“Grandfather. May I have a story before your nap?” “Aren’t you going to disarm my traps and snares” “No, I think if I keep doing that, you may burst a vein in your brain or something. Just don’t exasperate me so!” “Oh. Have I ever told you why it’s always spring in Carasonne, near the…
Read MoreMarco and The Story of the Shadow Psilos Sept
“Twelve, Grandpa”. “Sorry?” “Twelve. I’ve noticed you give me better stories when we get certain things out of the way first. So, Twelve, and that’s not a moral.” “I’m not sure how to respond to that, child. It’s almost as if you are having a conversation in advance and are waiting for me to fill in…
Read MoreIn Which Marco Steals A Necklace
“With you hands.” “What?” “It’s what you were going to say. You were going to say ‘I stole the necklace with my hands’ and then you were going to mention she was in the bath. I’d yell at you about my age, and you’d trick me into mentioning a moral. Story over. Nap.” “No, of…
Read MoreNo Marco Post Today
Sorry all: today’s post went live yesterday, which is why you had two stories. 8) See you tomorrow!
Read MoreThe Story in Which Marco Is Saved From Death By a Lovely And Charitable Lady, For the Eighty-Second Time
“Grandpa! The Sun is low! Stories are nigh!” “Oh? Well, what kind would you like?” “Regardless of what I say, you are going to tell me the one you want and pretend it counts. Then you’ll try to trick me into ending the story early. You may also mention women in an inappropriate way, because you…
Read MoreHow Marco Destroyed The Fleet of the Fourth Crusade
“Grandfather…” “Yes, Rosa?” “It’s tomorrow. It’s time for one of your stories.” “Oh, have I told you about the time I destroyed a crusader fleet by accident?” “No…I don’t think so.” “Well, I was delivering a message to a covenant in the Alps, you know. They kept a sort of shared sanctum, for their covenant…
Read MoreHow Marco Obtained The Finest Shoes A Redcap Ever Wore
“Grandfather. It’s almost time for supper.” “Ah, that must be why I’m so tired. I need a nap.“ “Story first, naps later old man!” “Yes little miss! Now, what sort of story do you want? A spooky one like yesterday?” “I’d like a spooky one, but unlike yesterday, in the sense that I’d like it…
Read MoreHow Marco Was Almost Executed by The Tremere (The Third Time)
“Grandfather, before your nap: you promised me a story!” “Certainly. What sort?” “Spooky, please.” “Very well. So, when I was a young redcap I was stationed in Istria, which is near Italy, but in the Transylvanian Tribunal. It’s a strange and history haunted place. There was a storm, and I’d had to leave the barn…
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The First Story of Marco, Who Has Often Been Accused of Telling Lies, To His Grand-Daughter
“All right, one story, but none of your lies and obfuscations!” “Lies? Me? No! You can check with her.” “Leave me out of this, old man. I’m going to make some supper while you tell her her story.” “Really? Such cowardice. All right. How do we begin?” “I believe “Once upon a time” to be…
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The Stories of Marco the Liar
Marco the unreliable redcap was first introduced to Ars Magica in Covenants, where his role was to let us explore ideas without making them canonical in the setting. While setting up for National Gaming Design Month this year, I was asked to provide some more game fiction, so I’ve bought Marco back, with a series of short…
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Games From Folktales 