The Heretic of Wyre - Part II

[Krellic]

Yep, Mostin certainly knows how to throw a party...

 

[Broccli_Head]

I think that our mystery guest is Duke Titivilus, whom Mostin has referred to as Shomei's "lover" in the past.

So not good.....

 

[Shayuri]

Kudos and Questions

First off...love the story! Reading this Story Hour is what inspired me to try to write up the game I'm in. Though I admit, I'm having more trouble finding time to do updates. How do you DO it, man?!



I do have a question though. I've been meaning to develop a permanant version of Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion myself for quite some time, and I've just realized that y'all already did it! Now, I realize the specifics can, and probably will, vary...but I'd be very interested to see what the game mechanics that you came up with were.

For example, I notice that the PMMM Mostin uses seems to be tied to his portable physical dwelling. This implies that the gate to the MMM is mobile. Or, is it simply a case of relativity, where the gate is static in comparison to the frame of reference that is Mostin's house?

Beyond that, just knowing what the permanant version is would help. Is it an item? A modified version of the spell? A modified application of the Permanancy spell? Cost, in gp and exp, would provide an invaluable benchmark for where and how to start...

And also, I'm just curious.

Thanks for any help you can provide, Sepulchrave, and thanks thrice over for providing such entertaining reading.

 

[tleilaxu]

this thread is even better than goldmember

 

[grodog]

Thanks for the update Sep! I'm looking forward to seeing where these juicy developments lead!

Also, any chance you'll be able to comment on my previous observation:

I'll be very curious to see where things go from here. You've got an interesting parallel between Mostin's flouting of the Great Convention and the "rules" which Graz'zt and Oronthon follow (at least in theory). The consequences of their collective choices will be very interesting reading =)

Are you intentionally paralleling these storylines in this manner, or have they evolved in this manner on their own?

And:

Sep, just a reminder about Mostin's spells: we'd love to read them someday

Thanks, and have a great weekend!

 

[Warrior Poet]

Reading this story hour is like finding new facets in a jewel. With each turn it captures light more beautifully than before.

Magnificent playing and storytelling!

Many thanks,

Warrior Poet

 

[madriel]

Sep, I really gotta hand it to your players. Their PCs managed to remain friends and allies despite their differing principles and goals.

And Mostin throwing a party in the middle of a holy war.

Priceless.

 

[Sepulchrave II]

Stepping Back

Which is what I'm doing for a short while.

Though I admit, I'm having more trouble finding time to do updates. How do you DO it, man?!

I don't sleep, and I drink lots of espresso.

Before I start to show advanced symptoms of burnout, I'm going to take a break. This will give me time to focus on the long-term direction of the game, rework some mechanics that have been annoying me, stat some more npcs and flesh out those who are already statted, draw some new maps (maybe), and start the laborious process of ordering and editing the story file so far.

So I suppose that 'refocus' is a more apt term than 'take a break.'

It does mean, however, that the story won't be updated for a while - it is a huge commitment in terms of time, and is eclipsing everything else at the moment.

Many thanks for the words of support from all of you who have read this story hour so far: I can't begin to tell you how much it means to me. Makes me feel all warm and fuzzy, which is rare in a cynical old bugger like me.

Cheiro, Grodog and others who have asked for Mostin's spells: I have reminded Dan (I can't find my copies), so it shouldn't be too long.

I do have a question though. I've been meaning to develop a permanant version of Mordenkainen's Magnificent Mansion myself for quite some time, and I've just realized that y'all already did it! Now, I realize the specifics can, and probably will, vary...but I'd be very interested to see what the game mechanics that you came up with were.

For example, I notice that the PMMM Mostin uses seems to be tied to his portable physical dwelling. This implies that the gate to the MMM is mobile. Or, is it simply a case of relativity, where the gate is static in comparison to the frame of reference that is Mostin's house?

Beyond that, just knowing what the permanant version is would help. Is it an item? A modified version of the spell? A modified application of the Permanancy spell? Cost, in gp and exp, would provide an invaluable benchmark for where and how to start...

It is an unconventional application of the Permanency spell, and is tied to Mostin's abode - although the abode itself is mobile, of course. As a permanent 7th level spell, it was a 3,500xp investment for Mostin, and he also had to research the method/possibility (DMG, p.42): 1000gp/week (7000gp/7 weeks); Spellcraft DC10 + Spell Level. Obviously, I allowed it.

I'll be very curious to see where things go from here. You've got an interesting parallel between Mostin's flouting of the Great Convention and the "rules" which Graz'zt and Oronthon follow (at least in theory). The consequences of their collective choices will be very interesting reading =)

No direct parallel was ever intended, although the idea of rules being broken in the interest of some overriding principle is pretty pervasive. Thematically, you could say that it forms the crux of the whole story. I guess it's the antinominian in me. Perhaps one of the greatest things to influence the game is the poetry of William Blake, and this passage sums up the entire game. No offense intended to those with other views of things, but I find this passage exquisite. The emphasis (in bold), which is relevant to this story, is mine.


A Memorable Fancy

Once I saw a Devil in a flame of fire, who arose before an Angel that sat on a cloud, and the Devil utter'd these words:
'The worship of God is: Honouring his gifts in other men, each according to his genius, and loving the greatest men best: those who envy or calumniate great men hate God; for there is no other God.'
The Angel hearing this became almost blue but mastering himself he grew yellow, & at last white, pink, & smiling, and then replied:
'Thou Idolater, is not God One? & is not he visible in Jesus Christ? and has not Jesus Christ given his sanction to the law of ten commandments, and are not all other men fools, sinners, & nothings?'
The Devil answer'd: 'bray a fool in a morter with wheat, yet shall not his folly be beaten out of him; if Jesus Christ is the greatest man, you ought to love him in the greatest degree; now hear how he has given his sanction to the law of ten commandments: did he not mock at the sabbath, and so mock the sabbaths God? murder those who were murder'd because of him? turn away the law from the woman taken in adultery? steal the labor of others to support him? bear false witness when he omitted making a defence before Pilate? covet when he pray'd for his disciples, and when he bid them shake off the dust of their feet against such as refused to lodge them? I tell you, no virtue can exist without breaking these ten commandments. Jesus was all virtue, and acted from impulse, not from rules.'
When he had so spoken, I beheld the Angel, who stretched out his arms, embracing the flame of fire, & he was consumed and arose as Elijah.
Note: This Angel, who is now become a Devil, is my particular friend; we often read the Bible together in its infernal or diabolical sense which the world shall have if they behave well.
I have also The Bible of Hell, which the world shall have whether they will or no.

 

[Cheiromancer]

Is one of the troublesome mechanics the epic spell system?

I'm trying to hammer out something with it, but there are a lot of tricky problems with it, as you are well aware.

I'm also pondering some of those high level spells that have really epic implications. A few threads have been spawned by my thoughts on Mordenkainen's Disjunction and (empowered) Simulacrum.

I look forward to seeing the story start up again, and I'm pleased that you are taking pains to prevent burn-out. This story-hour compares very favorably to my favorite fiction series. And just as I am content to wait for a year for the next novel in a series to come out, I will be content to wait for the story to start up again.

Regards,

Cheiromancer

 

[Memory]

This is probably a good time to say thanks for all the work you've put into this story hour, Sep. I hope you've enjoyed writing it as much as we enjoy reading it. I'll certainly be here when you're ready to start up again.