After the game, it was observed that nobody had asked me what Steele now remembered about the night he died in London. Several people insisted that, though it didn't come up during play, the characters had spent a month in Timbuktu, and it certainly would have come up, especially given Steele's continuing reaction to watching Smith examine fitzCardiff's steam-powered gun.
So, in case it's useful, here are some excerpts extracted from my recently rewritten character background sketch...
... Lord Cardiff gave Steele some "taduki" (flower of memory) to bring to London for use by the noted steam mage Naysmith in his experiments to develop a better means for controlling the Mechanical Explorer he was developing (one of many Cardiff-funded projects).
On the opening night of the campaign, in London, Naysmith gave Steele an excited tour of his workshop, during which Steele pricked his finger on one of the robot's sharp edges. The oil from the machine kept the cut from closing quickly, so it was still bothering him as Cowper (2nd Officer from the Wings of Cardiff, a.k.a. fitzCardiff) and a black man arrived.
Naysmith apparently knew Cowper, but addressed him as Smith. FitzCardiff/Cowper/Smith drew a steam-powered gun, and the black man loosed two snakes. Smith demanded Steele hand over the package in his breast pocket. Convinced by the gun, Steele complied, handing over the packet of taduki. As Smith unwrapped it, Steele backed up to the table where the Mechanical Explorer lay, fished the stele out of his back pocket, and by touch alone managed to place the stone in the machine's intake.
Smith, seeking the stele, was outraged upon finding the taduki leaf, and threw it back at Steele, who managed to catch it. Smith asked Steele where the stele was, and Steele managed to say, truthfully, that he did not have it. "Then I have no use for you," Smith said calmly, firing the steam gun. The projectile drove through Steele's hand, the crushed flower, and into his chest. As Steele died, he heard Smith shoot Naysmith and take the robot's control box. As Smith arranged for an "accidental" fire to destroy the workshop, Smith told the black man, Cumboulo, something of their plans, including a reference to an unnamed "Master". Smith seemed to sense a ghostly spirit in the room as the two left.
Meanwhile, the flower of memory, Steele's blood, and the bit of oil from the robot apparently formed an accidental variation of the formula used by the ancient kings to transfer their souls to new bodies. Steele woke up in the robot body, but the shock left him with few memories intact. He hurriedly left the burning, ransacked room, grabbing his hat and coat from the two sets on the rack ... and the rest is history?
Steele's story copyright 2003 D.Woods. The contents of this site are copyright 2004 Sheryl A. Knowles unless otherwise specified. All rights reserved.