Between AAR's

I did it again didn't I?   
When will I ever learn to STOP trying to predict what the next post will contain??
I said something along the lines of it being a 'celebratory' kinda thing to mark the passing of the blogs second birthday - well, it sort of fits the billing, especially if you're beginning to think we're turning Japanese here at TWA towers, because (drum roll) I've decided it's high time to revisit two of the other story lines and find out what's happening with Brad and his group in the zombie apocalypse, and where Old Mother Brookes flew off to from Arithdale in the England Upturned campaign.

I've mentioned before that there's no "script" for these story arcs, so whatever happens is as much of a surprise for myself as I can make it, but still making 'sense' instead of being a series of random encounters. I use "Mythic" and "Decision Trees" to help with the process, and if you missed it the first time, here's a link "Anatomy of a game" 

First off, let's see what's happening in the zompocalypse, where Brad and the gang had driven into the town of Lorenzo on a supply run that had gone terribly wrong. A sizeable horde of zombies had turned up, and there were some other survivors already looting the store. The group managed to rescue the guys from the store, but they'd simply run off without saying a word!
(a result of the ATZ:FFO "Meet & Greet")
After re-grouping, they decided to check out a small warehouse complex, where they ran into another group of survivors and yet more trouble from zeds! Luckily they beat off the undead (though not before losing Nate), and yet again the strangers ran off without a word!!
(exactly the same "Meet & Greet" result)
Grieving for the loss of their friend, and more than a little angry and confused by the other survivors actions, the group went on to secure the warehouse yard and buildings, which is where we left them here:~ "A Place To Lay Your Weary Head"

Caught up? Let's see what happens next then!
The first thing I did was to list all the reasons I could think off to explain the reason both of the other survivor groups acted the way they did, then rolled a dice to select which option. (No, I'm not revealing the list yet, I've kept it in case the group runs into another 'strange bunch')
With the motive for what had happened established, the next thing was to establish the rationale for what would follow, so again I drew up a shortlist of feasible options and then let the dice gods decide.
The result immediately gave me the next part of the campaign:-

Zac and Travis were up on the roof doing their guard shift when they heard the sound of a vehicle approaching. A brown UPS van pulled up outside the gate and two guys got out and unloaded a small pile of crates before the driver got back in and drove off. The other guy went around the side of the warehouse building and got in the yellow van parked there, fired it up, and drove off after the UPS van.
It all happened so quickly that the sound of the departing engines had disappeared before Travis managed to get down to the ground floor and report the incident to Brad.
Checking the coast was clear, the group examined the crates and found they contained dried and canned food - and a note.......

Back inside the warehouse, Brad gathered the group together to tell them about the note and decide what they were going to do next........

..... to be continued.


Now, the other story that I've been itching to revisit is that of Old Mother Bankes after her unexpected visit from Captain Jessop and the troops of the All Hallows trayned band at Arithdale. You can catch up here:- "An Ecounter At Arithdale"
Again, I've used Mythic and Decision Trees to find out what's happening, but this time I'll spare you the details!

Old Mother Bankes flew straight to the ancient "Nine Ladies" stone circle at Ladygate. Here, she convened a meeting of the members of the Ladygate Womens Institute coven (the witches have a spell which in an emergency, can instantly summon the coven to the circle), and told them what had happened - especially the part where they had shot poor Josh! Of course, she had no idea where the soldiers had come from.
It was quickly agreed that the rest of the witches should follow the soldiers while Mother Bankes reported occurrence to "His Lordship". 

Climbing aboard their brooms, the witches set off, and it wasn't long before Old Mother Bankes was re-telling her tale to the Vampyre Mikhail and his lady Milyena.

Mikhail was furious! He knew that the outbreak of civil war could present serious threats to his presence here and threaten the 'masquerade', but he thought he'd taken sufficient measures by enlisting the help of the witches, and by creating a ring of "ghost towns" around his estate to ward off any 'unwanted' visitors.
This incursion by a sizeable body of militia spelled trouble - especially if word of what they'd encountered at Arithdale were to spread.
He told Old Mother Bankes to find her companions and report back to him when they find the soldiers destination. Turning to Milyena, he told her to summon Delcroix, and inform him he had need of his servives and to ready the Nocterlinger.

So there, dear reader, we have it. A bit of a departure from my "normal" posts and no AAr's I'm afraid, but the campaigns STILL progress and if you're still with me at this point, many thanks for your time and as always your comments, queries or questions are most welcome.