The Ministry's page

I will! I will.

It's a shame, I had so much time to contribute to games on Tuesdays and Thursdays when I worked from home, but now I'm in the office five days a week and this site is blocked.

I'm very sorry to have to do this (and to have taken so long to pull the trigger on this) but due to changes in my work schedule I'm just not in front of the computer long enough to run games any more. I can still play (since playing is easier to do from mobile) but I can't give the games I manage the proper attention.

If anyone wants to take over this game, let me know. I'm happy to pass off GM reins to anyone who wants to take over.

Sorry! I didn't see this at all.

Phardorl nods nervously. I mean...yes, I do feel...unbalanced sometimes. I lead a life of luxury, like yourself, but others still suffer. Still, what can someone like me do?

Thus is correct. 1d10 just because. 1d10 for the skill. 1d10 for mastery. Roll another!

Velas, Phardorl seems quite taken by all this attention and spectacle. He's as pliant as he's going to get.

Is anyone waiting on me for anything?

Thuisax: Phardorl seems nervous and out of place. This isn't really his "scene." The whispering servant startles him, but he nods quickly and waits for Velas to stop dancing before he nervously approaches.

You...you wanted to meet with me?

Thusiax, it's hard to get a surface level read of him causally. Do you want to make a roll to really try to figure out what makes him tick? It's 1d automatically and you may have some skills or domains that contribute?

Combat is up to you! There were a few fights you avoided in the last mission. Maybe more this one. It depends on your methods!

Wow!

The guest of honor arrives fairly early. He’s a bit dazzled by all the commotion and spectacle.

Then it's time to begin. Velas...what is it like when you...summon a party? What happens?

It was like Clive was never there at all.

You dig through his supplies quickly, looking behind drawers, under the crawlspace access, etc. You find a few old letters mentioning his daughter, though your cursory investigation into his background showed he had no children, was never married. This might be useable, though the context of the letters doesn't give much information about the circumstances.

He discusses some details around preferred food and drink and then asks to get back to work. From your brief conversation at least, he seems to be sincere about serving the Aelfir, but there may be leverage that you've yet to find.

He's a little uncomfortable, mostly at the idea of attending a party. Still...it's a compelling idea.

Ok. I'll be there.Should I bring anything?

He nods slowly. Yeah...I guess...that makes sense. I'd be happy to attend. And who are you exactly? Do you work for Velas?

He's skeptical, but not necessarily suspicious...yet.

Thusiax, you're taking a little shadow stress, but I'll need to know more about your response to him to be able to describe it.

I need a refresher on stress and fallout. Will respond tonight.

He seems taken aback. An artist party? Me? I can’t imagine why!

Give me a roll to convince him.

Clive
Don’t forget, you can insert yourself into a scene after the fact. No roll needed!

Thusiax
You arrive at Phardori’s office in the forge. He’s a nervous drow, with a thin ring of hair circling an enormous bald spot.

Mmm yes? How may I help you?

That's a great idea!

So sorry for the delay

The Torch is appropriately "rustic" for your needs. It's a cramped office with a sizable lobby, perfect for the little party. Unlike many of the buildings in the forge area, the Torch is lit by Magelight, giving the room a warm orange glow and comparably clean air.

How are you getting in touch with Phardorl to invite him to the party?

So Sorry! I’ll get that up later today!

Let me know when you've settled on a location. The magic of Velas' powers means you don't really need permission or invitations...the party just sort of...happens.

Trying to subvert the ironmonger would be a powerful blow for the Ministry, but it’s largely self-directed. There’s no intelligence to aid you. You’ll have to research, discover leverage and sway him on your own.

Here’s what you do know. The ironmonger is named Phardorl Deviir. He’s the only Drow forge supervisor in the whole Spire, a position gained through hard work and demonstrated loyalty. He lives in a cramped apartment just outside the ironworks. He has a brother who lives near the Fruit Market and a sister under Durance to a tailor of slight renown named Callum Cuts-By-Sight.

Beyond that...you’ll need to do your own heavy lifting.

The next stage of this mission is unrelated to the Garden, if that makes a difference. It'll begin in Red Row.

If you'd prefer, there's some strange goings on in Grist. Clive, you haven't heard from Jasper in quite some time.

There's also some rumblings of a possible bit of leverage in The Works. A drow ironworker has risen to a position of slight authority at a large forge. He may be able to be convinced to produce weapons for the Ministry or sabotage the gear of the Aelfir.

Just waiting on Thus and Clive’s advances and your votes for the next stage of the story!

I don't think you mentioned, but I have no problems with you being a follower of the masked god. You met the requirements in your backstory.

It's a shame you didn't mention that sooner. You could have refreshed some stress by pretending to be someone else!

Oh, grace is a good one!

And that's one vote for continuing the mission.

So, pick your low advances and let me know:

Do you want to continue the mission to bring fruit to the underspire?
Do you want to follow a different thread that I've seeded (I can provide more details)
Do you want to pursue your own agenda?

That is up to you. There’s a continuation of this mission that we can dive into, or you can pursue your own agendas of chaos/toppling the regime. I’ve also seeded a few threads that I can elaborate on if you want something new to do.

Also, you three have changed the Spire in a small way. You can take a low advance.

This scene (and mission) can be done now if you want it. Michael’s plan should work fine, at least as far as getting fruit downspire. His involvement cuts off after that.

That being said, it makes Michael an integral part of the operation. You’d need to replace him with another human willing to damage his profits and risk his position to help Drow. Michael does it because he’s involved with a Drow. Other humans tend to be indifferent at best. You’ll have to potentially alter the smuggling operation to keep the pipeline open after removing Michael. But that doesn’t have to be now, and any distaste you might feel for the smug SOB might be outweighed by the benefit of providing fresh fruit downspire. This would be a huge “hearts and minds” win for the Ministry.

Michael scoffs. We stamp the outgoing food as inspected, so they don't have to search it on the way down. I don't think the Aelfir could even imagine that we'd ship fresh food and charge fungi prices. They won't hassle it, believe me.

We can skip ahead now and deal with any necessary planning in flashbacks a la Blades.

You meet with Michael in his office after hours. He seems at ease, that cocky attitude of someone who thinks himself untouchable.

Thanks for dealing with the cave trash for me. Jono would be a significant problem to our continued operations. Tebthym is...more controllable, I think.

He rolls out a set of plans. Laroche planned to divert some of the fruit shipments downspire, disguised as mushroom deliveries. I stamp the boxes on their way out, no one will inspect them. There's a freight elevator that connects the Works to Red Row, and from there out to the Fruit Market and beyond. I have a few Drow delivery boys who I can trust to get things to the right places. You...three he arches an eyebrow at Velas Have any issue with that? Any better ideas?

Shall we skip ahead to your meeting with Michael and bring this mission to an end?

He nods and sends you on your way.

Perhaps you two should link up with Clive to complete this mission?

At the mention of Cornell, Ryloj's eyes widen. He nods. Of course, of course. It'd be an honor to share what I have for a friend of Lord Cornell. He reaches into a crate behind the wall, his long, slender arms stretching almost impossibly far. He's not even looking in the crate, but he pulls out two or three bolts of ornate silk, including one that seems to shift color based on his body heat.

Is this for you, singer? I think this would complement your coloring well.

He leans in close to Thusiax. When you speak to your master again, please inquire if he's considered my proposal. He'll know what I mean.

There is indeed a fighter who fits the bill. Lithe and swift, Ryloj Teken'rret fights with a razor sharp glave. He wears flowing silks and clanging jewelry to confuse foes as he bounds and whirls around the arena floor, always staying just out of reach. He's perched on the top of a low wall, waiting for his battle to be called.

Clive
You scurry away unnoticed. As promised, you hear tell that Tebthym has taken leadership of The Rot. You’ll need to reconnect with Michael to work out the details of the produce smuggling. Perhaps waiting for your co-conspirator?

Red Row
Thusiax, to answer your question:
GRoUPs
For each character that assists you, if they have a rel- evant skill or domain, add 1 to your dice pool – but they take stress the same way you would. (There is a limit to how many characters can aid you on any given action, determined by the GM.)
For group skill actions (such as sneaking in some- where), choose one player to lead the group – if they succeed, every other player rolls with mastery.

Realization dawns on the gnoll’s face. Imsorry Imisunderstood. Yesplease goaheadin

He moves out of the way and lets you back into the fighters’ entrance. It’s a narrow hall leading to a large room that reaks of sweat and blood. Rusty weapons line the walls. Various fighters dress for their upcoming fights.

What do you do?

He snorts. Nofans beforefights.

You might need to compel or deceive him.

Velas, you approach the fighter entrance. A gnoll stands guard at the entrance, his fur a sandy blonde, a jagged scar running along his snout. The fur around his arms is shaved, strange symbols and arcane markings carved into his forearms.

Mayhelp you? he barks as you near.

Clive
That's likely enough. If word gets out, the other humans are likely to hang them both. Racial purity is big in the human world. He looks pained for a moment. You should leave, I think. Take your lanterns with you.

Red Row
Red Row is crowded, noisy and foul. A crush of humans, drow and gnolls pack the streets, waiting to get into Mother Moon's arena to watch desperate souls battle to the death. It's a vicious, nearly lawless place full of urchins and gangs, with virtually no guard presence.

The back side of the arena holds the fighters' quarters. If it's arena fabric you want, this is where to find it.

What do you do?

Jono thinks for a moment, his tongue clicking against his teeth. Michael...Michael...I've heard he's been sleeping with his Drow assistant. Public knowledge of that will make life hard for both of them...

He seems to relax a bit. There are a few conglomerates running hydro-farms. Using mage-tech to grow plants like the sun, huge vats of fungus. No respect for the old ways. It’s hard, because it’s cheaper and faster. Those downspire can better afford hydro-mushrooms than my crop. I understand why the poor and starving would choose their stock, but this life is all I know. In a generation, there will be no dark farmers...and will the humans keep prices low when competition is gone? I’ve been making plans to sabotage a few of the hydro farms, but I know who will truly suffer if I poison their spores. I’ll retire quietly, but if I can aid you in taking down the ape who forced you to do this to me, I shall.

Correct on both counts.

Cornell gestures laxly to Velas. This Drow has need of your services. Normally I'd keep you...grounded, but he's the favorite singer of some Aelfir that I wish to court favor from. Impress him and it could serve well for the both of us. I'll let you two get acquainted...elsewhere.

He returns to his work, quite done with this conversation and the distasteful business.

Clive

He sighs. Ok. I'll retire. I'll retire. I'll pass leadership on. My enemies? Did those filthy humans have something to do with this? Their hydroponic farms? I don't know much about them, but I'll help any way I can.

Clive, this is the “boss fight” so you’ll need to roll “social damage”

Roll 1d3 for the stress you inflict on him.

Regardless of how well you convince him, there’s an odd look to his face as you speak. He’s memorizing your voice!

But if he recognizes you, you can’t tell.

Cornell hems and haws a bit about how valuable Thusiax is to him, but eventually relents lest he offend your patrons.

Gere-Nevin. Summon Thusiax. I have little need for him now and this...singer...has use of his particular talents.

Clive
Compel+low society+mastery from the terror

Velas
Deceive+high society