Turn Seven - Temperance
- Pronouns
- He/Him
You are awake.
A wan ray of light falls in your cell. It's late. It was late when you fell asleep. How long has it been? You try to get up, and feel your muscles scream, rusty with disuse. Your rise turns into a fall; you slip out of your bed on to the cool solid ground.
After an eternity of dream-stuff hard reality has never been such a pleasure.
You pull yourself up, after a while. You wonder where everyone is. You stumble, shaking with effort, through the Roost, the lower levels. Past the rooms of your freedmen recruits, and their little reflecting pool for their drowned god. Past the chamber of the Melodii who have bedecked their walls in spirit tags, a thousand papers fluttering in a non-existent wind. Past Iefyr's where the black onyx eyes of the marble bust Ereth Khial follow you across the room. Past Marvin's little storage closet for his endless jars of honey, and the shelf where Rosamunde is keeping souvenirs from her wanders. Past where Ambrose slept, dusty and untouched; past the smallest room, that Pelops chose with a little model chariot.
Your feel for a second, your unease rise, as you wander like a ghost through empty halls.
But you have faith.
And as you finally ascend the sloping rise, towards the portal, you hear chanting.
In the garden, among the black roses, your clergy is in prayer. Joining hands in a grand circle, the recite 3:1 of the Book of Doors.
You listen.
"The Raven flew against the wind
To deliver his message true.
Past waste and ruin to where the tree grew,
Where waited Lord Morr the Kind.
He'd seen his fate, he was not blind
To the Thirteen Tolls of the Bell.
But if the price of faith was hell,
He'd pay it twice; for all things fall.
The Good Harvestman calls to all.
All the earth for a fond farewell."
Tears prick at your eyes, as they end. Pelops is the first to spot you, eyes wide, and gives a shout of delight.To deliver his message true.
Past waste and ruin to where the tree grew,
Where waited Lord Morr the Kind.
He'd seen his fate, he was not blind
To the Thirteen Tolls of the Bell.
But if the price of faith was hell,
He'd pay it twice; for all things fall.
The Good Harvestman calls to all.
All the earth for a fond farewell."
He runs, and embraces you, only to start immediately apologizing as his weight on your makes your knees buckle, and you nearly fall.
"You're well, My Raven, My Raven – oh; sorry, sorry, forgive me – I just am so glad; oh!"
And he's crying, and you've being embraced by your fellows, and you are awash in a tide of cheer.
You know your past. You know your present. You know your future.
At the Roost, where the dead are put the rest, you Xenophon, who are doomed to die feel, for first time since you came home you are at – finally – at peace.
The Headlines
Article: DIVINE SALVATION – Let us raise our hands in thanks for the intervention of Xenophon, Chosen of Morr, and Ambrose, elect of Tyleus Liberator for defeating those forces of the Tempter that dared sully our most holy and sacred home…
Article: NOTICE OF SUIT – the Representatives of the Estate of Morganis Barbarian contact the individual known as "Xenophon" of the Roost informing him that action will be taken against him for damages caused by negligence, assault, and sundry other torts due to his actions at the Casino at the House of Tyleus…
Article: VICTORY IN BROTHERHOOD– The damnable Elgi have been visited the first of what is sure to be many defeats by the local regiment "the Sons of Stone", ambushing a reaver raid against a fuel station of Barak Varr…
Article: NINE DEMANDS – Having been faced by laconism from the tremulous authorities of the polity known as "Tylos-Kavzar", the Phoenix Throne hereby makes public its intent to impose BLOCKADE on the aforementioned peoples/entity until the following acts are performed forthwith: 1. Immediate retreat of all forces, individuals, etc. in a hundred leagues of Athel Maraya…
Article: THIRD LUMINOUS TRIAL – All things burn, and as they do, glow. Through the flame, there is light. And light is truth. Come see truth burnt into reality. Witness the Third Test between Luminaries Angelus and Floridus…
Article: FOOD PRICES SKYROCKET - For the third straight month, food prices continue to rise, this week alone the price of bread increasing an eye-popping 13%. Analysts blame speculation…
Article: MISSING – Parlenius Patrocline of the Lodge of the Harvest Moon, last seen…
Article: MISSING - Master Cyrilius of the Cleansing Flame, last seen…
Article: MARTYRS SCREAM – All good and righteous men! Let not black despair cool your righteous, boiling rage! The workingmen of this city will have justice and will have it soon. You know the signal. Vengeance Will Be Had…
Article: AGAINST "UNIONS" – That certain criminal individuals are allowed to form consortiums to illegally restrict trade and harass foreign citizens would not be tolerated in any just city. I thus suggest the immediate dismantlement of these thuggish leagues, by force if…
Article: A BOLT FROM THE BLUE - The Lightning is on a seventeen-match winning streak in the coliseum, the people's champion; slaying aristocratic pamperer, elvish fanny, and terrible beast alike…
Article: CHECKING IN – Hope you're well. Any progress on spear? Busy with fucking Elves. Hope to hear soon. Must introduce you to a new old friend.
TURN 7- the Kalends of Tylesia
A turn is one week, or eight days. You can pick up to five [5] actions. Ordinary Acts are a guaranteed success, risky ones are fifty-fifty for a positive or negative result, and Ventures open interludes. Actions tagged with an (S) mean League of Salvation requests and are taken with a discount; two only take up one action slot, though taking one will still cost the whole slot. Actions with write-ins can be taken several times, albeit with different write-ins.
FOLLOWERS
Followers are characters willing to assist you on your quest. They offer you particular advantages on each turn, from performing certain acts for you, to making others less risky. A stalker does the reverse. Assign a follower by putting their initial in brackets after the action in question. For example:
[x] Explore a district (Thunderdome) [A]
You have four followers, Pelops [P], Rosamunde [R], and Mervin [M], and Zaki [Z]
Pelops' Bonus: You can assign Pelops to one Risky act or Venture each turn. So chosen, he will allow you to reroll once if you fail on your initial attempt at that Act (or on up to three rolls in a Venture) as he and Last Rest protect you from harm. However, do be aware that he may be affected by the negative effects of a failed roll.
Rosamunde's Bonus: Rosamunde can be assigned to one extra action a turn, but that action is required to be [-] Explore a District. She may also attempt to steal a known object as free RISKY act; if chosen, please put the item as a subvote under the [-] Explore action.
Mervin's Bonus: All investigation actions involving the nobility are automatic successes (characters with the title "Lord" or "Lady". Please put an [M] on such acts.
Zaki''s "Bonus": He'll make sure you keep your oaths.
MILITA AND RIOT ACTS
"Riot Acts", are a new category of action allowing Xenophon to affect the Cities through directing a copious amount of street violence. All "Riot Acts" are risky; however, they do not take up Xenophon's action count. Instead, they are selected from a special category listed below. You have as many Riot Acts as you have militia followers, of which you currently have 2, the Ludens (L) and Emir Aklan's Carpet Corps (E). You must assign each to a single action.
THE LUDENS' BONUS: Owing to their celebrity, especially among the lower classes and freedmen, any Riot Acts undertaken by the Ludens will have significantly reduced (if any) consequences for public opinion.
THE CARPET CORPS' BONUS: The greater mobility of flying carpets means that when a failed flip would otherwise mean the militia would be injured, they instead escape to safety, though the action regardless fails.
ORDINARY ACTS
[-] Explore a district (write-in: Thunderdome, the Pall, Elftown, Little Khemri, the Brass Quarter, Circus, Temple, Cloisters, Casbah, the Shambles).
It's been a while. Better to get the lay of the land.
[-] Visit another temple (Write-in: Ranald, Verena, Shallya, Manann, Ishernos, Medhe, Cailledh, Margileo, Skavor, Elven Gods)
Morr is not a jealous god. Will his divine family be any help?
[-] Research dreams and portents.
These cities are lousy with libraries. See if you can identify any of the symbology.
[-] Hire more security.
No army has every complained for a surplus of manpower.
[-] Interrogate Her-Ben
If you've got to deal with an insane Liche-Priest in your basement, you better get something out of it.
[-] Send people out. (Write-in: who? (can be specific names or a class (ex. "orphans"))
Offer a permanent vacation.
[-] Amass supplies.
You don't know which way the wind is blowing. But a good number of rations in the Roost would make you feel a lot better.
[-] Write to the Princeps.
He's expecting … something from you, Gods knows what, or what he knows. And who's this friend?
[-] Hire lawyers.
Apparently, the mess at the Casino left some people angry. Hire some people to talk to their people to see what they really want.
[-] Enroll as a political partisan (write-in: Reds or Whites)
You hate this. But you might need connections, and how better than door-to-door?
[-] Research foreign affairs.
The war in the north is getting hot.
[-] Look for a holy artefact.
If this is bad as the dreams seem to be, you'd feel better with some trinket. You can afford to be superstitious, you're a priest of the God of Portents.
[-] Study the Spear
There's got to be records, right?
[-] Research foreign affairs.
The war in the north is getting hot.
[-] Write to Arkhan.
A long shot. Probably not the same man. But you can return the papers, and ask for another secret in thanks?
[-] Establish a dwarven tomb.
The Gazulites have no home in the Cities. Make one at the Roost.
[-] Go to the gladiatorial games and bet on them.
All your chips on the son of the endless sky.
[-] Sell warpstone. (incompatible with ACTS: [-] Build a warpstone bomb, Sell warpstone)
Lose the evil rocks, gain a small fortune. Win-win?
[-] Secure a weapon.
Your sword is slag and shadow in your room. You need another blade.
[-] Pray.
O last friend, our lover true / might we know our way to you?
RISKY ACTS
[-] Find another priest (Write-in: Ranald, Verena, Myrmidia, Ahalt, Shallya, Tyleus, Manann, Ishernos, Medhe, Cailledh, Margileo, Skavor, Nekeharan Gods, write-in.) (can be taken multiple times).
The Princeps needs Thirteen. Secure one.
[-] Study the Curse of the Sons.
An ancient crime born by blood. Can you grant forgiveness?
[-] Study warpstone. (incompatible with ACTS: [-] Build a warpstone Bomb, Sell warpstone)
For something inherently evil, there's a lot of books about it.
[-] Build a warpstone bomb. (incompatible with ACTS: [-] Study warpstone, Sell warpstone)
A little spark of magic, and you've lost a city block.
[-] Offer prophecies.
If Thunderdome is indisposed, you are potentially the only source of portents in all the Twin Cities. Capitalize on that.
[-] Reveal the truth. (Write-in: who?)
You've got the scope of the nightmare. Tell somebody, and maybe they'll lend a hand.
[-] Toy with the Spear
It's your patron's daughter's gift. It's probably safe. Touch it and see what happens.
[-] Talk to Master Phalaris
Engineer Superior and representative to the Spring for the Lodge of the Harvest Moon, Phalaris desperately requests your attendance at the Spring for a "critical technical juncture".
[-] Investigate somebody. (Write-in: who?)
You always need more answers.
[-] Reveal the truth. (Write-in: who?)
You've got the scope of the nightmare. Tell somebody, and maybe they'll lend a hand.
[-] Go and bet on the gladiatorial games.
Maybe you had a relevant portent?
[-] Hire an assassin. (Write-in: target)
Morr has a brother.
[-] Conduct Morrite services (Write-in: dooming, prophesying, burial)
The Roost is up and running, but the Raven still might lend a wing.
[-] Host an extremely illegal campaign event. (S)
The Reds want justice, vengeance, blood. Gregorios is asking.
[-] Reveal Melissa's treachery (S) (incompatible with VENTURE: [-] Confront Melissa.)
Tell the League what you saw.
[-] Attend a riot. (Incompatible with ACT: [-] Defend Elftown)
The Ratcatchers are protesting the Ulthani ultimatum. In Elftown.
[-] Practice soul magic.
You can buy anything in the Cloisters, including a few particularly illegal books.
[-] Tour the Prison of Mirrors.
Floridus owes you one.
[-] Preach in the streets.
Gauche, yes. Loud, yes. But any press might be good press?
RIOT ACTS
[-] Defend Elftown.
Iefyr suggested it. It's the right thing to do. But there will be blood.
[-] Assault Druchii. (S)
Get vengeance on these killers of your people and teach them who's really best at cloak-and-dagger. Marcus Typhon will proffer assistance.
[-] Give aid. (write-in: district)
Costs explode; wars expand; massacres execute. You have the funds and the men to offer a little succor.
[-] Secure the Roost.
Fortify your home from all comers.
[-] Secure the Shambles.
Protect your people – all of them.
VENTURES
[-] Give a speech to the Senate (write-in: subject).
You have the right, if by technicality.
[-] Attend the Third Luminous Trial.
See the final bout of Angelus and Floridus for leadership of the Cleansing Flame and, perhaps, clear some doubts.
[-] Confront Melissa. (incompatible with ACT: [-] Reveal Melissa's Tragedy.)
A daughter's sins, a father's grief.
[-] See your parents.
You're never going to be ready. But they know everybody. And they might be able to pull some strings.
WRITE-IN
[-] ???
(If there's anything missing that you'd think be prudent for Xenophon, give me a shout and I'll assign it a category.)
AN: 24 hours moratorium to discuss. Questions, feedback, etc. always appreciated.
