Fulminata: To Rule or Be Forgotten
Fulminata: To Rule or Be Forgotten
The Fulminata game, "To Rule or Be Forgotten", was run by Michael Miller, one of the co-authors of the game. He had 7 slots, rather than the usual 6. Our table had been assigned to another group, so I prominently displayed 2nd ed Fulminata on the table in front, correctly reasoning that not only could we use it, but everyone going to the assigned table would have to pass us and would see the sign that was the book. This worked, and we soon had a GM and 7 players.
Fulminata is set in an alternate Roman Empire, where the Romans discovered gunpowder in 96 AD. It is now 2 centuries later, and Rome maintains her monopoly on gunpowder, aka Fulminata.
Senator Camillus Macrinus was inexplicably ill. Worse yet, his family's shades were no longer haunting the ancestral vault.
Macrinus' daughter, Camilla, too well aware she might lose all status if her father died, accepted the young Emperor's invitation to the theater. She traveled with her slave, Ianassa, and the legionary Ferax, who loved her. Senator Moderatus, my PC, and his son, the none-too-bright Canus, accompanied her. Moderatus wanted Canus and Camilla to wed. More than a little corrupt, he nevertheless admired the honorable Macrinus. When he wasn't sure how much of his dirty laundry would be revealed, he figured that he could always come clean, slit his wrists in the bath, and request as his dying wish that Canus and Camilla wed.
In addition to Canus, Camilla, Ianassa, Ferax. and Moderatus, the PCs included Valens and Simplex. Valens was favorered by Quirinus, patron deity of magic and secrets, and he knew the secret of fulminata, aka gunpowder. Simplex, played by Patrick, had recently escaped from the Parthians. He was the hero of the hour, having withstood torture for two years, and many wished to learn what he knew of the death of Albus, Camilla's brother.
Everyone attended an interpretive pantomime at the Emperor's palace, Camilla fearing it would be her last social outing if her father died, leaving her without status. Indeed, a former, if unfavored, suitor formally and publicly broke off his courtship of Camilla. Moderatus said something about fair weather friends that I think was actually as cutting as I'd intended it to be, judging from the sudden silence. Nor was Moderatus Camilla's only supporter, for the Emperor himself ordered a thousand goats to be sacrificed as a plea to the gods to restore Macrinus to health.
When the others first met Simplex, Michael called for perception rolls. Appropriately, my snobbish senator missed his, and the house slave Ianassa made hers. She spoke privately to Camilla.
Meanwhile, Folia, a Roman femme fatale, took possession of Moderatus' arm. The two were used to working together in underhanded ways to further each other's political goals. Young Folia frightened Moderatus, however, and he found her sexual advances inappropriate.
Everyone settled down to enjoy the performance. It was magnificent. As it ended, however, the shades of Macrinus' ancestors, which should have been at their burial vault, appeared. Approaching Moderatus and Folia, they spoke accusingly of treachery to the living and theft of the dead.
Michael asked for actions, and I found, to my surprise, that I liked the Fulminata initiative system.
Me: Who goes first?
Michael: You do. You're the ranking senator.
Ianassa, as the female slave, went last. I expected to dislike this system, or to find it silly. It may be silly, but it is also easy to remember. Of course, as the ranking senator, I may be biased.
Moderatus asked the shades how he had offended, while Folia curled into a ball and whimpered. Canus, we all agreed, thought the actors were very good. They even looked transparent!
The shades vanished, and the Emperor's guards quickly escorted him out. Moderatus considered the situation. He had been indirectly responsible for the death of Camilla's first husband, but he suspected this was not what the shades of her family were referring to.
Moderatus: Whatever I may have done to the living, I am sure I did nothing to the dead.
Moderatus' calm demeanor, Folia's fit, and Roman common sense convinced everyone of that, though Ianassa and Camilla knew more than Moderatus realized about what he'd done to the living. They also knew something of Folia's ambitions, and many of the PCs tried to prevent her bodyguard Maharbal, a Carthegenian, from taking her home. Moderatus was of two minds, being suspcious, but aware she had dirt on him.
As it seemed Michael wanted Folia free to act, one of the players apologized for the attempt to derail the plot.
Michael: The plot that can be derailed is meant for a movie or a tv show, not a roleplaying game.
I'm not exactly sure what happened next. I know the emperor's guards cleared the area. I think an unconscious Folia was put under some bushes. I know Valens used magic to make himself look like Folia.
Valens got into Folia's carriage, trying, unsuccessfully to bluff.
Valens: We must go at once!
Servant (baffled): We must?
Valens: We have been found out!
Servant: Found out?
Player: Er... How much longer will the spell last?
GM: Not much longer.
Valens: Well -- What's that over there? (jumps out of the carriage)
By now, all of us were laughing our heads off. Someone decided that the Secret Roman Maneuver was to point and say "What's that?" The entire Roman army did this as one, and when the enemy army looked, the Romans fired rifles and canons at them. Even Julius Caesar was brought down by this.
Caesar (as he dies): I invented that trick, and I still fell for it!
Me (trying to remember my Latin): Ecce! Quis est? Quid est?
Meanwhile, Folia herself had vanished, leaving only some hair behind. It wasn't her own hair either. I don't recall the significance of this. Perhaps it had to do with how she compelled spirits?
In any case, everyone met at the Macrinus family vault. Michael said this was skipping a couple of scenes. I gather Moderatus' actions are sometimes investigated first. This surprises me. Given Folia's reaction and the specific accusations, as long as Moderatus brazens it out, the vault is the obvious place to go.
Simplex rode in Camilla's carriage, revealing to her what Ianassa had suspected: He was Camilla's brother, Albus!
Canus surprised his father.
Canus: Father, if the shades of the dead can only appear where their bodies are... then... someone must have moved the bones.
Moderatus: Canus! You have had a thought!
Arriving at the vault, they brought the others up to date.
Moderatus (to Camilla): This is your influence upon him.
Camilla's Player: He's a Jewish mother! So nu, so marry my son already!
Inside the vault, Ferax reached into a subterranean compartment and was almost bitten by a snake. A cage containing 2 poisonous snakes was raised. Camilla drew her dagger, intending to kill them.
Ianassa protested, begging Camilla to let her take the risk instead. Camilla refused, insisting that Ianassa was a valued slave. Ianassa begged to at least cover Camilla's hand with her own.
Somehow, the snakes were dispatched. Camilla noted that Folia wanted to marry the young Emperor and believed her a rival. Albus revealed his true identity to all. He explained that he had been sold to the Parthians by Natalis, a Plebian who had been paid to kill him, but decided to collect extra money instead. Moderatus recalled that, at Folia's request, he had sent someone to kill Natalis. He left to pay Folia a visit as Valens arrived at the vault.
Folia greeted Moderatus, ducking some of his questions, but not denying that she hoped to become Empress. Moderatus congratulated her and assured her he'd deal with any loose ends resulting from Natalis' death. The one thing he didn't understand was why she was interested in an old man like himself, especially she intended to be Empress. She said that what the Emperor did not know wouldn't hurt him, and that Moderatus had as much to lose as she if the Emperor found out. Moderatus beat a hasty, but polite, retreat.
Everyone rendezvoused at Macrinus' house and compared notes. Moderatus explained about his business relationship with Folia, and why he had sent someone to kill Natalis.
Valens: You killed Natalis? He was my brother in arms!
Ferax: He was a traitor!
Valens: The dog! It is good that he is dead.
The players laughed and agreed that this was the correct attitude.
Moderatus explained that doing political favors for Folia -- he tried to be clear about doing no other kind for her -- was one thing, but she had crossed the line by attacking senators directly. Valens warned that Folia was a Thessalian witch. He directed Camilla in rituals to fight the evil spirits as Macrinus cried out in pain. A small red handprint formed on his chest. Moderatus and Ferax headed for Folia's house, Ferax armed with a rifle (pilum), Moderatus with a pistol (hastula).
Folia's bodyguard Maharbal refused to let them pass.
Moderatus: I'm sorry about this. (fires his hastula, dropping Maharbal)
Canus' Player: Way to go, Dad!
Ferax ran to Folia's room, pilum at the ready. She was naked, except for snakes entwined through her hair, doing a ritual dance. Pilum leveled, the lusty Ferax paused.
Ferax: She's a beautiful woman -- a beautiful woman with snakes in her hair, but a beautiful woman nonetheless.
Folia didn't pause in her dance, but did throw a snake at Ferax. It bit him.
Ferax: The fool brought a snake to a pilum fight. Just like a Macedonian. (to Folia) It would be a shame to spoil your lovely breasts. (fires at her head)
He did wound her, but she was still alive. Moderatus ran in at this point. He realized it would take too long to reload his hastula, so he ran towards Folia, as if to aid her, crying her name. When he was close enough, he stabbed her.
Folia: Your treachery... shall be remembered. (spits blood in his face and dies)
Moderatus worried about Maharbal's pet monkey, but it never caused trouble. Michael explained that the monkey was used to steal the burial urns of Macrinus' ancestors. Ferax's wound was healed, and whatever status Folia had with the Emperor dissolved in the face of the evidence of her evil magic. Macrinus recovered. Moderatus wondered how to get Folia's death curse removed, though I agree with Michael that Moderatus had it coming.
I liked how the hastula meant Moderatus could be effective despite his age. I also liked how well everyone got into character. When it was time to vote for best roleplayer, we all winced -- because everyone was so good. The award went to Camilla's player.
Flipping through Fulminata after the game, I finally learned why Folia kept trying to bed Moderatus. Her humors were not balanced and she had insatiable appetites.
