Merchants' Return

A Hanse ship has put into port, and it heralds the good weather of summer soon to come. [the Scribes need to figure out the actual dates of the solstices and equinoxes of the solar year at some point, but have not yet done so] This means several things:

1. Adventurer-Merchants should begin to trickle through the Cities again
2. Telman of Tsipa will have to return to press his campaign against the Luwian Pirates very soon now [the Scribes know that Durham is working on something in regard to this and acknowledge that a session may be a good way to resolve it]
3. 
   (though this is not how it works in the real world), winter inflation is now over and prices are normal per the SRD once again

As for this merchant, he is actually a Hansesakkra, one Glarh.

While his ship offloads some much needed spring cargo of corn, salt-hma, and other such goods, Glarh himself has certain curios from his personal chest for sale in the town, for anyone interested:

Price	No.	Items
40 dn/horn	8	Wapeetum Antlers
75 dn/cask	4	Ismiirli Pale Ale Cask (16 gallons)
100 dinars ea.	8	Sakkra Essence Healing Potion
150 dn/bottle	5	Chromium Ink (4 uses per bottle)
2000 dinars	1	a Northern Sekeker Queen (ready for nesting)
3200 dinars	2	Logrii Bulrathi Mail Shirt
5000 dinars	1	Manslayer, a Kzinti wtsai (magic)
8000 dinars	1	Moonlight Pendant (magic)

Availability is first-come::first-served. Please either comment on the blog below or on our Discord channel to let the Scribes know if anything is bought. The Scribes will keep track of the timing of any purchases.

These items/goods are available until 31 December, after which Glarh will have departed for his next port of call and taken anything not yet sold with him.

Tax Time & Other News

Indeed, it is that time of the lunar year again, and the first tax season under the new Souffets, Urodas al Arasqiy and Bayzadis al Othmani. Normally, this is a time for barbarian adventurers to pay their fair share into the coffers of the Cities.

But not this year!

Rejoice o! barbarians and denizens and adventurers. For this year, a reprieve has been granted--a tax jubilee--in recognition of bold deeds done in service to the Dual Cities, and for the capture of Fort Bugeater from the Red Cloud's forces and the removal of that stronghold as a threat to the Cities.

No player-characters owe any taxes this year.

News and Rumors

[ I'm sorry to the regular players for my tardiness in updating much of the game. This year has been a bit of a challenge, between changing jobs, trying to write more (outside D&D), and ushering in a new family member. Life has presented a number of challenges to me in my maintenance of the game and its chronicles. Thanks to y'all for your patience--I really enjoy playing with everyone! 

With the birth of a new baby, I may not be able to game as regularly as once was, but I will try to have a game at least every couple weeks to keep things moving. ]

For everyone who has been in Cothon-Gadeed during the past few months, here is a list of news and rumors going about the cities. It is not exhaustive, but it is representative of the things that our barbarian heroes of the chronicle have been either engaged in directly, or poking around the edges.

The Scribes are hoping to expand the scope of the described world soon--not expansively, but with more information about the Ten Cities League and the Hanse at large, to allow for a wider perspective on things. It would also make overseas merchanting or adventuring easier.

News and Rumors

• new Souffets have been elected, namely Bayzadis al Othmani and Urodas al Arasquiy. They'll be replacing the old Souffets over the course of the next month, and will essentially rule the cities of Cothon and Gadeed, as well as the Ten Cities League for the next three lunar years
• concurrently, there is another set of Games to be held at the end of this month, before the new solar year begins--the Xoldasoteri Games, which will echo the Games of the past two years (Coreguyi and Tsamri-Hane)--it will be a time for those who like to gamble to see if they can bet on better gladiators
• the new solar year is about to begin, after a brief intercalary month at the end of December--this will be another time for feast and festival, much like the lunar new years, but on a different scale; the populace of the cities looks forward to this time, especially as it marks the beginning of the end of winter (remember, winter will last until about June 2023)
• the menace of the restless dead in Tsurr al Qadeem continues to grow. There are now reports of the winged undead vorodla leading contingents of mrur, as well as reports of stranger things, all per the Poor Brothers of the Dead and various mourner-societies brave enough to still traverse the road to the Necropolis.
• Telman of Tsipa has returned to Cothon! A "brightening star" of the Hanse, he has been away for most of the last two lunar years prosecuting a campaign against the Luwian pirates.
• ... and yet there are certain rumors that the return of Telman is seen as a kind of opportunity, an opportunity to be rid of one whose stardom is seen as threatening
• the Kzin warlord, the Red Cloud, continues gathering a force of extraordinary magnitude to be wielded against Cothon-Gadeed in a final victory of Kzinti over Men
• pursuant to this threat, the two new Souffets are rumored to be readying an army to field against the Red Cloud and his bands; this is a new development compared to the more hands-off approach of the last two Souffets (which seems to have facilitated the Red Cloud's meteoric rise--why were the Souffets so reluctant to move against the Kzinti??)
• other than his investigations into the Barcidae (which are not really as public as the chronicle might suggest), Durham is known to have been throwing himself into some great project at the Ringing Anvil, with the clamor of smithing and much activity constantly sounding around in the neighborhood
• Bartholomew Pettibone and his cohorts are apparently engaged in developing some kind of wondrous entertainment routine, including performance with the musician Anataynus and the dancing girls of the Kantor Kabljauhof
• bands of robbers from the undercity (Medina al Taht) have grown bolder in recent weeks, even to the point of openly robbing passersby on the street and breaking into shops and warehouses; meanwhile, the Bani Dawr have taken interest below, sending servitors of their house into the undercity, and Najm claims to have been approached by a messenger from the undercity asking for help for his mistress below--perhaps in relation to this increased banditry?
• The Banit Dawr are also said to be making money hand-over-fist by engaging with merchants that seem to be able to avoid the troubles of both winter weather and the roving bands of the Red Cloud; for those in the know, they are apparently able to get goods for low summer prices! Have the Bani Dawr made some deal with the demons of the Fortress Moon, or used some other magic to effect this wonder?
• the Attine Klackons, disturbed by the recent excesses of violence from Kzinti warbands, have opened negotiations with the Souffets and the Xolda Klackons of the cities, a move unprecedented in recent history, as they Attines have traditionally been isolationist

A Brace of Returns

On a grey and blustery winter day a column of galleys straggles into view of the harbor watch across the choppy seas from the north and east. An alarm is raised, but as the watchers peer through the drizzle, they see the colors of the Hanse snapping from mast and prow, and as word goes through the harbor, a cheer is heard to erupt from the Gatehouse (at the Kantor). Hansemaenner run out to the piers, stoups of ale still in their hands, to watch the approach of the galleys, asking each other if Telman of Tsipa is finally come back.

Working their way down the coast from the Denyan Islands, the squadron has in its midst a few ships broader of beam as well—merchanters by the look of them, escorted on this last leg by the Hanse’s sleek galleys. As the squadron finally passes the breakwater to enter the harbor, led by the pilot ship, three cheers rise from those still watching from the pier.

‘That’s Telman’s boat! It’s Telman!’

The commander of the campaign against the Luwian pirates has returned to Cothon at long last, after almost two lunar years in the field. Delayed by storms, raids, and administrative troubles in the strongholds seized from the pirates, only now has the intrepid captain finally been able to make his way back to the Kantor whence he started. And how long will he remain? Through the rest of the winter at least, but he will no doubt be recalled to the fighting as soon as the seas are ready to bear warships again.

In the meantime, there is amaze in the eyes of Telman as he steps from his galley to the crowds on the pier. Two things stand out immediately as changes since last he was here—the windmill tower of Durham’s Ringing Anvil rises over the buildings nearby the Kantor, and riding there at the Kantor’s private docks is the infamous pirate galley Darkwing. What other changes wait to be seen? he must wonder to himself as he allows himself to be swept along by the Hansemaenner, into the Gatehouse to be plied with ale and wine—he and the crews of his galleys of course, and many are the glad reunions of friends separated by the seas, as well as solemn acknowledgments that certain friends never will return.

Within the Kantor itself, Captain General Zaytar offers a toast to this bright star of the Hanse—‘Long health to Telman of Tsipa! May his star never dim!’ Then with a shout, the men all agree, and drink to the toast, and call for the musicians to play and the girls to dance, and more ale for everyone. And despite protestations, Telman pays liberally with the moneys he has won while campaigning.

Those in the neighborhood got no sleep that night for all the raucous carousing at the Gatehouse.

Other Returns

Telman is not the only one to have returned in this squadron, of course. While he and his crew are rushed by the Hansemaenner and dragged into the Gatehouse for carousing, the merchant vessels lug into separate berths in the harbor. After the captains declare their wares to the harbormaster and pay their hawking fees and longshoremen’s wages, their ships are then swarmed by a mix of their own crew and those of the Longshoremen’s Guild, to have their goods hauled to warehouses or to prearranged merchants or stalls in the Souk.

One of these merchant captains is Halgerd Longlegs, who has come through the ports of Cothon before, and whose outgoing cargo then was financed in part by one Durham of the Ringing Anvil. Unfortunately for Durham, the other merchant he financed ended up despoiled by pirates—and Halgerd might have suffered the same fate herself, if she hadn't ended up with Telman in the end. It seems the Luwians are bold sailors, and have taken to raiding even now that winter storms are whipping Dirac's Sea to a frenzy.

Fortunately for Durham, Halgerd traded successfully up the west coast, then continued trading well east through the Denyan Isles toward Misria. She ended up with a hold full of valuable Misrian goods at a time when such things have become hard to come by, and so she is able to sell her cargo in Cothon's Souk at a good profit—an excellent profit, in fact, for Durham receives 7700 dirhams from his share of the cargo he bought (2500 originally). Such returns are unlikely in general, but circumstances certainly played a roll in such profitability.

Per usual practice, Halgerd also comes to the city with her own short list of goods for sale to persons of interest, first come first served:

Price	Item
1 gp/shell	80 iridescent shells and carapaces
100 gp/oz	11 oz. hallucinogenic pollen (1 oz = 1 dose)
50 gp/pod	7 strangler-pods
200 gp/vine	10 leechvines
80 gp/amphora	3 amphorae of passum (raisin wine; 55 pints ea.)
200 gp/amphora	4 amphorae of Misrian shajr wine (55 pints ea.)
130 gp/card	17 gilt cards w/intricate geometric designs
450 gp (entire set)	one set of 6 books, The Queen of Winds
600 gp	one ingot of zortrium

Strangler-pods emit sticky weblike strands when jostled (e.g. thrown), causing a victim to be held to the ground for 1 round after a successful ranged attack, plus one additional round if a save v. paralysis is failed

Leechvine removes poison from a body, though the blood-cleansing that they do causes 1-6 damage

Halgerd is happy to answer questions about the rest of her wares over drinks at a good tavern (spend 50 gp to ask about/haggle over any one item)

The Miat have Spoken

 As the year Khusra-Fadhlan 3 ends, year Urodas-Bayzadis 1 begins.

All hail the new Souffets, Urodas al Arasqiy and Bayzadis al Othmani!

Though the people clamored for Dalinar al Khalid, the bani of Gadeed were still wary of what the general would do if he wielded the power of the state in conjunction with the adoration of the people and the soldiers of the cities. Instead, they turned to Bayzadis, an aridani woman of Banu al Othmani—for the Othmani have had recent successes against the Red Cloud and his hordes, in the hiring of certain barbarian adventurers to be thorns in the paw of that villainous Kzin warlord. And so the bani hoped to assuage the people, in that, though they did not get Dalinar as Souffet, they did get one whose house has been prosecuting the conflict with the Red Cloud even as Dalinar would.

Meanwhile, the bani also voted for Urodas al Arasquiy to succeed Khusra of the same house, swayed at least somewhat by the influence of Banu al Rashid. The Arasquiy are a notable merchant clan, who compete broadly with the Hanse across Dirac’s Sea, so it will be interesting to see how things develop when the Hanseatic campaign against the pirates resumes in the east after winter's end. Meanwhile, Urodas will most likely see to domestic and trading affairs, while Bayzadis marshals the forces of Cothon and Gadeed against the Kzinti threat.

The Feast of Investiture

With the closing of the lunar year and the beginning anew, it is at the Feast of Investiture that the seals of office for the Souffets are transferred from those outgoing to those incoming. After the feasting, the new Souffets would then receive oaths from those currently in lesser office, and either affirm them by reinvesting them with their authority, or take back their office, so that another might be invested in their place.

The great feasting in the palace of the Souffets in Gadeed had more solemnity this year than in years previous, given the looming threat of the Red Cloud. Though nevertheless a grand affair and wondrous spectacle—into the court were brought whole roasted hma, sewn back into their skins, and dejejas stuffed with dates or plums, pickled smelts and ninenyelu, small gilekites steamed in wine, all delivered on silver and gilt platters—there was a seriousness in the air that subdued the merrymaking that young wine usually engenders.

At this feast as well, Chir'dirine the Princess of the Xolda Klackons, who share Cothon with humans, was a prominent guest with her entourage of pale-carapaced dores and gilt-carapaced sister- and cousiness-courtiers. Her own carapace oiled and perfumed and darkly gleaming, she watched the rites of investiture with great interest, and presented herself to both pairs, of departing and of incoming Souffets. In this, she is not really partaking in any ritual of fealty, but presenting herself as an equal to reaffirm the ancient alliance between the men of the Dual-Cities and the Xolda Klackons who dwell amongst them.

Urodas and Bayzadis recited the ancient oaths to the Dual-Cities and the Ten Cities' League, and thence received the chains and seals of their office from their predecessors. So then did they in turn receive the oaths of the chiefs of the bani-tribes and other officers of the state, and give unto them their offices. Not all who were in office retained their office, however, for it is the prerogative of new Souffets to install to their courts their own loyal followers.

And there are other offices to be filled by election or lot, thence to receive their authority from the hands and the seal of the Souffets. Some of these posts are to be held by those of noble birth (such as the Adirim, Council of the Mighty), but there are many offices of the state and the league that are held by ordinary citizens.

For Sesel

Who as a citizen is eligible for certain offices, by election or by lot. Sesel should roll d100 and consult the table below to see if he is called to any civil office for the next year:

1 - called to serve as one of the Thalatheen (a panel of judges)
2-3 - called to serve on the Bem (the popular assembly)
4-10 – no office
11 - Katib to the Harbor
12 - Katib to the Knights Pylaea
13 - Katib to the Censors
14 - Katib to the Poor Brothers
15 - Katib to the Migdol of the Dyers
16-29 - no office
30 - Katib to the Court of the Moon
31 - Katib to the Court of the Mount
32 - Katib to the Souffets
34 - Katib to the Armory
35-49 - no office
50-51 - Hamladdir to the Mahanet (General)
52-63 - no office
64-70 - called to serve the army
71-92 - no office
93 - Katib to Alagadrein
94 - Katib to al Zaytun
95-98 - envoy to the Xolda Princess
99-00 - envoy to the Attine Spire

Thalatheen – the Thirty
A panel of thirty judges who review the conduct of civil and military officers. A citizen selected for this office should roll 1d6 at the beginning of each month; a 1 indicates a review is afoot, details to be generated by the referee

Bem – the Popular Assembly
The Bem is responsible for voting on certain proposals of the Souffets. If the Bem is summoned, the player-character must spend their downtime for that week attending the assembly to listen to debate and vote on the proposal

Katib – Scribe
A minor official assigned to a variety of offices to assist operations. Very much like the quaestors of ancient Rome, the Kataba's chief function is as auditors and assistants. A player-character performing such duties must spend one downtime per month attending to said duties; on the upside, this will entail some familiarity with the officer they are assigned to, and to the arena they are engaged in

Hamladdir – Shieldbearer
No longer literally the shieldbearers/bodyguards of the Mahanet (General), this is a junior military officer who acts as an aide de camp or sometimes a quartermaster. A player-character chosen for this office must either attend the Mahanet in person, or supply a person of character and skill in their stead (e.g. a son, a trusted servant, or perhaps a cousin, &c.). While the Mahanet is in the city it requires only one downtime per month to fulfill this duty, but if the Mahanet marches forth, then his Hamladdir must perforce go wither he goes

Army Service
A player-character called to serve the army as a citizen must supply armsmen to the army according to his rank and wealth. This does not necessarily mean personally serving (many nobles outfit their own Gilmani or men-at-arms to serve), though citizens of lesser means are expected to outfit themselves with arms and serve in the heavy infantry.
An iqtadar of a smaller holding might be expected to send a heavily armed infantryman and his shieldbearer, plus ten archers/skirmishers, and a slave or servant or two to serve their camp.

Envoy to Klackons
An unusual post, but Sesel's reputation precedes him enough that he is in consideration. He helped spearhead the crusade against the creatures haunting the Sixth House in the Spire of the Attines, after all. This post would entail service similar to that as a Kitab, although with the additional responsibility to act as a liaison between Souffets and Klackons under extraordinary circumstances (details to be determined by the referee)

The Voice of the Miat

Have you ever tried to parse a foreign constitution? It's tough ...

Barbarians in the Dual-Cities of Cothon-Gadeed have the advantage that they can talk to actual citizens in the government of the Dual-Cities ... and yet, such citizens, who may vote for or against important measures or for/against the election of officers of the state may also not really understand what they do ...

What's easy enough to explain, though, is that the current two Souffets (Fadhlan and Khusra) will relinquish their office this November, while two others elected in the meantime will take their place. The Souffets are elected--so is this state democratic? It's a democracy of citizens (of Gadeed) ... mediated through the Miat--the Electors of Hundreds.

Officially, for all the barbarians running around in Cothon, only one has recently come into citizenship such that he can vote: Citizen Sesel. Unless another barbarian-adventurer advances to citizen in the next four months, Sesel will be the only one eligible to vote. But this is not to say that barbarians, denizens, and other plebeians have no voice in these affairs.

Indeed, the time for public debates has come.

The Souffets have the privilege of naming their preferred heirs ...

Meanwhile, the Bani-tribes are free to present their own candidates for the Souffet-ship, for those Houses that differ with the opinions of the current Souffets.

Finally, even the people of Gadeed are free to nominate their own choices for Souffet. Traditionally, of course, the people tend to align with one party or another--either the current Souffets, or the party of the Bani--but they are legally able to present their own candidates separate from either "ticket". The tradition of this tendency lies mostly in the fact that the people must support one or the other noble party, because their own candidates only very rarely win to office.

A Kzin bureaucrat? LOL

Candidates

1. Othman al Goekiy
   nominated by sitting Souffet Fadhlan
   leader of a Banu-tribe (al Goekiy) with a large garrison of Gilman servant-warriors; outward-looking, with ideals to expand the territory of the Ten Cities League across the seas
2. Urodas al Arasquiy
   nominated by sitting Souffet Khusra al Arasquiy
   scion of Banu al Arasquiy, a house/tribe with wide ranging trade relations, especially across Dirac's Sea; anti-Hanse in particular
3. Bayzadis al Othmani
   nominated by the Bani (not related to Othman except by long degrees)
   an aridani from Banu Othmani. Her aridani (independent) status marks her as "politically free", while her descent from the Othmani gives her voice weight with the Knights Pylaea who guard the Long Walls; the Bani feel that this mix of obligations make her ideal for defending the Cities against the Red Cloud and his threats ...
4. Dalinar al Khalid
   nominated by the People
   Abuakbar of a major Banu, former general of armies, recalled from his post because of political machinations, Dalinar is at once a commander well-seasoned in battle against the Kzinti (and the threat of the Red Cloud!) and yet poorly positioned for the politics of the Dual-Cities. The very fact that the populace clamor for him as Souffet is sufficient to condemn him from such office for those (nobles especially) who fear that he will effect a tyranny ...

Is it Dalinar, or the Souffets
who are so ineffectual?

Through the next three months (August, September, October), anyone is allowed to speak for or against these candidates. In November only citizens will be allowed to voice their final opinions. At the end of November, the electors of the Miat will cast their votes, and two new Souffets will be elected according to the votes of the Miat.

It is customary for rabble-rousers to hold feasts and stump-speeches to support their preferred candidates during this time. Though only citizens can vote--and then only electors of the Mia actually finalize such votes--it is still the case that many Bani-tribes gauge the political weathervanes according to the stump-popularity of various candidates among the barbarians and low-class citizens of Cothon.

Player-characters should feel free to investigate these candidates, speak for or against them, and even attempt to persuade Bani-tribes toward other candidates, as far as the player-characters wish to engage! Write stump speeches--whip up mob frenzies--hold feasts and only feed those who agree with you--do your best to become the Political Machine if that's what you want to do! You've got three months to play that game ...

Winter is Coming

Those who are keen to the change of seasons will have already noted the general cooling, and the increase in winds, rains, and storms over the waters of Dirac’s Sea. In truth, the southern coast of the Sea of Dirac is well-placed to maintain mild temperatures even as the long winter sets in, and it will never get cold in the area of the Dual-Cities—snow is a thing that few inhabitants have ever seen, unless they are foreigners from the north, or those who have gone far up into the southwestern highlands and mountains. The growing season around Cothon-Gadeed and others of the Ten Cities League—and elsewhere on the coast—lasts throughout the solar year, and though certain crops fair less well in the cool and wet, others thrive, meaning that winter will not have extreme effects in the cities.

Elsewhere in the world, of course, winter means something quite different. Twelve months of cold, storms, and snow are only survivable by those who look ahead and set aside large stores of food; and who are able to trade goods and wealth for extra food stores. Unfortunately, the change in weather makes passage over Dirac’s Sea dangerous, as great storms sweep through continually between the northern and southern continents, and so only bold sea captains are willing to risk their ships for the potentially huge rewards of running supplies to the snow-beleaguered north.

In the course of normal winters, what this means for Cothon-Gadeed is a general increase in prices, as the demand for grains and food from foreign ports increase. Unfortunately, this winter the cities are facing extra pressures—chiefly, the destruction wreaked by the Red Cloud and his Kzinti Heroes and tribal auxiliaries. With the razing of Al Zaytun, the destruction of the orchards and vinyards and pastures that had made the land prosperous, the Dual Cities will be facing increased demand in their own walls, as well as from distant ports.

What this means for player-characters based in the Dual-Cities:

Inflation

This would normally occur in winter regardless, but because of the Red Cloud and his ravages, winter inflation will be exacerbated this season. As of this post, all items listed in arms, armor, or adventuring gear lists must be purchased at twice the listed rate. This increase will last until noted otherwise; the winter season will last at least into next June (2023).

Ocean Storms and Bad Weather

During winter, only the bold or desperate travel by sea, especially in galleys like those favored by the Ten Cities League, which are easily swamped or broken by stormy seas. The high-castled cogs and sailing ships of the north fare better in such weather, but even they are at risk during the winter storm season. This doesn’t mean that travel by sea is impossible, but player-characters who wish to travel by sea during the next eleven months will be at higher risk of running into storms.

There have been several adventures in which boat-owning characters facilitated travel to or from the adventure location (or an adjacent location); such ferrying will now incur a small risk of running into a storm, as the weather can be quite unpredictable. If that medium of transport is used, there will now be a roll for bad weather, which may either force the boat back, swamp it, or perhaps even see it wracked against cliffs or rocks.

Similarly, overland travel is affected by the increase in rains. Roads that are normally dry and easy to traverse can become churned mud, making travel more difficult. Not impossible, by any means, but journeys overland will be at a slower pace than was possible before. It hasn’t been the case that player-characters have embarked on any really long journeys overland, but if anyone did so now, the trek would be affected by the inclement weather.

Of Coffled Slaves and Pirate Woes

 Not yet has the Hanseatic captain, Telman of Tsipa, returned to Cothon and his masters at the Kantor Kabljuahof--not yet, but word of his successes in his campaign against the Luwian Pirates precede his return! Running before a batch of foul weather blowing in from the east, Dirac's Wanderer, a single-masted dak, has come into the harbor of Cothon. Her captain, Lews Telaron, has come with a hold full of prisoner-pirates to be sold at auction in the souks of Cothon, and with news that Telman has driven the Luwians out of the greatest of their island strongholds.

Though ocean storms and bad weather--portending the coming winter--have stayed the campaign, preventing Telman's final victory, still, much has been accomplished. Unlike previous campaigns, Telman has invested the Luwians' islands with garrisons of the Hanse's men, preventing their being retaken by the Luwians (as has so often happened before). As the long winter descends, fraught with storms and bad weather that will prevent further campaigning until the next solar year, Telman has opted to return to Cothon for a time, to see directly to his own affairs in the Dual-Cities. According to Lews and his crew, Telman's galley should arrive by the end of the month, and with them will come a fleet of others like Lews and his Wanderer, ships and captains carrying holds of captured pirates to be sold off as slaves, the sales of which will back the war bonds offered by the Hanse at the start of the campaign.

Lews himself came early, hoping to make himself a tidy profit before the souks are glutted. The holds of the Wanderer hold not only war captives, but also a variety of other goods for sale:

(as with all such merchants, please comment on the blog below with any purchases, as these goods are first-come-first-served, and comments make an easy way to track such things)

Lews Telaron's Merchandise

Price	Item
40 dinars ea.	40 pirate-slaves, billed for hard labor
100 dinars ea.	8 prisoners billed as "household-worthy" slaves
25 dinars ea.	9 gilt or jeweled seax-knives (d6 damage)
300 dinars per case, OR 30 dinars per bottle	4 cases of sujamma liquor (12 bottles per case)
200 dinars ea.	7 pristinely white gadhar pelts, beautifully preserved
500 dinars ea.	3 polyjuice potions, allowing the imbiber to assume another's guise
2500 dinars	Ring of the Five Fingers of Pai

War Bonds Payouts

As Telman and his prisoner-bearing fleet return toward Cothon, and news of Telman's successes against the Luwians filter through the Dual-Cities, the Hanse begins to pay out to those who invested in war bonds back at the beginning of the campaign.

Per the records of the Scribes, Bartholomew Pettibone has been the only player-character who bought any such bonds, and he paid 1000 dinars (gp) into the coffers of the Kantor by way of this investment. When he receives word of the payouts, he also hears that the Hanse is returning investors' money, plus 25% of what was invested. This remarkable increase is based on the near-constant successes of Telman and his fleets against the pirates, the many captives taken and sold or to-be-sold in slave auctions, and the great amounts of booty recovered from the pirate isles. For, despite an early success by the Luwians (recounted here, as might be remembered, by Koway of the Weatherlight), every other engagement has been a success under Telman's sure hand on the steering-oar of leadership.

Which is to say, if Bart wishes to claim his money back, he would receive 1250 dinars. As this is based on the current success of the campaign, it is unlikely to change in the near future.

If Bart prefers, he can let the Hanse know that they can retain his investment for the upcoming renewal of the campaign in the spring (it'll be more than a few months), and their records will be updated to note that Bart's war bonds are now worth 1250 dinars, to increase or decrease the further campaigns play out.

Anyone wishing to may invest now in new war bonds, which will likewise pay out according to the future successes (or failures?) of the campaign against the Luwians--for the war is not over! Telman intends to return to the fray as soon as the evil winter weather recedes and allows it.

From Bartholomew's Journals: Treachery and Disaster!

[written by Phil, player of Bartholomew Pettibone, about a "Special Episode" that was played 22 April; despite and because Bart was not directly involved, I offered an award of 150 xp per level for the in-character report of rumors, and thus Bart has earned this award]

From the Journals of Bartholomew Pettibone, of the House Pettibone

A Purveyor of Enchanting Sorcery

22 April 2022

Treachery at Tukayyat!

While I have been studying and completing various research projects, here in Bob Hall, I have begun to hear stories and rumors of terrible things. Gan has been in town recently, visiting his sweetie, and has brought me this news:

Word has been spreading in Cothon-Gadeed about a recent attack on a particular Tukayyat hill fort, not too far off in the wilderness, northwest of the dual cities. Many claim, and it is the official word, that it was bandits – merely attempting to make off with several head of the prized chlen herd maintained in that area. However, others have heard more dire rumors.

Reports have begun leaking into public knowledge that the Captain of the guard at Fort Tukayyat (and his squire) were found alone in the forest, slaughtered. It is also rumored that the library of the fort was burned to smoldering ash, a particular artifact has gone missing, and a “trusted” initiate has disappeared. Some are saying this reeks of treachery, infiltration, and guerrilla war tactics by none other than the K'Zin war chief Red Cloud!

Indeed, Gan learned that the mangled body of a well-respected military captain (Lord Icar) was found in the forest nearby the hill fort, his face literally ripped off, and his weapons and armor missing; his squire was found crushed to death nearby. Yes – crushed to death! As well, a particular artifact (the shards of a broken “lance”?), and a certain initiate of the Confraternity of St. Inistas (Sister Kyssa) have gone missing. Furthermore, I have learned that a clerk of the Confraternity was found disemboweled in his chambers, and the library at the fort was most certainly turned into a conflagration (sad to lose such knowledge!). Perhaps the missing initiate was a traitor from within?! Finally, Gan related that in the area around where the bodies of the two military personnel were found, unidentified sources claimed that massive claw marks were noted on several trees, and a particular name carved into a tree trunk was identified – a K'Zinti name: His-Right-Hand-Is-Open!

More general rumors say that Red Cloud has been active throughout the north and west, with his bands of wild K'Zin burning and pillaging isolated farm villages. Small, scattered groups of refugees have been entering Cothon-Gadeed as of late, telling horrible stories of hordes of large cat-like demons descending on their freeholds, wantonly killing all in their way, stealing away herd animals, and leaving a scorched wasteland in their wake. These refugees have begun petitioning the great Houses to do something, but so far their pleas have fallen on deaf ears – except when it comes to one Warlord Dalinar of House Bani al Khalid.

Many of the great Houses, and the High Council, have claimed that these are only rumors, that there is no approaching war with the wild K'Zin (that's utter nonsense – they were crushed ages ago!), and the tales of murder and mayhem are but scare tactics being blown out of proportion by hyperbolic political rivals. However, Warlord Dalinar has made public claims that indeed, there is no “approaching” war – war is already upon Cothon-Gadeed! Keen observers have even noted that soon after the news of the raid on Tukayyat began circulating, a small contingent of emissaries from the Confraternity of St. Inistas made contact with House Bani al Khalid, and had private discussions with Warlord Dalinar.

Has war with the K'zin truly started? What might this mean for the city and her inhabitants? What about the far-flung iq'tas that lay outside of the city proper – are they safe, can they be properly defended, or will they follow a similar fate as Tukayyat and others? What, exactly, is Red Cloud up to?! Warlord Dalinar has made calls to action in the past, and none have heeded – is Cothon-Gadeed doomed?