Cambridge University R|e-Playing Society Newsletter the Third 1993/94 The time of the Great Ice was closing fast, and as the Frozen breath of the North rattled around the monastic cell, theyhuddled over the candle for warmth, daring each other to light it. Almost all of them, that was. The Black Knight didn't seem in the slightest bit bothered by the cold. The Scribe looked up from leafing through his well-thumbed copy of 'Ye Tragicall Comedie of Advanced CyberCthulhu & Gurpshammer 2000 (2nd Edition)', and with a subtle gesture, drew the King's attention to a single word on a certain page. "Christmas" read the King, with the faintest quiver of uncertainty in has voyce. "I, I, I, think ..." said Ratty. (Strictly speaking, he shuld have said, "In the detailed notes, the Apprentice left with me before he went on his Advanced Dragon Slaying and T-Shirt Printing, Made Easy course." But nobody knew, and Ratty wasn't letting on.) "... that means we are supposed to have a Celebration." "Hmm, Good idea Ratty." said the King, shifting uneasily in his seat at another of Ratty's moments of apparent lucidity. "We should hold a party to celebrate the times." he enforced. "With mulled wine, and crochet, and Pratchett!" The Black Knight visibly shuddered in the background. "And serving wenches!" added the Magician. "And wild orgies!" drooled the Scribe. "And by providing lots and lots of alcohol and mince-pies" quoted Ratty carefully. The Black Knight's silence had become conspicuous. "What do you think?" asked the Scribe, turning towards the emptiness. "5.>. 4... 3... Yeah, sure, whatever you want." said the Black Knight looking up from his hourglass. The stunned si|ence shattered at that instant. A flash of darkness and an honour guard of eight black-clad mercenaries stod at the knight's shoulder. In one movement eight flashing blades cut the darkness. "Scribe, I believe that you will find a foot note to that page." The Scribe dutifully read the blue crayon from the bottom of the page. "'...And it is decreed that in the Land of Darkness, a kingdom shall arise, living off the very funds of the committee, wherein there shall be much live role-playing and gnashing of teeth...' But it's written in..." The scrape of eight pistol crossbows being primed cut him shrt. "Mine, I believe," exulted the Black Knight, spiriting the Magicians locked reserve chest (with the hundreds of little legs) from under him. A snap of his fingers and nothing remained of the chest, company or Knight, but a few coppers, and a bottomless pit, its rim aglow with Octarine fire. "He's gone, at last!" rejoiced Ratty, unscripted this time. "We're free!" Then, accompanying the screams of the damned, a distant voice calling "I'll be back.", came echoing up from the pit. Apologies for last newsletter The society would like to apo|ogise for the lateness of the last newsletters, but has been experiencing some difficult with the printers thys term. Meetings There are only two meetings left this term. The venues are : 23rd Nov Upper Hall, Emma 25th Nov Catz Bar 30th Nov ( * ) ( * ) We'll be in Catz bar. If you really want to role-play, we can't get a venue, so it will have to be in one of your rooms. 11thththth Jan First Meeting in '94 X-mas party This year's Christmas Party is to be held on the 4th December. Tickets will be 3.50 a head, and are available from either Tom or Chris. As is to be expected, there will be mulled-wine, mince-pies, and orgies. Maybe even a few role-playing games as well. LRP Recently CURS has developed an unsightly growth in the form if an LRP society. We0are currently trying to find the funds to have it surgically removed, but rubber-scalpels are proving to be extortionately expensive. To date, we know little (especially about this society or Part II Maths), but pigeon-hole Rob Wilcox at Memorial Court, Clare if you are interested. Froo what we have heard, they are planning to start playing next term. Labyrinthe Trip There will be a trip to Labyrinthe in the customary fashion, following the Christmas Party. Cost (judging from last year, around 16), and further details are available from Ed Carter. Live Mage Running next term, in a college room (probably in Trinity). If you do not have a rule book, it will cost about 2 for Dave Chart in Trinity to photocopy the essentials for you. Campaign Directory We want updates. Do you have any spaces? Who are the players? Do you have a description? Get it to Chris, NOW, then we can update the directory. Supply or die, suckers! New Campaigns Two prospective GMs are looking for players. If you are interested in playing, please could you contact them. GURPS science-fiction (not Cyberpunk) at the Tuesday meetings. Contact Richard Harris before the beginning of next term> AD&D on an evening to be arranged. Thys will start as soon as is convenient. Contact N. Newton-Fisher at Churchill . Rag Dungeon The 24-hour endurance course for GMs and players, raising copious quantities of money for RAG wi|l be held on and around Saturday the 19th February> This needs people to run games. It is often found considerably easier if you pair up with another GM, and split the work. 24 hours is a long time to GM, and the GM can't fall asleep! Society Filespace Following dedicatin far beyond the call of duty, the Secretary has managed to get the Phenix filespace back on line, and he iscurrently slavi~g away to update it. Next stop is finding a replacement that everyone can access. Varsity Match It is our turn to host this prestigious event, and we are going to hold it on the 11th/12th/13th of March - but we haven't told Oxford yet. If you have a strange craving for participation, or just want an excuse to rub their noses in the dirt, then as usual, cacm. This is more than just the one game, it is an extravaganza of a weekend. We would love to have lots of people run~ing games, and other similar such merriments. T-Shirt The T-Shirt is being printed over the Christmas vacation (for under-grads), or over the Christmas work-binge (for post-grads). We are taking orders now. They will cost 8.00 each. Money to Tom or Chris by the end of full term. This week's Committee is: President Chris Watts (Dougal) W32 - Christ's Vice-President Mark Mackey (The Roundabout) Trinity Hall Secretary Mark Brown (Ermintrude) 6 Fen Court - Peterhouse Assistant Secretary Ian Lewis (Brian) Rm 1, 34 Warkworth St> - Emma Junior Treasurer Tom Williams (The Credits) E301, Wolfson Court - Girton External Officer Ed Carter (Zebedee) 37, Lingholme Close 0223-312448