National Lost VSS

From IoD Lost

The National Lost VSS

Mood

The Mood of the venue is one of inseparable dichotomies.

It is Hope entwined with Terror; a place of Dark Horror and Bright Wonder filled with Dazzling Beauty and Petrifying Madness.

Within each Shining piece of Purest Emotion lies a Sliver of Darkness at its Heart and at the end of each Blackened Tunnel is a spot of Dazzling Light.

It is awash with Paranoia, Fear, Optimism, Love, Trust, Desperation, and every other emotion and feeling under the sun.

It is all of these things and more, wrapped together into one Whirling Vortex where success and failure are both Bitter and Sweet; but invariably not in the measures that are expected.

Setting

Action - Combat and challenges – 3

Simply because the Changelings have abilities far beyond the ken of mortals, does not instantly mean they are all spoiling for a fight (especially as not all are martially bent). Most Changelings should be well aware of their limitations and capabilities, and know that in a straight fight, one on one with the Fae, they would be right back in the care of their Masters and made to regret a thousand times ever daring to escape. While the Summer Court is the most martial in outlook, even they should be hesitant to form large scale operations to fight against the Fae, but each Court has its heroes who are willing to stand firm in the face of adversity. The sense of camaraderie amongst the Lost regarding their shared experiences would hopefully limit the amount of physical in-fighting, though it will still happen.

Character Development - Personal dilemmas and choices – 4

Every Lost has to face the fact that their life has gone on without them living it. On their return, they must either abandon the memories of the very life that got them through the Hedge safely, or find some way to wrest it away from the control of the Fetch which replaced them. Do they do this through cold-blooded murder? By ensorcelling their own loved ones to win them back over? Should they strive to forget everything that happened to them in Faerie, or find some way to reconcile their mortal lives with their new fae abilities? The direction of their lives hinges on the choices they make.

Darkness - PC Death or Corruption – 4

Death is a part of life. However, while players may find their PC rendered unplayable, such as, for example, if their Fae Master reclaims them, such an event is not an everyday occurrence. The Lost band together, forming motleys and Freeholds in order to protect against the Fae, and their agents, in an attempt to limit the damage that can be dealt. As such, while death can and will occur a far more common occurence will be the corruption of one of the Lost, quite likely through their own actions, whether knowingly or unknowingly. Seemingly innocuous decisions or actions can have far reaching consequences that may not be apparent at the time. Recapture is also a greater threat than actual death - the fear that one deal too many will be made that results in your recapture, either through betrayal at the hands of a friend or through overstepping your own powers.

Drama - Ceremony and Grand Story – 5

At the heart of Changeling: The Lost lies grand and epic stories. The Fae are creatures of myth and legend, their tales reaching ordinary mortals in twisted forms, but reaching and touching their lives nonetheless. The Lost are sad echoes of those Fae, the tragic reminders that not every fairy stories paints the full picture, that such stories gloss over the less pretty aspects, and that no-one asks questions of what happens next when the story is completed. The Lost may not, at least to their memory, have quite the same stratified, complex system interlinked Contracts of the Fae, but their new lives are still governed by some of the same rules and worries – the Lost can wield lesser shadows of the powers of the Fae, and they must equally pay a price for doing so. Each Changeling knows that their sanity depends on balance – they are no longer mere mortals, and denial of their fae sides leaves them pained and bereft. Yet, they also cannot risk giving over entirely to that fae side, lest madness claim them utterly.

Intrigue - Politics and Negotiation – 4

The delicate balance of Lost society relies on the complex dance of politics from the changing Courts of the Seasons, to the negotiation of personal favours and alliances. The sensible are wary, knowing that even the most carefully worded bargain can be subverted or thwarted unless precisely detailed, becoming masters at the art of wordplay. Negotiations for access, for permission to visit a Hollow, to make use of a Court’s resources, or even request aid are always needed.

Manners - Etiquette and Peer Pressure – 3

The pressure of peers is often troublesome. From the physical pressure to join a certain group or motley, to the subtle wordplay pressure to share another’s viewpoint on an issue, such pressures are present in day-to-day interactions with any Lost. Some learned to their cost not to insult another, and so are fearful of the wrong word at the wrong time, lest the offended party retaliate with more than simply harsh words or a clenched fist.

Mystery - Enigmas and Investigation – 3

Much remains mysterious. On fighting through the Hedge, a Changeling’s memories are torn and ragged. Just how much of their time kept in Faerie can they recall? Do such memories help them to ensure they are never hunted down again, can they be used against the Fae in future? There are those who would investigate the powers of the Fae, investigate the mysteries of the Hedge itself, in order to better arm the Lost against the predations of the Fae. There are even those who would investigate the nature of Changelings themselves, seeking to find out if there is a way to remove the Fae taint and fully reclaim a mortal life, or whether their souls have been irreparably damaged by their ordeals in Faerie.

Pace - How fast do stories emerge, develop, and resolve - 2

Grand and epic stories are not resolved each week. They develop, are enhanced and made mutable over time, but they can be teased out slowly by the Lost, questions answered also resulting in further questions, further lines of enquiry which spiral from the initial investigations. The answers are almost never straightforward and simple, there is always more to discover, another layer previously unseen.

Storytelling Mechanics

Character Creation Guidelines - Canonical Snowflakes
Creativity is encouraged, however, every genre has published canonical materials which define the setting for that genre, and characters created for play within that genre should conform to that canon. Characters which break canon can be interesting, however, they also strain credibility and damage a venue. Please bear this in mind when creating a new character, and that your ST may choose to deny it.

Ensemble Story Telling
The themes of this game are based in the concept that you’re all in the same boat. Whilst it’s possible that you might live without the aid and protection of your fellow Lost, you possibly wont do so for very long. This doesn’t mean however that you shouldn’t engage in Player verses Player action, or shy away from controlling or manipulating other PCs, far from it. Some of the greatest threats to Lost Society are generated by those who would be a part of it. The creation of Motleys and joining a Freehold is strongly encouraged.

Role Play vs. Roll Play
The Storytellers of the game reserve the right to ask participants of a scene where there is no risk of character death to run the scene cinematically and with role playing rather than with challenges. The participants are under no obligation to agree if they do not wish to do so.