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[ZEITGEIST] The Continuing Adventures of Korrigan & Co.
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<blockquote data-quote="gideonpepys" data-source="post: 7516607" data-attributes="member: 79141"><p><strong>Session 202, Part One</strong></p><p></p><p><strong>Farewell to Asrabey</strong></p><p></p><p>Moments after the titan’s withdrawal, the Coaltongue returned from outer space, plunging into the sea and causing an immense tidal wave. Though dramatic, it soon settled. </p><p></p><p>Korrigan was troubled. While they had drifted through space, his son had pointed at the distant Gyre and said, “That is where we need to go”. Korrigan asked him how he knew, and Kai simply shrugged. Such esoteric knowledge was second nature to him and he could not explain it. Korrigan was reminded of the vision he had in the Ziggurat of Apet many years ago – a vision in which he was holding his unborn son and cycling through strange environments that seemed as alien as other worlds. Overhead was a starless sky. (Later, on hearing about all this, Quratulain would ask Kai what bullets she should craft for their next mission. Kai said, “The ones that kill ghosts and other things you can’t touch.” But it wasn’t clear if this was based on a premonition, or just a guess.)</p><p></p><p>Putting all of this to one side for the time being, Korrigan went to catch up with the others. They told him everything that had happened and it was clear from their report that urgent action was needed. </p><p></p><p>But first, Beshela demanded that they hand over Asrabey. She did not want to rely upon ‘mortal justice’ which might see him languish in a prison for just a small fraction of his long, eladrin life, only to be released when everyone had forgotten his crime. Beshela would punish him in her own way. </p><p></p><p>Korrigan asked what that would entail. “I will drown him,” said Beshela, bluntly. Korrigan reflected on all the aid Asrabey had given them over the years, but concluded with some reluctance that his recent actions had negated that good will. It was far more important to foster Beshela’s allegiance than to balk at her severity.</p><p></p><p>They removed Asrabey from the absurdist web. Before handing him over they asked how he had come into contact with the Ob, since communication was so difficult. Asrabey said that he had not – that the decision to join them was his own, and that he had hoped to offer the kraken to them as a prize. Gupta double-checked his claim, using Nicodemus’ ring to first locate Nicodemus himself to test that this method still worked. It did; he was in Cherage. Then she tried it on Asrabey and confirmed that he was not as yet an Ob officer, or a sworn affiliate of the conspiracy.</p><p></p><p>This done, they handed Asrabey over to Beshela. Tendrils of seaweed writhed up from the water and ensared him, dragging him beneath the waves. Moments later they coughed up his crown, shield, sword and sandals – all magical items which Beshela said they could keep. Beshela also offered her help. She could transport them anywhere they wished to go by sea at some speed.</p><p></p><p><strong>Next Steps</strong></p><p></p><p>The group was torn by competing exigencies. Rumdoom was keen to travel south as soon as possible and rescue his wife. The others agreed that it would be very helpful to find out what was going on with the Deep Ones, so the effort would not be entirely focused on just that.</p><p></p><p>Even more pressing was the need to get to Axis Island before their enemies did. Korrigan returned to Slate to consult with his military advisors. They told him that the fleet was as ready as it would ever be, but only about a third of the ships had been fitted with Wondermaker’s weapons, and a quarter of the fleet at been lost when the Danorans invaded Flint. The Danorans were generally faster and their fleet was larger (although they too must have lost an unknown number of vessels). Even if the island could be taken, even if Pemberton allowed them to do so, holding it would be extremely difficult whilst simultaneously preparing to defend Risur. It would also be harder to gain Pemberton’s trust if they showed up mob-handed.</p><p></p><p>In the end, it was decided that the Coaltongue would head for Axis Island as fast as possible (which was very fast indeed), before the Danorans were able to capitalise on the defeat of She Who Writhes. The rest of the fleet would be ready to follow if called upon. </p><p></p><p>Once word of this mission got out, Korrigan received a request from Alden Wondermaker to join them. Here was an opportunity to check out Pemberton’s technological developments, even consult with him if possible. Korrigan was loath to risk such a major national asset, until it was made clear that Wondermaker would not be coming along in person – he would be sending his avatar: the top-hatted, clockwork gentleman who had first visited them in Seobriga. Permission was duly granted.</p><p></p><p>Permission was also granted to Kieran Sentacore, who wished to accompany the king as royal biographer and scribe. They also chose to bring along the Sunfish, which was small enough to be carried on the deck of the Coaltongue.</p><p></p><p>None of this was to be done at Rumdoom’s expense, however: Leon volunteered to make the journey south, borne through the seas by Beshela to the place where the deep ones dwelled. It would be easier for him to go unseen, and escape unharmed, than it would be for the whole unit to go, and it meant that their forces would not be too deeply divided. Leon promised Rumdoom that he would return with Hildegaard if it was possible.</p><p></p><p><strong>Royal Duties</strong></p><p></p><p>Before they departed, Korrigan put the finishing touches to various bits of business that had called him away over the last few days: </p><p></p><p>Something needed to be done about the Governorship of Flint. Delft was struggling. There was nothing major happening under his governorship, no sign of a 'change'. As RHC Chief, he was firmly associated in the public's mind with the old order – an order Korrigan had promised to alter. Thames Grimsley was busy pushing for elections as soon as possible. He was slightly stymied because he couldn't organise mass gatherings, but his campaign for election was well underway. Korrigan’s political allies did not think Grimsley would be a good governor, but he was almost certain to win a free and fair election. Was now really the time to bring true democracy to Risur? Korrigan interrogated them: Grimsley had been an ally and fellow-traveller up to now. Did they regard him as an extremist? The answer was more subtle - they simply thought he was too much of a populist and too melodramatic and emotional for such a serious role.</p><p></p><p>Korrigan punted the issue into the long grass by establishing a committee to set up the legal foundation for the elections, and establish the scope and power of the elected officals. While there was one governor, there also needed to be an advisory council with wider representation, a system of petitions, limitations on the executive power of the governor (certain major decisions and reforms would have to be approved by the king and/or require public consent). And of course, the election itself would have to be organised in a way that didn’t run the risk of a raising hive mind. Perhaps instead of the voting points where people gathered there could be vote collection brigades that went from door to door and collected votes from people at their place of residence?</p><p></p><p>To lead this committee, Korrigan called on his old friend Alderic Woodrow. Woodrow reminded Korrigan of their many discussions about how Risur would be well-served by the establishment of a centralised, formal code of laws. He hoped that with a sympathetic monarch, this mammoth task might now be undertaken. “A strange thing to focus on when the sun has vanished, perhaps, but chaotic times call for greater order.” He offered to refer to the project as the ‘Baldrian Codes’. After talking to Alderic in some detail, to gauge if the lawyer’s overall vision aligned with his own, Korrigan gave him the go-ahead to prepare draft outlines for his subsequent approval.</p><p></p><p>One major concern was how King Baldrey’s absence would be handled, now that it was obvious that he intended to handle the Obscurati threat personally. Who would be in charge while he was away, and of what? Duchess Ethelyn had petitioned for the responsibility of fending off a naval invasion and the surviving Risuru fleet (based in Shale) was very loyal to her. But Harkover Lee did not like the idea of putting her in charge of anything. He could not forgive her attempt on Aodhan's life. Obviously, Korrigan did not want to alienate Harkover, but he also wanted to negotiate arrangements that would best benefit the country rather than cater to specific factions and interests. Currently the country was in a state of emergency and on high alert; security and the provision of basic needs of the populace were the top priorities. With regards to Ethelyn, Korrigan made the case that while she indeed attempted a coup against Aodhan, she did so to protect Risur's interests first and foremost which testified to her loyalty to the kingdom over her brother or even the king. Also, from his previous encounters with her, Korrigan believed she had re-evaluated her previous stance and actions. Given that she was the most suitable to lead the fleet as far as ability and experience went, she should be tasked with doing so. Harkover dutifully agreed. </p><p></p><p>There were other matters too: Persistent Yerasol veterans still demanded the arrest and punishment of Leon Veilleux, whom they had reason to believe remained a close ally of the king. They were horrified that King Baldrey chose to overlook his many war crimes, particularly since the king was a war hero and ‘one of their own’. The king told them that the man now known as ‘Leon the Clever’ was a member of the Unseen Court and as such beyond the jurisdiction of Risur. Not only was he a changed man, but right now he was performing an invaluabe service to the country. It was a form of atonement, so to speak. There may be some who thought that only blood can repay blood but surely they could also appreciate the value of a former enemy turned sides.</p><p></p><p>There was some overlap between the Yerasol veterans and Vekeshi. Korrigan remembered Gale’s plea on behalf of the mystics that they be allowed to ‘step into the light'. Korrigan reached out to the mystics and brokered a meeting with Admiral Dawkins, aka the Great Stag, during which he negotiated a relaxation of state sanctions on the movement, in return for their vocal support of Leon – who was after all a member. Dawkins also returned Gale’s favour and spoke up for her. It was a shame, he thought, that the public still regarded her as a terrorist. So Korrigan called on his carefully fostered journalistic contacts, and persuaded them to report her more recent, public-spirited behaviour, and to re-evaluate her earlier actions, especially crimes of which she had been falsely accused. (He also provided detailed statements in relation to the current events, and the importance for Risur to stand strong as the world around was swept over by chaos and malicious folly.)</p><p></p><p>Korrigan had a soft spot for Gale, and made a point of seeking her out to ask if the governorship was something she would be interested in. Gale laughed at first, but soon warmed to the idea. She joked that she was very grateful to be cleared of her crimes, but hoped the king would soon move to make them redundant. Improvements to working conditions were just a half measure, she said, the rampant industrialisation that had seen Risur (and Flint in particular) become hollow copy of Danor must end. Korrigan kept his response to this very vague and non-committal. There were certain thoughts he had been weighing in his mind in this regard, but it was too early to speak on them.</p><p></p><p>Korrigan was also keen to re-establish contact with his carefully nurtured contacts in each nation – first to be able to learn about the situation in those lands and secondly to have a foothold if he needed to somehow affect or sway events there. Glaucia in Ber; Aulus Atticus and Ken Don in Crisillyir, the anti-Jierre movement in Danor; their eladrin friends in Ushanti and Sentosa. Sendings would not work, so he tasked Lauren Cyenburg with dispatching trustworthy agents. After learning about the world congress being called by Nicodemus, he also wanted to ensure they had spies in place to keep track of everything going on there. “Consider it done,” she said.</p><p></p><p>Uriel was sent to speak with Morgan Cippiano to find out if he heard anything from his homeland, and where he stood now that the clergy appeared to have aligned themselves with the Ob. Cippiano did not know this and was alarmed – though Bishop Antonescu’s divinations had warned them that something terrible was happening; a threat to their very faith. Cippiano had sent his own messengers since She Who Writhes was put to rest, and hoped to have more detailed news soon.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="gideonpepys, post: 7516607, member: 79141"] [b]Session 202, Part One[/b] [B]Farewell to Asrabey[/B] Moments after the titan’s withdrawal, the Coaltongue returned from outer space, plunging into the sea and causing an immense tidal wave. Though dramatic, it soon settled. Korrigan was troubled. While they had drifted through space, his son had pointed at the distant Gyre and said, “That is where we need to go”. Korrigan asked him how he knew, and Kai simply shrugged. Such esoteric knowledge was second nature to him and he could not explain it. Korrigan was reminded of the vision he had in the Ziggurat of Apet many years ago – a vision in which he was holding his unborn son and cycling through strange environments that seemed as alien as other worlds. Overhead was a starless sky. (Later, on hearing about all this, Quratulain would ask Kai what bullets she should craft for their next mission. Kai said, “The ones that kill ghosts and other things you can’t touch.” But it wasn’t clear if this was based on a premonition, or just a guess.) Putting all of this to one side for the time being, Korrigan went to catch up with the others. They told him everything that had happened and it was clear from their report that urgent action was needed. But first, Beshela demanded that they hand over Asrabey. She did not want to rely upon ‘mortal justice’ which might see him languish in a prison for just a small fraction of his long, eladrin life, only to be released when everyone had forgotten his crime. Beshela would punish him in her own way. Korrigan asked what that would entail. “I will drown him,” said Beshela, bluntly. Korrigan reflected on all the aid Asrabey had given them over the years, but concluded with some reluctance that his recent actions had negated that good will. It was far more important to foster Beshela’s allegiance than to balk at her severity. They removed Asrabey from the absurdist web. Before handing him over they asked how he had come into contact with the Ob, since communication was so difficult. Asrabey said that he had not – that the decision to join them was his own, and that he had hoped to offer the kraken to them as a prize. Gupta double-checked his claim, using Nicodemus’ ring to first locate Nicodemus himself to test that this method still worked. It did; he was in Cherage. Then she tried it on Asrabey and confirmed that he was not as yet an Ob officer, or a sworn affiliate of the conspiracy. This done, they handed Asrabey over to Beshela. Tendrils of seaweed writhed up from the water and ensared him, dragging him beneath the waves. Moments later they coughed up his crown, shield, sword and sandals – all magical items which Beshela said they could keep. Beshela also offered her help. She could transport them anywhere they wished to go by sea at some speed. [B]Next Steps[/B] The group was torn by competing exigencies. Rumdoom was keen to travel south as soon as possible and rescue his wife. The others agreed that it would be very helpful to find out what was going on with the Deep Ones, so the effort would not be entirely focused on just that. Even more pressing was the need to get to Axis Island before their enemies did. Korrigan returned to Slate to consult with his military advisors. They told him that the fleet was as ready as it would ever be, but only about a third of the ships had been fitted with Wondermaker’s weapons, and a quarter of the fleet at been lost when the Danorans invaded Flint. The Danorans were generally faster and their fleet was larger (although they too must have lost an unknown number of vessels). Even if the island could be taken, even if Pemberton allowed them to do so, holding it would be extremely difficult whilst simultaneously preparing to defend Risur. It would also be harder to gain Pemberton’s trust if they showed up mob-handed. In the end, it was decided that the Coaltongue would head for Axis Island as fast as possible (which was very fast indeed), before the Danorans were able to capitalise on the defeat of She Who Writhes. The rest of the fleet would be ready to follow if called upon. Once word of this mission got out, Korrigan received a request from Alden Wondermaker to join them. Here was an opportunity to check out Pemberton’s technological developments, even consult with him if possible. Korrigan was loath to risk such a major national asset, until it was made clear that Wondermaker would not be coming along in person – he would be sending his avatar: the top-hatted, clockwork gentleman who had first visited them in Seobriga. Permission was duly granted. Permission was also granted to Kieran Sentacore, who wished to accompany the king as royal biographer and scribe. They also chose to bring along the Sunfish, which was small enough to be carried on the deck of the Coaltongue. None of this was to be done at Rumdoom’s expense, however: Leon volunteered to make the journey south, borne through the seas by Beshela to the place where the deep ones dwelled. It would be easier for him to go unseen, and escape unharmed, than it would be for the whole unit to go, and it meant that their forces would not be too deeply divided. Leon promised Rumdoom that he would return with Hildegaard if it was possible. [B]Royal Duties[/B] Before they departed, Korrigan put the finishing touches to various bits of business that had called him away over the last few days: Something needed to be done about the Governorship of Flint. Delft was struggling. There was nothing major happening under his governorship, no sign of a 'change'. As RHC Chief, he was firmly associated in the public's mind with the old order – an order Korrigan had promised to alter. Thames Grimsley was busy pushing for elections as soon as possible. He was slightly stymied because he couldn't organise mass gatherings, but his campaign for election was well underway. Korrigan’s political allies did not think Grimsley would be a good governor, but he was almost certain to win a free and fair election. Was now really the time to bring true democracy to Risur? Korrigan interrogated them: Grimsley had been an ally and fellow-traveller up to now. Did they regard him as an extremist? The answer was more subtle - they simply thought he was too much of a populist and too melodramatic and emotional for such a serious role. Korrigan punted the issue into the long grass by establishing a committee to set up the legal foundation for the elections, and establish the scope and power of the elected officals. While there was one governor, there also needed to be an advisory council with wider representation, a system of petitions, limitations on the executive power of the governor (certain major decisions and reforms would have to be approved by the king and/or require public consent). And of course, the election itself would have to be organised in a way that didn’t run the risk of a raising hive mind. Perhaps instead of the voting points where people gathered there could be vote collection brigades that went from door to door and collected votes from people at their place of residence? To lead this committee, Korrigan called on his old friend Alderic Woodrow. Woodrow reminded Korrigan of their many discussions about how Risur would be well-served by the establishment of a centralised, formal code of laws. He hoped that with a sympathetic monarch, this mammoth task might now be undertaken. “A strange thing to focus on when the sun has vanished, perhaps, but chaotic times call for greater order.” He offered to refer to the project as the ‘Baldrian Codes’. After talking to Alderic in some detail, to gauge if the lawyer’s overall vision aligned with his own, Korrigan gave him the go-ahead to prepare draft outlines for his subsequent approval. One major concern was how King Baldrey’s absence would be handled, now that it was obvious that he intended to handle the Obscurati threat personally. Who would be in charge while he was away, and of what? Duchess Ethelyn had petitioned for the responsibility of fending off a naval invasion and the surviving Risuru fleet (based in Shale) was very loyal to her. But Harkover Lee did not like the idea of putting her in charge of anything. He could not forgive her attempt on Aodhan's life. Obviously, Korrigan did not want to alienate Harkover, but he also wanted to negotiate arrangements that would best benefit the country rather than cater to specific factions and interests. Currently the country was in a state of emergency and on high alert; security and the provision of basic needs of the populace were the top priorities. With regards to Ethelyn, Korrigan made the case that while she indeed attempted a coup against Aodhan, she did so to protect Risur's interests first and foremost which testified to her loyalty to the kingdom over her brother or even the king. Also, from his previous encounters with her, Korrigan believed she had re-evaluated her previous stance and actions. Given that she was the most suitable to lead the fleet as far as ability and experience went, she should be tasked with doing so. Harkover dutifully agreed. There were other matters too: Persistent Yerasol veterans still demanded the arrest and punishment of Leon Veilleux, whom they had reason to believe remained a close ally of the king. They were horrified that King Baldrey chose to overlook his many war crimes, particularly since the king was a war hero and ‘one of their own’. The king told them that the man now known as ‘Leon the Clever’ was a member of the Unseen Court and as such beyond the jurisdiction of Risur. Not only was he a changed man, but right now he was performing an invaluabe service to the country. It was a form of atonement, so to speak. There may be some who thought that only blood can repay blood but surely they could also appreciate the value of a former enemy turned sides. There was some overlap between the Yerasol veterans and Vekeshi. Korrigan remembered Gale’s plea on behalf of the mystics that they be allowed to ‘step into the light'. Korrigan reached out to the mystics and brokered a meeting with Admiral Dawkins, aka the Great Stag, during which he negotiated a relaxation of state sanctions on the movement, in return for their vocal support of Leon – who was after all a member. Dawkins also returned Gale’s favour and spoke up for her. It was a shame, he thought, that the public still regarded her as a terrorist. So Korrigan called on his carefully fostered journalistic contacts, and persuaded them to report her more recent, public-spirited behaviour, and to re-evaluate her earlier actions, especially crimes of which she had been falsely accused. (He also provided detailed statements in relation to the current events, and the importance for Risur to stand strong as the world around was swept over by chaos and malicious folly.) Korrigan had a soft spot for Gale, and made a point of seeking her out to ask if the governorship was something she would be interested in. Gale laughed at first, but soon warmed to the idea. She joked that she was very grateful to be cleared of her crimes, but hoped the king would soon move to make them redundant. Improvements to working conditions were just a half measure, she said, the rampant industrialisation that had seen Risur (and Flint in particular) become hollow copy of Danor must end. Korrigan kept his response to this very vague and non-committal. There were certain thoughts he had been weighing in his mind in this regard, but it was too early to speak on them. Korrigan was also keen to re-establish contact with his carefully nurtured contacts in each nation – first to be able to learn about the situation in those lands and secondly to have a foothold if he needed to somehow affect or sway events there. Glaucia in Ber; Aulus Atticus and Ken Don in Crisillyir, the anti-Jierre movement in Danor; their eladrin friends in Ushanti and Sentosa. Sendings would not work, so he tasked Lauren Cyenburg with dispatching trustworthy agents. After learning about the world congress being called by Nicodemus, he also wanted to ensure they had spies in place to keep track of everything going on there. “Consider it done,” she said. Uriel was sent to speak with Morgan Cippiano to find out if he heard anything from his homeland, and where he stood now that the clergy appeared to have aligned themselves with the Ob. Cippiano did not know this and was alarmed – though Bishop Antonescu’s divinations had warned them that something terrible was happening; a threat to their very faith. Cippiano had sent his own messengers since She Who Writhes was put to rest, and hoped to have more detailed news soon. [/QUOTE]
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