NPC Actions
Round 9
The Peoples of Myrkran
Pending Requests and Offers
[Diplomacy] Beg to Let Sleeping Crabs Lie in Brenn Tyr - The unknown presence in the land of the empty-shelled crabs along with cryptic Rayjo communications put the leaders of Shadestone Hold and other Myrkran communities instantly on edge. Requests and demands go out to go no further - what lies south is a dire peril, dangerous even to speak of, and no good can come of waking it. (Demand: Do not explore south of Region 013 or Region 415. Reward: None. Penalty: -1 Reputation per exploration attempt in this direction and these exploration attempts do not fulfill the Promote Exploration request. The Myrkran will refuse any favors spent to explore in this direction. Duration: Rounds 6-10)
[Diplomacy] Request a Refugee Processing Center be built in The Vaires - It wasn't a proposition without risk, but these continents seemed largely depopulated by years of violence and sparse resources. And there was space. Some braves opted to push for a new effort to expand. (Request: Build one Myrkran Refugee Processing Center (3-action Diplomacy/Industry project) in Yon Vaire or Vaire Ven. If realms cooperate they decide amongst themselves how to divide the reward. If multiple bases are completed one will be randomly selected to become the recognized MYR base and contributor(s) will receive the full reward. Any unselected MYR bases will still become MYR bases but receive no additional reward. Reward: +1 Rep, +1 Favor. Penalty: None. Duration: Rounds 7-11)
[Intrigue] Gather Intelligence on the Pirate Threat - Though the interest in establishing colonies in the Vaires remains, greater knowledge of the Pirate Threat terrifies many of the Myrkran in Taer Mojr! Some forward-thinking leaders gather up resources to use as a carrot to encourage the spread of such information. (Request: Investigate aspects of VVV, such as its yet-unknown rulers, resources, beliefs, technologies, and strength. Reward: +1 favor for any such successful investigation. Penalty: None. Duration: Rounds 8-10)
[Industry] Rayjo Network Expansion [1/5] - The world is growing bigger. The operators grow more and more tired, to the point where an illness the Fylondese call "Shattermind" has struck several. The old Rayjo system set up initially has failed to grow with the volume passing through it, and something needs to be done. (Request: Any kingdom may contribute to this great project as an Industry action - the first action contributed by a realm grants that realm one MYR favor. Duration: Rounds 9-11)
[Industry] Offer to Share Farming Secrets to the Vaires, for a Price - The kingdoms of the Vaires find the first of the Myrkran reaching their shores, or at least the first that survived the pirates. They bring knowledge from faraway lands, in return for business and roofs over their heads. (Offer: The Peoples of Myrkran will grant the Irrigation technology to a Vaires realm upon non-action acceptance of their offer. Reward: 2 Favors owed to MYR. Penalty: None. Duration: Rounds 9-10)
[Faith?] Shadestone Hold welcomes a Starsigned - A young boy born to a pair of settlers from Innez in Shadestone Hold, a place within the lands of the Black Banners, is found to be marked with signs of the Dark Moon. The parents and the community alike are shaken by this knowledge, but take no preemptive action in response to the omen.
The Disciples of Silicon
[Her arrival upon the Isle of Ruin is grotesquely resplendent - twice as tall as any man but uncannily slender, bearing four long blades that fold like an insect's wings upon her back, eyeless but with a face otherwise recognizable but for its razored grin, TITANIA greets Merlyn Zan Cuddlu, and kneels to meet them at eye level. Her brass exterior is polished and yet bears the scars of significant abuse, her fingers are needles, and dim red flecks stain every edged surface of her body. She makes it clear that she will serve, for a time, but she will offer her respect only to her Lord or a worthy challenger. To challenge TITANIA, Merlyn Zan Cuddlu may attempt a Military Action rolled against TN14 so long as she remains in their court.]
[High Witch Bryn is kept up at night by faint flickerings, a laughing collection of points of light that seem to project from the environment around her. They are difficult to understand, but from time to time she gets glimpses of a strange ghostly woman just long enough to make out a few words - that her name is Sibyl, and she is no friend of the Metal Men. Unfortunately, communication is highly limited, and only a challenging ritual can stabilize this link! To attempt such a seance, High Witch Bryn may attempt a Faith action rolled against TN14 so long as she remains at -3 Reputation with the Disciples of Silicon.]
Pending Requests and Offers
nop
[Faith] Aid Ruin's Ancient Warriors in isolating the Anomaly, allowing them to take point! - Trust was a delicate thing. But it had been earned, and the Merlyn had proven worthy allies so far.
[Intrigue] Collect Killing Machines in Region 204 - In the aftermath of the battle, much remains to be answered. The Disciples collect the fallen automata where they can.
[Intrigue] Secret - After the firing of the Skylance, multiple armed parties marched into poorly-charted parts of the Great Mountains of Altarin.
The Seekers of the Spheres
[As the Illuminated and foremost among those with the Seekers' attention, the Ota Beyr Brejna Honorlund of the Rikathi receives a visit from the Council of Velentin's Elders, five of whom arrive by sail! While this coven remains in their court, Brejna Honorlund may spend a special intrigue action to investigate their cryptic words through dialogue and research of the texts they brought with them. While undergoing this training, the Ota Beyr may roll Intrigue against TN 14 to impress the Seekers, and earn the right to be inducted to the greatest secrets of the Seekers of the Spheres!]
Pending Requests and Offers
N/A
[Faith] Call upon the West Wind! - The West Wind screams of ill omens and dark magic. The Seekers stand ready to attempt to...disperse some of the creeping cold. Onto desirable targets, of course. (Offer: The Seekers of the Spheres will provide the benefit of One Seek Aid action to any kingdom that asks for help. Reward: +1 to a military roll of the claiming kingdom's choice, at the cost of a favor or favor debt. This must be specified before making the roll. Penalty: N/A. Duration: Round 9)
[Intrigue] Eilonwy of Velentin Codifies her Knowledge of the Sunken! (1/5) - After her adventures in the Grounded Sky Tower and with the Leviathan, Eilonwy takes a long break from adventuring to write down more of what she's learned, and pens the beginnings of a thesis on the ancient Sunken Language and culture. It's not clear what purpose it could have, but she knows somehow it's important. (This is not a request: contributing to Sunken Translation requires more effort and research than simply contributing actions to a Great Project.)
[Intrigue] Secret - Olivier's fears have been realized. Something is terribly wrong in the East of Brenn Tyr.
...
Vandals and Villains of the Vaires
Captain Dreadlove - A hulking horror of a man in a long, ragged coat that writhes with a patchwork of sewn-on pieces of others to augment his personal might, Captain Dreadlove acts the part of a petty king from his palace-ship speared on a stalagmite in the city of Crying Cove. Dip4/Mil10/Ind5/Int6/Fai5; 6 Land Units, 3 Naval
1. [Military] Albatross recruits 1 unit to the Mist Eaters! - Captain Albatross returned triumphant, and yet marked by forces beyond her control, two dread links peeling her soul apart. She kept it together in front of her crew, but only barely, when she saw that the masked followers of the Widow Queen had silently overtaken Crying Cove. With a trembling hand, she accepted a mask of her own, and placed it over her face. Nothing would ever be the same again.
2. [Military] Meathook recruits 1 unit to the Mist Eaters! - The Mist Eaters found fertile ground in fear, and a few longed to return to the old ways. Coffers running dry and with nothing to show for the last raid, Meathook's days were numbered if he could not show some promise.
The Widow Queen - An ancient sea-witch whom even these cutthroats dare not cross, the Widow Queen appears on paper to be the weakest of them and yet maintains the careful balance of power that keeps these people from killing one another. Both her social puissance and the fear she inspires keep others in line, and she wields secret dread arts. Dip6/Mil5/Ind5/Int7/Fai9; 2 Land Units, 1 Naval.
3. [Diplomacy 5] Extend an offer of Embassy to the Rikathi - To the shores of Mjornduth one morning arrives a group of mask-wearing, silk-gowned individuals from the North. They bear the seals of the Widow Queen, and explain that their purpose is to serve as mouths and ears to the distant witch.
4. [Diplomacy] Raise Reputation with the Myrkran - On the advice of a correspondent, the Widow Queen's veiled speakers offer safe passage to a few of the Myrkran-funded expeditions, allowing them to pass into the Vaires unmolested. For now.
Rizzo "the Rat" - Known only in whispers, Rizzo's rumors are mixed - some say they're the closest thing to an honest merchant among these thieves, while others say their influence touches every raid. Dip3/Mil6/Ind8/Int10/Fai5
5. Unknown, as The Rat is only a rumor.
6. Unknown, as The Rat is only a rumor.