Sunday, 14 April 2019

" TIME THE MIND KILLER "


Cragor sat sharpening his weapons with his laser sharpener, this had become part of his daily routine for the last seven days, ever since Vallatrix had requested he remained in the Gladiator ready room after the games he had been part of were stopped. The servants who brought his food to him daily seemed to have no information about what had happened, or were instructed not to tell him.
He knew Vallatrix would be looking for a scapegoat and guessed this was why he was languishing in this room.
When he first arrived a cot was provided for him to sleep on, and a physician sent to tend his wounds, he would have healed faster in the med vats, but that would have meant leaving the arena. The wounds were now healed enough they wouldn't hamper him no matter what was thrown at him.
Each day he would rise and exercise for an hour, then he would spend two hours practising with his weapons keeping his skills honed to perfection, after lunch he would meditate remembering his teachings and all the knowledge he had gained in his life. This was the hardest part of the day for him as he found he couldn't focus like he used to, and his mind would wander to what life could be. He found that his life lacked the purpose he felt it should have, and wanted new challenges. If he got out of this predicament he would seek a new challenge.
When he could concentrate no more he would pick up his weapons and sharpen them, giving himself purpose again, not that they needed it this was just a way to stop his mind from wandering.
The servant opened the door and brought in a tray of food for him.
" I have a message for you sire, Vallatrix would like you to partake in tomorrows games, after that you will be able to return to your home "
"Really" he replied "And who am I to face ?"
" I don't know sire !"
He thanked her and returned to his sharpening, getting lost in the task, so lost he didn't hear the wall vent being pushed open, and a Tajaka enter the room, it slowly moved around the the top of the wall, getting in a better position to drop down on the back of him.
The first he knew of the creatures presence was when it's three prehensile limbs tried to latch on to him, fortunately his reactions were quicker and he turned the laser sharpener over his shoulder and straight into the face of the creature killing it in one fluid move. These creatures had not been seen in the city before, something was not right on Traventi and he wanted answers, but first tomorrows game ! . . . .
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21 comments:

  1. Wargame Addict10 January 2018 at 18:01
    Nice little "teaser intro" Dave, and it's certainly worked - I'm looking forward to see what's in store for Cragor! :-)
    Reply
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    1. Dave Stone10 January 2018 at 18:07
      Thank you Greg, wanted to give him a little more back story before his next outing, and he will become the main character in the skirmish games I play as well
      Delete
  2. Luke Fletcher11 January 2018 at 10:19
    i really like the start and look forward to seeing cragor stories develop through time and with lots of adventures. very brave of you to predict he will live that long and not die along the way? is this being played out with the new skirmish rules, my brother and me are very keen to see these in working operation. it feels like the anticipation for these have been a long time in the brewing. exciting times round the corner.
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    1. Dave Stone11 January 2018 at 10:29
      Thank you Luke, if he's close to Death there's always the healing vats to bring him back from the brink. The DM game will be played with the normal rules, but I'm going to write it in Cragor's perspective as suggested by Andy, then the adventures will use the new skirmish game. If Cragor dies along the way then other characters may take over the lead role. The rules are now finished and have been playtested, just final tweaks and it will be ready. Steve is doing a couple of articles that can be posted on the cupboard just before release highlighting aspects of it and gaming in it. I will be showing my intial playing of it before then as the Cragor story develops
      Delete
    2. Steve11 January 2018 at 10:33
      I think that`s the trick Luke mate: there`s a certain `knack` to keeping main protagonists and heroes alive in an ongoing chain of story events. Long, long ago I wrote a lot of tales for GW`s 40K.. about a character called Inquisitor Kryptman, but he was always getting himself into the most terrible fixes and I was never sure episode to episode, article to article whether the guy would literally be torn to pieces or en up a lunatic in an asylum. But the trick is in the game really. If an ongoing NPC should bite the dust in a game.. just wangle things behind the scenes so when that Tyranid tears off your guys arm and beats him over the head with the soggy end, always have a way out! The medics get to him in time, stem the crimson flow and replace his limb with a bionic one.. all in the nick of time, pheww!!. Perhaps our guy gets blown to pieces when a frag grenade gets lobbed into the lift shaft with him - Boom!! No way out there is there? But wait, at the last moment, our hero spun round and was able to deflect the main blast with that wall panelling which he tore from the floor at the last moment and used as a shield hehe. These slight adjustments to the rules dont even need to take place in game, but are the acceptable adjudications of a game host between adventures. Helps a lot when it comes to keeping favourite characters alive Luke *wink*
    3. Dave Stone11 January 2018 at 10:47
      As Steve say's you can always guide the narrative, but if there is no way out Cragor will meet his end and someone else will take the reigns so to speak
      Delete
  3. Steve11 January 2018 at 10:39
    Love this start Dave mate. It makes me want more (just like Jez manages to do in his tales of the Black Museum). Cragor sure is warming up to become an interesting character and the slight hint of a conspiracy is delicious... a new X Files in the making.

    {{"something was not right on Traventi and he wanted answers,"}}

    Ooooh I love it, I love it.
    Reply
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    1. Dave Stone11 January 2018 at 10:45
      Thank's Steve, if he survives this next outing I have a feeling he may join a hunter pack to find out what's effecting the local fauna, as this would be the easiest role for him to go into and help find answers, but he's got to survive the next 24 hours first !
      Delete
    2. Steve11 January 2018 at 10:48
      Oooooh and double Ooooooh!!!

      That`s it want more ** lines up with Dave G, complete with placard and starts lobbying for "WE WANT MORE" **
  4. Dave Glidle11 January 2018 at 10:45
    This is what I affectionately call "a tasty teaser" as it tells you just enough to whet the appetite, but doesnt give you enough to fill you up. I expect lots more Dave and I want it all now ROTF, you`ve done it now, you`ve gone got me all interested.

    So, when`s the next part?
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    1. Dave Stone11 January 2018 at 10:51
      Thank's Dave hopefully in the next couple of weeks as I've got to cast his opponent ( I think you'll like him !) and if he's not painted will play with unpainted model ( Shock Horror) to keep the flow going
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    2. Dave Glidle11 January 2018 at 11:08
      >>chuckles<< Nowt wrong with using unpainted minis Dave. Anyone who says differently has obviously never regularly attended and played games at club meets {otherwise no games would ever get played if that `precious` attitude prevailed} LOL.

      Good to see you champion the true cause.
    3. Dave Stone11 January 2018 at 11:35
      Indeed ! LOL it's a mindset that I'm trying to break out of as it was drummed into me for 5 years at GW that everything had to be painted before going on the table, then with the business it was easier to show a painted version so people knew what to expect if they ordered painted. So trying to break the habit ! LOL
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  5. da Gobbo Grotto11 January 2018 at 21:53
    This promises to be so good. I’m looking forward to reading more 😉
    Reply
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    1. Dave Stone11 January 2018 at 22:04
      Thanks Andy, took your advice mate and writing the next batrep in the first person perspective
      Delete
  6. Carrion Crow12 January 2018 at 08:03
    The pucture threw me initially, as I was yrying to work out why Cragor was using a Magic Marker on his blade...lol

    Very interesting teaser of what's to come. And the way Cragor dealt so easily with the Tajaka just underlines why he is so effective in the arena. Nice work, Dave.
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    1. Dave Stone12 January 2018 at 09:11
      Thank's Jez, thought a laser that was pen shaped would be the easiest to manoeuvre when sharpening.
      His lucky shot was most fortunate, as once the Tajaka had a full lock on him it would have been lights out for poor Cragor
      Delete
  7. Luke Fletcher17 January 2018 at 13:23
    does anyone here know anything about N.E.W. the sci-fi rpg game, is it stand alone? Seems like it would work nicely with all the dm miniatures.
    Reply
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    1. Luke Fletcher17 January 2018 at 17:18
      no matter, i got my question answered by someone on a blog that is all about the game.

      where is everyone here, has the zombie apocalypse happened and no one told me. its so quiet.
    2. Dave Stone17 January 2018 at 19:03
      Sorry Luke, been really busy work wise, should have a post up at the end of the week as it's just me now as Steve and hils only have internet access if they travel to an internet cafe, Plus Hils had her op at the beginning of the week, hope she's doing well
      Delete
  8. Luke Fletcher17 January 2018 at 21:19
    God yes i had forgotten that. i do hope it all went well. i will miss the buzz they both bring to the place. but wish them all the best and happiness in their home moving
    Reply
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