Monday, September 04, 2006

Game Review: The Prelude

Last Saturday, I ran the Prelude Scenes for the players of my Giovanni Chronicles at the 5th floor pantry of my office. The venue wasn't really conducive to the mood as it was bright and noisy. People were wondering what we were doing, especially with our raised voices talking about crossbows, armor and religion. Not really the kind of subject you should be hearing from call center agents.

I have one problem that I must solve in order to run the game “right”. That problem can be summed up in one word: SCHEDULING. Since my players have different shifts and day-offs, it’s hard to get them all together in one room for an hour or so. Also, I’m not always available to run the game for them as I have my own schedule for work and my own games. The only reason I was able to run it was because the TROPA (my original gaming group) had postponed our games. Tobie, our Storyteller, was in Cebu on a vacation for a week’s time.

As this is my first time to run an official game, I thought I should record it for posterity. The article herein will either be what has happened in the game and my thoughts/comments regarding its progress. And it is my hope that I am able to see it through the end - whatever the end might be.


- Mordecai Di Firenze is visited by Ambrogino Giovanni who has commissioned the scribe to copy a mysterious text. Mordecai is curious to know more about the text, namely because his patron has paid him a substantial amount for his discretion. Khalid, his manservant, has misgivings about the Italian and warns his master not to deal with him.

- Faolan Macgowan is a soldier figthing against the English under the command of Lord Duncan. He is a celebrated hero of his people for the strong but light armor he has made. That is, until a druidess attemtpts to assasinate his lord. A follower of the druidic ways himself, Faolan decides to defend the woman and learn her reasons for wanting Lord Duncan dead. Hadrian, Duncan's second-in-command, has never trusted Faolan because of his beliefs. Those beliefs may well put him next in line for execution.

- Lucy Sommers sneaks away from her sister's wedding preparations. She is overwhelmed by the voices only she seems to hear. She runs out to a clearing where she faints. She is found by her uncle John who volunteers to have her examined by a physician. Her parents are apprehensive, not because she would be leaving but because her uncle is eccentric.

- Raven accompanies her mentor, Gilbert, to Normandy to introduce a new weapon that may turn the tide against the French. The weaponsmith is intrigued and welcomes them to his home as his guest to learn how to manufacture and use the crossbow. There, Raven meets the weaponsmith's daughter who has an air of mystery about her.

- Wilfred Calvin Smythe finds himself in Normandy, defending the last bastion of the English in what will be known as France. He is surprised to see his friend, Lord Humphrey, bethored to the Lady of Rouen. Although both appear to be united, each is convinced that the other means to have himself or herself murdered.

- Mordecai becomes obsessed with the tome given to him by Ambrogino and makes a copy for himself for further study. The tome is in an ancient language, one where almost all languges seem to have originated from. Ambrogino returns and is pleased with the scribe's work. He extends an invitation to him from his father, Claudius Giovanni, Earl of Stavlachia, as an additional reward.

- Wanting to learn more of the woman who attempted to assasinate his lord, Faolan questions her. The woman, a fortuneteller, instead tells Faolan that his son lives but he will never have a chance to find him as his future is shadowed by a man cloaked in darkness. Before he could ask more, he is summoned by Lord Duncan. He sends him off to meet with a man named Claudius Giovanni who is said to be negotiating with the English for support.

- Feeling bored in her uncle's mansion, Lucy makes her way towards town. There, she becomes witness to a trial where a young woman is accused of witchcraft. A mother tearfully testifies that her son was enchanted to steal their money. They were supposed to elope but they caught her just in time. Mina tells her that the mother is lying; the woman isn't a witch. Her son was in love with her and they were supposed to elope. The son, who managed to "escape", is already dead; killed in a fit of rage by the mother when he confessed his love for the woman.

- Raven discovers that the weaponsmith is an abusive father. The daughter is beaten for even the smallest infraction. Returning late from the smithy, Raven hears her pray to God for deliverance. When she finishes, a dark shape detaches itself from the wall underneath her window. Raven follows it only to lose it in the darkness cast by the cathedral's shadow. The next day, the weaponsmith catches a wasting illness and dies several days later. Gilbert decides to move on to meet with one Claudius Giovanni.

- Wilfred is caught between his lord and his wife's accusations of infidelity and murder. The Lady Rouen exhibits the bruises of her husband's beatings when she would not submit to him. She admits that the reason is because she is with child. Humphrey is often found sprawled on his bed, naked and drunk. He confesses that he has not been himself lately but suspects that his wife is trying to kill him. Unable to believe either, Wilfred decides it would be best for the two to separate. He urges his lord to accept the invitation of Claudius Giovanni for dinner.

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