Monday, September 9, 2013

The Gates of Shamballa


In list nights WaRP Weird Adventures game, the gang made it through to the gates of Charles Ranulf Urst's estate--wherein a treasure supposedly lies. The snow globe, they discovered, made the otherwise unopenable front gate open. The swirl of the "snow" inside seemed to point toward the main house.

First, they decided to check out another closer structure, though. It was a pool house, like some sort of ancient Imperial bath. It was tiled from head to floor and arrayed with six marble statues of ancient gods and goddesses. The group looks around the place and doesn't find anything dangerous, which really only serves to heighten their anxiety.

On the way out, Jacques notices one of the statutes seems to have moved slightly. They quickly leave, but once safely outside they begin to wonder if they should investigate further. LaRue, their resident medium, tries to consult the spirits and detects a single, powerful presence, but it's not specific.

After some debate, they decide to go back in to mess with the statues. As Rob is moving one (to see if there's something underneath), the ever observant Professor Po notices another change the direction it's looking!

For a short adventure, this one seems to have got the players' interest. How a little bit of preternatural detail gets the player's animated. Is fear or curiosity the primary reaction? Sometimes, it's both.

11 comments:

Black Vulmea said...

I've been to that pool . . .

Trey said...

Did they let you swim?

Porky said...

I don't know how you intended it in this case, but it's always interesting to see what gets players' attentions, and how things the GM might not have given much thought to, or maybe brought in almost without a thought, can move centre stage. It's great fun to be finding things out at more or less the same time as the players.

Trey said...

@Porky - Indeed. I can say to much more given that one or more of my players might read this, but there are things for all of us to discover.

Aos said...

It is a fine thing when you can ratchet up player tension to the point of actula nervousness.
What system are you using for this again?

Trey said...

WaRP, the generic version of the system from Over the Edge.

The Angry Lurker said...

Their imagination is your best weapon.

Chris C. said...

Yeah, as a player I always cringe at not finding anything dangerous. It really makes me feel like my PC is in the cross-hairs, which is just worse than an actual "something" that you and fight, flee or figure out.

Trey said...

@Chris - Yeah. The hidden threat.

Justin S. Davis said...

I enjoy your session reports.

Nothing more to add, really.

Trey said...

Glad you like them, given that sometimes their not super-eventful. My current player's tend to be very cautious, but also spend a lot of time talking with colorful NPCs to not always a lot of purpose.