Session #109: Pirates-At-Arms - The Old Outpost

 Quite a while ago at this point, Iqtadar Sesel offered haven to a portion of the crew of the Darkwing pirate galley when that ship and its crew were captured. The deal was that they would serve him as men-at-arms most leal, and if they did so, they would be spared the fate for pirates in Cothon--hanging in the gibbets for the gulls and korakes to peck at their carcasses.

As such, Sesel equipped them in bulk as men-at-arms and gave them orders to assist in the survey of his demesne and the clearing of that demesne of monsters and the location of any treasures that might be hidden about.

This will be a series of parallel games to the main characters, allowing some refreshing low-level play at times, or a chance to bring newcomers into the setting and game, or a way to run something while main characters are off doing something else. There are also other options for these sorts of games--Bob Hall, Fort Doghouse, Fort Stormbreak, and the Was'go all provide opportunities for similar play of men-at-arms. Because its being run separately, I'm going to experiment with some different xp rewards, especially if certain non-human characters are played.

There is a plan in place that eventually, the events of this series of adventures will line up in "real time" with the events of the main game.

All that aside, the first object of interest for Sesel to send his "pirates-at-arms" to investigate was an old outpost he had observed on the western extent of his domain, and thence a portion of his ten (10) total pirates went exploring:

• Beanie (Luwian fighting-man 1)
• Ishak (Ismiirli magic-user 1)
• Ulf Catil Skardy Rolafson (?) (Hansemann fighting-man 1)
• Nit (Misrian fighting-man 1), deceased
• "Denny" (Denyan fighting-man 1)
• and later, Yaro (Leaguer fighting-man 1)

Exploration of the place took two attempts. The first involved sneaking around a huge crustacean, further sneaking past some terrible and strange flying worm-things, and ultimately the collapse of the upper works of the outpost's dilapidated tower. Nit was killed in the collapse, though at least the flying worms' lair was destroyed; but the company felt like they needed to return to Sesel's iqta' to regroup and beg some Sakkra blood potions of their patron.

The return expedition was much more successful. They fought off some leaping lizard monsters, and also dealt with some kind of hypnotic serpent that nearly drowned Beanie and left Yaro badly poisoned and ill for the next week. But they recovered quite a decent haul of loot for being a company of less powerful adventurers.

As the Scribes understand, Beanie was the record keeper to provide a report to Sesel, and so we may receive more details as to the happenings when he has turned in his report.

The Lucre

• 200 dinars (gp), 800 dirhams (sp), 400 fals (cp)
• alexandrite gem (500 dn)
• alkari shanu'u head amulet, with gem eyes (1800 dn)
• twelve chests containing ten (10) weeks of iron rations each (1800 dn total)
• three amphorae of good Luwian wine (600 dn total)
• silver-and-bronze braided torc (200 dn)
• alkari feather amulet with an eye-against-evil (amulet of protection +1)
• aspis -type shield with coiled-serudla ensign (shield +1)
• strange mace ("tech")

The Learning (6861 xp total)

• 5184 xp from treasure
• 449 xp from krua
• 530 xp from x4 naghli
• 395 xp from x5 'ulasta
• 303 xp from hysnaton
• 100 bonus xp to Ulf and Denny for exploration
  238 bonus xp to Beanie for exploration, report, and slaying one 'ulasta and the hysnaton
  130 bonus xp to Ishak for exploration and sleeping the other 'ulasta

The Cut

• 1472 xp to Ulf and Denny
  1502 xp to Ishak
  1610 xp to Beanie
• 1372 patron xp to Sesel
• 540 dinars, 160 dirhams, and 80 fals to each pirate (from coinage and sale of gem, amulet, and torc ... if any pirate especially wants something, they can "buy it out" of the pot with their earned coinage ... though the 1800 dn amulet would take some special negotiation)
• the other items are held by Sesel; if he wishes to sell the iron rations and wine, he can split that coinage how he wishes (or keep it), and the special items are to be held in reserve at his iqta', able to be "rented" by men-at-arms for expeditions according to his own terms

Public Mourning for the Dead: Nit

A Procession for a Princess

Some months ago, Iqtadar Sesel received a petition from the Mnor Klackons who make up a portion of the population of his iqta': in short, we demand a princess for ourselves, so that we may be fruitful and multiply--and if you do not, we will seize one!

Here are the arguments with which they put forth their petition, in short (not being the full presentation, but rumors of what was argued to Sesel):

• We are no longer outcasts and dregs barely surviving at the edge of society, but are now organized in the service of a Spire (i.e. Sesel's tower)

• We have provided good service to this Spire in helping to build its infrastructure and maintain its fields (however strange it is to eat the produce of the land, rather than eating the fungal fruits of the fruits of the land)

• We assist in the common defense of this Spire

• Yet we are left bereft, incapable of maintaining our population in service to this Spire! This injustice is injurious, both to ourselves and our lineage which is denied, as well as to the Spire itself, and to the City of which the Spire is only a part, like to a drone being part of the body politic of a Spire

• Therefore, we petition our Ersatz-Princess Sesel to acquire for us a true breeding princess, wherewith to begin replenishing our numbers and the health of our body politic

Hearing these arguments from the subjects dwelling on his iqta', Sesel ultimately ventured directly to the Attine Spire and requested an audience with the princess of the Fifth House (with whom he and others have had the most communication, during the affairs of the cleansing of the Sixth House).

Though many were aghast to hear of the possible intermixing of one of the blood of the Fifth House to intermix with Mnor outcasts, the translator Txach'achit warmed to Sesel's arguments for the mutual benefit of such an agreement and argued eloquently on behalf of his friend's request to his princess--and she, after much hedging and uncertainty, finally acquiesced to allow a junior cousin of her line to be taken by Sesel as a princess for his Mnor.

But not merely taken, of course--as is only proper, there must be a grand procession for such a union!

So, in order to effect this union, Sesel must organize the procession for his Mnor Klackons (and/or other subjects) to receive this princess into their company at the Attine Spire and then transmit her to his iqta', in a representation of a kind of faux-raptio (abduction), which the Attine Klackons observe as a ritual remembrance of their past as many separate spires having to abduct princesses from each other.

Sesel must, in addition to picking the date*:

1. Spend a minimum of 1000 dinars on trappings for this procession (and may earn xp equal to the gold spent above this minimum, to a max of 100 times his level)
2. Spend a minimum of 2500 dinars on a feast for the bride's reception to her new "Spire" (the iqta') (and may earn xp equal to the gold spent above this minimum, to a max of 100 times his level)
3. Describe the procession in a write-up to be posted to this chronicle. Necessary trappings are:
1. a suitable gift for the princess (300-1800 dinars would be suitable; if Sesel spends in excess of 1800, he may earn extra xp as above)
2. fungal lightbearers to lead the way
3. armed guards for the protection of the princess (pay a special wage for the procession, i.e. a full month's pay for mercenaries per the table from the book; pay humans as normal, but pay for any Klackons, e.g. the Mnor, as if they are Elves--and once again, any money spent here will earn Sesel xp up to 100 times his level)
4. optionally, if Sesel invites leveled friends, he may pay them as special guards at 100 gold per level, and earn xp equal to that for each one involved)

*a note on the date--it would be considered bad form in Cothon-Gadeed to pick the week ending 27 January for this procession, as that is the week of Stillest Night when it's evil luck to start anything new

The guards may seem at first blush to be ceremonial, and they certainly are--but let it be noted that they may also be necessary, as they once were. One mere fact is that a procession overland from the Spire to the iqta' has the chance of running into some dangerous beast from which the princess will need to be protected. More realistically, however, there are definitely interests against the union of a Fifth House princess to a colony of outcast Mnor. It may be that such ill feeling toward this union could instigate a counter-raptio, in which Klackons from the Spire would rush forth to attempt to seize the princess and return her to the Fifth House--a coup which would no doubt end any possibility of such a union being successful in the future.

So the guards may be necessary as they were in the old ritual, as insurance against a counter-raid against the procession. It's up to Sesel to determine how seriously he wishes to take this concern--and therefore how many guards to hire and how well to arm them.

This will be a downtime action taken by Sesel (or by Zaida if he can convince her with a 7+ on two dice). Anyone else involved does not need to spend a downtime to participate, as they're not really planning anything, just taking a day out for a procession and feast.

Good Hap to the Lunar New Year!

 and the Feasts of Investiture

With the close of Urodas-Bayzadis 1 and the beginning of the new lunar year, it a time for feasting and celebrations. The clash of timbrels and the winding of horns at sundown at the end of the lunar year herald the coming of the new year, and denote the beginning of a night of feasts Cities-wide.

At the top of society, the Souffets feast in their palace and re-invest their officers in the offices they have held for the past year--or choose to invest others in their place, as the case may be. They dine on fine dejeja meat, delectably roasted in butter and stuffed with dates; and eat pickled ninyelu, and rice pudding, and drink lassi, spiced or sweet, and fine wines.

Among the houses of Gadeed, the feasts are no less sumptuous, and mirror rituals of investiture are performed for the various officers of the banu houses. But even in humble households of Gadeed, or even of Cothon, feasts are still held--families take mowaj haunches from the markets for great roasts, or slaughter hmelu for themselves, and even they repeat the ritual for their humble servants of investing them with their responsibility within the household.

For player-characters:

Those who wish to partake in the festivities may spend 100 dinars (gp) per level to participate in a feast, as sumptuous as their means allow--and thus earn experience points equal to the gold they spend.

If they describe their festivities in detail, either below in the comments or on our Discord server, the experience they earn will be increased by 10%.

For Iqtadar Sesel:

In addition to the option above, Sesel, as a citizen, may also be called to perform some further office, into which he would be invested, if selected in particular, or if selected by lot. 

Let Sesel roll a d100 and consult the following table:

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 Company's Decision

Following their reported successes at Fort Bugeater, the company of that expedition was called to the Court of the Moon to report to the Souffets. Taking in all the information provided, the Souffets came to a decision regarding the reward of 150,000 dinars (gp) that they had offered for its capture. This reward was divided into three parts:

1. Eighty thousand (80,000) dinars would be awarded to the company of the expedition for personal rewards. Divided into shares, full shares to leaders and half-shares to retainers, this comes out to:
   11,428 dinars each to Sesel, Durham, Heijo, Fa Min, and Najm
   5,715 dinars each to Raoden, Pako, Demitrytus, and Fa Mei
2. Iqtadar Sesel would expand his holdings, taking up the office of mridha (castellan) of the Fort. It was requested by the company that the fort be renamed, given that "Bugeater" was the name of the Kzin who commanded it formerly. As mridha, Sesel receives thirty-five thousand (35,000) dinars for maintenance and upgrades to the fort. A force of at least 120 fighting-men must be hired and supplied, including support staff such as armorers and blacksmiths (it is suggested that perhaps Durham's Ringing Anvil get first refusal to take up this opportunity?). Sesel will hold this post for at least one solar year, with the chance to be reinvested with this authority with the accession of the next two Souffets.
3. Pako would take up the mantle of censor of the land around the Fort, acting as overseer and tax-farmer and ensuring that the land is developed for the good of Cothon and Gadeed. He will receive thirty-five thousand (35,000) dinars for the development of the land, and hold the office of censor for one lunar year, or longer if renewed during the Feasts of Investiture next year. It is expected that the Was'go take up some of this work, though certain rumors suggest that they are also engaged in their own expansion in the sea caves of the Ocean's Throat. As part of taking office as censor, Pako will also take on the mantle of citizen of Gadeed.
   This last is very unusual--a renyu citizen?! It seems clear that this is, to some extant, a thumbing of the nose at the Souffets, a deliberate following of the letter of their decision, but twisting the spirit. Many suspect that Durham, foreigner and Hansemann that he is, put the company up to this unusual choice.
   Yet, there are many who are happy to see a renyu raised to such status--after all, why should they not be allowed such status, when Bulrathi and Klackons are granted the same? Is there really anything about a renyu that should bar them from citizenship?

Pako's new status as citizen will be covered in a separate post.

Furthermore, the Souffets also promised a triumph and feast for the successful adventurers, in part to buoy the morale of the Cities, so long assailed by fears and disasters stemming from the Red Cloud and his horde of Kzinti, and the Stygian and the undead horrors infesting Old Tsurr al Qadim. This too will be covered in a separate post.

To Fete a Souffet

Iqtadar Sesel has spent not a little time in the past year attempting to rub elbows with the movers and shakers of Cothon-Gadeed (specifically Souffet Khusra), especially through the channels of his in-law family, the al Rashids. Though Khusra is now departing office, Sesel’s hobnobbing has not gone unnoticed—and was noticed not in a bad way at all, given the services and heroics Sesel has performed on behalf of the Dual-Cities, especially within the Spire of the Attines and the sea caves of the Ocean’s Throat.

Between his fame and his relationship with Khusra, therefore, it only makes sense that Sesel is already well in view of the incoming Souffets, and so as they enter office, Sesel receives a free single “tick” of “relationship clock” for each, putting Sesel and them at an acquaintance level of relationship.

Advancing the relationship with the one of the most powerful officers of the Ten Cities’ League is no simple thing as can be accomplished with normal relationship-cultivation rules. Rather, something more extensive must be developed to represent the attempt to impress and/or influence the cities’ rulers (whether by flattery, good/shared taste, speaking common sense to cut through flattery, &c), in following with Ben's sketch of a custom clock for pursuing a relationship with the Chatelaine.

As noted earlier in this chronicle, the new Souffets are Bazyadis al Othmani and Urodas al Arasquiy.

(take note that the relationship with each Souffet is tracked separately—one could be cozy with Bayzadis and unknown to Urodas, for instance)

Tick 1 – Standing out from the Crowd

(already achieved for Sesel at this point)

You have already done deeds or feted the notice of a predecessor such that you stand out amongst the crowd of courtiers, flatterers, and hangers-on that constitute the courts of the Souffets of Cothon and Gadeed.

Requirement (for others interested): To roll to see if you even rise to the Souffets’ attention, you must do something grandiose on behalf of the Dual-Cities, for instance, leading an expedition to destroy a major enemy of the city, or putting on an immensely lavish public liturgy, or personally paying for the maintenance of a number of soldiers for the walls, or some such ostentatious display.

Tick 2 – A Constant Presence

You may have been noticed, but in the hubbub of the court it takes more than that to be selected as a favorite of a Souffet. So many people are clamoring for their attention all the time; and so many courtiers become disenchanted with the constant coming- and going of the courts so that they disappear or pursue less lofty personages. But you have remained constant, a face that the Souffet can pick out of the crowd and who may yet serve as trustworthy.

Requirement: to roll for this level, you must spend one downtime out of each of six months attending the court of the Souffet. After the sixth such month, you can begin rolling (once per month) to attempt to advance the relationship by spending a downtime at court.

• You are recognized as a regular at court. Your name is known to the Bani (for good or ill)
• When interacting with lower level functionaries or officers, you may attempt to overawe them by name-dropping other courtiers

Tick 3 – Proving Yourself Useful

Be it a grand deed in service of the Dual-Cities, or simply passing on a choice and unique piece of gossip in the midst of the chatter at court, you have shown yourself personally useful to one of the Souffets. They may seek you out specifically for certain tasks, be they official or discrete (depending on your proclivities).

Requirement: to roll for this level of relationship, you must have performed some deed either publicly in service to Cothon or Gadeed, or privately for one of the Souffets directly.

• Having noted your usefulness, the Souffet will occasionally offer specific missions to fulfil their own goals, to be suitably rewarded
• Others in court will recognize your new relationship with the Souffet; though at least one will certainly become a Rival, there will no doubt be some potential Ally hoping to sway the Souffet to their cause by association with you

Tick 4 – Friend of the Cities

"Friend" is not always a word denoting a mere social nicety. "Friend" can also be a title ascribed to someone of high esteem to a king, Souffet, or other such office. It denotes a certain amount of trust, as well as responsibilities to those who bestow the title. Through your deeds and attentiveness, you have now been selected to be awarded this title, "Friend of the City" by the Souffet you have aided.

Requirement: You may roll once per month for this advancement by spending a downtime at court.

• A Friend of the City receives a special ring with the seal of Gadeed. They are technically an officer in the court of the Souffet, though their duties and responsibilities are extraordinary--subject to the whim of the Souffet. This office is re-invested or rescinded at the time of the Lunar New Year.
• Friends have some access to the city treasury and armory. They can take out a loan of up to 10,000 dinars (repayable at 1%) without oversight, or take higher loans with approval. This is intended to assist them in performing duties assigned by the Souffets, and misuse of this privilege is a major crime.
• Beyond the ability to take out such loans, Friends of the City receive a minor stipend of 1d6x100 dinars monthly to be spent as they see fit (the amount is rolled once, and is fixed to that character, barring future changes at investiture feasts or so forth)
• A Friend must attend court at least once every three months (by spending a downtime). They may hear juicy gossip or partake in serious decisions while present.

Tick 5 –  A Trusted Confidant

Though Friends are presumed to be trusted, only certain among them are really trusted with a Souffet's worries or considerations. Having proved yourself, you are now among this "elite"--and not only are you willing to listen to the Souffet's concerns, but they are also willing to hear your mind on things of import to the city, and to the league at large. Nay, they seek your opinion out!

Requirement: You must prove that you understand what must be kept in confidence, versus what, though told in confidence, is actually meant to be noised about. This will be enacted in a series of rumors provided by the referee to the player-character. What they do with the rumors will be up to the character, and determine whether they can become trusted confidants. A roll will still be required.

• You have the Souffet's highest trust. If you have the will and can put forth persuasive arguments, you can affect the policy of Cothon-Gadeed and the Ten Cities in general.
• Pursuant to that, you will have access to information about the broader circumstances facing Cothon-Gadeed and the League.
• You will receive a personal gift from the Souffet, of uncertain but definitely high value, as a sign of their esteem. This will be publicly done, and the demonstration of that gift can be quite persuasive to those who respect the authority of the Souffets
• As a confidant of the court, you must attend court once every month while you are in the city (certain missions, quests, &c. might reasonably take one away from the city, perhaps for some time, and in such a case this requirement is relaxed). These downtimes can be combined with other downtimes (e.g. cultivating relationships with other courtiers, or building institution through connections, or intel-gathering, &c.) though such combinations must be credibly explained.

Complications

1. You have aroused the envy of the court. You gain an additional Rival who will snipe at you with evil gossip at every chance they get (they increase the difficulty of subsequent rolls to cultivate a relationship by imposing a -1 penalty on the 2d6 roll).
2. The Souffet has decided that you are the right person for a mission as a special envoy to a difficult group. This may be something as exotic as dealing with the Attine Klackons, to something as prosaic (and frustrating) as listening to the complaints of the Guild of Longshoremen. You must complete this mission in a reasonable timeframe or suffer the reduction of one level of relationship.
3. Your presentation at court is unacceptable, be it your manners or your wardrobe. You are requested by the Souffet to attend etiquette lessons, purchase a new wardrobe, or otherwise better yourself for presence in the court by spending 4d6x100 dinars and 1d3 downtime actions.
4. The attention bestowed upon you by the Souffet has brought you also to the attention of a third party who now sees you as an avenue into the Souffet's good graces, thence to advance their own interests. They might attempt to blackmail you, bribe you, or otherwise attempt to ensure their own interests.
5. The Souffet invites you to a private liturgy of the cult they personally follow. This may be as innocuous as the sacrifice of a hma and subsequent feast, or some secretive rite of a mystery cult involving strange rites. You will be sworn to secrecy regardless, but the particulars of the liturgy may be beyond the pale of what you can accept.
6. A Rival at court has noticed you in particular and now blackballs you among the Bani and Guilds of Cothon-Gadeed as much as they can. Any attempts to further "build an institution" incur an additional cost of 2d10x100 dinars in red-tape and bureaucratic fees until the situation is somehow rectified.
7. Being known as a favorite of (or even one noticed by) a Souffet can entail unfortunate attention. In this case, a humble petitioner has latched onto you as the means of getting their case heard by one of the two chief judges of Cothon-Gadeed. However mundane the request may be, this individual will hound you until some decision is made--and perhaps even after, when seeking an appeal.
8. Reroll on the table above, or a some other circumstance has arisen in which the Referee will take a personal hand to develop.

Let Us A-Hunting Go!

[this was originally conceived as a close follow-up to the wedding of Sesel and Zaida al Rashid; there was too much going on at the time to make it work then, and there hasn't been a good time since; so this is being written now not as an immediate call to adventure, but as an option for Sesel to gather a company whenever reasonable and to opt to go a-hunting]

When Sesel and his bride Zaida al Rashid were originally wedded, it was noised in the House al Rashid that they must be feted with an invitation to hunt in the forests east of Gadeed where woodlands are set aside for the pleasure of nobles of many tribes. Alas, at the time Sesel and his friends were so busy that this was not possible at the time; and circumstances in the meantime have not been any kinder to the notion of taking a hunting vacation.

Nevertheless, the offer still stands. Whenever it is deemed convenient Sesel may gather a company of friends and take the Rashids up on their offer to go hunting. Such an expedition would be like the hunt for the akho, in that it would take around a month of game time, given that it'd take a week to get out to the location, a week or so actually hunting, and a week to return.

What of the threat of the Red Cloud? Fortunately, forests are not a great place to marshal armies, so the risk of running into a major contingent of Kzinti and auxiliaries is unlikely. It could be the case (so long as the threat remains) that a hunting party might run into a small party of Kzinti scouts or messengers passing through the same area ... but such encounters would be essentially similar to the chance of running into dangerous beasts in the woods. And isn't that part of the intent of a hunt? To enjoy the possibility of risk when hunting such as gadhars, shanu'u, or zrne!

And what is there to hunt in these woods? A great variety of beasts, some merely for good eating, some valuable for their parts, others worth glory for their defeat:

(there is currently a bounty for the elimination of an especially cunning pack of gadhars in the area where the Rashids like to hunt)

Dlakolel
The giant black beetle, its fur and its carapace quite valuable if treated by Klackon alchemists. It can put up quite a fight, so it should be hunted warily.

Dzor
The forest giant--huge brutes, semi-intelligent but incapable of normal communication. They are hunted by young noblemen eager for the glory of combat, but are otherwise not valuable prey-beasts.

a ghadhar pack

Gadhar
Pack animals of exceptional cunning. Like wolves, almost as intelligent as renyu, they are able to use certain tools, like knives, with their mouths. They are so pack-oriented that killing one or two of a pack will drive the rest into madness, such that they probably run in fear. Like the dzor there is little value in hunting them, other than in claiming bounties for certain especially vicious packs that endanger the Hunters' Guild.

Giriku
Nocturnal flying reptiles. They have an especially repellant scent, extruded by oil glands under their batlike wings. No value other than being killed as vermin (Hunters' Guild offers a 5 dinar bounty per wing).

Kheshchal
Beautifully plumed birds. Hunters trap them with nets cunningly set up. They are quite valuable for their plumage; living birds can regrow plumage numerous times and so are more valuable than a dead kheshchal.

Kurrune
A brown-plumaged fowl, providing plenty of meat (though it's rather dry, comparatively).

Kyni
The hunting falcon, a highly intelligent raptor prized for its hunting qualities. Falconry is an esteemed skill among the nobles, and capturing young kyni-birds in nets can be extremely lucrative.

Nraishu
A six-legged herbivore, large-eyed and with delicate body. An excellent prey animal. Males are antlered.

Mowaj
A larger version of the nraishu, the quintessential victim of the hunt. Males are antlered.

Renyu
Not common, but when found they can be lucrative to hunt, for they can be sold as loyal man-servants if subdued. Otherwise it is considered bad form to hunt-to-kill renyu, unless a band has been identified as dangerous and a bounty offered for them.

Shanu'u
Griffin-like flying predators. The adults are worth little other than the glory of the kill--they have little viable meat, and it tastes poor. Eggs and juveniles, on the other hand, are quite lucrative to come by, for they can be sold to the Alkari or to the Confraternity of 'Issa for a good sum.

Tsi'il
A large herbivore, generally peaceful. They have a bony carapace and a tail that ends with a macelike protuberance, and may be related to the aquatic ghar. Though dangerous to hunt because of their size and their armor and tail, they are hunted both because of the good eating of their flesh, and more importantly because of certain glands, the excretions of which can be used to create repellant for almost all aquatic predators (e.g. the haqel, tletlakha, or akho)

Zrne
A six-legged predator, which uses its powerful hind-legs to leap upon prey from surprise. It has powerful jaws and venomous fangs, and its hide is so thick that it is considered immune to conventional missiles so that it must be hunted with lance and spear. It's only value is in the glory earned by having slain such a beast.

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)

Putting Rumors to Rest

In recent months, two prominent adventurers in Cothon-Gadeed--one a citizen, one a barbarian--have been beset by the circling of evil rumors, rumors like the circling of giriku over carrion: Durham and his Ringing Anvil said to be harboring ambitions against the Mother of Cities in her hour of darkness, and Sesel, iqtadar of the North Shore and subject to the envy of others of his class ...

Festering like boils, these rumors were a painful irritation to each of these, one a denizen of Cothon, the other a citizen of Gadeed--and yet both stood forth boldly, and like a leech with his lance, needled the boiling rumors directly, rather than let them fester. Here are their responses; the Scribes note that the ambitions they set forth were sufficient, and no rolls are required for either party:

1) Durham of the Ringing Anvil
(written by Joel)

In order to deal with the protest outside the Ringing Anvil, Durham feels the best solution is to rally support to his side and hold a counter-protest to win the court of public opinion. He will do this by spending 250 dinars (gp) at the four Great Taverns (1000 gp total) buying drinks and meeting with the leadership of each.

A message of the current protest is "non-human connections are bad", in particular Durham's connection with the Wasgo tribe of renyu. Durham will try to persuade leadership and patrons at the four Great Taverns to join him in a counter-protest held at the end of the week (30 April), where he will give a speech to address the untrue accusation that he is disloyal to Cothan. He will tell all who listen that this non-human rhetoric is a danger to all of Cothan-Gadeed as all the great taverns have a non-human association and this rhetoric should be met now before it gains any more strength. 

Durham's speech :

Many of you gathered here are aware of the shadow that has been cast upon me and my loyalties, but I am here to cast the light of truth on the situation. 

It is absolutely true that I have bonds of friendship with the Wasgo tribe and Hanse. But having these bonds does not make me disloyal to Cothan. I have always loved the diversity of Cothan, this city has been welcoming to foreigners like me and embraces others of different race and creed. Are not the four great taverns better with their non-human counterparts, is Cothan not greater for its non-human citizens…then why judge my friendship with the Wasgo so harshly?

Do you really believe I would turn my back on the city that has allowed my business to thrive? –points to the spinning arms of the windmill– People of Cothan search your hearts and you'll know the truth. My connection to the Wasgo is no danger to this city!

2) Sesel, Voice of the Survivors and Iqtadar al Saahil al Shamaliy
(written by Jacob)

As a burgeoning member of the Eyes of the Souffets, Sesel feels it is his duty to aid these Iqtas that have been ravaged by the Red Cloud. While he prepares his own forces to more directly aid in these assaults, he sends a letter to Souffet Khusra:

“I am disheartened by the destruction wrought by the Red Cloud across the Southern Iqtas, and feel it is my duty, as a member of your eyes, to provide what aid I can to these unfortunate souls. Being an adventurer I have some reasonable wealth accumulated, and with your leave I shall hire up a sizable mercenary force to march down to these Iqtas and provide them with some relief. Or, if it be more amenable, I could simply provide the dinars to the Poor Brothers (or other existing organization) that they might already have such a force they could gather and send relief. And, naturally the force will be either disbanded once the threat has passed or otherwise turned over to the control of Gadeed.”

As the Souffets accept this proposal, Sesel hires this force:

45 archers

45 heavy footmen

55 light footmen

1 captain, one Tanahhl al Shams

He pays a total of 1000 dinars, including the 750 dinars to raise the force, and 250 dinars in bonuses to raise it quickly--”The sooner it can depart, the better.” ~Sesel

The intent here is to send it as an aid to move amongst the various affected Iqtas. They are hired for 1 month, from 1 May.

Sesel publicly makes statements as to the support and well being of the affected Iqtas and their citizens and residents. He never addresses the rumors, for surely any such things are but idle gossip; but that he hears the sliver of truth in these rumors, that the Southern Iqtas are in dire need of support, and he is answering the call, however indirect it may come.

While the force is assembled, Zaida [Sesel's wife ~the Scribes] will use her contacts with her family [Banu al Rashid] to begin countering some of the rumors with comments about “I wonder why the Barcidae don’t send some of their forces to support the Southern Iqtas? Surely they have more wealth and power than some newly minted citizen.” and “It is unfortunate these Southern Iqtas felt they had no allies amongst the other Iqta owners or Great Houses such that they have weathered so long on their own. Seems like they barely had to ask and Sesel rose up to help. What are others even doing but cowering behind their forts and drawing a line in their sand?”

The Envy of Iqtadars

 In early February, Citizen Sesel, newly minted Iqtadar of the Iqta' al Saahil al Shamaliy on the coast northeast of Cothon, paid 2500 dinars to upgrade his iqta' from a minor institution (rank 2) to a middling institution (rank 3) (per Ben L.'s excellent rules). Alas for Sesel his developments came with a complication, and much as Durham has recently learned, such complications can, well, complicate things.

In Sesel's case, his meteoric rise from barbarian to citizen to iqtadar has evoked much envy and ressentiment among the lesser-to-middling iqtadars who hold iqta's in and around the Dual-Cities. Now, Sesel has done a fair amount of legwork to head off this envy, particularly in spending several weeks playing the socialite, going around to various get-togethers with the various Bani and Houses of Gadeed to head off the envy of these lesser lords and ladies.

And while that quick acting on his part certainly helped to tamp down on what otherwise could have developed into "evil rumors" like Durham has seen leveled against him--unfortunately, recent events have just complicated things.

For, un/fortunately for Sesel, his grant of an iqta' was on the far side from any effort possible by the Red Cloud and his forces. Fortunate for Sesel in that he has seen none of the depredations that the Kzinti and their warlord have vented upon such iqta's as al Zaytun to the southeast--yet this very fortune has aroused the ire and envy of those very iqtadars suffering said depredations!

As the conflict grows sharper--especially as new rumors filter in of the Red Cloud's wide daring!--the ressentiment grows apace, and a coterie of iqtadars have redoubled their envious whisperings (probably too at the behest of the Barcidae, who know little love for Sesel and his friends!):

Fortunately for Sesel, the income of his iqta' is not directly related to business in Cothon or Gadeed, and so he suffers no financial hardship; unfortunately for him, this informal "alliance" of lesser iqtadars will make things difficult for him when attempting to cultivate relationships in Gadeed especially, but even in Cothon. Which is to say, as of this week (ending 30 April, as the rumors gather again), Sesel will suffer a -2 penalty on all relationship rolls in Gadeed (excluding his wife's family, the Banu al Rashid), a -1 relationships penalty in Cothon, and a -2 penalty when attempting to build-up an institution related to either city.

Good for him--he has already started on one means of putting this envy to rest, by having solicited the ear of Khusra al Arasqiy, one of the two Souffets of Cothon-Gadeed. If he can secure a relationship with Khusra of (rank 3), these penalties to downtime will end, as Khusra puts her foot down against the nattering nabobs. Alternatively, if Sesel wants to wait things out, the penalties will also end when new Souffets are elected in November of this year (2022), and the iqtadars have to reassess their relationships with power. (Also, for Sesel, don't forget that even when the Souffet rotates out of power, it doesn't mean that the person ceases to have political weight and cache--it can still be very lucrative/important to have the ear of a former Souffet)

Sesel is also free to come up with his own solution to the trouble--the above examples are only suggestions that are made fairly clear through Sesel's relationship with one of the Great Bani of the Cities.

Plans for the Iqta' al Saahil al Shamaliy

[designed by Jacob, player of Sesel, iqtadar of the very Iqta', presented as artwork following the surveying-expedition recently embarked upon by himself and certain dependents, and earning Sesel 100 xp per level]

The orientation of this map is top=south, bottom=north, left=east, right=west; unconventional, and yet it is natural for the surveyor, as he disembarks at the shore, and thus looks up to the southern headland toward the planned iqta'. Also natural in that the natural heights are correspondingly at the top of the plans, which descend to the sea-level bottom of the plans.

The provisional designation of the iqta'--Iqta' al Saahil al Shamaliy--denotes it as the "Fief of the North Shores", and though it is currently noted as such in the relevant legal literature, it is noted as merely provisional until Sesel's adoption of some preferred nomenclature (or perhaps he likes the current appellation?).

At this hour of game time, these structures are at least partially finished (the survey having happened just after the wedding of Sesel and Zaida al Rashid toward the end of August). The pales enclosing the grounds stand, ready for the herd of hma and hmela, a dock stands ready under the cliffs for the Silver Qaqtla, and the civilian buildings are mostly complete, all looked over by the scaffolded skeleton of the tower approved in negotiation with the Souffets.

In the (near?) future, there will be a further post describing the iqta' in fuller detail, but let this suffice for now.

Session #58: All He Surveys

[Though actually played quite recently, hence its §#, this expedition from Cothon, led by Sesel, set out only shortly after the wedding of Sesel and Zaida, in order to formally lay claim to and survey the coastal iqta' granted them by the Souffets. The delay was due in part to initial uncertainty by the referee as to what to do with an iqta', as well as to life circumstances; regardless, the initial survey has now been completed, and construction of the iqta's structures is under way!]

Granted by the Souffets the rights to an iqta' of land on the coastal headland north and east of the Dual-Cities and northeast as well from the slopes of the massive Tel al Safina, the former-barbarian Sesel and his newly-wed wife Zaida al Rashid wished to travel to their granted land, to survey the locale and observe where best to lay foundations or raise fences.

Rather than walk the long way around the Tel, Sesel and Zaida elected to hire Najm and his ship, Saint Iskameen, and crew, to ferry them up the coast, for the price of 25 dinars. They also went about hiring a small group of archers and footmen men-at-arms, and sent word to the Great Spire of the Klackons to meet their dore-architect at the coastal iqta'-site. And thus these (plus their men-at-arms) set forth on the Saint Iskameen north-east up the coast:

• iqtadar Sesel (fighting-man 6)
  accompanied by Raoden (magic-user 4)
  and acting-hireling Najm (magic-user 4)
• iqtadara Zaida al Rashid (fighting-woman 3)
  accompanied by Rand al Murashi (footman)

The company returned a couple days later, after the Klackon architect had finished his surveys, and Sesel and Zaida had paced out the land granted to them.

Najm reported to those at Fara's Hole-in-the-Wall that he accompanied the adventurous couple on a short adventure into a smaller and abandoned Klackon spire near the iqta', where they battled several many-legged oily-black "serpents", laid low easily in the end by Sesel's weirding mind-powers. In the depths of this old spire were strange ruined room which contained scattered remnants of a ru'un, near which Najm himself helped discover some tattered Klackon khipus. It wasn't much of an adventure compared to others that have been recorded here, but a few extra coins in one's pocket is nothing to curse at, as they say!

The Lucre

• 220 dinars from 5 gems (1@100, 2@50, 2@10)
• some old and tattered Klackon khipus and drawings of a ru'un on disintegrating silk-paper

The Learning

• 220 xp from treasure
• 823 xp from "snakipedes" x3 (250 + hp ea.)
• 100 xp to Sesel and Zaida for exploring the first new area of their iqta'

The Cut

• 105 dinars (gp) to Sesel (and Zaida)
  52 dinars each to Najm and Raoden
  11 dinars to Rand
• 1143 xp to Sesel
  622 xp to Zaida
  572 xp ea. to Najm and Raoden
• the khipus and drawings

Sesel or Raoden may provide a report or art to be published here to increase their xp by 100 per level