Subj : Peace] Rounding it off To : All From : mbottorff@sprintmail.com Date : Thu Jun 21 2001 03:10 am From: mbottorff@sprintmail.com (Michelle & Boyd Bottorff) Subject: Peace] Rounding it off Organization: =?ISO-8859-1?Q?=CC?= Since I have been enjoying running this game, albeit rather slowly, and since it is close to the close of the first segment, I felt I ought to summarize the most likely chain of events that would take place, and sort of give the game closing. This was originally intended to be the first leg in a journey. If anyone is interested in continuing it on past this point, let me know at mbottorff@sprintmail.com and I'll try to find a place to have it hosted. (Ideally, I'ld like to find a place that might attract newcomers, but I'll have to see what's out there. And, of course, I'll warn everyone interested that I often have a slow pace as I also take care of a wife, six children, and a job with odd (and occaisonally long) hours. ---- The group approaches the main gatehouse, intent on getting into the house by asking for sanctuary from the brigands that they know are out in the forest. They're met at the gate by half-a-dozen guards, who all escort them to the manor house. The manor house is somewhat as Edgar remembers it. Though not really designed as a castle, it does have thick walls and there's some construction going on in back of it. And Edgar realizes... *all* the guards at the gate come with them. This isn't normal procedure anywhere... But the guards are taking you where you want to go, and there's no point in slaughtering potentially innocent people at this point... The guards escort you inside, through a reasonable-sized entry hall into a large reception room. You guess that this room could double as a ballroom during formal events. It looks as though it's not used a lot, but has received a bit of extra cleaning recently. The Duke of Fenlinn is sitting on a chair at the far end of the room, and standing around the room are a bit over a dozen armed men, wearing the Duke of Fenlinn's garb. The Duke of Hurthon is also in the room, with a couple of his attendents, and there's someone you would guess is a wizard standing off in one corner. The Duke of Fenlinn identifies and greets Edgar and Jeffey; identifies and politely introduces himself to Brother John; and introduces himself to Colonel Ger, although he's uncertain about which officer he is, "For I've met young Edgar before, and the esteemed Brother John is easily identifiable by his garb and demeanor, but I must apologize: I don't believe we've ever met, and I've been unable to get more information on you." "Ah, yes," thinks Edgar. "He could be a prosy old bore at times; very formal. But he's a sharp one, as well." "I expect that you've come for the king's sword," Fenlinn continues. He rises gracefully takes four measured paces forward, holds the sword out with the flat of the blade in both hands, and then lowers his hands-- and the blade stays put, floating in the air about navel-high. "It was brought here recently by a nephew of mine. He said the sword told him it wanted to move. Oh, yes, were you never told this? The sword can talk, though it rarely talks to anyone but the king. "When it arrived here, it told me that it was tired of the current line of monarchs: it had a list of grievances that boiled down to 'They're too busy playing king and not busy enough being king.' They were content to let orcs impinge on our borders without trying to stop them. If the climate changed and left good cropland desolate, they didn't check to see what the causes were, or if anything could be done. They didn't try to establish new trade routes, or build up the cities, or anything. "And that it felt it was time for a new king." He waves a hand at the sword floating in midair. "Every year at the Feast of Warriors, the sword is presented both as a means of swearing in officers and warriors, and as a test of the true king of the land. That only the king can move the sword. "Gentelmen, I offer you the same test. If any of you can move the sword, I will not take the office. But when I was sworn into the army, I took an oath on the crown and on the sword, to defend both with my life. I am now being asked by one to break my oath with the other. And..." There is a significant pause. "Ultimately, I had to make my decision based on what I think is best for the land. I *would* make a better king than Tolm." ------------------- What would be involved in the second section of this campaign would, of course, depend heavily on the player's responses here. The two most logical courses would be to either return to the king (The Duke of Fenlinn would allow them safe passage off his lands) or join the rebellion. Or Brother John could start some sort of wildlife preserve, and try to protect it from passing armies of both sides. Or Edgar could take the group off to the next kingdom over, and try to live the life of an expatriot noble doing his best to reclaim his lands in a war-torn kingdom. Or anything else, really; one of the joys of real-life RPGs is the ability to, when the chips are really down, try to set your hair on fire and head-butt the troll... -- |Fidonet: mbottorff@sprintmail.com |Internet: scott@conchbbs.com | | Standard disclaimer: The views of this user are strictly his own. --- # Origin: (1:106/357.99) * Origin: ConchGate (1:106/357.0) .