Session #78: More Green Doors?

 It has been a month since this expedition set out, but the Scribes are only just now getting back to this chronicle. Much is afoot in the Dual-Cities of Cothon-Gadeed ... the Souffets will be replaced this November, and the long winter is descending upon the city, meaning that demand for foodstuffs from northern kingdoms and provinces will rise enormously (allowing great profits for those who invest right)--even as the Red Cloud and his Kzin warbands are ravaging the hinterlands of the Ten-Cities' League all along the coast!

But as to the expedition: Bartholomew Pettibone, intrigued by past explorations into the Necropolis and by the apparent Kzin interest therein--such that they hold a "Great Moot" there every solar year!--set out to gather a company to plumb the depths of the crypts, and hopefully to discover whatever it is that draws the interests of the Kzinti. Some say the Aegis of the Demon Queen is the object of the leonine warriors' desire!

And so a crew was assembled at the tavern of Cothon-Under-Star:

part of the Necropolis

• Bartholomew Pettibone (magic-user 8)
  accompanied by Gan ad-Din (fighting-man 5)
• Barlow (magic-user 3)
• Lord Althis (magic-user 5)
  accompanied by Slith Sly (Sakkra 3)
• Heijo (magic-user 6)
• Durham (fighting-man 7)
  accompanied by Pako (renyu)
• Arngeir of the Green Gleam (fighting-man 5)

Setting out by way of the Pallbearers' Way, they returned by the same road many hours later, bearing heavily laden packs. Disregarding warnings from the Poor Brothers of the Dead about numerous restless dead wandering the ruins of Tsur al Qadim, the company had ventured forth and entered into the Necropolis of the Tel. Therein, they had engaged in some fierce battle--for it was well noted that many of the company were badly burned and scarred, some limping even as they returned to Cothon triumphantly.

As rumored by the serving staff of Cothon-Under-Star after their return, they must have battled some kind of strange gilekite-like crustaceans, given the dark shells they packed back--gilekites with weird metallic innards! There were many friendly ribaldries lobbed to Durham about finding a new set of "green doors" ... and Lord Althis was treated to more than a few toasts for his help in defusing some kind of magical defensive aura the creatures had.

Beyond that, the party's rather mum about the whole affair--seek one of them out for yourself for the specifics!

The Lucre

• 800 dinars (gp) from various plundered grave-goods
• 2 sets of destroyed rui'un parts
• 2 ru'un power cores

The Learning

• 800 xp from treasure
• 1319 xp from 2 gilekite-like ru'un (600 +hp ea.)
• 400 xp to each player-character for being the first to return to the Kzinti-stepwell
• 500 xp to each player-character for penetrating beyond the new "green doors"

The Cut

• 106 dinars and 6 dirhams (sp) per player-character
  53 dinars and 4 dirhams to Gan, Slith, and Pako
• 1253 xp per player-character
  627 xp to Gan and Slith
• 2 sets of destroyed rui'un parts
• 2 ru'un power cores

Teaching an Old Renyu New Skills

 or "The Musical Training Of Gan ad-Din"

Gan ad-Din, bearer of all things and constant companion and retainer of Bartholomew Pettibone, has recently sought out a musician, one Anataynus, to learn from him the singing of songs and the playing of the oud. A worthy endeavor! And an opportunity for the Scribes to outline another possible use of downtime for player-characters in the Dual-Cities of Cothon-Gadeed.

When setting out to learn new skills--or "professions", as they are deemed in the page on Creating a Character--there are several steps to follow to set one well on one's path of "professional development":

1. Seeking a tutor
2. Retaining a tutor
3. Initial intensive training
4. Practice makes proficient
5. Continued development

The first three steps are necessary to achieving nominal proficiency in any skill; the last is "optional" though of course anyone who specifically cares for their craft will want to work to master that craft through continued devotion.

Because Gan has already set his feet on the path toward learning to be a musician, we can use him as an example in developing the framework for this downtime process.

Seeking a Tutor

In order to learn, one must have a teacher. To find a teacher, a character must either already know someone proficient in the skill they wish to learn--and perhaps cultivate a relationship such that the person would be a willing mentor--or advertise their interest in learning.

Gan ad-Din, not directly knowing anyone of musical dint, spent a downtime buying drinks around the taverns to the cost of 200 dinars, asking after musicians who might be willing to teach their craft, and rolled 2d6 for a 7 on the dice, plus bonuses. Simple success--he learned the name of a musician willing to teach him (Anataynus). If he'd rolled a 10+ he might have been pointed toward a true master, or really won over and befriended a local musician.

Anataynus

In short, a character looking for a tutor can either

1. cultivate a relationship with a known master to learn from them, OR
2. spend money (at least 100 dinars) on advertising one's interest in a learning from a tutor, 7-9 is a success in finding someone, 10+ the tutor is a master or the referee will adjudicate something

Retaining a Tutor

Having found someone to teach them, the player-character will need to establish the tutor-learner relationship. Unless they've leveraged some kind of connection or obligation to learn for free, the player-character will have to negotiate a price for tutelage.

This price will vary according to the skill to be learned. It may even be leveraged in favor of certain skillsets--a character who wishes to learn baking might apprentice himself to a baker and earn a (plebeian) wage working and learning in the bakery. But for most skills of interest, the learner will have to pay the tutor.

In the case of Gan ad-Din, he has offered to pay Anataynus 200 dinars per month to learn the oud from him. This is suitable to Anataynus, and so the contract is easily established. But other such contracts might require rounds of negotiation--entirely up to what the character is willing to spend to win the loyalty of the would-be mentor.

Intensive Training

In anything I've learned--strumming guitar, dabbling in languages--it simply is the case that to begin to learn requires an initial extended time of intensive effort, just to get the forms straight. After this initial effort, in order to really learn, one must continue practicing, but continuing practice doesn't require the same intense focus and effort as the initial entrance to learning.

To reflect this, characters who wish to learn a new profession or skill should set aside a period of downtimes to devote to their new hobby, in order just to learn the basics. Inevitably, different skillsets will require different amounts of time--one can learn the basics of baking (probably) in a couple of weeks, whereas even to learn the fundamentals of shipwrighting will probably take many months. These will have to be worked out on an individual basis at first between referee and player-character--and then if/as other players take interest in learning new skills, a body of reference material will become available.

In Gan's case, he set aside four weeks of downtime as intensive training to learn the oud. This makes sense to me as the referee, as I remember when I was learning to finger chords on the guitar. So Gan will have to spend at least four weeks of downtime learning the basics of the oud before he can really begin to play (he's actually already been doing so--you might have heard him strumming idly along in the background over at the Kantor while Istrid was dancing to far livelier tunes up on the dance-stage). But he may have to spend more than those four weeks--for Gan needs to roll at least 4 successes, i.e. 7+ on the dice, and to keep studying until he has achieved those 4 successes--or else forfeit everything and start over from scratch. There are no "remarkable" successes here--you can't cheat practice.

In short,

1. Referee and player negotiate time of intensive training and number of requisite successes
2. Player-character spends that downtime training--and nothing else--until the requisite successes are achieved
3. Stopping at any point during intensive training resets the success "clock" to 0

Practice Makes Proficient

Having learned the basics, one must continue practicing and learning if one is to become proficient. And again, the time required for this will vary from skillset to skillset. But at least this next period of learning will be, in a way, less intensive than the first. Having learned the basic forms, one now practices putting them together into a cohesive whole, or a proficient practice ... and at some point, after enough practicing, one will simply know how to do the job--how to play a piece of music, how to bake various breads well, how to build a piece of furniture, &c., &c.

This takes time, of course, and many iterations. This is essentially the time of apprenticeship, at the end of which one is a journeyman, knowledgeable enough to journey away from the master and practice the skill on one's own.

In order to be considered proficient at a new skill, a character must both spend the minimum time practicing, AND succeed at a requisite number of downtime rolls. During this "apprenticeship", a character must also spend at least one downtime every month pursuing their new skill.

By way of example, when once Gan has spent an additional six months and succeeded in six downtime rolls (7+ and again, no remarkable successes), he will be considered proficient. He could approach this in different ways. On the one hand, he could practice intensively in the first couple months and probably earn all the successes he needs then. After that, he would just have to devote downtime to playing the oud for one week out of each of the succeeding months.

On the other hand, Gan could devote the minimum one week per month on oud-practice. If he didn't succeed every time, he would have to extend the apprenticeship past the minimum six months in order to get the requisite six successes.

At the end of this time--whichever way a character chooses to approach it--having spent their time and earned their successes, a character is considered proficient, and need no longer pay their mentor. They are now able to pursue their craft for themselves.

Continued Development

But there may be those who want to become masters of their craft--exceptional musicians, orators able to bring people to tears with their words, shipwrights whose vessels cut through wind and wave like a sword ...

Such excellence can only be achieved by continuing to hone one's craft through constant practice. At this level, a character would have to work on projects expressing their master--masterworks, as it were!--and so continued development would be a continual negotiation between player and referee, based especially on concrete examples of a character's mastery of their art.

Durham's Ringing Anvil comes to mind, given that Durham is continually producing artefacts as an engineer/architect ... or, continuing with the example of Gan ad-Din, if Gan were to compose an especial song, a ballad or epic, on the oud, that would be an example of his continuing development of his craft and a masterwork. As the scribes hear it, he is already at work on composing songs, though he is not yet even a "journeyman" musician--still, it is good to have ambition!

Session #77: Another Jaunt through the Stacks

[written by Max, who ran the session--thanks, Max!]

 

Curious patrons of Cothon Under-Star are once again shooed away from a strange door in its library by adventurers.

Durham, fighter 7

• Pako, renyu

Najm, magic-user 5

• Alianor Drake, fighter 1

Heijo, magic-user 6

Arngeir, fighter 5

The party exits some time later. Onlookers notice Durham’s renyu, Pako, clutching a small book. Rumors have begun to circulate about how every time the adventurers enter with a hmela, but don’t leave with one. Perhaps some dark magic is necessary to use the door.

The Lucre

• Barrel, precious stones 2000* dinars (gp)

• Book, The Ninja’s Handbook (claimed by Pako)

• Notes on serudla, copied from A Bestiary of Strange Heraldic Monsters (claimed by Arngeir)

• Miniature door

• Marble #20 (claimed by Najm)

• Femur of Gustav Durst (1400g)

• Librarian Summoning Bell

The Learning (3,568 xp)

• 3400 xp from treasure

• 75 xp from Furious Catalog

• 28 xp from Library Slug

• 13 xp from Dust Elemental, Injured

• 35 xp from Yawper

The Cut

• 892 xp to each player-character
  446 xp to Pako and Alianor Drake

• 400* dinars to each player-character
  200* gp to Pako and Alianor Drake

• the miniature door

• the Femur of Gustav Durst

• the Librarian Summoning Bell

• Marble #20 and serudla notes claimed by Najm and Arngeir respectively)

*This “raw” dinar-value assumes selling the precious stones at “market” value and without trying to go through the Piedrejoya Guild—any characters with connections to that guild of Jewelers and Lapidaries could well net a higher value and win the company more “take-home” lucre

Session #76: Rescue and Realization

[written by Phil, who ran the session--thanks, Dad!]

 Word has circulated lately in the streets of Cothon-Gadeed, spread by a small group of battered survivors, concerning the loss of a major caravan. They told of being taken unaware during their last night camping, only a day's travel south of the dual cities, and attacked by a large band of brigands, composed of K'Zin and humans. They described the chaos of being overrun while sleeping, many killed, and their caravan destroyed and looted. During the fight and confusion, they escaped, but also witnessed several friends and companions being taken prisoner, ostensibly to be used as slaves – or worse. One common thread in each survivor's tale is the recollection of hearing the marauders yelling praises to Red Cloud.

Their tales fell upon the ears of General Dalinar, of House al Khalid, who surmised that the K'Zin warlord, Red Cloud, was behind this raid. Worse yet was that a certain merchant captain, Ilasha, had been one of those taken captive. Rumors have it that she was acting as a diplomatic envoy for the General, and may have been carrying vital information with respect to the General's campaign against Red Cloud. However, due to local politics, quick action from the city seemed hobbled, and General Dalinar sent word out to various local entities, via his steward Teleb, requesting their assistance in locating and dealing with this band of brigands. While Teleb seemed to favor annihilation of this raiding party, the General had suggested that the primary objective should be liberating the captives (especially Ilasha), and retrieving any diplomatic materials in her possession.

This call to action was quickly answered by a small group of jaunty, well known, barbarian adventurers. And so, this motley crew was observed to set out from Cothon-Gadeed one early morning with hopes of an easy rescue playing in their minds, with perhaps some reconnaissance tossed in, and certainly the promise of reward in the mix!

Citizen Sesel, from the northern Iqta al Saahil (fighter 8)

Durham, of the Ringing Anvil (fighter 7)

(accompanied by his stalwart renyu companion, Pako)

Heijo of the Ink-Stained Hands (spellcaster 6)

Raoden (spellcaster 5)

Revna the Odd (spellcaster 5)

Najm the fisherman (spellcaster 5)

Arngeir of the Green Gleam (fighter 5)

This band of eight adventurers departed early on a sunny morning, heading south, their spirits high. By nightfall they had not returned, and the worst was feared. At dawn of the following day, a rag-tag group of individuals arrived at the gates of the cities, claiming to be survivors of the waylaid caravan – taken captive by a band of K'Zin and human brigands. They were bruised, battered, and bloodied, and recounted to the authorities a tale of being set free during the night by a handful of mercenaries (our stalwart heroes?!). They initially fled east through the forest, while a forest fire began raging to their west, yet their saviors did not immediately follow. However, not long after reaching the caravan track, they were joined by the mercenaries, and a quick pow-wow was held. Their group of merchants was gathered under the leadership of Ilasha (she survived!), given weapons, and ordered to quick-march to safety. And as they departed north toward the city, the barbarians melted once more into the darkness of the forest – back in the direction of the conflagration and the band of brigands. Of their fate, these survivors knew no more.

Yet lo! By sunset of that same day the adventuring band had all returned to the city as well! They did not return all at once, but straggled in by degrees. First came Durham and Pako, somewhat disheveled and beaten, asking about Ilasha and the fate of those who had been released. Arngeir followed a few hours later, telling of a grisly skirmish early during the night previous (with a handful humans and a certain K'Zin calling itself “Firstborn”). Finally, the remaining fellowship dragged themselves through the city gate late in the day, making their way to the common room of Cothon-Understar. But even as they told of performing a daring rescue, their countenance was grim, and they spoke of a horror that surpassed anything they had yet encountered.

Under order from General Dalinar, Teleb was dispatched to hear their tale, and as they spoke, a new respect for these barbarians crept over him. He, as well as a large crowd of hangers-on, listened as they told of the skirmish, the ferocity of the K'Zin, freeing the captives, and then tracking the remaining brigands through the darkness, toward the east.

Tracking during the night was difficult, and they feared being caught in an ambush. But as the sun rose anew they found themselves at the edge of the forest, just outside of iqta al Zaytun, still not having overtaken the brigands. And it was here where the true horror fell upon them. They gazed out across a massive vineyard (one that was once well kept and productive), toward the iqta that sprawled along a river's edge. But the vineyard was no more – all was ravaged, burned, and razed – with rotting bodies of humans and ranch-beasts [hmelas and hmas especially ~the Scribes], sprinkled haphazardly among the churned up fields. Carrion creatures [winged gerednya and giriku, as well as packs of lupine gadhars, no doubt ~the Scribes] feasted quietly upon the carcasses, but other signs of life were lacking.

A reconnaissance of the iqta itself revealed several hundred corpses in varying states of decay – many disemboweled and hacked to pieces, some hung by the feet from nearby trees, and even a few crucified to doors and walls. Most disturbingly, every head had been severed from the bodies, and were found stacked in a large pile in the center of the iqta. Many good, fine, hard-working people had been slaughtered here and literally left to rot. The dwellings of the iqta also lay in ruins – most of the buildings pillaged and left now as empty, burnt shells. No sign of the raiding party could be discerned. But Sesel was certain that while the small band of brigands must have come through here, it had to have taken an army of many hundreds (if not thousands!) to have rained this destruction down upon iqta Zaytun. Indeed, if this was the work of Red Cloud, then his force was overwhelming, and his might was daunting! War was not looming as a threat – it was here, now, and close.

The Lucre:

While there was not a large amount of loot/baubles recovered, there were some items of note -

1. 2 finely forged and crafted hand axes (each +1 to dam, 200 dinars each)

2. 1 finely forged and crafted great sword (taken from Firstborn, +1 to dam, 1000 dinars)

3. Items found by the party while scavenging the caravan

   1. A small, uniquely marked (with a rose inlaid with silver), and well-made chest containing:

      1. 83 mithqals (pp), 1288 dinars (gp), 820 dirhams (sp), and 523 fals (cp)

      2. A small pouch made of fine silk, with an embroidered purple rose design (10 dinars) containing:

         1. A gold necklace hung with 7 star garnets (1210 dinars)

         2. A heavy gold ring set with a single star garnet (470 dinars)

4. Items found by the party while scavenging iqta al Zaytun

   1. Small pouch containing 12 dinars, 52 dirhams, and 20 fals

   2. Small pouch containing 92 dinars, 55 dirhams, and 27 fals

   3. Small pouch containing 4 uncut gemstones (484 dinars, 245 dinars, 51 dinars, 20 dinars)

   4. 5 long swords (5 dinars each – damaged, but Ringing Anvil can repair for full value)

   5. 3 chain shirts (20 dinars each – damaged, but Ringing Anvil can repair for full value)

The Learning:

From discovering the remains of the caravan – 1000 XP

From tracking the K'Zin raiding party – 1000 XP

From treasure – 8500 XP

From freeing Ilasha – 5000 XP

From recovering other captives alive – 12000 XP

From battling the K'Zin raiding party – 3500 XP

From discovering the destruction of iqta Zaytun – 2500 XP

From use of spells and skills – 5000 XP

Total = 38500 XP

The Cut:

Some items will be difficult for the DM to parcel out. The monetary value of gems and jewels is dependent on whether they are sold or kept (again – this must be decided upon by the group, and a buyer will have to be found). The small chest, in particular, stands out, having a unique design/crest of a rose inlaid with silver – the question is, what will the party do with this chest and its contents? Hmm? Please let either myself or Cullen know what you intend to do with the following items:

1. the chest and all of its contents (party needs to come to a consensus)

2. the uniquely crafted hand axes and great sword

Outside of those items, the split will be:

210 gold dinar per character (including Pako and Raoden)

13 silver dirhams per character (including Pako and Raoden)

13 copper fals per character (including Pako and Raoden)

Concerning XP:

5000 XP to Durham, Sesel, Heijo, and Revna

4500 XP to Arngeir and Najm (for joining the expedition late)

2500 XP to Raoden

None of the items recovered are magical.

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?”

A Scream and Leap to Arms!

-- The Kzinti Are Coming --

[written by Phil, player of Bartholomew Pettibone, calling adventurers in the city to be ware the Red Cloud's coming ...]

This is a call for players available to join in a game against the Kzinti before 26 May.

News has been trickling in to Cothon-Gadeed about groups of K'Zin bandits coalescing and terrorizing the hinterlands. A red-tailed comet burns in the night sky. And the rise of a self-styled “mighty K'Zin warlord” has been a conversational topic throughout the Dual Cities – especially on those lips of K'Zin origin! This warlord calls himself the Red Cloud, after that same comet, and has been hinted at as the instigator of several wilderness skirmishes. While he has not (as yet) claimed responsibility for those sorties, it is known that he is calling for K'Zin (and human!) tribal groups to answer his call – to build an army of extraordinary magnitude for liberation and conquest! Furthermore, over recent years, it has been noted that the K'Zin have been infiltrating and desecrating the catacombs of the Necropolis, in search of ancient artifacts of war, buried with powerful historical figures, and often forgotten or neglected over centuries of time.

While these rumors and discussions have led to heated debates within the Dual Cities, little has been done to quell the concerns of the citizens. Political power struggles have stymied any potential actions to thwart Red Cloud. However, it appears that the powder kegs of politics and war are about to ignite and burst forth upon the land, whether the people want that or not! It has been confirmed that in recent months at least two small iqta's have been razed and pillaged. And more recently, the outpost fort in the Tukayyat hills was infiltrated, its Captain brutally murdered, a protected artifact stolen, and its library burned to ashes. Word has it that K'Zin appear to be responsible for all of these attacks.

In confirmation of these woeful tidings, a rag-tag group of four refugees (bloodied, beaten, and bruised) have stumbled to the gates of the Iqta' al Saahil al Shamaliy, pressing the newly minted citizen, Sesel of the Survivors, to provide them a safe haven. They report that their caravan, traveling to Cothon-Gadeed, was set upon by a large band of 40 – 50 bandits, only a few hours march east from Sesel's iqta'! They relate the horrors of being taken by surprise the night previous, ambushed and overrun in the dark by both K'Zin and human warriors. Even though it was dark, and the chaos and confusion were overwhelming, they are certain that these bandits were being led by K'Zin, and they report hearing the human warriors extolling that “Red Cloud has blessed us this night – we can only be victorious!” The wagons of the caravan were broken up and burned, easily carried valuables were stolen, food-stuffs were carried away or scattered to the wind, a good number of their fellows were savagely murdered, and several were taken prisoner (ostensibly to serve as slaves). One of the prisoners taken by the bandits (along with her goods) was one Ilasha – a respected traveling merchant dabbling in gems and jewels (who came to Cothon last year)

These caravan survivors appeal specifically to iqtadar Sesel, but also to any and all citizens and barbarians alike, to avenge them! They fear the worst for their fellows who were taken as slaves, and believe that if nothing is done, the Red Cloud will continue to rampage across the land, and perhaps this iqta' will be next – being that is so close to where the caravan was ambushed!

Who will heed their call and appeal for justice? Who will come to the aid of those taken prisoner? Who will lend their strength and arms to fight for freedom against the tyranny of the Red Cloud and their oppressive K'Zinti regime of horror and genocide? The doom is growing. The machinations of a mad-Cat is at full throttle! Action is needed!

What's Happened in the Interim? A Downtime Update

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

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

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

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

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

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

1) Generic Downtime

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

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

2) Special Downtime

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

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

Special Downtimes

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

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

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

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