Swashbucklers in Space

26 February 2015: 2pm: Swashbucklers in Space

• Keith Stetson: GM
• Sean Leventhal: Theodore Sheldon, Ship's Doctor or Engineer (I forget which after all this time.)
• Nick Trambino: Drew (Andronicus) Creel, Gentleman Scoundrel, Your Captain
• Me: Francois, Diplomat / Spy
• Bob: Jarrack Hunter, Resident Hero who defeated a whole platoon, in single combat
• Christian: Allisdair Hunter, Blob Butler to the captain, Purple Green

We chose our Aspects from index cards the GM supplied and made some of our own, and the same for Stunts. My character sheet:

Francois DuQuois

• High Concept: The Most Eligible Bachelor in the Space Lanes
• Trouble: Doesn't Know When to Say When
• Well Armed in a Battle of Wits
• Always Brings a Blaster to a Swordfight
• Diplomat -- No, Really! (I made that one up to reflect that he was a spy -- but he was, nevertheless, an actual diplomat.)

Stunts:

• Called Shot
• Ladies' Man
• Razor Tongue

Skills:

• Great (+4): Provoke
• Good (+3): Shoot, Rapport
• Fair (+2): Deceive, Fight, Notice
• Average (+1): Athletics, Contacts, Will, Resources

Allisdair was the captain's butler, and Theodore was the ship's doctor or engineer, I forget which. I figured Francois was a passenger.

Either Drew or Allisdair: Oh good -- we need a fare.

Quotes whose context I forget:

Oh please don't -- it didn't end well last time. [I have no idea.]

Those pirates -- what rascals! [I'm guessing that this was said by the captain, who was at least part pirate himself.]

You -should- be in academia. [Said to someone who had an aspect "I should be in academia" -- probably Theodore.]

My notes say:

• Planet - Krag
• Tranquility Station

I think that meant we were traveling from the planet to the station. And, Francois referred to his cousin Clarice, who was on the Station.

I think that the cargo the ship carried consisted of Exotic Alien Pets. The ship was called The Golden Tassel. It was also intercepted by a ship from the Kadari--Primus Coalition.

If I recall correctly, it looked like the ship was being surrounded by tiny bee-shaped ships, but it actually wound up inside a large ship. This did all make sense, I assure you, but I forget the technical explanation.

Kadari: Human Vessel, prepare to be boarded

I forget what prompted the following:

Francois: Well, I will trust myself to your capable -- pseudo pods.

Allisdair: Very kind of you to accommodate my anatomy, sir.

GM: Best pick up line.

Allisdair suggested folks gather at Airlock 2.

Allisdair: Because Airlock 1 I glued shut as per our previous conversation.

(Or perhaps that was Theodore -- I didn't indicate in my notes.)

Allisdair: An historic occasion -- to see the great Jarrack Hunter deal death to all or die trying.

At this point, the captain figured out that his ship was somehow inside the Kadari military ship. The following exchange took place, though I forget who said what.

Did we black out?
How did this happen?
You weren't listening --
Little Bees --
Oh, you were serious.

The Kadari announced when they were boarding, and, as Francois knew, they would board _precisely_ when they said they would, neither late nor early.

Captain (in front of Airlock 2): Open it up.

Allisdair: Ahead of schedule?

Captain: Yes.

Francois decided to await the boarding party. It would be rude not to!

Allisdair: Francois, it's been capitol knowing you.

Francois prepared a proper Kadari meal, raiding the ship's supplies, and making sure there was excellent wine.

GM: I don't even have to do anything.

Yep, this was a self-compel on "Doesn't know when to say when".

Allisidair: I certainly hoped Master Creel remembered our canteen as per our earlier conversation. There are times I need to be carried about.

Me (as Francois awaited the Kadari): What do Kadari look like?

One of the other players, likely Sean or Nick: Small. Weak.

< a line I can't make out >

GM: Almost wolfen-like, hairy.

Player: You're not listening!

The captain and the others explored the Kadari ship, and heard some giggling when they accidentally broke into... the waste tubes.

The Kadari captain greeted Drew, and one of them, I think the Kadari, said, "My apologies, captain to captain."

Drew: This is my crew.

Allisdair: Hello! This ship is absolutely spotless, Master Creel -- I haven't tasted a single piece of dirt.

Kadari Captain: Why, thank you!

Meanwhile, Francois entertained the boarding party in the airlock. They were trying to find the peace treaty between the Kadari and Humanity, which they did not want to be signed, but once signed, would feel utterly honor bound to uphold.

But, how did such a treaty come about? Well, the Cthonians had negotiated under Kadari's name. Why did the Kadari allow this? An excellent question, and one Francois asked, while denying any knowledge of the whereabouts of the treaty he was carrying.

Kadari Warrior: I am not authorized to think.

Plot Point: Theodore hated the Cthonians.

What were the Cthonians? A race to be defined as we played.

Francois was very good at social combat, and got a Boost: We Can Trust This Human. This lead to a success with Style. He offered the Kadari wine.

Kadari: We cannot drink -- no liver!

Francois managed to get them something that was either liver or close enough. And, he did well enough that the scene had the Aspect: It's A Great Party!

At this point, Drew and the others, along with the Kadari captain and more of the Kadari, arrived to see the party in Airlock 2 in full swing!

Drew was not pleased, as Francois had dipped into the ship's supplies / cargo. The Kadari captain asked if he was going to punish Francois, but Drew graciously forbore.

Allisdair was a hit. The Kadari had the Aspect / Consequence: We can trust this undulating blob of protoplasm.

Meanwhile, Sean (possibly with help from the GM, possibly not) defined the Cthonians:

• Cthonians are shape shifters.
• And that one looked like she was over 18.
• Also looked like a she.
• Kids, don't try this at home.

So, Theodore's beef against the Cthonians was that this incident had cost him his shot at tenure. He really should have been in academia.

One of the Kadari made some comment prompting this response, I think from Allisdair: "You're forgetting that Master Hunter has killed more Kadari --" I forget how the sentence ended, but someone, I think the NPC, had the Aspect: Bad Judgment. This resulted in a formal duel (not to the death) between Jarrack and the Kadari.

Allisdair: A bit of pate, Captain?

Someone (possibly the GM, possibly not): He scraped it from his own bottom.

Allisdair (offended): I did nothing of the sort.

The Kadari did something technically against the rules of the duel. I forget what (possibly trying to grab Jarrack's blade), but Francois interfered with it, Bringing His Blaster to the Knife Fight, that resulted in disarming the Kadari.

Francois: That's gauche!

The Kadari warrior was Abashed.

Jarrack tossed the Kadari's sword back to him.

Jarrack: Francois, don't interfere again.

Allisdair: Since no one is paying attention to me... I'm going to seep very quickly into a crack on the floor and hide -- just a bowtie on the floor.

Jarrack won the duel. Francois had an assignation, or at least, a heavy flirting, with a female Kadari warrior.

Meanwhile, Theodore went onto the Kadari ship, finding the Nerve Center of Ship. My notes say:

• Steam Saw!
• I do it with Style
• I do it with Science!

I don't recall exactly what happened -- I know he killed all of the Kadari on the Kadari ship. I think he also destroyed the ship itself, at least once the Golden Tassel was free of it.

Drew, I think genuinely ignorant of what Theodore had done, though I could be mistaken, offered his condolences to the captain, and generously agreed to take him and the rest of the surviving Kadari to the space station which was the ship's destination.

Quote without context: Who's Jimmy the Nose?

This was someone Drew invented, blaming things on Jimmy as inspiration struck.

There was going to be a gala affair on the station, at the end of which the peace treaty would be signed. I think Allisdair wondered about the person running the party. At least, I think that's what this was about:

I'd say he's understaffed
off the cuff

I don't know what this was about:

Maia
One who recognized him -- Corwin

Allisdair decided to make himself useful.

Allisdair: As I say, merely a butler...

Someone: Ferris Ooze's Day Off!

And yes, Allisdair's idea of a day off was to volunteer to help someone else out.

Francois asked if Theodore were actually a Cthonian. Theodore stared at him in disbelief, and then Francois asked if there were any way to identify a member of the shapeshifting race.

Sean: I love the way you think I'm a Cthonian and you're going to use the method I taught you to identify Cthonians.

I think he passed Keith a note suggesting that Theodore was indeed a Cthonian. If so, Keith very much liked the idea.

Francois had originally thought that the peace treaty was a good idea, but after a talk with Allisdair, reluctantly concluded that Allisdair was correct, and that it wouldn't be right if the Cthonians had tricked the Kadari into signing the treaty. Theodore told him that Cthonians could only hold their shapes for so many hours. Alas, the treaty was due to be signed before then.

Meanwhile, Drew was meeting a client.

Mack: Someone needs to get out tonight--

Drew: Half up front, and I need to know the name.

Mack: I can give it _all_ up front -- just get it done.

I think the captain was paid or given as a gift in addition to the payment some alien technology.

Allisdair had a word with Drew: Master Creel, for events like this, you have to shower and walk erect, rather than on your knuckles.

I think this led to Drew getting an outfit made, or at least, that was the theory. I think he got jumped by the supposed tailors. Details escape me, but either he or Theodore wound up in some kind of fight before the party.

The gala event ran from 9pm-3am, but we decided that the treaty was to be signed at 11pm or midnight. Francois had narrowed down the possibilities for hidden Cthonians to three Kadari who'd be signing the treaty:

• Aramil, a Kadari admiral
• Babes (I think), a Kadari prince
• Callat, a Kadari ambassador

But, he couldn't narrow it down beyond that. He asked Theodore if there were any other way of identifying the Cthonians. Theodore said that they couldn't stand to be mocked.

Francois got the orchestra to play a song that mocked the Cthonians. Folks seemed to enjoy it, or at least tolerate it, and Theodore seemed to love it, dancing happily.

Alas, Francois could not figure out who the Cthonian was, whether there was one, or whether signing the treaty was to be avoided or eagerly sought out. He stalled as best he was able, but in the end, the treaty was signed -- leading to a hundred years of peace.

Francois drowned his sorrows in the arms of the Kadari warrior he'd flirted with.

Aboard the Golden Tassel, Drew and Allisdair opened a box, and Theodore stepped out of it, as he was the person who needed to get away fast. Drew said that if Theodore ever did that again, Drew would space him.

I forget whether there was an epilogue shot for Jarrack.

I'd intended to play Francois as a very smart cloak-and-dagger type, but this didn't work out. It was a little frustrating until I could see the shape of what we'd created, at which point, I felt better. The comic (if bloody) farce we created was just fine, and I was able to bear this in mind when a similar situation came up later in the convention.