Thursday, September 1
Players: Marc, Debbie, Jannetta, Baird

Our story began with this phrase: "A great empire collapses in on itself." We knew things were going south, but rather then begin at the beginning, we started at the Golden Age of our fictional society, and ended with the rise of tribal leaders from the ruins of culture. The palette included gender equality, polytheism, a god emperor, and laser tech, but banned aliens, magic, and--oddly enough--anything from the animal kingdom (bugs and fungus were allowed).

Proceeding chronologically, we first learned of the Field of Bones, a mysterious code akin to the Fibonacci sequence or other patterns. In the next period, King Eberhorn took to the throne. He overthrew his father to gain the position, and ruled for an unknown amount of time, until the Eberhorn line faded into obscurity. It was during this period that the first daughter was born to the Eberhorn line in 100 years--a child whose mother gave her up for adoption after witnessing a dark premotion. And dark it surely was, for next came the Rise of the Laser Barons at the hands of our first Focus, Baroness Diana Eberhorn.

After meeting a goddess in a cavern, Diana betrays her entire platoon (by incinerating them all with a laser grenade) in order to claim a hidden cache of laser tech. Some time later, narcotics were invented, along with a deadly virus which was stolen from the lab by Diana's "brother" (an honorific term) Joseph. She and Joseph later have a standoff, along with the God Emperor of the land, known as the Shareem. The Shareem is slain by the virus, while the others escape.

We now enter a period in which scientific discovery proves the truth of the major religion of the land. Brother Joseph, now in exile, rediscovers the Field of Bones code and applies it to the holy book known as the Ramica. He believes this yields a prophecy of doom, and begins preaching. But he needs Baroness Diana's help. He sends a courier offering items of good faith: the parchment containing the Field of Bones code, and the severed head of Joseph's only son, Jeremy. Diana's young daughter Emma takes great delight in torturing the rather recalcitrant courier who brings these items.

Next comes the Dying Time, during which Joseph begins spreading the virus like a plague. Some time passes. Regimes change. Teenage Emma discovers the source of her bloodlust: a system of mind-altering drugs in her food. More time passes, and a new government based on reason comes to power, known as the Council of Nine (one of which is Emma herself). Emma goes to arrest her mother, now reduced to little more than a frightened old woman, but the goddess who once protected Diana turns on the Baroness and slays her. In her grief, Emma's mental conditioning is reactivated, and she kills Joseph in cold blood.

Many years pass. Society has fallen entirely now. From the rubble arise tribes, and one tribal leader--a now much older Emma--discovers Joseph's Technicolor Laser-Dream Coat. Donning it grants her his memories, and so begins another dark chapter in society's history.

A fun game! Thanks to my three associates for a really excellent adventure. You all did very well for your first Microscope experience. Please add any other thoughts you wish to share if you'd like.