DM Vord's Zeitgeist Act I - Portents of a Starry Sky

Game Master Vorduvai

I have survived, though the house we are staying at flooded. We close on our new house in a few days, so it'll be a short transition period. I'll insert myself in the conversation as soon as I find a decent spot.

I have survived, though the house we are staying at flooded. We close on our new house in a few days, so it'll be a short transition period. I'll insert myself in the conversation as soon as I find a decent spot.

Well I'm glad the new house isn't affected and that the family is all right. I've not seen anything like that directly since San Antonio in the late 90's, but the scenes remind me of a mixture of that and when the Mississippi River floods. The rains don't seem to be slacking off this week either.

Hello Constables!

As we're winding down the last scene of the first Zeigeist adventure, The Island at the Axis of the World, there's a lot of things to do as we move into the second adventure in the series, The Dying Skyseer. I'll have a lot to do to get things going for the interim period, as roughly seventy-eight days pass before we pick up the second adventure on 1 Summer: reviewing in detail the second adventure, updating the NPC listings to reflect all the changes from events in Spring season, adding in our Prestige System (pg. 17-18 in the Player's Guide), tracking the list of special "turn-in" items to R.H.C. that you may request out later (as stipend allows), and writing the interim period posts that cover what happens in the rest of Spring (for Risur, for the R.H.C., etc.). So I'm gearing up to tackle all of that.

Note that my interim posts will be covering the fact that all seven of you will be permanently posted to Flint Branch in the coming days of Spring (surprise I know), even though many other constables will be moved and shuffled around.

With me covering that, I therefore have a few items I need the players to do for this interim period coming up. I need for each of you to start working on the following items as it relates to the interim period, before we get into the official start of the second adventure on 1 Summer - from both a character grounding and a verisimilitude standpoint, I feel it's important to do this. Here's your "homework" then for the upcoming interim period:

1) Complete PC outfitting of gear to reflect turn-ins and requisitions during interim, to be at the max. starting class wealth + 1000 crowns + 1500 crowns stipend/salary level. Note that more stipend is presented about midway into the adventure, so use what you have now to be effective!

2) Using the Flint City Map (pg. 46) and the knowledge of its districts, determine the district location of your home/abode and a brief description of it - include a street name and address, kind of place (loft, boarding house room, apartment, townhouse, etc.) and general quality. Put this into your character profile. Note that most of you have an "Average" cost-of-living as standard constables of the R.H.C., and so cannot afford accommodations in Central District by yourselves (though you can room with 1-3 others to manage it), so living on your own means you're coming from the adjacent Eastside, Bosum Strand or Stray River (typically East Bank) districts. Anneca is an exception now as she's had a special boon granted to her after the death of her friend and patron, Makala Fileccia, and if you have a wealthy lifestyle (Jesselle?) you may have options the "typical" constable does not have. Note that the other districts not adjacent to Central don't make much sense to live at - too far and either too low-class poor (Pine Island, Parity Lake, Nettles) or too elite (North Shore, Ayres). Here's a early discussion post covering it in more detail. Note that this second adventure is located entirely in Flint, so at times I really want to bring in the background of the PC's life as they have a (small) life outside of work at the R.H.C. Flint Branch.

3) Form stronger ties with AT LEAST two of the other PC's in terms of assumed interactions that go on in the interim period at Flint Branch. The ties can be friendship or something more adversarial in nature, but something more than indifference! Provide context that you can play out in future posts together. Obviously you need to chat with your fellow players if you're thinking of something negative/adversarial, but the purpose of this is to use the interim period to reset the relationships between the PC's that they have put their lives on the line with/for. The seven characters would not have the same dynamic in Summer after days of working together in Flint...and with the shakeup of the R.H.C. after the events of early Spring, it doesn't make sense that you're professional strangers to each other. I'm looking for more interaction between the PC's in this next adventure, and so I'd like for the players to use this opportunity to make connections with each other that make sense to them.

4) Come up with two or three NPC's that are friendly to the PC in the district where he/she lives, and add them to your character profile. They could be friends, family, neighbors, the corner shopkeeper, a more "colorful" type that the PC has befriended, etc. They can be NPC's you may have already detailed in your 10-Minute Background BUT make sure they are updated to reflect any changes in the story since the PC's game start. This represents both the PC's life in the district where they call home as well as could be useful to draw upon a contact for info or assistance in that particular district.

5) Read and understand the Zeitgeist group-based Prestige System in the Extended Player's Guide, as we will start using it in this next adventure. If used correctly it can be very helpful in giving the PC's a useful mechanic to aid in their investigations, and its creative flexibility can make for fun adds to the story. I'll be putting the starting Prestige scores (typically rating 1 for three factions) for the group in the Campaign Info Tab soon.

6) Finally, I will be asking for each player to come up with an interim post that describes a particular scene of the PC within the interim period - a "day in the life" kind of post. It can be strictly a narrative, or it can be interactive if you want me to play NPC dialogue. It can cover an event in just part of a day, or span multiple days in the interim Spring period. The scope and style is up to you, but it should reflect something interesting that the PC is doing or cares about as it relates to them in Flint. So think about what you want to write, and PM me for any questions you may have.

Who wants to be my friend?

As for her fellow Constables....

Anneca Summers - Will be a tough one, as she comes across as a hard and bitter. Perhaps their interest in arcane magics will be the opening? ((Rolling double 20s on a knowledge and spellcraft checks of the The Cloverdelve Circle I can only assume as I never got a GM answer she gleaned a few nuggets of how the thing works and the like.))

Emerson Hill - Seems to be the easy going one of the 'old guard' as it were. At least he was willing to listen rather than dismiss her and the new trio outright. Seems they would get along.

Fethryth Teldanona - There is the whole been through the interrogation of the Noses together and to Jesselle being an elf a bredeath of possible knowledge that only a long lived race would have lived through.

Gemma Atherton - With Gemma I see it as going really easy to be friends and not, with no in between.

Tobias Utegg - Tobias I see as a friendly rival in things. They are both social people but have their different ways of doing things. She of course wishes to know more about psionics in general.

Willem Muhnee - Has come off as the quiet brooding type thus far, and may clash in the future of issues concerning the law (the no spirit of law and such.) Jeselle also comes from a more upper middle class type and a background with politics.

Overall, while there may be issues I do not see any reason that Jesselle could not becomes freinds with any of her fellow Constables. I will enjoy working with any/all who want to work on such relationships.

There is no such thing as the spirit of the law, only the written law ... ;-)

Besides remember, there is always a bad cop and a good cop. The bad cop does not mean corrupt, it means the brooding no spirit of the law type.

I found a large map of Flint (HERE) (Remember to enlarge it)

Anneca is definitely going to have a crazy investigative collage in the house, with twine connecting various pins. She'll be trying to figure out what Ethelyn was actually up to.

Jesselle--I like your outline of how you've perceived the other constables and possible interactions with them. I think I may use that model myself.

No problem... It is really just the impressions she has gotten thus far, we have spent a little over one day together. She understands the initial meet with orders to remove two of team, so she is working off everything after that. I am sure there will be to everyone as we interact and get to know one another.

For at least part of the happenings once back in Flint, I wanted to have her use her ability to speak with the dead pop up. Likely part of a case she and some of her fellows are working on.

Really I would like to do something with everyone... not sure how feasible that is, but it would be nice.

Looking over my characters background, I just realized that she has not been home (Flint) in over 15 months (the length of her undercover assignment in Slate)... And save a few letters here and there her family and frirnds would have no idea what she has been through. This should be... fun! :)

I think I'm going to use Jesselle's idea too, it's a good way to map out how my character feels about everyone.

Over the interim, Anneca will trust Gemma with her investigation. She might even be willing to treat Jesselle a little bit better if it means a chance to say goodbye to Makala.

Can't wait to see everyone's perception of the other characters! And, yeah, I'd like to see Gemma work with Anneca more. They have a pretty solid common purpose now.

I'm loving the dialogue between characters right now!

Can't wait to see everyone's perception of the other characters! And, yeah, I'd like to see Gemma work with Anneca more. They have a pretty solid common purpose now.

Like what? Bad Cop / Bad Cop?

Hey....somebody has to do it...

Gemma Atherton wrote:

Can't wait to see everyone's perception of the other characters! And, yeah, I'd like to see Gemma work with Anneca more. They have a pretty solid common purpose now.

Like what? Bad Cop / Bad Cop?

Hey, that's my line ... lol

So I've really enjoyed your conversation and didn't want to interrupt it - I will be looking to start interim posts to get the transition to Summer underway and give you the rundown of the aftermath of Ethelyn's Rebellion.

Though I have a fair bit more to flesh out with the NPC's, the moves and changes have all been made for RHC NPC's in case you want to check that out.

Hi All,

Working on the interim posts, but with a work event today and the opening night tonight of my daughter's school play I won't be posting until Friday. In the meantime, think about what you want to do for your own interim posts, as you will be able to put those in once I get mine done.

Also the hi res Flint map is linked in the main tab, so you can use that to determine where your dwelling is at - street name and immediate neighborhood or street flavor is entirely up to you.

For our interim post, how much time will the RHC allow off especially after our recent successful mission without frowning?

For our interim post, how much time will the RHC allow off especially after our recent successful mission without frowning?

Ha! The R.H.C. is never off the job you know! Director Price-Hill and Chief Inspectress Saxby don't believe in vacations, except for the occasional one-season sabbatical after ten years or more on the job. Particularly after the deaths of fourteen constables and inspectors, with another three departing active duty for different reasons. Nope, everyone is "back on the roster" not too long after a week of debriefing and then traveling back to Flint City.

That being said, the duty will be relatively light work for the constables in the Spring season, especially as each branch deals with transfers and shoring up their operational routines. This means the usual going into the branch for morning briefings and getting off in the evening to your "regular" private life...not that constables have much of a private life! Now would ACI Delft approve a two or even three day absence during this period? Sure, as long as the constable can be reached for immediate duty if something major happened. Saxby and certain senior constables such as Carlao Ven would disapprove of course, but such is the life among high-profile constables with competitive and driven attitudes.

I know where Jesselle will be living, 912 Larimer Lane (Apartment Number pending)

One question I had was, how high would an apartment building be? 3-4 stories?

Sure! If we equated Flint City to something akin to latter 1800's London, I think that kind of brownstone would be just fine. There's no skyscrapers of course, other than the occasional fortified tower that probably wouldn't exceed 60-70' in height, but a three or even four-story building could make sense.

Willem Lives on 300 Forest Lane, Flat 4 or one of the buildings on South East East Side Stray River along the tree line. I was thinking Chyristine lives down the road along Stray River. And the trees will make it much easier for Willem sneaking in and out of her house. Her offices are On West Bank along the Upper Flint Bay side.

Tobias resides at 234 Lower Bay Ct., a small cul-de-sac a few blocks from the water in the Bosum Strand that he shares with Chip who followed him from Slate (which will be detailed in interim posts).

It's a larger loft, fit for accommodating two, but nothing to write home about for most people. Tobias' family of course marveled at its size when they came to visit.

I've got one more interim narrative to write regarding Flint Branch in particular, and then I'm free to play off any interactive interim posts you may have (though the interim posts don't have to be interactive by any means. I'll see about working up a Flint map version that shows where your dwellings are located as well.

I ran out of room for NPC's, so you'll see two profile links now - one for RHC and one for all others.

Emerson, what firearm designs should we be working on during our idle time? I believe revolvers have already been created, so maybe an automatic like the 1911 and maybe a Winchester Model 1894 or Henry or Spencer? Of course, this is just the design phase not production ... lol

Residence-

Fethryth lives at 223 East River Street. in the East Bank. It’s a women’s only boardinghouse. Fethryth has a small room to herself and access to communal areas. The area should be quiet enough for her to concentrating on Skyseeing at night, and she’d want to have access to a kitchen. She’ll work out a deal with the proprietress where Fethryth buys ingredients, cooks and then shares what she makes with the rest of the boarders. It’s a good way to make friends.

On her fellow Constables-

Anneca Summers - Complicated. Fethryth sees a lot of herself in Anneca. On one hand she wants to reach out to her, on the other she knows that pushing Anneca is a bad idea. She’s in a holding pattern for now.

Emerson Hill - Fethryth appreciates his sense of humor. Since he has healing powers she’d enjoy talking shop with him. However, she knows Emerson was friends with Ifris before the two joined the R.H.C so she won’t push those chats on him.

Gemma Atherton - On one side you’ve got Gemma, who was kidnapped by the Fey as a child and raised in the Dreaming. On the other you’ve got Fethryth who, while not a traditional priestess, is a follower of the Old Faith with a strong tie to the Dreaming and by extension the Fey. Awkward.

Jesselle Wesmere - Fethryth’s been very impressed by her ability to stay cool under pressure. Jesselle scored big points when she asked Lya Jeirre for her credentials. It was the proper thing to do and it was ballsy as hell. She’ll want to be friends.

Tobias Utegg - Tobias impressed Fethryth with his magic, only she questions his judgement after he went all soft on Lyra Jeirre. Fethryth took an immediate dislike to Jeirre, so she thinks Tobias could use some work on his people-reading skills. She might eventually pick up on the irony since she’s just as guilty when it comes to making snap judgements.

Willem Munhee - ‘The Law is the Law’ is one of Fethryth’s key beliefs and she’ll respect him for having the same attitude. They know each other from Slate branch but I don’t think they were close. Fethryth only cares about office politics/favoritism when it’s affecting her career; she wouldn’t have gone to bat for Willem but she’d have treated him fairly and respected his worth ethic. I think they’ll get along.

Tobias' interest in Lyra was purely academic I swear!

Working on a more solo interim post right now but then I'll throw together a post like the above and work on strengthening some inner office ties.

GM - What's the earliest we would be arriving in Flint. If Saxby was on a fast carriage that took 4 days, I imagine a regular trip is a bit longer, yes?

Emerson, what firearm designs should we be working on during our idle time? I believe revolvers have already been created, so maybe an automatic like the 1911 and maybe a Winchester Model 1894 or Henry or Spencer? Of course, this is just the design phase not production ... lol

Hey Willem, the DM has told me don't even think about advanced firearms until at least the third AP. We're just scrubs after all.

I think we can argue for a non muzzle blocking bayonet as the invention of the day.

Tobias' interest in Lyra was purely academic I swear!

Working on a more solo interim post right now but then I'll throw together a post like the above and work on strengthening some inner office ties.

GM - What's the earliest we would be arriving in Flint. If Saxby was on a fast carriage that took 4 days, I imagine a regular trip is a bit longer, yes?

Hmmm...well I would say you can estimate four days for most carriage travels because the travel is meant to be fast along the turnpikes - riding by horseback would probably shave a day off to three days. A supply wagon train would take probably six days.

If I had to guess I'd say that Tobias transfers to Flint by the 40's, as the transfer orders don't come in right after the mission debriefings.

Hey Willem, the DM has told me don't even think about advanced firearms until at least the third AP. We're just scrubs after all.

I think we can argue for a non muzzle blocking bayonet as the invention of the day.

Ooh, I did forget about the bayonet. Let's work on that but we can still draft advance firearms and it will be a while before prototype since we are not really tooled for advance firearms and designs take time especially without a CAD.

To start…Gemma will find it difficult to make friends and trust anyone other than her sister. Because of her abduction and subsequent return, she’s grown up with the stigma of being “cursed” (at the worst) and viewed with suspicion (at the least) by the neighboring farm folk, so making friends is not a strong suit. She’s kept people at a distance for most of her life and doesn’t tend to let her hair down and go have fun with the group. Gemma trying to be social is like a horse trying to talk. She’s terrible at it. She’s very closed off, but that’s not to say that she doesn’t want friends. She just has very, very little experience with it and doesn’t know where to start. She’s honestly surprised when someone does try and talk to her about anything other than RHC business.

Jesselle – As far as Gemma’s concerned, Jesselle seems even more by-the-book and straight-laced than her, so it could be common ground. Gemma’s an enforcer, not a talker, but she feels badly about how Anneca treated Jesselle at their last meeting. Gemma wouldn’t mind sitting down and getting to know Jesselle but she would never be the one to initiate.

Fethryn – Very tricky relationship. Gemma finds the way Fethryn talks and acts amusing (in a good way). Very bold and sassy. But because of her ties to the Fey, her friendship may be hard won. Gemma’s curious and feels she might be able to get some questions answered, but her vehemence and distrust of the Fey may be a big roadblock. However, she is intrigued by the woman.

Tobias – Somewhat of an enigma. Had they met under different circumstances, Gemma would have been thrilled to sit and talk with him. She still looks forward to one day discussing Martial Scientist stuff and learning from each other, but she was put off by his attitude towards Lya Jierre. Gemma doesn’t like Lya and would be reluctant to learn anything from her. However, she does understand Tobias’ interest. She thinks she and Tobias could have some good conversations.

Emerson—She doesn’t mind Emerson, but doesn’t feel a kinship with him. As far as she’s concerned, he’s never shown much of an interest in getting know her and, while it’s kind of a bummer, she’s okay with that. She sees theirs as a professional, working relationship.

Anneca – Another tricky relationship. Gemma appreciates Anneca’s fortitude and passion and wouldn’t mind being friends, but she sees her as being very volatile, like a bomb waiting to go off. Plus, I think both women are very guarded and neither makes friends easily. However, I think Gemma would appreciate the camaraderie if they were able to get past all their own personal stuff.

Willem – Willem is the one Gemma seems to be the closest with. Not that they’re close, but she appreciates Willem’s company and he’s easy going. Plus, he’s been one of the few who doesn’t seem to mind talking to her.

@All: So Cromlich used his creative talents to setup a variant map of Flint with everyone's dwellings on it - that's now added to the Campaign Info Tab so check it out. As we come across other places of interest and things we want to add, I'll ask Cromlich to update the map.

So make sure you all review the Prestige rules in the Zeitgeist Extended Player's Guide, as it will be up to the group when they want to use favors from the various factions to their advantage. Another note is to reference that character themes will continue to play a role in each adventure beyond just the benefits of your theme feats. We've seen that already with Technologists in the first adventure, but Spirit Mediums, Skyseers, Dockers (don't have one), Yerasol Veterans (don't have one either heh), Martial Scientists and the like all have areas in each adventure where that PC may have insight or an advantage in the storyline...we're going to see that in fact at the beginning scene of this second adventure.

@Coin-Holders (Anneca, Emerson, Gemma): Remember that your ancient coins only impart the "once-per-day" power now, and nothing passive or persistent as they did on Axis Island. Also note that to activate the once-per-day power you must either have it worn like a necklace (neck slot) OR it must be held in a free hand.

@All: So I'm looking forward to each of your "day in the interim" narratives, whether just in solo-narrative form or setup to be interactive with PC's and/or NPC's. If there's a scene that you want either PC or NPC involvement in and it's not obvious, just shout it out here in Discussion.

In the meantime, I'm working on providing new or updated descriptions to the NPC's, adding MORE NPC's (sigh...always something to do with NPC's), and thoroughly reading the second adventure to be ready when all the interim posts are done. Good stuff coming!

Looks good but not exactly where I though Chrystine's house would be. In that location, it would make it more difficult for Willem to sneak in without a disguise or looking cloak and dagger-ish. I was thinking her house would be along Stray River but that is cool, it gives Willem more of a challenge ... lol

My interim post is up, with a tie-in for Gemma and a few NPCs.

So I should have time every night this week to work up a NPC thread reply, or otherwise work on prep for the upcoming second adventure. I leave it up to you to get your interim post(s) in and get into the swing of things before I introduce the second adventure (which will start off rather quickly when we do get to it).

EDIT: Make sure you "flextime" tag it with an ooc header line that denotes both the date and the location. That way if we have several different interim threads going it's easier to read through who is where and all that.

Hey all... I am writing Jesselle's interlude a little differently, so while I want her to interact with the others of the Seven, I do not need to write joint posts. What I do need however is how the character would react to the following (if you wish them to be present at any/all/none of the events):

Enjoy the wee tidbits into Jesselle's life and I look forward to reactions of whomever wishes to participate.

GM Vord, you can also post reactions of any NPCs you might want to include.

ugh, a little busy, I will be posting tomorrow.

@Jesselle

I'll bite on some of those posts. Talking with the Dead and Explanation could be a good start. There would probably be things Emerson would share as well.

And it being his personality now, he would probably go looking for her in A Friend in Need.

GM Vord, you can also post reactions of any NPCs you might want to include.

Sure thing, I can do that where it makes sense. Again I am here to help with the interim post(s) that each of you are doing, before we get into the start of the second adventure which will occur on 1 Summer. At this point two interim interactive threads are underway (Anneca and Gemma), with a third (Emerson) posted in non-interactive narrative form. Keep it coming all!

Jesselle, I really like your idea of little vignettes. I think I might borrow it.

I'll jump in on Explanation and A Friend in Need. For Explanation Fethryth would be fascinated by Jesselle's powers. She'll ask a lot of questions and she'd share some bits about her Skyseeing abilities in return if Jesselle would like that.

For A Friend in Need her Mother Hen instincts will kick in and she'll hunt Jesselle down. Someone will have to sit on Fethryth so she doesn't go call Jesselle's mom an 'Unfeeling Harpy' or some such name.

Wil will be joining Jesselle for meeting the homeless. Part of the revolution was caused by blaming the King for unfair treatment, which is partially true and partially false, but Willem feels that he should help the King keep the country stable by helping the needy and also bring more prestige to the RHC. And most importantly, it is the right thing to do.

I really like the idea of doing a couple short stories (AKA I’m stealing another idea from Jesselle). You guys can give me any feedback you want, it doesn’t have to be much, and then I’ll write up a quick summary.

Drinks on Me

Fethryth will invite Tobias and Jesselle out for drinks once the former Slate constables have settled into Flint. She’s very unhappy about the transfer, likening the trio to a ‘consolation prize’ for C.I. Saxby. Being relegated to small cases and paperwork is making her very frustrated, and she’s looking for people to commiserate with.

Home Delivery

Since the Seven are working together now Fethryth decides that the group should become friendlier with each other. She knows she’s pretty bad at the whole socializing thing, but everyone knows the way to someone’s heart is through the stomach. She’ll whip up some banana bread and spend an evening delivering it around town.

Lost Memories

DM Vord, I’ll need your feedback on this, but I’d like to write a scene where Fethryth gets to visit Garrys Tranth before leaving Slate. She’ll bring him that poetry book the group found in an attempt to jog his memory. She can also speak to him in Elvish, tell him Eladrin or Old Faith folklore etc. Anything she can think of that might trigger memories of his past life.

So I didn't fully grasp the vignette concept in a quick read, but in another reading I'm on the same page now with how you are approaching it with other PC's and NPC's - very cool! In general I'm going to let you bring to life some of these new NPC's you're introducing in your writing, as it really helps to spark my imagination and give me new elements to play off of. There are a couple of questions you've had though that I'll answer here in spoiler-fashion:

Gemma would probably bite on Jesselle's Talking with the Dead and Feth's Home Delivery. Gemma would never initiate social contact on her own. She would be all work and no play, especially after the revelations at Axis Island, which would easily put her on a beat with Jesselle and investigating. She would be shocked and wary if Fethryth shows up with banana bread which could make for an interesting meeting. Although she does feel she owes her an apology for using the term "feth" during her outburst.

Sorry not posting yesterday, I had to take my wife to the Doctor. She is fine. I am going to try again today/tonight.