[DH1e] The Damocles Contingency (OOC)

[A.T.]

A decidedly epic adventure.

[Lysimachus]

Amazing stuff!

 

I was working on a post for Reynard to converse with Locke, it doesn't really matter but maybe I can post the idea here if Mazer doesn't mind? (Maybe it did happen at some point in the last two weeks, who knows?)

 

***

 

Reynard:

"Inquisitor? I have questions… thoughts…?"

 

Reynard asked quietly, then waited until the old man nodded. Slowly, he started to express the concern that had begun to plague him on the lift.

 

"By the time its followers failed in their attempt to destroy the Hall of Judgement, the Golem had to know there was no way it could escape from Damocles. The blockade was impenetrable. Perhaps it even knew that before then? So why wait to initiate the Stack overload? It could have done it at any point, wiped us all out before we could do anything, if that was its real desire. Having seen it in person, I have my doubts about whether even a nuclear blast… or an orbital bombardment for that matter… would have penetrated that casing."

 

He paused, looking for some sign of agreement from Locke.

 

"So, then, why let us get that close? I think… Do you remember when we spoke in the Arbites gymnasium, I said that the first thing any prisoner wants is his freedom? I still believe that is what the Golem wanted. Or… perhaps a part of it, at least?"

 

"As I understand it, the Golem was a conglomeration of opposing forces - a human-made cogitator infused with a powerful daemon by Heretek lunatics. But in every fireside story I've ever heard, the daemon is trapped against its will, hates being bound, and is always seeking its freedom!"

 

He nodded to himself. It certainly made sense of the enemy's illogical, sometimes counterproductive, almost schizophrenic, actions. Sometimes it had opposed them, at others it had been almost helpful.

 

"I think the inner daemon learned during your first encounter with it that Hywelsbane was the only thing that could crack its shell. I think it wanted the hammer brought to it. I think that's why it demanded for you to be delivered up, my Lord. Not just out of hatred for you, though I'm sure that played its part. It knew you would bring Hywelsbane back to it."

 

"It did enough to make us think we were fighting against it, convince us that our path was the only available one… but really we were bringing it the only key that could unlock its cage."

 

Reynard swallowed, remembering the dark, angry laughter they heard, the sense of being marked by something vast and ancient and evil, as the Irradial Cogitator was pulverised.

 

Was he going mad? Imagining things? He didn't think so…

 

"What is a few centuries of banishment, or even death, to a creature of the warp? The Golem of Antares died, that is certain… but I fear something else - maybe something even worse? - was birthed anew."

 

***

 

 

 

 

Anyway, my ramblings aside, I'm very impressed with how Mazer finished the story off, and pleased that Reynard got his flowers and his date! As others may have guessed, he will (hopefully with Grace's help) be going looking for De Grassi to cure Magda Aldario. Then, he might go looking for trouble with his grandfather back on Cal Ferrina.

 

That is assuming, of course, that he doesn't get distracted from these goals at any point by a call from Lady Locke...

 

Thank you to @Mazer Rackham for being an amazing GM and storyteller for us, it has been an epic adventure, a great year, and I am genuinely quite sad that it has come to an end.

 

 

Edited August 3, 2023 by Lysimachus

[Mazer Rackham]

Thanks again guys for your kind comments, and for playing. There is no game without players. 

 

@Lysimachus I think you can add that very nice observation (Mod privs will allow it?) as a part of one of your posts - perhaps as the Voivode returns to the hive after the guns of Hector's Revenge fall silent?

 

Just an idea? 

 

Do you lads have any queries about anything, any comments on how it went, what worked, what didn't, etc?

 

Edited August 3, 2023 by Mazer Rackham

[Trokair]

I know I had had some questions a while back for when it was all over but alas they escape me for the moment.

 

 

This is probably just me forgetting some detail, but what’s up with the microscope and uphill rolling jewel?

 

Also if they just wanted to recruit Seb could they not just have asked him, kidnapping seems a bit extreme.

[Mazer Rackham]

24 minutes ago, Trokair said:

I know I had had some questions a while back for when it was all over but alas they escape me for the moment.

 

Such are the times we live in.

 

24 minutes ago, Trokair said:

This is probably just me forgetting some detail, but what’s up with the microscope and uphill rolling jewel?

 

Sequel-bait. However, that is not a commitment, guarantee, admission or otherwise statutory binding statement except in the province of Bavaria.

 

24 minutes ago, Trokair said:

Also if they just wanted to recruit Seb could they not just have asked him, kidnapping seems a bit extreme.

 

That was just a scene I wanted to use Vendetta again, she was pencilled in for other characters' storylines which didn't pan out, so I took a bit of license. The Cell weren't very gentle in a lot of things they did, plus: grimdark.  I hope it wasn't too jarring.

[Trokair]

No, first time round reading it I just thought it was the Inquisition cleaning house, but as the other segments left our characters alive I wasn’t sure.  

 

 

[Mazer Rackham]

Ah, I get you. Sorry about the slight disjointedness, but then again, you guys will refuse to let me kill you, so.....

[Necronaut]

Well thanks, @Mazer Rackham, that was a truly excellent campaign. We owe you all a debt of extreme gratitude. This was the first adventure I've ever been a part of in all of my years of playing TTRPGs that I've played from its start (barring a multi-month absence) through to its intended narrative conclusion beyond single session one-shots (and numerous TPKs: my friends and I are idiots). 

 

It has been a hell of a ride.

 

I think I speak for everyone here (and elsewhere on the board) when I say that we wish you all the best in your future endeavours, and we hope you'll be back soon. 

Edited December 19, 2023 by Necronaut

[Mazer Rackham]

Pleasure and welcome, lads. Always.

 

Just an FYI, but I've updated my status, and I'll add it here - I'll be lurking until Saturday 05/08/23.

 

If you drop a reply or a PM, I'll be around. Otherwise kids, be good be wise, and BEHAVE.  

[Lysimachus]

2 hours ago, Necronaut said:

This was the first adventure I've ever been a part of in all of my years of playing TTRPGs that I've played from it's start (barring a multi-month absence) through to its intended narrative conclusion beyond single session one-shots (and numerous TPKs: my friends and I are idiots). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Necronaut]

Well  you got me. 

[Machine God]

Brilliant as ever @Mazer Rackham

 

Very enjoyable.

 

I shall fade to black. It's a good job I'm not Johnny the Artist.

 

I liked the ending post.

 

Damocles reads like an ending of A certain franchise soap opera or just Sesame Street

 

 

 

Edited August 3, 2023 by Machine God
Brought to you by the colour 12 and the letter Black!

[Necronaut]

With abundant apologies to @Lysimachus, last time I checked we've completed Episode 3, with more to follow!! Vesalius has yet to be brought to justice for his (future) crimes against nature! There is no catharsis! 

 

Joking aside, Plunder was also a great yarn. 

Edited August 3, 2023 by Necronaut

[Trokair]

4 hours ago, Lysimachus said:

 

So thats another round of Plunder confirmed?

Good Good. 

[Lysimachus]

Nice save. 

 

Don't worry, I'll get you back in Vulgar Display of Power... random, illogical posts, attacking other PCs, meaningless and petty rules queries...

 

Have fun, GM! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(I kid, I kid! Don't kick me out, I promise I'll behave! )

 

 

[Necronaut]

If you want to engage in PVP and other deliberately destructive behavior, don't get upset when the gloves come off. ;)

Edited August 3, 2023 by Necronaut

[Trokair]

So, Mazer, where there any major or minor plot thread that you expected us to follow that we just obliviously walked past?

[Lysimachus]

25 minutes ago, Necronaut said:

If you want to engage in PVP and other deliberately destructive behavior, don't get upset when the gloves come off. ;)

 

Totally fair! 

 

17 minutes ago, Trokair said:

So, Mazer, where there any major or minor plot thread that you expected us to follow that we just obliviously walked past?

 

Excellent question. Eg. I wondered after we went straight up to Aldario, if I'd made an error in suggesting it, that we'd missed something important, maybe with House Canthus?

 

Edit: in a similar vein, were there many times where we went totally off the reservation and you had to wing it? (If there were, I certainly didn't spot them, which I would say is one of the hallmarks of a good GM! )

Edited August 3, 2023 by Lysimachus

[Necronaut]

In my experience, a good GM will "embrace and amplify" unanticipated player actions, following them through to their logical terminus, sometimes resulting in greatness and excitement, but more often in permanent death and dismemberment. 

[Mazer Rackham]

2 hours ago, Trokair said:

So, Mazer, where there any major or minor plot thread that you expected us to follow that we just obliviously walked past?

 

Loads, but really they were threads I could pull on to drag you back to the main plot - although some of them were deliberate timewasting. There was a rescue mission where Restal was captured in The Wrack, there was another bounty, the hunt for the Ordo Xenos snitch was meant to go on quite a while, bits and bobs like that. I think I dangled a wrestling match and a the shooting competition, which you went back to later. There were a few minor ideas floating about the Templum of Saint Iacinda - good call not going to the boarding house, that was a Party capture.

 

A lot of minor plot points had to be invented to keep you busy when the Party split. Nicios walked past a few involving investigating a cult, that kind of stuff.

 

Bardas missed a big corpse grinder deal, where he was going to get dumped on a conveyor belt and nearly cut up, seeing a bit more of what happened to the victims, (body horror grimdark aplenty). There was a whole subplot at one point involving the marriage between Canthus and the Third Daughter (from Hive Tertio) because she knew the Golem's True Name, and was carrying Locke's child: Deliver Locke was meant literally, and then some ritual sacrifice would follow.

 

1 hour ago, Lysimachus said:

Excellent question. Eg. I wondered after we went straight up to Aldario, if I'd made an error in suggesting it, that we'd missed something important, maybe with House Canthus?

 

Going after Ms Aldario was a big risk. That was a partial TPK waiting to happen, because she was ready to eat you alive which is why I said to take Nicios. You were supposed to go to House Canthus first, break in, find your way around and discover good old Greyson earlier. In the end, I had to let you play it out, and I learned Reynard could be manipulated by telling him he couldn't do things, and got my Party capture in by the back door to bring you all back together.

 

1 hour ago, Lysimachus said:

Edit: in a similar vein, were there many times where we went totally off the reservation and you had to wing it? (If there were, I certainly didn't spot them, which I would say is one of the hallmarks of a good GM! )

 

You're too kind - but yes, winging it with every roll of Tro's dice. 

 

EDIT:

1 hour ago, Necronaut said:

In my experience, a good GM will "embrace and amplify" unanticipated player actions, following them through to their logical terminus, sometimes resulting in greatness and excitement, but more often in permanent death and dismemberment. 

 

I have to admit to not doing much planning. I had a skeleton plot, with a vague beginning, middle and end, with a handful of fixed characters, and the Players did the rest. I think I made up about 70% of the adventure just from the logical (sometimes!) consequences of Player observation and choice, which dug me out of a narrative problem a couple of times.

 

The Players drove. You missed a lot of potholes I dug though. 

 

Edited August 4, 2023 by Mazer Rackham

[Trokair]

9 hours ago, Mazer Rackham said:

There were a few minor ideas floating about the Templum of Saint Iacinda - good call not going to the boarding house, that was a Party capture.

 

When was this, my mind is blanking.

 

9 hours ago, Mazer Rackham said:

Bardas missed a big corpse grinder deal, where he was going to get dumped on a conveyor belt and nearly cut up, seeing a bit more of what happened to the victims, (body horror grimdark aplenty). 

 

I saw the writing on the wall on that one and promptly went the other way. I have seen the Geonosian Droid factory and how safe that is, and that’s in the less grimdark SW setting.  I did not want to see how it goes in a involuntary servitor factory.  

 

9 hours ago, Mazer Rackham said:

There was a whole subplot at one point involving the marriage between Canthus and the Third Daughter (from Hive Tertio) because she knew the Golem's True Name, and was carrying Locke's child: Deliver Locke was meant literally, and then some ritual sacrifice would follow.

 

Very Interesting. So was Locke supposed to have never turned up still alive? Or as he always the Clergyman in disguise?  

 

 

9 hours ago, Mazer Rackham said:

You're too kind - but yes, winging it with every roll of Tro's dice. 

I am sorry, the dice are a law onto themselves and I forswear all responsibility for them.  

 

 

[Lord_Ikka]

I'm just happy my first run with a psyker didn't end in possession or an exploded cranium. Naked and smoking was interesting, and really funny for my wife/kid as I relayed it to them, but I was really not expecting Nicios to live. 

[Mazer Rackham]

1 hour ago, Trokair said:

When was this, my mind is blanking.

 

Hyronimous gave Restal/Reynard/Scourge directions to a small boarding house. The initial idea was this was was run by a vampire coven associated with Helene, but nothing was concrete unless the PC's went for it.

 

1 hour ago, Trokair said:

I saw the writing on the wall on that one and promptly went the other way. I have seen the Geonosian Droid factory and how safe that is, and that’s in the less grimdark SW setting.  I did not want to see how it goes in a involuntary servitor factory.  

 

Wise!

 

1 hour ago, Trokair said:

Very Interesting. So was Locke supposed to have never turned up still alive? Or as he always the Clergyman in disguise?  

 

Originally I was undecided about Locke being alive. I used him to get back on track. Loads of characters ended up like that. Drexler didn't exist - it was Cephas you were supposed to meet. De Grassi was actually Canthus right up until he took his mask off. The problem was the Party was split, so I had to cut NPC's from whole cloth on the fly. 

 

1 hour ago, Trokair said:

I am sorry, the dice are a law onto themselves and I forswear all responsibility for them.  

 

True. It is the immutable law. We mortals cannot hope to tame it.

 

36 minutes ago, Lord_Ikka said:

I'm just happy my first run with a psyker didn't end in possession or an exploded cranium. Naked and smoking was interesting, and really funny for my wife/kid as I relayed it to them, but I was really not expecting Nicios to live. 

 

Oh man, that's ace your wife and little one had a chuckle.  That's made me even happier. I have to thank @Commissar Molotov for the idea to have the GM do the Psychic Phenomena. It was just common sense to me, and allowed me to stop things going sideways, but keep the pressure on with rolling for perils etc on a '9'. Had to keep that threat going, force you to commit.

[Trokair]

12 minutes ago, Mazer Rackham said:

Originally I was undecided about Locke being alive. I used him to get back on track. Loads of characters ended up like that. Drexler didn't exist - it was Cephas you were supposed to meet. De Grassi was actually Canthus right up until he took his mask off. The problem was the Party was split, so I had to cut NPC's from whole cloth on the fly. 

And they are all secretly named Alpharius, aprt from Bob, he is just Bob.  

[Mazer Rackham]

4 minutes ago, Trokair said:

And they are all secretly named Alpharius, aprt from Bob, he is just Bob.  

 

Shhh! You'll blow Bob's cover!