AP Podcast - City on the River

[Kiero]

Whew! That's the characters and city finished. Might be a few days before it appears on the site, mind, our poor GM has to make sense of all that and edit some files.

I might post up my "stories" that generated my Aspects to give people a sense of what happened, but I can't really do a meaningful recap the same as last time, too much happened!

[Kiero]

Here's my stories and Aspects.

(click to show/hide)

High Concept: Reformed Scion of Vlad Drakul

Faris al-Farik is a Scion, the son of Vlad Drakul and a mortal woman. It is from this demonic heritage that he draws both his extended lifespan and his unnatural vigour and physicality. As he has aged, more capabilities have developed, though it is unclear whether he will one day approach the power of his sire. While he once embraced his evil nature, he has now learned to control his urges and tries to direct his powers to good causes.



Trouble: History is Written in Blood

Faris' own past is a violent and bloody one, but so is much of recorded history. He should know, he's lived through centuries of it. He is forever trying to atone for the sins of his past, make good on the myriad harms he has done. But the fact remains, he did those things, that stain on his soul is very much real.



Phase One: Background

Faris was raised a Mamluk in 18th century Egypt. He was a slave-soldier, a warrior expected to serve without question. He didn't learn the truth of his heritage until late in adulthood, a rare visit from his father. Drakul told him as much as he felt necessary and that one day he would claim him to join his host. However, he did nothing to free his son or improve his position, leaving once he had delivered his messages.

Later his demonic nature brought him to the attention of a corrupt adviser to the Sultan, who discovered his origins after some research. Using the magical bonds already in place, he ensorcelled Faris to obey his orders alone. He became the vizier's personal instrument of terror, used to assassinate enemies and intimidate those he needed to work with.

Aspect: Former Mamluk



Phase Two: Rising Conflict

With the fall of the Mamluk Sultanate in the 1820s, the magical ties binding Faris were broken. He escaped the fateful events that finally broke Mamluk power and was unleashed on a rampage of murder and destruction that lasted a decade as he travelled across the Middle East, Europe and central Asia.

His spree ended when he ran into a Knight of the Cross in the Himalayas in 1831. The wielder of Esperacchius fought him to a standstill, then dealt him a grievous wound. With Faris at his mercy and able to strike the final blow, he stayed his hand. Saying he believed he had the capacity to be a different person, he left him.

Faris crawled into shelter to treat his wounds and then set out to find somewhere to rest. He spent over half a century in the remote Buddhist monastery he found, healing, reflecting on his life, meditating, practicing martial arts and forging a new sense of self in spite of his nature.

Aspect: Through Hope, My Chains Were Broken



Phase Three: The Story - The Red Brigades

Guest Starring: Oriana Stefani, Oliver Montfort

One of the many noble, but ultimately failed causes Faris threw himself into when he was trying to do good was the Spanish Civil War. Under the cover of serving in one of the International Brigades with the Republicans, he worked with the Fellowship of St Giles to counter Red Court influence in Europe emanating from their centre of operations in Spain. It was during this time that he met Oriana Stefani, a White Court luminary supporting the Republican cause. Through her information sources, they learned of a window of opportunity to strike at a Red Knight, a powerful warlock and vampire noble, and so he went with a kill team to assassinate the Knight. While they succeeded in their mission, most of the team were killed in the assault and desparate fight with the warlock. Faris was tossed into a rapidly-closing rift into the Nevernever by the warlock's death curse.

Many decades later, Oliver Montfort was collecting sources on a mysterious figure who seemed to recur across Europe and Asia when he found a lengthy series of accounts from a veteran of the Spanish Civil War which matched up with those from before.

Aspect: Red Knight's Nemesis



Phase Four: Guest Star - Express Train to the Nevernever

Guest Starring: JB Clarke

After being cast into the Nevernever, Faris found himself trapped in a magical prison. Time passed without measure before a demonic servitor, recognising his nature, freed him. However, its intentions were merely to enlist him to serve its master, something Faris was not prepared to do. His refusal drew more of the master's servants and soon he was engaged in a running battle with them. During this combat, a powerful demon cast him through a rift back into the mortal world. Their fight landed in the middle of JB Clarke's operation, forcing her to sacrifice her partner (and lover) to get her principal clear. Faris was unaware of any of this, and was thrown back into the Nevernever as the battle continued.

While from his perspective only a few more minutes passed, in the mortal world years passed and Clarke made her fateful decision to end her life, only to be chosen by the earth spirit Duluth Dur to be its emissary. Moments after her investment, she was sent out of the cathedral to join in battle against the demon Faris fought, and together they slayed its mortal form, banishing it to its demense. Thereafter followed a lengthy conversation about Faris' involvement in that event that changed her life and the realisation that whomever summoned the demons was still out there.

Aspect: Comrades in Arms



Phase Five: Guest Star Redux - [Untitled Story]

Guest Starring: Richard Merovech

In order for Richard's plan to free Aquae Sulis to go ahead with minimal repercussions, he needed to blind the Warden's magical monitoring network, at least temporarily. And do this in a way that couldn't be easily linked back to him.

While he would have liked to be at the fight against the corrupted earth spirit, Clarke was already on hand and this was a task Faris was uniquely suited to. He called in his parkour troupe and together they ran around Bath, tagging and otherwise rendering useless all of the Warden's wards so the team at the spring could go about their task unnoticed.

Aspect: [Parkour Troupe]

[mremann]

Well City and Character Creation is finally over, it took two sessions but I think it was worth it in the end. Hopefully the first part will be edited over the weekend and will be up on Sunday, and the second part sometime during the week.

[mremann]

Part Three of City and Character Creation is now available. Part Four will hopefully be added sometime tomorrow.

[CottbusFiles]

Woho !

I have high hopes for your podcast, right now there aren't any podcast that really run Dresden/Fate like I think it should be done from my reading of the books.

[Kiero]

Arran, the link for part 3 goes to another page, rather than directly to the .mp3.

[mremann]

Fixed and part four of City and Character Creation is now live.

[Kiero]

Just as an additional note, all of the PCs sheets are now up (click on the photos for the sheets).

For the benefit of those who don't like clicking links, here they are too.


Richard Merovech Masson



Our resident Wizard and former White Council black-bag man. Played by Acrozatarim.

(click to show/hide)

High Concept: The Spy Who Hexed Me
Trouble: The Sea’s Lost Children

Others:
I Never Really Was On Your Side
I Despise The Arrogance Of The Powerful
Tearing Off The Mask
Watch, Wait And Learn

Skills:
Great (+4): Conviction, Discipline, Lore
Good (+3): Burglary, Deceit, Stealth
Fair (+2): Alertness, Investigation, Empathy
Average (+1): Athletics, Weaponry, Presence

Powers:
[-3] Evocation
[-3] Thaumaturgy
[-1] The Sight
[+0] Soulgaze
[+0] Wizards Consitution

Evocation Disciplines: Air, Spirit, Water

Specialisations:
Evocation Specialisation – Air (Power +1)
Thaumaturgy Specialisation – Crafting (Strength +1)

Focus Items:
Prospero’s Gloves – +1 offensive control for Air
Sea’s Lost Compass – +1 defensive power for Water

Enchanted Items:
Tarasque Hide Jacket – +2 Armour 2/Day
Snake King’s Watch – Veil (+4-strength block vs sight) 2/Day
Velvet Mask – Shapeshift to match target’s appearance & voice (+5-strength manoeuver on self) 1/Day
Gevaudan Fetish – Attack (+5-strength Spirit attack) 1/Day

Rotes:
Cold Lightning – Air Attack +5 (Lightning bolt)
Shimmer – Spirit Block (Sight) +4 (Veil)
Tempest – Air Offensive Manoeuver +5 (Knocks target from their feet, opposed by target’s Might, applies ‘Knocked Down’ temporary aspect
Wavebreak – Water Block +5

Physical Stress: □□
Mental Stress: □□□□
Social Stress: □□□

Faris al-Farik



Scion and primary beatstick. Played by Kiero (ie yours truly).

(click to show/hide)

High Concept: Reformed Scion of Vlad Drakul
Trouble: History is Written in Blood

Others:
Former Mamluk
Through Hope My Chains were Broken
Red Knight’s Nemesis
Comrades in Arms
Parkour Troupe

Skills:
Great (+4): Athletics, Fists, Weapons
Good (+3): Alertness, Discipline, Endurance
Fair (+2): Intimidation, Might, Survival
Average (+1): Empathy, Lore, Stealth

Stunts / Powers:
[-1] Cloak of Shadows
[+1] Human Form affecting:
-[-2] Inhuman Speed
-[-2] Inhuman Strength
-[-2] Inhuman Toughness*
[-2] Inhuman Recovery*
[+2] The Catch: Holy Weapons, water, items etc
[-1] Wall of Death (Weapons)

Physical Stress: □□□□[□□]
Mental Stress: □□
Social Stress: □□

Oriana Stefani



Our White Court Vampire. Played by Mrok Girl.

(click to show/hide)

High Concept: Favourite Daughter of House Stefani
Trouble: Femme Fatale

Other:
The Price of Kapital
Everyone Has a Price
The Silver Capricorn Will Triumph
Viva la Revolution!
Only the Best

Skills:
Great (+4) Deceit, Discipline, Resources
Good (+3) Guns, Athletics, Empathy
Fair (+2) Contacts, Alertness, Presence
Average (+1) Fists, Intimidation, Rapport

Powers:
[-1] Emotional Vampire
[+0] Human Guise
[-1] Incite Emotion: Greed (Touch Only)
[+1] Feeding Dependency (Greed):
[-2] Inhuman Recovery*
[-2] Inhuman Speed
[-2] Inhuman Strength
[+0] The Catch: True Charity

Physical Stress: □□
Mental Stress: □□
Social Stress: □□□
Hunger Stress: □□□□

Oliver Monfort



Our Champion of God. Played by psleger.

(click to show/hide)

High Aspect: Enlightened Holy Warrior

Trouble: The Dusty Halls of Academia

Others:
University’s Champion
Belief’s Proven
Failure’s Price
Learning’s Lure
Evil’s Nature

Skills:
Superb (+5): Conviction
Great (+4): Weapons, Scholarship
Good (+3): Resources, Discipline
Fair (+2): Presence, Fists, Athletics
Average (+1): Alertness, Performance, Investigation, Empathy, Craftsmanship

Powers:
[-1] Bless This House
[-1] Guide My Hand
[-1] Holy Touch
[-2] Righteousness

Physical Stress: □□
Mental Stress: □□□□
Social Stress: □□□

J.B. Clarke



Our Emissary of Power. Played by ?? (not sure what her RPGnet handle is)

(click to show/hide)

High Aspect: Chosen of the Dolydd Dwr
Trouble: In service to the great…. again!

Others:
Freelance Security Consultant
It should’ve been me
Earth’s Gauntlet
The Subtlety of Wizards
Thicker than water

Skills:
Great (+4): Alertness, Rapport, Empathy
Good (+3): Athletics, Fists, Lore
Fair (+2): Discipline, Endurance, Presence
Average (+1): Contacts, Driving, Guns

Powers:
[-1] Marked by Power
[-1] Supernatural Senses (Earth Affinity)
[-2] Worldwalker
[-2] Inhuman Recovery*
[-2] Inhuman Toughness*
[+2] The Catch: Must be touching the ground
[+2] Item of Power (Gauntlets of the Dolydd Dwr):
[-2] Inhuman Strength
[-1] Claws

Physical Stress: □□□[□□]
Mental Stress: □□
Social Stress: □□□

[computerking]

Just as an additional note, all of the PCs sheets are now up (click on the photos for the sheets).

Great pics for the characters, they pretty much match the concepts you guys were coming up with. (And as for Oriana, her player's voice made me think of Monica Belucci from the start)

[Sanctaphrax]

You know, the Spare Character Concepts thread would be a good place for those character sheets.

[mremann]

You know, the Spare Character Concepts thread would be a good place for those character sheets.

Hint taken sir!

[Kiero]

Great pics for the characters, they pretty much match the concepts you guys were coming up with. (And as for Oriana, her player's voice made me think of Monica Belucci from the start)

I've added detail to my post above, should also make it nice and easy to repost to the Spare Concepts thread, too.

[Kiero]

First session last night, pitched headlong into a murder investigation that could break open the Unseelie Accords and seriously undermine the White Council in the process.

[computerking]

First session last night, pitched headlong into a murder investigation that could break open the Unseelie Accords and seriously undermine the White Council in the process.

Nothing like starting off Slow! Sounds like fun, can't wait to hear it!

[mremann]

Nothing like starting off Slow! Sounds like fun, can't wait to hear it!

The next update will be delayed due to Skyrim related issues, but I will be working on it.