Tigerkey
about 2 years ago – Sat, Apr 02, 2022 at 09:49:19 AM

Tigerkey

The walls glistened with paranoia.

Maycolm never could decide whether this kind of discomfort was something she reveled in or detested. Maybe both. She only knew that it was necessary.

There was reason to believe that Ayrdon-Penhurst had been compromised. Not a desirable attribute for a top-secret facility. But it could happen in the best of places.

That’s where Maycolm came in. She was only called in when things were truly dire, usually regarding projects vital to national security. She was the last resort.

Her gaze travelled around the conference table, like a substitute teacher scoping out the troublemakers. She was a master of quick assessments.

The small, perspiring man with the shaved head, Dr. Julian La Dross, nervously checking his watch. Could a mole be so obvious?

Next was Dr. Jada Van Hool, who barely registered a pulse except to occasionally adjust her lab coat sleeve — perhaps an odd habit picked up in her work.

Then there was Dr. Walton Davish, the oldest of this very special group, looking remarkably bored. A true scientist. Only alive when he’s working.

Last came Dr. Janice Chen, the youngest of the lot. A wunderkind no doubt, with the look of a person painfully shy around people.

It was all so awkward. The cool troubleshooter could have broken the ice at any time, made everyone feel more at ease.

She preferred discomfort.

The person they’d been waiting for, white-haired Lane MacAllistair, head of Project Tigerkey, finally arrived, huffing a bit. Out of shape? Stressed? Both?

“Sorry to keep you all waiting,” he said. “I trust you’ve met Maycolm?”

“No, we have not,” snipped Jada Van Hool, glancing at her watch. “Is it Ms.? Doctor? Professor? Or simply... hey, Maycolm?”

“Maycolm will do, Dr. Van Hool.”

“Splendid. Saves time. Which is currently being drained like the very life blood from Project Tigerkey.”

“Yes, I really must protest—” began the sweating La Dross.

“Doctors, I commend your eagerness to return to work,” said Maycolm, “but I assure you this is quite necessary, and the sooner we begin, the sooner we’ll be done. Then you’ll have… all the time in the world.”

Van Hool studied her with a kind of haughty curiosity.

La Dross looked flustered, like he never should have spoken in the first place.

“To review,” Maycolm began, consulting her notes, speaking in an efficient monotone, “you four have been working for three months on Project Tigerkey. Your work is completely compartmentalized in that no one of you knows what the other three are working on. But the four separate components, once combined, will, in essence, do what? Dr. Davish?

“Very nice try… Maycolm,” chuckled Davish. “A bit crude perhaps.”

“You’d be surprised how often the element of casual surprise can pay off.”

“Surely you are not suggesting that one of us is a… spy of some sort,” said Chen softly.

“Not necessarily, Dr. Chen. Possibly an independent contractor with no ideology. There are many reasons to betray a country’s secrets.”

“This is absurd,” coughed Dr. La Dross. “I’ve been working with these people for months now.”

“You have?” countered Maycolm. “I understood that you’ve had very little contact with each other. Is that not the whole point?”

“That was a precaution decided on at the outset,” offered MacAllistair.

“Has anything happened?” queried Van Hool. “Where do you get your idea that there is a fly in the ointment, so to speak?”

“At this point I would prefer to hold my cards rather close, if you don’t mind, Doctor.”

“Really,” sniffed a dryly amused Van Hool. “How melodramatic. Perhaps fewer trips to the cinema, since your imagination is obviously susceptible.”

“I take it you feel comfortable here? You can imagine no intrigue? No deception?”

“Well, that’s not really our job, is it, Ms. Maycolm?” huffed Davish, who was growing impatient.

“Just Maycolm.”

“Ms. Just Maycolm—”

“Davish, you need not make this personal,” murmured the uncomfortable-looking La Dross with a forced smile. “I imagine this is just as awkward for May—Maycolm as it is for the rest of us.”

“Look at him. Shining an apple for the teacher,” spat Van Hool.

“That is boorish, Jada; it’s beneath you.”

“We won’t get anywhere if we don’t contain this squabbling,” reasoned Davish. “We don’t even know what proof she has, if any.”

“Yes, why do you suspect us?” reasoned Chen.

“MacAllistair, why aren’t you chiming in?” wondered Van Hool, who took the opportunity to clean her glasses. “You’re the project leader.”

“I am merely here to monitor,” replied MacAllistair evenly. “Matters of this sort I turn over to security. In other words, my hands are tied.”

“Well, why don’t we draw the curtains, close up shop and call it a day,” suggested Van Hool dryly.

“That would be fine with me. Better than sitting here listening to these accusations.” Dr. Janice Chen gritted her teeth in agitation.

“I wasn’t aware that anyone had been accused of anything at this point,” stated Maycolm calmly, lasering in on the young scientist.

“It’s alright, Janice, don’t let this… specialist upset you,” said Van Hool. “It’s what she does. She’s obviously looking for a scapegoat. Tell me, Maycolm, do you have a monthly quota?”

“I don’t—I don’t need anyone to defend me, Jada. I’ve done nothing. Nothing.” Dr. Chen looked like she needed to leave.

“There there, my dear. It’s quite all right,” soothed La Dross, patting her hand.

“Don’t… patronize me. I’m fine. I just want to get back to work.”

Maycolm’s stare seemed to drill right through her. “Tell me, Dr. Chen, is there… anything you’ve noticed lately? Anything out of the ordinary?”

Chen shook her head quickly.

“Anything you’d… care to get off your chest?”

“Have a heart, will you, Maycolm? The poor girl’s upset,” pleaded Dr. Davish.

“Do not patronize me!

“I should tell you, Dr. Chen…” Maycolm spoke slowly, sliding a paper out from under her notes. “I have a list of names… contacts…. I’m going to need to ask you about certain… meetings.”

Dr. Janice Chen’s eyes went wide.

“I’ve been playing it close… to watch your reactions… You need to know it’s all up, I’m afraid. Dr. Chen, I know you have secured plans for all four components and are about to hand them off.”

Chen was the proverbial deer in the headlights. The silence in the room became something terrifying, insurmountable. Time had frozen.

The young scientist’s moves were so lightning fast that no one, not even Maycolm, could have stopped her.

The capsule snapped in Dr. Chen’s mouth.

The interrogation was over.

The look on Maycolm’s face was not one of triumph, but rather misgivings that she had not seen it coming and taken Chen alive.

—

The figure passed through the hotel door into the bustling lobby, right through the crowd, towards the hotel restaurant, all the way through to a table at the back where a nondescript man with glasses rose and extended a hand, which was in turn taken by a gloved counterpart.

“All went successfully?” asked the man.

Dr. Van Hool sat and removed her gloves, sliding a pack of cigarettes across, which the man cupped carefully in hand.

“Yes,” the doctor replied. “Turns out I had a competitor. Fortunately, she had the good sense to eliminate herself, which could not have been better for me, allowing me to finally make my move. In fact, I’d say it’s all rather tidy.”

The man smiled, though there was no humor in his expression, as he pocketed the cigarette pack.

“I don’t think I’m immodest in expecting quite the commendation for this one,” smirked Van Hool as she lit a cigarette.

—

The figure passed through the door to MacAllistair’s office. The project head had his back to the door, jotting something on a board. He turned abruptly and eyed his visitor, then gestured to a chair before seating himself.

“Well, how did we do?” asked MacAllistair.

“Rather well I should say,” replied Maycolm with nary a hint of emotion. She lit a cigarette, flicking the match directly into an ashtray.

“That’s a relief. Not too keen on these games, you understand — as necessary as I suppose them to be.”

“Three months of charade is a small price to pay where the security of the nation, perhaps the free world, is at stake, wouldn’t you agree, MacAllistair?”

“Quite. Of course. So… who’d you flush out?”

“Van Hool. She made her contact approximately twenty-five minutes ago. Even now, the plans for a purely fictional device are wending their sweet way.”

“Incredible,” mused MacAllistair wistfully. “Dr. Jada Van Hool. Who would have guessed?”

“Which is why we don’t. This is far too important for guesswork. Now you can commence the actual Project Tigerkey. Under a different name of course.”

“Of course. Oh. Would you please pass along my compliments to your operative, Janice Chen? An extraordinary young woman. Very convincing.”

“I’m afraid she’s already onto a new assignment,” stated Maycolm flatly, stubbing out her cigarette. “And a new name.”

We're just finishing up our third week of the campaign, and almost ready to start our final week countdown! Tomorrow we'll have the final manuscript section for our sister feature, They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! We'll have the final piece of the [CLASSIFIED] puzzle to backers next Monday, April 4, with plenty of time to spare before any pledges are processed or payments collected. 

Please continue to spread the word and recruit new agents and assets. Together we can unlock additional Stretch Goals and maybe add the [CLASSIFIED] Director's Screen to our Add On options! 

In the meantime, keep up the good work, agents, and I'll be back for our next briefing as March concludes.

#EyeSpy

#TheyCameFrom

#DoubleFeature

FINAL WEEK COUNTDOWN!
about 2 years ago – Sat, Apr 02, 2022 at 03:24:24 AM

Hello to all single eyes and super spies,

We're officially in the final week countdown for this Kickstarter campaign! Over this final week I'll be sharing a handful of instruction and review-type posts about Reward Tiers & Add Ons, Stretch Goal reviews, and What Comes Next, so if you've got any process questions or are wondering about how the Kickstarter steps work, I'm hoping to clarify any remaining questions before we finish. Of course, if you're still wondering about something, please ask and I'll help as best I can.

Final Week Program

• April 2 - Pledge Tier & Add On Review
• April 4 - [CLASSIFIED] Manuscript 004 - Directing available to backers
• April 5 - Trailer Tuesday - non-Bond film inspiration
• April 6 - Stretch Goal Review
• April 7 - Final Day Checklist & What Comes Next

Next Monday, I'll be posting the final draft manuscript download section for They Came from [CLASSIFIED]! If you're a backer of this campaign, you'll be able to read the entire draft manuscript for BOTH books before we finish, before any pledges are processed, and before Kickstarter sends out any conclusion note. So, if you haven't joined up yet, please do so in these final days and know that you can cancel your pledge before the end if either of these books isn't for you.

BUT - if either book is for you (and if you're reading this, I think you already know that it is), joining up now will help us maybe achieve another Stretch Goal before we review our many accomplishments next Wednesday! I sure would love to add another Stretch Goal reward on to the list!

IF YOU ARE already a backer, then an assignment for you:

Recruit New Agents

I know, this is something I've already said many times (and seem to say during every project!), but for this final week, you are officially a virtual ambassador for this Kickstarter project. It's time to share your excitement for They Came from [CLASSIFIED]! and/or They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! Basically, we want to recruit as many interested assets (backers, spy master!) as possible to form our own sort of not-so-secret agency over this final week.

I know I end every update post with "Keep spreading the word! Invite others to join in!" - but what does that mean, and how do you do it?

Easy answer - don't stop talking about They Came from [CLASSIFIED]! and/or They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! until 2:01 PM EDT next Thursday 17 April 7th (when the campaign has ended). Yes, family and friends were tired of me talking about it, but what else have I got to talk about? And they've learned to tolerate me during a kickstarter campaign (at least during the pandemic). But here's the thing - there are others around who haven't heard or don't know about the campaign.

Resources to Share

If you're inviting new backers, or if you are a new backer (hi new backers!), here are a few key resources to be aware of for this campaign.

• Manuscript Draft Previews

Backers are able to review the (soon-to-be) complete manuscripts for both books before the campaign closes and any pledges are processed. No need to wonder how magical effects are handled in They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! or what PHANTOM's world-smashing agenda entails in They Came from [CLASSIFIED]!, you'll have your answers to all questions next Monday! Seriously - despite the name and my many, many jokes, none of this information is kept hidden from you until the eventual release. You can read the secret files now before you've accepted this mission!

And, if you join now, as I've noted, we'll be posting the final chapters from They Came from [CLASSIFIED]! on Monday, covering the role of the Director and providing two pre-written superspy scenarios to launch your own story! And, just in case it's not clear - the entire manuscript for They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! has been posted and you can read it from start to finish TODAY if you'd like.

CHARACTER CREATION VIDEOS

Interested in seeing how a brave champion or mystical sage can be created for They Came from the Cyclops's Cave!? Download your own copy of the Character Sheet and check out this step-by-step video:

Or maybe you want to create an awesome operative or quirky quartermaster for They Came from [CLASSIFIED]!? Download your own copy of the Character Sheet and check out this how-to video:

INTERVIEWS AND EXPLORATIONS

If you're interested in some of the behind-the-scenes work that went into these books and want to hear more from the developers and writers, check out these interviews and discussions:

• Travis Legge interviews Matthew Dawkins
• Travis Legge interviews Michele Masala
• Flamesrising interview with Matthew Dawkins
• Onyx Pathcast Episode 199: They Came from Double Feature Discussion

ACTUAL PLAYS

And sometimes the best way to learn about a game and know if it may be for you is to see it in action! Check out these Actual Play episodes to see these action adventures in adventurous action!

• Cyclops's Cave - Shared Sagas One Shot
• Cyclops's Cave - Guardians of Greco-Romania One Shot
• Cyclops's Cave - Chronicles of the Abyss 01
• [CLASSIFIED] - Rogue's Gallery
• [CLASSIFIED] - The Electric Touch 01, 02, and03

SHARING MORE STORYPATH

Beyond reading the draft manuscripts for these books, creating characters for these games, reading interviews with the developers, watching and listening to the game being played, you may also want to join in the greater discussion about They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! and They Came from [CLASSIFIED]! ... and maybe more about the They Came From game line in general. You may be able to get some further insight and in-depth discussion in these Onyx Path discussion zones:

• Onyx Path's Partner Games Forum
• Onyx Path's Discord
• Onyx Path on Reddit
• Onyx Path's Facebook

Share the Links!

1) Don't forget to share a link to the Kickstarter in any discussion you have (where appropriate) - and feel free to pass any of the list of interviews, podcast links, or actual plays above to those who may need more info (or, just point them to this post!)

2) Don't forget to tell us about any post or review or discussion you write! Come to the comments section and let us know so we can all go and contribute! I know I keep saying it, but really - these last days are key. Keep the enthusiasm high (hitting stretch goals certainly makes that easier!) and keep on inviting others to join in, either directly ("Come see...") or just by setting an example of your enthusiasm and interest.

Final Week

We've got one week to go, everyone! Thank you all so much for your support! Like the mighty oarsmen of the Argonaut or the adaptable team of the IMF, we've worked together to power this campaign right through these first three weeks, funding TWO new books in this game line, adding in an 80s Action Superstar PDF supplement, unlocking two new Director's Screen Add-ons and more... 

Let's continue to work together to grow our backer count and enjoy these moments of escape from the chaos and confusion of the world, if only for a brief moment. Let's trade some quips, watch some movie trailers, discuss the best spy gadgets and magic items, and celebrate all that this campaign has done in the next week! 

And let's continue our Quest for the next Stretch Goal! Will we have more to review next Wednesday when we share the tales of our travels? I certainly think so!

#EyeSpy

#TheyCameFrom

#DoubleFeature

#FinalWeek

Backers Only - Cyclops's Cave Manuscript Preview #4 - Directing
about 2 years ago – Thu, Mar 31, 2022 at 02:24:29 PM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.

Tuesday Trailers - and our Screen Theme.
about 2 years ago – Tue, Mar 29, 2022 at 11:09:55 AM

Hello Adventurers and Agents,

Today, we're going to have one final look at some of the inspiration for They Came from the Cyclops's Cave!, but tales from the silver screen and your home television screen as well. 

Since we're speaking of screens, though, let's celebrate our latest Stretch Goal accomplishment!

ACHIEVED! - At $37,000 in Funding – CYCLOPS’S CAVE DIRECTOR’S SCREEN ADD ON – A three-panel Director’s Reference Screen with charts and information for running a game of They Came from the Cyclops’s Cave! will be created and offered as an Add On to any hardcover reward tiers for +$25.

Now available as an Add On in your Pledge selection, the Cyclops's Cave! Director's Screen. Can be added to any pledge that contains a hardcover book for either of our features for only +$25!

If you're already a backer, you can choose to Manage Your Pledge to update your options. If you select Change Your Pledge and re-select your current pledge, it will take you to the Add On option menu again before re-confirming your choices.

Looking ahead at the subject of our next quest, and staying with the Screen theme, let's continue to spread the word and recruit more members for our merry band!

At $39,000 in Funding– [CLASSIFIED] DIRECTOR’S SCREEN ADD ON – A three-panel Director’s Reference Screen with charts and information for running a game of They Came from [CLASSIFIED]! will be created and offered as an Add On to any hardcover reward tiers for +$25.

TRAILER TUESDAY

In previous updates, we've looked at some classic fantasy films, many of which included the work of Ray Harryhausen and gave us the archetypical stop-motion skeletons, along with inspiration for many other elements of the game. Many of these stories would be set in what the game calls "The Ancient World," full of heroes and godly forces who quest around the Mediterranean. We also checked in on a host of films from the early 80s, including many that are the source of quips and quotes often used around gaming tables to this day!

We're going to wrap up our trip through the silver screen and small screen inspirations behind They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! today with another handful of mythic inspiration. Speaking of movies that inspire endless quotes around the table, it's almost cliché to include our first subject...

Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975): Arguably their best movie (though Life of Brian would like to have a word about that), Monty Python’s take on Arthurian myths consists of a cavalcade of jokes, set pieces, and situations making fun of everything associated with the popular image of the Dark Ages. An irreverent combination of anachronisms and fourth-wall breaks, this movie shows well how a They Came from the Cyclops’s Cave! game can look when the Players and the Director ramp its comedic aspects into surreal yet hilarious overdrive.

But They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! isn't just a comedic romp through silly places. You can cover the same subject matter in a variety of tones. The Director's Chapter, which will be available to backers on Thursday, discusses setting the mood for your game, along with using tropes and finding the right way to approach a setting. Let's look at the Knights of the Round Table again from a few different angles, from the big and small screen.

Excalibur (1981): John Boorman’s epic retelling of King Arthur’s legend, Excalibur chronicles the story of the Knights of the Round Table, from Uther Pendragon’s sins to the final battle between Arthur and Mordred. With a truly stellar cast and a soundtrack that made history, this movie manages to depict both the utopian myth of Camelot — knights in shining armor included — and the grim darkness of fantasy Middle Ages. While all actors pull off memorable performances, Nicol Williamson and Helen Mirren, respectively playing Merlin and Morgana Le Fay, somehow manage to steal the scene whenever their magical, almost alien, characters appear on screen.

Merlin (1998): Both a love story and a magical adventure, this 90s miniseries creates its own spin on the figure of the legendary wizard. Not without its flaws, through its cast of skilled character actors, Merlin gives substance to aspects of the Arthurian myth other adaptations often overlook. Its complex female characters are, even at the most villainous, tragic figures struggling against a world that left them behind. Hard to pick a favorite between Sam Neill, Miranda Richardson, and Martin Short, all showing some serious acting muscles here.

These films and television series represent different takes on a similar setting, which the game might refer to as "Merry Olde Europe" - home to tales of King Arthur and Robin Hood. You can move further afield as well, beyond folklore and adventure tales into myth and legend by journeying through "Fantasyland" - incorporating a greater degree of magic and mysticism. These movies may not be so different, necessarily in approach, as they may be in budget...

Hawk the Slayer (1980): Set in a mysterious land inexplicably resembling a British countryside riddled with too many smoke machines, Hawk the Slayer includes all the features of the cult movie it later became. With special effects, soundtrack, and costumes that might as well have been recycled from 70s low-budget sci-fi flicks, this movie still manages to be an entertaining sword-and-sorcery adventure, blessed by memorable supporting characters and amusing shots. Hawk’s companions, Baldin the dwarf, Gort the giant, and Crow the elf, make for valid examples of the Inhuman Archetype, despite their mundane looks.

Legend (1985): Another movie existing between fantasy and horror, Legend narrates a fairy tale about the fight between good and evil with more adult undertones than its premise and setting suggest at first. The special effects and make-up offer many inspirations for Inhumans and Puppets, in the form of the friends and foes young Tom Cruise encounters on his quest to save the world. Tim Curry’s iconic role as Darkness is, no pun intended, the stuff of legends.

Dragonheart (1996): The best movie featuring a dragon modeled after Sean Connery, Dragonheart narrates how a jaded knight and the last living dragon become friends despite their differences and, by doing so, find the strength to turn into the heroes the kingdom needs. A movie that plays with expectations while keeping a strong emotional core, Dragonheart shows a different way the relationship between protagonists and magical creatures can develop during They Came from the Cyclops’s Cave! games.

And, to circle back to where we started, one more example of heroic adventures set in "The Ancient World," something a bit more modern than the Sinbad or Jason movies...

Hercules: The Legendary Journeys (1995-1999) and Xena: Warrior Princess (1995-2001): The TV series equivalent of a Greek mythology-themed amusement park ride, these shows (Xena starting as Hercules’ spin-off then proving to be even more successful) have their respective protagonists and their trusted companions wander through a geographically and historically inconsistent “Ancient Greece”, stumbling into a new adventure each episode. The creative team behind both series shares many names with Army of Darkness (Bruce Campbell’s here too!), an influence which shows through their comedic tones often veering into parody. Between their combined runtimes, Hercules and Xena demonstrate how light-hearted and tongue-in-cheek They Came from the Cyclops’s Cave! can be, not to mention their massive cast of characters include all sorts of Archetypes. Also, unlike someone else, Lucy Lawless is just as awesome here as she is today.

Looking at these trailers, and those that were shared previously, you can see the spread of influences that inspired the creation of the game (and, really, that's just the start! Developer Michele Masala has been sharing even more seeding sources in some great Twitter threads over these past weeks.)

When Matthew Dawkins was asked whether They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! is a game of epic swords and sandals fantasy or sword and sorcery, you'll understand why his answer was:

"It's both! The game is set up to cater to both kinds of fantasy, so you can indulge in earth spanning odysseys to faraway lands and fight mythical beasts, or you can traipse into grimdark kingdoms, slay necromancers, and prevent the fabled magical wotsit from falling into the evil sorcerer's hands.

"Something we're always aware of with They Came From is that every genre isn't for every roleplayer. In the case of Cyclops's Cave, we knew that the fanbase for a narrow aspect of fantasy would be slim, which is why the game contains a varied selection of tools such as six playable archetypes, a massive range of cinematic powers, tropes in keeping with multiple fantasy genres, and antagonists ranging from punkish goblins and orcs, to trad fantasy dragons, to miserable one-eyed necromancers, to epic giants and cyclopseseses.

"Therefore, if swords and sandals is your thing, check out Cyclops's Cave. If sword and sorcery is your thing, check out Cyclops's Cave. And if dungeon crawling traditional fantasy RPGs are your thing, check out Cyclops's Cave. It contains everything you need to mix each brand of fantasy or keep them distinct.

(and speaking for myself as one of the developers on this book, my work is majorly influenced by such movies as Hawk the Slayer, Krull, Sword and the Sorcerer, Conan the Barbarian, Red Sonja, Masters of the Universe...)"

They Came from the Cyclops’s Cave! is a game that embraces its influences with pride.

I've got one more video to share, something that really shows off one way to think of how this game works... and that's by seeing it in action! This one-shot session of They Came from the Cyclops's Cave! was run by Tom Bagley and broadcast live on Onyx Path's Twitch channel. Check this out to see the game in action!

So, there's a bunch of stuff to watch on a Tuesday afternoon! I hope that it inspires some fun and funny stories for your gaming table! Let's celebrate our latest Stretch Goal, work towards our next, and tune in again tomorrow to learn more about... Project Tigerkey.

#EyeSpy

#TheyCameFrom

#DoubleFeature

Backers Only - [CLASSIFIED] Manuscript Preview 003 - Antagonists
about 2 years ago – Mon, Mar 28, 2022 at 02:49:07 AM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.