(O.T.) The Jester's Real-World Adventures

[the Jester]

I'm heading to Las Vegas tomorrow to gamble away a few gp- er, dollars. Now that is a town that's full of adventure! I plan to work my way generally over to the east, then head back northward and stop in on Hellhound before swinging back west and south.

Vancouver was fun, I spent a lot of time in the cannabis bars (it definitely deserves its rep as the Amsterdam of North America) and wandering around. There's a pretty cool aquarium there, and a ton of really nice people. Some cracked out hooker offered to sell me a gun, but I had to politely decline; but that inspired me with a couple of ideas, like the Drug-Addled template. Also, how 'bout, during a city adventure, one of the pcs is approached by some shady character (prostitute, thief, beggar, etc) who offers to sell them an offensive magic item cheap. The drawback is that it's forbidden by the local law. Maybe it's a wand of fireballs and the city forbids fire magic (since fire was pretty much the worst thing that could happen in a city in the old days), maybe it's a wand of charm person in a city that forbids mind control magic. Alternately, it could be an item stolen from a powerful local npc or organization.

Oh yeah, I wanted to mention one more thing- all you Canadians out there, all the Canadian accents are so darn pleasant to the ear!

 

[Piratecat]

I love Vancouver; it's one of my favorite cities in North
America!

 

[the Jester]

Spent a little time in Las Vegas... Good god, what a shallow city!

But it was inspirational- I haven't run a gambling-based scenario since L1, the Secret of Bone Hill. (Anyone remember the casino temple?) I like the idea of a gambling den that has either a pc or a valued npc fall deeply into debt, and offers to write it off if they'll do/arrange for the pcs to do something against their morals. Moral dilemma- compromise your ethics and get out of debt or go to debtor's prison/watch a loved one go?

Currently in Denver, CO... I plan on heading east soon, prolly to drop in on Alsih20, who is one of the folks from the community here kind enough to offer me crash space. New Orleans is on the list soon, too...

Tallyho!

 

[the Jester]

Whoa... weird, weird New Orleans

Okay, now this was just weird.

I was in a bar in the French quarter of New Orleans called the Whirling Dervish. It's the bar the vampire cult hangs out at- you know, the folk who think they're actually vampires. It used to be called the Crowbar, named after the instrument used to murder the previous owner when it was the Blue Crystal (I might have the name wrong). Anyway, I was sitting at the bar, sketching the place in my travel journal, and ordered another beer. But the next guy over stopped the barmaid and paid for it, so I started talking to him. His name was Kevin.

He said, "This has happened three times. I can't explain it. You see that girl at the end of the bar? You're meant to be with her."

I looked over, and at the end of the bar was a lovely goth lass. I started talking to her, and we hit it off. I turned to thank Kevin for the beer, but he was gone. Uh, weird.

I ended up spending the next few hours with the girl, Grace, and walking her back to her hotel room. There was definitely a spark there, and she affected me very powerfully. After she went into her hotel (we parted with a hug) I spent the next few hours wondering what the heck had just happened to me.

The next evening we met again for a show she invited me to see (a band called the Legendary Pink Dots, extremely cool). She's friends with them, and since they're from Europe she only gets to see them about once every two years. So when the show was over, I left, thinking that was it- but I bumped into her again a little later, just after they'd left. We spent a few hours walking around, hanging out, etc., then I walked her back to her room again. And again, we parted.

But man, it was weird. I was affected by her very strongly, in a way I can't quite describe. There was no talk of romance, no kiss goodnight, but like I said- there was a spark. Kevin wore a large pentacle, and both Grace and I are pagans too, neither from New Orleans. I don't quite know what to make of it, but since I'm on the road right now there's a very real chance I'll see her again.

I'd say this was the first bit of magic to affect me on this trip! And New Orleans is an appropriate place for it... was I charmed? Was it the power of suggestion? She and I have a fair amount in common, and that spark....

Not sure what to do about it, except that I emailed her earlier tonight and definitely plan on keeping in touch. She has a semi-boyfriend (an open, noncommitted relationship)- I suspect, from my experience with such things, that she's more into it than he is.

Hell, I don't know, but when I figure it out I'll report back.

My adventures continue....

 

[Horacio]

Your adventures are getting weirdly charming...

Keep telling us them!

 

[Fast Learner]

Re: Whoa... weird, weird New Orleans

Okay, now this was just weird.

I love magical experiences like that. What I do is savor them, jewels in the rich tapestry that is my life.

Thanks for sharing your very cool experience.

 

[the Jester]

All righty, then, next installment of my wandering travel stories!

After spending a few days with Alsih2o and his wife and their herd of cats and dogs, during which time I had the pleasure to get away from it all, and during which time I saw Graceland (what a freaky cult-like city Memphis is, by the way) I have found myself in the fantastic company of Golden Eagle and his wife and their single dog. Pretty much the first thing that happened here was that I got to play Call of Cthulu (the old system) for the first time, and boy was it fun! Insanity, death, what looked like a tpk coming up... the Civil War veterans' home, old men wanting to recapture lost honor, cowardice, and total inability to affect the course of events... yowza, was it fun!

Last night I got to run a one-shot 13th level dnd game for these guys and their dm. That was a good time as well!

Then, today, GE, his wife and I took a day trip to Mammoth Caves. Good lord, what a magnificent place to spend a few hours! That was some good times, lemme tell ya! There's nothing like a little experience in a real cave to spawn some ideas for a fiendish dm. Good times, indeed; got to see a lot of interesting geological features (a few stalactites, scalloping, pits, Fat Man's Misery, Tall Man's Misery, the Ruins of Karnak, etc). MMM, caves!

Soon I'll be heading up to drop in on the Master of the Post Count, Crothian, and then down to Atlanta to see Angelsboi. Yay! Nothing like meeting some of the more infamous members of the community!

I already said this in the couch thread, but I just want to offer one more round of appreciation to both Alsih2o and Golden Eagle for their amazing hospitality. These folks and their families and pets have treated me better than a lot of my friends, and we were strangers until we met. Everyone, if you get the chance to meet with other members of the community here, I recommend it. You won't regret it; the folks that hang out at ENWorld are cool.

And for those of you who were wondering- Alsih2o reminds me a lot of Kevin Costner with long hair, minus the bad acting, and Golden Eagle is one of those rare gamers who knows how to look respectable and wears a suit and tie.

 

[alsih2o]

And for those of you who were wondering- Alsih2o reminds me a lot of Kevin Costner with long hair, minus the bad acting, and Golden Eagle is one of those rare gamers who knows how to look respectable and wears a suit and tie.

KEVIN COSTNER? dude, that was uncalled for! we have ahd a cat missing sonce the day jester left....before i thought it was a coincedence, but now i see the evil that truly lurks in jester, and i wonder about my cat.

 

[Paul_Klein]

Yeah! Jesus jester! Alsih2o was kind enough to take you in, and you go and INSULT him like that?? In the words of the Olsen Twins... how woode!

 

[Piratecat]

Now you're gettin' nasty. Kevin Costner? And you ate one of his cats? I dunno....