ZEITGEIST [ZEITGEIST] The Continuing Adventures of Korrigan & Co.

I've been doing things slightly differently these last two sessions. Both were going to involve elaborate set-pieces (the Keepers of Cheshimox encounter & Tinker's Coup) and we have a fixed amount of time to play: until the pub shuts. So I decided in both cases to run the set-piece first, even though chronologically there were other matters that should have come first.

Last session this was made even more confusing by the fact of having to hand-wave story elements due to the absence of key personnel, so we didn't know how Korrigan's meeting with the King had proceeded, or how the concert/rally in Seobriga had turned out, when both would have occurred long before the end of the Cantabrilla Railroad challenge.

This week was our first session with Korrigan's player for a while, so it would have made sense to start with his feedback on those things: the elements of the story he had been responsible for. But I was conscious that if we didn't get the Coup started, we might have last orders called before it finished.

So I reasoned that Korrigan would not have had time to brief his unit on what had transpired, and kept the story-telling elements to later in the session. This turned out to be a good call because the set-piece overran, so the 'off-screen' story-telling will all have to wait until next week! I am lucky to have players who are happy to run with this kind of tom-foolery, and trust that they won't get shafted by my shenanigans.

An account of session 9 will follow as soon as I can get around to writing it.

Session 9 (132) - Part One: Tinker's Coup

They spent the night before their return to the Summer Court aboard the RNS Coaltongue, dining with Captain Rutger Smith. As was often the case with the Captain, the conversation turned to philosophy. He was keen to hear how the enlightened thinking of William Miller had influenced the Panoply in Ber. Korrigan was probably best placed to answer these questions, but he did not come aboard until late in the evening, once matters in Seobriga had been squared to his satisfaction, and he did not have time to fully brief the others before they attended the Bruse’s banquet the following day.

They were told that Tinker would be arriving at the Summer Court very shortly. Footmen in powdered wigs served various elaborate dishes. Uru emulated their dress and mannerisms, save for steam that rose from the engine hidden in his wig. Xambria emerged from Conquo’s shell and stood around trying to avoid accidentally walking through furniture. She missed eating. Lya and her bodyguards arrived and exchanged knowing nods with the unit. Uru mimicked some of their earlier interactions to wind up Rush. Korrigan noticed that the guards had been changed. There were more minotaurs now. Was the Bruse expecting trouble? Uru’s spirit friends Winkin’, Blinkin’ and Nod complained about more ‘stretched spirits’. Leon spoke briefly with Kenna Vigilante, and wondered if she was well, as she wasn’t tucking into the plentiful food with her usual gusto. Wolfgang von Recklinghausen was much more enthusiastic. He would never miss the opportunity to dine well from now on, having had nothing but the goblin’s ‘spiked pickles’ to eat for many months. He joked about the unit being his ‘guardian angels’. Korrigan spotted Wolfgang and Gupta share whispered joke and wondered what had passed between them.

At length they were called into the Bruse’s presence and the huge double doors were closed. The Bruse demonstrated how much he knew about what they had been up to. The level of detail was surprising. Korrigan remembered about what Lauren Cyneburg said - Ber had shown no sign of a functioning espionage agency, save for the astonishing results it yielded. Nigel Price-Hill spoke of a mysterious figure known only as El Extrano whose activities spanned the whole of Llanjyr, and must account for Bruse Shantus’ thoroughgoing knowledge of the unit’s mission along the Avery Coast. When he was done showing off, Shantus called for his ministers to cast their votes. Zarkava went first and sided firmly with the Risuri contingent on the grounds that they demonstrated a genuine concern for the wellbeing of the people and the State of Ber. The Minister for Dragon affairs was called upon next and said she must consider the financial ramifications of each group’s conduct. And for that reason her vote went to…. The Risuri. “Bastard!” said Rush, quite loudly. Bruse Shantus also seemed upset. He huffed and puffed and made no attempt to conceal his agitation. “I thought you said… the other day when we… oh well. What I say now doesn’t really matter does it? What the hell, I vote for Risur too.” And he slumped back in his throne like a spoiled child.

Zarkava left to prepare a teleportation circle. Wordlessly, but clearly disgruntled, the Ob faction left too, passing Tinker as he entered with an honour guard. The majority of his escort waited in the lobby; just two orcs flanked him as he came into the throne room. He veered slightly away from Lya and her bodyguards. They left and the double doors were closed again. Tinker came right up to the Bruse’s throne. The Bruse said: “Tinker Oddcog, you have done us great service and we hope you may choose to do so again. But no one in Ber lives indentured or a slave. We will withdraw and give you fair audience with these people. If you choose to leave with them, Grand Vizier Zarkava has already provided the means.” The Bruse then withdrew to a balcony behind his throne that overlooked his labyrinth. Tinker looked at the unit, blinking nervously. He wasn’t carrying his Godmind Urn. (Uru’s ghostly companions said his soul was stretched too…) Tinker said, “Oh. You’re bigger than I remember. Haha. I’m not sure we’ve met. Have we met?” Leon, the only member of the unit to have seen Oddcog before, told them they had. “They say you want to… to… to… to… to speak with me. Little old me.” Leon was now at pains to calm the gnome and got him on to the topic of Borne. Oddcog was clearly very proud of his golem and talked about it at some length. Leon realised as he did so why the Ob might want Tinker back: he wasn’t subject to a geas and wore no Obscurati ring. Uru showed Little Jack to Tinker and Tinker gave him some very quick, very complex advice on how to improve his robot companion. Leon then returned to his favourite topic and asked, “Would you like to meet Borne again?”

“Oh yes I would,” said Tinker. He was the nicest of Grappa’s children. Alexander is the real genius you know. He can make minds. I tried that once, but it didn’t work out so well. Hunter, Linus, Colin, Borne. Kasvarina said Borne was the nicest. Grappa says that you’re nice too. Did you get his letter?” Is he alive? Leon asked. “Oh yes, he’s inside Leone.” Before the unit could grapple with this revelation, Tinker said, as if to someone else, “Yes, yes. I’m getting to it!” Then he looked back at them. “I’m sorry about what has to happen next. I really don’t have much choice. Your MAJESTY!!!” He screeched this so loud his face went red. “Your majesty! A word if you please!” A little put out at being summoned in this way, the Bruse nevertheless stomped over, accompanied by two minotaur bodyguards. Tinker’s demeanour had changed, and he now seemed suddenly more petulant, “I’m not leaving with these people or with anyone else. I’m going to stay here with you. Everyone else should go.” As he said this he turned and eyed the unit, some of whom realised this was a warning. Only Xambria heeded it. She dropped through the floor of the throne room to alarm the staff in the kitchens below, and ran through the doors and walls to get back up to Conquo in the lobby as soon as possible. Meanwhile, Tinker had pulled out a pocket watch. It was ticking very loudly. “I’ll give you until twelvety. Eleventy-one. Eleventy-three. Eleventy-you. Eleventy-me. Eleventy-eight. Eleventy-nine. Eleventy-two. Eleventy-tea.”

Uru snatched the watch with some webbing and scuttled into the ornamental shrubbery. The watch wasn’t the thing that was ticking! Korrigan heard another sound too – a distant whine like the Doppler whistle of an incoming artillery shell. “TWELVETY!” said Tinker. He poked himself in the chest. There was an audible click and the ticking got louder. He produced from a cavity inside himself a comical black bomb with a hissing fuse. The Bruse’s two bodyguards grabbed him by each arm and thrust him down to hold him in his throne. Gupta stepped forward. “Wouldn’t the bomb have worked better yesterday?” she asked. Tinker was stunned. “Wuh?” he said. Gupta gently reached out and pinched the fuse with a gloved hand.

Leon opened a quick portal next to Tinker and stepped through it. Korrigan stepped up and grabbed the bomb. “I’ll take that, thank you,” he said and passed it to Leon on the deck of the RNS Impossible. Leon gave it to Rahu Ketu who dropped it in the sea. Rumdoom got closer too and tried to punch the gnome, but gnomes are tricky to hit! Tinker said to Gupta, “I’m sorry, but that wasn’t the bomb. I am.” Abruptly, the ticking stopped.

Korrigan tried to grab Tinker. Gupta took a step back. Rumdoom braced himself. Leon side-stepped away from the portal.

Tinker exploded – an enormous blast that threw Korrigan and Gupta backwards. Gupta flew halfway across the chamber and landed badly like a charred rag doll. Terribly injured, but saved from the worst of it by his schism-wrought nature, Korrigan lay blinking at the high, domed ceiling. After a moment, he reached for his defender longsword. It told him that Gupta was dead.

Session 9 (132) - Part Two: Coup Ex Machina

Korrigan staggered to his feet. Rumdoom hadn’t budged. The dwarf was stood next to where Tinker had once been, braced against the explosion, and appeared to be unharmed. Maybe he was immortal after all? Korrigan looked down at himself. His clothes and armour were torn to shreds, and the filigree lines that traced his body were glowing like embers, instead of their usual gold.

Leon had stepped back through his portal and closed it behind him. A second explosion rocked the throne room. Agony gas, a hideous chemical used during the Yerasol Campaign began to fill the chamber. It reduced visibility, stung the eyes and caused a burning pain to anyone who breathed it in.

Three figures were moving from the balcony: Kenna Vigilante and two minotaurs, running towards the Bruse. The minotaurs that had held the Bruse were shattered to pieces. Evidentally, they were constructs of some kind. The Bruse remained in his throne, unmoving, the skin on his face flayed to reveal the cow-like skull beneath. Korrigan might have assumed he was dead, had Kenna Vigilante not pounced over the throne and begun to attack him. A coup! Other guards were on the move, taking up positions to prevent anyone from helping the Bruse.

One of Uru’s shuriken struck Vigilante. Uru’s ghostly friends had told him she was a robot. The stretched souls again! Rumdoom took on both the minotaurs and Korrigan moved to join him. Leon teleported the Bruse towards the ornamental shrubbery, healing him in the process. Then he teleported himself there too.

Outside in the lobby, the twenty-strong honour guard that had accompanied Tinker to the palace were bracing themselves for combat. Xambria dashed up the stairs, leapt into Conquo and woke him up. But the golem was too bleary to take over. Lya, Rush and Merton had drawn their weapons. Doctor Von Recklinghausen threw himself at the huge double doors, but bounced off uselessly. Merton kept the soldiers at bay with his sonic staff, while Lya and Rush each took out two at a time. Xambria assessed the situation. “Lya, was this you?” Lya took out two more soldiers. As they fell, they too revealed themselves to be metal duplicants. “No,” said Lya, directly. Xambria then launched Conquo at the double doors and sent him crashing through them. The duplicant guards beyond fell back before this onslaught.

With an agonised cry, Von Recklinghausen dashed through the door and fell on his knees beside the twisted form of Gupta. He was beside himself with grief, it would seem, and he appeared to be attempting to revive her. The attempt was futile, though her lifeless body spasmed and jerked beneath his touch. He continued to try despite the insidious agony gas, and eventually collapsed over Gupta’s form himself.

Now Xambria could see that Leon had withdrawn to a spot beside the Bruse. He had opened another portal, though doing so had clearly drained him, and was busy helping the rest of the unit to withdraw from combat too. He teleported Korrigan back to a safe spot and shouted at him to get through the portal. Korrigan planted his feet and refused to budge until everyone else was safe.

“Merton,” said Xambria, who was now fighting side-by-side with her. “We have a door.” She began to move into the throne room herself when Pardo, the Minister for Rebellion, pounced from an antechamber to her right. He tore into the golem with razor-sharp claws and attempted some sort of magical bite attack that Xambria was able to shrug off. It was nauseating nonetheless, as if he was trying to eat her soul. With Pardo still clinging to her, tearing into her outer metallic shell, she stomped into the room, with the Ob faction following, coughing and wheezing from the horrible gas. Korrigan used his Icon of Urim to raise a wall to prevent the soldiers from following.

A second shot from Uru caused Kenna to stop attacking. (Since the Bruse had been moved out of her reach she had been firing on them with a carbine imbedded in her arm.) All of a sudden she began firing on the minotaurs, and let them know that she had somehow managed to gain control of her duplicant. Uru called for her to follow them as he and Rumdoom jumped through the portal, carrying the Bruse between them (and Little Jack).

Xambria picked up Wolfgang and Gupta and, together with Merton, Lya and Rush, plunged through the portal, with Pardo tearing into her all the way. His strange devour animus power eventually landed, and caused a ‘spirit’ of Conquo to appear and attack Rumdoom on the deck of the Impossible. Leon and Kenna came through the portal and, finally, Korrigan stepped through as it closed.

The Pardo duplicant didn’t last long, despite the sickening aura it emanated which caused all the non-constructs to weaken. But there were too many combatants for Pardo to beat and he was soon reduced to a dented and inert metal shell. Unlike the others, when this one lost the illusion of ‘humanity’ it still looked very much like Pardo. The underlying form was more closely designed to resemble him.

In the moments after Pardo fell, Kenna told them that she had been kidnapped a few days ago while out on one of her morning runs. Her bodyguards had been captured too. She could hear their shouts for help in the background, wherever she was. And she could hear gnolls, coming closer. Suddenly the link was severed and she collapsed onto the deck of the ship.

They helped Von Recklinghausen to his feet. He was sticky with Gupta’s blood and distraught. When he saw her dead body, he sobbed. Korrigan reached out a hand to comfort him and the doctor cried out in pain: Korrigan’s skin was red hot, and what was left of his clothing was beginning to smoulder. The Bruse was still alive, though his face was horrifically injured: the skin was flayed, he had no lips and one eye had entirely disintegrated. Only the rites of rulership had kept him alive. He and Gupta were taken to the infirmary. Von Recklinghausen went with them. When they were gone, the unit and the Ob stood for a moment in silence. Then Rush said, “When is someone going to tell me what the just happened?”

Somehow, it only occurred to me upon reading this update that Tinker would fit right in at the Mad Hatter and the March Hare's unbirthday party.

Session 10 (133) - 'Not Halfway'

On the deck of the RNS Impossible there is now a stand-off with the Ob. Before they approach their rivals, Rumdoom encourages the others to mention his survival of the explosion, and Uru happily monologues on his miraculous survival, to the evident displeasure of Rush. Lya wants assurances before she instructs her men to stand down. All three are poised to defend themselves. Korrigan promises they will come to no harm (a sentiment reiterated by Rutger Smith who offers Lya an officer’s cabin until such times as they can meet the Lux Profectusque). It is agreed they should also be allowed to bring Inez and Ulrich aboard, for fear they might come to harm if left in the Summer Palace. Co-ordinates and codes for the teleportation circle are duly shared, but swiftly altered. Lya suggests they put aside their animosity until they establish the nature of this new threat. The others practically have to bind and gag Uru (whose response demonstrates a lamentable three-step inability in pleasant social interactions), but Korrigan agrees. During their exchange Lya points out that Korrigan’s clothes are smouldering and falling off his body to create little piles of ash.

The Bruse is critical but stable in the Captain’s cabin, attended by the ship’s surgeon and druid. Rumdoom goes to stand guard as he is largely unhurt. Uru tries to fix Conquo but screws up his tendons. The only person Korrigan can heal is Leon, as Leon is the only one resistant to Korrigan’s burning touch, an apparent side-effect of his absorption of the bomb’s energy. Korrigan spends the rest of the night on deck, to avoid setting fire to the ship. Leon stays with him, fielding messages.

Sendings fly hither and yon: one to Risur informing them of the coup; one from Zarkava asking them where they are and what has happened to the Bruse (Korrigan chooses not to reply for now, unsure of who to trust); another from Kithilrak informing them of trouble in Seobriga – fighting and gunfire and an apparent incursion of mechanical troops; an exchange confirms Rumdoom’s retinue is safe, holing up with Melissa Amerie; another sending warns the dwarves to beware of duplicants; a reply from Stover Delft telling them to stick to their mission and not to get embroiled in an internecine conflict – Find Tinker! Delft confirms conflict in Seobriga, and says it would have been worse if not for ‘their man on the inside’ who says that martial law has been declared by the Beran Minister for Advancment Khaled Valchek! They also have sending exchanges with Glaucia and Brakken. It is agreed that both will head out of Seobriga to meet Zarkarva and other survivors from the attack on the Bruse. Brakken will ascertain that Zarkarva is real and loyal before the Bruse is handed over. They agree to meet in a small fishing town just South of the capital.

Uru sets about examining the duplicants, and trying to figure out a way to use the evident connection provided by the witch-oil vial to trace the original person. While he does so, the spirit children tell him how they learned their new trick of taking over robots (a trick they hope to improve on). It turns out that the Clockwork King has been communicating with them through the musical box Uru now carries in his backpack. Uru opens it and talks to the little toy gnome inside. It reiterates its claim to the Godmind Urn and asks if it can come and speak with the unit in ‘person’ (instead of through this little device). They agree to allow it to join them on the ship and it says it will be there within the day.

Being careful not to ignite the fixtures and fittings, Korrigan goes to check on Von Recklinghausen. A false lead sends him to the cabin occupied by the Ob, but Von Recklinghausen is no longer there. One sailor saw him heading down to the infirmary. Korrigan follows and passes the good doctor running out of the infirmary in some distress: “Mein Gott! Nicht schon weider!” Korrigan advances into the dimly lit room and finds Gupta sat up on the surgeon’s table, clutching her own shroud protectively around her naked form; only her magical gloves survived the explosion intact. Incredibly, Gupta appears to be fully healed. Korrigan grasps the pommel of his magical sword to confirm this is not an illusion or a trick. The sword tells him she is hungry and Korrigan offers her a meal. She accepts, with the proviso that she first be brought some clothes. When these are retrieved from her cabin, they go and meet the others, as it is by now early morning and the ship is stirring. Rumdoom thinks her recovery is ‘weird’. Uru checks that she is not a duplicant and bridles at her ‘too easy’ return from the land of the dead. ('Not half way, like me.') Leon, too, is suspicious, as the last time a unit member returned from the dead, he tried to submerge Flint. (Rumdoom shifts uneasily and rubs the back of his neck.) Only Xambria is entirely welcoming and, fascinated, asks Gupta if she remembers anything. Gupta says she saw her family and doesn’t look entirely happy to have returned. Recklinghausen finds her later and apologises for his initial reaction. He tells her that she reminds him of someone he lost the last time this happened. Gupta embraces him, and Wolfgang tries to kiss her, but she demurs. That was then, this is now.

Session 10 (133) - Gradiax & Grappa

Once Brakken and Glaucia confirm that they have met with Zarkava and she is not a duplicant, the RNS Impossible heads for waters just off the coast of the sleepy Beran fishing town of Nerja. Longboats take everyone ashore, including the Bruse, who is now well enough to be moved (though the surgeons are perplexed by the terrible wounds to his face). With their ruler duly restored, but incapable of leadership, Zarkava has called upon Cavallo de Guerra, who is heading South with his fleet already. There is an impromptu council of war to which all parties are invited. The situations as it stands is as follows:

In addition to the strike on the Bruse, more extensive operations took place in Seobriga, Reo Pedrosco and Renza. Golems, duplicants and mechanical soldiers all took part. Key areas and government installations were captured, key personnel taken hostage. Minister for Advancement Khaled Valchek has declared martial law in Seobriga, and appears to have led the incursion there. It is likely that the capture of Seobriga might have been complete, were it not for a surprise intervention: Shortly after the first shots were fired, two galleons, crewed by gnolls and (it now transpires) loaded with mechanised reinforcements, docked at wharfs owned and controlled by Black Star Mining. These ships were immediately sunk by a barrage of fire from Black Star Mining mercenary vessels captained by the erstwhile ‘Dread Pirate Roberta’ – a privateer who now presents herself at the meeting. ‘She’ is none other than a female alter ego of the Risuri spy known to the unit as Saladoor and Don Zacuto, keeping an eye on Valchek for the Risuri and subverting his treacherous orders at the last minute. So large parts of Seobriga have remained free – defended by police, militiamen, and crowds of armed citizens in the name of the Panoply and the Beran revolution. But Valchek still holds the central citadel and surrounding areas, and Zarkava fears that substantial loss of life will result from attempts to recapture them. The mechanised uprisings in Reo Pedrosco and Renza were smaller and appear to be preparatory in nature: The newly build rail enclaves have been captured, and are now being defended by repurposed construction golems.

Korrigan doubts if Valchek is the brains behind all this. He concedes that the dwarf is a greedy opportunist, but points out he is not an inventor or technologist. Korrigan raises the name of Benedict Pemberton, and it is confirmed that constructs of his design were involved in the coup – including a couple of giant dockside constructs (used for loading ships) that stomped across Flint in a clear attempt to emulate the shock and awe of Borne’s rampage across Flint. Korrigan has Leon contact Harkover Lee.

At this point, Lya Jierre announces that Tinker Oddcog is located on an island to the far South of Ber. Zarkava says that divinations have confirmed this, and that Kenna Vigilante and other kidnapped soldiers are to be found there too. Glaucia snarls and says that this is Isla Dola Focas, stronghold of the Cult of the Steel Lord, a tribe of gnolls ‘still hankering after the rule of their dragon tyrant masters’. These were the same gnolls who manned the ships sunk in Seobriga harbour; the very same tribe Glaucia has sworn vengeance against; the tribe of Pardo, Minister for Rebellion. When Uru explains that Pardo’s duplicant was clearly bespoke, unlike the others, it is agreed that the Minister for Rebellion was directly involved, not usurped or kidnapped like Vigilante. (“Jobsworth,” says Rush Munchausen.)

Later, a floor-to-ceiling image of Harkover Lee’s face appears before Korrigan. He reveals that Benedict Pemberton is the human form of a dragon tyrant named Gradiax the Lord of Steel, once the ruler of much of Southern Ber, including the recalcitrant gnolls of the cult that still bears his name. Korrigan was satisfied that his dislike and distrust of the ruthless industrialist had been justified all along. (Pemberton’s support of strike-busting factory owners had earned his initial enmity; then Pemberton leant his substantial weight to the fleet of Black Star Mining and eventually withdrew funding from the RHC, following a keynote speech in Ber in which he confirmed his total opposition to everything Korrigan stood for.) Harkover Lee gave Korrigan orders to oppose Gradiax’s plans, if they proved to run counter to the conditions of the original treaty that allowed him and other dragon tyrants to live as long as they remained in human form, and did not seek to gain direct power over ‘lesser’ creatures.

Another sending informs the unit to expect the arrival of the Clockwork King. At the appointed time they gather by the teleportation circle, and a lone figure appears: a finely crafted construct, almost as intricate as the bronze golem made by Tinker Oddcog, though this one has a painted porcelain face, with rosy cheeks and a real, bushy black moustache made from horse hair. It wears a stove-pipe hat, a long red coat, tan waistcoat and black breeches. Bowing low, it introduces itself as the Clockwork Count and explains that it has taken advice from Uru’s friends the ‘Nice Spiders’. (The Fey Spiders were unhappy about the fear they caused in everyone they met, as they ranged throughout the sewers and tunnels beneath Flint, in the service of the The Trash Heap, so they asked Uru to spread their new name in a song about how friendly and kind they were. This was picked up by the children of the Nettles and now they aren’t universally loathed.) The Spiders advised the Clockwork King that his name sounded too lofty, and might constitute a challenge to the real king. “I didn’t choose it in the first place,” he says, “It was bestowed upon me by my people.” By ‘my people’ he refers to the dispossessed, the remade, and the wererats who lived in the Undercity. The Count is here, he says, to offer his services to Risur in return for the recognition of the people he leads, “who have a terrible time of it, living underground”. He knows that the unit is once again on Tinker’s tail and reminds them (for the third time of asking) of their pledge to give him the Godmind Urn in return for his earlier assistance. Korrigan asks what he wants it for. The Count says he wants only to get it away from Oddcog, whose mind is too weak to resist it. However, now appraised of the situation in Seobriga, he hopes to be able to use it to help the Berans retake their city. They make a cautious agreement with him and offer to let him study the duplicants they have captured. Uru talks with him for most of the rest of the day.

Korrigan suddenly remembers what Tinker said to them about Grappa’s letter. Xambria volunteers to search through the bundle of correspondence handed to them by Delft at their reunion. (He had opened it all and read it, he said and it was mainly fan mail and requests for help that other officers had dealt with.) But within the pile Xambria finds an unopened letter with a thick wax seal. She finds herself unable to open it and, before she knew it, she was handing the letter to Korrigan, having acted under a strange compulsion. Korrigan had no trouble opening the letter. It was, indeed, from Grappa and it read:

"To the constables who helped reassemble me the last time I died,

"Greetings. I hope this letter finds you well, and that you remember me, Alexander Grappa, known colloquially as “the mindmaker.” Now it seems a mind is all I am. I keep finding myself in unfortunate circumstances, but I haven’t been put down for good quite yet.

"If you’ll indulge me a bit of storytelling, I believe my situation will be of interest to you. And again I apologize for certain necessary vagaries, as it appears a geas placed upon me is still functioning. Fortuitously, though, the wording of said compulsion only prohibits me from speaking of my own affairs with my former associates—I find I can still not bring myself to write the organization’s name, though I am sure you know it by now.

"When last we met, my mechanical body was torn to bits. While dying I managed to detach my consciousness and implant it into the body of my killer. He survived and escaped, and some time later I realized that while he was asleep, my mind came awake. I was able to, with careful effort and great caution, move his body and examine my surroundings, but my coordination is poor, and I dare not step outside hisbedroom. I hear guards mumbling in Drakran outside the door of his windowless chamber, and I can’t risk their suspicions being aroused. I can, however, read his correspondence. It would appear that he plans to return to his old haunt in Flint; a risky undertaking motivated by his desire to reclaim something of great value to him: the schematics to create a second golem in the event that poor Borne cannot be brought to heel. My host will make the journey in the final week of Winter and spend just three days in Flint. With careful planning, a trap might be laid for him. Though do remember, he is extremely dangerous.

"I very much hope that you will see the value in keeping him alive, a hope born not only of a selfish desire to survive, but in the certainty that we will find a way to turn this reversal against our mutual enemies.

"I will slip this letter into a pile of his outgoing mail, and hope that he will not notice. I have placed an enchantment upon it, such that it can only be opened or read by Marshal Korrigan, or certain members of his team, and all intermediaries will feel compelled to further its progress. I can only pray that it arrives in time.

"- Alexander Grappa

"PS. Bring mage cuffs and make sure they are not made of metal."

Oh well…

Session 10 (133) - Mustering Forces

Cavallo de Guerra arrives, accompanied by Alonsa Frolian and his Sea Lords. Corta Nariz de Guerra has been promoted to replace Thrag Vidalia, and she greets Korrigan and Leon with real enthusiasm. The news that their opponent might be a dragon tyrant causes a palpable concentration of intensity in the Beran’s determination to defeat this foe. Cavallo and Zarkava decide not to risk an assault on the citadel in Seobriga, but to surround and contain the golems while the fleet heads south to the Isla Dola Focas, where the mechanised soldiers and duplicants must have been created. Cavallo asks if either the unit or the Ob would be interested in leading a strike force onto the island to rescue the Beran captives and locate Tinker Oddcog. This offer is accepted by both groups, who agree that cooperation would be preferable to another ridiculous race. Lya even agrees that she, Rush and Merton should travel on the RNS Impossible, as it is the fastest ship. The Lux Profectusque will take part in the main assault to distract the cult’s fleet. They have two days before the fleet will sail. In the meantime, as a show of strength, their ships will gather in the harbour in Seobriga.

Xambria suggests that Uru infiltrate Seobriga and find out what he can about Valchek, but the rest of the unit are concerned for Uru’s safety and pooh-pooh the idea. Unbeknownst to them, Uru slips away in the dead of night and picks his way through the shadowy streets of the city: past the barricades manned by stalwart soldiers and citizens; over the rooftops beyond and into the citadel, scaling the high walls with ease. He discovers a titanic dockyard golem undergoing repairs, troops of mechanised soldiers, and dozens of duplicants. Several gnolls are working on the creation of portal circle, though they lack real expertise and their progress is slow. Uru approaches and hampers their efforts in ways they won’t easily notice. This is the only risk he takes, save to get close enough to Valchek to allow his ghostly friends to find out if he is indeed a duplicant. Sure enough they espy a stretched soul. “He had one when we met him in Flint,” they say. “We might have saved you the trouble of coming all this way, only we didn’t know who you were talking about.” Uru returns to the RNS Impossible before sun up.

Rumdoom ensures that his wife and retinue are safe: They are holed up with Melissa Amerie and her bohemian friends, in their town house on the outskirts of the city. In the courtyard now stands the Skull of Cheshimox under a huge tarpaulin. (Before they left the Cantabrilla railroad, Rumdoomhad Kithilrak send to Vlendham Heid and Kvarty Gorbartiy: “Found Cheshimox Skull. Inscription ‘Cry out for at the end of time I rise’. Had vision of ‘Dead Northern City’. What do you know about this?” When Rutger Smith refused to take the skull on board the Impossible, Rumdoom sent it to Seobriga along with his retinue. A little too late Kithilrak received this response from Vlendham Heid: “Please study nature of sigils. Until you have consulted me again do not use or move skull. Trust Kithilrak. He is learned in these matters.”) Gupta goes with him, hoping to find Bian Insac. No joy. His house is empty too. After an extensive search, roaming the barricades, she finds Roderigo and hears the sad news that Bian was killed mounting a barricade, waving a Panoply flag. “He did it for you,” says Roderigo, as if that makes it all okay. “To prove himself.”

Glaucia Evora calls upon Korrigan and insists upon joining the strike force that he will lead onto the island. This is a matter of family pride, she says, and she will bring her six adult cubs along to take revenge for the death of their father and youngest brother. Korrigan accepts her help, and she hands him bracers of liberty to seal their comradeship. These bracers were forged from broken slave chains following the fall of the dragon tyrants and ward wearer from domination. She also gifts Rumdoom with a necklace of Tyrant’s Teeth she has crafted from the King-bred Tyrannosaur he felled. One unfortunate drawback of these, she explains, is that your footsteps cause the ground to shake when you walk. “I don’t see how that is a drawback,” says Rumdoom, stomping around in delight. Zarkava also makes Dragon’s Bane Balm available to the whole team. To bolster their numbers even further, Korrigan contacts Matunaaga and tells him that the ante just got upped. Matunaaga arrives the following day, bringing with him a cadre of gith he has trained in the ways of the Palimpsest. Typically, their arrival is understated and Matunaaga spares only a polite bow to his erstwhile team members. (It is not entirely clear if he intends to rejoin them permanently.) Still, these are maustin caji, and the marines on the Impossible regard them with barely suppressed awe, especially when it is noticed that “they have guns!” For their part, the caji keep to themselves, sparring and meditating on the deck.

Gupta goes to speak with Von Recklinghausen to invite him to join their strike force. She finds him packing and about to leave. He tells her was just about to come and see her to try to persuade her to come with him. “I am not one for heroics,” he says and begs her not to keep throwing herself in harm’s way. When Gupta refuses to leave with him, he refuses to be drawn on where he is going, save to insinuate that he was been made a very generous offer that would keep them both safe. “How interesting,” says Gupta, and watches him go.

End of Session

Korrigan's Debriefing - The Missing Update

I just realised that I neglected to post an important update that my players received shortly after session 9. It concentrated into a single post an exchange of emails between me and Korrigan's player that had taken place while he was absent for two weeks. In many ways his absence was ideal in that it allowed us to focus on one or two aspects of the Bruse's challenge at a time, without leaving players sitting idle for too long. But it left a bit of a hole in the story, and required Korrigan to debrief the others in person. My original intention was to have the player do this in person at an appropriate point - it would sound better, and would be more memorable, coming from him. But timewise, and dramaturgically speaking, neither session 9 nor session 10 presented such an appropriate point. I wanted to jump straight into the action in the moment, not talk about what had already transpired (vital though it may have been). So I sent this email to my players instead, but forgot to post it here. It partially explains that letter from Grappa, and Korrigan's relationship with Corta Nariz de Guerra.

Here, then, is a summary of the major issues that we covered, with questions from me in bold, responses from Korrigan's player, outcomes in blue, and GM's notes in red:

1) How does Korrigan go about building up Panoply support for Corta Nariz de Guerra (including plans for the Rock Rackus performance in Seobriga)? You only have about ten days to make this happen, or there is no way it could influence the Bruse as the 'game' will be over. (It needs to happen, and word needs to reach him.)

I would have to ask for the help of Melissa Amerie to identify key figures in the movement as well as get any other helpful information. Next we could make a public debate on the topics of good governance and nation building where Korrigan would use his oratory skills to turn the debate into the desired direction. This would allow to raise the questions and issues that could be later turned in a way that presents de Guerra as a favourable candidate. Next day a new public meeting could be called where de Guerra could join in the debate with Korrigan's support. The goal would be to first of all to persuade the leaders of the Panoply to see her as a solid candidate and gradually introduce her to the rest of the politically inclined public. It should be like a snowball hopefully where each evening more and more people came to hear and see the debates and discussions. The concert could then be the grand finale after about a week of such activity, with the widest attendance and well timed and prepared but short speeches designed to impress her in the minds of the public.

Something like that. The meetings and debates would be in the evenings, while during the day Korrigan could spend time discussing any issues with de Guerra personally - to get to know her himself (he wants to be sure she would indeed make a good ruler) and to coach her.

This would have involved some help from Leon, and was a general success, but did not have the impact that was intended. The Rock Rackus concert took longer to organise and in fact only took place the night before you were called back to the palace (hence Korrigan's late arrival on the Impossible). The Bruse took slight offence and might have voted against you, only that turned out to be redundant. But Corta Nariz de Guerra came across very well and the effort was otherwise a success. The wider public have also been made aware of all your efforts thanks to Gupta's friendship with Melissa Amerie. Her articles have a broad international reach through the Panoply and the Dockers. You can now regard your 'Flint' prestige as 'Popular' prestige: accessible in any major port.

The weakness in this approach is that Korrigan and Leon now have a relationship with an NPC I have been unable to flesh out in person. That bugs me a bit, but as Corta Nariz won't play much of a part in later adventures, I'm not overly concerned. It would be worse if she kept popping up to blank expressions from the players.

2) What do you say to King Aodhan? He recalls you to Slate for a meeting and asks for your direct assurance that you intend to pursue the Obscurati under orders from the Crown (as delegated through Stover Delft and other senior officers). Aodhan looks tired and has regained the weight he lost prior to his marriage. He seems a bit more short-tempered. You get the idea that he may feel a bit of a fool even now, after three years, and wants to re-establish himself as someone who is not to be trifled with.

I am happy to assure him that pursuing the Ob is my foremost priority and the team is completely devoted to it. I also relay the information and concerns regarding the reach of the organisation and it's international nature, stressing that it is not a national agenda of Danor or other country but rather appears to be a common enemy. I also mention that the actual goals of Ob are still unknown and while their actions have proven generally very harmful on multiple occasions and the organisation should doubtlessly be pursued and opposed on this basis alone, it is difficult to judge exactly if individual members are equally guilty or if their agenda is universal. Too many puzzle pieces are still missing. As for Aodhan's personal feelings in this regard I can say that he and Risur have in fact a unique advantage over any other ruler or nation in that we are aware of the Ob and its interference in the national and global affairs and have a head start in fighting it. Not only does it benefit Risur's security but it may give Aodhan leverage in international affairs once the Ob's agenda and extent is revealed and made public. It is in effect a secret war against a cunning and powerful enemy and a victory in war benefits the winner. Risur can be proud it has successfully withstood and thwarted multiple intrigues and plots that would potentially have had devastating effects on the nation.

This was a successful approach, and bumped the unit's Prestige with the government of Risur back up to 5. (Side-note: Harkover Lee, who was also present, was keen to learn more about what Benedict Pemberton was up to in Ber.)

As with the above response, it sometimes pays to hamfistedly emphasise the benefits the party has accrued from a particular course of action, just so they know their decisions have mechnical, as well as narrative, consequences.

3) During the last session, when discussing how to go about getting Beshela to open up the shipping lanes to Beran ships, we came up with the idea that you might take the opportunity of being in Slate to ask the King's permission to visit Duchess Ethelyn of Shale, who is under house arrest there. You know Beshela was once an ally of hers. (You could also ask her about Jenny Greenteeth, who supposedly took part in the attack on Axis Island.) Leon is also looking in to this, but a 'Hannibal Lector' style prison visit might be fun.

Definitely an interesting proposal. Korrigan would be also interested in gaining a personal insight into the mind of the Duchess. Would try to get as much information as possible.

Aodhan bridled at this and said that he would handle the fey himself: One of the terms of Duchess Ethelyn's imprisonment was that she could have no contact with her rebellious allies, so it was not within her power to persuade Beshela. He nontheless granted permission for Korrigan to visit the Duchess, although he has not yet had the opportunity to do so. But the King was true to his word (perhaps keen to bring Beshela to heel after her involvement in his attempted assassination). Many days later she appeared on the deck of Corta Nariz' ship - when it was travelling to Seobriga for the rallies detailed above - and granted permission for Beran ships to sail throughout the Cold Claw and Avery Seas unmolested by sea monsters, on condition that no further attacks were made against Risur. (The attack on Manhill having already taken place.) Shortly afterwards, Cavallo De Guerra agreed to pay for his half of the Selestala Railway, which effectively won you the challenge. (He also agreed to grant access to his grandson, whom Von Recklinghausen was then able to cure.)

Beshela's appearance here inspires (or explains) her appearance in my next post, a change to the running order of the published adventures that just seemed to make more sense, as all the players were present. Korrigan did not have time to make the visit to Duchess Ethelyn of Shale before returning to Seobriga. Now I just need to think of a juicy piece of information she could give him! @RangerWickett - any ideas?

4) Nigel Price-Hill is sore about the treatment of Campion, his nephew, and wants an explanation as to why he was held against his will.

Korrigan apologises for the unfortunate misunderstanding and explains that once Gupta and Campion came to his attention and he learned the information about their mission and the assault upon their first arrival in Ber, it became clear that immediate action was essential and not a minute could be lost. Unfortunately Campion was suffering from an injury at the time and while his qualities as an agent were not under doubt the team had to go into action without him leaving him in the care of trusted people. Afterwards the events were moving very fast but Campion's safe return to Risur was arranged as soon as possible. If pressed why Campion was returned to Risur rather than allowed to join the team's operations in Ber, Korrigan politely explains that it is nothing personal but his team has extensive training and experience in acting as one unit and introducing new members could potentially affect its effectiveness. Gupta was taken on not in preference over Campion's abilities in any way, but solely on the basis of her familiarity with Ber and the contacts she had in the country.

Viscount Nigel Price-Hill has always had a soft spot for Korrigan and accepted his apology. Once placated, Nigel Price-Hill takes a more active role in the conversation, and wonders aloud about how the Bruse knew so much about your mission along the Avery Coast, and how he came to make first contact with Cardiff Hengehill. He says that Ber does not appear to have a functioning spy network, certainly not one that Risur has been able to interact with. But captured individuals acting as spies claim to have been working for an individual named 'El Extrano'. This reminds you of an empty plinth on the Monument Road, which you failed to take much notice of at the time.

It was the Lord Viscount who got Korrigan interested in politics, during the 'audit' in Digging for Lies. This interjection helped me to cover my (ironic) omission of El Extrano.

5) Lauren Cyneburg mentions her man on the inside at the Bruse's court (Salaador/Don Zacuto) and says he is concerned about Black Star Mining and its relationship with the Bruse. She asks what you know about Khaled Valchek.

I have no objections on relating any information I have about BSM and Valchek (except what concerns Rumdoom's personal affairs). In Korrigan's opinion Valchek is an opportunist and his loyalties stand with the money (should Risur feel the need to use him). He is also adept at appearing more valuable than he actually is so his actual importance to Bruse may well be more than he actually merits.

More on this next week... (Also, Harkover Lee mentioned Pemberton again. Weren't these two previously in cahoots? he asked.)

Bit of additional foreshadowing here. I wanted 'Don Zacuto' to be involved in thwarting one element of Pemberton's schemes to show that there were other good guys out there, not just the party. It also rewards some roleplaying ideas tossed around a long time ago by Matunaaga's player, who originally played 'Saladoor' the first alter ego of this super-spy character, way back in adventure #2. He wondered aloud when Saladoor departed if he would ever show up again, and joked about the 'Dread Pirate Roberta' persona.

6) You hear a report from Lieutenant Dale (who is in charge of security there) that Leone Quital has recently returned to the Cauldron Hill facility. (So you already knew he was still alive when Tinker mentioned him.) Snuck in, killed a couple of men, and took something. Ripped it right out of the walls with his magnetic powers. (Aodhan is angry about this and says it 'fires him up' to think of that scoundrel returning to Flint unimpeded. The brass neck of the man!) Dale's men tailed him to the docks.

I guess this is of additional interest now that we have a reason to think it is actually Grappa in Quital's body (if I understood Tinker's words correctly). Puzzling since I was under the impression that Grappa was actually a renegade trying to untangle from Ob. Didn't expect him to kill anyone.

This false interpretation was corrected when Korrigan remembered to check the bundle of letters handed to him by Delft. They could have had the letter weeks ago!

It's late, but my first thought regarding Ethelyn is, at this juncture, you could use her to highlight the Rites of Rulership, since those will come up in adventure 9 as the reason why Catherine Romana goes through her elaborate coup attempt. She could also give some info about the lords of the Unseen Court, to tease what happens when the party gets stuck in the Dreaming.

Ideally it should be something the party can act on. Maybe mention the Sword of the Black Needles among some other lore, so maybe the PCs remember it and don't need NPC sages to suggest that route to dealing with the Voice of Rot. (In hindsight, I could have set up that exposition better.)

Sleepy now.

RangerWickett said:

Sleepy now.

Click to expand...

I didn't mean to keep you up! I can't help but picture a Batman-style signal with the Zeitgeist logo that summons you when DMs are in danger. "Too little foreshadowing, you say? I'll be right there!"

RangerWickett said:

It's late, but my first thought regarding Ethelyn is, at this juncture, you could use her to highlight the Rites of Rulership, since those will come up in adventure 9 as the reason why Catherine Romana goes through her elaborate coup attempt. She could also give some info about the lords of the Unseen Court, to tease what happens when the party gets stuck in the Dreaming.

Ideally it should be something the party can act on. Maybe mention the Sword of the Black Needles among some other lore, so maybe the PCs remember it and don't need NPC sages to suggest that route to dealing with the Voice of Rot. (In hindsight, I could have set up that exposition better.)

Click to expand...

Thanks for all of these ideas.