Jump to content

Gemini Ascendant: Pulp Action!


ghost-angel

Recommended Posts

Nolgroth runs a Star Hero campaign called Gemini Ascendant. While one of us is on vacation for 3 weeks he's set up and is running a 3-session Pulp Game.

 

Basically with Pulp versions of our Star Hero characters.

 

We're knee deep in the middle of session 1. Right now he's trying to bury the party under an avalanche while we're stuck on the side of a mountain in the Andes. . .

 

When the session is done I'll write up the notes and post all the happy details of the games.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Gemini Ascendant: Pulp Action!

 

The Cast:

 

Adventurers Inc!

 

Casparelli - Magician and Escape Artist extraordinaire - hails from New York City.

Mike - Irish boxer and the groups wheel man - also hails from New York City.

Azif - Taureg tribesman, expert swordsman, and backup gunman - hails from the Sahara Desert.

Wade - Great White Hunter, expert marksman - hails from Georgia, USA.

Samantha - Expert sneak and thief - hails from France.

 

The group is a diverse set of people who all have one thing in common: They just can't let a good adventure go. Adventurers Inc! is a loose group of world travelers. Whenever rumor of a hidden temple, lost city or distant land comes their way they gather together and head off into the great unknown in search of . . . well, Adventure!

 

Neither fame nor fortune is their goal, ultimately it's all for the challenge of reaching the impossible and finding the unknown that draws them out.

 

But you know . . . a little riches along the way never hurts.

 

(session 1 synopsis coming soon)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Gemini Ascendant: Pulp Action!

 

(session 1 will be posted in 2 parts, here is the first, dang southern accent wrecks heck with the spell checker. . .)

adventurersinc01.jpg

1924, Peru, Somewhere in the Andes Mountains. . .

 

The Andes mountains of Peru are bitterly cold. The search for the Yachockta Sceptre has not gone well, with one of the guides slipping on the treacherous ice and falling into a ravine. If this were our intrepid adventurers only worries things would be normal. The other two guides ran off in the night as they neared some mountain pass they called Breio do Diabo, leaving them guideless in the wilderness.

 

"What's dat mean?" The Irish boxer asks as the group makes their way, now guide less, around the mountain.

 

"Hmmmm.... Something of the Devil." Mike answers, the guides spoke in Portuguese to themselves. Mike acted as the groups translator this time as both he and the guides spoke Spanish. "So we have lost ouah guides..." He says, as they are trapped on the side of a mountain with a snow storm moving in, "And we have lot ouah way in search of ouah goal."

 

As if to punctuate our adventurers predicament, a lone wolf howl echoes through the snowy mountains.

 

"Who's idea was this again?" Samantha says trying to diminish her already small profile against the wind and cold.

 

"Yes and this not the Sahara." Azif seems to be in agreement with Samantha regarding the lack of warmth.

 

"I t'ink we need a fire." Mike says as if reading the minds of the other two.

 

"Most likely awl of ya'lls idea toghter" Wade says with a smile. Adventurers Inc! is lead by no one person, as they all well know.

 

"Well, I suppose it could be worse. There could be Germans." Samantha muses, mostly to herself.

 

"What we need is shelter from the storm" Azif says, their present predicament on his mind.

 

"Oui." Samantha nods with a bit of a shiver.

 

"Well we need not worry anout food... there is fresh wolf on the hoof..." Wade looks around the forested landscape of the mountain side.

 

"I ain't eatin' no dog meat" Mike growls.

 

"Yes and i believe he thinks the same of us" Azif says.

 

"Wolf, not dog. There is a difference. I'd imagine wolf has a gamier taste to it." Samantha chips in.

 

"Then my thick friend you will be hungry" Azif notes to Mike, who only makes a face in response.

 

Wade has already moved onto the next task, shelter, as he scans the surrounding area with his binoculars. There are no caves readily apparent to the hunter. "Well I suggest we set up the tents and try to ride out the storm..." He shrugs, being used to adverse conditions he thinks nothing of the situation at hand as the first flakes of snow start to fall, they can all tell the incoming storm promises snow nasty wind. "We need to watch in shifts against the wolves and make sure we do not get buried in the snow." Wade moves to the burros to get the supplies to set up camp.

 

"When we get out of this place, I plan on a nice vacation on a Greek island, long vacation." Samantha takes the binoculars and keeps watch as the others set up camp.

 

Azif and Wad start to build snow walls to act as wind breaks while Mike and the quiet Casparelli quickly set up a pair of tents. Samantha keeps an eye on the area, watching the shadowy forms of wolves slip between the trees.

 

"Do we have fire starting equipment" Azif asks as they finish setting up several hours later, the snow is starting to come down and the wind is picking up.

 

"I got my trench lighter" Mike says.

 

"Any wood?" Azif asks.

 

"Just yer head." Mike jokes.

 

"bicker when we're back in civilization." Samantha says a little more tersely than his her normal tone.

 

"Aww, I don't mean nuthin... just funnin' 'im." Mike responds.

 

"Yes my princess, ask and we shall obey." Samantha can't tell if Azif is being sarcastic or not.

 

Mike, in the mean time, racks a round in his springfield and sets the safety. Azif notes it as a good idea and readies his M1917 as well.

 

"Two per watch." Mike says, the group deferring to his expertise in the survivalist arena, "I'll take first watch with Casparelli, then Sam and Azif, then Mike and Me again." He says. The others nod.

 

"And if the storm gets too heavy, no watch, everyone in tents. I like unfrozen friends." Samantha nods.

 

"Well it looks like you me together in the middle of the night, my princess." Azif smiles.

 

"It does." Samantha nods.

 

The first watch goes without incident. Samantha and Azif are sitting on the cold mountainside, snow falling and the wind whipping through the trees. They don't speak, merely huddled against the cold in mutual contempt for it, when both turn towards a sound by the wind breaks.

 

"You hear that?" Samantha whispers as she half stands.

 

Azif shoulders his rifle, aiming towards the wind break, "Yes." He whispers back.

 

"Cover me." Samantha, unarmed, moves slowly toward the wind break, keeping out of Azif's line of fire. It's a routine the group has been through many times before.

 

Samantha gives a glance over her shoulder at Azif and nods slightly as she turns back and peaks over the low snow wall. He eyes lock with a pair of yellow eyes of a wolf mere inches from her face.

 

"Wolf!" She cries diving, almost falling, down behind the wall in surprise.

 

The wolf immediately leaps over the wall to attack Samantha as she rolls quickly out of the way of it's teeth and claws. A rifle crack from Azif hits the animal in a foreleg. Samantha scrambles to her feet, both her and the wolf letting out a yelp. Samantha scrambles back towards the fire as Azif fires again, this time the wolf falls to the ground dead.

 

Mike, Wade and Casparelli all come scrambling out of the tents at the sound of the rifle fire, all armed and ready for Action!

 

"Old rifle still shoots good , you ok Samantha?" Azif pats his weapon and turns to Samantha.

 

"Yeah, I'm fine. Just, you know. bit spooked." Samantha says standing back up.

 

"Now see ah told ya'll there'd be fresh meat foah thuh lawduh..." Wade smiles wide.

 

"Yes , I shoot you clean, Wade." Azif nods.

 

As they check the area their attention is drawn to a low rumbling coming from up the mountain.

 

"C'est mal. I don't like the sound of that." Samantha looks up the mountain side.

 

"Oh no..." Wade says.

 

"Avalanche." Azif completes the thought.

 

"Get into the clear!!" Mike yells as Azif looks around wildly, Casparelli seems unfazed as he takes in the area.

 

"We'all bettah move... now." Wades gives his sage advice.

 

"Go behind a big tree." Casaprelli's says with an air of calm.

 

The group moves quickly, no strangers to dangerous situations they don't panic. They grab their packs and head quickly for the cover of the trees. Samantha and Casparelli both quickly find trees they can climb and make their way up off the ground. Wade follows their example as Mike and Azif head for trees themselves.

 

The avalanche hits with stunning force, sweeping over the camp like a wave. The tress snap like twigs and within moments they are sent tobogganing down the mountainside Azif and Mike, running down the mountain, are also caught in the icy wave.

 

Their collective screams punctuate the rumbling of the avalanche as it carries them roughly down the mountain.

 

It seems like they are sliding and tumbling in snow and rocks forever when suddenly the ground drops out from under them.

 

Their screams raise in pitch as the adventurers go tumbling through the air in a mass of trees, snow and rocks. After a long fall, they come crashing into someplace dark.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Gemini Ascendant: Pulp Action!

 

Cool. A travelogue of our adventures. I would rep you if I hadn't done so the other day. My only recommendation is that you change the last few lines to reflect that you are talking about the characters and not to the characters. ;)

 

Next week's should be even better since we won't have the technical issues that plagued us this last session. I'm going to rip OpenRPG 1.7.1 out by it's roots and reinstall the ol' stable 1.6.3 version. I like running it on the desktop because of the extra screen real estate. And I want to have maps and props if at all possible. Need to plan that out way in advance.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Gemini Ascendant: Pulp Action!

 

Cool. A travelogue of our adventures. I would rep you if I hadn't done so the other day. My only recommendation is that you change the last few lines to reflect that you are talking about the characters and not to the characters. ;)

 

Heh. If you couldn't tell - I'm using dialogue and descriptions right from the games chat log. I missed editing that last bit to go past tense instead of present :P

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Re: Gemini Ascendant: Pulp Action!

 

I'd LOVE to see the writeup posted at the Pulp Project 1557 site. There is a page for campaign writeups, and I think this is a great example of SF Pulp

 

http://project1557.wetpaint.com/page/Pulp+Campaign+Write+Ups

 

Thanks!

 

Hank

Actually, just for clarification, the original Gemini Ascendant campaign is a Space Opera (though I'll admit it has some Pulpy elements). This little side trek into a REAL pulp adventure was intentionally patterned off of an Indiana Jones type theme/feel. I'm not sure I captured that, but it has been fun nonetheless. :)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Gemini Ascendant: Pulp Action!

 

Actually' date=' just for clarification, the original Gemini Ascendant campaign is a Space Opera (though I'll admit it has some Pulpy elements). This little side trek into a REAL pulp adventure was intentionally patterned off of an Indiana Jones type theme/feel. I'm not sure I captured that, but it has been fun nonetheless. :)[/quote']

 

No matter. I'd still love to see it, as it could give a wider audience of pulp rpg'ers some inspiration as they construct their campaigns.

 

Incidentally, Space Opera is a valid pulp genre, so I wouldn't mind seeing something from that as well.

 

But only if you want to....

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Gemini Ascendant: Pulp Action!

 

No matter. I'd still love to see it' date=' as it could give a wider audience of pulp rpg'ers some inspiration as they construct [i']their[/i] campaigns.

 

Incidentally, Space Opera is a valid pulp genre, so I wouldn't mind seeing something from that as well.

 

But only if you want to....

I make no promises for myself, but if one of my players is ambitious....

 

Right now between Real Life , running the actual game, and my new project, I doubt I'll have much time. But, thank you for the interest. It is very flattering.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Gemini Ascendant: Pulp Action!

 

I'm working on transcribing the adventure into story format - I am actually further along than the post above is, but I haven't had time to polish (spell check) the thing lately.

 

When we're done with the scenario I think I'll ask Nolgroth for his notes (if any? I'm sure he has some!) and convert it, with the story, into a full blown scenario. Because I do, this month, have the time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Gemini Ascendant: Pulp Action!

 

I'm working on transcribing the adventure into story format - I am actually further along than the post above is, but I haven't had time to polish (spell check) the thing lately.

 

When we're done with the scenario I think I'll ask Nolgroth for his notes (if any? I'm sure he has some!) and convert it, with the story, into a full blown scenario. Because I do, this month, have the time.

Er, uhhh no notes. Sorry. I could make some up if you like, but my general style is to have some sort of milestone I want the party to reach and I ad lib almost everything from there. :o
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Re: Gemini Ascendant: Pulp Action!

 

Here's an example of my mental notes, just as an example. For session 1 of the Pulp game, I want the characters to find the journal. The wolves, avalanche and everything else just sort of fell into place. Due to the technical problems that night with the servers and people dropping connection like flies, we only got as far as the fountain in that initial room.

 

Session two is where I wanted you guys to get the scepter itself. Well, that also didn't happen. Along the way, I toyed with a couple of different encounter types (Nazis or poisonous spiders) and nothing really shouted at me to toss in. The bridge though, that was real inspiration. A slippery, narrow bridge that fell into who knows what. (And that is really true, because even I didn't know at that point :) ). By the time you pilfered the Nazi camp, I realized that whatever was going to happen had to be really short.

 

Enter game three. I wanted a combat, but I wasn't sure about how many enemies to throw in. In many ways, I am still getting my feet wet at actually running HERO in practical terms. So I reverted to Nolgroth's First Rule of Combat; test the waters. Hence only the one giant spider. After Azif was poisoned and seeing just how deadly that poison is (hope I didn't just spoil anything), I elected to leave the combat at just that. In the end, that paid off, as you got into the temple proper and secured the scepter.

 

So what happens next. That depends on a whole bunch of variables. I have vague ideas on where I want to go with either the Sci Fi game or the Pulp one, depending on whether Presto and/or Dale (still no word) show up.

 

In terms of the overarching campaign, I have similar vague goals based on the characters actions and an undefined timeline of events. I'm feeling my way in the dark and mapping it out as I go.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...