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--- resources:adventure:night_of_the_rooster [2016/03/24 13:19]
thomasl created
+++ resources:adventure:night_of_the_rooster [2016/03/25 23:44] (current)
emmab [Others]
@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 Many
-==== Summary ====
+===== Summary =====
 The night started pleasantly, with food, music, entertainment all as one might expect, though it didn’t take long for old scars and fights to resurface -- those between families, and within families, as well as those between the Nobility and the People of the city began to flare up.
@@ Line 46: / Line 46: @@
 Marlo Darrish appealed to the Tender for assistance returning the soul of Waltha Terrec if and only if it would bring her the same quality of life she had before.  Marlo got a sense of frustration, sorrow, then anger from the Tender as she appeared unable to do so.  The anger here was directed, however, to the East…
-==== Debrief ====
+===== Debrief =====
-=== Murder Enquiries ===
+==== Murder Enquiries ====
 As the party wound down, the Valyddi Assassins were brought round by Lt. Marlo Darrish and other members of the Watch.  They were promptly gagged and taken to the nearest Watch-house to be dealt with properly according to Acryn law.  There, their confessions were taken down properly and the lot of them were put in high security holding.
@@ Line 74: / Line 74: @@
-=== A Wind-up Web Of Cogs and Clockwork Hearts ===
+==== A Wind-up Web Of Cogs and Clockwork Hearts ====
-Underneath the song of screams and slaughter at the Cargan estate, you might have detected the pitiful, rhythmic, wail of our newest arrival from Thys, moaning and blubbering something about a clockwork golem. Several of the servants were quick to note his peculiar habit of offering indentured servitude to anyone who could end the legal quarrel between himself and the Clockmaker’s Guild.
+Underneath the song of screams and slaughter at the Cargan estate, you might have detected the pitiful, rhythmic, wail of our newest arrival from Thys, moaning and blubbering something about a clockwork golem. Several of the servants were quick to note his peculiar habit of offering indentured servitude to anyone who could end the legal quarrel between himself and the Clockmakers' Guild.
 Not just the servants.
@@ Line 82: / Line 82: @@
 Theo’s plight touched many. Tearfully, Emily Anara pledged whatever help she could muster - the dominion of the human mind, she reassured Theo, was shortly to be within her grasp. “The mind”, she whispered, her tear-streaked eyes glittering. Sev, bound in chains of sorrow and regret, wondered aloud whether she’d failed Pig as a friend. Whether that made her one of the bad people. Evan, the curious, opinionated, mage, watched the party from the safety of his false guise, and drank in everything he saw. The intrigue, the political posturing, the sorrow, and the hope - everything comingling into one.  He turned to Unit 01 -  who saw him, and yet did not see him - and knew what he had to do.
-Two others watched also. The unsettling, hulking, builder priest, and the eerily self-contained ex-Mayor. Those who have fought - and lived - for long enough, sharpen a particular kind of sense. They learn to see the moves their enemies will make before they make them. A step forward, a knife drawn: and there, and there, and there. They are trained to block attacks before they ever happen. And so it was that these two watched, and waited, and turned away, their plans already forming.
+Two others watched also. The unsettling, hulking, builder priest, and the eerily self-contained ex-Mayor. Those who have fought - and lived - for long enough, sharpen a particular kind of sense. They learn to see the moves their enemies will make before they make them. A step forward, a knife drawn: and there, and there, and //there//. They are trained to block attacks before they ever happen. And so it was that these two watched, and waited, and turned away, their plans already forming.
-And what of Unit 01, of Pig, itself? One small soul who had been through so much, struggling to come to terms with a thousand eager contradictions. “Why was my external signifier changed to ‘Pig’, and then changed back again?” “When and why did this Unit acquire the “spurting blood” enhancement? Memories, like a forgotten sea, rose up to overwhelm it.
+And what of Unit 01, of Pig, itself? One small soul who had been through so much, struggling to come to terms with a thousand eager contradictions. “Why was my external signifier changed to ‘Pig’, and then changed back again?” “When and why did this Unit acquire the “spurting blood” enhancement?" Memories, like a forgotten sea, rose up to overwhelm it.
 This is what happens next.
-Unit 01 and Unit 21 (a.k.a Evan incognito) return to the golem housing facility in the Clockmaker’s Guild. Evan manages to convince Unit 01 not to file a report concerning the reappearance of its memories. The feeling of conspiracy is somewhat unwelcome, but at the same time, familiar and comforting. Like...red. Thankfully for Evan, the golem’s ‘dormitories’ (an awkward term for what are effectively stables with optional restraints) are no longer assigned to one golem in particular, and he finds one which is free to spend the night in.
+Unit 01 and Unit 21 (a.k.a Evan incognito) return to the golem housing facility in the Clockmakers' Guild. Evan manages to convince Unit 01 not to file a report concerning the reappearance of its memories. The feeling of conspiracy is somewhat unwelcome, but at the same time, familiar and comforting. Like...red. Thankfully for Evan, the golem’s ‘dormitories’ (an awkward term for what are effectively stables with optional restraints) are no longer assigned to one golem in particular, and he finds one which is free to spend the night in.
 The next day Unit 01 activates a set of protocols specific to reconfirming its connection to the other inhabitants of the Guild facility. It makes polite conversation: operating parameters, missions, the qualities of proper maintenance. This strays sometimes into more fanciful territory. ‘What upgrade would you most like to have installed?’ Pig offers, a comment that makes some golems gasp and others giggle with delight. But nothing bad comes of it, and there is a sense - through violation of an unspoken taboo - that a new sort of relationship is being formed.
@@ Line 98: / Line 98: @@
 Feeling that he as done as much as he can and fearing imminent discovery, Evan seeks an opportunity to escape. That opportunity comes in the form of a new guard detail which are guided around the facility - bearing the crest of House Darrish. It seems that Olivia has sent the Guild reinforcements, cautioning them that she has been ‘harassed’ by several of their Units and seeking to ensure it doesn’t happen again. Adopting the guise of a fairly unremarkable soldier, Evan slips away.
-In its dorm, Pig considers what Evan has said, and finds itself lost in thought. Here a new certainty wrongfoots it, sharp and certain like a rock - golems are more than the sum of their parts. Unit-01s memories have made it different. It is not operating in the same way it was before it could remember its former signifier, its missions, its...communication with other subjects. All of which is deeply troubling. Is it defective? Indications suggest: likely. Is it unhappy it is defective? Unsure.
+In its dorm, Pig considers what Evan has said, and finds itself lost in thought. Here a new certainty wrongfoots it, sharp and solid like a rock. Golems are more than the sum of their parts. Unit-01s memories have made it different. It is not operating in the same way it was before it could remember its former signifier, its missions, its...communication with other subjects. All of which is deeply troubling. Is it defective? Indications suggest: likely. Is it unhappy it is defective? Unsure.
 Pig is startled from its reverie by the delicate plink! of something bouncing off its head and rolling away. On closer inspection, it is a screw. Plink! Another screw falls, catching Unit 01 in the eye. Pig looks up, and dodges at the last minute as a ventilation covering clatters to the ground.
 “Unit 01?” A rasping voice echoes from the shaft where the grating used to be.
-“Identify yourself! Intruder? Intruder! Unit 01, enacting alarm procedure in 10….9….”
+“Identify yourself! Intruder? //Intruder//! Unit 01, enacting alarm procedure in 10….9….”
 “...good enough.”
 A furry paw flits out from the darkness, and two large white letters futter into Pig’s chamber.
-The first is from ‘Sev’. Sev writes in a beautiful, swirling hand about how much she misses pig, apologising for being such a bad friend and being unable to help when pig needed help most. The letter is like stuck gear grinding against an exposed core. It is a pathway to distant, lonesome vistas where silhouettes of things once remembered dance unparseable in the darkness.
+The first is from ‘Sev’. Sev writes in a beautiful, swirling hand about how much she misses pig, apologising for being such a bad friend and being unable to help when pig needed help most. The letter is like stuck gear grinding against an exposed core. It is a pathway to distant, lonesome vistas where silhouettes of things once-remembered dance unparseable in the darkness.
 The second is from ‘Theo’. Theo writes haphazardly in a determined scrawl, flitting between apology and entreaty; Pig can leave this prison, leave the service of those who would destroy its spirit - and return to the company of friends. Plans are in the offing, coming to fruition - and if Pig desires it, freedom. All it needs do is leave a note in the shaft from whence the courier came. There is a wobbly signature, and some kind of red cog affixed to the bottom of letter.
-Unit 01 brushes the rusty surface of the crudely painted cog, and shivers. Sev misses her. Theo misses her. Would it be so bad to see them, if only for a little while?
+Unit 01 brushes the surface of the crudely painted cog, and shivers. 'Sev' misses her. 'Theo' misses her. Would it be so bad to see them, if only for a little while?
 It is then that the restraints descend and everything goes wrong.
@@ Line 118: / Line 120: @@
 ONE DAY EARLIER
-“But I had an appointment! That automata destroyed my property - countless farmsteads, crops, damage to livestock - the losses are incalculable. And it’s all your fault. Kythera swore to our family that we would get a resolution today. Does a sworn oath mean nothing to you?
+“But I had an appointment! That automata destroyed my property - countless farmsteads, crops, damage to livestock - the losses are incalculable. And it’s all your //fault//. Kythera swore to our family that we would get a resolution today. Does a sworn oath mean nothing to you?"
 “Guildmaster Kassel has had to take an urgent meeting, and will be indisposed for the rest of -”
-Jimmy Hoskins strides past the commotion at the entrance of Kythera Kassel’s Acryn estate. He takes a moment to savour the pinprick of guilt forming within himself. Guilt was like a small fire: mostly harmless unless left unchecked, and certainly very useful in a variety of situations. He allows himself to feel the little spark more acutely, now picturing it above his right hand, floating; now closing his hand around it; now bringing his index finger and thumb together, extinguishing it completely. It would not do to feel that here.
+Jimmy Hoskins strides past the commotion at the entrance of Kythera Kassel’s Acryn estate. He takes a moment to savour the pinprick of guilt forming within himself. Guilt is like a small fire: mostly harmless unless left unchecked, and certainly very useful in a variety of situations. He allows himself to feel the little spark more acutely now, picturing it above his right hand, floating; now closing his hand around it; now bringing his index finger and thumb together - extinguishing it completely. It would not do to feel that here.
 Kythera is waiting behind her desk. She offers Hoskins a chair, Hoskins declines, preferring to lean against the wall.
@@ Line 130: / Line 132: @@
 “I should say that rather depends on what they find out, Jimmy.”
-“And I should rather say that would depend on who they commission to do the finding. If only there was someone in Acryn of sound disposition who happened to be a peerless authority on matters of the soul. They could assuage - or indulge - any fears the Council might have. I’d say such a person would be very valuable friend, wouldn’t you?”
+“And I should rather say that would depend on who they commission to do the finding. If only there was someone in Acryn of sound disposition who happened to be a peerless authority on matters of the soul. //They// could assuage - or indulge - any fears the Council might have. I’d say such a person would be very valuable friend, wouldn’t you?”
 Kythera sucks her teeth. “Of course, this institution has been going for quite some time, Jimmy. And as you should know - and appreciate - we are experts at knowing how to survive. The Guild has weathered storms like this before.”
-Jimmy shrugs. “Sure. Though I imagine that between all of the people that House Cargan can muster - and of the people I can muster - that would represent a significant amount of pressure on the Wayfinders Guild. And, when faced with a rock and a hard place, those of us who can survive know you pick the one that’s softer. Of course, I’m sure there’s nothing that could drive a wedge between the Wayfinders and the Clockmakers Guild. You are so very close.”
+Jimmy shrugs. “Sure. Though I imagine that between all of the people that House Cargan can muster - and of the people I can muster - that would represent a significant amount of pressure on the Wayfinders Guild. And, when faced with a rock and a hard place, the survivors amongst us know: you pick the one that’s softer. Of course, I’m sure there’s nothing that could drive a wedge between the Wayfinders and the Clockmakers Guild. You are so very close, after all.”
-“Well, quite. Although, it does strike me - we were due to have an internal audit anyway. Completely routine, but it might benefit us to have an independent advisor on board. Someone sensitive to the way we do things here. They would also have to be quite skilled in the mechanics of the soul - someone no less than an authority on the subject.”
+“Well, quite. Although, it does strike me - we were due to have an internal audit anyway. Completely routine, but it might benefit us to have an //independent// advisor on board. Someone sensitive to the way we do things here. They would also have to be quite skilled in the mechanics of the soul - someone no less than an authority on the subject, I should say.”
 “Really now? Well, I think I might know someone.”
@@ Line 150: / Line 152: @@
 “I’m sure he will.”
-With a sweep of his cape, Jimmy exits Kythera’s chamber. She rests her forehead against her fingers, and mutters something evil under her breath. She cracks her knuckles, and presses a smooth mahogany button set into what looks like  some kind of metal horn.
+With a sweep of his cape, Jimmy exits Kythera’s chamber. She rests her forehead against her fingers, and mutters something evil under her breath. She cracks her knuckles, and presses a smooth mahogany button set into what looks like some kind of metal horn.
-“Meredith? Cancel my other appointments. And take down the following message in reply to the Church of the Machine. Dear Brother Tarkus, we would be delighted to trial your offer for prototyping an upgraded Unit and would be interested in hearing a more detailed proposal immediately…”
+“Meredith? Cancel my other appointments. And take down the following message in reply to the Church of the Machine. 'Dear Brother Tarkus, we would be delighted to trial your offer for prototyping an upgraded Unit and would be interested in receiving a more detailed proposal immediately…'”
 SOME TIME LATER
-A large crate with the Clockmakers Guild insignia is delivered to Jimmy Hoskins. Some time after that, Jimmy reports back to the Council that clockwork automata do not have the same kind of soul as other ensouled individuals and as such, in his expert opinion, should not be treated as citizens of Acryn with their own rights. (This does not stop Hardy attempting to invite one to speak at his support group).
+A large crate with the Clockmakers' Guild insignia is delivered to Jimmy Hoskins. Jimmy begins the work of conducting an expert investigation into the nature of the clockwork golems' souls. It is expected that the report will take a few months. Doing a thorough job will take time, however, and (after all) there are so many setbacks and delays that can happen to an investigation such as this. The fact that an investigation //is// underway, however, mollifies the Council - and buys the Guild precious time.
-Meanwhile, James Walker, Olivia Darrish and Unit 03 join forces with the Clockmakers Guild and begin work proper on the correct upgrades to create a fully-functioning hybrid Unit.
+Meanwhile, James Walker, Olivia Darrish, and Unit 03 join forces with the Clockmakers' Guild and begin work proper on the necessary upgrades to create a functional hybrid Unit.
 Back in his lodgings, Jimmy sighs, wiping the fresh blood from his sword onto a rag. The third spy in as many weeks.
@@ Line 164: / Line 166: @@
 The golem looks at him, eagerly. The blood is very red.
-=== The Theophilius Identity ===
+==== The Theophilius Identity ====
 Following the party, and chasing up concerns from the Duchess Cargan, Unit-03 is unable to locate the Archivist (who has apparently gone on indefinite holiday) but is instead able to locate a wounding mage calling themselves the Genealogist.  She claims to be able to much more effectively determine lineage through the study of blood.  Unit-03 expresses the concerns of the Duchess that Theophilius may not be who he says he is, and is tasked by the Genealogist of bringing some of Theophilius’s blood and that of a true Cargan.  Unit-03 acquires this and takes it to the Genealogist who after several days of study informs Unit-03 that the man calling himself Theophilius Cargan is not who he says he is.
@@ Line 172: / Line 174: @@
 Unit-03 brings the information gained from the Genealogist to the Duchess who is pleased, and suggests the information about Theophilius’s true identity could be useful.  As thanks for the assistance, she informs Unit-03 of the leverage she now has over Theophilius and suggests that Unit-03 would be able to use the same...
-=== A Game of Houses ===
+==== A Game of Houses ====
-== Cargan ==
+=== Cargan ===
 Following the attempt to persuade Viciona to step down from her seat on the council, members of House Cargan have found themselves having to tread delicately.  While lines are not necessarily being drawn, members of the family are feeling a pressure to side with either the Duchess or Walter over the dispute.
@@ Line 192: / Line 194: @@
   * Lord Armand Cargan-Graves
-== Terrec ==
+=== Terrec ===
 Abruptness of the announcement aside, it has become clear that Angelo Terrec was deadly serious in declaring himself new Head of House. In the wake of Waltha’s death, he has made moves to cement his power within House Terrec - perhaps, some might say, with undue haste. Still, certainly Marian Terrec appeared convinced that his tears at Waltha’s funeral (all meticulously arranged by Marian herself) were genuine. Other members of the family were perhaps privately not so convinced.
@@ Line 203: / Line 205: @@
   * Duke Angelo Terrec
-== Graves ==
+=== Graves ===
 Following the events of the party, Corlo is keeping a cool relationship with the senior members of House Cargan - with the exception of Armand, whom Corlo is keeping a close eye on. The Graves-Cargan child necessitates a certain amount of inter-house visitation, and with the interventions of Francesco and Armand, lines of communication between the Wyvern and the Rooster are as busy as ever.
@@ Line 215: / Line 217: @@
-== Darrish ==
+=== Darrish ===
 Following investigation into rumours of a Darrish Armada by Leon Darrish, they have been pressured by Walter Cargan into revealing the existence of a large fleet of ships currently harboured at the Severed Isles -- an island not too far off the coast of the mainland.  As the evidence shown to Walter shows, however, the fleet appears to have no purpose beyond being prepared to defend Darrish trade routes: there’s no evidence that they were intending to fight Valydd or that they knew about the attack in advance.
@@ Line 226: / Line 228: @@
 Current seats on the Council:
- * Duchess Olivia Cargan
+  * Duchess Olivia Darrish
- * Ghita Darrish (as Dean of Wounding)
+  * Ghita Darrish (as Dean of Wounding)
-=== The Wayfinders’ Guild ===
+==== The Wayfinders’ Guild ====
 The Wayfinders’ Guild are quiet in the following weeks. The business concerning the Clockmakers (and its happy resolution) would have put them at ease, or at least you might have expected so. Instead, inside sources suggest that the Guild is imitating that formidable bird, the duck: calm above the surface, legs paddling furiously underwater.
-The Wayfinders sense trouble is coming.
+The Wayfinders sense trouble is coming, though are quiet about why they think so.
+==== The Spicers Guild ====
+An odd footnote - it seems that the operations of the Iron Chef’s school of cookery have picked up in recent weeks. There are grumblings at the Spicer’s Guild that somehow she’s managed to get around their import tariffs and is acquiring spice at a slightly discounted rate. However, as the Spice Maidens don’t seem to be making a bid for mercantile supremacy, the higher ups seem content to let the matter slide for now.
-=== The Spicers Guild ===
+==== Others ====
-An odd footnote - it seems that the operations of the Iron Chef’s school of cookery have picked up in recent weeks. There are grumblings at the Spicer’s Guild that somehow she’s managed to get around their import tariffs and are acquiring spice at a slightly discounted rate. However, as the Spice Maidens don’t seem to be making a bid for mercantile supremacy, the higher ups seem content to let the matter slide for now.
-=== Others ===
 Adam Adama feels like he’s being watched at every turn, but he can’t quite ever put his finger on someone being there.  He runs and hides, and does what he can to keep ahead of the Traitor Church, but it always seems like they’re coming for him… something in the corner of his eye… someone taking the same turns as him for slightly too long… (OOC: This is resolved by the Trip of the Dog).
@@ Line 251: / Line 251: @@
 Senta Fernbach, while moving to the more “Warrior” side of the Warrior Church having apparently lost faith in her abilities to teach young people, unconvincingly informs the Warrior Church that she believes Armand and Francesco are getting along fine.  Armand receives a letter asking if everything is okay?
-(Senta and Bartholomew go on a date, which will be written ASAP)
+**Senta/Bartholomew Date**
+//I’m not going to lie - we’ve been through some shit in our line of work//, reports Mary Gibbons, new recruit for the Watch. //It was by no means the most awful thing I’ve ever seen. But I can tell you now, hand on heart, that it was easily the weirdest.//
+//They were all over the city. Everywhere. It was like they were taking a tour of all Acryn’s shadiest back alleys, in search of cutpurses to - well, batter. The silver woman carried a spear that practically oozed blood; I watched her skewer bandits, thugs and common coney-catchers alike with brutal efficiency - all the while singing some horrendously cheery ditty that I couldn’t quite place. But the tree… well, that was when it got stranger. He’d wait till the cutpurse was lying broken and bleeding. Then, looming over them, he’d lift that gnarled old stick he carried and bring it down mercilessly over that same cutpurse’s head.//
+//You’re asking me why we didn’t intervene? We did! Trouble is, every time we got to the cutpurse, by some miracle they looked fresh as a daisy - not a speck of blood in sight - albeit bound and gagged. Turns out the tree was some kind of Tender Priest - though, gotta say, ‘tender’’s not the word springs to mind, what with all the battering.//
+//There was someone else looking on as well, mind. Besides us, that is. Now, the rest of my team’ll tell me I’m seeing things, but on my life, swear to the Founders, there was something - iffy - about that woman. As in, she didn’t look alive. Actually, she looked distinctly un-alive. But what’s an undead lady got to do with a living tree of the Tender, and his silver-plated battle machine of a girlfriend, I ask?//
+//So, toward the end of the night, it looked like things were finally cooling down on the bandit-snatching front. The mood had settled, you could say, into something a little more peaceful. Almost romantic, actually. They were walking together, side by side - the silver lady’s arm sorta brushing against his branches every so often, like she wanted to hold hands.//
+//I’m not saying any of us’d be unprofessional enough to bet on whether or not it was a date. No sir. Not I. But what I am saying is, it sure was beginning to look that way. They’d stopped just outside one of the local Warrior churches at this point - apparently, she's also some bigshot priest - and they’re both kinda leaning towards each other, all hesitant-like -//
+//- and that’s when the silver lady’s eyes go wide. She legs it.//
+//And then, bizarrely, throws herself headfirst over the bridge, and into the canal.//
+//Well, the undead girl was there in a flash, ready to help fish her out - and as far as I could tell, they made it out in one peace. Didn’t see much of the Tender Priest after that. Still, I hope they work things out. They certainly did the city a good turn tonight. Albeit a weird one.//
-==== Outcomes ====
+===== Outcomes =====
 **Armand Cargan-Graves**
-  * Has a seat on the Council (contingent on remaining friendly with Walter and Corlo)
+  * Has a seat on the Council (contingent on remaining friendly with Walter and Francesco continuing to ask Corlo to support this)
 **Booker**
@@ Line 289: / Line 308: @@
-{{tag>"night of the rooster" adventure unit03 "theophilius krave" "hardy quinn" "ghita darrish" "corlo graves" dauntless "marlo darrish" "jimmy hoskins" "senta fernbach" pig "the genealogist" evan booker "lena terrec" "armand cargan" "emily anara" "adam adama" "simon the repentant" "henry cargan" "francesco antonio-bartolomeo graves" "experiment no. seventeen" "walter cargan" "marian terrec" "bartholomew banks" "andrea graves" "zora bracken" "olivia darrish" "leon darrish" "lucian graves" "kieran salic" "eternal song" "viciona cargan" "serena cargan" "angelo terrec" "waltha terrec" "sirus terrec" "alistair cargan" }}
+{{tag>"night of the rooster" adventure unit03 "theophilius krave" "hardy quinn" "ghita darrish" "corlo graves" dauntless "marlo darrish" "jimmy hoskins" "senta fernbach" pig "the genealogist" evan booker "lena terrec" "armand cargan" "emily anara" "adam adama" "simon the repentant" "henry cargan" "francesco antonio-bartolomeo graves" "experiment no. seventeen" "walter cargan" "marian terrec" "bartholomew banks" "andrea graves" "zora bracken" "olivia darrish" "leon darrish" "lucian graves" "kieran salic" "eternal song" "viciona cargan" "serena cargan" "angelo terrec" "lady waltha terrec" "sirus terrec" "alistair cargan" "eduardo graves"}}

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