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50. “We’re all going to hell!”
All their fighting and searching for information across the recursions as come to this point. Burnie is ready and now just waits for the group to board and start their trip to the centre of the Earth and the Aleph component. ***************************************************************************************** Day 2 Algernon was already waist-deep in the innards of Burnie when Bruce… Read more
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49. Five days
Nakarand had been faced and defeated, and the group returned to Earth with Dram-Shara, a missing Ruk scientist and Uentaru, Earth’s real enemy. Now they need to find a way of stopping the Aleph component from tearing the Earth apart and with it all the recursions. ************************************************************************** It was an early Summer morning. All over… Read more
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48. See Each Other Plain
In the literal guts of the worm Nakarand, the group are torn by what to do next? With Uentaru in tow, do the group try destroying the worm from where they are now or continue and see how far the hole leads? *********************************************************************** “Guys, do what you can on the outside if you like,” Tobias… Read more
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47. Face to face
Their preparations made, their plan put into action, the group stand on the doorstep of Whole Body Grafts for their confrontation with Nakarand. ************************************************************ “I have to go shopping,” Tobias veered off as he spotted the shopping mall. The shopping district was a brightly lit open area of tiled mall under the massive skyscraper. … Read more
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46. Know the enemy
Moving in on the Spiral Dust supplier, The Dustman, the group are back in Ruk. Knowing that information is power, the group have started finding out what they can about Ur-Dust and his company, Whole Body Grafts. ********************************************************************************** They quickly collected the names of the six heads of departments and likely red ring wearers. Security… Read more
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An improved Spiral Dust Mind Map
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45. Unlikely friends
Caught and pulled in by both the Moriarty gang and Drood Clan, Algernon and Tobias have both made deals with the devils. Now, rejoining after exploring the Drood mansion, the group decide their next move. ********************************************************** “I was hopeless in there. Maybe they should have shot me and put me out of my misery…” Grumbled… Read more
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A New Spiral Dust Mind Map
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44. Deals with Devils
With all five eggs in hand, the group return to Crow Hollow with the expectation of learning a little more about the Spiral Dust network from Dona Ilsa. ************************************************************************** “Maybe we should sell them to the highest bidder,” Algernon mused as the group settled themselves back into their Cro forms after translation from Ardeyn. Behind… Read more
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43. The Great Egg Hunt
After finding out Dona Ilsa of Crow Hollow was trading in Spiral Dust in the hope of reclaiming her kidnapped eggs, the party travelled to Ardeyn. Through the Mouth of Swords into the Vaults where traps, puzzles and creatures wait. The party have found two eggs and now realise they will have to search the… Read more
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42. Welcome to the Vaults
On the back of very scant evidence, the group have travelled to Ardeyn to find Dona Ilsa’s five missing eggs. Purported to be hidden in the Mouth of Swords, a forbidding place out on the plains of Ardeyn. The party don’t know what to expect from the Mouth of Swords, but its name and appearance… Read more
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Musings 15: Ghosts
It may surprise you to know I do believe in ghosts. But believing and knowing what they are are two different things. Belief does not mean I understand what ghosts are, the motivations and desires. It’s like saying you believe in God. How many of us can say the really understand them? What are they? … Read more
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41. An interview with the Dona
The group had finally made it to Crow Hollow to follow up the Spiral Dust trail. Having made a contact in a local called Paco Derois, they were attacked by henchmen of Don Wycliff and the Drood family. Out of thankfulness, Paco promises to make an appointment with Dona Ilsa as soon as he could. … Read more
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Musings 15: Missplaced parents
I lost my parents at an early age. Wow. I’ve never actually written that down before. It’s a simple phrase, said like you would mention losing your wisdom teeth or appendix. And I guess the analogy is not unfair, I always felt like a part of me was missing. The losing was so far back… Read more
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40. The Glittering Markets
Having freed the mining town of Omoko from destruction by the Manihiki Ferro Navy, the group returned to Seattle. Ish-Ma-El experienced a small part of the multiverse, realising that a world could have seas and lakes of water, and millions of people can live in one of thousands of glittering city. The wake celebrated, Ish-ma-El… Read more
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39. The fear of the gods
The planning complete, materials hastily collected, the group and volunteers were on their way to the ambush point. As The Molly and the old diesel travel away from Omoko, preparations wre being made. *********************************************************************** “Hold still. The train is rocking enough without you adding to the wonkiness of these lines,” Rain complained, pulling Bruce’s head… Read more
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38. Vigilantes
Out on the docks of Manihiki, after a clever sabotage plan was successfully staged and completed, the group gathered at The Molly for their next move. It seemed obvious to most that the Ironside Roar is out on the rail with a deadly new weapon and needed to be stopped. *********************************************************************** “Nice goggles,” Bruce said… Read more
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37. The rebellion begins
On their way to Manihiki to find Bruce’s father, the group found a new ally in a quickened native of Railsea, Ish-Ma-El, a Salver of extraordinary abilities. They returned the Molly to the rails and are now only two days out from their destination, Manihiki. They are hopeful of meeting up with the Captain… Read more
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Revised Spiral Dust Mind Map
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36. The raising of The Molly
Looking for information on Bruce’s father, the group are in Railsea chasing a train called ‘Almighty Bruce’. On their trip across the Railsea, Bruce himself has proven to be just as Mighty when taking down of the giant molerat, ‘The Dreaming Sable’. Unfortunately, the Gliding Vulpine, the train they were riding, was destroyed in the… Read more
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A Strange family Christmas
Christmas Eve – Seattle Twas Christmas Eve, and Rain was up early; at least early for him. As a member of a respected Estate Team, some would imagine this was not an unusual occurrence. Bruce knew better, and between getting ready for his flight home for the holidays, he was keeping an eye on the… Read more
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35. Expecto Patronum
After a successful trip to Ruk, the party are preparing for their next trip to Railsea. Following the clues to the disappearance of Bruce’s father, the group is focusing their efforts on the Manihiki Ferro Navy. Though most of the party is ready to start flexing their Strange powers in Railsea, Bruce is more reticent… Read more
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34. The creation of a family
The group split. Rain returned to Earth with the Martins and their oversized triplet sons. Bruce, Algernon and Peggy return to the capital of Ruk, Harmonious, to go through the information they’ve gathered and prepare for the arrival of the triplets. ***************************************************************** John and Athena stepped out of the brightly lit portal into the dark… Read more
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33. Once and future
The near-empty secret base of Doctor Strangelove is almost complete. Not having found the Martins or the research notes is concerning as the party moved back into the passageways for the last few rooms. *********************************************************************** From the Powerplant, the party headed back to the fork in the passage and took the path leading to the… Read more
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A few moments, twelve hours previous
It was quiet after the battle for Ni’Challan’s space station. Somewhere, on the skin of the habitable zones robots, welded, glued and replaced sections blasted by Doctor Strangelove’s forces. Still, others polished away scorch marks and cleared up damaged exhibits inside the structure. In the control centre, the gravity was correctly orientated, and the broken… Read more
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32. Secrets well hidden
The group have fought and won the battle for Ni’Challan’s space station in the Graveyard of the Machine god. But, not without a cost. They now lick their wounds and prepare for the next big push, the attack on Doctor Strangelove’s secret lab somewhere in the wastes of Ruk. ***************************************************************** Two broken souls here and… Read more
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31. War and Consequences
The group have fought floor to floor clearing of Dr Strangelove’s Venom Troopers out of Ni’Challan’s space station in the Graveyard of the gods. Aiding the enemy is a brother to Algernon, a powerful fighter and brilliant infiltrator on par with Algernon himself. It is a battle of wits and brawn as the opposing sides… Read more
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30. Brothers at Arms
After discovering that Doctor Strangelove was on her way to Ni’Challan’s home, the party leapt into action. From Ruk, they translated directly there, bringing the fight with them in the form of two cypher portals linked to squads of Ruk Venom troopers. Fighting through two rooms of enemy Venom troopers, the party now find themselves… Read more
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Hope
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29. The secret deeds of Doctor Strangelove
Harmonious, the Glistening City and jewel of Ruk. Our group have received an invitation to talk to a representative from the Quiet Cabal, an important faction in Harmonious. Though outwardly the Quiet Cabal is on good relations with the Estate, Algernon’s own experiences with Ruk life have the whole group questioning their intentions with them… Read more
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The Strangers – Portraits.
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28. The Glistening City
Searching for a way of freeing Algernon from whatever has control of his mind and memories the group have arrived at the city of Harmonious. As the skyline and urban spaces of the city dissolved into focus around them, each of the party members needed to decide how this recursion would shape them. ********************************************************* The… Read more
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27: But, I don’t want to
Using the invitation found in Rain’s puzzlebox the group travelled to the Graveyard of the Machine God and the collection of Ni’Challan. Here the group learnt a number of truths, Bruce’s father’s fate in the Fero Navy of Railsea and Rain’s tragic past. They left the facility with more than just information as Algernon, unknown… Read more
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26. Many Simple Truths
Back at the Estate, after the revelation of an invitation in the final compartment of Rain’s puzzle box, the party tried to decide where to go, Crow’s Hollow or take the invitation. When Bruce suggested leaving the decision to God guiding their destiny with a coin toss, Rain took up the challenge. ********************************************************************* “Sure,” Was… Read more
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25. Moving On
After starting the day on a reconnaissance, by early afternoon the party were carrying a dangerous enemy back to their hideout at the docks. They’ve only had time to catch their breath before something has found them and was knocking on the back door. ********************************************************** “138…139…140…” Each number counted corresponded to the fall of a… Read more
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Musing 14: White flowers
The afternoon crowds through Celephais had thinned considerably from the time we’d slunk through with Mr…no…Lightfeather in a ‘crate’. Knowing that Theo was probably still about looking for his boss, I didn’t want to be out in public too long. We’d won a big victory for us by taking …Lightfeather, I didn’t want to mess… Read more
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24. To stalk the hunter
Celephais, the golden city of The Dreamlands. The party are here following the drug trails left by several multi-recursional organised crime syndicates. A lethal enemy was seen in the city and the party needs to decide if to move on or deal with a threat that lurked in the alleyways behind them. ********************************************************** Yellow fluorescent… Read more
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Musings 13: Nyarlathotep
“Nyarlathotep . . . the crawling chaos . . . I am the last . . . I will tell the audient void. . . .I do not recall distinctly when it began, but it was months ago. The general tension was horrible. To a season of political and social upheaval was added a strange and brooding apprehension of hideous physical danger; a danger widespread and all-embracing,… Read more
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23. Old friends, new enemies
The party find themselves in Celephais under the roof of the Implausible Geographic Society. With two ways ahead, follow the Lang or heading to London 1890. Now they discuss what to do next with the old and new friends of Noel Hagan and Maximillian Von Candlestick III. ************************************************************* “What I don’t understand is why you… Read more
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22. Celephais
Out from the dark tunnels of the ghouls and the gugs, the group are blinded by the whitewashed walls and brass minarettes of Celephais, a human city on the other side of the sea. After days of rough travel, some of the party are looking forward to the comfort and familiarity of city living. For… Read more
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Spiral Dust and Bywandine Distribution Map
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21. A Journey to the East
“Travel not to find yourself but to remember who you’ve been all along.” After tumultuous travel through the ruined city, the group has found shelter in an unlikely place. Amongst the ‘ghouls’ most of the party found rest and a little peace right under the feet of the Lang that would see them enslaved or… Read more
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20. Past and Present Dreaming
Finding themselves in the Dreamland, that Rain visited while experimenting with Spiral Dust, the party decided to find out what was beyond the spiral staircase. During a chance encounter with a slaving party, Peggy accidentally swaps bodies with the Lang she was fighting. Opinions differed and in the end, Bruce took things into his own… Read more
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March 2001 – Anderson’s household, Brixton, Enlgand
“Hello? My name is Samantha Anderson. Is this Mrs Morris?” “Yes, what is this about?” “Sorry to trouble you. I’m currently fostering Tobias Cudo. I understand he spent some time with you. I’m just trying to get a little background.” *Silence* “Hello?” “Yes, sorry. I’m not sure I can help you beyond what I told… Read more
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January 2001, Morris’ house – Slough, England
Tobias stood outside the office after the funeral. Mrs Morris was on the phone to someone as Mr Morris’s wake happened elsewhere. “…I just can’t cope…no…no there’s no problem with the children…no…I’m all alone now and …I’m not saying I don’t want to foster anymore, but it was more Robert’s vision than mine…look, I just… Read more
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October 1997 The Morris’ House, Slough, England
Afternoon sunlight washed the oak floor golden as Tobias made his way to the office. Behind him, the sunlight poured through the open door where the other children played in the backyard. He lifted his hand and with delicate fingers he let beams of light slip through, highlighting in gold the dust motes. “Abra-ca-dabra!” He… Read more
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August 1995 – A hospital in The Netherlands
Hospitals are never really quiet. They are not places where the ill and injured can find good healing rest. Constantly the machines ping and whirr, one may even puff up a sleeve on you arm so hard it hurts. Then there’s the people, men and women in white, green or blue who come in… Read more
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19. The City of Sarkomand
After being left on a bare mountain top by the dragon, Balthazar, the group had spent the rest of the day finding a path back down again. When they sheltered for the night, Rain continued a paper-based conversation with Algernon, revealing a disturbing gap in his memory around a being that he is mortally afraid. … Read more
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18. A Dreamland Reality
Having solved a string of issues in Halloween, the group chase a goblin called Morris (initials J.M.) through the random rooms and hallways of the House on the Hill. Bruce, opening a wardrobe and was sucked into another recursion, a land of broken spires and a harbour of black sailed ships. Once altogether again, Bruce… Read more
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17. No dead ends
In a desperate attempt to find a way to Crows Hollow, the group travel to the recursion of Halloween. Through twisting adventures they have found themselves as mediators in a body snatching dispute between a poor shopkeeper and the Lord of the graveyard, The Nightwatch man. * * … Read more
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A Strange Life 