A Rose In The Wind: A Saga of the Halmae -- Updated June 19, 2014
- Thread starter ellinor
- Start date
So, if Twiggy has just developed fire shroud, presumably the party as a whole is just reaching level 3 about now?
On another topic, I've added another two chapters (sessions 10 & 11) to the A Rose in the Wind story hour site. Enjoy!
So, if Twiggy has just developed fire shroud, presumably the party as a whole is just reaching level 3 about now?
On another topic, I've added another two chapters (sessions 10 & 11) to the A Rose in the Wind story hour site. Enjoy!
That... is an excellent question. I don't remember. But someone will. (Help? Someone?)
And many, many thanks, once again, for archiving the story hour. Seriously, it's so cool.
There at least need to be cameos, right?? Surely, at least, some jovial Justicar with a kneebreaking gleam in his eye should wander through the background?
ellinor
Explorer
good news/bad news
The bad news: No update today.
The good news: There will be an update soon!
StevenAC: I second the thanks for all your excellent PDF work. You are correct in assuming that we had hit level 3 shortly before session 12. And I must say, I was delighted with the effectiveness of the fire shroud!
To keep you up to date with where we are in the timeline--as of a couple of weeks ago, the characters are now at level 6. So there's lots more story to come!
The bad news: No update today.
The good news: There will be an update soon!
StevenAC: I second the thanks for all your excellent PDF work. You are correct in assuming that we had hit level 3 shortly before session 12. And I must say, I was delighted with the effectiveness of the fire shroud!
To keep you up to date with where we are in the timeline--as of a couple of weeks ago, the characters are now at level 6. So there's lots more story to come!
ellinor
Explorer
12x03
Please, Chelesta, don’t make me go in there, Acorn begged, attempting to burrow deeper into Twiggy’s pocket, away from the gate to Cauldron. It stinks!
Twiggy moved him to her bodice, where she thought he might be a bit more sheltered from the odor. I agree, Acorn, Cauldron is not the best-smelling city in the world, but—
Not the best? the mouse interrupted. It’s awful and offensive and I think it’s even worse than those derro caves. And those were derro! How can civilized people live in this stench!
Twiggy tried to tune him out. They had made a promise to escort Nyoko home to Cauldron. And it was entirely possible that the prophecy required them to be here. They were going to have to find a library and do some research as soon as possible. In other words, they were going to have to go into this strange city whether Acorn liked it or not.
… I can’t even fathom it! Rotten eggs and dirt! It’s not only disgusting, it’s…
With a smile, Twiggy accepted the bottle of strong herbal perfume that Savina had purchased from a nearby stall. The merchants here at the Gate were clever: they knew that non-locals would want something to mask the smell, and their offerings were diverse. This scent, in fact, was quite pleasant. Ginger, and plum, and something else… She dabbed it generously under her nose and on her chest, where she thought it might help Acorn.
Forget the dabbing! Acorn urged. Just dump out the bottle and let me climb inside!
They entered the Gate, and the city spread before them like a great wheel. Grand estates and government buildings lined the outer rings, and roads led like the spokes of a wheel down toward a large, steaming lake in the center. It was the only city Twiggy had ever heard of where the wealthy neighborhoods and the government buildings were on the outskirts, and the poorer parts were lakeside.
Nyoko had offered them the hospitality of the Adepts for the night, and as they walked along one of the uppermost streets, Twiggy realized just how generous an offer that was. The Adepts’ complex—Nyoko pointed it out as they approached—looked as beautiful as the Estate back in Pol Henna, but (of course) much larger, and in the Sovereign style. Exquisite topiaries lined the walls at the entrance. Nyoko had a conversation with a guard, and after a short wait, a man—elderly, but fit and well-dressed—approached the entrance.
“Nyoko-san,” he said, “We are glad to see you safe.”
They bowed to each other, and then—to Twiggy’s surprise, and it seemed even to Nyoko’s—the man broke the formal mood with a hug. Nyoko whispered something in the man’s ear before stepping to the side.
“I am Lord Miyosho Masa,” he said, addressing the group, “head of the Adepts here in Cauldron.” He bowed again. “We welcome our most honored guests from afar. Please, come in.” He led the group into a large and elegant courtyard, edged by low buildings with sliding doors and wide, polished wooden verandahs. The grounds were magnificently well-kept, from the manicured grass to the stone walkways and the statues of well-toned Sovereign figures. From the activities around them, Twiggy took the surrounding buildings to be classrooms, libraries, and dormitories. Like the Sorcerers’ Academy, thought Twiggy, but so very different. In the courtyards, groups of all ages gathered—some sparring, some wrestling, some dancing, some reading.
A young man showed them to one of the dormitories, and the rooms where they would be staying. Each of them—except Arden, who would stay with the servants—was given a room. Twiggy’s had pristine floors, a low bed with a soft mattress, a table with an orchid plant, and an elegant silk robe laid out on a chaise longue.
One of the servants knocked. “I have brought you fresh clothes,” she said, holding a heavy silk skirt, an embroidered top, and a wide-sleeved robe. Twiggy looked down at her own garments—torn, mended, torn again, muddied, bloodied, washed, muddied again—and felt relief in her very core. “Thank you,” she replied. “Thank you.”
“Would you like me to draw you a bath?” the servant asked, holding out a small basket of flowers, soaps, and oils. “You must be weary from your travel.”
I take back everything I said before, thought Acorn.
###
“. . . all other respects, the journey was unremarkable,” Nyoko finished, bowing slightly.
“Unremarkable?” Lord Masa-san asked, cocking an eyebrow. He had cocked an eyebrow when she mentioned the Spring, as well—and the heathens’ decision not to kill some of the derro who had attacked there—but the cocked eyebrow was as much expression as he displayed throughout her report. If he felt anything beyond interest, he did not show it. Lord Masa had trained Nyoko to witness objectively, and when it came to witnessing and hearing the testimony of others, he was a master of objectivity himself.
Frankly, his cocking an eyebrow was the equivalent of any other man goggling and spluttering for five minutes.
“What do you know of the honored heathens’ purpose in the Sovereignty?” Lord Masa asked, his eyebrow returning to its customary position.
Nyoko considered for a moment all that the heathens had—and had not—told her. “They are following the destiny of one of their number,” she replied.
Lord Masa did not pry further. “We owe them a great debt, and if we can aid them in this endeavor, we shall,” he responded. “I look forward to seeing you, and them, at supper.”
He turned to leave, but then turned back with a softer demeanor. “I am glad to see you, Nyoko.”
His voice was kind, and tinged with relief. She knew this voice: it was the voice he had used so many years ago, when he had found her. When he had found the remains of the caravan from her village, and her, the sole survivor. At age three, she had been too young to Witness then—but she had always had a good memory, and she remembered everything. The strength of his hand as he reached out to help her up, the intensity of his eyes as he noted every detail of the scene, the tone and cadence of his voice when, weeks later, he invited her to train as an Adept . . .
“I am glad to see you,” Nyoko replied.
###
After a good scrub, Tavi decided it was time to get a handle on Sovereign politics and culture. With his sword at his side, he headed out to the courtyard. There, he found a group of Adepts doing practice-forms, and asked to join in.
He held his own. (“Well practiced for a heathen” wasn’t exactly what Tavi was used to hearing, but as he gathered from his time with Nyoko, it was quite a compliment.) As they sparred, he asked about how the Sovereign government was set up. They said more or less what Nyoko had, but here in this courtyard, it came into focus, like the components of a spell meshing together or the soft underarm of an opponent coming into view.
(**Note: see sidebar concerning Sovereign governmental structure, below.**)
Please, Chelesta, don’t make me go in there, Acorn begged, attempting to burrow deeper into Twiggy’s pocket, away from the gate to Cauldron. It stinks!
Twiggy moved him to her bodice, where she thought he might be a bit more sheltered from the odor. I agree, Acorn, Cauldron is not the best-smelling city in the world, but—
Not the best? the mouse interrupted. It’s awful and offensive and I think it’s even worse than those derro caves. And those were derro! How can civilized people live in this stench!
Twiggy tried to tune him out. They had made a promise to escort Nyoko home to Cauldron. And it was entirely possible that the prophecy required them to be here. They were going to have to find a library and do some research as soon as possible. In other words, they were going to have to go into this strange city whether Acorn liked it or not.
… I can’t even fathom it! Rotten eggs and dirt! It’s not only disgusting, it’s…
With a smile, Twiggy accepted the bottle of strong herbal perfume that Savina had purchased from a nearby stall. The merchants here at the Gate were clever: they knew that non-locals would want something to mask the smell, and their offerings were diverse. This scent, in fact, was quite pleasant. Ginger, and plum, and something else… She dabbed it generously under her nose and on her chest, where she thought it might help Acorn.
Forget the dabbing! Acorn urged. Just dump out the bottle and let me climb inside!
They entered the Gate, and the city spread before them like a great wheel. Grand estates and government buildings lined the outer rings, and roads led like the spokes of a wheel down toward a large, steaming lake in the center. It was the only city Twiggy had ever heard of where the wealthy neighborhoods and the government buildings were on the outskirts, and the poorer parts were lakeside.
Nyoko had offered them the hospitality of the Adepts for the night, and as they walked along one of the uppermost streets, Twiggy realized just how generous an offer that was. The Adepts’ complex—Nyoko pointed it out as they approached—looked as beautiful as the Estate back in Pol Henna, but (of course) much larger, and in the Sovereign style. Exquisite topiaries lined the walls at the entrance. Nyoko had a conversation with a guard, and after a short wait, a man—elderly, but fit and well-dressed—approached the entrance.
“Nyoko-san,” he said, “We are glad to see you safe.”
They bowed to each other, and then—to Twiggy’s surprise, and it seemed even to Nyoko’s—the man broke the formal mood with a hug. Nyoko whispered something in the man’s ear before stepping to the side.
“I am Lord Miyosho Masa,” he said, addressing the group, “head of the Adepts here in Cauldron.” He bowed again. “We welcome our most honored guests from afar. Please, come in.” He led the group into a large and elegant courtyard, edged by low buildings with sliding doors and wide, polished wooden verandahs. The grounds were magnificently well-kept, from the manicured grass to the stone walkways and the statues of well-toned Sovereign figures. From the activities around them, Twiggy took the surrounding buildings to be classrooms, libraries, and dormitories. Like the Sorcerers’ Academy, thought Twiggy, but so very different. In the courtyards, groups of all ages gathered—some sparring, some wrestling, some dancing, some reading.
A young man showed them to one of the dormitories, and the rooms where they would be staying. Each of them—except Arden, who would stay with the servants—was given a room. Twiggy’s had pristine floors, a low bed with a soft mattress, a table with an orchid plant, and an elegant silk robe laid out on a chaise longue.
One of the servants knocked. “I have brought you fresh clothes,” she said, holding a heavy silk skirt, an embroidered top, and a wide-sleeved robe. Twiggy looked down at her own garments—torn, mended, torn again, muddied, bloodied, washed, muddied again—and felt relief in her very core. “Thank you,” she replied. “Thank you.”
“Would you like me to draw you a bath?” the servant asked, holding out a small basket of flowers, soaps, and oils. “You must be weary from your travel.”
I take back everything I said before, thought Acorn.
###
“. . . all other respects, the journey was unremarkable,” Nyoko finished, bowing slightly.
“Unremarkable?” Lord Masa-san asked, cocking an eyebrow. He had cocked an eyebrow when she mentioned the Spring, as well—and the heathens’ decision not to kill some of the derro who had attacked there—but the cocked eyebrow was as much expression as he displayed throughout her report. If he felt anything beyond interest, he did not show it. Lord Masa had trained Nyoko to witness objectively, and when it came to witnessing and hearing the testimony of others, he was a master of objectivity himself.
Frankly, his cocking an eyebrow was the equivalent of any other man goggling and spluttering for five minutes.
“What do you know of the honored heathens’ purpose in the Sovereignty?” Lord Masa asked, his eyebrow returning to its customary position.
Nyoko considered for a moment all that the heathens had—and had not—told her. “They are following the destiny of one of their number,” she replied.
Lord Masa did not pry further. “We owe them a great debt, and if we can aid them in this endeavor, we shall,” he responded. “I look forward to seeing you, and them, at supper.”
He turned to leave, but then turned back with a softer demeanor. “I am glad to see you, Nyoko.”
His voice was kind, and tinged with relief. She knew this voice: it was the voice he had used so many years ago, when he had found her. When he had found the remains of the caravan from her village, and her, the sole survivor. At age three, she had been too young to Witness then—but she had always had a good memory, and she remembered everything. The strength of his hand as he reached out to help her up, the intensity of his eyes as he noted every detail of the scene, the tone and cadence of his voice when, weeks later, he invited her to train as an Adept . . .
“I am glad to see you,” Nyoko replied.
###
After a good scrub, Tavi decided it was time to get a handle on Sovereign politics and culture. With his sword at his side, he headed out to the courtyard. There, he found a group of Adepts doing practice-forms, and asked to join in.
He held his own. (“Well practiced for a heathen” wasn’t exactly what Tavi was used to hearing, but as he gathered from his time with Nyoko, it was quite a compliment.) As they sparred, he asked about how the Sovereign government was set up. They said more or less what Nyoko had, but here in this courtyard, it came into focus, like the components of a spell meshing together or the soft underarm of an opponent coming into view.
(**Note: see sidebar concerning Sovereign governmental structure, below.**)
ellinor
Explorer
Sidebar: The Ringed Circle -- Sovereign Government
The Wise and Righteous Circle that Encompasses the Whole of the Lord’s Government
The formal government of the Sovereignty, often referred to simply as The Circle, is divided into seven separate divisions, known as Rings:
The Ring of Inquisition into the Lord's True Faith (Inquisitors)
The religious police. In the old days, they were in charge of rooting out heresy and worship of the godlings; now they preserve the proper worship of Kettenek and, at least ostensibly, protect followers of the godlings from persecution by overzealous Kettenites.
The Inquisitors have power over:
Borders- Review of foreign appointees, ability to revoke any diplomatic privileges on religious grounds
Peerage- Inquisitors can put Peers under criminal/moral investigation, and, if warranted, seize their assets
The Ring of Guidance Beyond the Lord's Borders (Borders)
Foreign relations. They maintain relationships with heathen nations outside of the Sovereignty, establishing diplomatic missions, trade agreements, and arranging for missionary services.
Borders has power over:
Peerage- They can draft members of peerage into foreign service
Military- Borders is required to approve all military actions outside of Sovereign territory
The Ring of Judgment for the Lord's Chosen Peers (Peerage)
Peerage serves as the governing body of, for, and by the Nobility of the Sovereignty. They settle disputes between Nobles and manage all other affairs of the upper class.
Peerage has power over:
Military- Peerage sets the levee levels among the nobility required to maintain military forces
Interior- Peerage is responsible for granting the land and easement rights required by Interior to establish for roads and agricultural lands
The Ring of Security of the Lord's Holy Might (Military)
The Military. In times of war, they are the main fighting force. In times of peace, they maintain the peace within the Sovereignty, which often means patrolling the roads from incursions by creatures of the Ketkath.
Military has power over:
Interior- Military allocates manpower for works projects and road protection
Priesthood- The military is also responsible for providing escorts and security for Churches and to missionaries
The Ring of Stewardship of the Lord's Blessed Lands (Lands)
Department of the Interior. They are in charge of maintaining the roads and way stations, developing agriculture, and transporting goods throughout the Sovereignty.
Lands has power over:
Priesthood –Lands sets the level of tithes given from the public stores to supply the priesthood Adepts- Lands also sets the level of tithes given to supply the Adepts
The Ring of Priesthood of the Lord's Sacred Word (Priesthood)
The Priests. They hold services, interpret the Word of Kettenek, and carry out religious rites.
Priesthood has power over:
Adepts- Priestly blessing is required to officially anoint Adepts when their vows must be renewed
Inquisitors- Priesthood can demand the Inquisition launch an investigation of a given individual, or they can pardon an individual under suspicion or investigation by the Inquisition.
The Ring of Adepts of the Lord's Favored Arts (Adepts)
Artisans, loremasters, notaries public, and arbiters. The Adepts are masters of all arts, often serving as teachers and entertainers. However, they also have powerful legal status as unbiased, unimpeachable observers and recorders of important events.
The Adepts have power over:
Inquisitors- An Adept is required to bear Witness in any significant investigation (particularly against any important individual)
Borders- Scholars of the Adepts are required to review and approve language on all treaties made by Borders.
The Wise and Righteous Circle that Encompasses the Whole of the Lord’s Government
The formal government of the Sovereignty, often referred to simply as The Circle, is divided into seven separate divisions, known as Rings:
The Ring of Inquisition into the Lord's True Faith (Inquisitors)
The religious police. In the old days, they were in charge of rooting out heresy and worship of the godlings; now they preserve the proper worship of Kettenek and, at least ostensibly, protect followers of the godlings from persecution by overzealous Kettenites.
The Inquisitors have power over:
Borders- Review of foreign appointees, ability to revoke any diplomatic privileges on religious grounds
Peerage- Inquisitors can put Peers under criminal/moral investigation, and, if warranted, seize their assets
The Ring of Guidance Beyond the Lord's Borders (Borders)
Foreign relations. They maintain relationships with heathen nations outside of the Sovereignty, establishing diplomatic missions, trade agreements, and arranging for missionary services.
Borders has power over:
Peerage- They can draft members of peerage into foreign service
Military- Borders is required to approve all military actions outside of Sovereign territory
The Ring of Judgment for the Lord's Chosen Peers (Peerage)
Peerage serves as the governing body of, for, and by the Nobility of the Sovereignty. They settle disputes between Nobles and manage all other affairs of the upper class.
Peerage has power over:
Military- Peerage sets the levee levels among the nobility required to maintain military forces
Interior- Peerage is responsible for granting the land and easement rights required by Interior to establish for roads and agricultural lands
The Ring of Security of the Lord's Holy Might (Military)
The Military. In times of war, they are the main fighting force. In times of peace, they maintain the peace within the Sovereignty, which often means patrolling the roads from incursions by creatures of the Ketkath.
Military has power over:
Interior- Military allocates manpower for works projects and road protection
Priesthood- The military is also responsible for providing escorts and security for Churches and to missionaries
The Ring of Stewardship of the Lord's Blessed Lands (Lands)
Department of the Interior. They are in charge of maintaining the roads and way stations, developing agriculture, and transporting goods throughout the Sovereignty.
Lands has power over:
Priesthood –Lands sets the level of tithes given from the public stores to supply the priesthood Adepts- Lands also sets the level of tithes given to supply the Adepts
The Ring of Priesthood of the Lord's Sacred Word (Priesthood)
The Priests. They hold services, interpret the Word of Kettenek, and carry out religious rites.
Priesthood has power over:
Adepts- Priestly blessing is required to officially anoint Adepts when their vows must be renewed
Inquisitors- Priesthood can demand the Inquisition launch an investigation of a given individual, or they can pardon an individual under suspicion or investigation by the Inquisition.
The Ring of Adepts of the Lord's Favored Arts (Adepts)
Artisans, loremasters, notaries public, and arbiters. The Adepts are masters of all arts, often serving as teachers and entertainers. However, they also have powerful legal status as unbiased, unimpeachable observers and recorders of important events.
The Adepts have power over:
Inquisitors- An Adept is required to bear Witness in any significant investigation (particularly against any important individual)
Borders- Scholars of the Adepts are required to review and approve language on all treaties made by Borders.
Fajitas
Hold the Peppers
Not quite sure what you mean by that. *Requests* can certainly go across the Circle, but there's no power to compel a Ring opposite you to do something... unless you "go the long way around the Circle," as they say.
Of course, at the center of the Circle sits the Lord High Regent, and if he "requests" something, then yes, it gets done.
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