What's Happened in the Interim? A Downtime Update

As readers of this chronicle know, there was a gap of coverage/activity from much of January of this year to much of March of this year--and February was completely devoid of updates. At the same time, the pace of expeditions slowed markedly, even as the pace of life within the Dual-Cities likewise slowed.

There are a variety of reasons for this; mainly, the Scribes were busy with projects mandated them by the Souffets; but also, the Cities of Cothon-Gadeed have been set upon more viciously by the Kzin warlord the Red Cloud than previously expected; and not only the trouble of the Kzinti, but also some dread danger comes marching out of the ruins of Tsur al Qadim of nights (set loose, as some say, by the meddling barbarian adventurers of Cothon ...).

All of which is to say, the Scribes beg forbearance!

But as was perhaps mentioned in an earlier plea, life did not stop in Cothon-Gadeed during that time, and likewise the populace continued pursuing their own lives. Just so the barbarians! And so here is related the means by which barbarian-adventurers can set to record the works they pursued during those three months:

Any player-character who did not specifically set aside time for downtime activities during the months January, February and/or March, may avail themselves of either 1) generic downtime OR 2) special downtime for each free month.

The Scribes know in particular that Bartholomew Pettibone scheduled out his downtime pretty particularly for much of these months (or perhaps all). By way of example, let us assume he scheduled all of January and part of February. In that case, he would be free to use option (1) or (2) for March only. Having scheduled through January into February makes him ineligible for either of those months. Contrariwise, if Revna didn't schedule any downtime in the same set of months, she may elect option (1) or (2) for each of those three months.

1) Generic Downtime

Unlike the normal course of downtime, a character may spend one of the stipulated months automatically advancing a generic clock, rather than rolling. This automatic advancement applies only to specific activities, and only to a certain extent. The stricture that a player-character describe how they're advancing the clock with at least a sentence of detail still applies. The allowed activities (and maximum advancement) are noted hence:

• Non-magical research (limit 1 success)*
• Spiritual Exercises (limit negotiated with referee, according to goal)
• Martial Training (limit 3 successes)
• Alchemical Pursuits (limit negotiated with referee)
• Cultivating a Relationship (limit 3 successes)
• Magical Research (limit 1 success)*
• Professional Pursuits (limit 3 successes, only gp may be earned)--dinars according to one's skill:
  Plebeian -- earn 60 dinars (gp) per month selected
  Skilled -- earn 120 dinars per month selected
  Noble -- earn 225 dinars per month selected

2) Special Downtime

Instead of using a month for a generic downtime, a character may instead elect to have spent time involved in the "life" of the cities in that particular month.

For, though the game has been in a bit of a stall, the life of the cities has continued apace, with new developments, some noted (the Red Cloud), some hinted at (the strange goings-on in Tsur al Qadim). Characters who choose to involve themselves thus in the life of the city during any one of these months selects the month and rolls a d6 against the table below:

Special Downtimes

Month	Roll (d6)	Effect
	1-2	Hoarder – gain d6x250 dinars, -2 on reactions in Cothon for a year
January	3-5	Friend in Need – spend d6x100 dinars, +1 on reactions for a year
	6	Too Generous! – earn 1 xp per 1 gp donated; cannot increase in level
	1-2	Haunted – hair whitens, and lose 1d10 years of life
February	3-5	I will not fear – +1 on saves v. undead/fear for a year
	6	Fearless – cannot be paralyzed by undead, permanently
	1-2	Panicked – roll at -1 on reaction rolls in Cothon-Gadeed for a year
March	3-5	Held fast – AC at -1 bonus when facing Kzinti for a year
	6	Kzin-killer – +1 to hit when rolling against Kzinti, permanently

During the month of January, rumors of danger began to circulate through the Dual-Cities (and the Ten Cities' League at large). The Red Cloud and his Kzinti were at that point threatening, and though they had not yet done anything specifically, the air was thick with tension. And too, winter is on its way, long months of cold that will cause fields to lay long fallow, and supplies of grain and foodstuffs to grow thin.
Given this, characters with their "ears to the ground" may elect to have spent January preparing against the rumors of danger circulating in January, either by speculating and hoarding supplies, to be sold at profit; or by securing supplies to be donated to friends or associates. 

During the month of February, something of the true danger in Tsur al Qadim was revealed: shadows and spirits were seen to walk through the Cities at night, and Poor Brothers of the Dead who defend the Pallbearers' Way to the Necropolis reported constant skirmishes with restless corpses marching out of the Old Ruins. A terrible fear crept through the Cities, a palpable terror ...
Some stayed in their houses and apartments during this terror, but others chose to rise and meet it. Those who were unafraid, or who wished to master their fear, volunteered to assist the Poor Brothers, or to assist those who patrolled the streets at night in Cothon or Gadeed, to ward back the shadows with extra torch- and lantern-light. Even some of these could not meet their fear without blanching, and more than a few volunteers returned with whited hair and faces lined with terror and premature age.

During the month of March, the Red Cloud showed his hand. The Iqta' al Zaytun was plundered and burned, and Kzinti and their tribal human auxiliaries raided the hinterlands hither and yon. Not long ago, a band of Kzinti even attacked and burned the hillfort in the Tukayyat Hills, on the headland between Cothon and Ittiyqa!
Too late, much too late, the Souffets called for patrols to go forth from the Dual-Cities, to attempt to stave off these brazen attacks. Men-at-arms of various families and bands from the various Fighting Societies went forth, and volunteers who wished to test their mettle went with them (not a few having learned courage the month before) ...