Chess and what to do when its over ... Help before Wednesday

[Angelsboi]

Ok my PCs have discovered an ongoing Chess game. They are nearing the completion of it.

The only problem i have ... is the deputy mayor and the mortician (the ones playing the game) are going to try to pit the PCs against the other with their lies.

I mean this is what i have right now:

“Title Goes Here”

Plot: The PCs having discovered an ongoing human chess game, now have to try to stop it.

Focus: Ensemble

Opening
The show starts in the middle of the battle with Ted. After the weaponsmith is dead, they will no doubt try to flee from the scene b/c this takes place in broad daylight. A mysterious robed figure (unseen servant) will approach the PC Kiril and hand him a gift from ‘The White King.” ((Lance +1 Anything else it does?)). He will also receive directions that read: Black takes White, you’ll now be hunted, like the sapplings, blighted and stunted. Now my Knight, White takes Black, you’ll play this game, you have the knack .

Segment 1
The mayor announces that in the sake of his deputy mayor, he too will adopt a child from the local orphanage. The childs name will be announced. The Mayor is going to adopt Genny.

Segment 1 Cliffhanger
?

Segment 2
?

Segment 2 Cliffhanger
?

Segment 3
?

Segment 3 Cliffhanger
?

Game Info
Black Pieces - Dead - 7 (including the weaponsmith Ted)
White Pieces - Dead - 6

PCs have a clue about the White Queen/King/Black King/Queen

I need to introduce a letter to the PC Monk about a book her order wants on the Shadow Planes.

The mayor and deputy mayor (Mayor is the black king but all the pieces dont remember getting the tattoo and the mayor is charmed by the deputy mayor) will leave the scene when Ted dies and soon there will be 3 black pawns, a bishop, a knight, the king and queen left. The rooks are sanctuaries where no fighting can go on. I want this plotline to end this wednesday so i can start a new plotline b/c the one PC who this is supposed to be centering on is just not caring.

Can i have some help?

 

[Lord Pendragon]

[came here from General Discussion]

Angelsboi, is there another thread with more information on this? As it is, I can't offer any help, because there's so much I don't know.

For instance, what are the rules of the chess game? (It doesn't seem to be an actually chess game, but rather some sort of hunter/hunted deal with a chess-theme.) Why are the two Kings playing? Do they hate each other? Are the collaborating? What's the "one PC this was written for" have to do with it all? What's the clue they've gotten? What do the PCs know of the plans of the Kings? What are the plans of the Kings?

I'm sorry if this was all covered somewhere else. Came over to see if I could help, but in this note (without outside knowledge) there's too much info missing. I apologize if this post was meant for people who are already familiar with your campaign (and thus wouldn't need a primer.)

 

[Angelsboi]

For instance, what are the rules of the chess game? (It doesn't seem to be an actually chess game, but rather some sort of hunter/hunted deal with a chess-theme.)

You are right. there are no specific rules per se.

Why are the two Kings playing?

They arent. The Black King is the Mayor (Charmed by the deputy mayor) and the black queen is the deputy mayors familiar. The white king is the morticians familiar and the white queen is a hafling orphan who is close to the PC Dwarf. She doesnt know she is the White Queen yet.

Do they hate each other?

With a passion. The deputy mayor (Ariztocrat 1/Wizard 3/Demonolgist 2) and the Mortician (Wizard (Necromancy) 3) each want the town for their own specific reasons (not yet been revealed). They agreed to play this game. Winner gets to run, loser has to drop out.

Are they collaborating?

Nope. Not at all.

What's the "one PC this was written for" have to do with it all?

Easy. hes a white bishop and a part of the game.

What's the clue they've gotten?

Two black pawns playing a game. They noticed the white queen was by a bishop. They looked around themselves and didnt find anyone with a queen symbol on them and the PC Druid is tattooed as the bishop. They realized they find the other bishop, they'd find the queen. They found the bishop. The woman who runs the orphanage ... with Genny close by.

What do the PCs know of the plans of the Kings?

Nope. They just found out the mayor is the king. They wanna talk to him but they wont be able to get to him (b/c the deputy mayor will speak for him)

What are the plans of the Kings?
Nothing. But the deputy mayor and the mortician wants the villiage b/c of a secret buried underneath that the PCs cant find out right now.

Hope this helps

 

[phoamslinger]

Angelsboi,

What I would do, in setting this up, would be to find a good historical chess match that ended up with the slaughter of a lot of chess pieces. Use that as your model. Next assign the (32) roles of the various pieces to the NPCs/PCs in your game (I'm assuming you'll set the PC's as pieces that survived the historical game).

Now set up the midgame of the chess match with some of the pieces already killed out.

By following the historical match, you can now see EXACTLY which piece will move against which next.

Your game should reflect moves that threaten, support, castle (hide), take pieces out, etc just like in the historical game.

A cool idea I may steal someday.

oh, and go see if you can find a copy of King's Blood Four by Sheri Tepper in a used bookstore somewhere. very similar type setting.