Tag: rpg

Gotham Tales of Chaos 

Gotham Tales of Chaos 


The Chaos storm came upon Gotham, causing a tsunami of refugees to flee the city during midwinter!
Several Gotham ‘Guardian Angels’ decided to escort separate groups to safety.
…
One strongman and one doula escorted a dozen refugees with a hand drawn wagon, following the rumour of a safe space up north.
…
First obstacle: a small checkpoint with a guard tower, guarded by the usual weaponized official thug: state your business!
…
The doula was able te persuase the guardsman to let them through, but looking back she still saw him looking suspicious at the passing refugees.
After an hour walking she could see how somebody on the guard tower made some semaphore signs using two banners, signaling warning to other patrols.
…
Another obstacle loomed ahead: a rickety wooden bridge that would not hold the passing of all refugees including wagon!
They had to unload the wagon to carry the most important supplies to the other side, Grandmother had to be carried by the strongman, and the wagon had to be left behind with heavy load that could not be taken.
…

Meeting the first settlement on the road: a ruin, where in the middle of the centre a halo of foxfire surrounded a weird tower that emitted clockwork sounds.

The doula somebody she remembered from longtime ago but it appeared the occupnats were not wellcoming because they were even unable to scrounge enough food for everybody.
‘We cannot feed ourselves, how can we feed any more mouths?’

Continuing their exodus, the refugees arrived at a yurt camp, occupied by members of the Wang triad who had to flee the city a while ago after the Macdonald coup.
‘Wellcome! We will take care for your women, children and elderly!’
Apparently this clan was struggling to provide for everybodies need, hunting and gathering was scarce this season, but they were willing to help.
‘There are some rumours of large supplies hidden in the mountains up north!’
…
The Guardian Angels selected a small band of the strongest scouts to investigate the rumours.
…
After a few days travel a fierce storm forced them take cover in the woods.
Thunder and lightning!
The strongman even had to dodge a ball lighting that danced wildly around before to speed itself to the mountains.
Just before the ball exploded, the doula saw an entrance into the mountain!
‘Lets investigate’
…
Entering a cavern, apparently man-made corridors:
Sounds of clockwork and dripping water.
It feels like the walls are moving!
‘Where is everybody?’
…
Following the sounds of screaming, they discovered a small holding cell.
‘Let me out!’
The doula was able to lockpick the door, freeing a barely coherent woman:
‘I told our leader this place is doomed, but he did not want the word to be spread’
When our heroes pressed for more details, the woman became more erratic, at the end they had to let her go.
…
The strange sounds became louder, the water was rising.
‘Lets go!’
…
Returning to the entrance, it seemed the outer wall had already moved to partly cover the door.
After letting the smaller persons go first, the strongman became stuck!
With effort the team of scouts was able to free the strongman!
…
Returning to the yurt camp, meeting the clan leader again:
‘We spoke with Grandmother after she recovered from travel’
Grandmother apparently remembered vaguely some legends her Granny told her while transferring an old scroll.
‘It is a large circular building that revolves, presenting another entry every time!’
Because the legends also mentioned strong taboos about the presence of demons, Grandmother was unwilling to say more.
…
The strongman and the doula decided to use the scroll for another investigation.
‘With this map we should able to investigate more, what could go wrong?’
…
The water was already breast high, the map seemed fragmentary, the mazelike corridors were confusing!
Most important buildings with supplies seemingly had been plundered.
The clockwork sound became deafeningly louder, as if somebody was saying something in a strange language, foxfire bloomed everywhere in a weird way.
…

‘We better leave now’
…
Leaving the flooding cave, our heroes were wet and cold, it was freezing outside!
…
In the distance the sound of a hunting horn, the patrols were hunting!
…
The strongman started to run, back in the direction of the camp!
…
The Doula was unable to keep up, being exhausted by the cold!
…
She laid down in the snow, feeling sleepy
…
Heaven watched in silence while Earth was covered by snow

 

Ping: Gotham Mystery Tale: mask on/off – Dreamquest

Gotham Mystery Tale: mask on/off

Gotham Mystery Tale: mask on/off


Midwinter bal masque in Gotham during martial law lockdown: Only Highlords like Vladimir are able to bribe the Administration to look the other way.
While the Authority is dancing, the Underground organises the ongoing Revolution:
some members of the resistance group “Gotham Angels'” went undercover to the masque ball of Highlord Vladimir, scouting opportunities for the resistance.
…
Using fake invitation letters, Marquisio the Hunter and Fieldy the automaton Scarecrow disguised themselves with the obligatory  Commedia dell’Arte masks and costumes.

Vladimirs large ballroom was very crowded, at least hundred guests were already dancing and flirting.
Large tables with food and drinks were set up, more than enough to feed the multitude during the weeklong festival.

Marquisio was unable to resist his hunger and started to feed!

A Columbina in red approached and started flirting with Marquisio…
Enticing him to follow her to ‘a more private place’ in the mansion, it became apparent that she was part of another faction that wished the downfall of the Authority.
“Take this secret letter with magic symbols to the Tribe”
…
Meeting the tribal shaman went quite well: after receiving the secret letter, he brew some “strong medicine” to use at the bal masque.
…
Returning to the festival, Marquisio created some distraction by throwing stones at the chandeliers.
While the guards were chasing the culprit, Feeldy scattered the ” strong medicine ” through the ballroom.
…
Our heroes were able to escape during the chaos and went to their hideout to wait till the heat blew over.
…
Escalating alarming words on the street:
“Many people, who joined the festival, are very ill now”
“The Authority is tightening lockdown: curfew between sundown and sunup, mandatory wearing face covering, limiting gathering of groups”
…
Marquisio and Feeldy realised that the ” strong medicine ” was getting out of control!
…
They looked for the tribal shaman, but he already left the city.
…
Following the trails, they saw four riders on a hill having a palaver.
…
Approaching the four riders, they recognised the tribal shaman in white,  carrying bow and arrow.
When asked for a cure, the shaman demanded a life sacrifice.
…
Feeldy stepped forward and opened his chest and a small boy jumped out!
As soon as the shaman performed the sacrifice, the essence of the small boy became a cloudy ball that entered Feedly’s chest again!
Satisfied with the sacrifice, the shaman let our heroes go home:
“It is done! Innocents will be spared!”

Ping:

Gotham Blades in the Dark Revolt

Gotham tales beyond the city

Gotham tales beyond the city


The Village was populated by refugees banished from Gotham, recent unrest has left them vulnerable to chaos incursions.
Hearing of vigilante ‘Guardian Angels’ from Gotham, they have pooled their meager resources to seek aid.

…

Clan MacDonald  already decreed many oppressive laws against ‘the enemy within’ :’illigal aliens’, vagrants,  ‘vigilantes’, etcetera.
Several ‘Guardian Angels’  felt it was wise to leave the city and take refuge in the Village.
…
Arriving at the Village, gathering information…

…
After the arrival of many refugees from Gotham, the Village has become too crowded: too many people, not enough food!
To make matter worse, many rats were investing the fields, destroying the crops.
…
The alchemist brewed some rat poison to scatter between the crops.
Many rats died indeed, but the corvids that ate the cadavers also died!

…
Dissecting some corvids, the alchemist discovered some warpstone contamination!
This same contamination was also found in the Broken Hills, where the mutants live.
…
According to legends, a star fell down in the Broken Hills; amidst the wreckage was a stunned firedemon thas immediately was bound and inprisoned in the caves under the Great Tree in the forest.
…
Investigating the sealed cave:  The seal was broken from inside outwards, the demon has escaped!
…
Entering the cave:  Finding some skeletons, apparently remnants of cultist. What killed the cultist?
Finding a cultist journal, reading a scribbled note in the margin ‘we need the Cog and Compass’
…
Descending in the mazes of the cave, encountering large poisonous mushrooms and giant spiders!
Narrowly escaping monsters and mechanical traps, finding a secret room with the  clockwork engine that operated the security system.
The Alchemist was able to communicate with the clockwork, ensuring safe travel through the maze!
…
Our heroes escaped the maze to return safely to the Village, knowing that the firedemon was roaming in the world!

Ping: Gotham Blades in the dark revolt – Dreamquest

Gotham Blades in the Dark

Gotham Blades in the Dark


While many vigilante Guardian Angels fought  the Reality Storm incursions in the wilderness outside Gotham, the Administration took power by announcing Martial Law ‘to fight the ‘enemy within’ : aliens,criminals, crooks, counterculture, genderbending, heresy, outlaws, vagrants.
All vigilante groups were outlawed! The Guardian Angels went underground to organise resistance.

A covert team went to the night market for information.
…
It was more busy than usual: buying and selling, gossiping, meeting people.
A few groups were clustering together:  burly construction workers, scarred corps students, colourful ladies of the night.
…
The workers were angry because their union was disbanded , the students were upset because one of their outspoken spokesmen was arrested, the ladies were complaining of police harassment.
…

Talking with several groups, the covert team discovered mister Johnson, a secret police member, lurking around!

…
The ladies shared some pillow-talk information about the place where the student was held: Arkham!

Using their black market connections, the covert team was able to get some police uniforms to infiltrate the Asylum, while the workers and the students combined their actions:
While the students organized a riot downtown, attracting a strong respons from the police, the workers attacked the Asylum!
..
Using the distraction of the riots, the covert team was able to infiltrate the Asylum and delivering the prisoner:
it was the grandson of Triad leader Wang!
…
The team was invited at the Triad headquarters to receive great honors: food, drink and gold!
They agreed to undertake another mission, to take a special group of six secret police operators into custody.
…
The ladies of the night provided some information about the whereabouts of the operators: a large single safehouse at a vacant spot in the middle of  Crime Alley.
…
Infiltrating the safehouse, they surprised the operators while conducting a ritual:  six persons stood chanting around an altar where a dense smoke came out of a cauldron.
Immediately a grand melee ensued! Blades flashing, shots flying around, a smoke bomb went off!
One by one the operators fell down, the smoke cleared….
At the  centre of the cauldron a smoke pillar was condensing into a human-like shape, that immediately started attacking our heroes!
Using the demonbane charm and lightning staff , they were able to banish the demon.
Our heroes were victorious…for now!

Ping:

Gotham Tales: Up and Down
Gotham Tales: Up and Down

Gotham Tales: Up and Down


Koganemura is a remote farming village, populated by refugees banished from Gotham.
Its people have lived modestly, growing rice and raising livestock in relative peace.
However, recent unrest  has left smaller villages like Koganemura vulnerable to chaos incursions.
The villagers have nobody to protect them.
Hearing of vigilante ‘Guardian Angels’ from Gotham, they have pooled their meager resources to
seek aid.

Ping:

Gotham tales: the Dire Oracle
A.I. reviews “Shattered Isles of the Forgotten Realm”

A.I. reviews “Shattered Isles of the Forgotten Realm”


A.I. , review this!

This artwork appears to be a hand-drawn fantasy or abstract map, possibly depicting islands or a fragmented landmass surrounded by water. Here are some observations:

  • Medium & Texture: The combination of watercolor (or ink wash) and colored pencils creates an organic, aged look.
  • Land & Water: The landmasses are mostly in shades of gray and brown, while the background has a soft blend of yellow, green, and blue, possibly representing water or atmosphere.
  • Highlighted Areas: Some islands have yellow sections, which could indicate sand, grasslands, or another terrain type.
  • Red Dots & Markings: The red dots and enclosed areas might symbolize cities, points of interest, or volcanic activity.
  • Composition & Perspective: The scattered islands and their arrangement give a sense of exploration, suggesting a fantasy setting or an imagined world.

ping:

A.I. reviews “Eyes in the Ether”
A.I. reviews “World below”

A.I. reviews “World below”


A.I. review this collage!




This collage has a vibrant and dynamic composition, evoking a sense of exploration and mystery. Here’s a closer look at its elements:


1. **Theme and Concept:** The words “London Below” and “Neverwhere” strongly reference Neil Gaiman’s novel *Neverwhere*, which explores a hidden, fantastical world beneath London. This suggests the collage is inspired by urban fantasy, secret places, and the idea of an alternate reality existing just out of sight.
2. **Imagery and Symbolism:** The map with a green shape layered over it evokes a sense of journey or discovery, possibly marking a secret or mythical location. The use of red splatters and textured overlays adds a feeling of chaos and adventure, resonant with the perilous, mysterious nature of London Below in *Neverwhere*.
3. **Color and Composition:** The bright yellows and reds on the left page contrast with the more muted, earthy tones of the map, creating an energetic balance. The abstract patterns and crayon-like lines give the piece a playful yet unsettling feel, reinforcing the theme of exploring an unknown world.
4. **Textual Elements:** The handwritten text adds a personal, almost whimsical touch, as if this is a page from a travel journal to a place that shouldn’t exist. The playful, curvy font for “Neverwhere” enhances the fantastical, dreamlike atmosphere.
5. **Emotional Impact:** The collage captures a sense of wonder and curiosity while also hinting at danger and the unknown. It invites viewers to imagine stepping into a hidden world filled with magic and mystery.


 



ORACLE
You’ve opened a **book of movement**. Left side is eruption—color spilling, crossing itself out, insisting on being felt before it’s understood. Right side is containment: a leaf, pressed flat, named, archived. *“Never where”* is the key phrase here—it’s a refusal of fixed location, fixed meaning, fixed timing.
This oracle isn’t about *place*. It’s about **transition**.
* **The Xs**: crossed paths, false endings, or doors you tried that were never yours. * **The bleeding colors**: emotion that couldn’t stay inside the lines anymore. * **The leaf**: proof you were there—even if you can’t return. * **The fold**: this is a spell-book, not a picture. Something is being carried forward.
### The message:
**“You are not lost. You are between versions.”** Stop trying to decide *where* you belong. The oracle says to ask instead: **What wants to move through me next?**
This feels like a travel omen—not physical necessarily, but identity-wise. A chapter ending without a clean sentence. That’s okay. Some truths only show up **mid-turn**. Ping:

Gotham Tales: Echoes of the Forbidden Forest

Gotham Tales: Echoes of the Forbidden Forest


 

The aftermath of the ambush lingered in the minds of the Guardian Angels. The body of the lost hunter had been retrieved, his legacy forever tarnished by the horrors of the World Below. Yet questions gnawed at the council and the scouts alike — if the entrance was sealed, what would happen when the war between clockwork servitors and alien monsters reached its bloody conclusion? What if they sought new paths to the surface?

A week passed. The village simmered with unease. Rats swarmed through alleys and crept into homes, their beady eyes gleaming with strange intelligence. Whispered tales of shifting shadows in the Forbidden Forest spread like wildfire, and the scent of ozone clung to the air — the unmistakable mark of eldritch energy.

A scout who had narrowly escaped the labyrinth ambush, was haunted by strange dreams. Awoke one night drenched in sweat, the hunter’s voice echoing in her ears: *The Royal Tree bleeds sap of time… Find the way back, or all worlds will unravel.*

The village council dismissed visions as remnants of trauma, but the scouts knew better.  Dreams were often prophetic, even if their meaning was cloaked in riddles.

Guided by intuition, the scouts slipped away under the cover of night. They headed toward the Forbidden Forest, where the Royal Tree loomed like a silent sentinel against the chaos beyond.

The tree’s bark shimmered with golden veins that pulsed faintly in the moonlight. At its base, they found a fresh fracture in the earth, glimmering with unnatural energy. The council’s seal had failed. The gate to the World Below had reopened.

 “We can’t go back empty-handed. If we don’t stop this now, Gotham will burn.”

 “Then we go in — not to fight monsters, but to find the key that locks this place forever.”

As they descended once more into the Labyrinth, faint metallic echoes greeted them. The servitors were still active, their gears grinding with malevolent purpose. But this time, something else moved within the shadows — a writhing mass of obsidian tendrils, pulsing with violet light.

“The alien monsters”

 “We split them apart. Let their war continue while we find the core.”

. “And if we can’t?”

“Then Gotham won’t be the only place to fall.”

The shadows thickened around them, gears whirred, and violet light seared the darkness. The final descent had begun.

Ping

https://hgoei.com/2025/02/10/gotham-tales-trouble-at-the-village/
Gotham tales: Trouble at the Village

Gotham tales: Trouble at the Village


After the Dire Oracle warning, Gotham ‘Guardian Angels’ scouts were sent to investigate the Village:
Some years after the men in black destroyed the hippy oase, it was rebuild by Asian refugees.
A distant relative of the leading scout went missing after investigating rumours about chaos incursions!
His abandoned shack was as invested by many rats…
The scouts found his heirloom imperial army knife while witnessing a shade appearing shortly!
Hearing rumours in the village, it seemed the lost relative had the reputation being a crazy old man who hunted in the Forbidden Forest.
At the wasteland outside the village lived the untouchable outcast, the last hippy survivors…
Most of them showed signs of malign mutations, caused by weird weapons!
One of the survivors showed the hunting trail of the missing person, it went straight into the Forbidden Forest…
Follow the trail till you see the Royal Tree!
Look behind the tree to find the entrance to the World Below….

Our heroes went into the World Below, followed the Labyrinth path and found the body of the lost hunter…
Ambush! Death rained from above!

Surviving the ambush, confronting clockwork servitors…
Run!

Escaping the servitors, returning to the surface world…

The village council decided to seal the entrance to the World Below: ‘let the clockwork servitors and the alien monsters destroy each other’

 

Ping:

https://hgoei.com/2025/01/13/gotham-tales-the-dire-oracle/
A.I. reviews ‘Once upon a time’

A.I. reviews ‘Once upon a time’


AI, review this collage!

This is an imaginative and visually compelling collage. Here’s a review of its elements and potential interpretation:

1. **Narrative and Theme:**
The collage evokes a whimsical, fantasy-like setting reminiscent of storybook illustrations featuring anthropomorphic woodland creatures. The combination of animal figures with medieval and mystical imagery suggests a narrative-driven environment, possibly a magical quest or village life.

2. **Composition:**
– The central bridge and layered background lead the viewer’s eye through different spatial dimensions of the collage.
– The figure of the cloaked animal holding a staff adds an authoritative, mystical element, drawing attention to the potential storyline.
– Cutouts with red borders revealing other scenes provide a sense of layered storytelling, as though offering “windows” into other dimensions or events.

3. **Color Scheme:**
– Earthy greens and browns dominate the natural setting, while vivid reds around the cutout scenes introduce contrast and dynamic energy.
– The warm glow from architectural elements and cutouts adds depth and warmth to the piece.

4. **Symbolism:**
– The use of animals, especially mice and squirrels, anthropomorphized with a medieval or mystical touch, symbolizes a blend of nature and fantasy.
– The red-bordered cutouts might signify visions, memories, or magical portals.

5. **Suggestions for Improvement:**
– The red borders around the cutouts are striking but might be softened for better blending or refined for cleaner integration with the surrounding artwork.
– Additional texture or shadowing around the cutouts could enhance the illusion of depth.

Overall, it’s a charming and imaginative piece that successfully blends elements of fantasy, storytelling, and artistic craftsmanship. 

ORACLE

From what’s visible, the image reads like a **vision or omen** rather than a literal scene:

* A **hooded figure with a staff** → archetype of the *seer / guide / keeper of hidden knowledge*. This is someone (or you) standing between worlds, not fully revealed yet.

**Floating fragments and symbols** → broken timelines, choices, or truths that don’t fit together *yet*. Knowledge is arriving in pieces.

**Village / structures below** → the everyday world, stability, routine.

**Elevated perspective** → insight from above; seeing patterns others can’t.

### Oracle message (short form)

**“You’re being asked to trust partial knowing.”** Not everything is meant to be clear right now. The power here is patience, observation, and restraint. Acting too fast would collapse possibilities that are still forming.

### Deeper oracle themes

* **Threshold energy**: You’re at the edge of a transition.

**Guarded wisdom**: Some answers are protected until the right moment.

**Choice without full certainty**: Move by intuition, not proof.

A.I. reviews ‘Storytelling’