and the Demise of Riit Rakir
Following up on a recent call to arms, a company of barbarians gathered to take the new Souffets up on their offer of rewards for those willing to sneak their way into the Kzin Moot outside the Necropolis, and there learn what they may of the Red Cloud, the dispositions of the various Kzinti clans and their leaders, and perhaps even to capture some one for interrogation.
Bartholomew Pettibone and Iqtadar Sesel were eager to pursue this goal, joined just as eagerly by Avin, Durham, and Heijo. After signaling their intent to the Souffets, they received basic information about the proposed rewards: 250 dinars for rumors that could be followed up with, and 1000 dinars for any hard piece of evidence regarding the Red Cloud's plans, or a captive.
Finding the rewards agreeable, the company discussed just how to infiltrate the Moot for sometime, and finally agreed on the idea that they would hire Riit Rakir to pose as their "owner" and just have him, being a Kzin, lead them around the camp. Unfortunately, this proved more complicated than foreseen: Rakir was found drunk in a dive of a bar, hissing and spitting into his wine.
Upon being questioned, Rakir claimed that he should be a warleader amongst the Moot, but that he was an outcast, driven off after a failure to keep his position with a challenge of strength. Now Wtsai-Breaker was chief of the clan Rakir claimed should be his ... the company, being committed to their plan, invited Rakir to join them for a chance to seize the clan for himself. Drunk and angry, Rakir did the Kzin-thing and screamed and leapt at the chance ...
The group headed east out of the Gate of Mourners shortly thereafter:
- Heijo (magic-user 6)
"hired" Riit Rakir (Kzin) - Sesel (fighting-man 8)
accompanied by Raoden (magic-user 5) - Avin (magic-user 6)
- Bartholomew Pettibone (magic-user 9)
accompanied by Gan ad-Din (fighting-man 6) and Hanaïs (companion) - Durham (fighting-man 8)
accompanied by Pako (renyu)
After a confusing night, the company eventually returned to Cothon-Gadeed, minus one Riit Rakir, but plus a different Kzin, later identified as Chanter-Khym. For this prisoner, the company was able to claim 1000 dinars in reward, and they were able to relate certain other rumors that fetch several hundred more gold pieces.
Pako was not with the company much of the time, sent as he was as a scout/spy through the huge camp, made invisible by a cloak of the mystical threads of magic. "Very smelly," he explains, wrinkling his canine nose over a mug of beer to those who plug him for the tale. "Many Kzin, all close, they stink, spray all over, claim this, reject that. Many men too, and many beasts, and all of them, eh ... make dung. Saw Kzin-Friend, he was in first camp. Not trust him. In next camp, Kzin hiss and yowl, and Rakir break into big ritual circle and challenge. He fight big Kzin there, get mauled, but keep getting up, mauled more. Injure big Kzin bad, but still he die. Later, I think we find friend lady-Kzinti, and they help kidnap 'Chanter' Kzin. I think they use magic, but I keep watch for Durham, not listen in too close."
Rumors brought back:
- Wtsai-Breaker is a new chieftain, so young that he hasn't earned even a half-name for himself; he won an uncertain challenge when his wtsai clove through the former chief's, and so he took the chieftaincy for himself; because of his uncertainty as a new chief, he has attached himself to the glory of the Red Cloud in a bid to ride on the rattail of success
- the Red Cloud is attempting to negotiate with certain Mrrshan, despite old enmities; Chanter-Khym himself is a disaffected Mrrshan warrior, not really Kzin
- there are divisions among the Kzin bands (as might be expected); Wtsai-Breaker and certain others are sympathetic to the Red Cloud; but more "conservative" Kzinti, like Sheerh-Han detest him and are looking for ways to be rid of the Red Cloud
- per above, the Red Cloud avoided the Moot, fearing challenge or assassination-attempts, and sent Chanter-Khym as his liaison
- (if there are others I don't remember proffering, feel free to comment below or on the Discord and the Scribes can edit this list)
The Lucre
- 2000 dinars (gp) for capturing a prisoner--doubled, because Chanter-Khym is of higher stature than the Souffets expected
- 1000 dinars for reporting four rumors (may be increased per note above, if other information was discovered but forgotten by the referee)
- 500 xp to each player-character for infiltrating the Moot
- 400 xp for negotiating with the Kdaptists
- 451 xp for instigating the duel with Wtsai-Breaker
- 445 xp for the capture of Chanter-Khym
The Cut
- 500 dinars to each player-character
250 dinars to Raoden, Gan, Hanaïs, and Pako - 759 xp per player-character
380 xp to Raoden and Gan
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