Editing User:Bill/Rifts Week by Week/Series Three Notes

==Series III Goals and Objectives==
My last series for the Week by Week project didn't go as well as I had hoped. There were some fantastic, over-the-top moments, but the entire game was combat centric. For Series III, I want to tighten things back down and put greater emphasis on character development and role-playing. To that end, I am going to build the entire campaign around a small band of Atlanteans from a custom clan of my own creation, Sharin, and its efforts to establish itself in the hostile environment of Rifts Earth. 

===Character Development===
To support character development, I am requiring that the players construct a cast of characters. Each player will name a number of NPCs related to their characters, see below, which I will then include in the course of the game as appropriate. The process of naming these characters and defining their relationship to the player character will flesh out their backgrounds and give me many more hooks to work with that are directly related to the PCs.

In addition, I will endeavor to introduce a small cast of recurring NPCs. This will enable the players to develop rapport between the NPCs and their own characters, helping them to better understand the PC's persona.

===Role-Playing===
Basic role-playing will be emphasized by awarding bonus experience points for good role-play every session. Addionally, bonuses to die rolls will be awarded to players in the moment to reinforce the desired behavior. 

==Setting Notes==
Continuing my commitment to support the sales of new Palladium Books products, the game will be set on the Yucatan Peninsula; featured in the Vampires Sourcebook (release date pending). Until it is released, I will be working off of the material presented in the original ''Vampire Kingdoms'' book and the recently released ''Vampire Kingdoms Revised and Expanded''. This will may result in some contradiction between what I am writing and what will be included in the new sourcebook. I'll deal with that after I see the book, but odds are my material will supercede the printed material; which, given the tone of Palladium products, is how it should be.

The clan seeks to gain a foothold on Rifts Earth by taking advantage of the peninsula's co-planar status to avoid detection by the Spulgorth and other aggresive forces until they have built up enough power to repel would-be invaders. The clan has set up camp in the overgrown ruins of Merida and are in the process of restoring the Dzibilchaltun pyramid. Once it is fully operational, the leadership of the clan intends to use its power to take control of Uxmal, Chichen Itza, and Coba. After securing these three most powerful nexuses, they will turn their attention to the demons and vampires controlling the lower peninsula, and ultimately the rest of the world. The clan and its allies risk much by basing themselves close to a Pyramid. If the Splugorth were to discover their plan, they would surely use it to transport an army to Dzibilchaltun and destroy them.

==Atlanteans of Clan Sharin==
Clan Sharin is a degenerate extended family of Atlanteans who, in their hubris, have dabbled in the darkest of arts and come away scarred by it. 
===Leadership of the Clan===
====Queen Pycel====
The leader of Sharin is Queen Pycel, a woman of extraordinary beauty and blackest villainy. Her profane magic demands not only the sacrifice of sentient beings, but that she devour their flesh. Under her leadership, Sharin delves into the most vile of secrets and aligns itself with hidden powers that can drive weak minded individuals mad. Ostensibly, Sharin continues to seek the destruction of alien intelligences and vampires. However, Pycel hungers for more than mere flesh. In her dreams she dominates all life and rules the multiverse as an immortal goddess, exacting her tribute in life itself.

====Ankara====
Ankara is the queen’s sister. As much as anyone more than a century younger is able to be a sibling, that is. While Pycel lusts for power and seeks to dominate all that she beholds, Ankara looks for the momentary amusement. Her prowess as a dimensional traveler makes her useful to Pycel though, so she indulges her sister beyond what might be expected. Ankara enjoys playing the fool, but she harbors greater aspirations. Ankara recognizes the path that the Sharin are on as self destructive. She hopes to redeem her family and persuade them, one at a time if necessary, to abandon their relentless pursuit of power. Her small retinue of followers is made up of like-minded cousins and retainers that have pledged their loyalty to her because of her goodness rather than out of fear.

====Malik====
Malik the Mystic is the Queen’s lover. This jumped up cousin of hers tries to play the games of powers, but his efforts are clumsy. Malik gathers around him young and idealistic members of the clan and invites powerful members of other races to his retinue. In spite of his relative inexperience, Malik understands that his position is both tenuous and temporary at best. If he does not wish to end up as a meal for the Black Widow of Sharin, he must gather enough power and value to himself that he cannot be easily disposed of. This leads him to pursue almost any avenue that presents itself. Rumor, conjecture, lies; in his desperation, Malik will chase after almost any lead.

====Sevrin====
Sevrin, the priest, professes to be under to sway of benevolent spirits that will protect the clan from its enemies and see it prosper. He is one of Pycel’s favorites, not because of his fawning adoration, but because his powers serve her purpose. Sevrin is a fanatic though and he seeks to aid the clan whether it is in his queen’s interest or not. His unsanctioned activities may one day find him on Pycel’s menu.

====Stelmet====
Stelmet, the tattoo master, is one of the few Sharin older than Pycel. He represents a force for tradition and as such stands in opposition to Pycel’s ambition from time to time. She would undoubtedly have had him killed by this point, if not for his importance to the clan as a whole. Stelmet insists that good members of the clan must seek out and destroy those forces that would prey upon mankind. He advocates equality and justice, in opposition to Pycel’s autocratic regime. Pycel makes a point to seduce and corrupt each of Stelmet’s apprentices, and looks forward to the day when she may finally be rid of the troublesome tattoo master.

====Yakutz====
Yakutz, in contrast to Sevrin, makes of himself a perfect picture of the toady. Serving as Pycel’s advisor and spymaster, he caters to her every whim while feeding her information on every member of the clan, as well as its enemies and allies. Unbeknownst to his mistress, Yakutz is engaged in a variety of very risky spy games though. His activities typically use agents and catspaws to advance his agendas, usually gathering information and acquiring assets, but it is possible that his work could expose the clan.
===Other Members of the Clan===
More than 200 members of clan Sharin answered Pycel's call to recolonize the homeworld. Many come seeking power, but even among a clan known for its unscrupulous nature there are idealists who believe that the clan's reputation can be redeemed or that the ancestral homeland can be restored. 

===Minions of the Clan===
As clan members mature and begin to take part in the political power games that have in no small part resulted in its unsavory reputation, they are likely to court the favor of whatever group that they perceive to be most useful and/or powerful. As such any single member of the clan is likely to be accompanied by anything from a single bodyguard up to an entire army; from a horde of near mindless monsters to a single super intelligent being. Anyone or group that advances his or her goals is likely to become a companion of the Atlantean. The few members of the clan that lack these power-hungry ambitions still seem to gather around themselves powerful companions, but more often adventurers and idealists rather than villains and monsters.
 
==Player Characters==
In addition to the standard Week by Week guidelines, bear in mind the following when you create your character.

1. For the most flexible character, it is recommended that you construct a True Atlantean of the Sharin clan using the rules presented in Rifts Atlantis. True Atlanteans may be of any class, but frequently gravitate towards psychic and magically oriented classes. The Sharin have no particular affinity to one class or another, nor do they have any exclusive classes. The Sharin are distinguished by their ambition and lack of boundaries more than any specific knowledge base. As such, the more unusual and exotic the class the better.

2. Other races are permissible, but players must accept that their characters will not have the same opportunities available to them. Other races will act as servants, minions, or companions to another player character Atlantean. And, as such, other races will frequently be treated as inferior to members of the Sharin clan and other Atlanteans. Any race may be selected. However, do not exceed 200MDC.

3. Playing an Atlantean from another clan is also an option. However, doing so will place your character at the center of many more political machinations while simultaneously limiting his or her access to information and resources available to the Sharin.
===Contacts & Companions===
Characters in this game are heavily defined by their associations. Your character is aligned, either publicly or secretly, with one of the six NPCs described above; unless you have opted to play something other than a True Atlantean. In that situation, you are aligned with one of the other player characters, who is aligned with one of the six NPCs described above. If you are particularly ambitious, you may attempt to play a double-agent and select two of the important NPCs to be aligned with. Be sure to decide who your true allegiance is to, even if it’s only yourself. 

In addition to this association, please make a list of nine names. 
*Three names are to be allies, people that can offer you aid in one fashion or another. Be sure to describe what the person does and what it will cost you. Bear in mind that nothing in this world is free. 
*Three names are to be family members. Describe where they are and what they do. Also describe whether you are on good terms with that person. Remember that the point of this is to create a colorful and detailed back-story that will provide lots of good plot hooks for everyone, so it’s not always beneficial or desirable that your character’s relationship is good.
*The final three names are to be enemies. This can be particularly challenging, but very fulfilling. Consider carefully who the enemy is, whether the enmity is shared, and what events have already transpired in your feud. Each enemy should be powerful enough that you cannot confront and defeat them directly, but not so powerful that they can eliminate you without significantly harming themselves.

===Goals & Motivations===
Please create one short-term goal and a greater motivation for your character. These should inform your role-playing during the course of play and give you a direction to move in even when there doesn’t seem to be an obvious choice. Motivations should not be something that will be easily achieved in a few sessions of play, and they may be so great that it is impossible to achieve them.
 
====Sample Goals====
Aid a family member 

Capture a rune weapon

Find an ally

Gain a new magical tattoo

Gather information on an enemy

====Sample Motivations====
Take over the clan

Destroy Splynn

Redeem the clan's reputation

Murder Pycel

Become a Tattoo Master

==Session Notes==
===Session One - 13 January 2012===
This session included Dylan, John, and Mike playing JW Grackle, Yavin, and Conan respectively. The session opened with Ankara, Conan's associated leadership NPC, approaching the PCs to investigate the sighting of large humanoid ants to the south of the settlement. 

The players set out on foot to do so and encountered an allosaurus. They defeated the creature after four melees of combat. The combat rounds became somewhat repetitious once players had decided on a preferred attack. I will have to think on ways to mix up combat to keep it more exciting in the future. After killing the dinosaur, the players spotted the ant-people that they were looking for. Two scouts had been observing the fight. Using their supernatural strength to move the monster, Yavin and JW presented the carcass to the ants as a gift. 

Here we ran into a communication problem. The write-up for the ant-people (fyr kree insectoids from the Yin Sloth Jungle book from the Palladium FRPG) indicates that they communicate via an ultrasonic language. Yavin, an undead slayer, has a power tattoo that grants him the ability to understand any language; however, he does not have the ability to hear in the ultrasonic range. Though Dylan argued that the magic would provide the means to communicate as well as the means to interpret communication, I ruled that it provided the ability to interpret language but not the means to hear it. And, though that made the subsequent introduction to the queen and conversation with her more challenging, I think it made for a much more entertaining game. 

Instead of permitting him to immediately and easily communicate, I allowed the character to flawlessly (96%) interpret the alien body language of the ant-people. This, combined with JW's impressive (80%) trust/intimidate check, allowed the players to get their message accross. Though awkwardly and imperfectly. I did ask if anyone in the group had an appropriate pantomime related skill, even dance would have worked, to make the communication more effective. They did not.

After passing a night in the strange, yet familiar, ziggurat of the ant-people, the PCs returned to the settlement to report what they had learned. After admonishing them to tell her sister that the ant-people would be very difficult to conquer and that they present no threat at this time, Ankara brought Conan and Yavin into Pycel's office; JW was left to his own devices and quickly found a meal. 

Pycel questioned them regarding the ants and found their answers vague. When they indicated that the ants were being attacked by vampires, and that they might be able to gain valuable allies by defeating enemy of the ants, she showed her true colors. Pycel said that as long as the ants did not pledge fealty to her they served as a useful distraction for her other enemies. And, when Yavin would not let it drop, she thanked them for volunteering to investigate the vampires further. 

The session left off with the PCs preparing to venture into the wilderness and seek out the vampire menace. Everyone was awarded 500XP for playing and I awarded John and Dylan an additional 100 each for playing out the strange communication problem.

Several times during the session, Mike expressed dissatisfaction with his character's abilities compared to others. Because half the game was based on combat, where a level 1 spell caster generally won't stand out much, and the other half of the game focused on areas where his character was not well developed, he very likely felt left out. I will have to accept some responsibility for that. I have not taken the time to review his character so I can better plan opportunities for him to shine. I will attempt to do so before our next session.

==Character Log==
When I've run games like this in the past, they have accumulated large numbers of non-player characters. For my convenience and everyone else's reference, I will keep as much information here as I can without spoiling anything.
{| width=100%
| '''Name'''
| '''Class'''
| '''Notes'''
|- valign="top"
| Ankara || Atlantean Drifter 9 || Pycel's sister. An adventurer and idealist seeking to redeem the Clan name. 
|- valign="top"
| Belicor || Diabolist 6 || Belicor and his suplicant Igor Venture are part of Ankara's retinue. The diabolists' powers make them a tremendous asset to the expedition, providing circles of protection for the settlement as well as other runic enhancements. Belicor is not an altruist though. He lusts after Ankara and uses his magic to cripple any would-be suitor that might approach her. Ankara seems to be blind to her "friend's" jealousy.
|- valign="top"
| Conan || Battle Mage 1 || Conan joined the expedition on Phase World and has been passing himself off as a cousin of the clan. He is in truth the sole survivor of a rival clan, the Kalamarakia, that Pycel ordered destroyed almost 20 years ago. Conan intends to get close enough to the inner circle to have his revenge on Pycel, her lover, and the spymaster Yakutz. Conan has sacrificed much in pursuit of this goal; abandoning his position with the Federation of Magic and masquerading as one of the hated Sharin. Played by Mike.
|- valign="top"
| Dave || Mind Bleeder 14 || An enigmatic figure, Dave joined the expedition as it gathered on Phase World. Dave seldom speaks, but people feel comfortable in his presence and when asked almost every member of the expedition would say that Dave is a great guy and reliable friend. Perhaps due to the secrets that he keeps, Conan has been particularly close to Dave.
|- valign="top"
| Esteban Bustamonte-Moreno || Master Vampire 7 || Yavin is the sole survivor of a failed expedition to destroy Esteban. The monster tortured and killed a dozen of his companions before the young tattooed man escaped. Esteban still has his scent and looks forward to the day that he can slowly peel away Yavin's skin an inch at a time.
|- valign="top"
| Frokei Savage || Mystic Ninja 2 || Brother of Jaori Savage and childhood friend of Conan. Frokei, Jaori, Tomomi, and Conan met while attending a magical academy in Dweomer. The four friends were amongst the most talented students in the class and great things were expected of them all. Frokei was once a rival to Conan for Tomomi's affections. Since Conan left he and Tomomi have become very close.
|- valign="top"
| Glykos || Undead Slayer 2 || Twin brother of Lykos. The younger of the two, Glykos is a highly bombastic individual and is likely to be at the center of any fight. Glykos specializes in power tattoos that enhance his durability and enable him to put his opponents off balance. Glykos and Lykos met Conan on Phase World while the clan gathered for its expedition to Earth. The trio mounted several short raids on the Splugorth controlled areas of Phase World, valiantly ducking security forces and minions of the alien intelligences alike.
|- valign="top"
| High Father Suthue || Blood Priest 14 || Bloodpriest of the Tombstone Kingdom. Yavin battled Suthue's forces during the siege on Arzno. The young undead slayer continues to harbor a grudge against him.
|- valign="top"
| Igor Venture || Diabolist 1 || Suplicant to Belicor. Igor became Belicor's apprentice after the Atlantean passed through his village in the former state of Kansas. The young man had never seen magic done without an incantation, and the strange symbols of the diabolist's art captured his imagination. At first Belicor resisted taking on an apprentice, but the boy's persistence in following him and mimicing his designs finally convinced him. Belicor is a kind master, but demanding.
|- valign="top"
| Jaori Savage || Mystic Ninja 2 || Brother of Frokei Savage and childhood friend of Conan. Jaori, Frokei, Tomomi, and Conan met while attending a magical academy in Dweomer. The four friends were amongst the most talented students in the class and great things were expected of them all. Jaori always seemed to fade into the background, but he was obviously the most talented of the group.
|- valign="top"
| Javier || Undead Slayer 10 || Yavin's grandfather, a hero of the clan responsible for the destruction of the vampire intelligence Aaoraoxoar on the distant world of K'van and the purging of the Dybuk from Joash XI. True to his calling, Javier continues to root out the undead in distant corners of the megaverse.
|- valign="top"
| Lykos || Undead Slayer 2 || Twin brother of Glykos. The elder of the two, by several minutes, Lykos is generally the calmer of the pair. He also specializes in monster tattoos. Glykos and Lykos met Conan on Phase World while the clan gathered for its expedition to Earth. The trio mounted several short raids on the Splugorth controlled areas of Phase World, valiantly ducking security forces and minions of the alien intelligences alike.
|- valign="top"
| Malik || Mystic 8 || Pycel's lover. Power hungry and desperate to secure his position at the top of the clan hierarchy. 
|- valign="top"
| Max || Undead Slayer 14 || Leader of the Liberated Underground on Atlantis. Friend and former ally of Yavin.
|- valign="top"
| Mr. Drak || Rogue Scholar 10 || Circus Master of Mr. Drak's Traveling Show. Friend and former employer of Yavin.
|- valign="top"
| Olympus || T-Archer 4 || A monster hunter and friend of Yavin.
|- valign="top"
| Panther || Undead Slayer 10 || Yavin's mentor and uncle.
|- valign="top"
| width=150 | Pycel || width=150 | Cannibal Mage 13 || Queen Pycel is the hereditary leader of Clan Sharin. She rules with an iron fist and her enemies are frequently found not only murdered, but butchered. 
|- valign="top"
| Queen of the Ant People || Unknown || A 12ft tall giant ant and mother of the ant-people encountered by Conan, JW, and Yavin.
|- valign="top"
| Sevrin || African Priest 10 || Spiritual leader of the clan. Sevrin communes with nature spirits and does as they bid. Sevrin may be mad.
|- valign="top"
| Stelmet || Tattoo Master 11 || An honored elder of the clan. Publicly disapproves of many of Pycel's decisions.
|- valign="top"
| Stuart Benningham || Mystic Knight 3 || Visiting the Federation of Magic, Yavin had the opportunity to meet many people. Cecelia Benningham, Sir Stuart's younger sister was one of these. She and Yavin had a brief tryst but parted amiably. When Sir Stuart learned of the affair he flew into a rage and vowed to slay the young Atlantean. 
|- valign="top"
| Tomomi Long || Mystic Ninja 2 || A childhood friend of Conan, Tomomi has joined the Federation of Magic's elite mystic ninjas. Jaori, Frokei, Tomomi, and Conan met while attending a magical academy in Dweomer. The four friends were amongst the most talented students in the class and great things were expected of them all. She and Conan were romantically involved before his departure and she feels that she knows him better than anyone. 
|- valign="top"
| Yakutz || Mind Melter 12 || Pycel's spymaster. Rumored to have agents throughout the settlement and in the world beyond.
|- valign="top"
| Yavin || Undead Slayer 1 || Yavin has joined the expedition along with his uncle and many other undead slayers ready to make an assault against the vampiric plague consuming central America. Played by John.
|}

==Location Log==
{| width=100%
| '''Name'''
| '''Vicinity'''
| '''Notes'''
|- valign="top"
| Dzibilchaltun <br> [tsee-beel-chal-toon] || 10 miles north of the settlement || The Mayan ruins at Dzibilchaltun include the pyramid that Pycel used to bring her people to the Yucatan. This pyramid is very small and not very powerful. Pycel's next objective, now that the encampment is secure, is to have her stone masters construct a full scale Atlantean pyramid on the site. One that will harness sufficient ley line energy to crush her opposition with.
|- valign="top"
| Mayapan || 20 miles south of the settlement || The site of Mayapan is inhabited by a strange race of primitive ant-people. They have constructed a large ziggurat of alien design here and it appears to house their entire colony.
|- valign="top"
| Merida || 20 miles south of the coast || The once sprawling metropolis of Merida was flattened by the tidal waves following the cataclysm. Today only the rotted hulks of collapsed skyscrapers, overgrown with terrestrial and alien tropical plants, remain. The ruins are infested with spirits, entities, and small predatory dinosaurs.
|- valign="top"
| width=150 | The Settlement || width=150 | On the ruins of Merida || Approximately 300 buildings and temporary structures have been erected within the one mile diameter of a megadamage wall. As a supplemental protective measure, a half mile of bare earth was cleared around the encampment. The limited accommodations make privacy challenging at times, and tempers are beginning to run hot. There is talk among some members of the expedition about leaving the protection of the wall to get some elbow room.
|- valign="top"
| || • Armory || A fortified structure containing several dozen suits of light battle armor, hundreds of laser weapons, and some explosives. Reconnaissance teams and guards may requisition equipment from the armory, within reason.
|- valign="top"
| || • Motor Pool || A large hangar and repair bay for the storage and maintenance of several dozen vehicles brought along by the expedition. The chief mechanic, Izak, and his crew are highly skilled at working on both technological and magical vehicles.
|- valign="top"
| || • Reactor || Near the center of the settlement in a fortified structure is the nuclear reactor that powers most of the structures in the encampment and provides energy to recharge the technological devices that rely on electricity. The reactor itself is protected by an armored containment unit approximately 20ft below the surface. Two iron golems and a team of guards are posted at the reactor building at all times.
|- valign="top"
| || • Scriptorium || A central repository of magical knowledge and equipment, all mages in the expedition capable of using ''Create Magic Scroll'', ''Amulet'', ''Talisman'' and other abilities that create lasting magical items are expected to contribute to the collection. Reconnaissance teams and guards may requisition equipment from the scriptorium, within reason.
|- valign="top"
| || • Wall || A seamless 30ft tall stone wall, erected by the stone masters that Pycel recruited for the expedition, encircles the encampment. The wall is a perfect circle and has been mystically fortified to provide substantial megadamage protection. Additionally, enchantments have been laid upon the wall to repel animals and make the settlement resistant to incursion from demons and other entities. Two 20ft by 20ft gates pierce the wall; one on the north side and one on the south. Both gates are guarded at all times by two iron golems and a team of warriors. Each gate also has a gun emplacement built into it with a heavy laser cannon.
|}