abraxasmods: (Default)
ABRAXAS MODS ([personal profile] abraxasmods) wrote in [community profile] abraxasooc2022-12-30 10:14 am
Entry tags:

EVENT #11: MEDIATION - WRAP UP

Event #11 - Mediation (Wrap-Up)

Unlike the previous Nocwich gathering, the mediations end without a hitch. Characters will be taken back to the ship on December 23rd, which will sail to Luna whereupon the Summoned can return to their respective nations by the morning of December 24th.

A few days later, around December 30th, characters will be requested to attend a meeting where officials will inform them of the outcome of the discussions. While this meeting is optional, unlike the trip to Luna, the Summoned are encouraged to attend as officials consider their participation during the talks vital to its success.
Negotiation Outcomes
Overall, while the progress made in any direction is small, tensions have eased somewhat following the talks. The passing of the Dimming with no violent incident has also helped among the citizens and officials alike. Across Abraxas, the natives are hopeful they'll be able to recover from the effects of the omens and the previous attacks without war breaking out.

The biggest shift appears to be related to Solvunn, who is no longer viewed to be as neutral as they claim. Instead, Nocwich - specifically Luna - is rapidly stepping into that role now that it's successfully mediated a week-long intervention between the three major nations.

In detail, the following below has been concluded through the negotiations, accounting for messages delivered by some of the attending Summoned.
Click to view details
◎ Thanks to a message from one of Thorne's Summoned, Thorne successfully convinced Solvunn to agree to Thorne's continued deliverance of one annual casket to the Singularity during the Dimming. In return, Solvunn will have access to Thorne's fishing waters, with an agreed upon amount of fish that can be procured each season.

◎ Thanks to a request from one of the Free Cities' Summoned, Solvunn will deliver building materials to Libertas to aid in its reconstruction efforts. Curiously, this request was not initially on the discussion table, but has somehow found its way into the formal agreement.

◎ Thanks to a message from one of the Free Cities' Summoned, the Free Cities has agreed to launch a formal inquiry into the summer Nocwich attacks. While it's likely that upon investigating itself, the Free Cities will find it's done nothing wrong, this agreement functions as acceptable acknowledgement that one of its people (a rogue agent, naturally) may be responsible. In return, Thorne has withdrawn its accusations levied at the Free Cities in as a whole. Formally, Thorne is now blaming only a citizen of the Free Cities, possibly acting independent of the government.

◎ Having considered this message from one of the Free Cities' Summoned, while the Free Cities is reluctant to share its technology, it's agreed to deliver some farming tools to Solvunn to aid Solvunn's agricultural recovery. In return, Solvunn has agreed not to contest the Free Cities' claim to the Badlands for the foreseeable future. The most important aspect of this agreement is what remains unspoken: Solvunn has not explicitly said it would not contest Thorne's claim to the Badlands. The wording only refers to the Free Cities.

◎ Having considered these three messages from Thorne's Summoned about Solvunn's behavior and potential suspicions, Thorne, which was deliberating granting Solvunn the Badlands to remove it from Free Cities control, is adamant about not to ceding any part of the Badlands to either nation. As a result, the territory remains contested between Thorne and the Free Cities. Failure to resolve the Badlands is the biggest contributor to remaining tensions following the mediation.

◎ Because Thorne will not apologize for the attack on Libertas, the Free Cities refuses to guarantee safe passage of grain deliveries from Solvunn to Thorne. Thorne will have to continue to use ocean routes that are more dangerous in the winter, which does not cross into Free Cities territory.

Town Hall
Depending on their residing nation, the meeting characters attend will take a slightly different format. However, its purpose is the same across the board: to discuss the conclusion of the talks and to allow the Summoned to exchange information, either with each other or with officials.
◎ Thorne will invite the Summoned to a ballroom, where a small evening feast has been laid out. Mace Hemmet, the Queen's new personal apprentice, will deliver the news. His disposition is cheerful and unassuming. He is only present to do as he's told. Any questions, concerns, or grievances will have to be directed formally to the crown through the royal guards or Ambrose Rhett.

◎ The Free Cities will invite the Summoned to a meeting hall in Portam Hall. Refreshments are provided, but the meeting is brisk and business-like. Prime Minister Marlo Reiner will deliver the information herself, continuing her resolve to retain her reputation as a leader who is "on the ground" alongside her people.

◎ Solvunn will invite the Summoned to the Gathering Hall, where a potluck-style feast will be served, with everyone requested to bring something to contribute. All three members of the Council will make an appearance to deliver the news. There is some tension when Solvunn announces the delivery of lumber and other building materials to Libertas. Josselyn Creed later leaves the gathering early, which is unusual.
Luna's Opening
Having invited the Summoned and important nation officials into its city, Luna will be formally available for visitors during the same 3-day weekend period Nocwich is open.

Upon entering Oleuni Square, there will now be an extra portal to the north that will take guests to Luna to explore the town as they wish. While events pertaining to the Solstice has ended, the atmosphere is generally the same and there's much to enjoy in Luna.

Guests cannot return to Sylvcres Island. Protected for its resources, the sleepy island village is restricted to outsiders. However, visitors can pay a small amount to go on boat rides to tour the ocean. From there, they'll be able to view the island and the surrounding marine life from a reasonable distance.

Meanwhile, The Arcanis remains docked on the shores as an entertainment center. While it will not sail for the remainder of the season due to the harsh winter, guests can pay a modest entrance fee to board it and enjoy its amenities. When summer approaches, The Arcanis will offer overnight round trips across the sea.

Admiral Chuck, otherwise known as Charlie, can be found onboard as usual. The ancient turtle continues to enjoy being fed and doted on, though he seems to be all talked out after the flurry of activity during the mediation. You can read a few of his conversations at the following links: 1 | 2 | 3
World Updates
Roughly four months have passed since the assassination of Grigory Jannus, the attack on the delegates, and the exchange of fire between Thorne and the Free Cities that destroyed a large portion of Libertas and devastated farmlands in Nott. Meanwhile, two months have passed since the omens exacerbated circumstances.

The Summoned have been key to helping throughout this period. To keep players updated with how restoration and recovery has been going since then, we've outlined the state of each nation as Abraxas enters the new year.
Thorne
◎ While Castle Thorne will only feel a moderate (but noticeable) pinch when it comes to the loss of crops, rural areas across the kingdom have been struck by an especially harsh winter famine. Meat is scarce, and bread is hard to come by. Aid from Solvunn has helped prevent things from worsening, but a death toll is still expected.

◎ Farmlands around Nott have continued to rebuild in preparation for the upcoming spring. Smaller farms have been lost for good, absorbed by wealthier landowners who can still afford to repair the scorched land. This has led to further discontent with the aristocratic class and the monarchy in Nott among the common population.

◎ Those in Castle Thorne will notice King Brydan has been more present since the attack on the farmlands. His focus is on recovery rather than preparing for war, something that's whispered to be contentious among the kingdom's inner circle. He remains one of the reasons Nott has even received the help it has.

◎ Grigory Jannus' cause of death has been formally declared as an internal rupture, a diplomatic way of recording that he burst like a balloon. No further investigation has been launched, seeing as Thorne has already determined the Free Cities to be responsible. However, rumor has it that Thorne is quietly trying to determine if the potential culprit, or culprits, who sabotaged the protection spell could've come from within Thorne itself.
Free Cities
◎ Libertas continues to rebuild at a steady rate. The streets are now largely clear of debris, and only a few dangerous zones remain blocked off. Businesses are starting to return, and buildings that were minimally damaged have been fully restored. A formal Arts Restoration Committee, led by two of the Summoned, has been established as part of the process. Quilleth has signed off on the project.

Street theater has risen in popularity due to the destruction of local playhouses. Many now prefer the outdoor stage, claiming it allows everyone to enjoy the experience rather than having to pay for it. Street theater has even started to make its way into Cadens, much to the chagrin of theaters who charge high prices for seating.

◎ A section of the city where temporary housing was erected has taken on a life of its own. While a rougher area than most with little oversight from city guards, many occupants are welcoming of assistance and donations. Small market stalls have started to spring up, where trinkets and snacks are sold. One stall run by several orphans is said to be the best place to get cheap hand pies. The pies are known for being very tasty and very misshapen.

◎ Martial law continues to remain in effect. Officially, it will be lifted and elections reinstated when "the Free Cities is no longer under threat." Prices for staple foods continue to be high, causing some tension among locals and businesses.
Solvunn
◎ Although least affected by the events of Nocwich, Solvunn's heavy reliance on livestock means the settlements were struck especially hard during the omens. In the period since, some families have merged their farmlands in an effort to help each other while others have made journeys between settlements to deliver supplies.

◎ Several families have mysteriously vanished from the Tertiary and Secondary settlements in particular. Formal word from the Council and neighbors is that they have left for either Thorne or the Free Cities, as it appears commune life no longer suits them after so much hardship. The Council wishes them the best, but will speak no more of those who have departed the community.

◎ Fishers in the Tertiary Settlement have struggled the most, as the dead and spoiled fish have devastated their livelihood. In addition to Solvunn's new fishing agreement with Thorne, the Council has started an initiative to build new fishing boats. However, rumor is circulating that fewer boats were delivered than expected due to some of the lumber being diverted to Libertas following the negotiations. Some in the Tertiary Settlement have been grumbling about broken promises, and appear to point their finger at Josselyn Creed, who was elected to represent them on the Council
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!

Do we need to thread out exchanging information?
Not at all! Feel free to handwave amongst yourselves. The purpose of the town hall is to provide characters with an in-game venue where they have a greater reason to interact than seeking each other out.
What if I have something I want to share with an NPC?
You can let us know in the Questions thread below! Officials will take into account all information they're provided and will note a character's helpfulness. If you'd like to propose a more extended plot, please use the Plot Engagement post.
Are the portals into Nott in Thorne and into Libertas in the Free Cities still open?
Yes! These portals will continue to remain open for those who wish to help. While repairs have progressed, there's still much work to be done.
Will characters hear about all negotiation details or only the ones specific to their faction?
They'll be told of the full details listed above.
My character would like to spend more time in Luna. Is that possible?
Not at this time. Nocwich remains largely insular and wary of outsiders. They're welcoming of tourists, but they won't allow foreigners to integrate too deeply into their society.
Will we be able to visit Ikorr eventually?
Yes! We plan to introduce Ikorr in the upcoming future through another plot. At this time, Ikorr doesn't feel getting involved with the other nations as Luna has is a good idea, so they're keeping to themselves.
I wasn't able to get my second question to the NPCs in time. Can we still use our second questions?
Yes, as long as you submitted your first question already, we'll accept a follow up or additional question up to the end of January. Don't feel pressured use your second question! We'll have future opportunities to engage with NPCs. Further, our Plot Engagement post is always open for personal plot requests involving NPC interaction.
I have a rumor that I'd like to investigate or plot with. How should I do so?
You can reach out to us via the Plot Engagement post to submit a plot idea using information discovered during the event. Please have a goal and some concepts in mind so we can help you workshop them!

Remember that you don't need mod approval to "investigate" information that has been made freely available to others in the game. You can simply plot with other players to obtain that information. However, if you're doing something that'll affect the wider game world, bring you to places normally not accessible to characters, or requires the input of an NPC, then please reach out to us.


Post a comment in response:

If you don't have an account you can create one now.
HTML doesn't work in the subject.
More info about formatting