TRAVELER PC - Elroke Fon Grumesteed

TRAVELER CHARACTER -- Baron "Elroke E. L. Fon Grumesteed"

HOME WORLD:  Grumestead IX
RANK:    BARON
NOBLE:  FON GRUMESTEED
NAME:  "Elroke E. L. Fon Grumesteed"
AGE:       46
UPP: 3B759C

STR:   3
DEX:  B
END:  7
INT:   5    ( added-@ +1 Int )
EDU:  9
SOC:  C

SKILLS
Leader - 2
Liason - 3
Navigation - 4
Engineering - 2
Jack-O-Trades - 1

Vehicle: Wheeled/ATV? - 1

Hunting - 1
Blade Combat: Dagger - 2
Gun Combat: Pistol - 2

Lifetime Member : Travellers' Aid Society

YACHT:  "Cassiopeia's Climax"
 ( Ships Boat: 'Rapier's Prick', ATV: 'Woden's Wad', RAFT? )

MONEY: 200,000 Crd.

HOME WORLD: GRUMESTEAD IX

 HOME WORLD   { Baron "Elroke E. L. Fon Grumesteed" }]
###############################################################
     NAME:  "GRUMESTEAD IX" 
     UPP:        B7547B9 - 7 N  Wealthy  Agricultural / Semi-Industrial  GG
8-2:  B(6) ... Star Port: B -- Good Quality Installation.
 .................... Refined fuel available. 
 .................... Annual maintenance overhaul available. 
 .................... Shipyard capable of constructing non-starships present. 
 .................... Naval base present.
9-2:  7 ........ Size:  7000 miles (11200km).
5-0:  5 ........ Atmosphere:  Thin
6-2:  4 ........ Hydrographics:  40% Water
9-2:  7 ........ Population:  Tens of millions of Inhabitants
B-0:  B ....... Government:  Non-Charismatic Leader. 
 ................... A previous charismatic dictator has been replaced by a Leader through Normal Channels.
0+B:  9 ....... Law Level: (9)  Possession of any weapon outside one's residence
                                              is *PROHIBITED*
3+4:  7 ....... Tech Level:  7  [hovercraft, r-wing aircraft, non-starships, fission & solar energy]
9-0:  N(9) ... Naval base:  Yes
5-2:  -(3) .... Scout base:  No
     Trade Classifications :  Wealthy (*not rich) / Agricultural / Semi-Industrial
7-0: GG(7) . Gas Giant:  Yes
###############################################################

GRUMESTEAD IX - BACKGROUND

GRUMESTEAD IX  Home World of  -  Baron "Elroke E. L. Fon Grumesteed" 

The Starport in Grume System is a hodgepodge of the most vile & very virtuous; bars, brothels and businesses. The great gem is 'Shamus O'Mally's Shipyards' that spans from the Starport to the Naval Base - "Grumefort"; which runs the tight & tidy system security. Shady entertainment can be found at 'Guido's (Gaming & Hostel). "Doc Mender" runs the gruesome - 'Mender Clinic'; Human body parts & organ trade. There is a Gas Giant which ships can fuel up for free! But, attempted planet fall on "Grumestead" for water-fuel theft is strictly prohibited.

Grumestead is just slightly bigger than 1/2 Earth size, has a thin but breathable atmosphere, a goodly amount of water - making for pleasant & calm weather patterns. Small, tough plants grow readily in the good seasons which are very long. These plants sustain fairly diverse animal and insect life and help to make it a good world to grow the hardier grains, fruits & vegetables on. 

Solar farms are seen everywhere and is the energy of choice for most. There are quite a few towns and villages, but only two cities with more than a million people. These booming metropolises are leading the way for economic and industrial development; a brisk trade in artistic craft, luxury goods and component parts for starships and such, although the 'O'Mally's Shipyards' hold a monopoly on jump engines. The cities have a long running fission energy program. The Noble Mounted Grumetroopers (NMGt) keep the peace and uphold the Noble Grumernment, they do not tolerate any loitering, flouting or breaches of the law (Death if caught with any type of firearm. Jail if caught with a melee weapon; even a knife!)

Unfortunately the Previous charismatic dictator; ( the wicked but fine ) Dame "Joan E. L. Grumesteed the III" -- 'Knight of the Church of the Eviscerated Virgins' was killed { drugged / drown / toilet water found in lungs }. Dedi Thugs; elite off-world assassin squads are suspected of the high crime - but remain at large > Presumed: [off-world/sans-system/out-sector].

Luckily a replacement in the Noble House of Grume was able to be found; ( The naughty Noble ) Baron "Elroke E. L. Fon Grumesteed" -- 'A young (1st born) Noble enrolled in the elite High Guard College of Ursa Minor'. An official & hasty ascension ceremony was preformed to install the man-child into Grumernment and take on the mantle of Leadership of Grumestead IX. The callous young bourgeoisie reprobate immediately abandoned his office; leaving the day to day grind of running the planet to the Aznauri, Bureaucrats & Civilian Serfs. Grumetroopers; swat & shock troops (riot control) - were unleashed to bring the rustic plebs and pseudo intellectual proletariat under the Grumes iron thumb. 

The lackadaisical Baron spent his time between Starport (gambling & wenching) and planet-side; extravagant party at the Palatial Manors of the dearly departed 'St. Joan' - that quite often devolved into brawling orgies; both comical and bizarre! Once in long a while he would tear himself out of the drugged & drunken stupor long enough to make an appearance at a festival, official dinner function or ribbon cutting ceremony. During one of these remarkable revival of mental faculties he managed to intervene in the interception & capture of an 'Y' class Lux-Starship called the "Merry Mermaid" seizing it for illegal planet-fall and water/fuel theft. (He spaced the pirate captain & officers, the rest of the crew went to asteroid prison!)

He rechristened the yacht "Cassiopeia's Climax"; hired an all female crew of specific attributes and abilities. He redoubled his debaucherous playboy lifestyle with a gusto seldom seen in many sectors of space. Elroke was past over many times for an elevated noble rank, serving 7 terms with no promotion. At 46 years of age he was forced to relinquish the leadership role of Grumestead IX.

Without the the "Nob-Job" (as he liked to call it), he finds fortune has left; little ready cash or credit and a Y class Starship to fuel, berth and maintain. (A bloody great, hulking metal albatross around his foolish neck.) "Elroke Fon Grumesteed" must resign himself to the distasteful task of hiring a mostly new crew from the odorous unwashed common masses, men and women of ugly demeanor, low moral fibre and little ability, skill or manners of any account.

The Up Rooted Paladin

LEO, the DOME-BARGE and the GHOULEIBERMEN
... It happened rather fast. I was in the 'Banal Bore' Tavern many miles away from that arachnid infested; "Nicodemus Castle" drinking a wee-bit-O'-ale with my new compatriots.

...... Then . the .. ceiling ... was .
                                             . the .. floor ... and . I . was .. there ... no .
                                                                                                          ...... MORE!

   Hands raise above my head, like a cleric at his hundredth mass, I Appeared . in .. a ... puff ... of .. Purple .
                                        SMOKE:     I do not JOKE!
{ or did I fall out of the sky ... this planer shift/realms rift is muddling memories.}

  I was strange, the place was odd, and the men I met were of that queer, stealthy persuasion.  At first I trust them not, but, slowly I came to find them amicable fellows; with stout hearts and clean souls.  There was 'Sliper' a most resourceful Expert Locksmith & Listener, the Ever Clever "Gaunilo Mountebank", Oh? and a hedgemage Eva Gorassospiri.  I was told of their need, queer indeed; a Silver COD Piece of some weird and wondrous value or power.

  We traveled a ways through the forest glen to a sea of sun-baked sand dunes.  Upon the dune tops, I spied; a glittering from a tower? ...or something shining in the distance caught my eye.  Finally, as the party got close to our destination, some of the gentlemen had the forethought to scout ahead; a ruined or grounded ship of some sort was discovered!  Leaving the sand dunes behind for beach, I proceeded to empty my Armour of sand.  The nimble men climbed aboard the metal decks of a humongous Domed-battle-Barge. Up a ramp of broken, sand covered wooden planks I trod, when the barge deck was found to be eerily deserted.  Delving into the massive dome through strange brassy double doors we walked a short metal hall to a large chamber with curving walls and a central spiral stairs of metallic construction.

 Through yet more brass doors, we met the GHOULEIBERMEN; skeletal, invisibly skinned, philosophical fanatics with a gruesome appetite for consuming human flesh.  These menacing monsters swung well balanced axes & swords of ancient designs, while; uttering evil nonsense with their vile invisible tongues.

Immediately, I recognizing them as spawns of hell!

                            Upon them we fell, slaying without mercy!
                                    A clean death was more than such fiends deserved.

  In a hall like chamber of plush black, gold & silver carpets we fought an undulating gray masses of large swarming arthropods.  We Oil bombed, tossed Torches killing a dozen score and twenty, monstrous munching beetles, but, they kept coming.  Pouring oil on the carpet in front of us, as a trap; we waited for the approaching chittering swarm.  When they crossed onto the oil a touch of a torch killed them with flaming smoky death!  I stomped the life out of the remaining beetles under the heels of my steel armoured boots. 

  We fought more of the Ghoulish Skeleton men and saw more chambers with curving metal walls and spiral staircases, even went through an abandoned torture chamber and a laundry room with many piles of discarded clothes. ( belonging to the victims of the Ghouleibers, I fear. )

  Our final battle was with many of the Ghouleibermen kind, and their giant-kin master; who weilded 'Teminaxe' a mighty magical battle-axe.  I entered single combat with the giant-kin Ghouleiber and fought valiantly, whilst my companions though it wise to shoot arrows at him ... and me!

  I took an arrow in the side, luckily only slightly more than a flesh wound with no major hindrance to my combat prowess.  With a awesome cleave of my great sword I finally sundered the evil-thing from shoulder to groined.

Mutant Post from Metamorphosis Alpha

Mark was very kind to post on Google+: a first mutant perspective of his 1st sojourn through the duralloy decks and plasti-steel streets of the Colony Star Ship "CSS SEGURELLIA"; damaged by an alien radiation field, lost in time & space with genome plague IV culling the remaining inhabitants...

Ulek Xek (Mark)  - Yesterday 01:52 - Limited

Metamorphosis Alpha - The Steven O'Flux Experiment

    Having purchased Gamma World the day it was originally released, I have always wanted to play Metamorphosis Alpha.  That was 1978. Today in 2011 I finally played in my first official game of MA.

'429' a Genetically Altered?

       Mutant Lionoid awoke from its long dream and encountered a world of of wonder and danger. There he met Den and Harris, a pair of humans free from any taint, who had just crawled from their tubes. The unlucky Al another human, was instantly turned to white dust upon opening a drawer. Wide berth was then given to Al's section of the room. Hungry and confused the surviving trio gathered clothes, weapons and supplies as they set out to recover their past. A fight with a mongreloid set to feast upon 429, was pacified and restrained. Using long lost technology a working lift was uncovered. 429 was pleased to once again hear the God Voice of Denver Manilow the thought teacher and his Musak in the moving room. Minutes later the team entered a huge complex of massive buildings, with an artificial sky that blinked and sputtered with a pixelated and oddly colored sun. Seeking refuge from a band of bellicose beastmen and food, they hid in a nearby building and barricaded themselves within. An security protocol was activated and a machine man arrived to confront the strangers. 429 hid as he could sense danger. Den and Harris spoke with the security droid and warned it of the threat from the beastmen. They were scolded for moving the hotel's furniture without permission as the machine transformed into a living weapon and zipped off to deal with the beast menace. The sounds of battle and screams were heard in the distance as the team thought about their next move.

      Good fun.

Metamorphosis Alpha in Google+ Hangout

Yesterday Night ( less than an hour ago, as I write this ) I had the great privilege of running a group of great players (Mark, Greg & Peter) through the original first edition rpg 'Metamorphosis Alpha' (MA) set in a massive Colony Star Ship  (CSS). That alone would of made it really cool, MA being the brainchild of the amazing Mr James Ward ( TSR / Gamma World / AD&D ) and having awesome players that worked together as a group; that seemed to really buy into the unknown/dangerous/future game world I was creating.

    The coolest thing was we were playing in an Google Plus(G+) Hangout; the latest new social network beta test. Hangouts are really cool for gaming (or just talkin' crap and shootin' the shit); they include video, sound & mic and work with as many as 6+ people (video off for better stability). This was my third or fourth time playing a game in Google+ and first time running a game as Gamemaster (Shipmaster?) in G+ in the last month and I am really diggin' it. (high five Google!)

    It was also my first time running MA, all the prep work I did was to read character generation, and Mr Ward's alternate MA opening "The Awakening" then I created a map(below) of the sleep cocoons (stasis pods) and adjoining rooms and chambers.

My Original rough sketch of the Sleeper Cocoons Chambers & sub-rooms

We also used a neat little web white-board app call Twiddla (http://www.twiddla.com/) for maps, simple dice rolls (4d6, d20 ...) & chat. Twiddla is free for casual use with some limitations (mainly saving stuff). Works great for drawing rough maps & quick sketches. (high five twiddla too!)

Twiddla Image drawn during game by Me

Twiddla pic by player

Give them a try, you won't be sorry!

 [ PS: This blog post is not meant to be an endorsement of any product just a personal opinion of a satisfied user. ]

BLOG-O-DUNGEON (aka Lotto of Death)

Greetings Rune-Seekers,

So you may be wondering what the Dungeon staircase and background grid is for, right?

Whenever I get a new member to my blog I will be rolling on the Random dungeon generation from the first edition Dungeon Masters Guide (Appendix A, pg. 169-173) and adding a tile or two to the background grid!

In honor of my first Rune-Seeker; "Timeshadows"


My first (d20) roll on 'TABLE I.: PERIODIC CHECK' is a 19;
                                   Trick/Trap(VII), Passage continues 30'.


Rolling (d20) on 'TABLE VII.: TRICK/TRAP' got an 8;
                            Pit, 10' deep with spikes, 3 in 6 to fall in!


Roll (1d6) for "Timeshadows" ! .... 4 ... yeah! ... your safe.

Well thats good I'v lost so many Rascals that way. ;0)

Halls & Walls

Room & Fills

Room Tiles

Shapes & Fillers

These Tiles were made by me when I was a teenager back in the early 80's





I used them with lead miniatures, of which, I had less than a score(20).




I don't Know where I got the Idea for them could of been an ad in the Dragon or saw some such tiles in 'Fandom' my FLGS in Ottawa.
They were all drawn freehand on graph paper and inked afterwards.
I'm dusting them off for use on the blog 30 plus years later!