I wasn't nearly as nervous about returning this story as I thought I would be. Over the last few months I've beening playing Hearts of Wulin and Against the Darkmaster, and just... decompressing. After two to three campaigns a week for almost two years I'd just... needed some time off. Playing other games, after drinking from the fountain of Burning Wheel so intensely, was a really eye-opening experience for me, and gave me a bit more perspective on what I wanted out of Burning Wheel in the first place.
And let's be honest: I was definitely trying to live up to The Undertow. That campaign was absolutely the type of journey I wanted to have in RPGs, and I wanted to do it again. That, of course, is stupid. I can't do it again, that's what makes it special! With a bit more perspective (and two different stories/systems) I was ready to go.
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| Last arc on... |
Anneli was on dail way to save the world... and literally had dail sister, (a now pregnant) Nomi, dropped into dail lap. With a magic sword. Nomi had not only betrayed Anneli, but had been personally responsible for torturing and injuring Thungal and Fingar, Anneli's friends. They did not take to this kindly. Anneli and Nomi had to kill them both as The Light from Mikansia's sacrifice faded.
And then they were back in time, with Nomi on the ship. Thungal remembered the alternate future and cracked. They left Thungal on an Island with some folks who might have been able to help dai. They then got caught up with Leviathan, almost giving into his influence.
Anneli and Nomi then used Sydanelma to go further back in time, to try and stop Aloysius from killing Nomi's husband, The Crown Prince of the Argentum Empire, Constantine. They failed, in part because Anneli had left Aloysius, not knowing he would be kidnapped... and stabbed with a Dagger of Betrayal, making his killing of Constantine not of his own volition. Nomi's wrath was almost incalculable.
They came back to the present to find that Fingar's brain had broken as well; Fingar stabbed Anneli, who met Mikansia as she was about to go through The Gate. Mikansia's mentor and friend, Akseli, gave a part of himself to Anneli so dai could return to the world. Anneli returned just as Nomi killed Fingar.
Thungal came, utterly transformed by evil, with an army of twisted things at her back. Anneli and Nomi fought her in the pounding surf on the beach. Anneli was wounded in the head and went down like a rock. Nomi killed Thungal. And then stayed by dail sister's side, even though there was really nothing Nomi could for Anneli.
Telos and Marian helped get Anneli stitched up. A few months into the process of Anneli healing they left to deal with the fact that the sun hadn't returned. They said if they didn't come back within four months they were in trouble.
It's been five months. Anneli is now fully healed.
So I knew I wanted to keep tying all three campaigns together, ever tighter and tighter. I want them to be three parts of the same story. Just the concept of doing a trilogy is so freaking cool that I couldn't avoid it. So I figured out a way to do it: Aloysius, Alpertti (the Crowned Prince of the elves from The Undertow), and Tara (the human lover and betrayer of Spar from Sabina's Castle, who should be dead) would show up, looking for Anneli and Nomi. I figured that would get quite a reaction out of Andy and Lena.
Whaddaya know, I was right! Here's what they gave me, before the session.
Anneli
B1. Something has changed about Aloysius; I will cut to the truth of his heart.
B2. Nomi is changing; I will give dai the spark of a new ideal.
B3. My bond with Akseli is profoundly new; I will learn how to strengthen it.
I1. Akseli Instinct: Always rely on others.
I2. Always let Nomi draw steel first.
I3. Never abandon kin.
Traits: Call of the Island, Dreamer, Mortally Wounded in the Head, Shaky Hands, Bound to Akseli, Commanding Aura, Driven (Pilot), Aura of Determination
One of the many things I enjoy about Andy's RPing is how fully he buys into the concept he's set up. Anneli wants to be the hero. Dai thinks heroism is a necessity, a duty. Like, no matter what happens Anneli has this drive to do the right and idealistic thing. It's a lot of fun to watch the character get battered, but I still walk out impressed by how Andy has this core of Anneli down.
If I had to boil down what a GM's duty, his first job, was then I'd say it was to enjoy your players. Find the things you enjoy about them and encourage those things.
Nomi
B1. I trust Fish’s truthfulness; I will gladly help him ensure Tara isn’t a problem.
B2. Whatever new idealistic game the prince is playing at here, I cannot trust mu to have accurate intel or read of the situation
B3. I can’t afford to grieve; there is more to be done.
I1. Always act towards my own goals first
I2. Always bend the truth when advantageous
I3. Never put my son in unnecessary danger
Traits: Call of the Sea, Spite, Deceptive, Compulsive Liar, Memory’s Influence, Guarded, Charismatic, Pregnant, The Killer, Familial Loyalty
See, this was the character I was really excited to watch this particular session. Nomi had been close associates with Prince Alpertti's father, before dai had started to get dai's life together. Nomi had a very particular opinion of Alpertti, as a goody-two-shoes who needed a serious dose of real life. That and seeing how Fish handled Tara (who he had killed awhile back) was another thing I really looked forward to.
Anneli had taken to walks on the beach and sitting contemplatively, slowly recovering dail strength. Fish was also taken this form of recreation, and the two took to sitting on the beach together, watching the dark waters, torch in hand. Nomi had kept herself busy with tasks to keep her mind busy and distracted/focused. Keeping food stocked, small tasks to prep the ship, and so forth. Nomi did not want to be sitting still.
Now, we'd already talked about the situation, but I didn't want to start in media res. Burning Wheel has never really been an in media res game to me. I've always wanted to savor it. For me, my primary inspiration for fantasy are the treks of Tolkien, the surrealistic sadness of Gaiman, the paradoxes of Wolfe. And those require set-up, not rushing... time. They require time. And it had been months. I wanted to just... sit... in it for a little while.
There was the sensation of approaching lowering airship- there was a familiar change in air pressure - nearby. Everyone independently goes to investigate. Aloysious and an incredibly pale redheaded woman, with an eyepatch come off this definitely elven airship. Anneli had spotted an elf flying the thing but couldn’t make it out. The ship was circling the ground in a textbook landing pattern, as in, learned from a book not the maneuvers of an experienced captain, with lots of wobbles.After Nomi went to get Fish, Prince Alpertti exited the ship. Anneli tried to make the appropriate respectful greeting but it was a little awkward as Prince Alpertti was a dai now, and no longer a mu. There was talk about respect being based on grief and social hierarchy, and how complex it could be to work it out. Alpertti brushed it off: it wasn't important right now. Prince Alpertti asked if dai as talking to Anneli, and then asked where Nomi and Sydanelma was. Anneli pointed; the glimmer of Sydanelma could be seen from where Nomi unbuckled and left her, at the waters edge. Prince Alpertti asked what were they doing here. Anneli was flowery and gave a cryptic answer.
Nomi stomped back up, cussing Aloysious out, and realized the crown prince was present. Nomi didn't respect him personally, but did attempt a socially appropriate acknowledgement.
Fish charged Tara again; this time Aloysious knocked him out cold. Nomi drew Sydanelma from the beach and demanded to know who Tara was and why they were there. Seeing Nomi brought back something painful for Alpertti. There was an exchange about how she was unworthy to carry that sword and if he hadn’t had it on good authority from someone dai trusted, that dai would have killed Nomi where she stood. Nomi cooly replied that dai felt the same way. Anneli tried to settle the building tensions. Everyone turned and snapped at dai.
We were definitely just jawing at this point. Honestly I'd just missed all these characters enough to where I really didn't want to do a lot of mechanical stuff. I could have and probably should have called for rolls a good deal sooner than I did, but Andy and Lena play off of each other so well I just enjoyed hearing the chatter. Eventually I made Andy make a check... which he failed. And we got a good laugh out of it.
Alpertti said dai had been visited by Mikansia in a dream, and had been told to collect them. Alpertti was looking for Anneli, as one of dai's few remaining captains, and Nomi, the bearer Sydanelma, sword of legend, because dai needed to find hope for dail people. Alpertti talked about how the Ring was nearly destroyed in confrontation with the Nameless, how Mikansia saved them. But there was still immense collateral: the Ring of Tears, the home of the elves, was nearly destroyed. Many had died. Would Nomi and Anneli come, to help bring hope?
Anneli focused on the fact that what they were doing here was more important, without actually explaining anything. Nomi said Alpertti was being such a typical arrogant noble; dai just assumed they’d drop their plans to come at his beck and call. Alpertti was angry: "If you wont answer me, and just want to sit around and fight, go fuck yourselves for all I care, I’ll go die holding my people if I must." Prince Alpertti stormed off to go start undocking the ship and fumbling with knots. "COMMONERS!
Nomi teased Alpertti about dail bad knots but wanted to know what happened to Mikansia. Alpertti told Nomi about Mikansia's death, and kinda half apologized for losing dail temper. Nomi also softened a touch and mentioned that dai hadn’t been part of the cult for some time now, and only wanted to save the Ring not see it ripped apart. Prince Alpertti knew, that’s the only reason he was even willing to talk to Nomi at all; dai had many things to do other than talk to those who would ignore dai.
Anneli talked with Aloysious and Tara, sorting out a little of their stories. Tara mentioned having a dagger put in her back by Fish, and that being why he hated her for turning him into a dragon. “It’s the dagger that binds us all together.” said Anneli. Tara quipped that it bound Anneli just as much as it did everyone else. Tara was strange, in how she spoke and moved. Not quite alive exactly…cracking sounds, head spinning, no teeth, odd vocal quality. Even Tara wasn't quite sure why she was there but she was certainly willing to believe in destiny, considering.
Before dai left, Alpertti tried to remind Anneli of the oath dail had taken, as one of Alerpitti's captains. Alpertti released Anneli if dai was clearly unwilling to follow it. Anneli spoke to Nomi directly, about having an idea since dai was the only true captain here. Nomi caught the glint of what Anneli was doing and was only too happy to support Captain Anneli at Alpertti’s expense.
Anneli addressed Tara and Aloysius directly, demanding to be let aboard as the only true captain here. Tara sort of laughed and asked why, what did she plan to do. There was a bit of a steel-off, Anneli trying to maintain authoritative composure to let Tara rant herself out. Tara being pragmatic and wanting something known versus gambling on an unknown risk, since Anneli wasn’t offering anything descriptive. Anneli mentioned walking amongst the flows of time, and other beautiful descriptions of their experience, and how dai didn’t present what they were looking for because dai held the key, the key to the Island. If they really wanted to do this, then they needed to let dai aboard and give dai the ship because her path was the one that could do something. They should be helping Anneli and Nomi and not the other way around. To help sway the balance and knowing the sword carried some sense of awe to these people, Nomi held up Sydanelma and asked if they'd really rather bring back what they called the sword of legend just to serve as some figurehead, or if they wouldn’t really rather it be doing what it was meant to do, here, actively working.
So this whole thing was going and going and going. I was really enjoying RP'ing Alpertti, whose evolution since The Undertow had been something I'd found really interesting. Alpertti, who had once been such an idealist, had been changed by the constant death of dail people. This young monarch loomed large and pitiable in my mind. So Andy and I kinda got into it.... and I kept expecting him to make a call for a roll. I don't know why I did, but I was having fun, so off I went! Finally I made it clear that if Andy wanted a roll I was more than to do so, but I was having fun. Andy said he'd been hoping for a roll five minutes ago!
Abashed, I called for an Oratory roll. Lena threw in a helping die and and advantage die from Sydanelma. I put the obstacle at 8; Alpertti was not amused in the slightest, Tara didn't give a crap for flowery speeches, and Aloysius refused to get involved. Andy just barely passed.
Alpertti…sighed kind of sadly but agreed to give Anneli the ship to use if she would first return dai to Kohtae Mah, as his place was with his people. Anneli agreed. Aloysious told Nomi to kill him, his life was in her hands. Nomi…surprisingly couldn’t bring herself to do it. Aloysius said he remembered two time lines, how was this possible? Nomi and Anneli said they did as well. Aloysius said he owed his life to the both of them. Nomi but said he could start paying that debt by carrying the unconscious Fish up to the ship. He did. Nomi warned Tara to stay out of the way going forward; Tara chuckled and said the ship was a bit small for that.
Anneli walked the ship to begin learning the feel of handling the new vessel and its operations. This was Alpertti’s personal vessel, top of the line and super fancy. Anneli promised to bring it back but mentioned not having the best track record for keeping ships intact. There was an awkward call back look to Nomi for dai's prior sabotage of Anneli's first ship.
It was agreed and done. Anneli took command of the prince’s vessel Isän Rakkaus: Father's Love. They set off into the black sky.
So that was the first session after the break! Light on mechanics, but man it felt good to be back in this world. With this game. I can't wait to do the next session. I've really missed this game. Even though I'm in the middle of designing my own there is a special place in my heart for Burning Wheel, a spot that I doubt it will ever leave.
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