C.M. Simpson's Blog, page 135
July 26, 2017
This Week’s Cover: Fate in the Sun
Fate in the Sun is due for release on October 6, 2017, and is currently in the editing stage that occurs prior to pre-order format and upload, which should be complete by the end of the week.
On Canon V, the colonists live underground—those that can, anyway. Those that are born unable, I help guide to the surface, and then I try to warn them of the creatures that come from beyond the rifts. Some listen. Most run away screaming. With the creatures coming more often, now, the last thing any of us expected was for corporate intervention. Now, we just have to work out if they’re offering a deal worth taking, or if we’d be better off underground.
July 25, 2017
A Note on Exercise and Writer Productivity
A word to the wise: Stay healthy, or your writing career will be a lot shorter than you can imagine.
Apart from regular check-ups, the basics are essential, and regular exercise is the most important.
I recently stopped my daily walks in order to get a novel out on time. It was a very bad move. Within a week and a half, my back had started to grumble to the point of me having to be very careful, I didn’t sleep so well, and I started to have trouble getting the ideas down on the page.
Within two days of walking, my back started to edge back from the brink of a major spasm and a few days in bed, and I’ve started to sleep. My creativity levels are up, and, as a whole, I’m feeling better.
I’m also more relaxed.
Walking is worth it. If you want to write, take the hour or so you need to exercise, and exercise at the level that works for you. Me? I can’t do high impact like running – not yet, anyway, and maybe not ever again – but I can do extended walking, at a fairly brisk pace, and I feel better when I do.
Exercise = productivity.
Just sayin’
July 24, 2017
Ingressing in the Palmerville Heritage Park - with a Spot of PokeGo on the Side
Near where I live is this park. It's called the Palmerville Heritage Park, and used to be a bit of a place back in the age of colonists and settlers. Now it's a home for trees... sooo many trees - and birds, too, if you're into birdwatching. I love it for both those things, as well as its photogenic qualities, and I walk there quiet often - but I would never have known it existed if it wasn't for Ingress.
When I first started playing, I tested everything. I discovered medals a couple of days in, and then I discovered missions - and that's when I discovered the park. Since then, another two missions have been added, so it's a good place to get to know.
As well as a well-maintained, wheelchair friendly, if somewhat short walking track, the park has parking for 8-10 vehicles, barbecues and picnic tables. The trail is flat, with no gradient to speak of, but may become boggy after rain. You are also permitted to walk your dog, there, although be careful about letting them off the lead in summer, when snakes are about. The only thing the park lacks is toilets.
The walking track runs the length of the park and has several information signs that tell you the history of the park, although it ends in a dead-end, and you will need to back track or walk along the grassy banks of Ginninderra Creek.
There are a total of seven Ingress portals at the park, which double as three gyms and four pokestops in Pokemon Go. If you take it on foot from the carpark, they are as follows:
Old Palmerville - the information sign adjacent to the carpark itself. This sign is both an Ingress portal and a gym for Pokemon Go. It can be accessed from the carpark, as well as from the picnic table nearby.
Palmerville Heritage Park - the sign at the entrance to the park. This is a short walk from the car park, and can be accessed safely if you walk through the nature strip between the car park and Owen Dixon Drive. Do not stop in the entryway to access it from your car; it's not safe. This portal is also a pokestop.
National Landcare Forest - the first marker as you walk into the park proper. This sign marks the start of the landcare forest, where rows of native trees, each marked by a small plaque to the winners of various landcare awards, have been planted. The forest sign is also a pokestop.
However, while the plaque for each tree might be considered historically significant, they are too numerous for each one to be designated a portal, as you can see from the pictures below. Although... a forest of portals, all blazing in green, blue and white... it does have its appeal.
Convicts, Oak Trees and Archaeology - the first historical information sign. Recently refurbished by Canberra Tracks, this sign looks different to the one displayed as part of the portal. it marks where the convict labourers were barracked on the Palmerville property. This portal doubles as a gym.
Horse Trough - the second historical information sign, also recently refurbished, although it looks identical to the original. This sign marks the remains of an old horsetrough, and where Palmerville's woolshed once stood. This portal doubles as a pokestop.
The Infamous 'Ginninderra Eleven' - is the third historical information sign along the track. Like the others, it has been recently refurbished. The 'Ginninderra Eleven' were a cricket team established by Palmerville's manager, William Davis. So, if you're a cricket-loving Australian, this site is of particular cultural importance, given the way most Australians feel about the sport. This portal is also the third Pokemon Go gym in the park.
Fateful Ginninderra Creek - is the last historical information sign on the track. Recently refurbished, like the rest, the sign explains the origin of the creek's name and commemorates the death of Palmerville's owner, Edward Crace, when he tried to cross the creek when it was in flood. This portal is also the final pokestop in the park. This is the last and final pokestop in the park.
The trail continues for another 100-200 metres across this bridge, and can be a little tricky to navigate after rain.
Across Owen Dixon Drive stands the Belconnen Soccer Club, which is home to two Ingress portals (The Soccer Club, and Belco Blue Croc), and one pokestop (The Soccer Club). Both can be accessed by crossing the road, and standing in the public space outside the club grounds, although there are days when scanner drift makes The Soccer Club portal just out of range.
When I first started playing, I tested everything. I discovered medals a couple of days in, and then I discovered missions - and that's when I discovered the park. Since then, another two missions have been added, so it's a good place to get to know.
As well as a well-maintained, wheelchair friendly, if somewhat short walking track, the park has parking for 8-10 vehicles, barbecues and picnic tables. The trail is flat, with no gradient to speak of, but may become boggy after rain. You are also permitted to walk your dog, there, although be careful about letting them off the lead in summer, when snakes are about. The only thing the park lacks is toilets.
The walking track runs the length of the park and has several information signs that tell you the history of the park, although it ends in a dead-end, and you will need to back track or walk along the grassy banks of Ginninderra Creek.
There are a total of seven Ingress portals at the park, which double as three gyms and four pokestops in Pokemon Go. If you take it on foot from the carpark, they are as follows:
Old Palmerville - the information sign adjacent to the carpark itself. This sign is both an Ingress portal and a gym for Pokemon Go. It can be accessed from the carpark, as well as from the picnic table nearby.
Palmerville Heritage Park - the sign at the entrance to the park. This is a short walk from the car park, and can be accessed safely if you walk through the nature strip between the car park and Owen Dixon Drive. Do not stop in the entryway to access it from your car; it's not safe. This portal is also a pokestop.
National Landcare Forest - the first marker as you walk into the park proper. This sign marks the start of the landcare forest, where rows of native trees, each marked by a small plaque to the winners of various landcare awards, have been planted. The forest sign is also a pokestop.
However, while the plaque for each tree might be considered historically significant, they are too numerous for each one to be designated a portal, as you can see from the pictures below. Although... a forest of portals, all blazing in green, blue and white... it does have its appeal.
Convicts, Oak Trees and Archaeology - the first historical information sign. Recently refurbished by Canberra Tracks, this sign looks different to the one displayed as part of the portal. it marks where the convict labourers were barracked on the Palmerville property. This portal doubles as a gym.
Horse Trough - the second historical information sign, also recently refurbished, although it looks identical to the original. This sign marks the remains of an old horsetrough, and where Palmerville's woolshed once stood. This portal doubles as a pokestop.
The Infamous 'Ginninderra Eleven' - is the third historical information sign along the track. Like the others, it has been recently refurbished. The 'Ginninderra Eleven' were a cricket team established by Palmerville's manager, William Davis. So, if you're a cricket-loving Australian, this site is of particular cultural importance, given the way most Australians feel about the sport. This portal is also the third Pokemon Go gym in the park.
Fateful Ginninderra Creek - is the last historical information sign on the track. Recently refurbished, like the rest, the sign explains the origin of the creek's name and commemorates the death of Palmerville's owner, Edward Crace, when he tried to cross the creek when it was in flood. This portal is also the final pokestop in the park. This is the last and final pokestop in the park.
The trail continues for another 100-200 metres across this bridge, and can be a little tricky to navigate after rain.
Across Owen Dixon Drive stands the Belconnen Soccer Club, which is home to two Ingress portals (The Soccer Club, and Belco Blue Croc), and one pokestop (The Soccer Club). Both can be accessed by crossing the road, and standing in the public space outside the club grounds, although there are days when scanner drift makes The Soccer Club portal just out of range.
July 23, 2017
This Week's New Pokemon: Larvitar, Hatchlings, Double Everything, and Still No Raids for Me
I started back on my exercise routine on Sunday, combining Ingress and PokemonGo with a bit of family time, so not a lot of gaming went on, but it was enough. The company was enjoyable, and great delight was taken in seeing sheep in a nearby field, dogs out with their families, and small birds doing their best to remain unseen. Oh, and there were attempted tonsil pictures... Don't ask; it's a kid thing. Anyway, the day, by 10 a.m. was absolutely glorious!
To be honest, I didn't expect much out of today's jaunt, just some stop spins, and the incidental catch, but Old Palmerville has this tendency to have a concentration of one type of pokemon, amidst all the rest - and there are a lot of pokemon, there. This week, it seems to be spinarak. I like spinarak. I caught 3, but saw around a half dozen in the short time I was there.
The highlight of the walk, apart from a very cute bull terrier pup, was catching this little larvitar. It's not the best at battling, but it's the first I've seen, so - yay!
And note the new trainer doing the pokemon assessments! It's so nice to see a new face! Makes me wish I had a picture of the one before her, so I could keep a chronology of them. I like these changes.
I also had a brand new hatchling to play with, just as I got home. This lovely little dratini arrive just after I got through the front door.
For the curious, it can battle with the best of them, has great Defence, and the best stats that trainer has ever seen. I can't complain about that!
I went for another walk later in the afternoon, and hatched another two eggs. From the two kilometre egg, I hatched this:
From the five kilometre egg, I hatched this:
And, finally, I noticed that I was receiving double the candy, double the stardust, and pretty much double the everything else for pokemon catches on Sunday. Nice one! I'm guessing that it had something to do with Pokemon Go Fest 2017 over in Chicago - which is very cool, and much appreciated over here on this side of the world.
AND I STILL CAN'T JOIN RAIDS...
Only downer this week, and that's even with keeping the pokego app updated. It usually doesn't bother me, except, on my afternoon walk on Sunday (done on my own), I saw this:
I know I couldn't have beaten it on my own, but still...
The Evee Project
As well as spinarak, I also like eevees, and I have kept quite a lot of them so that I can power them up and then upgrade them into the most powerful evolved forms I can manage. Today, I kicked that project off by switching out my ivysaur for my most powerful eevee. While stardust will always take time to get, candy is also going to be a problem, so it’s time to address that.
To be honest, I didn't expect much out of today's jaunt, just some stop spins, and the incidental catch, but Old Palmerville has this tendency to have a concentration of one type of pokemon, amidst all the rest - and there are a lot of pokemon, there. This week, it seems to be spinarak. I like spinarak. I caught 3, but saw around a half dozen in the short time I was there.
The highlight of the walk, apart from a very cute bull terrier pup, was catching this little larvitar. It's not the best at battling, but it's the first I've seen, so - yay!
And note the new trainer doing the pokemon assessments! It's so nice to see a new face! Makes me wish I had a picture of the one before her, so I could keep a chronology of them. I like these changes.
I also had a brand new hatchling to play with, just as I got home. This lovely little dratini arrive just after I got through the front door.
For the curious, it can battle with the best of them, has great Defence, and the best stats that trainer has ever seen. I can't complain about that!
I went for another walk later in the afternoon, and hatched another two eggs. From the two kilometre egg, I hatched this:
From the five kilometre egg, I hatched this:
And, finally, I noticed that I was receiving double the candy, double the stardust, and pretty much double the everything else for pokemon catches on Sunday. Nice one! I'm guessing that it had something to do with Pokemon Go Fest 2017 over in Chicago - which is very cool, and much appreciated over here on this side of the world.
AND I STILL CAN'T JOIN RAIDS...
Only downer this week, and that's even with keeping the pokego app updated. It usually doesn't bother me, except, on my afternoon walk on Sunday (done on my own), I saw this:
I know I couldn't have beaten it on my own, but still...
The Evee Project
As well as spinarak, I also like eevees, and I have kept quite a lot of them so that I can power them up and then upgrade them into the most powerful evolved forms I can manage. Today, I kicked that project off by switching out my ivysaur for my most powerful eevee. While stardust will always take time to get, candy is also going to be a problem, so it’s time to address that.
Be Vewy, Vewy, Quiet... We are Hunting Spinaraks...
So, second walk today was all about the spinaraks.
Basically, we have the Palmerville Heritage Park nearby. Although there is usually a ton of pokemon in this park, and you need to stock up on pokeballs if you want to "catch them all", I've also noticed that there is always a concentration of one particular type.
A few weeks ago, it was teddiursa. This week, it was spinarak - with a definite uptick of chicoritas towards the end of the day. If you take a look at the pictures above, you'll see both. I'd predict that this week will be a good one for catching these in the park - although I have been known to be wrong. This is what came up on the scanner as I was leaving the park.
So,I took a writing break this afternoon, and spent an hour and a bit hunting down the little arachnoidal insects, and stuffing them into pokeballs. They were fairly feisty.
But did I catch any?
Well, yes. Yes I did.
Basically, we have the Palmerville Heritage Park nearby. Although there is usually a ton of pokemon in this park, and you need to stock up on pokeballs if you want to "catch them all", I've also noticed that there is always a concentration of one particular type.
A few weeks ago, it was teddiursa. This week, it was spinarak - with a definite uptick of chicoritas towards the end of the day. If you take a look at the pictures above, you'll see both. I'd predict that this week will be a good one for catching these in the park - although I have been known to be wrong. This is what came up on the scanner as I was leaving the park.
So,I took a writing break this afternoon, and spent an hour and a bit hunting down the little arachnoidal insects, and stuffing them into pokeballs. They were fairly feisty.
But did I catch any?
Well, yes. Yes I did.
July 22, 2017
Progress Report: Week 3 July, 2017
This last week, I found myself still a long way behind my release schedule, with August’s first release in dire need of final touches and uploading, and the next two August releases pressing. Those are collections; they are horrible to format and take more time. So, my walking got cut, Babes got trimmed, Ingress and Pokego were minimised, with work on Operation Portal Recon almost nil.I also realised I was falling behind in the work for six other collections – the type of work that shouldn’t be done in a block – so I got that back on track.The other thing is that this is the week before classes start back at university so that admin required attention. As if that wasn’t enough, my better half hurt his back and required a lot of assistance for the basics, and school returned.I know life happens, but, boy, did it happen this week, so, a lot re-prioritisation occurred. For those of you who noticed the last Babes post was on Friday – don’t fret, I’m not done with it yet, and more is coming – slower than I wanted, but still there.Also, speaking of life, this is my last university semester. I won’t be able to continue on to gain a PhD, as I just can’t find a supervisor interested in any of the nine questions I’ve proposed. Apparently, they don’t fall in anyone’s area of expertise. That’s annoying, but I’ve also come to realise that I don’t want to sign the IP for any of those questions – and any derivatives in the future – to the university, so maybe it’s a good thing. I’ll be publishing my own research in the future.Anyway, this is my last semester, and life changes next year. I’m looking at going full-time as a writer, and working towards a liveable wage. This means I will need to keep up with my publishing and writing commitments, while I finish my degree. The next fourteen weeks are going to be one hell of a ride.
Week 3 Progress
New words produced: 25,281Outlines and Notes: 1,153Works completed: 31 (14 poems, 16 flash fiction, 1 short story)Works completely edited: 1 ( Freeman’s Choice )Covers created: 0Works published: 1 ( Freeman's Choice) Works submitted: 0Competitions Entered: 0Bloggery: 899University Prep and Assignments: 0
Writing NewsLast week saw me finally complete the CreateSpace edit and format of Freeman’s Choice , four or five weeks after I’d scheduled it. It also saw me continue work on Babes (see below), and get back into the writing required for three flash fiction collections and three poetry collections. I was also ambushed by an 8,000-word short story, which took out a day, and started work on a new novel, which arrived early in the week. All in all, a pretty good week’s writing, but still nowhere near enough publishing for what’s on the schedule.
I completed all of last week’s priorities, and dug in on a few things I had to get back on-line. The priorities included preparing the Print-on-Demand publication of Freeman’s Choice for CreateSpace; preparation and delivery of Freeman’s Choice to all ebook platforms for pre-order; and beginning the final edit and format for C.M. Simpson: Short Works from 2014, Volume 3 (Fantasy & Urban Fantasy).
In addition, I began the catch-up required if I am to release Another 365 Days of Poetry , and the very overdue 366 Days of Flash Fiction in December, and Another 365 Days of Flash Fiction in January 2018. As if that wasn’t enough, I also worked towards completing Wheelchair Mermaid for a November delivery. The word count on that little beastie says it should be done, but the story has other ideas, and wants another one or two thousand words.
June-July Challenge: Babes in London
Last week saw me get back into writing on this project, as well as rescheduling the remaining portions of what is already complete to cover the next few weeks. This does not mean I will stop writing it on a more regular basis. There will be another slice of Babes every Friday until it’s done – and that is now feasible with the revamping of the schedule.
I’m sorry it’s not done as planned – I thought I could do more, but there are other projects that have priority. Even so, I’m refusing to cut this project completely in the hopes I’ll get back to it, because that just won’t happen, so I’m compromising. Babes will have a section completed on it every week, and it will be up first thing on a Friday morning - the next section is already scheduled for this Friday, and I'll have another section completed by the end of the week.
NOTE: This adventure is not sanctioned in any way, shape or form by Fantasy Flight. It is not an official product, and I am in no way affiliated with them or they with me. There is no relationship between us. This adventure is mine, for fun, and for you, because some of you asked me to finish it.
Also, if you like this adventure and want to play it, please go buy the official rulebooks from somewhere where the original creators and publisher of the setting will be paid. I got mine from a Melbourne game store, but I’ve found PDF versions of the Player's Handbook and the Gamemaster's Handbook are now available from DriveThruFiction. If you enjoy their world, this is the best way to thank them.
Ingress Updates
This week’s Ingress consisted of hacking what portals I passed during school drop-off and pick-up – and those to and from the shopping on Saturday. No driving involved for me, so don’t panic; no lives were endangered. But, that was it. I’d have liked to do more, but time got tight – and I’ve noticed a that my back is starting to grumble due to the lack of walking and increased amount of sitting, so I’ll have to amend that. My progress on Operation Portal Recon also deteriorated due to me shifting time to continue editing, when I would normally be assessing portals in a break.
PokemonGo Updates
This week’s PokemonGo consisted of catching what was available during school drop-off and pick up, and spinning the pokestops to and from. I’m lucky I have a gym on that route, but there wasn’t a lot of time for battling, so not a lot happened there. There was a day where it was all yellow, though, so I stuffed every pokemon full of the berries I had, and somehow managed to earn the silver in the Berry Master medal, which was nice. However, I’ve noticed a bit of a health downgrade, and getting to sleep is not as easy as it should be, so I will be getting back into the walking routine.
Other News
In addition to everything else, my husband hurt his back quite badly, and needed a fair amount of assistance, but was recovering well by the end of the week, which was good. University also started back with the pre-class reading and prep required, and classes starting this week, so changes, changes, changes…
Priorities for Week 1, July 2017
This week’s priorities are as follows:
Keep up with Class preparation for three subjects.Finalise the CreateSpace format and upload for C.M. Simpson: Short Works from 2014, Volume 3 (Fantasy & Urban Fantasy). Complete another 21 pieces of flash fictionComplete another 21 poemsComplete Wheelchair Mermaids Manage 1 hour of walking each day, as assessed by the health program on my phone.Bring my language study on-line
July 20, 2017
Released for Pre-Order: Freeman's Choice
It's out... almost... kinda...
My first science fiction-fantasy blend.
Yay!
When Lorellan Cartwright finds buying back the woman he loves an impossible task, he promptly steals her away, but escaping from the criminally minded third duke of Aristoc and reaching a place of safety are two very different things. And stealing from the duke embroils Lorellan and Megan in the politics of crime lords, long forgotten races of fantasy, aliens and interstellar law enforcement. Can they escape the tangled webs woven by others and find refuge? Or will they join the ranks of those who tried before and failed?
My first science fiction-fantasy blend.
Yay!
When Lorellan Cartwright finds buying back the woman he loves an impossible task, he promptly steals her away, but escaping from the criminally minded third duke of Aristoc and reaching a place of safety are two very different things. And stealing from the duke embroils Lorellan and Megan in the politics of crime lords, long forgotten races of fantasy, aliens and interstellar law enforcement. Can they escape the tangled webs woven by others and find refuge? Or will they join the ranks of those who tried before and failed?
Babes in London: Act Three, Scene 3D (Part 1: Final Battle Flashback—Set Up)
SCENE 3 – INVESTIGATING THE DISC
SCENE 3D – FINAL BATTLE
The ceremony is near. You know it. Tension thrums through the air. Tonight, all will be won or lost. Tonight, the Setites will try to call their lord back. Tonight, you must all stand together, or you will all perish, and the world might just perish with you. Give the PCs a chance to ask a few short questions.
Where are we?
You are walking down what appears to be a hall leading to the chamber where the ceremony is to be held. It is wide enough to allow a single dragon to pass unhindered, or for six men to walk abreast of each other. The walls are unadorned, save for stone sconces set at regular intervals. The floor consists of sandstone blocks. You are not alone, but moving down the hall with a half dozen Setites, all heading towards where you expect the ceremony will take place.
Where are we going?
You are going to what you expect to be a large, round chamber, into which Set will be summoned. According the Seer’s vision, there is a large throne standing in the centre of the chamber. The corridor you are walking down is the main entrance, but there are two doorways at the end of the chamber that the Seer said were too well-warded for even her powers to breach without warning the Setites their meeting place had been discovered.
How are we dressed?
You are in your usual forms for travelling unseen amongst humans, although those of you in human form are dressed in long, dark robes which conceal your human weaponry, and appearance. You are not sure whether or not you will be asked to lower your cowls, but, at that point, you know you will be discovered and the battle will begin.
Is anyone else going to be helping us?
The Seer’s brood has promised to try and enlist the aid of at least one other brood, but has not sent word to confirm if you will be fighting alone, or fighting with friends. If the PCs are ‘Friends of Kredak’ add: And Kredak will try to bring his brood. They are not friends of the Setites, as you well know.
Once you have satisfied as many of the PCs question as you are able, read, or paraphrase, the following:
There are about twenty Setites in the room when you arrive, and the set-up for the ceremony is both everything you expected and much, much worse. The chamber is, indeed, large and round, but the throne is set at the rear of the chamber, and that is when you start to wonder just how the seer could get it so very, very wrong, because, the centre of the chamber is where the step-like ledges leading from the door reach the lowest level, which is a large, circular space in the centre of which stands a large, ornately carved altar. And the altar isn’t empty, but holds a dragon trapped in human form—which is something you didn’t know the Setites could do: trap a dragon, and, worse, trap a dragon in an alternate form. The knowledge is like cold smoke seeping into your souls. Allow the PCs to react. They can choose to start the battle now, or they can wait until the ceremony starts. The following information is available, should they ask:
How many cultists/Setites are in the room?
There are around 20 in the room.
Can I see anyone who appears more important the rest?
Not really. Everyone you see is dressed the same, and none of them appear to be approaching either the altar or the throne. If PCs choose to wait until someone they can identify as looking important, they are able to ask other questions about the room. If they have nothing more to ask, or once the locking bars have been put into place in the section titled What do I notice about the chamber?, go to The Ceremony Begins.
How big is the room?
The room is approximately 50 feet in diameter.
What do I notice about the chamber?
It is round. Its walls have buttresses spaced ten feet apart, which rise like great concrete ribs into a domed ceiling. Myriads of tiles pattern the walls, depicting scenes of Set’s victories, and his fall to taint. Strangely enough, you can see pictures of other dragons, both in the pictures of Set’s early life, and also in his descent into madness. The last few panels, however, look incomplete. One shows a group of Setites about to enter a shrouded wood, and the wood takes up the last three panels, with no more depictions of Set. Apart from the tiled murals on every wall, there are two other doors leading into the chamber. The room is arranged like an amphitheatre, with broad ledges forming ‘steps’ down to the round open space at the bottom. This space starts at the half-way point in the chamber, and extends to the back, where a large throne made of a smoky-grey stone stands. In the centre of the open space in front of the throne stands a large altar made of the same grey stone, and on that altar lies a woman with long, red hair, whom your dragon selves recognise as another dragon trapped in human form. At this point, the doors around the chamber are closed and locking bars are lowered into place on each one. At this point go to The Ceremony Begins.
How are the Setites dressed?
As far as you can tell, the Setites are dressed exactly the same way you are, in robes concealing their everyday clothes. If they have nothing more to ask, or once the locking bars have been put into place in the section titled What do I notice about the chamber?, go to The Ceremony Begins.
What weapons are the Setites carrying?
You cannot see any weapons in clear view, but, judging from the bulges beneath the robes, some of the cultists are armed. It is difficult to say how long it will take them to get to their weapons once any fighting starts. That would depend on if they planned ahead well enough to have access points designed into their robes. If they have nothing more to ask, or once the locking bars have been put into place in the section titled What do I notice about the chamber?, go to The Ceremony Begins.
Do I recognise the dragon on the altar? or Can I tell what kind of dragon she is?
No, you are new to this area, and have not had time to become acquainted with the local brood. At this point, you could not even be sure she is a member of the local brood, or if she is a traveller like yourself—and, although you are sure she’s a dragon, you can’t see enough to be sure what kind of dragon she is.
NOTE: This adventure is not sanctioned in any way, shape or form by Fantasy Flight. It is not an official product, and I am in no way affiliated with them or they with me. There is no relationship between us. This adventure is mine, for fun, and for you, because some of you asked me to finish it.
Also, if you like this adventure and want to play it, please go buy the official rulebooks from somewhere where the original creators and publisher of the setting will be paid. I got mine from a Melbourne game store, but I’ve found PDF versions of the Player's Handbook and the Gamemaster's Handbook are now available from DriveThruFiction. If you enjoy their world, this is the best way to thank them.
This Week's PokemonGo Medal
On Tuesday, I managed to advance one of the new PokemonGo medals - the Berry Master. This is most definitely not to be confused with a stair master, although exercise was had while earning it. With silver under my belt, I now have to do another 900 or so feedings to get to gold.
Tips on going for this medal?
Feed ALL the Pokemons. ALL OF THEM. As many as you have berries for. As many as the game allows.
And count your fingers. These things have no manners when it comes to berries.
Tips on going for this medal?
Feed ALL the Pokemons. ALL OF THEM. As many as you have berries for. As many as the game allows.
And count your fingers. These things have no manners when it comes to berries.
July 19, 2017
Babes in London: Act Three, Scene 3C (Part 2: Museum Investigation—Aftermath)
SCENE 3 – INVESTIGATING THE DISC
AFTERMATH
When the battle is over, read, or paraphrase (especially if the professor is dead), the following:
“I think I need to sit down,” says a slightly croaky voice from somewhere nearby. Doctor McKay is standing to one side, looking at the space from where the steaming remnants of the beby have disappeared. She has the book tucked against her chest and the medallion and her mobile phone clenched tightly in one fist. She walks over to a chair and sits down, before taking a deep breath and looking up at you: “Do I want to know what this is all about?” she asks.
The PCs have a chance to tell someone outside their circle what is really going on. Let them decide what to say. If they confide in her, Angelina appears to take everything in her stride, but her research takes a decidedly mythic twist as she begins to secretly probe beyond the known ancient world in an attempt to find the mythic one. PCs can note this change if they are following her on social media.If PCs decide not to let her in on the secret, she still begins her search for the truth, but takes longer to find it. She still tells the PCs what the book says about the Setites.If Dr. McKay has died during the encounter, PCs have to explain her death. The injuries dealt by the beby direct suspicions away from the PCs. In this case, they are able to attempt to smuggle the book out (Air – Trickery TH2; people are very distracted by Dr. McKay’s death). If Dr. McKay does not die during the encounter, PCs can still try to smuggle the book out but the test is TH6. Dr. McKay may be a little distracted by the appearance and disappearance of the beby; but she isholding the book, and her hand never leaves it.To cut a long story short, the professor and the book reveal the following information: The Cult of Set was a group of people dedicated to serving the god Set, and to bringing about his return to the world at large. In the mythology related to the symbol, the god Set was a renegade god because of his attempt to overthrow Osiris and claim Isis as his queen; he disappeared beneath the desert sands in an attempt to hide after his defeat at the hands of Horus. It proved to be a very effective tactic; Set was never seen again, although his followers do not believe he is dead, and hope he will return one day. As PCs make their way out of the library, read or paraphrase the following:
You have just left the area Professor McKay calls an office, and are walking down the corridor, when the world ‘shimmers’. The overhead lights dim to nothing and you find yourselves making your way through a darkness lit only by lamps set in wall sconces. You are wearing cloaks and, for some reason, have pulled the cowl as far forward as you can so that your face is hidden by shadow. In your hand, you hold a small metal disk in case you are challenged.
GO TO ACT III SCENE 3D: FINAL BATTLE.
NOTE: This adventure is not sanctioned in any way, shape or form by Fantasy Flight. It is not an official product, and I am in no way affiliated with them or they with me. There is no relationship between us. This adventure is mine, for fun, and for you, because some of you asked me to finish it.
Also, if you like this adventure and want to play it, please go buy the official rulebooks from somewhere where the original creators and publisher of the setting will be paid. I got mine from a Melbourne game store, but I’ve found PDF versions of the Player's Handbook and the Gamemaster's Handbook are now available from DriveThruFiction. If you enjoy their world, this is the best way to thank them.
