I learned more about how to host a session in these last 19 days than I have in the last 20 years. And it was born because of pressure I found to be extreme.
So, first things first: we decided to play Crescendo two weekends a month. We're playing twice in those weekends, because there's too many players for me to run all at once, so the chaos is just incredible. The interlude plotting needed more room to breathe. So, we all talked like adults and figured it out.
I had two weddings to go to. Two weekends, back to back. I have several small children. So. It was going to be a shitshow, logistically. I warned everyone about this, and told them that I couldn't necessarily be on time with interlude orders. It was just going to be too much for me. Everyone gave the green light, told me to go at whatever pace I could.
The following was constructed by just... listening to what people wanted to do, and smashing it all together with a few simple dice rolls.
August 10th-17th
Silvy, after the three days of terror are done (see Chapter 7), helps with the survivors of the demonic possession. It’s contained, and very effectively.
Lord Arriquad grabs any food stores being hoarded, turning them into a City Army on a group of well-guarded wagons. He distributes food from these stores to fighting-men (anyone who joins the City Army) plus a couple of dependents each.
The City Army guards the food-wagons, and react to news of attacks by monsters or the eldritch by showing up and fighting. Fighting-men are more valuable than general civilians. There are regular patrols. They spread the idea that we, the survivors of the destroyed city, are the favoured, graced by Saint Laurentius, destined to conquer new lands - starting with the weak and iniquitous Newport. KING LUCIAN SHALL RULE”, is the declaration of the City Army.
After fording the river, a creature in a cloak, riding a fell beast, announced himself to the refugees. He called himself Abbadon , and claimed Newport as his domain. King Lucian greed to not usurp Abaddon. They merely needed a place to rest, as the peoples of New Sota City were tired. Abaddon withdrew, as the refugees made their way to Newport.
August 18th-27th
A strange man was seen carrying a sack as the convoy got to New Sota City. Silvy and Seren cornered him as he ran, and took the sack. The strange man got away.
The bag was huge. And squeaked. And moved.
Sily and Seren burned the bag.
Suddenly there was a loud incoherent babbling, and the whole convoy turned on them. Miraculously, Silvy got away unscathed. Seren was not so lucky: his head was severely hurt. A kind family took him in.
The charred corpses of rats were found in the bag, along with human bones.
Abbadon tries to take 100 soldiers from Arriquard for his own force, at the blessing of King Lucian. Warned by Eoc, Lady Marie manages to get ahead of Abbadon's propaganda and stops him. No one follows him.
King Julian, backed by Lady Marie's money, buys some of the slums in the southwest part of Newport, land generously granted by Lord Phillipe.
A healed Seren presents himself to King Julian and Lord Arriquard when they are settled, pledging allegiance.
A night time raid happens on the smithing guild, with a bunch of weapons stolen. The weapons are found very easily in the New Sota City Army.
Teller, head of the farming guild in Newport City, is found dead, smothered by a pillow. Nobody has any idea who it could be.
The forests across the river begin to burn, and it's rumored that something is dancing amidst the flames, singing an insane song.
August 28th: Chapter Eight
Not a single dice was rolled, and yet the tension was here. And the formula was simple: give a goal, give a time limit. It's so simple. As soon as there's a time limit and a general idea of how the world works, everyone starts to game it. They start to ask questions to try and figure out any niche.
This is the first time the players tried to game the Myth itself. And it worked, like a freaking charm.
Sit down. Create a context. Give a problem. Set a time limit. Let the players figure it out.
Literally nothing else is necessary. If the mechanics of your game don't provide a framework for that, your game is worthless.
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