abraxasooc | INTERLUDE: RETALIATION

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INTERLUDE: RETALIATION

Interlude - Retaliation

After the chaos that struck Thorne and the Free Cities at the end of August, the situation remains grim throughout the three factions as summer fades into autumn.

Prime Minister Marlo refuses to let go unanswered what she sees as an unprovoked attack from Thorne. In return, the Free Cities has sent an amphibious warship that quickly travels over the desert and across Lake Circinus. A ship of this nature has never been seen before, with many in Thorne anticipating the Free Cities having to travel the long way around to reach their territory.

Caught unawares and with the crown's limited influence in Nott, on SEPTEMBER 8, those in Castle Thorne will awake in the middle of the night to thick smoke filling the sky. The farmlands around the lake north of Nott and south of Thorne, while finishing their harvest, have been set ablaze. Grain stores and crop fields are in smoldering ruins, and many rural homes have been destroyed.

Marlo will claim she has shown more grace and restraint than Thorne demonstrated to the Free Cities: she has only attacked their harvest source - not an entire city full of women and children over groundless assertions. It remains to be seen how much restraint the future continues to hold.

While Thorne has been working to preserve the Castle's stores, this is still a great blow to the people and their livelihoods. It also places a large strain on Borrel to provide not only for the military forces who reside there, but for the entirety of Thorne, including Hayle, Nott, and Castle Thorne.

The Factions

Quests this month will be related to the events described in this post and will be connected to what's happening in each faction. Please read the below before signing up for any quests!

Thorne

In Thorne, King Brydan Galdwin III, who has largely been in the shadow of his wife, steps forward for once to aid the situation. Most interested in protecting his people, he has opened communications with Solvunn to ask for their aid in providing the grain and supplies necessary to keep their people fed through Thorne's notoriously harsh winters. The Summoned can take on a Quest assignment in relation to this if they wish.

Official word will be released on Grigory Jannus' passing, which was due to a corrupted protection spell. In an attempt to defend him from an attack, the spell instead caused him to suffer a massive internal rupture. Anyone capable of reading between the lines can safely infer that Grigory burst like a balloon. A formal burial will be planned and held shortly, with everyone in Castle Thorne expected to attend.

Queen Ellya's temper has not waned. With Solvunn providing much-needed supplies, the Queen's focus remains on the Free Cities, as well as her court. The dungeon, which has seen little use since the Summoned escaped, is beginning to fill again with those accused of going against the crown. A high turnover rate has struck parts of the Castle, with those who are not arrested sent to parts far away in exile or otherwise forced to "retire" their position. So far, the Summoned have escaped any scrutiny, but they would do well not to raise too much dissent.

Borrel's military base has seen the greatest rise in activity both on land and around its harbors where warships are beginning to deploy. Portals to the city of Castle Thorne have opened regularly for the army to enter. The number of soldiers in the city and the castle has increased exponentially, and the Queen's uncle - one of Borrel's highest decorated military captains - has been seen visiting her in the throne room more than once.

That said, the Summoned do have a few opportunities to solidify their position in the Castle. In addition to the Quests they can undertake, they can also do the following:

◎ Help take inventory of supplies and equipment, including food stores, potions, ingredients, and so on
◎ Assist with reinforcing wards and spells
◎ Help train new apprentice mages in Academic Magic, if they are a student of Thorne's preferred style of magic or possess similar magic of their own
◎ Volunteer for the infirmary, run errands, or provide research assistance

The above is not all-encompassing. If your character is interested in fueling Thorne's darker ambitions regarding the Queen's suspicions of dissidents among her own or its war against the Free Cities, or if you have other ideas, you can contact us on the Plot Engagement post.

Free Cities

In the Free Cities, the roads are open again and portals to Libertas have been provided. Quilleth Kaur, Libertas' representative, is mostly focused on the well-being and safety of her people rather than firing back on Thorne. Makeshift infirmaries have been set up throughout the rubble of the city, and Cadens and Aquila have both opened their gates to take on those who need a temporary home. The Summoned can take on a Quest assignment in relation to these matters if they wish.

Prime Minister Marlo has declared a state of emergency as a result of the waging conflict. Among other things, this has most notably suspended any upcoming elections until further notice for all government officials. While the curfew has been lifted, the army's presence is hard to miss as they patrol the city's borders. Newer Summoned may have to answer a few questions when entering or leaving at odd hours (very late at night, for example), but those who have been in the city for some time and are recognized by the soldiers will not be bothered.

Some shops owned by those accused of having close ties to Thorne have been vandalized, although performance artist Theany Newland, known for controversially embracing his Thornean roots, has stepped forward rather than hiding to bring about a union among everyone who calls the Free Cities home. He is moderately successful as many who once lived in Libertas are now in Cadens trying to rebuild - meaning their brand of free-thinking politics has permeated across the city further. Due to the vastly diverse population in the Free Cities, support for war does not go unchallenged and many feel more violence is not the answer even if nearly all agree Thorne's attack was uncalled for. They feel that the Free Cities' resources should be better spent rebuilding and defending their homes, not waging an invasion on foreign soil. Aquila, a city that relies on vacationers, innovative arts and fashion, and its thriving marketplace of imports is equally divided, concerned the war will impact profits and their way of life.

The Summoned have a few opportunities to contribute. In addition to the Quests they can undertake, they can also do the following:

◎ Provide medical aid, donations of food and clothes, or other efforts to those who need it most
◎ Volunteer in hospitals, orphanages, and temporary shelters set up for those who have come to Cadens from Libertas
◎ Enlist in the military (naturally)
◎ Help transport goods and supplies to and from Cadens, or even gather those supplies themselves

The above is not all-encompassing. If your character is interested in fueling the Free Cities' militant tendencies and suspicions against those who have supposed ties to Thorne or in combating those things, or if you have other ideas, you can contact us on the Plot Engagement post.

Solvunn

In Solvunn, the war may be at a distance but not as far as many might prefer. With Thorne having reached out to Solvunn for their aid, Solvunn has agreed to provide a portion of their abundant harvest from this year to assist. So as not to be seen as choosing sides, Solvunn is equally offering assistance to the Free Cities. They have decided to send a supply of herbs and potions used in medicine to aid the people of Libertas. The Summoned can take on a Quest assignment in relation to these matters if they wish.

Solvunn continues to decline to take part in the conflict, denouncing the wicked actions of both sides and expressing sympathy for the common people and innocents whose lives have been affected. They will continue to provide humanitarian aid to both Thorne and the Free Cities. While Solvunn has taken action to increase their defences and wards, the Council's response has been subdued in order not to alarm their people. Their goal is to ensure the commune feels safe without raising too much fear and paranoia.

In addition, locals have turned their focus even more towards pleasing the gods. They believe that the gods have shown them grace and mercy by preventing tragedy from striking Solvunn's borders. The shrines see increased activity, and offerings continue to grow. The Summoned are often requested to participate or attend various ceremonies and blessings. These range from decorative wreaths, bone charms and shrines, and the occasional animal sacrifice should any of the Summoned have the stomach for it. Animal sacrifices are often performed deep in the woods, away from the general populace. Only those who choose to attend will witness it.

In addition to the Quests, the Summoned can undertake, they can also do the following:

◎ Help harvest or tend to crop fields to ensure Solvunn has enough food for the winter, as well as a surplus to ship to Thorne and the Free Cities as needed
◎ Craft charms, blessings, and other tokens meant to invoke the power of the gods
◎ Prepare offerings to the shrines around the commune or help maintain the shrines by weeding, cleaning, or decorating them
◎ Assist with children who might be anxious or fearful about what's happening

The above is not all-encompassing. If your character is interested in exploring Solvunn's deep-rooted beliefs in their gods or in swaying Solvunn to choose a side, or if you have other ideas, you can contact us on the Plot Engagement post.

Notes

As with all interludes and preludes, this is not a formal game event! Rather, players can use the details described as inspiration and incorporate it into any threads or CR plans they may have. You can handwave as much or as little as you want regarding this occurrence. If you'd like, you can use this OOC post to plot with each other.

Nocwich will be watching how events unfold to decide how they proceed next, including if they will choose to open their doors regularly to the Summoned.

Questions and Answers

If after reading these you're still unsure about anything, or your question wasn't covered, please feel free to hit up our Questions thread below!

What is the overview of the politics in Abraxas right now?: Right now, the Free Cities and Thorne are in conflict, though neither side has formally declared war. Both Thorne and the Free Cities see Solvunn as a potential ally. While they're currently preoccupied with the fallout, they will soon consider if it will be possible to sway Solvunn to their cause. Solvunn at this time will not involve themselves beyond providing humanitarian aid.
What is the current state of Libertas? Is anything left standing?: Libertas has suffered a great blow and the casualties are high. That said, the Free Cities has been increasing their fortifications since May, so while the attack caught them off-guard, Libertas has fared better than what the initial rain of destruction suggested. About half of the city, the western portion, remains standing, with some of the meteoric fireballs having been deflected by shielding towards the hills and ocean.

Technological advancements have also helped save lives in the aftermath and will continue to do so. Many surviving residents of Libertas have chosen to find shelter in Cadens or Aquila for the foreseeable future, and the people of both sister cities have opened their doors.
How is Nocwich involved in all this?: Nocwich will also decline involvement on the basis that they are a small nation that has neither the influence nor power to intervene in such matters. They have their own civil unrest to contend with, as well as the Feywilds, so they are not interested in adding someone else's war to their problems.
What about the natives outside of Castle Thorne? How do they feel?: As with all nations, sentiments differ across the population. Those at the Castle are not speaking up due to the Queen cracking down on anyone who displays signs of sympathy towards the Free Cities, or anyone who demonstrates any reluctance supporting Thorne's war against them. Borrel, home to Thorne's military, is also staunchly loyal to the crown. However, further away in intellectual corners such as Hayle or places that have separated themselves from the castle such as Nott, there may be more rumblings of discontent.
Will there be an event post for this?: There will be no event post! Players are welcome to use the details outlined here to flavor interactions in their personal logs and threads. Our upcoming event will be in October.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

hello mods! I have 2 questions.

1. Will people using magic be frowned upon in Free Cities since it's associated so much with Thorne? Specifically if Jayce uses his healing magic while doing refuge help in Libertas, will people be uncomfortable about it? He has normal medicine skills too.

2. Does everyone who volunteers for the 2+ tiers have to be 2+? Can they bring someone lower? Just checking to be sure.

1. Not at all! The attitude in the Free Cities towards traditional forms of magic like Academic Magic is that it's antiquated and quaint, but they are not afraid of it or opposed to it, and there are immigrants in the Free Cities who practice magic. Some might express surprise at the technique being used instead of the advanced medicine they're used to, but they'll be willing to accept any help. On very rare occasions, he might encounter someone on the fringes who is genuinely suspicious and anti-magic, but this sentiment is not widespread.

2. At this time, everyone involved will need to be 2+ with the exception of people in Solvunn due to their limited pool. We will add this clarification onto the quest post itself.

THANK YOU.

I'm going to follow up with one more. Can a player only take two quests total? Like if I wanted to do the unlimited quests with Jayce and Istredd, but a higher level one with Jesper, is that okay?

A player can take as many unlimited quests as they like, but the limited quest slots are per player. If you have 3 characters, all 3 can take an unlimited quest but only one may do a limited quest.

That's what I was hoping for, thank you!

Would the Free Cities officials accept donations? Nadine and a few other Cadens Summoned - Viktor, Jayce, and Altair most predominantly - put together basic care packages of clothes and preserved foods and soap and stuff, and a bunch of pain-easing tonics and burn salves for the relief effort/refugees.

Yes, they will gladly accept any and all types of donations!

Would the Summoned be able to hear through the grapevine any details about the identities of those being accused of treason/sent to the dungeon/exiled? Are they mostly high level folks or is it amongst the servant class too?

They can hear whispers, but most of it will be ambiguous and they will likely not recognize the names or anyone of genuine importance. Most of them appear to be mid-level guards or other castle mages who are no longer seen as trustworthy, but would not create too much of a stir to oust.

hello, mods! couple quick questions, mostly for flavor & potential new cr opportunities...

tier 2 quests say "the leaders of Thorne and the Free Cities have asked some of their trusted Summoned to travel to an agreed-upon meeting point" etc

1. Are these Summoned approached individually, sent letters, how are they asked?

2. Since we're deciding on groups OOCly, when it comes to the IC decisions, are the Summoned who've been "asked" assigned groups or would they decide on their own teammates?

1. An open notice usually goes out for volunteers in the case of quests such as these, but if your character is relatively recognized (3+ rank) they might be asked individually if someone sees them around and notices they aren't busy with something else.

2. Either is fine. The Summoned can approach as a preformed volunteer unit or they can sign up individually and be assigned.

got it! thanks so much for the quick response!

Hi Mods!

Tony is planning on heading into Libertas and taking part in the search-and-rescue quest/mission. Would the mission organizers allow him to take a self-made hydraulic rescue tool to help lift large debris off of injured/trapped people, to access them and pull them to safety?

The device would consist of a hand-held "jaws of life" portion that would be connected by heavy-duty hoses to pressurized cylinders on his back, which would contain an oil-based hydraulic fluid. As such, it would be one-man-operated/portable, but quite bulky and heavy.

Thanks!

Yes, he can use this invention to assist.

In regards to fortifying defenses around Thorne...

Would Sasarai be able to earthshape any barriers into the landscape?

Hello! While Thorne would not have need of barriers due to their powerful warding magic, they would ask Sasarai to use his earth abilities to help put out fires and create fire barricades after the Free Cities' retaliation on Thorne.

Hi!

1. What is the caravan with supplies situation currently? I imagine all of that has stopped with Thorne and Free Cities, but—outside of the specific supplies being sent to the other two factions—would Solvunn continue their back-and-forth trading? Or has it all come to a halt?

2. For the supply run quests, would the Summoned in Solvunn be able to add their own packages to be sent to specific people in either Thorne or Solvunn, or would this be reason for scrutiny/distrust by either the mages or soldiers accompanying the other party?

1. Solvunn is still importing and exporting, though there will be a higher rate of delays, damaged packages, and goods that are returned or go missing altogether. These are not signs of anything malicious but rather a result of the chaos of the situation.

2. Unfortunately, the supply runs are strict and only sanctioned items can be included. That said, she may send her items as usual through the trade caravans. Just note that, as above, her items may not always make it or they might take much longer than usual to arrive.

Another question about the Thorne quest - can the Summoned hop on any transport like carts/horses or anything else headed toward the Nott fires (and for getting back to Thorne)? Thank you!

Portals will be provided! Most of Thorne use portals to get around. The same will be done here in order to avoid a week long journey. The Summoned can use these portals to come and go between the castle and Nott.

Hi mods!
I have two questions relating to inferno quest.

1) The rain spell affects only the range of 100 meters, are there fires bigger than that? If so, is there a limit of how many times the spell can be cast consecutively?
2) Since the shield needs only to be activated and not cast, is it anchored to an object? Like a physical shield or a piece of paper?

1. The fire itself has consumed the forest. There will be other Summoned and Thornean mages doing the same spell at once, thus covering a large area as they work together. How long the spell can be channeled or cast depends on the person. If they are practiced in magic they will be able to do so for longer or with more frequency, but as with all spells they must pay attention to their energy reserves.

2. Yes, those who are using the shield will be given a small enchanted stone that will cast the shield. They only need to hold it and will the effect to happen. It will be fairly intuitive, well suited for those who are not skilled with magic.

Quick question, much like Nadine's care packages, I had the idea that Jayce could make some of his tools that might be helpful for relief workers/soldiers. Things like multi-tools that have pliers, knives, screwdrivers, etc., but also strong crowbars, shovels, handsaws, nothing particularly exciting but could be helpful with removing rubble or getting people out of situations. Do you think this makes sense and that the Free Cities soldiers and such would appreciate getting more of those types of things? I was going to mention it in a thread but wanted to be absolutely sure before!

While the army has their own regulation equipment, there are others who are trying to help such as civilians, non-military rescue workers, medical workers, and so on. If Jayce wants to provide equipment to such people, they would accept. Furthermore, the army's equipment might occasionally break or they might be short on tools, so the soldiers would accept substitute tools in some emergency cases where they happen to be without.

Great I was thinking more supplies for the people doing rescue work in Libertas! Thank you!

Just to clarify, are the Libertas portals open for people who aren't exactly doing the quest thing but are going in to help some other way? Or do they have to be officially on the quest itself to go in?

Thank you!!

Yes, portals are open so long as characters are entering to help. They will be open for the foreseeable future while Libertas is rebuilding.

Hi mods! Had a couple questions.

1. Thancred is doing the quest that's in the area around Nott, and after that quest is complete, he would (if possible) want to go into the city of Nott itself and see if he could request some kind of meeting with Lyle Vela. His influence is at 3 right now, so I'm not sure if this would fly — he has been to Nott once before this and did some asking around back then. If he was allowed to meet with Lyle (or someone else, if that would make more sense!), he would essentially be wanting to get a sense for how they feel about Queen Ellya's attack and how it led to a retaliation that affected Nott, who was not even responsible. He knows they're not fond of the crown and is looking for allies against the Queen, but would want this to all be behind closed doors, etc. Again, not sure if this is feasible but it's an idea I had that I wanted to float by you all!

2. Regardless of whether or not the above takes place, once Thancred returns to Castle Thorne and "turns in" the quest to Jolene, I wanted to know what kind of impression he'd get from her regarding how she feels about everything that happened. Geralt has made it known that she was sympathetic to the Summoned before and might be a more reasonable ear within the castle, so I'm curious how she'd come across!

1. Thancred would in fact be able to meet with Lyle, especially as Nott is not a large city and it would not be strange for Lyle to be near where the crisis is going on (in other words, close to where Thancred himself already is while he's assisting).

2. Those in the castle all have their own opinions, and Jolene is no different. She'll be all-business during the quest as she tries to keep things together, but should she get the sense that Thancred is interested in the political playing field, she will take note of him and begin to reach out to him more.

Because these are both interactions with NPCs and the plot, we'd like to redirect you to the Plot Engagement post! If you can reach out to us there, we'll be able to give you more information in-depth regarding how Thancred can proceed with Lyle and Jolene. It will be helpful if we can know how Thancred plans to approach the situation, what he might say, and the impression he'll give off.

Done and done, thanks so much!!

possibly a dumb question, but with the soldiers all around, and the mention that newer summoned are stopped--

I was curious, is there any sort of paperwork (like IDs, but assuming less formal?) that folks carry in the free cities? Is it just that the same people usually guard the gates, so they recognize the Summoned if they go in and out a lot?

Sort of related: is there any change in attitude toward people walking around visibly armed, or is it the usual "as long as they don't make trouble it's fine" vibe?

thanks mods!

Citizens and longtime residents carry identification papers depending on their job, associations, organizations they belong to, and more. Portam Hall has a registry that contains all manner of certificates, permits, and identifications.

For the Summoned, they are simply recognized on sight. A number of soldiers and guards would learn to identify the Summoned over time due to their recognizable presence around the city and tendency to associate with each other.

On the whole, people can walk on the streets visibly armed to a reasonable degree so long as they aren't making trouble and the weapon is properly sheathed or stored. Soldiers will stop people at their discretion if they notice something unusual. A bookkeeper abruptly appearing armed will draw attention, however someone who's established themselves as a mercenary would be passed over.

This is all really useful! thank you, mods!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

INTERLUDE: RETALIATION

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Inferno quest

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