Campaign: Facets

[tshiggins]

(...continued)

Meanwhile, over on the other side of the now-closed portal, Henrietta, Aurelia, Frank, A.J. and Jimmy continued to work on the base-camp. Henrietta, who had some experience with horses, examined the three beasts the group had gotten from Izzy and Heck (in exchange for some booze and spices from the other side of the portal). She pronounced two of them in reasonable shape, but the third a broken-down nag, fit only for draft work around the camp (if that).

Still, the presence of two good horses came as welcome news, given that the group found itself a buggy short. Jimmy said he’d gladly ride one of the animals, and Henrietta and Frank said they’d switch off with the other. A.J., who had no animal skills, at all, adamantly defended his right as the engineer to drive the steam-buggy. Aurelia also declined the offer to ride.

After a couple of days working around the base-camp, the group set off for the Colorado River (or, as it was called in this world, the Rio Grande del Norte). The reach the ford at the site where Moab would be, in their own world, by the end of the first day and, as expected, some local Utes showed up to trade, the next morning.

Henrietta and Jimmy, between them, managed to make nice with the Indians, and bought a few things. Henrietta noted that the group would stick out a lot less if they wore local clothing and, as the group worked its way south along the trade-road east of the river, picked up enough local gear from the willing Utes to clothe everyone.

By the time the buggy turned east, away from the Rio Grande del Norte to follow the decent road alongside the Rio San Juan, the October nights had gotten increasingly nippy. Once the buggy took the mountain road to get through the passes (fortunately still open), the nights grew colder, still.

However, as the group descended out of the passes, they found increasingly signs of civilization in the eastern piedmont area, and that coincided with what Henrietta recalled from history. The harvest had nearly ended, for the year, and the road to Santa Fe had increasing traffic as the Spanish farmers took grain, produce and other goods toward the Santa Fe markets, along the increasingly well-maintained Camino Real.

After they’d traveled nearly a week, and estimated themselves to be a long day’s travel from Santa Fe, the group pitched camp in an open meadow, a bit early, and settled in to sort their inventory and prepare for the trip into the largest city they’d yet seen, on this side of the portal. The next morning, they set out early on the final leg of the trip to the capitol of La Colonia de Nova España.

The group passed through a couple of larger pueblos, and then encountered a troop of mounted soldiers as they neared the city. A bit non-plussed at the sight of the group, the sergeant introduced himself as Felipe Garcia, and asked them their business. Henrietta spun a story about a long trip from Alta California, and elaborated on it in parts.

Somehow Sgt. Garcia got the impression that she might be an eccentric British noblewoman on a world tour (success on Henrietta’s default Acting, and a critical on Diplomacy), and therefore quite wealthy. The cavalry sergeant immediately formed his men into an escort for “La Doña Henrietta,” and accompanied them into Santa Fe. He recommended La Hotel de la Reina and, when Henrietta asked him to escort her there, the sergeant agreed.

For her part, “La Doña” found the trip through Santa Fe at twilight, quite enchanting. Garcia made sure they remained on the main boulevards, and the party saw men begin to light up the streets with gaslights. As they progressed, they saw that the lights mostly appeared along the main avenues, while the smaller, winding side-streets became increasingly dark and gloomy.

As the dusk deepened, the group found themselves in front of La Hotel de la Reina, on a well-lit flagstone playa. “La Doña” graciously thanked Sgt. Garcia and his men, as the hotel’s doorman rushed down to offer his services.

Aurelia and A.J. immediately and enthusiastically adopted roles as “La Doña’s” loyal lady-in-waiting and chief man-servant, Frank reluctantly posed as her bodyguard, and Jimmy mostly looked distressed and didn’t say much of anything. He’d been in Santa Fe, before, and was terrified to find himself there, again, as night fell.

The hullabaloo brought the manager out and, while not exactly convinced of the proper status of “La Doña,” he decided to play along for now, just in case. He offered the group a suite of rooms on the upper floor, had the staff escort them up, and felt much better when Aurelia managed to tip everyone perfectly (another good roll on default Savoir Faire) in local currency from a nonchalantly -- and quite deliberately -- displayed bulging purse.

Upon the owner’s inquiry, Henrietta claimed to be quite weary from the long trip, and asked that the group receive dinner in the suite, and the man readily agreed and bustled out to make arrangements. A few minutes later, the concierge arrived and introduced himself, noting that he was available if they needed anything.

Thinking quickly, Aurelia told him that “La Doña” planned to shop for a new wardrobe, the next day, and asked about the best local shops. The concierge made some recommendations, and said he could arrange for seamstresses to come in afterwards, to customize the fit. Aurelia expressed her gratitude and said “La Doña” would greatly appreciate that, and the pleased man bustled away. Shortly after that, dinner arrived – lamb, accompanied by a good local vino rioja.

After the staff cleared out, the group decided they badly needed to come up with a cover-story that matched what they’d already told the Spanish soldiers in Valle Grande, the previous month. So, the group spun a tale in which they’d traveled from their homes in a British colony as far as the Far East, and then ran into trouble as they started to island-hop across the Pacific.

They decided a combination of a bad storm and an attack by a giant squid had cost them much of their luggage, and they’d run into an additional patch of bad luck when attacked by wolves as they traveled across British Columbia. Wishing to collect Indian stories and folklore, they’d crossed the Sierra Nevada south of British territory, and had slowly made their way across the Great Basin by going from one oasis to the next, led by Indian guides.

They decided they’d arrived in Valle Grande at the end of summer, and spent the subsequent month exploring the area and working their way south to Santa Fe, where they hoped to rejoin civilization. The party also decided “La Doña Henrietta” had been grown up among the British colonial gentry, and had married at a young age to an industrialist.

That man had recently died and, to get away from her grief, the widow had resolved upon a world tour, accompanied by her most trusted servants, A.J. and Aurelia. They had picked up Frank and Jimmy along the way, as the trip had proven rather more daunting than first anticipated.

With that framework established, the group enjoyed hot baths and turned in for the night.

The next morning, the group awoke fairly early, had breakfast (coffee, and fresh bread with jamón serrano y mermalada de tomates), and set out to go shopping. They spent the day buying local high-end clothing, about which Henrietta consulted with the local boutique owners. By mid-day, they returned to the hotel for luncheon. A.J. spotted several local newspapers lying in front of the door to the suite, and quickly snagged them.

Shortly after lunch, the seamstresses descended upon them. By the time for siesta, the new clothes had been hemmed and nipped and tucked, and the seamstresses went away happy as the group settled into their rooms for the remainder of the cool afternoon, until dinner.

Once the sun had fully set, the group descended in glory to the dining room, and settled in at a table that they soon realized made them the center of attention. They had another delightful meal and, thereafter, “La Doña” began to chat with the visitors who stopped by the table, as Jimmy went and hid in a corner and Frank began to prowl around the perimeter of the room.

Several of the señors and señoras made introductions, and a few of the young caballeros eyed Aurelia appreciatively. However, the group let Henrietta do most of the talking, since she had the best social skills and command of Spanish. The archaeologist managed to avoid embarrassing herself, and learned a few things during the discussions.

The visitors mentioned that, if La Doña wished to learn more about Santa Fe’s unique culture, she should make acquaintances of Señora Francesca Rosario Sierra y Calderon, who led the city’s community when it came to art and literature. In addition, the rather mysterious Doña Eva Linda de la Vasquez y Torres held sway over the city’s music scene, and seemed to know everyone.

In addition, the daughter of one of the visitors introduced herself to Aurelia as Maria Linda de la Cruz y Vasquez and, in fluent English, noted that her father had made a name for himself in textiles. She invited Aurelia to visit for tea. Aurelia said she might do so, at some point, should La Doña not need her services.

(continued...)

[tshiggins]

(...continued)

A few of the younger men engaged A.J. in conversation. They’d heard of the group’s arrival in the “steam carriage,” and asked if they might come and have a look. Arthur said he’d have to get permission from "Doña Henrietta," but didn’t see why that might be a problem.

For his part, Frank remained away from the center of attention, and focused more on who didn’t choose to introduce themselves, as opposed to those who did. He noted that, while several of the tables held men dressed as military officers, none of them had made Henrietta’s acquaintance – although they did keep an eye on the parade of visitors in the center of the room.

Frank thought it might be a really good idea to know what was in the newspapers A.J. had grabbed, earlier.

With that, the session ended.

##

Funny Quotes

G&AInc (OOC): If they need some of Randy’s blood, we’ve got lots.

Frank: I’m going to save my healing spells for a real emergency, when everybody goes down and I’m the only one standing!

Arthur: Well, there’s the possibility that we might have to take on the blood-slaves, but we’ll absolutely have to take on the spirit, again, if we stay here.
Frank: If we do, we don’t have a chance. They’re faster than us, stronger than us, and they can kill us all.
Sunmi: We’re not all damaged and bleeding….
Doc Bascher (up to her elbows in blood): Oh, you will be!
Randy: Hey, now. Let’s not go blaming people.
GM: At this point, I think that’s become a running gag.

Rape-spirit(deeply upset): You left me!
Sunmi: Bitch be crazy!
(Doc Bascher slams on the throttle.)

Frank: There is no, “Magnificent Five.”
Beatrice: You could be the Fabulous Five.
Frank: I’m not wearing purple pants!
Doc Bascher: How about sparkly boots?
Frank: No!
Beatrice: You could wear “meggings.”

Henrietta(when she becomes “Doña”): It’s all about me!
Frank: Get that lady a tee-ara!

(Debbie, Bernetta, Bennie Rae and Samantha spend nearly 40 minutes going through smart-phone pictures of Spanish dresses, circa 1890, picking cuts and colors for their characters.)
Debbie(OOC): Oooh! Pretty!
Bennie Rae(OOC): I like these stripes! Now, what colors would work best…?
Bernetta(OOC): Oh! Look at this one!
Rebecca(OOC): You’re not even there! You went back to the other side of the portal!
Bernetta(OOC): So?
Mike(OOC): We’re playing an adventure game, and what are they doing? Shopping!

Henrietta: We need to get some new clothes for the men, too.
Bernetta(OOC): Pantalones!
Aurelia: It’s Hammertime!
Henrietta: Can’t touch this!

##

[SionEwig]

Well, that you are uncomfortable with such situations in games is one of the reasons why you (and Rebecca) deserve thumbs up. And I'll add a tip of the hat to Rebecca for going ahead with her character's Sign, even though there were elements she didn't like.

As to the most recent session, it looked fun also. I can't wait to see what trouble they end up in while in Santa Fe. I'm surprised they didn't do a stop at Taos Pueblo, you really could have messed with them there (insert evil laugh). A bit south of there they went right past a deposit of nice garnet and another of rather excellent staurolite crystal. Really loved the OOC "shopping trip" which is something that I can easily see happening in many groups.

[tshiggins]

Originally Posted by SionEwig

Well, that you are uncomfortable with such situations in games is one of the reasons why you (and Rebecca) deserve thumbs up. And I'll add a tip of the hat to Rebecca for going ahead with her character's Sign, even though there were elements she didn't like.

As to the most recent session, it looked fun also. I can't wait to see what trouble they end up in while in Santa Fe. I'm surprised they didn't do a stop at Taos Pueblo, you really could have messed with them there (insert evil laugh). A bit south of there they went right past a deposit of nice garnet and another of rather excellent staurolite crystal. Really loved the OOC "shopping trip" which is something that I can easily see happening in many groups.

Mostly, they steered clear of the other settlements, and focused on getting to Santa Fe. They also didn't do much in the way of prospecting and, given the interest the Spanish had in exploiting the mineral riches of the New World, they'd have found the garnet deposit, already.

In this world, the main POD occurred more than a century after Columbus sailed, and the ripple-effects didn't really appear widely until the French Revolution.

As such, the Spanish have had a consistent administration (with consistently mediocre competence...) of the New World holdings for several centuries, with no French Occupation or Mexican Revolution. Santa Anna was jailed in Cuba, for a time, and then rendered powerless. Juarez was put to death when he started to accept aid from the United States for his northern insurgency against a particularly bad Spanish colonial administration, about 60 years prior to the current date.

So, the Spanish, while not great colonial overlords (and particularly bad about some things) have had the time and (mostly) peaceful conditions needed to exploit La Colonia de Nova España (in our world, it was La Colonia de Nueva España), more comprehensively.

As for the shopping, I've gotten used to it, and mostly just let them run with it for awhile, while I jot down funny quotes. I've noticed that women frequently play RPGs differently from men.

For instance, in my second long-running fantasy campaign, set in a scratch-built setting, the two women in the group thought it was horrible that so many children in the coastal city-state lived on the streets. So, they used a significant fraction of their income and loot to build a home for them, get them cleaned up, and hire teachers and tutors. The other members of the group, all of whom had started out as AD&D murder-hoboes, were a bit bemused by this, at first, but eventually they went along and had a lot of fun.

(Of course, when the Big Bads, in that campaign, corrupted the minds of some of the kids they'd raised, the ladies were appalled. Then they went for the jugular. It was very keen.)

This party is larger than any I've run, before, more than half are women, and only a few of them have experience with RPGs. So, they do unexpected things, fairly frequently, and how they react to situations catches me a little flat-footed, sometimes. It's a lot of fun, watching them do their things. :)

[tshiggins]

Okay, we held the latest session of Facets on Sunday. I'm about to start the write-up, but in the meantime, I thought it would be fun to show the newspaper stories that Henrietta translated from the Heraldo de Santa Fe.

When I sent her the file, I had some fun with the formatting, in that I laid it out in columns. I can't do that, here, so I'll just post 'em.

The date is November 11, 1918 (In 2014, the New Moon took place on Oct. 24, and that's the date the portal opened, there. However, the corresponding New Moon on the 1918 side was Nov. 4.)

Also, if anybody knows of a place I can find images of the pages of a catalog of dry good prices in Spain, around the turn of the 20th Century, I'd sure appreciate it. I winged it, Sunday, but it would be nice to have a price list.

###

Harvest Plentiful

The office of Gobernador-Real Francisco Alvaro Moctezuma y Navarro reported that early estimates of the harvest recently concluded indicates a good year for farmers. According to a spokesman, farmers in the valley of the Rio Grande del Sur enjoyed a particularly good year, with yields approximately 12 percent above normal.

Food prices are not expected to decline, this year, in light of preparations for the likely war with Los Estados Unidos, with the ongoing laborious efforts to build and man the defensive lines along the Rio Cimarron.


Gaslights in Santa Fe

The office of Alcalde Jesus Luis Delgado y Marino reports that efforts to modernize Santa Fe continue apace, and that more than a quarter of the calles, and all of the bulevares grandes, have been gaslit.

The office of the Alcalde reports it will continue to expand the gaslighting despite the developing situation to the north, and expects that even should hostilities break out, they will remain far from the city.


Celebrates Birthday

La Señorita Juliana Maria, youngest daughter of the gobernador-real, celebrated her 14th birthday, this week.
La señorita expressed gratitude for the gifts received from relatives and well-wishers, and said she looks forward to her Quinceñara celebration, at this time next year.


Man struck by horse

Jorge Monolo Lucas y Porra, 16, was struck by a runaway horse on Calle de Vargas, yesterday, and suffered a broken arm. The owner of the horse, Manuel Taciano Rios y Ubina, was arrested, and is expected to be fined for beating his animal.


Special Notice to Patrons

It is well to have far-sightedness, and good judgement, but sometimes we are misled by appearances. I make no display of fancy buildings, or of my unpatched pantalones, or fine equipment in any way to the detriment of our already-established industries in Santa Fe – I believe a man should live as he chooses.

I am fully engaged as stated heretofore in my regular businesses, including my mill warehouse business and other storage facilities. My old shacks on Calle San Mateo have under their patched roofs the very best in Flours, Feeds, Coals, &etc., that can be had and I sell as low as is consistent with the present high prices.

Try me and be convinced,
Very Sincerely,
Tomasino Filiberto Viola y Paredes, prop.


Bargains! Bargains!

Prices that mean money-saving for you! See today’s insert from Los Hermanos Perez, mercados!


Dirigible Sighted

HABANA, CUBA
BY TELEGRAPH – Numerous citizens and other residents of the capitol city of this jewel in the Crown of His Royal Majesty, Alfonso XIII (long may he reign), reported the sighting of a dirigible hovering high above the harbor, Tuesday last.

Speculation as to the origin of the airship was rife, and most opined that the Navy of Los Estados Unidos had, once again, displayed contempt for the colonial territory of his majesty.


STATEMENT
Of the condition of
El Banco Corregidor
Of Santa Fe, at the close of its business, October 11, 1918

RESOURCES

Loans - - - Ptas91,374.94
Bonds - - - 8,500.00
Overdrafts - - 57.47
Banking House and
Fixtures - 4,400.00
Interest Paid - - 123.38
General Expenses - 737.60
Cash and Due From
Banks - - 49,347.70
Total Ptas109,046.02

LIABILITIES
Capital Stock - - 10,000.00
Surplus - - 6,600.00
Interest and Exchange 992.87
Rents - - 12.00
Deposits - - 101,374.94
Total - Ptas118,979.81


Russians, Japanese Skirmish in Korea!

VLADIVOSTOK, RUSSIA – BY TELEGRAPH

His Majesty’s consular office in the Russian port city of Vladivostok, located at the head of La Bahia Cuerno de Oro, in a narrow sliver of Russian territory between China and Korea, reported two weeks ago clashes between the forces of Tsar Nicholas II and Imperial Japan, along the Line of Demarcation that follows the 39th Parallel, on the Korean peninsula.

The military headquarters of each empire accused the other of repeated violations of the line of demarcation, which divides Japanese-controlled Southern Korea from the Principality of North Korea. The Principality acts as a buffer between the two empires, and relies on the forbearance of each for its continued existence.

The Army of the Greater Japanese Empire controls the southern side of the 39th Parallel, while the northern side is ostensibly held by the Principality, but relies heavily for security on the presence of elements of Tsar Nicholas II’s Trans-Bailkal Cossack Division.

Tsar Nicholas II formally recognized Southern Korea as within the sphere of influence of the Japanese Empire following the war between Russia and Japan that concluded 12 years ago, in which the Japanese shockingly fought the Russians to an unexpected stand-still. In return, Tsar Nicholas II insisted upon the creation of the Principality to provide a needed buffer zone between the two powerful empires. Despite the agreement, conditions remain unsettled in the Far East, as each emperor seeks superiority in the region.

In what could be a related incident, the headquarters of the Imperial Russian Navy in Porto Arturo, in the Chinese province of Liaodong, reported vessels of the Navy of the Greater Japanese Empire, had closely approached Russian vessels on several occasions, in recent months.

This may follow a pattern of Japanese-caused incidents both inland, and along the coast of the Empire of China, which resulted in strident complaints from the Empire of Great Britain’s advisors to China’s Emperor, Sian Tung, as well as Portuguese trading interests.

Japan controls much of the coast of Manchuria, which the Imperial Army of Greater Japan seized from Russia 12 years ago. As part of the negotiated settlement, Japan retained the coastal regions to 100 miles inland, but recognized the rest as lying within Russia’s sphere of influence, in exchange for the tsar’s recognition of Japanese dominance of Southern Korea.

Porto Arturo is Russia’s only Pacific port open year-round.


Our View

It is incumbent on all the nations of Christendom to resist the aggressive acts perpetrated by the pagans of the Empire of the Rising Sun. While His Holiness, Pope Benedictus XV has rightly condemned the repeated errors that burden Russian Orthodoxy, we must say that even erroneous Christians rank as far superior to Far Eastern pagan mysticism.

When the ancestors of the anarchists that infest Los Estados Unidos sent a naval expedition to the islands of Japan more than 60 years ago, many warned at the time that the foolish act would have severe repercussions. Now, nearly three generations later, we understand the truth of those wise and prophetic words.

Even the Empire of Great Britain, which supplanted Los Estados Unidos as the source of technology learned with shocking speed by the denizens of Japan, may finally recognize the danger to Christians posed by yellow paganism.


Afghanistan Negotiations

KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – BY TELEGRAPH

Representatives of both the Empire of Great Britain and the Empire of Russia report progress on negotiations about the proper division of the region into spheres of influence.

[SionEwig]

That is some good stuff there Tom, well done. If I was playing there would be a million questions. ;-)

I'll look around for the dry goods catalog images in Spain. Does the catalog need to be from Spain or can it simply be in Spanish?

[tshiggins]

Originally Posted by SionEwig

That is some good stuff there Tom, well done. If I was playing there would be a million questions. ;-)

I'll look around for the dry goods catalog images in Spain. Does the catalog need to be from Spain or can it simply be in Spanish?

If it could have Spanish prices, that would be best.

[SionEwig]

Tom,

I couldn't find a catalog that's been digitized for what you want. I know the catalogs exist, but either no one has digitized one (which I doubt) or I simply can't find one. Now, what may work for you is to look through various newspaper archives for ads. This collection looked to be useful.

http://icon.crl.edu/digitization.php

[tshiggins]

Originally Posted by SionEwig

Tom,

I couldn't find a catalog that's been digitized for what you want. I know the catalogs exist, but either no one has digitized one (which I doubt) or I simply can't find one. Now, what may work for you is to look through various newspaper archives for ads. This collection looked to be useful.

http://icon.crl.edu/digitization.php

Okay, those are some awesome sources. Unfortunately, I haven't yet found a mail-order catalogue, at that site. Sigh.

I'll keep looking, and I think I'll mosey over to the Denver Public Library, tomorrow. It's a 100 percent government depository, which means it gets everything. I mean, everything.

And, it employs research librarians, who are the seekrit masturz of the universe (they have access to all knowledge -- if they don't already know it, they can find it). I'll see what they have available.

[tshiggins]

We played the latest session of facets, three weekends ago, and began with the party divided and playing on two different worlds. After the attack of the rape spirit, Doc Bascher and the mentally damaged Sunmi returned to the 2014 world with the terribly injured Beatrice, Randy and Grunt. Stephen and Claudia, whose minds were faceted on the first trip through the portal, also returned with them, to seek help and meditation training from JoCat.

Meanwhile, in the alt-1918 Earth, Henrietta, Aurelia, Frank and Arthur decided they’d stick with the original plan to spend a month traveling through La Colonia de Nova España and visit Santa Fe, the capitol of the northern region. Jimmy Ehrland, who has shifted to NPC status now that Kyle has dropped out of the campaign, accompanied them as a guide and translator.

I had originally meant to start the session on the 2014 side, but Samantha and Mike were a bit late, so I worked with the group in the 1914 side a bit, and then shifted to the 2014 group, only to finish the session with the PCs in Santa Fe. That would be a pain to write up, so the session report will focus on the 1914 group, first, and then finish with events in 2014, where the ultors with the Order of the Scarlet Sage finally made their move.

Characters Present:

Frank Moses -- A former Marine who recently resigned his job as a trooper with the Utah Highway Patrol (UHP. In the past, Moses has worked with 4CSAR as needed, and continues to have an interest in Doc Bascher. However, he has begun to seriously consider permanent relocation to the 1914 world. -- Played by Mike H.

Dr. Henrietta "Indiana" Johnson -- A personable, age 29-and-holding Anthropologist who specializes in the pre-Columbian indigenous people of the American Desert Southwest. A Native of Apache Junction, AZ, "Indiana" is good with people and has been fascinated by American Indian religion and folklore since she was a child. Henrietta speaks Apache fluently, and not-so-secretly wishes archaeology could be more like Raiders of the Lost Ark and less like digging in a trench with a trowel and a toothbrush -- Played by Debbie S.

Randy "Random" Shoop -- a twenty-something, semi-pro mountain-bike competitor who has trouble staying focused, but is basically a good and reliable member of the team, with an unexpectedly strong moral character -- Played by Gold & Appel, Inc.

Dr. Belody "Doc" Bascher -- a local veterinarian for both large and small animals, who frequently fixates on her job and uses 4CSAR as her primary social outlet. -- played by Samantha H.

Dr. Arthur "A.J." Jamison -- a retired NASA scientist with a home in one of Moab's nicer canyon sub-developments, who volunteers for 4CSAR because he needs to do something to get out of the house. Considers himself responsible for Sunmi Jones, who is enough of a science-geek that the two of them can actually hold a conversation. -- Played by Anten S.

Sunmi Jones -- A Korean-American prodigy and student of chemistry at Utah Valley University, who spent most of her childhood with her deceased mother's family in Korea, but has come to Utah to attend college and work with her father's petroleum exploration firm. Somewhat moe, awkward-but-cute, glasses-wearing nerd girl, who only volunteers with 4CSAR because volunteer work is required for her degree. Recently suffered mental damage after an attack by a spirit of pain and violation. -- Played by Rebecca W.

Beatrice "B" Lawrence -- U.S. Army veteran who works for a local air charter service as a helicopter mechanic. A cynic about men, and accompanied by "Grunt," the biggest, best-trained pit-bull anybody has ever seen (purchased as an ally, and a totally badass dog, even before it was possessed by what appears to be a benign “foo” spirit) -- played by Bernetta W.

Aurelia R. Lockrin -- A young woman with a shady past who has taken a sabbatical from her job as a teacher of History at Grand County High School (Home of the Red Devils!). She volunteers for 4CSAR because she's a bit of an adrenalin junkie, and likes the companionship. -- played by Bennie Rae P.

Guests Present
None, this time.

NPCs Present

Claudia Abigail Tavulari, member of the NASA Quantum Physics Research Team, and an old friend of Arthur Jamison’s. The team has been helping Arthur research the portal physics, on the sly. -- Played by Tisa T (Couldn't make it, this time.)

Stephen Mack, another member of the NASA Quantum Physics Research Team, and outdoors enthusiast. -- Played by Jeff T. (Couldn't make it, this time.)

Jimmy Ehrland – A fugitive from the 1918 Colonia de Nova España, on the other side of the portal, he had fled from his vampire mistress, only to find himself in a strange, alien world to which he must struggle to adapt.

Grunt: Beatrice's ally, a large pit-bull possessed by a protective "foo" spirit.

##

The session opened with a lively discussion amongst the PCs in Santa Fe, as they chewed over the implications of the stories that appeared in the local newspaper, El Heraldo de Santa Fe. Henrietta and Aurelia put their history education to work, to try to figure out how events in the larger world differed so profoundly from the past of their world.

Henrietta noted that the information contained in the main story, about disputes in the Far East between Japan and Western Colonial powers in China, seemed to indicate that Russia was far more powerful and externally-focused in this world than it had been in their history. She said that not only had the Communist Revolution failed to happen on schedule, but passing references to the wars between Japan and Russia indicated that the tsar’s forces had acquitted themselves far better than his counterpart had in their own history.

In their own past, Henrietta noted, the Japanese had soundly trounced the Russians, and in so doing opened up mainland Asia for Japanese imperial ambitions. However, according to the newspapers, the two empires fought to a draw, in this world. This information, combined with the continued Russian ownership of Alaska, and its disturbing possession of the Snake River Valley, indicated that this world’s Russia was far more robust.

Based on that, A.J. wondered if things had gone differently during this world’s French Revolution and the subsequent Napoleonic Wars? The fact that the United States owned everything up to the Rocky Mountains seemed to indicate that the Louisiana Purchase had gone through, more or less as it had in the history of their world, but that things must have come off the rails afterwards. He noted that Spain never seems to have lost Mexico to France, which means the Mexican Revolution never happened, which meant the Texas Revolt had never occurred, nor had the war between the United States and Mexico taken place.

Aurelia found herself enthralled by the reports of a dirigible sighting over Havana, Cuba, which in this world apparently remained a Spanish possession. That means the Spanish-American War likely never happened (or had been delayed by more than 15 years…), which meant the United States likely had no overseas possessions. Henrietta said she thought the United States of their world lacked dirigibles until the 1920s or ‘30s, which made their use, here, somewhat problematic.

A.J. responded that the United States of their early 20th Century had been profoundly isolationist – a position the United States on this timeline may have found untenable. That might have forced them to support “rapid” technological progress, A.J. noted -- at least as compared to the rest of this world, which seemed rather backwards, generally.

As for society, Aurelia and Henrietta noted that the reports about the governor’s daughter 14th birthday meant people had a fascination with the private lives of rulers (nobility?) in a way not found in their world. They wondered if the world remained under the control of monarchies to a much greater extent than in their world – which A.J. said would explain the retarded pace of technological and social development.

Aurelia also decided that a dirigible would make an even better pirate craft on the Pearl Bright Ocean than a sailing vessel bristling with cannons, and announced her desire to steal one from somebody – maybe even the United States Navy.

Once the group finished chewing over the news of the day, they headed out on different errands. Frank and A.J. headed out to shop for supplies and possibly find buyers for the groups imports, and used the flyers inserted in the newspaper as references. Meanwhile, Henrietta and Aurelia decided that they needed more than one or two dresses, each, and decided to check out some different boutiques. They also notified the concierge of La Hotel de la Reina that they’d likely need the services of the seamstresses, again, later in the afternoon.

With skirts whirling, the ladies set off for a morning of more shopping, and spent a fair amount of money. As they left the last boutique and started to consider lunch, a Spanish officer approached them and introduced himself as El Capitán Gustavo Domingo Espinosa y Melendez.
Espinosa offered to buy them lunch at a nearby restaurante, where he said the food was unexpectedly good and, noting the number of soldiers who accompanied him, the ladies decided to graciously accept his offer.
As they sat down at a table (to the surprise of the staff), the capitán asked if they might speak in English, as he understood Aurelia did not speak Spanish and he did not wish to treat her rudely. Henrietta agreed, Aurelia immediately faked a passable French accent, and the conversation began.

(continued...)