An OOC heads-up

Thank you everyone for the input. I will make revisions and cut back substantially on what goes into the letter to Josh. A few specific responses…

(1) To send a letter at all. Sadly a fruit basket is not an option. I hope Josh’s character Oswald doesn’t abuse the information. But it doesn’t take much dot connecting for Tukufu to believe that Matias had brainwashed and raped his wife … while I share concerns about Josh’s motives, Tukufu got significant aid from Oswald. If Oswald’s subsequently asking for information, Tukufu just isn’t giving him a flat no after that.

(2) Henry: If there are any repercussions (self-destructive or not) Tukufu will take them for his choice. I’ll CC you when I put together a final letter for Josh so you are in the loop. Somewhat similarly I would happily avoid any particular piece of information if it will play a role in a future plot point or a “big reveal.”

(3) Should the family remain secret: I have always been in favor of coming out at a time when we can look good. Fellow PCs don’t seem to care about the Bloodwar or our involvement in it. It happened 3000 years ago. I’m something of a history junkie but its hard for me to get woken up about the perfidy of the Ancient Egyptians or Abyssinians. While I know others have a much different opinion, the Inquisition’s opinion has never been a big consideration to me … and we aren’t heretics. However I have never been able to gather a significant group of IKs to this opinion and have mostly kept quiet out of respect to everyone else. I do agree that at present it seems like a really bad idea to expose ourselves when Calemnon/the Destroyer is hunting for Merric.

I’ll try to post a revised draft tomorrow or monday. I won’t send anything before other eyes have a chance to look at it or critique it.

If you haven’t Henry, everyone else has. FYI, getting “Nasha’d” is now a verb. I have great faith in you and team PCI as a storytellers. If you say so … okay. But given the boxed text at the beginning of both of last years hard points and the way the women of the Golden Court have all rallied around Mattias, I don’t think that’s a player inference that should sound like its coming out of left field.

I have never heard that Josh is trying to blow the lid of the val’Cessari. But I do know that he is playing the heir of the Oswald “usurper line” of Milandesian Kings and may be looking for political chips to cash in. That’s a dangerous game to be playing. But its not a “wrong” way to play his PC. Even if if Josh only jumped in to get Tukufu in his debt (he didn’t he used to live and Portland and we’re old friends) … that’s be smart playing. IC I owe him.

I will try to be circumspect in what I share with his PC, and scale back what goes into the letter I send him. Another draft will appear in a day or so so no one is caught by surprise. As far as I know the only name that could come out would be Tukufu’s. If there are dire repercussions I’ll accept them with with good grace.

I really, really hope you give this a second thought before releasing this information, Eric. We received these characters as a reward for our work. And what you plan to do affects everyone else who participated in the IK program who is still playing in the ARG campaign.

I would much rather see how Henry organically draws the val’Cessari more in his plotline through the Hard Points than how it will haphazardly get leaked via Josh, yourself, and others.

Our characters whole basis is the secret we have been keeping. When one person who chooses he cannot keep that secret, it affects us all who still want to keep it going. Otherwise, what is the point of playing? This campaign is comprised of a small gaming community and if this gets leaked, it will make waves. As I said, I would much rather see what Henry has in store for us than it getting spoiled in such a manner.

Best,

Joe

I think you’ve done the right thing by us on this matter Eric. The valC thing is something unusual to manage in the campaign. Perhaps Josh could have been provided with more information, but really this is our secret.

In character, the secret and keeping it secret is vital to our survival. Who knows what will happen once the secret is out. There definitely seem to be those who intend harm to us. And even if Josh wouldn’t ‘blow the lid off’ the valC, once he learned more, how many people would learn more from him?

So, thanks for asking us about this, and you definitely started an interesting conversation.