The DUNE Campaign is picking up again... Stay tuned for more details...
Players in the DUNE RPG can keep up with the game here. Players are encouraged to send in photos to Ganse (me) either touched up already or for me to touch up (using the GIMP ). Or, bring a sketch, photo, drawing, painting, etc. to Trey's house to be scanned.
The game has been going very well, especially considering that we are at the 'critical mass' of players. People have stayed in character, and things progress at a very good rate. Since we are at 'critical mass', though, I have to close the door on any more coming in, unless someone drops out. Sorry, but any more players and the game would drag considerably. If enough interest is up, I may run another DUNE game in addition to this one, set in 10,191 -- the year that the Atreides take Arrakis, and playing through the time covered in the movie, or even earlier...
Once again, we had a great session, and although there was some drifting out of the game, it we seemed to make good progress.
We apparently saved the best for last. I've played a lot of games, and ran quite a few, but I have never seen roleplaying like what was accomplished by Rob. His death was one of the saddest things I've ever seen, and I'm a real cynic. I was pretty bummed out about it. Although Rob's roleplaying was outstanding, everyone contributed to an awesome game, with many surprises and turns. (I think Kit really IS a Fremen...) The roleplaying by these players was the best I have ever had the honor to run a game with. Thanks everyone, for a great game.
This campaign will be picked up again for sure, count on it...
Some of the players have asked about weirding modules as equipment... The weirding modules weren't in the book, and don't really have a place in the game. For one thing, they would be tightly controlled by the Fedaykin, and unlikely to fall in the hands of anyone not involved in the Jihad. Secondly, they would unbalance the game, since they are such a powerful weapon.
For the insanely curious: There are many hints below, even to facts that may have been missed by some of the player characters...
The Official DUNE Roleplaying Game is still not available (from Last Unicorn Games) yet, but they have recently updated the site to say "Coming Soon - Not Yet Available" from "Coming October 1999". They have also updated the cover pictures of the two books soon to be available. The advertised price is $35.00 for the core rules, $16.00 for the narrator's book. It better be worth the price and the wait.
Player Character histories and background information constitutes Player Info, which means the characters do not have all this information about their fellow travelers.
Now Heir to the governorship of the Southern Continent on Caladan, Father Lord Ahdruhl Atreides, Mother Lady Hierka Salix, Older Brother Orin Atreides, cousin to Imperial Regent Paul Muad'Dib Atreides
Fremen from Sietch Tabr with a checkered past.
Imperial citizen, always smells like spice, but does not have the Eyes of Ibad
Elvar Masterson, one of only two surviving Swordmasters for House Atreides.
The second of only two surviving Swordmasters for House Atreides, Heres remained on Caladan during the Atreides occupation of Arrakis, and went into hiding with Lord Ahdruhl Atreides during the Harkonnen takeover.
Morgiana is a freelance contract manager, most of his employ work for the Atreides government.
Apprentice Swordmaster to House Atreides. Currently being trained by Patrick Heres, Swordmaster to House Atreides.
Imperial planetologist, Garson was brought by the emperor Shaddam IV to replace Liet Kynes, whose reports were too sporadic and general.
Preston is a pilot of some notoriety in the employ of House Atreides through Morgiana, contract has recently been re-signed, with a good profit for Morgiana.
Our story begins three months following the end of the DUNE movie...
Cutscene: A man in dark clothing sits at a desk in a dimly lit steel walled room. A man dressed in dark blue with silver trim walks in. The man at the desk says "It is time. Take this. You know what to do." He hands a distinctive dagger to the man in blue, who nods, turns and leaves.
Tamm Atreides and Elvar Masterson are practicing in the keep in Arrakeen. Tamm's friend and sparring partner Nicolai enters, introducing D'Naurd. All four begin sparring practice, and quite surprisingly, the royals suffer a defeat.
Tamm petitions for audience with Muad'Dib the day after half the Fremen fighting force departs for an undisclosed location. Muad'Dib instructs Tamm to ease the transition of government of Caladan back from Lord Ahdruhl Atreides back to the Lady Jessica. Muad'Dib and Stilgar also request that D'Naurd guard Nicolai with his life. Atoning for some unknown demon from the past, D'Naurd agrees.
Cutscene: The man in dark clothing stands at a window in a dimly lit steel walled room. The rain courses down the glass as the man dressed in dark blue returns carrying the dagger, bloodied.
"Are you sure he will react as you have planned, my Lord?" asks the man in blue.
"Of course," comes the reply. "He will have no choice."
Arriving unceremoniously on Caladan, Tamm is informed that his parents and older brother have been viciously murdered, and he is the prime suspect. Borrowing a boat from Nicolai's father, they sail incognito to Atreides Landing, the capital of the Southern Continent. During the voyage, Nicolai has the disturbing dream that all the worms are dead, and there is no more spice.
After landing, Tamm and his entourage sneak into the castle to find a grisly scene, and an unexpected guest. A Tleilaxu named Johnson gives Tamm shigawire reels documenting the murder, and although the face is not visible, it clearly is not Tamm. The assasin flaunts the dagger carelessly, and dances easily around the blood, leaving no footprints, but not caring if blood is spattered on his clothes. The drips of blood (apparently from the dagger) dwindle and stop relatively close to the castle. Johnson also indicates the source of the reels is none other than the local Inquisitors (local police force), and they have been illegally spying on the royal family for about a month.
Cutscene: The man in blue returns to the steel room. The man behind by the desk looks up at him.
"Now what are our plans, my Lord?" asks the man in blue.
"Patience, Athyaga. One applies pressure to an inserted knife carefully, so as not to break the blade. Such has always been our way. The wedge has been driven. Now we will see what he makes of it."
Cutscene: Two men, dressed in Guild fatigues, converse in a brightly lit hallway as they walk.
"Our relocation plans are proceeding. It is as you said, not all are happy with the new rule. Many are easily manipulated. Perhaps we shall be ahead of schedule."
Tamm and party return unceremoniously to Arrakis.
The party meets with Paul Muad'Dib, who tells them that trouble is brewing to the south, possibly with smugglers. The Bene Gesserit arrive, and with them they bring a gift for Tamm, a stunning beauty named Ariella. Elvar seems particularly stunned by her presence. Tamm accepts her as a fiance.
D'Naurd calls a worm, 453 meters long, one of the largest on Dune, to travel by. After a day and a night, they arrive at a suspicious looking smuggler camp, guarded by swordsmen and two men with lasguns. After infiltrating the one solid looking building, they find an enormous pit, which holds a 20 meter sandworm. Enraged, D'Naurd leads the party to freeing the worm, then charges in battle against them. After the dust settles, All of the smugglers are dead.
D'Naurd and Tamm jump aboard a harvester being recovered by a carryall, and after some violence with the pilots, pick up the rest of the party and depart back to Arrakeen. Looks pass between Elvar and Ariella...
Cutscene: Two Guild Steersman converse again in a bright hallway.
"The smugglers have failed us, and Muad'Dib must suspect us. We must not suffer under this man as emperor!"
"But we must take his spice, metered in tiny portions. We have only just learned of the worm/spice cycle from the captured Fremen, and our efforts to secure a worm have failed."
"Perhaps there is another way."
Cutscene:Several Bene Gesserit in a large brown marble office:
"Our spies report clearly that the Tleilaxu are up to something. The ambassador to Caladan has been moved to Arrakis, in a ship much larger than one would think necessary. Perhaps they intend on smuggling something important out."
"Then we should move quickly, and establish our position clearly to the new emperor."
"But Mother Superior, he only tolerates our existence now because of his mother, the Lady Jessica."
"Then she will be our wedge. Send word to Ariella to begin the training as Jessica suggests."
"Does that not play into Jessica's hand, Mother Superior?"
"Of course, my child. But the path Tamm Atreides takes will be under our supervision."
Cutscene:Tamm's quarters in Arrakeen: Ariella begins instructing Tamm in mental focusing techniques, much unlike the mentat processes he is accustomed to.
Upon arriving back at Arrakeen, the party is summoned to Muad'Dib's audience chamber, where Muad'Dib congratulates them on a job well done. He also reminds them that this was a secret operation, and that the smugglers (or whoever is behind them) may try again. Stilgar requests their presence at Sietch Tabr the next day. Elvar disappears for a few hours.
Upon arrival at Sietch Tabr, D'Naurd is presented with a crysword, once owned by Pardot Kynes himself. D'Naurd accepts a challenge to a Trial of Joining, against the advice of Stilgar. D'Naurd draws the first blood ever drawn with the sword of Umma Kynes, and is rejoined to Sietch Tabr.
Gurney Halleck arrives at Sietch Tabr, from a summons from Elvar. Elvar convinces the party to head to a cave half a day south of Tabr. Nicolai takes the water of life, and to the great surprise of everyone, he transmutes it into water and spice.
Arriving the next day at the cave, the party is surprised to find Johnson, who reveals himself to be a Face Dancer. Nicolai battles him, and decapitates him. D'Naurd summons a worm, who devours Waff, the Tleilax pulling Athyaga's (Johnson's) strings. The party confronts Elvar, who admits his Harkonnen heritage. Torn between anger at the extinction of his people, and ten years of loyalty to the Atreides, Elvar takes his own life, to the great sadness of the party, including Gurney Halleck.
Returning to Arrakeen, Gurney Halleck erects a memorial in the sands which reads "Dedicated to Elvar Masterson, Swordmaster to House Atreides, Died in Service of his Lord and House",
Panatricia is promoted to Swordmaster, and Tamm and Ariella are married.
Cutscene:An unmarked thopter lands in the desert south of Sietch Tabr, and collects the body of Elvar Masterson, and flies off into the distance...
There is a lot of DUNE info at Museum Arrakeen