It must a great time to make movies about gamer geeks. First, we got "The Gamers", now we have Fear of Girls, a new independent film about that most maligned of hobbies. And if that isn't enough, DigiTribe Productions is producing a new film about gamers entitled Geekin. Despite what the Trailer says, it does not come out until later this year. Check out the trailer.
Geez, are these guys must be lonely.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Thursday, January 26, 2006
(RC) The Shadow – Ch 6, part 2
Summary: The Cabal regroups at the Kamo River and attempts to cross it and get back to their sanctum.
Recap:
Tenzin and Sa-an are both trapped in the basement of a burning wood building. Sa-an suggests they make a run for the back exit. They both cast Armor spells and Sa-an leads Tenzin out of the burning building before it collapses. She is severely burned and her kimono is in tatters. Tenzin bolts out of the building, stops, drops and rolls. Tenzin then uses magic to heal himself. Sa-an does not.
Mori sees Tenzin and Sa-an as they exit. He gets their attention and leads them both into an alleyway as the building collapses. The Fire Samurai and purple hippos do not see them disappear.
Kemosiri and Kontonshin carry a gravely injured Reitaro. They continue to follow the Nezumi (who appear to have grown larger). They are leading them to what they refer to as the Blue Dragon. They eventually find a sewer grating overlooking a shallow river. They smell smoke and see the light of a fire outside. Kemosiri warps the ephemeral grating lock and opens the door to the Kamo River. They see the purple hippos with tentacles and the burning building and the red Fire Samurai. They also see two bridges over the Kamo River. One is occupied by the Red Samurai, the other is occupied by two spear-wielding Mujina. The group thinks about where to go to next.
Tenzin is distracted by a succubus-like spirit. It tries to feed on his essence. Mori rescues him. Sa-an is disgusted with them both.
Kemosiri has a brainstorm. Instead of crossing at the bridges occupied by dangerous spirits, he sculpts the ephemera that is the Kamo River and creates an ephemeral bridge crossing the middle of the river. Kemosiri casts an improvised spell and manages to create a thin veneer of a bridge. In the meantime, Kontonshin sends out a mental signal to Tenzin using sympathetic magic (she knows his True Name) to get him to come to the River. Tenzin hears the signal and leads his group to the Kamo river near the 7th street bridge.
When Tenzin and Co. get back to the Kamo river, they see the others crossing Kemosiri’s bridge just as a hippo surges out of the water and begins attacking the party. It smashes the bridge in two. This attracts the attention of two Mujina guarding the nearby bridge and they begin running to the scene. Kontonshin attacks the hippo with her sword, and others cast spells harming it. Reitaro tries casting spells, but in his injured state, fails repeatedly. He accidentally creates a paradox causing a lightning storm to begin forming in the area.
Tenzin, Mori and Sa-an cross the bridge that the Mujina have abandoned. The Mujina attack Kontonshin and although Kemosiri warps their ephemeral weapons, the first Mujina grabs Kontonshin, and the second uses its faceless maw to swallow her to absorb her identity and memories. Thousands of maggots flow in and out of every orifice. Kontonshin fights the invading maggots keeping her mouth and nose closed even under the onslaught. Kemosiri trips the Mujina swallowing Kontonshin. Kontonshin flails wildly trying to hit either Mujina with her sword. Finally, Tenzin, Mori and Sa-an catch up and dispatch the Mujina.
The group, finally all together, spot a towering nuclear spirit rising over the horizon above Higashiyama. They head towards their Sanctum to avoid the giant spirit and the lightning storm that is slowly descending upon them. They get to their sanctum to find it burnt to the ground. They also spot many tiny Nezumi chittering within the ruins.
To be continued…
Next: The Shadow, part 3
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
(RC) The Shadow - Ch. 6
Summary: Trapped in Kyoto’s Shadow, each mage faces his own challenge. Mori must escape a seemingly empty room. Tenzin finds a trapped nine-tailed fox spirit. Kemosiri, Kontonshin and Reitaro must fight their way across Kyoto’s horrific landscape.
Recap:
Kemosiri, Kontonshin and Reitaro are in a glade. They look around and find Cherry trees (sakura) that have had their branches cut down to bare stumps. On each of the stumps, artificial cherry tree branches have been transplanted and are “growing” out of them. Each artificial branch has many silk cherry blossoms blooming on them. Kontonshin sees some grass spirits – small clumps of grass with sharp teeth. Reitaro “feeds” them by channelling mana to them.
They all see the lights of Kyoto in the distance and they decide to go to travel back to their sanctum. Kemosiri takes a clump of grass growing in the glade and uses Death magic to sculpt the grass into a hardened ephemeral katana for Kontonshin. It is green and rough and cannot be mistaken for a real Katana, but it will do for now. The group begins the long trek toward their sanctum located in Higashiyama-ku ward in Kyoto.
Mori awakens to find himself in a bare room. The room contains four windows and a door. Through one window he sees a snow covered garden. Through the next window, he sees another garden with wild cherry blossoms growing. In the next window he sees another garden at night with fireflies. Through the final window he sees another garden with multi-coloured maple trees. The door is on this wall beside the window. Mori finds the door locked. He tries physically forcing the door open but the door does not budge. He uses magic to weaken the door, but the door remains resilient. Try as he might, Mori cannot open it.
Tenzin finds himself in an alley located in Nakagyo-ku Ward of Central Kyoto. He sees a spotlight turning atop Kyoto Tower. He sees tiny flower spirit round the corner towards him. Before he can speak to it, a Flaming Red Samurai incinerates it. Tenzin shrinks into the shadows and lets the column of Samurai pass.
Kemosiri, Kontonshin and Reitaro enter Kyoto. The buildings, while familiar, appear slightly different. The concrete and metal slabs that make up most of Kyoto’s skyline, appear to have been built over the ruins of more traditional Japanese buildings. Remnants of those wood and paper structures seep out of the foundation of their newer replacements.
Once Kemosiri and the others enter Kyoto, metallic tentacles begin to appear from the building foundations. At the tips of the tentacles, an electronic eye opens up and emits a high-pitched squeal. The spotlight atop Kyoto Tower falls directly on the group. Two spear-wielding Mujina (see Ch 3) round the corner and begin to bear down on the group.
Tenzin decides to leave his shadowy hiding place and begins skulking through Kyoto’s alleyways when he spies a furry white spirit in the shadows. It identifies itself as Tamano, a white fox spirit with nine tails caught in a steel leghold trap. Tamano says that the Daimyo will soon come for her if he does not free her. Tenzin uses magic to free Tamano. Tamano tells Tenzin she will lead him through the back alleys of Kyoto to his sanctum.
Mori is still trying to find a way through the door. Suddenly, he hears a voice behind him saying “Nani iamas ka?” Mori turns to see a young girl in a jade green kimono. The girl repeats her question. Mori tries to speak with her in English, but she continues to repeat her question.
Kemosiri, Kontonshin and Reitaro battle with the two Mujina. Reitaro uses Prime Arcana to hurl balls of pure Prime at them while Kontonshin uses her ephemeral katana to fend them off. Kemosiri hobbles about trying to distract the Mujina with shadows. When Kontonshin dispatches the second Mujina, the three regroup at the outskirts of Kyoto and discuss how they are going to get to their chantry. They begin hearing a chittering low to the ground. Kontonshin spots two small mice hiding in a tuft of grass. They identify themselves as Nezumi. The Nezumi claim that they can take the group to their sanctum through Kyoto’s underground. The group agrees to follow the two small Nezumi.
Tamano continues to lead Tenzin through the back alleys of Kyoto. Soon, they end up in Pontocho. The buildings in Pontocho are older traditional two storey wooden structures similar to their sanctum. Tenzin spots a geisha exiting a building. The geisha turns away from Tenzin and quickly scampers down the street. Tenzin tries to follow it, but Tamano warns him against pursuing them. They are dangerous.
Mori is becoming frustrated at his inability to open the door, and to communicate with the little girl in the green kimono who continues to repeat the question “Nani iamas ka?” Suddenly, a man in a gleaming green kimono embroidered with a golden dragon, appears at the centre of the room. He tells Mori that he must answer Isora’s question. Mori explains to him that he does not understand the question. The man tells Mori to hurry up and answer before it is too late. The door then shifts from beside the autumn window to beside the winter window.
Kemosiri and the others continue to follow the four Nezumi to the entrance of Takeda Station at the southern end of the Karasuma Subway Line. When they go down, more Nezumi greet them and lead them through the thin train tunnels. Some parts of the tunnel have alcoves that the group can hide in if a train comes by.
The situation has stymied Mori. The man in the dragon kimono tells Mori he can grant him the gift of the Japanese language. Mori agrees to take it. The man snaps his fingers and Mori sees a light above him. It infuses his body. Almost instantly, Mori understands. He understands the language and the cultural nuances that come with the language. Mori understands Isora’s question – “What is the word?”, and replies with “Dozo akete kudasai” (please open the door). Isora opens the door and before Mori enters, gives him a large blue jewel.
As Tenzin continues to follow Tamano, he finds himself along Kamo river. To get to the sanctum, Tenzin knows he has to cross one of the many bridges over the Kamo River. Once across the Kamo river, he will be in Higashiyama-ku Ward. Suddenly, the Kamo river surges and 3 purple hippos with metallic tentacles sprouting from their enormous mouths emerge and begin scanning the area. Tenzin runs into alleyway but not before a pair of Red Fire Samurai see him and begin following him. Tamano disappears into the shadows and Tenzin bumps into a hiding Sa-an. She has been hiding for a week in the Shadow unable to get back to her sanctum, Kyomizu-dera.
Kontonshin and Reitaro hear a train coming toward them. Everyone in the tunnel find an alcove and shrink their bodies into it as the train passes by. After it passes, the group emerge from the alcoves and continue down the tunnel away from the train. Suddenly, they hear the train screech to a halt and begin hearing giant metallic footsteps behind them. The train spirit lumbers down the tunnel toward them and begins using its giant metallic arms to try and smash the group one by one. Reitaro begins throwing Prime bolts at it, and Kontonshin strikes at it with her ephemeral katana. The 20 Nezumi tell Kemosiri that the next fork in the tunnel is not for another mile down the tunnel.
Mori has appeared in urban Kyoto. As he walks down the abandoned street, he sees metallic tentacles emerge from the building foundations. The spotlight atop Kyoto Tower shines its light near Mori and he hears heavy metallic footsteps approaching his location. To hide, Mori runs into a local Combini (convenience store). He tries exiting out the back but feels compelled to buy something. He “spends” several mana before he is able to sneak out into the back alley.
Tenzin and Sa-an find themselves trapped by the Red Samurai. Sa-an suggests they enter one of the abandoned buildings and she leads Tenzin inside. Together, they descend into the basement of the rickety old building. Metallic tentacles begin probing the building. Sa-an uses magic to slice the tentacles in half causing the hippo to cry out in pain. The Fire Samurai had enough. They light the building on fire trapping Tenzin and Sa-an in the basement of the burning building.
Mori sees fire in distance and begins to approach Kamo river via alleyways. He sees the fire samurai setting the fire.
The Train Spirit continues its fight against Kemosiri and friends. It smashes Reitaro against the wall. Reitaro’s body goes limp and falls to the broken ground. Kontonshin strikes the Train spirit with her green katana injuring the spirit. Kemosiri sculpts the ephemera above the train spirit and collapses large chunks of the roof on the spirit burying it in tons of rubble. Kontonshin and Kemosiri grab Reitaro’s grievously injured body and follow the Nezumi (all 30 of them) into a small ante-tunnel before the train spirit can break free of its ephemeral prison.
To be continued…
Next: The Shadow, part 2
Recap:
Kemosiri, Kontonshin and Reitaro are in a glade. They look around and find Cherry trees (sakura) that have had their branches cut down to bare stumps. On each of the stumps, artificial cherry tree branches have been transplanted and are “growing” out of them. Each artificial branch has many silk cherry blossoms blooming on them. Kontonshin sees some grass spirits – small clumps of grass with sharp teeth. Reitaro “feeds” them by channelling mana to them.
They all see the lights of Kyoto in the distance and they decide to go to travel back to their sanctum. Kemosiri takes a clump of grass growing in the glade and uses Death magic to sculpt the grass into a hardened ephemeral katana for Kontonshin. It is green and rough and cannot be mistaken for a real Katana, but it will do for now. The group begins the long trek toward their sanctum located in Higashiyama-ku ward in Kyoto.
Mori awakens to find himself in a bare room. The room contains four windows and a door. Through one window he sees a snow covered garden. Through the next window, he sees another garden with wild cherry blossoms growing. In the next window he sees another garden at night with fireflies. Through the final window he sees another garden with multi-coloured maple trees. The door is on this wall beside the window. Mori finds the door locked. He tries physically forcing the door open but the door does not budge. He uses magic to weaken the door, but the door remains resilient. Try as he might, Mori cannot open it.
Tenzin finds himself in an alley located in Nakagyo-ku Ward of Central Kyoto. He sees a spotlight turning atop Kyoto Tower. He sees tiny flower spirit round the corner towards him. Before he can speak to it, a Flaming Red Samurai incinerates it. Tenzin shrinks into the shadows and lets the column of Samurai pass.
Kemosiri, Kontonshin and Reitaro enter Kyoto. The buildings, while familiar, appear slightly different. The concrete and metal slabs that make up most of Kyoto’s skyline, appear to have been built over the ruins of more traditional Japanese buildings. Remnants of those wood and paper structures seep out of the foundation of their newer replacements.
Once Kemosiri and the others enter Kyoto, metallic tentacles begin to appear from the building foundations. At the tips of the tentacles, an electronic eye opens up and emits a high-pitched squeal. The spotlight atop Kyoto Tower falls directly on the group. Two spear-wielding Mujina (see Ch 3) round the corner and begin to bear down on the group.
Tenzin decides to leave his shadowy hiding place and begins skulking through Kyoto’s alleyways when he spies a furry white spirit in the shadows. It identifies itself as Tamano, a white fox spirit with nine tails caught in a steel leghold trap. Tamano says that the Daimyo will soon come for her if he does not free her. Tenzin uses magic to free Tamano. Tamano tells Tenzin she will lead him through the back alleys of Kyoto to his sanctum.
Mori is still trying to find a way through the door. Suddenly, he hears a voice behind him saying “Nani iamas ka?” Mori turns to see a young girl in a jade green kimono. The girl repeats her question. Mori tries to speak with her in English, but she continues to repeat her question.
Kemosiri, Kontonshin and Reitaro battle with the two Mujina. Reitaro uses Prime Arcana to hurl balls of pure Prime at them while Kontonshin uses her ephemeral katana to fend them off. Kemosiri hobbles about trying to distract the Mujina with shadows. When Kontonshin dispatches the second Mujina, the three regroup at the outskirts of Kyoto and discuss how they are going to get to their chantry. They begin hearing a chittering low to the ground. Kontonshin spots two small mice hiding in a tuft of grass. They identify themselves as Nezumi. The Nezumi claim that they can take the group to their sanctum through Kyoto’s underground. The group agrees to follow the two small Nezumi.
Tamano continues to lead Tenzin through the back alleys of Kyoto. Soon, they end up in Pontocho. The buildings in Pontocho are older traditional two storey wooden structures similar to their sanctum. Tenzin spots a geisha exiting a building. The geisha turns away from Tenzin and quickly scampers down the street. Tenzin tries to follow it, but Tamano warns him against pursuing them. They are dangerous.
Mori is becoming frustrated at his inability to open the door, and to communicate with the little girl in the green kimono who continues to repeat the question “Nani iamas ka?” Suddenly, a man in a gleaming green kimono embroidered with a golden dragon, appears at the centre of the room. He tells Mori that he must answer Isora’s question. Mori explains to him that he does not understand the question. The man tells Mori to hurry up and answer before it is too late. The door then shifts from beside the autumn window to beside the winter window.
Kemosiri and the others continue to follow the four Nezumi to the entrance of Takeda Station at the southern end of the Karasuma Subway Line. When they go down, more Nezumi greet them and lead them through the thin train tunnels. Some parts of the tunnel have alcoves that the group can hide in if a train comes by.
The situation has stymied Mori. The man in the dragon kimono tells Mori he can grant him the gift of the Japanese language. Mori agrees to take it. The man snaps his fingers and Mori sees a light above him. It infuses his body. Almost instantly, Mori understands. He understands the language and the cultural nuances that come with the language. Mori understands Isora’s question – “What is the word?”, and replies with “Dozo akete kudasai” (please open the door). Isora opens the door and before Mori enters, gives him a large blue jewel.
As Tenzin continues to follow Tamano, he finds himself along Kamo river. To get to the sanctum, Tenzin knows he has to cross one of the many bridges over the Kamo River. Once across the Kamo river, he will be in Higashiyama-ku Ward. Suddenly, the Kamo river surges and 3 purple hippos with metallic tentacles sprouting from their enormous mouths emerge and begin scanning the area. Tenzin runs into alleyway but not before a pair of Red Fire Samurai see him and begin following him. Tamano disappears into the shadows and Tenzin bumps into a hiding Sa-an. She has been hiding for a week in the Shadow unable to get back to her sanctum, Kyomizu-dera.
Kontonshin and Reitaro hear a train coming toward them. Everyone in the tunnel find an alcove and shrink their bodies into it as the train passes by. After it passes, the group emerge from the alcoves and continue down the tunnel away from the train. Suddenly, they hear the train screech to a halt and begin hearing giant metallic footsteps behind them. The train spirit lumbers down the tunnel toward them and begins using its giant metallic arms to try and smash the group one by one. Reitaro begins throwing Prime bolts at it, and Kontonshin strikes at it with her ephemeral katana. The 20 Nezumi tell Kemosiri that the next fork in the tunnel is not for another mile down the tunnel.
Mori has appeared in urban Kyoto. As he walks down the abandoned street, he sees metallic tentacles emerge from the building foundations. The spotlight atop Kyoto Tower shines its light near Mori and he hears heavy metallic footsteps approaching his location. To hide, Mori runs into a local Combini (convenience store). He tries exiting out the back but feels compelled to buy something. He “spends” several mana before he is able to sneak out into the back alley.
Tenzin and Sa-an find themselves trapped by the Red Samurai. Sa-an suggests they enter one of the abandoned buildings and she leads Tenzin inside. Together, they descend into the basement of the rickety old building. Metallic tentacles begin probing the building. Sa-an uses magic to slice the tentacles in half causing the hippo to cry out in pain. The Fire Samurai had enough. They light the building on fire trapping Tenzin and Sa-an in the basement of the burning building.
Mori sees fire in distance and begins to approach Kamo river via alleyways. He sees the fire samurai setting the fire.
The Train Spirit continues its fight against Kemosiri and friends. It smashes Reitaro against the wall. Reitaro’s body goes limp and falls to the broken ground. Kontonshin strikes the Train spirit with her green katana injuring the spirit. Kemosiri sculpts the ephemera above the train spirit and collapses large chunks of the roof on the spirit burying it in tons of rubble. Kontonshin and Kemosiri grab Reitaro’s grievously injured body and follow the Nezumi (all 30 of them) into a small ante-tunnel before the train spirit can break free of its ephemeral prison.
To be continued…
Next: The Shadow, part 2
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Memory of the City
Please welcome our latest RPG Blog, Memory of the City.
This Blog will cover a campaign taking place in the world of A/State. A/State is an RPG by Contested Ground Studios in the UK. The setting is a unique blend of dystopian future and Dickensian elements. The action is set entirely in a place known only as "The City".
However, instead of using the RPG system provided by Contested Ground, the GM will be using the World of Darkness rules.
This should be an interesting campaign to watch.
This Blog will cover a campaign taking place in the world of A/State. A/State is an RPG by Contested Ground Studios in the UK. The setting is a unique blend of dystopian future and Dickensian elements. The action is set entirely in a place known only as "The City".
However, instead of using the RPG system provided by Contested Ground, the GM will be using the World of Darkness rules.
This should be an interesting campaign to watch.
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
(RC) Hashi no Kochou (Butterfly Bridge) - Ch. 5
Sorry for the late update.
To make reading these entries easier, I have put “Summaries” at the beginning of each RC Chapter entry, followed by the long Recap.
Summary: The Cabal is petitioned by the Kyoto Consilium to search for a missing Mage. During their search, they find an abandoned Chantry, and wind up transported into Kyoto’s Shadow.
Recap:
Kontonshin meets up with Kaze at Kyoto Station. They meet at a restaurant and although autumn lurks outside, an artificial cherry blossom light show fills the room with white and pink light. Kontonshin puts up her Mage Sight and now detects Kaze as a Mage. Kaze convinces her to a viewing of the sword. He will be in touch. As Kontonshin leaves, she has a feeling that someone is following her. She hops on the bullet train and takes a short trip to Osaka before returning home.
Meanwhile, back at the Chantry, Akio Ogawa mentions that a few people have taken an interest in the hospital incident (Chapter 4). The Cabal had left their calling cards there and Ogawa had received a couple of calls from Inspector Imada and others interested in what happened.
Cabal realizes that they only have a few days left to get some sort of personal object for Ane-san from Raiden.
Kemosiri gets phone call from Ane-san’s assistant, Nakayama. They meet in the public bathhouse across from the Chantry. They make small talk and Nakayama notes that there are a few large gentlemen with tattoos. Nakayama tells Kemosiri says that Ane-san has extended their deal. All the Cabal needs to do is attend the Consilium and all Ane-san will let them know what to do. Kemosiri agrees, but is suspicious. As he leaves, Nakayama comments to Kemosiri “don’t look for the pearls, they might consider it rude.”
The Cabal shows up at the Consilium. The Shogun announces that Sa-an, a member of his cabal, is missing. He places his Provost, Ane-san, in charge of the investigation. She accuses Gyochisa of orchestrating Sa-an’s disappearance and cites their long-standing rivalry as the reason. Raiden protests and demands proof. Ane-san assigns the player Cabal to head up investigation. She assigns them ostensibly because the Cabal is new and in town and theoretically, neutral on these matters. She asks them to start with Gyochisa’s sanctum. A very annoyed Raiden assigns Reitaro to follow them around to make sure they are fair in their assessment.
The Cabal investigate Sa-an’s room first. They find no connections between her and Gyochisa, but find picture of Sa-an and Geisha – Ayame. The Cabal pays Ayame a visit. Ayame is nervous and says Sa-an visited her 1 week earlier and that was last she saw of her. Ayame says she left to meet Jizo at midnight.
The Cabal then visits Gyochisa’s sanctum. They find a small connection with Reitaro and Sa-an. Sa-an had originally awakened in Gyochisa territory. She was supposed to join Gyochisa but she ended up joining Kodoshigisha instead. Reitaro had given her a robe as incentive for her to join (He was secretly in love with her, but she spurned his advances – so she left).
The Cabal then visits Jizo. Reitaro continues to follow them. Jizo had left the Consilium meeting and had returned to his sanctum. He admits that Sa-an and him were supposed to meet near ruins of an old castle. He waited for an hour for her before leaving.
The Cabal and Reitaro then go to the site of the ruined castle. They had been here before (Chapter 2) when they originally met the Shadow Samurai. Kemosiri uses Mage Sight and sees a door in Twilight. He casts Ghost Gate. The Cabal enters Twilight and they open the door. The Cabal finds a stairwell going down and they enter.
What they find is a weakly warded sanctum with five-year old magazines and Atlantean sigils on the walls. They also see several colourful butterflies flitting about. They see two other exits from the main chamber – one leading to places unknown, the other leading to a bridge over what seems like an endless abyss. The bridge leads to a solid rock wall. Kemosiri tries finding a secret entrance, but finds none.
Kemosiri then summons a ghost, and the Shadow Samurai he had met previously (in Chapter 2) greets him. The Shadow Samurai tells the Cabal that those who were here have long left.
Suddenly, the Cabal detects supernatural activity with their Unseen Senses. Someone is coming down the stairs. The mage attacks the Cabal, and they counter the spells he throws at them and Reitaro throws a spell that collapses part of the wall near the entrance.
Meanwhile, the Shadow Samurai opens a magic portal. Kemosiri suddenly realizes he is dealing with a Ghost Mage. Before any of the Cabal can do anything, they are all drawn across the bridge into the portal. Only Mori Momento seemingly escapes the portal, but falls over the bridge and drops into the Abyss.
Kemosiri, Kontonshin and Reitaro wake up and find themselves in a forest glade in Kyoto’s Shadow Realm…
To be continued…
Next: The Shadow - Ch 6
To make reading these entries easier, I have put “Summaries” at the beginning of each RC Chapter entry, followed by the long Recap.
Summary: The Cabal is petitioned by the Kyoto Consilium to search for a missing Mage. During their search, they find an abandoned Chantry, and wind up transported into Kyoto’s Shadow.
Recap:
Kontonshin meets up with Kaze at Kyoto Station. They meet at a restaurant and although autumn lurks outside, an artificial cherry blossom light show fills the room with white and pink light. Kontonshin puts up her Mage Sight and now detects Kaze as a Mage. Kaze convinces her to a viewing of the sword. He will be in touch. As Kontonshin leaves, she has a feeling that someone is following her. She hops on the bullet train and takes a short trip to Osaka before returning home.
Meanwhile, back at the Chantry, Akio Ogawa mentions that a few people have taken an interest in the hospital incident (Chapter 4). The Cabal had left their calling cards there and Ogawa had received a couple of calls from Inspector Imada and others interested in what happened.
Cabal realizes that they only have a few days left to get some sort of personal object for Ane-san from Raiden.
Kemosiri gets phone call from Ane-san’s assistant, Nakayama. They meet in the public bathhouse across from the Chantry. They make small talk and Nakayama notes that there are a few large gentlemen with tattoos. Nakayama tells Kemosiri says that Ane-san has extended their deal. All the Cabal needs to do is attend the Consilium and all Ane-san will let them know what to do. Kemosiri agrees, but is suspicious. As he leaves, Nakayama comments to Kemosiri “don’t look for the pearls, they might consider it rude.”
The Cabal shows up at the Consilium. The Shogun announces that Sa-an, a member of his cabal, is missing. He places his Provost, Ane-san, in charge of the investigation. She accuses Gyochisa of orchestrating Sa-an’s disappearance and cites their long-standing rivalry as the reason. Raiden protests and demands proof. Ane-san assigns the player Cabal to head up investigation. She assigns them ostensibly because the Cabal is new and in town and theoretically, neutral on these matters. She asks them to start with Gyochisa’s sanctum. A very annoyed Raiden assigns Reitaro to follow them around to make sure they are fair in their assessment.
The Cabal investigate Sa-an’s room first. They find no connections between her and Gyochisa, but find picture of Sa-an and Geisha – Ayame. The Cabal pays Ayame a visit. Ayame is nervous and says Sa-an visited her 1 week earlier and that was last she saw of her. Ayame says she left to meet Jizo at midnight.
The Cabal then visits Gyochisa’s sanctum. They find a small connection with Reitaro and Sa-an. Sa-an had originally awakened in Gyochisa territory. She was supposed to join Gyochisa but she ended up joining Kodoshigisha instead. Reitaro had given her a robe as incentive for her to join (He was secretly in love with her, but she spurned his advances – so she left).
The Cabal then visits Jizo. Reitaro continues to follow them. Jizo had left the Consilium meeting and had returned to his sanctum. He admits that Sa-an and him were supposed to meet near ruins of an old castle. He waited for an hour for her before leaving.
The Cabal and Reitaro then go to the site of the ruined castle. They had been here before (Chapter 2) when they originally met the Shadow Samurai. Kemosiri uses Mage Sight and sees a door in Twilight. He casts Ghost Gate. The Cabal enters Twilight and they open the door. The Cabal finds a stairwell going down and they enter.
What they find is a weakly warded sanctum with five-year old magazines and Atlantean sigils on the walls. They also see several colourful butterflies flitting about. They see two other exits from the main chamber – one leading to places unknown, the other leading to a bridge over what seems like an endless abyss. The bridge leads to a solid rock wall. Kemosiri tries finding a secret entrance, but finds none.
Kemosiri then summons a ghost, and the Shadow Samurai he had met previously (in Chapter 2) greets him. The Shadow Samurai tells the Cabal that those who were here have long left.
Suddenly, the Cabal detects supernatural activity with their Unseen Senses. Someone is coming down the stairs. The mage attacks the Cabal, and they counter the spells he throws at them and Reitaro throws a spell that collapses part of the wall near the entrance.
Meanwhile, the Shadow Samurai opens a magic portal. Kemosiri suddenly realizes he is dealing with a Ghost Mage. Before any of the Cabal can do anything, they are all drawn across the bridge into the portal. Only Mori Momento seemingly escapes the portal, but falls over the bridge and drops into the Abyss.
Kemosiri, Kontonshin and Reitaro wake up and find themselves in a forest glade in Kyoto’s Shadow Realm…
To be continued…
Next: The Shadow - Ch 6
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Treasure Tables Weblog
Need advice as a GM? Try Treasure Tables. This Weblog has been around for a while and provides a good resource for GM's. Give it a whirl.
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