Schedule

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Welcome. On this page we will have the schedule for the con, and details of events, where delegates are invited to email me at chrisjensenromer@hotmail.com to book their events. It is highly likely that you may wish to reserve 2 game slots if your game is likely to take more than 3 or 4 hours, to ensure everyone gets to finish it. :) I ask delegates to be flexible over timing, and willing to run with less players if some are still finishing another game etc. It's a small con, and very informal and relaxed. All events here are provisional, and I don't expect anything to run as planned! Please be understanding...

Friday 15th August [Edit]

OK, I will make myself available from 12 noon onwards to meet and greet people. If you email me or call or text I can be available to show you around Cheltenham. If you are looking for good food in the afternoon, Yates pub is cheap and cheerful, and Svea an excellent Swedish cafe/restaurant, if price is not an issue. There are many, many fast food places in Cheltenham.

Times and meeting places [Edit]

Town/Hotel - any point in afternoon, by arrangement

North Place Car Park (see below) 6.30 -- 7.pm

Everest Indian Restaurant (Portland Street, near Cotswolds) 7.15-8.15 pm

Park at North Place.

Cotswolds Pub basement bar 8.00pm onwards.

Rendezvous from 6.30pm onwards. Make sure CJ has a contact number, or you his mobile number in case of problems. :) Email him on chrisjensenromer@hotmail.com if you do not have his number yet!

Car Parking - North Place

Those with cars who do not wish to leave them at the hotel or arriving directly for this event may wish to park in North Place car park. This handy map is well worth bring to navigate town and the one way system - the car park we suggest is the one close to the Host Birthplace Museum.

7.15 pm - Evening Meal : Guests arriving early might like to meet as last year for a meal at one of Cheltenham's fine restaurants. We can make arrangements to suit all tastes nearer the time, but there is a wide variety of fast food, Chinese, Mexican Eurasian and Indian as well as Kebab, Pizza, Fried Chicken and Vegetarian options within 5 minutes walking time of the venue for Friday night. My plan is to go to the the Everest Restaurant, a moderately priced Indian on the same road as the Cotswolds pub.

8pm - Evening Session at the Cotswolds Pub

We then retire to a local pub for drinks and civilized gaming talk. We have our own dedicated space, which is like all British venues non-smoking, though of course you can pop outside for a cigarette if you desire! Last year people were happy to socialize, though a game of Grand Tribunal the board game was run. If anyone would like to run a board or card game this is a good slot for that, and possibly for RPG. Space is too limited for freeforms however. O

We are proud to present the folklorist and historian David Sivier, who will be entertaining us with medieval musical instruments and offering a paper on Sky Ships of the Middle Ages.

11.30pm
CJ traditionally does a short ghost walk. Last years took in the Pittville area, this year will be a different route. It's rather silly, but mildly amusing if you like that sort of thing I'm told. or you can hurry back to the hotel. Why waste gaming time? I won't schedule any official games to run at the hotel overnight unless someone specifically requests the GRAYEYARD SLOT.

Saturday 16th August [Edit]

Owing to a last minute change of plans forced upon us the morning session will be at St. Peter's Church Hall, to the rear of the Church on the Tewkesbury Road.

9am - 11am Seminar [Edit]

David Chart hosts a general discussion on writing Ars Magica stories, sharing Storyguide tips and perhaps a character design workshop!

10 am -1 pm Morning RPG Session. [Edit]

This currently has one event scheduled. More will appear - watch this space!

Option One: Some Things Are Better Left Forgotten [Edit]

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Some Things...

A game for 4/5 players (all young magi) by Simon.

You have received a letter from Optus Agoro requesting your presence at the Arran covenant, You recall a single meeting with Agoro - something easily forgotten. You set off to Scotland intrigued by the letter.

(A puzzle/investigation game - will pre-gen characters but will allow
own spells and customization)

Signed up so far: Simon (Storyguide), Tom Nowell, Andrew Sceats, Kirstie Sceats, Alexis Heinz, Ed Wood

Fully signed up...

Option Two: To Strive... (freeform) [Edit]

To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield?

THIS EVENT WILL RUN EITHER SATURDAY MORNING OR SATURDAY EVENING DEPENDING ON PLAYER SIGN UPS. I recommend it!

An interactive game by Nathan Hook set in Ars Magica's Mythic Europe, using the Veritas system. The game is expected to last 60-90 minutes, with a short debrief at the end. Costumes encouraged!

Characters are:

Signed up so far: Sheila Thomas (Storyguide)

Option Three: A Night Away from Home [Edit]

By Matt Ryan

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A Night Away from Home

As the magi of Semita Errabunda prepare for their departure to the Grand Tribunal, their apprentices are disappointed when they find out that they aren't going. (You didn't know Semita Errabunda had apprentices? They do!) Instead the children will be spending the night at another magus' private mansion. That magus, Microbiotus follower of Verditius, is leaving his apprentice, Roger, behind to oversee some ongoing experiments. The PC apprentices will meet Roger and explore the mansion, before settling down to sleep in the guest house. Nothing could be more normal, except of course, an unfortunate accident turns an otherwise peaceful sleep into a night of horror and desperate survival. Can the apprentices escape the danger?

A Night Away from Home is slightly silly, mildly scary, and designed
for four players.

Option Four: Twilight's Inheritance, an Ars Magica game for 6 players [Edit]

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Twilight's Inheritance

Julianus Magnus, last magus of the Covenant "Concilium Sylvestris" has gone into Final Twilight and passed beyond the world ... so the Covenant has fallen and its resources are now free to be claimed. You and your companions have been sent by the senior Magi of your own Covenants to locate and stake claim to the lost Vis sources.

The scenario includes a chance to play Magical Companions from the latest Atlas Games Ars Magica book: "Realms of Power: Magic".

Signed up so far: Neil Taylor (Storyguide)

Afternoon/Evening Session [Edit]

The venue for Saturday is the Gas Green Community Centre, Baker Street, Cheltenham, as last year. I looked at alternative venues, but this one served well last year, has several rooms suitable for gaming and a kitchen area. Unfortunately it does lack changing rooms and showers, so we will assign rooms for those who do not want to try and change in the toilets as changing areas at appropriate times.

A map showing the location is here.

1.30pm -5pm
This will feature a CJ Freeform LARP

Option One: House of the Four Doors [Edit]

Signed up so far: See House of the Four Doors cast list.

or if you prefer tabletop --

Option Two: A Nest of Vipers [Edit]

A prospective apprentice of Daria le Gris of Triamore writes with a plea for assistance. The characters are dispatched to the Castle of Viscount von Ordstadt to see if there is anything that can be done to prevent a dark fate from befalling her.'' Run by Mark Shirley, who ran this to great acclaim last year, back by popular demand a classic Ars adventure.

Signed up so far: Mark Shirley (Storyguide), Mark Lawford, Yannick Loitiere

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Questions & answers

5pm-7pm
Is put aside for food, which means an excursion to a low cost supermarket, and communal cooking. I shall ensure we have adequate catering facilities this year. Then follows the RAFFLE, and a Q&A with our Special Guest David Chart, complete with Live Link up with the US Grand Tribunal hosted by Erik!
7pm-12 midnight
Is the evening gaming session

On offer so far are

Option One: The Reachwarden [Edit]

Involves a small group of starting characters (1 or 2 magi, some companions and a grog or two each), who are traveling from the covenant of Blackthorn to this year's Eisteddfod in Cardiff, and meet an old man by the banks of the Severn.

Signed up so far: Camo Coffey (Storyguide), Mark Lawford, Yannick Loitiere, Leif Olav Josang Nick Meredith

and for those who did not play it last year

Option Two: To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield? [Edit]

An interactive game by Nathan Hook set in Ars Magica's Mythic Europe, using the Veritas system. The game is expected to last 60-90 minutes, with a short debrief at the end. Costumes encouraged!

Characters are:

Signed up so far: Sheila Thomas (GM), Håkon, Alexis Heinz

or

Option Three: Twilight's Inheritance, an Ars Magica game for 6 players. [Edit]

Julianus Magnus, last magus of the Covenant "Concilium Sylvestris" has gone into Final Twilight and passed beyond the world ... so the Covenant has fallen and its resources are now free to be claimed. You and your companions have been sent by the senior Magi of your own Covenants to locate and stake claim to the lost Vis sources.

The scenario includes a chance to play Magical Companions from the latest Atlas Games Ars Magica book: "Realms of Power: Magic".

Signed up so far: Neil Taylor (Storyguide), CJ, David Chart, Matt Ryan, Laura Sugrue. Andrew Sceats, Kirstie Sceats

NOW FULLY BOOKED...

Sunday 17th August [Edit]

10am
will see breakfast and a morning meet up. I will ensure there is gaming space available till 2pm for the really keen - the final chance,

A Night Away from Home [Edit]

By Matt Ryan

As the magi of Semita Errabunda prepare for their departure to the Grand Tribunal, their apprentices are disappointed when they find out that they aren't going. (You didn't know Semita Errabunda had apprentices? They do!) Instead the children will be spending the night
at another magus' private mansion. That magus, Microbiotus follower of Verditius, is leaving his apprentice, Roger, behind to oversee some ongoing experiments. The PC apprentices will meet Roger and explore the mansion, before settling down to sleep in the guest house. Nothing could be more normal, except of course, an unfortunate accident turns an otherwise peaceful sleep into a night of horror and desperate survival. Can the apprentices escape the danger?

A Night Away from Home is slightly silly, mildly scary, and designed for four players.
Signed up so far: Neil Taylor, CJ, David Chart, Sheila Thomas

Summary [Edit]

SlotDayTimeGame
OneFriday8.30pm – 11.30pmUnder A Winter's Sky, Talk on Medieval Skyships
TwoSaturday9.30am - 12amSeminars, Better Left Forgotten
ThreeSaturday1pm – 5pmHouse of Four Doors, A Nest of Vipers
FourSaturday5pm – 7pmMeal, Raffle, USA link up
FourSaturday7pm – 12pmThe Reachwarden,To Strive...(freeform), Twilight's Inheritance
SixSunday10am – 2pmBreakfast, gaming space available

Grand Tribunal is held by kind permission of Atlas Games. "Grand Tribunal" is a trademark of Trident, Inc. d/b/a Atlas Games, used with permission.

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