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I'm just glad you're keeping your head above water in these crazy times. No problem at all with a pause. @Imix considering I basically had Oios define the whole governance structure of the community going forward I don't think you have to worry about running roughsod over me :). I worry that I'm doing too much myself.
Oios blinks at the bawling child. Yes, yes, stop crying now, just... be quiet. he turns helplessly to Helga Can you make her stop? Tell her she is not in trouble. There is nothing we could have done to stop either of them from doing what they wished in any case. While Nat and I had our differences, I trust her, and Drazan. Both of them had been distant the last little while in any case.
Oios would trust Helga more.
Add in patrolling by Oios for death magic and teaching one trusted person the secrets of Death Magic And Divination in there but other than that it seems good to me. (First he will try to teach Divination, only if they are able to do that will he move on to what he understands of the Death sphere). Telowo maybe if he can? Otherwise the main healer.
We are moving from a society in flight to a society under siege. But we are hardened, and blooded, all able-bodied should be armed with at least some weapon and drilled by Antuk or apprenticed to Sarree as their skills dictate in their spare time. Isitel will also have her pick of those to see who has potential as a trainee. Should they fail there they can go back to Antuk and Sarre. The best of those should be offered positions as full time warriors. That should ensure our numbers as best as possible. We will negotiate with the beastlings for their arrow throwers All others need to be put to work, farming as Imix suggests, fishing, scavenging, and building walls with our engineers all need to be taken care of. Farming is long term however. Texikuk and our traders should take a look at the beastling's society and see if there is anything they lack that our craftspeople are skilled in. If we can fill a need of theirs then we will be able to trade for food with craft. A better use of our crafters then moving them to one of the other tasks. Moving to our enemy, the wasps did not seem to be masters of death magic to me, their hold over the beastlings was built on control of the weather. That we were attacked by death, means that perhaps our old enemy from the tower has joined forces with them, and perhaps even the Flame. How else would they know our words? We will tell the beastlings all we know about all three of these enemies, secrecy does us no good in this case. We will also coordinate with them, learn their strengths and weaknesses and offer aid as we can, if they fall or falter or are subverted then we will not be far behind. I have a way of detecting death magic. Oios proclaims thumping Telowo's staff on the ground. If we can teach this to others then they can patrol as I do. Imix can your apprentices work with our budding scholar and the Lady Sarre to determine how to counter their magics? Those are the ones most well read from the library in the tower. In the lull that we have been provided our healers should work to get as many people in fighting shape as possible.
OOC: Sorry for the spurt of text, please feel free to contradict if any idea isn't good. Also Oios has the sphere of death from his last level up. Can he teach VERY selected people, maybe the main healer, about it so they can detect undeath as well?
Certainly those who wish to join the beastlings can do so if they will have them. And the same in reverse I think. I will be Legba if there are no objections. As for Ghede and Mami Wati, Texikuk should confer with the democracy of the beastlings and learn how to run a... nomination and... election.. for an elderly and youth commoner to serve. Same for Oggun, if Sarre does not wish to take the responsibility. It does not need to be decided right now for we must learn how to do such things the right way. Fulton speaks for the common folk in any case. But we should not wait for this to convene the first session of the council. We have had war declard on us. As for the engineers, just as the Shadows they should report to the Speaker...for now. It may be... Oios hesitates. It may be that Hainu was only turned into a crocodile in the Valley and outside of it he was not. The ways of the gods are mysterious. I certainly have not seen our sacred animal here. Perhaps a post for an engineer would be right and necessary as a representative of Hainu. But that is for the priesthood to confer and decide.
No worries. Polish that chapter!
Oios looks at Imix frankly. The Suriname were kept mysterious to all and so I cannot say. Your order, like the Monks, were always a part, but also apart, from the rest of the society but even more so for you. For now I would say your magic would make you an excellent representative of Makaya, and you have your pupils as well, but from there? Oios drums his fingers. You are the one with the knowledge, bring your ideas to the council and the council can decide what to do for the title of the Suriname. Perhaps when we find Harambe we can get his thoughts as well. I know you have many questions still and it seems only he may have the answers.
BTW are there crocodiles of the kind in the Valley around in this area of the world?
Oh whoops I thought I posted. I'm thinking would make an excellent representative of Makaya since he's strong in magic.
Apologies if I'm stepping on anyone's toes but I'm a bit of a governance nerd, please override Oios here or in game if you don't like Oios' ideas. Oios isn't enough of a collaborator or democrat to get more input really and he thinks the council should accommodate everyone aside from Bellet. And he thinks Bellet's got to recognize that this community is going to be way more Shadeholme than Cornucopia.
Ten on the divine council and an eleventh to speak for Damballah. Oios says mind whirring as his idea gains traction. A priest or priestess of the member of the pantheon will always be eligible to be picked to that post. Otherwise.. Ayida-Wedu, can be a midwife.
Nobles are eligible for all positions other than Mami Wati, and Ghede. These commoner posts will be filled by popular acclaim. If the head of the rangers does not wish to be the representative of Oggun then this will be picked by popular acclaim as well .All other posts will be decided by discussion within the council to pick from a worthy citizen. The posts will be held for as long as the appointee is capable and willing or eight of the other council members vote to evict them. The ten appointees will confer to choose one of them to be Speaker for Damballah, at which point the Speakers former post will be filled by someone else. This post will be renewed every year, if eight state they have no more confidence in the Speaker then they must step down. The Shadows will report to the Speaker of Damballah The council will decide when to go to war and with whom. But the conduct of the war will be left up to the representative of Marinette. If the war goes poorly then they may be replaced by a vote of eight indicating no confidence. The Monks and those who learn the Forms will be special forces available to the military or the rangers as required. The council's only hold on them will be for them not to disobey the laws the council makes and not to interfere with the work of the military and the rangers. Since these are times of war we do not have time to debate the form of our armed forces. There will be a military, headed by Antuk who will be the representative of Marinette. There will be Rangers headed by Sarre who will be the representative of Oggun if she wishes it. And there will be Monks whose order will be started with Isitel who will keep and propagate their ways. Is this acceptable? Are there modifications to be made? Are there wholesale changes to be made? Now is the time to speak.
Take it easy and get well Isitel.
G'luck GM. Part of the idea was Oios has always been a pantheon kind of guy and not just a Damballah dude, The other part is I stole the idea almost completely from King of Dragon Pass. lol.
WHY did we fail, I look around and I see all of us committed to our prosperity, to the safety and security of our loved ones, I see the people who dedicated themselves to the traditions that were meant to protect us, the soldier, the monks, the noble, the priest, the Auditor, he motions to each in turn before tapping himself. The Shadow. And yet we all failed. He nods at Anayda and Fulton. The people who speak of practical reality are the ones who addressed it. We suffered and we lost despite our efforts because we trusted that our knowledge and skills were acknowledged and observed by the Mortal Son of Damballah, imbued with divine authority, the King. His decisions ruled Cornucopia, and Cornucopia ruled us all and we trusted that he was doing it well. He was not. And he is dead, or worse, and we are here, struggling to rebuild rather than raising our families in our homes, homes that are even now being subsumed to serve the Flame. But We Are Here by the grace of our gods. And we must learn from our mistakes. We must not forget that it is Shadeholme that survived, but also we must not forget that Shadeholme was playing host to many of the other parts of the Valley that helped it survive. I say that we cannot return to the Old Ways as they were right before the fall because they failed, and we cannot return to the True Old Ways for we do not know what they were generations ago. All we have is the revisions and refinements to those ways that we inherited from our parents and their parents before them. I say we have to make New Ways that seek to preserve the best of our traditions and not the rest. I say we must not rely on one mortal alone to take care of us all, no matter how divine for we see that it did not work. Now that I have time to reflect without fear of blasphemy, for how can I blaspheme against a dead man? I reflect that the Mortal Son of Damballah never acted as Damballah does in our stories. Damballah was not a remote autocrat issuing demands and receiving tribute, but a father and grandfather, wise and witty, who consulted and advised all of his family. How do we replicate this? I say that we do not forget Damballah, but also do not forget the rest of his family who were at the very least near his equal. I say we have a council that has elders representing Ayida-Wedu, Anaisa-Pye, Ayizan, Ghede, Legba, Loco, Makaya, Mami Wati, Marinette, Oggun. They together will choose a Speaker for Damballah who will preside over meetings and only vote to break a tie. This council will allow for nobles, and soldiers, and farmers, and healers, and Suriname, and the clergy,to be represented and speak to all aspects of a good life, and a strong community, that will not only be safe and thrive, but be good allies, and will, eventually, grow strong enough to go back to the Valley and TAKE BACK WHAT IS OURS! Oios stops talking and takes a sip of water. Let the second and third rounds of talks now begin. First all will discuss why The Old Ways failed, second on my suggestion of a governing council.
Mechanics:
Oios grunts as Suuha starts talking of drugs rather than anything of use. He also makes no motion to clear out the gathering crowd. It was their lives whose trajectory they were expounding on after all. He also makes no motion to indicate he overheard what the Lady said to the Suriname. He summarizes what he has has heard. The Lady Bellet speaks in favour of a return to as close to the Old wWys as possible, her noble blood ruling with advise from the priests and priestesses of Damballah. The Suriname provided us with many options, with the suggestion that if we do return to the Old Ways that we ensure they are the true Old Ways and that we deviated from them in the Valley. The Monk advocates for permission to teach the Forms of her ways to make us stronger without requiring commitment to her Ascension. Telowo speaks for the leaders of the faith to retain authority, for it is our faith that makes us strong and our faith that the Flame took pains to attack, it is obvious they fear it somehow. Fulton and Anayda speak of their distrust of the Ways things Were, both because Shadeholme, which through the grace of our gods is the only part of our community that has survived, as far as we can tell, and because The Way Things Were failed to protect us from The Flame. Sarre, confusingly agrees with both The Monk who wishes the nobles to return to power and Fulton, who does not. Since she is not here any longer I will guess that she wishes this discussion to be concluded quickly, that she distrusts the Old Ways, and that she believes we must make ourselves strong in arms. Antuk also advocates for a strong military with suggestions on how it should be ordered. Suuha wishes for us to settle with our allies the beastlings and defend Damballah's gift and that monks should be able to marry, and general improvements to our old traditions. Texikuk advocates for the continuation of the Tribute, which Fulton disagrees with. These are all worthy suggestions, with merit, and thought, and good will behind all of them though they do contradict each other in parts. But we get ahead of ourselves I feel, we debate what and how but we miss that those will come from a more urgent question. WHY.
Texikuk? You were saying? and then Antuk, you will go next and then Suuha. Then everyone will have a round of having spoken and I will speak before starting the next round. OOC: If anyone else has missed Oios will prompt them to speak also
I think this maybe the most important encounter of the campaign, after all it will determine what the new community will be, which is the whole point. Maybe let it play out? I think even Isitel has strong opinions on how things should be despite being resolutely apolitical.
More elders Oios nods at the newcomers. If you had wished to join then you could have talked to me instead of just barging in like this, but, as I am in charge of this meeting, I have no objection to you joining this council and adding your wisdom. So shall it be.
By The Old Ways I of course meant the way things were in the Valley right before it was subverted and swept away by the Flame. Oios points out I would suggest that they were not Damballah's way or that at least, over the years, the institutions we developed to serve Damballah, and so the Three Peoples, stopped doing so. Perhaps now would be a good time to try and understand why we were so helpless before The Flame?
Oios nods at the Lady. Returning to something as close to the old ways as we are able is one possibility, but not the only one my lady. Especially considering the old ways... failed. Having spread that explosive paste and tossed a fire stick into it he waited to see the reaction.
The elder council may decide to put off the talks and the transition for a while until this threat to us is resolved. Oios grouses, irritated at Isitel's insubordination. But you will not decide this. As the carrier of the tradition of the monks of the Three Peoples you will of course be a part of the council and may repeat your points there and be a part of the decision.
Well, all the PCs, then I'd say the noble lady, the head priestess, the main healer, the census lady, the two heads of the military. That should be a nice large group. Apologies for not going back and finding all the names. Just don't have tiiiiiiiiime for that.
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That is not quite for us to decide. Oios says clapping Isitel on the shoulder briefly before raising his voice to address those assembled. The Lady Bellet is right. We have found a new home. Among allies and friends. he nods at Orix. Damballah will that we will never be forced to flee again though we are faced with enemies here also who we must decide how to confront. The Flight itself was unprecedented, we had no laws to govern how we would become refugees driven from our Valley, and so we have no laws on what to do next here in Damballah's gift. The Elders of our community will convene and we will decide on that weighty matter and how to transition from what we were, and what we are, to what we will be. The convening of this assembly, and chairing it, and then presiding over transition, will be my last acts as Head of The Flight. Give us a week, Orix. He says to the Speaker of the Senate. It will be no longer than that. We do not have the luxury of much time to deliberate internal matters because of the external threats.
We gave them tribute. WE offered to give them 'Dreamers' when next they came. Oios says. I do not know why they would think we were meddling with them.
Mechanics:
One Act to cast Hallow on Isitel of Good. Gain a +1 sacred bonus to attack rolls, AC, and saving throws made against evil targets for four minutes. Second Act step back in Third Act swing with staff.
Brandishing Telowo's staff Oios calls on Damballah and Marinette to guide Isitel's attack against the foul undead foe and then steps in to attack again, delivering their wrath in a more direct fashion.
Yeah if Oios can he'll spend one act to start casting.
Mechanics:
Second Action Step away Third Action Step away again if needed. Oios's swing with the staff bounces off the creature's foul hide. Snorting with disgust Oios steps back to get away from the creature's tentacles in order to bring down the blessings of Damballah rather than test his tired muscles again. OOC: Does it have reach? How many steps to get in a place where Oios can cast without AOO?
Happy new year all!
I mean Oios is a good hit away from going down too. We need Drazan and Imix to save us! And whoever wrote the message could have at least signed it. I mean we can't really avoid messing with the business of someone when we don't know who they are.
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Mechanics:
Free Action: Drop Spear First Action: Draw Staff Swift Action: Smite Second Action: Third Action: Attack Active Effects: Smite, +4 AC
It is undead Oios wheezes as he tries to recover from the tentacle attack. He drops the spear and draws Telowo's staff. It blazes yellow and Oios mutters a prayer to his pantheon to help him put down the abomination. The staff blazes forth and the first hit from it slices through the beasts defenses, driven by the wrath of Oios' gods. The second is not nearly as strong.
Sorry for being a bit AWOL myself. Really the next big thing from Oios side, as the settlement becomes established is to give up the Flight. I think we've found our new home right? Oios will advocate for adopting the beastling's governing ways to replace him. A senate/council type thing. Then, it's off to burn the wasp nest!
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There is a tentacle! A large beast assaults! We must move! Drazan! To the laborer that fell! Oios moves to the end of the dock and draws his branched spear. Mechanics:
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In some sensees we have put the murders behind us. In other senses we will never do so. Oios says. We are few and we saw this place as a haven but has proven to have daggers aimed at our throats from the shadows. Oios makes a placating gesture. We are wary for now but trust will be built again, especially if those who commanded the murders are dragged into the light. We have made fast friends here and we do not forget that either. I wish to gain your insight into the nature of those of your people who work against you, who inflame tensions, rather then settle them. The two Councilmembers who spoke most against us, forgive me I do not know their names, the... otter.. and the snake... Why do they hate our presence? Do we get in the way of their plans? Are they beholden to other powers? Do they just fear the Wasps above all? What can we do to aid your shadow-work?
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Oios nods at Orix as he leaves, it is a deep nod, but not quite a bow, as befits a meeting between equals. Taking the wise one's advice Oios does what he can to arrange a meeting with the mysterious beastling who contacted him in the dead of night before the latest bout of excitement OOC: I think Oios would have arranged some sort of agreement on how to arrange a meeting with the mysterious dead of night people. Sorry memory is fuzzy!
No worries, take your time GM. Hey fellow players, considering us refugees are a battle hardened bunch with nothing to lose what say we all that we just up and move to this mystical source of clean water and refuse to leave? Get the aqua peoples to agree as well. Of course we'd be more than willing to share the water with the beastlings and we're going to go wasp hunting soon enough but possession is 9/10ths of the law, and I don't think the beastlings would be willing to go to war with us over it. We're certainly not appropriating the land, oh no, just safeguarding it.
How about we offer the beastlings an infiltration and attack on the StormReaders in exchange for the Flight gaining the freshwater island?
I have not thought much about my proper title Oios replies gruffly. When our Flight finds a home I will be rid of it in any case. As for our purpose he continues I thank you for assigning Latha to be our guide, she is thoughtful and generous, but her responsibilies are not such that allow for answering the kind of questions I have. My purpose is to find a safe place for my peoples to settle and recover, and rebuild. I had hope that this would be that place but.... your advice would be appreciated. Oios leans his chin on his staff. The... spirited discussion.. that you were kind enough to allow us to witness in this room was illuminating. Can I know why some of your peoples are so adamanat about us existing here at all? Is it ought to do with the worship of Damballah that Harambe introduced to these lands? Speaking of, we seem to have been unwittingly following his trail. What do you know of him? Why did he come here? What did he do? Where did he go? What is his purpose? I apologize for the barrage of questions Oios ends shrugging Until very recently I was an inquisitor, not a politician. But it is imperative I know why some of your peoples are welcoming hosts while others are decidedly not. Blood has been shed already over this and my peoples have precious little of it left.
will try and get a post in by end of day.
Oios will want to have a separate meeting with Orix and also ask Latha about otter and snake. Don't need to RP the meeting if you don't want but basically Oios wants to know why the two factions of the beastlings are so much at loggerheads as well as how well Damballah's pantheon's worship has taken root in the city and if there is any resentment around that. Also find out what Orix knows about Harambe, why he came, what he did, where he went etc.
Each death causes us much grief as we are the last of our peoples as far as we know. Oios says sadly We must be cautious. Well guarded delegations travelling between our camp and your city i ndaylight should be done to keep the lines of communications open, but no more than that.
It uncovered much, Honored Speaker. Oios intones Damballah be praised we have shed much light was shed on shadowed places. I am sad to say that this is the only happy news that I am able to give to you and your assembly however. All of our peoples are companions in grief this day. But I get ahead of myself. The first place we conducted our investigation was where the bodies of your guards were discovered. The weapon wounds on them were not the cause of death, they were mutilations done after death in order to deceive us all. The cause of death was what we call HeartLock and what you call Mud Blood. Oios pauses as murmurs from his first revelation start to echo I understand that you would not take my word on this. he says before pulling the gourd out of his pack So here is proof. Retrieved from below the boats where the bodies were found. He allows the gourd to be taken to the Speaker. Someone wanted to deceive your people into thinking that ours were responsible for murder by blade, and so carried out murder by poison before carrying out a desecration. But that is not all, from there we went to the hunters, the last of your people to see our own missing ones. We learnt that a hunter, Ithak, served as a guide for ours to a lonely island, where heartlock is known to grow. We followed that clue and found a large plague beast, recently engorged on a meal. It attacked us, we killed it, and from within the body we found our Hamfatten and his magistrates. Dead from the same poison, and the body of Ithak as well. We have brought his body as proof before we bury him. Dead men, as a rule, though a loose one in these dark times, are innocent of murder, and certainly when they are within the belly of a snake.
Welcome back. Hope you had a great trip! Yeah, we have enough evidence to present to the Senate I think.
Just Hamfatten then. Oios sighs sadly. There is little better than a corpse to prove a murder, and easy to claim it false without one.
We will take all the bodies back. For proof and to give them a proper burial.
Oios heals Isitel for damage a few times as she works before turning attention to the others. We must get back to our healers to see this beast did not infect us.
Mechanics:
22 damage healed not bad. Staff has 2/5 spell points left. OOC: Call out who needs healing please. I don't think Oios got hit.
Oios is super suspicious.
We must heal and quick Oios breathes out as he yanks the spear free and replaces it with Telowo's staff. Then retrive what is in the belly while keeping a lookout. Anyone who wishes to hide the evidence of their crime would choose a time such as this to strike.
You will DIE NOW, Spawn of Foul Waters Oios shouts at the snake as loudly as he can. It was an animal, and loud noises would scare at. Then he stabs it with his spear. Mechanics: 2 Act Intimidate Shaken for extra rounds for ever 5 exceeds DC 1 Act attack
OOC: Hrm, I don't think it will stack on Isitel as Oios gave a +3 to Armor as well. Does your spell give an option of +1 to shield instead of +3 to Armor?
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