Maurice walks one of his regular rounds in the Linköping Cathedral to watch the church and ensure nothing gets stolen and that noone hides in any of the many nooks and corners of the big basilica church. The lazy guard from Securitas can't be trusted. He just checks that the floor still is there and then goes to the specified marker he has to check into and then leaves. Anything could be stolen right under his nose. As he turns around Maurice notices that the small always closed and locked door behind the priest's pulpit is open and of course the Securitas guard didn't notice (or didn't care). Maurice goes there to look and there he sees someone disappearing into some room or tunnel. Instinctively Maurice raises the sweeper to defend himself but whatever it was it has disappeared into something that looks like some sort of catacomb. It looks a little like a catacomb the appeared after a grenade bombardment during the first world war. Maurice wonder wether it's the germans that are up to something again. The swedes have always been a little meak regarding the germans and that might explain why the swedish guard didn't bother. He might even be in alliance with them.
He could close the door and block it but that's no long term solution and the key is on the other side of the door, that Maurice knows for sure. With his flashlight on and raised he goes into the tunnel with the sweeper ready in his other hand, just in case he needs to defend himself or upperhand the suspects. The tunnel is low and goes out of the church and into the park outside the church (although there is no such tunnel in the park. There is a clear feeling of something lurking, a little like if he would have entered the cupboard after dark when he was a child. This part of the church Maurice have never seen...
''Merde'', Maurcie says quietly. There seems to be no other option than to get to the bottom of this, where do this tunnel go and who is using it?
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Sandra's intro, c3s1a
Sandra only had a few details left to fix on the big stage decoration work she had gotten the task to do. A rock star, Vincent Warmer, had turned to White architect and design with a quite big work with lots of props and backdrops. To be honest White wasn't that interested but there were a lot of money in it and they had Sandra, their intern and extra worker (by the hour) on which they could dump such a work. Sandra though that it was quite an interesting job although it was the opposite of both the usual works and the fluffy pink things she sometimes wished she could design. When she had read the instructions and even found a set list with lyrics for the show she had realised that there was more depth to this rock show than many other. There were an actually story going on during the show. The show started with the rock star playing the role of his confused father lying on the psychiatrist's couch and talking about his life. This then melds into being about his son, or is it a daught, or son or... A clever play with the rock star's appearance with long hair and gender bending clothes and also a nick name he got long ago that's actaully a woman's name. In the beginning he also got a lot of press about whether he was a boy or girl or homo- or heterosexual. The boy's life played out in certain moments or situations with the help of the songs leads to a nightmarish experience where he almost get caught in a nightmare run by ''The Curator''. He get's out of it but still in grown up years now and then have these nightmare and one finla nightmare leads to his death. This Sandra had got a grip on since she actually read what the rock star wanted to do. Her superiors hadn't though since they when they left today left her ''some notes on bettering the scene work''. The corrections are along the lines of ''I haven't looked at your final drawings but...'' and apparently they haven't showed it to the rock star so it's not even misinterpreted via her boss. They have just made stupid comments on how they think it should be. Sandra knows that if she does this well it might be a big step towards getting known. The rock star is well known and if she could please him he might mention her or his other art people might notice her. Sandra wants to scream in frustration.
Ooops, what happened. That's the stage. In full 1:1 scale in the office, or rather the office have partly moved and expanded to give room for the stage with full scenery. Sandra jumps up on the stage to better see and looks for ways to combine her superiors stupid ideas with what the rock star wants.
''Yes, it was here it happened'' somebody says outside the door. Sandra gets slightly irritated at the abruption but knowing that outside the office is the stairs to several floors of apartments as well as shops at street level she ignores it and studies the stage props further. Something scratches on the door, not really like an animal, more like if somebody scratched with a knife or dagger. Sandra looks in the direction of the door and again turns to her work. Somebody tries the handle at the door. ''Bah'', Sandra thinks, ''Don't they even know which door goes to their apartment?!?''. As she again turns to her work the whole door shakes as somebody pulls it really hard. Sandra stomps to the door, ready to shout at the stupid at the other side of the door. She throws the door open and falls silent.
Outside the door stands two men, or what appears to be some kind of men and something like a dog. The two men have trenchcoats, fedoras and nice shoes and look like they popped out of the early twentieth century but instead of heads they have a board pin with the point pointing at Sandra and the fedoras hovering above the pin. The dog almost looks like a dog but has a needle for head and the needle is attached to a sewing thread, although both needle and thread is much thicker than normal, and the sewing thread goes into the dog and it's spine. It's obviously well aware of her. She slams the door shut and locks it.
Sandra can't believe what she saw, must be a side effect of too much caffeine and some speed to get everything done. Her thesis is in the finishing as well as this big job. She returns to the stage that magically appeared and her brain just forget what she saw and that the stage really shouldn't be there. She gets reminded when the door shakes brutally, like somebody threw themselves on it. Then everything falls silent. Something clicks over by the door. Sandra starts to walk over there but hesitates halfway there. Did that sound like somebody's picking the lock? She runs over to the door and grabs the lock handle. ''Go Away! I know you're out there!'' she shouts. This is getting spooky. Sandra looks for her smartphone and runs to get it. As she gets it she hear somebody run and throw themself at the door. She runs to the door and holds as she calls 112 (911 in Sweden) but misses the numbers as the door shakes again and goes up and hits her. She runs into the middle of the office looking for the doors to other rooms that aren't there in an open office space. The only place to hide is the over-dimensioned toy box at the magic stage. Something comes running on four paws. She jumps up on the stage to hide there. The dog runs past under the stage floor. ''There she is!'' somebody shouts as the dog turns around at the other end of the office and the two men enter the room. Too late to hide in the box. Sandra looks at the stage exits and wonders where they go and decides to try to instead feint the men and run out of the office (Sandra's player collects her dice; discipline, exhaustion, madness talent (redesign) and wins with Discipline). The office slightly changes and the men and the dog is slightly further away and close to Sandra is another door through wich she runs out. She almost falls down the stairs. She throws shut the doors behind her which several times stops the men and the dog (Discipline is dominant) and gives her some extra distance between them and her. She comes out on the street looking desparately for a bus or cab. No bus right now but it is late by Trädgårdstorget so a cab is hanging around looking for people leaving for home. She jumps into the taxi without noticing that the green light for ''free'' turns on after she starts to approach it.
Ooops, what happened. That's the stage. In full 1:1 scale in the office, or rather the office have partly moved and expanded to give room for the stage with full scenery. Sandra jumps up on the stage to better see and looks for ways to combine her superiors stupid ideas with what the rock star wants.
''Yes, it was here it happened'' somebody says outside the door. Sandra gets slightly irritated at the abruption but knowing that outside the office is the stairs to several floors of apartments as well as shops at street level she ignores it and studies the stage props further. Something scratches on the door, not really like an animal, more like if somebody scratched with a knife or dagger. Sandra looks in the direction of the door and again turns to her work. Somebody tries the handle at the door. ''Bah'', Sandra thinks, ''Don't they even know which door goes to their apartment?!?''. As she again turns to her work the whole door shakes as somebody pulls it really hard. Sandra stomps to the door, ready to shout at the stupid at the other side of the door. She throws the door open and falls silent.
Outside the door stands two men, or what appears to be some kind of men and something like a dog. The two men have trenchcoats, fedoras and nice shoes and look like they popped out of the early twentieth century but instead of heads they have a board pin with the point pointing at Sandra and the fedoras hovering above the pin. The dog almost looks like a dog but has a needle for head and the needle is attached to a sewing thread, although both needle and thread is much thicker than normal, and the sewing thread goes into the dog and it's spine. It's obviously well aware of her. She slams the door shut and locks it.
Sandra can't believe what she saw, must be a side effect of too much caffeine and some speed to get everything done. Her thesis is in the finishing as well as this big job. She returns to the stage that magically appeared and her brain just forget what she saw and that the stage really shouldn't be there. She gets reminded when the door shakes brutally, like somebody threw themselves on it. Then everything falls silent. Something clicks over by the door. Sandra starts to walk over there but hesitates halfway there. Did that sound like somebody's picking the lock? She runs over to the door and grabs the lock handle. ''Go Away! I know you're out there!'' she shouts. This is getting spooky. Sandra looks for her smartphone and runs to get it. As she gets it she hear somebody run and throw themself at the door. She runs to the door and holds as she calls 112 (911 in Sweden) but misses the numbers as the door shakes again and goes up and hits her. She runs into the middle of the office looking for the doors to other rooms that aren't there in an open office space. The only place to hide is the over-dimensioned toy box at the magic stage. Something comes running on four paws. She jumps up on the stage to hide there. The dog runs past under the stage floor. ''There she is!'' somebody shouts as the dog turns around at the other end of the office and the two men enter the room. Too late to hide in the box. Sandra looks at the stage exits and wonders where they go and decides to try to instead feint the men and run out of the office (Sandra's player collects her dice; discipline, exhaustion, madness talent (redesign) and wins with Discipline). The office slightly changes and the men and the dog is slightly further away and close to Sandra is another door through wich she runs out. She almost falls down the stairs. She throws shut the doors behind her which several times stops the men and the dog (Discipline is dominant) and gives her some extra distance between them and her. She comes out on the street looking desparately for a bus or cab. No bus right now but it is late by Trädgårdstorget so a cab is hanging around looking for people leaving for home. She jumps into the taxi without noticing that the green light for ''free'' turns on after she starts to approach it.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Don't Rest Your Head Sandra
My name is Sandra Björk and I'm a architect/design student at Linköping University and assistent at White architectural firm.
What's been keeping me awake:
The work on my thesis and much extra work at White.
What just happened to me:
Very frustrated over the return of a perfectly well done job exactlu after specifications, the drawings and blue prints just turned 3D.
What's on the surface:
Strict and organised, prosperous and ambitious career woman, always wear blouse and suit.
What lies beneath:
Classic inferiority complex and a whish for being noticed. Secretly longing for soft designs like teddy bears and other stuffed animals.
What's my path:
Finish my thesis, get a prestigious work and design a project that gives me a name in my work field.
Dicipline: 3
Current exhuastion: 0
Permanent madness: 0
Responses; 1 fight, 2 flight
Exhaustion talent:
Extremely convincing
Madness talent:
Can redisgn my surroundings; slight, much or bizarrely
What's been keeping me awake:
The work on my thesis and much extra work at White.
What just happened to me:
Very frustrated over the return of a perfectly well done job exactlu after specifications, the drawings and blue prints just turned 3D.
What's on the surface:
Strict and organised, prosperous and ambitious career woman, always wear blouse and suit.
What lies beneath:
Classic inferiority complex and a whish for being noticed. Secretly longing for soft designs like teddy bears and other stuffed animals.
What's my path:
Finish my thesis, get a prestigious work and design a project that gives me a name in my work field.
Dicipline: 3
Current exhuastion: 0
Permanent madness: 0
Responses; 1 fight, 2 flight
Exhaustion talent:
Extremely convincing
Madness talent:
Can redisgn my surroundings; slight, much or bizarrely
Don't Rest Your Head Yurev
My name is Yurev Churenkov and I'm postgraduate in mathematics.
What's been keeping me awake:
Fermat's great theorem and the monsters eating it.
What just happened to me:
Witnessed the monsters yearly amusement hunt of freshmen in culvert
below Linköping University. Freshmen never appearing in the rolls of
the university or ever seen after, probably lured there by the
monsters.
What's on the surface:
A harsh russian with cropped hair, always wearing cargo pants and
hoodie. He seldom bothers about other people's problems.
What lies beneath:
A fear of taking on something and failing. Whishing for appreciations
for his doings no matter the result.
What's my path:
To kill the monsters eating Fermat's great theorem, repair the damaged
parts and show the genius of Fermat for the world to see and enjy in
it's full glory.
Discipline: 3
Current Exhaustion: 0
Permanent madness: 0
Responses: 1 fight, 2 flight
Exhaustion talent:
Being able to grasp most complex mathematical systems.
Madness talent:
Manipulate distances; first level is within what could be
miscalculations, second level is more and hard to accept, third level
is obviously impossible - close to teleporting.
What's been keeping me awake:
Fermat's great theorem and the monsters eating it.
What just happened to me:
Witnessed the monsters yearly amusement hunt of freshmen in culvert
below Linköping University. Freshmen never appearing in the rolls of
the university or ever seen after, probably lured there by the
monsters.
What's on the surface:
A harsh russian with cropped hair, always wearing cargo pants and
hoodie. He seldom bothers about other people's problems.
What lies beneath:
A fear of taking on something and failing. Whishing for appreciations
for his doings no matter the result.
What's my path:
To kill the monsters eating Fermat's great theorem, repair the damaged
parts and show the genius of Fermat for the world to see and enjy in
it's full glory.
Discipline: 3
Current Exhaustion: 0
Permanent madness: 0
Responses: 1 fight, 2 flight
Exhaustion talent:
Being able to grasp most complex mathematical systems.
Madness talent:
Manipulate distances; first level is within what could be
miscalculations, second level is more and hard to accept, third level
is obviously impossible - close to teleporting.
Don't Rest Your Head Erik
My name is Erik Westergren and I'm a night portier at [TBD]
What's been keeping me awake:
My grandmother (farmor), the only relative I cared much for, fell in coma and lies at the hospital.
What just happened to me:
I saw the police cars outside the hotel and decided that it was time to disappear because of my drug dealings.
What's on the surface:
Slacker, doesn't care, doesn't take it serious.
What lies beneath:
I'm searching for a meaning, finding something worthwhile in my life.
What's my path:
TBD
Discipline: 3
Current exhaustion: 0
Permanent madness: 0
Responses: 1 fight, 2 flight
Exhaustion talent:
During the first minutes or so I read most of what's visable and possible to learn about people I meet.
Madness talent:
Consists of flies similar to the Ants Talent in Don't Lose your Head.
What's been keeping me awake:
My grandmother (farmor), the only relative I cared much for, fell in coma and lies at the hospital.
What just happened to me:
I saw the police cars outside the hotel and decided that it was time to disappear because of my drug dealings.
What's on the surface:
Slacker, doesn't care, doesn't take it serious.
What lies beneath:
I'm searching for a meaning, finding something worthwhile in my life.
What's my path:
TBD
Discipline: 3
Current exhaustion: 0
Permanent madness: 0
Responses: 1 fight, 2 flight
Exhaustion talent:
During the first minutes or so I read most of what's visable and possible to learn about people I meet.
Madness talent:
Consists of flies similar to the Ants Talent in Don't Lose your Head.
Don't Rest Your Head Maurice
My name is Maurice and I'm a janitor at the Linköping Cathedral.
What's been keeping me awake:
The cathedral is filled with nooks and corners where it's possible to hide. Somebody has to guard the church, night and day. Anybody can be a thief.
What just happened to me:
The small door behind the priest's pulpit, the one that has alwys been closed and locked. One day, or was it night, it was open and there I saw Them.
What's on the surface:
Grayed and aging and quite stern. Anybody can be a thief but nice and kindly when the opposite is proofed. Buying coffee and maybe something to go with the the coffee goes straight to his heart.
What lies beneath:
So much older than one would think! Is it the alcohol that preserves? Or the drugs he learned to use in the trenches of Verdun during the first world war?
What's my Path:
The small door behind the priest's pulpit must be closed. It's a pity that the key is somewhere on the other side of the door and that I have never seen it but I will know it when I find it.
Discipline: 3
Current exhaustion: 0
Permanent madness: 0
Respones: 2 Flight, 1 Fight
Exhaustion talent:
Moving at an olympic athlete's level or maybe slightly above.
Madness talent:
Control the weather; first level is within what's reasonable for the season and place, second level is uncommon for the season and third level is whatever is possible for the place but can be out of season.
What's been keeping me awake:
The cathedral is filled with nooks and corners where it's possible to hide. Somebody has to guard the church, night and day. Anybody can be a thief.
What just happened to me:
The small door behind the priest's pulpit, the one that has alwys been closed and locked. One day, or was it night, it was open and there I saw Them.
What's on the surface:
Grayed and aging and quite stern. Anybody can be a thief but nice and kindly when the opposite is proofed. Buying coffee and maybe something to go with the the coffee goes straight to his heart.
What lies beneath:
So much older than one would think! Is it the alcohol that preserves? Or the drugs he learned to use in the trenches of Verdun during the first world war?
What's my Path:
The small door behind the priest's pulpit must be closed. It's a pity that the key is somewhere on the other side of the door and that I have never seen it but I will know it when I find it.
Discipline: 3
Current exhaustion: 0
Permanent madness: 0
Respones: 2 Flight, 1 Fight
Exhaustion talent:
Moving at an olympic athlete's level or maybe slightly above.
Madness talent:
Control the weather; first level is within what's reasonable for the season and place, second level is uncommon for the season and third level is whatever is possible for the place but can be out of season.
Friday, June 1, 2012
Dont Rest Your Head
We have taken a break in the Mouse Guard SPQM campaign for several reason (yes, there's still sessions to blog about and they will come). In the meantime we will try Don't Rest your Head. DRYH is about protagonists that have lived a life with very little or none sleep and suddenly they start to see things. They realise that many of the things from dreams and nightmares are for real. Normal people, slumberers, just don't see them. A slight problem is that now that they are aware of the mightmares they are suddenly more of a target for the nightmares. Usually the protagonists have some interest in the nightmare part of the world while they still must live their normal lives that probably was leaving being normal before they saw the nightmare world and now's just gonna be more crazy.
The rules are quite simple and center around Discipline wich is the potential a protagonist has to do something "the normal way". Now the characters aren't normal so they can tap into other source to do hard or strange stuff, one is pure madness and one is pushing themselves to the brink of what humans can do by exhausting them more than normal people can do. When pushing them selves they have a certain field where they can excel and when tapping into madness they can sometimes exercise a supernatural talent.
The system uses dice pools which are increased when certain talents are used. Different aspects like discipline, madness and exhaustion har different colours on the dice and when a roll is made on checks which aspect is n dominance by compare the different colour sets of dice.
I will try to blog this campaign as well and will start by presenting the protagonists.
The rules are quite simple and center around Discipline wich is the potential a protagonist has to do something "the normal way". Now the characters aren't normal so they can tap into other source to do hard or strange stuff, one is pure madness and one is pushing themselves to the brink of what humans can do by exhausting them more than normal people can do. When pushing them selves they have a certain field where they can excel and when tapping into madness they can sometimes exercise a supernatural talent.
The system uses dice pools which are increased when certain talents are used. Different aspects like discipline, madness and exhaustion har different colours on the dice and when a roll is made on checks which aspect is n dominance by compare the different colour sets of dice.
I will try to blog this campaign as well and will start by presenting the protagonists.
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