Post by Bruce on May 25, 2017 11:09:11 GMT
GM Observations
- Ok, we’re winding the clock forward to 2002. The game started in Earth Year 1985 when Grant and Ethan were 19 years old. Hence this is now 17 in-game years from when they started. They now appear to be in their mid-twenties.
- One of the challenges of having Earth in the game is the key question about whether the PCs can change world events - and whether they should be allowed to. In the last three years of running this game, we’ve tried to avoid tampering with world events, but now it’s hard to avoid. So we’ve had to make calls. The key call we’re making is that the timeline is now different from the Earth that we (the readers) live in. They are no longer the same.
- Following from that, we decided that we don’t want to play blow by blow through Earth events. This is a game about Gossamer Realms, not about tinkering with Earth history. Also, I think it would be presumptuous of us to presume that Grant and Ethan to solve or even prevent real world problems like AIDS, the long standing tensions between Israelis and the Palestinians, prevent 9/11 etc. Some readers might even find some suggestions offensive, so we’re not going there. Earth 0 now significantly diverges from our timeline and things are not the same. We’re not going to go into heavy details - at least nothing controversial.
- I would also comment that this is the same dilemma that comic book heroes from both DC (eg: Superman, Justice League) and Marvel (Avengers, Fantastic Four) run into. There are powerful heroes in those universes who would prevent, mitigate or even undo many of the calamities that appear in our world - so effectively the comics just bypass these issues.
- Again, we’re effectively re-baselining the game for the next story arc. 17 years have passed since they first set foot on the Stair. The Session 104 explains how things have changed for the PCs, and Session 105 details how the Stair has changed.
- Read on, and enjoy!
Ethan - 350 points
- Ethan is now 36 years old, but he looks to be in his mid-twenties. He has learnt Mastery of the Stair from Grant, and spent years working with the intricacies of Clockworld such that he has learnt Wrighting. He acquired Control of Contents over Realm 0 (Earth) in 1995 and has been guiding (and adjusting) events ever since.
- At 350 points, Ethan’s stats are as follows:
Powers: Mastery of the Grand Stair (35 points), Eidolon Mastery (50 points), Wrighting (30 points), Sorcery (15 points), Cantrips (10 points)
Domains: Earth (7 points - 4 points Primal World, 1 point Control of Contents, 2 points Restricted Access), Skandia (1 point - 1 point Control of Contents)
Items/Creatures: Dragonshield (9 points - 8 points Invulnerable, 1 point Contains an Icon), Eidolon Saber (5 points - 4 points Deadly Damage, 1 point Contains an Icon), Multi-Dimensional Storage Cube (2 points - Mould Gossamer Reality to store useful items), Set of Icons (2 points)
Allies: Abbie (3 points), Isabelle (3 points), Macavity (3 points), Stolvir (1 point)
Bad Stuff: 1 point
Unspent Points: 10 points[/ul]
* Image by Gordon Napier on DeviantART
History of Realm 0 (1995 to 2002)
- Ethan had already been trying to guide humanity for two years before he achieved Control of Contents in 1995. Since 1995, things have been generally positive - things that were bad have improved. Things that were good are even better.
- People are generally happier and more tolerant of others. They are proud of themselves and the contribution that they make to society. There is still inequality, death, disease, famine and occasional war but there are fewer tragedies in the world and on the whole humanity is optimistic about the future.
- Consider it this way - even if Ethan is surprised by an event, with the machinery in Clockworld he can undo it and prevent it from happening. He cannot be everywhere, but he is making subtle and not-so-subtle changes to improve things. Even if he is on the Stair and remote from Clockworld, he has devices to inform him of matters which require his attention.
- Ethan is publicly known on Earth as Ethan Powell, the designer of a plethora of different technologies over the last ten years, some of which have transformed civilisation in some of the poorer places in the world, but also have opened new frontiers in science and engineering. Even though the Powell-Kapoor reactor is still thought of as a joint invention, many other inventions are Ethan’s alone. The designs have been made available for many to replicate all over the world. Effectively Ethan has made technology available that would not have existed for another 50-100 years, and this is having a powerful shaping effect on Earth. The technology level of Realm 0’s Earth is at least 20 years in front of our own Earth’s technology, and still accelerating.
- Abbie Powell is one of the most powerful and influential people on the planet, with high level contacts into many of the most powerful governments on Earth. She still produces albums roughly every two years, but she has a permanent role with the United Nations Strategic Advisory Group (UNSAG) on behalf of the British government. As part of UNSAG, she has been working to guide the nations of the earth towards strategic goals, achieved collaboratively. Her greatest challenges lie with China and Russia, as well some of the entrenched business interests in the Western World.
Mastery of the Stair
- Grant acquired Mastery of the Grand Stair in 1991 via tuition from Lady Vala herself. Since 1993, Grant has helped Ethan to achieve the same level of Mastery. They have used their knowledge of the Grand Stair to map out the hidden ways and concealed Doors which are proximate to Marindar and Realm 0, and then to rearrange some of the Doors to remove potential threats. More on this will follow in the Session 105 writeup as we have reorganised parts of the Home Landing.
Abbie
- Abbie is now 34 years old, but she looks a few years younger than this due to Eidolon. She has now become a Sorcerer in her own right, and has good relations with most of the other Realm 0 sorcerers (but not necessarily at the same time as there are age-old enmities between them). She is still a driven young woman, with a clear vision 10, 20 and 50 years into the future of Earth. Abbie has travelled to many other Gossamer Realms with Ethan, and them sometimes with Grant or Isabelle. She holds one of the Realm 0 Keys, enabling her to leave Realm 0 without depending upon Ethan and she has enough Sorcerous tricks to be able to open some Doors.
- Abbie has been close friends with Isabelle, Sophia, Galatea and Jessamyn for almost a decade. She has Icons of many other Sorcerers and Lords of Gossamer. She also has a good relationship with Lord Mordecai, who almost treats her as one of his daughters.
- Over the last decade, Ethan and Abbie have never formally married and they have not always been together. The first real split occurred in 1996 as Abbie found herself attracted to the passion and enthusiasm of one of her colleagues - a young Frenchman named Marc - she and Ethan drifted apart for almost a year before they got back together. Abbie has developed a fondness for charismatic men of intellect on Earth, Marindar and Empyrea, and it is not unusual for someone to court her. She enjoys the attention - she’s grown up and is an independent woman. Nevertheless, there is a strong, enduring bond between Ethan and Abbie and they still talk about ‘settling down’ at some point. (GM’s note - Abbie is a 3 point Ally of Ethan) For the time being, neither of them feels any urgency to have children due to their extended lifespans, so both seem content to move in and out of each other’s lives as it suits them. They do talk about having children from time to time, but Abbie doesn’t feel ready for such a commitment (or burden) yet.
- One thing that Abbie has not shared (although Ethan suspects something) is that she has found this reality’s homeworld of the Rhan - the militant race that destroyed her own homeworld of Meridian. Abbie has long accepted that her world was destroyed, but the thought that a similar race could exist on Realm 0 is making her reconsider her long term plans.
* Image by Haryarti on DeviantART
Isabelle
- Isabelle has been the ‘other woman’ in Ethan’s life on an on-and-off basis for over a decade. Most of the time she’s a friend to both Ethan and Abbie, but there have been times where she’s used her previous relationship with Ethan to help her out of a tight spot. Ethan always has fun with Isabelle because there never seem to be ‘strings attached’, however he frequently ends up in a mess with whatever adventure they end up pursuing. Ethan remains very fond of Isabelle, and the feeling is mutual (even if she only rarely will admit it). (GM’s note - Isabelle is a 3 point Ally of Ethan)
- Isabelle is known to have Invocation and Wrighting. She has a strong affinity to a number of Lucien’s artefacts which are attuned to the Stair (such as Lucien’s Compass, which technically only he should be able to operate), but is not a Warden of the Stair. Isabelle says that Lucien is her grandfather - Lucien has not acknowledged this, but he is certainly protective of Isabelle. (GM’s note - in Session 106, Lucien says that Isabelle is his great-great-great-great-granddaughter)
- Abbie and Isabelle also maintain a close friendship. Ethan can almost always tell when Abbie has been talking with Isabelle.
* Image by jas-tham on DeviantART
Changes in Westgate
- Superficially, Westgate Manor looks just like it did when Grant and Ethan first took occupancy almost seventeen years ago. However, there are many sub-basement levels and multi-dimensional technology has been used in crafting the levels.
- The house is largely empty most of the time. The cats and ravens have relocated to the world of Juniper (GM’s note - more on that in the Session 105 writeup) leaving R2-J7 to look after the place mostly on his own. R2-J7 is still as potty mouthed as ever, and gone more than a little peculiar given the long isolation. (“@#$* you, Master, you $#&&”)
* Image sourced from Google Images
- Grant and Ethan both have small rooms in the main house and there are more comfortable quarters in the lower levels.
Antarctica
- Ethan and Grant have received warnings not to disturb what lies in Antarctica - indeed the previous owner of Westgate disappeared there. Ethan has visited the Door which opens out onto the frozen wastes. He has seen the mountains which Lovecraft called “The Mountains of Madness” but not ventured into them. (GM’s note - one of the adventures to be run during the time compress post Session 106 is to explore these mountains and find out what lies here)
* Image sourced from Google Images
Jodan and The Exile
- Last seen in Session 75, Jodan disappeared before the Dwimmerlaik Civil War. In 1994, Grant finally found where Jodan (the Warlord) had been hiding. At the request of Grant and Ethan, he had decided to lie low, gathering his forces and sought counsel from a powerful Dwimmerlaik Lord who simply calls himself “The Exile”. In 1994, he ventured back onto the Stair and started trying to reconnect with his old holdings before venturing further afield and aggressively attempting to gain control of more territory on the Home Landing.
- Jodan’s expansionist plans put him in direct conflict with Grant and Ethan because he attempted to take control of a number of realms on the Home Landing. Grant and Ethan confront Jodan, and they agree to move Jodan’s worlds to another place on the Stair that will relieve the tension between the groups.
- Jodan parts cordially, but Grant and Ethan are sure that this is not the last that they will see of the young and aggressive Warlord.
* Image by GerryArthur on DeviantArt
Keys
- It is only possible to enter and exit Realm 0 with a Key. Even if an individual wishes to use an Icon, they have to be holding a Key or the contact will not be made. One of the constraints to Realm 0 is that there were only a handful of Keys which gave Grant and Ethan access to the Doors. However, in 1996, Ethan was finally able to duplicate a key, which is now in Abbie’s possession.
Skandia
- The threat of the Dwimmerlaik finding Skandia again has been in Ethan’s mind for more than ten years. The Door to Skandia has been relocated to the Home Landing (courtesy of Lucien) and Ethan continues to visit Hoffgard from time to time. As yet, the Dwimmerlaik have not returned.
- Lady Morwen’s husband Tomas died nine years ago in a battle with the Hetlanders, leaving her alone with a young daughter Gilda. Ethan has become the de facto father and protector of young Gilda, who is almost ten years old.
- One of Ethan’s gifts to Morwen was his dog, Stolvir, who now looks after her and her young daughter. (GM’s note - Stolvir remains a 1 point ally of Ethan)
The Dwimmerlaik Civil War and the Shadow War
- The Dwimmerlaik Civil War has been raging now for almost twelve years. Even though there are periods where things cool down, it does not take long for the conflicts to reignite. There are many factions and the Dwimmerlaik Empire has disintegrated into a number of multi-dimensional fiefdoms, controlled mostly along House bloodlines. The Empress continues to control the largest section of the old empire.
- The Lords of Gossamer have been very successful in remaining out of the cross-fire and then occasionally provoking some of the Dwimmerlaik warlords into action against their kin. Colloquially this is known to the Lords of Gossamer as the “Shadow War” - a dirty war fought in the dark places of the Stair. Lords Mordecai, Drake and ‘Benjamin’ (the mad-elf) remain at the forefront of this, but occasionally Bastiano can be bothered to pitch in. Occasionally one of the Dwimmerlaik factions directs its attention against the Lords of Gossamer, but it rarely lasts long.
- In 1996, Cooper and Lucien perfect the Breath of Eden weapon. Bastiano, Grant and Ethan then deliver it into key points within the Dwimmerlaik command structure, throwing the Enemy even further into disarray. The Breath of Eden mind-blanks large numbers of Dwimmerlaik, spreading by mental contact including Icons. The memories are harvested by Cooper and Lucien and then scrutinised for intelligence gathering purposes. The Lords of Gossamer use the chaos across the Enemy to stage a series of raids into Dwimmerlaik territory. (GM’s note - yes, we will be running adventures for this)
- When the dust settles, the Dwimmerlaik Empire is in woeful shape - even those factions that have been least affected are still in no shape to strike back against the Lords of Gossamer. For the Lords of Gossamer, this becomes a period of relative peace - at least until one Dwimmerlaik Lord finally seizes control over all of the other factions or manages to reverse the effects of the Breath of Eden.
Lucien
- Lucien has shown more interest in conversing with Ethan as the years have passed. He has shown up unannounced every year or two to talk to Ethan. Gradually Ethan has been more comfortable talking to him but he still ‘clams up’ to a degree.
- At first Ethan thought that Lucien was showing interest in him because of his companionship with Isabelle, and then he wondered if it was because of Clockworld. Eventually Ethan has accepted Lucien as being ‘curious’ about Ethan. Ethan is still uncomfortable asking Lucien for help or guidance, although he has done so on occasion. Most notably he asked for Lucien’s help in moving the Skandian Door (before he acquired Mastery of the Stair). He has also asked Lucien’s advice about how he has coped in relationships with people who have shorter lifespans than the Lords of Gossamer. His counsel was direct and to the point: “Enjoy while it lasts.”
- More on Lucien’s interaction with Ethan is covered in Session 106.
Lucien and the Queen of Arcadia
- In 1994, Ethan became aware that Lucien was planning to visit Marindar, and he believed that Lucien had not made good on his promise to visit Aglaranna, the Queen of Arcadia. Ethan decided to arrange a situation where Lucien would finally meet the Arcadian Queen once more. They were cordial to one another, but Ethan could tell that Lucien was quietly furious with him for interfering. Lucien made it plain to Ethan at the time that he was displeased, and they spoke further about it in Session 106.
Marindar
- Even though Queen Constancia is technically the ruler of Marindar and its lands, it is Lord Protector Grant and the Princess Sophia who hold the greater power and influence over the Kingdom. The Lord Protector has rebuilt Marindar’s defences, including a standing army and the elite ‘Marindan Defenders’. He has opened many of the Marindan Doors to re-establish old and establish new trade routes. Central is once again the heart of trade across dozens of realms, bringing an influx of new migrants into and through Marindar to other places.
- Ethan’s parents returned to Earth (Realm 0) in 1999, thinking that they had had enough of Marindar. However, in 2001 they returned again, this time ‘for good’.
- Ethan’s elder brother Ben is still married but now has three children, the eldest being ten years old. Ethan’s twin brother Mark looks physically older than Ethan (because Mark has not been enhanced with Eidolon) - he’s still an engineer, and the girls still love him. Mark thinks that he’ll never leave Marindar although he’s been offworld many times.
- Grant’s siblings have also decided to remain in Marindar. Both have picked up a small measure of Marindan magic. Grant’s sister works as a nurse in Central, and his brother has found a far more interesting career path than accounting. Grant’s parents were influenced to move back to Earth in 1999 along with Ethan’s family (the Powells) but they too returned to Marindar. For Grant’s family, the decision to return to Marindar was made clear when Grant’s older brother got married and admitted that they were expecting a child.
- In 1996 when Abbie fell in love with Marc (one of her colleagues), Ethan spent more time in Marindar for a few months. Grant was well aware that the Marindans would seek to offer him a companion to try to create bond for him to their realm (as is their nature) and warned him of the possibility. The Marindans tend to be respectful of Ethan because of his relationship with the Lord Protector (Grant). Ethan has a good relationship with the Queen’s Councillor, Meliander - Meliander is Ethan’s closest friend on Marindar.
Bastiano and Galatea
- In the last decade, Bastiano has been doing a lot of empire building for his own personal benefit, enlarging his armies and influence over a large number of realms. He has also participated in the Shadow War against the Dwimmerlaik from time to time, but mostly he’s been enjoying the good life and quietly preparing for the next time that things go poorly. Occasionally his empire building has been a headache for Grant. Bastiano’s emissaries attempted to claim Marindar in Bastiano’s name (given the number of bloodlines in Marindar that are descended from him), but Grant told him to ‘get stuffed’.
- Oddly, for most of the last decade Bastiano has been in a relationship with Galatea, the Marindan Lady of Gossamer. Few, if any, believed that it would last but to the surprise of all, it has endured for a long time.
- Bastiano still treats Grant as a sometimes friend, sometimes rival but there is no enmity between them. Bastiano doesn’t consider Grant a threat to his plans.
Grant
- Grant is now 36 years old, but he looks to be in his mid-twenties. As the Lord Protector of Marindar, Grant wields considerable influence and power from this base. He maintains good relations with almost all of the established Lords of Gossamer and makes an effort to keep abreast of current events.
- At 350 points, Grant’s stats are as follows:
Powers: Mastery of the Grand Stair (35 points), Umbra Mastery (50 points)
Domain: Marindar (7 points - 2 points Common Ground, 1 point Control of Contents, 4 points Guarded)
Items/Creatures: Gorgorin the Shatterer (24 points - 16 points Primal Damage, 2 points Linked to Umbra, 2 points Named and Numbered Forms, 4 points Mould Gossamer Reality),Serpent Bracer(23 points - 4 points Deadly damage Blaster, 1 point Alternate Form [ring], 4 points Invulnerable to Conventional Weapons, 5 points Confer Invulnerability, 4 points Engine Speed, 5 points Confer Speed ) , Set of Icons (2 points), Everful Wallet(1 point Mould Gossamer matter to always have local currency, ID, tickets etc)
Allies: Oscar (5 points)
Good Stuff: 8 points[/ul]
* Image by Gordon Napier on DeviantART
Princess Sophia
- Sophia is still a professional, seasoned diplomat and Sorceress. However, she no longer hides that she is Constancia’s sister and a Princess in her own right. Sophia has been Grant’s lover for over fifteen years and the opening of Marindar to other worlds has presented new challenges and opportunities for her. She is Princess Sophia, ambassador of Marindar to dozens of other realities and often she is the voice of authority away from Central.
- With the opening of so many Doors, Sophia only spends part of her time in Central itself. Often she has travelled to other Realms to maintain or improve diplomatic relations, but just as often she spends time with Grant on his adventures. Queen Constancia (Sophia’s elder sister) has remarked to Sophia’s embarrassment that she was quite a ‘hellraiser’ in her youth, and with Marindar safe and stable, Grant has started to see another side to Sophia behind the mild-mannered, cool and reserved woman that he fell in love with. There is an adventurous and even rebellious side there, but she has concealed it for so long that she often pretends that it is not there at all.
- Physically, Sophia has not changed in the slightest. A decade passing is nothing to her.
- To outsiders Marindans are strangely tolerant of polyamorous relationships. For many, it is even encouraged - Sophia encouraged Grant to seek other partners if he wished. She gave no indication whether she was seeking others herself. She admitted earlier in her relationship with Grant that she is incapable of having children.
- Ten years have passed - Grant’s and Sophia’s relationship is still very solid, but Grant has noted some changes in her. She no longer encourages him to seek other partners, and she has been trying to join him on some of his adventures where possible. Due to her extraordinary long life span, part of Princess Sophia is set in her ways - she has enormous reserves of patience and rarely feels or displays strong emotions. However little by little, cracks are forming in those old ways and she is increasingly seeing the present and future as something new and exciting.
* Image by Mictones on DeviantART
Raine
- Raine was one of Grant’s lovers but she ended up drifting away in 1998. They remain friends but Grant spends the majority of his time with Sophia.
* Image by Gothic Icecream on DeviantART
The Fate of Trell
- Grant impersonated a Dwimmerlaik warrior named Trell for an extended period prior to the commencement of the Dwimmerlaik Civil War. Trell was imprisoned and interrogated by Bastiano and Grant.
- The imprisonment continued for almost a year after the death of Mowbray, after which Grant realised that he couldn’t possibly release Trell. After much deliberation, Trell was executed. Very few know of this. It is still a closely guarded secret that Grant impersonated a Dwimmerlaik, triggering the break-up of the Dwimmerlaik Empire.
The Fate of Arana
- Grant acquired the services of the dark elf Arana during his time impersonating Trell. As the Dwimmerlaik Civil War erupted, he maneuvered her out of the conflict zone, hoping to spare her but well aware that she was no angel.
- Ten years later, Arana has been manipulated into serving Mordecai. She now serves the Lords of Gossamer as one of Mordecai’s Shadow Warriors, striking in the dark places against the many factions of the Dwimmerlaik. She does not know that Grant was once Trell - she only knows that Grant has treated her with kindness.
* Image by Wavebender on DeviantArt
The Lords of Gossamer
- The most powerful Lords of Gossamer (Vala, Drake, Bastiano, Lucien and Mordecai) have reaffirmed their alliance. Shatterlight has been restored, and the Lords of Gossamer are once again working to re-establish their authority across the Realms whilst still seeking to destabilise the Dwimmerlaik factions.
- The Lords of Gossamer meet once every five hundred standard days in person in a location which Vala nominates. All Lords of Gossamer are invited. The first Gathering that Grant and Ethan are invited will be described in Session 106 (the session was run last week).
* Image by Jason Rainville
The Green Dragon Inn
- Six months after the death of Mowbray, Grant received his first invite to the Green Dragon Inn by Cal. Since, then every tenday, Grant makes an effort to join the fun.
- A handful of the Lords of Gossamer like Cal, Jessamyn, sometimes Yaeger Zane, Gretchen, Veronique, Harrison, and even some of the Elders (such as Lucien) pop in for a drink, a game of pool and then, after ten o’clock, many play ‘Nine-Star’ Poker until late in the night.
- The Green Dragon is frequented by small-uns and big-uns, and a handful of very-big-uns (ogres) who come for the beer and the hospitality. The bartender Lorac has an unusually strong Psyche.
Other Loose Ends
- Then there are some loose ends that are still dangling:
Unplayed Adventures
- Finally we have some other events that need to be run as proper adventures. We can’t complete the time compress without playing through the following:
Hope you’re enjoying all of this!
- Ok, we’re winding the clock forward to 2002. The game started in Earth Year 1985 when Grant and Ethan were 19 years old. Hence this is now 17 in-game years from when they started. They now appear to be in their mid-twenties.
- One of the challenges of having Earth in the game is the key question about whether the PCs can change world events - and whether they should be allowed to. In the last three years of running this game, we’ve tried to avoid tampering with world events, but now it’s hard to avoid. So we’ve had to make calls. The key call we’re making is that the timeline is now different from the Earth that we (the readers) live in. They are no longer the same.
- Following from that, we decided that we don’t want to play blow by blow through Earth events. This is a game about Gossamer Realms, not about tinkering with Earth history. Also, I think it would be presumptuous of us to presume that Grant and Ethan to solve or even prevent real world problems like AIDS, the long standing tensions between Israelis and the Palestinians, prevent 9/11 etc. Some readers might even find some suggestions offensive, so we’re not going there. Earth 0 now significantly diverges from our timeline and things are not the same. We’re not going to go into heavy details - at least nothing controversial.
- I would also comment that this is the same dilemma that comic book heroes from both DC (eg: Superman, Justice League) and Marvel (Avengers, Fantastic Four) run into. There are powerful heroes in those universes who would prevent, mitigate or even undo many of the calamities that appear in our world - so effectively the comics just bypass these issues.
- Again, we’re effectively re-baselining the game for the next story arc. 17 years have passed since they first set foot on the Stair. The Session 104 explains how things have changed for the PCs, and Session 105 details how the Stair has changed.
- Read on, and enjoy!
Ethan - 350 points
- Ethan is now 36 years old, but he looks to be in his mid-twenties. He has learnt Mastery of the Stair from Grant, and spent years working with the intricacies of Clockworld such that he has learnt Wrighting. He acquired Control of Contents over Realm 0 (Earth) in 1995 and has been guiding (and adjusting) events ever since.
- At 350 points, Ethan’s stats are as follows:
Powers: Mastery of the Grand Stair (35 points), Eidolon Mastery (50 points), Wrighting (30 points), Sorcery (15 points), Cantrips (10 points)
Domains: Earth (7 points - 4 points Primal World, 1 point Control of Contents, 2 points Restricted Access), Skandia (1 point - 1 point Control of Contents)
Items/Creatures: Dragonshield (9 points - 8 points Invulnerable, 1 point Contains an Icon), Eidolon Saber (5 points - 4 points Deadly Damage, 1 point Contains an Icon), Multi-Dimensional Storage Cube (2 points - Mould Gossamer Reality to store useful items), Set of Icons (2 points)
Allies: Abbie (3 points), Isabelle (3 points), Macavity (3 points), Stolvir (1 point)
Bad Stuff: 1 point
Unspent Points: 10 points[/ul]
* Image by Gordon Napier on DeviantART
History of Realm 0 (1995 to 2002)
- Ethan had already been trying to guide humanity for two years before he achieved Control of Contents in 1995. Since 1995, things have been generally positive - things that were bad have improved. Things that were good are even better.
- People are generally happier and more tolerant of others. They are proud of themselves and the contribution that they make to society. There is still inequality, death, disease, famine and occasional war but there are fewer tragedies in the world and on the whole humanity is optimistic about the future.
- Consider it this way - even if Ethan is surprised by an event, with the machinery in Clockworld he can undo it and prevent it from happening. He cannot be everywhere, but he is making subtle and not-so-subtle changes to improve things. Even if he is on the Stair and remote from Clockworld, he has devices to inform him of matters which require his attention.
- Ethan is publicly known on Earth as Ethan Powell, the designer of a plethora of different technologies over the last ten years, some of which have transformed civilisation in some of the poorer places in the world, but also have opened new frontiers in science and engineering. Even though the Powell-Kapoor reactor is still thought of as a joint invention, many other inventions are Ethan’s alone. The designs have been made available for many to replicate all over the world. Effectively Ethan has made technology available that would not have existed for another 50-100 years, and this is having a powerful shaping effect on Earth. The technology level of Realm 0’s Earth is at least 20 years in front of our own Earth’s technology, and still accelerating.
- Abbie Powell is one of the most powerful and influential people on the planet, with high level contacts into many of the most powerful governments on Earth. She still produces albums roughly every two years, but she has a permanent role with the United Nations Strategic Advisory Group (UNSAG) on behalf of the British government. As part of UNSAG, she has been working to guide the nations of the earth towards strategic goals, achieved collaboratively. Her greatest challenges lie with China and Russia, as well some of the entrenched business interests in the Western World.
Mastery of the Stair
- Grant acquired Mastery of the Grand Stair in 1991 via tuition from Lady Vala herself. Since 1993, Grant has helped Ethan to achieve the same level of Mastery. They have used their knowledge of the Grand Stair to map out the hidden ways and concealed Doors which are proximate to Marindar and Realm 0, and then to rearrange some of the Doors to remove potential threats. More on this will follow in the Session 105 writeup as we have reorganised parts of the Home Landing.
Abbie
- Abbie is now 34 years old, but she looks a few years younger than this due to Eidolon. She has now become a Sorcerer in her own right, and has good relations with most of the other Realm 0 sorcerers (but not necessarily at the same time as there are age-old enmities between them). She is still a driven young woman, with a clear vision 10, 20 and 50 years into the future of Earth. Abbie has travelled to many other Gossamer Realms with Ethan, and them sometimes with Grant or Isabelle. She holds one of the Realm 0 Keys, enabling her to leave Realm 0 without depending upon Ethan and she has enough Sorcerous tricks to be able to open some Doors.
- Abbie has been close friends with Isabelle, Sophia, Galatea and Jessamyn for almost a decade. She has Icons of many other Sorcerers and Lords of Gossamer. She also has a good relationship with Lord Mordecai, who almost treats her as one of his daughters.
- Over the last decade, Ethan and Abbie have never formally married and they have not always been together. The first real split occurred in 1996 as Abbie found herself attracted to the passion and enthusiasm of one of her colleagues - a young Frenchman named Marc - she and Ethan drifted apart for almost a year before they got back together. Abbie has developed a fondness for charismatic men of intellect on Earth, Marindar and Empyrea, and it is not unusual for someone to court her. She enjoys the attention - she’s grown up and is an independent woman. Nevertheless, there is a strong, enduring bond between Ethan and Abbie and they still talk about ‘settling down’ at some point. (GM’s note - Abbie is a 3 point Ally of Ethan) For the time being, neither of them feels any urgency to have children due to their extended lifespans, so both seem content to move in and out of each other’s lives as it suits them. They do talk about having children from time to time, but Abbie doesn’t feel ready for such a commitment (or burden) yet.
- One thing that Abbie has not shared (although Ethan suspects something) is that she has found this reality’s homeworld of the Rhan - the militant race that destroyed her own homeworld of Meridian. Abbie has long accepted that her world was destroyed, but the thought that a similar race could exist on Realm 0 is making her reconsider her long term plans.
* Image by Haryarti on DeviantART
Isabelle
- Isabelle has been the ‘other woman’ in Ethan’s life on an on-and-off basis for over a decade. Most of the time she’s a friend to both Ethan and Abbie, but there have been times where she’s used her previous relationship with Ethan to help her out of a tight spot. Ethan always has fun with Isabelle because there never seem to be ‘strings attached’, however he frequently ends up in a mess with whatever adventure they end up pursuing. Ethan remains very fond of Isabelle, and the feeling is mutual (even if she only rarely will admit it). (GM’s note - Isabelle is a 3 point Ally of Ethan)
- Isabelle is known to have Invocation and Wrighting. She has a strong affinity to a number of Lucien’s artefacts which are attuned to the Stair (such as Lucien’s Compass, which technically only he should be able to operate), but is not a Warden of the Stair. Isabelle says that Lucien is her grandfather - Lucien has not acknowledged this, but he is certainly protective of Isabelle. (GM’s note - in Session 106, Lucien says that Isabelle is his great-great-great-great-granddaughter)
- Abbie and Isabelle also maintain a close friendship. Ethan can almost always tell when Abbie has been talking with Isabelle.
* Image by jas-tham on DeviantART
Changes in Westgate
- Superficially, Westgate Manor looks just like it did when Grant and Ethan first took occupancy almost seventeen years ago. However, there are many sub-basement levels and multi-dimensional technology has been used in crafting the levels.
- The house is largely empty most of the time. The cats and ravens have relocated to the world of Juniper (GM’s note - more on that in the Session 105 writeup) leaving R2-J7 to look after the place mostly on his own. R2-J7 is still as potty mouthed as ever, and gone more than a little peculiar given the long isolation. (“@#$* you, Master, you $#&&”)
* Image sourced from Google Images
- Grant and Ethan both have small rooms in the main house and there are more comfortable quarters in the lower levels.
Antarctica
- Ethan and Grant have received warnings not to disturb what lies in Antarctica - indeed the previous owner of Westgate disappeared there. Ethan has visited the Door which opens out onto the frozen wastes. He has seen the mountains which Lovecraft called “The Mountains of Madness” but not ventured into them. (GM’s note - one of the adventures to be run during the time compress post Session 106 is to explore these mountains and find out what lies here)
* Image sourced from Google Images
Jodan and The Exile
- Last seen in Session 75, Jodan disappeared before the Dwimmerlaik Civil War. In 1994, Grant finally found where Jodan (the Warlord) had been hiding. At the request of Grant and Ethan, he had decided to lie low, gathering his forces and sought counsel from a powerful Dwimmerlaik Lord who simply calls himself “The Exile”. In 1994, he ventured back onto the Stair and started trying to reconnect with his old holdings before venturing further afield and aggressively attempting to gain control of more territory on the Home Landing.
- Jodan’s expansionist plans put him in direct conflict with Grant and Ethan because he attempted to take control of a number of realms on the Home Landing. Grant and Ethan confront Jodan, and they agree to move Jodan’s worlds to another place on the Stair that will relieve the tension between the groups.
- Jodan parts cordially, but Grant and Ethan are sure that this is not the last that they will see of the young and aggressive Warlord.
* Image by GerryArthur on DeviantArt
Keys
- It is only possible to enter and exit Realm 0 with a Key. Even if an individual wishes to use an Icon, they have to be holding a Key or the contact will not be made. One of the constraints to Realm 0 is that there were only a handful of Keys which gave Grant and Ethan access to the Doors. However, in 1996, Ethan was finally able to duplicate a key, which is now in Abbie’s possession.
Skandia
- The threat of the Dwimmerlaik finding Skandia again has been in Ethan’s mind for more than ten years. The Door to Skandia has been relocated to the Home Landing (courtesy of Lucien) and Ethan continues to visit Hoffgard from time to time. As yet, the Dwimmerlaik have not returned.
- Lady Morwen’s husband Tomas died nine years ago in a battle with the Hetlanders, leaving her alone with a young daughter Gilda. Ethan has become the de facto father and protector of young Gilda, who is almost ten years old.
- One of Ethan’s gifts to Morwen was his dog, Stolvir, who now looks after her and her young daughter. (GM’s note - Stolvir remains a 1 point ally of Ethan)
The Dwimmerlaik Civil War and the Shadow War
- The Dwimmerlaik Civil War has been raging now for almost twelve years. Even though there are periods where things cool down, it does not take long for the conflicts to reignite. There are many factions and the Dwimmerlaik Empire has disintegrated into a number of multi-dimensional fiefdoms, controlled mostly along House bloodlines. The Empress continues to control the largest section of the old empire.
- The Lords of Gossamer have been very successful in remaining out of the cross-fire and then occasionally provoking some of the Dwimmerlaik warlords into action against their kin. Colloquially this is known to the Lords of Gossamer as the “Shadow War” - a dirty war fought in the dark places of the Stair. Lords Mordecai, Drake and ‘Benjamin’ (the mad-elf) remain at the forefront of this, but occasionally Bastiano can be bothered to pitch in. Occasionally one of the Dwimmerlaik factions directs its attention against the Lords of Gossamer, but it rarely lasts long.
- In 1996, Cooper and Lucien perfect the Breath of Eden weapon. Bastiano, Grant and Ethan then deliver it into key points within the Dwimmerlaik command structure, throwing the Enemy even further into disarray. The Breath of Eden mind-blanks large numbers of Dwimmerlaik, spreading by mental contact including Icons. The memories are harvested by Cooper and Lucien and then scrutinised for intelligence gathering purposes. The Lords of Gossamer use the chaos across the Enemy to stage a series of raids into Dwimmerlaik territory. (GM’s note - yes, we will be running adventures for this)
- When the dust settles, the Dwimmerlaik Empire is in woeful shape - even those factions that have been least affected are still in no shape to strike back against the Lords of Gossamer. For the Lords of Gossamer, this becomes a period of relative peace - at least until one Dwimmerlaik Lord finally seizes control over all of the other factions or manages to reverse the effects of the Breath of Eden.
Lucien
- Lucien has shown more interest in conversing with Ethan as the years have passed. He has shown up unannounced every year or two to talk to Ethan. Gradually Ethan has been more comfortable talking to him but he still ‘clams up’ to a degree.
- At first Ethan thought that Lucien was showing interest in him because of his companionship with Isabelle, and then he wondered if it was because of Clockworld. Eventually Ethan has accepted Lucien as being ‘curious’ about Ethan. Ethan is still uncomfortable asking Lucien for help or guidance, although he has done so on occasion. Most notably he asked for Lucien’s help in moving the Skandian Door (before he acquired Mastery of the Stair). He has also asked Lucien’s advice about how he has coped in relationships with people who have shorter lifespans than the Lords of Gossamer. His counsel was direct and to the point: “Enjoy while it lasts.”
- More on Lucien’s interaction with Ethan is covered in Session 106.
Lucien and the Queen of Arcadia
- In 1994, Ethan became aware that Lucien was planning to visit Marindar, and he believed that Lucien had not made good on his promise to visit Aglaranna, the Queen of Arcadia. Ethan decided to arrange a situation where Lucien would finally meet the Arcadian Queen once more. They were cordial to one another, but Ethan could tell that Lucien was quietly furious with him for interfering. Lucien made it plain to Ethan at the time that he was displeased, and they spoke further about it in Session 106.
Marindar
- Even though Queen Constancia is technically the ruler of Marindar and its lands, it is Lord Protector Grant and the Princess Sophia who hold the greater power and influence over the Kingdom. The Lord Protector has rebuilt Marindar’s defences, including a standing army and the elite ‘Marindan Defenders’. He has opened many of the Marindan Doors to re-establish old and establish new trade routes. Central is once again the heart of trade across dozens of realms, bringing an influx of new migrants into and through Marindar to other places.
- Ethan’s parents returned to Earth (Realm 0) in 1999, thinking that they had had enough of Marindar. However, in 2001 they returned again, this time ‘for good’.
- Ethan’s elder brother Ben is still married but now has three children, the eldest being ten years old. Ethan’s twin brother Mark looks physically older than Ethan (because Mark has not been enhanced with Eidolon) - he’s still an engineer, and the girls still love him. Mark thinks that he’ll never leave Marindar although he’s been offworld many times.
- Grant’s siblings have also decided to remain in Marindar. Both have picked up a small measure of Marindan magic. Grant’s sister works as a nurse in Central, and his brother has found a far more interesting career path than accounting. Grant’s parents were influenced to move back to Earth in 1999 along with Ethan’s family (the Powells) but they too returned to Marindar. For Grant’s family, the decision to return to Marindar was made clear when Grant’s older brother got married and admitted that they were expecting a child.
- In 1996 when Abbie fell in love with Marc (one of her colleagues), Ethan spent more time in Marindar for a few months. Grant was well aware that the Marindans would seek to offer him a companion to try to create bond for him to their realm (as is their nature) and warned him of the possibility. The Marindans tend to be respectful of Ethan because of his relationship with the Lord Protector (Grant). Ethan has a good relationship with the Queen’s Councillor, Meliander - Meliander is Ethan’s closest friend on Marindar.
Bastiano and Galatea
- In the last decade, Bastiano has been doing a lot of empire building for his own personal benefit, enlarging his armies and influence over a large number of realms. He has also participated in the Shadow War against the Dwimmerlaik from time to time, but mostly he’s been enjoying the good life and quietly preparing for the next time that things go poorly. Occasionally his empire building has been a headache for Grant. Bastiano’s emissaries attempted to claim Marindar in Bastiano’s name (given the number of bloodlines in Marindar that are descended from him), but Grant told him to ‘get stuffed’.
- Oddly, for most of the last decade Bastiano has been in a relationship with Galatea, the Marindan Lady of Gossamer. Few, if any, believed that it would last but to the surprise of all, it has endured for a long time.
- Bastiano still treats Grant as a sometimes friend, sometimes rival but there is no enmity between them. Bastiano doesn’t consider Grant a threat to his plans.
Grant
- Grant is now 36 years old, but he looks to be in his mid-twenties. As the Lord Protector of Marindar, Grant wields considerable influence and power from this base. He maintains good relations with almost all of the established Lords of Gossamer and makes an effort to keep abreast of current events.
- At 350 points, Grant’s stats are as follows:
Powers: Mastery of the Grand Stair (35 points), Umbra Mastery (50 points)
Domain: Marindar (7 points - 2 points Common Ground, 1 point Control of Contents, 4 points Guarded)
Items/Creatures: Gorgorin the Shatterer (24 points - 16 points Primal Damage, 2 points Linked to Umbra, 2 points Named and Numbered Forms, 4 points Mould Gossamer Reality),Serpent Bracer(23 points - 4 points Deadly damage Blaster, 1 point Alternate Form [ring], 4 points Invulnerable to Conventional Weapons, 5 points Confer Invulnerability, 4 points Engine Speed, 5 points Confer Speed ) , Set of Icons (2 points), Everful Wallet(1 point Mould Gossamer matter to always have local currency, ID, tickets etc)
Allies: Oscar (5 points)
Good Stuff: 8 points[/ul]
* Image by Gordon Napier on DeviantART
Princess Sophia
- Sophia is still a professional, seasoned diplomat and Sorceress. However, she no longer hides that she is Constancia’s sister and a Princess in her own right. Sophia has been Grant’s lover for over fifteen years and the opening of Marindar to other worlds has presented new challenges and opportunities for her. She is Princess Sophia, ambassador of Marindar to dozens of other realities and often she is the voice of authority away from Central.
- With the opening of so many Doors, Sophia only spends part of her time in Central itself. Often she has travelled to other Realms to maintain or improve diplomatic relations, but just as often she spends time with Grant on his adventures. Queen Constancia (Sophia’s elder sister) has remarked to Sophia’s embarrassment that she was quite a ‘hellraiser’ in her youth, and with Marindar safe and stable, Grant has started to see another side to Sophia behind the mild-mannered, cool and reserved woman that he fell in love with. There is an adventurous and even rebellious side there, but she has concealed it for so long that she often pretends that it is not there at all.
- Physically, Sophia has not changed in the slightest. A decade passing is nothing to her.
- To outsiders Marindans are strangely tolerant of polyamorous relationships. For many, it is even encouraged - Sophia encouraged Grant to seek other partners if he wished. She gave no indication whether she was seeking others herself. She admitted earlier in her relationship with Grant that she is incapable of having children.
- Ten years have passed - Grant’s and Sophia’s relationship is still very solid, but Grant has noted some changes in her. She no longer encourages him to seek other partners, and she has been trying to join him on some of his adventures where possible. Due to her extraordinary long life span, part of Princess Sophia is set in her ways - she has enormous reserves of patience and rarely feels or displays strong emotions. However little by little, cracks are forming in those old ways and she is increasingly seeing the present and future as something new and exciting.
* Image by Mictones on DeviantART
Raine
- Raine was one of Grant’s lovers but she ended up drifting away in 1998. They remain friends but Grant spends the majority of his time with Sophia.
* Image by Gothic Icecream on DeviantART
The Fate of Trell
- Grant impersonated a Dwimmerlaik warrior named Trell for an extended period prior to the commencement of the Dwimmerlaik Civil War. Trell was imprisoned and interrogated by Bastiano and Grant.
- The imprisonment continued for almost a year after the death of Mowbray, after which Grant realised that he couldn’t possibly release Trell. After much deliberation, Trell was executed. Very few know of this. It is still a closely guarded secret that Grant impersonated a Dwimmerlaik, triggering the break-up of the Dwimmerlaik Empire.
The Fate of Arana
- Grant acquired the services of the dark elf Arana during his time impersonating Trell. As the Dwimmerlaik Civil War erupted, he maneuvered her out of the conflict zone, hoping to spare her but well aware that she was no angel.
- Ten years later, Arana has been manipulated into serving Mordecai. She now serves the Lords of Gossamer as one of Mordecai’s Shadow Warriors, striking in the dark places against the many factions of the Dwimmerlaik. She does not know that Grant was once Trell - she only knows that Grant has treated her with kindness.
* Image by Wavebender on DeviantArt
The Lords of Gossamer
- The most powerful Lords of Gossamer (Vala, Drake, Bastiano, Lucien and Mordecai) have reaffirmed their alliance. Shatterlight has been restored, and the Lords of Gossamer are once again working to re-establish their authority across the Realms whilst still seeking to destabilise the Dwimmerlaik factions.
- The Lords of Gossamer meet once every five hundred standard days in person in a location which Vala nominates. All Lords of Gossamer are invited. The first Gathering that Grant and Ethan are invited will be described in Session 106 (the session was run last week).
* Image by Jason Rainville
The Green Dragon Inn
- Six months after the death of Mowbray, Grant received his first invite to the Green Dragon Inn by Cal. Since, then every tenday, Grant makes an effort to join the fun.
- A handful of the Lords of Gossamer like Cal, Jessamyn, sometimes Yaeger Zane, Gretchen, Veronique, Harrison, and even some of the Elders (such as Lucien) pop in for a drink, a game of pool and then, after ten o’clock, many play ‘Nine-Star’ Poker until late in the night.
- The Green Dragon is frequented by small-uns and big-uns, and a handful of very-big-uns (ogres) who come for the beer and the hospitality. The bartender Lorac has an unusually strong Psyche.
Other Loose Ends
- Then there are some loose ends that are still dangling:
- Imperial Wardens - Ethan assumes that the Wardens in the service to the Dwimmerlaik Empire have either joined with the various Dwimmerlaik factions or have gone into hiding. He has not sought to find the others such as Burnside, Victor, Taltos and Khalim.
- Lost Girl - when Ethan lost his memories he was pursuing another Warden who was very frightened (a young girl). This has not been pursued.
- Fambol - there are still another group of Wardens opposed to the Lords of Gossamer and the Dwimmerlaik that are on the Stair, somewhere. When Ethan ‘killed Fambol’, he found that he’d slain a manikin (a facsimile). They are still out there somewhere (GM’s note - they turn up in Session 106, by the way)
Unplayed Adventures
- Finally we have some other events that need to be run as proper adventures. We can’t complete the time compress without playing through the following:
- Isabelle and Ichabod - Isabelle promised to meet with Ichabod and apologise. This would surely have happened within the decade or there would have been consequences. (Session 106)
- Ethan and Lucien - it is very likely that Lucien would have something meaningful to say to Ethan over the course of the decade which would lead to …. Something. (Session 106)
- The Gathering of the Lords of Gossamer - even if the Lords of Gossamer are meeting every 500 standard days, it is very likely that Grant and Ethan would be tasked with something during this time. (Session 106)
- Legendary Realm - Grant wishes to return to the Legendary Realm to find out how he and Ethan became ‘The Lost Princes’. (Session 107 - )
- Princess in the Glass Mountain - Grant has been enamoured of the Princess ever since Session 44. He wants to rescue her. (after the Legendary Realm)
- Shadow Raids - Bastiano, Grant and Ethan are tasked to deliver the new Breath of Eden superweapon into Dwimmerlaik territory and finish the Enemy once and for all. Also, Lucien has a number of ‘shopping items’ that he would like them to acquire in the aftermath/confusion. (after Legendary Realm adventure)
- Antarctica - it seems unlikely that Grant and Ethan would do nothing to explore Antarctica within a ten year period. (probably around 2001)
Hope you’re enjoying all of this!