Raise a child in the Cumulus Kingdom, the sky kingdom with Pegasai above the cloud barrier.
Heritors of the Sky: A New Flock (A Child-Raising Quest)
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Intro and Character Design
Random Tale
The Story-Bound
Heritors of the Sky: A New Flock
(A Child-Raising Quest)
(A Child-Raising Quest)
It is the 23rd year of King Robin Strigiformes, after his ancestor led the people of the Cumulus Kingdom to slay the dragons of the land 756 years ago, as dictated by the Tapestry of Fate. Pegasai are used to fly between the islands, the surface is a myth, and those with magic are assumed to be nobles. Distressingly, though, the Djinn Province was sunk beneath the cloud barrier for unknown reasons, and it has the rest of the Kingdom on edge.
Luckily, this child managed to escape the destruction of their home by you being on the Province shortly before the land fell away. For better or for worse, you've decided to adopt them.
Just… a few quick questions…
Are you a man, or a woman?
[X] Own Gender: Male (Man)
[X] Own Gender: Female (Woman)
[X] Personal Name: (Bird-Themed Write-in)
And what of the child you are adopting?
[X] Child's Gender: Male (Boy)
[X] Child's Gender: Female (Girl)
[X] Child's Name: (Bird-Themed Write-in)
What do you do for a living?
[X] Origin: Alchemist (Potion and Oil Brewer)
[X] Origin: Baker
[X] Origin: Farmer
[X] Origin: Guard
[X] Origin: Healer
[X] Origin: Inventor
[X] Origin: Merchant
[X] Origin: Metalworking
[X] Origin: Minor Noble (+1 Complication)
[X] Origin: 'Networking' (Intrigue, can take another living as cover) (+1 Complication)
[X] Origin: Pegasus Rancher
[X] Origin: Researcher
[X] Origin: Retired (can take another living as an old job) (+1 Complication)
[X] Origin: 'Shover' (Assassin, can take another living as cover) (+2 Complication)
[X] Origin: Tailor
[X] Origin: Teacher
[X] Origin: (Write-in)
Are you from the now-gone province, by chance?
[X] Location: Passing Through
You were in Dijinn on business when tragedy struck, but were able to escape with your adoptive child before the land fell apart and fell beneath the clouds.
[X] Location: Dijinn Refugee (+2 Complication)
You had made your living on the Province, but when it started falling, you managed to saddle up, grab the child, and flee to the nearby Sylph Province. You've got little more than the clothes on your back.
But its not going to be easy for you and your child. After all, things are not going entirely well for you… (Must start with Complication above 0, can take multiple complications)
[X] Complication: (No Additional Complications) (+0 Complication)
Do you have enough going on already?
[X] Complication: Angered Family (+1 Complication)
You were offered a deal with a noble family, a deal that you recently renegaded on once you realized the would-be results of fulfilling it.
[X] Complication: Bad Rep (+1 Complication)
You've got a reputation for your past. It's not a good one, an amusing one, or even a disappointing one.
[X] Complication: Drunk (+1 Complication)
You found a partner in the bottle. You love it, even if it doesn't love you back.
[X] Complication: Homosexual (+1 Complication)
On one hand, you get along with other homosexuals. On the other, with the world limited to the Cumulus Kingdom, sustaining one's bloodline is considered a very big deal among those in power.
[X] Complication: Hostage Child (+1 Complication)
You are a widow now, but before your partner died, you have offspring of your own blood. Unfortunately, they are held hostage by someone else in the kingdom.
[X] Complication: Oops (+3 Complication)
About Dijinn… you… may or may not have had a personal hand in… its… unfortunate fate.
[X] Complication: Promiscuous (+2 Complication)
You have tended to sleep around with other people a lot, and not just in the 'napping with' sense.
Please vote by plan for your character design.
Though I am taking away a lot of world choices, this is the proposed Child-Raising Quest I mentioned in the quest idea thread. I've got an overview of upcoming problems for the world here, and it gives me more freedom to advance plots instead of limiting them to Earth. That said, I do need a complication or three to give conflict and drive for you to overcome, to grant those hooks. The more Complication, the more hooks and opportunities will be provided for by the character themselves, but I will let you know that there are a few hooks going to present themselves in the story once certain points are reached.
Also, instead of my original plans, I am simplifying the system even further, stripping out all of the Qualities except for Skill Feats (which will be limited to only three per character), and changing magic to be more free form. This way, I focus on the very foundations instead of expanding wider and testing more than can be handled. I will instead be making Aspects in the vein of Qualities for similar effects.
Good luck.
Also, instead of my original plans, I am simplifying the system even further, stripping out all of the Qualities except for Skill Feats (which will be limited to only three per character), and changing magic to be more free form. This way, I focus on the very foundations instead of expanding wider and testing more than can be handled. I will instead be making Aspects in the vein of Qualities for similar effects.
Good luck.
Turn 1: Early 756 PV
Random Tale
The Story-Bound
Turn 1: Early 756 PV
You don't know why you did it.
You are Huginn, known to the public as Professor Muninn Corax, and last month, you rescued and subsequently adopted a child.
Two months ago, the nobleman you serve, Bobby Ruber, learned of unusual activity going on in the Province of Dijinn. Whatever was going on, the only part of the activity that was related to the usual fine arts of the Province was the fact that one of the members of the activity was an artist that was known to the clerics of the Goddess for his work in several of the temples across the kingdom. As a result, you were sent on a 'research trip' to collect soil samples from several farms across the Province and figure out what was going on.
You were able to establish your cover, and prepare to make your way to the capital for your main mission, when the ground started shaking beneath the feet of your pegasus Kingsley and yourself. The farm you were present at had fallen on hard times, lacking any animals themselves, and so the farmers begged you to take their daughter Christine to safety. You did so, and the land of Dijinn fell away, with the majority of people on Dijinn falling with them.
Though Kingsley was exhausted, the three of you were safe on Sylph by the time the last stone of Dijinn disappeared beneath the cloud barrier.
Lacking any children of your own, you decided to take Christine in permanently instead of dropping the girl off at an orphanage. You're sure you can find some use for her, though it would take some time for you to come up with that use, and for her to recover from the loss of her parents.
Just… child raising is women's work. How hard could it be?
Professor Muninn Corax:
Status:
Physical: 9/9
Mental: 10/10
Financial: 2/2
Christine Corax:
Status:
Physical: Full
Mental: -5
Financial: Tied to Muninn's
World:
Year: 756 PV
Warming Season
Turn Actions (Vote in Plan format, choose 3):
[X] Professor Above, Spy Below: Cover Work: Flying Machine, Mk. 37
You need to put some work at the lab to keep your superiors at your cover job happy, primarily one Professor Peafowl. One of the projects going on right now at the Hawkins Institute is a heavier than air flying machine, meant to supplement pegasai and potentially allow transport of heavier goods between provinces at a faster (and more consistent) rate than a hot air balloon.
Roll: Crafts; TGH: 0/10; Final Results: Lore Roll to determine quality of machine
[X] Professor Above, Spy Below: Cover Work: Ground Matters
You need to put some work at the lab to keep your superiors at your cover job happy, primarily one Professor Peafowl. One of the projects going on right now at the Hawkins Institute is a long-term study on soil quality, and, in turn, the quality of the plants that grow in it.
Roll: Lore; TGH: 0/15; Final Results: Study on Soil Quality released
[X] Professor Above, Spy Below: Cover Work: Plant Breeding, Pollination
You need to put some work at the lab to keep your superiors at your cover job happy, primarily one Professor Peafowl. One of the projects getting started right now at the Hawkins Institute is the observation of how plants produce specific seeds based on how they are pollinated.
Roll: Lore; TH: 4; Results: Stage 1 of Plant Breeding study completed, unlocks Plant Breeding, Fruiting
Note: This action can only be completed during a Warming Turn.
[X] Professor Above, Spy Below: Cover Work: Quick Portraits
You need to put some work at the lab to keep your superiors at your cover job happy, primarily one Professor Peafowl. One of the projects going on right now at the Hawkins Institute is an idea Intern Atricapilla has for a 'portrait box' that would allow the creation of an image in a fraction of the time that it usually takes.
Roll: Crafts; TGH: 0/10; Final Results: Large prototype portrait maker in a box created
[X] Professor Above, Spy Below: Underground Work: The Loss of the Province of Wishes
There's word from your boss Bobby Ruber, one of the nobles of Sylph, that he wants to know what happened to the Province of Dijinn. While the land itself is gone from the sky, there are lots of refugees who might have some clue as to what happened.
Roll: Contacts; TH: 5; Results: Find someone who knows what happened to the Province of Dijinn that caused its fall
[X] Professor Above, Spy Below: Underground Work: Rival Checking
There's word from your boss Bobby Ruber, one of the nobles of Sylph, that he wants to keep tabs on the other nobles of the Province, to make sure they don't get more of an advantage of the fall of Dijinn than he is.
Roll: Contacts: TH: 3; Results: Find out how the nobles Albatross Sanctus and Warbler Cuckoo are dealing with the loss of Dijinn
[X] Adoptive Father to Christine: Personal and Private Second Circle Education
An education up to through the Sixth Circle is a requirement in the Cumulus Kingdom, usually finishing before a child's thirteenth birthday. Although a public education is offered to all, some, mainly the academics and nobles, have the option to provide a more personalized education to their children. Although it would eat into your time, you could get some learning materials to teach Christine with.
Roll: Lore; TH: 2; Financial Damage: 1 (Won't recover until turn 3); Results: Christine receives the first half-year of a Second Circle Education, will be required to spend an action to complete the second half-year of the Education next turn
[O]Adoptive Father to Christine: Tutored Private Second Circle Education
You don't have the budget to hire private tutors for Christine right now. Maybe next year…
Roll: Contacts; TH: 5; Financial Damage: 3 (Won't recover until turn 3); Results: Christine receives a tutor to teach her a Second Circle Education for the year
[X] Adoptive Father to Christine: Spend Time With Christine
Spend time with the girl you adopted, Christine. You know little about her, but perhaps you can spend some time fixing that. Learn her hobbies, what she is good at, what she likes…
Roll: Empathy: TH: 3; Results: Learn more about Christine, reduce damage to her mental track
[X]Adoptive Father to Christine Professor Above, Spy Below: Magic Testing for Christine
Normally, the process of discovery for one's magic potential is a matter of knowing the right people to get access to the right equipment for the testing. Fortunately, with your cover work environment, you can get access to the right tools for the job with just a few words with your superiors.
Roll:Contacts None; TH: 4 N/A; Results: Information on Christine's magic potential
[X] Adoptive Father to Christine: Intrigue Training
You know, you might be able to train Christine up a bit using methods you were trained with. You know a few memory games that can be used to improve her memory, useful in day to day life and in the underworld.
Roll: Deceive; TH: 4; Results: Spend time with Christine, her memory improved, ???
[X] Lots of Past Lovers: A Partner for Child-Raising
You are a single father, and you are raising a child that isn't even your own. On a busy day, you have two jobs to work, as well. Finding a wife to ease the burden might be a good idea.
Roll: Contacts; TH: 5; Results: Find a selection of marriage candidates, with additional Hits unveiling more marriage candidates; Rapport checks will be needed to convince anyone of marriage
[X] Write-In: Something else?
You might have a better idea…
You don't know why you did it.
You are Huginn, known to the public as Professor Muninn Corax, and last month, you rescued and subsequently adopted a child.
Two months ago, the nobleman you serve, Bobby Ruber, learned of unusual activity going on in the Province of Dijinn. Whatever was going on, the only part of the activity that was related to the usual fine arts of the Province was the fact that one of the members of the activity was an artist that was known to the clerics of the Goddess for his work in several of the temples across the kingdom. As a result, you were sent on a 'research trip' to collect soil samples from several farms across the Province and figure out what was going on.
You were able to establish your cover, and prepare to make your way to the capital for your main mission, when the ground started shaking beneath the feet of your pegasus Kingsley and yourself. The farm you were present at had fallen on hard times, lacking any animals themselves, and so the farmers begged you to take their daughter Christine to safety. You did so, and the land of Dijinn fell away, with the majority of people on Dijinn falling with them.
Though Kingsley was exhausted, the three of you were safe on Sylph by the time the last stone of Dijinn disappeared beneath the cloud barrier.
Lacking any children of your own, you decided to take Christine in permanently instead of dropping the girl off at an orphanage. You're sure you can find some use for her, though it would take some time for you to come up with that use, and for her to recover from the loss of her parents.
Just… child raising is women's work. How hard could it be?
Professor Muninn Corax:
Status:
Physical: 9/9
Mental: 10/10
Financial: 2/2
Christine Corax:
Status:
Physical: Full
Mental: -5
Financial: Tied to Muninn's
World:
Year: 756 PV
Warming Season
Turn Actions (Vote in Plan format, choose 3):
[X] Professor Above, Spy Below: Cover Work: Flying Machine, Mk. 37
You need to put some work at the lab to keep your superiors at your cover job happy, primarily one Professor Peafowl. One of the projects going on right now at the Hawkins Institute is a heavier than air flying machine, meant to supplement pegasai and potentially allow transport of heavier goods between provinces at a faster (and more consistent) rate than a hot air balloon.
Roll: Crafts; TGH: 0/10; Final Results: Lore Roll to determine quality of machine
[X] Professor Above, Spy Below: Cover Work: Ground Matters
You need to put some work at the lab to keep your superiors at your cover job happy, primarily one Professor Peafowl. One of the projects going on right now at the Hawkins Institute is a long-term study on soil quality, and, in turn, the quality of the plants that grow in it.
Roll: Lore; TGH: 0/15; Final Results: Study on Soil Quality released
[X] Professor Above, Spy Below: Cover Work: Plant Breeding, Pollination
You need to put some work at the lab to keep your superiors at your cover job happy, primarily one Professor Peafowl. One of the projects getting started right now at the Hawkins Institute is the observation of how plants produce specific seeds based on how they are pollinated.
Roll: Lore; TH: 4; Results: Stage 1 of Plant Breeding study completed, unlocks Plant Breeding, Fruiting
Note: This action can only be completed during a Warming Turn.
[X] Professor Above, Spy Below: Cover Work: Quick Portraits
You need to put some work at the lab to keep your superiors at your cover job happy, primarily one Professor Peafowl. One of the projects going on right now at the Hawkins Institute is an idea Intern Atricapilla has for a 'portrait box' that would allow the creation of an image in a fraction of the time that it usually takes.
Roll: Crafts; TGH: 0/10; Final Results: Large prototype portrait maker in a box created
[X] Professor Above, Spy Below: Underground Work: The Loss of the Province of Wishes
There's word from your boss Bobby Ruber, one of the nobles of Sylph, that he wants to know what happened to the Province of Dijinn. While the land itself is gone from the sky, there are lots of refugees who might have some clue as to what happened.
Roll: Contacts; TH: 5; Results: Find someone who knows what happened to the Province of Dijinn that caused its fall
[X] Professor Above, Spy Below: Underground Work: Rival Checking
There's word from your boss Bobby Ruber, one of the nobles of Sylph, that he wants to keep tabs on the other nobles of the Province, to make sure they don't get more of an advantage of the fall of Dijinn than he is.
Roll: Contacts: TH: 3; Results: Find out how the nobles Albatross Sanctus and Warbler Cuckoo are dealing with the loss of Dijinn
[X] Adoptive Father to Christine: Personal and Private Second Circle Education
An education up to through the Sixth Circle is a requirement in the Cumulus Kingdom, usually finishing before a child's thirteenth birthday. Although a public education is offered to all, some, mainly the academics and nobles, have the option to provide a more personalized education to their children. Although it would eat into your time, you could get some learning materials to teach Christine with.
Roll: Lore; TH: 2; Financial Damage: 1 (Won't recover until turn 3); Results: Christine receives the first half-year of a Second Circle Education, will be required to spend an action to complete the second half-year of the Education next turn
[O]
You don't have the budget to hire private tutors for Christine right now. Maybe next year…
Roll: Contacts; TH: 5; Financial Damage: 3 (Won't recover until turn 3); Results: Christine receives a tutor to teach her a Second Circle Education for the year
[X] Adoptive Father to Christine: Spend Time With Christine
Spend time with the girl you adopted, Christine. You know little about her, but perhaps you can spend some time fixing that. Learn her hobbies, what she is good at, what she likes…
Roll: Empathy: TH: 3; Results: Learn more about Christine, reduce damage to her mental track
[X]
Normally, the process of discovery for one's magic potential is a matter of knowing the right people to get access to the right equipment for the testing. Fortunately, with your cover work environment, you can get access to the right tools for the job with just a few words with your superiors.
Roll:
[X] Adoptive Father to Christine: Intrigue Training
You know, you might be able to train Christine up a bit using methods you were trained with. You know a few memory games that can be used to improve her memory, useful in day to day life and in the underworld.
Roll: Deceive; TH: 4; Results: Spend time with Christine, her memory improved, ???
[X] Lots of Past Lovers: A Partner for Child-Raising
You are a single father, and you are raising a child that isn't even your own. On a busy day, you have two jobs to work, as well. Finding a wife to ease the burden might be a good idea.
Roll: Contacts; TH: 5; Results: Find a selection of marriage candidates, with additional Hits unveiling more marriage candidates; Rapport checks will be needed to convince anyone of marriage
[X] Write-In: Something else?
You might have a better idea…
Well, this was actually finalized shortly after I closed the vote. A surprise, but a pleasant one, to be sure.
At any rate, this is a calm turn, to help you get situated to the new system and build a foundation. You'll earn experience for your actions you can use to improve Huginn, and Chirstine will improve at her own rate, though you can guide her growth with certain actions. Although you can kick a couple of plots off this turn, things will start happening in a couple of turns. Be prepared, for things will start to get interesting then.
At any rate, this is a calm turn, to help you get situated to the new system and build a foundation. You'll earn experience for your actions you can use to improve Huginn, and Chirstine will improve at her own rate, though you can guide her growth with certain actions. Although you can kick a couple of plots off this turn, things will start happening in a couple of turns. Be prepared, for things will start to get interesting then.
Turn 1: Results
Random Tale
The Story-Bound
Turn 1: Results
It turns out, the women's work was the simple part your life for the past few months. It wasn't easy, but you were able to do it without issues, compared to how other things went wrong in your life.
Professor Above, Spy Below: Cover Work: Plant Breeding, Pollination
The most open issue you had to deal with was your cover job.
The Hawkins Institute of Research and Invention, one of two such Institutes in the Kingdom, was known throughout the nobles of the Kingdom. It wasn't talked about all the time, but it was known as a place of study and the occasional invention. Ideas were tried, discoveries were made, and mistakes were scraped for salvage for the next idea. It was a relatively safe place for all the researchers to get together and do things with minimal risk to the everyone else.
Protecting the Kingdom from their work before the Kingdom is ready for it is one of the main reasons of the Institute. Sure, all the knowledge is in a handful of places, but if the Kingdom isn't ready, its possible you'll come across blocks if people know you're after a certain piece of knowledge.
Professor Peafowl currently heads the Hawkins Institute, making sure that the proper projects get enough funding and supplies, putting their foot down on anything that is pointless, and making sure that no one steps on any toes. As he much prefers to spend time trying to invent a working flying machine, his oversight is minimal, tending to step in only when someone is blatantly trying to go too far with either funding or their own projects.
One project, proposed by Intern Strisore, is to try to purposely breed flowers in certain methods to produce different kinds of flowers. Mix the blue, and mix the white, and what will happen? Strisore is sure that he'll get all purple flowers, but wants detailed notes for proof. The potential of the results are grand: the nobles with hobbies of gardening would be able to grow the colors of flowers they want, and the farmers would be able to grow more food for less effort.
Invoke: Professor Above, Spy Below: +3 Die Pool
Roll: Lore (Skill) + Intelligence (Linked Attribute) + 3 (Invocation) = 4 + 5 + 3 = 12 Die Pool
Intelligence Cap: 4
Rolls: 1, 2, 4, 1, 1, 6, 6, 4, 4, 1, 3, 6
1s (Hilarity): 4 VS 6 = SAFE
5s and 6s (Hits): 3 VS TH 4 = FAIL
But despite the potential, Peafowl wasn't budging one coin for the project until late in the warming season. The man didn't see the potential in such a study, where the flying machine, if it was finally invented, could revolutionize trade between the islands of Cumulus. It took a short essay from yourself and your Junior on the potential for farmers and nobles alike that the man finally decided to put some funds aside for the project. But as the Warming Season ended, it was too late to put those funds to use.
Results: Got stuck in research for funds, try again next Warming Season
Professor Above, Spy Below: Underground Work: The Loss of the Province of Wishes
Your main job was one that was more secretive. Its primary function was to discreetly gather information and pass it onto your main employer, with other functions such as sabotage or delivery not really called upon. Bobby Ruber, the noble in command of you, usually wanted a general overview of his part of the Province of Sylph, but occasionally wanted some specific information delivered to him.
And this time, he wants an answer to the question that's plaguing the minds of almost everyone in the Kingdom: what happened to Dijinn?
Since time unknown, there had been nine Provinces in the Cumulus Kingdom: Angel, Dijinn, Dragon, Fiend, Phoenix, Pixie, Sylph, Thunderbird, and Wyvern. The entire known world, all on the floating islands contained within those Provinces. The outright destruction of one of those nine has sent shockwaves throughout the Kingdom, making most of everyone concerned.
So Mr. Ruber has given you the task of finding out what happened. Once he has that knowledge, he can take steps to make sure history doesn't repeat on his own lands.
You don't know what happened there; despite being in the area to track down what one of Mr. Ruber's (now former) rivals was doing, you never saw hide nor hair of the man before you had to grab Christine and flee. But despite not knowing what happened yourself, you had the idea to find out: simply ask someone who did. There were a lot of refugees from Dijinn, after all, and surely one of them knew what happened.
Invoke: Professor Above, Spy Below: +3 Die Pool
Roll: Contacts (Skill) + Charisma (Linked Attribute) + 3 (Invocation) = 2 + 5 +3 = 10 Die Pool
Charisma Cap: 5
Rolls: 6, 4, 5, 3, 4, 2, 4, 2, 6, 6
1s (Hilarity): 0 VS 5 = SAFE
5s and 6s (Hits) 4 VS TH 5 = FAIL
You had a few contacts, fellow 'Networkers', to help track down who is who, and who might know what happened. Together, you looked at the numbers, and came to a disappointing conclusion: most of the refugees had no idea as to what happened.
Most of the survivors came from the outlaying areas of Dijinn, allowing them to get away to safety once the land started falling. Although it was good they survived, it was likely that they didn't know anything useful. You needed someone further towards the capital of Dijinn, who had the information you needed.
At least you had a starting point for a deeper investigation. Ask the survivors if they knew of anyone who might know of what happened, and then start piecing together a solid lead from their directions. All it would take would be time and effort…
Results: No definitive answer yet. LOTS of people to ask for leads in the right direction. Will require a Rapport check for interrogation later on.
On your off time, though, you spent at home, helping Christine get settled in.
Adoptive Father to Christine: Spend Time With Christine
And it was the only area that showed success to you these past few months.
Invoke: Adoptive Father to Christine: +3 Die Pool
Roll: Empathy (Skill) + Wisdom (Linked Attribute) + 3 (Invocation) = 2 + 3 + 3 = 8 Die Pool
Wisdom Cap: 3
Rolls: 6, 6, 3, 2, 2, 4, 5, 3
1s (Hilarity): 0 VS 4 = SAFE
5s and 6s (Hits) 3 VS TH 3 = SUCCESS
Christine was a people person. She was reserved, not really interacting with others when she had the opportunity to, but she felt how they were feeling. If another child was feeling sad and hiding it, Christine would be able to pick up on it immediately. While she was at school for the required three days a week, she didn't interact with any of her peers.
And that was due to her regret at living when others had died.
All of her parents, her neighbors, her friends… all of them were dead. She was questioning why she was alive, when someone else should have been saved in her place. A stark contrast to how she had acted when you had first met her on her family's farm.
Well, as she was now your family, it was your duty to figure out how to get her into a stable mindset. Perhaps you'll have better luck with her than in your job right now.
Results:
Christine Wisdom: 4/5 (Limited by Just a Child)
Christine Empathy: 5/10
Discovered Aspect: Survivor's Guilt
+1 Christine's Mental Stamina Recovered
Thankfully, at the hottest part of the year, you aren't hearing any more earth-shaking news right now. Good thing, too; you doubt that the Kingdom can withstand something else so soon after the fall of Dijinn.
Turn Experience:
Alive and Active: +2 Experience
Failed Tasks: 2: +4 Experience
Succeeded Tasks: 1: +1 Experience
Plot Advancement: 1: +1
Greatest Opposition: N/A: +0
Turn Experience Gain: +8
Total Remaining: 8 Experience
You may spend Experience to improve Huginn's Attributes and Skills at this point.
Increase Attribute: 5 * New Attribute Level = Experience Cost
Increase Skill: 2 * New Skill Level = Experience Cost
Due to interacting with Christine this turn, you may also 'guide' her towards improving her own Attribute or Skill this turn. It may not have an immediate effect, but it may later.
[X] Plan: No Action (Don't Spend Yet)
-[X] Spending: (None)
-[X] Christine Recommendation: (None)
[X] Plan: (Write-In)
-[X] Spending: (Line 1 Write-In)
-[X] Spending: (Line 2 Write-In)
-[X] Etc...
-[X] Christine Recommendation: (Write-In)
It turns out, the women's work was the simple part your life for the past few months. It wasn't easy, but you were able to do it without issues, compared to how other things went wrong in your life.
Professor Above, Spy Below: Cover Work: Plant Breeding, Pollination
The most open issue you had to deal with was your cover job.
The Hawkins Institute of Research and Invention, one of two such Institutes in the Kingdom, was known throughout the nobles of the Kingdom. It wasn't talked about all the time, but it was known as a place of study and the occasional invention. Ideas were tried, discoveries were made, and mistakes were scraped for salvage for the next idea. It was a relatively safe place for all the researchers to get together and do things with minimal risk to the everyone else.
Protecting the Kingdom from their work before the Kingdom is ready for it is one of the main reasons of the Institute. Sure, all the knowledge is in a handful of places, but if the Kingdom isn't ready, its possible you'll come across blocks if people know you're after a certain piece of knowledge.
Professor Peafowl currently heads the Hawkins Institute, making sure that the proper projects get enough funding and supplies, putting their foot down on anything that is pointless, and making sure that no one steps on any toes. As he much prefers to spend time trying to invent a working flying machine, his oversight is minimal, tending to step in only when someone is blatantly trying to go too far with either funding or their own projects.
One project, proposed by Intern Strisore, is to try to purposely breed flowers in certain methods to produce different kinds of flowers. Mix the blue, and mix the white, and what will happen? Strisore is sure that he'll get all purple flowers, but wants detailed notes for proof. The potential of the results are grand: the nobles with hobbies of gardening would be able to grow the colors of flowers they want, and the farmers would be able to grow more food for less effort.
Invoke: Professor Above, Spy Below: +3 Die Pool
Roll: Lore (Skill) + Intelligence (Linked Attribute) + 3 (Invocation) = 4 + 5 + 3 = 12 Die Pool
Intelligence Cap: 4
Rolls: 1, 2, 4, 1, 1, 6, 6, 4, 4, 1, 3, 6
1s (Hilarity): 4 VS 6 = SAFE
5s and 6s (Hits): 3 VS TH 4 = FAIL
But despite the potential, Peafowl wasn't budging one coin for the project until late in the warming season. The man didn't see the potential in such a study, where the flying machine, if it was finally invented, could revolutionize trade between the islands of Cumulus. It took a short essay from yourself and your Junior on the potential for farmers and nobles alike that the man finally decided to put some funds aside for the project. But as the Warming Season ended, it was too late to put those funds to use.
Results: Got stuck in research for funds, try again next Warming Season
Professor Above, Spy Below: Underground Work: The Loss of the Province of Wishes
Your main job was one that was more secretive. Its primary function was to discreetly gather information and pass it onto your main employer, with other functions such as sabotage or delivery not really called upon. Bobby Ruber, the noble in command of you, usually wanted a general overview of his part of the Province of Sylph, but occasionally wanted some specific information delivered to him.
And this time, he wants an answer to the question that's plaguing the minds of almost everyone in the Kingdom: what happened to Dijinn?
Since time unknown, there had been nine Provinces in the Cumulus Kingdom: Angel, Dijinn, Dragon, Fiend, Phoenix, Pixie, Sylph, Thunderbird, and Wyvern. The entire known world, all on the floating islands contained within those Provinces. The outright destruction of one of those nine has sent shockwaves throughout the Kingdom, making most of everyone concerned.
So Mr. Ruber has given you the task of finding out what happened. Once he has that knowledge, he can take steps to make sure history doesn't repeat on his own lands.
You don't know what happened there; despite being in the area to track down what one of Mr. Ruber's (now former) rivals was doing, you never saw hide nor hair of the man before you had to grab Christine and flee. But despite not knowing what happened yourself, you had the idea to find out: simply ask someone who did. There were a lot of refugees from Dijinn, after all, and surely one of them knew what happened.
Invoke: Professor Above, Spy Below: +3 Die Pool
Roll: Contacts (Skill) + Charisma (Linked Attribute) + 3 (Invocation) = 2 + 5 +3 = 10 Die Pool
Charisma Cap: 5
Rolls: 6, 4, 5, 3, 4, 2, 4, 2, 6, 6
1s (Hilarity): 0 VS 5 = SAFE
5s and 6s (Hits) 4 VS TH 5 = FAIL
You had a few contacts, fellow 'Networkers', to help track down who is who, and who might know what happened. Together, you looked at the numbers, and came to a disappointing conclusion: most of the refugees had no idea as to what happened.
Most of the survivors came from the outlaying areas of Dijinn, allowing them to get away to safety once the land started falling. Although it was good they survived, it was likely that they didn't know anything useful. You needed someone further towards the capital of Dijinn, who had the information you needed.
At least you had a starting point for a deeper investigation. Ask the survivors if they knew of anyone who might know of what happened, and then start piecing together a solid lead from their directions. All it would take would be time and effort…
Results: No definitive answer yet. LOTS of people to ask for leads in the right direction. Will require a Rapport check for interrogation later on.
On your off time, though, you spent at home, helping Christine get settled in.
Adoptive Father to Christine: Spend Time With Christine
And it was the only area that showed success to you these past few months.
Invoke: Adoptive Father to Christine: +3 Die Pool
Roll: Empathy (Skill) + Wisdom (Linked Attribute) + 3 (Invocation) = 2 + 3 + 3 = 8 Die Pool
Wisdom Cap: 3
Rolls: 6, 6, 3, 2, 2, 4, 5, 3
1s (Hilarity): 0 VS 4 = SAFE
5s and 6s (Hits) 3 VS TH 3 = SUCCESS
Christine was a people person. She was reserved, not really interacting with others when she had the opportunity to, but she felt how they were feeling. If another child was feeling sad and hiding it, Christine would be able to pick up on it immediately. While she was at school for the required three days a week, she didn't interact with any of her peers.
And that was due to her regret at living when others had died.
All of her parents, her neighbors, her friends… all of them were dead. She was questioning why she was alive, when someone else should have been saved in her place. A stark contrast to how she had acted when you had first met her on her family's farm.
Well, as she was now your family, it was your duty to figure out how to get her into a stable mindset. Perhaps you'll have better luck with her than in your job right now.
Results:
Christine Wisdom: 4/5 (Limited by Just a Child)
Christine Empathy: 5/10
Discovered Aspect: Survivor's Guilt
+1 Christine's Mental Stamina Recovered
Thankfully, at the hottest part of the year, you aren't hearing any more earth-shaking news right now. Good thing, too; you doubt that the Kingdom can withstand something else so soon after the fall of Dijinn.
Turn Experience:
Alive and Active: +2 Experience
Failed Tasks: 2: +4 Experience
Succeeded Tasks: 1: +1 Experience
Plot Advancement: 1: +1
Greatest Opposition: N/A: +0
Turn Experience Gain: +8
Total Remaining: 8 Experience
You may spend Experience to improve Huginn's Attributes and Skills at this point.
Increase Attribute: 5 * New Attribute Level = Experience Cost
Increase Skill: 2 * New Skill Level = Experience Cost
Due to interacting with Christine this turn, you may also 'guide' her towards improving her own Attribute or Skill this turn. It may not have an immediate effect, but it may later.
[X] Plan: No Action (Don't Spend Yet)
-[X] Spending: (None)
-[X] Christine Recommendation: (None)
[X] Plan: (Write-In)
-[X] Spending: (Line 1 Write-In)
-[X] Spending: (Line 2 Write-In)
-[X] Etc...
-[X] Christine Recommendation: (Write-In)
Not too much going on, but you didn't get too much done either. Luckily, you get some experience regardless to make the failures less likely in the future, and for attempting to advance one of the major plots of this world. And you get the chance to spend that experience after each turn wraps up. Choose wisely.
Last edited:
Turn 2: Late 756 PV
Random Tale
The Story-Bound
Turn 2: Late 756 PV
Resources increased to 2/10.
Financial Damage Track increased to 3/3.
You managed to pull yourself together to limit your excess spending as much. Drink less in the tavern, eat more vegetables and fruits and less meat, reusing disguises for everyday clothes instead of constantly going to the tailor for new disguises… all-in-all, it adds up, and you don't have to charge the Baron you serve as much for your work, likely making them happier as well.
Still, with Summer here, the warming season has come to an end. Its only going to get colder for the rest of the year…
Professor Muninn Corax:
Status:
Physical: 9/9
Mental: 10/10
Financial: 3/3
Christine Corax:
Status:
Physical: Full
Mental: -4
Financial: Tied to Muninn's
World:
Cooling Season
Turn Actions (Vote in Plan format, choose 3):
[X] Professor Above, Spy Below: Cover Work: Flying Machine, Mk. 37
You need to put some work at the lab to keep your superiors at your cover job happy, primarily one Professor Peafowl. One of the projects going on right now at the Hawkins Institute is a heavier than air flying machine, meant to supplement pegasai and potentially allow transport of heavier goods between provinces at a faster (and more consistent) rate than a hot air balloon. Crown-funded, too, so someone high up really wants this done.
Roll: Crafts; TGH: 3/10; Final Results: Lore Roll to determine quality of machine
[X] Professor Above, Spy Below: Cover Work: Ground Matters
You need to put some work at the lab to keep your superiors at your cover job happy, primarily one Professor Peafowl. One of the projects going on right now at the Hawkins Institute is a long-term study on soil quality, and, in turn, the quality of the plants that grow in it. The other project that is Crown-funded, so something has got the nobles in the capital interested in this.
Roll: Lore; TGH: 1/15; Final Results: Study on Soil Quality released
[X]Professor Above, Spy Below: Cover Work: Plant Breeding, Pollination
If the flowers are planted now, then they will die before they are able to produce seeds. You'll have to wait until the beginning of the new year before you plant the current crop.
[X] Professor Above, Spy Below: Cover Work: Quick Portraits
You need to put some work at the lab to keep your superiors at your cover job happy, primarily one Professor Peafowl. One of the projects going on right now at the Hawkins Institute is an idea Intern Atricapilla has for a 'portrait box' that would allow the creation of an image in a fraction of the time that it usually takes.
Roll: Crafts; TGH: 2/10; Final Results: Large prototype portrait maker in a box created
[X] Professor Above, Spy Below: Underground Work: The Loss of the Province of Wishes
There's word from your boss the Baron Bobby Ruber, one of the nobles of Sylph, that he wants to know what happened to the Province of Dijinn. While your contacts weren't able to track down anyone who directly knows what happened, you do have a large list of people who might be able to point you in the right direction.
Roll: Rapport; TH: 5; Results: Find someone who knows what happened to the Province of Dijinn that caused its fall
[X] Professor Above, Spy Below: Underground Work: Rival Checking
There's word from your boss Baron Bobby Ruber, one of the nobles of Sylph, that he wants to keep tabs on the other nobles of the Province, to make sure they don't get more of an advantage of the fall of Dijinn than he is.
Roll: Contacts: TH: 3; Results: Find out how the Barons Albatross Sanctus and Warbler Cuckoo are dealing with the loss of Dijinn
[O]Adoptive Father to Christine: Personal and Private Second Circle Education
Pulling Christine out of school in the middle of the year would gain a lot of dirty looks in your direction. Perhaps when she is to start the Third Circle next year.
[O]Adoptive Father to Christine: Tutored Private Second Circle Education
Hiring a tutor for Christine at this stage is tacky, as it would draw her out of school. Maybe next year…
Roll: Contacts; TH: 5; Financial Damage: 3 (Won't recover until turn 3); Results: Christine receives a tutor to teach her a Second Circle Education for the year
[O]Adoptive Father to Christine: Academy Second Circle Education
You would love to give Christine an education worthy of nobles. Unfortunately, you need time, you need coin, and you need connections to even apply one's child to such a school. And even then, you can't apply during the middle of the year. Only in a dream…
Roll: Contacts; TH: 5; Financial Damage: 6
[X] Adoptive Father to Christine: Spend Time With Christine
Spend time with the girl you adopted, Christine. You know little about her, but perhaps you can spend some time fixing that. Learn her hobbies, what she is good at, what she likes…
Roll: Empathy: TH: 3; Results: Learn more about Christine, reduce damage to her mental track
[X]Adoptive Father to Christine Professor Above, Spy Below: Magic Testing for Christine
Normally, the process of discovery for one's magic potential is a matter of knowing the right people to get access to the right equipment for the testing. Fortunately, with your cover work environment, you can get access to the right tools for the job with just a few words with your superiors.
Roll:Contacts None; TH: 4 N/A; Results: Information on Christine's magic potential
[X] Adoptive Father to Christine: Researcher Training
It is traditional for children to follow in the footsteps of their parents, and if she isn't exactly suited for the underworld, you might be able to train her up in being a researcher. It would require a bunch of reading, checking sources, and running experiments for that track, but if you get her interest in early, it could set the foundation for her future.
Roll: Lore; TH: 4; Results: Spend time with Christine, her education improved and focused, ???
[X] Adoptive Father to Christine: Inventor Training
…On the other hand, maybe she is might want to create something practical with her hands instead of making discoveries. Perhaps you should guide her into designing and making things of her own.
Roll: Crafts; TH 4; Financial Damage: 1; Results: Spend time with Christine, her education improved and focused, ???
[X] Adoptive Father to Christine: Intrigue Training
You know, you might be able to train Christine up a bit using methods you were trained with. You know a few memory games that can be used to improve her memory, useful in day to day life and in the underworld.
Roll: Deceive; TH: 4; Results: Spend time with Christine, her memory improved, ???
[X] Lots of Past Lovers: A Partner for Child-Raising
You are a single father, and you are raising a child that isn't even your own. On a busy day, you have two jobs to work, as well. Finding a wife to ease the burden might be a good idea.
Roll: Contacts; TH: 5; Results: Find a selection of marriage candidates, with additional Hits unveiling more marriage candidates; Rapport checks will be needed to convince anyone of marriage
[X] Write-In: Something else?
You might have a better idea…
Resources increased to 2/10.
Financial Damage Track increased to 3/3.
You managed to pull yourself together to limit your excess spending as much. Drink less in the tavern, eat more vegetables and fruits and less meat, reusing disguises for everyday clothes instead of constantly going to the tailor for new disguises… all-in-all, it adds up, and you don't have to charge the Baron you serve as much for your work, likely making them happier as well.
Still, with Summer here, the warming season has come to an end. Its only going to get colder for the rest of the year…
Professor Muninn Corax:
Status:
Physical: 9/9
Mental: 10/10
Financial: 3/3
Christine Corax:
Status:
Physical: Full
Mental: -4
Financial: Tied to Muninn's
World:
Cooling Season
Turn Actions (Vote in Plan format, choose 3):
[X] Professor Above, Spy Below: Cover Work: Flying Machine, Mk. 37
You need to put some work at the lab to keep your superiors at your cover job happy, primarily one Professor Peafowl. One of the projects going on right now at the Hawkins Institute is a heavier than air flying machine, meant to supplement pegasai and potentially allow transport of heavier goods between provinces at a faster (and more consistent) rate than a hot air balloon. Crown-funded, too, so someone high up really wants this done.
Roll: Crafts; TGH: 3/10; Final Results: Lore Roll to determine quality of machine
[X] Professor Above, Spy Below: Cover Work: Ground Matters
You need to put some work at the lab to keep your superiors at your cover job happy, primarily one Professor Peafowl. One of the projects going on right now at the Hawkins Institute is a long-term study on soil quality, and, in turn, the quality of the plants that grow in it. The other project that is Crown-funded, so something has got the nobles in the capital interested in this.
Roll: Lore; TGH: 1/15; Final Results: Study on Soil Quality released
[X]
If the flowers are planted now, then they will die before they are able to produce seeds. You'll have to wait until the beginning of the new year before you plant the current crop.
[X] Professor Above, Spy Below: Cover Work: Quick Portraits
You need to put some work at the lab to keep your superiors at your cover job happy, primarily one Professor Peafowl. One of the projects going on right now at the Hawkins Institute is an idea Intern Atricapilla has for a 'portrait box' that would allow the creation of an image in a fraction of the time that it usually takes.
Roll: Crafts; TGH: 2/10; Final Results: Large prototype portrait maker in a box created
[X] Professor Above, Spy Below: Underground Work: The Loss of the Province of Wishes
There's word from your boss the Baron Bobby Ruber, one of the nobles of Sylph, that he wants to know what happened to the Province of Dijinn. While your contacts weren't able to track down anyone who directly knows what happened, you do have a large list of people who might be able to point you in the right direction.
Roll: Rapport; TH: 5; Results: Find someone who knows what happened to the Province of Dijinn that caused its fall
[X] Professor Above, Spy Below: Underground Work: Rival Checking
There's word from your boss Baron Bobby Ruber, one of the nobles of Sylph, that he wants to keep tabs on the other nobles of the Province, to make sure they don't get more of an advantage of the fall of Dijinn than he is.
Roll: Contacts: TH: 3; Results: Find out how the Barons Albatross Sanctus and Warbler Cuckoo are dealing with the loss of Dijinn
[O]
Pulling Christine out of school in the middle of the year would gain a lot of dirty looks in your direction. Perhaps when she is to start the Third Circle next year.
[O]
Hiring a tutor for Christine at this stage is tacky, as it would draw her out of school. Maybe next year…
Roll: Contacts; TH: 5; Financial Damage: 3 (Won't recover until turn 3); Results: Christine receives a tutor to teach her a Second Circle Education for the year
[O]
You would love to give Christine an education worthy of nobles. Unfortunately, you need time, you need coin, and you need connections to even apply one's child to such a school. And even then, you can't apply during the middle of the year. Only in a dream…
Roll: Contacts; TH: 5; Financial Damage: 6
[X] Adoptive Father to Christine: Spend Time With Christine
Spend time with the girl you adopted, Christine. You know little about her, but perhaps you can spend some time fixing that. Learn her hobbies, what she is good at, what she likes…
Roll: Empathy: TH: 3; Results: Learn more about Christine, reduce damage to her mental track
[X]
Normally, the process of discovery for one's magic potential is a matter of knowing the right people to get access to the right equipment for the testing. Fortunately, with your cover work environment, you can get access to the right tools for the job with just a few words with your superiors.
Roll:
[X] Adoptive Father to Christine: Researcher Training
It is traditional for children to follow in the footsteps of their parents, and if she isn't exactly suited for the underworld, you might be able to train her up in being a researcher. It would require a bunch of reading, checking sources, and running experiments for that track, but if you get her interest in early, it could set the foundation for her future.
Roll: Lore; TH: 4; Results: Spend time with Christine, her education improved and focused, ???
[X] Adoptive Father to Christine: Inventor Training
…On the other hand, maybe she is might want to create something practical with her hands instead of making discoveries. Perhaps you should guide her into designing and making things of her own.
Roll: Crafts; TH 4; Financial Damage: 1; Results: Spend time with Christine, her education improved and focused, ???
[X] Adoptive Father to Christine: Intrigue Training
You know, you might be able to train Christine up a bit using methods you were trained with. You know a few memory games that can be used to improve her memory, useful in day to day life and in the underworld.
Roll: Deceive; TH: 4; Results: Spend time with Christine, her memory improved, ???
[X] Lots of Past Lovers: A Partner for Child-Raising
You are a single father, and you are raising a child that isn't even your own. On a busy day, you have two jobs to work, as well. Finding a wife to ease the burden might be a good idea.
Roll: Contacts; TH: 5; Results: Find a selection of marriage candidates, with additional Hits unveiling more marriage candidates; Rapport checks will be needed to convince anyone of marriage
[X] Write-In: Something else?
You might have a better idea…
I actually had this done for a week or two now, but I kept feeling that I needed more to it. A greater intro, more options to make up for the locked out education options for the Cooling Season (Third Circle will open up next turn, with the Warming Season and the start of a new school year). But in the end, I could only do so much without giving away plotlines, so I leave this up to you. If you have an idea of your own you want to try, feel free to write it in.
The progress on the Target Generated Hits is due to the fact that others are working on the projects; though they will likely be completed without your help, it will not be as fast, and you will not get any credit for those projects (no big paydays, as an example). Do note, though, that the Crown wants a couple of projects in particular done, and may look favorably on their completion.
And a word of warning: the first world event is getting ready to fire. This one is not going to impact much, but it should serve as a reminder that Muninn and Christine are not alone in this world, and open up opportunities and make others more difficult. Later world events should be more devastating.
The progress on the Target Generated Hits is due to the fact that others are working on the projects; though they will likely be completed without your help, it will not be as fast, and you will not get any credit for those projects (no big paydays, as an example). Do note, though, that the Crown wants a couple of projects in particular done, and may look favorably on their completion.
And a word of warning: the first world event is getting ready to fire. This one is not going to impact much, but it should serve as a reminder that Muninn and Christine are not alone in this world, and open up opportunities and make others more difficult. Later world events should be more devastating.