Chapter eight postmortem.
I rolled a five, which takes me to page 19. The prompt says that Two friendly characters might destroy each other, that I can add a friendly character if needed, that I have to check off a skill, and that I gain a resource. I’ll be honest…I wasn’t feeling this one. Nothing wrong with the prompt, really…I just felt that John Dee needed to make an appearance soon, so I brought him in as a “friendly” character, and added Edward Kelley.
Also, I have to check the rules…I know that you can only have 5 characters, but I forget if crossed off characters count towards the limit. If they do, I can kick Edward Kelley off the list.
Lastly, I am in the process of citing the art I’m using in this playthough. It is all public domain art, but I still need to cite it.
Dramatis Personae
Nathaniel Morrison: Our protagonist.
Lord Elliot Rutherford, Duke of Fousburry: Friend and patron.
Sarah Rutherford: Sister of LORD RUTHERFORD, possible romantic interest of NATHANIEL MORRISON.
John Dee: Queen Elizabeth’s cartographer, spymaster, and magician. Professional rival to NATHANIEL.
Edward Kelley: Assistant to JOHN DEE, occult expert, possible grifter.Joseph Hatch: A financial advisor to the estate and old friend of Nathaniel’s, he now suspects the rumors of Nathaniel’s inhumanity to be true.
Tzciti – A vampire, posing as a daemon.
Resources
Magical Altar – Can be packed up into a chest.
My Tower – Home. A tower at Castle Fousburry.
A False Identity – To travel to town.Libro Mortui sunt Nomina – A Grimiore.
Skills
Occult Knowledge [x]Charisma [x]Court Knowledge [x]
Flight
Mark
A shadowy aura – Must be concealed beneath robes.
A Red Right Hand – Hidden in his coat. Or in a glove.
Black, soulless eyes – I cannot see this mark, and only some mortals see it. Sarah does not.
Memories
1. A. I am Nathaniel Morrison, advisor to Lord Rutherford; I advise him in matters of court, astrologie, and cartomancie. I also have been engaging in rites of High Magick to discover the most high and holy secrets of eternal life and mystical power; while there are many rumors regarding my esoteric practices, only Lord Rutherford knows the full truth. B. Lord Rutherford has visited me in a dream; he has cursed me with the Mark of a Red Right Hand.
2. A. As a teen, I was trained in Courtly Matters; is was during this time that I met the young Lord Rutherford. We became fast friends, and as we grew, he allowed me to stay at Castle Fousburry, giving me a tower overlooking the sea. B. To hide my secret, I was forced to kill Lord Rutherford; this act has shaken my faith in who I am.
3. A. During my training in Courty Matters, I was also a member of The Order of the Shrouded Lady, where I gained Occult Knowledge; a fellow member of the order, John Dee, discovered my interest in what he determined was black magick and had me expelled. While we are enemies, I know that if he were to betray my secrets, he would also risk exposing the Order. I may have…borrowed the Order’s copy of Libro Mortui sunt Nomina so that I may continue my studies. B. John Dee and Edward Kelley have recruited me to be their spy in the city. They have given me a False Identity, and informed me of why my Occult Knowledge seems to fail me.
4. A. When I moved to Castle Fousburry, I immediately fell in love with Lord Rutherford’s sister, Sarah, and she, likewise, was taken by my charisma; she can never know of my occult work, lest she be scared off. B. After Joseph Hatch and others saw my Black, soulless eyes, Sarah came to me to warn me that people are suspicious of me. They have nicknamed me “The Devil Morrison.” Sarah seems to trust me, though. C. Hatch has returned with priests, determined to take me to Canterbury for trial. I have escaped, but in the aftermath, Hatch is dead, my copy of Libro Mortui sunt Nomina is missing, and I must withdraw from all Courtly Matters.
5.A. While attempting to summon the daemon Tzciti from the Libro Mortui to my altar, a gentleman appeared at my window; I invited him in, knowing that only a daemon such as Tzciti would scale the tower walls. He asked me if I sought eternal life, and I replied in the affirmative; I immediately regretted this! Tzciti became the very shadows, lifted me of the floor, and drained me of my life! When I awoke, I was left with a thirst for blood, and a cursed, shadowy aura that I must conceal within my cloak so that others may not know me for what I am, and what that monster made me-a VAMPIRE! B. Having tested my physical limits, I have discovered that I–like, I assume, Tzciti–have the power of Flight! C. I attempted to summon Tzciti again, and failed. However, in my frustration, I accidentally rid myself of my shadowy aura!
Check back next week for another chapter!