[campaign] Children of the Vortex

[bishop]

Children of the Vortex

Context:
This is the first in a series of adventures with my three sons, ages 12, 10 and 5. They are passionate Doctor Who fans and have come to know its stories as both science fiction adventure and compelling character development (respectively for their ages). I viewed playing DW:AiTaS as a fun way to spend time together, a way to dig in deeper to Doctor Who mythos, and, perhaps, learn a bit about history too.

Despite knowing what they do about the Last Great Time War and the Doctor’s status as the last of his kind, the boys wanted to play Gallifreyans themselves - and more wanted to play characters similar to themselves and their respective ages. I loved the challenge, here’s how our first adventure went:

Story Background:
The boys were born on Gallifrey after the Last Great Time War began. The oldest two have stood before the Untempered Schism and been entered into the Academy (being inducted into the Prydonian house). The youngest has shown unique psychic powers, particularly telepathy, and has keep close to his brothers despite not joining old enough to go to witness the Untempered Schism or join the Academy.

Beginning:
Attacks by the Daleks during the time period the boys live in have intensified. The Academy has been closed and children are being evacuated. Children are to be relocated to another safer period in Gallifrey’s history transported by Temporal Trains. (This all comes from the children’s literature which involves the mass evacuations of London during WWII, imagery which my sons are very familiar with.)

Following a moving farewell to their parents, they boarded the train in its last carriage and prepared to be relocated in time (the train has safety locks preventing its travel in space). As the train begins its journey, there is an attack on the depot, and the boys see the “engine” and the rest of the cars being left behind. The engine being the navigation system while the last carriage housing the time coil, which allows travel through the Vortex.

Lost in the Vortex, the youngest accidentally witness it for the first time, which he endures with his brothers’ assistance. They then work together to “land” the carriage, ending up in an ancient Ice Age of Gallifrey’s past. As they being to freeze they attempt to work together to jiggery-pokery some type of navigation system. They fail to do so, but restart the time coil and reentering the Vortex out of control.

They emerge in the middle of a battle between Battle TARDISs and Dalek ships, taking heavy damage which causes the safety locks on the time coil to fail. They are thrust spinning into time and space and each loses consciousness...

They awake in a TARDIS and are soon greeted by the Third Doctor. He has watched over them for a few days while they slept and recuperated. He is amused and somewhat enchanted by their presence, and they seem to bring back some fond memories of his youth. He is horrified and moralistic about the Time Lords part in the Time War, but is even more concerned with the boys themselves. His diagnostic tests show them to be in perfect health, but that they have very unusual temporal energy.

Not interested in returning to Gallifrey (clearly this takes place after he has recovered the TARDIS dematerialization codes), he invites them to stay with him for a few days. As anxious as the boys are to get home, they have taken to him as a grandfather figure and are happy to stay a few days, rest, learn about Earth and its history, and even help him with tests.

During the next few days, the boys delve into Earth, they discover that their carriage had “crashed” into the TARDIS. Much like the Doctor caring for the boys, the TARDIS seems to be caring and tending to the carriage, so much so that it has taken on a different appearance and seems to be growing inside.

Finally the Doctor comes to them while they are in the TARDIS’ library, with grave news. He has determined that the Dalek’s used a “Time Bomb” in their attack on the Temporal Train depot. This bomb erases everyone and everything that is caught in its blast, not just destroying, but removing all traces of people and objects from existence. (The Doctor suspects that the bomb has even removed itself from existence too.)

Evidently, the boys carriage was dematerializing at just the precise moment and they escaped. Tragically, their parents and the thousands present at the depot were caught in the blast. The depot itself and the technology of the Temporal Trains would also have been erased form all time, leaving the carriage as a unique artifact of a world that never existed.

The Doctor sadly ends, “You are now more children of the Vortex, than of Gallifrey.”

Story Response:
The boys were both enthusiastic and deeply affected by the game session. We took a great deal of time learning together the mechanics and practicing how to tell the story together. We are looking forward to our future adventures.

[misterharry]

Thanks for sharing your experience - sounds like you and your sons really enjoyed it! I love the campaign background. Hope to hear more session reports please!

[Eryx]

Sounds like a great game.

[Jason_WPGL]

That sounds like an awesome gaming session. Can't wait to read more as the story continues.

[bishop]

Favorite Past-Times: A Children of the Vortex Adventure

Story Background: This adventure begins immediately after the conclusion of “Children of the Vortex.” The boys are in the TARDIS library studying Earth history, when the Third Doctor arrives and informs them they have escaped the Last Great Time War at the cost of their own past history.


Beginning: The Doctor attempts to console the boys about their fate and tells them that he would like them to meet a friend of his Jo Grant, who may be able to help them through all this - when he interrupts himself exclaiming, “Impossible!” He grabs up one of the books the boys are reading to examine a picture of Poncho Villa and his men.

Lurking in the background of the picture is - the Master!

Distracted by his concern the Doctor informs the boys they will be staying behind with his friend Jo at UNIT as he heads off to confront his archenemy. The boys together argue they must to go, pointing out that the Doctor has missed seeing another face which stands out in the picture: the youngest of the three brothers (without his glasses). Startled by the revelation, the Doctor agrees that the despite the danger the boys must accompany him as at least one of them was already there.

Before piloting the TARDIS back to the Mexican Revolution circa 1913-1914, the Doctor preps the boys with warnings of the Masters abilities, “You must never underestimate him!” He costumes them in period clothing, and gives them each a gadget. [The boys had yet to receive their Time Lord special trait gadget, which were chosen or designed specifically for each of their characters]. The youngest receives “Supra-Infra-Mega Spex,” modified glasses allowing him to scan and enhancing his eyesight, the middle boy receives a Sonic Screwdriver circa the Third Doctor, and the oldest is given a copy of the “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” (the Doctor says it will be very popular with young people in a few years).


(Thanks to CyberJay for the Guide write-up. Found here: libbyracing.net/DrWhoFanWorks/HitchhikersGuidetotheGalaxy.pdf]

The Doctor believes that the boys will not be recognized as having Time Lord heritage by the Master, as he did not when he first saw them. Even the telepathic connection Time Lords share only exists among the boys. This, the Doctor theorizes, is due to their being erased from history.

In the TARDIS control room, the boys find that their carriage which saved them from non-existence through the Vortex is changing. It’s repairing itself and taken on a bluish hue like the exterior of the TARDIS. They still cannot get in and all the Doctor will say is, “That is interesting, indeed.”

After a short trip in the TARDIS, the Doctor informs the boys that for their safety they must do exactly as he says. Should trouble start, he wants the boys to return to the TARDIS which is set to automatically return to UNIT - even if they must return without him. They reluctantly agree.

Leaving the TARDIS they find themselves in a dusty little one street town in Mexico. The Doctor guesses that its siesta time and that few people will be about. The boys attempt to blend while waiting for the Doctor who has gone into a hotel to make inquires about the Master.

A large band of riders comes into town and reigns in at the Tavern. Among them the boys recognize Poncho Villa himself and decide to send the youngest (who has considerable sneaky qualities) to investigate. He is only slightly successful in his subterfuge, being taken by Villa himself as a new recruit to the revolution and brought inside the Tavern. The boys maintain their telepathic link, but learn little.

The Doctor finds the older two boys on the street and offers that he’s learned a photographer has recently arrived to take picture of Poncho Villa, possibly the very one from the book. That means the Master will soon arrive. Alarmed that the youngest has gone inside the Tavern, the Doctor asks the boys to share telepathically with the youngest that he must remove his glasses. The Master when he arrives will instantly recognize them as technology beyond the era. The youngest removes his glasses. Awaiting the Master’s arrival the Doctor plans to quietly enter the Tavern himself, while the older boys look around the town for the Master’s TARDIS.

While the youngest is inside hearing Robin Hood-like tales of Villa’s victories, thefts, and narrow escapes. He also hears about a man called “El Maestro,” but Villa seems angry when he hears about him and the talk returns to Villa’s exploits. He shares what he’s learned via telepathy.

The older two explore the town, looking for the Master’s TARDIS. They observe another band of riders stop and enter a hacienda not far outside of town. They investigate, and find a fiesta going on, with a small mariachi band. When they try to enter, they are stopped by two guards, but bluff their way by saying that they are the sons of the Maestro. The guards become visibly afraid of the boys and fall over themselves to apologize.

Inside the hacienda, the boys see that the riders are dividing up bags of government gold they have just stolen. Directing the reallocation of gold to the poor is - Poncho Villa! After a quick check-in with each other, the boys realize that there are two Poncho Villas!! Suddenly a door at the back of the room opens and in steps El Maestro, or as the boys can see - the Master!!! The music stops and the room chills. Villa frowns angrily. The Master briskly says to Villa, “I’ll be going to town now. I think its time, don’t you?” The tension between the Master and Villa is thick, but Villa nods slowly in agreement. The Master leaves through the door he came in and after barking a few words to deliver the gold leaves through the same door. The fiesta is clearly over the the men begin to prepare to leave.

The boys go to the door to follow the Master and Villa, but find it locked. A bit of sonic opens the door, but draws the attention of three of the men. The boys try their bluff again, but the men aren’t believing it, and the boys quickly close and lock the door. They hear keys being tried on the other side.

They rush through the well decorated salon they have entered though another door and into the stables. With the mind of a trickster, the second oldest suggests they release a two horses and then hide in the stable. They are successful in getting the horses outside and see a large formal carriage driving toward the town. They return to the stables and successfully hide just as the three men come rushing in. As the men briefly search, boys hear that the men are arguing over their loyalty between Villa and the Maestro.

The men leave and the boys get a sense of something unusual in the stall they are hiding in. They search and discover a holographic force field hiding an small room. The room holds technology well in advance of this time period. There are two machines between which is a empty doorway. Hearing the men outside (the horses didn’t go far), the boys have no time to scan the room or examine the equipment. They quickly reengage the force field and try to hide again when the three men spot them - “Get them!”

At the Tavern the group has begun to be organized by the photographer. A large formal black carriage arrives, and in a few moments, the Master walks in. Again there is a tension between Villa and the Master. Villa demands that El Maestro get into the picture. The Master, however, takes notice of the youngest boy and begins to advance directly toward him!

End of the episode.

Responses: The boys really enjoyed the mystery and research they had to do to learn about Pancho Villa.

We’re still learning the game’s system, but I certainly feel that the chart of near misses and close failures added to the story. Its challenging as a storyteller, but really adds to the action when its not just an up or down roll of the dice.

[bishop]

I do have the Poncho Villa picture and the gadgets image in .jpeg files. How might I post them on this site?

Answer given, images posted

[Craig Oxbrow]

Upload them to an image hosting site like Photobucket or Flickr and link from there.

(If you got them from the net you can also link straight through, but some site owners resent hotlinking.)

[bishop]

Favorite Past-Times: A Children of the Vortex Adventure: Episode 2

As the Master advances upon the youngest boy, the photographer from under his camera shroud shouts, “Everyone take your places please!” Poncho Villa orders everyone, including the Master to move into place for the photograph. Again the tension between Poncho Villa and the Master is clear. The Master does not wish to be photographed, but the band of revolutionaries is on Villa’s side and the Master backs down as gracefully (and angrily) as he can.

Posing with the group the youngest boy peeps around the chair when he hears the Master hiss behind him, “You’re clearly not from this time!” The Master grabs the boy’s shoulder from behind and takes his Supra-Infra-Mega-Spex from his pocket. “These are Time Lord technology! Who are you?” the Master whispers while digging in his fingers into the boy’s shoulder.

“Everyone smile!” shouts the photographer and hold up the flash pan. There’s a blinding explosion and the Doctor who had been posing as the photographer shouts, “Quickly lad, run!” The boy successfully grabs his glasses back from the blinded Master and puts them on. Once on, he can see clearly while everyone else is suffering from the effects of the photographer’s flash-powder. The boy races to the Doctor and they flee into the street and past the Master’s black carriage.

Back at the hacienda, the three bandits slowly advance on the two boys. Trapped in the stall, they retreat to the holographic forcefield wall and escape inside. Just as they find the forcefield control on the other side and return the wall to its place, one of the bandits rushes inside. The oldest boy tries unsuccessfully to talk their way out of the situation and a chaotic melee insures with the boys entangling themselves with the bandit. With the help of a few story points the boys turn off the forcefield wall turn it off and shove the bandit out and into the other two bandits outside. They return the wall to its place and begin to frantically search the room.

The middle boy has a challenge trait of being obsessed with technology so he sets to discovering the nature of the Master’s machine. The older boy consults his Guide about escaping and is only asked, “Do you have a towel?” (He doesn’t) Finding no alternative exit the oldest joins his brother in examining the machine. It’s an ingenious device utilizing contemporary materials to create a time manipulator. They theorize that it can create a duplicate of a person out of their past by walking through its doorway. They attempt to make it work, but find that when they walk through nothing happens.

Back in the town the Doctor and the youngest boy race down the street. Behind them they hear the band of revolutionaries stagger out of the tavern and begin to gather their horses. The Doctor grabs up the boy and hops onto a horse and they gallop off. The boys telepathically update each other and they fill the Doctor in on the hidden room in the hacienda stables. The Doctor rides to the hacienda, now with the band of revolutionaries and the black carriage closing in behind them.

The two boys recall that the bandits are confused in their loyalty to Poncho Villa and the Master. They believe they can reason with the bandits by showing them the Master’s machine. They open the forcefield wall and trick one of the bandits into walking through the doorway, which produces a younger duplicate walking out the other side. The presence of the younger version of the bandit bewilders the bandits and the boys strike up a conversation.

As things begin to sour with in their talks with the bandits the Doctor shows up and dispatches them with his martial arts skills. The boys are impressed, but the reunion is short lived as the Master arrives with the band of revolutionaries. They grab the Doctor and hold him while the Master reveals his plans. (

Sounding a bit like a Scooby-Doo villain (“...those meddling kids...”) the Master tells the Doctor and the boys he’s building time duplicator to bring his past regenerations to the present and extend his life. His experiments are working well on human subjects, but he’s not yet been able to stabilize it for Time Lord physiology. He’s been able to duplicate Poncho Villa for brief time periods, which has built up the legend that Poncho Villa is everywhere and nowhere at the same time. The Doctors arrival, says the Master, has made the Master’s research much easier.

The Master adds a component to the machine and orders the Doctor tossed through the doorway. Pushed through the Doctor falls to the ground on the other side as the Second Doctor walks casually out from the doorway playing his recorder.

Triumphant, the Master steps forward to welcome his past self. Suddenly, the second boy uses his sonic screwdriver to sabotage the machine! The Master is caught in a 4 second time loop, walking through the machine’s doorway, then reappearing and walking through the doorway, then reappearing and walking through the doorway...
The revolutionaries have seen too much and run away, leaving the boys and the two Doctors. The Third Doctor is suffering from being split off from his previous selves and with the help of the bewildered Second Doctor and the boys stagger out of the stables. Outside they realize that the black carriage is the Master’s TARDIS. The Second Doctor enters dragging the Third Doctor along and shouts, “This should make you feel better,” and the Master’s TARDIS dematerializes.

Not sure what to do or where to go next, the boys decide to head back to the the TARDIS in the town. They are cautious and quiet, avoiding notice until they reach the TARDIS. Just as they are about to enter, an older American gentelman steps out from behind it with a gun leveled at it - “Just where do you think you’re going?”

Notes: While I had thought it was explained and implied, I had to stop the story at one point and explain to my sons why neither the Master nor the Second Doctor recognized them as Time Lord children. Once, we’d established that they were technically not children of Gallifrey any longer and they would never be recognized by other Time Lords, they were fine and went on. They did ask if this might be some new Good Trait, Unrecognizable, or a modified Face in the Crowd.

[Rel Fexive]

I love the photo!