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| Action Id: 2263 | Crisis: | Participants: Lou, Samantha, Mia, Caspian, Valarian and Oswyn | |
| Status: Resolved | Submitted: July 9, 2018, 8:58 p.m. | Public: True | GM: Puffin |
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Economic Resources: 375 Military Resources: 200 Social Resources: 200 |
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Action by Lou
Lou is taking a group of scouts, guards, linguists, healers, and diplomats out into the Crownlands to do a general census and survey of the Shav'arvani clans. She is interested in getting knowledge about how many there are, their wants and desires, and to see if any of them would be open to negotiations about joining the Compact -- but is not asking them to join. Mostly, she's having her people gather information to take back to the King so he can make an informed decision regarding the shav'arvani populations moving forward. Her part in this will largely be for scouting purposes, to get people to the known shav'arvani clans she's visited. The guards will be there for protection purposes only (represented by military writs.)
She does not ask them to bend the knee, nor does she make threats that they must bend the knee. This is a diplomatic journey, as a way to open the door further down the road. It is, in essence, a first contact experience in order to bring back information to the King. And they are doing this all very, very quietly, or at least as quietly as they are able.
As part of the diplomacy, she'll have healers on standby to help any who might be suffering from diseases or injuries, and to share information about healing techniques with each other. She'll bring small gifts for the clans of things she feels they might need (represented by the addition of economic resources), and ask the diplomats to dispense with them where they think they will be most useful, and have the diplomats do the most talking with the aid of the various linguists. Generally, the message is to promote compromise and peace.
Lou is also interested in exploring their knowledge base with goings on of the shav'arvani villages in as much as whether or not people are still disappearing. If she feels the situation is appropriate, she'll ask to speak to any talented singers within the group, and offer them the knowledge of the Wolfheart Rhymes (@clues Wolfheart Rhymes, Part 1 and Wolfheart Rhymes, Part 2) without saying what tribe she got them from. She doesn't know much about the Rhymes themselves, other than that the people she went with to find them felt that they, in some way, offered protection -- especially Part 1 -- from the slaver and the gargantuans. It is not knowledge that can be researched, but it is knowledge she shares freely with those that seem to be friendly and untainted. She's not certain if the Rhymes will be useful or not, but figures it doesn't hurt to pass them along.
Action by Mia
Prior to leaving Arx, Mia will be scouring for any information she can find on the areas they're heading to and the tribes that might be there. Historical records and maps are all well and good, yes, but she has the benefit of more recent information -- the masses of people that have flocked to her banners in the last year, ranging from the 10,000 that joined her a year past to the recent refugees that have joined the Compact. What she can gather, she will share with their scouts and diplomats, in order to help guide their movements.
Once done, Mia will be acting primarily as a diplomat (with the benefit of her skill in linguistics and her knowledge of multiple shav dialects) and as a healer, providing assistance to those who are part of the various tribes they come into contact with. She's long tended her husband's wounds, so the site of blood disturbs her little, and with several children of her own, she's familiar enough with the ailments of childhood. For as cool and reserved as she can sometimes seem, the locals may note that Mia has a particular fondness for children. A great deal of attention is paid to them and their needs and if she happens to earn the regard of any of the tribes for gentle care of the smallest and most vulnerable among them, or learn any new songs or rhymes from the children? Well, all the better.
Also accompanying her will be supplies, represented by my addition of economic resources to the action, in particular a number of leathers and furs that are common goods at the Twainfort. It's winter, after all, and a hard life out in the wilds. Someone needs to see them through to spring.
Action by Valarian
Despite the presence of hired guards, Valarian - as an expert with his blade - will be dressed non-threateningly, but keep his sword at his side and remain close to Lou and the other expedition members to ensure their safety.
Action by Samantha
Samantha will be participating as a member of the diplomatic team. She will be tapping her shav'arvani contacts in advance to let them know about the delegation while stressing the lack of any need to bend the knee, in the hope that they will encourage the clans and tribes encountered to be receptive to diplomatic approach. She will make sure her fellow diplomats and others on the mission who are not otherwise educated on whatever traditions for the groups they encounter that she has knowledge of in order to show respect (obviously some of them will be well educated, like Mia). She'll basically do the job she's become known for. In addition to this, she will have a squad of the Deepwood Rangers come with the group, both as part of their security and defense (scouting, and the like), as well as to openly display the kind of elite position a Prodigal can achieve within the Deepwood military in particular. No recruitment, nor as Lou indicated, any bending knee requests or demands, but letting them see Prodigals in an advantageous position.
Action by Oswyn
Oswyn is along as a field medic/healer. He pitches in a few resources for the procurement of gifts as well. Mostly, he's there to tag along, tend to any injuries or illnesses, and teach what he can about medicine.
Action by Caspian
Caspian is working to protect the group. His main objective is to stab what needs to be stabbing, and to not stab what doesn't need to be stabbing. He'll also give out candy to the children, because these kids probably never had candy before! Poor kids.
Result
Lou's expedition into the Gray Forest does not come without risk. This is a forest that lately has been reported to potentially house gargantuans, cultists, and other denizens that serve the Horned God. And so Lou assembles a small but quiet group - swift moving, diplomats and scouts and warriors too. They even take Oswyn along in case they need a field medic.
And so they go, reaching out. Lou is the Pathfinder for the Explorers' Guild for a reason - she is very, very good at what she does. She scouts the safest places, the best paths to their destinations. Some villages they find in tact. Others not so much - some show signs of complete abandonment, hastily done. Each of those has a small shack at the outskirts, half-built. Some show signs of complete destruction, and where Lou once knew of a shav tribe's home there are only the charred remnants of wood and fallen burnt stone. Still others are worse - in perfect working order, devoid of people, and in the center of the villages a plaque. "Slaves," some read. "Sacrifice," others read. "Fodder," still others.
When they do find villages now, Samantha and Mia work the diplomatic angle and, being known to the shav here well, the Marquessa and the Countess find themselves quite well received indeed. These villagers want to talk about the Horned God, and are willing to do so to any who will listen.
What unfolds is a tale of sorrow and grief. They never know, they say, when they might be visited by the Horned God's cultists. Some villages have taken to a nomadic life to try to avoid being found. Others simply know that they'll be found wherever they are. The situation is ripe right now for someone to come and claim the land, in truth. "There's a rumor that says that if someone powerful enough has claim to you, then he can't just up and take. He needs permission." Whether it's true or not, the leaders insist, their people believe it. So while some shav are willing to take their chances? Others might be very willing indeed to bend the knee indeed.
With Caspian and Valarian there, talk also turns to protection of the villages. It seems there are less martial activities going on than one might suspect. "He's not raising an army," says one grizzled warrior. "An army we could fight. Or join. He's raising a religion. Cultists. Magic. Demons. Slaves. He doesn't care if you're willing, and all he wants is more sacrifices. More of the right kind of sacrifices that is, but I don't know what those are except we aren't special enough. Sometimes we hear rumors of horrifying giant monsters, but we haven't seen those in this place. And when his cultists come through, sometimes we hear whispers - they're focused on sacrificing everything at the Lodge, and they're looking for 'The Blood.' Whatever that is, it's hidden, even from his cultists, and they're very, very angry about that."
All in all, it's a successful journey - they bring back intelligence and information, and no one dies - but it leaves more uncertainty than ever.