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Mare Internum: An Exalted Quest

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Just caught up and I laughed very hard several times, Crump this is great
 
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EMBASSY: Well, I think this is a sensible approach. Directionless antagonism isn't going to help anyone, we need to formulate a structural critique.
PRESENCE: Oh, figures that the one who only cares about rules and politeness wants to follow rules and be polite!
EMBASSY: Well, it figures that the one who only cares about being loud and being seen prefers ineffectual posturing to effective political engagement!
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oh no we are a Moralist now
 
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Crumplepunch said:
Ah yes, structural critique, that thing no true radical would ever do.
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I mean, our character is certifiably out of her right mind. If she forms a lucid structural critique, it'd be a miracle. But, what she can do is be a baffling mess of a person and insult every Dynast we see for comedy purposes.
 
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Now That You Are Pure 53
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    • Gargulec said:
    [x] Look for some food.
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    It doesn't take you long to find the makeshift dining area the legion has set up in the shadow of the cliff wall that overshadows the east side of the camp. Small temporary ovens and cookpots lie under awnings, and various benches, pallets, boxes and other debris is littered around the rain-soaked yard as impromptu seating.

    You approach one of the stalls and ask if you can have a meal.

    COOK: "Who're you to be-" he double takes as he sees your eyes. "Oh, begging your pardons, lady. You've missed lunch, but we still have some pieces left over, if you are in need."

    "Just give me whatever you can spare."

    The cook hurriedly makes the rounds with his compatriots, and between them they produce a simple but inviting looking repast of still-warm wheat flatbreads, a wedge of hard cheese, a pickled apple and a bowl of savory porridge garnished with shredded salt pork.

    COOK: "You've missed the catch of the day, lady, but there'll be mutton for supper, if you come back later. First fresh red meat we've seen in months."

    "This is enough for me, thanks."

    Indeed, the food looks too much for you. It's not a huge amount, but your stomach has been knotted and dormant for so long you feel like you would do yourslf an injury to eat a proper meal.

    PHYSIQUE: Persevere! You must restore your strength. Also, improve it. Make this a priority.

    You take a look around the yard. You spot a sizeable group of Paleans in animated discussion next to the cliff wall. A smaller gathering of legion engineers in charcoal grey cloaks like yours sits seperate from them, a couple of whom are shooting you curious looks. Finally, you spot two familiar faces, Toothsome and Brindle, who don't seem to have spotted you.

    [ ] Sit with the Paleans.
    [ ] Sit with the engineers.
    [ ] Sit with Toothsome and Bridle.
    [ ] Eat alone.
     
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    • I won't trouble you all by spamming this again closer to the deadline, this is the last one, I swear.

    I would really appreciate it if you would consider taking a moment to nominate Mare Internum for the user's choice award for best ongoing quest, if you have not already done so. The deadline is the 10th and MI is very close to reaching the threshold for nomination.
     
    Now That You Are Pure 54
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    • Photomajig said:
    [X] Sit with the Paleans.
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    They look like they might be interesting. You approach the group of green-clad auxilliaries.

    "Mind if I join you?"

    Several of them turn to assess you.

    Their evident leader, a big woman with a mane of dark hair and silver braid on her breastplate, beckons you to sit.

    ???: "All are welcome, who speak Calinti well. And all dragons, most of all."

    SAGACITY: The language is Riverspeak, but the Calinti call it Calinti, and they the only real speakers of it, because they claim to have invented it. And Paleans think of themselves as the only real Calinti.

    You take the invitation and sit yourself on a vacant sea chest that serves as a bench.

    ???: "You are the captain of the group that just got in, eh?"

    "No, I'm not with the legion."

    ???: "Oho, you are a governor? A politician, yes?"

    "Something like that."

    ROCHAR: "I am Rochar, captain to these bandieras. Eat, eat, do not let us stop you."

    You tear off a piece of the bread and use it to scoop up some of the porridge. It's unseasoned, except with the overwhelmingly strong salt of the double-cured meat. You find yourself wishing for the cloves of last night's stew. The bread at least is fresh and wholesome. You break some chunks of the cheese off and use a scrap of bread to stir it in to the hot porridge, where it quickly begins to melt.

    ROCHAR: "You have not eaten well in some time, I am thinking." She pats her ample gut, constrained by her breastplate. "A healthy appetite is needed to see you through war. If you do not have this, what have you to fall back on when times are thin?"

    "Someone told me there was good dining on the Pale."

    One of her younger subordinates pipes up.

    BANDIERA: "Have you encountered the enemy yet, my dragon?"

    "Only briefly. I killed a few on the beach where we washed up."

    There are expressions of "Ah!" and a flurry of single claps, language of surprised approval.

    ROCHAR: "It is good that the order of dragons returns to these lands. Our own home, it is beset with rebels and seditionists, always seeking to turn us from the path of righteousness. Our own princes guide us with honour and grace."

    There is a murmur of agreement from the assembled soldiers.

    SAGACITY: Pale was once part of the greater Calin satrapies, the southernmost of the territories granted to the Shogunate Gentes who swore loyalty to the Empress. Most of Calin rebelled and became an independent shogunate during the great Guild/Realm trade war three hundred years ago. Pale was one of the few territories that remained a loyal satrapy. Even against its own interests, some would say. Its ruling cadet house, Kenzho, is chiefly known for its millitarism and paranoia.

    [ ] Have you been in many wars?
    [ ] Is there anything your people need?
    [ ] Has your homeland not suffered under the Realm?
    [ ] We'll show these rebels what sedition earns.
    [ ] Excuse me, I just remembered that I left a candle burning next to my cocaine. (Quickly excuse yourself)
     
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    • Now That You Are Pure 55
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    • GAWR said:
    [X] Is there anything your people need?
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    "Is there anything your people need?"

    ROCHAR: "Other than a chance to get at the enemy, eh? Well, hmm..."

    The Palean captain strokes her chin with a thumb, thoughtfully.

    ROCHAR: "Well, as you ask, my dragon, you might be able to intercede on our behalf. Our balestra, we need more of them."

    She snaps her fingers and holds out her hand to a subordinate, who passes his weapon to her. She passes it on to you, and you briefly set down your half-eaten meal to take it. It's a heavy-framed crossbow with a metal limb and a silken bowstring thicker than two of your fingers. It has an unusual winding double-lever mounted on the stock.

    CRAFT: Specifically, it's an arbalest. The internal winching mechanism has a work efficiency return of over a thousand times the energy put into winding the lever, allowing even a modestly strong wielder to draw the solid steel limb. It is lethal at short and medium range, and its efficiency makes it ideal for sieges and other long battles.

    "It's very impressive."

    ROCHAR: "It is a good weapon, it brings us many victories. Unfortunately, it is hard to find good replacements outside of Pale."

    "Or Calin."

    She spits on the ground, as though on reflex.

    ROCHAR: "Calin balestra are pigshit. They do not know how to forge the limb. I have seen Calinti balestrieri kill themselves drawing their own weapon, when the limb splits and drawstring pulls the shrapnel into their face. Hwwwkh!" she mimes the top of her head being gruesomely removed.

    WAR: Calin gives better than it gets in its skirmishes with Pale, there's no reason to believe their equipment is as inferior as she describes. This kind of accident probably happens to Paleans as well.

    Good to know.

    "So you need to find replacements?"

    ROCHAR: "As you say. We lost too much equipment in the wreck, we need a dozen more to be back to proper fighting strength."

    "How can I help?"

    ROCHAR: "Ah, well, we make our request to the smithy, but they say it will take time. It is always the way that the legion goes first before we auxilliaries. We may still be waiting when we are called on to fight. If you could, ah, how is it, suggest a new priority to the smiths? Yes, this would be good for us."

    [ ] Sure, I'll do it.
    [ ] I don't want to get involved in this.
    [ ] What's in it for me?
     
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    • I tend to need to be hit with a clue by 4 for region scale politics :oops:. As an aside, isn't there a quote that goes, There's no such thing as a something revolution?
     
    Now That You Are Pure 56
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    • Corpusvoyeur said:
    [X] Sure, I'll do it.
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    "Sure, I'll do it." You hand back the arbalest.

    ROCHAR: "We are obliged to you. I'm sure we can can come up with some suitable way to make up for your valuable time."

    EMBASSY: She expects you to expect a bribe in return for this.

    "Well, I suppose we can talk about that later."

    ROCHAR: "As you say. Well, we shall be departing, our shifts will begin shortly."

    She stands, and all of the other bandieras scramble to stand in response.

    ROCHAR: "Until we meet again, my dragon. May the Realm's victories be glorious."

    She salutes, fist on chest, and departs, the bandieras falling into a practiced march behind her.

    You look around, the other diners in the yard seem to have departed as well. You finish your meal in peace and hand the bowl back to the cook without comment.

    NAVIGATE: Where to next?

    From here, you can feel the sea breeze blowing over the camp from the east. You could probably make your way down to the beach from here, or you could retrace your steps back to the middle of the camp.

    [ ] Back to Logris.
    [ ] To the workshop.
    [ ] Look for Fincher.
    [ ] Explore the beach.
    [ ] Wander around camp.
     
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    • Now That You Are Pure 57
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    • etranger01 said:
    [X] Look for Fincher.
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    There are only a few hundred legion in the Sulco camp, it can't be that hard to find the one that is specifically forbidden to talk with or associate with you.

    NAVIGATE: The best way to track her down is probably to find one of the legionaries from her talon and ask them for directions.

    Toothsome and Brindle are nowhere to be seen. You start walking back towards the center of the camp and try to attune your senses to spotting anyone familiar.

    AWARENESS: DIFFICULT
    5 3
    CHECK PASSED

    You look over the crowds of legionaries going about their duties. None of them seem to be familiar to you.

    Then you spot a flash of russet hair on someone you almost dismissed as unfamiliar and walked past.

    "Hey, Bowery, right?"

    The blue-eyed legionary turns to face you with a surprised expression.

    BOWERY: "Oh, hello lady. I didn't expect you to remember me."

    "I was just looking for one of Fincher's group and spotted you there. How are you settling in?"

    BOWERY: "Haven't had a chance yet. Just running some messages, you know. Nothing suspicious." he laughs.

    "Alright, well, could you point me to where Fincher is camped?"

    BOWERY: "Of course." he points behind him. "Four- no, five rows that way, then on your left. Officer tents have red drapes at the front. She might be sleeping though, she said she was ordered to."

    "Well, I'll see. Thanks Bowery."

    BOWERY: "My pleasure." he waves as he returns to running his messages.

    You follow his directions. Sure enough, you spot the red drapes of an officer tent just ahead.

    Orison is sitting on a barrel outside, picking his fingernails with a knife.

    ORISON: "Afternoon, lady."

    "Hey Orison. Is this Fincher's tent?"

    ORISON: "It is. Got a message for you."

    "For me?"

    ORISON: "Yep." he holds up a slate in front of his face and scrutinizes it closely. "It says 'Boss, go away, not supposed to talk to you, please fuck off, sleeping now.'"

    "Huh."

    ORISON: "Pardon the language, lady." he lowers the slate, slowly. "I was quoting. It's been a long trip, though. Give her some rest for now, will you?"

    [ ] Insist on seeing Fincher.
    [ ] Go back to Logris instead.
    [ ] Look for the workshop.
    [ ] Leave the camp and explore.
    [ ] Look for another officer tent.
    [ ] Head towards the manse entrance.
     
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