Primetime Adventures: Merchant of Dreams

This was Jeff Collyer's experiment. The idea is to create a Primetime Adventures (PTA) setting that runs over a few years, with one or two episodes per convention. I gather this worked well for his Mars setting, but it didn't click as well here.

We discussed lines and veils and agreed to keep a PG-13 rating. The series was to be urban fantasy, about Lost Things. We discussed focal points, considering a bookstore, a school, and a law firm. I think the school idea got dropped, but we kept the bookstore and law firm ideas. Everyone except the drifter PCs lived in the same building. The bookstore was on the ground floor, and the law firm was above it.

GM: Jeff Collyer

Eric Tage Larson: Brother Nature. Fae, Norman's roommate. Issue: Finding own intrinsic worth. Yep, he's Mother Nature's kid brother.

Frank Halevi: Norman, an Antagonist. Normal, real estate developer. Issue: Homelessness / Being the Villain. Frank basically wanted someone who was almost an NPC, who was trying to sell the building that housed the bookstore, the law firm, and the PCs' homes, and figured that the twist, late in the season, was that Norman was doing this to build a homeless shelter. This isn't exactly a character-centered take on the issue, as we noted, but we were all willing to go with it.

Rachel Walton: Chicory, aka Cory. Issue: Freedom. Will he gain his freedom? He was taken by the fae, and is in debt to one called Felix.

Me: Dominique Rodriguez, Esq. Normal, in the know, lawyer. Issue: Justice for the ignorant. Having lost her brother to the fae, she fights for normal people caught up in their webs. Although neither realize it, Cory is Dominique's brother.

Phil Walton: Coyote. Hybrid, gypsy nomad. Issue: Identity, finding your home.

Bruce: Evan Cromwell of the Manchester Cromwells. Male witch with long hair in blond ringlets. Proprietor of the occult bookstore. Issue: What am I really? What is my place within magical society? In the world of the show, Everyone Knows that witches are female. Male witches are looked askance.

Evan: It's not the size of your broom. It's how you sweep.

We decided that the Prince of Joy was dead and the goblins were stealing smiles. there was an unseen manipulator.

Everyone had lost something:

Brother Nature: Purpose
Norman: Joy
Chicory "Cory": Freedom
Dominique: Her brother (actually Cory -- they don't know this)
Coyote: The memory of his mother
Evan: His position in his coven

We then discussed the credits for Merchant of Dreams.

Jeff: What is your character shown doing?

Norman: Eyeing activities suspiciously out the window
Brother Nature: Checking the notes from the meeting to see if they are recyclable
Evan: Pointing to things on a shiny blanket
Coyote: Duffle bag, jewelry, stuffing bear into inside pocket
Dominique: Arguing in court, backhanding someone with a cold iron briefcase
Cory: Looking at stuff in dark house, pausing at picture of a happy family

Everyone had a Screen Presence of 2, and we opened at a building meeting. Norman, Brother Nature, Evan, and Dominique were there. I'm not sure about Cory and Coyote.

Norman: We have an outline. Please be on the same page.

Brother Nature: If I could speak for you, I would have by now.

Dominique: Ad hominem.

Evan (I think): Why are you upset? I have a butterfly.

I forget where the butterfly came from -- Brother Nature, an open window, just one of those fae things, or what.

Jeff: PTA doesn't handle PVP conflicts, which is too bad, because if it did, it'd be perfect.

It's true. What one does is have a conflict with the GM, aka the Director. More than one person can do this at a time, but all must have different goals, and they can't, I think, be goals diametrically opposed, as all players could win.

The meeting wound down inconclusively, I think stalling on the issue of selling the building. The next scene involved Coyote and Brother Nature in a park.

From my notes: Coyote mugged with goblins. It could be a twofer.

I have no idea what that means. It could mean that goblins tried to mug Coyote.

Coyote was meeting Brother Nature in the park to hand off a miniature gazebo to him.

Coyote: This is weird even for you, Brother Nature.

Brother Nature insisted on their weird password system.

Coyote: Oh holy one, I noticed that the sun was shining.

Brother Nature: Oh worthy traveler

I've got something about breadcrumbs, but can't read the rest of my note on that, and a mention of "Tears of Clown", perhaps something Brother Nature found interesting.

Coyote: Yeah, uh, I'll look into that. Oh by the way, the sun is shining in the sky. What's with the clouds?

Brother Nature: Oh that's not me. That's my sister.

There was some conflict, I think about someone wanting the contents of Coyote's duffle bag. Maybe he tried to get it back from the goblins? I know that the player had a red Ace as the high card, so I think he succeeded.

Brother Nature's player: I see a goblin burrowing into a tree. Which disgusts me. Then I go back home.

The next scene took place in Evan's bookstore. Norman was complaining about the store's clientele, suspecting them of the violence actually perpetuated by goblins.

Coyote was there bartering. Evan was in his store persona, wearing a pastel monk's robe and rings on his fingers.

Norman tried to keep Evan on topic.

Norma: But, we have an issue!

Evan: Sounds like you have an issue, Norman. Please clue me in.

Norman explained about the graffiti in the hallway.

Evan: Deathtraps!

Norman: I was thinking of putting in a security camera.

Evan: Or... we could do that too.

Some reference was made to Evan's boss. I forget whether the boss was mysterious or a Remington Steele nonexistent type.

Norman: Yes, this boss is another issue.

Norman (some time later): I'm not arguing that -- yet.

Coyote tried to sell him something.

Coyote: This increases your penis size.

Norman: Really? Do you have a vending license?

Frank explained that Norman wanted Evan and Coyote to be afraid of him because he didn't understand respect. This was a Conflict. Bruce said that Evan wanted Norman to _think_ he was afraid, to make Norman happy. I think both lost. Evan wasn't afraid, and Norman knew it.

Norman: I am writing this in My Report!

Someone flicked a drop from a philtre at Norman as he left.

Evan: What was that?

Cory: I don't know, but you owe me 80 bucks.

Coyote told Evan about the park problem.

Coyote and Evan: Goblins.

Quote whose context I forgot:

Someone: Got a <illeg> in there?

Coyote: Uh, no. I don't think I do, anyway.

Evan: A what tried to do what in the middle of the park?

Someone: One of those?

Coyote: Yeah, but it had a baseball bat with...

Coyote asked either Evan or Cory about memories about mothers.

Evan (I think): You mean besides my own?

Coyote: Yeah, well, yours wouldn't do me any good.

Quotes whose context and speakers I forget:

I would never betray you to this... Norm fellow. Or anyone else.

He lives upstairs.

That I smelled a little bit too normal for what I wanted.

Somewhere during this, Dominique wandered in when Coyote was out, I think. She had been given some weird item by a grateful client. Evan had no idea what it was. Cory recognized it, but lied and said it was something not especially valuable or useful.

Meanwhile, in his apartment:

Norman: Who's been switching my salt and sugar??

This, of course, was the resident brownie, who just didn't like Norman.

Cory went to meet Felix, a nasty fae manipulator to whom he owed a favor. Felix had filed teeth, smoked, and wore a suit like Norm's.

Cory was dressed very fae for the meeting, wearing dark colors and a living cloak of moving fireflies. He identified Dominique's item, telling Felix he'd found a Recalament Orb, something perhaps Felix might be interested in.

Felix: The Recalament Orb -- and another small job. Leaves from Brother Nature.

Norm (reviewing an offer on the building): Excellent! And the housing bubble will never burst!

Someone: Lots of rat holes, but no rats...

Someone: And since tenants' meeting, a lot of wingless butterflies.

I think the goblins or Felix was stealing the wings.

Evan, Dominique, and Norm discussed selling the building, Evan very much opposed, Norm very much in favor, and Dominique admitting that the offer was a very lucrative one. Norm commented on the building's lack of modernity.

Evan: It was built in 1942. How much more modern do you want?

Norm: Something in the 21st Century would be nice.

Meanwhile, Coyote met with Felix, and allowed as how he might be looking for a memory.

Felix: Ah, a specific memory. That would be much higher. You could work your way up to that. I can put you in the ledger.

Someone: Fay layaway.

Felix said that Coyote could start by finding him a Recalament Orb.

Brother Nature was in his apartment, in front of the couch, watching the Nature Channel.

Someone: Is it Brother?

Brother Nature: You can call me Matt.

Evan: Is Norm around?

Brother Nature: No, and I can't think why you'd want to talk to him.

Evan: I don't, particularly.

Evan discussed the goblin problem in the park.

Evan: I was thinking a really big net.

Brother Nature: I'm more a fan of the box and stick method.

Evan: Well, I have a spare gazebo, and I was thinking of sprinkling it with hopes an dreams.

Someone: It's like barbeque!

Alas, things did not go quite according to plan when the gazebo was planted as bait in the park at night.

Evan: Is my gazebo okay?

Jeff: You hear some giggling, and a slurping noise.

Someone: It's now a goblin chew toy.

Meanwhile, Coyote figured out that Dominique had the Recalament Orb and went to try to, oh, sneak into her apartment. He found Cory trying to do the same thing.

Cory: No, it's okay. This is prearranged. She was going to leave me a key, and she didn't have one, so she said it's easy to pick.

Coyote: Yeah, I know that's not true. You're <illeg> kleptomaniac.

Cory: We could do it together.

Coyote (knowing they're both working for Felix): Look, I don't think he's into sharing happy rainbow stuff with puppies.

Someone: Do _they_ get the orb?

Actually, no. They met Dominique when she came to her apartment, but Cory was stuck because he'd previously said that the orbs weren't worth that much. Coyote made an offer: A ratty teddy bear that we had agreed would be making the rounds all season, and that actually originally belonged to Norm.

Coyote: Hey, it's full of childhood memories and dreams. Worth at least a hundred on ebay.

Dominique (preferring cold hard cash): How about 50 bucks?

She relented, and swapped orb for teddy bear.

That left Cory orbless and trying to get ahold of leaves from Brother Nature's plant.

Cory: I don't suppose he also asked you about this?

Coyote: Yeah, good luck with that.

I think Cory tried and ran afoul of the brownie.

Coyote: Who did that to you?

Cory: So, brownies? They're not just good to eat.

Meanwhile, Norm came in.

Norm: If my roommate won't clean his side of the apartment, then I will. (throws plant into garbage)

Cory: Hey, Norm, is your roommate around?

Norm: No, he's fighting goblins, which, I think, is some kind of chasing the dragon drug reference.

Cory: Who roped him into doing that?

Norm: Marijuana.

Quotes whose context and speakers I forget:

<illeg> We'll say man -- who works in the book store.

Some dark corner where you can hide your shame.

Norm: I have some scrapbooking later today to do. It's my day off.

Norm (to Brother Nature, who's ignoring him): I cleaned your room! You're welcome!

Jeff or Brother Nature's player: It starts raining inside.

Norm: Ah, the sprinkler system again.

I think the episode ended on Dominique monologuing to parents while a girl hugged the teddy bear.

Dominique: There are some things you need to know. (Fade out as she lists various well known fae rules)

Coming attractions:

Dumping (??) Goblin hair

Dominique (having learned about the orb): I had a what of what that was worth what?

Cory is shown taping Brother Nature's flower together.

Brother Nature (I think): What do you _mean_ the flower's gone?

Shot of Norm's scrapbook: Paddleboard in the frame, photo of Norm as child, with _that_ teddy bear.

Dawn. A beautiful morning. Coyote and Brother Nature. A hand slips one board from one hand to another.

Coyote: What are you doing?

Brother Nature: Nothing.

Someone looking on Ebay for the bear.