Ahmetia Campbell played in a new game at Ubercon (somehow everyone thought that I would simply take over her game from Harry in the middle of a world, which I was not going to do). A lot has happened to her, in part because as memory serves she played Friday night, Saturday morning, and Sunday midday, so probably got in more table time than anyone else.
That means she's got quite a bit of summary to write, or at least might have. I'm eager to read it, for many reasons, including that it gives me feedback on what parts of the game were truly memorable for the players involved.
--M. J. YOung
Well, this is how you have me so far:
I died from a defective new laptop with scriff in it and awaken in the island world that for some reason the table decided to name Farfegnutten in the sea of Bob. I mostly kept quiet since Bobby asked all the questions we wanted to know and several I didn't want to know. While we were waiting for the volcano to go off I went out and got 2 pineapples I ate right away and 6 I carried on me for rations/selling/trading. Not to long afterwords, I died, I can't remember how, I think it was the earth crumbling beneath me and dieing in the lava. Then you had me wake up in a what seemed to be a rather nice train cart/room. I changed after figuring out it is roughly Victorian turn of the century era and left to a room where I found a man with a news paper and asked to borrow it. ((Btw this is the pic I was talking about with the outfit minus the hat and the under skirt, it has a full length black skirt under neath http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c105/SerenityM16/Multi-VerserSelfSemi-Edited.jpg )) The newspaper ((my memory isn't so good so my date could be wrong)) May of 1892(?). After I turned down a drink from the man I returned to the cart and waiting for the stop where my passport was checked, which I was afraid the date would be more problem then it was besides the fact that a modern us passport is all colorful with reflective covering. I went onto the next train and went into Ruritania where nightfall has come. If you recall the joke was as a wiccan young woman my options for the night were: Let The Streets Take Me; Prostitution; or Ask The Catholic Church For Help. (My sister joked they all sounded similar) Unfortunately the best option was to go to the church and lie like an actress about my faith. While in there I made a failed wiccan prayer for another answer and then one of the priests told me the church wouldn't kick me out if I were to spent the night there. He stared at me for quiet a long time swearing he has seen me from somewhere before. So now I could use my gray cloak as either a pillow or a blanket and sleep there until the morning.
((This is mostly a very summarized summary because I've been tired since the con))
Dang--I've seen that picture before somewhere, I'm sure. The face does not look much like you--and since you were next to me for quite a while, I have seen you in profile--but I get the gist of the outfit.
1897, I think, but my memory is imperfect also.
I think it is significant that there were some questions about your passport, but they were all dropped when they looked at your face.
You sleep the night, and in the morning as you are awakening there is a youngish woman in military uniform standing over you.
"Colonel, come. You must see this."
"What is it, Frieda?" says the voice of an elderly man as it approaches, and soon he comes into view, also in uniform. He is in his mid to late fifties, gray hair but muscular and very well built. As he comes into view, he stops. "Saints preserve us," he says. "Michelle must have a hand in this."
Then before you can say much of anything you hear an oddly familiar female voice calling from near the door. "What is keeping you two now? I thought we just had to check the church quickly, and then we could get out to the lodge. I am looking forward to a bit of time in the woods before the big day."
Almost absently, the man says, "Sorry, your majesty." Then he focuses on you. "Stand up, girl. Give an account of yourself."
--M. J. Young
((I am not the best artist, and I put it up here before))
I sit up relatively fast and hold my head as the blood would rush to my head no doubt after a night sleeping there. "An account of myself? Exactly what do you want me to account for?"
((I just tried out my new printer by making copies, I now have two character sheets, and an extra copy of the first two pages for some reason for the two different verser mes))
We were both wrong on the date. The paper read May 27, 1894, and was said to be three days old. That makes today May 31, 1894.
As you do, you see the third person coming closer, a girl about your age and build not in uniform but well dressed for the period, and the elderly gentleman says, apparently to the girl closest, "Do you see this? Cut her hair, and she'd be the Queen."
At this moment the third person has come within a few feet and stopped short. "Oh, my," she says in your voice. "You'll have to forgive me--one does not expect to see double at this hour of the morning." And indeed, she looks exactly like you, but that her hair is shorter.
"Your majesty, I would advise caution," the man says.
"Of course you would, Colonel, but seriously, how dangerous can she be?"
"Your half-sister will stop at nothing to prevent your coronation. This is almost certainly Michelle's work."
"Nonsense, Sapt. My sister is certainly clever, but planting a duplicate in the church for us to stumble upon is hardly likely to be a workable scheme. This is undoubtedly some distant relative who came for the coronation.
"So, let's get the introductions started. I am Queen Rudolphia the Fourth of Ruritania. This is my Personal Aide Frieda von Tarlenheim, and my Principle Aide to Court Colonel Sapt. Come, introduce yourself, and let us discover just how you are related to our royal family. There have been quite a few Elfborgs born on the wrong side of the bedsheet in many countries, but I've not heard of an American branch of the family--which I take you to be?"
--M. J. Young
"That would be correct. I am Ahmetia Campbell, Ahmetia Andreas Campbell if you wished for my full name. To be honest, I am unsure how, if, by any chance, we are related. I knew some amount of my heritage came from near here, but I am not sure if it was here." I say as she begin to stand and straighten out my dress. "If you think I am of any danger, I could assure you I am not. A fly is more dangerous then me."
((I am usually on for hours when I get home if you are and wish to do more then once per day))
Apparently you did not read the sticky on the Multiverser board entitled Yes, You Can Play, But...., which says among other things that I check the boards once per day.
Once upon a time, what seems now a very long time ago, I would arrive at the Multiverser form and answer all the threads, then reload the page and answer any new posts that had been posted since I had started, and do so again, and again, and again, and again, and--well, you get the idea. It was rather typical that while I was answering one person's game post, another player would see that I had already answered his and would post again, and so I could never catch up on all of them. I do have other things to do besides this--world books and novels to write, a collectible card game to compose, my twice-a-week time travel articles at the Examiner to prepare--and so I'm afraid your time with me is limited to one response per day six days per week. Sometimes it is less than that, but I do try to make up those absences, and once in a while I'll throw in an extra visit, but it is not your availability that matters to my posting schedule.
"Campbell is a Scottish name, if I'm not mistaken," the young queen says. "Perhaps we have an unmentioned dalliance of one of our ancestors on a visit to England. In any case, I do hope you will join us for lunch today. It is not often I get to meet relatives who are not members of the court, and it will be fun exploring the possibilities. We're just checking the church for tomorrow's coronation, and then we're off to visit my sister's cabin in the woods to relax and ready ourselves for tomorrow. Please say you'll come."
Sapt raises an eyebrow. "Majesty, we must be careful--"
"Oh, Sapt, you heard the girl--flies are more dangerous than she is, and since I've been bitten by flies and survived, I'm sure I can survive lunch with Meesha."
--M. J. Young
((sorry, been a while since I have))
"I would love to join you if I may. I am still uncertain if we are related, though that would indeed explain a lot." I say before I turn to Sapt. "I understand if you are still worried, one who doesn't know me would think I am more then I am, especially in this case. If there's a way I could put your mind at ease?"
"Excellent," the queen says. "Come then, let's settle in the carriage. I am dying to hear more about America, about Edison and all the wonderful things happening there."
Sapt looks at you. "If there were something," he says, "I suspect that telling you what it is would negate its power."
The queen is already headed back toward the entrance.
"Majesty," Sapt calls. "You'll have to give Frieda a few minutes to check things here."
"What's to check, Sapt? You worry far too much. We've seen it; let's go."
The colonel huffs in an aggravated manner. "Come on, Frieda. She's made up her mind."
He starts walking toward the door as well.
--M. J. Young
I look to them then to the church as I gather my belongings and begin to follow them and the queen out. Probably still having a slight headache from waking up and getting up too fast.
The carriage is richly appointed, trimmed with precious stones and precious metals. The interior is lush and quite comfortable, fur and down cushions. In a moment Freida joins you; Sapt checks that everything is all right, and then says he will ride with the driver.
"I would so much rather be on horseback," the queen says, "but Sapt thinks it's too dangerous. In any case, we'll catch the train from here to Zenda, and go by horseback to the cottage, where I do hope you'll keep me company this evening. You must tell me what's happening everywhere. Ruritania's news has been all about me; finding out what's happening in Paris or London has been simply impossible. So, tell me about your trip, and, oh, about America. I've never been there, of course, and it's so rare to meet someone who has."
--M. J. Young
Her questions caught me off guard since my history is not exactly the best, especially specifics for the time period, I could give her news 2 years old, or 3 years too soon. "I'm afraid I don't catch up with much modern news, so I am a bit fuzzy, I usually find what happened in the past much more interesting then what is happening now. This being one of the exception. America's been starting to be quite a hustling and bustling place though. Everyone seems to be separated in whether they are exited, worried, or apathetic about Edison's work."
"You sell yourself short, I think. After all, you knew to come to Ruritania for the coronation, even though the date has been advanced and much of Europe expects it to be three weeks yet. Or perhaps you are among those who thought to come early enough to find a place to stay? Frieda, we must arrange accommodations for our guest. Tonight she can stay with us--have Josef prepare a room for her. Tomorrow perhaps she will have to stay with us in the palace at Strelsau. I doubt there will be rooms elsewhere--unless you think it better that she stay at the Tarlenheim estate?"
"That can be decided tomorrow, Majesty. I'm sure my father would be pleased to host a member of the royal family, but with everything else happening at the moment I won't be able to ask him until tomorrow's ceremony."
"Of course."
Sometime in the midst of the mostly trivial conversation you arrive at the train station at which you arrived last night, and board a private rail car which is as nice as the carriage and better stocked. The queen immediately opens a bottle of wine and offers everyone something to drink. Frieda insists on keeping her portion small, because she still has to make preparations for tomorrow, and the Queen jokes that she won't complain. "It's more for us, right Ahmetia?" She brings out four crystal glasses, but Sapt declines. "It is my duty to protect Your Majesty, and that scheming Michelle will certainly have planned something to prevent tomorrow's ceremony."
"Oh, Sapt, you worry too much."
"Perhaps, but you too little, and so I must provide the lack."
Conversation turns back to trivialities, and shortly you feel the lurch of the car being connected to the train, and the departure from the station.
--M. J. Young
I only listen quietly, probably best to not but into their affairs until we stop.
After twenty minutes on the train, you reach your destination. The four of you disembark to find horses waiting.
"You do ride, don't you?" the queen asks. "I know Americans use a very different saddle, but the principle should be the same."
--M. J. Young
"Oh, I am afraid I never learned how to ride, always wanted to, never got the chance to." I said with a sigh.
"Really?" The queen sounds genuinely surprised. "Well, I guess not everything you read about Americans is true. Hop up behind me--"
Sapt interrupts. "Majesty, is that wise?"
"Why not? Oh, all right. Hop up behind Frieda."
Sapt helps you onto the back of the horse behind Frieda. Everyone else looks comfortable on horseback, and once you're settled the four of you on three horses leave the station for the woods around the edge of town.
In perhaps ten minutes you have arrived at a rustic cottage, possibly a lodge of sorts, in the woods. "My father used this to hunt, and left it as part of the Zenda estates to my half-sister Michelle. She has permitted us the use of it in preparation for tomorrow's coronation, so that I can get out of the town."
During this conversation, the queen dismounts, and the others do as well. You're a bit sore from the ride, but not too bad. An elderly man comes out of the lodge and takes the horses.
"Thank you, Josef," the queen says. "We'll have an early dinner, and let's discover just how well stocked my sister has kept father's wine cellar, shall we?"
Everyone heads inside.
"Father liked Michelle very much. She was much more the sort of person he would have liked to have left as queen, and I think she knows it. But his Morganitic marriage to her mother following the death of my mother costs her the support of the church, and I am the elder sibling--"
"Not to mention," Frieda interrupts, "that you have the Elfborg mark, which she does not have. That's why she always wears those ridiculous dark glasses and claims her eyes are sensitive to the light. They're the wrong color, is what's wrong with them, and the sensitivity is that she does not want people to notice."
"Come, Frieda, we cannot fault my sister for lacking royal blood. Granted, even our friend Ahmetia here appears to have it, or at least the mark of it."
By this time everyone is seated at a table in a rustic dining room. Josef appears bring a tray with plates, mugs, a few bottles of wine, several loaves of bread, and an assortment of large knives. He sets these on the table and heads back in the direction he came.
The queen is carefully examining the wine bottles and somewhat absently asks Frieda to cut the bread. "I think this one to start," she says, and opens a wine bottle, making to fill all the mugs.
Josef returns with his tray laden with several whole cheeses, and several cold meats which must be a beef roast, a leg of mutton, and a whole chicken. The queen grabs one of the knives and a fork from this new tray, and begins slicing the beef.
"Don't be shy," she says. "Grab some food."
She has thrown together beef and cheese on bread, and already refilled her mug and offered to refill yours.
--M. J. Young
I turn down her offer for more wine, humoring her that I even like wine in the first place. Though she doesn't seem like the type to notice that and just had fun with it anyway. "I am surprised she'd have allowed you to stay here if what Sap't has been saying is true."
"Michelle? Well, she does have an image to maintain. She needs popular support if she's ever to replace me, even if something goes seriously wrong. She would love to marry Flavius, not because he's absolutely gorgeous and incredibly witty and intelligent, but because he's a near cousin with the Elfborg Mark that would legitimize her claim to the throne. She must maintain appearances, that we are all one happy family."
"Don't care for the wine? That's a shame--Ruritania is known for our wines of all sorts. But then, we are a Germanic state; I'm sure we have plenty of beer, if that's your preference? Josef, bring up some lager for our guest; we can't have her thirsty."
--M. J. Young
"I've never found a taste for any alcohol. I've tried, I guess I am weird like that but then I was always the weird one of the family. You'd think with scottish and germanic blood it would come naturally? Guess only my taste of food and hating not being early for anything is, what I got from it." I say with a shrugg, "It sounds like I am missing out though."
I have a friend who is a borderline alcoholic who claims that no one actually likes the taste of alcohol, but everyone forces himself to drink it for the intoxicating effects. I think that a bit extreme. I myself think that alcohol tastes like poison (which it is) and can't imagine anyone enjoying the taste, but I also think that the hot taste of peppers is burning away the inside of my mouth (which it is), and apparently people enjoy that sensation (I do not).
"Really? That's remarkable. I suppose we have water. Josef, I think our guest needs water. I'm sorry there's nothing else."
You are invited to join the queen for a bit of hunting in the afternoon, or to stay behind in the lodge if you prefer. She hopes you will be present for dinner as well, and offers you a bed for the night and a ride to the coronation tomorrow. Sapt is less certain you ought to be at the coronation, but agrees to discuss it in the morning.
--M. J. Young
I probably tell her I will join her to go hunting but I wont do any actual hunting with her if she doesn't mind. As for the coronation, I would love to attend even though I have no formal wear with me and I would understand if I can't.
"How very interesting. You are rapidly dispelling all my notions about Americans, Ahmetia. You don't ride and you don't shoot either. But please, then, come keep us company."
"Oh, I keep a few things here for emergencies. I'll be in uniform for the coronation, of course, so whatever I have you can wear--and you're as near my size as anyone I've seen, so I'm sure it will fit."
The queen has fun romping through the woods shooting at animals. She never hits one, but it's not exactly clear that that's the point in her mind.
Returning to the lodge, she regales you with bawdy tales of her ancestors' alleged trysts around the world. "It's the eyes," she says. "Everyone falls for them." Meanwhile, she is downing a great deal of wine, and pushing poor Frieda to keep pace. Dinner is served. Sapt reminds her majesty several times that it is an important day tomorrow, and then goes toward the bedrooms in a huff. Josef brings out a few more bottles, and the queen fixes on one. "Ho, my sister has been holding out on me. She has a forty-seven here of our own vintage. That's an excellent bottle. You two will excuse me if I don't share this one."
"Will there be anything else, majesty?"
"I think, not, Josef, although make sure our guest knows where her bed is." She pours a large glass of the wine for herself, as Josef offers to show you to your room.
--M. J. Young
"Oh, do not let me speak of the country, most do love to hunt, and those who can afford it often ride. My family never could afford lessons so that's why I do not know how."
I excuse myself from her as I follow him to the room.
The room is comfortably appointed, given that this is a hunting lodge in the last decade of the nineteenth century. The mattress is soft and the quilt luxuriant and the sheets silk. There is running water in the bathroom, although it won't be hot until morning, Josef says, as he has to stoke the fire for it.
"Will there be anything else, ma'am?"
--M. J. Young
"Oh, no thank you," I say to him as I look around the room.
I believe I've described the room. There are typical nineteenth century appointments--a dry sink with a pitcher of water and a clean glass, a free-standing wardrobe, a vanity with mirror, a writing desk with a single drawer, and a smallish chest of drawers apparently for clothing, in addition to the curtained canopy bed (curtains keep the warmth in, not necessary probably in May even at this latitude) and the nightstand. There is a throw rug on the floor, which is otherwise varnished wood. The door does not appear to lock, but you're probably not worried about anyone in the building disturbing you.
--M. J. Young
I stay in the room, it would probably be best since it's an important day for the queen tomorrow.
You sleep comfortably, but are awakened abruptly by General Sapt pulling you up from the bed.
"What happened last night?" he demands. "What is your part in this?"
--M. J. Young
"Part of what?!" I shout as I try and pull myself together after the abrupt awakening.
Sapt rather roughly helps you to your feet and escorts you back to the dining room, where the queen and Frieda are both passed out at the table. The queen is drenched, but the cause of that quickly becomes apparent as Josef appears and throws a bucket of water on Frieda. She sputters and awakens, rather disoriented. "Wha?" she begins and shakes herself. "Oh, dear, what's happened?"
"That's what I'm trying to determine," Sapt says. "What happened here last night?"
Frieda shakes her head, and looks at the queen.
"It must have been the wine," she says.
"The wine?"
"Yes. After you went to bed, Josef brought a bottle of the royal vintage, a Forty-Seven. She made a show of not sharing it, but then insisted that I have a glass. It was very good, of course, and I believe she finished the bottle herself. Ahmetia here didn't have any; she retired right about the time the queen was opening it."
Sapt picks up the fallen bottle and sniffs it. "Nothing to smell, of course. Michelle certainly knows her sister's weaknesses, though. She undoubtedly drugged this one and had it planted. Josef, get that housemaid who was here yesterday. Is she still here?"
"Yes, sir, right away."
As Josef leaves, Sapt turns to you somewhat less gruffly. "I apologize. It is apparent that you were not involved in this, and it was unfair of me to assume you were part of some plot."
"The coronation," Frieda states flatly.
"Yes," Sapt says. "The coronation. Obviously Rudolphia cannot make it to the church in this condition. The crown will be forfeit, and Michelle will make her move to seize power."
Josef returns with a mousy sort of woman in peasant dress who looks terrified as her eyes flit between those already in the room. Sapt turns the force of his anger against her, demanding an explanation. Michelle gave her the bottle, she says, and insisted that she deliver it for the queen. She was told that it was harmless. Sapt has soon satisfied himself about the events, and orders that she be held for the present, secured in the wine cellar if necessary.
"So, that's it, then," Frieda says. "Michelle wins; our lives are probably forfeit."
"Maybe not," Sapt says in a curious tone. He is looking at you with a critical eye.
--M. J. Young
"Will she be alright?" I ask as i look to the queen, unsure and worried. "I don't want to think the worst..."
Sapt sighs. "I expect she'll recover from whatever this poison is. Even Michelle would not dare murder the queen. How long she'll last, though, once Michelle consolidates power and takes the throne? I wouldn't give her the rest of the year."
He changes his stance slightly. "Ahmetia, do you believe in providence? A man does not reach my age and see the things he has seen without at least suspecting that there is something behind the coincidences around him. I believe that God may have sent you for this very purpose, that you arrived at this hour."
"You can't mean," Frieda begins.
"You said it yourself: cut her hair, and she'd be the queen. No one could spot her. With a little coaching, she could do it."
--M. J. Young
"I am sure it will work, never mind that we seem to be completely different and I am a mediocre actress," I say trying to be as least obnoxiously sarcastic as possible. "But yes, I believe the fates have a way of testing you when it matters most. I guess there's really not much choice though is there?"
"Choice?" Sapt says. "I could arrest you, charge you with conspiracy against the Queen, and get you to confess Michelle's involvement in the plot. I don't know that I could make the charges against her stick, particularly if you were discredited under questioning, but just looking at you people would believe it. Michelle would then be banished, and you would be executed, in all likelihood.
"There is always an alternative. I suspect that you'd prefer playing the role of the Queen to that of the prisoner."
"Anyway," Frieda says, "it would only be for today. You would go through the coronation as if you were the queen, then tonight we would swap you for her and smuggle you out of the country, with her majesty's gratitude."
"So," Sapt takes over, "if that's the plan, we need to dress you in the Queen's uniform and give you a crash course in everything you need to know for this. You're also going to have to ride a horse when the honor guard arrives; it will be very suspicious if you have to ride with Frieda. But we'll get you mounted quickly. Frieda?"
"Right. This way, your majesty." She smiles. "Let's see what we can do with you in a hurry."
--M. J. Young
I give a hefty sigh, suddenly reminded of the song If I Can Learn To Do It as I follow Frieda.
"We'll have to cut your hair; the queen wears hers short, because it gets in the way when she is fencing." Sapt finds a pair of scissors, and Frieda does the job as well as she can, with some help from Josef who proves to be a servant of many talents.
As she helps you out of your clothes and into a blouse, jacket, and pants of military bearing, she talks about the events ahead.
"The vow will be the toughest part. Rudolpha has it memorized, or nearly so--she's been very casual about it all, much to the Colonel's chagrin. But Marshall Strakencz, who handles all civil matters in the kingdom, will meet us at the station, and see that we get to the cathedral, where the Archbishop and the Duchess Michelle will meet us. Michelle will offer you an arm to escort you to the dais, with the Archbishop behind you.
"The Archbishop presents you and waits a moment for objection, although that is a formality and there shouldn't be one. He will ask all those assembled to swear fealty to you, and they will reply. Then he turns to you to recite the vow--how does it go? I'd better not confuse matters; I have it written in my notebook, and we'll have time to review it on the train.
"Once you've recited the vow, you will be crowned queen, and those present will be presented to you, beginning with the Archbishop and then Michelle, both of whom you will already have met. After that is your cousin Prince Flavius; you will know him--he has the Elfborg eyes. The Chancellor Count Stanislas von Strausin. These are all known to the queen already, and they are expected to touch your crown, kneel, kiss your ring, rise, and depart. After those four, there will be a long line of visiting dignitaries, most of whom have never met the queen or not so they would expect to be remembered, paying their respects."
The uniform includes a saber. The queen frequently also wears a pistol, but not at indoor functions and you will have to go without it today.
The uniforms are all white, Germanic dress uniforms, with black high-plumed helmets. Your uniform has a gold frill. Frieda has a gold and red braid on the right shoulder running under the arm. Sapt has a crimson sash on which quite a few medals are arrayed.
Once you are ready, you meet Sapt in the all. "Josef and I have moved the queen to a table in the wine cellar for safety. He will stay with her; hopefully she will revive by tonight. Here." He extends to you a ring. "Put this on; no one will know that you are not the queen."
Frieda has been running through her notebooks. "Here it is," she says. "'And I, Rudolpha, do solemnly promise and swear to govern the people of Ruritania according to their laws and customs, and to cause law and justice in mercy to be executed in all my judgments. The things I have hear before promised I will perform and keep, so help me God."
"You are Catholic, aren't you?" Sapt asks.
--M. J. Young
Oh shit, is probably going through my mind right about now. I am not sure how to answer that question especially with my very lacking knowledge of Catholic as separate from the Christian sects.