Fate of Or

Fate of OR

Adventure for Autumn 819
GM: Michael Parkinson
Night & Location: Thursdays 7-10, chez Smith, Mangere.
        [If people can't make a 7pm start, the only alternative is Fri 7.30-10.30]
Level: Highish. somewhere between (demi)god assisting and mostly irrelevant.
Requires: moderate competency; sufficient, but not excessive, diplomacy; and possibly the potential to think outside the known universe.

Warning: Will be playing simplified opposed combat.

Overview

Party is commissioned by "Isme" of Thebes & Cowland.

She would prefer at least ONE from that party (Seven For Thebes 19 years ago) that superbly assisted her father, Prince Ed, formerly Ed Swellfoot since he was raised by Hobbits who “found” him abandoned as a newborn baby.
Of that party, Aqualina has drown drawn the short straw, with her assistant/wrangler/antidote (Flamis? Starflower? etc); MAYBE one more may emerge (Caprice ??) from the old, turn-of-the-century party — so space for another 3 or 4.

Nominally the party is searching for someone/thing last seen in the Ellenic States: allegedly known as EPIGRAM, a superficially friendly giant (almost certainly the Greater Titan Epimetheus, aka Afterthought, in disguise).

If you *do* have the right "Epi", you will be asked to:

1. Deliver an Important Message
   
2. And persuade Epimetheus to return with you to your employer (if you have any hopes for a performance bonus)
   
3. ... which might mean having to do something for him first, since he is a demigod-like "fixer" (and, allegedly, an amateur literary/theatre/art/Reality critic).

You will be going off-plane and may NOT take an items with you, but your magic should function approximately as expected.
Your employers will be providing some short & long-term magic effects immediately before you depart.

PARTY

• Aqualina
• Starflower
• Veor
• Sir Wojer
• Caprice

PAYMENT & CONSEQUENCES

1. You will each be paid the equivalent of 9000 sp for taking the mission, even if you fail.
2. Payments, depending on the level your successes, may include: money, trade concessions, property, free training.
3. Assuming you're reasonably (or excessively!) successful you may expect a choice or two from selected items in the Theban treasury — since you are advised that you're unlikely to retain any loot from where you will be headed.

If nothing has been heard from you by the fortnight before the next Guild Meeting, the Employer will attempt, within reason, to have you all "recalled" back to Alusia ... with good expectations of reasonably complete success, but you may wish to take a Namer, Planar Mage, or other magical means of returning somewhere/somehow to Alusia.

OTHER IMPACT: Presumably there *are* Elvish interests involved, given their trade routes to Thebes and probably some impact to the Plane of Purple.

Loot & other Reference stuff

From Isme, Dated Credentials for each PC’s. Each scroll is on silk (which folds or rolls without damaging the indelible script (in Florid Elvish obviously) that names the bearer (with upto two titles, if they have any) as well-beloved righteous supporters of the Crown. The florid elvish essentially says:

1. You are entitled to (reasonable) support and accommodation from any local Elvish governor and
   
2. The Courtesy of the Services. — By tradition, that would in normal circumstance include making room for you and at least one servant and a couple of hundredweight of “necessities” (or other person luggage) on Elvish vessels, including the Airships.
   
3. If you are wronged by enemy or unfriendly agents, whilst explicitly (sometimes even implicitly) “attending to wishes of the court” you may expect an Officer to enquire further and conduct remedial action for the wrong on their own initiative.
   
4. The right to attend Court (in most, normal circumstances)
   

ALSO

1. The right to Petition the Court for Redress (although, given that you must write your petition on the back of you credentials and surrender them, this can be risky in personal matters or feuds with other courtiers).

Feel free to refuse the credentials … if you can give a convincing pretence to be that modest.

From TETHYS, a +10 Refreshing Greater [i.e., equiv to Rank 9; MA 33] that will “refresh” 9 times after Death loss or other removal; it will return 24 hours afterwards if that is both “safe &amp possible” (e.g., not in the same place/situation that destroyed the RG, character is alive, etc) ... otherwise shortly AFTER that.

The RG may be temporarily overidden by a Rank 14+ Greater Enchantment; and whenever that GE ceases your RG will be effective.

From Thebes, a permanent lesser enchantment, should you need one.

The Astrology reading on the "Large Black Thing"

Dream on, dream on, our unbuilt magic towers,
Of scenes to come, with glimpses warm and bright
Hung in the light of never-ending day.

When this strange life shall vary, Treasure teems;
Th’ Imagination is a witching fairy
For Spirits rising out of Clay.

Until, with fuller Sight, in happy Exaltation lightly
Climb to Elysium for Ever Rest, Respite,
Know where truth and peace Return or ever stay

The other (older?) version of the last verse the Lucidius found was:

Until, with fuller Sight, in happy Exaltation might
Climb to ever Fight, or to forever Rest in Light.
Know truth and peace — to Flee, Return, or ever Stay.

Being a true philosopher, he had no definite reason for the change: Perhaps the prognosticator was trying to change the emphasis? or make a different ending fit? or to hide something or a Name ? — All very unprofessional!