Frostwander

Caipe Ushere Sansar - Regions 29, 28 Sansar Orbit - Region 111 Queen Chalise Merole Ebonne d'Laforét Diplomacy 10 Military 4 Economy 6 Faith 3 Intrigue 3 Turn 7 News and Rumors Pending Actions: 1) [Diplomacy] Diplomatic Mission - Explore Region 123 (Roll: Pending) 2) [Diplomacy] Sway Mercantile Faction - Utattou, Region 28 using Todd for Desired Import (62 TP3) (Roll: Pending) 3) [Economy] Special 5 - Industrial Investment: Ouvriead (Region 111) 4) [Faith] Convert Utattou (Region 28) to Imperial Cult - Introduce Minority (Roll: Pending) 5) [Faith] Convert Caipe Ushere (Region 29) to Imperial Cult - Introduce Minority replacing Coedd (Roll: Pending) Following the attack on the Imperial Embassy, favourability to Coedd loses popularity. Proponents of the Imperial Cult beliefs, having gained traction among the leadership, launch a campaign in Caipe Ushere and Utattou in coordination with various local media channels. Non-actions: Spend treasure ... Assist conversions in Utattou and Caipe Ushere via media support. Queen Chalise Ebonne announces her imminent retirement, making preparations to pass the throne to her daughter, Monite. Passive Effects: Leaders and Prominent Figures Leader: Queen Chalise Merole Ebonne d'Laforét End-of-turn increase: Diplomacy +1 (max 10), Faith +1 New Leader next turn: Yes Admirals: Generals: Councilors: High Arbiter Estle Gronaud Chief Navarch Ekatrin Raikier Head Advocate Lucél Thiércine Eminent Ambassador Puala Lomchat Magister Sage Ange Jénou Other: Princess Monite Akari Ebonne d’Laforét, Lady of Fire (heir - D1, M4, E4, F4, I1), Princet Geal Talouse Ebonne d’Laforét Relations of State Embassies: Trade Routes: Claims: Marriage - weak (76), Confederacy (28), Integration (29) Reputation: EMP (2); WTU (1); BRG (0); REN (3) Favours: Resources Units: 5 > Ground - 1st and 4th Dragoon Mobile Infantry Brigades, Utattou Rangers > Space - 1st and 2nd Light Destroyer Wings Treasure: 1 Artifacts: Cultural Identity: Pretty Words (2d8 Raise Reputation) Capital Region: Caipe Ushere (29) Arcologies: Fortresses: Space Habitats: Ouvriead (111) Government Support: 29(C), 28 Effective Trading Posts: 7 (1 income) > Recon Corvettes - 111 Merchant Support (no TPs) > Fell Iron - 32 TP2 > Solar Panels - 104 TP3 > Todd - 62 TP3 > Wine - 29 TP1, TP2, Merchant Support Primary Religion: Imperial Cult (Size: 9) - +1 Investigations > Media Support - 28, 29 Civilian Techs: Aclaustrophobic Psychiatry, Algorithmic Imagination, Arcane Amplification, Nuclear Fusion, In Vivo Modification, Xenolinguistics Cataloguing, Thaumonuclear Reactors, Pseudogravity Engineering, Shrewd Business Military Techs: Badalian Megadirigibles, Vacuum Adaptation, Wet Navy Ships > Man-Portable Weapons - > Infantry Equipment - > Combat Drugs and Medicine - > Field Fortifications - > Engineered Combat Organisms - > Detection and Rangefinding - > Ship to Ship Weapons - > Orbit to Ground Weapons - > Crew and Maintenance - > Armor and Shields - > Spacecraft Propulsion - > Electronic Warfare and Countermeasures - > Special Forces - > Logistics and Morale -

Return stretch Despite the time lost to the pickup complications, Charyti is in high spirits after Tina's assistance and enthusiasm. As soon as she is airborne the computers are already calculating escape trajectories favourable to the return to al-Miraiya. The PEREGRINE curves upward as she steers to follow, scanning over her other instruments. Several points on her radar show the other racers. Most are well on their way out of orbit already - the Archmage's ship is barely a flicker at the edge - but at a glance, at least she isn't in last place. Wait. Why isn't she in last place? A second look at the radar explains: one of the racers' signals is missing. The flip of a switch replaces the simple positional markers with indicators showing names, coordinates, and vectors. All vessels accounted for except for the unofficially named 'Crepuscular Cliffside'. Both hands leave the flight stick as she cycles through sensors and frequencies, pinging the radio channel most often used by the pilots, as well as common emergency channels. Nothing. She finally finds what she is looking for with a geographic surface mismatch. An impact crater lies to the east that does not match her terrain charts, just large enough for a crashed vessel. While the PEREGRINE may not be so fast as some of the competition in straight-line burn, it is definitely designed for fine maneuvering. Charyti hauls over hard on the stick and adjusts the lateral thrusters, rolling the craft out of its climb to speed toward the crash site. A light from the fuel system gives a warning: reserves approaching minimal limit to complete return journey. She ignores it. Charyti brings the ship in low, skimming a few hundred feet above the ground as she crosses Vesper in a blur, white smoke trail highlighting her path. A ventral camera allows her to scan visually, noting the ruins and tombs that dot the desert, until the sunlight reflecting off a half-buried hull catches her eye. Bounding out of the cockpit as soon as landing is completed with a toolbelt and emergency kit, Charyti climbs the sandy hill to find the aft section of the ship, crumpled and damaged but largely in one piece. The access hatch is warped, and it takes a cutting torch and crowbar to pry it out of the way. The interior is scattered, but the llort within the seat appears to be alive; badly bruised and bloodied, but saved from more serious injuries by her protective magic. Charyti cuts her free of any harness and drags her from the wreck. After applying what first aid she can and returning Guyineber to consciousness, the human looks to the Cliffside wreck. Maybe it's salvageable, but not with her limited equipment. "Why don't you come with me? I've got some wine that will blunt the pain. The cabin will be a little cozy, and meals a bit spare. But at least we can get you to the finish, and back to your crew?" She holds out a hand to the other pilot.

Mekhala to Veehra (First Stretch) The weeks between Mekhala and Veehra provide a great deal of time to entertain oneself, or if you are Lady Charyti d'Partout, to have your fellow racers entertain you. She keeps a steady string of conversations over the radio frequencies with the other racers keeping near pace - while Archmage Zabir's ship seems to be handily outstripping the rest, the others are within a reasonable radio range. Charyti looks to get to know her peers. Where are they from? What drew them to racing, and what experiences or training prepared them? What do they like, dislike, dream about? She does not pry if anyone wishes to keep things to themself, but does her best to give everyone plenty of time to talk about themselves. She also intersperses and enjoys a fair amount of competitive banter, bragging about ships, chatting about plans for the pickup stage, and what each would do with the fame or winnings if they are the victor. At other times, the lady's voice can be heard for any who wish to tune in, singing to herself (and listeners) in a native Usheret tongue. Slow ballads, romance songs, and occasionally lullabies carry over the radio waves in alto tones, with the confidence of someone singing in the shower and unafraid of anyone hearing. The Pickup The travel stretch is mostly leisurely and relaxed, despite the extreme speeds of the racers. The Pickup is quite the opposite, and as the PEREGRINE descends into the atmosphere of Veehra, Charyti snaps into action. Dials and lights across her dashboard measure the strains of engines, weather, air resistance and more, while course adjusters update to show the optimal flight path to a preset landing zone. Charyti observes the stress meters, and decides that she can take a steeper descent to shave some time. The first real hitch in her plans arrives as she flattens out her trajectory over the desert. Having arranged a pickup in advance with some contacts in the Pan-Tekhum Worker's & Trader's Union, the horizon is obfuscated by a wall of blowing sand. An unpredicted sandstorm has sprung up in the last day, and the bits of signal she can access from Union channels indicate it is expected to last several more. Charyti frowns, an unusual expression. Normally she is all for throwing caution to the wind, and briefly considers doing just that. She is confident she can handles the currents of the storm, but knows the PEREGRINE's hull is not properly sealed for the abrasive elements of such a squall. The dust accumulation could wreak havoc with her sensors and thrust nozzles, and while she has the tools for simple repair, full recalibration would waste significant time. She pulls back on the stick and the thrusters realign to vector her above the storm - she'll simply have to find another option for a short-notice pickup. Easier said then done. The nearest territory in her path that has any reasonable chance is the Great Western Waste. Charyti plots a course, and lacking any particular connections there, begins broadcasting on any frequencies she can find her request for assistance. Many channels simply ignore her, and those she does reach are either unable to assist, or unwilling. No official of the Castaways is going to assist a competing racer with no prior arrangement when Gerald 48223 is representing them. Even offers of payment are turned down. Charyti watches as her fuel timers creep closer to the minimum point of return as she loops in a holding pattern for hours. She is rashly considering heading back east and just flying through the dust storm with her cockpit open to accumulate some sand, when her comm blips the incoming signal of a small high-band radio. Charyti takes a deep breath, plasters a smile on, and tunes in. "This is Peregrine, with whom am I speaking?" The voice of a young woman replies, words tumbling hastily over each other, "This is Tina 52404. I've, uh, we've been watching the Dash, and caught some broadcasts that you're in a jam. I think I - we - can help, you just need a soil sample pickup, right?" Spirits lifted in an instant, Charyti responds, "Yes! I would be most grateful, thank you!" Tina transmits a set of coordinates, and the pilot quickly plugs them into her navigation and banks sharply to follow them southeast. They lead to a small monitoring station, little more than a few pre-fab shelters and some sensors set to observe the nearby terraforming equipment. There is no landing pad, but the terrain is flat enough for the PEREGRINE to touch down with some care. Two figures wait in the shadow of the building as the heat of the landing thrusters dissipates. One of them approaches, and Charyti slides out of the cockpit down an extending ladder to meet her partway. The young woman holds a cylindrical cannister under one arm, and speaks as though out of breath, despite no physical exertion. "Hi! I'm Tina 52404. Wow! I've been following the Dash broadcasts, it's really great to get to meet you in person." "A pleazure! Thank you for reaching out, I'd be in a fine mess if you had not. Is there some way I can repay you?" Tina smiles, her free hand tucking a few loose hairs behind her ear. "I don't really need anything, but," she pauses, "could I get an autograph, please? And a selfie?" The pilot is glad to oblige, removing her helmet to shake loose her red hair and putting an arm around Tina's shoulders, smiling into the tablet camera the woman angles to get a shot of them together with the PEREGRINE in the background. She signs a book for the Loop-born, and then unzips a pocket of her flightsuit to produce an embroidered handkerchief to gift as well. A mark of brilliant red lipstick is left on the kerchief as a personal touch. As Charyti returns to the cockpit and stows the soil-cannister, Tina heads back to her coworker still waiting by the shelter door. Rasha 38721 puts out her shock-cigar, giving Tina the look of someone who has put up with entirely too much fangirling the last few weeks, but still smiles at seeing her happiness. They return inside, to watch the liftoff of the racing craft from the viewport.

Not about to be outdone, at least in risk if not reward, Charyti goes for one more pull at the machine as well.

Lady d'Partout's eyes catch the glow increases from the ambassador. "You are a pleazure, indeed. And thank you. I would be glad to ..." Whatever she was about to say is cut off by an announcement echoing from the monitors calling race pilots to final preparations. "Ah, you will forgive my sudden departure, but I must go prepare for an even more abrupt one. If all goes well, though, I will be back a day or two before the other racers, and perhaps we can meet again to celebrate!" Another flourishing bow and a wink, and she turns and exits the VIP dome. Llewellyn's glance at the staging area catches just in time to see Charyti blowing a kiss in Elias' direction. While she plays to the crowd, and keeps a flirtatious posture toward her fellow racers, Charyti ensures she still has time to confirm the pre-flight check with her launch crew, and by the time the countdown begins is harnessed comfortably into her pilot's seat, helmet sealed. Eyes scan continuously over the readings of dozens of micro displays, broadcast frequencies listening for the start signal in her earpiece and from the dashboard speaker. One hand rests on the main directional flightstick, the other above the primary ignition, tracing circles around the bright blue button, caution cover already removed. Then the countdown ends and four lights on the display synchronize to the start sequence. GREEN. Her palm slaps down onto the ignition and the explosion from the thrusters behind her presses her back into the cushion of the seat. Her right hand flicks through a series of switches to re-trigger computations of flight paths based on the exact moment of launch. Her left remains on the stick, applying microthrust corrections to alter course to match her optimal path now projected onto the interior of her canopy. A second display tracks the relative position of her fellow racers, and she tweaks the thrusters again to ensure she is clear of their trajectory. For the viewers, the rockets at the back of the PEREGRINE burn orange, and leave a long billowing plume of white smoke as the ship surges upward. Over the racer broadcast channels, her pilot's voice is heard laughing uproariously with delight.

Charyti nods, along with a brief empathetic wince at Guyineber's and her own poor luck. "Exacte! Make your own, especially, and enjoy the course, bumps included!" "Although ... sometimes a little strategy is also useful." Charyti eyes the slot machine, mentally counts her remaining chits. The shrugs and puts in some more. "Sometimes."

"If at first you succeed, keep going." Charyti was not expecting a win. She drops some of the winning chits back in and pulls the lever again.

"Hm, well. These are a fun and pleasurable diversion, but I don't know if it's something you can learn, from me." Charyti smiles at the dealer, standing, and steps over to a nearby 'Chosen Ones' machine, droping a chit in. "Here in games, luck is only what the creator puts into it. Every possibility is defined." She gestures vaguely outward. "Outside, though ... that is where making your luck is real. "But please, by all means I would be glad to continue playing."

Charyti continues to smile back at the other players while Sha Ren neatly deals the cards. "A pleasure to meet you both, Guyineber and Cagairmòr." Her pronunciation of their names may not be perfect, but it is close, and clear she is making an effort to get them correct. "This is already shaping up to be a pleazant pasttime in good company." Glancing at her two aces, she nods to Sha Ren. "One more, please." When the desired card is provided, her eyes and smile widen with delight. "Ah! Exacte, I will hold here." ((Rolls in above post, 1 + 11 + 9 = 21))

The redhead smiles, "I'm game if you are. It would be a shame to depart so quickly after meeting." One hand extends out toward Guyineber in greeting - even if they are seated too far to reach, the gesture is there. Her other hand dips once again into the loose front of her tunic to withdraw another stack of chits, placing them on the table to indicate the dealer her readiness for another hand. Her eyes and smile flick to the others at the table as well, Constance and Cagairmòr, to include them in the introduction whether they choose to play again or not. "Call me Charyti, please."

Charyti's Sansar-sky-blue eyes go up ... and up. Her smile broadens as she shrugs herself against her chair a bit more. "Oh, by all means."

Charyti struts over to the most crowded table of Black Bird players, hooking one ankle around a chair to slide it out for herself before sitting on it sideways, one knee draped up over the arm. "Well! Royalty, knighthood, beauty ... this is the place to be, I see!" She gives a winsome smile to each of the other players, then the dealer, as she dips a velvet-gloved hand into the front of her tunic for a small pile of chits. "Deal me in." --- By the fourth card, Charyti's score shows a total of nineteen. "I think that'll do me."

Charyti d'Partout arrives in the Golden Phoenix from a passenger vessel without any entourage. She wears a white ruffle-sleeved tunic, with a deep red wrap-skirt over black trousers and knee-boots. Her wavy copper hair is worn loose about her shoulders, with a rose pin on one side keeping it from her eyes. From her belt hangs a long rapier, peace-knotted in a show of good intentions. Deep bows from the Biarbu greeters are met by an equally deep and flourishing response, admiring their feathers as she listens to the safety briefing. "But of course, and I am most gratified at the provision for an appropriate place to defend my own honour. Though I doubt you would allow any guests so crass as that it would be required." Charyti confidently strides through the walk with the air of one who knows where she is going, though her eyes flick rapidly to and fro to take in the brilliant sights and people, Biarbu and guests alike. She heads straight into the casino - the hotel can wait - reveling in the opulence of its presentation. Accepting her chits, she tucks them away for now within a small purse produced from the front of her tunic, and returned to that same location.

VIP Dome Queen Chalise leads her contingent into the VIP dome. She walks as usual with measured steps, clearly practiced and rigidly steady despite the difference in gravity from her homeworld. Just behind her glides Magister Sage Angé Jénou, the head of Lyceam Ichroma and of magical development in Caipe Ushere. The magister takes a more dainty pace, and those paying close attention may note her boots do not quite touch the floor, as if she finds the prospect of getting dust on them distasteful. Various functionaries, assistants, and a single cavalier accompany them but remain unobtrusive to the assembled guests unless called on. The Usheret queen greets Ambassador Donce with a cordial smile and a nod. "We are grateful for your invitation. We look forward to this opportunity to speak more directly on matters of the Senate and the E.A.T., and to this upcoming entertainment." One of the functionaries presents a small case with several bottles of fine vintage wine, a personal token of appreciation for the ambassador; a second case also rests nearby to be shared among the VIP attendees. A few minutes into the conversation, the tap of boots announces a new presence. She wears a white flight jumpsuit and gloves, a faint radiance of electronics glowing within the fabric. The suit is nearly skintight, hugging her figure except for the addition of a vivid red skirt draped from her utility belt to just above her knees, and a long vibrorapier hanging from one side. A small red heart over one breast of the flightsuit matches the skirt. The woman's face is youthful and cheery, a hint of rose on pale chicks, and her wavy copper tresses sway loosely as she saunters into the VIP area. She struts directly up to stop at Queen Chalise's side, looking up to the Ambassador's face. Her red-stained lips curl in a flirtatious smile as she is introduced, "This is Lady Charyti d'Partout. She has been making something of a name for herself in Verglass and elsewhere lately, and is here to enter the competition." The redhead gives a flourishing bow, "A pleazure to meet you. The crew is already getting the Peregrine ready," she indicates one of the screens, focused on a sleek cutter decorated in pink and red. "I simply had to come in to meet our hosts before we began. Anything less would be uncivilized." Charyti holds out her hand to take that of the ambassador, then lifts it to her lips and plants a genteel kiss on the back. "And I would hate to have missed meeting you." Starting Line The PEREGRINE is a small vessel, with a rose-and-heart emblem on one side of the cutter hull and a bird of prey painted on the other above the vessel's name. Thrusters adorn the back, while retractable fins on either side allow for maneuvering and deploying of solar sails. A shaded canopy on top gives the pilot a three-hundred-and-sixty degree view from the cockpit, which adjoins the single narrow cabin and storage space. At most the vessel could accommodate a flight crew of three; in this competition, it will be Lady d'Partout alone. Several mechanics and engineers work to complete last-minute tests and checks at the starting line as Charyti descends from the VIP box. Several utility drones give their greenlights and ready tones before inserting themselves into seamless slots in the hull custom-fitted to them. The maneuvering fins whirr and shift through thirty different positions. Primary and secondary fuel lines are examined, and internal controls are primed for liftoff. Charyti struts across the field, taking advantage of the lower-than-Sansar gravity to leap up the prow of her ship to the open cockpit. She unfastens her swordbelt, placing the rapier into a fastener in the cockpit and lifting a helmet from the pilot's chair. The helm matches her flightsuit, white with a red heart emblem on one side, and a transparent seal in the back allows her red hair to still be visible once donned. Standing on the edge of the cockpit, she turns to the other racers, arms sweeping out as she bows elegantly, then waves at the crowd and the camera drones. With an almost preternatural sense of timing, she turns to one camera just as it focuses in on her, winks, and raises a hand to blow a kiss to the onlookers.

Caipe Ushere Sansar - Regions 29, 28 Sansar Orbit - Region 111 Queen Chalise Merole Ebonne d'Laforét, Grey Eminence Diplomacy 10 Military 4 Economy 4 Faith 3 Intrigue 3 Turn 6 News and Rumors During her most recent triennial senate visit to the Imperial Embassy, a snippet of conversation is overheard between Queen Chalise Ebonne and High Lord Nasir. "It is fulfilling to serve as my people's queen, and I have been privileged to serve the Emperor by representing Caipe Ushere here. While honoured, I do not feel truly worthy to serve in the Senate." While there are many inquiries (and significant public and private criticism), the queen does not respond to public questions on the topic. Councilors and other officials do not seem to have answers, either, though they are careful not to give the impression of disunity over the queen's following announcement of withdrawal. Actions: 1) [Diplomacy] Attend the of 2050 Event Subactions Receive Thaumonuclear Reactor Core tech from House of Brimstone. Receive Pseudogravity Engineering and Shrewd Business techs from The Llort Society Protectorate (LSP). Give Badalian Megadirigibles tech to the Castaways of the Loop (SEV). 2) [Economy] Impress Ouvriead Merchants using Wine (29 TP2) for Desired Import - Region 111 (TN 12; Roll: 12 - Success) 3) [Economy] Donate 1 Treasure for Extraordinary Research Grants Approval 4) [Economy] Buyout Trading Post, Solar Panels - Region 104 TP3 (TN 12; Roll: 12 - Success) (-1 distance penalty from roll below) 5) [Economy] Mount Expedition - Explore Region 27 (TN 12; Roll: 14 - Success) Non-actions: Spend treasure on Buyout action and donation to Imperial College of Sciences (2 total). Attend the Grand Opening of the Golden Phoenix. Call in one favour with Imperial Court for Imperial Mandate - Impress Local Government, Ouvriead Region 111. Caipe Ushere vacates its seat with the Imperial Senate. The halls of power are vast and winding ... and the labyrinth goes deeper. Passive Effects: Leaders and Prominent Figures Leader: Queen Chalise Merole Ebonne d'Laforét End-of-turn increase: Economy +2 New Leader next turn: No Admirals: Generals: Councilors: High Arbiter Estle Gronaud Chief Navarch Ekatrin Raikier Head Advocate Lucél Thiércine Eminent Ambassador Puala Lomchat Magister Sage Ange Jénou Other: Princess Monite Akari Ebonne d’Laforét, Lady of Fire (heir - D1, M4, E4, F4, I1), Princet Geal Talouse Ebonne d’Laforét Relations of State Embassies: Trade Routes: Claims: Marriage - weak (76), Confederacy (28), Integration (29) Reputation: EMP (3); WTU (1); BRG (0); REN (3) Favours: EMP 1 Resources Units: 5 > Ground - 1st and 4th Dragoon Mobile Infantry Brigades, Utattou Rangers > Space - 1st and 2nd Light Destroyer Wings Treasure: 2 Artifacts: Cultural Identity: Pretty Words (2d8 Raise Reputation) Capital Region: Caipe Ushere Arcologies: Fortresses: Space Habitats: 111 - Ouvriead Government Support: 29(C), 28 Effective Trading Posts: 6 (1 income) > Fell Iron - 32 TP2 > Todd - 62 TP3 > Wine - 29 TP1, TP2, Merchant Support Primary Religion: Imperial Cult (Size: 9) - +1 Investigations > Media Support - 28, 29 Civilian Techs: Aclaustrophobic Psychiatry, Algorithmic Imagination, Arcane Amplification, Nuclear Fusion, In Vivo Modification, Xenolinguistics Cataloguing Military Techs: Badalian Megadirigibles, Vacuum Adaptation, Wet Navy Ships > Man-Portable Weapons - > Infantry Equipment - > Combat Drugs and Medicine - > Field Foritifications - > Engineered Combat Organisms - > Detection and Rangefinding - > Ship to Ship Weapons - > Orbit to Ground Weapons - > Crew and Maintenance - > Armor and Shields - > Spacecraft Propulsion - > Electronic Warfare and Countermeasures - > Special Forces - > Logistics and Morale -