Recap 1- Under the Anchor

A new regime, a new way to recap... I'm going for a theme here...

Season 1: Golden Oak

Episode 1: "Under the Anchor..."

Synopsis

Scene 1: The Road to Golden Oak

We are introduced to Sandro Negrali and Silyana (last name?) as they travel in a fancy carriage into Golden Oak/Ship's Berth.  They bask in the breathtaking sight of the Crown Manse
at the top of the hill (the first time they've seen it in person) and moments later witness the routine execution of a slave attempting escape.  The driver takes the road into Ship's Berth (a large city in itself but sort of attached to Golden Oak, it is a major river port in Twofourtheen).  The driver unceremoniously throws Sandy and Sil's stuff on the ground in front of the town gates and informs them they are to be "under the anchor" at the Belting Chanty at sundown.

Director's Comments: Pretty much a lot of world-building here and we hashed out some improtant shit pre-game.  I need more on the 6 god pantheon- who are the 6 (Father, Mother, Eldest Son, Daughter, Youngest Son, Adversary/Devil figure- what are their names, what do they each represent?)  The scene of the slave's execution juxtaposed against the legendary opulence of Golden Oak was my Emmy shit.  Seeing the layout of Golden Oak as a "shining city on a hill" and Ship's Berth as the skeevier, river port of a sister city was essential.

Scene 2: Ship's Berth

Sandy and Sil cautiously make their way into Ship's Berth as the sun descends and streets fill up with the evening rush hour.  Like any married couple on the road, Sandy and Sil began to argue over getting a hotel.
They make their way through a huge town square and bump into DJ Saul, an EDM performer who's hiding his pointy ears (but not his stature) in a state that sees the elven as racially inferior.
DJ Saul points Sandy and Sil in the right direction, then splits to huff glue. Sandy and Sil make their way to the docks and Sandy chats up the locals.

Director's Comments:  More world-building.  'Mastermnd' Sandro not ever remembering the name of his destination when trying to ask for directions may have been the funniest thing all night... maybe it was Sandro picking out a sailor and talking to him like a total nerdlinger (before a reshoot).  I had some specific quotes here but my computer forced a reload and didn't save my notes from gameplay.  Bummer.
Still awesome.  Loved Silyana's increasingly impatient reactions to Sandro.  You also saw the statue of Robert Crown standing on a pile of skulls.  "In Excelsis Dominus"

Scene 3: The Belting Chanty

Sandy and Sil arrive  at The Belting Chanty and Sandro cautiously enters as Sil waits outside to keep watch.  Inside, we see about a half dozen men and the bartender.  A particularly large, grim looking individual stares Sandro down as he grabs a seat at the bar and orders a beer.  Outside, DJ Saul blows past Silyana and walks right into the bar and takes a seat near Sandro, where the bartender quickly makes it clear that Saul is not welcome here.  Tensions mount and Saul begins to consider an exit under threat of violence when a woman appears from seemingly nowhere and insists that Saul stay.  This woman is drop-dead gorgeous and constantly making eyes at everyone in the room.  She quickly manages to take control of the room, organizing Saxon (The Grim Behemoth in the corner), Sandro, Sil, Saul and herself at a corner table beneath a chandelier fashioned from an old anchor.  After all are seated, the woman introduces herself as Tatianna and reveals (to no surprise) that she called this meeting.  She flirts with everyone at the table (DJ Saul most of all, who seems to strangely get the willies about this) and comes off a bit like a bimbo as she tells the assembled that she needs them to locate a boat here in Ship's Berth (Mercutio's Excuse), steal a specific "golden history" book, scuttle the ship and leave no witnesses.  Silyana attempts to engage Tatianna over details and payment but Tatianna will have none of it; she flashes her rings and casually throws 500 gold on the table, promising more on completion of her task.  Tatianna leaves rather abruptly and the group is left to consider her offer.  Saxon isn't big on consideration, it seems enough for him that he's been given an order and he storms out of the Chanty with purpose.  The bartender weirdly chimes in at the end to say Mercutio's Excuse is leaving tonight at midnight.

Director's Comments: Wow! What a scene... The actor that plays Saul wasn't going to be available for this shoot so we had no part for him.  He showed up the day of and the scene of him inserting himself into the situation and facing off with the bartender was largely improvised.  I'm sorry it took so long to get Saxon on screen but we had spent a lot of time developing this character beforehand and his story is really Golden Oak's story.  Anytime you're learning about Golden Oak you're learning a little something about Saxon and vice versa.  Marcotte Sex Cruise forever!!

* + - * + DM's comment: So, I'm pretty sure Colin rolled a natural 20 on the very first roll of gameplay.  I revealed alot of information (everyone in the room was a part of the meet, Tatianna's a pretty big deal) that I think impacted gameplay in a big way but I also think I underplayed it for it being the first roll of the game.  I have something special in mind for you, buddy... I think you'll like it...

Scene 4: The Docks After Dark

The group joins Saxon outside and they bump into No Neck Nick, an old acquaintance of Saxon's.  After pleasantries are exchanged, the group moves on.  Saxon mutters "follow me" and proceeds to lead the group through the labyrinthine boardwalks and alleyways of the Ship's Berth docks.  They arrive at the Quartermaster's Office, where Steve (the Quartermaster) tells Saxon the Mercutio's Excuse is docked in the North Harbor.  Saxon comandeers a rowboat and practically throws everyone in the small, two-bench boat in his haste to complete his mission.  He rows for the north shore.

Director's Comments: The Director of Cinematography Colon Loose came up with the single, continuous-shot camera sequence through the bowels of the Ship's Berth docks.  It was dope.  You really get a good luck at Saxon's world.

Scene 5. The River

Saxon FUCKING ROWS EVERYONE STRAIGHT ACROSS A MILE-WIDE RIVER, CROSS CURRENT, AND HARDLY BREAKS A SWEAT.  The group passes the journey in silence save for Saxon humming under his breath.  Talking is not a great idea, anyway.  In a small boat this close to the water, you can taste the river.  And it tastes bad.   Saxon expertly weaves the rowboat through river traffic, as The Marion is busy even at this hour.

Director's Comments:  Saxon's a badass.  A little Slingbladey... but super badass...

* + - * + DM's comment: I thought about requiring some kind of a roll for this.  Maybe I would have for a charcter with less than 19 strength.

Scene 6: North Docks/North Dockmaster's Office

Saxon's endless march brings the group to the North Dockmaster's Office.  Saxon gets the slip number of the Mercutio's Excuse and two jugs of kerosene from Vincent, a dockmaster who finds himself on the wrong shift.  Vincent also tells Saxon that the Oaken (citizen of Golden Oak) that owns the boat deals in antiqities and is on the verge of ruin.  Saxon makes his way out of the room.  DJ Saul unsheathes a knife with the intention of slitting Vincent's throat and tying up a loose end.  Saxon steps in and satisfies Saul's concerns by threatening Vincent's family in an incredilbly gangster way.  Everyone is shocked to hear Saxon say more than two words at once.

- Cut to credits -

Director's Comments: Originally the episode ended on a cliffhanger: DJ Saul unsheathes the knife and that's it.  We did a re-shoot because we thought it was better to have Saxon resolve it in the way he did: it reveals Saxon's economy of words is not about a mental defect, he just doesn't want to talk to you.  He's on a mission, and his cunning might be just as scary as his obvious physical power.

The Characters We Met:

Saxon Grey: A dirty cop in the Golden City of Treachery, he is a Sergeant in the Golden Guard with a brand new set of Orders.

Silyana: A mysterious young woman from Avluv.  She's a little nervous for her first time in the big city but that won't stop her from being a bitch to everyone she meets (or Sandro if no one else is available).  Her veneer of casual indifference belies deep, dark secrets.

Sandro Negrali: A roguish man who blends in easily with his surroundings.  He blended in so well, he hardly said anything!  Perhaps playing it cool is the mark of a true mastermind.  I guess it all depends on how it turns out after he makes his move.  And what's with him and Silyana? They gotta be boning, right?  I mean, it's just a fan theory but I'm totally shipping Sandy and Sil.

DJ Saul: A wildcard EDM DJ with a nose for trouble and an apparent casual indifference to murder.

Tatianna: A Marilyn Monroe-type of voluptuous sexpot.  She's all giggles and wiggles.  And clandestine meetings.  And bags of money.  And imperious command.  And she gives Saul the willies so much he hasn't given her his willy, yet.  Sure, she can't read too well but she runs a pretty good meeting.

No Neck Nick: A work acquaintance of Saxon's but he's probably not in the Golden Guard.  Calls Saxon "Saxy Boy" and seems to get away with it.  I wouldn't try that.

Steve: A Quartermaster.

Vincent: A Dockmaster and really just a guy.  A family man.  He knows Saxon and they've helped each other before.

The Meta Game:

In Michael Jackson's words, "Who's Bad???"

I thought it would be fun to keep track of who's being most evil, since that's what this campaign is about.

Saxon pulled a nice, gangster-style, "I-know-where-to-find-your-daughter" sort of schtick on Vincent that was pretty evil but I gotta give it to my man Saul, unsheathing his knife with a shrug like "well hey if you evil-aligned mother fuckers are going to keep leaving witnesses then I guess it's up to me, a neutral character to murder the only innocent person we've met tonight."  Kudos to you, DJ Saul!

Questions for The Party:

Saxon, whatcha doin' with all that kerosene, bud??

Sandro and Silyana, you gonna let this Grim Behemoth (whom you only just confirmed could speak in complete sentences) just run you across the docks with two armloads of kerosene and an EDM DJ??  You guys seem to like elaborate plans... you're not even sure if

Saxon's going to make anyone drink sperm!  You probably have to reign this guy in.

And Sandro, say you guys sink this boat, then what?  Where will you go, what will you do?

The situation is as follows: You all are standing on the North Docks with a couple of jugs of kerosene and a two a half hours before the Excuse is scheduled to head downriver.  You're only a few minutes from the slip where it's docked.  The traffic at the North Docks is not super heavy but there's still stuff going on (stealth checks!!)  You guys should develop a plan for how you're going to accomplish your goal so we can dive right in next week.

That's it!

Thanks!  It was fun!

-back to The Golden Oak Campaign