Cambridge University R|e-Playing Society ========================================= Newsletter the Third 1995/96 ============================ The Saga of the Heroic Dwarf will be back next time, but for now this will have to do The Death of Caesar: a Tragedy ------------------------------ Cast: The players (Sarcastacus, Brutus - who has an IQ of 16 -, Dramaticus and Idiotus); Caesar (an NPC); Augustus (another NPC, who wisely stayed at home today); the Crowd. The story so far... the Players have progressed through several scenes and have been convinced by Centurion Plottus Devica to kill Caesar, First Consul for life of the Republic; the final scene of the tragedy beckons... [Caesar stands at the front of the forum speaking to Crowd. Party sneaks in from stage left, carrying daggers] Dramaticus: We must avoid looking conspicuous. [Players quickly push to the front of the stage] Caesar (noticing Players): Fellow citizens, what have you to say to this forum? Sarcastacus : Like you really want to hear what we have0to say, eh Mr. Caesar? Idiotus: 'Fellow citizens', we've come to say, er, we've come to say; just what have we come to say? Brutus: I have eidetic memory.0I'll try to remember why we've come to kill Caesar. [Murmurings from the crowd as 'killing Caesar' is mentioned] Dramaticus: Caesar is attempting to overthrow the Republic, fellow Romans, he must be stopped! Sarcasticus: Yeah, the Republic where anyone except women, slaves, foreigners etc. etc. can vote. Great 'republic', eh, fellow citizens- Dramaticus: And so Caesar must by our daggers die! Brutus: I'll say something dramatic, I have public speaking skill. Dramaticus (sighing): We come to bury Caesar, not to praise him! Idiotus: Yeah, like totally butcher him! You're dead Caesar! Sarcastacus: I still reckon a longbow shot would have been better. Dramaticus: Unfortunately the longbow won't be invented for several centuries so these daggers will have to do. [All players except Brutus attempt to stab Caesar; all roll high, and fail to do any damage] Brutus: Let me through. I have a skill of 17 in daggers - [Brutus rolls well, and viciously stabs Caesar, who falls to the floor] Caesar (dying): Et tu, Brutus? Brutus; Hang on a moment, I can speak Latin... Idiotus: Caesar's dying - quick, I'll try first aid! Dramaticus (quickly): We0came to bury Caesar, not to save him, and that is all but done [pushes Idiotus out of the way], give us your hands, fellow Romans! We have saved the Republic! Sarcastacus: Ha! Like we won't be declaring ourselves dictators of course, once we0have complete power; I don't know why we're even bothering to talk to these fools anyway... Brutus: I have charisma, I'll try and get the crowd to support us. [Caesar dies, but no-one notices as angry Crowd rips the Players to pieces] The EGM ------- The EGM described in the last Newsletter took place in Clare Buttery on the evening of Tuesday the 31st October. Everything went like clockwork (except, of course, the Secretary's watch - he turned up late as usual). With a reasonably large turnout we managed to achieve unanimous support for the motions needed for amalgamation with Darkrych, so we are now officially One Society again.Hurrah! Mike Pitt deserves special mention for his single-handed control of the meeting, in fact he managed to such an extent that the Committee may just leave him to run things on his own in future.With striking presence he declared the motions (which he had also proposed) and fixed people at the back with his gimlet gaze in an unspoken challenge to dare to argue. Surprisingly, nobody did. Rohan Platts was duly elected unopposed to the newly-created position of Live Role-Playing Officer to take care of all matters Live (or should that be latex). Ask the Committee or look at the web page if you are really interested in the Constitutional changes made. The Campaigns Directory ----------------------- As per usual, here is the list of people who may have spaces for players,or who have~'t told me since last time if they don't.. If you want to play in them, please contact the GMs direct. If you have a game you need players for and we don't have the details here, please let us know so wecan help. GM System When? E-mail Contact address John Yeldham GURPS(future/fantasy) ??? jgy20@hermes St.Catherine's Cllege Daniel Morgan WFRP ??? djm38@cam Fitzwilliam Cllege Justi~ Matters Freeform Vampire Tues 8pm jmm34@cam Emmanuel College (Postgrad) Simon Johnston Basic D&D ??? spj21@cam Christ's College Tim Cooke Call of Cthulxu Tues 8pm tmac2@cam Trinity College Anno Dracula ------------ A quick word from Paul Killworth to thse who joined him in his Victorian nightmare: "Thanks to0everyone wh braved the Northumbrian weather and played at Featherstone Castle on the 4th, especially car drivers and NPCs. The conference to appoint the next monarch of Britain was marred by only a few deaths: the Home Secretary (killed by Dracula); Lord Breoingstoke, the host (killed by Dracula); Mr. Crofts, the head of Military Intelligence (killed by Sgt. Dravot of the Diogenes Club); Prince Alfred (killed by Major Waverley of the Diogenes Club, admittedly under extenuating circumstances); the Countess Kenyon (killed by Lord Ruthven the Prime Minister, ditto); Dracula (butchered by quite a few if I remember) and Prince Victor (killed by agents of Doctor Nikola). With the sad death of the elected candidate, Prince Victor, and the unfortunate demise of Prince Alfred, the remnants of the conference chose the last member of the Royal family, the Duchess Louise, to be the next monarch. "Her government, for the record, consisted of Lord Ruthven as Prime Minister, Lady Melrose as Home Secretary, Major Waverly at the War Office; Sgt. Dravot took over the post of head of Military Intelligence. Lady Melrose and Waverly are apparently blackmailing Lord Ruthven, but such is life. Behind the scenes Dr. Nikola - wanted through most of Northern Europe - who had so ably attempted to kill or poison all other candidates to the monarchy and who was widely believed to be Jack the Ripper, was appointed Royal Physician and adviser to the new Queen, herself a new vampire and werewo|f and whom had stood on an anti-vampire platform. "I hope everyone enjoyed themselves, and thanks for coing." This term's forthcoming event ----------------------------- The Christmas Party will be, as promised, on the Saturday after the end of Full Term (the 2nd of December). The place to be is the Latimer Room in Clare College from 6pm onwards. We will be providing mulled wine and mince pies to help you get into the festive spirit, plus of course we will have a selection of silly games running. (Are you listening Mike?) Contact a Committee member for a ticket - they cost just œ3.50 all in and they are available NOW! We are not allowed to se|l at the door, so please buy a ticket ASAP.0 History ------- The video evening and one-offs night ran reasonably smoothly, although so}e people obviously were not prepared for either the weirdness of Rob's system (appropriately entitled "I must be luckier than that!") or for the sheer Bad Taste(TM9 of it all. Weekly Meetings --------------- These are continuing every Tuesday at the usual venue, Clare Buttery at 8pm. If you need to find a committee member (for instance if you want to buy a Christmas Party ticket - plug, plug!) this is probably your best chance: five of us are there every week. The bar is also just seconds away and this year they appear to have convinced the bar staff to serve people! The Library ----------- The Library will be available again for loans of rule-books, modules and assorted other role-playing material this year. Andrew Mobbs, the Junior Treasurer, has it this year in his room in Bishop Bateman Court (somewhere behind Garfunkel's on Bridge Street). You will need your membership card and a cheque for a returnable deposit; all members should receive a copy of the Library inventory with this newsletter; contact the Secretary immediately if not so he can identify the slacker responsible! This week's NEW AND IMPROVED committee is: President Andy Penrose (Little Boy Blue)* Caius ajp1011@hermes.cam.ac.uk Vice-President Brian McLaughlin (Little Bo Peep)* Girton bsm1002@hermes.cam.ac.uk Secretary Steve McIntyre (This little piggy)* Churchill sam1007@hermes.cam.ac.uk Junior Treasurer Andrew Mobbs (Grand old Duke of York)* Trinity Hall ajm46@hermes.cam.ac.uk Assistant Secretary Mike Pitt (Old King Cole)* Churchill mhp1001@hermes.cam.ac.uk LRP Officer Rohan Platts (Old Mother Hubbard)* Homerton rp207@hermes.cam.ac.uk External Officer Rob Wi|cox (Simple Simon)* Clare rjw1005@hermes.cam.ac.uk World Wide Web: http://hammer.chu.cam.ac.uk/~sam1007/curs/ or http://www2.eng.cam.ac.uk/~sam1007/curs/ *If you think you can do better, tell us!!! Steve McIntyre 20/11/95 Thanks to Paul Killworth for the Death of Caesar.. As always, greatly appreciated!