10-11-2007, 07:44 PM
Lands of Elvaria - part 3
Part 3: The Very Secret Diary of Sepheri Mirrorkin
SARAH CALLAGHAN concludes her visit to a magical world ...
[Earlier episodes of this diary were in issues 93 and 95. Sarah provides a summary of what's been happening, below.]
Sepheri's Diary, Entry 10:
Well, whaddya know? After all that faffing around feeling a wee bit useless 'cause everyone else in adventuring party was way harder than me, guess who it was ended up shoved into my bag mirror? None other than Gyzan the Red, evil necromancer type with frothing problem who's been terrorising the whole of Elvaria. And little old me who put him there! Go me!
Everyone at Universal Exports was way surprised. Got given v. nice magic artifact as reward. Called 'The World Wide Spiders Web' it's a mirror that can answer questions and stuff, and can sometimes even find out secret information. Though strange and mysterious messages all about earning $$$ in spare time keep popping up as well, most annoying.
Used WWSW to find out more about Dark Overlord Kelpin Allseer and discovered that he's got Mum trapped in stasis somewhere. Not good. But am not yet good enough at Imagery to take him on. Only matter of time!
Think it's terrible too, the way that can be sitting in pub having quiet drink when get hauled up in front of landlord v. impolitely by crossbow-wielding hit-woman. Not even given chance to finish drink, but didn't make too much fuss - know landlord is one of biggest crime lords in Elvaria - not someone to annoy!
Sarah Callaghan's game diary, entry 9:
Back again from my first adventure in Lands of Elvaria, and it looks like the next one's going to be coming to me!
Just a brief recap, 'cause I know it's been a while since the last diary. My character is a young female human/mancat cross called Sepheri who has just started out adventuring in the lands of Elvaria. She's the daughter of a toymaker, and her mother was a renowned Imager (a type of character class that uses magically created mirrors to achieve a bewildering array of effects). Her mother disappeared when Sepheri was young and Sepheri's trying to track her down. In the process she attracted the attention of a rather nasty bad guy, the Dark Overlord Kelpin Allseer, a very powerful and dangerous Imager, and in the process wound up with mirrored blood. (That's what happens when a mirror explodes in front of you and the shards get into your blood stream - ouch!) This means she's got a lot of talent and power to play with, but also has the downside that she can probably be controlled through it. As well as making mirrors, Sepheri's also a skilled Artificer, which means she can make other sorts of magic potions and artifacts and stuff though she hasn't really had the chance to yet. And that's pretty much where she stands.
Sepheri's Diary, Entry 11:
Crimelords, always so touchy and melodramatic. Ariac 'Stonecold' Daliene, head of the Brotherhood (one of the four big organised crime groups in area) felt need to offer lots of money, then threaten me in order to take job for him investigating mysterious fifth faction trying to muscle in on crime scene. Could have told him that just money would have done - no need to get all threatening.
Job is really simple: find out all I can about mysterious fifth faction and report back. Was chosen due to impressive skills and strange gifts and also because am not involved with any of crime groups and can provide unbiased reports. Hope that poking around in steaming underbelly of city not too unpleasant!
Sepheri's Diary, Entry 12:
Note to self: New chatterbox potion works really well. Person who drinks it will talk at great length about absolutely anything and has no self control over what they're saying. Only problem is: have now learned far more than ever wanted or needed to know about some species sex lives. Needed to have long bath and mental scrubbing to get some images out of head!
Potion revealed lots about inner workings of crime gangs in area but not very much about mysterious fifth faction. Asked WWSW and at least got a name: Kaiser Suazee. Obviously a fake name as no one has ever met him/her/it. Current suspects as to true identity are Gyzan the Red, the Hooded Claw and - surprise - Dark Overlord Kelpin Allseer. Certainly gets around!
Also got approached by armoured warrior today. At first thought he wanted to ask me out. Was a bit disappointed when he told me that Prince Daern T Deeds wanted to make me a knight of Equinox due to my noble and daring work against Gyzan the Red and his frothing. Told knight would think about it.
Got back to Scorpions Tail Inn to see it burning merrily - number of incendiary demons had been summoned to burn it down. One singed me badly with a fireball - didn't half hurt! Would have been in big trouble if not for one of Ariac's goons encasing demon in ice. Really should think hard about better armour and maybe shielding mirrors and potions!
Ariac half amused, half exasperated by my methods of investigation. Said he thought I'd be more sneaky and cunning, rather than stirring up a hornets nest like I did. Should have told me to be sneaky and cunning in the first place then! Chatterbox potion also works on thawed out fire demons. Demon didn't have anything useful to say though. Except maybe that we were all targets of assassins and would die soon. Didn't like demon. Stupid demon. Am going to try to flush out Kaiser now. Who knows, maybe if enough chaos caused, he might fall out of closet somewhere in sheer shock! Oh, nearly forgot. Got made knight of Equinox and had big feast in my honour. Very nice it was too!
Sarah's diary, entry 10:
Oops, time to start thinking seriously about some more defensive mirrors or potions or something. If Sepheri's going up against someone who's happy throwing demons around the place, she's going to need them. And there's not always going to be a handy NPC around to save her!
Sepheri's Diary, Entry 13:
Am annoyed. Go to bed one evening, wake up next morning and meteorite has struck Elvaria, making magic not function like it used to any more. Spend a while trying to figure out how all of this will affect me. During all that time no one tried to assassinate me. Demon must have been wrong. Refuse to think that Kaiser might be ignoring me because he thinks I'm too insignificant to send an assassin after. Stupid Kaiser. Will show him!
Sarah's diary, entry 11:
Yes, I have to admit it, I was a bit slack on the turns there, hence the world carrying on without me.
The afore-mentioned meteorite is the in-game rationale behind a fairly heavy restructuring of the magic system in the game, prompting a lot of discussion on the Elvaria mailing list. Most rule changes are shown to the list, which means that any potential loopholes can be spotted quickly and fixed. And the whole area of system improvements is an on-going, very long-running process! Unfortunately, if, like me, you tend to get a lot of email, it can be difficult to keep track of all the changes happening.
Also running at the same time as normal turns is a special event known as Guild Day. Basically you can enter your character into a number of events like 'The Bar Room Brawl' and 'Spellfire - the Next Generation' (a mage fight) and fight it out with other Pcs and NPCs until only one winner is left standing. The winner gets showered in glory (and XPs) and any deaths that occur are not fatal. Characters in the middle of a scenario can join in as well. Sepheri didn't have a go, mainly because I was far too busy with all the real life ™ happening at the time it was being run.
Sepheri's Diary, Entry 14:
Decided to make some chain mail armour for self after run in with fire demon. Not too good at it though, need practice, though for first attempt didn't turn out too bad. Next time will make armour better, and maybe fetching shade of purple.
Information on Kaiser and Dark Overlord Kelpin Allseer bit thin on ground at moment. Both have been very quiet - a bad sign! Went back to Universal Exports to find if they've got job for me, promptly got paired with human female carrying pair of really strange weapons called 'Mak hand guns'. She goes by name of Kara Loft and is secret agent in Elvarian Secret Service. So am I now.
Our mission, which we've chosen to accept, is to go into Federation territory and find out what Kelpin Allseer is up to. Am told will be v. dangerous but can cope. Got given cloak covered in little mirrors by Q - person in Universal Exports who makes stuff. Cloak can make wearer invisible and change appearance and stuff, v. useful! Also got given strange weapon called 'Purdey shotgun' and lecture on how Confederation is dangerous, kill or be killed, blah blah blah. Not impressed by lecture or by comment M (head of Universal Exports) made about 'women from auntie' though can't say I understand it.
Kara went shopping. Can't see why, looks like she's perfectly equipped for everything up to and including raiding tomb of dead god or something. Gives me time to work on new potions and equipment though!
Sarah's diary, entry 12:
I have a sudden very overpowering urge to start humming the James Bond theme tune...
Sepheri's Diary, Entry 15:
Met up with Kara and teleported up north to Citadel, main Confederation city. Not v. nice place - lots of secret police (called Ebon Order v. nasty). Confederation all worship god called the Almighty and their spiritual leader is called The Lady. Not very imaginative with names but never mind. The Lady was founder of the Confederation and is still alive - means she's over a thousand years old! Must get name of her anti-wrinkle cream. And old fiend Kelpin Allseer is Grand Vizier - talked his way into job in less than an hour! Is claimed he can see into the hearts and mind of places and people and is of a new race called 'derinee' which have mind powers. Though am not sure how much of this is true.
Decided to create new potions, sex-appeal and disguise. Then went out in disguise, calling self 'Blonde, Jane Blonde' to splash cash and chatterbox potion around to find out more. Kara went off on her own. But not before making snotty comment about how developed I am for an adventurer of my rank. Just because her bosoms are size of beachballs is no reason to make nasty remarks about mine! Better off on own anyway.
Sarah's diary, entry 13:
Kara's remark was an in-game reminder that there is a lot of details in the rules for potions and suchlike that can vastly improve the amount of power that my character can throw around the place. But the rulebook weighing in at 99 pages of closely spaced text, it can be quite a challenge to find them, even not factoring in the ongoing rule modifications and changes. Also, the in-game newsletter, Aardvark News, came out with the usual snippits of information, both in-character and out. It's a good way of finding out what the other player characters are up to, and also gaining a few helpful tips on what's coming next plot-wise.
Just couldn't resist the James Bond spoof! In my own defence, the GM started it. Time for some action though, methinks. All this extra time spent investigating doesn't seem to yield any more detail than I'd get in the first turn of inquiry. Let's go for something completely unexpected, and totally foolhardy!
Sepheri's Diary, Entry 16:
Bored with investigating and Kara still not back, so have armed and disguised self as best I can and am going to sneak in to palace to find Kelpin Allseer. Might find some answers then as to what he's up to!
Of course, have no skills or preparation when it comes to sneaking into palaces, but never mind. Will manage!
Later: Managed to get into palace grounds alright, though was close shave a few times. Just got into main entrance when got caught by magic detection system. Killed one guard (Purdey shotgun v. effective) but got caught by sleep spell. Walloped head when fell over. Hurts. Stupid sleep spells. Got all my stuff taken away and got left in dungeon for few hours before being brought up to see Kelpin Allseer in chains. Am pretty much helpless, no equipment, Kelpin Allseer much better Imager than me. Can't even attack with bare hands as he can turn mirrored blood against me to cause lots of pain. Not good. And to top it all off, he can read minds!
Still, at least don't have chains on any more, so not all bad. Wonder why Kelpin Allseer hasn't just killed me already? Oh. My. God. Kelpin Allseer claims to be my real father! Brain gone into total meltdown!! Am not derinee! Not even a little bit! Managed to stutter something incoherent. Got told more. Seems Mum and Kelpin Allseer had a thing, then she left him and met Dad. Kelpin Allseer found her again, but not before Dad took me and hid. Hope Kelpin Allseer doesn't develop a sudden urge for father-daughter bonding conversation. Couldn't cope. Oh no. Just got worse. Just got introduced to brother and sister...
Sarah's diary, entry 14:
Well, I did ask for it! I asked Mark Pinder (the GM) if he could come up with a bit of a dramatic conclusion to round this edition of the diary off on a high note. And he obliged. In spades! Thanks, Mark!
So, Sepheri's in severe amounts of trouble, with no obvious way out, and the prospect of a very painful family reunion in front of her. Let that be a lesson! Looking for trouble will always give results!
Summing up, Lands of Elvaria is a first person roleplaying game heavily biased towards the high fantasy/D&D style of game. The setting is incredibly detailed, with more races, character classes and gods than you could shake a ten foot pole at, but suffers from a distinct feel of chaos, due to the incredible number of dimensional rifts/meteorite strikes/bizzarre cloning experiments/magical accidents that have occurred at some point in the past, or, in some cases are occurring at this very moment. Turnaround time can be very variable, but can also be blisteringly fast (via email). Turn reports themselves tend to the detailed, though slightly rough around the edges and with the tendency for bad puns (nothing wrong with that!)
And that's where we're going to have to leave poor little Sepheri, in the middle of the family reunion from hell. Let's just hope she gets out of it OK, or at least only slightly mentally scarred...
Lands of Elvaria at a glance
Well-respected and established single-character roleplaying game from Mark Pinder. While places in roleplaying agmes are often limited, newcomers are welcome in Elvaria. Startup with 3 turns is £10, further turns are £3 each.
Part 3: The Very Secret Diary of Sepheri Mirrorkin
SARAH CALLAGHAN concludes her visit to a magical world ...
[Earlier episodes of this diary were in issues 93 and 95. Sarah provides a summary of what's been happening, below.]
Sepheri's Diary, Entry 10:
Well, whaddya know? After all that faffing around feeling a wee bit useless 'cause everyone else in adventuring party was way harder than me, guess who it was ended up shoved into my bag mirror? None other than Gyzan the Red, evil necromancer type with frothing problem who's been terrorising the whole of Elvaria. And little old me who put him there! Go me!
Everyone at Universal Exports was way surprised. Got given v. nice magic artifact as reward. Called 'The World Wide Spiders Web' it's a mirror that can answer questions and stuff, and can sometimes even find out secret information. Though strange and mysterious messages all about earning $$$ in spare time keep popping up as well, most annoying.
Used WWSW to find out more about Dark Overlord Kelpin Allseer and discovered that he's got Mum trapped in stasis somewhere. Not good. But am not yet good enough at Imagery to take him on. Only matter of time!
Think it's terrible too, the way that can be sitting in pub having quiet drink when get hauled up in front of landlord v. impolitely by crossbow-wielding hit-woman. Not even given chance to finish drink, but didn't make too much fuss - know landlord is one of biggest crime lords in Elvaria - not someone to annoy!
Sarah Callaghan's game diary, entry 9:
Back again from my first adventure in Lands of Elvaria, and it looks like the next one's going to be coming to me!
Just a brief recap, 'cause I know it's been a while since the last diary. My character is a young female human/mancat cross called Sepheri who has just started out adventuring in the lands of Elvaria. She's the daughter of a toymaker, and her mother was a renowned Imager (a type of character class that uses magically created mirrors to achieve a bewildering array of effects). Her mother disappeared when Sepheri was young and Sepheri's trying to track her down. In the process she attracted the attention of a rather nasty bad guy, the Dark Overlord Kelpin Allseer, a very powerful and dangerous Imager, and in the process wound up with mirrored blood. (That's what happens when a mirror explodes in front of you and the shards get into your blood stream - ouch!) This means she's got a lot of talent and power to play with, but also has the downside that she can probably be controlled through it. As well as making mirrors, Sepheri's also a skilled Artificer, which means she can make other sorts of magic potions and artifacts and stuff though she hasn't really had the chance to yet. And that's pretty much where she stands.
Sepheri's Diary, Entry 11:
Crimelords, always so touchy and melodramatic. Ariac 'Stonecold' Daliene, head of the Brotherhood (one of the four big organised crime groups in area) felt need to offer lots of money, then threaten me in order to take job for him investigating mysterious fifth faction trying to muscle in on crime scene. Could have told him that just money would have done - no need to get all threatening.
Job is really simple: find out all I can about mysterious fifth faction and report back. Was chosen due to impressive skills and strange gifts and also because am not involved with any of crime groups and can provide unbiased reports. Hope that poking around in steaming underbelly of city not too unpleasant!
Sepheri's Diary, Entry 12:
Note to self: New chatterbox potion works really well. Person who drinks it will talk at great length about absolutely anything and has no self control over what they're saying. Only problem is: have now learned far more than ever wanted or needed to know about some species sex lives. Needed to have long bath and mental scrubbing to get some images out of head!
Potion revealed lots about inner workings of crime gangs in area but not very much about mysterious fifth faction. Asked WWSW and at least got a name: Kaiser Suazee. Obviously a fake name as no one has ever met him/her/it. Current suspects as to true identity are Gyzan the Red, the Hooded Claw and - surprise - Dark Overlord Kelpin Allseer. Certainly gets around!
Also got approached by armoured warrior today. At first thought he wanted to ask me out. Was a bit disappointed when he told me that Prince Daern T Deeds wanted to make me a knight of Equinox due to my noble and daring work against Gyzan the Red and his frothing. Told knight would think about it.
Got back to Scorpions Tail Inn to see it burning merrily - number of incendiary demons had been summoned to burn it down. One singed me badly with a fireball - didn't half hurt! Would have been in big trouble if not for one of Ariac's goons encasing demon in ice. Really should think hard about better armour and maybe shielding mirrors and potions!
Ariac half amused, half exasperated by my methods of investigation. Said he thought I'd be more sneaky and cunning, rather than stirring up a hornets nest like I did. Should have told me to be sneaky and cunning in the first place then! Chatterbox potion also works on thawed out fire demons. Demon didn't have anything useful to say though. Except maybe that we were all targets of assassins and would die soon. Didn't like demon. Stupid demon. Am going to try to flush out Kaiser now. Who knows, maybe if enough chaos caused, he might fall out of closet somewhere in sheer shock! Oh, nearly forgot. Got made knight of Equinox and had big feast in my honour. Very nice it was too!
Sarah's diary, entry 10:
Oops, time to start thinking seriously about some more defensive mirrors or potions or something. If Sepheri's going up against someone who's happy throwing demons around the place, she's going to need them. And there's not always going to be a handy NPC around to save her!
Sepheri's Diary, Entry 13:
Am annoyed. Go to bed one evening, wake up next morning and meteorite has struck Elvaria, making magic not function like it used to any more. Spend a while trying to figure out how all of this will affect me. During all that time no one tried to assassinate me. Demon must have been wrong. Refuse to think that Kaiser might be ignoring me because he thinks I'm too insignificant to send an assassin after. Stupid Kaiser. Will show him!
Sarah's diary, entry 11:
Yes, I have to admit it, I was a bit slack on the turns there, hence the world carrying on without me.
The afore-mentioned meteorite is the in-game rationale behind a fairly heavy restructuring of the magic system in the game, prompting a lot of discussion on the Elvaria mailing list. Most rule changes are shown to the list, which means that any potential loopholes can be spotted quickly and fixed. And the whole area of system improvements is an on-going, very long-running process! Unfortunately, if, like me, you tend to get a lot of email, it can be difficult to keep track of all the changes happening.
Also running at the same time as normal turns is a special event known as Guild Day. Basically you can enter your character into a number of events like 'The Bar Room Brawl' and 'Spellfire - the Next Generation' (a mage fight) and fight it out with other Pcs and NPCs until only one winner is left standing. The winner gets showered in glory (and XPs) and any deaths that occur are not fatal. Characters in the middle of a scenario can join in as well. Sepheri didn't have a go, mainly because I was far too busy with all the real life ™ happening at the time it was being run.
Sepheri's Diary, Entry 14:
Decided to make some chain mail armour for self after run in with fire demon. Not too good at it though, need practice, though for first attempt didn't turn out too bad. Next time will make armour better, and maybe fetching shade of purple.
Information on Kaiser and Dark Overlord Kelpin Allseer bit thin on ground at moment. Both have been very quiet - a bad sign! Went back to Universal Exports to find if they've got job for me, promptly got paired with human female carrying pair of really strange weapons called 'Mak hand guns'. She goes by name of Kara Loft and is secret agent in Elvarian Secret Service. So am I now.
Our mission, which we've chosen to accept, is to go into Federation territory and find out what Kelpin Allseer is up to. Am told will be v. dangerous but can cope. Got given cloak covered in little mirrors by Q - person in Universal Exports who makes stuff. Cloak can make wearer invisible and change appearance and stuff, v. useful! Also got given strange weapon called 'Purdey shotgun' and lecture on how Confederation is dangerous, kill or be killed, blah blah blah. Not impressed by lecture or by comment M (head of Universal Exports) made about 'women from auntie' though can't say I understand it.
Kara went shopping. Can't see why, looks like she's perfectly equipped for everything up to and including raiding tomb of dead god or something. Gives me time to work on new potions and equipment though!
Sarah's diary, entry 12:
I have a sudden very overpowering urge to start humming the James Bond theme tune...
Sepheri's Diary, Entry 15:
Met up with Kara and teleported up north to Citadel, main Confederation city. Not v. nice place - lots of secret police (called Ebon Order v. nasty). Confederation all worship god called the Almighty and their spiritual leader is called The Lady. Not very imaginative with names but never mind. The Lady was founder of the Confederation and is still alive - means she's over a thousand years old! Must get name of her anti-wrinkle cream. And old fiend Kelpin Allseer is Grand Vizier - talked his way into job in less than an hour! Is claimed he can see into the hearts and mind of places and people and is of a new race called 'derinee' which have mind powers. Though am not sure how much of this is true.
Decided to create new potions, sex-appeal and disguise. Then went out in disguise, calling self 'Blonde, Jane Blonde' to splash cash and chatterbox potion around to find out more. Kara went off on her own. But not before making snotty comment about how developed I am for an adventurer of my rank. Just because her bosoms are size of beachballs is no reason to make nasty remarks about mine! Better off on own anyway.
Sarah's diary, entry 13:
Kara's remark was an in-game reminder that there is a lot of details in the rules for potions and suchlike that can vastly improve the amount of power that my character can throw around the place. But the rulebook weighing in at 99 pages of closely spaced text, it can be quite a challenge to find them, even not factoring in the ongoing rule modifications and changes. Also, the in-game newsletter, Aardvark News, came out with the usual snippits of information, both in-character and out. It's a good way of finding out what the other player characters are up to, and also gaining a few helpful tips on what's coming next plot-wise.
Just couldn't resist the James Bond spoof! In my own defence, the GM started it. Time for some action though, methinks. All this extra time spent investigating doesn't seem to yield any more detail than I'd get in the first turn of inquiry. Let's go for something completely unexpected, and totally foolhardy!
Sepheri's Diary, Entry 16:
Bored with investigating and Kara still not back, so have armed and disguised self as best I can and am going to sneak in to palace to find Kelpin Allseer. Might find some answers then as to what he's up to!
Of course, have no skills or preparation when it comes to sneaking into palaces, but never mind. Will manage!
Later: Managed to get into palace grounds alright, though was close shave a few times. Just got into main entrance when got caught by magic detection system. Killed one guard (Purdey shotgun v. effective) but got caught by sleep spell. Walloped head when fell over. Hurts. Stupid sleep spells. Got all my stuff taken away and got left in dungeon for few hours before being brought up to see Kelpin Allseer in chains. Am pretty much helpless, no equipment, Kelpin Allseer much better Imager than me. Can't even attack with bare hands as he can turn mirrored blood against me to cause lots of pain. Not good. And to top it all off, he can read minds!
Still, at least don't have chains on any more, so not all bad. Wonder why Kelpin Allseer hasn't just killed me already? Oh. My. God. Kelpin Allseer claims to be my real father! Brain gone into total meltdown!! Am not derinee! Not even a little bit! Managed to stutter something incoherent. Got told more. Seems Mum and Kelpin Allseer had a thing, then she left him and met Dad. Kelpin Allseer found her again, but not before Dad took me and hid. Hope Kelpin Allseer doesn't develop a sudden urge for father-daughter bonding conversation. Couldn't cope. Oh no. Just got worse. Just got introduced to brother and sister...
Sarah's diary, entry 14:
Well, I did ask for it! I asked Mark Pinder (the GM) if he could come up with a bit of a dramatic conclusion to round this edition of the diary off on a high note. And he obliged. In spades! Thanks, Mark!
So, Sepheri's in severe amounts of trouble, with no obvious way out, and the prospect of a very painful family reunion in front of her. Let that be a lesson! Looking for trouble will always give results!
Summing up, Lands of Elvaria is a first person roleplaying game heavily biased towards the high fantasy/D&D style of game. The setting is incredibly detailed, with more races, character classes and gods than you could shake a ten foot pole at, but suffers from a distinct feel of chaos, due to the incredible number of dimensional rifts/meteorite strikes/bizzarre cloning experiments/magical accidents that have occurred at some point in the past, or, in some cases are occurring at this very moment. Turnaround time can be very variable, but can also be blisteringly fast (via email). Turn reports themselves tend to the detailed, though slightly rough around the edges and with the tendency for bad puns (nothing wrong with that!)
And that's where we're going to have to leave poor little Sepheri, in the middle of the family reunion from hell. Let's just hope she gets out of it OK, or at least only slightly mentally scarred...
Lands of Elvaria at a glance
Well-respected and established single-character roleplaying game from Mark Pinder. While places in roleplaying agmes are often limited, newcomers are welcome in Elvaria. Startup with 3 turns is £10, further turns are £3 each.