THE GATEWAY CHRONICLE
April 2000

FROM THE BLACK DESK - March 1997

Session Three was held on March 22nd at Kevin and Shari MacGregors. It was Captain Gray's birthday and it was also my own which led to a few confusing moments, particularly during dinner. There were 32 of us this time, a significant improvement from last time. From what I was able to gather during wrap up everybody had a good time which had a lot to do with the valiant efforts of the Judges to keep things moving and a good mix of players.

ATTENTION X FILES: If you don't include yours truly, there were 31 guests for my 31st birthday. There was a full moon and a meteor shower that night. I saw Amanda Donahoe on a rerun of LA Law for the first time in years the same day I saw Liar Liar, which Amanda Donahoe also played a lawyer. Coincidence? I think not. What does it all mean?

CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE

Thanks to the Gray Guard - Tom Dowd, Drew Novik and Rob Wilson. Thanks also to Joe Adlesick as the Gatekeeper, Tonya Angelus as the Changeling and James Silverstein who was good enough to run the Tavern in Velo's absence. Special thanks to Diane and Kelly Jordin who kept Captain Gray's tankard full the entire session, much to the dismay of my kidneys and to the ninja tag team of Tom and Drew for their many contributions to the session - they gave me the freedom I needed to actually enjoy myself.    
    Everyone pitched in with all manner of support this time with very few reminders from yours truly. We had a very nice meal and I took home enough Diet Coke to feed the machine for the rest of the month. Thanks guys. I'm riding a three-day caffeine high and feeling no pain.

WHERE THE HELL IS THE REVISION?

I'm not going to promise anyone anything.
    When I did it turned my hobby into something with a deadline, which made it, work and I didn't want to do it anymore. I am very close to done with the new rules but I am only going to work on them when the muse strikes so the best I can tell you is "it will be ready when it's ready".
    I'm only going to go to the trouble of editing and reproducing this monstrous tome when I'm reasonably certain that I won't need to revise it for quite some time. Chances are good you will have it before the next session, but like I said - I'm not promising anything.

EPILOGUE
The Final Tally for Session Three

After Session Three Zurek pulled into the lead. Zurek also has the highest combined score, followed by Evangar and the Cabal. This represents a major shift in the balance of power in the Shattered Realm (note that Thallarin and Vathos aren't in the top 3 at all). Evangar's success was the result of newfound dominance over it's allies, a turn of events which effectively put the power of the Church in Morgan Winterborne's hands. The surprise emergence of the Cabal was due to the brotherhood's powerful allies. The fact that Evangar and the Cabal are now neck and neck seems somehow fitting.
    Your three favorite characters this session were Count Skye (as played by Rob Nichols), Vrexir the Draekor (as played by Shard) and Catherine (as played by Lori Ralston). Congratulations one and all. In case you haven't heard - Notorious characters no longer get bonus experience for winning the voting so Vrexir will not receive anything but our gratitude for a fine effort.

WAR STORIES
Highlights and Lowlights of Session Three

For those who haven't heard many of the plots this session revolved around the replacement of Captain Gray by a demonic doppelganger. Playing a truly evil character was my birthday gift to myself and I had a hell of a good time with it (pardon the pun).
    There was a tournament held in Captain Gray's honor. Kayla won the day by defeating Captain Owl and was rewarded with a crown of golden leaves and a magic amulet of protection. Congratulations Kayla. The biggest surprise of the tournament was the defeat of Captain Rhys at the hands (and feet) of Kobar, who proved to all assembled that the unarmed fighting style of the Nomad warriors can be as effective as a sword and shield.
    A mysterious stranger known only as "Lord Rasp" made his debut at the Ram's Head. It was rumored that Rasp had some kind of connection to the Legion of the Damned. Nolan seemed to have a personal quarrel with Rasp that was never resolved, because he managed to escape shortly before the demon revealed itself.
    The strangest Expedition of the day was heralded by a vision in which the Gatekeeper saw himself reflected in the waters of his scrying pool. When the adventurers stepped through the Portal they reappeared in courtyard outside the Tavern. It is uncertain why the portal seemed to turn back on itself but it may have had something to do with the 'Demon Gray" and the threat it posed to the Gatekeeper because the creature was revealed shortly after the reappearance of the adventurers. When the demon attacked the Gatekeeper several heroes rushed to his defense with swords and spells.
    After the creature was beaten back and banished by the Gatekeeper the heroes began their search for Captain Gray. They found what was left of him in an abandoned monastery but his captors got away clean. If the tales told in the tavern afterward speak true Gray had been slain but Alejandro the healer raised him from the dead.
    At the end of the session Captain Gray announced that he would be leaving the service of the Gatekeeper for a time to pursue the banished demon that stole his shape to "set things right". In his absence Gregor Rhys will serve as Captain of the Gray Guard, a decision that seemed to be popular with the assembled adventurers.

CURRENT EVENTS
What's going on in the Realm...

Things are really starting to heat up in Evangar. The insistence of Lord Winterborne on maintaining secular independence from the Church of Dain has drawn fire from Argoth, members of his own court and family. It has been rumored that the Archbishop has made some kind of ultimatum that may determine the fate of the troubled "Alliance of the Faithful".
    Lord Blacksteel is beginning to back down from his aggressive posturing. Many of his barracks and smithies have been shut down and he has allowed almost half of his mercenary contracts to lapse. Some of this change of heart was the result of economic pressure but he seems to be actually rethinking his position.
    Beginning with the capture of Captain Gray at the Ram's Head Tavern the Legion of the Damned has made it very clear that they are still a presence in Kaleth. There were several attacks by the Legion's minions on vulnerable settlements but they were pout down by a group of heroes spearheaded by Captain Rhys.

WHAT IS THE LAW?
New Subskills, Advantages and Disadvantages

MERCHANT
Scholar Subskill

At the end of any session a character with this Subskill may "invest" a number of gold pieces up to twice his Skill Rank. At the beginning of the next session the merchant makes a special Test which only fails if the player scores an Uncontested Failure.
    If the Test succeeds the merchant doubles his investment and receives the funds to use during the session along with the funds he receives for his Wealth. If the Test fails, the investment is lost.
    Any character with the merchant Subskill who has Mastered Scholar may bank their gold more effectively than other characters, retaining 2 gold for every 3 gold they bank (Grandmasters retain 3 out of 4 gold banked).

LIVING LEGENDS
Famous Characters

Background
Many know the name of Kedrik Damondrar. Those who hold the word of Dain sacred and recognize His place in the Heavens know him as Father Kedrik of Allumsvale, acolyte of the Anointed Word and enemy of darkness in all its forms. Those who embrace that darkness know him best as the Inquisitor Kedrik, Scourge of Manneth, or perhaps as he is often cursed in the old Dark Tongue, Kabrth n’Uld— flame hound.Though there are always Inquisitors, the Inquisition comes rarely. Such is the wisdom of the people of Kaleth that Dain’s Watchers are called to arms against a Named enemy only once in a great while. The last time it was the Legion of the Damned. Over six years ago that declaration was made public, but the dogs had been loosed long before the common man knew. Long before.

A Story...

A too-short time ago...

To her, the Cathedral felt cold. Perhaps it was the air, the chill of the gleaming armor barely kept from her skin by a thin layer of quilted cloth, or the stark emptiness of the place without its celebrants. More than all else, however, she knew it was from the dread that came with the dark of night message from the Bishop. The deacon had been curt; no needless words, just the summons from his Grace to appear in the great Cathedral with all due haste, in armor, ready to travel. She had done as demanded, arriving within its sacred halls she suspected not more than a few score footsteps behind the layman. She was a Crusader.
    The main hall was quiet, but at the far end of the center walk, at the foot of the approach to the Lower Altar, there was a tight gathering of robed figures. She walked quickly in their direction, moving carefully to dampen the harsh sound of her metal armor so as not to insult this scared place.
    Once closer she recognized them all, patriarchs of the Church, elders of Dain. To her far right stood Temren, Master of the Guard. His expressionless gaze never left her as she approached. To her far left sat Father Derrin, he of the simple words and trust of the people. The flesh of his face and hands were pallid white against the black of his robes. He did not look at her. He shook. Directly ahead the knot of gathered priests and laymen parted, allowing her to ascend the few steps to the raised alter. The Bishop sat there, on the bottom steps of the next ascension, pale as the white of his cloth, and soaked in blood. And it was now she could smell the charring, the odor of seared flesh Beyond him, the cloths and trappings of the Lower Altar were burned, blackened and twisted. The gold of the sacred ornaments had run like water down its marble sides.
    Instantly her body seemed to loosen as her balance shifted. If the threat was still here, she was heartbeats away from resolving it. Her attention quickly scoured the greater altar. The Bishop managed a weak smile.
    "Relax as best you can." He said, his voice barely above a whisper. "There is no danger... here."
She made so that she appeared to relax and return to her stiff guard posture, but as her gaze passed over each of those on the approach she watched beyond them and above them. Priests were often wrong about danger.
    "You have prepared for travel, as I asked." He said once her attention had returned to him.
She nodded. "I have, your Grace." Her horse waited as commanded at the gates of the church, a week’s light rations already in its packs."Good. You will immediately travel to the ruins at Faenran. You know them?"
    She nodded again. "I know that foul place." And she did.
He glanced away toward Temren and then continued: "You must ride quickly. If you do not reach there within three night from now I fear he will be beyond us forever."
    "I can, your Grace," she replied, "but may I ask who you are referring to?"
    The Bishop paused. "Kedrik Damondrar."
    The Crusader visibly flinched. "The Inquisitor?"
    "The same."
    "He is dead." She coldly told the Bishop. "I saw him fall." And she had.
    "As did I. As did many." He said. "But Dain did not receive him into His Beauty that day."
    She held back the words the old anger pushed her towards and instead said: "I do not understand."
    "You do not need to, Child."
    She nodded again. "Yes your Grace."
    "You will find him beneath the largest of the three buildings. He is injured, fatally so, unless you can reach him."
    "Yes your Grace."
    The Bishop paused. "You must heal him as best you can."
    "Your Grace, my charger is strong. I could carry one of the Choosen, perhaps Mistress Vainai, who would be more able to— ""You must do it."
    "Yes your Grace."
    "Ignore everything else you see there. Touch nothing except him, and bring—""And his sword." Interrupted Temren who had moved somewhere behind her.
    The Bishop glanced at the Master of the Guard, nodded slightly, and then continued. "Nothing but he and his sword. Bring them both here. Others will come to..." The Bishop struggled for words. "...clean up what else you find there. Leave it be."
    "Yes your Grace."
    "That is all. Go in Dain’s Majesty. And go quickly."
    "Thank you, your Grace." She turned smoothly and began to move back down the center walk avoiding Temren’s demanding stare. But, after a few steps she faltered and turned back toward the Bishop. "Your Grace?" she asked. He looked up from his stained hands.
    "Yes?"
    "The blood?"
    "His, child, his."
    "And the fire?"
    The Bishop’s eyes seemed to darken. "That you will understand when you find him."

ONWARD AND UPWARD

SUBMITTED FOR YOUR APPROVAL

Drew (Nameless) Novik has suggested that we conduct a fundraiser as an alternative to asking for an event fee. He seems to think a garage sale would be ideal. I am considering running an upcoming session at a hotel so the support would be very helpful but I have no interest in coordinating an event of this kind. If someone volunteers to do so on our behalf I have TONS of stuff to donate to the cause. The ball is in your collective court.

~ That's all for now. Be well- Grey Mike :)