[This report didn't get through a week ago, so I'm reposting it now. Hope Loren
notices! BTW, why isn't anyone else telling John what happened? You all forget
what went on, or something? Don't drink so much, my friends!]
John Hughes:
> RQ CON GOSS - DON'T KEEP US IN THE DARK!
> So what happened? What did you play? What has Greg changed his mind
> about THIS time? How about a few titbits for those of us who didn't
> make it!
OK, OK, here's my own RQCon2 report. Apologies for any errors, omissions or
opinions it may contain. Stuff revelations: this is truly *memorable* stuff.
Others, please supplement this! (Next year's RQCon organisers, why not pay Sam's
way to the Con: duty free aside, he's worth it as a roving reporter for the RQ
Daily!)
FRIDAY
Chaosium's buffet meal: Loads of cheese, dips and melon chunks. Far more
palatable than any Geo's I've attended. Co-conspirators Paul and Finula stole
away with many leftovers to stock their suite for the rest of the weekend: a
Good Thing. There was a brief, informal introduction round by the Con organisers
(practically their only public appearance in this role), before people started
asking where their HtWwO and BC character packets were...
Pendragon Seminar: Hosted by Peter Corless with Michael Trout. Certainly the
best-organised panel I've sat on; Peter ran with a well-designed set of OHP
transparencies illustrating his theme of how an adventure can grow from an
eye-catching incident mentioned in one Arthurian source. I only intervened when
the seminar was in dire danger of degenerating into a map fetishist's paradise
or a role-player's nightmare. Loads of fun; congrats to all involved.
Long Ago & Far Away: Alas, I wasn't able to be on this freeform (clashing
events), but sounds like it was good clean fun. The Castellan sends his regards
to Whiskers the Cat.
Fanzine Panel: Our audience was the usual mix of obsessive technophiles who want
Tales published only in some electronic multimedia wax cylinder format, and shy
audience members who don't want to say what they want to see next. Public debuts
of the New Lolon Gospel (Harald Smith on Imther), Codex #3 and the Best of RQ
Adventures. Fun all round, I hope, except for the wax cylinder enthusiasts.
Stafford Reads: From his ancient Pelorian mythology: the Men of the Log,
Brightface, Naveria, and other examples of Things Men Got Wrong. As the person
most responsible for this selection (v. similar to the Convulsion reading), I
hope the audience enjoyed this pre-Lunar extravaganza.
The Hotel "Pub" (recte Bar): Overpriced, understocked, and over there. Loads of
useless American beers, few decent imports. But great company!
The Yolanelathon: I *think* this traditional event happened on Friday night: it
may have been Saturday instead. MOB performed his (Late Elvis) Moonson
impression to the normal critical acclaim, while I manfully resisted the most
tempting pronunciation of "Faugh!". The Selerics seemed to go down well, though
without RQCon1's essentially cyclical rendition.
SATURDAY
Singing: After breakfast, many of my fellow Dara Happans got together for an
inspiring rehearsal of court protocol (led by MOB), together with a rousing
chorus of "Deipolis". This aberrant behaviour was repeated on a couple of
subsequent, unplanned occasions. Before HtWwO, I ran through a few Lunar
patriotic songs with the Imperial contingent, and was similarly uplifted by
their fervent praise of the Goddess. (And Artaphaestos' medal was a beautiful
thing to behold! Thanks, Peter.)
I ought to mention that we were sharing the venue with the American Red Cross
disaster relief people, and some sinister group in what *looked* like oversized
cub scout uniforms. Anyone find out who they were? (Some people mentioned the
"Kindergarten Teachers of America", but I find that hard to believe). Anyway, it
made for some interesting culture-clashes in the lobbies, lifts, etc.,
especially in my full imperial drag.
Con Rooms:
- The Dealers' Room: A source of never-ending wonders. Ancient lead figures
from the days before lucrative licensing deals! A Chaosium stall selling "Lords
of Terror"! Glow-in-the-dark Trickster T-Shirts! Wow.
- The Art Gallery: Dazzlingly magnificent. Original artwork on display
included WB&RM and DP covers and internals, Steve Purcell's RQ3 boxed set covers
(much nicer in the original than in the repro versions), and a selection of Dan
Barker and Ralph Horsley masterworks. Well worth a look.
- The Lhankor Mhy Temple: Possibly the greatest innovation of the Con. The
organisers' suite included a copy of every imaginable RuneQuest and Gloranthan
source, on public display. Anyone learn anything?
How the West was One: Arrrrrgh! Never again! (as we freeform refs always say,
after the event). Refereeing this one was a never-ending chore and delight:
plots that had lain fallow throughout the Convulsion run bloomed in all their
intended splendour.
Particularly noteworthy in this regard were the great (and very
lucrative) Watchdog Council Tapping coverup and the "Two (no, Three!) Arkats"
plot. "Tea & Sympathy" for Dalai Dan, the Carmanian Pope, was a personal high
spot: also, the perfect diplomacy between the Imperial Ambassador and the
recalcitrant Arrolian Lunars (which culminated when Varnaro of Riverjoin [Anne
Merritt], recently anathematised, signed her name to a blank treaty and left
Artaphaestos to fill in the details). An excellent and inspiring display of
hats, despite the poor publicity given to this essential ingredient of the game.
Another black-clad swathe of Rokari Inquisitors, this time led by
Roderick Robertson with an uncannily terrifying executioner's mask. I was twice
prevailed upon to rescue distressed damsels from their clutches: trashing their
torture chamber as the fanatical Ramalian Soldiers of the Faith to spring
Tarltemona, the Hidden Bishop, and hurling them back against the walls of the
subcommittee room as Varnaro's invisible body- guard. Funny how these things
recur... was it Dan McDonald playing the principal victim (Sir Leperon) both
times?
Mike McGloin beat even Jon Quaife as the sleaziest Vadeli trader
imaginable. I have come to believe that a properly doddery and mystical Gaiseron
is against human nature, having witnessed power corrupting two separate
incarnations. The Rokari walk-out at the end was a joy to behold after
Convulsion's wimpy collapse. David Hall believes that the Hrestoli win because
their ideology is basicially 20th-century (albeit composed of fascism,
militarism, isolationism, and the hypocrisy of "upward mobility for all" --
Siglat's Dream), while the Rokari lose because they are stuck in an essentially
mediaeval paradigm. Me, I'd rather live in Arrolia...
Remember, kiddies: writing and running freeforms is Hard Work. Don't try
it on your own.
The Auction: This was held on Saturday night at eleven p.m: I understand the
(handful of) people who attended found several remarkable bargains. "Weird," as
we say in California. I took some time consoling Dan Barker for the knockdown
prices his original artworks had fetched. Still, nice for the buyers (less so
for the next Con's funds).
Nick