CM Simpson: Writer & Gamer

AFTERMATH: If the PCs and Anika’s brood drive off the attacking forces, ask them to make an Earth (Senses) Test. For those who make a TH4, read, or paraphrase, the following: As the last creatures flee or fall, you see something gleaming in the grass: metal, reflecting sunlight shining through the canopy. Allow the PCs to examine the item. It’s a small, round disc made of beaten gold, on which is scribed the now familiar symbol of a long, upright shepherd’s crook, standing beside a half oval (flat-side down) above a long narrow rectangle broken by vertical wavy lines (lying lengthwise). It seems a strange alliance, these creatures with an Egyptian god, but things were different in Mythic times. Once the connection has been made, read, or paraphrase the following description. If the PCs do not make the test, incorporate the disc’s description in the description below, but as something they remember finding after the original fight: The disc gleams in your hand...

This is the report for last week’s progress. It’s not great, but it’ll do. Life happens. We work through it, and we get on.   Week 2 Progress New words produced: 26 Outlines and Notes: Nil Works completed: Nil Works edited: 1 ( Army Boots and Stilettos ) Covers created: Nil Works published: 1 Works submitted: Nil Competitions Entered: Nil Bloggery: 20 University Prep and Assignments: 4,284 words, 23h 5m (recorded) study, 9h travel Writing News Last week I got to Thursday and got gastro – and then my back went, and so did the week’s output plans. I managed inktober up to the 10th, and then didn’t get back to it until today, and I managed to complete the two top priorities that needed to be done: I finished my second essay-in-lieu-of-exam AND I finalised the upload and release of this fortnight’s novel, Army Boots & Stilettos . It’s now up for pre-order, and will be available on Friday.         June-July...

Scene 2: The Unicorn Maid and the Lady of the Bower You are needed. Your ally is in danger, and she is somewhere on the plains below, or ahead of you. You need to find her, and find her fast. Allow the players to make Air (Senses) checks to spot the horse and rider ahead of them, then read, or paraphrase, the following: You see her, just before you hear her, her cries urging you to hurry floating on the wind. If you weren’t so familiar with her voice, you might have thought it was birds calling. This time, your ally is dressed as an Erebean warrior maid, and she is pushing her mount at break-neck speed towards the dark line of trees marking the edge of the Arcadian forest. Allow the players to make Air (Senses) checks to hear faint sounds of battle coming from within the forest. If they are successful, they can choose between following Anika into the forest, or travelling with her towards the sound. If they fail, they can follow her, or any brood mates that hurry t...

This report is actually going out on time. It’s been a busy week, and, with exams approaching, it’s only going to get busier. This is what happened the week just gone.   Week 1 Progress New words produced: 67 + poetry and flash handwritten in notebook Outlines and Notes: Nil Works completed: 14 (7 poems, 7 flash fiction) Works edited: 1 (CS initial edit for Army Boots & Stilettos ) Covers created: 0 (CS format done for Army Boots & Stilettos ) Works published: 0 Works submitted: 0 Competitions Entered: 0 Bloggery: 1,829 University Prep and Assignments: 3,392 Writing News The week just gone saw me trying to complete a second assessment item. Unfortunately, it proved more complex than expected, so, although I completed the words required, with 30-40 references in place, I’m not completely happy with the result, and have decided to go over it this week to see if I can tweak it into something more satisfactory. I also completed the initial edit an...

If PCs convince Anika and Leyila to go to Leyila’s house (but take Lewistrom home to his parents first): Go to Act 5, Scene 1. If PCs convince Anika and Leyila to go to Leyila’s house (with Lewistrom): Go to Act 5, Scene 2 , and modify it accordingly. Note that Lewistrom’s father is outside Leyila’s house, and will confront them when they arrive. Anika refuses to give the boy up, and an argument ensues, unless the PCs can convince the father to come and talk inside. Both Leyila’s parents and the police, on hearing the commotion, come out to see what is going on. At this stage, Lewistrom’s father insists on calling his wife, and the DI sends a car with the PCs to collect her and Act 5, Scene 1 will play from there. If the PCs have not mentioned the Setites yet: The first time the Setites are mentioned, run the flashback in Act 4, Scene 2 . When this occurs, read, or paraphrase, the following: Setites. At the mention of their name, the world about you shu...