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New World 33 | Tantive IV

trapinnosuke
Dec 4th, 2016
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  1. [4:54:23 PM CST] <Satori> ===---ACT III---===
  2. [4:58:41 PM CST] <[Cy]> [Meadow and Maebh are on the deck of the Khashwahg vessel, now back on their feet after the sudden rise and fall of the floor below them. They can see that the vessel is gliding rather quickly along the coast now, having left the jetty and the Koberion ships behind. Some of those ships have managed to turn and seem to be giving chase, though they are still being left behind. On deck with the two of you are about ten Koberion soldiers in various
  3. [4:58:41 PM CST] <[Cy]> states of health, the rest may have fallen off during the sudden upheaval. The sun is shining brightly now.]
  4. [4:59:38 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Well, it looks like we have a strict time limit, now.
  5. [5:05:47 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> What did they do?!
  6. [5:06:44 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> It looks like they managed to break free of the wreckage that was trapping their ship and set sail.
  7. [5:07:35 PM CST] * Mac_Tire , left behind on the jetty, begins to bark and yip wildly as the ship pulls away. Soon, he gives up, and, without his master, sits down and watches silently.
  8. [5:10:23 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Bad soldiers fell off. The good ones are still on. That's bad for us, though. We need to get those doors open.
  9. [5:11:46 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> I agree. Can youuse one of your anti-magic arrows on the doors? I'm sure it would help.
  10. [5:13:10 PM CST] <[Cy]> [The soldiers regroup and are talking amongst themselves, one of which seems to be the ranking one and organizes the others.]
  11. [5:13:45 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Maybe maybe. Stone doors aren't going to get stuck, though. They're already stuck, and I don't know if sticking them will help anyway, but it's worth a try.
  12. [5:14:08 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> It might be that as long as your arrows are near enough to them, they'll have an anti-magic effect.
  13. [5:14:10 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> I'm going to go listen to their plans. We should co-ordinate.
  14. [5:14:31 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Should we introduce ourselves to the soldiers so they don't think we're trying to stick them and get stuck up on sticking the label of stucker on us?
  15. [5:14:44 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Exactly.
  16. [5:15:10 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Go, go!
  17. [5:15:23 PM CST] <[Cy]> [Most of the soldiers form two groups and head off to each door, having distributed the equipment between them.]
  18. [5:16:35 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow follows the group with the commander.
  19. [5:16:52 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh follows behind Meadow.
  20. [5:16:58 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> `Ho! Tell us how best to lend you our strength against these pirates.`
  21. [5:19:50 PM CST] <[Cy]> [The commander, who was with neither group, instead watching the shore and the receding Koberion ships, stands with another soldier amidships.]
  22. [5:19:59 PM CST] <[Cy]> C: Are you mercenaries?
  23. [5:20:20 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> `No, only travelers who have no more love for these brigands than you.`
  24. [5:21:55 PM CST] <[Cy]> C: Then stay aside, you already should not be here.
  25. [5:22:29 PM CST] <[Cy]> [The sounds of metal on stone ring out from the ends of the doors to the fore and aft.]
  26. [5:23:37 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Do they have booms
  27. [5:23:38 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> ?
  28. [5:23:56 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Not that I can tell. Give me one of your anti-magic arrows.
  29. [5:25:46 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Don't stick yourself!
  30. [5:25:51 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh hands Meadow one of the arrows.
  31. [5:26:36 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow takes the arrow.
  32. [5:32:21 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> !roll 1d20 + 1d8 + 1 cha & Wll
  33. [5:32:23 PM CST] <FeistyKaka> [Multi]_Meadow rolled: {12}=> 12 + {1}=> 1 + 1 = 14 "cha & Wll"
  34. [5:32:25 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> `At least accept this arrow; it's already slain a number of the enemy, and can undo their enchantments. Bring it close to the doors, and it may help you break them opem.`
  35. [5:36:02 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> I used those arrows to kill the Cashswag blocking other arrows! It might break the door!
  36. [5:36:43 PM CST] <[Cy]> C: What evidence do you have that there are magicks on the doors? We've already broken parts of the stone and it won't be long until we get through the rest. Stay aside, once we subdue the invaders, you will be properly accounted for.
  37. [5:37:54 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> He wants us to sit and watch. He's convinced the stone will give soon.
  38. [5:41:15 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> !roll 1d6+1d8+3
  39. [5:41:16 PM CST] <FeistyKaka> [Naz]_Maebh rolled: {4}=> 4+{5}=> 5+3 = 12
  40. [5:41:20 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> This is faster. Trust us!
  41. [5:41:30 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh stares into the commander's eyes, attempting to mesmerize him.
  42. [5:44:55 PM CST] <[Cy]> [The soldier narrows his eyes.]
  43. [5:45:04 PM CST] <[Cy]> C: Are you spies?
  44. [5:45:57 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> `No. We merely wish to see these pirates dead.`
  45. [5:46:19 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh frowns.
  46. [5:47:32 PM CST] <[Cy]> [Before the commander can respond, shouts come from the aft end of the vessel, drawing his attention away. The commander and his companion draw their weapons and move to the aft door.]
  47. [5:48:44 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Ooh, did they do it?
  48. [5:48:55 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh readies her bow and snatches the arrow back from Meadow.
  49. [5:49:51 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow unsheathes he sword, watching carefully to see what unfolsd.
  50. [5:52:32 PM CST] <[Cy]> [The soldiers at the door seem to make to move inside, but are thrown out and away from the door by some unseen force. A few who were at the sides try to make their way in only to be knocked back as well.]
  51. [5:55:24 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Now might be the time for your arrow, Mabe.
  52. [5:58:57 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh readies, aims, and fires into the dark entrance.
  53. [5:59:29 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> !roll 1d20+1d8+6
  54. [5:59:30 PM CST] <FeistyKaka> [Naz]_Maebh rolled: {12}=> 12+{4}=> 4+6 = 22
  55. [6:06:27 PM CST] <[Cy]> [The energy holding back the crowd seems to relax a bit, letting the soldiers take a few steps before they are thrown back out again. From the other end of the vessel, a chorus of shouts ring out as well.]
  56. [6:07:55 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Is this what they call a flank?
  57. [6:10:29 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Yes, if the Koberion are successful, they might hope to pin the Khashwahg between their companies. If the Khashwahg push them back, then they'll have the flank.
  58. [6:11:09 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Ok, Maebh's gonna try actually aiming this time!
  59. [6:11:55 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Aiming at what? You might want to conserve your arrows; you don't have many left, do you?
  60. [6:17:04 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> 6! And at the Cashswag!
  61. [6:17:45 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Can you see them? Are they coming abovedecks?
  62. [6:17:48 PM CST] <[Cy]> [Unlike this door, the other door seems to be relatively unimpeded and the group over there begins to file into the depths.]
  63. [6:18:07 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh peers into the doorway to see if she can see any of the Khashwahg.
  64. [6:19:44 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow turns around to investigate this opening, as well.
  65. [6:19:57 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> !roll 2d8 + 2 Int & Wll
  66. [6:19:59 PM CST] <FeistyKaka> [Multi]_Meadow rolled: {6,8}=> 14 + 2 = 16 "Int & Wll"
  67. [6:22:18 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> !roll 1d12+1d8+4
  68. [6:22:20 PM CST] <FeistyKaka> [Naz]_Maebh rolled: {7}=> 7+{7}=> 7+4 = 18
  69. [6:25:20 PM CST] <[Cy]> [Between the gang of soldiers trying to press against an invisible wall, the two of you see that there is a staircase down belowdecks, and a Khashwahg behind a stack of crates.]
  70. [6:27:56 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> I see one!
  71. [6:28:36 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh takes aim at the hiding Khashwahg.
  72. [6:28:45 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> !roll 1d20+1d8+6
  73. [6:28:47 PM CST] <FeistyKaka> [Naz]_Maebh rolled: {13}=> 13+{5}=> 5+6 = 24
  74. [6:31:58 PM CST] <[Cy]> [Maebh takes a shot at the Khashwahg, or what of them Maebh can see. The arrow passes through whatever holds the soldiers back and disappears into the green robes. The figure seems to stumble, and the soldiers fall through the suddenly absent wall and tumble down the stairs and a great heap.]
  75. [6:32:45 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Mabe, I think you might be the best shot I've ever seen. You would have done well at the Games.
  76. [6:36:43 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh puts her hands on her hips and grins at Meadow. "Maebh's already really good at the Game!"
  77. [6:37:25 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Do we follow one of the groups belowdecks, or do we wait up here for the fighting to come to us?
  78. [6:38:43 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Follow, follow! The soldiers are powerless against their magic!
  79. [6:45:46 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Let's go in the other door. I'd rather not have to weather the commander's suspicions.
  80. [6:46:18 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Ok! Lead the way!
  81. [6:46:23 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow hastens to the fore of the ship, stepping cautiously down the staircase, straining for signs of battle in front of her.
  82. [6:46:43 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh follows.
  83. [6:52:30 PM CST] <[Cy]> [Meadow need not strain very hard for the stone bulkheads allow sound to travel very well, and the shouts and sounds of clashing metal echo everywhere down there. There is an odd smell in the air, not terribly repulsive, but not particularly pleasant either.]
  84. [6:53:42 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow continues her cautious advance until the fighting comes into view.
  85. [7:01:34 PM CST] <[Cy]> [Eventually, you come across a group of soldiers around a doorway, the smell of burnt flesh in the air. The source of the noise isn't from this group, however, as they seem to be waiting for something beyond the door, though your place in the corridor does not reveal the interior to you.]
  86. [7:03:18 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow holds her hand up to stop Maebh, the two of them still a ways from the group of Koberion soldiers.
  87. [7:05:52 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh stops and whispers, "Gross, bad smells."
  88. [7:07:21 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow whispers: "We'll wait for what they're waiting for. Even if the commander doesn't trust us, I trust his military judgment."
  89. [7:08:04 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh nods but keeps her bow at the ready.
  90. [7:11:34 PM CST] <[Cy]> [The soldiers seem to listen intently for a while before you see one nod to another on the other side of the door, who then reaches for a jar of something which he opens and throws through the doorway. Immediately afterwards, the other soldiers bring up their shields and rush in with the thrower entering last.]
  91. [7:12:28 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow moves swiftly to the doorway, peering in but trying to remain out of sight.
  92. [7:15:57 PM CST] <[Cy]> [You see nothing as your vision is obscured by what seems to be an opaque grey cloud filling the air in the room, wisps of which flow with the air in the lanternlight of the vessel. Shouts come from some distance, suggesting that the space beyond the door is rather long or large.]
  93. [7:17:40 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow furrows her brow. She gazes at the cloud, trying to detect any sign of its dissipation.
  94. [7:20:32 PM CST] <[Cy]> [The cloud hangs in the air remarkably well, but there is a thin layer of dust forming under it on the floor as it falls out of the air slowly.]
  95. [7:21:24 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow keeps up her displeased expression and strains her hears to try to hear if the battle is going well or poorly for the Koberions.
  96. [7:24:04 PM CST] <[Cy]> [The sounds from the other side of the door have stopped, and the sounds coming from the rest of the vessel are diminishing as well. There is also a slight lurch, like the vessel is slowing down.]
  97. [7:26:26 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow tsks and shakes her head briefly.
  98. [7:26:36 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Back abovedecks. I don't want to try this cloud.
  99. [7:30:17 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh nods, then backtracks until she can breathe the fresh air again
  100. [7:30:37 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow surfaces along with her.
  101. [7:31:10 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Weird and weird. What are they doing?
  102. [7:33:10 PM CST] <[Cy]> [You two retrace your route topside with no interruptions. You can see that the coast isn't speeding by anymore, the vessel seems to be adrift.]
  103. [7:33:35 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> I suppose they used that cloud to cause confusion and provide cover for their flanking manouver. It would seem that their efforts have had some effect, at least. Their sails are clipped, so to speak.
  104. [7:33:55 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow surveys the deck: is it empty?
  105. [7:34:49 PM CST] <[Cy]> [The deck, save for the bodies of Khashwahg and Koberion and their effects, is empty.]
  106. [7:35:18 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow sighs.
  107. [7:35:29 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Perhaps your one arrow was all the service we could render, after all.
  108. [7:37:54 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> I wonder if shooting another arrow through the cloud would help.
  109. [7:40:57 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Well, if the fight hasn't come back abovedecks, then I suppose there's no harm in trying to explore, especially if the Koberion are in control of the ship now.
  110. [7:41:12 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Except that it would make us more suspicious to be wandering about.
  111. [7:43:16 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Let's see what the Cashswag up here have in their pockets!
  112. [7:44:03 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Yes, I suppose that's as good as any a way to spend our time. But mind you, the Koberion might not let you keep it, so don't get too attached.
  113. [7:44:52 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Psh, just don't tell them we rummaged thru their pockets.
  114. [7:44:57 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> And don't touch the soldiers!
  115. [7:45:08 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh finds the nearest Khashwahg and begins searching it.
  116. [7:45:59 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow rifles the corpses Maebh does not.
  117. [7:46:21 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> !roll 1d6 + 1d8 + 1 Lck 7 Wll
  118. [7:46:24 PM CST] <FeistyKaka> [Multi]_Meadow rolled: {4}=> 4 + {8}=> 8 + 1 = 13 "Lck 7 Wll"
  119. [7:46:26 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> !roll 1d8+1+1d8+3
  120. [7:46:27 PM CST] <FeistyKaka> [Naz]_Maebh rolled: {5}=> 5+1+{1}=> 1+3 = 10
  121. [7:55:05 PM CST] <[Cy]> [You find what is probably Khashwahg coinage, some papers of undecipherable sort, and in general nothing particularly exotic or interesting. Maebh finds a necklace.]
  122. [7:58:56 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow folds waht papers she finds and stows them in her sword's sheath.
  123. [8:00:50 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh holds the necklace up and inspects it.
  124. [8:06:03 PM CST] <[Cy]> [The necklace seems to have a spike-covered red sphere inside a sparkling crystaline ovoid shell. Metal bands surround the shell and link onto the chain that goes around the neck.]
  125. [8:08:04 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> This is pretty! Looks painful.
  126. [8:08:26 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow looks over to se what Maebh is talking about.
  127. [8:09:00 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Keep it as a souvenir, if you want. I'd leave the other trinkets. Let the dead, or the Koberion, keep them.
  128. [8:13:38 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Fine, fine.
  129. [8:13:43 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh stuffs the necklace into her bag.
  130. [8:14:25 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> If you don't take everything, there's a greater chance they won't notice or believe you've been stealing.
  131. [8:14:46 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Hmm, good thought. Okay.
  132. [8:16:14 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh goes to the closest doorway and listens for signs of combat... or anything.
  133. [8:16:27 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow notes this and sticks close to her.
  134. [8:18:41 PM CST] <[Cy]> [Things are quiet, save for the wind and the waves. After a while, some soldiers emerges abovedecks carrying a wounded comrade. Sometime later, the Koberion ships in pursuit arrive and pull up alongside the drifting Khashwahg vessel.]
  135. [8:19:17 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Did you win?
  136. [8:19:52 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> `The fight's gone well?`
  137. [8:22:21 PM CST] <[Cy]> S: There's none left, none we could find. The corporal is down overseeing wounded.
  138. [8:22:45 PM CST] <[Cy]> [The soldier waves to a Koberion ship pulling alongside and catches a line thrown over, walking away to tie it to something.]
  139. [8:23:26 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> He says they've killed all the Khashwahg they could find.
  140. [8:28:50 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> I suppose they'll get to us whenever they're done tending the wounded and rifling the ship.
  141. [8:30:08 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Oh. Good! You're sure they got aaaaaaaaaaall of them?
  142. [8:31:13 PM CST] <[Cy]> [After a few more lines are attached, a few boards are thrown over and a few more ornate soldiers come over, followed by Diotalus. The two able soldiers already on deck report to their superiors while other soldiers boarding file down belowdecks.]
  143. [8:31:22 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> If there were any that got away, they'll be a long way from home, separated from their comrades and their most valuable asset in the ship. I'd wager that without it, they'll have a difficult time contacting home.
  144. [8:33:09 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh grins. "Oh, they're in for all sorts of trouble if they're still alive. So! Now what?"
  145. [8:34:12 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> We wait and see what the Koberion do with us. Our mission, as near as I can see, is complete, and we should try to report back to River as soon as we can.
  146. [8:35:45 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Hooray! I hope these people don't arrest us for being all spy-ish!
  147. [8:36:41 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> I do too, Mabe.
  148. [8:54:48 PM CST] <[Cy]> [Over the course of the remaining daylight, lines are attached where possible and the vessel is made as ready as the Koberion feel for towing. After the pressing business of wounded and dead have been accounted for, Diotalus spares some time to inform Meadow that the two of you will be deposited at a nearby port and free to leave the Kingdom, for your assistance in this matter. He warns, however, that though he formerly commanded all of Koberion
  149. [8:54:48 PM CST] <[Cy]> 's ships in more welcoming times, the ones you see now are likely the last soldiers and ships so open to outsiders. As such, he predicts that the king will clamp down harder on outsiders after this incident, and that you should not return anytime soon, if only because the outsider-tax will likely become far more harsh in the future.]
  150. [8:57:39 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow thanks Diotalus for all the generosity and graciousness he has shown her and Maebh throughout their contact, showing him a Morthanian's respect for a great and tested warrior at sea.
  151. [9:02:28 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Done?
  152. [9:03:53 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Yes, Mabe. We're done. We're on our way back to the State.
  153. [9:03:59 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Wow!
  154. [9:04:08 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh claps her hands on her face.
  155. [9:04:15 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh giggles.
  156. [9:04:49 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Feels like it's been so long! Maebh can't even remember how we got here.
  157. [9:05:07 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> We sailed.
  158. [9:05:21 PM CST] <[Cy]> [With his usual indifference, Diotalus allows the three of you to stay as the ships loyal to him return to their ports, a few of which head north, depositing you on the northern coast of the Koberion Bay, where you may find shipping further north to The City. On the morning of your departure from the Kingdom of Koberion, you hear a crier in town announcing the king's decree to allow anyone to levee the traveller's tax beginning the next month. I
  159. [9:05:22 PM CST] <[Cy]> n a few days, you arrive at the south end of The City, and a few days later, arrive at the Alienage.]
  160. [9:08:36 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> I have to say, Mabe, you were truly the hero of this adventure. Without your marksmanship, I don't know how much more trouble we would have had from the Khashwahg. It was your foresight to secure the enchanted arrows, as well.
  161. [9:11:30 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh takes a dramatic bow. "Thanks! That's what they do in the street shows, right? bend at the waist?"
  162. [9:11:56 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Yes, that is the custom of many performers.
  163. [9:12:27 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow adjusts her pack on her shoulders.
  164. [9:13:26 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> I want to talk to Meadow! She'll be impressed! I bet she'll wonder where the box went.
  165. [9:13:40 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Oops, my tongue slipped. River, not Meadow!
  166. [9:17:17 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Yes, the day is still young. Let us go and see if the Administrator is available to take our report.
  167. [9:19:24 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow sets off towards the building housing River and her operation.
  168. [9:20:35 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh follows Meadow, practically skipping.
  169. [9:26:08 PM CST] <[Cy]> [The Alienage now has paved roads and almost all the buildings are permanent, quite a change from the tent town from long ago. Gate-Station 81 is mostly unchanged, and the procedure of checking through remains the same. Within The City proper, however, things have changed quite a bit. Nearly all the buildings became larger, seldom any shorter than two storeys, and the streets are much more populated. The Associate Administration office is now so
  170. [9:26:08 PM CST] <[Cy]> mething of a fort, though once inside, familiar elements remain. A young Yintem leads you through the complex to River's office where you find the Administrator in her octagonal desk.]
  171. [9:27:14 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Administrator, we've returned from our mission to the Koberion kingdom.
  172. [9:29:19 PM CST] * [Co]_River holds up a square object and looks at it for a short time
  173. [9:29:28 PM CST] <[Co]_River> You survived.
  174. [9:29:33 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> We did.
  175. [9:29:52 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> We did!
  176. [9:29:55 PM CST] <[Co]_River> Did the enemy?
  177. [9:29:58 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> No!
  178. [9:30:37 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Every Khashwahg we encountered, as well as any others that were aboard their ship when it was boarded, have been slain.
  179. [9:30:56 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> We got lots of goodies, too!
  180. [9:34:03 PM CST] <[Co]_River> Did the locals find out about the enemy?
  181. [9:35:29 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Yes, they did. They would have been hard put not to; by the time we caught up with them, they had already made several overtures to the Koberion diviners.
  182. [9:37:47 PM CST] <[Co]_River> Did the locals find out about the enemy's death?
  183. [9:38:03 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Yes. They were in large part responsible for it.
  184. [9:41:23 PM CST] <[Co]_River> How did the locals perceive the enemy, before and after their death.
  185. [9:44:37 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> I might speak of two distinct groups of Koberion locals: the diviners to whom they were directly making overtures to, and the rest of the populace. The diviners that I spoke to seemed to be considering the Khashwahg's offers cooly, without thought of loyalty to their homeland or employer, but only of whether or not they would profit by defecting. The rest of the populace seemed to view them with suspicion and distrust,
  186. [9:44:37 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> if with a bit of cautious curiosity. It seems that the climate in the kingdom has been tending towards fear of foreigners, which has been much excacerbated by this latest struggle with the Khashwahg.
  187. [9:46:25 PM CST] <[Co]_River> Good. That fear will keep them predictable.
  188. [9:46:50 PM CST] * [Co]_River sets down the square and produces a fruit which she begins to eat
  189. [9:47:09 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> They're making lots of taxes for foreigners soon!
  190. [9:49:53 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> As you've no doubt surmised, the Khashwahg mission to the Koberion kingdom was a mission to recruit divinvers into their ranks. They made no great secret about it, berthing alongside all the other ships in port and not at all hiding their trips to visit them; it was well-known among the populace that their mission was realted to the diviners.
  191. [9:52:36 PM CST] <[Co]_River> What do you think the enemy could offer the diviners?
  192. [9:55:21 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Prestige; honor; wealth; authority; security. Things they already have in some measure, and the diviners I spoke to in the capital seemed uncertain that defecting would be altogether and improvement in their station. The Khashwahg made gifts of boxes containing a set of vials of various contents to them, but they seemed unimpressed by this.
  193. [9:56:39 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> The most tempting part of the offer, as far as I could make outβ€” and the diviner I spoke to was very frank in her opinionsβ€” was that they would have been assured a place of high prestige, and accommodated in all respects very handsomely.
  194. [9:59:13 PM CST] <[Co]_River> Their real offer was citizenship.
  195. [9:59:13 PM CST] * [Co]_River lifts a fist-thick tome from somewhere in her desk-ring and drops it on the desk with a loud thud.
  196. [10:00:00 PM CST] <[Co]_River> Which, as you may deduce, is restricted to those possessing of magic.
  197. [10:00:38 PM CST] * [Co]_River finishes her fruit
  198. [10:01:23 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Yes, citizenship; but high-ranking citizenship, apparently preferential compared to some others.
  199. [10:03:30 PM CST] <[Co]_River> That is a half-truth. Did you find these books amongst them?
  200. [10:04:17 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> No, I don't believe we witnessed any such books.
  201. [10:04:24 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow looks to Maebh for confirmation.
  202. [10:06:09 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh cocks her head. "There was a Cashswag looking for books in someone's library, but he jumped out of a window before I could ask him what he was looking for."
  203. [10:09:45 PM CST] <[Co]_River> Then you mustn't have looked in any of their "gift" boxes. These books are their entire code of law and civil philosophy, written in a way to appeal to any mages they may deem fitting to benefit their Confederacy.
  204. [10:10:26 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Oh! Wait! Yes! Maebh found some of those!
  205. [10:11:08 PM CST] <[Co]_River> There is no automatic preferential citizenship, any citizen must advance their own prestige on their own accord, lest they fall into complete insignificance.
  206. [10:11:45 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> But they were books, and Maebh can't read your letters, so we left them alone. There were more interesting things, like vials of some liquid and Cashswag robes and a scroll and a weird ball! Meadow, you have some of that stuff, right?
  207. [10:14:15 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Yes, that we burgled from the guard station.
  208. [10:14:41 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Yes! That the guards burgled from the Cashswag! Also these stony metally things!
  209. [10:14:45 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> ...What is burgled?
  210. [10:15:00 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Stole.
  211. [10:15:02 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Yes!
  212. [10:18:45 PM CST] * [Co]_River gestures to nearby assistants at their tables
  213. [10:19:03 PM CST] <[Cy]> [The assistants leave and return with a table.]
  214. [10:19:19 PM CST] <[Co]_River> Produce what you've found.
  215. [10:23:05 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow unstraps her pack and produces the items she has taken: three sets of robes, the set of vials, and the clear orb. She slides her sword out of its sheath and extracts the papers from it, and lays them on the table. She resheathes her sword and looks pointedly at Maebh.
  216. [10:24:03 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh produces a scroll from her bag and places it on the table, but then returns to rummaging. After a moment, she gives up.
  217. [10:24:24 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> No stony metally things. Weird! Maebh could have sworn she'd gotten them. Annoying, too!
  218. [10:24:32 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Anyway that's what we burgled!
  219. [10:25:39 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> You took something when we were on the ship, too.
  220. [10:25:51 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Oh yeah!
  221. [10:26:08 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh finds the strange necklace in her bag and adds it to the pile.
  222. [10:27:23 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> This is everything of the Khashwahg's I we took during our mission.
  223. [10:27:56 PM CST] * [Co]_River gets up and exits her ring-desk, stopping by the table with the trinkets on it
  224. [10:28:09 PM CST] <[Cy]> [A few assistants stand by with containers ready.]
  225. [10:31:54 PM CST] <[Co]_River> The robes are normal. The vials are a set of perfumes, allegedly rare in the Confederacy. This thing is a toy. *Takes the papers and glances at them before handing them off to an assistant.* To be studied.
  226. [10:32:52 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> A toy? Why would the Cashswag have a toy? Are they babies?
  227. [10:34:29 PM CST] <[Co]_River> There are substances within that react to magical presence. An individual sensitive to magic could use it to focus their energy and become better at evoking whatever talent they may have. It serves no other purpose than to be a visual indicator of your magic effect.
  228. [10:34:49 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Oooh, for training?
  229. [10:35:06 PM CST] <[Co]_River> Be careful with it, the first one we encountered exploded when it could not hold onto our examiner's energy.
  230. [10:35:23 PM CST] * [Co]_River picks up the necklace
  231. [10:35:52 PM CST] <[Co]_River> If you remember, we once put an object on your forehead when we examined you for magical potential.
  232. [10:37:00 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Yes, I remember.
  233. [10:37:03 PM CST] <[Co]_River> They work on similar principles, though ours was meant to detect and drain your energy, this just turns it into light.
  234. [10:37:43 PM CST] * [Co]_River turns the crystal bulb of the necklace over and looks intently at the thing within
  235. [10:42:11 PM CST] <[Co]_River> Interesting.
  236. [10:42:17 PM CST] * [Co]_River puts it in the box
  237. [10:43:13 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> What is it?
  238. [10:45:22 PM CST] <[Co]_River> It's a spirit within a container. The Confederacy treat magical beings as citizens as well. Any creature born of magic has a higher place in their society than everything without magic. It's rather central to their civil philosophy.
  239. [10:45:24 PM CST] * [Co]_River unrolls the scroll
  240. [10:49:53 PM CST] <[Co]_River> Do you have more of these?
  241. [10:51:32 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> No. Only the one.
  242. [10:51:40 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> There were more. Three more.
  243. [10:52:04 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Maebh didn't know if they were important and was kind of in a hurry at the time.
  244. [10:52:12 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Right, I see where it came from, now
  245. [10:52:21 PM CST] <[Co]_River> Unfortunate, we had not encountered these before.
  246. [10:52:24 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Maebh wonders if she shouldn't have just taken the whole box...
  247. [10:52:50 PM CST] * [Co]_River leans over the paper
  248. [10:52:59 PM CST] <[Co]_River> Most interesting.
  249. [10:55:06 PM CST] * [Co]_River takes the paper and puts it on an assisstant's desk
  250. [10:55:14 PM CST] <[Co]_River> Now, what do you two want for these?
  251. [10:56:22 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> I would use whatever they're worth on a boon to help with our next mission.
  252. [10:56:41 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> River always asks such hard questions! Heeheehee!
  253. [10:57:46 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Can you help Maebh with the Game?
  254. [10:58:26 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh covers her mouth, trying to stifle a laugh, and, failing, bends over in delight as a cackle escapes her mouth.
  255. [10:59:45 PM CST] <[Co]_River> The sort of help you request may be the payment you get for these things you have brought.
  256. [11:00:36 PM CST] <[Co]_River> As for your next mission, that may not be for a while. We are re-evaluating our strategic situation.
  257. [11:01:20 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh catches her breath, then, "What? Why? That's boring!"
  258. [11:07:05 PM CST] <[Co]_River> Because you have just delivered us our old enemy. Also, if you were going to ask for further training, you will have to wait for that as well. Echo is getting "married".
  259. [11:07:34 PM CST] * [Co]_River returns to her seat
  260. [11:07:54 PM CST] <[Co]_River> Now, what would you like for these items and the completion of your assignment?
  261. [11:07:54 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Married?
  262. [11:08:01 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh cocks her head.
  263. [11:08:40 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Nevermind. Are we going to be fighting more Cashswag later?
  264. [11:10:05 PM CST] <[Cy]> [The assistants leave with the box.]
  265. [11:10:24 PM CST] <[Co]_River> Perhaps, if you choose that over alternatives.
  266. [11:12:04 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> Administrator, before we move too far afield, there are two other things that stuck me as being of potential interest that I would like to report.
  267. [11:14:31 PM CST] <[Co]_River> You may.
  268. [11:15:56 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> One is that the Khashwahg seem to have been able to alter and obscure diviners' future sight at a particular point in time. Two different groups of diviners, as well as myself, attempted to scry a particular time period, and were unable to see any coherent vision of events at that time. This might simply be attributable to a large number of potential outcomes at that particular confluence of events, but it's worth
  269. [11:15:56 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> noting that they arrived much earlier than they were forseen as arriving by the diviners in the capital. The exact nature and degree of control that they have over such future sight is hard to tell from this, but I believe that future sight shold be considered vulnerable to their interference.
  270. [11:21:25 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> The other item of potential interest is that we encountered a being that seemed to be made entirely of water on our journeys. It could take any form it had previously observed, or flow like water into a container; it could speak, and learned Language at an astonishing rate, simply by observing conversation. Not knowing whether or not such beings were already known to the People, I thought it prudent to report our
  271. [11:21:25 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> contact with one.
  272. [11:22:57 PM CST] <[Co]_River> How reliably certain are you that the enemy obscured your sight, as opposed to the trouble of possible outcomes?
  273. [11:26:40 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> As an inexperienced diviner myself, I cannot truthfully say I am certain. There are tales of diviners recieving puzzling or contradicytory portents, but never having had such experienced before, I can't say if this instance was peculiar. The fact that the Khashwahg also defied a very specific and detailed prediction by a very reliable group of diviners, more than anything, is what gives me cause to fear they have some
  274. [11:26:40 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> way of interfering with future vision. Like you say, I can't be certain, but it should be regarded as suggestive evidence.
  275. [11:28:19 PM CST] * [Co]_River pokes a paper on her desk
  276. [11:28:59 PM CST] <[Co]_River> This water-life, I assume you didn't take a sample of it.
  277. [11:31:11 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> We intended to bring it back to the City, but we were separated during the battle in which the Koberion boarded and routed the Khashwahg vessel.
  278. [11:31:21 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Yeah, we wanted to bring it back with us, but it kind of disappeared. Maybe it just evaporated, like, poof!
  279. [11:34:37 PM CST] <[Co]_River> We've had a few unique magical creatures before, often born from areas of magical concentration. Without a sample, we can't study it, and a record would only be of mild usefulness.
  280. [11:34:41 PM CST] * [Co]_River pokes her paper again
  281. [11:34:58 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Oh yeah! Aren't you wondering where the box went?
  282. [11:35:21 PM CST] <[Co]_River> The box?
  283. [11:35:28 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> The mimic.
  284. [11:36:36 PM CST] * [Co]_River waves her hand dismissively
  285. [11:37:23 PM CST] <[Co]_River> Associates are not bound to return. Some choose to go and do other things for extended periods of time, others die and don't return at all.
  286. [11:37:48 PM CST] <[Co]_River> It is of little consequence.
  287. [11:38:16 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Yes, she was. Oh well!
  288. [11:41:16 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> If I might ask, is there any record of water-life similar to the one we encountered?
  289. [11:42:35 PM CST] <[Co]_River> Not ones made of water, and not made naturally either. Though without direct examination, I cannot be certain it is not merely a daemon that managed to inhabit a mass of water.
  290. [11:44:24 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> I see. Thank you.
  291. [11:45:42 PM CST] <[Co]_River> Is there anything else you may want or need?
  292. [11:46:49 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> I don't think I have anything further to report.
  293. [11:47:28 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Maebh wants to be more charismatic! Meadow always does the talking, but Maebh has so much trouble convincing people of anything! Even with magic!
  294. [11:49:39 PM CST] <[Co]_River> The magic portion of that can be helped once Echo is available again. The part not to do with magic should be something Meadow can help with.
  295. [11:50:03 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh looks to Meadow, beaming.
  296. [11:50:35 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> I... Don't know if I can teach much of what I know.
  297. [11:50:49 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> But I'm willing to try, if you're interested, Mabe.
  298. [11:51:19 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Yes!
  299. [11:53:52 PM CST] <[Co]_River> Good. You may go if there is nothing else.
  300. [11:54:42 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> I'll want supplies when we get our next mission! Maybe more of those anti-magic arrows, maybe something else!
  301. [11:54:49 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow nods.
  302. [11:54:59 PM CST] <[Multi]_Meadow> I'm sure I'll have some request at that point, too. Until then.
  303. [11:55:11 PM CST] * [Multi]_Meadow turns and exits the building.
  304. [11:55:19 PM CST] <[Naz]_Maebh> Byebye, River!
  305. [11:55:23 PM CST] * [Naz]_Maebh follows after Meadow.
  306. [11:58:19 PM CST] <[Co]_River> ===---ACT III END---===
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