Wargaming and the 'cult of prettiness': Some thoughts and questions

The comment made by John Treadaway as an aside to the review of the Fourth Portable Wargame Compendium that was published in the August issue of MINIATURE WARGAMES really got under my skin ... and what follows are some thoughts about what I think of as the cult of prettiness' in wargaming.

First, some personal history …

I bought my first metal wargame figures (20mm Crimean War infantry and cavalry) from Hinton Hunt in 1968. I painted them with the only model paints that were available to me back then ... Humbrol gloss enamel paint! To be honest, they were pretty awful ... but I still have them although they now live in storage.

My next figures were Miniature Figurine Prussian Napoleonic infantry, and these were painted with Humbrol matt enamel paint ... and were far more presentable (I had developed some skill with a paintbrush by then!). In fact, I am still using them although they have now been given a coat of gloss varnish to protect them from damage.

All these figures had bases that were painted green and the Hinton Hunt figures were glued to balsa wood unit bases. My rules were based on those written by Donald Featherstone (WAR GAMES) and Brigadier Peter Young and Colonel James Lawford (CHARGE!) although over time I did buy other rule books … which were almost universally produced in small batches and sold with simple card covers. If they had illustrations, these card-covered rule books had line drawings – possibly including one on the cover – and diagrams.

The first wargame magazine I bought was MINIATURE WARFARE … and after the first few issues, that had some colour printed on the cover but only ever included monochrome photographs.

The cover of the third issue of MINIATURE WARFARE (April 1968).

It was not until the late Duncan MacFarlane edited and published the first issue of MINIATURE WARGAMES in 1983 that colour photographs became the norm in wargame magazines … and from that day onward, I feel that the invidious 'cult of prettiness' began to creep into the hobby.

The cover of the first issue of MINIATURE WARGAMES (March 1983).

Some people in the hobby seemed very keen to get photographs of their figures and terrain – often on display at shows around the country – published in magazines … and I in no way condemn this as I enjoy seeing other people’s wargame stuff in use. However, over time this appeared to have a deleterious effect on some of the wargames one saw at shows, with more and more seemingly becoming dioramas on which figures occasionally moved. Alongside them were other games that were played on simpler terrain and simple rules, and these often attracted participants rather than spectators.

I well remember attending a major wargame show in London twenty years ago (It was SALUTE!) and overhearing members of the ‘best in show’ judging team say – as they passed the participation game I was running – that my game was all right for a club night, but really wasn’t what they wanted to see at such a prestigious wargame show. The game attracted over thirty players during the course of the day; the ‘best in show’ had no participants as it was classed as a demonstration wargame (i.e. members of the club staging the game were the only people allowed to take part)

I therefore pose the following question … which of these two games generated more fun and enjoyment? I leave the answer up to you, the reader of this blog post.

Now, regular blog readers will know that I follow the BUDGET MODEL RAILWAYS channel on YouTube. Its creator is an ex-wargamer who now builds model railways as cheaply as he can, and several times he has said something about railway modelling that is equally applicable to our hobby. He has identified a trend among some railway modellers to collect locomotives, rolling stock, buildings etc., for a grand project that they plan to undertake when they retire … and that they never manage to achieve. He advocates building and using small layouts – some of which are capable of expansion at a later date – rather than waiting until you’ve got time to build your grand project.

Isn’t there a similar phenomenon in wargaming? How many wargamers plan for years to fight some massive battles using beautifully painted figures on sculpted terrain in their dedicated wargame room … and never actually manage it? It’s a wonderful dream … but that dream can easily become a nightmare that absorbs large amounts of time and money. Wouldn’t it be better for them to spend that time and money fighting smaller wargames and having fun?

There are some wargamers who do achieve their ambition to build up large collections of beautifully painted figures that they can use on wonderful terrain in their wargame room … but I wonder if the 'cult of prettiness' has rather given the impression to many wargamers that this is THE ideal they should be aiming for? If so, is that actually putting some of them off the hobby?

Again, I leave the answers up to you, dear blog reader.

When I look at the list of wargame blogs that I follow, I am struck by several thoughts. Firstly, that the hobby is a wide church and has room for a wide spectrum of wargamers, ranging from people who wargame with superb figures on magnificent terrain to those who use homemade cardboard counters or wooden blocks on a hand-drawn terrain map. Secondly, that a fun but scruffy-looking wargame that uses simple rules will always be preferable to a pretty-looking wargame that is tedious and/or boring to take part in. Thirdly, that some wargamers need to be a bit more realistic in their aspirations and fight wargames that they have the time and finances to achieve and not to aim for the unattainable.

Interestingly, there is one sector of the hobby where I've seen players having lots of fun using small numbers of well-painted figures on excellent terrain ... and in this instance, I'm not referring to those wargamers who are using THE PORTABLE WARGAME, ONE-HOUR WARGAME, or DOMINION OF ... , DE BELLIS ANTIQUITATIS, or  HORDES OF THE THINGS rules!

The wargamers I am thinking about are those who are fighting skirmish-level battles and Fantasy/Science Fiction/Role-Play games. Until recently, I never seriously looked at these sorts of games, but joining a local games club made me reassess my attitude to them ... and I realised that I had – through my ignorance and some degree of historical wargaming snobbery – been misjudging this style of games.

So, has the 'cult of prettiness' gone some way toward creating an ideal within the hobby that is actually counter-productive to its long-term viability ... and is there a significant movement within the hobby that is moderating or ignoring its influence?

Finally, I leave the answer to that question up to my regular blog readers.

The Timeless Traveller: The endgame

Well, the final game session has taken place and our adventure is over! Here is what happened:

The group – less Bumble (the Stormshifter) , who was near the captain – arrived on deck … for the second time just as the High Priestess emerged from the body of the dwarf after an amulet had been pressed into his chest. Neo-Munch (the conjoined Hooded Man and Munch the Songweaver) shouted, ‘Kill the High Priestess! Don’t let her take off!’

Johnny-Baptiste (the Cheat) immediately began to climb one of the masts whilst Ragnar (the Berserker) rushed forward and hit one of the Hooded Men near the High Priestess with his axe. At the same time, Vale (the Shepherd) also moved forward and cast a spell on a Hooded Man and Callistra successfully cast her ‘Hunter’s Marks’ on the High Priestess. She followed this by firing an arrow at the High Priestess … and it found its mark! Mankare (the Shadowmancer) called up one of his shadow spirits just as Bumble changed his form into a wasp so that he could attack the High Priestess. Neo-Munch successfully cast a sleeping spell over several of the Hooded Men next to the High Priestess, but she was able to deflect part of its effect onto Mankare, who fell asleep!

Callistra fires an arrow at the High Priestess ... and wounds her!

The High Priestess shouted out, ‘We have guests! Clear the decks!’ just as she cast her flying spell and began to rise from the deck, reading from the book as she did so. In response, one of the Hooded Men attempted to self-immolate by stabbing himself in the chest with the dagger.

Neo-Munch immediately cast a spell to disrupt the High Priestess’s attempt to fly … and despite her best attempt to deflect the spell, she fell back to the deck and landed safely on her feet. Neo-Munch then took cover behind the mast. Vale cast a spell to summon his spirit dog, and although he was successful, it did influence those that were close to him. Callistra fired two more arrows at the High Priestess and hit her once … just as Ragnar used his axe to injure one of the Hooded Man and the High Priestess. Whilst this was happening, Johnny-Baptiste slid down the mast before throwing her magical dagger at the Hooded Man that Ragnar had attacked and a second Hooded Man who was near the High Priestess. Both were hit, and the first was killed!

Johnny-Baptiste uses his magical dagger to attack the High Priestess and a Hooded Man.

Neo-Munch had managed to revive Mankare, who summoned two more shadow spirits with which to attack the High Priestess just as Bumble flew next to her. She screamed an incantation … and when nothing happened, she cried out, ‘Where is the book?’, just before coming invisible. However, she had forgotten that Callistra had marked her, and although she was no longer visible, Callistra could sense her location in the air above the deck.

The Hooded Man who had attempted to stan himself in the chest tried to crawl towards the High Priestess and another moved towards Mankare’s shadow spirits and cried out. ‘For the Dark Lord,’ before he also stabbed himself in the chest. At the High Priestess’s command, the Hooded man exploded and caused a large hole to appear in the deck … which Vale fell through! Another Hooded Man attempted to attack Callistra, but she was able to avoid his blows by moving backwards.

Neo-Munch used a health potion to heal some of Johnny-Baptiste’s wounds and sent him an invisibility potion, which he took. Meanwhile Vale looked around for ways to extricate himself from the cargo hold he had fallen into and began piling crates together so that he could climb up them to get out. Mankare advanced down the deck and used his ice lance spell on a Hooded Man, causing him serious injuries, including blindness. Ragnar again wielded his axe and killed an already wounded Hooded Man. Callistra fired yet another arrow at the High Priestess and hit her, causing the High Priestess to cry out. ‘How can you see me?’ Johnny-Baptiste moved towards a Hooded Man but when he attacked the man, he lost his invisibility.

Thanks to her 'Hunter's Mark', Callistra was able to fire at - and hit - the invisible High Priestess,

The High Priestess cried out, ‘To me!’ and a Hooded Man moved towards her … and began to melt as she drew on his energy to revive herself. The Hooded Man who had been fighting Johnny-Baptiste lunged forward and wounded him before disengaging.

At the same time, Neo-Munch produced the illusion of a book, which he threw over his shoulder, and the High Priestess tried to grab it before realising that it was not real. She turned all her venom onto Neo-Munch … who teleported himself out of the way. Callistra fired yet another arrow at the High Priestess, wounding her again. Whilst this was taking place, Vale manged to get his spirit dog onto the deck and Mankare moved forward and summoned up two more shadow spirits. Ragnar finished off an already wounded Hooded Man and Bumble attempted to sting the High Priestess. In retaliation, the High Priestess attempted to swat Bumble away and caused a wave of water to come over the ship’s side and engulf Ragnar in a huge water-filled bubble. Vale finally managed to climb up onto the deck, just as he heard someone cry out, ‘Give me the dagger!’.

Ragnar's attempt to break the water bubble spell almost cost him his life!

During the confusion Bumble flew straight at the High Priestess and stung her, causing her to scream out in pain.

Bumble's poisonous sting seriously hurt the High Priestess.

To get into a better position to fire at the High Priestess, Callistra climbed one of the ship’s masts. Deciding that jumping into the sea might break the water bubble spell, Ragnar rushed to the ship’s side and jumped over the bulwark … only to discover that the water bubble floats! He immediately used his axe to attach himself to the side of the ship before it sailed on and left him behind. Neo-Munch attempted to use his lightning spell on the High Priestess … but she turned it back on him. As a result, Neo-Munch and Mankare are wounded, with Neo-Munch become energised with electricity that makes him dangerous to anyone who is nearby. Because he was so close to the High Priestess, Bumble was wounded by the spell and returned to the deck … although as he did so, he realised that the High Priestess was no long invisible! Johnny-Baptiste’s magical dagger and Mankare’s shadow spirits attack a Hooded Man, and both wound him. Mankare then cast a splinter spell on the High Priestess while Vale healed Bumble’s wounds.

The High Priestess cried out, ‘To me!’ for a second time, and a Hooded Man rises from the deck toward her as she moved towards the ship’s controls. She also sends a fireball towards Mankare and Vale’s spirit dog, causing Vale to be turned upside down and to drop his pet chicken! Callistra used the ship’s rigging to swing through the air and was able to seriously wound the High Priestess twice with her dagger.

By using the ship's rigging, Callistra was able to swing down and catch the High Priestess unawares and to stab and seriously wound her.

Neo-Munch now used a spell that causes the High Priestess to fall to the deck again and to cry out, ‘I command you to come now!’ Neo-Munch follows up by casting a shatter spell on the High Priestess … and she is killed by a barrage of icicles.

Neo-Munch's shower of icicles killed the High Priestess, thus ending her reign of terror aboard the ship

When this happens, the last Hooded Man – who had been raised above the deck by the High Priestess – falls to the ground and breaks his neck. Now that the High Priestess was dead, the water bubble around Ragnar dispersed and Johnny-Baptiste helped him to climb back aboard. It also enabled Vale to resurrect the dwarf and Neo-Munch to return to his Munch form.

Whilst the adventurers gathered together on the deck, an unnatural silence surrounded them … and then a brilliant light appeared from the clouds and a tall, ethereal creature wearing armour and armed with a sword descended.

The Herald of the Gods descends to speak with the adventurers.

It looked at them and in a melodious and powerful voice it said, ‘I am the Herald of the Gods. They are grateful for what you have done. Will you all please step forward, and I will answer any questions that you have.’ In reply, the group asked how the wisp tree and its spirits could be release. The Herald replied that the only way was to return it to the forest.

Thinkertop then appeared with many boxes of gold and the Herald stated, ‘Thinkertop was the carrier of the artefacts on our behalf as we cannot directly interfere in mortal affairs.’ He then turned to Thinkertop and told him that, ‘This world now belongs to you.’ … and then the Herald flew upwards and the light suddenly disappeared.

The adventure was now over … and the group were free to look for a new one.

The group contemplate the events of their recent adventure ... and begin thinking about their next one.

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This was a magnificent adventure and I thoroughly enjoyed myself ... and my thanks must go to Paolo (the very innovative Game Master) and the other players, Alicia, Ben, Guy, Jason, Louie, and Sophie.

The Timeless Traveller: This week’s update

This session was expected to be the last … but it wasn't!

As Nordian and his two guards arrived in the main hall, the group noticed that the conjoined Munch (the Songweaver) and Hooded man had begun to act differently now that the amulet had been removed from the Hooded Man’s chest. The group investigated the amulet and discovered that the Hooded Men had a weakness in the presence of radium.

Vale (the Shepherd) communicated subconsciously with the conjoined Munch and Hooded Man and tried to calm the Hooded Man … and Vale’s mind was filled with images of a small house near a stream in a forest. A woman was standing outside the house and smiling at a man who was walking towards her … and then the house and woman was consumed in a fire! The man’s mind descended into darkness, and the image of a ceremony being conducted by the High Priestess replaced that of the burning house and woman. In response to a screamed order from the Priestess, everyone present ripped open their chest and plunged an amulet into the hole … and each of them suddenly felt that they were being granted access to an omnipotent power.

Vale 'sees' the conjoined Hooded Man's memories,.

With this new knowledge, the group decided that they could use their newly-acquired amulet to ambush the High Priestess.

Nordian ordered his men and the servants to assist the people who had been injured during the fighting and to take the worst casualties to the infirmary. He then addressed the group and stressed the fact that the Hooded Men needed to be herded together and eliminated.

In reply, Callistra (the Hunter) told Nordian what had happened and that the group intended to go to the ship’s garden to investigate the tree and the statue, and especially the relationship between the servants and the tree. Nordian then told everyone that the servants were magically linked to the ship via the tree.

Callistra then asked if it was possible for the captain to change the ship’s course so that it would avoid the position of the sunken temple. Nordian agreed that this could be done and sent a loyal guard up to the deck to ask the captain to turn the ship to starboard.

Bumble (the Stormshifter) also agreed to go up on deck – just in case – and after hugging Elandra, he turned into a bee and flew up to the open deck area. As he did this, the rest of the group used the portal to go to the ship’s garden.

Once on deck, Bumble settled near the captain and watched him very reluctantly change the ship’s course in compliance with the message from Nordian that was brought to him by the guard.

When they arrived in the ship’s garden, the group found the tree in the centre of the garden surrounded by small points of light that were flying around it, and close by they could see the statue of the female version of Herne the Hunter.

The wisp tree and the statue of the female version of Herne the Hunter in the ship's garden,.

Using his ability to communicate subconsciously, Vale attempted to influence the conjoined Hooded Man to listen to Munch. He also challenged the conjoined Hooded Man’s belief in the High Priestess … and was met with an admission that his life was no better as an acolyte than he had been before he had become one. To calm and reassure him, Munch agreed to protect him as best he could.

It was generally agreed that the tree had holy magical power, and Johnny-Baptiste (the Cheat) detected that its power could be channelled for good or evil … and that it was currently being used as a conduit for an external power.

Callistra prayed to female statue of Herne the Hunter … and immediately recognised the tree as being a wisp tree, which was the parent of all the spirits of the woods, and was currently being used to create the ship’s servants. As she communicated this to the rest of the group, the ship suddenly lurched!

Watched by Bumble in his bee form, the ship's captain is confronted by the High Priestess and several Hooded Men, two of whom have dragged the dwarf on deck.

On deck, two Hooded Men had appeared through the portal, dragging the dwarf, between them. As they did so, two further Hooded Men appeared next to the captain. Sensing that matters were rapidly developing, Bumble changed back into human form and attempted to turn the ship, causing it to lurch violently. A Hooded Man had tried to prevent Bumble from turning the ship whilst the two with the dwarf attempted force an amulet onto his chest.

This had the immediate effect of causing the High Priestess to appear. As she moved towards the centre of the deck, she began shouting ‘Come forward the willing!’ … and some of the Hooded Men immediately began to self-immolate using the fake dagger.

The group used the portal to go to the open deck, and Ragnar (the Berserker) immediately went berserk and began attacking one of the Hooded Men near the High Priestess. As he did this, Vale cast a spell to protect Callistra as the latter moved towards the High Priestess. Callistra attempted to use her ability to entice the High Priestess, but this proved ineffective and the High Priestess moved towards Vale.

Whilst Ragnar charged forward to attack the Hooded Men surrounding the High Priestess, several tried to immolate themselves, including one who exploded.

The conjoined Hooded Man and Munch teleported to a lantern near to the captain and Bumble to assist them. He cast a spell on the Hooded Man who was next to the captain … but it rebounded and turned the conjoined pair into a squirrel who was obsessed with finding acorns!

Whilst the confused fighting continued, the conjoined Munch and Hooded Man – in squirrel form – found a barrel of acorns,.

Callistra used her ‘hunter’s mark’ on the Hooded Man that Ragnar had wounded. She then killed one of the Hooded Men and attempted to use her ‘hunter’s mark’ on the High Priestess.

Johnny-Baptiste saw an opportunity to get above the fighting by climbing a mast and standing in one of the fighting tops. He threw his knife at the High Priestess and the Hooded Man standing next to her … and missed!

Johnny-Baptiste attempts to throw her knife at the High Priestess from his position in one of the ship's fighting tops,.

Bumble also joined in the attempts to kill the High Priestess. He used a lightning spell to attack her … and succeeded in wounding her! He then resumed his bear form.

The High Priestess suddenly disappeared, although her voice could still be heard cursing everyone around her. Meanwhile, the conjoined Hooded Man and Munch – still in squirrel form – found a barrel full of nuts on deck and jumped into it … and then changed back into their original form, causing the barrel to explode!

The fighting on deck became very confusing. Johnny-Baptiste jumped down from the fighting top to join in … but ended up falling into a hole in the deck; Callistra used her ‘hunter’s mark’ on yet another Hooded Man and wounded him; Ragnar cut a Hooded Man in two with his battle axe; Vale’s dog attacked yet another Hooded Man and wounded him before healing some of Callistra’s wounds; and Bumble attacked a Hooded Man next to the captain before touching the ship’s controls and turning it.

As this was happening, a Hooded Man who was not involved in the fighting began praying and gesticulating.

The confused fighting continued. A Hooded Man tried to attack Johnny-Baptiste, but Callistra interceded and prevent Johnny-Baptiste from being injured. However, the Hooded Man then self-immolated himself and exploded, wounding Callistra, Johnny-Baptiste, Ragnar, and Vale in the process. At the same time, another Hooded Man stabbed himself and died … but without exploding.

A book then suddenly appeared on deck, and the High Priestess’s voice could be heard laughing. This encouraged a Hooded Man to attack the ship’s captain and changed the ship’s course, but Bumble tried to stop him and was wounded in the process.

The High Priestess’s voice became louder and the curses more vehement …

Although the High Priestess was no longer visible, her voice could be heard cursing everyone who was trying to interfere with her ritual,.

... and suddenly Vale was transported to the side of the ship and left hanging over the open sea! A massive fireball then hit the deck, seriously wounded Callistra and Ragnar, and set the ship on fire.

Vale was left dangling over the side of the burning ship.

Realising that the High Priestess was going to be victorious, Munch took a potion he had acquired from Umber from his coat and drank it … and suddenly everyone returned to the positions they were in when the group had arrived on deck some time before.

When Munch drank the time-shifting potion he had obtained from Umber, time fractured and everyone returned to the positions they were in when the group first emerged on deck,.

Yet again, time had been turned back!

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It looks as if the group of intrepid adventurers and going to have yet another chance to destroy the High Priestess and her acolytes, the Hooded Men!

The Timeless Traveller: This week’s update

As matters move towards a conclusion, events became more confused, violent, and just a little surreal!

Rather than immediately follow the two Hooded Men towards the toilets – as advised by the tea drinkers Callistra (the Hunter) had spoken to – the group decided to protect the twins, Elandra, and Thinkertop’s assistant – Aya – by placing them on the gallery surrounding the main hall. Mankare (the Shadowmancer) and Vale (the Shepherd) accompanied them whilst Ragnar (the Berserker) waited at the bottom of the stairs to prevent anyone from climbing up to the gallery.

Once this had been done, Mankare plucked one of his spirits from a nearby shadow and sent it down into the main hall, where it joined Callistra and Munch (the Songweaver). They then made their way towards the corridor leading to the toilets, whilst Bumble (the Stormshifter) and Johnny-Baptiste (the Cheat) remained in the main hall.

As they entered the corridor, Callistra and Munch saw a figure making some sort of ritual gestures with his hands whilst muttering to himself. They did not recognise him, and assuming that he might be one of the High Priestess’s acolytes, they approached him and tried to restrain him. In reply, he shouted out, ‘You don’t understand; Let me go!’

Whilst Callistra attempted to question the man, Munch showed him the book that he had acquired. This startled the man, and when Callistra and Munch asked him searching questions, his replies were confused and very unclear. Munch put the book away and then threatened to set the man’s face on fire if he didn’t say who he had been praying to. In reply, the man shouts, ‘You will burn when the Titan rises!’

At this point, Callistra become aware of a metal object on the man’s chest … which is one of the amulets embedded into the bodies of the Hooded Men. Before she can react, the amulet exploded in a mass of flame, killing the man and burning Callistra slightly. Munch searched the man’s body and found a sword, and looked for fragments of the amulet, but these seem to have embedded themselves in the corridor’s walls.

Watched by Munch, Callistra pulled the amulet from the chest of the Hooded Man, causing him to explode,.

The explosion caused Bumble to turn into a bear and move towards the centre of the main hall whilst Ragnar rushed towards the scene. Realising that the situation has become dangerous, Vale cast a protective spell on the twins.

Vale cast a protective spell over the twins whilst Ragnar rushed down the stairs from the gallery and into the main hall,.

As this came into effect, Callistra entered the main hall by the hole blown in the wall by the explosion … and then all hell seemed to break out! Hooded Men seemed to appear at every entrance to the main hall as well as in the corridor. Two approached Callistra and Munch and another fired an arrow at the twins, An innocent person who was in the main hall was killed by a stray arrow and Callistra and Munch found themselves under attack. Both were wounded – in Munch’s case, seriously as he lost a leg – and whilst Mankare summoned up to two spirits to attack some of the Hooded Men and Ragnar successfully threw his axe at one of the Hooded Men attacking Callistra, Munch attempted to use his magical powers to regrow his leg … but something went wrong, and as the new leg grew, Munch and his attacker became a single entity, with much attached to his side!

There was then an explosion under the gallery, and the innocent bystanders who had not had time to react to the unfolding events in the main hall, suddenly started to run as fast as they could. During the ensuing mayhem, Johnny-Baptiste used their special knife-throwing skill to wound two of the Hooded Men, and Vale’s spirit dog ruched towards Callistra to heal her of her wounds. He also used a spell on one of the Hooded Men and wounded him.

Callistra was able to use her ‘Hunters Mark’ against the Hooded Man who was attacking her just as Ragnar – who had retrieved his axe – hit the same man. At the same time, another Hooded Man was attacked by two of Mankare’s shadow spirits

In attempting to separate himself from the Hooded Man he was now attached to, Munch tried to cut himself free … and only succeeded in hurting himself as well! He did – however – unsuccessfully try to influence the Hooded Man to kill one of the other Hooded Men.

Bumble remained in his bear from and lumbered to the far end of the main hall where he fought with a Hooded Man, with the result that both ended up wounded. Whilst this fight was taking place, two Hooded Men appeared underneath the gallery, and immediately one of them jumped onto a table and tried – unsuccessfully – to climb up to stab one of the twins. Mankare reacted at once, and shot the man in the face.

Johnny-Baptiste ended up being attacked and wounded by two Hooded Men and one of Mankare’s spirits was destroyed by a Hooded Man. Ragnar continued to fight with the Hooded Man who had attacked Callistra … and went berserk! He wielded his axe above his head and brought it down onto the head of the Hooded Man he was fighting with … cut him in half!

Side by side, Ragnar and Callistra fought the Hooded Men.

At this point, the conjoined Hooded Man/Munch smashed its way through the wall of the corridor and into the main hall … and a pair of huge butterfly wings began to grow out of its back!

Elsewhere, Bumble ripped the head off the Hooded Man he had been fighting ...

Bumble – in the guise of a bear – fought and killed one of the Hooded Men.

... and Johnny-Baptiste ran into cover and tried to use their special knife-throwing skill to hit the two Hooded Man who had attacked them. Unfortunately, he missed, but the knife returned to him undamaged. Callistra fired two arrows at one of the Hooded Men. The first wounded him and the second pinned him to the wall of the main hall.

Still attached to the Hooded Man, Munch used a lightning spell to attack to of the Hooded Men and killed one and wounded the other. However, this exhausted him, and the conjoined Hooded Man/Munch collapsed to the ground … and almost immediately they became a huge cocoon!

The cocoon!.

Fighting continued across the main hall. Vale used a spell on two of the Hooded Men and killed one of them, and Mankare used one of his shadow spirits to attack the Hooded Man he had shot in the face … and the spirit ripped the man in two!

Ragnar attempted to cut the cocoon open … and then he saw Munch’s face looking at him. The cocoon them split open, and the conjoined Hooded Man/Munch stood up. The conjoined figure was over three metres tall, still had its wings, and the Hooded Man’s body was now heavily muscled.

The conjoined Hooded Man and Munch rose out of the cocoon, propelled by their butterfly wings.

Johnny-Baptiste ran forward from cover and fought one of the Hooded Men. Initially, he wounded the Hooded Man, but his second blow killed him. Bumble changed back into his normal form and immediately began to give aid to a seriously wounded bystander.

The twins turned to Mankare and asked him if this was when they were going to be killed, but he reassured them that it was not going to happen. Alandra then had the idea to summon a servant and ask them to summon Nordian.

Munch attempted to teleport to a nearby flame … but his conjoined Hooded Man resisted this and attempted to break free.

The group now discussed what to do to help Munch. They managed to get a rope around the conjoined figure, and Ragnar – who was the strongest of the group – took hold of the free end. At the same time, Munch attempted to touch the Hooded Man’s amulet … but failed. This led to a struggle between Munch and the conjoined Hooded Man for ascendancy, and during this Bumble – who was by far and away the most dexterous member of the group, cut the amulet out of the Hooded Man’s chest … just as Nordian and two guards arrived in the main hall.

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It looks as this adventure is likely to end at our next session ... but it is impossible to predict what might happen.

The Timeless Traveller: This week’s update

The adventure is fast approaching a climax, and this week saw the following things happen:

It is 3.00pm, and the group has decided to go to the vault to replace the original dagger with the substitute they have created. It was placed inside a chest that would attract little attention. Disguised as Hooded Men, Vale (the Shepherd), Mankare (the Shadowmancer), Callistra (the Hunter), Bumble (the Stormshifter), Johnny-Baptiste (the Cheat), and Munch (the Songweaver) made their way there. At the entrance, they were joined by Ragnar (the Berserker) and Nordian (the guard commander). The latter ordered the guards to open the door, but the were very reluctant to do so.

The group meet up with Ragnar and Nordian outside the ship's vault.

Ragnar spoke to them. His polite menace proved to be very persuasive, and the door was opened ... with his assistance. Ragnar remained outside to ensure that no one could interfere with what was about to happen and the rest of the group entered the vault.

Inside the vault, the group could see two guards next to the statue in the centre of the room. The two guards from outside also entered the vault, and the four guards directed - and escorted - the group to a place just past the statue where they could leave the chest they were carrying. Whilst the guards were somewhat distracted, Johnny-Baptiste attempted to hid behind a pillar but was seen and told to re-join the group

Vale's spirit familiar - a large dog - was sent outside the vault to join Ragnar, and Bumble attempted - unsuccessfully - to hid by leaning against the wall of the vault. At this point, Johnny-Baptiste drew a chalk circle around the chest, and the rest of the group began to chant. This confused the guards, who asked Nordian if this were permitted. He nodded to them, and they stood back somewhat bemused.

Vale pulled a rat from inside his coat, and Callistra drew her dagger to disembowel it as a sacrifice. This caused consternation amongst the guards, and during the hiatus, Bumble tried to substitute the fake dagger for the real one. This proved difficult as the hands of the statue holding the dagger had pressure-sensitive buttons. Seeing this, Munch used a spell to amplify Callistra's chanting so that the guards remained distracted. By a magnificent sleight-of-hand, Bumble made the substitution ...

Bumble replaces the real dagger with the fake one.

...and this triggered the voice of Herne - Callistra's god - to be heard by her. The voice implied that he was about to appear and 'hunt' everyone in the vault, but Callistra was able to placate him by promising to find better prey for him.

Herne appears inside the vault.

Events had caused complete confusion amongst the guards, and Johnny-Baptiste and Munch used the opportunity to try to steal objects from the vault as the group went to leave. Munch unsuccessfully attempted to take some gold that was near the base of the statue, but did manage to pick up an snow globe that contained snow made from diamonds. He was spotted by a guard, who moved to stop him. Johnny-Baptiste used this diversion to grab some jewellery and gold from a basket that was on the floor of the vault.

Everything became very confused, very quickly. Bumble whispered into the ear of one of the guards about the High Priestess, which caused the guard to begin to draw his sword. Nordian intervened and stopped him and then ordered Munch's arrest. To avoid this, Munch transported himself to a nearby flaming torch. Callistra rushed forward and seized hold of Munch, crying out as she did, that he was suffering from an illness of the mind. This claim was backed up by Vale, who used his power to enter other people's minds to calm the guards down.

Callistra defended Munch and threatened any guard that attempted to grab hold of him with her bow. At the same time, Mankare pulled forth a spirit from a nearby shadow, and this rushed around the vault causing further confusion, especially when Mankare shouted, 'It's going for the gold!' Vale began to move towards the door and Johnny-Baptiste joined Callistra in restraining Munch.

Nordian ordered the door to the vault to be closed, but Ragnar stopped the guards from doing this by quietly refusing to move whilst at the same time running his thumb along the blade of his axe as if testing its sharpness.

Ragnar 'persuades' the guards not to shut the door of the vault..

Whilst this was taking place, Callistra wrestled the snow glob from Munch's grasp and he teleported himself away, crying out, 'I only wanted to hold it!' Mankare them produced two more shadow spirits, which joined the first in rushing around the vault ... and during all this confusion, Bumble managed to 'acquire' a bejewelled egg just before he left by the door.

One of the guards now attempted to shut the vault door again, but Vale interceded by planting fear in the guard's mind. Nordian called upon everyone to calm down, and the situation began to de-escalate, especially after Nordian had picked Munch up and said, 'We are done here,' as he left the vault.

Nordian carries Munch out of the vault.

Before leaving, Callistra returned the snow glob to its rightful place, and then joined the rest of the group as they used the portal to go to the barracks and prison cells. Once there, Munch admits that he is a kleptomaniac and Nordian placed him in one of the cells. Once this is done, the rest of the group returned to Johnny-Baptiste's room.

As soon as they are in the room, Callistra and Mankare examined the dagger. It exuded a feeling of evil and a small of hot iron, and when Mankare spoke to it in Abyssal, he heard a voice in his head that told him that there was an evil spirit trapped in the dagger's blade.

Munch had been left in a prison cell, and out of curiosity, he tried the cell's door. As he did so, he heard an explosion and the guard began screaming. The door to the barracks and prison had been blown open ... and two Hooded Men appeared in front of Munch's cell saying, 'We were looking for you!' Munch used a spell that was intended to confuse the two men ... but as soon as he did, four more Hooded Men appeared.

To get away from them, Munch teleported himself through the drain cover in the centre of the cell block ... and fell four metres into a sewer! As he ran along it to get away from his pursuers, he realised that toilets were connected to the sewer. Using his water vision to look through one of the toilets, he saw a flame that he could teleport to. However, before he could, he was surrounded by the Hooded Men, and they demanded to know where the book was. They threatened to kill him if he didn't tell them where it was ... and he used a break in their threats to teleport to the flame that he had seen earlier.

Munch confronts two Hooded Men in the sewer.

Munch found himself in a toilet, and from there he made his way outside ... only to be confronted by two Hooded Men, one of whom shouted, 'The bastard's here!' whilst the other attacked him. Munch attempted to avoid injury by repeating the fact that the book was in the chest that was in the vault. His attackers grabbed him, manacled his hands together, and began to drag him along the corridor. Seeing a portal ahead of him, Munch broke free and asked to take him to Johnny-Baptiste's room.

Pursued by the two Hooded Men, Munch reached the door to Johnny-Baptiste's room ... and cast a spell that laid a sheet of ice behind him! Munch threw the room door open and began to tell everyone what had happened. Despite slipping on the ice, the two Hooded Men grabbed Munch and pulled him towards the portal. The rest of the group set off in pursuit ... and found themselves in the ship's main hall! Using her tracking skills, Callistra followed the route followed by the Hooded Men through the room. Along the way, she asked two people who are sitting close to the route if they had seen anyone answering the description of the Hooded Man ... and they replied that they had headed in the direction of the toilets.

As the group contemplated what to do next, the ship's clock chimed 4.30pm.

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There was lots of action this week ... and next week looks as if it is going to be even more exciting!

The Timeless Traveller: This week's update

I missed last week's session as I was involved in a realtime fight with a monster ... I was dismantling an IKEA wardrobe so that I could move it from one room to another! It was an epic encounter, and after a struggle lasting several hours, I won!

(On the following day, my neighbour’s two sons came in to help me dismantle and move the second wardrobe and some other furniture … and they managed to take the wardrobe apart, move its components, and reassemble it in forty-five minutes. Boy, did I feel a bit inadequate … and awed by their skill and strength. Oh! What would I give to be as fit as a twenty-one or twenty-two-year-old!)

Luckily, one of the other players (Ben, who plays Bumble the Stormshifter) wrote a summary of the session … and it looks as if I missed an epic one!

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After a brief discussion and strategy meeting in Bumble’s room, it was decided that the group would be to steal the chef's recipe for Cockatrice in mushroom sauce for Umber so that he would hand over the potion that turns objects into other objects. Once this potion was in the group's possession, it could be used to replicate the dagger that is in on the statue on the Vault. It was planned that this should be done so that the cultists did not realise that the substitution had taken place.

The group hold a council-of-war..

After Vale (the Shepherd) and Menkare (the Shadowmancer) sent out their familiars to explore the nearby rooms for cultists and discovered two rooms with a couple in. The majority of the group set off to the kitchen, leaving Ragnar and Nordian in charge of protecting Leonard, Thinkertop's assistant, and the twins in Bumble’s room.

Outside the kitchen, Johnny-Baptiste (the Cheat) forged a health inspector badge so that Vale could enter and explore the kitchen and the adjoining rooms for signs of the recipe.

Vale uses the fake health inspector's badge to get inside the kitchen.

In doing so, Bumble, shape-shifted and became a fly and snuck into the chef's bedroom. There was no sign of the recipe in the room, only some coins ... which Bumble took. He then turned into a firefly and then a rat so that he could investigate a locked chest. Inside he found an an empty scroll and a love letter from someone called Narina.

Bumble - in the form of a rat - investigates the locked chest.

Meanwhile, despite having communicated to Vale's spirit dog about the room, Munch (the Songweaver) set an elaborate plan to use his water-sensing abilities. He put his head in a nearby toilet so that he could see through the water in the chef's room ... but it didn’t work.

Munch uses his water-sensing ability.

What he needed to do was to use the water in the private bathroom outside the kitchen hallway, which Johnny-Baptiste opened using a lock pick. Munch finally managed to see into the water in teapots in the room and into the water in a flask hanging from the chef's belt. Munch teleported to a flame they saw in the room and joined Bumble.

However, the ‘heist’ amounted to nothing as the chef left the kitchen and confronted the rest of the party who had infiltrated his private bathroom. Vale was very persuasive and calmed the chef and managed to convince them to give us a copy of the recipe (with a slight amendment so that the true recipe was a secret).

The group meet the chef, who agrees to give them his recipe.

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I really hope to be able to attend the next session as this adventure seems to be moving towards a climax.

The Timeless Traveller: This week's update

I was unable to take part in this week's session but one of the other players (Ben, who in the game is Bumble the Stormshifter) wrote a summary of events.

The action starts in the barracks, where Munch (the Songweaver) and Johnny-Baptise (the Cheat) were currently locked in the cells whilst Nordian confronted two of the guards. Johnny-Baptiste attempted to lockpick the cell door with their dagger, failing once but then succeeding on the second attempt. Whilst this was happening, Munch realised their bracelet had turned green and he used his ability to teleport to a candle in the main barrack's room.

Munch watches Johnny-Baptiste pick to cell's lock with his knife.

The remaining guards had become suspicious and began speaking Abyssal to each other. Munch created a sheet of ice under one of the guards who was moving towards the weapon's rack, causing him to fall and he advanced towards Nordian. Nordian grappled with the fallen guard and had his eat bitten in the process. Johnny-Baptiste, who by now had got from the cells to the main barrack's room, stabbed the guard and killed him.

In the meantime, Bumble was in the hallway with four Hooded Men who were trying to get into Elandra's room. By some miracle, Bumble managed to persuade them to leave by claiming to be one of them and deceiving them by telling them that the high priestess was waiting for them to ambush the passengers in the ship's Dining Hall and that the cult already has the Dark Titan Book that they needed. They left and Bumble escorted Elandra safely to his room.

Vale (the Shepherd), Callistra (the Hunter), and Menkare (the Shadowmancer) questioned Thinkertop in his room. He obnoxiously hovered above them for dominance on hts golden disk. He revealed that he had used the time turner many times during his life to gain wealth and fame and this last use was planned for his retirement. Upon being told the fate of the ship, Thinkertop did not express any feelings of wore or care and decided to just let the party until then. Vale read his mind quickly and discovered a flash of a dream or memory of a kid sliding in gold with a slight innocence on his face. A potential deal was made between Thinkertop and Silmenins (Gods). Thinkertop's assistant was shocked by all this and was fired by Thinkertop for questioning his actions before he walked away into a portal. The assistant agreed to accompany the party for the time being.

Thinkertop being questioned.

Callistra headed to the barracks to assist Munch and Johnny-Baptiste. They were looting the room and Munch found a dagger – which he handed to Johnny-Baptiste – some gold, and a scroll written in Celestial that was in a pouch. Nordian agreed that Thinkertop was useless and agreed to help the group along with his trusty guard friend, Leonard. Munch wind whispered to Vale and Mankare to tell them to meet them in Bumble’s room, and they replied by sending a servant to confirm the message was received.

Now that everyone – including Nordian, Leonard, the twins, Elandra, and Thinkertop's assistant – was gathered in Bumble’s room, they discovered that everyone was now able to use their magic powers. Elandra translated the celestial scroll and it revealed the importance of a dagger for the ritual events. Vale mindread a servant which revealed a flash of a burning tree in the garden of the ship when they were asked how to free the servants/wisps. The party then took time to discuss plan of action. Elandra also translated a passage from the Dark Titan Book which the party were trying to decipher.

The council-of-war in Bumble's room.

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Paolo – the game master – also wrote a poem about events.

Verse I

Beneath the lantern’s golden light,
Two voices walked as one,
Soft as rain through summer leaves,
Bright beneath the sun.

They spoke in half-remembered songs,
In harmony entwined,
Until the sea of silence came,
And left one voice behind.

Verse II

Now empty halls remember still
The footsteps side by side,
Yet every word the survivor speaks
Breaks where her sister died.

The music falters in her throat,
The final note undone,
For half a soul still walks the deck,
And half is lost beneath the sun.

Final Verse

So raise no cheer for fleeting gold,
Nor trust the smiling tide,
For even stars that shine as one
May still be torn aside.

And somewhere past the breaking waves,
Where silent waters weep,
One sister calls into the dark
— And one remains to keep.

The Timeless Traveller: This week's update

This is my take on what took place this week ... and if you think that because we went back twenty-four hours, things will repeat themselves, then you are in for a big surprise!

So, the group resumed their place in the queue to board Thinkertop’s ship.

This time, everyone ignored Elandra, even though she was immediately in front of the group and was bubbling with enthusiasm to get aboard. As we reached the shoreside end of the gangway, Mankare (the Shadowmancer) noticed a man in a hood at the top of it. He immediately put his hand into Elantra’s shadow, pulled out one of his spirit entities to pursue the man as he disappeared inside. Unfortunately, it lost him.

Bumble (the Stormshifter) attempted to fly aboard in the guise of a bird, but as he approached the side of the ship, an invisible force field stopped him and a giant hand appeared above him and indicated that he was a magic user!

Our party eventually reached the top of the gangway, and after being greeted by Thinkertop’s assistant, Nordian (the head of the ship's security team) – who did not acknowledge Ragnar (the Berserker) on this occasion – made everyone hand over their weapons and the magic users to put on the magic-cancelling bracelets.

As this was happening, a commotion broke out when someone just ahead of us refused to hand over their weapons and were thrown overboard by two of the guards. Whilst this was happening, Munch (the Songweaver) noticed a small man dip his hand into the chest everyone was having to put their weapons and other possessions into … and then disappear into the gloom. Munch identified him as Umber, the halfling hustler who claims to be able to get hold of anything that you want.

Once aboard, Vale (the Shepherd) asked a servant to provide him with a live chicken. This was done, and the bird was immediately named Tofu. Munch then asked a servant for assistance in helping Umber … but this request was politely declined although they did agree to pass on a message that Munch wanted to meet with Umber.

Mankare asked the portal to take us all to where the Silamane twins were, and we were transported to the ship’s Great Hall. The twins were surrounded by people and – with the exception on Munch and Bumble – we joined the group.

Munch had seen a Umber in the corner of the hall and he and Bumble approached him. He was very evasive, but did eventually allude to his possession of a potion that could enable the user to override the bracelets for fifteen minutes … but the price as huge and he refused to indulge in a wager with Munch for it. He did – however – intimate that he would swop the potion for the recipe for Cockatrice in mushroom sauce ... and he also sold Bumble a 50’ rope!

Munch and Bumble 'negotiate' with Umber.

Whilst this was happening, Mankare began speaking to the twins about a life-changing situation they were about to find themselves in. They followed him to one side of the room, and protected by Ragnar, Vale, and Callistra (the Hunter), he disclosed that we had knowledge of the future … and that one of them was going to die during a robbery that was intended to steal one of the amulets that one of them wore.

The twins were stupefied by this information and did not believe what they had been told until Vale showed them the amulet he had taken from Thinkertop’s body. Callistra also intervened and tried to convince the twins that everything that they had been told was true.

Mankare explained that the twins’ amulet was a necessary part of a ritual that was going to be used to summon a titanic demon, and in support of this, Vale described how he had been possessed by the cult’s magic and that he had seen a priestess summon the titanic demon using a book and a dagger. Mankare then asked to touch the amulet, which – true to its function – told the twins that they had been told the truth. Callistra then asked the amulet to tell the group if Thinkertop would help us to stop what might happen … but its answer was undefinable.

Mankare explains what will happen if the group cannot stop it.

She then invited the twins to accompany the group to meet Thinkertop, and they agreed. Callistra then told them about the Hooded Men, and warned them to be alert. The twins became somewhat agitated by this, but when they were told about singing in the garden to the wisps, they began to calm down.

By his time, Bumble had decided to go to Elandra’s room. Once there, he told her that she was in danger and that she needed to collect all her things and to come with him to his room. She began to panic, and in the hope that he can calm her, he told her that he is from the future and what had happened. Elandra protested, and wanted to call the guards to protect her, but Bumble told her that they were useless. Eventually he persuaded he returned to the ship’s Great Hall.

Munch planned to go to the kitchen to get hold of the recipe for the forthcoming special meal that Thinkertop had planned, but before he did so, he told everyone about the potion that will disable the bracelets and that he had used an ability he has to enter Nordian’s mind to ‘see’ an important event from his life … and disclosed that Nordian once led a mission to kill an enemy force and was the only survivor, and that he had feelings of guilt that he led his men to their deaths.

Nordian remembers.

The group decided that:

1. Munch and Johnny-Baptiste (the Cheat) should visit Nordian to tell him about what was going to happen so that everyone could get their weapons back and the bracelets removed.
2. Callistra, Mankare, and Vale should accompany the twins to see Thinkertop.
3. Ragnar would help Bumble to protect Elandra.
4. Everyone would meet up in Bumble’s room in an hour’s time.

Munch and Johnny-Baptiste went to see Nordian, and after passing through the guarded door into the barracks, they told him that there was a group of hooded cultists aboard who were going to try to animate a dormant titanic demon. When they were asked how they knew this, they explained what had happened previously, but Nordian did not believe them and kept them in one of the cells. He did – however – ask to see Ragnar, who he knew would be truthful.

Callistra, Mankare, Vale, and the twins waited in the ship’s Great Hall for Thinkertop, and when he appeared to announce the special dinner he had planned, they managed to speak to him … and after Thinkertop spotted the amulet Vale had, he agreed to see them in his room in fifteen minutes.

Ragnar was accompanying Bumble to Elandra’s room when a guard asked him to go to see Nordian at the barracks. He reluctantly agreed, and when he got there, Nordian asked him what he knew … and upon hearing Ragnar’s version of events, Nordian seized one of the guards and commanded him to open his tunic and show his chest. Another guard attempted to avoid being asked to do the same, but Ragnar grabbed him and restrained him.

Ragnar tells Nordian that Vale and Johnny-Baptiste are telling the truth about what is going to happen if the group don't stop it.

On his own, Bumble arrived outside Elandra’s room, only to find four Hooded Men outside, attempting to get in. Hearing screams from inside, Bumble summoned servants to help him …

Bumble confronts four Hooded Men outside Elandra's room.

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Unfortunately, I am going to miss next week's session ... but I look forward to finding out what happens!