GAME ITINERARY | SEPTEMBER 2015

[ironwood]

Hello chelonauts, here is a fresh new itinerary post! Previous months can be found under this tag.

Here's what we've got lined up for September:

Weather

The city is dry in the early month, thanks to last month's heatwave, and unfortunately the heat doesn't seem to be abating. It is, however, getting muggier as Tu Vishan remains mired in Zhausing's Well. While in some respects that's actually worse, as far as comfort goes, it's created a scramble for harvesting condensation. Makeshift water-catchers and re-purposed window-boxes are everywhere, along with rudimentary filters, to gather as much of the humidity as possible. It's left the city in a kind of tense malaise before the Chihuelans arrive and while they're present.

Kedan/Foreigner Relations

The kedan have closed ranks with the Foreigners somewhat this month. Although the semi-burning of the city did sour relations, most kedan understand that is an isolated incident due to the culprit's instability (a fact confirmed by the same Foreigner's street-fight two months ago). The fact that the Foreigners are actively taking responsibility for the actions of their group has cooled most of the ire the kedan might feel. Most of them are content to dismiss that particular Foreigner as insane and leave him to them to handle, so long as action is taken -- though this is admittedly a tolerance made primarily for the sake of prioritizing what the kedan see as the Chihuelan threat.

Likewise, seeing the Foreigners play with them on even ground has helped many kedan see the Foreigners a little less as a supernatural intruding force, though there is always that group bitter about their involvement at all. The fierce objection to the Justicar has also polarized a few opinions; some kedan don't want the Foreigners' help at all, because this isn't the place of their birth, while others feel as though the Foreigners are finally stepping up to shoulder their fair share of responsibility.

Local Events

THE GRAND JUSTICAR'S DEMAND

On the 8th of the month, the Grand Justicar's contingent will arrive, escorted by Woodsmen from the place of their landing to the city's gates. Although Keeliai is expecting them, and does not outright deny them entry, nevertheless their reception is cool.

The contingent doesn't number above two dozen, but they're all armed and well-trained, and regard Keeliai and its inhabitants with, at best, an impassive eye and, at worst, disdain.

The Grand Justicar's contingent will be allocated a modest housing area in Central, which is part of the College campus -- the outskirts of it, at least. On the surface this has the facade of respect, but it also puts them in one place, where they can be watched... and guarded.

Log Note: The Chihuelan arrival will have a mod-posted event log, beginning on September 8th. More details will be forthcoming closer to the date.

NPCs & Families

This month the main families are grim but determined, and for once properly united -- at least on the surface.

TU YUNXU

Foreigners will continue enjoying the same tentative diplomatic immunity from the previous months, but not solely because Yunxu's heart grew two sizes that day. Snakes almost seem to be on loan throughout the city; wealthy kedan families and business are rarely seen without two or three Snakes escorting them everywhere they go - and, of course, the area set aside for Chihuelan housing is guarded around the clock. The Foreigners as a whole have proven that regardless of individual intentions, they still have the city's best interests at heart, so Yunxu and his forces are focusing on what they've determined to be a much greater threat.

Carefully kept secret from both the Chihuelans and the public at large are small scouting parties leaving Keeliai at staggered intervals. It seems Yunxu hasn't quite given up hope of finding the remaining raiders without the Grand Justicar's help. The interesting thing is that these scouting parties are made up of both Snakes and Woodsmen.

ZANRU/XUIYU

The Metalworkers have no intention of actively helping the Grand Justicar, but they're also not blind to the fact that the Chihuelans have a more solid level of technology. They, at least, are not opposed to reaching out to the individuals in attempts to make trades -- while trying to avoid any mention of the raiders and where they might be.

Xuiyu doesn't seem opposed to this, and doesn't halt the industry while the Chihuelans are present; if anything she's determined to make sure her people have something to focus on other than fears and uncertainties. And she's definitely not letting lapse the projects from the previous month, though most of them are scaled down so as to be less obvious.

As for Zanru, there is a rumour that she's been seen recently -- outside the city...

HEOJIN

With the shift in weather, the Woodsmen are focused on water husbanding as much as possible. By the time the Grand Justicar arrives, their movements to store supplies will be over; there's no need to reveal just where their weak points are, after all. Likewise, the farms have pulled in and secured themselves.

Though the Woodsmen are, at large, grim and silent toward the Grand Justicar's contingent, and refuse to answer questions (citing orders), Heojin seems willing to meet with the Grand Justicar -- but only the Grand Justicar. Though courteous, they won't deal with anyone else. Ran can be seen perpetually by his side, constantly suspicious of anyone who gets close, while the older kedan with the cane, Feng, handles the administration of the farms. Prepared for another invasion or not, they're not completely rejecting the idea of a peaceful negotiation... so long as the Grand Justicar doesn't throw her weight around.

The only noticeable absence is Lin, though it isn't difficult to find out that he was last seen going up into the hills.

MILYN

While she hasn't strayed from her notes of caution from the previous month, those who interact with Milyn in person following the Justicar's arrival will discover that she is quietly very, very angry at the Chihuelans who've arrived. Although she was trapped in the Dreaming with the Foreigners during the year when the initial invasion happened, she's seen and talked to her patients whose lives and families were affected by it. The Cherrywood Healer is, after all, still kedanese herself, and although her allegiance is to healing first and patriotism second, it's interesting to see those aspects of her personality rear their head when most are probably surprised she has them at all.

Although she won't speak directly against the Chihuelans while they're present, and she'll only bite out that they're coming "very close to ruining everything" in the city, it becomes an undisguised secret that she'll provide a sympathetic ear for any fellow kedan reacting less than staunchly to their arrival.

AROYAN

The Merchant's Guild has offered to foot the bill for the Chihuelans' (hopefully short) stay in Keeliai. Not because the Guild wishes to make nice to them, but rather so that none of the Families are put into the unwelcome position of having to do it. While an economic avenue of diplomacy has not been forcefully closed, it's hardly relevant in light of the Justicar's demands. Aroyan will assure privately to anyone (kedan or Foreigner) that his loyalty, and that of the Merchant's Guild, is solidly with the inhabitants of Tu Vishan alone. Cordiality of the faction he is spokesperson for is based only on keeping Keeliai's delicate political and social climate from having a meltdown.

Economy

The economy is conservative this month. People are waiting to see how things shake out with the Grand Justicar before they take risks. While day-to-day tasks and trading has gone down, several construction projects have been quietly shelved. Weapons are more noticeable in the hands of families other than the Snakes, and there seems to be a sharing of restricted defensive objects that hadn't been there before.

The College, at least, seems interested in the Grand Justicar, and they're the most enthusiastic about the contingent's presence.

Crime

With Snakes much more visible in the day-to-day lives of many kedan, and the general attitude of wanting as much unbiased defense against the Chihuelans as possible, crime sees a downturn this month. That's not to say crime isn't still happening; there's always an opportunistic scavenger or two, after all. It's just that getting away with it requires a level of resourcefulness not many criminals have the patience for. Even the gangs have cooled their heels a bit, their focus more on stockpiling as much as they think is necessary to help drive the Chihuelans out ‘when the time comes'.

Technology

Though technology has seen an upsurge last month, most of it is invisible to the public eye. Defense was the word last month, and still is; all related projects, once the Grand Justicar arrives, are highly secure. Overt projects have been put on hold, but the ones which can be done in secret are still progressing, including the shields -- though they're still in limited quantities.

Thanks to Foreigner input, some decent water-purification systems are available, but they aren't yet ready for commercialisation. Still, it does mean that some of the areas worst-hit by the heatwave last month can see a bit of relief.

OOC Information

MISCELLANEOUS

We've been terribly slow when it comes to fixing up our OOC pages and such, and the next few months are likely to be decently busy in the meatspace due to school starting, unexpected work, exams, a string of holidays, and all those fun things.

So to give ourselves a breather in terms of plotting things out (and to give you guys a breather re: metaplots!) the next few months will be light in terms of mod-logged events. We're hoping that doing so will give us better opportunity to properly fix up the game's OOC pages, and give you guys the chance to chase up on the metaplot bits and pieces y'all have been buying like kids in a candy store.

This is not a cap on player plots! Please do continue buying rewards, investigating, and chasing up on metaplot threads that interest you. This is just a head's up that mod-driven plots will be taking a backseat over Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's.

So that's our outline for the month of September! If you have any questions about these happenings, please use the Questions comment below. Otherwise, this post is free space for monthly OOC plotting.

Comments

[redlightgreenlight]

Wow...that's...really not nice

[denyamenti]

The Justicar gets that a lot.

[redlightgreenlight]

And what would happen if the bodies disappeared? (as in stolen to be properly buried)

[denyamenti]

Well, there will be repercussions, but it can be done.

[redlightgreenlight]

Excellent

[redlightgreenlight]

How are the bodies being displayed?

[wintershepherd]

In a lean-to or semi-enclosed outdoor space.

[redlightgreenlight]

How many guards?

[ironwood]

As mentioned above, it will be guarded by one of the soldiers.

[redlightgreenlight]

One more question: If the bodies were examined, would they appear as if they had simply been executed or would there be signs of 'interrogation'?

[denyamenti]

No overt signs of interrogation, nope. All personal effects have been removed from their persons save their clothing. They've all been killed execution-style by a single shot to head, and although the trajectory is consistent with a bullet (more specifically, a musket-shot style bullet, rather than a conventional bullet) the wounds appear slightly cauterized, suggesting an energy component to the weapon.

EDIT: For reference, this will only be discoverable if the bodies are taken and examined closely, it cannot be discerned from distance observation.

[redlightgreenlight]

That makes sense.