A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO MY HISTORY OF RAIN CITY
Despite the frequent appearance of my name in these pages, and the recounting of some of the exploits of myself and my family, this work is NOT an exercise in self-aggrandizement. It is intended primarily to help "newbies" get a handle on Rain City. By learning some of the history of our town, they can avoid "changing history" with their actions, and can get a feel for what has happened before, hopefully easing their assimilation into our community. Furthermore, the inclusion of some of my adventures will hopefully act as an example of how a player's plotlines CAN be integrated into the "real" story of Rain City, rather than being totally ignored by the Game Gods as "non-events." Please note that all the stories here impact to some degree on the basic plotline given us by the folks at EPG, and each was proposed to and cleared by Brent Lessa before (or during, in one case) their being played out in the various Dead Chats. I am not saying that ALL scenarios need be so involved, or require such clearance. I am attempting to demonstrate how players can "build" Rain City, helping it to expand and gain texture. For instance, other than the six buildings which appear on the outdoor skyline of Rain City, every other locale which appears on the map found on the What's New sign was created by players. They became "official" by these players referring to them constantly as actual locations, and working the necessary existences of these locales into the overall search for Bert Rudall, or into the lives of those looking for him.
Neither am I saying that every event which happens in Rain City needs to bear on the Big Plot in order to be considered "real." None of us lives our jobs (those of us who are old enough to HAVE jobs) 24/7. People take time out to eat, sleep, fall in love, go shopping, go to the beach, etc. One of the most memorable of last year's events was the Rain City Press Club Awards Banquet, a "real" event which had nothing to do with the Big Plot, but was actually inspired by the Game Gods' asking my help in scouring the woodwork for reporters. And few will forget last year's Fourth of July celebration, which included not only dazzling fireworks (VERY difficult to do the sound effects with a keyboard!) but a rendition of the 1812 Overture by the Rain City Philharmonic. These were certainly "real" events, as are the countless loves and marriages, conflicts and divorces, popcorn parties and lunches which have occured in the past year. I AM trying to say that "plots" should try to concern the Game Gods' basic theme and plot for Rain City if you want them to be integrated into the tapestry of Rain City's history in the same way as some of the stories recounted in these pages.
But off my soapbox. As I said, the primary reason for this work is to help newcomers to Rain City know what has gone before, and to clue them in on some of the tidbits of information which are no longer available, as there was once a time when "clues" were changed every month or so and things actually progressed in Rain City. For example, the video clip of The Weasel passing on the computer diskette is one of the most vital clues in solving Rain City's Big Mystery, and few of the current residents ever got the opportunity to see it. Likewise, if a newer player wants to act out a scenario, he or she is much less likely to step on the toes of a veteran player if they know enough history to avoid inadvertently contradicting a previously established and accepted "reality." (I would once again like to urge newer players who want to add their own plotlines to the Big Plot to include at least one of the "city founders" in the planning and/or execution of their stories to ensure there are no conflicts in Rain City's history. Similarly, we veterans have a responsibility to include newbies in our plotlines, and to pass on our knowledge of Rain City's history to the next generations of residents.)
This overview is certainly not meant to be comprehensive, either. But hopefully, I have provided enough content to give players some idea of who they can ask about various happenings, and what questions they need to be asking. As I am no longer the omnipresent being in Rain City, I am no longer there to answer every question from every newbie who comes down the pike. (And don't think Sacred Rose isn't tickled pink about that, teehee.) I hope that no players feel slighted because their characters weren't included in this overview. This certainly isn't because their contributions to Rain City aren't important. (I DO want to especially acknowlege Lady Green Eyes and her Welcome Wagon as an example.) Rather, I have tried to include those people and events which most reflect on the plot history of Rain City. Also, though I realize that my name appears prominently and often in this work, I repeat that this is not sheer ego. The truth is that for most of the formative period of Rain City, I was the only experienced role-player in town, and I seemed to "catch on" more readily, quickly seeing the direction in which the designers wanted to game to go, and possessing the creativity and writing skills (IMHO) to further that aim. Recent months have seen an influx of new blood, and I hope that one or two of the newer players will see their opportunities to actually add to Rain City, rather than just playing here. (We DO want the majority of people to be able to just sit back and enjoy playing around here, but a couple of people helping write the storyline will make for more enjoyable playing for everybody else).
Anyway, I hope that at least a couple of you find this stuff helpful. I hope that nobody is offended by anything I wrote here, and will realize that many of my comments are meant completely tongue in cheek. And finally, I hope the Game Gods find it worthy enough to make accessible to all players. Those of you who have any questions or comments, positive or negative, can reach me at [email protected].