Flowers of Algorab - Episode 9 - A Figure from the Past

 

This week’s session brought the opening of Flowers of Algorab to a conclusion, with the crew making the find that really opens the campaign up. We were without Graham (Lieto) this week, and his character was shared out. 

No technical issues this week, except for my video stuttering a bit. I think that was more ISP related than any of the platforms that I use.

Our Crew

• Arda Qamar, a Guild Surveyor and Traveller who came from the Far Colonies from a Mining Combine operation. She’s the bird handler and Scout for the team. (Played by Hattie).
• Meristo Koulas, an Esoteric Coriolite Seer who grew up in the Fog of the Haze, and has ties to the Black Toad. (Played by Paul).
• Lieto Miesma, a Scholar specialised in Builder Archeology who came from deep inside the Factory City of the Turbine Halls, with a background in the Machinist's Guild. (Played by Graham)
• Fassour Faradi, a roughneck deep miner who also came from somewhere the eternal fog of the Haze, and - like Merits - has ties to the Black Toad. (Played by Simon)
• Rashid al-Masri, a scoundrel Hull Cutter who came from among the hulks and wrecks of Hull Town, and has connections to the Gardener's Guild. (Played by Andy).
• Corvus the Bird, a specter; cobalt blue, with a long beak, always observing. Usually handled by Arda.

The New Seekers (Fassour, Rashid, Meritso, Lieto and Arda & Corvus)

The Session (Spoilers for The Flowers of Algorab).

In the depth of a forgotten vault where the air was tinged with the remnants of the blight, our intrepid heroes found themselves threaded into another tapestry of danger. The sinister figures of the Wardens of the Well emerged, brandishing quicksilver-like blades and screaming accusations of heresy.

Rashid, acting in his role as the crew's guard, assessed the threat swiftly and considering the charged atmosphere and the close quarters, decided on a fiery deterrent. He unleashed his flamethrower, setting three of the aggressors ablaze, which threw their ranks into chaos.

Meanwhile, Fassour, spotting an opportunity amidst the confusion, drew his pistol in a quick motion - a classic gambit where blade meets bullet preserved in media from the Old Horizon and earlier. His shot found its mark, though the damage was less than lethal. As the enemy countered with a powered swing of a Mercurium blade, Fassour skillfully parried the attack with his axe, his heart racing against the hum of the dangerous energy blade.

Meristo, the delver and shadier side of the group, then chose his moment to strike, opting for the simplicity and surety of his Fusillade pistol. Stepping away from immediate danger, he took aim and shot, wounding another of the fiery opponents.

Arda, on the other hand, let loose a battle cry that would have chilled the bones of a lesser foe, inspired by the legendary tales she loved reading. After declaring her intent, she too engaged her pistol, firing upon an enemy attempting to assist his burning comrades.

Further from the front lines, Lieto, though distanced from the immediate fray, attempted to provide assistance by aiming with his own weapon, though his shot missed its target.

As the flames continued to dance upon the robes of their adversaries, the team stood resolute, understanding that their unity and quick thinking in these blighted depths were their best hope for overcoming the threat they now faced head-on. Thus the battle raged, with each member playing their part in a ballet of gunfire and flames, each moment unfolding into the next with perilous unpredictability.

As the battle raged on, Rashid, still wielding his infamous flamethrower, contemplated a strategic retreat from his immediate adversary to utilise his weapon without harming his allies. Despite the combat complications, Rashid made a fierce attempt, only to suffer a penalty due to the cumbersome nature of his delving suit which impeded his agility, relying instead on raw strength.

Meanwhile, Fassour faced a quicksilver-like lightsaber with mere brute strength, a great risk against his formidable foe. After an intense exchange, he managed an impactful blow with his mighty hull axe, though he wondered if a more forceful push might have yielded even a more devastating result. Ultimately, his perseverance paid off as he achieved a critical hit against his opponent, dramatically smashing through the enemy’s defences.

On the battlefield's periphery, Meristo seized the chaos, expertly firing his Fusillard pistol at the burning Wardens attempting to flee, scornfully rendering their efforts futile as he struck them down decisively, exemplifying his sharpshooting prowess.

Arda, haunted by her previous actions which led to an enemy's death, decided amidst a whirl of emotions to harness her bond with her avian companion. She sent her bird, Corvus, in a vengeful strike against an escaping foe, demonstrating a poetic blend of nature and combat.

Each move and countermove by the valiant group weaved a story of courage, quick thinking, and the harsh realities of combat, as they stoically faced their spectral foes in a forgotten vault, each action echoing through the cursed halls like the whispers of ancient spirits. As they pressed forward, their resolve only hardened, driven by the unity and grim necessity of their quest. They knew they could not let the Wardens escape lest they bring allies to face them.

In the thick of an intense confrontation, Rashid considered alternatives to his explosive weaponry, debating between the fiery efficacy of his flamethrower and the more controlled Fusillard carbine. Fassour, along with others, voiced concerns about the uncontrollable nature of the flamethrower's damage, steering Rashid towards a more meticulous approach. Eventually, Rashid opted for precision with a dagger attack, though his lack of stealth left him in a direct hand to hand fight. An unskilled melee exchange followed, supported only by his dagger's bonus, resulting in Rashid successfully striking his foe but failing to conclusively finish him.

Meanwhile, Fassour, having lost the use of his axe due to an injury, resorted to his dagger in a brutal and decisive move. He exploited his opponent's distraction, driving the dagger deep into the enemy's heart with a lethal twist. This grim yet effective action marked the end of the skirmish.

With the immediate threat neutralised, the adventurers turned their attention to the repercussions of their violent encounter. They recognised the slain warden of the well, Ser Aren Mir-Bilal, from their past dealings, escalating their concerns about blight-tainted corruption amongst the Coriolite sect. Rashid and others quickly realised the gravity of their situation, predicting potential repercussions as their opponents would seek to slay them to protect their secret about a source of Blight in Ship City.

The aftermath involved strategic body management to prevent any supernatural resurgence of their foes, utilising the environment to their tactical advantage. With the immediate area secured, attention shifted to collateral management, encompassing both physical injuries and potential diplomatic fallout from their actions. As the adventurers contemplated their next moves, they had to address the physical injuries sustained, particularly Fassour's broken arm, highlighting the ongoing risks they faced in their quest.

As they proceeded, the crew's focus shifted to exploring the vault they initially sought, uncovering more about its mysterious contents and preparing for any further encounters that might arise from its depths. Throughout, they maintained a wary approach, documenting their findings meticulously to bolster their claims about the chaotic and perilous situations they encountered. This blend of exploration, tactical maneuvering, and forward planning underscored the multi-faceted challenges they faced in a world brimming with ancient secrets and ever-present dangers.

In the low purple-blue glow of the vault, the crew saw a dais with a space-suited figure sat on it. The suit was an old design, with a faded white finish, quite unlike the more brightly coloured designs favoured today. The dais was wrapped with blight vines and the air full of purple sparkling particles, like embers drifting in the air. Rashid and Arda brushed the vines away from the body.The figure's suit had a logo that they recognised from history, the icon used by the lost ark-ship, the Nadir, the vessel that their ancestors had cross the void to find. There was also a name: Nikovar.

The figure had a weakly shimmering black orb the size of an apple. Scanning it with the artefact scanner, Arda identified that it was a form of Builder technology. It had anomalous gravitational readings, almost as if there was a singularity entrapped within its spherical form. After discussion, Arda and Rashid started to work at opening the clasp on the suit helmet to see the face of the long lost traveller. As they struggled to release it, Fassour reached out to pick up the Singularity Sphere before it fell from the fingers of the long dead voyager. 

As Fassour's fingers wrapped around the orb, the weak gold glimmer in it seems to come alive, rising in intensity to the whole chamber is blindingly filled with light like a nova. A shrill sound starts to echo through all their com links. And then everything went black. 

Fassour has a feeling that something somewhere far, far away has responded to the signal that has just been transmitted, a single powerful enough to knock out the crew's electronics. Some kind of creature, some form of intelligence far away that is now aware that you have touched this artefact. Fassour is dazzled by the light and signal that emitted and struggles to see anything.

No one else sees the same intensity of light and feels the signal like Fasosur. For the others, suddenly  the heads up displays on your suits cut out, the recycling systems on your suits suit out and the flow of air stops. The lights go out and you're held in darkness.

They can hear their breathing echoing in their suits without the reassuring noise and feel of the flow from the recycling systems. Every device they have has stopped. Rashid immediate assumed his suit has suffered a catastrophic failure and started to reach for a chem-light and then batteries to try and reboot his suit. Meristo cautiously backed away, also looking for a chem-stick light, concerned that something has been disturbed that shouldn't have been disturbed. He felt panic rising within him and focused on getting a grip. Arda was reach around to try and find her colleagues.

Fassour gently let go of the sphere, his eyesight burnt our with a purple-white afterglow from the brilliance of whatever happened when the signal was emitted, like the after image of a flash gun being fired at your eyes.

Perhaps thirty seconds later, everyone's suits started to reboot and power started to restore. Fassour stumbled away from the figure, twisting the medallion he often turned to for solace. As the others looked at him, his eyes are wide and raw, with blood dripping from the tear ducts. He looks like he has been up all night with too much caffeine and more.

Looking to the rest of the crew, he said:

 "It sent a signal. I'm sure it sent something out. And what's even more terrifying is I think whatever it was received it. I'm not sure we should stay here much longer."

And with that, he leaves the chamber, going back the area where they fought the Wardens.

Lieto found a mysterious dried white flower sealed in a sample bag in the figure's suit pocket, igniting a flurry of hypotheses about its origins and purpose. Rashid, with his background in the Gardener's Guild, examined the flower but could not identify it, just establishing it wasn't from the Lost Horizon or the Old Horizon as far as he could tell. Arda takes the flower.

After some more debate, Lieto carefully bagged the orb, trying to minimise contact. There is no reaction from it, and he secures it in a pocket in his backpack.

Meristo and Lieto open the helmet, revealing the somewhat mummified head of a human male, dark haired, slight goatee beard, with a drugs line connected to his neck. Checking deeper, the line runs to a package that has writing in Old Horizon script, writing that indicates that it is some kind of hibernation drug. It has expended; Meristo observes that Nikovar has just slept for too long.

Lieto reminds the crew that this is probably a priceless find and that they need to get it out of here, lest the Warden's destroy it before they return in an effort to hide their crimes. They resecure the helmet. Fassour debates whether it is wise to disturb it, and surely archaeologists would want to examine it in situ. 

After some debate, they decide to recover the body. As a compromise, they take plenty of video recordings and photographs, plus samples. They evacuate the atmosphere they've added to the helmet and gently remove it from the dais, securing it so they can carry it up.

They headed back out, fortunately not encountering anyone else on the up and reach the mausoleum at without incident, perhaps six hours after they originally entered the delve. Although it's very early in the morning, there's a lot of light and commotion around the Palace of the Departed. They can see a young Warden surrounded by a crowd of panicked looking people. 

They all get out of their delving gear and stash it in the mausoleum. Fassour needs help with his broken arm. Working their way into the crowds, they discover that there's been a huge power surge and blackout and the whole of Ship City's lights and systems tripped out. There's rumours that maybe a portal has been opened to the Old Horizon or a Ghost Ship's nearby, or even that the Builders have returned. And there's a lot of very panicked and excited people and worried looking young Wardens who are having hurried conversations. 

Rashid, on behalf of the crew, contacts Master Moska and briefs her on the find at the bottom of the Well off Souls. He advises of what they have found and also asks for decontamination kits to be brought.

About 90 minutes later, there's a commotion around the Well as some of the Wardens try to try to intervene as a group of the Navigator's Guild Purple Guard in full armour and equipment head through, accompanied by members of the four Guilds. Master Moska approaches in a light delving suit with the Purple Guard alongside and Navigator's Guild representatives who are also suited. Meristo takes her to Fassour, who quietly explains what has happened. Lieto gingerly hands over the Singularity Sphere, still bagged, and Arda passes over the strange white flowers. 

Moska beckons to one of the Gardener's Guild representatives, who comes over and examines the flower. Rashid recognises her as Nefeli Bar-Ezravili, the High Gardener herself. One of her colleagues pulls up a tabla they check through it, and she turns to Moska and yourselves, saying that the find of this flower is a gift to our peoples. It's not from the Old Horizon or this Horizon, and may indicate that there is a world out there with beauty and life that we could find.

The crew show the body of Nikovar. There is much awe and wonder, as the Nadir has long been sought but never found. The head of the Navigator's Guild asks Master Moska to get the team decontaminated, and having heard their story, says that they will contain the Coriolite sect. 

The body is placed into a sarcophagus, and everything is decontaminated before being removed the Vermillion House, the Explorer's Guild headquarters.

In the aftermath, the crew underwent a rigorous decontamination process and were debriefed extensively at the Vermilion House. Their findings were scrutinised, and while the sphere they discovered remained inert, it induced a flurry of excitement and speculation within the Guilds. The thoroughness of their actions was evidenced in the cautious approach to handling the artifacts and managing the fallout, ensuring that their bravery was not only recognized but deeply respected by their peers.

An inquiry and debrief is scheduled for a week's time. The night before, Fassour has a strange dream:

You're standing alone in a white void. The endless whiteness is broken only by a mirror before you, but the reflection isn't yours. Instead, you see a man with black hair and sharply styled black hair and a goatee beard, wearing old heirloom style vacuum suits, white and worn, but in good repair. Faded insignias and ancient tests are on the breastplate of the suit, including the strange symbol on the helmet. The stars above a crescent moon, the emblem of the ark ship Nadir. He beckons, raising your hand to open his visor properly. And as the visor opens, you wake up to a lingering sense of premonition that stays with you. You feel like someone is coming. You have a strong sense of that.

Source - initially Tabletoprecorder.com, heavily edited for names, clarity and brevity with some parts injected to explain or catch elements missed in the summarising. 

Image insertion now on reMarkable

ReMarkable continue to update their digital paper tablets, with new features arriving every month or so. The latest update adds the ability to take an image and insert it into a notebook on the device. Once it's in, you can scale, rotate and copy the image as you wish, and annotate it to your heart's delight.

You can only add an image from the desktop app at the moment, but hopefully they'll find a way to make the web app and iOS / Android companion apps capable of doing it soon.

I tried it with some of my notes for the Blue Planet Recontact scenario I ran at North Star, and it worked without a fuss.

As far as I can see, this works with all their devices, even the rM1. However, you do need to have a Connect subscription to use it.

Lovely how this just keeps getting better.

16 May 2026

Books in April 2026

April saw me read 10 books with a total of 2,157 pages, bringing me to 36 books and 8,989 pages year to date. There were four roleplaying books, 2 non-fiction and the balance of four were fiction.

So, the fiction. I completed re-reading William Gibson's Sprawl Trilogy, working through Count Zero and Mona Lisa Overdrive. I've read these multiple times and still get more from them. It's nice to see how they all draw together. I also read William Moore's "The Grimoire of Forgotten Fairy Tales" which is a volume of poems and prose that takes fairy tales and nursery rhymes and twists them darkly. I'd originally seen William performing them on Facebook Reels and liked them enough to revisit. Definitely the kind of text that needs to be read out loud, even if in your head.

I also read Clarkesworld Issue #201, which had a great collection of different stories in. I recently picked up an Xteink e-reader, which is tiny but perfect for taking everywhere. I figured it was a good opportunity to stop doom scrolling and actually read a bit more. As I have a digital pile of deDRMed Azimovs and Clarkesworld magazines, this seemed a perfect match. Rather than get depressed about the world today, dig into a story of the future. So far, it's working. I definitely recommend the Xteink, which I bought direct from the manufacturer.

The non-fiction books began with Believable Lies by Terry Stiastny. At first, this didn't engage me, but by the end I was wanting more. It tells the tale of how Britain carried out political warfare in World War 2, propaganda both black and white. What I found fascinating was the way that it revealed in infighting between politicians and their appointees, something that tends to get brushed over in more traditional histories. I hadn't really understood that politics was just as full throated during the war years as it was in normal times, with jostling for power, briefings and rivalries. Definitely recommended.

I also read If Russia Wins by Carlo Masala, which is sobering. It posits a scenario of Ukraine being forced into humiliating ceasefire, partly by the US, partly by the undermining of European democracies by right wing and left wing populist elements encouraged by Russian disinformation campaigns. Soon after this, Russia occupies a town in one of the Baltic states, and ultimately leads to failure of NATO and a distancing between the USA and Europe. Altogether believable, especially with the present US administration.

My roleplaying reading was mostly focussed around North Star - I read the Blade Runner RPG and the new Replicant Rebellion sourcebook, plus the Blue Planet Recontact Player's Guide. The later was very information dense but has such wonderful world building. The former two capture the feel of the films really well. My final book was The Fractured Library and Other Tales from the Lost Horizon, a scenario collection for Coriolis: The Great Dark. At least one of these scenarios will work itself into my campaign of Flowers of Algorab. 

1 May 2026

Flowers of Algorab - Episode 8 - Delving into the Lost Vault

 

Our latest session saw the players commence the secret Delve into one of the most sacred places in Ship City in search of the Lost Vault that the artefacts from Dig 13 had revealed thanks to the work by Levon Najjar and Gar Boutaleb's previous investigation. This meant that the session was heavily in procedural mode, somewhat like progressing through an Old-School dungeon. We quickly slipped back into it.

Perhaps the only thing that gave me a challenge was that parts of route in question was in regular use, so I decided to rule that the common access areas would not need the full procedure, but the back routes and the deeper parts would work as normal.

We were a player down as Paul couldn't make it, so his character - Meristo - was shared between the team.

No technical issues this week.

Our Crew

• Arda Qamar, a Guild Surveyor and Traveller who came from the Far Colonies from a Mining Combine operation. She’s the bird handler and Scout for the team. (Played by Hattie).
• Meristo Koulas, an Esoteric Coriolite Seer who grew up in the Fog of the Haze, and has ties to the Black Toad. (Played by Paul).
• Lieto Miesma, a Scholar specialised in Builder Archeology who came from deep inside the Factory City of the Turbine Halls, with a background in the Machinist's Guild. (Played by Graham)
• Fassour Faradi, a roughneck deep miner who also came from somewhere the eternal fog of the Haze, and - like Merits - has ties to the Black Toad. (Played by Simon)
• Rashid al-Masri, a scoundrel Hull Cutter who came from among the hulks and wrecks of Hull Town, and has connections to the Gardener's Guild. (Played by Andy).
• Corvus the Bird, a specter; cobalt blue, with a long beak, always observing. Usually handled by Arda.

The New Seekers (Fassour, Rashid, Meritso, Lieto and Arda & Corvus)

The Session (Spoilers for The Flowers of Algorab).

Rashid Al-Masri, the group's vigilant guard, alongside Lieto Miesma, the keen archaeologist, Arda Qamar, the resourceful scout, and Fassour Faradi, the shrewd burrower, resolve to carry out the delve into the Well of Souls without informing Master Moska, opting for plausible deniability over permission following their decision to stow their equipment discreetly at a nearby mausoleum. 

The crew disguises their entry under the guise of a funeral procession, humorously ensuring their more incendiary items like the flamethrower aren’t too conspicuous. Once in the City of the Dead, they access their stashed gear at the mausoleum without incident and stealthily make their way to the entrance to the Well, which Arda had previously identified, evading the need for any unnecessary confrontations thanks to their planning, foresight and stealth.

The journey soon leads them to a lock that needs picking, a task which proves troublesome at first. Fassour and Arda make several attempts at picking the lock, requiring the support from both Rashid, with his mechanical skills, and Arda’s improvised application of brute force to ultimately break through, albeit with clear signs of tampering. The group cleverly decides to spend resources to patch up the damage discreetly, ensuring any residual evidence of their passage is well-concealed.

Descending into the depths, they explore several pathways and consult their bird, Corvus, who scouts ahead, revealing multiple routes through this treacherous underground maze. Continuing deeper into the mysterious subterranean complex, the team navigates with caution, coordinated by Arda and supported by the keen insights from Fassour and Lieto. They judiciously manage their resources, ensuring they maintain enough supplies to safely proceed in their search for the lost vault, avoiding areas with possible hazards like fire from the crematorium or the possibility of blight. Of course, there should be no blight present, because it is forbidden on Ship City.

Their resolve remains strong, utilising the staircase discovered by Rashid who deduces it to be the path frequently traversed by the wardens. As they tread further into the depths, they remain alert to the signs of ancient rituals and the covert operations of past visitors, driving forward in their quest for knowledge and ancient secrets hidden within the Well of Souls.

Amidst their journey, Rashid's agility proves vital as they navigate a shaky staircase laden with equipment, aided by climbing kits provided by Fassour and additional support improving their chances of smooth passage. Despite obstacles, the keen perception of Rashid unveils not only hidden pathways but an ancient, glittering necklace nestled in ash – a relic from the Old Horizon, sparking debates about whether they've veered into the realm of grave robbers or mere retrievers of forgotten treasures.

Confronted with urns bearing names and hinted histories, the presence of the urn inscribed "D. Moska" stirs a mix of reverence and speculation among the group, especially concerning the intricate ties to the Explorer’s Guild with the sigil engraved on the pot and the name of remains inside. This discovery, juxtaposed with the rich artefacts and undisturbed dust, suggests a story untold, peering into the legacy and losses of past explorers.

As the crew ventured deeper into the sacred grounds, the presence of a mysterious singing voice added an unsettling tone to their exploration, which particularly haunted Meristo.

The team carefully managed their resources, with discussions on supply usage indicating their careful advance into the treacherous corridors below. As they made their way through the blighted pathways, Dom prompted the group to make various agility and perception checks, layering their journey with mechanical and environmental hazards, including a dangerous encounter with blight vines.

The resourceful Rashid, determined to make safe passage for his companions, led the way with his additional skill at navigating rocky paths and cumbersome obstacles. The group relied on their bird, Corvus, manipulated via bird handling skills to scout ahead and negate some of the blight threat, allowing them to proceed with reduced risk.

Amidst the darkness and danger, the group encountered a chamber in the depths of the Well of Souls with half a dozen silver-masked wardens of the well, seemingly in a state of hibernation or trance, absorbing blighted vapours emitting from a sealed vault. This unexpected sight brought a mix of awe and dread. The wardens, including the previously encountered and unusually vigorous Sir Aren mil-Bilal, raised questions about the true nature of their condition and activities beneath the city. Here, the crew - quietly - pondered the implications of blight on health, a topic previously unexplored and possibly revolutionary if it could cause extended lifespans rather than just corrupt and kill.

They chose not to disturb the wardens, figuring that their intrusion would be unwelcome. Rashid covered them as the rest of the crew started to investigate the large doorway ahead.

Far below the City of the Dead, our adventurers faced a crux, surrounded by mystic Builder glyphs and the threat of blight. Their journey in this shadowy labyrinth deepened as they stood before a door veiled in blight-infested ice which captured their attention and compelled a series of risky actions. The doorway was flanked by  the Glyph of Life and the Glyph of Blight, but it appeared that there was a third Glyph on the door itself, obscured by the ice.

Arda, driven by combination of enthusiasm and instinct, sought to clear the ominous frost but was deterred by Fassour, who feared for the risk involved. Nonetheless, Arda's determination saw her touch the icy blight, which threatened her with its corrupting influence. Meanwhile, Fassour, preferring subtlety over the intense heat of Rashid's flamethrower, used a cutting torch to melt the frost in hopes of revealing the secrets it guarded.

As the ice melted and receded under the gentle warmth of Fassour's torch, another glyph was revealed, prompting a need for scholarly interpretation. Lieto, well-versed in the arcane symbols, stepped forth to decipher the glyphs which hinted at a vault, potentially laden with dangers or treasures unknown. It was the Glyph Gehpre, which translates alternatively as "Enter/Light/Open". The explored glyphs narrated a tale of a sealed vault, urging caution yet beckoning the curious minds of our explorers.

The moment of truth arrived as Fassour and Alda debated the method to engage the newly exposed glyph, opting for a delicate touch despite the evident risks. The pressing of the glyph activated a mechanism and opened the vault door with a hiss, releasing a swirl of mysterious, sparkling particles and shifting the air pressure – a classic harbinger of the unknown.

Braced for the consequences, the group faced a blight attack, challenging their resilience as they scrambled for protection. The opening of the vault seemed to stir from slumber the guarding wardens, previously immobilised, who awakened with cries of heresy, brandishing their shimmering mercurium swords – an escalation that shifted the evening’s narrative from exploration to confrontation.

The session drew to a close with the group braced for what lay beyond the vault, the awakened wardens at the ready, marking a perfect cliffhanger. Their journey through the enigmatic and perilous corridors of the Well of Souls thickens with intrigue, the promise of ancient secrets tantalisingly close yet guarded by dangers newly woken.

Source - initially Tabletoprecorder.com, edited for names, clarity and brevity with some parts injected to explain or catch elements missed in the summarising. 

Traveller - Delta 3 is very definitely Down again!

I'm really pleased that Delta 3 is Down, an adventure for Traveller is finally back in print as a PDF. This was the first adventure I wrote that was published by BITS, and it has been out of print for quite some time. It's now converted to Mongoose Traveller.

It's set before the Fifth Frontier War, and has a Zhodani Admiral crashing onto the mainworld in the Emerald system on the border between the Consulate and the Imperium. The admiral understands all the Zhodani naval strengths along the border, along with the contingency plans. 

Written for convention play, the opening is perhaps a little bit of a railroad as it drives towards their ship crashing, but once the characters are down on the surface it becomes more of a sandbox as they try to escape the escalating Imperial response. 

Once again, Andy Lilly helped to expand this up with more detail. We released it as a TAS publication rather than Traveller Compatible as it's very much tied into canon (and skimming the new Fifth Frontier War line from Mongoose, I don't see anything that should cause a major issue in compatibility). 

The idea for the scenario came when I was in hospital after a minor operation and I was reading the first GURPS Traveller Alien Races book, Zhodani & Vargr. I decided that I really wanted to explore the Imperium from the perspective of the Zhodani; what would the feudalist, capitalist Third Imperium be like to someone who grew up in a culture of care and trust, where people know their place in society and that unhappiness is treated as a mental health issue and treated with psionic techniques. I liked the courier ship presented in the rules and the scenario grew from there.

It proved popular - and sometimes fatal to the characters - at conventions. Remembering that Traveller has a deadly combat mechanic is important. For example, if you're in a G/Truck, don't try and risk getting shot by a starship defence laser, because the outcome is messy.

There are several ship designs included in the book; a conversion of the Zhodani courier, an Extended-Duration Imperial Scout, and an interdiction satellite. 

The cover was a gorgeous collaboration between Andy Lilly and the late, great Jesse DeGraff. 

Overall, it's a scenario that I'm really happy is available again and I hope it brings fun to Travellers who get to run or play it.

You can get it here at DriveThruRPG: 

https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/564861/delta-3-is-down

20 April 2026

Flowers of Algorab - Episode 7 - Revelations of the Ramda Obelisk

 

Episode 7 found the crew swiftly approaching the end game of the investigation phase of the adventure, and we ended with them preparing for a delve to discover a lost vault. 

The tech all worked smoothly, again, except for a short period when one of the players lost audio from another and we had some over talking. However, that was swiftly fixed once we realised what was happening.

The session featured a significant spotlight for Hattie's character, Arda, who rushed into a risky scouting mission with quite some success. The subsequent work by the whole crew in preparing for the delve less so, and that may present some problems next session.

Our Crew

• Arda Qamar, a Guild Surveyor and Traveller who came from the Far Colonies from a Mining Combine operation. She’s the bird handler and Scout for the team. (Played by Hattie).
• Meristo Koulas, an Esoteric Coriolite Seer who grew up in the Fog of the Haze, and has ties to the Black Toad. (Played by Paul).
• Lieto Miesma, a Scholar specialised in Builder Archeology who came from deep inside the Factory City of the Turbine Halls, with a background in the Machinist's Guild. (Played by Graham)
• Fassour Faradi, a roughneck deep miner who also came from somewhere the eternal fog of the Haze, and - like Merits - has ties to the Black Toad. (Played by Simon)
• Rashid al-Masri, a scoundrel Hull Cutter who came from among the hulks and wrecks of Hull Town, and has connections to the Gardener's Guild. (Played by Andy).
• Corvus the Bird, a specter; cobalt blue, with a long beak, always observing. Usually handled by Arda.

The New Seekers (Fassour, Rashid, Meritso, Lieto and Arda & Corvus)

The Session (Spoilers for The Flowers of Algorab).

Returning from the Razad, the crew team decided to approach Master Moskva directly, despite the early hours. They are admitted to her quarters, where, amidst tea and considerations of what constitutes a suitable celebratory beverage, Arda eagerly shares the groundbreaking news of the builder's vault with the still groggy but increasingly intrigued Master Moska. 

Meristo Koulas  diligently  divulged his encounter with a menacing figure, clad in a Coriolite mask, accompanied by mechanically engineered spiders—ominous agents of blight and heirloom technology. He recounted an assassination attempt, believing the masked figure might have connections to the Navigator's Guild but possessing no solid proof.

Master Moska, deep in thought, recognised the implications of the glyphs inscribed on the ancient tablet, recalling that Levon Najjar had researched these symbols heavily. Speculations arose about the prudence of announcing their interest in the Ramda Obelisk openly or proceeding with stealth. The explorers weighed the options while reflecting on their previous findings; the unsettling presence of blight-infected mechanical spiders at Levon's crime scene cast a sinister shadow.

Arda, fuelled by a blend of caution and excitement, proposed an unsanctioned infiltration to prevent potential informants from alerting their adversaries, however, Fassour Faradi expressed reservations, emphasising the absence of evidence implicating the Navigator Guild in clandestine schemes.

Seeking a balanced approach, Master Moska decided to request official access to the obelisk, hoping to avoid unnecessary conflict while unearthing truths buried deep within the histories of their fractured cosmos. Rashid al-Masri, threading lines of loyalty and suspicion, aimed to deploy his Gardener's Guild contacts to glean further insights, hinting at layers of alliances and enmities that entangled their fates more tightly with the shadowy facets of Ship City and beyond.

Thus, amid theories and tensions, they concluded to proceed with both caution and courage. The explorers, guided by their diverse expertise, prepared to tread a path fraught with peril, their spirits tethered to the enigmatic promise of the obelisk. All the while, Master Moska looked on, mirroring the blend of excitement and apprehension that danced in their eyes, knowing well the weight of the discoveries that might soon unfold before them.

In the latest twist of their intrepid journey, our explorers reconvened at the mess area in their quarters after being briefed about their mission. Rashid, joining his comrades amidst the aroma of freshly made waffles, decided against sharing his secretive contact, opting instead to reveal only the information obtained from his Gardeners' Guild contacts. Despite the team's relaxed camaraderie, an underlying tension hinted at the strategic intricacies of their alliances.

Meristo and Arda discussed their affiliations and mistrust with other factions, particularly touching upon existing frictions with the mining faction, which were more personal for Arda than had been publicly admitted. The Explorer's Guild had confirmed it would equip those without an exosuit, preparing them for their next move towards the mysterious Obelisk.

Upon their visit to this ancient site, the team encountered the Navigator's Guild's Purple Guards, already wary of their purpose. The Ramda Obelisk stood majestically inscribed with enigmatic glyphs, and after some well-coordinated effort and use of Arda’s artefact scanner, they managed to discover multiple slots for the mysterious tablet they had been carrying. Aligning the tablet correctly, the obelisk awakened, projecting a holographic map pinpointing a secret vault’s location beneath the city's haunting Well of Souls.

Their findings spurred debates on methods of descent into the well, considered sacred and fiercely guarded by the Coriolite Wardens of the Well. While they contemplated whether it was possible to discover alternate entrances, the possibility of navigating such a sensitive location without offending local customs or arousing suspicion presented a formidable challenge. The group debates the logistics of accessing this sensitive site, intertwined with concerns about sacrilege and intricate plans to access a buried vault without desecration.

The tactical discourse shifts towards finding alternative entries. Meristo shares insights into potential equipment stashing spots, while Lieto Miesma is encouraged to deploy his scholarly prowess to aid their mission, potentially employing archaeology skills to discern more about the hidden pathways and entrances. A lucky find in old records pinpoints an accessible tunnel, raising hopes of a covert approach to their somber destination.

Arda Kamal, ever eager, is nominated to execute a solitary reconnaissance of the mausoleums surrounding the Well of Souls. Cloaked in the guise of a mourner among funeral-goers, she ventures towards the target. Her movements, aided by Meristo’s crash course on Coriolite customs, maintain the deception allowing her to survey the site with a practiced eye.

Finding a suitable mausoleum with an unlatched door, Arda contemplates the rash audacity of entering alone but proceeds—her actions marked by a loud creak of the ancient door, a nerve-wracking sound that starkly contrasts the silent respect of the site. Inside, she wrestles with reverence and duty, apologizing to the resting ashes as she activates her deep scanner, a bright beacon of modernity amidst the solemn dust.

This amalgamation of stealth, historical respect, and high-tech investigation underlines their night’s effort. Yet, as always, the path to ancient secrets is fraught with ethical quandaries and the shadows of potential blight. As our explorers tread carefully through the thicket of their moral and tactical decisions, the depths of the Well of Souls await, silent and inscrutable, holding within its dark embrace the keys to a past long submerged in the echoes of time and myth.

In the shadowed silence of the City of the Dead, Arda secured the mausoleum door, and managed to quietly close it, ensuring it appeared undisturbed and locked.

As Arda explored further, she approached a noticeably clean and well-kept mausoleum, which stood out with its newly painted gates. This structure was confirmed by referencing the deep scan as the entrance to the tunnel they had discovered. Knowing the entrance was unguarded but not wanting to take chances, Arda decided to take photographs and gather information rather than venture below just yet.

Electing discretion over immediate disclosure, Arda chose not to communicate with the rest of the crew over comms,  risking potential eavesdropping, wanting to safeguard the details of their mission.

Subsequently, Arda merged with the mourners at another funeral as a cover to exit the area without arousing suspicion. Engaging in a delicate conversation, she adeptly navigated an interaction with an inquisitive mourner, employing her cultural savviness (with a bit of luck) to convincingly portray her role. This interaction underscored her blend of empathy and strategic deceit, which eased her departure from the site without any complications.

Returning to the group, Arda relayed her findings and experiences amidst commendations from her teammates. The discussion turned strategic as they contemplated meticulous tactics to move supplies into the City of the Dead under the guise of routine mourning visits, suggesting a covert operation reminiscent of classic escape plots but fraught with the danger of detection.

As the team planned their deceptive maneuvers, they acknowledged the complexity of smuggling necessary gear without drawing attention, leading to a group stealth roll. Despite an uneasy success, with some hope spent and failed rolls, the atmosphere remained tense, filled with the undercurrents of potential peril.

The session ended as they successfully positioned their equipment in the mausoleum, setting the stage for their descent into the depths in the next meeting, with an anticipation of restored hope and the looming threat of the unknowns that awaited them beneath the eerily silent graves.

Source - Tabletoprecorder.com, edited for names, clarity and brevity with some parts injected to explain or catch elements missed in the summarising. 

Games to March 2026

A slow start to the year, reflecting the fact that I am not actively playing a game at the moment. However, two conventions and a near weekly session of Coriolis: The Great Dark has filled my time.

I've GMed thirteen sessions and played two.

The Flowers of Algorab for Coriolis: The Great Dark dominates the figures, with 8 session total. After that it's Traveller (2 sessions, both run at Airecon) and City of Mist (both run at Revelation). 

Revelation saw me running a session of Comrades, and then playing in the playtest for Nefas and experiencing Brindlewood Bay for the first time. 

The balance between online and face-to-face is better than last year, with just over half the sessions being played online. I'm really liking the combination of Role and Owlbear Rodeo. The VTT just fades into the background and the focus is on the people. It's reminded me what drew me to Role in the first place.

I'm hoping to get a one-shot of Delta Green set up soon, and perhaps complete a couple of the projects that have been bubbling under like Castle Xyntillan.

Overall happy in my gaming life at the moment.

8 April 2026

Flowers of Algorab - Episode 6 - Secrets of Station 11

 

Episode 6 saw us digging deeper into The First and Last Man, as the party dug into the mystery of Levon Najjar, a Guild Explorer who had died in suspicious circumstances. Everyone was present again, which was fantastic. 

The tech all worked smoothly.

There was an amusing moment when one of the players rolled all the sixes that they'd ever need on a reasonably minor roll, only to have to burn through a pile of hope for a pushed re-roll on a much more significant stealth check.

One of the things that struck me about the campaign so far is how random chance has influenced the adventures so far. That's random chance in that two of the characters having been created with ties into The Black Toad organisation, something that they have leaned into and made accessing some key information simpler as they've been able to talk to Black Toad linked contacts with much less suspicion than they'd have otherwise garnered.

Our Crew

• Arda Qamar, a Guild Surveyor and Traveller who came from the Far Colonies from a Mining Combine operation. She’s the bird handler and Scout for the team. (Played by Hattie).
• Meristo Koulas, an Esoteric Coriolite Seer who grew up in the Fog of the Haze, and has ties to the Black Toad. (Played by Paul).
• Lieto Miesma, a Scholar specialised in Builder Archeology who came from deep inside the Factory City of the Turbine Halls, with a background in the Machinist's Guild. (Played by Graham)
• Fassour Faradi, a roughneck deep miner who also came from somewhere the eternal fog of the Haze, and - like Merits - has ties to the Black Toad. (Played by Simon)
• Rashid al-Masri, a scoundrel Hull Cutter who came from among the hulks and wrecks of Hull Town, and has connections to the Gardener's Guild. (Played by Andy).
• Corvus the Bird, a specter; cobalt blue, with a long beak, always observing. Usually handled by Arda.

The New Seekers (Fassour, Rashid, Meritso, Lieto and Arda & Corvus)

The Session (Spoilers for The Flowers of Algorab).

Having searched Gar Boutaleb's room at the Saadalian Rose hotel and finding no evidence of him expect a broken amulet and a ferry ticket with the destination 'Station 11' marked on it, the team returned to the haze and bustle of Aluminum Bay and The Golden Ape to reflect on what they had discovered and decide what they should do next. Meristo and Fassour recalled that Station 11 was a repurposed freighter out in Hull Town which was often used as a transit point to some of the Black Toad's drug operations. 

A quiet discussion with Maisi Midoun, the bar owner, confirmed that it was near the Razad, a ship that had made the great crossing of the diaspora and was now controlled by the Black Toad, and the word on the street was that it was a drug factory. The Zapti Constables tended to keep away from those areas, either paid off by the Toad or just deliberately avoiding trouble with the faction so long as it kept its operations subtle and out of the way.

Arda Qamar and Rashid Al-Masri joined into the conversation and the crew debated their next moves, weighing the dangers of infiltrating possibly hostile grounds with the need for discreet, effective action.

Throughout this gripping episode, our heroes displayed camaraderie, tactical ingenuity, and a relentless pursuit of the truth, navigating through the murky underbelly of Ship City's societal and criminal layers. Each choice brought them closer to unraveling the mystery surrounding Gar Boutaleb and his enigmatic actions.

Deciding that it would be sensible to collect their Delving Gear, and/or Exo-Suits as they would likely face the cold vacuum of space on the next stage of their investigation, they took the lift back up to the upper levels of the Chasm and their quarters.

Bags with their kit collected, they were stopped as they approached the lifts by a large group of Zapti lead by Captain Tamar Zarab. Zarab wanted to ask them questions about their involvement in the suicide of Levon Najjar. Immediately, the crew were alert, because if this had really been a suicide (and the authorities had ruled it as such), why would the Zapti be investigating it?

Lieto, a steadfast and sharp-witted member of the Guild, faced pointed questions from Captain Zarab regarding his whereabouts on the night of Najjar's demise and dutifully relayed his alibi, which included testimonies from familiar acquaintances. However, the interrogation broadened as each adventurer was challenged to account for their actions, revealing a blend of truth and deception among the team.

Fassour Farradi and Meristo Koulas, banding together with Rashid Al-Masri and Arda Qamar, navigated the probing inquiries with a mix of honesty and subterfuge. While Rashid and Arda presented themselves truthfully, Fassour and Meristo opted for disguises of truth, providing assumed names and obscuring their true identities from Captain Zarab's piercing gaze, a hangover from their connections to the Black Toad.

The discussion took an unexpected turn towards the academic, with Lieto showcasing his scholarly achievements through an exchange of digital business cards, hoping to impress upon Captain Zarab the depth of his intellectual pursuits. Yet, beneath the surface of these interactions lay a web of mistrust and strategy, as the adventurers speculated on the true implications of the investigation and prepared for the potential repercussions of Captain Zarab's continued scrutiny and veiled threats about 'impeding their investigation'.

With the conversation with Captain Zarab concluded, the adventurers turned their attentions back to the murky depths of their own quest. They ventured onward to the enigmatic and chaotic Wreck Alley, a district alive with the promises and perils. Here, in the shadows of decayed starship hulls and buzzing market stalls, they sought passage to the foreboding Station 11 on Pier 17, guided by a ticket linked to their elusive target, Gar Boutaleb.

Upon securing their transport aboard a rugged tugboat captained by a resourceful crew, the crew engaged with locals, gathering whispers and warnings about the dangers that lay ahead. Each clue, each hushed warning fed into the rich tapestry of mystery and danger enveloping their journey. As they disembarked at Station 11, they found themselves in a decrepit environment, greeted by the stench of ozone and machine oils; aa visual tableau of decrepitude and desperation.

Their arrival did not go unnoticed, and they ended up in a peculiar little workshop run by a former machinist named Vanda Samrani. Disheartened by her ostracism from previous high-status employment due to a falling out with her Machinist's Guild superior, Vanda now managed her own modest establishment, delivering mechanical repairs and fabrications to those in need around the less trodden paths of the station.

Lieto, always attentive to opportunities, played on their shared Machinist background and engaged Vanda in conversation, exploring potential ties and clues in their relentless pursuit of the elusive Toad Delver. As bread was broken, cakes and stories shared, details emerged of a suspicious individual associated with a distinctively blue bird, aligning with the person of interest in their quest. The mention of this blue companion piqued Vanda’s memory, recalling a visit from the individual just five days prior.

With strategic prompts from Arda, the group learned that the man they sought had indeed passed through, albeit briefly, engaged shortly by a discontented group from the 'Toads'—a detail that Vanda nonchalantly noted during her narration of local passersby.

As the conversation deepened, the machinist, overshadowed by her mechanical curiosities and remnants of a more illustrious past, provided valuable logistical support to the crew. Offering magnetic boots and essential gear for navigating the station’s precarious environments, Vanda facilitated their exploration with a blend of commercial acumen and discrete complicity, aware of the unspoken elements of their mission.

Thanks to Fassour's insights and Meristo's sharp negotiations, the team equipped themselves adequately, all under the watchful, albeit mechanical, eye of Arda's bird, Corvus, who displayed an almost mischievous interest in the scattered tools and components of Vanda’s workshop.

With new - well, second-hand - equipment and bits of wisdom in tow, our adventurers continued their journey through the echoing corridors of Station 11, their path illuminated by flickering lights and the promise of uncovering the shadows that enveloped their quarry, Garbuttaleb. Each member of the group, bound by a shared goal but driven by their unique motivations and backgrounds, stepped further into the depths of intrigue, their hearts resilient against the backdrop of mechanical buzzes and the distant hums of uncertain encounters ahead.

They exited from one of Station 11's creaking airlocks, and tethered together with a rope, the experienced zero-G operatives guided the crew over to the Razad safely, managing to avoid any additional interest from the small guard vessels surrounding it. Alighting on the hull of the drug factory without observation, they hacked the airlock and entered the ship. 

Fassour suggested the group to hug the walls and proceed stealthily to avoid detection. As they navigated their surroundings, Rashid Al-Masari, renowned for his stealth abilities, took the lead. Several times they thought that they had been observed, but somehow they pushed their luck enough to get through the cantina area. Meristo offered some stimulant help,  a nerve-calming spice, though concerns about its effects on their reactions and agility led them to decide against its use in favour of maintaining their alertness. Corvus, Arda Qamar's ever-inquisitive bird, was discussed for its potential help in spotting their target, though how conspicuous to make Corvus remained a topic of mild contention.

Eager to reach a room identified by Corvus as a point of interest, they prepared to confront the individuals inside, concerned about potential hostility. After a brief discussion on how to approach, they knocked, leading to a tense interaction with an inhabitant who grumpily acknowledged their presence only when trades of spices and brewing techniques were mentioned.

Inside, they met a grey-haired, scarred man dressed in a Coriolite djabala, surrounded by signs of a seasoned life. The man, revealed to be their target Gar Boutaleb, engaged in guarded conversation, expressing skepticism about the crew's intentions. The presence of his blue Bird, Zrit, complicated the dynamics, as both avian creatures exhibited signs of territorial discontent.

After managing to calm the tensions between the birds with snacks, the crew discussed the deeper implications of their quest with Boutaleb. They examined glyphs that he shared, speculating on the existence of a concealed vault - potentially in Ship City's asteroid - that might hold profound secrets or valuable contents. Boutaleb disclosed his fears of being hunted due to the sensitive nature of his discoveries, hinting at powerful entities that would kill to keep certain secrets hidden. 

He opened up about his past efforts, disclosing his connections with a group referred to as the Toad and his dealings at the bird market. His narrative revealed the harsh realities and rugged demands of his line of work, juxtaposing it against the more ruthless nature of groups like the Jade Scorpions.

Arda Qamar expressed understanding, noting a recent scuffle with the Jade Scorpions, suggesting that another group, the Coriolites, might have employed their services. This led to a further discussion about a mysterious tablet that our adventurers learned was discovered in the Great Library amidst neglected artefacts and cryptic glyphs. The conversation revealed that their new acquaintance and his late friend Levon had hoped to explore an area guarded by Coriolites, known as the Ramda Obelisk, believing it concealed significant historical importance and clues to the vault location.

Ultimately, the interaction concluded with the adventurers obtaining the crucial tablet and notes from Gar Boutaleb, who urged them to explore further and return with whatever truths they could unearth. As they exited, the weight of their discoveries pressing upon them, the team left the Razad more aware of the monumental stakes of their quest, guided by both the glyphs and the ominous warnings of their wary yet informative new ally.

The explorer offered to facilitate the crew's discreet departure from the station, shifting the scene to a tenser interaction with the Razad's boss. Despite a nerve-racking exchange, Fassour was able to defuse the situation using a Black Toad recognition hand sign, easing their passage out of the station.

Back on familiar turf, the team was left to contemplate their next steps, pondering over necessary preparations before attempting to explore the enigmatic obelisk mentioned by their late-night acquaintance. They learned that this obelisk, covered in glyphs, stood as a historically significant monument under the vigilant guard of the Purple Guard of the Navigator's Guild.

With the insights gained and the potential risks weighed, they debated the merits of seeking permission from the revered Master Moska, with Rashid considering acquiring a permit that might aid their endeavours within the city. The session closed on plans to engage with Master Moska in their next gathering, setting the stage for what promises to be a crucial juncture in their mission.

Source - Tabletoprecorder.com, edited for names, clarity and brevity with some parts injected to explain or catch elements missed in the summarising. 

Books in March 2026

Seven books in March, with a total of 2,068 pages, which takes me to 26 books and 6,817 pages. A slower pace because of gaming reading and conventions.

A single non-fiction, Polar War by Kenneth R. Rosen. I bought this on the back of an interview with the author and was initially taken aback; I was expecting a technical analysis of the potential threats and conflicts in the Arctic, but the book is more a series of vignettes with different people and places across the arctic circle.  However, there was a thread through the vignettes that showed the threats and conflicts and drew it together. 

Fiction-wise I read Adrian Tchaikovsky's Days of Shattered Faith. It's the third of his Tyrant Philosophers series. This expanded the background and started to explain why particular polities in the series behave the way they do. I enjoyed meeting the characters and it was as intriguing as the other books, and again very different.

I had a bit of a palette cleanse after that with The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James. This is the third of her books I read, and again it blends a murder mystery (in this case across two different timelines) with the supernatural. Quite a satisfying book; I enjoyed the way that the stories intermeshed. 

The final novel was a re-read of William Gibson's Neuromancer, which was as fantastic as ever. As it was a book club read, it was fascinating to hear from people who didn't encounter this when it first came out and who had later references such as The Matrix in their head when they thought about cyberpunk. An enjoyable chance to reflect on a book I love; I've moved onto the next in the Sprawl Trilogy as a result.

I also read three roleplaying game books; a re-read of Deepnight Legacy before I ran it, then the first volume of the Great Rift sourcebook. That was enjoyable, and a bit different. Finally, I read The Laundry Supervisor's Guide. This is a wryly written background lore book for Charles Stross' series. I am tempted to run something with this, but I'll wait until I've read some of the scenarios before I make a final decision.

1 April 2026