Campaign: Facets

[evileeyore]

Originally Posted by Icelander

The Cossacks had a firefight the night before. Against whom?

I'm curious as well. But I suspect we'll never know.

It's not unreasonable of them to be wary and, in any case, a rifle is a standard part of travelling kit out West. Just carrying one isn't unfriendly when away from civilisation.

This is true, but barricading a path is not standard practice for greeting or flagging down fellow travelers.

It is common practice for stopping someone, particularly in a bottleneck valley with your fellows up on the ridges, in preparation to rob them.

Had Sergei not attempted to barricade their path, they might very well have stopped upon seeing him. Or maybe not. /shrug

[tshiggins]

Originally Posted by Icelander

I took it as him holding the rifle unreadied by the barrel in his left hand and pointing at Henrietta with his now empty right hand. After all, you don't touch the barrel of a rifle you are about to fire, that's what handguards are for.

Just got Internet service back, after moving. I was offline for nearly a week.

Yeah, I didn't write that well. It was late when I finished it, and I thought I'd cleaned up most of that weirdness.

Sergei pointed the rifle at Henrietta when she refused to stop, and again demanded she halt and get out of the buggy. Stephen made the rational choice, under the circumstances.

Originally Posted by Icelander

That's why I mentioned my lack of local political knowledge. I don't know enough to rule out the Cossacks being soldiers/mercenaries/guards/law-enforcers (the lines have historically been blurry) in the service of a local polity or landowner. Or working on behalf some polity (Russia or whoever) further away, investigating a suspicious group of armed strangers, who are clearly lying about most of what they say, and seem likely to be arming Apache raiders in contravention of local law and treaties.

Don't feel bad. The party doesn't know enough about what's going on, either. :)

Originally Posted by Icelander

The Cossacks had a firefight the night before. Against whom?

Now, that is a good question. One of the best. :)

In the session we had, Saturday, Anten surmised that a small group of Cossacks could have made the trip, in a single night, if they killed at least two horses, each, and maybe three. He said it just didn't make any sense why they'd do that, as it seemed really wasteful. The answer to that question would clear up a lot of things.

Originally Posted by Icelander

It's not unreasonable of them to be wary and, in any case, a rifle is a standard part of travelling kit out West. Just carrying one isn't unfriendly when away from civilisation.

Not normally, no. However, this was, at the very least, an attempted hold-up.

[tshiggins]

We held the latest session of Facets, a couple of weeks back. Sam and Mike couldn’t make it, again, and neither could Bennie Rae, but we moved ahead.

The group (well, Anten and Debbie, at least…) seems to have realized that preparation pays off. The party not only did some research on places they’ll likely visit, soon, they also figured out how to cast spells in charms so as to get them to last longer than 24-48 hours, or so. I anticipate the group will be much better prepared for what happens when plans come into contact with any enemies.

However, it also meant this session turned into a yet another data-dump. Moreover, the group managed to avoid violence, this time around.

##

Characters Present:

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.

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.

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

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. (Not available, this session.)

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. (Away for the summer.)

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.

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.

Stephen Mack, another member of the NASA Quantum Physics Research Team, and outdoors enthusiast. – Played by Jeff T.


NPCs Present

Trooper Frank Moses -- A former Marine who recently quit his job as a trooper with the Utah Highway Patrol (UHP), based out of the Section 13 office in Moab, under Lt. Lee Exeter. Moses works with 4CSAR as needed, and has an interest in Doc Bascher. Frank finds himself attracted to what he perceives as the much simpler life on the 1918 side of the portal. (Stayed back in 2015 world.)

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, Doña Eva, 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. (Finally healed!)

##

After the harrowing events of the previous trip through the portal, combined with the fact that winter had arrived in full force in both worlds, the group decided to take a few months off before hazarding a trip back through. Not scheduled to meet up with Doña Eva until the Spring solstice on March 20, the group decided to put in a few months of research and preparation.

Firstly, A.J. and Beatrice agreed that, ultra-light scouts notwithstanding, the group really did need more than two buggies for trips through to the now 1919 world of La Colonia de Nova España. That triggered a vigorous argument about the type of vehicles to build.

Beatrice advocated a larger-sized model, barely able to fit through the narrow cave entrance that led to the passageway between the worlds. She wanted something that resembled a dune buggy with a truck bed, while A.J. wanted to go with something light and fast that could jettison a trailer and skedaddle.

Beatrice’s choice: http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5269/5...0c9d7188_z.jpg
A.J.'s preference: https://media.giphy.com/media/xfuTMcwmSy0XC/giphy.gif

In the end, each of them decided to build the vehicle they wanted, although both agreed to use some nifty one-way ballistic glass that A.J. discovered, to provide greater protection for the passengers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0ZcrCCo47c

Meanwhile, Henrietta did some additional research into how JoCat used to make the Jamba Juice healing potions, as that struck her as an incredibly useful thing to keep supplied. She perused the books and discovered that a mage could increase the duration of a hung spell by gathering considerable more decanic energies in a longer ritual.

However, that substantially increased the risk of the sort of problematic harmonics that troubled the group in the past, so Henrietta continued to search. Eventually, she discovered that a mage could also “tie” a spell to a fragile or disposable item or substance at much lower energy cost, although that ran the risk that such a charm could get stolen, lost or damaged before its use.

As the archaeologist continued to read, she realized that not only had JoCat used this process to make the Jamba Juice potions (the late mentor had clearly tied the healing spell to the juice, triggered by drinking it), but that Don Reyes had likely done something similar, himself. She noted that Oliver MacShane’s library had a section on how to attach a spell to a temporary tattoo, and recalled that “Señor AKA” had several simple designs on his arms, when they first saw him in the hours before the Apaches attacked.

Those had very likely been semi-permanent inks, Henrietta surmised, which explained how Reyes managed to keep spells available for his eventual escape, even though he’d been incarcerated away from any sacred space for quite some time.

At Beatrice’s suggestion, Henrietta procured some henna (which comes in a bunch of different colors, these days) and tried it out. The archaeologist found that it worked like a “charm,” and immediately informed the rest of the group about the process. They resolved to paint each other with henna designs on their torsos before leaving on the next trip, which would allow them to keep the magical ink talismans hidden beneath, and protected by, ballistic vests.

(Henrietta went with designs patterned after petroglyphs found throughout the Southwest, Beatrice drew out cogs and gears, and A.J. went with simple circuit designs and even some that looked like carbon molecules of one sort or another.)

Encouraged by Henrietta’s discoveries, A.J. decided to peruse the library and see what he could find out about Yetzirah, the Atral Plane. The group wished to visit there, as JoCat had recommended, so as to gain additional mastery of magery. Once Sunmi completed her studies of Iudal, the Path of Gates, they’d have the capacity to do so, and A.J. decided he’d had quite enough of blindly walking into magical mysteries.

The former NASA engineer discovered that, while Yetzirah did in some ways resemble the gray, formless mists that Henrietta had learned about while studying myths and legends, it consisted of far more than just an endless, directionless sea of dark fog. Rather, locations in Assiah, the material planes accessed through the portals, sometimes created “projections” in Yetzirah.

If a material place had a strong magical aura or presence, it would project such an image. A.J. thought it quite likely that at least part of Denver would have such a projection, and noted that all places venerated by many people over a long period of time did so, as well.

As such, Arthur read, churches and other sacred places almost always had astral reflections, and those played special roles. Spirits of the dead would briefly pass through Yetzirah and locate a projection of a sacred place venerated by them, in life (a local parish church, a synagogue, a mosque, etc.) and then enter. Once they passed through the doors (or entered the grove, or whatever), they would immediately find themselves in the afterlife particular to their beliefs.

(continued...)

[tshiggins]

(...continued)

To A.J., that raised an interesting question: what happened when an atheist or someone without any beliefs died?

According to the literature, the projections of powerful places created rather idealized versions of themselves, whether iconically good or bad, in Yetzirah. As such, the souls of the departed unbelievers usually wound up inhabiting those places in Yetzirah that best suited them.

So, for instance, an atheist newspaper reporter who died in or near New York City would find himself or herself living in the astral projection created by the New York of their world (a great city in a vast multitude of realities). There, he or she might have interesting “existence” in an idealized projection of the city, where they could work at (for instance) the New York Times or Newsday (alongside the spirit of Jimmy Breslin, perhaps), because that would seem like “heaven,” to them.

Alternatively, those who suffered might find themselves trapped as a mournful or angry ghost in a home or other projected location those souls simply couldn’t escape.

A.J. also discovered that travel through Yetzirah held a number of challenges. Firstly, movement across vast distances, there, required navigation from one “reflection” to another (Yes, Navigation (Astral) is a skill to study, and has no defaults), and that projections from a place in one version of Assiah frequently had links to similar shadows from another version of reality in Assiah.

He also noted that visitors to Yetzirah moved quickly, according to their strength of will, but could only affect things in their immediate vicinity. Usually, visitors appeared as idealized icons of themselves and could not carry anything with them unless it had an astral projection of its own. Normally, only powerful magical items had such projections (although spells always worked), but older Lodges had the ability to create “Stasis Boxes” which projected astral versions of any item placed within them.

Even that had limited utility, A.J. learned, since the project still obeyed the laws that governed Yetzirah. So, for instance, a Stasis Box projection of a gun (which had to made of bronze, because iron “grounds out” all forms of magic) would allow someone to hold it and even fire it, but the bullets would dissolve into a spray of harmless ectoplasmic goo as soon as it left the immediate vicinity (beyond six feet, or so) of the wielder.

That meant fights in Yetzirah (and, given the nature of some of its inhabitants, fights were probably inevitable for those who traveled beyond iconic projections) took place either through the use of magic, or at close range. That made hand-to-hand combat – which, fundamentally, consists of training the body and mind to work together, reflexively – the primary means of “non-magical” of defense for an astral traveler.

And that made “Random” Randy Shoop the most immediately effective individual in the group, when it came to astral travel and exploration, followed by Claudia, who had trained in martial arts because she so disliked guns. Henrietta’s training with the staff would also come in handy, assuming the group could come up with a Stasis Box for her.

That led A.J. to the next topic of research. The group had learned from Marcus Vaile that the lodges in their world had originated as outposts created by mages from other realities. The line of Enlightenment lodges of which Oliver McShane was a part were the creations of mages from older lodges in the world beyond the Paris portal, and A.J. decided to check whether or not the library had information about that place.

He soon discovered that it did, and the other world – although more than two centuries behind the 2015 reality – had much older lodges that dated back nearly a thousand years. In that world, A.J. found out that Richard I, Coeur de Lion, King of England; Duke of Normandy, Aquitaine and Gascony; Lord of Cyprus; Count of Poiters, Ajou, Maine and Nantes; Overlord of Brittany, had not died at Chalus-Chabrol. Instead, the crossbow had inflicted a wound grievious enough to make Richard keenly aware of his own mortality, and he’d begun to devote serious thoughts to his legacy.

Once he recovered well enough (although he never regained full use of his left arm), Richard sacked Chalus-Chabrol mercilessly, but then turned his attention to his nephew and heir, 12-year-old Arthur of Brittany. Much to the dismay of his younger brother, Count John of Mortain, Richard I confirmed Arthur as his heir, and immediately made the boy a part of his royal retinue.

Arthur acted as squire to King Richard, and spent the next four years learning the art of warfare and also a bit about governance (Richard was a masterful military engineer and strategist, as well a skilled and fearless personal combatant, but his grasp on the mundane, day-to-day politics of rulership merely qualified as “adequate”). At the age of 16, Richard sent Arthur to England to act as his personal representative – essentially, to rule Britain as regent for Richard (and keep the money flowing for Coeur de Lion’s military adventures in France).

Those military adventures immediately increased in intensity, as Prince John joined forces with Philip II (“Augustus”), the King of France and Richard’s chief rival. Richard I spent the remaining 15 years of his life fighting in France, but in the end he defeated the combined forces of Philip II and John, and stripped his younger brother of all the lands their father, Henry II, had granted to him. Thus the epithet “Lackland” that Henry II had given to John had as a boy proved prescient,

By the time Richard I died in October of 1218, at the age of 60, Arthur was a healthy, seasoned ruler of 32, who had developed a strong base of support in England. Known as “Good King Arthur” (to distinguish him from the King Arthur of legend), the new king immediately found himself facing an old, bitter Philip II (John had died several years prior), who decided to take advantage of the instability of succession. He didn’t get very far, as Arthur I soon arrived in Normandy with a substantial army from England, and quickly rallied support from the northern lands of the Angevin Empire.

After a short war (albeit a bloody and vicious one), Arthur defeated Philip II and forced the French king to recognize the reality of a permanent Angevin presence in continental Europe. Philip II died shortly thereafter, and was succeeded by his son, the brilliant strategist Louis VIII (called “the Lion”). Louis VIII and Arthur I spent the next four years dueling in and around the Angevin lands in France, and Louis gave at least as well as he got.

When Louis VIII died of dysentery in the winter of 1226, Arthur I penned a famous note in which he referred to Louis VIII as his “mirror image, and the most honorable of foes.” Louis IX (“Saint Louis”) devoted himself to internal matters and the destruction of the Albigensian heresy. While still and enemy of the Angevin king, Louis IX pursued the matter only opportunistically, as he had other priorities.

A.J. learned that, during the subsequent 500 years, Arthur’s descendants lost and regained the crown several times, and the continental lands held by the Angevin kings were gradually whittled back to just Normandy and Brittany. However, the Angevin crown currently ruled over not just England, Normandy and Brittany, but also Wales, Scotland and all of Ireland (where, in the latter case, it faced more-or-less constant insurgency).

England’s relatively greater power allowed it to prevail against Spain during the Renaissance, and as of the early 18th Century, a weaker France and a wealthy Spain stood as traditional rivals to Angevin Britain, which had begun to colonize large portions of North America, and regularly sent ships to the Far East.

Moreover, A.J. learned that the progenitor of the line of lodges of which his group was now a part started as offshoots of the British Mortlake Lodge founded by John Dee, during the reign of that England’s Eleanor II. The Mortlake Lodge has the knowledge to create Stasis Boxes, A.J. learned.

Yet, despite the power of that lodge in particular, and the Angevin Empire in general, the Enlightenment and Rosicrucian mages who controlled the portal on that side had apparently lost contact with it. A.J. surmised that might have something to do with the fact that, because the mages were so strongly tied with England, they effectively had to hide themselves in the midst of a France strongly inclined toward hostility. Things would go quite badly, should the elderly King Louis XIV discover their existence.

With that less-than-thrilling discovery, A.J. and the rest of the group turned their attention to the upcoming trip through the portal. Arthur noted that the group wanted to have plenty of time to retrieve Doña Eva, and then return during the Vernal Equinox. Since the new moon coincided with the day of the equinox (March 20, 2015), it would add no extra hours to the time the portal would remain open, which meant the portal would remain open three days, only.

That didn't give the group enough time to make it down to Santa Fe, contact Doña Eva, and make it back. As such, A.J. proposed the group pass through the portal in late February and stay in the 1919 world for several weeks, and work on the base camp. Then, in mid-March, about a week before the portal opened for the Vernal Equinox, the group would travel down to Santa Fe, pick up Doña Eva and her belongings, and then have plenty of time to make it back.

(continued...)

[tshiggins]

(...continued)

So, that's what they decided to do, and the trip down to Santa Fe proved quite uneventful. The winter cold had pretty much restricted most travel along the Camino Real del Norte, but the area that matched what would be New Mexico in the other world was cold, but clear and dry. The snow lay thick on the mountains to the east, and the group saw patches of it as they traveled long the edge of the desert, but the road, itself, remained mostly clear. The Rio Grande del Norte remained low in its banks, as well, as the spring melt had not yet begun.

The group spent a brutally cold day or so in the mountains west of Santa Fe, and ran into minor problems with the roads, but soon enough found themselves on the camino that paralleled the Rio Chama toward its confluence with the Rio Grande. They stopped on the outskirts of Santa Fe and Henrietta, A.J., Randy, and Claudia donned some winter gear they’d purchased from the Utes, and hiked into town. They left Stephen behind (he’d brought his battle rifle, this time…) to guard the camp.

Once there, they avoided most of the places Henrietta and A.J. had gone, before – as much as possible, at least. Henrietta recalled that Doña Eva had been active in the musical community of Santa Fe, and after thrashing about for a bit, the group located the playa near to the one they held the Hotel de la Reina, around which the theaters clustered.

The group noted some people moving in and out of one of the theaters, even though it was only mid-afternoon, and quietly let themselves in. There, they found a theater company in rehearsal, with a few onlookers and miscellaneous hangers-on scattered throughout the mostly-empty auditorium. Realizing that this likely wouldn’t lead them to Doña Eva, Henrietta approached one of the onlookers and asked direction to the nearest opera house.

Receiving the directions, the group departed and headed a down one of the main avenues that radiated from the playa, and soon found themselves at an opera house from which they heard the sounds of an orchestra at practice. Once again letting themselves in, the group discovered a scene reminiscent of the first – an orchestra at practice in a mostly-empty auditorium with several onlookers scattered about.

Looking over the onlookers, Henrietta soon spotted a young man sitting by himself and approached him. After a brief conversation, el muchacho acknowledged that he did know the general location of Doña Eva’s courtyard home, and provided directions.

Henrietta thanked him and the group set out through streets that rapidly narrowed and began to resemble a maze. Soon, Henrietta realized that they approached one of the areas of the city that lay at the boundaries between two barrios centered on two different playas. Those interface areas tended to be a bit chaotic, with lots of winding narrow calles that took at least twice as long to get anywhere – assuming they didn’t simply dead-end.

Eventually, and with some difficulty, the group found what they thought was probably the correct area, as the dark narrow streets seemed nearly deserted, even in the mid-afternoon. After casting around, a bit, they discovered a heavy iron-bound wooden door set into what was clearly the blank wall of a courtyard and, picking up the heavy knocker, Henrietta gave the door several good thumps.

The peep-hole opened fairly quickly, and the man inside asked them their business. Henrietta told the doorman her name, and noted that Doña Eva expected her visit, but not at any particular set time. The man asked them to wait, and disappeared for a few moments.

Once he returned, he looked the group over carefully, and gave them the name of a taberna back in the direction from which they came, on the far side of the playa. He said someone would be along to fetch them around dusk, and requested they maintain a low profile until then.

The group agreed readily enough, and made their way to the tavern, as instructed. There, they found a large, lively place with plenty of exits, filled with people who looked decidedly more working class. After listening for a bit, the group understood that the next playa over was the center or light manufacturing and construction businesses, which explained the rather more blue-collar environment in which they found themselves.

For her part, Henrietta noted that their attire allowed them to blend into this crowed far more readily than a more upscale place, and noted the taberna did play host to a fair number of indio workers. The group settled in with some big bowls of lamb stew (more vegetables than lamb) and some good bread, and discussed options.

Given that Doña Eva would not likely send for them for at least a few hours, the group decided to find out more about the history of this world. Henrietta asked the bemused serving boy for directions to the nearest biblioteca, and he provided directions. The group made their way to the place, and A.J. also stopped along the way to pick up some newspapers.

Once they got to the library, Henrietta made her way to the section on general history and settled in at a table with a stack of books and a notebook. The rest of the group moseyed around the place, and soon found a few English-language works with which to amuse themselves.

Henrietta soon noted a number of discrepancies in this world’s history that at least started to explain some of the differences. She noted that, for some reason, Russia had managed to get a better handle on how to best utilize its abundant natural resources, and used the wealth generated to keep the country a bit more modernized in this world than in their own. She also learned that the tsars had, generally speaking, successfully gathered more power to themselves and exercised it a bit more wisely, over the course of the past several centuries.

That had paid large dividends, about a century ago, when France rose in rebellion, more or less on schedule, about 15 years after the American Revolution. The French Revolution had overthrown the monarchy, but Queen Marie Antoinette and the dauphin, Louis-Charles, escaped to Austria’s King Leopold II. King Louis XVI had elected to stay behind and fight the pursuers at Varennes-en-Argonne, led by Jean-Baptiste Drouet, the postmaster and a supporter of the revolution, and the king died better in this world than in her own.

Henrietta also learned that, unlike in the history of her world, Tsarina Catherine II signed the Declaration of Pillnitiz, calling for the restoration of the monarchy. This world’s Catherine the Great also had reversed her earlier support for Enlightenment philosophy, as had her counterpart, but this Catherine also had the wherewithal to support counter-revolutionary efforts against France.

When Napoleon rose and declared himself emperor, Catherine’s successor, Paul I, reluctantly joined the wars against him by sending 100,000 men. After Paul’s assassination, Tsar Alexander closed ranks with the British and the Austrians, and eventually defeated Napoleon in Leipzig in 1813. Napoleon was captured at that battle and, at Alexander’s insistence, promptly shot.

Within a decade, Louis XVII once again reigned on the throne of France, placed back there largely as a result of continued intervention by the coalition powers that opposed the French Revolution. Russia remained a key player, and through the course of the 19th Century, became a reactionary champion of divine right rule and royal privilege. They sent troops to help quell the revolutions of 1848, and funded many “counter-anarchy” efforts throughout Europe.

The death of Napoleon and the restoration of the Bourbon dynasty in the person of Louis XVII created a special problem for the United States. Soon after he took the throne, the young Louis XVII bowed to Russian demands and declared the Louisiana Purchase an illegal transaction.

Knowing full well that the United States would never return the territory it had, by then, held for more than a decade, the declaration gave Tsar Alexander I the pretext needed to declare the United States an “outlaw nation of anarchists.” He spent much of his reign harassing U.S. shipping and opposing efforts by the young nation to expand trade.

However, Russia’s main rival remained the expanding British Empire, and Alexander I and his successors considered the parliamentary system of the U.K., and it’s constitutionally-limited monarchy, an abomination against God and the proper order of things.

By the 1830s, Louis XVII had grown tired of dealing with the “North American mess,” and he sold the rights to Louisiana to Spain, who had held it from 1763-1802. (Louisiana had returned to the French crown just as the French Revolution entered its most violent phase, and Napoleon had sold it to the United States to raise money for his armies during the Austrian Exile of the French royal family.)

Louis XVII sold the rights to it back to Spain to help cover the expenses of the royal restoration, and the territory had been a bone of contention between the United States and the crown of Spain, ever since. That conflict over Louisiana formed the pretext for the war about to break out, between the U.S. and Spain, along the Rio Cimarron dividing line between the Americans and La Colonia de Nova España.

(In actuality, A.J. suspected the war had a lot more to do with the technological ascension, rapid industrialization and growing economic power of the United States, than it did with any treaties or purchases made nearly a century ago.)


Anyway, right about then the group realized it had started to grow dark, outside, which meant the hour of appointment with Doña Eva had grown near. At that point, the group decamped from the biblioteca and returned to the tavern.

That ended the session.

##

[tshiggins]

Funny Quotes

Beatrice (complaining about the need to remain on the 2015 side of the portal, while everybody else went to 1919 Santa Fe): I’m having no fun, at all!
A.J. : You’re on probation. It’s not supposed to be fun.
Randy: Just buy a PlayStation.

A.J. (bickering with Beatrice about dune buggy design): I’m looking to minimize work!
Beatrice: ‘Cause you’re lazy?

A.J.: Everybody got their shots? Everybody got their body-armor?

Beatrice(OOC): Randy made tikka masala out of a ground-hog.
A.J.: Didn’t we run over that, a few miles back?

Henrietta (Initially reluctant to go back into Santa Fe, given what happened on the last visit): I could send in you guys....
A.J.: Can we shoot her, now?
Henrietta: Fine! If I want something done right, I have to do it, myself!

##

[tshiggins]

14 March, 1919 La Gaceta de Santa Fe ¡Todas las noticias que usted necesita!

Farmers thin fields for onion, garlic

Farmers throughout the Rio Grande valley report they have completed thinning out sprouts for onions and garlic. Planted in autumn as seeds, onions and garlic sprout before the cold weather, but then must be thinned out in late February or early March, lest the clustered plants interfere with one another’s growth. Farmers say the cold winter made for healthy bulbs, and need a cool spring with minimal temperature fluctuations to achieve a healthy crop.


Train derailed

A freight train laden with mixed good derailed on the line between Alburquerque and Amarillo, three days past. The wreck occurred about 150 km west of Amarillo, near the depot at Cuchuncari. It resulted in the deaths of two of the train crew, and the injuries of three more. Investigators with the office of El Gobernador-Real report no sign of foul play, although unconfirmed reports indicate Americano saboteurs may be active throughout the region.


Good horses scarce

The colonial administration increased purchases of horses for transport to the Rio Cimarron fortifications, as difficult conditions throughout the winter hampered efforts to complete rail supply lines to the northern front. According to reports, the clearing weather has allowed the pace of work to accelerate, but engineers fear that heavy spring rains, or hot weather that results in rapid runoff, could create problems in areas where the rails cross seasonal arroyos.

The office of El Gubernador-Real called the scarcity “temporary,” and will likely clear as the weather continues to warm and work on the rail lines nears completion. In related news, market prices for hay and oats also reached record highs, as of the end of February.


Bridge closed for repairs

Heavy traffic across the Tecolote bridge, between San Jose and Las Vegas, has caused serious structural damage and the office of El Gobernador-Real ordered the bridge closed for repairs. Merchants and other travelers who have no need to travel to Santa Fe are encouraged to take the eastern route out of Aburquerque toward Santa Rosa, before turning north on the Camino Tecolotito. That will allow them to bypass the Tecolote span and continue their journey, even though the Camino Tecolotito has less improvements.

Advisor sending goods away

This newspaper has confirmed that Don Maximo Luis Romero de la Ventura, a prominent member of Santa Fe’s citizenry and a close advisor of El Gobernador-Real, Francisco Alvaro Moctezuma y Navarro, has transferred the bulk of his household goods by train to El Paso del Norte. When asked about the evacuation of his household goods, Don Maximo initially refused to comment. However, he later acknowledged that he had, indeed, sent his goods south, but had no intention to follow.

Instead, the advisor said he planned to stay at the side of El Gobernador for the duration of the war (which he called, “inevitable”) and wished to focus his attention on the task at hand. He also said he intended to open his villa for use during the war, and sent his property away for safekeeping.


Seventeen arrested after brawl

La Policia reported the arrest of five soldiers and a dozen laborers in a taberna near la Playa del Sur, last night, following a violent brawl. While the exact details remain unclear until investigators complete their inquiry, witnesses indicate a fight broke out when the soldiers arrived at the tavern and made advances on the female companions of some of the laborers.

La Taberna de La Iguana Azul, which el capitán preboste de Santa Fe had declared off-limits to soldiers, sustained significant damage during the incident and will remain closed until the conclusion of the investigation.

Shots exchanged along el Rio Cimarron

RATON, EL TERRITORIO DE SANTA FE
BY TELEGRAPH – Intermittent gunfire briefly crackled along line of the Rio Gualpa, this week past, when a scouting party from Los Estados Unidos violated the integrity of his majesty’s territory, when they moved south of the Rio Arkansas. The incident occurred Thursday last, and involved the exchange of several dozen shots from either side. None of his majesty’s valiant soldiers were wounded, and it is not clear whether or not los Americanos escaped, unscathed. No bodies were recovered.

This is the latest in a string of violent incidents that took place throughout the winter, along the ill-defined, but heavily-fortified, frontier between Los Estados Unidos and El Territorio de Santa Fe.


Whale hunting begins in El Mar de Cortez

SAN JOSÉ DEL CABO, EL TERRITORIO DE LAS CALIFORNIAS
BY TELEGRAPH – The February arrival of whales in the mating water off the coast of the Baja Peninsula, the rugged and sparsely-populated desert territory south of San Diego, marked the beginning of this year’s hunting season. No less than two dozen whaling vessels, employing at least 40 crewmen each, departed San Diego Harbor, two weeks ago, in pursuit of the leviathans. A packet ship bearing mail from the fleet arrived in the harbor, yesterday, with news of its progress.

The packet reported the ships have slaughtered several dozen of the ocean mammals, and have commenced processing of the carcasses. The recent discovery of rich petroleum deposits near Ciudad Neches has driven down the price of kerosene throughout La Colonia de Nova España, and the whaling business has suffered from low prices for the past several years. However, the diversion of much of the processed petroleum for potential military use has driven up the price of domestic kerosene.

The whalers estimate that 1919 could prove one of the most profitable years since turn of the century, and this year marks the largest number of crewed ships in nearly a decade. The increase in the market price has already benefited the economy San Diego, as several of the whaling vessels required substantial repairs. That work employed dozens of shipyard workers, this past winter, who worked tirelessly to make the ships ready in time for the hunting season.

The packet ship reports the presence of six Russian whalers in the vicinity as well, all of whom displayed legal permits to hunt in Spanish territorial waters granted by His Majesty, Alfonoso XIII (long may he reign), last Autumn.

(continued...)

[tshiggins]

Multiple dirigible sightings along El Rio Cimarron

RATON, EL TERRITORIO DE SANTA FE
BY SPECIAL DISPATCH – An airship of the armada of Los Estados Unidos appeared in the skies above Raton, Wednesday last, but retreated quickly when His Majesty’s loyal soldiers fired upon it with Gatling guns.

Military photographer Lt. Orlando de Silvestre y Ordaz, stationed in the area, managed to take an image of the interloper before it was driven away, and made it available as an exclusive to this newspaper.

The violation of the skies of El Territorio de Santa Fe marks the most blatant trespass by Los Americanos in recent memory, and poses a special challenge to the colonial military. His Majesty’s military in Europe has several dirigibles, primarily occupied with guarding coastal Spain and surveillance of shipping in the Mediterranean, the Eastern Atlantic and the Bay of Biscay.

However, no airships guard the air above La Colonia, and that provides Los Estados Unidos with a clear advantage when it comes to reconnaissance. Our military has responded with the deployment of heavy Gatlings and even some light howitzers loaded with timed explosive shells positioned with the barrel at a high angle.

Thus far, such efforts have demonstrated only limited usefulness, although they did succeed in driving off the American airship. The Grande Army in Europe has reportedly received the new Maxim guns, along with other weapons that use brass cartridges, but few of those have arrived in Santa Fe.

A few sources inside the offices of El Gobernador-Real Francisco Alvaro Moctezuma y Navarro report that Armada vessels have delivered some shipments to La Porte Trinidad, but that none have yet made it this far north. The sources remain nameless, as discussion of military affairs remains strictly forbidden.

The appearance of the American military airship in the skies above Raton marks the latest provocation by Los Estados Unidos, which have steadily increased in number all along the frontier. Spotter stations along the Rio Gualpa reported numerous incursions during periods of clear weather, throughout the winter.

It is known that, in addition to the factories and steel-mills that have sprouted along the Rio Arkansas near Pueblo, Colorado, los Americanos have constructed a large dirigible base in the area.

The airships receive fuel from the petroleum fields discovered in the prairie northeast of Denver, capital of the State of Colorado and center of administration for the western frontier areas of Los Estados Unidos. While those petroleum deposits cannot compare to the rich fields near Ciudad Neches, they apparently deliver enough crude petroleum to the Denver refineries to meet local military needs.



Editorial

The trespass of the gringo airship marks the latest in a series of outrageous incidents that have troubled the minds of the peaceful citizens of La Colonia de Nova España, in general, and those of us who live in El Territorio de Santa Fe, in particular.

While we feel confident that the brave soldiers who man strong fortifications that anchor the maze of entrenchments along the south banks of the Rio Cimarron and the Rio Gualpa can and will keep at bay (and bloody the noses) of the army of Los Estados Unidos, we nonetheless must express our concern at the current absence of adequate anti-airship artillery in these northern regions.

We must remind our readers of the simple military maxim that any army that tries to defend an entire frontier with equal strength in all places is, in fact, equally weak in all places. As such, wise military minds concentrate forces at points of greatest risk, while trusting that rugged terrain and other geographical advantages will help smaller numbers of troops defend certain locations long enough for reinforcements to arrive.

The presence of airship reconnaissance, which our likely enemy has used with impunity these past several months, therefore pose a terrible danger to all of us. These troubling eyes in the skies expose to those with evil intentions the deployment decisions made by our military leaders. They permit the ruthless leaders of the anarchical bandits to learn the relative strengths of our deployments, and allows him to plan attacks at our weakest points.

As noted, any such attacks made anywhere along our strongly fortified frontier will bleed los Americanos, and bleed them heavily. We have complete confidence that our valiant troops can and will fight back any such attack, no matter how strong.

Still, it is certain that, as long as these gringos continue to enjoy unchallenged superiority in the skies above us, any attack made will cost far more lives of our valiant troops than it otherwise would have. The ability to learn where and when to attack the weakest points in our defenses poses an unacceptable risk to our brave soldiers.

We call upon all the leaders of La Colonia de Nova España to urge His Majesty to send more modern rifles, as well as heavier weapons and other equipment, to the troops to our north, as quickly as possible. A sufficiently strong military force may give the gringos enough pause that they reconsider any hostile intentions, and that could allow us to back away from the precipice, altogether.

Moreover, should Los Estados Unidos give into its violent tendencies, as it has so frequently in the past, proper equipment in the hands of troops properly trained in their use will help preserve the lives of not only the brave soldiers who bear them, but also the lives of the innocent men, women and children who desire only to live peacefully and prosperously under the benevolent aegis of His Majesty.

We, here, in the northern regions of La Colonia de Nova España stand at the point of the bayonet, and we should very much prefer that bayonet be fixed to the latest in modern military riflery.

[evileeyore]

Dirigible sightings? Well that just proves it's an alternate universe... oh wait...

[tshiggins]

We’ve got the next session of Facets coming up, pretty soon, but it’s been a busy couple of weeks so I’m just now getting to the write-up. This session, my friend Dave C. came into town for his semi-annual visit (Independence Day and Christmas) to see his folks, eat some Mexican food, attend the Cherry Creek Art Festival and hang out.

Dave’s schedule allowed him to play in an RPG for the first time in years, so he stepped in as Jimmy Ehrland, the 17-year-old native of the 1919 world. Jimmy had managed to escape from Doña Eva after she took him as a plaything, for a while, had no desire to ever see the lovely vampire, again.

So, let’s get right down to it.

##

Characters Present:

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.

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.

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

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. (Not available, this session.)

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. (Away, dancing with a drum & bugle corps until August.)

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.

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.

Stephen Mack, another member of the NASA Quantum Physics Research Team, and outdoors enthusiast. – Played by Jeff T.

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, Doña Eva, only to find himself in a strange, alien world to which he must struggle to adapt. -- Played by guest, Dave C.


NPCs Present

Trooper Frank Moses -- A former Marine who recently quit his job as a trooper with the Utah Highway Patrol (UHP), based out of the Section 13 office in Moab, under Lt. Lee Exeter. Moses works with 4CSAR as needed, and has an interest in Doc Bascher. Frank finds himself attracted to what he perceives as the much simpler life on the 1918 side of the portal.

Grunt: Beatrice's ally, a large pit-bull possessed by a protective "foo" spirit. (Finally healed, but remained on the other side of the portal with Beatrice.)

##

The group arrived back at the taberna, and found a messenger waiting. The note he bore said to return to Doña Eva’s courtyard home shortly after sundown, which gave the group time to check on the buggies they’d carefully concealed outside of Santa Fe.

With Henrietta and Stephen in the lead the party stuck to side-roads as they took a trip out to the cold, but clear, desert countryside. There, they found the buggies undisturbed, with Jimmy on guard and a very bored Aurelia waiting with him. Aurelia decided to accompany the group into town, while Jimmy elected to remain behind and keep an eye on the buggies, as going into town for dinner at the home of a vampire struck him as a really bad idea.

Leaving him to guard the buggies, the group trudged back to town through the cold dusk, and arrived at Doña Eva’s gate well after dusk. An elderly gentleman, who looked nearly 60, opened the door and led them across the beautifully appointed courtyard to the main house, where he ushered them inside. He introduced himself as “Carlos,” took their coats and asked if they cared for refreshments – offering fresh Spanish tapas and red wine.

Giving in to temptation (it had been very cold, outside), the group agreed to the snack, and Carlos bustled off. He soon returned with exquisitely spicy carnitas tapas with minced olives and garlic, along with some very nice local wine. He apologized that proper Spanish jamon has always been difficult to get, this far north in La Colonia de Nova España, and the pending war had made it nearly impossible.

For their part, the group declared themselves quite pleased with the unexpected hot snack. Just as they completed the quick meal, they heard a sweet feminine voice bid them, “buenas noches,” from the top of the stairs.

Looking up, the saw Doña Eva, resplendent in black lace, descending from above, followed closely by a dark-eyed, handsome young man with ebon hair and a pale complexion. She introduced him as “my Sebastián,” and said he would accompany them on the trip back through the portal.

At that point, A.J. stepped forward and asked about logistics. He explained that, while their vehicles traveled quickly, they had little room inside. Moreover, the group had not expected multiple “guests,” and that made for additional constraints.

Doña Eva expressed surprise that they’d thought she’d need to ride in their vehicles. She said she had quite an acceptable carriage, of her own, that she had every intension to take it to the portal, and it had ample room in it for everything she would need. In fact, she said, Carlos had it packed and ready to go, and merely needed to hitch the team and they could depart, in short order.

Moreover, Doña Eva said she wanted to depart as soon as possible, since she felt certain that, should he discover her departure, Don Maximo – the chief sorcerer and master of Don Reyes – would likely raise serious, and possibly lethal objections.

At that point, Henrietta asked if this were the same Don Maximo Luis Romero de la Ventura mentioned in the day’s edition of La Gaceta de Santa Fe, and Doña Eva confirmed as much. She said that Don Maximo had found himself quite busy as La Colonia continued to mobilize for the coming war with Los Estados Unidos, and that presented the opportunity to slip away and disappear through the portal, before he learned they’d gone.

With that, Doña Eva sent Carlos out to prepare the carriage, and then she turned her attention to the ladies in the group. Noting that Claudia and Aurelia were both young enough to still have an interest in modern fashion (Henrietta found herself a bit put out by the implied assumption…), she inquired as to some stories about their world she’d heard from Don Reyes and Don Maximo.

According to the two men, everyone in their world dressed as either children or as whores, Doña Eva said, and the notion of dressing so shabbily held little appeal.

Claudia frankly acknowledged that, when it came to casual, every-day attire, the comments by the two men had some validity. However, she and Aurelia noted that finer couture existed for more formal outings, and described to an intrigued Doña Eva the concept of the “little black dress” suitable for all occasions, especially when properly accessorized with (among other items) the truly vast array of lovely shoes available to the women of their world.

The discussion of shoes seemed to alleviate much of Doña Eva’s concerns. She noted that “shoes make the outfit,” and if the women of their world understood that, it could not possibly be as vulgar and hopeless as Don Reyes and Don Maximo had described.

As the conversation about prêt-à-porter couture wound down, Carlos returned and announced the carriage was ready. He led the group down a hallway that led to the rear of the house, and they eventually emerged in a small, rear courtyard.

There, they beheld a truly vast black carriage with four large, collared percherons hitched to what Henrietta quickly recognized as a modern and well-maintained swingletree harness. While probably a bit redundant, it did mean the strong draft horses could pull the heavy carriage quite a long time, with minimal fatigue.

(continued....)