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Captain Harchar and Chirine ba Kal's Adventures in Blackmoor - Havard - 10-21-2013
I was just listening to Chirine's video podcast where he was talking about the session(s) Dave Arneson ran for the Tekumel group:
chirine ba kal Wrote:Captain Harchar's ship landed us in Blackmoor Bay. We took a long look and said. We are not going down in that dungeon because Dave Arneson had a reputation as a Killer GM. Arneson felt that he was not doing his job as a Game Master unless he killed half the party in the first half an hour. No way were we going to take our player characters, that we had been working on for ten years, keeping them alive in Tekumel and go down and meet Sir Fang and all the other people. We looted Blackmoor. I bought all the iron and steel I could.
We gave that to Prince ...? and I became an Imperial Governor.
See also: http://qik.com/video/60108899
Apparently Chirine goes into more detail on this in his upcoming book "To serve the Petal Throne".
I am fascinated by this unknown part of the history of the Blackmoor campaign. Where would this adventure fit into the FFC timeline? Would the visit by the Tekumel group have any significant impact on Blackmoor itself?
-Havard
Re: Captain Harchar and Chirine ba Kal's Adventures in Black - chirine ba kal - 10-22-2013
Havard Wrote:I was just listening to Chirine's video podcast where he was talking about the session(s) Dave Arneson ran for the Tekumel group:
chirine ba kal Wrote:Captain Harchar's ship landed us in Blackmoor Bay. We took a long look and said. We are not going down in that dungeon because Dave Arneson had a reputation as a Killer GM. Arneson felt that he was not doing his job as a Game Master unless he killed half the party in the first half an hour. No way were we going to take our player characters, that we had been working on for ten years, keeping them alive in Tekumel and go down and meet Sir Fang and all the other people. We looted Blackmoor. I bought all the iron and steel I could.
We gave that to Prince ...? *edit* "Prince Mirusiya hi Tlakotani" and I became an Imperial Governor.
See also: http://qik.com/video/60108899
Apparently Chirine goes into more detail on this in his upcoming book "To serve the Petal Throne".
I am fascinated by this unknown part of the history of the Blackmoor campaign. Where would this adventure fit into the FFC timeline? Would the visit by the Tekumel group have any significant impact on Blackmoor itself?
-Havard
I do indeed go into a lot more detail in my book, as this was a pretty major story arc in both Dave and Phil's campaigns. Blackmoor was one of the 772 worlds cast into pocket dimensions along with Tekumel, and we visited regularly - when Phil got tired of running Tekumel, he switched chairs with Dave and we'd be off to Blackmoor for a month or so. Our initial visit took something like eight to ten game sessions. I don't know where we'd fit into the timeline - Gertie was still very active, when we were there, and the Elves had really gotten going on their 'magic Elvish bang-sticks' and sold me some for my guards to use on people who tried to kill me. (Gosh, those things are noisy!) I'll see if I can't narrow this down for you; Dave was a little vague on the whole 'timeline thing', most of the time.
Dave was just writhing in his chair with delight at the prospect of getting our characters down into the Blackmoor dungeon, and we were just as delighted at the idea of NOT going in there. We played our characters for many years, keeping them alive in Tekumel's hostile environment and politics - humans are NOT at the top of the food chain in Phil's world setting - and we had to step pretty lively to keep from being sent in there as Dave had a reputation as a 'killer referee'.
I did inject three million gold pieces - the Tsolyani "Kaitar" into the local Blackmoor economy; I noticed that some small child was playing with his mother's iron pot, and had a conniption fit. Iron and steel are very scarce on Tekumel, due to the mining and exploitation of the planet by the Lords of Humanspace during Tekumel's star-faring past, and seeing some kid with a iron pot that his mom sold me for a whole five GP was just too much for me; I bought up everything I could lay my hands on, and filled our ship's hold with the stuff. When we got back to Tekumel, using Harchar's 'dimension shifter', I gave the lot to the Seal Imperium and got made a very high level official in return.
All of this will be in "To Serve The Petal Throne", of course, along with ship plans, drawings, and photos...
yours, chirine
We did have heaps of fun; having dave and Phil feeding each other ideas was wonderful, if dangerous.
Re: Captain Harchar and Chirine ba Kal's Adventures in Black - Rafael - 10-24-2013
You sent me an early draft of the book a few years back.
In your place, and with all the respect, DO release this through the standard channels, please!
There might not be much money in it, but it's so notoriously hard to get stuff like this.
You would do fandom an immense service, especially as printing and binding this is almost as expensive as to buy a proper copy.
That said, I am willing to help you with a publication wherever I can!
Re: Captain Harchar and Chirine ba Kal's Adventures in Black - chirine ba kal - 10-25-2013
Thank you for your kind words!
Yes, we have been looking at how to publish the book - it's going to be a big one, as I'm up to just under 95,000 words and expect to hit the first 100,000 shortly. What we've done is divide the work into five 'volumes', as Chirine's career happens to fall into five specific phases; each volume will follow his (and his family of eccentrics!) during each phase. I'm also reworking the Table of Contents to make it easier for people to use the book as a reference for their own adventures - I am most assuredly ***not*** expecting people to sit down and try to read the thing all in one go!
There will be an on-line version for sure, and we're looking at the economics of doing a relatively small print run of hard-copy books. Several people, who have all read the draft version, have offered advice and help, and we're working on the nuts and bolts of how to get this done. Once we get some firm numbers, we'll proceed from there.
And yes, I expect that there will be little or no money in this; I'm not doing this for the money. I'm doing this for a bunch of people who I had a lot of fun with, and are no longer in the position to be able to tell their stories of what gaming was like back in those early days; some are well-known in gaming history, some are not. Names like Fred Funk, Dave Arneson, Rick Bjugen, Gary Gygax, and Prof. M. A. R. Barker.
"We made stuff up, and we had fun!" - Dave Arneson
I'll keep you all posted, and I'll certainly yell for help when I need it! Thanks again!
Re: Captain Harchar and Chirine ba Kal's Adventures in Black - Havard - 03-04-2016
Just wanted to post a link here to Chirine's latest blog entry where he has a photo of the miniatures of Captain Harchar and his Merry Buchaneers!
As has been mentioned elsewhere, the crew includes the following:
- Captain Harchar of the Blazoned Sail Clan (Dave Arneson's main character).
- 1st Mate Staffswinger
- 2nd Mate Swordswinger
- 3rd Mate Fishface
- Hardtack the Purser
Harchar's daughter Malia the Pirate Princess, and a couple of their friends like Carolyn, the Pirate Queen of Butrus have also been known to join the buccaneers.
Another cool story about Captain Harchar and crew in action can be found here. (Also by Chirine).
I seem to recall Harchar owning more than one ship, but I dont recall their names or other details about them. Do any of you remember?
-Havard
Re: Captain Harchar and Chirine ba Kal's Adventures in Black - chirine ba kal - 03-05-2016
Havard Wrote:I seem to recall Harchar owning more than one ship, but I dont recall their names or other details about them. Do any of you remember?
-Havard
I do. Should I list them? I may have done a post here on this, but I don't recall what section it might be in.
Re: Captain Harchar and Chirine ba Kal's Adventures in Black - Havard - 03-05-2016
Yes please!
I did a search for "Harchar" on the forum, but could not find the names of the ships.
-Havard
Re: Captain Harchar and Chirine ba Kal's Adventures in Black - chirine ba kal - 03-05-2016
Havard Wrote:Yes please!
I did a search for "Harchar" on the forum, but could not find the names of the ships.
-Havard
Thank you! It may have been someplace else; I don't recall...
"Thousand Falcons" - medium to large sailing ship, classic 'galleon' merchantman; our first (to the west) voyage to the Southern Continent, mentioned in "Man of Gold". Lost in shipwreck on far west of EPT maps. Paid for loss by Seal Imperium.
"Malia" - large merchant galley, classic Venetian ship; our second voyage (to the east) to the Southern Continent, by way of Lake Parunal and Blackmoor. Mentioned in "Flamesong". Lost in Desert of Sighs, paid for by Imperium.
"Splendor of the Gods" - large sailing merchantman; mentioned in "Death of Kings". Still in use, as far as I know.
I also have records of a second large merchant galley (notes from Dave) that he used on occasion; he said he wanted to 'have a spare, just in case'. It's my understanding that this is the "Malia II".
All of these ships get a lot of coverage in my own book, "To Serve The Petal Throne". we spent so much time on them with Dave that I made myself a 25mm deck chair miniatures...
Re: Captain Harchar and Chirine ba Kal's Adventures in Black - finarvyn - 03-06-2016
chirine ba kal Wrote:All of this will be in "To Serve The Petal Throne", of course, along with ship plans, drawings, and photos...YOu sent me a draft of this years ago. It was around 200 pages at that point, if memory serves me correctly. What kind of page count does it have at the moment?
I can't wait to buy a "real one" when it comes out. 8)
Re: Captain Harchar and Chirine ba Kal's Adventures in Black - chirine ba kal - 03-06-2016
finarvyn Wrote:chirine ba kal Wrote:All of this will be in "To Serve The Petal Throne", of course, along with ship plans, drawings, and photos...YOu sent me a draft of this years ago. It was around 200 pages at that point, if memory serves me correctly. What kind of page count does it have at the moment?
I can't wait to buy a "real one" when it comes out. 8)
I'm not sure about the page count, at this point; I can go back and look, of course. I am currently up to a little over 122,000 words over the six volumes, if that's any indication. Here's the current Table of Contents, to show how this is developing:
**********
To Serve The Petal Throne
A Note to the Reader; this Table of Contents shows all of the adventures of Chirine ba Kal, across all six books of the series. We hope that this makes it easier to keep all the tangled events of recent Tsolyani history in the proper order, and that it will pique the reader’s interest. Each ‘chapter’ has a ‘tag number’ which identifies it and is keyed to the ‘notes’ which will be found at the end of each book.
(Format: x.yy.zz – where x is the book, yy is the chapter, and zz the individual tale.)
Book One: The Chalice Of The Flame (10,330 words)
Relating the beginnings of the original Thursday Night Group, and their adventures up until the revealing of Prince Mirusiya hi Tlakotani…
Preface: Beginnings
1.0001 Saint Maries, Idaho; Summer, 1939 C. E.;
Prologue:
1.0010 The Chákan Forests, Spring, 2354 AS;
Chapter the First:
1.0101 At The Imperial Court, Avanthar, Winter, 2354 AS;
Chapter the Second:
1.0201 Concerning Forays In The Forests Amongst The Pé Chói;
Chapter the Third:
1.0301 Of Sorcery, Applied and Misapplied, and of Sorcerous Servitors;
Chapter the Fourth:
1.0401 Concerning The Palace Of Bassa, King Of The Black Ssú;
Chapter the Fifth:
1.0501 The Revealing Of That Which Was Hidden, And The Bringing Forth Of That Which Was Thought Forgotten;
1.0502 In The Shrine Of The Blue Fish;
Book Two: Beneath the Blazoned Sail (21,018 words)
Relating the further adventures of our heroes, on their first voyage to the Southern Continent with Captain Harchar of the Clan of the Blazoned Sail, and what befell them there…
Preface: Sailings
2.0001 Saint Paul, Minnesota, 1980 C. E.
Chapter the Sixth:
2.0601 Of Intrigues, Courtesans, and Deadly Perils Amongst The Soft Cushions;
Chapter the Seventh:
2.0701 Concerning The Outfitting Of Ships and the Hiring of Crews For Not-So-Epic Voyages Towards Livyánu;
Chapter the Eighth:
2.0801 Menaces to Navigation, And The Diverse and Curious Adventures Occurring Along The Way;
Chapter the Ninth:
2.0901 Of The Lands Beyond Livyánu, Wrack and Ruin, And Farther Beyond Still;
Chapter the Tenth:
2.1001 In A Forest Near Thraya, And Of The Meals To Be Had Within;
Book Three: Advance Standards! (7,075 words)
Relating the epic adventures of our heroes as they go to war, on the Northwest Frontier, and their battles lost and won…
Preface: Forging the Weapons
3.0001 Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1982 C. E.
Chapter the Eleventh:
3.1101 Concerning Matters Of War And Peace;
Chapter the Twelfth:
3.1201 On The Art Of War, and How Not To Practice It;
Chapter the Thirteenth:
3.1301 Concerning The Ambitions Of Men And Princes;
Chapter the Fourteenth:
3.1401 The Might Of The Flame, And The Sharp Edge Of The Sword;
Chapter the Fifteenth:
3.1501 The Triumphs of Victory;
Book Four: Across The Sea Of Worlds (8,597 words)
Relating the adventures of our heroes on their second voyage of discovery with Captain Harchar, and the strange places they visit…
Preface: The Cruel Seas Of Fate
4.0001 Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1984 C.E.
Chapter the Sixteenth:
4.1601 Concerning Affairs Of State, Sibling Rivalry, Insular Intrigues, And Imperial Ambitions;
Chapter the Seventeenth:
4.1701 Concerning Rather More Epic Voyages Along The Coast Of Southern Lands, And The Diverse Adventures To Be Had There;
Chapter the Eighteenth:
4.1801 The Shores of the Goddess, And The Treasures Found There;
Chapter the Nineteenth:
4.1901 Of Lands Beyond Memory, And Lands Beyond The Pylons;
Chapter the Twentieth:
4.2001 Of Princes, Armies, and Expense Accounts
Book Five: The Golden Seal (42,783 words)
Relating the adventures of our heroes as they march forth on the marches, trying to preserve the City and Province of Hekellu and the Chaigari Protectorate, and the many and strange occurrences on their way…
Preface: The Cutting Edge
5.001 Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1986 C. E.
Chapter the Twenty-first:
5.2101 Governing Hekellu, or, Where Shall We Sleep Tonight?
Chapter the Twenty-second:
5.2201 The Discovery Of Living Legends
5.2202 Of Tempers Being Lost
5.2203 More Legends
Chapter the Twenty-third:
5.2301 Battles Won And Lost;
Chapter the Twenty-fourth:
5.2401 Regarding The Manipulation Of The Levers of Power, and Agents Of A Foreign Power;
5.2402 Fighting The Ssu
Chapter the Twenty-fifth:
5.2401 Of Governing, Taxes, and Murder Most Foul;
Epilogue:
5.0002 Minneapolis, Minnesota, 1987 C. E.
Book Six: To The Distant Shores (30,769 words)
Relating the continuing epic (and not so epic) adventures of our heroes as they attempt to age gracefully in a time of strife and civil war…
Chapter the Twenty-sixth:
Chapter the Twenty-seventh:
6.2702 The Gold of Glory
6.2703 A Call To Arms
6.2703 Saving Princess Vrisa
Chapter the Twenty-eighth:
6.2801 Alarms…
6.2802 …and Excursions
6.2803 Of Hiring Staff For Sensitive Positions
6.2804 Of Unwelcome Guests In The Nighttime
6.2805 On Family Matters
Chapter the Twenty-ninth:
6.2901 The Eye of the Flame Triumphant
Chapter the Thirtieth:
6.3001 Fragmentary Dispatches
6.3002 More Dispatches
6.3003 Yet More Dispatches
Epilogue:
6.0002 Minneapolis, Minnesota, 2012 C. E.
Afterwards: To Serve The Petal Throne
6.0003 - By Lord Chirine ba Kal, concerning his life and times with a humble scribe by the name of Firu ba Yeker, of the Clan of the Uttermost Secret
**********
At this point in time, I have no idea what the publication of this will be like. I do have a publisher, and my job is to simply finish the book for him. He's going to be dealing with all of the business side of the thing, including illustrations and such. I frankly want as little to do with the business side of gaming as possible; I did that for decades, and I had a miserable time as a result. My original goal was to simply put the thing on the web as a free-to-read bit of 'fan fiction', as my goal - as it has always been! - is to simply tell people about the fun we had with Phil and Dave at the game table. People who have read the thing so far seem to think it's fun, so I am hoping that the finished work will amaze and amuse...