Shadow and Noir 2

 A series played using Quill Noir and Quill Shadow and Ink. This post is published under the CC-BY-SA-4.0 licence.

Letter 2: Maxwell to Pierre Durand

M. Durand.

I trust this letter finds you in good health. I am writing to ask you for your professional perspective on a recent purchase. It is a rare book of emblems and designs - the seller claimed it is a copy of the Vir Stellas.

I'm no artist but I have enclosed a sketch of some fragments of the designs from the early chapters. Sadly I don't recognise the language, or possibly languages, the book is written in. The drawings are tantalising alone, the lack of context amplifies the effect.

A librarian colleague has examined the physical object, and confirms that this is an authentic sixteenth-century tome. Together we compared the text to contemporary volumes but found no direct comparison with the language or the drawings. This book is a mystery to me.

I've studied the Vir Stellas long into the night in the hopes of deciphering this infamous book. By candlelight the images - particularly some of the woodcuts - seem to take on movement. It is folly of course but something about this book becomes curiously oppressive after dark - it chills me to behold.

I'm reluctant to let the book out of my hands, but if you'd be able to visit the city to view it in person I'd be happy to cover your expenses. I really do hope you can help shed some light on these fascinating illustrations. I feel we are on the verge of some great discovery.

Agnes Maxwell.

Shadow and Noir 1

A series played using Quill Noir and Quill Shadow and Ink. This post is published under the CC-BY-SA-4.0 licence.

Letter 1: Price to Maxwell

Maxwell,

I've got a case that might be up your alley - Oliver Henderson's missing daughter. Turns out she's alive and well but her daddy's not going to be happy. I'm working up some Dutch courage before I go tell him.

My contact with the police let slip (for a fee) that Justine Henderson isn't the only missing persons case on the books. Casey West, some petty hoodlum, hasn't been seen for a while either. My first thought was a ransom job, so I set about tracking him down.

It took a while but eventually led me to a run down motel on the edge of town. A small gratuity to the owner got me the news they'd been there a few days and were the picture of two young paramours. I got a glimpse into their room - they've got matching jewellery.

Seems the kidnapping is actually an elopement. Her father thinks she was grabbed but she's gone willingly and seems happier than ever. Great news for gossip rags like yours, less so for me.

I've got to tell Oliver Henderson - one of the wealthiest men in the country - that his only daughter is slumming it with a crook. I can only guess the incandescent fury I'm about to unleash. If you don't hear from me at the cops will have a lead.

Price.

The Clockhouse - The Cast

A series played using Cocktails & Cantrips. This post is published under the CC-BY-SA-4.0 licence.

THE MAGE

Noble Lambert, the ephemeral enchanter. He has millions of followers across multiple platforms, leverages his brand to work his will, and is desperate to claim his master's staff.

Spheres & Spells

• d8 Permanence (lose vitality): Commit a memory to paper in symbolic form.
• d6 Alteration (visible change): Move a small item to/from hammerspace.
• d6 Destruction (pain/blood): Wrack an individual's body with agony.
• d6 Emotion (passion): Aggravate the dominant emotion of a crowd.
• d6 Illusion (a memory): Show someone the image of a loved one.
• d4 Revelation (secret betrayed): Read an individual's surface thoughts.

Power: Sacrifice of blood.

Specials

• d8 Skill: Social media influencer.
• d6 Talisman: A silver ring set with a large emerald.
• d4 Skill: Lapsed Catholic.

Goal & Motive: His favourite staff, honour/lust.

THE RIVAL 

Mara Stanton, the nihilistic necromancer. She teases secrets from the dead with scalpel and spell, carries her master's staff as a memento mori, and wants to find the book in the library containing the doomsday spell.

Spheres & Spells

• d8 Emotion (passion): Pacify a crowd by leaving them dulled and numb.
• d6 Destruction (pain/blood): Cleanly remove a small amount of matter from reality.
• d6 Illusion (a memory): Conceal an object or stationary person from view.
• d6 Permanence (lose vitality): Make an object immovable.
• d6 Revelation (secret betrayed): Look into a corpse's eyes to speak to their shade.
• d4 Alteration (visible change): Cause organic matter to decay.

Power: Life.

Specials

• d8 Talisman: An oak staff with runes burned into the shaft.
• d6 Skill: Forensic pathology.
• d4 Skill: Doomsaying.

Goal & Motive: A forgotten tome, honour/death.

THE WILDCARD

 Greta Shields, the ambitious apprentice. She used to rob houses to cover her expenses, is connected to a powerful primeval current, and wants to wreak havoc on the other apprentices for killing their master.

Spheres & Spells

• d6 Permanence (lose vitality): Imbue something with the divine spark.
• d4 Destruction (pain/blood): Cleanse it with holy fire.
• d4 Revelation (secret betrayed): Speak with the voices of the angels.

Specials

d6 Skill: Breaking and entering.

d4 Talisman: A brass coin; a crowned skull on one side, a moon on the other.

Goal & Motive: A forgotten tome, revenge/fear.         

The Clockhouse - Session 1: 9 pm

A series played using Cocktails & Cantrips.

I created a character and their rival using the full character creation, an apprentice for the role of wildcard using partial character creation. The teacher who is hosting the party begins the game just as a name. 

Rather than playing the hours in order I'm rolling 1d6 at the start of each scene to figure out which hour of the sequence it is. 1 is 6 pm, 2 is 7 pm, and so on. Duplicates will be re-rolled, and once all six scenes have played out the final scene at the stroke of midnight will take place. Exactly how this works out in terms of the characters' perceptions of time and past events remains to be seen.

Time: 9 pm.

Location: The Solarium.

Goal: Noble's goal is to make contact with his teacher, Isolde Grove.

I entered the solarium just as the distant clock in the great hall struck 9 pm; the waters of the small pool were still, the moonlight coming through the windows and skylights lay peacefully on the surface.

Oracle: Am I alone?

Yes [4], No [6] - I'm not alone...

Oracle: Is it my rival, the wildcard, or someone else?

Rival [4], Wildcard [6], Someone else [6] - Wildcard and someone else.

I was startled to notice Isolde and her latest apprentice, Greta Shields, standing on the far side of the room, deep in whispered conversation. They hadn't noticed me either, so I waited patiently for them to finish.

Note: I know that in the Cast listing I mentioned that Isolde is dead. I'm thinking that she dies at 6 pm, but until that scene happens she can appear in a later hour's scene. Prior to 6 pm arriving Isolde knows she dies then, and that the mage and rival are responsible, but not specific details. After 6 pm she can no longer appear in scenes and we all know the specifics of her death.

Their conversation ended with Greta bursting into tears and running for the exit, Isolde watching her leave impassively. As Greta neared the exit she noticed me.

Oracle: Is she going to confront me?

Yes [5], No [4] - Brace for impact.

"You!" she spat her words at me through her tears. "How dare you come here! After what you both did!"

I held my composure, paused a moment to finish scrolling my social media accounts, and then casually raised my head to look at her. "Greta, wasn't it?" I sighed "Look, I know that things didn't, or won't, turn out the way we'd like."

She cut me off with a gesture. "I will do everything in my power to stop you. To save her." Her tears had halted, her face a mask of cold fury as she attempted to stare me down. A flickering light, like the soft glow of embers, began to light the space around her. I saw ethereal flames curling around her hands and up her arms.

Goal: Not giving a shit [5] - Success

Danger: Do they hurt me? [6] - Nope.

"Now now, Greta" I chided. "We both know that your power, such as it is, isn't enough to cause myself any real problems. Or Mara for that matter, though I'd love to see you try those parlour tricks on her." I was reasonably confident in my own abilities, and the limits of hers, but nonetheless I shifted my attention to feel the weight of the emerald ring on my left hand. Its power stirred, ready to been called forth at a moment's notice.

Oracle: Is she going to attack me?

Yes [4], No [5] - No, phew.

The flames slowly dimmed and then dissipated. Greta scowled at me. "You'll get what's coming to you eventually. Mark my words." Then she pushed past me and entered the main manor building. Greta was always very melodramatic.

I took a moment to appraise Isolde's reaction to our little exchange; she hadn't moved and her expression was still unreadable. I skirted the edge of the small pool as I approached my mentor, the woman who had taught me so much about magic.

Oracle: Is she going to tell me what she knows about her death?

Yes [2], No [1] - Yes, ooh...

Oracle: Is she going to share details or make allusions?

Details [5], Allusions [6] - Sigh.

Note: I'm going to draw some tarot cards and use them both inspire some BS from Isolde, and to reveal the "details" of what happened at 6 pm.

IV The Emperor: Authority, establishment, structure.

XVIII The Moon: Illusion, intuition, anxiety.

XVII The Star: Hope, faith, renewal.

"Noble, welcome home." Isolde whispered in her usual dramatic manner. I could see why she'd been drawn to take Greta on as a student. "The cycle continues apace, but the phases are not yet aligned."

As Isolde stood and nodded sagely I pulled up a wicker chair and got comfortable. When she was in this kind of mood it was always best to have a seat.

"You and Mara sought to push the wheel by hand, rather than allow the river to turn it. You disrupted the flow, got wet for your trouble, and still the river flows." She turned dismissively from me and gazed out the window. "I always loved watching the mists drift across the hills. I brought me a sense of peace." Her voice, while still quiet, had lost it's portentousness and now simply sounded small.

Realising this was going to be short talk after all didn't fill me with relief as I thought it would. Instead I had a growing sense of unease. I hadn't seen Mara in years; we'd drifted apart after we'd graduated from Isolde's tuition, a few letters here and there as we'd each aimed to outdo our teacher, and perhaps each other, in our own ways.

I decided that it would be best to leave Isolde to her thoughts. I made my way back across the room and entered the manor.

Coins: Noble 1, Mara 0.

Mara's reaction: she acts bodly...

Next scene takes place at: 6 pm *yikes*

Thoughts

Okay, so no actual cantrips were cast, although Greta's power was referenced. That's fine, the night is young (well, that depends on where you count from...). So Isolde knows she's dead or is alive but knows she has died or will die. Interesting. And the tarot card spread came from an online generator that apparently only does Major Arcana.

Sundered Lance - The Cast

A series played using Secrets & Shadows. This post is published under the CC-BY-SA-4.0 licence.

Protagonist

I'm Jon Douglas, an author and freelance researcher specialising in local history and folklore. I have a pragmatic approach to my subject matter; folk magic is a sociological phenomenon, not a metaphysical one. I find that people like me and offer to help me with things, which I like but sometimes wonder if I'm not too dependent on them. I've been called charming and it makes me uncomfortable enough that I wear non-prescription glasses and bulkier clothing to "dress down."

Clever

• Observant
• Plan ahead
• Shrewd
• Tactics

Expert

• Folklore
• History
• Research
• Science

Modern Human

• Assured
• Dabbler
• Educated
• Healthy

Witch

• Bind
• Herbs
• Lure
• Magic

Keys and Secrets

• Key of the Dependent
• Key of the Stubbornly Mundane
• The Secret of Hidden Potential
• The Secret of Hollywood Ugly

Supporting Cast

Dorothy Wanda Whitney (the curator)

• Wants to own you
• Short & Timid
• Good (Friendly, Honest, Spirited)
• Possessed by Kythaela

Everette Florencio Chapman (the date) 

• Wants to win
• Lonely & Polished
• Faerie (Nature, Inspire, Glamour)

Jolene West (the Charles de Lint character)

• Hot
• Innocent & Green
• Artist (Paint, Inspire, See beauty)

Kythaela Vathana (in the cape)

• Has an agenda
• Foolhardy & Power out of control
• Faerie (Enervate, Glamour, Terrify)
• Influencing Dorothy?

Leigh Woodrow Hicks (the hunter) 

• Wears masks
• Self-conscious & Impatient
• Expert (Maths, Research, Science)

Sundered Lance - Session 3

A series played using Secrets & Shadows.

I returned to the office and slumped into the armchair only intending to sit quietly for a few moments with my eyes closed. Instead I woke up to find light shining through the high, small window, a blanket across my knees, and the smell of coffee. A mug of coffee, still steaming, was perched on a coaster atop a stack of books. Dorothy. Only in her inner sanctum would she permit herself such a moment of sacrilege.

Oracle: Has the cape visibly affected Dorothy? Yes [5] No [5] Doubles

Soft dramatic move: Take someone or something away.

Re-roll Oracle to clarify: Yes [1] No [6] The effects are not visible, but she is possessed.

Aside for follow-ups:

Oracle: Is Dorothy fighting the possession? Yes [4] No [5] She is not actively fighting the possession...

Oracle: Did Dorothy invite the possession? Yes [4] No [1] She did invite it.

Okay, that's enough asides for now, I wanted to know if Dorothy's traits would help or hinder any actions.

The office door opened and Dorothy Whitney breezed in, her own coffee mug in one hand and a plate of pastries in the other. She deposited the plate on the corner of her desk, took a seat, and looked at me.

"So..." she began cautiously. "You're wearing the same clothes as yesterday so did your walk of shame bring you here, or..." She glanced at her desk and raised her eyebrows.

"Oh my god, Dorothy. Yes, we came her briefly," her eyebrows raised higher still "but, nothing happened. Frankly it was kind of a mess. How do you know this guy?"

Striving: To see through their lie [3] + [1] +Clever +Shrewd = 6

Fail: Offer a hard bargain or an ugly choice.

Either accept her lies or (unconsciously) engage in a magic mind fight...

Striving: Magic mind fight! [3] + [2] +Witch +Magic + 7

Partial: Bonus on next roll and turn your move back on you.

"Everette? He's just an acquaintance really, we're from the same hometown so know each other that way. We've never been that close, but I heard he was on the market and thought of you."

I narrowed my eyes, partially because this was another instance of Dorothy setting me up with a random guy she barely knew. At the back of my mind I felt something else stir, however, something which pushed against her words as if probing for weaknesses in her story. Dorothy beamed and ruffled my hair and as she did so I felt the probing part of my mind struggle to maintain its inquisitiveness but then be lulled into complacency. I tilted my head to lean in to her hand, allowing her to get a better angle. From this new perspective I had a clear line of sight to that mysterious cape Dorothy had laid out for conservation.

Striving: Talking about the cape: [4] + [4] +Expert +Folklore +History +1 forward = 8

Partial: Gain a condition (Appearance of docility) and use your traits/conditions/secrets against you.

"So, tell me about your latest project" I nodded towards the cape. "I've not seen that before, or anything quite like it if I'm honest."

Dorothy's hand paused, still amidst my hair, and she glanced over her shoulder at the cape.

"That? It's an old piece I found in the depths of the archive. I'm going to clean it up and make it a centrepiece for an upcoming exhibition on some of the forgotten treasures of the collection."

"What do you think its providence is?" I pushed the issue, curious about the item and recalling Everette's reaction to it. Dorothy withdrew her hand and moved to begin putting the garment back into its protective wrapping.

She waved a hand dismissively. "The theme of the exhibition is going to be the mysterious nature of parts of the collection. My predecessors had an eye for rare finds but not so much of an eye for detail when it came to record keeping. I just like it, it speaks to me."

Oracle: How tired am I given that I slept in an armchair for a few hours last night? Tired enough to need to go home and rest [5] Tired but able to power through for a few hours longer [1] I was exhausted and needed to go and rest.

I nodded along as she spoke, but I have to admit that I wasn't paying close attention, I was exhausted and more than a little uncomfortable from having slept in an armchair. Dorothy noticed and smiled sympathetically, so I made my excuses and left the museum.

Oracle: Without the partial concealment will my awakening magic register to the hunters? Yes [6] No [1] Oh dear...

Oracle: How close are they? Close [1] Far [1] Doubles

Soft dramatic move: Put someone in a compromising position.

I took a deep breath of the morning air, feeling my head clear somewhat even if only enough to get me home and into bed. Someone beside me cleared their throat and I realised I wasn't alone. Startled I looked around and saw a short woman whose hair was piled atop her head in a mass of intricate plaits, a bundle of sticks as long as her forearm bound by tight iron rings lay cradled in her hands.

"Good morning, Mr Douglas. I trust you enjoyed your little jaunt last night. You certainly led us on a merry dance." The nervous laugh which followed undermined the initial menace. 

Striving: Chemistry? [6] + [5] +Magnetic (Jon) +Hot (Jolene) = 13

Success: 2 points of Currency (Spark)

My stomach flipped and dropped simultaneously, my gaze torn between the curious item in her hands and being drawn into her eyes. As we stared at each other, an uncomfortably long period of time passed. I'd assumed this was a confrontation my date's stalker, but if that wasn't happening I was presumably free to leave. Except that I didn't want to. I wanted to know who this woman was and want she wanted with Everette.

"If you'd like to accompany me back to the coffee shop my associate and I would like to ask you some questions about Everette Chapman." She went to gesture in the general direction of the coffee shop, and happened to use the hand holding the wand.

Oracle: Is the wand just for divining? Yes [4] No [1] Yes, it only senses magic, it doesn't do magical things itself.

Nothing happened. I was half-expecting a bolt of lightning maybe. I chuckled as I chided myself for such a ridiculous thought. As if she'd also noticed the absurdity of the moment the woman laughed, a quiet and gentle sound, before regaining her composure and adopting a stern expression.

"This way, Mr Douglas. I think you'll find my associate doesn't like to be kept waiting, and that we have a lot to talk about." She turned and began to walk down the short, narrow path towards the street. I checked my pockets to be sure I had my wallet and keys, and then followed her.

Stats

Conditions: The Museum (Partially concealed), Jon (Appearance of docility).

Currency: Jon/Jocelyn (Spark) 2.

Notes

Yeah, not a bad session. I had Dorothy (the curator) being influenced by the cape in mind, but finding out she's not only possessed, but *voluntarily* possessed? Weird and cool. And the cape is powerful and able to overwhelm Jon's growing power. Hmm.

Oh, and we've got one of the hunters in a non-hunting scene! And there was chemistry!! I think I'll let the currency be spent by either party, or rather to steer the Oracle in the direction that either party would favour. Given that we're apparently heading for an interrogation scene between them.

Regrets? I'd read the thing about tracking the doubles and noting the move used each time a given pair is rolled. The idea being that when that pair is rolled again it reinforces the original theme. I've had a few doubles but tbh I've not kept track and I'm not sure I'll go back and address it.