Session 90b - Recap
Recap: So what had the unit been up to these last two weeks that brought them to this point? (I’m focusing here only on those characters whose stories were touched on extensively.)
Korrigan – Dashed with Matunaaga to the rally. They were stopped at one of the entrance points to Dawn Square by some of the huge number of minders working for Rackus: they saw weapons and wanted to know who the pair were. It was an easy matter to establish that they were the ones who had invited Rackus to play in the first place, but the high level of security got the pair thinking. How much thought had they put into that themselves?
The show went ahead. Rackus put on a raucus, crowd-pleasing display, which saw many middle-class and refined folk leave the square in outrage. Rackus’ Grumbler-inspired lyrics won over the working man, though. While he played, Matunaaga put on an incredible display, shaolin-monk style, which was followed by fireworks. (In truth, however, Matunaaga being not much of a showman, the people at the front, who had a great view, were suitably impressed. Those at the back wondered what the hold-up was and ate their packed lunches.)
Now it was time for the political speeches. A few members of the anti-Fleet coterie went first, then Korrigan was introduced by Deneric Jayce.
(Having played his Way With Words card) Korrigan aced his address to the people of Flint. It was designed to get across quite a subtle message, and convince them that, while Korrigan and his political allies were opposed to allowing individuals to wield great military power in the way that Pemberton Industries and Black Star Mining sought to do, they were in no way inimical to progress or to private enterprise. To win back support from the Dockers – compromised when he backed the wealthy residents of the Ayres in their campaign for a mayor – Korrigan was also at pains to stress how his vision for the future embraced their interests too: ensuring jobs for the workers while limiting the scope of corporations. He painted a vision of the future in which the Old Faith had a hand moulding progress, instead of keeping it at arm’s length – helping to make the city cleaner and safer. Inspired by the book on Triegenes, he talked of rising to meet the challenge of the new age.
Here’s an extract (written by the player on a scrap of paper during our last session before the summer):
“Some say we are opposed to progress and private enterprise. Others might argue that we are ignoring the interests of the ordinary man.
“We are standing on the crossroads and the future is becoming? Which path do we choose? The one of strife? Of exploitation? Where the Old Faith is set against science? Or the one in which the new inventions serve everyone? Where all people can live in peace and prosper together! We need to make a choice about what future we will live in! And we need to speak out and let our will be known. To step forward on this path and boldly greet the spirit of our age!”
At the end of the speech, the crowd burst into rapturous applause, which masked the report of the sniper rifle, perched on one of the distant, unpatrolled buildings that nudged up against the square. A bullet struck Korrigan square in the chest.
Fortunately, Korrigan had manifested cindersoul shortly before stepping up on stage. His roiling magma body absorbed the projectile in an instant. The shot caused Korrigan to stagger and cough, but no more. No one but he and Matunaaga even noticed and the rally ended in triumph (although Korrigan’s exit from the stage was more of a hustle than a saunter).
Skill Challenge: The impact of the rally on the skill challenge was significant, causing the unit to succeed in not only the public sphere, but also the political one – public opinion nudging those mayors who had been hesitant into supporting Deneric Jayce’s motion to condemn the mercenary fleet. Unfortunately, the unit had not done enough to succeed in delaying the launch of the fleet, which meant that – sensing the adverse political wind – Benedict Pemberton was able to order its launch before it could be sanctioned by the government of Flint. At the same time, he withdrew funding from businesses, factories and projects throughout Risur, in accordance with the threats he had made in Slate. This included his funding for the RHC…
The unit later found themselves meeting merfolk emissary Helpolol at the governor’s mansion (where they also encountered their erstwhile ally Azure Lord Blackthorn – more of which some other time). Helpolol was disappointed that the mercenary fleet had not been scuppered entirely, but had to accept that the unit had done all they could. It was also no small matter that the fleet would not fly under the Risuri banner, nor be welcome in any Risuri port.
Rumdoom: For safety and certainty, having secured Karl Krauss’ compound (calling in Sebastian Harlock of the Battalion to debrief the dominated citizens, impound the expansible portal, and quarantine Rumdoom), Uru, Leon and Malthusius went to consult Isaac, Mayor of the Nettles. Isaac had already been working on what he called a ‘mind-cleansing machine’, aimed at ridding Xambria of her possession by Ashima Shimtu. (Xambria was currently ‘locked’ into a recess of Malthusius’ mind where she could do no harm.) Isaac felt confident that the device could be used to ensure Rumdoom was also free of pernicious influence, and wondered if perhaps the whole unit might like to be run through the machine to check that no issues persisted (given that all of them had been tempted in the Vault, and no less than two of them had been possessed in as many months…) Uru was suspicious, and agreed (along with the others) so long as Isaac subjected himself to the device first! Isaac was somewhat offended and in any case told the team that the device was not ready and that he would get in touch with them when it came to fruition.
Rumdoom recovered consciousness under the watchful eye of the Battalion specialists and was given the all-clear within a few days. He then returned to the clap-board meeting house in Bosum Strand. On the way, there were horrified, fearful gazes from the dwarves who recognised him and when he reached the meeting house a hostile crowd had gathered. They thought that he had been in on the whole sordid affair – the theft of funds and Harn’s murder: after all, had he not disappeared on the same day as Azon, Thered, Thangir and Kvarty?
His protestations of innocence (and his inexplicable return) soon convinced them otherwise, but the impact of the events remained profound. Poor Khoomrung Morkanstall’s health had worsened when his restoration did not occur, and by now he was at death’s door. One of the congregation gently mentioned Hildegaard, Harn’s daughter, who had been a staunch supporter of Rumdoom in the past. Had he been to see her? Had anyone seen much of her since the dreadful day in question?
Rumdoom was shaken. He could not bring himself to visit Hildegaard, but went instead to RHC HQ where the job could take his mind of personal matters, and perhaps provide clues as to the whereabouts of Azon. It preyed on his mind to realise that, while he might be invincible, those around him remained vulnerable to harm, just like poor Moraga, his late, lamented sweetheart.
But when Rumdoom arrived, he was not admitted to the building. His status was suspended mending an enquiry. He went home to cool his heels, and be alone with his gloomy thoughts.
Malthusius: Recently, the old deva had developed a new means of interacting with spirits that he had named location loresight. It allowed him to pick up large-scale visions and images associated with specific places. He returned to the burned out theatre where Andrei Recklinghausen was abducted and entered a trance-like state.
[Expecting Wolfgang von Recklinghausen, the Obscurati sent along Norm (his contact), Nicodemus (to persuade Wolfgang to join through sheer charisma) and – because Wolfgang is no slouch – two combatants, whose description was inspired by the image from the cover of the forthcoming heroic tier hardback edition. Realising something was amiss, Nicodemus gave orders for them to take down Andrei, and – unwilling to take chances – called for back-up. My idea is that Governor Stanfield teleported in. This is a little outré I know, but I figured he’d be in contact with Nicodemus and that he can go anywhere he wants to in Flint, such is his connection with the city. I threw Stanfield in because when Malthusius peformed a simple object loresight at the location a few sessions ago, I told him that ‘a tiger had taken Andrei’. If any of this causes problems, I’ll change it.]
Malthusius witnessed the scene as the four individuals waiting for Wolfgang were surprised by Andrei instead. There was a stand-off (Andrei was expecting to find Wolfgang too) and by their postures, it seemed that hostilities were likely. Malthusius saw: a smartly dressed man in a stove-pipe hat, reaching into coat for a weapon; a brightly coloured female sprite; a non-descript man with centre-parted hair looking nervous at the prospect of conflict; and a shabbily dressed tramp, casually smoking a cigarette. Malthusius immediately recognised the latter as a rough-sleeper he had questioned once before. He tracked him down in the Parity Lake district and learned that the man had no recollection of these events. He did, however, remember the man with centre-parted hair when Malthusius described him. He said he had called himself ‘Norm’, offered to buy him a drink, and then jabbed something into his arm. A quick inspection revealed a red mark there, but no further evidence.
Full recap: This part of the session did not bring the unit fully up-to-date, as I wanted to wait until the mini-game was explained before I went into further detail. So we’ll be looking at what else happened in the last two weeks at some point during the next session. Confused? Me too.
