Hi,
Going to attempt to post an online journal recording our sessions of TEW. We can only play every four to six weeks but usualy go for a couple of 10-12 hr sessions over a weekend. Comments welcome, hope you enjoy.
I offer my players the chance to buy the odd exp or starting kit with taking Crits, Insanity and Disease cards, so some of the characters may have unusual starting abilities for a scratch gen char.
The Cast:
Frederick Erzhazy von Galantha looked down at Sara, the poor serving girl with the trembling lip standing before him. So his father wished to see him immediately in the study. No doubt something he's upset about. Still, anything is better than dying of boredom in this rural outback manor house, with illeterate uncultured villagers and cows. Its been months since he'd finished his studies in Nuln. Months since any parties, any music or arts. Months since any women to be frank. Yes three years in Nuln had been most excellent fun. Deliberately avoiding any studies that could fit into his fathers plans for the families future. And the memories of his brief relationship with Gerlind Boehm, yes she had some dangerous ideas about how to have fun. Fredericks pulse quickened unbidden at those particular memories.
But to be fair for all his rebellion there was an inevitability of his forced return home after his elder brother Marcus died in the Third Battle for Black Fire Pass two years ago. Morr bless him but Marcus was a bully and a fool, and Frederick did not miss him. His father had placed most of the families future on the rewards of that battle. But with Marius dead and no military minded lord taking the Electoral seat there were no lands for the valour of Fredericks father or brother, the lands of former Solland that were lost eight centuries ago would not be replaced yet. So thats why his sister Theodora was married off to Lord Hindenbergs son Herbart, and by reward the von Galanthas were given stewardship of the village of Volsbach. Now the family future was firmly tied with Frederick.
"Very well Sara, have some tea brought to the study and I will see father at once" Frederick smiled at the timid girl as she curtsied and scurried off.
Twenty minutes later Frederick strolled out of the study. Interesting. An awkward conversation of course, it always was. Father has always despised his choices and struggled to relate to him. Almost as awkward as his attempt to negotiate that bushy moustache with the tea cup, Frederick mused while stroking his own moustache, as thin and sharp as the rapier worn at his belt. So Baron Hindenberg wants us to chase up on one of his agents gone missing in Averhiem. A Vernon Dauchter, with no details on why he was there other than for obtaining luxury consumables. And father wishes me to take on this responsibility as duty to my family. Excellent, back to the big city.
"Good morning Wolmarr, could you saddle my horse please?"
"The roan or the grey my lord?" replied the old coachman.
"The grey Wolmarr, the roan hates the city"
Frederick: Human Dilletante (Gently Born)
ST 3, TO 3, AG 4, INT 3, WP 2, FEL 4;
Action cards; Big City, Nimble Strike, Duellists Strike, Diestro stylee…
Player took two corruption points at start for his extreme sexual experimentation at Uni.
Rat hunkered down by the campfire keeping just outside of the circle of cattle drovers and farmhands. He carefully spooned a small morsel to Spike, his vicious ratting weasel. Spike was his friend. His only friend to be honest. Rat was gonna keep it that way right now. Life was always risky growing up as a street orphan in Kemperbad, but things got much riskier a few weeks ago.
Hiding in the sewers counting the rats he and Spike had snaffled, ready to pretend they came from some merchants warehouse, Rat had hearda sound. A scratchy sound, but quite big. Carefully he poked his head around the corner of the tunnel, and came face to face with the biggest **** rat he'd ever seen. Adrenal fear rushed through him, but as he turned to flee the thing grabbed him and lunged a vicious bite just above Rats left ear scraping skin and hair from his scalp. In a panicked overload he wished the horrible thing away. In a flash of pure darkness it went. Well most of its torso did, Rat briefly saw some entrails caked up the far wall but by that point the urge to flee was well and truly in charge.
Turned out they were under some rich merchants pad, he had some wizard in his service who cried out that he'd detected some fell sorcery. Well no way Rats ending up on some pyre. He'd fled Kemperbad the next night. Recently he'd also discovered when things got hurt or dead near him he got some kind of kick, probably not best to dwell on that too much.
Rat got startled from his thoughts as some sheperdess sat down next to him. Greetings were exchanged. After the stew was done the woman introduced herself as Kat, and asked young Rat to watch her back while she watered the bushes. When out of earshot she let slip she knew who he was, what he was, and assured him that she was no threat. In fact she wanted to help, or try to. Panicked adrenaline flooded Rat again. Should he flee? He stalled this strange woman with more questions. She suprised him by answering much of them. Turns out she was to meet her brother but couldnt, other commitments within this network of hedge wizards and witches. But she told Rat he should try to meet her brother instead, he would be able to help. His name is Konrad, he'll be in Averheim soon. Then she told him to be careful, no sh*t thought Rat, she told him to try and latch on to some wealthy fool. The witch finders and their thugs find it harder to bully the rich and high born.
Yeah cos thats the kinda people who proper like me thought Rat as he stomped back to the warmth of the fire. Kat did not return.
Rat: Human Witch/Rat Catcher (Outcast)
ST 2, TO 3, AG 3, INT 4, WP 4, FEL 3.
Action cards; Doombolt, Sadistic Glee,
Player bought Dark Magic talent at char gen and Permanent Crit Impressive scar.
Rueben von Kasselheim looked into his mug. It was empty. Again. ****. Now he will need to get another. Anything to get back to blessed unconciousness again, to wipe away the memories. **** there it is again. Karl. His twin. He carried the banner for the Averlend Pistolkorps as they tried to ride out to save Marius. Ruebens was unhorsed, and trapped beneath his dying mount. Trapped and forced to watch the carnage. His brother Karl impaled on a greenskin spear, dying while clutching his innardsthrough his mail, screaming. His next closest friend Marcus, felled by a black orc, his skull stoven in with a rusty axe. Marius fell too, but by that point Rueben stopped caring, in fact he hadnt much cared for anything else since.
No that wasnt quite true. His long spell in the shallyan field hospice recuperating included some pleasant time with Lady Clothilde von Alptraum and her cousin Annalise von Alptraum, sweet pretty girls both. But that was temporary, since then he had been discharged, mainly due to an inability to stay sober or out of trouble. His body still hurt too, two years after the battle his leg still carried an infection. Screw it. Wheres the **** bar wench. Where am I? oh yes the Hope and Anchor. Just another fleapit.
"More ale!" he cried to the bar in general. His squire Fezsik rushed to comply.
Rueben: Human Pistollier (Battle Scarred)
ST 4, TO 4, AG 4, INT 2, WP 2, FEL 3.
Action cards; Kick and Bite.
Player took Omens of Doom insanity, Broken Nose crit and Blacklegge disease in exchange for enough cash to buy full plate, pistol and a superior warhorse. Player wished to play a chronicly broken man who survived only by the quality of his horse and armour. He starts play intoxicated as well.
Larson Oswald looked at the city of Averheim as it crested the horizon. His family came from near here, dead now. Madness and suicide. Good thing he was blessed with a razor sharp brain instead. When his mother followed his father in choosing Morrs realm and his inheritance was invested in a college in Nuln they could not have foreseen what Larsons future was to hold. Within a year of arrival he was surviving by translating foreign texts for the weak sighted scholars to earn coins for food. A fat man with gold chains suggested this was not the right college for him, he was right too. Oswalds second year was spent in the Gold College of magick in Altdorf. True he was the scorn and belittled son of a mad philosopher who couldnt come to terms with his own thoughts, but thats rich egotistical students for you. Larson wouldnt say the Gold College was a nice or nurturing place to be, but it was certainly a place to learn. Soon those brats could add jealousy to the list as they saw his raw skill outstrip them. Yes he was a rough diamond, but as the Gold College are all too aware, an uncut diamond is far more worthy than polished glass.
This hard work upbringing, had left its scars though. This Empire needed to change, to grow. It was wasting talent and opportunity with stagnant beaurocracy and class divide, give it time though…
The real eye opener had been the invitation though. A year and a half or so ago, a letter had arrived. It had led him to a meeting with three men. Wizards wearing masks to protect their identity, and false names. A trial of skill and temperement. The judges Guilde Choir, Eminence Grey and Wildfire, the prize entrance to the Order of Unity. Fifteen minutes later he took the name Leatherneck and joined his first meal with the other attendees as well as the judges. So there is a way to influence the growth of human magicks, well thats a start for sure. Larson took some of the teaching notes offered by Eminence and Wildfire and began to diversify.
Now he was on a knew mission, on face he had run out of funds and the Gold Order had requested he take a journey to show the skills to provide more funds for tuition. So very Gold. In reality he was to meet a man known as Midnight Candle who would direct him to a member of the Unity who would not stay in Altdorf, one who has knowledge in the Amber and Jade winds, the only winds that the Unity is lacking any depth of knowledge. Larson was tasked to recieve a package of highly illegal documents to return to the secret vaults under Altdorf for further study. They told him should he get caught, it would be better to die quick than be captured and tortured. The thrill of the challenge set his pulse racing, no he would not be caught. He had grown much in the last year.
Larson turned his head north-east to the Stirland shoreline. Yes, somewhere out there was the house he grew up in. Sold for opportunities to learn. He would make his parents proud.
To Averheim then, to this Sun Society then, where Larsons talent for old languages would likely find favour with the intellectual elite of the city. To adventure..
Larson Oswald: Human Wizards App (Academic)
ST 2, TO 3, AG 2, INT 5, WP 4, FEL 3.
Action cards; Fools Gold, Burning Iron, Doppleganger, Flameblast,
Player took corruption for char gen as part of his illegal studies. He chose to train Spellcraft and Education, leaving magical sight unaquired surprisingly.
GMs notes; I liked the balance of this party, half of them nobles with good influence the other half illegal wizards with huge potential for tricks n abilities. While they are a bit combat light, in a few sessions time that will probably cease to be a concern.