The Zorcerer of Zo

[Shosuro Kando]

ZNN Special Report -- This is ZNN!

There are scattered reports of violence taking place on the Island of Forgotten Toys, Zo News Network has learned. Details are sketchy, but there appear to have been clashes between older forgotten toys and radical elements of more recent forgotten toys who have arrived on the island over the last few years.

Keep your crystal balls, mirrors, still pools, and other scrying devices tuned to ZNN for more details as they come in!

This has been a Zo News Network Special Report

ZNN - where folks from Zo go to get in the know!

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ZNN Breaking News - This is ZNN!

There is an ongoing coup attempt occurring at this hour on the Island of
Forgotten Toys, ZNN has learned.

There are few details at this hour, but it has been confirmed that dissident toys have attacked the Palace of Good King Moonchaser, and have seized the island's single port. Repeated scrying by ZNN has so far failed toconfirm the identities of the attackers, and at this hour the whereabouts of Good King Moonchaser remain unknown.

The Island of Forgotten Toys is a soverign nation which lies just over the horizon off the coast of Viola. It has been ruled by Good King Moonchaser as a benevolent monarchy for many years and has, until now, been a land of peace and tranquility.

Keep your crystal balls, mirrors, still pools, and other scrying devices tuned to ZNN for more details as they come in!

This has been a Zo News Network Report

ZNN - where folks from Zo go to get in the know!

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ZNN Breaking News - CRISIS ON THE ISLE OF FORGOTTEN TOYS -- This is ZNN!

Our top story this evening - the government of the Island of Forgotten Toys has been overthrown in a coup by a cabal of dissident toys who have seized the palace and control the island's port. The whereabouts and condition of Good King Moonchaser are unknown at this hour.

There has been no official reaction from the enigmatic Zorcerer of Zo, but sources in Jade City have confirmed that the powerful and reclusive ruler of Zo is aware of the situation and is quote "giving the matter his personal attention."

Keep your crystal balls, mirrors, still pools, and other scrying devices tuned to ZNN for more details as they come in!

ZNN - where folks from Zo go to get in the know!


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ZNN report - CRISIS ON THE ISLE OF FORGOTTEN TOYS

This is ZNN!

Our top story this hour - Commander Stryke Nomad has been sworn in as the Island of Forgotten Toys new President-for-Life this morning, in a brief ceremony at the island's palace capitol. As part of his acceptance speech Nomad, a former member of the elite Special Mission Combat Force line of action figures, stated "For too long the Island of Forgotten Toys has been just that - forgotten. Our persecution has been unending, and our former government guilty of corruption and collusion aimed at keeping us silent and powerless. This ends today! The world of Zo will remember us, will respect us, will treat all toys, be they handmade and painted or mass produced from inexpensive polystyrene, with dignity from this day forward!"

Commander Nomad led a secret cabal comprised of action figures and sympathetic toys against the government of Good King Moonchaser earlier this week, toppling the former regime after fierce fighting around the capitol. The whereabouts and condition of King Moonchaser remain unknown.

In a related story, Princess Paige of Viola has issued a statement condemning the coup. "Really, its all quite shocking. Good King Moonchaser has always seemed like a decent sort to me - quite personable. And when I was having trouble with my multiplication tables, he took the time to assist me. He's always trying to help his toys however he can - working with Santa every year to try to place his toys in homes with good children and even checking up on those who have immigrated to Zo. I just don't think its right for some beastly action figure made out of plastic to go and turn him out of office in such a horrid manner! I hope he's all right."

And there is still no reaction to the coup from the famed Zorcerer of Zo. The Smiling Soldier, head of the Zo Guard, has stated that the Zorcerer is watching the situation closely, but has yet to offer any suggestions as to what action, if any, the powerful and reclusive ruler of Zo might take in reaction to events occurring on the island.

Keep your crystal balls, mirrors, still pools, and other scrying devices tuned to ZNN for more details as they come in!

ZNN - where folks from Zo go to get in the know!


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ZNN news update - CRISIS ON THE ISLAND OF FORGOTTEN TOYS --This is ZNN!

This just in - there are reports coming in from the Island of Forgotten Toys that Devil Ducks have been seen on and around the island nation! Interviews with refugee toys recently arrived in Viola indicate that Devil Ducks were used in the assault on Good King Moonchaser's palace, and that they are now patrolling the island nation at the behest of President-for-Life Stryke Nomad.

Devil Duck are a brand of toy considered so violently dangerous and unpredictable as to constitute a threat to other toys and children. Their use was banned under the Treaty of Laun D'Arte signed between Zo and the Island of Forgotten Toys, and they have been strictly monitored by King Moonchaser for many years. They are believed to be one of the few proscribed toys that Santa delivers only to bad children.

ZNN archive photos of Devil Ducks
http://www1.istockphoto.com/generic_...ew/12296/12296
http://www.swankgear.com/merch/pirateduckie.jpg
http://www.kitschcity.com/Camouflage%20Devil%20Duck.jpg
http://www.kitschcity.com/Leopard%20...ckie%20NEW.jpg

Keep your crystal balls, mirrors, still pools, and other scrying devices tuned to ZNN for more details as they come in!

ZNN - where folks from Zo go to get in the know!

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ZNN news report - CRISIS ON THE ISLAND OF FORGOTTEN TOYS -- This is ZNN!

Today's top story - Santa has declared that the Island of Forgotten Toys will be considered a "no fly zone" for this year's Christmas season. This announcement comes after it was revealed that the new government of the island nation has been using Devil Ducks to control the population and patrol the island following the coup this week which toppled the government of Good King Moonchaser.

The inclusion of the Island of Forgotten Toys on Santa's 'no fly' list means that Santa will not travel there this year, and that there will be no collection of forgotten toys for delivery to good little boys and girls. For many years Santa and Good King Moonchaser worked closely together each year to find deserving and loving homes for forgotten toys, but it now appears that Santa will not renew his agreement with the new government of Commander Stryke Nomad.

In Zo, the announcement was met with shock and sadness by toys throughout the land, many of whom expressed disappointment that Santa would not be assisting their forgotten family and friends on the island.

The Island of Forgotten Toys joins the nation of Evilania, the town of Hatefulburg, and Timmy Owens' house on the list of places that Santa will not fly.

Keep your crystal balls, mirrors, still pools, and other scrying devices tuned to ZNN for more details as they come in!

ZNN - where folks from Zo go to get in the know!

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This is ZNN!

This just in - the ruling government of the Island of Forgotten Toys has announced that it has tried King Moonchaser on charges of treason, and that the former monarch has been found guilty and now faces the death penalty.

In a press conference this afternoon President -for-Life Stryke Nomad announced that King Moonchaser was apprehended during the coup, and was tried by a tribunal of action figures, purportedly for crimes against the citizens of the Island of Forgotten Toys.

There is no word yet on when the execution is to take place.

Citizens of Zo reacted with shock and anger to the announcement, and widespread protests have been staged in several locations.

Keep your crystal balls, mirrors, still pools, and other scrying devices tuned to ZNN for more details as they come in!

ZNN - where folks from Zo go to get in the know!

[Shosuro Kando]

I'm going to be running a one-shot of Zorcerer of Zo for our local gaming club on Monday, and thought it would interest people to put up an actual play thread about it.

The premise of the game is that the government of Good King Moonchaser, of the Island of Forgotten Toys, has been overthrown by a bunch of action figures, and it is up to the characters, all forgotten toys, to save the day!

For the characters I went down to the local Dollar Store and bought some inexpensive toys, came home, and wrote up the powers and abilities of each using ZoZ. The process was pretty easy and fun. Rather than letting people look at the character sheets I wrapped up the toys (well, actually Mechante Anemone wrapped up the toys) and tomorrow at the game everyone gets to pick a gift and that's the character they get. Plus they get to keep the toys! I also got some toys to be the bad guys.

I ran the teasers listed in the first post on our gaming group mailing list during the previous week to give people a feel for the unfolding crisis.

Once I run the game tomorrow I'll post about how it went, and will post the characters (as well as Mechante Anemone's very nice group picture, which will be featured prominently on my GM screen tomorrow night.

More information on Zorcerer of Zo can be found here

[JLynn]

Looking forward to this. I really like the PDQ System and it'll be neat to see how Zorcerer of Zo runs.

[iago]

I love the ZNN updates. Definitely eager to hear how the actual event goes!

[arokh]

Sounds like an awesome game! Can't wait to see how it turns out.

[Mechante_Anemone]

As GM's wife, wrapper, and official artist of the game, I had a chance to see all the character sheets. I wanted to make sure I would be willing to play any of them since it will be random draw and I will be taking last pick! I can't wait for the characters to be posted here so you guys can see; those are fun characters. (Since this game is played at our local gaming club, where we only have only from 6:30pm to 10pm; pre-gens were pretty much necessary.)

Some of the villains, most prominently the Devil Ducks, were purchased at the mind-boggling Archie McPhee store; the rest (and the wrapping materials) came from the Dollar Store.

[Shosuro Kando]

[SGA] ZNN Breaking News - CRISIS ON THE ISLAND OF FORGOTTEN TOYS

This is ZNN!

This just in - Good King Moonchaser has been reinstated as leader of the
Island of Forgotten Toys today, after a raid by the members of the
Playful Guard rescued him from imprisonment and toppled the government
of President Stryke Nomad.

King Moonchaser appears to be in good health, and has contacted Santa,
who has agreed to reinstate his flight to the Island of Forgotten Toys
this Christmas. It is rumored that Commander Stryke Nomad was killed
during the fighting in the Palace.

With the assistance of the Playful Guard King Moonchaser is rounding up
all renegade Devil Ducks and placing them back under supervision.

Keep your crystal balls, mirrors, still pools, and other scrying devices
tuned to ZNN for more details as they come in!

ZNN - where folks from Zo go to get in the know!

[Shosuro Kando]

ZNN News - Guards Honored by Zorcerer of Zo

This is ZNN!

The Smiling Soldier, head of the Zo Guard, announced today that several
members of the Playful Watch are to be honored by no less personage than
the mysterious Zorcerer of Zo himself.

Seven members of the Playful Watch are to be granted the prestigious
Order of the Emerald Tree Frog for their part in liberating the Island
of Forgotten Toys and the rescue of King Moonchaser. A likeness of the
group has been commissioned to hang in the barracks of the Zo guard as
an inspiration to future generations.

Keep your crystal balls, mirrors, still pools, and other scrying devices
tuned to ZNN for more details as they come in!

ZNN - where folks from Zo go to get in the know!

[Shosuro Kando]

Tonight's game of ZoZ went very well. I'm a little too tired to post everything tonight, but I will post characters tomorrow, and will put up the actual events of the game tomorrow evening. For now let me just say that the game was fun, it was easily taught to folks who had never played, and it ran smoothly.

[Mechante_Anemone]

Just came back from the game -- we had a great time! Character info and a game summary will follow, but for now, here is a group portrait of the heores.