The Historical Steampunk Fantasy Role-Playing Game by Calvin StudzinSki Age of Aether CreditS Author, Designer, and Project Manager: Calvin Studzinski Cover Art by: Kim Sokol Illustration: Heather Carr, Kaela Croft, Ken McCuen, Kim Sokol, Melissa Hudson, Priscilla Kim, Steve Ellis, Rebecca Bean Layout Artist: Nathan D. Paoletta Editor: Andrea J. Studzinski A grand debt of thanks is owed to a great many people. Intrepid Pioneers: Anthony Zanini, Asia Kessing- Without their help, this roleplaying game would not exist. er, Carly Greene, Cavan and Theresa Rider, Chandler o First, to my parents, who let me game in their base- Norris, Chase MacLeod, Christina Patterson, Conor ment for many years, supported my gaming hobby, Owens, Dennis & Kammy Chinnock, Kably, Karl Hild- convinced me that publishing my game was worth- ner, Luna Kanashi, Michael “Sugartitz” Clewlow, Joe while, and did not laugh when I asked for RPG Russell, Tim “Alamias’ Cox, Tuffin, Zach Rademan, books when I was 10, thank you. Respectable Citizens: BlindGeek, Christian Caron, o To my friends, who supported and encouraged Claire L. Fishback, Corey Papastathis, Dan Fritz, me through the long process of making this game, Eishne, Erzmagus, Ettibebs, Liz Chavez, John ‘johnkz- thank you. in’ Rudd, Kevin Hannah, Mark R. Lesniewski, Matt o To everyone who play-tested Age of Aether over Cannella, Matteo Signorini, Michael Waters, Morgan the long years of development, thank you. Hennings, Neal5x5, Patrice Mermoud, Randy W., Ra- o To the following backers, who provided me with phael Bressel, Ratt, Sarah McLaughlin, Steve Locke, the resources needed to turn this game from con- THE Donnie, Thomas Burke, Tristyn Bunney, Xody, cept to reality, thank you. Ye Olde F., High and Mighty Aristocrats: Allison Davis, Brian- Hard-Working Members of the Proletariat: A Scruffy Hamster, George H., Noralie, Thomas R., Tyler Thomas na Stevens, Erin Ahlfinger, Greg Hildner, Melanie P. Studzinski, Philip Haubrich, Thomas M. Colwell, Tony A Free Adventurer: Guy Larke Califano, William Nicholas Thomas, o And finally, to my wife, who was the soul of kind- A Wealthy and Sociable Noble: Nick Craft ness, compassion, support, and understanding Prominent Members of Society: Alison Laybourn, during these last few hectic years, who kept me Aunt Carol, Aunt Linda, Joe & Kelly Craft, Mom & sane when I was about to give up, and who never Dad Studzinski, Sean & Sarah Whitsitt stopped appreciating me, I thank you. Prominent Members of the Gentry: A. W. Morris, Amber Beasley, Andrew Hunter, Aunt Susan, Bruce Coulson, Debby Mink, Elliot Marroquin, Kathy Jack- son, Michael Feldhusen, Michael Holzhausen, Morgan Thank you all. Lefever, Nancy J., Sam Hing, Sean Pennington, Stephen Sargeant Copyright © 2008 Calvin Studzinski Age of Æther is a registered trademark of Calvin Studzinski table of ContentS Business as Usual 4 Chapter 5: Adventuring 65 health and healing 67 Chapter 1: movement and terrain 70 Welcome to theAge of Æther 11 exPloration 72 introduCtion 11 Chapter 6: Combat 80 What iS a role-Playing game? 11 What you Will need 11 getting hurt 94 Primary meChaniCS 12 Chapter 7: Magic 96 PlayerS and CharaCterS 12 the game maSter 13 overvieW 98 StruCture of the Story 13 What iS a SPell? 98 SettingS 14 the SChoolS of magiC 100 role of the game grouP 14 SPell liSt 102 the reSt of thiS book 14 elementiSm 106 final remarkS 14 PhySiomanCy 109 SorCery 114 Chapter 2: Character Creation 15 SPellCraft 119 1 ) SeleCt your SlotS 17 Conjuration 130 2 ) ChooSe your raCe 18 Chapter 8: Gear and Resources 134 3 ) SeleCt your QualitieS 21 4 ) aSSign your attributeS 22 money in age of Æther 136 5 ) manage your magiC: 23 food, drink, and lodging 139 6 ) SeleCt your SkillS 25 adventuring gear 142 7 ) SPend your reSourCeS: 26 WeaPonS 156 8 ) finiShing touCheS 27 armor and Clothing 172 9 ) game maSter aPProval 27 braWler 28 Chapter 9: Mounts and Vehicles 179 Conjurer 29 mountS 181 doCtor 30 vehiCleS 182 engineer 31 ChaSe SCeneS 183 gunSlinger 32 larger vehiCleS and ServiCeS 184 hunter 33 SamPle mountS and draft animalS 185 motoriSt 34 animal eQuiPment 186 SPy 35 SamPle vehiCleS 187 SWaShbuCkler 36 thief 37 Chapter 10: Warmage 38 Allies and Adversaries 189 Warrior 39 non-Player CharaCterS 191 Chapter 3: Playing the Game 40 CreatureS 207 ConStruCtS 210 rolling the diCe 42 SPiritS and elementalS 213 Changing the rollS 44 SPiritS 215 foCuS PointS 45 Chapter 11: Chapter 4: Skills and Qualities 47 Game Master’s Chapter 219 SkillS 49 QualitieS 55 dutieS of a game maSter 221 aSSetS 55 running a game SeSSion 222 flaWS 58 Creating a CamPaign 225 foCuS PointS 233 reWardS 234 ConCluSion 237 CharaCter Sheet 238 Business as Usual 1 Henri and Jean-Luc stood outside an ornate Henri shifted uncomfortably. “And now that our baroque building which had once been home is occupied again? We have no more brothers back painted in gaudy colors, but whose vi- there. Regardless, this is a job that pays, and we need brant facade had dulled under years of rain until the money.” it had become a dim, grey wall, like the rest of the Jean-Luc sighed. It was true: money had been tight buildings in Greyleaf. Several women stood on the lately. It was hard for a pair of foreign orcs to find work covered porch wearing shockingly bright outfits, in an unfriendly city. The last pieces of copper earned seemingly trying to make up for the colorlessness busting rioters had just about run out. “It’s either this, of their surroundings. Perhaps even more shocking or we go back to starving,” Henri said, echoing Jean- was the fact that so much color had been crammed Luc’s thoughts. into such a small amount of cloth. Rather than reply, Jean-Luc walked up the steps to the “Are you sure this is the right place?” Jean-Luc asked door. Henri followed. his brother. “Hello there, handsome,” a buxom woman with far In reply, Henri pointed to the sign hanging over the too much elbow and entirely too much ankle exposed door. Neither of the two could read the sign’s writing, crooned. “Need some company?” but the bright red silhouette of a woman in half a dress “Sorry. Not tonight,” Henri replied brusquely. Jean- was unmistakable. Luc elbowed his brother, then asked, his language falter- “The Scarlet Lady. This is where Beinen told us to ing slightly as he tried to remember the strange foreign go.” words. “And you trust Beinen?” Jean-Luc asked. “I am looking for a spefistic, spess-if-ic, girl with crim- Henri shrugged. “Why not? He is a brother.” i-son hair and eyes the color of an open sky viewed from “No, Henri, we are brothers. Our comrades back home, the pow, pow?” the slaves who fought and died alongside us for freedom “Prow,” Henri murmured under his breath. are our brothers. Beinen is just a man in the same petty “The prow of a free airship,” Jean-Luc finished, smil- street gang as us.” ing weakly. p 4 Business as Usual “Well, then,” the buxom woman replied, “Let’s get you “So you don’t mind robbing royalty?” the dark man inside and see if we can’t find what you’re looking for.” interrupted. Grabbing Jean-Luc by the hand, she led him into the Henri was taken aback by the suddenness of the ques- building. Henri followed, fuming at the prospect of doing tion. “No…” business in a brothel. The man puffed his pipe. “You were in the revolution. Inside, all was warm lights, bright colors, and soft I suppose you can use those weapons you’ve got hidden flesh. It seemed as though someone had bought a stan- on yourselves?” dard tavern or inn and then populated it with all of the Jean-Luc’s hand went to the machete hidden under loose women in Greyleaf. his coat. His sword was concealed in his room, it being “Mama!” the buxom woman called. illegal to wear it on the streets. With his machete, he A beautiful elven woman, dressed in a fine white petti- had killed his first man, the overseer on his plantation. coat and a cream-colored waistcoat, descended the stairs. With the overseer’s old cavalry sword, he had killed many “Yes?” more. “Yes,” Henri replied. His dagger had killed the “These men are looking for a girl with the red hair and man who sought to cry out when Jean-Luc had split the sky-blue eyes.” overseer’s head open. The elf called Mama nodded. “I know just the one. “So, are you willing to get your blades bloody for a Gentlemen, if you’ll follow me, please?” Mama graceful- thousand schillings apiece?” ly turned and walked off. Slightly astonished that any- Jean-Luc’s eyes practically bugged out of his head. A one would call him a gentleman, Jean-Luc followed, his thousand schillings could feed and clothe him and his brother leading the way. brother for five years. Longer, if they were stingy. How- The graceful elf maiden led the two orcs down the ever, he had seen a lot of death in the revolution, and stairs into the cellar. Sashaying to a specific cask, Mama had killed too many people already. turned the tap and the front of the barrel hinged out- “I’d rather not have to kill anyone.” wards, revealing a tunnel just large enough to scuttle “If everyone’s sensible and behaves themselves, no one through. “Enjoy your stay, gentlemen.” has to die,” the man said. “But if someone pulls a pistol, Jean-Luc ducked below the barrel and entered a small, I expect you to dark space cleverly concealed inside the stacked wine ut him down.” casks. With a faint hiss, a match flared, revealing a “How long will it take?” Henri asked. small, dark-clad man seated behind another cask set on “If things go well, about twenty minutes. The actual its end to serve as a table. He lit his pipe, then blew a part where you earn your pay will be over in a flash. Add smoke ring over the brothers. Jean-Luc supposed that the a few hours of travel and stakeout time.” gloom was supposed to unnerve him, but all orcs could “When?” see perfectly well in the dark. The man was short, even “Do you accept?” for a human, and he wore a carnival mask concealing Henri looked at Jean-Luc, who nodded. The claws of most of his face below his wide-brimmed hat. Jean-Luc hunger were crawling around his stomach. Turning back could see the man’s small, well-trimmed beard, and his to the small man, Henri said, “We accept. What do we eyes glittering in the pipe light. do?” “So. You’re the two Beinen sent me.” Jean-Luc and The dark man smiled. “We’re stealing the royal seal Henri nodded. “That’s a shame. I could have used him. of Raylen.” Why couldn’t he come himself again?” Jean-Luc looked blank. “What is a royal seal?” “He was stabbed. Here.” Henri pointed to his thigh. “It’s a gold instrument that you press into wax to “When?” the man asked. mark a document as official. It’s part of Raylen’s crown “Riot,” Henri replied. jewels.” “Why’d he recommend you two?” Henri scoffed. “Crown jewels are kept in a castle in the “We carried him back to the docks,” Henri hissed. “You capital, far away. We won’t be allowed within a hun- going to give us more questions, or we talking business?” dred meters of the palace.” Jean-Luc shared his brother’s “I needed to confirm that you were who you said you skepticism. Both of the orcs’s coats were threadbare and were,” the man snarled. “How do you two know each shiny with wear, and their trousers patched at the knees. other?” No one in their right mind would allow such people near “We are brothers. We come from Lecarde Isle, we anything royal. fought in the slave revolt and against the invasion. We “We’re not going to a royal party, stupid,” the dark had to flee from the Royalists and wound up here.” Hen- man shot back. “Tensions are rising back in the capitol. ri’s patience was running out. “What does this have to War will come soon. Heck, there probably already would do with…” be fighting if Raylen’s best general had not taken their best army to conquer this city. Everyone wants the Gov- p 5 Age of Æther ernor-General on their side, but he’s staying put, says “What do you mean by that?” he needs to make certain Greyleaf’s mages don’t re-take Gingerly, the small man pulled Henri’s little finger. It the city the moment he’s gone. He’s probably right; it’s did not seem like a great motion to Jean-Luc, but Henri only his iron fist that keeps those mad magic bastards in quickly released the man’s shoulder and twisted his hand, check.” grimacing in pain. “I mean that you are our guests, stay- The dark man cleared his throat. “Anyways, I just ing at the Scarlet Lady until we need you.” He released got word that the King has made the Governor-General Henri’s finger and opened the other side of the barrel. a Prince-Elector, ostensibly as a reward for conquering “Who is ‘we?’” Henri shouted after him. Greyleaf, but everyone knows it’s a bribe. Still, the title “Sorry. That’s on a need-to-know basis, and you don’t is a great honor, and it comes with a jeweled livery collar need to know.” With a knuckle to the forehead, the man and a royal seal.” walked out of sight. With a malicious grin, the dark man continued, “It’d be a blow to both men if we were to wind up with them Jean-Luc and Henri were treated to food and a instead.” small room in the Scarlet Lady by whoever the “Who’s ‘We?’” Henri asked. masked man worked for. However, it was more “A group that looks out for the little people, who likes a prison than a gift. They were not allowed to leave, neither mage nor king nor Governor-General. That’s all and when they tried, Mama always stopped them, you need to know for now.” kindly asking what they needed. Their equipment “How will you take it? The streets are crawling with was brought from their old lodgings. Henri nearly guards,” Henri protested. jumped out the window before news came. “We’re taking the seal outside the city limits, on the The door to the brothers’ tiny room opened as the small forest road.” man and a figure under a hooded cloak entered the “It will still be guarded. It would take a small army room. The small man wore the same mask he had the to get royal jewels.” last time they had met. The small man grinned. “That’s the beauty of it. There “We leave tonight, now,” he said. will be an armored carriage coming into town., escort- “Where are we going?” Henri demanded. “Why have ed by two companies of dragoons and driven by royal we been kept locked up in this room for all this time? guards. We know what road it will take and when it is Who are you?” coming into town. But that’s not the carriage which will “No names,” the hooded figure said, and Jean-Luc carry the jewels. It’s a flashy diversion. The jewels and shivered. Even without seeing the thing’s face, he knew seal are coming in discreetly, in an ordinary royal mail what it was. No one forgot the voice of a clockgeist, steamcoach. A driver, stoker, and three or four guards that strange, mechanical, yet unworldly music which pretending to be passengers. That’s it.” pervaded every word. Jean-Luc stared under the hood, To Jean-Luc, it sounded easy. “There will be others?” hoping to catch a glimpse of the gears whirring in the He asked after a moment’s contemplation. construct’s head. “Yes. You and your brother will make 19.” “My partner is right,” the small man said. “We can’t Jean-Luc had a sudden thought. Leaning forward, he trust you not to talk if the guards catch you. That’s asked in his stuttering speech, “If so many have you, why why you were kept here, safe and sound, for a week. do you us need?” You’ll find where we’re going as you follow us. Here, “When the guards and the brute squads put down the take these.” The small man produced two crude carnival riots, my organization lost a lot of good men. The guards masks. “Wear them when we get into position. Nobody are not shy about executing instigators, and though the should see you, but covering your faces will keep you out brutes tend not to kill, we can’t have men with broken of the guard’s hands long enough to go wherever you limbs standing in the line. We don’t need to lose any wish to spend your gold.” more men then we already have.” “Speaking of gold,” Henri fumed, throwing his mask “So where will this ambush take place?” Henri asked, on the bed, “When do we get ours?” taking the conversation back from Jean-Luc. “When the Governor-General’s necklace is in my The small man stood. “You will find out when we take hands,” the small man replied. “Now get your gear. you there. Can’t tell you early.” We’re going.” “When does this happen?” Henri asked. Jean-Luc strapped his sword to his hip. It was an old “When we return to collect you.” The small man weapon, a broadsword with a long blade and basket hilt, stepped around the barrel-table and pulled a lever, caus- light enough for a strong man to maneuver with ease, ing the false barrel to open again. Before he could crawl but heavy enough to inflict horrible wounds. Jean-Luc through and open the other side, Henri’s broad hand grabbed the buckler that he carried to parry blows and clamped down on the man’s shoulder. bash people in the face. Finally, he grabbed the large p 6 Business as Usual cavalry pistol he had taken off a dead officer during the standing out from the thousand sounds of the forest at revolt. These weapons had seen him through two bloody night. wars and countless fights. They should see him through “Perhaps we have been deceived,” the clockgeist in- another. toned softly. Henri had a large war hammer taken from an ancient “Impossible,” the small man whispered. “Our courtier suit of armor. It had proved itself during the revolt. Jean- is stout-hearted. He wouldn’t betray us.” Luc also saw him check his left forearm. Jean-Luc knew “I never said that,” the clockgeist replied. “Maybe he that Henri had a traditional obsidian orcish dagger hid- was deceived himself.” den beneath his sleeve. For many of the slaves, including “He has never been wrong before.” The small man Henri, the daggers were the only weapons they had when said. “He can’t be wrong now. It’s too import…” the rebellion began. A soft, cooing bird-call sounded. To Jean-Luc, it sound- “Ready?” the small man asked. “Right then. No time ed like any of the hundred other birds he had heard to lose.” during the night, but the small man stiffened, his head whipping around to look down the road. An instant The clouds were thinning, and moonbeams later, Jean-Luc heard the chuffing sound of a steam en- shone into the small glade just up the road. gine and the creak of carriage wheels. Where Jean-Luc, Henri, the small man, and Everything became deathly still as, slowly, the steam- the clockgeist stood, massive redwoods blocked out coach came around the bend. At least six people rode on the silver light of the celestial orbs. Jean-Luc did the outside, the rider on his buckboard, an armed man not mind. He could see the road just fine. riding shotgun, and four more people on rooftop bench- They were on the side of a mountain, the slope running es. They looked to be unarmed, but if the small man was steeply down to the road, then beyond to a cliff. There correct, then each of them would be concealing pistols would be no escape in that direction. A bit farther on to- and sabers beneath their cloaks. wards the city was a small stone bridge. The ravine that Upon seeing the four men in the road, the driver blew it spanned was not very deep or wide, but it was enough a whistle and pulled on the break-lever. With a piercing of a hazard to halt a wagon. Although Jean-Luc had had metallic screech, the vehicle came to a halt. The small no part in planning this attack, it made sense to him man began speaking before the carriage occupants could that they would stop the steamcoach on the bridge, when recover from their sudden stop. it as exposed as possible. He, Henri, the small man, and “Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. The contents of the clockgeist were standing in the middle of the road, this steamcoach are now the property of the Iron Gaunt- visibly blocking passage. There was a curve just ahead let. Please throw up your hands and don’t resist, and of them, so the steamcoach occupants would not see their none of you will be harmed.” assailants until the last minute, when they would be too Instead of raising their hands in surrender, the people flustered with stopping to notice the weapons. aboard the coach broke into a chuckle. “Oh really, you The small man said they expected no resistance. They and what army?” the driver asked as the guard on his had overwhelming force, and the guards would not want left stood and levelled a blunderbuss at the little band. to die needlessly. The brothers were to go straight for the Another guard stood on the back bench, brandishing a strongbox mounted at the back of the steamcoach, get double-barreled shotgun. the guards off, and take every bundle they found inside. Jean-Luc noticed something else odd as well. He could Henri had even been given a grenade to hurl inside the smell horseflesh. Not the scent of old horse blankets or stagecoach should the guards get overly rambunctious. tanned leather, but the scent of live, sweating animals, They would be covered by other armed men in the woods. even though there were no horses nearby. The steam- Jean-Luc had seen other masked men, most carrying coach had pistons and a boiler to propel it, not draft firelocks, above the road, hiding behind the towering animals. Catching his brother’s eye, Jean-Luc made an trees or in the shelter of a gargantuan fallen log. Coming over-exaggerated sniffing motion. Henri smelled the air, from a plantation island, Jean-Luc was still amazed at and then his eyes widened. Inquisitively, the clockgeist the size of the trees around Greyleaf. Even on its side, the leaned over, and Henri mouthed, “It smells of horses.” orc could not see over the trunk. The small man rolled his eyes, put his fingers to his The assailants huddled above the road for several lips, and whistled. Over a dozen more brigands stepped hours. As the moons sank towards the horizon, damp out from behind trees or logs and brandished firelocks, seeped through Jean-Luc’s cheap boots. The air grew aiming them at the steamcoach guards. chilly, and Jean-Luc found himself wishing he had “Ready arms!” the driver called. The passengers atop brought a cloak. The small man fidgeted, checking his the steamcoach pulled pistols or short double-barreled watch every few minutes. Occasionally, Jean-Luc heard shotguns from beneath their cloaks, and one pointed a a snap as a hidden ambusher shifted to a new position, p 7 Age of Æther wand. Jean-Luc reached for his pistol, but stopped when Pulling his pistol, Jean-Luc fired a shot to make the the small man held out his hand. soldiers keep their heads down, then turned to help his “Easy now, there’s no need to die,” he said calmly. The brother. Henri was already at the carriage door, his gre- men atop the steamcoach kept their weapons trained on nade lit in his hand. He grabbed the handle and practi- the brigands, and the brigands aimed back, but nobody cally tore the door from its hinges. fired. It seemed like nobody wanted to make the first A voice from the dark cheerfully said, “Hello, chump,” move, but Jean-Luc wondered why the carriage was not and then the world exploded. trying to get away? Why not just back up the moun- A gout of flame erupted from the interior of the stage- tain road? It was certainly safer than sitting here in the coach directly into Henri’s surprised face. A stray pellet cross-fire. stung Jean-Luc in the ear as splashes of blood sprayed Then Jean-Luc felt more than heard the magic. The him in the eye. The shock of the moment slowed the clock, clockgeist sent a spell, not a combat spell, but something causing each second to lengthen into minutes. Jean-Luc smaller, past the orc’s ear. Jean-Luc wondered what the watched his brother take an hour to fall, a mangled mess mage was doing, until it whispered in his mind, “Locke, where his head had been just a moment before. It did they’ve hidden something back there. I can’t see, some- not seem real to him. The blunderbuss swinging towards body’s blocking me!” A moment later, then the mental him, though, a second barrel cocked and ready to fire, voice said, “It’s a trap!” was very real indeed. The small man reacted so fast that Jean-Luc did not Time reverted to normal, but Jean-Luc was no longer have time to think. One instant, he was calm. An eye a participant. He was a spectator outside his body, too blink later he was pointing a gun at the lead guard’s concerned with his brother to worry about such a silly chest. Then he pulled the trigger. thing as death. His body had other plans. Jean-Luc saw The world around Jean-Luc erupted in a riot of smoke himself slide downwards, felt the heat as the blunder- and gunfire. Everyone on the steamcoach unloaded their buss spouted death over his head, noticed as he grabbed guns at the same time as those in the forest. The clock- the still-lit grenade, tossed it inside the stagecoach, and geist waved his arms and a stone wall sprang up between slammed the flimsy door shut. As the guards shouted in him and the carriage, protecting himself and his fellows panic, Jean-Luc slung his brother’s body over his shoul- from the returning fusillade. ders, turned uphill, and ran. It was then that he realized “Come on!” the small man yelled, pulling a cuttoe from exactly how perilous his situation had become. beneath his coat. “We have to get that seal!” The grey-coated soldiers from the formerly concealed Jean-Luc and Henri followed the dark man around stagecoach poured volleys of musket fire into the attackers the stone wall. The survivors aboard the steamcoach had around them. Bright flashes of destructive magic slashed taken refuge behind their vehicle and were trading shots into the trees. Some of the bandits were trying to flee up with the men up the slope, but their flank was vulner- the mountain, but dragoons rushed headlong down the able. Henri fired his pistol into one guard’s side, then slope, sabers glinting in the muzzle-flashes, cutting down leapt forward with his hammer. those who were attempting escape that way. Jean-Luc skirted the melee, ready to kill but still hoping The steamcoach exploded behind him. There were to avoid it if he could. The seal was supposed to be in screams of agony accompanied by the smell that only the lockbox under the rear guards’ bench, so he hurried those who have been near a man recently eviscerated can there. A wounded guard brandished a cutlass, but Jean- accurately describe, the scent of blood and bodily fluids Luc parried the thrust and smashed his buckler into the spilled from massive, lethal wounds. woman’s head, then dragged her stunned body off the “The river! The river!” somebody was shouting. Look- lockbox. Using the crowbar brought for this purpose, he ing about, Jean-Luc saw the small man running down- splintered the lid of the box and flung it open. hill towards the cliff, firing a pistol at the infantrymen “It’s empty!” he called, his heart sinking. leaping off the stagecoach with fixed bayonets. “Get to “The jewels must be inside the carriage! Get in and the river!” grab them!” the small man shouted. Jean-Luc turned and ran, dodging around the burn- A bullet thudded into the steamcoach just in front of ing steamcoach towards the edge of the cliff. He could see Jean-Luc’s head. Jerking back, he saw a large stage- men tossing ropes over the side. Apparently, the small coach, crawling with soldiers, which had appeared from man had planned an emergency getaway. As Jean-Luc nowhere. Now that it was no longer veiled by magic, made for the lines, one of the men was hit by a musket Jean-Luc could see the six-horse team that drew it, horses ball. He plummeted out of sight, screaming. that had not emitted betraying puffs of steam to reveal “The boats!” The small man called as he grabbed a the concealed coach’s presence. rope and began rappelling down. Looking over, Jean- Luc saw several boats tied up in the water at the bottom p 8 Business as Usual of the ravine. Grabbing a rope, Jean-Luc secured his sheath from the arm, Jean-Luc pocketed the dagger and brother over his shoulder, then slid down the rope. He stood. He walked silently past the clockgeist and the small tried to ignore the pain as friction stripped the skin from man. his fingers. “Don’t you wish to perform some sort of rite over your Suddenly, the man on the rope next to him fell. Jean- brother?” the clockgeist asked. Luc looked up and saw grey-coated soldiers brandishing “That is my brother no more,” Jean-Luc replied as he hatchets at the edge of the cliff. As realization washed continued through the dense brush that surrounded their over Jean-Luc’s adrenaline-fogged mind, one of the sol- hiding place. “That is the body he had. Now it is only a diers swung his axe in a sweeping blow to split the rope shell that is empty.” that he was holding. Jean-Luc fell, clutching his brother, hoping that he The clockgeist and the small man, Levdin and would miss a boat, praying that the river was deep Locke, they were called, brought Jean-Luc enough, that there were no rocks. back to the city. They limped around the He hit the water, and everything went dark. parks and noble town-houses of the upper city and made it to the squalid slums below the cliffs. The The sound of water lapping on a rocky shore kilometer-high waterfall roared, the mists from its was Jean-Luc’s first indication that he had base mixing with the rain and the ash rising from survived the ordeal. The cold rain on his the factories’ smokestacks. They made their way to face was the next. The memories of the night be- the red-light district and the Scarlet Lady. fore came after. “Mama! They’re back!” one of the girls yelled, rushing Jean-Luc sat upright, frantically searching for his inside. Mama quickly came to the door. brother. He found the corpse that had once been Henri “Get inside! Now!” She shut the door behind them. next to him, legs still in the river. The body was face “You three are a mess! What happened?” down, so for a moment, Jean-Luc could believe that “Jerald,” Locke spat. “It was a trap. There were sol- Henri was still alive, still fine, just taking a moment of diers all over. They must have watched us get in position, rest. The body rocked with the motion of the river, giving followed us from the beginning, planted fake evidence… the illusion of breath. it had to have been Jerald.” “Looks like our orc is awake,” Jean-Luc heard the “It was,” Mama said. Levdin and Locke looked at clockgeist say, and ignored it. Mama. “The jewels arrived in town today. The Gover- “Henri! Henri, wake up…” He rolled the body over nor-General made a speech, thanking Jerald for ensur- and saw the face, the pink and white mass of mangled ing that he got into town safely. They didn’t mention a flesh where a nose and eyes and mouth had once been. battle though.” Then Jean-Luc noticed the clammy blue-white skin, the “That’s not Jerald’s style. ‘If you ignore the child, does bloated limbs and torso straining against coat and trou- he not grow bored with his annoying games?’” Levdin sers. It hardly looked like a person, much less what was said in his perpetually calm voice. left of his brother. “Who is Jerald?” Jean-Luc asked. “Listen, Jean-Luc,” the small man softly said. Jean- “He’s an agent of the Stazi, the Secret Police,” Locke Luc had not noticed his approach. Everything focused replied. “He’s dogged us for years, been our most cun- around the fact that Henri, the last friend Jean-Luc had ning and vicious foe. Were it not for him, we could have in the world, was gone. Everything that had happened, taken this city by now.” and that might have happened, was no more. “Jean-Luc, “And who is ‘we?’” I know you and Henri were close, but we have to go. “The Iron Gauntlet,” Levdin said. “Locke is, at least. We’re well hidden here, but three patrols have already I am merely his friend.” gone past. It’s only a matter of time until we’re found if “We are dedicated to overthrowing the dictatorship of we stay. Do you understand what I’m saying? Do you noble and mage and bringing the rich to heel so that know these words?” they cannot continue to trample over the poor and “I know these words.” repressed…” “Then, can we go?” “I do not care,” Jean-Luc said flatly. Jean-Luc crouched over his brother’s body, reaching “But, but you are one of the repressed! You are stran- for his left hand. “It would be wise to listen to Locke,” gled by the pro-elven, pro-magician, anti-poor policies the clockgeist said. Jean-Luc didn’t reply. He grabbed practiced by the nobility and court…” Henri’s cuff and ripped it, tearing the sleeve clear to the “I already fought my fight for the people. The people elbow. There, strapped to the corpse’s swollen forearm, lost. I lost everything but Henri to that fight. Now I lost was the black obsidian dagger. Carefully removing the Henri to yours. I have nothing left to lose, so I do not p 9