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Death never takes a Holliday
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10-08-2023, 01:34 PM
(This post was last modified: 10-08-2023 01:35 PM by Old Dwarf.)
Post: #1
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Death never takes a Holliday
Court of the Dead:Mourners Call is a unique board game in theme & mechanics played on a specular board & stunning art work. At its heart is a dudes on a board worker placement game where 3 Factions compete to control the underworld.It's a 3 player game that I converted to Solo here is the
BGG Link . https://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/2489...rners-call The Theme really called to me so I compiled some additional background from The Court of the Dead: The Chronical of the Underworld. The universe is cruelly imbalanced. All of existence is mired in an endless battle between Heaven and Hell, waged for longer than anyone can remember. The war machines of both celestial realms turn on power stolen from mortal souls. Death himself is enslaved by the singular task of harvesting the dead, yet he yearns for a more noble purpose. Compelled by the plight of the mortals, Death creates the Court of the Dead. This unlikely council is intended to spark his rebellious ambition to set in motion a daring plan to end the war. Facing the forces of Heaven and Hell will not be easy. Death and his allies must not only defeat those mightier, but also tame their own destructive nature. To achieve their noble goal of peace and balance, they will have to… Join the factions of Bone, Flesh and Spirit as they work to achieve the goal of the Underworld: to gather enough forces to take on the celestials of Heaven and Hell to end their ceaseless war. If the Factions work diplomatically in Court of the Dead: Mourners Call to maintain a balance, they can ensure the Underworld survives long enough for them to also complete their collective and hidden individual objectives. The Faction who best contributes to these goals will earn Death's favor and a place among the elite of the Underworld. Mourners are Factions in an allegiant with Death — dedicated to realizing his noble ambition to end the celestial war and restore balance to the universe. However, Death's purpose includes your own ulterior motives. Factions must unite and rise, or fall together. But only one Faction will achieve their particular vision of the Underworld united. The task will not be easy. While the Underworld is united in its purpose, it is divided in its strategy to achieve that aim. There are three factions in the Land of the Dead: Bone, Flesh, Spirit. Each is a unique path to rise up against Heaven. Court of the Dead: Mourners Call is set in an underworld whose population is divided into three main factions: Bone, Flesh, and Spirit. These factions are represented in part by the six guilds in the game, two for each faction. For starters, there's the Bone faction guilds: the Council of Osteomancy and the Mortis Knighthood. Bone is known for its devotion to structure and order. As a result, they make up most of the Underworld's bureaucratic system. Lawgivers, judges, even jailers are all members of the Council of Osteomancy. It's pretty obvious that if a member of any faction wants something done, then he or she is going to have to go through the Council of Osteomancy, and for this reason, the player with the most of this guild gains two influence in the faction of his or her choosing. But lest you think that Bone is made up of nothing but a bunch of pen-pushers, you should know of the Mortis Knighthood, a militia of reaper guardians led by the Reaper General Demithyle, a prominent member of the Bone faction. This militia is tasked with a number of responsibilities, not least of which is the harvesting of fresh human souls, a task known as the Dark Deed in the Underworld. The purpose of the Dark Deed is to supply the celestials with their constant stream of etherea, the energy locked inside the souls of mortals. etherea. Flesh is next with their two guilds: the Shroudrieves Coven and the Conclave of Shadows. Flesh is the polar opposite of Bone. Whereas the former prides itself on its unswerving rigidity, Flesh is always changing, always adapting. Even the castle of Queen Gethsemoni is a giant walking structure of animated flesh that moves constantly throughout the capital city of the Underworld, Illverness. Connected with this ever changing nature of Flesh is their chief arcane art, necromancy, the art of stitching together bodies for the new arrivals to the Underworld. This grim art is the realm of the Shroudrieves, and as a result, the player with the most of this guild will gain an additional guild figure of his or her choice, representing the new addition to Death's ranks that the Shroudrieves have prepared a vessel for. The art of necromancy is not limited to just the creation of new bodies, however. In fact, it is often used to augment and change the form that a mourner has already taken. As a result those who have the most cause to hide their identity, the spies and assassins of the Conclave of Shadows, make use of this art to assist them as they work silently to remove any obstacle that Gethsemoni has become impatient with. Last and most mysterious of the factions is Spirit and their guilds: the Gravedancers Circle and the Dreadsbane Order. The Spirit faction is composed of those mourners who seek a wider view of the events that take place in the Underworld. While just as important as Bone and Flesh, Spirit lacks the clear organization of either, seeming instead to be bound more by a commitment to certain ideals. One of these ideals is an altruistic commitment to those mourners who seem most lost and in danger of succumbing to the various maladies that can befall them. The guild devoted to the immediate care of these poor souls are the Gravedancers, also known as fostermurden. Because they see to it that such souls are cared for, the player with the most of this guild can reduce the Dreadsgrip Threat meter, an action that would no doubt likely save many guild members from otherwise being destroyed. Yet despite the idealism of the fostermurden, the Spirit faction also knows that dark realities and consequences must be dealt with. After all, the Executioner of the Underworld, Oglavaeil, is one of the most well known, and perhaps most feared, members of Spirit. Oglavaeil, however, does not investigate the criminals and villains who become his victims, instead waiting for a sentence to be delivered to him from those whose right it is to issue such judgment. No, it is the order of inquisitor ghost knights, the Dreadsbane Order who seek out those who must be dealt with, especially any who seem to find themselves succumbing to the fearful Dreadsgrip. For this reason, the player who controls the most of this guild will not run the risk of losing any guild members to the Dreadsgrip since it is his or her guild who will be the ones seeking out and ultimately destroying those abominable Rakers who have lost themselves to this destructive force. OD Sighing like the night wind and sobbing like the rain,— Wailing for the lost one that comes not again: |
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10-08-2023, 01:36 PM
Post: #2
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RE: Death never takes a Holliday
This Session Report covers my first Mourners Call Game in a Court of the Dead Campaign . Each Game is called an
Interregnum & the basis of the Campaign is the Court of the Dead rational in that the 3 Factions are constantly maneuvering for dominance in the Underworld. When a Faction wins out Death begins a subtle campaign to undermine that Faction. Thus Death keeps itself in control of the Underworlds agenda & timing to rebel against the Celestial Realms. The Campaign is endless as the Faction that is the End Game low Scorer gets the Death figure & becomes the first player in the next Game. I think calling the Rounds a bit mundane for the theme of the Game so I call Rounds Death Glance (DG #1,ect.)I also found writing a Session Report a challenge having 3 Factions & Action phases that can go on & on with multiple choice of Actions. So I'm just summarizing the Fractions after 3 Turns (called a Deaths Watch). I would note this is the 1st try out of my Solo Rules geared to 3 Factions (Spirit/Flesh/Bone) & an AI that slightly favors the Faction whose turn it is when choices are to be made. The Game Turn Order is Spirit (has Death figure),Flesh & Bone. Here's the back story: The Chronicles of Underworld 1st Interregnum Illverness-Daer-Gholl Death sat on its grim throne watching Gethsemoni depart. A beautiful & worthy servant but her Flesh Faction was moving the Underworld toward conflict with the Celestial Realms. The yoke of Heaven & Hell with their constant demand for Souls was a heavy burden and He Death was determined to break their shackles but the time wasn't right. A misstep in timing of the Underworlds rebellion would shatter all that He Death had accomplished and doom the Underworld and Mortal Realm to perpetual slavery. Death realized that simply imposing his will on his children would be difficult and disruptive to He Deaths purpose and undermine their willingness to Rise, Conquer and Rule .He Death was nothing if not subtle a gentle nudge to push the natural competition of all Fractions would be enough to distract them inward toward their own objectives. Thus leaving He Death to plan where and when war on the Celestial Realms would be declared. A ghastly smile crossed Death face as he summoned Malaupstros ...……... let the game begin. Illverness-outside Hushhyde Ellianastis pondered her visit to Malavestros. His prattle was disjointed as usual but the Oracle easily deduced the undertow of the meeting. The message was clearly that the Flesh Faction was gaining too much power in the Underworld and needed to be checked least the seduction of other Fractions Mourners continue before Gethemani came to dominate the Underworld. Left unsaid but strongly hinted by Malavestros message was that Death himself desired that the Spirit Faction to start the opposition to Flesh. Ellianastis sought council in a trance. She called forth the hidden ripples of the True Spirit Realm that revealed that Death was prepared to back her endeavors. As a faithful daughter she put aside her distaste to become involved in the affairs of other Factions and made plans to follow her Fathers wishes. The Game has begun. Death Watch #1(3 Turns) Influence: Spirit:13 Spirit/1 Flesh/1 Bone Flesh: 15 Flesh/6 Spirit/3 Bone Bone:10 Bone/3 Flesh/0 Spirit Locations held: Vadlum Gates-Bone Majority Curio Cryptus-Flesh Majority Mortss-Veth-Spirit Majority Life's Ebb-Flesh Majority Higst Athenaeum-Spirit Majority Cryptus Akhor-Flesh Majority Guilds: Mortis Knights-2 Bone Faction Council of Osteomancy-2 Bone Faction Dreadsbane Order-0 Gravedancers Circle-2 Spirit Faction Concave of Shadows-2 Flesh Faction Shroudrievers Covern-4 Flesh Faction Crypts: Spirit:0 Flesh:2 Shroudrieves Coven & 1 Concave of Shadows Bone:2 Council of Osteomancy & 1 Mortis Knight Artifacts Held: The Scryers Skull of Gygax-by Spirit The Celestial Shackler Circlet=by Spirit Mourner Cards held: Spirit: Vessel Igomancer Flesh: Madam Vexxeast/Con Tatterburn Bone: Reaper Shieve/Goliad the Preserver/Ruse of Calvum Harrow Remaining Unity tokens-9 Etherea held: Spirit 1/Flesh 0/Bone 5 Death Watch #2(2 Turns) Influence: Spirit:13 Spirit/3Flesh/3Bone Flesh: 13Flesh/6 Spirit/3 Bone Bone:10 Bone/6Flesh/0 Spirit Locations held: Vadlum Gates-Bone Majority Curio Cryptus-Flesh Majority Mortss-Veth-Spirit Majority Life's Ebb-Flesh Majority Vexxingard-Flesh Majority Cryptus Akhor-Tie (Bone/Flesh) HushHyde-Spirit Majority Grendall's Pillars-Flesh Majority Guilds: Mortis Knights-3 Bone Faction Council of Osteomancy-1Spirit Faction Dreadsbane Order-0 Gravedancers Circle-2 Spirit Faction/1 Flesh Faction Concave of Shadows-3 Flesh Faction Shroudrievers Covern-5 Flesh Faction Crypts: Spirit:1 Council of Osteomancy Flesh:1 Shroudrieves Coven Bone:1 Mortis Knight Artifacts Held: The Scryers Skull of Gygax-by Spirit The Celestial Shackler Circlet-by Spirit Mourner Cards held: Spirit: Vessel Igomancer Flesh: Madam Vexxeast/Con Tatterburn Bone: Reaper Shieve/Goliad the Preserver /Ruse of Calvum Harrow/Needles Remaining Unity tokens-0 Etherea held: Spirit 2/Flesh 0/Bone 8 Ulterior Motive Bonus: Spirit-4 (Control of 1 Location) Flesh-18 (2x9 Guild Figures) Bone-16 (4x4 mourner Cards) Unity Tokens End Game Count: Spirit =23 Flesh=8 Bone=10 Game Winning Faction =Spirit-46 Points Runner up=Bone Faction-42 Points Lowest=Flesh Faction (will start with Death Figure next Game) Epilogue: Illverness- Cryptus Abhor Gethsemane lounged on her throne recovering from the finally departed Malavestros whose tedious & disjointed conversation had greatly tried her patience. Why she wondered did her Father Death insisted in using the Jester as a messenger, it was madding. She had tried to ease her boardom by giving him seductive looks & gestures but that simply caused him to lose his train of thought and prolonged his conversation. Still, the gist of Malavestros fractured message was good, Death was concerned that her Flesh Faction had been supplanted by Spirit and that Death would support Flesh in recovering dominance in the Underworld. The Queen of the Dead rose up throwing off the near stupor the inane Malavestros conversation had caused & summoned Exraile plans needed to be made. OD Sighing like the night wind and sobbing like the rain,— Wailing for the lost one that comes not again: |
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10-08-2023, 01:39 PM
Post: #3
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RE: Death never takes a Holliday
The 2nd Interregnum
Death continues to play off the Underworlds Factions against each other preventing any one of them from becoming strong enough to start a premature Celestial War. The Spirit Faction has supplanted the Flesh Faction as the dominate power and Death has let Gethsemoni Flesh Faction know that He Death would support their efforts to regain power. The Game Begins: Deaths Watch 1(3 Turns) Influence: Spirit:10Spirit/3Flesh/1Bone Flesh: 10Flesh/3Spirit/3Bone Bone:3Bone/1Flesh/3Spirit Locations held: Curio Cryptus-Flesh Majority Life's Ebb-Flesh Majority Higst Athenaeum-Spirit Majority Voxxingard-Flesh Majority Cryptus Akhor-Flesh Majority HushHyde-Spirit Majority Grendall's Pillars-Spirit Majority Guilds: Mortis Knights-2 Bone Faction/1 Spirit & 1 Flesh Faction Council of Osteomancy-1Bone Faction Dreadsbane Order-2 Spirit Faction Gravedancers Circle-1 Spirit Faction Concave of Shadows-3 Flesh Faction/1 Spirit Faction Shroudrievers Covern-3 Flesh Faction/1 Bone Faction Crypts: Spirit:1 Mortis Knight & 1 Dreadsbane Order Flesh:3 Shroudrieves Coven & 1 Mortis Knight Bone:2 Mortis Knight/1 Council of Osteromancy/1 Shroudrievers Covern Artifacts Held: The Celestial Shackler Circlet-by Bone Mourner Cards held: Spirit: Vessel Igomancer/The Blabbers'Commune Flesh: Wightshiv The Errant-Flesh Bone: Madam Vexxeast/Clattershanks EsQ./Revenant Ezekil Remaining Unity tokens-7 Etherea held: Spirit 0/Flesh 2/Bone 0 Deaths Watch 2 (2 Turns) Influence: Spirit:14Sprit/6Flesh/3Bone Flesh: 15Flesh/3Spirit/1Bone Bone:3Bone/1Flesh/3Spirit Locations held: Dreadforge-Flesh Majority Vadlum Gates-Flesh Majority Curio Cryptus-Flesh Majority Mortis-Veth-Bone Majority Theater of Memory-Spirit Majority Life's Ebb-Tie Spirit/Flesh no Majority Higst Athenaeum-Spirit Majority Voxxingard-Flesh Majority Cryptus Akhor-Flesh Majority HushHyde-Spirit Majority Grendall's Pillars-Spirit Majority Guilds: Mortis Knights-2 Bone Faction/1 Spirit & 1 Flesh Faction Council of Osteomancy-1Flesh Faction Dreadsbane Order-2 Spirit Faction Gravedancers Circle-1 Spirit Faction/1 Flesh Faction (Death breaks Tie for Flesh) Concave of Shadows-2 Flesh Faction/1 Spirit Faction Shroudrievers Covern-4 Flesh Faction/1 Bone Faction Crypts: Spirit:1 Mortis Knight & 1 Conclave of Shadows Flesh:2 Shroudrieves Coven & Council of Osteromancy Bone:1 Shroudrievers Covern Artifacts Held: The Celestial Shackler Circlet-by Bone Mourner Cards held: Spirit: Vessel Igomancer/The Blabbers'Commune Flesh: Wightshiv The Errant-Flesh Bone: Madam Vexxeast/Clattershanks EsQ./Revenant Ezekil/Reaper Shiev Remaining Unity tokens-0 Etherea held: Spirit 0/Flesh 1/Bone 3 Ulterior Motive Bonus: Spirit-0 Flesh-16 (2x8 Guild Figures) Bone-16 (4x4 mourner Cards) Unity Tokens End Game Count: Spirit =12 Flesh=11 Bone=9 Game Winning Faction =Flesh 43 Points Runner up=Bone Faction-32 Points Lowest=Spirit Faction =31(will start with Death Figure next Game) Epilogue: Illverness-Daer-Gholl Death stared down at Kier his adopted daughter,his chosen Warrior she was in turmoil taking the regaining of the Flesh Factions dominance over the Spirit Faction as failing her Father Death. The irony that Death had helped Flesh in the last Interregnum didn't bother Death He would do what had to be done to keep the Underworld Factions occupied on their own agendas and away from unifying to start a premature Celestial War. Grimly smiling he assured Kier that Spirit still had his favor & watched her leave with a martial stride that bespoke of renewed purpose. OD Sighing like the night wind and sobbing like the rain,— Wailing for the lost one that comes not again: |
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10-08-2023, 01:41 PM
Post: #4
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RE: Death never takes a Holliday
3rd Interregnum
Flesh has once again gained dominance in the Underworld by supplanting Spirit Faction. Death has encouraged Spirit to regain supremacy and keep the Factions occupied on their own agendas and allowing Deaths own time table for the Celestial War to proceed without interference. Deaths Watch 1(3 Turns) Influence: Spirit:6Spirit/3Flesh/6Bone Flesh: 15Flesh/6Spirit/1Bone Bone:15Bone/6Flesh/3Spirit Locations held: Dirth Forge-Bone Majority Vadium Gates-Bone Majority Mortiss-Vith-Tie Bone /Spirit Life's Ebb-Bone Majority Higst Athenaeum-Spirit Majority Voxxingard-Flesh Majority Cryptus Akhor-Flesh Majority HushHyde-Tie Flesh/Spirit Grendall's Pillars-Spirit Majority Guilds: Mortis Knights-2 Bone Faction/1 Spirit Faction Council of Osteomancy-1Bone Faction/1Flesh Faction Dreadsbane Order-0 None Gravedancers Circle-2 Spirit Faction Concave of Shadows-3 Flesh Faction/1 Spirit Faction Shroudrievers Covern-1 Flesh Faction/2 Bone Faction/2 Spirit Faction Crypts: Spirit:2 Concave of Shadows & 1 Gravedancers Circle Flesh:3 Shroudrieves Coven & 1 Mortis Knight Bone: 1 Shroudrievers Covern Artifacts Held: The Celestial Shackler Circlet-by Bone Mourner Cards held: Spirit: Vessel Igomancer/The Blabbers'Commune Flesh: Wightshiv The Errant-Flesh Bone: Madam Vexxeast/Clattershanks EsQ./Revenant Ezekil Remaining Unity tokens-7 Etherea held: Spirit 0/Flesh 2/Bone 0 Deaths Watch 2 (2 Turns) Influence: Spirit:14Sprit/6Flesh/3Bone Flesh: 15Flesh/3Spirit/1Bone Bone:3Bone/1Flesh/3Spirit Locations held: Dreadforge-Flesh Majority Vadlum Gates-Flesh Majority Curio Cryptus-Flesh Majority Mortis-Veth-Bone Majority Theater of Memory-Spirit Majority Life's Ebb-Tie Spirit/Flesh no Majority Higst Athenaeum-Spirit Majority Voxxingard-Flesh Majority Cryptus Akhor-Flesh Majority HushHyde-Spirit Majority Grendall's Pillars-Spirit Majority Guilds: Mortis Knights-2 Bone Faction/1 Spirit & 1 Flesh Faction Council of Osteomancy-1Flesh Faction Dreadsbane Order-2 Spirit Faction Gravedancers Circle-1 Spirit Faction/1 Flesh Faction (Death breaks Tie for Flesh) Concave of Shadows-2 Flesh Faction/1 Spirit Faction Shroudrievers Covern-4 Flesh Faction/1 Bone Faction Crypts: Spirit:1 Mortis Knight & 1 Conclave of Shadows Flesh:2 Shroudrieves Coven & Council of Osteromancy Bone:1 Shroudrievers Covern Artifacts Held: Trueburn Lanter-Bone Gravedodge the Fatemaker-Spirit Mourner Cards held: Spirit: Vessel Igomancer/Scarpul/Wraif Lord of Blades/The Order of Old Bones/Needles Flesh: Wightshiv The Errant-Flesh Bone: Revenant Ezekil/Outcast Poxxil/Ruse of Calvum Harrows Remaining Unity tokens-10 Etherea held: Spirit 4/Flesh 1/Bone 7 Deaths Watch 2(2 Turns) Influence: Spirit:6Spirit/6Flesh/10Bone Flesh: 15Flesh/6Spirit/6Bone Bone:15Bone/10Flesh/3Spirit Locations held: Dirth Forge-Bone Majority Vadium Gates-Bone Majority Mortiss-Vith-Bone Majority Theaters of Memory-Spirit Life's Ebb-Spirit Majority Voxxingard-Flesh Majority Cryptus Akhor-Flesh Majority HushHyde-Tie Flesh/Spirit Grendall's Pillars-Spirit Majority Guilds: Mortis Knights-2 Bone Faction/1 Spirit Faction Council of Osteomancy-1Bone Faction/1Flesh Faction Dreadsbane Order-0 None Gravedancers Circle-2 Spirit Faction Concave of Shadows-1 Flesh Faction/2 Spirit Faction/2 Spirit Faction Shroudrievers Covern-5 Flesh Faction Crypts: Spirit:1 Concave of Shadows & 1 Gravedancers Circle Flesh:4 Shroudrieves Coven & 1 Mortis Knight Bone: 1 Concave of Shadows & 1 Council of Osteomancy Artifacts Held: The Trueburn Lantern by Bone Gravedodge the Fatemaker /The Nicturn Oculus by Spirit Mourner Cards held: Spirit: Vessel Igomancer/The Order of Old Bones/Wraif Lord of Blades/Needles/Scarpul Flesh: Wightshiv The Errant/Eviloor Bone: Revenant Ezekiel/Outcast Poxxil/Ruse of Calvum Harrows Remaining Unity tokens-0 Ulterior Motive Bonus: Spirit-0 Flesh-16 (2x8 Guild Figures) Bone-16 (4x4 mourner Cards) Unity Tokens End Game Count: Spirit =15 Flesh=2 Bone=11 Game Winning Faction =Bone 51 Points Runner up=Spirit Faction-41 Points Lowest=Flesh Faction =29(will start with Death Figure next Game) Illverness-Voxxingard "Is it done Minister General Kraayn" ? Yes Chancellor Xiall, Bone has restored the Underworld from the from its bickerings & unity achieved. Bone strategy will lead the Underworld to overthrow the Celestial Powers. Chancellor Xiall a question."yes Minister General Kraayn". It's about Death, when we were maneuvering to to bring the Flesh & Spirit Factions in Line it seemed at first Death supported Spirit but then He intervened to aid our efforts ,do you know His purpose? "No Minister General Kraayn,I do not. It is not our place to question the motives of my Father Death. This meeting of the Council of Osteomancy is adjourned." OD Sighing like the night wind and sobbing like the rain,— Wailing for the lost one that comes not again: |
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10-08-2023, 01:45 PM
Post: #5
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RE: Death never takes a Holliday
4th Interregnum
Ellianastis felt her trance falter & break severing her contact with the Mystic Realm, something that was happening all to frequently of late. She had been secretly relieved when the Bone Faction had superseded her Spirit Faction as the dominate force in the Court of the Dead. She had always despised the maneuvering, compromise & often the naked use of power required to keep the unwieldy group under control. Thus, she had ignored her Captain Kier's pleadings to challenge Bone's usurpation & her hints that the Alltaker Death would favor a Spirit restoration. Now however, Bone's arrogance & its stifling bureaucracy seeking to impose their intractable quest for order threatened Spirit's communication with the Mystic Realm. Reluctantly she summoned Keir & committed the Realm of True Spirit to challenge Bone's leadership. From the heights of Daer-Gholl the Alltaker grimly smiles, the Game has begun: (well it will when I get this back on the table-its a natural for Fall. OD Sighing like the night wind and sobbing like the rain,— Wailing for the lost one that comes not again: |
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