Messina

Messina: Land of Forgotten Fairy Tales (often referred to simply as Messina) is an ongoing game series under Live Effects. It is the first Live Action Role Playing Game set in the fantasy Messina cosmos, and was first introduced by Devin McCarthy and Amanda Mielke in 2009.

It is worlds collide game, where a land of fantasy and magic (Messina) comes into contact with our own world (Terra, circa 1935). The two worlds interact in strange and dangerous ways in a fantasy/modern/steampunk adventure where fairy tales come true in terrible and twisted ways.

Messina

Land of Forgotten Fairy Tales

Location

Greater Los Angeles Area, California

Genre

Fantasy/modern worlds collide, steampunk, twisted fairy tales

Conflict resolution system

medium boffer combat including spell packets and foam-dart guns

Duration

day and weekend games

Established

fall 2009

Games per year

3 events per year

Credits

Created and managed by Amanda Mielke and Devin McCarthy.

Participation fee

normal weekend game fee $70-$80

Rule system

modified Live Effects Ruleset

Website

Live Effects Homepage

Game History

Messina began as a tabletop RPG in 2003 by Amanda Mielke for Devin McCarthy and their college roommates. In time it developed into a complex world setting with (unpublished) rules for 3.5 and 4.0 Dungeons and Dragons games. In 2005 and 2006 Amanda and Devin began ramping up production and assembling the document for a hopeful 3.5 open gaming license release of the campaign world and rules. Unfortunately 2007 brought fourth edition and after refitting the rules and play-testing in the new edition we decided to go another route.

In early 2009 work began on Messina Theatre, the live action role playing side of the Messina cosmos. The campaign was announced in summer 2009 as part of Live Effects. The first event was run Saturday, November 14, 2009. Originally intended to be a series of day games, player requests led to the first Messina weekend game on Friday-Sunday, March 18-20, 2011. Messina continues to run events approximately three times a year.

Throughout the years Amanda and Devin have been joined by a number of co-GMs including Aaron Vanek, Rachel Noel, Ray Lavoie, Danielle Collins, and Ian Sorensen.

Setting

Terra

Terra is our world, the lands we know as Earth. The time period is that brief span of years between WWI and WWII, a time of jazz and prohibition, of the Great Depression and growing European unrest. A time when we really thought that the events of the Great War had so shaped us that there would never be war again, despite growing evidence to the contrary.

Some scholars believe that Messina has always interacted with Terra, that when St. George set off to slay the dragon or knights set out to hunt the unicorn they wandered out of Terra and into Messina. Our Terra mythology is based on these brief encounters with another world.

Messina

Messina is a land of many kingdoms, also recently shaped by war. The Great Dragon War lasted a thousand years in Messina and only ended about 500 years ago. Most of the human kingdoms have had to be rebuilt, while the elves and dwarves and dragons of the East still remember the war on a personal level.

Rules

Messina uses a customized version of the Live Effects Rules Set.

Campaign

To date Messina has run ten games.

Game 1: Once Upon a Time

Date: Saturday, November 14, 2009

Location: Kenneth Hahn State Rec. Area (Los Angeles, CA)

In game date: 11/14/1923

A group of heroes from all over Messina are chosen to investigate the strange activities of the Brotherhood of the Black Art (a secretive wizarding order) and find themselves pursuing their quarry through a portal and into another realm. There they encounter a garden party where new friends and allies are made who join them on their pursuit of the wizards and their strange interest in the Grimm's Fairy Tales.

Another through the portal leads the party back to Messina but the portals are not unguarded: the party is blocked by the Goddess Torah who guards against travel between the planes. These worlds, she explains, are not supposed to interact. They are separate for their own protection. Quickly the party explains that they do not seek to harm the worlds, only to stop those who would: the Brotherhood of the Black Art. Torah allows them to pass and points them towards the the Temple of Knowledge where she recommends they seek aid from the Lore Mistress (an important scholar priest).

The party quickly stumbles in their quest to find out more about the Fairy Tales as they happen into a fairy tale themselves: a madcap case of 'magic beans' and their hallucinatory effects - effects that led one local boy to accidentally kill a giant. Many magic beans later the adventurers have turned back the giant's vengeful relations and settle down with the Lore Mistress who explains to them the strange events:

Long ago two brothers, Wilhelm and Jacob Grimm, traveled between the worlds of Messina and Terra. While in Messina they dreamed strange dreams which they recorded and published back home in Terra and whimsical children's tales. However: in Messina these tales have started coming true in dark ways and have become known as the Grimm Prophesies.

One prophesy, recorded only in the earliest edition of the Tales (and now lost) speaks of a Shard, which the Brotherhood believes may be the shard of a long-lost artifact known as the Lindblade. The Brotherhood seeks the Shard of the Lindblade so that they might achieve world domination.

The party agrees that this dark plan must be stopped at all costs. The Loremistress gives them a strange device known as the Dimensional Clock (one of two once owned by the Grimms) which will allow them to travel between worlds. The other, she warns, is likely in the hands of the Brotherhood or their Terran allies.

Game 2: The Golden Key

Date: Saturday, March 27, 2010

Location: UCLA Kerckoff Hall (Westwood, CA)

In game date: 3/27/1924

The party travels to the University of Göttingen in Germany to seek out any descendants of the Grimms. There they make a number of new friends. However the local 'businessman' Bruno and his 'associates' don't take too kindly to the interlopers. Enemies are made, but not before crucial information is passed: the location of the last remaining Grimm descendant.

Sebastian Montrose is descended from the Grimms on his mother's side and never met his famous ancestors. He runs a clock shop in the University town and is interested to hear the travelers' tales. When shown the Dimensional Clock he is distressed to find it broken (perhaps in a small scuffle the party had on their way into town) and offers to fix it. The device is left in his care as the group turns their attentions to one of his family heirlooms: a wooden chest with a puzzling lock.

Shortly the puzzle lock is solved and the chest opens revealing a cryptic note written by Dorthea Grimm (wife of Wilhelm). With much deduction the party follows it, finding themselves in a cemetery where a locked mausoleum is heavily besieged by wizards of both the Brotherhood and their Terran counterpart the Order. A mighty battle rages while members of the party struggle to solve the puzzle which locks the tomb. Inside they find a golden key and a box containing a very old version of the Grimm's Tales.

The group flees, booty in hand. It is later discovered that the key is an artifact - a Dimensional Key, even stronger than the Dimensional Clock - and that the manuscript is an original copy of the Grimm's Tales including part of the Lost Tale. At least two pages are missing so the group heads back to Messina to gather more information, leaving their Clock with Sebastian for repair.

Game 3: Leaves of Gold

Date: Friday, June 11, 2010

Location: Wyrdcon Larp Convention (Costa Mesa, CA)

In game date: 6/11/1924

The group gets a message that one of their friends: Princess Tiara of Careval (and eleven of her princess-ly friends) has disappeared from her locked bedroom. They rush to investigate eventually finding a secret passage under a bed that leads down a magical path past a forest full of gold, silver, and copper trees and into fairyland.

A Fae ball is underway with music and dancing, wine and feasting, theater and games. Lord Oberon and Lady Titania preside but Princess Tiara is nowhere to be found (though her friends all dance happily with the fairy princes). The heroes search for their friend but the party soon gets out of hand as Queen Mab of the Twilight Court shows up uninvited. Shots are fired, bargains made and finally a clue discovered: a half-finished storybook page with Tiara's likeness in the picture.

It seems the Goblin King has trapped Tiara in an enchanted book, hoping to persuade her to be his bride. Materials are gathered and clues unraveled as the group must paint and illuminate to complete the tale in order to free their friend from the book.

Once Tiara is free, and Mab banished from the party, the group attempts to return to their homes but something feels strange, they cannot get a fix on their destination. Finally they are able to teleport out, only to find that time runs differently in Fae'ri. More than five years have passed since they entered the realm.

Game 3.5: The Crash

Date: Saturday, September 18, 2010

Location: Wyvren Manor (Costa Mesa, CA)

In game date: 11/21/1929

The party returns to Terra after their time in Fae'ri only to learn that more than five years have passed and the world is not as they left it. In Terra the stock market has crashed, throwing the United States (and much of the world) into depression. In Messina, Tiara's father has died and her beau - Prince Charmont - gone missing. In both worlds many of the heroes are presumed missing or dead.

The group finds themselves at the Black Horse Inn, a speakeasy and hotel with a rumor for otherworldly activity. This rumor is soon proven as the party encounters a pair of ghosts and begins unraveling their tragic tale. Meanwhile they also encounter a couple of old acquaintances: Bruno and Sebastian (their German acquaintances) are running guns in the neighborhood - using the Dimensional Clock to import Terran weaponry into Messina.

Finally, in an even stranger twist of fate, the Brotherhood and the Order seem to have learned the party's whereabouts. They launch an attack of their own: a giant frog! After a fierce battle the frog reverts to a more normal size but before the party can smash it the frog makes a startling allegation: he is Prince Charmont.

Char was investigating a witch in his lands when the witch got a drop on him and turned him into a frog. He roamed the wilderness until the wizards picked him up and decided to use him as a guard-beast. He pleads with Tiara to kiss him (which she does) and return him to human form.

Charmont also explains that he believes that the witch was working with Bruno - granting him magical protection that aids him in his smuggling and protects him from the heroes wrath. The party agrees that their next course of action is to find this witch and discourage her alliance with Bruno.

Game 4: The Sarcophagus and the Seven Stones

Date: Saturday, December 11, 2010

Location: Old Zoo, Griffith Park (Los Angeles, CA)

In game date: 12/11/1929

The group travels to the Great Wastes of Messina, which border Prince Charmont's kingdom of Oncomn. There they encounter an encampment of dwarves, with what looks like pyramids in the background.

The Queen Pharaohess Undying is a human girl, barely seeming more than 15 or 16 years old, clad in the silk and gauze and gold that is unmistakably Egyptian. She refers to herself as Cleopatra and her kingdom as the Nile. Her seven dwarven manservants and priests wait on her unfailingly and refer to her as their risen goddess. She makes no excuses for her very lucrative partnership with the gun-runner Bruno but is willing to entertain the party's arguments to disband it.

Meanwhile, deep in the catacombs and tunnels of the mines some of the party happens upon strange hieroglyphics: runes that tell a fearful tale. Cleopatra was poisoned by her stepmother who was weary of her rising star. She was lost and fell into darkness. The dwarves found her and placed her in a crystal coffin, and their priests muttered over her. She re-awoke. She is the Undying One.

The heroes begin to suspect two things- 1) that Cleopatra is a Terran movie star, Bianca Snow, who went missing several years ago while filming Cleopatra and 2) that Cleopatra is a lich. Unfortunately a worse secret is discovered: a cauldron full of terrible serum that the dwarven cultists plan to pour into the river. It would turn all it touches into undead monstrosities and expand the reach of their dark mistress.

After an epic night battle in almost complete darkness the dwarves are intercepted and slain. Cleopatra flees and the cauldron of dangerous poison is transported to Germany (where nothing bad could possibly happen to it).

Game 5: Into the Woods

Date: Friday, March 18 - Sunday, March 20 2011

Location: Lawler Lodge (Idylwild, CA)

In game date: 3/18/1930

With Bruno's magical backup out of the way the heroes march onward into Oncomn where the notorious gun-runner has his base of operations. They arrive in a small town just before dusk on a night when the moon is unusually full and bright. They are greeted by screaming, as a young girl in a red cloak rushes into the town square having narrowly escaped attack by a wolf. Rosalin,the young girl, explains that she was headed to her grandmother's house when a wolf attacked her, but that she was freed by the local woodsman.

The travelers check into the local inn and are expecting a good meal but sadly the cupboards are bare and they are forced to share in a local vagabond's scraped together stone soup. They waste no time in socializing with the locals where they find the local bard talkative, the local people fearful and superstitious, and Rosalin to be very 'friendly'.

Late that night some of the travelers find themselves drawn out into the woods, they return later bloody and with no memory of what happened. As the inn had been attacked by werewolves during that time the rest of the party soon puts two and two together. All those who were missing during the werewolf attack were those who'd had direct interaction with Rosalin.

The party set out on an epic quest to find a magical blade called Silverlight that a hero long ago had used against the black beasts of the land. They hope to use this weapon to slay the sire werewolf (if they can find him). By closely monitoring Rosalin (who does in fact turn out to be a werewolf) they are able to discover her lover and sire: the woodsman. In a heartbreaking moment of truth they decide that he cannot be allowed to continue spreading lycanthropy but would suffer in captivity and with the silver blade grant him a merciful death. Werewolves out of the way they are able to focus on other matters: a visit from the King and Queen of the Enchanted Forest, and the pressing issue of Bruno and his mob.

The Queen of the Enchanted Forest is heavily pregnant when she and the King happen through and they are happy to visit the heroes and enjoy lunch at the local Inn. It seems the inn has been compromised as the dainty dish of a meat pie - set before the king - is opened to reveal living blackbirds which first sing, then attack in a dastardly assassination attempt. The King and Queen turn back for their lands but urge the party to stop Bruno and his dastardly goons before the balance of weapons and magic in Messina is unalterably damaged.

The heroes track Bruno to his castle on the hill and a mighty battle rages as they fight wave after wave of heavily armed goons with flame throwers and chain guns in a castle trapped with poison gas. As they finally reach Bruno the tide seems to be turning against them: several party members are captured and locked in Bruno's personal quarters while several others lie bleeding on the castle floor. A daring escape by the captured heroes leads them to Bruno's own personal weapons just as the half-angel Sariel (a long time member of the team) gains an extra blessing by calling on his divine ancestry and Tiara's beau Prince Charmont comes to his lady's aid. Finally Bruno is turned back, captured and incinerated with his own weaponry.

Late that night the travelers get a visit from Rosalin's grandmother who consoles her on the loss of her love. The whole story, she says, is familiar: it reminds her of one her childhood friend used to tell. Dorthea Wild was her neighbor when they were little girls but she left Messina with her father, a clockmaker, for some other land where she one day married a man named Grimm.

Game 6: Once Upon a Castle

Date: Saturday, July 30, 2011

Location: Castle Ivar (Hollywood, CA)

in game date: 7/30/1930

The heroes are invited to the Enchanted Forest to celebrate the Christening of the new prince. Unfortunately the queen has died in childbirth but the bereaved king must still present his son to the people.

In a shocking turn of events a strange creature shows up at the ceremony and demands the child as payment for an earlier deal he made with the queen. He steals the child but offers a compromise: he will return the baby if they can either guess his name or complete three challenges. The heroes immediately begin on the challenges, the first of which involves three heroes unraveling the strands of their fate as they follow strings around the castle trying to decide where to separate their fates.

Meanwhile drama is unfolding as a number of candidates vie for the thrones of both Oncomn and Tengaia (two of the many nations of Messina). Four priests are also present who must participate in various rituals to ready a spell that will bless the infant prince. A motion is started to outlaw guns in Messina, a law which is ultimately passed. Fairy godmothers, good and bad, are also in attendance as well as a number of candidates for the thieves guild who lurk amongst the festivities trying to best each other in a game of stealth.

The second challenge is one of combat, where two warriors must fight to death or wounding. The tester offers prizes: greater and greater if the victor will wound his opponent to a greater extent. A brave warrior walks away with a gruesome scar but the second challenge is bested.

Just in time a tome is found - a necronomicon - which speaks of deals with demons and contains a list of demon names. After much puzzling the more studious adventurers believe they have discovered the name, but are uncertain how to pronounce it. Just as the demon calls for the last challenge - one he promises will be the most deadly yet - someone shouts the name. The child is freed.

Game 7: SCIENCE!

Date: Friday, October 7 - Sunday, October 9 2011

Location: Lawler Alpine(Idylwild, CA)

in game date: 10/7/1934

Four years pass in relative calm until the heroes get word of some very strange activities in Germany. They travel to Castle Welwesburg where they discover three projects that the Germany military is working on:

The Immortal Soldier Project: it seems the Germans have discovered the cauldron full of zombie potion that the heroes hid here many years ago (game 4: the sarcophagus and the seven stones) and have unlocked some of its secrets. The cauldron itself produces the liquid and by exposing some of their soldiers to it (as well as some of the hapless villagers) the military believes they may be able to create undying soldiers. The heroes track this project to a nearby cemetery where gallons of boiling elixir have been prepared in the cauldron ready to animate the entire cemetery.

After a grueling fight they are able to seize the potion but must carefully carry it back to camp: one spill in the graveyard could be catastrophic. With many spells and a little angel blood the heroes neutralize the cauldron's contents: but what to do with the cauldron itself? They decide to take it back to Messina where they entrust it into the care of a dragoness (who adds it to her hoard).

The second project is more nefarious and not discovered quite so easily but the heroes have become familiar with the idea that they are living Fairy Tales. When a little girl named Gretel enters the picture they are instantly suspicious and wary for the little girl's safety. When she is led out of the castle by the castle cook they follow, discovering that Gretel has left an easily recognizable trail of breadcrumbs.

The crumbs lead to a mysterious compound and after much conflict and heavy firefight they get into the first lab. Nikola Tesla is bleeding on the ground, with his dying breath he conveys only the basics of the project: to drain the energy - what they call Vril - from those with magic and use it to power terrible weapons. The heroes soon encounter this new type of foe: warriors in Vril powered mechanized suits.

The second lab holds Gretel and a number of others strapped to bunks. Tubes of glowing liquid lead from their veins into a strange machine. Many bullets later the heroes are able to free these victims but quickly find themselves in a third lab. Glowing runes circle the ground and a familiar figure is strapped to a chair in the center: an ancient helmet traced with glowing tubes of energy crowning her head. It is the goddess Torah, the planar guardian who protects against travel between Messina and Terra. The soldiers are draining her Vril.

The heroes believe they have rescued the goddess, quickly removing her from the helmet and chair but a strange tube of energy circles her neck and they quickly discover that she is not herself. She attacks and the heroes find themselves battling a friend and a barrier of floating swords. With quick thinking someone darts forward and tears the circlet of red energy from her neck. She is free but greatly weakened.

Torah, Gretel and all those they rescued are taken back to the castle where Gretel wastes no time in pointing out her betrayer. She leads the kitchen wench (or perhaps kitchen witch) over to the fireplace and pushes her in. The heroes, somewhat horrified, do nothing to stop her.

As the travelers formulate the next step in their plan a few of their number have come up with ideas of their own. Using diagrams stolen from the German Labs they compile an idea to resurrect the Nikola Tesla cybernetically. Tesla's body is hauled back to the third lab and strapped into the glowing helmet as science and invention spark. Finally: he lives.

Once more into the fray, as the heroes decide that they need to breach the Germany fort. They hijack airplanes and fly over the walls, dogfighting and engaging in evasive maneuvers as they encounter enemy aircraft. They land just in time to see three zeppelins take off into the air and disappear through a portal. They quickly discover their old acquaintance Sebastian Montrose, it seems he abandoned Bruno when things got tough in favor of a more lucrative employer and has built at least one Dimensional Clock for the Germany military.

The party regroups to decide on their next step and to review the evidence. Telegrams and a paper trail seem to indicate the involvement of a third party located somewhere in New York but little can be determined at this time. Torah returns to the heavens to seek the zeppelins: the one thing that she can assure the heroes is that they haven't emerged into Messina... yet.

Game 8: The Invasion

Date: Friday, March 9 - Sunday, March 13 2012

Location: Lawler Alpine(Idylwild, CA)

in game date: 3/9/1935

A few months after they disappeared between realms the German zeppelins emerge into Messina and hover near the elven city of Ruis - the great tree city. It is an auspicious time of year for the elves: the time at which they preform a renewal ritual and the Great Tree blooms, spreading a magical pollen that rejuvenates the land. Unfortunately this ritual requires a wedding (something rare among elves) and before the party can intervene one of the zeppelin's lets forth a mighty blast - killing the warrior who was ready to wed his elven princess. She falls into a deep sorrow and the elves fall into a state of worry.

Oberon arrives to the immediate dismay of his priestess, who reminds him of the strict rules forbidding the deities to directly intervene. He denies any such plans but as the zeppelins arm a second shot he 'accidentally' wanders in front of the blast. Oberon, lord of the Seelie fey, is knocked unconscious and falls into a near-death state.

That night the half-angel Sariel sees a light. He follows it and finds his father Hayyel who encourages him to continue the quest for the Lindblade shard. He apologizes for being so distant from his son: angels (like so many other other-world creatures) are forbidden to interfere. Nonetheless, he urges his son to call on him in a time of need.

As morning dawns the heroes once again turn their attentions to the problem at hand: a huge number of German soldiers hell bent on capturing or destroying the tree. Several attempts are made to scout the enemy forces and much conversation is had with the Elven council. Dulcis Abril, the elven princess, remains in a deep state of depression and refuses to help muster the warriors needed to defend the city. A magical analysis indicates that she may be under some kind of curse. The group also investigates how they might restore Oberon's power and reawaken him.

A member of the Brotherhood of the Black Art is caught sneaking around camp. After interrogation he reveals that the Brotherhood has changed their views on the party. Rather than trying to defeat them the Brotherhood acknowledges the group as the heroes from the Lost Tale. They have decided to facilitate the group's involvement in completing fairy tale quests by creating a fairy tale instance themselves: they have placed a curse on the princess that sorrows her until the party can make her laugh. By solving the tale of The Princess Who Couldnt Laugh the group will be one step closer to becoming the heroes of legend.

Meanwhile, a page from an old manuscript indicates that the sacrifice of a golden bird may help restore a fallen god so the group sets out to find such a creature. When one is found - a golden goose - it is captured immediately but the one who nabs it finds himself unable to let it go. Anyone who attempts to help him sticks as well. The group immediately recognizes the curse-work of the Brotherhood but is uncertain how to proceed. Zombies attack and the group is forced to run and fight, still partially stuck together and picking up others through accidental contact, until the situation becomes ridiculous. The princess laughs and the curse is broken. The goose is sacrificed and Oberon returns to the heavens.

Assault by the German military escalates. One of the party members, scientist Brenna Potts, is revealed to be working with the Germans. She betrays the party and is almost killed. Another member of the group discovers his long lost brother (believed dead) on the battlefield.

The group encounters Cleopatra, living on the run since the heroes drove her out of her home in the Wastes, and make a deal with her: she will take control of the zombies on one of the zeppelins - causing them to riot and crash the ship - if they will allow her to return to the lands she calls the Nile. One ship is brought down. Another ship is brought down when Sariel notices it arming a weapon and calls upon his father. Hayyel deflects the blast, destroying the second ship, but at high cost. For his interference in the mortal realms he is cast out of Judea and banished to Gehenna.

The heroes work diligently to bring down the third airship before it can fire on the tree. Pilot Rusty makes many dangerous air raids on the zeppelin, dropping other adventurers into the ship with grenades or tactical weapons. At the same time the heroes on the ground complete a number of quests to increase the tree's power, augment their own weaponry, and remove a piece of the Lindblade (not the one from the Lost Tale) from its hiding place for transport to a safer location.

Finally the third airship is brought low and forced to dock. The heroes climb a precarious rope ladder into the ship where they face an army of heavily armed and armored mechanized warriors. Mighty battle rages and some of the heroes make their way into the engine room of the ship while others storm the cockpit. They discover that the ship has been locked into auto-pilot: set to fire on the tree, then crash into it (two blows that would certainly destroy the Great Tree). After much struggle they are able to set the ship to self destruct, falling to the side and not crashing into the tree, but are unable to divert the blast. The tree is struck. The ship is about to explode and the heroes jump free at the very last second.

The tree is badly damaged but the priests believe it can be restored if the rejuvenation ritual can still take place. Two among the party are already married and agree to renew their vows and pledge themselves in the Messinan ceremony. However the trouble hasn't quite passed. As Mathew readies himself for his wedding ceremony his brother appears and leads him away. He awakens in interrogation while his brother Charles, disguised, takes his place in the wedding and attempts to lead Viola into the darkness as well. The plot is uncovered and a rescue attempt is swiftly mounted to recover Mathew. The wedding ritual is completed and the tree is restored. Peace descends upon the land.

Game 9: Song of the Siren

Date: Friday, July 13 - Sunday, July 15 2012

Location: Lawler Lodge (Idylwild, CA)

in game date: 7/13/1935

A series of clues lead the party to an abandoned colonial manor just outside New York City. Meanwhile Rusty Johnson, the group mechanic and aviator, is called to participate in a science expo that the heroes believe may be linked to the Order. They send Mathew Parker and a new friend, a mechanical doll called Viv, along as well to investigate undercover while the rest of the group makes their way to the manor house.

At the science fair Rusty encounters his longtime rival, Richie Smith, and hilarious banter ensues. Mathew and Viv quickly identify that the judge wears the trademark black gloves of the Order but little opportunity is provided to act.

Meanwhile at the Manor house the group shares information, piecing together clues they have gathered thus far: 1) the house is tied to a family called Ayres 2) intercepted messages indicate that someone named Joseph Blackstone has been warned of their arrival, a man they have already positively linked to the Order and to the events in Germany. 3) papers inside the house link Blackstone to the Ayres family and other papers indicate a clear link between both men and Thanatos, the mysterious leader of the Order.

The heroes begin to suspect that the Order's reach is greater than they thought, that the manor may be an old Order base, and that Order members may be waiting for them - they may have walked into a trap. Some of these suspicions are confirmed as Connal, a friend they met in Elden, fails to return from a scouting mission. They find him locked in a shed, being interrogated by members of the Order.

(this event description is unfinished, expect further updates)

Characters

Mathew Parker - A Brit, Mathew fought in WWI where he (thought he) lost his brother Charles. Mathew adopted his brothers name after the war when he went undercover for the American government. He was later recruited by other organizations, though he keeps quiet on the topic. Mathew reverted to his birth name when his shoe rang in Germany and his companions learned of his secret identity. Mathew and Viola fell in love during the quiet time after the royal christening and were married. They renewed their vows before friends in Elden. Also in Elden Mathew was confronted by his long lost brother - not dead after all - who had joined the Germans after his nation abandoned him in the trenches in WWI. The whereabouts of Charles are yet unknown though it believed that he escaped Elden with Brenna Potts.

Viola Adler-Parker

Trudy

Rusty F. Johnson

Brenna Potts - Brenna was brought into Elden by the Order of Enlightenment after they recruited her at the 1934 Science Expo. She spied on the elves and the party and reported back the Order. When she was discovered by the group she fled, eventually returning to Terra with Charles. She encountered the party for a second time while presenting at the 1935 Science Expo and was convinced not to re-sign with the Order. She joined the party for real after helping them rescue Rusty from the evil machinations of his arch-nemesis. Brenna and Rusty may or may not be dating.

Connal - An Irishman, Connal was working with the French Foreign Legion in Germany when his unit infiltrated the German camp and stowed away on one of the zeppelins. He was the only survivor. When the zeppelin landed in Elden he met up with the group. He was officially released from the Legion after he returned to Terra and has been traveling with the heroes ever since.

The Vivandire

Baron Gunte Von Westerhausen - a German engineer who designed weapons for the Central Powers in WWI, he has been with the group since the very beginning. After the more recent events in Germany he emigrated to the United States.

Ilmorah

Princess Tiara of Jovania

Jack Agyar

Natasha

Sariel - Half angel. In Oncomn Sariel discovered his half sister Angelica.

Giddeon

Lae'tzi - a sleep mage, he travels everywhere with his blanket and his Sheep of Sleep. He is able to project his dreaming self to walk the world unseen and is able to enter the dreams of others to learn their secrets. Lae'tzi got his sheep from Bo Peep, who had lost it, and he trained it up as a magical familiar who helps him with his spells. In New Canaan the sheep was killed so Lae'tzi has had it mummified - though to what effect is yet unknown.

Other Media

In addition to the Messina larp there is a Messina webocomic http://photonmoon.com/webcomic/comics/messina0001/ and there have been Messina tabletops (using the 3.5 edition of the open gaming license).