Rules of the Game and the Story so far (updated for Oct 30)

Join us for our Halloween celebration
Locked
User avatar
Jester of the FoS
Jester of the Dark Comedy
Jester of the Dark Comedy
Posts: 4536
Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2003 12:19 am
Location: A Canadian from Canadia

Rules of the Game and the Story so far (updated for Oct 30)

Post by Jester of the FoS »

Image

Rule #1: There are no rules
Rule #2: Do not talk about Fight Club

This is an experiment for the Fraternity of Shadows, a massive play-by-post event occupying an entire weekend. Some say it couldn’t be done but we are trying it anyway, based on the idea a community as strong, intelligent and mature as ours can handle this.

During the event you are to post (play) a character visiting the Manoir de Penombre to witness the return of Erik van Rijn (the ‘avatar’ of Nathan of the Fraternity) to Richemulot and the Fraternity. You play you character writing your actions and, to a very limited degree, the actions of others. More often than not you simply post what you say and do and await the response from other posters. However, for the sake of expediency, it is permissible to write a short exchange of dialogue or presumed actions.

For example, “Mordechai” writes a post where he enters the Smoking Room in search of a cigar and some a stiff drink. It is allowed to reply with either a post where you offer him a cigar and a light or a post where you offer the same and he takes the offering returning his thanks. Writing a post where he slaps the drink of your hand might be risky unless you know something of the character and writing a post where “Mordechai” expresses his love for show-tunes and leather is right out.
There are no hard and fast rules to obey, it is simply a matter of common sense.

The Fraternity encourages the use of Private Messages or emails to co-ordinate actions and outcomes. Feel free to ‘conspire’ with your fellows to tell a better story. Make sure you have enough room in your inboxes to accommodate any new messages.

A special note should be made regarding the ‘rooms’. There are a series of threads, each with the name of a famous room in the Manoir de Penombre. Actions in that room take place in the appropriate thread. When you enter a new room go to that thread and write your entrance and post all actions you take there. When you leave simply write a quick exit and move to a different thread.

For ease-of-use no actions are assumed to take place in the hallways. It saves headaches.

This “room system” is being tested for several reasons. It allows people with limited experience with PbP RPing to only have to concern themselves with a single group of actions and posters. They need not worry about what is happening across the Manoir. It also allows people to jump in without having to read every post over the course of the weekend, they only need to familiarize themselves with a single room. It also allows us to ‘open up’ more rooms should the need arise.

The only advice we can give you is this: we are here to tell a good story and have fun. Make it a good one, do what is dramatic, do what makes a tale interesting and memorable.

--EDIT--

With the revelation of van Rijn's true loyalties (somewhat) newcomers to the Manoir must decide which side (if any) they are on. Will they side with the invaders and their crazed leader's quest for some mysterious item or with the loyalists defending their home and headquarters?
Last edited by Jester of the FoS on Tue Jul 11, 2006 12:50 am, edited 4 times in total.
User avatar
Erik Van Rijn
Lichus Extremus
Lichus Extremus
Posts: 57
Joined: Wed Oct 26, 2005 7:51 pm
Location: Manoir de Penombre, St. Ronges

Post by Erik Van Rijn »

The dinner began uneventfully with the guests arriving in a slow trickle, some from Richemulot and others from as far away as Darkon, Nova Vassa and even Paridon. Eventually, after some suspense, the man of the day Erik van Rijn arrived in his private carriage. Much to the surprise of all in attendance the one strong and proud figure was bent and aged requiring the assistance of a young Karatakan helper and a sturdy cane to even make it up the stairs.

While van Rijin retired to rest from his trip the dinner began with the entire Fraternity in attendance. Even the head of the Umbra, Balfour de Castelle, made the trip from the Western coast of the Core. After the dinner began van Rijn returned with his speech, the one long anticipated by all. He spoke of his experiments at necromancy and his ostracizing from the Fraternity. He claimed to have been slighted because his wisdom and knowledge exceed that of his brothers!

That was when he revealed he had left the Fraternity long ago and sided with someone else; someone who could give him the everlasting life he has always sought. And these allies aided him in his plan, a plan to invade the Manoir de Penombre and crush the Fraternity of Shadows. For this reason the dinner party was called, as an excuse to slip in as many foul agents and moles as possible.

The party ended and the guests divided into two groups, those loyal to the Fraternity and those secret invaders who follow the traitor van Rijn!

The battle began swiftly as a blast of magic missiles separated the two groups and illusions of beings of fire frightened off the servants and innocent bystanders. From there the battle moved to the main entrance hall where van Rijn demonstrated his master of necromancy by sending zombies at the Fraternity loyalists while his dark spellcasters trapped the defenders in a magical web. Meanwhile a small group of wolfweres, a pack allies with van Rijn since his time in Karatakas, attempted to invade the Library.

While fire spells ignited the entry hall several brave defenders fought against the wolfweres with mixed success before they were routed, but at the cost of the destruction of the Library’s sealed door. The great entry hall razed, gutted by fire, separating the two factions to regroup and lick their wounds. The invaders fled to the kitchens and wine cellar where they found the Manoir’s servants alone and unguarded while the loyalists struck out for the laboratory arming themselves with chemical concoctions and a caged fihyr.

Now the battle threatens to ignite again as the battle moves again to the library. The invaders have made the first move summoning a swarm of rats on the loyalists who are still separated and readying themselves.

----

Part 2

Using the cunning magic of the Fraternity the swarm of rats were blinded and ran wildly about, their other senses muted by the blaze. Meanwhile the defenders turned their attention to a new threat, a small army of the walking dead, reinforcements hinted at by van Rijn, was moving towards the Manoir.

While all this was going on van Rijn made his move into the Library trusting the double distractions would hold everyone at bay. He searched to no avail, his prize was already missing!
Instead he had to settle for a lesser prize, something to placate those whose favours he had purchased, those responsible for the army of the dead!

The loyalists, still divided, fought while they could against the dead while a small group tried to evacuate as much of the Library as they could.

The final reports of the last minutes are sketchy at best, no one is entirely sure of what occurred. Needless to say the fire gutted the Manoir and the Fraternity has fled. As for the survivors? That is unknown for who could survive an army of the dead?
My talk? You'll have to wait. It will be well worth it, I assure you.
User avatar
Jester of the FoS
Jester of the Dark Comedy
Jester of the Dark Comedy
Posts: 4536
Joined: Wed Dec 03, 2003 12:19 am
Location: A Canadian from Canadia

Post by Jester of the FoS »

The Invaders won.

After retreating and barricading themselves entirely in the Dining Room and removing all the books they could from the Library, the Loyalists were attacked on two fronts. While a free-willed zombie and wolfweres came at them from the Smoking Room the army of the dead attacked from the front.

Several new facts became slowly apparent over the siege. The dead, having the image of skulls in their eyes, were controlled by Death, the lord of the Necropolis. Van Rijn had sold himself to the Unholy Order of the Grave in exchange for the secrets of immortality. This lead to Van Rijn’s desperate last-minute transformation into a lich!

Some quick investigation also revealed the item stolen by van Rijn, plans for the Doomsday Device! Plans he quickly turned over to a member of the Unholy Order.

But the Loyalists held off the forces of van Rijn long enough for the Manoir’s defences to activate. Magical suits of armour sprang to life and began their assault on the undead. Meanwhile a brave Loyalist ventured outside to reach the stables and have the various carriages ready to go.

Using the distraction of the suits of armour the loyalists used projectiles cooked up the Laboratory to clear an escape route and the survivor’s fled. Some gathered all the books they could carry and dashed out the back while others simply charged out and made a break for the front door. Many fell in the attempt but many more survived.

When all had left the Manoir’s final defences activated, the last and final line of defence. An explosion able to destroy the entire Manoir when no breathing members of the Fraternity remained.
There is some small comfort in the fact that van Rijn was likely caught in the explosion and his unlife may have ended before it truly began.

Thus le Manoir de Penombre fell and only ashes remain. The Fraternity is broken and its members have fled. It was fun while it lasted...
Locked