The Moon Maid

 As mentioned (and forgotten by the referee) long ago under the section "Lady Khadra Qamari -- A Patroness", the eponymous lady could be approached as more than merely a patroness willing to buy gems and jewelry, artefacts from the Tel al Safina, and especially anything relating to the Fortress Moon--she could also be courted as someone of interest with whom one might cultivate a relationship. Given that I've been having fun writing other examples up, I thought I'd follow up here as well.

Lady Khadra al Qamariya

An eccentric woman of Cothon, presenting herself as a noblewoman, though not a citizen of Gadeed, and curiously dwelling in a tower that had been built by the Xolda Klackons but abandoned, or perhaps sold some time past and ultimately come into her hands. Her servants go about liveried in green and silver, with sheer green veils of silk, while she is a woman of a beauty as eccentric as herself, with blue-black hair, a pale round face, and eyes of shining smaragdine green.

Her tower-home is a kind of wunderkammern, filled with curios and artefacts of stupefying variety. Many seem merely decorative--if that!--and few have any obvious use. Whispers swirl around her that she is a demon-worshipper, no little reason being her epithet ("the moon-woman"), though better-attested rumors suggest that she worships foreign entities, be they hero, saint, or demon. She is clearly no native of the Ten Cities, and yet also quite clearly interested in the kind of artefacts that might be retrieved out of the depths of places such as the Tel al Safina.

The Lady Khadra is tight-lipped about her origins, but is quite happy to engage in local gossip relevant in Cothon-Gadeed in particular, or the Ten Cities in general, as well as happy to speculate about all manner of theories concerning the Tel and the Fortress Moon and things "beyond". She seems skeptical of the "received tradition" about much of myth and history, though she always stops well short of outright heterodoxy. She even believes that "the Wanderers" (stars that seem comparatively fixed, but are known to "wander" the night sky night after night) are other inhabited worlds!

Cultivating a relationship with her shouldn't be difficult for anyone interested in similar topics--which certainly seem like the kind of the especial interests of other barbarians of a more adventurous bent. When rolling to advance the relationship, complications must be rolled for on a dice result of 6-9.

Tick 1 - Purveyor of Curios

(Revna has already achieved this level of relationship, though seems to be generally inactive at this time)

• You have access to Lady Khadra as a patron willing to buy certain items without your having to spend downtime finding a buyer, specifically:
  - gems and jewelry in general
  - artefacts from the Tel al Safina or other location, even if seemingly useless
  - anything related to the Fortress Moon

Requirement: In order to roll for this first level of acquaintance, one must present for sale (or gift) an interesting artefact taken out of the Tel al Safina or other similar place. It need not be especially useful, as Lady Khadra is fond of commenting on the strange items of the Ancients taken out of such places that she has in her collection.

Tick 2 - Fellow Enthusiast

At this level, one is an actual acquaintance of Lady Khadra as a person; she has recognized a mutual interest in the strange artefacts of the Ancients, and perhaps in curiosity about the Fortress Moon and legends thereof.

• Lady Khadra will help with research into strange and unknown artefacts, though she will still expect some remuneration for such aid
• You may ask Lady Khadra about the curios in her wunderkammern and about her interests, and you may well learn something interesting

Tick 3 - Intimates

Because of your mutual interest in the Fortress Moon and "beyond", Khadra has opened up to you in particular. You are free to call on her socially, and she is happy to speak at length with you on what she knows and what she suspects. She expects you to be discrete with this information, of course.

• Khadra will share information with you, esp. about the Fortress Moon, that is little known or perhaps secret
• You may ask favors of Khadra other than help in researching strange artefacts, though favors may come at a cost
• Khadra may reveal rumors of an adventure location that she has heard about, but not been able to seek out herself

Requirement: To roll to advance to this level, you must be able to provide Lady Khadra with some especial piece of information pertaining to the Fortress Moon (and which is not hearsay), or some artefact that is definitely connected to it or to the skies "beyond".

Tick 4 - Co-Conspirators

Having long shared interest in the Fortress Moon and "beyond", and having shown yourself to be a discrete friend who isn't going to blather all her secrets to the world, Khadra is now willing to let you into the inner shrine of her tower. The contents are secret, of course--you'd have to reach this level of acquaintance with the lady to know what lies within.

• Khadra will open up with you about certain secrets she has access to
• You may ask a major favor of Khadra, though it may come at a cost
  - in particular, you may ask to borrow artefacts from her wunderkammern, which no doubt include certain eyes
• Khadra will support (financially and otherwise) expeditions seeking hidden sites she is aware of

Requirement: To roll to advance to this level, you must have been told one of Khadra's secrets and kept it in confidence for at least three months. You must also have pursued at least one of the "leads" that Khadra has suggested, and reported back to her with information and/or artefacts from that expedition.

Tick 5 - Moonies

There is a level of relationship possible to cultivate beyond the fourth, but the how and what of it are as secretive as the Lady herself. Those who are at "Tick 4" may request information about this next level from the referee, and pursue it as they desire.

Complications in Pursuing a Mooncalf (d8)

1. Your association with Lady Khadra has been noted publicly, and rumors begin to swirl, speculating that you have swallowed her heterodox opinions whole. Religious conservatives take affront at this; you are not welcome at the Confraternity of 'Issa or certain other associations, and you must spend an extra 1d6 x 100 dinars when spending money to take part in any religious festival for the next six months (including, e.g. the Tripartite Games)
2. Some presence in the Lady's tower was deeply unsettling, though secret or hidden. Save v. paralysis against these "heebie-jeebies" or fight at -1 to hit, damage, and saves on your next adventure.
3. Learn one of Lady Khadra's secrets. Do with it what you will, remembering that it will influence ability to cultivate the relationship further.
4. Lady Khadra has heard of a specific artefact or site in connection with her obsession with the Fortress Moon. She asks that you look into it. You must follow up on this "lead" to advance the relationship any further, including if this roll was technically a "success"
5. Someone of power or influence who has an interest in Lady Khadra sees your increasing esteem with her, and gamble that you are their means of learning more. They may bribe or blackmail you for information, or try to use you for a formal introduction, &c.
6. Something has followed you out of Lady Khadra's tower. The Referee will develop what this means.
7. An item has gone missing from Lady Khadra's wunderkammern. She (probably) doesn't suspect you, instead asking that you help her find out where it has gone/who has taken it.
8. Roll again on this table, unless the Referee develops some diabolical complication for you to handle ...