Jorune: Strange Allies game (Prologue and Seq 1.1)

Welcome once again to this game of Skyrealms of Jorune. I'm glad that you've joined us, and I'm excited to begin.

STRANGE ALLIES: PROLOGUE
(in which we join our heroes in the middle of the action and flash back to what has come before)


The rain continues to drizzle down on you, and rivulets of water trickle down your neck as you hunch forward to shield your eyes from the downpour. Mud squelches between your toes with every sucking step further into the muck. The rain has suppressed the reek of the swamp a bit, and for that you’re grateful...that, and the fact that the bugs don’t seem to like the water either and they’re leaving you alone for the moment.

*Is becoming a Drenn really worth this?* you think to yourselves, and try to remind yourselves why you want so badly to become Burdothian citizens, instead of thinking of how much you’d rather enjoy a warm meal in a cozy, dry inclep.

Lightning flashes, revealing that you've moved into a new region, moving from fens to mudflats. There's less standing water here, and less vegetation, and a greyness on the horizon suggests that sunrise is not far off. You're tired, wet, slimed, and have had to fight off a number of hostile creatures since you were dumped into the swamp on your way north from Ardoth. You each take a moment to catch your breath as the rain lets up a bit, and you make sure that none of the others have strayed off away from you.

You came down somewhere in Lusail, the northernmost province of Burdoth (north of Glounda and Gauss). Players can tell me if they're going to try to get their bearings with a particular skill like Geography/Wilderness Travel, try to forage, search, or so on.

Here's explanations of how much you each knows about dichandra.

What do you do now?

Marik moves silently away (that's a success) through the muck, but he fails to see that he's backing towards another cluster of crudge, which is slowly rising up as a second dichandra rises up behind him. They see each other simultaneously, and this new dichandra immediately begins to clack its knobby wrists together, making a loud knocking noise, that alerts the first dichandra to the party's presence. Then they both clack their wrists together, a behavior that is weirdly like clapping, but the noise is very loud.

Gythaar is Experienced with the knife; a roll is unnecessary at that time, since you were throwing at a creature that wasn't in combat. But if a roll had been necessary, it would be against your ranks in Knife, which is 12, plus one for your Aim bonus. So you'd have to get 13 or less to succeed on 1d20. The knife pierces the dichandra's soft underbelly; roll 2d6 for damage.

Barragar, being adept at moving silently, effectively disappears to the dichandra. Marik is also already concealed to them, having remained silent despite the surprise of the second creature. Miniri, by virtue of her standing still, barely registers to them. But their ire is raised by the knife and they lumber forward, clacking their stony wrists together, in what Miniri knows is a tactic to startle prey. Their vicious blade-sharp pincers snick open and shut as they advance.

Everyone, roll 2d6 1d20 for Advantage (remember to add your Advantage modifiers, if any).

OOC:
Gythaar was aiming for an eye. Rolled a 1, if that makes a difference :-)

Oops, forgot to apply these modifiers to my rolls:
Strength 16 (+1 Advantage, +1 Hit, +1 Injury bonus)

Gythaar: Your STR and AGL together give you a +2 bonus to Advantage rolls, which gives you an 8 Advantage. With an 8, you can defend against a melee attack, you can evade, or make another ranged attack.

The dichandra with the knife lodged in its chest is making a keening noise, as its mandibles vibrate alarmingly. Normally, I won't break down all the mechanics for you, instead just providing description. But here I will, as this is your introduction to combat.

The five on the damage roll means that the first dichandra has taken a superficial wound to its chest. That gives it a -1 penalty to Advantage, and it loses 2 Stamina (twice the Advantage penalty).

In addition to the Advantage rolls, anyone can choose to roll another Fauna recognition check if he/she wishes.

(edit to add mechanical details of the damage)

Rolling Advantage (Thought it's d20?)

Folks, I apologize! I wrote the wrong thing; after character generation, there are only two types of rolls in Jorune: 1d20 and 2d6. 1d20 is used for everything except the results of a hit. You will only ever roll 2d6 for armor penetration and/or damage. Perhaps I was tired, but I seem to have repeated the 2d6 for Gythaar's damage in the instructions to roll Advantage. That was wrong. I'm terribly embarrassed; I've been running this game for decades; that is probably the most egregious error I've made in that whole time.

So please roll your Advantage rolls over again, using 1d20+5 (for your preparation as the dichandra noticed you), plus your other advantage bonuses, if any. If the result from the 2d6 was better (adding the +5 to that, too), you may use the 2d6 result in this instance, as a bonus for my error.

Here's what the advantages are for round one, as rolled with 2d6. Please re-roll with 1d20 and use whichever is higher.
Dichandra 2's advantage for round 1: 16
Gythaar's advantage for round 1: 13 (6+2+5)
Barragar's advantage for round 1: 12 (6+1+5)
Marik's advantage for round 1: 11 (7-1+5)
Dichandra 1's advantage for round 1: 3

Qralloq can still get Miniri in on this round of combat today.

Gythaar's advantage for round 2: 10 (8+2)

Advantage results:
1 - 5: you may evade only
6 - 10: you may defend, ranged attack, or evade
11 - 15: you may attack or defend
16 - 19: you may attack and defend
20+: you may attack and defend with +5 bonus

Dichandra 1 is going to attempt to recoil from the next incoming attack (evade). It's hurt, confused, and angry.

OOC: Rerolling Advantage

Looks like I'll be keeping my 2d6 roll lol

Marik is close to the dichandra 2, which is going to try to LISTEN for a target. Barragar is in position to attack from the side of dichandra 1. Both are horrified to remember old wives' tales of dichandra spitting venom to paralyze their prey; amusing stories back then, but could they be true? It seems much more likely now that you see them with their dripping mandibles, weakly blinking eye stalks, and tremendously loud clacking of wrist stones.

With an 11 Advantage, Marik needs to decide whether to actively defend, or attack.

Ullis appears to be readying a dysha, much as Gythaar is doing.

OOC: About these advantage rolls, you said, "roll your Advantage rolls over again, using 1d20+5 (for your preparation as the dichandra noticed you), plus your other advantage bonuses." What is the +5 from? Gythaar's STR and AGL together give him +2 bonus to Advantage rolls so is that then 1d20+7 for Gythaar?

Jabes: The +5 was for round one, having prepared for action and attacking surprised animals. So your Advantage for round one is 25, but your advantage for round 2 would just be +2, so the total is 12 (attack or defend, not both).

I'm going to use your successful quantum roll as the confirmation of the great success.

Round one
Gythaar's fingers erupt with a blaze of isho forming lightning, which sears toward the wounded (first) dichandra; it is too stupid to evade and begins to approach the source of its pain. But there's so MUCH pain!
(3 on the damage roll is a superficial wound to the dichandra's body; resulting in -1 Advantage, -2 Stamina)

Ullis unleashes a blast of lightning (Experienced) from his muddy hands, striking the first dichandra in its right leg.
7 on a damage roll to its leg means a minor wound. It falls and has a -2 to advantage, -4 to stamina. The Advantage penalties are cumulative, so the total penalty for the first dichandra's advantage rolls is -3.
The lightning crackles and pops the carapace of the swamp creature, and with a quick burst of loud snapping noises, its leg collapses from under it, and it falls into the muck onto its back.

Miniri steps in and swings her staff around in a whistling arc, connecting solidly with the first dichandra in its body while it flails on its back.
This deals a superficial wound to the dichandra, -1 Advantage, and it loses 2 more Stamina. The cumulative penalty to Advantage rolls is -4.

The second dichandra attempts to detect Marik, knowing that he's close by...it hears him breathing, and makes an attack with flailing scissor claws. One pincer claw closes on his left leg, cutting into it.
Marik takes a minor wound to his left leg and topples backwards. -2 to advantage and -4 stamina.

Barragar rises up out of his crouch, towering for a split second at his full height to get the full arc of his long arm into the throw of the wickedly curved sis-ganj (roll 2d6 for damage) at the dichandra on its back. There is a brief whir as the sis-ganj spins through the air, and two of its three blades lodge in the dichandra's soft underbelly.
A 4 for the damage roll plus one (for the inherent deadliness of the sis-ganj) and one for Barragar's injury bonus (which applies to thrown weapons as well as melee) is a 6, which results in a Minor wound. A further -5 to its Advantage means a -10 to its Stamina.

Marik is centered and serene, despite the snikt of the dichandra's scissor-like claws snipping into his calf. As he topples backwards, he unleashes a blast of freezing isho into the right leg of the beast.
9 on the damage roll to the right leg indicates a major wound, -4 Advantage and -8 stamina.
The second dichandra, fresh from its attack, finds its leg frozen into immobility. It falls onto its side, and cannot rise again. It thrashes weakly, barely able to clack its stones together, bewildered at its leg ceasing to function.

(I've updated the previous post with Miniri's damage)

Lightning Blast damage

After a furious exchange, the group of bedraggled tauther have done serious damage to the two dangerous beasts, and they both are on their backs. Marik has a large gash on his calf where one of the dichandra's pincers sliced him. The first dichandra weakly begins to burrow back down into the muck; the second is still acting aggressively.

At the end of round one, one party member has been knocked down with a minor injury. Both beasts are down, and the first dichandra is effectively out - with a -1 on its Advantage result, it can't do anything this turn, and having lost 18 points of stamina, it's close to unconsciousness. It's probably trying to flee by burrowing, but it's having a hard time rolling over from its back. It's moving so slowly that the party can continue to attack it if they wish. The second dichandra, with a 9 Advantage, is warily trying to rise to continue the encounter.

Roll 1d20 for round two advantage. Marik subtracts four from his result. People attacking either dichandra get another +5 bonus, as their opponents have been knocked down.

Ullis Advantage: 20+5 = 25 (attack and defend with bonus)
Miniri's Advantage: 13+5 = 18 (attack and defend)
Gythaar's advantage: 12+5 = 17 (attack and defend)
Marik's Advantage: 15-4 = 11 (attack or defend - already said he's defending)
Dichandra 2's Advantage: 9 (defend)
Dichandra 1's Advantage: -1 (no action)

This dichandra (#2) is actively defending, so there is opposition. Anyone attacking dichandra 2 this round, please roll against your skill for the attack you will do.

Gythaar strikes hard at the dichandra, taking advantage of Miniri's distraction and plunging his sword into its belly. The fight clearly goes out of it, and it recoils backward into the mud and begins to weakly burrow in an attempt to escape.

This is another minor wound, for another -5 to Advantage and -10 to stamina.

The immediate threat is ended.

The group takes stock of themselves. Needless to say, someone can do first aid to bandage Marik's wound, if they wish.

Note which skill foci you used or failed to use successfully (depending on whether you learn by success or failure).

If anyone wishes, he can finish off one or the other dichandra before they escape.

FOUR DAYS EARLIER...

All of you are in the bustle and business of the crowded port city of Ardoth, where thousands of people from all walks of life and most sentient races live and work together. You are making your way to the Hall of Drenn to see what your next (and possibly last) task will be; you've each received a courier notifying you that an influential Drenn - perhaps even a kesht - has selected your tablet and requested your service in particular. The sun is shining, the breeze off of Ardoth Bay is strong enough to carry away most of the smell, and you have a bit of bounce in your step as you hurry to meet your next patron at the Hall of Drenn.

Entering the cool shade of the Hall of Drenn, you scan quickly and instinctively for your tablets - yes, they are gone from the Drenn Wall; they've been pulled at the request of some Drenn.


The Drenn Wall in the Hall of Drenn

You each arrive at the clerk's desk at about the same time, your challisks nearly filled with copras, but still polished to a bright shine. You look at each other, and you wonder at the nature of the job, as you recognize some of the others. The clerk finishes her task with setting up a new tauther with his challisk and turns to your group.

"Yes...?"

The clerk takes a few moments to sort through her records, and then her eyes widen slightly. She quickly blinks to cover this and asks to see your challisks more closely. Efficiently she interprets the various marks on the metal plates that you have worn for this occasion to verify that you are indeed the requested tauther. She notes this in her records, then nods to a runner. She takes a few moments to square the papers on her desk, and you get the impression that she's doing so to comfort herself to regain composure. She clearly like order. After a moment, the clerk clears her throat.

"Ahem. Yes, well, you are clearly who you say you are. You are fortunate, and honored to have been selected by so..." She struggles to find the right word. "...uh...someone so important." She lowers her voice. "Your challisks were requested by Gelicia Skay...!" Then, at normal volume once more: "As you know, a keshtia's time is valuable, and she could not be troubled to come down here herself. She has arranged a place for you to discuss her patronage in private. This boy" - she gestures to a new runner who has just trotted up, a young boccord - "will take you to that place." Then she smiles, briefly. "Luck to you!"

The boccord runner nods at each of you and begins to trot off, back out of the Hall of Drenn.

Note: keshtia is the feminine form of kesht, which are the sort of elder or exalted citizens of Burdoth - a level above Drenn. Usually wealthy, always powerful, kesht(ia) are the closest thing Jorune has to nobility.

You may test some skills here. I would recommend trying Current Events, if you have it, to see how well you recognize the name Keshtia Gelicia Skay. I would also suggest Getting Around, to see how well you follow the runner, who seems in no way concerned to make sure you are following. Just post whatever other skills you'd like to bring to bear.

Note your level and rank in a skill and describe how you're using it.

Marik and Miniri recognize the name of the Keshtia. Since it was founded, Skays have sat on the Ardothian Council, the political body that administrates Ardoth and somewhat balances the rule of Khodre Dhardrenn, the current dharsage of Burdoth. Like most kesht, Gelicia Skay is a human, but the woman has distinguished herself in her service to the toth of Ardoth (the city), and, to a lesser extent, Burdoth (the nation) itself. She's heavily involved in healing activities, creating and funding the Skay learsis kim in her youth, which has grown to establish healing centers in several Burdothian cities. Perhaps closer to your hearts:

Marik knows that Skay was instrumental in opening more kerning bays in Ardoth, and has long been an advocate for the integration of muadra into Ardothian society.

Miniri knows that Skay supported allowing crugar residency in Ardoth, despite a lot of prejudice after the crugar invasion. Miniri also knows that Gelicia is daughter of Jarren Skay, former council member, wife of kesht Tane Belson (an Iscin and thriddle advocate), and mother to Luce Belson, a young gadabout who has been tauther for years.

New terms:
* Ardothian Council - The political body that administrates Ardoth and somewhat balances the rule of the dharsage.
* dharsage - "dhar" means great, "sage" means about the same thing as sage does in English now. So it literally means "great wise and learned one." This is an honorific that was created for the current monarch's father, Khodre Allonkarb, who united Burdoth despite war and invasion, and effectively became emperor. The title "dharsage" is now applied to any human monarch.
* kern - to expel all isho. Suspicion and paranoia around muadra (particularly after the Maustin Caji nearly destroyed Ardoth) resulted in the requirement that all caji kern before entering any government building.
* kerning bay - a fortified area surrounded by thick stone walls which muadra use to expel all their isho while in a city. While they were created to reduce the threat of muadra caji as a place where they expel all their isho, in practice kerning bays have also become isho learning centers, where muadra freely train, practice and learn dyshas.
* kim - a trade organization, union, or guild. Sometimes kims are associated with a particular region, and so have some political power as representatives for that district or zone.

You each follow Marik, who is able to follow the boccord runner through the crowds but makes sure that each of you are following and not getting lost. You find yourselves in a fancier area of town than you are accustomed to travel; the ratio of humans to other races gets much higher. The boccord leads you into a place called "Happy Corondon," which turns out to be a fancy illidge. Busy shasts glide about, serving various dishes to an indolent assortment of merchants, traders, sages, Iscin, and others whose jobs don't require hard physical labor. Shasts turn to you, then, seeing who has led you here, turn back to their other customers. The boccord leads you to a large table half-concealed behind a curtain. The table is laid with a place for each of you. The boccord nods to you, then to another boccord standing behind the shoulder of the woman seated at the table, bows to the woman, and then leaves back the way he came.

Keshtia Gelicia Skay looks to be early in her fourth decade (though Miniri knows that she is considerably older), with the grace and poise of someone who has always enjoyed the loyalty and service of others. She smiles and gestures you to your seats.
"Welcome, tauther. The accommodations are meager, but I hope that you will enjoy my hospitality nonetheless."



New terms:
corondon: a giant monster native to Jorune. None of you have ever seen one, but you do know that the corondon's claws are used to make "hardswords," curved scimitars with 6' blades wielded by the shantha.
illidge: a combination of restaurant and hotel; an inn.

After an interlude of dining and light conversation, during which the keshtia makes clear that she knows an awful lot about each of you, including things you would rather not be known, Gelicia Skay steers the subject to her drawing of your tablets.

(illustration to give a sense of the poise of the keshtia, not meant as actual representation of her appearance)

"You each have performed admirably and discreetly in situations where I have required prompt and effective service, though usually it was someone in my employ who pulled your tablets in the past. I have need of your skills in a particularly delicate matter now."

She pauses for a moment, to make eye contact with each of you - a particularly human affectation, but the power of her gaze is palpable even to the crugar, whose connections tend more strongly toward touch and scent than vision.

"It has to do with my son, Luce. He's missing, and I need you to find him."

"Luce is an adult, and has been seeking Drennship as a tauther like you for quite some time. He is also serving an important diplomatic function, and his absence is making our contacts in Heridoth very uneasy. It is vital that Luce is found and returned to Ardoth!"

(edit: Heridoth is the primarily human country across Ardoth Bay to the east of Burdoth. It is a loose confederacy of city-states, many of them practicing a state religion, though the church does not govern. Heridoth and Burdoth have had a long history of alternating conflict and alliance, much like Heridoth itself, which does not have a dharsage ruling over all. Instead, the rulers of the different city-states have a complex web of alliances, antipathies, and treaties; the differences between the cities is very clear to anyone living there, but to the rest of the worl d, it's all just "Heridoth."

"No, Luce was here in Ardoth. He worked all over - most recently he was doing tothis work down by the docks on the Bay - but he never took jobs outside of the city, due to the...delicate nature of the work he was to do."

She looks at the impassive face of the boccord bodyguard and then waits as some of the shasts come to take away the dishes. She continues in a low voice once they've left.

"Diplomats and ambassadors have been hard at work for years, since the end of the war, to cement a bond between Burdoth and Heridoth. Our trade agreements with Koistra and Sholis, just across the Bay, are well-known. But what isn't known is that we've been working to forge an alliance with the Monev or York as well. Luce is betrothed to Princess Gansei of York, and they are to be married on the first of Auss! The alliance balances on this union, and without Luce, the Monev will wax wroth."

She looks at your blank expressions at her archaic language, misinterprets it, and explains: "Monev is the title for the rulers of York; a bit like dharsage. The Monev is not a patient or forgiving man; it has taken years to bring him to this point, and he will react poorly if Luce is not here to marry his daughter come Auss."

She takes a moment to calm herself, and then considers the questions Miniri has posed.

"As to personal enemies, he's had a few duels, but he was vindicated each time. No, I think it is more likely that agents from another Heridoth city have somehow discovered the upcoming alliance and are trying to sabotage it. I understand that both Koistra and Sholis have extremists who would welcome conflict with Burdoth, even though they benefit from our trade. Ellemin, perhaps?" She looks at each of you, as if she expects insight into the politics of the Burdoth state from you. Then she remembers that she's talking to tauther and smiles. "Well, some rival city of Heridoth, anyway. Jates here" (indicating the bodyguard) "seems to think the ramian were involved, but frankly, that's ridiculous. It's got to be Heridoth!"

New terms:
Auss: Autumn. One of the four seasons on Jorune: Eris (Spring), Mullin (Summer), Auss (Autumn), and Crith (Winter).
Ellemin: a more distant city in Heridoth, site of a major Ardothian defeat in the last war (the Burdothian flagship was sunk within sight of Ellemin).
Heridoth: neighboring region of Jorune: a collection of city-states on the peninsula east, across Ardoth Bay.
Koistra and Sholis: the two cities in Heridoth closest to Ardoth (just across the Bay), long rivals for Burdothian trade. They are indicated by two dots on the local map of Jorune in the maps thread, just to the left of "The Ellih"
Monev: the hereditary ruler of York.
Ramian: tall, gangly aliens infamous for their brutality in battle, ramian require a particular herb, shirm-eh, to heal. Every few decades, another war breaks out as ramian from the northern continent of Voligire attempt to conquer southern lands.
Shirm-eh: a plant extract that assists ramian in healing when ingested, in much the same way that Earth life needs durlig to digest food. The plants from which shirm-eh is extracted grow well in temperate to warm climates.
Voligire: the cold northern continent which is home to the ramian.
York: a major port city in Eastern Heridoth, which controls a large region of the country and holds sway over several smaller cities. Shown on the Heridoth map in the map thread: the small dot just to the right of "HERIDOTH"

"Well, Jates here would have you look down at the docks, and I suppose that whomever took him might still be there, or there might be witnesses if someone saw anything. My problem is that all of my servants are known to the Heridothians, through our long interactions. Your inquiries - as long as they are discreet - will not be as obvious, and perhaps you can get close to the villains without their suspicions being raised." She pats the boccord bodyguard on the arm. "I will put Jates at your disposal; he can point you in the right direction, as he knows the docks. He could tell you about Luce's last observed locations. I must be seen to continue my normal routine, so that the Monev's agents will not suspect anything is amiss. I have appointments to keep with them, and I must keep them busy so that they do not suspect that Luce is missing." She pauses for a moment, pensively, apparently overwhelmed at the task of stringing along the York agents. "But I'm sure you'll find him soon. Jates can also direct you to the locations of various ambassadors of the Heridothian cities, as well as shenters where visitors from Heridoth go. You might check there first." She considers what else might be useful, though she's clearly getting more rattled as she talks this stuff out - apparently she's kept her anxiety about the whole situation bottled up for some time, and now that she's talking about it, she's getting more emotional. "I'm hoping that you'll find him quickly, so that we can get back to our normal lives and you can complete your tothis. But if it takes longer - if they've taken Luce aboard ship and you need to follow - I can help with your expenses. Just talk to Jates and he will arrange it. Obviously I can't talk with you directly again; we're trying to keep our association secret so the Heridothian kidnappers won't suspect you have anything to do with finding Luce."

Gythaar, give me a SCENT check (roll 1d20, target number is your LISTEN -1) for each NPC you want to "read."

Anyone else can also do SPOT, SCENT, or LISTEN checks, if there's something you want to detect. You can also explain how you'd use interaction or etiquette to perform a SOCIAL check.

Finally, jump in at any time if there's a skill you wish to use.

As Gythaar does his SCENT check, I'll point out that you each know that there are 40 days left in Mullin, and the keshtia has told you that she wants Luce back before Auss begins (thus you have 40 days to complete this task and become Drenn).

The Keshtia smiles at Marik. "Thank you." She gestures and Jates rises to accompany you. "If you have any questions, or if you find any information about Luce, talk to Jates."

Jates the boccord bodyguard waits for a moment as the other boccord returns to the keshtia's side and gives a nod. Then Jates leads Marik, Miniri, Gythaar and Barragar out a back entrance and you begin to wend your way down the hill toward Ardoth Bay.

"My esteemed mistress" (he says this sincerely, without any irony or sarcasm) "likes to think everything has to do with politics. I am not convinced. I think sometimes there are simpler reasons for things to happen. I'm going to show you what I've found, and what I've heard." That said, he does seem a bit paranoid about people following you, as he does a fair amount of apparently aimless wandering which is actually doubling back and circling to make sure to identify any "tails."

The light sparkles off of the waters of Ardoth Bay spread below you, filled with the ships from many nations. The streets of Ardoth in mid-morning are filled with people of all races, and all sorts are evident as you descend the hill into the less affluent areas of the capital. A boccord beaster loses his grip on the reins of a thombo, and the huge gourd-shaped creature ambles off down an alley. A bronth hauling a hand cart gets into a wordy dispute with a corastin carrying heavy boxes about who has right of way on a hill. A muadra youth - possibly a dyte punk - runs past, pursued by several human yords. A thriddle in a litter carried by pale-skinned humans jogs up the hill.

Having satisfied himself that you are not being followed, Jates leads the party to a small building not far from the docks.
"These are my rooms," he explains as he leads you inside. He opens the windows to let in fresh air and gestures to the four chairs at a table. He then crosses the room and pulls out a small chest from underneath the side table. He sets it on the table and opens it, revealing some papers and assorted small items. "These are the things I found in Luce's rooms, which he kept here near the docks."

There are a number of letters; Miniri easily separates them by writer. Though some of them are unsigned, the handwriting gives them away (not to mention the distinct scents). There are, broadly speaking, two categories of correspondence: love letters, and official documents (both from the dharsage and from York). The official documents are praise from the dharsage (or his representatives) for the role Luce is to play in the alliance between Ardoth and York, as well as information about York and Yorkian VIPs; formal correspondence from the Monev of York (or his representatives) for the role Luce is to play in the alliance; and also correspondence with the keshtia Gelicia Skay (Luce's mother). The love letters are formal letters from Princess Gansei of York; brief notes of affection from an unsigned admirer; and an assortment of love notes from a variety of Ardothian assignations. There is also a note that is distinct for smell, paper, and language: it is not written in Entren, but instead is composed of jagged hash marks that seem organized enough to not be random scribbling.

Jates nods at Gythaar, "Yes, no one should know that I am here. I rented these rooms only recently, out of concern for Luce."

Barragar stands impassively at the door, his bulk a reassuring, familiar and silent presence.

Anyone who wishes to look at the strange writing can roll a 1d20 against his/her EDUCATION characteristic (to see if they've happened to see something similar in their past).

Jates nods. "Yes, he gets such letters often, usually delivered by a private messenger. None of them made me suspicious, but I can direct you to each of the women who've written them, for the ones in Ardoth." Miniri and Gythaar can roll 1d20 checks against SOCIAL, or provide a skill (and its level) that you think would apply to discerning something about what the boccord is telling you.

Neither of the crugar recognize the writing, and Barragar is impassive, refusing to take a look. But Marik, inspecting the page of text, recognizes it as a note in Rorch-ko, the language of the ramian. He does not know Rorch-ko well enough to read it himself, but he knows it to see it.
Jates looks uncomfortable. "My mistress is very concerned about Luce. We all are! But..." clearly he's finding it difficult to continue. "...I believe she...she is mistaken in sending you to pursue the Heridothians. There! I said it!" He takes a deep breath, shaken at his ability to speak ill of the Keshtia. "She did not want me to tell you this, I think because she wants you to embarrass Cho Dantto by finding Luce first. But I think that note" (indicating the Rorch-ko scrawl in Marik's hands) "may mean that chasing the Heridothians is the wrong path. And it is wrong - wrong! - to play such competitive games when Luce's life may be at stake!"

Miniri would know several entris, but any of you with a Getting Around or Contacts at Experienced or better would at least know of one. Those with less can roll against Getting Around or Contacts to find one.

In addition, those with Contacts or Current Events at Experienced would recognize Cho Dantto's name (you can do a check against Contacts or Current Events if you have a rank lower than Experienced).

Rolling

Gythaar knows that Cho Dantto is a revered detective ("yiordeh") who has been a favorite of the dharsage for a few years. If Cho Dantto is on the case, the saying goes, then let evildoers beware!

Surprised, Barragar rumbles "Cho Dantto! Why do they need us, then?"

Miniri exchanges a glance with Barragar. They worked together on a mission where they'd found ancient scrolls on strange metallic cylinders, and they'd taken them to Krune Tassasatra, a sage old entris living in the Sharben neighborhood. Krune has proven skilled in every type of written language they've seen him attempt.

Jates watches you leave, nervously chewing on a fingernail in his anxiety about Luce. "I'll be here, if you need to contact me again!"

Barragar leads the way to Sharben, across the face of the hill. It's more of a residential neighborhood, with more homes than any other type of building. The flow of traffic is hardly lesser, though. Once in the neighborhood, Barragar's steps slow uncertainly, and Miniri takes over leading the group to Krune Tassasatra's home. Like most homes in Burdoth, it is composed of white-washed and plastered adobe brick. Windows looking over the Bay are open, letting in the sea breeze which helps keep the house cool in the heat of the day. It is late forenoon.

Krune Tassasatra opens the door at your call (knocking is considered very rude and peremptory on Jorune). Though old, he remains alert and recognizes both Miniri and Barragar. He invites you all in, sets you up with tea, small cakes of nut bread, and small plates of creshi (a pickled fish) for the carnivores. He seems delighted to have visitors and is a good host.



After the requisite small talk, he asks: "What can Krune do to help you? Usually you seek Krune only when you want something. What is it?"

(We can do this by role-playing it, or we can do a abridged version based on SOCIAL checks...or other skills you think you'd like to apply)

Krune smiles. "Rorch-ko is a challenge... S'good - I like challenges! Not seen much Rorch-ko since d'War, when dharsage has me translate spy messages!"

The old man takes the letter and peruses the page, murmuring over it as he reads.

After reading through it, he says: "This is a spy document, from d'War?"
He turns the page over in his hands.
"Paper is new...this is a copy of spy note from d'War?"
He peers at you and then shrugs.

"No matter, I translate. Short note!" He laughs jovially, though none of you are sure why he's laughing.

His wizened hands clear a space for the paper on the table, and he sets it out so you can see it. Then he points at different lines as he tells you about them.

"Rorch-ko very formal language; ramian very controlled, precise people. Right way to do everything. Written, Rorch-ko usually in five-line paragraphs. Form requires first paragraph to be introduction and praise, complimenting d'person the letter was for."
His finger stabs down at the paper.
"Not so here. Only one paragraph! Hee-hee! Spies write shorter messages, very, very rude - no compliments. No names! Only places. First line, here - very scandalous:

'shipment preparation' or 'ready for package'

Author is writing to person, expecting a delivery. What is it? See the second line:

'bring shirm-eh...' - with these ramian, it's usually shirm-eh - uh, where was I? Oh, yes:
'bring shirm-eh to T'Suha'

T'Suha is a person, or a place? Usually can tell with Rorch-ko, but this is missing formal articles and gender; could be either. Definitely a name; this symbol always precedes a name.

Next line:
'paid for Mo-an Darf-ter Kaigon...'
The name symbol shows that those are three names; Kaigon is the town..."

Barragar nods. Kaigon is a large settlement to the west, in southern Gauss just past the Glounda Forest, two days' ride by thombo from Ardoth.

"Fourth line and fifth line:
'Gratitude and prayers
Clear head and eyes'
...these are excerpts of formal Rorch-ko letters, which always end with compliments and well-wishes for d'reader. No higher value for a ramian than self-control; what is meant by 'clear head and eyes.' The author couldn't break tradition totally, and had to complete d'five lines."

Krune cackles a wheezing laugh again and pours more tea.
"So...some time during d'War, some spy was working with ramian to get them their medicine, and arranged for a shipment out of Gauss." He sips his tea and looks shrewdly at Miniri. "You working on a history book? History of d'War? I could tell you a lot about d'War..."

Everyone make a geography check, or just tell me if you are Experienced/Rank 12 or higher in that skill.

Being tauther and thus travelers, all four of you (Barragar, Gythaar, Miniri and Marik) recognize that "T'Suha" is the name of a port city on the island of Reet. The city is more commonly known in Burdoth as Telmin. Reet is not part of Burdoth or any larger nation; it is in independent island state, and as such it is a haven for pirates, vagabonds, raiders and refugees of various stripes (see the maps thread; Reet is included on the map of Burdoth/Heridoth).

I would also welcome checks against either Current Events or Traveler.

Edit: Reminder: if you haven't already, please note your current foci for this sequence in Ardoth.

You all also realize that the normal way to get to Reet is by ship from Ardoth. Traveling overland from Kaigon would take at least twice as long and be much more dangerous.

You all know talmaron; they're the native Jorune creatures that fly on giant bat wings, using their tra sense to navigate using isho. They are less common as riding beasts than either thombo or bochigon, but you'd be able to procure the use of them easily in Ardoth (particularly with the keshtia's resources).

The four of you are outside again, scanning the skyline for a nearby aerie. Barragar points at a tower a few blocks away. "That might be one!"

Marik easily confirms that what he sees in between the buildings of the district is clearly a talmaron aerie.

As he watches, one of the great furred beasts wings off of the tower from out of one of the arches near the top, confirming the fact.

It occurs to you to wonder whether the name of Gelicia Skay will be enough, or how you will pay for talmaron mounts if you choose to not broadcast that you are working for the Keshtia. You have arrived in a small square surrounding the tower being used as a talmaron aerie. The tower is made from mismatched pieces of ancient sandstone and other sedimentary rocks, and gives an impression of both great age and that its golden years are long behind it. Cracks abound in the stone, and vines of a particularly hardy sort of weed are snaking up the outside of the first 25 feet of the tower. There is a broad archway for a front entrance, but not a lot of foot traffic at the moment.

As you stand, looking up at the tower, another talmaron comes flapping in for a landing through an arch at the top.

As Marik and the salesman haggle about pricing, Barragar goes off in search of Jates, to request an advance on the expenses they will incur in retrieving Luce.

The muadra sailor, Yongap, has been trying to make an honest living, even going so far as to become tauther. The bronth, Vordenir, is also tauther, and they are going to Kaigon to hunt down a cad who has fled after getting a young woman pregnant. Their sense of the need for speed has led them to the same talmaron aerie, where they have met with the rest of the party. Quickly Vordenir and Yongap pay for the flying mounts. Barragar returns just then with cash enough to hire four more talmaron, and the group quickly realizes that they all are headed to the same destination. After some discussion, they warily agree to travel together, as there is strength in numbers (which is particularly important in the wild).

With some comic attempts at initial flight, none of which end in injury because these are extremely docile, domesticated talmaron, the party takes flight and wings off to the west of Ardoth, heading out toward Glounda Forest on the horizon.

OK, time to note the rolls that Marik, Miniri, Gythaar, and Barragar received for checks against your foci now. Mark them on your character sheets, something like "Improvement rolls: 1"

Then you can save the rolls, or spend them to attempt improvement, which you can do here or in the System: Improvement thread. Here makes sense from a story perspective, while keeping them in the Improvement thread may make them easier to review later (though if you do that, label your post as "Improvement rolls for sequence 1.2").

Everyone should also select your foci for the next sequence, or decide to keep one or more the same. If you change a focus, you must use the roll(s) to attempt to improve the skill; you cannot save improvement rolls for a skill when you're not focused on it.