album. I liked - not loved - their earlier works, but this release has everything. So well crafted, so appropriately rich or sparse where required, so beautifully performed and recorded. It is Music That Makes the World Alright. That is, no matter what the weather (and it has been doing allsorts; the drive to Windsor Castle - where we took my Grandmother for a birthday outing on Sunday - was through almost zero visibility for rain and spray, and both today and Saturday were changeable if nothing else!) it makes it feel like a bright warm sunny day. Despite the fact I have really been feeling my loneliness recently - this during a few weeks that have seen more social activity for me than most 3 month periods - it banishes all such thoughts.

Now, I have to go press play before I type "if only I had someone to share it with".... Bugger.

Splitting Heirs: Session Six

An interesting session this; it began (and to a degree ended) with a discussion of system and style. We’ve never really been playing WFRP despite the setting and the character sheets: I don’t tend to introduce much in the way of crunch at all, and then only at pivotal moments, and there was discussion about increasing scene control for the players, which I was all for; it had been planned all along but lost in discussion and interpretation of setup.

It was also interesting from an in game point of view: more happened, which helped, but the greatest impact was made by the character dynamics changing. The explicit endorsement of player-set scenes and faster pace of background events allowed Captain Scharf to really come to the fore for the first time in the six sessions.

We picked up by wrapping up events to the West, where the Lady FitzCarstein’s ruse of war had succeeded in ousting the mercenaries squatting in Lord Brunnenhing’s manor.

The plan having been successful in dislodging the occupants, and the prolonged no show of the scout making the continued vigil on the road obsolete, the Lord Brunnenhing was moved back into his manor house. Over the next few days arrangements were made with the local smallfolk by the resourcefulness of the Captain and his use of the copper ring and Pou’s name; Lady FitzCarstein was involved in the initial stages but soon set off for her seat at Drachenmalstein, where her brother Jurgen was due any day, and there were many administrative tasks to perform. She would arrange for a capable steward to return west to aid the smooth running of Brunnenhing’s lands, whilst the Captain was instructing the locals on how things would run in the coming weeks. A moratorium on taxes sent back to Himmelfeuer was used as weight against them helping to clean, fortify and run the manor and it’s surrounding lands, whilst Brunnenhing and Josephine, who surprised everyone by electing to stay, would be expected to muck in on pains of missing out (as the smallfolk had been explicitly told not to listen to either of the nobles).

Lady F, meanwhile, got home the night before her brother arrived. She had much to mull over; the message appended to the rabbit had been from Georg Bodendreck – her late husband’s brother – to Werner… but sent via the mercenaries then holding Brunenhing’s lands. It contained information about goings on to the south – where the barony bordered Mörder’s lands, and records of the Bodendreck tax takings. In addition to her ruling duties, her scheming regarding Brunnenhing’s land, and Josephine, and the imminent arrival of her brother there was the situation with Father Cantati to deal with. However, arriving back late as she did, her first stop was to check in with Jarla and have a good girly catch-up; gossip was shared, primarily regarding the Baron’s daughter and her willingness to “mix” with the smallfolk. Jarla proffered the opinion that perhaps there was more to Josephine than met the eye, and that maybe she knew how to protect herself in romantic dalliances through some “talent” or other; this would also explain the Baron’s lukewarm appreciation of her, with his devout attention to Sigmar cooling him decidedly on other forms of supernatural signs. Speaking of the Baron, there was a missive bearing his seal awaiting Her Ladyship; it spoke (in Gottfrid’s hand) of the Baron wishing to give council once all of his councillors were back in Himmelfeuer. Being unable to leave right away, but knowing that Brunnenhing would linger long to the West, she put it out of her mind turned to other tasks: sending a steward to Brunnenhing. Lady F called her own steward in for advice – did he know someone capable to send? He offered to go himself, sensing the size and potential import of the task and without another suitable recommendation. In his place he recommended an up-and-coming member of the household staff who would flourish under the responsibility with the tutelage of a shrewd Lady.

Meanwhile Pou was back in a quiet Himmelfeuer, trying to pry into Herbert’s mind after his old friend’s mannerisms had aroused suspicions. By taking the friendly drink (or 10!) route he managed to winkle out the fact that Herbert was still concerned about the death at the mining camp, more than most others were now, some days after the fact. A second night’s revelry paid off further, Herbert letting slip that he had been behind the thefts that occurred, wishing to split the council, not trusting the higher-born members (items had been “found” in Brunnenhing’s and Lady F’s retinues and rooms). His motives were not clear from his drunken spilling, but Herbert clearly had something in mind.

Captain Scharf came back to Himmelfeuer with all this in the air. He spoke at length with Pou, and they decided it was time to break Die Kupfers into the open, planning training drills and the like and involving the small standing army in the creation of this “people’s militia” to give it a veneer of respect. Werner noticed the change but, given the army’s involvement and the finance being privately provided he had to relent and agree that given omens to the south it might well be needed. Scharf and Pou also found a moment to speak with the until-then elusive Manfred, who was back working in the bar (this may or may not have been before Herbert’s second slip of the tongue). He revealed that Herbert had instructed him to take, then place the stolen items, Scharf’s stated lack of interest in prosecution convincing him to come clean in his motives.

The day of Jurgen’s arrival came; Lady F had the house in order to receive him and a feast planned for the evening in celebration. She still had to outline to Jurgen the exact nature of the tasks she had for him, but there would be time for that in the coming day(s). Jurgen – a big, booming character – was both impressed and disappointed with Drachenmalstein, but was thinking of staying for a decent period given the hints of vampiric activity that had prompted Helena to request certain books from the family library.

The evening feast came, and was about to get underway when a member of the house staff called Father Cantati from the great hall; a messenger had come to speak to him with some urgency. The Father went out to see his summoner, but returned presently requesting a private chamber in which to receive his guest. And to ask for the Lady to send Commander Vod, captain of the Drachenmalstein guard, to fetch him were he not back in 10 minutes.

Cantati had been called out by Captain Scharf, who did not with his presence to be known; the Captain had travelled to Drachenmalstein that day to interrogate Cantati, whose name had come up in the investigations of child abusers linked to the killing at the mining camp. Cantati took Scharf to an ornate, but rarely used, drawing room and began questioning, probing for the names of others that may have been involved. Cantati revealed that he knew Leuchttern well, meeting him in social circles before finding out of his perversions – which the priest (in his eternal shame, and having just left the formal priesthood) did nothing to stop. As the chat proceeded, Cantati revealed other names, four of five involved were named, the dead miner and Leuchttern already known. Of the other three, one was reported as fled, and another of whereabouts unknown.

Scharf was pressing for the fifth name when there was a knock on the door; Vod had come to find Cantati. Scharf asked for another couple of minutes, but under the Father’s visual direction Vod made out there was no chance of delay. At this point Captain Scharf decided to invite himself to the feast, and the trio moved off towards the feast hall, the Captain’s presence causing a surprise to those assembled as he entered…

Poised nicely, in the end; a centrepiece conflict which on the surface, at least, pits Scharf directly against Lady F will hopefully not disappoint as it opens next session.

That setup aside, two new pieces of information are also now completely open for interpretation: Herbert’s masterminding of the thefts, using Manfred’s expertise to introduce conflict amongst councillors, and Werner’s explicit ties to the mercenaries in the West. There were also signs to establish that, despite the universal fear to the contrary, the Baron is still alive, and that things might be afoot to the south – inside and outside the Barony. Various machinations are now underway (PC and NPC), and they are beginning to advance to bear fruit.

It was really nice to see more of Scharf this time out, and a point of conflict with Lady F will be a real potential insight into the depths of both characters, whilst the elevation of Die Kupfers to semi-formal “people’s militia” will surely spark interest between the three PCs when Lady F finds out about these developments. Jurgen’s poking around might stir things up, too and there is plenty of slack in events elsewhere to kick things if they start to flag a little.

It was a really fun session for me, and I’m hopeful that the little clearing up of any misconceptions before we began, and a conscious effort to maintain the higher pace, will help keep this working onwards and upwards.

A whiney, self-pitying, interjection

Gods I feel rough. I've had hangovers before; I've had much worse hangovers before. But I have never before had hangovers that give me sharp biting pains in my stomach whilst leaving my head almost entirely clear.

Ouch.

Splitting Heirs: Session Five

An abridged summary this time, as I have not had the occasion to write up the session until 10 days later and as a result my memory is sadly rather less clear.

Lady FitzCarstein’s plan to scare the mercenaries hiding out in Brunnenhing’s manor was put into action. Fires were lit, “refugees” paraded, and words of war spoken; the show seemed to scare the brigands witless, but they have not yet made move from the place.

Whilst Lady F headed the column of refugees, Captain Scharf, his 2 men and Josephine – who had been refused a place in the refugee train – were watching the road, hoping to ambush the Tilean scout on his return (so that word of there not being war would not reach the manor). It was wet and unpleasant, even in the cover of woods. Scharf heard noises, coming across what appeared to be a trapper, yet who looked unsuited to the task. Scharf left him alone for now, and returned to the ambush point just as a rider was travelling past. He arrived just in time to prevent Josephine, never the most suited of characters to the situation, from standing and exclaiming, giving away their position.

On the other hand, it mattered not. The rider was Brunnenhing, with two bedraggled looking “men at arms” trailing behind him; it then fell on Captain Scharf to defuse the situation and get the Lord up to date on the plans in action. Manfred was nowhere to be seen, Brunnenhing saying that he left his company that morning (or overnight). With their added threesome, Scharf and those with him continued to watch the road until the “trapper” appeared, seemingly headed for the manor with his captured furs. Scharf now stepped out, leading the man around the ambush spot and engaging him in conversation: who was he, what was he doing? The man claimed to be a furrier with goods to sell at the manor and gave his name as Aachen – a name that rang vague bells with the Captain. The two walked and talked until they were a ways past the ambush site before Scharf turned back.

From nearer the manor, heading down to find the Captain after concluding her words with the mercenaries inside, Lady F (who had taken the guise of a Verenan initiate) saw the two men talking then parting. Fearing that the man would blow her plan by discrediting talk of war, but unsure how to sway him away from the manor she simply pulled up her hood and pressed on. Passing the man, they had a brief conversation without breaking character; as she turned to go, however, she heard a thump on the ground behind her. Looking around she saw a freshly caught rabbit on the ground, and an envelope labelled with an F. Picking it up she hung the rabbit from her belt and tucked the note inside her garb to keep it from the rain. Herr Aachen had vanished from sight.

Meanwhile back in Himmelfeuer Pou was trying to calm down the mob gathered outside the garrison. They were adamant that the man in custody could not be the child abductor, as several had been out with him the night before and knew the man well. Rolf, the sergeant left in charge in Scharf’s absence, was not the brightest of men when it came to these “townies” and had hoped that “assuring” the public that the criminal had been caught would put the mass mind at ease. Pou succeeded in convincing the lawman to take statements one by one, and convincing the mob to let him handle the complaints; he bargained for co-operation from both sides by agreeing to take an active part in the investigations.

This role took him to see Herbert, Werner and others; his old friend was acting up, and Pou even suspected at one point that Herbert might have had something to do with it, but his visit to Werner pointed fingers in other directions. The treasurer had spent a few days re-visiting judicial and watch accounts from 10 years past for information surrounding the Leuchttern incident, and was struck by a reference to Father Cantati – Lady FitzCarstein’s spiritual advisor and Verenan tutor – who had been in the town at that time and who had known the lecherous Leuchttern well. Pou was aware, however, that Lady F’s entourage had left town the night before the child went missing so Cantati could not have been involved.

Pou’s investigations were turning up nothing but the suspicion generated by Herbert’s avoidance of him, which was enough to persuade Pou to have his friend watched – under the guise of security – by others of Die Kupfers. Rolf was eventually convinced that the man they had taken was innocent after the illusion of due process was carried out. The man was released the next morning, when the whole “abduction” was shown to be nothing more than a tragic combination of mistake and accident: the missing child was found trapped but alive under a collapsed beam inside an unused building adjacent to his house; he had wandered in whilst his mother was out procuring food and got trapped, his feeble, trapped, lungs not generating enough noise to have caught much attention – especially with the town’s ire focussed on the watch for a presumptuous and wrongful arrest. This, again, stirred up the people and has left faith in the watch low amongst the populace. One of the mob’s ringleaders – a member of Die Kupfers – was calling for the group to take over law enforcement matters themselves, citing the incompetence of those currently charged with the role. Pou had to talk him down, adroitly figuring the best way to control this impulsive character was to draw him into the responsibilities for making sure that the organisation could take over, but making sure that it remained behind the scenes: big displays of dissatisfaction would not help their cause. Pou and Herbert resolved once again to petition the Baron to accept a trained civilian militia… Die Kupfers by another name.

It felt like not a lot happened in this session, and the shorter summary is thus appropriate. Events with Lady F and Captain Scharf seemed to take a long while to achieve little – a fault I lay at my door, as pacing was very poor this time out. On the other hand, events in Himmelfeuer went swimmingly and encompassed more than I have been able to reliably recount here. The aim was to set up a mistrust of the Captain’s men (if not the Captain himself) amongst the general populace and increase a groundswell for popular revolt – a situation that would lead to some great roleplaying potential. This is made more interesting by the fact that Pou does not want such to happen, yet if it did he would be placed squarely at its head.

Tensions between the councillors are rising – typified by the suspicion generated between Pou and Herbert over the past few sessions. Trust is not eroded entirely – a game without any trust between characters (PC or NPC) quickly becomes Paranoia – but is being made less than certain, guarded and questionable, hopefully raising the impact factor of choices made by the characters.

One thing missing from this summary and from my understanding of events is a conversation that took place between Lady F and Captain Scharf whilst I was running Himmelfeuer events with Pou. I believe this hinted at the Captain’s past, and continued the setting up of an interesting power balance relationship between the characters, but the exact nature of what was discussed is beyond my ken.

Overall I remain very happy with the game, but would really like to pick up the pace a bit; I am not sure how to achieve this, but I suspect it involves me putting aside my spectator’s mentality when the PCs are interacting with each other – I have always gained a large proportion of my enjoyment of roleplaying from watching (other) players’ creativity – and looking to actively inject more conflict to each scene to keep things moving along.