EVENT #12: INVOCATION - COORDINATION POST (PART 1)

[abraxasmods]

Event #12 - COORDINATION (1)

go to the OOC Plotting Post or IC Event Log

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This post is for coordination to prevent the IC Event Log from being overrun by OOC mod and player communications. Forms and instructions are available in this post.

Use this post to:

◎ Coordinate event plots with the mods
◎ Request a mod dice roll
◎ Submit noticeable actions
◎ Write rapid IC exchanges
◎ Investigate a plot point or track ongoing investigations

If you have any questions, see the Questions thread on the OOC Plotting Post.

Available Forms

For details on each form, see the sections below.
Be sure to reply under your assigned category if applicable.

Mod Communications

If you have an idea related to the event plot, communicate and coordinate with us here. This includes NPC meetings, requesting resources, destroying the environment, or anything else that may require mod permission. If we can't accommodate a request for any reason, we'll do our best to offer an alternative!

Contact Us

<b>Player Name:</b> <b>Character Name:</b> <b>Request:</b> (Describe what you'd like to do)

Randomization Request

Request a mod dice roll at any time for outcomes and consequences. Some actions require a dice roll to proceed, such as attacking an acolyte NPC or attempting to break anything major in the environment (chains, doors, walls). If you aren't sure, you can check with us.

Request here

<b>Player Name:</b> <b>Character Name:</b> <b>Action:</b> (Describe what your character is attempting to do and how) <b>Thread:</b> <a href="urlhere">Thread</a> (Link to the thread where this is taking place) <b>Notes:</b> (Anything else)

Notable Actions

Submit notable actions that are likely to gain attention from other players, such as fights or disturbances.

Submit a notable action

<b>Player Name:</b> <b>Character Name:</b> <b>When:</b> (Approximately when is this incident taking place?) <b>Where:</b> (Where is this incident taking place?) <b>What:</b> (Describe the incident) <b>Link:</b> <a href="urlhere">Thread</a> (If applicable. Actions can be submitted without a thread if they're minor, such as if your character snores loudly every night.)

IC Exchanges

Use this option for interactions you'd like to play out, but setting up a standard IC thread would be impracticable. For instance, if your character wants to speak to several people about an event they witnessed together, you might want to do an IC exchange.

Treat this like an informal IC network thread done in person, where character reactions, snippets of dialogue, and other details can be quickly played out and concluded in-game without committing to a full log thread. Exchanges are game canon and can count towards Activity Check under the category of a Network thread.

Start an IC exchange

Using the provided form is optional. Begin a thread freeform if you prefer.

<b>Where & when:</b> (Where and when is this exchange taking place?) <b>Purpose:</b> (What's the reason for this exchange?) <b>THREAD START</b> (Write the scenario, your character's actions, and any dialogue as usual)

Investigations

Several investigation paths are available for characters to interact with. Each assignment group will have their own set of investigation paths. You can investigate something as many times as you want, as long as there's a reasonable explanation for your character making their second attempt. Interacting with investigations might carry IC consequences. We'll try to telegraph when characters are at high risk of triggering something major. To investigate, fill out the form, then comment under the item you're investigating.

Interact with an Investigation

<b>Player Name:</b> <b>Character Name:</b> <b>Other characters involved:</b> <b>Action:</b> (Describe what your character is attempting to do and how. If multiple characters are taking action, include their actions.) <b>Thread:</b> <a href="urlhere">Thread</a> (Link to a top level or any other relevant threads. This is so we can review what the characters involved have been doing to best flavor the investigation outcome for you!) <b>Notes:</b> (Anything else)

Comments

THORNE

[abraxasmods]

LOCATING SPELLS

[abraxasmods]

[vixening]

Player Name: dai (and jen)
Character Name: yennefer of vengerberg
Other characters involved: stephen strange

Action: yennefer and stephen are going to focus a lot of time and attention to finding the location of the kidnapped summoned. this will most likely take a couple days of prep, as they will be tapping into stephen's spell from his world (and therefore his eldritch magic??) to locate the summoned. they will have collected items from istredd, anakin, mat, jack, and wilhelm. yennefer will also be using her knowledge of the sap from ikorr and her extended studies to do her best to increase the potency of the location magic being used. they will also have done research on abraxan location spells to see if there's anything they could add.
Thread: Thread
Notes: we want to note here that while stephen is putting his foot down with regards to draining prisoners (something yen wouldn't have had as much of an issue with), they are absolutely prepared to take part in dangerous magic for this.

[abraxasmods]

Depending on who they decide to track using the items belonging on the Summoned, they will trace them to the areas where they were initially taken from. Using the sap, they can save some time to extend the spell to track two or three people at once. They will notice, if they haven't already, that everyone they're tracking has vanished in areas outside of the castle and in places quite isolated.

If they'd like more detail, they can focus on one target and will need to determine what the outcome they're hoping to seek from the spell. They can also consider traveling to the location where one of the Summoned was taken and doing the spell there.

Further, Stephen and Yennefer will be aware of the thaumametors linked to the Singularity that they put in place. While innovating with devices to potentially use them to track the Summoned could prove dangerous should Thorne repurpose them in the future for their own benefit, Stephen and Yennefer can decide if the risk may be worth it and pursue this line of thought.

[northerndragon]

Player Name: Elizabeth
Character Name: Jon Snow
Other characters involved: n/a

Action: Jon approaches castle mages with a neck scarf belonging to Mat and a hair ribbon belonging to Alicent and asks if they will be helpful in finding anyone, if there are spells that can be done, etc.
Thread: There isn't one, sorry. Dropping you a line about this shortly! 😭
Notes: This is an independent action Jon is taking based on alarming inbox messages from Mat and Alicent and the assumption that he's heard some rumblings about location spells. He is not capable of doing them on his own. He's probably been pretty careful about directly handling the items -- there are almost no forensics in Fake 1400, but I think the concept of magical contamination would still occur to him.

[abraxasmods]

Castle mages can perform a basic location spell that shows Jon the rough vicinity of each character's last known location, the areas where they were taken. This is determined by you and the players of those characters.

Jon can visit one of those locations to learn more. He can use whatever means and skills he determines is best to proceed. He may bring additional player characters for help, and may also pass the information openly to others for them to use.

Once you've decided your actions, you can let us know 1. the full details of where he will be going, what he's hoping to find, and who he's focusing on searching for, and 2. which characters are involved in the group (if any) and what he or they will be doing to investigate. Linking a thread will help give us more context so we can write you a suitable response!

TRACKING LEADS

[abraxasmods]

[ushiri]

Player Name: Jay
Character Name: Kyle
Other characters involved: N/A

Action: Kyle is going to request a portal to a mountainous region, if they can choose he'd try to search the mountains to the south on the border with Solvunn since there's been rumors of people going missing from the faction for some time now. He's going by himself to cover more ground with the intention of using the Gray Space to scout and get to difficult to reach places. He will initially stick with his guard, but if he finds a trail of something strange and out of reach on foot, he will absolutely ditch them to chase the lead.
Thread: Thread talking to Wilhelm about a cave. Since it's solo I'll thread out the aftermath with someone else, if that's okay!
Notes: Wards will stand out and stop him in the Gray Space, but wherever they aren't around he's going to be moving through solid objects to ignore physics and get to places that would otherwise be unreachable. Totally cool with him ending up injured by something and needing to limp back.

[abraxasmods]

Kyle would be allowed to visit the mountainous area that borders Solvunn. He needs to stay within Thorne's borders, but Thorne's wards outside of their own cities will allow him to use Gray Space to travel short distances and go or down up heights that normally might require some effort climbing. The guard will be less strict of Kyle is traveling with another Summoned as opposed to alone, but there's a sense that any guards who accompany the Summoned know they'll be in deep trouble if they return without their special charges.

As Kyle is walking, a dead bird will fall out of the tree. His travel companion, if they were there for this quest, may recognize it as a flamewing spoonce, found in the forests and mountains around Thorne and seen only in the city during migratory periods at spring. You may decide if it lands at his feet or on his head.

He can stop to examine the bird and the tree it came from, or choose to continue onward. Let us know what he'll be doing should he take a look at the tree or the bird.

[thedevilwhorose]

Player Name: Heather
Character Name: Lucifer
Other characters involved: Robin, Kol

Action: Week 2 Lucifer would like to go alone, but can't go investigate Lake Circinus itself. His reasoning behind this is from Viktor's network info of the trackers pointing somewhere to the north of Cadens, though without an idea of east/west yet. Kyle's already been through the mountains further south of Thorne, so the next big "chunk" up is the lake.

While the full lake in general might be interesting, never know what skeletons a like hides, he'd like to try and get the direct route east from Nott to across the way fully towards the shore closest to the Singularity side. Not only because Nott has the docks there but because of Nott's previous rumors of missing people, and the knowledge that there are natives currently with the kidnapped Summoned.

-I'm not sure if they can take a boat, or if it's frozen this time of year
-I do not actually know how big that lake is nor how much time it would take to cross it, and I assume they'd still have a guard accompanying them for the awkward trip.
-I'm guessing that shoreline closest to the Singularity might be just barely in Thorne's territory.

Thread:
Lucifer started with Robin

Notes: +2 people because they're expendable, maybe they can swim

[abraxasmods]

1. Yes, the lake is still partially frozen. Boats can move on the water, but there are also patches of ice.

2. Crossing the lake from Nott to the Singularity shore will take an average of one day each way. Smaller boats may take longer. Soldiers and guards would be stationed around the lake, and the group will have a guard of their own for protection.

3. The shoreline is indeed the edge of Thorne's territory.

While Thorne would be hesitant to let them go far, they can travel about halfway across the lake and stop roughly in the middle of it. From here, they can overhear fishermen whisper about something in the waters stealing their catch.

If you wish, Lucifer or his companions may bribe a fisherman to go further. It'll require a large bribe, but fishermen in Nott are desperate and it would be possible to bluff a bribe. They can watch the fisherman travel across the lake. Along his journey, the thin ice will crack and a large tentacled creature full of teeth will attack. The fisherman will be eaten alive in a gory scene.

While it's distracted with its meal, the group might want to take advantage and leave before it gives chase.

Asking local experts will reveal this creature is a dosarak which hails from deep in the ocean. The creature being found in a freshwater lake is unprecedented. Since the waters are not its natural habitat, the creature will perish eventually on its own.

[funbreaker]

Player Name: Court
Character Name: Thancred Waters
Other characters involved: Stephen Strange

Action: Working off of the map recovered from this investigation, Thancred will also be coordinating with Stephen to see if any of the locations on the map might line up with / be near to one of the thaumametor locations. If so, they would request a portal from Thorne to go investigate that area. (They'd be particularly interested about the location where they found the undead rat during Event #10.)
Thread: No thread started yet (and let me know if there needs to be one started), but please note the link above! I wanted to make sure this would lead anywhere before doing a starter.

[abraxasmods]

Unfortunately, the coordinates don't line up quite accurately with any of the thaumametors. It does suggest that the abductors aren't aware of the thaumametors or otherwise don't have any interest in them.

However, because the thaumametors are so spread out across Thorne, one of the coordinates is in the general area of one located in Borrel. They can try their chances regardless, since there have been few leads in Borrel thus far.

If they want to check on the thaumametor while they are there, Stephen's watch will spin as they draw closer like it is unable to sync with the closest node. If they remember where they placed it, they will find that it is askew and pointing in the wrong direction. Intentionally or otherwise, the device as been moved. If they examine the area they will find scattered footprints in the earth. The footprints lack any defining features of normal human feet like toes or a sole and are missing treads that shoes would have. They are almost perfectly smooth.

They can also examine the coordinates themselves. They won't find anything relevant to the investigation at hand, but it'll confirm that the man who has the map isn't directly involved in the disappearances and was only paid for a task.

[northerndragon]

Player Name: Elizabeth
Character Name: Jon Snow
Other characters involved: Rhy Maresh (Lena)

Action: LOOKING FOR MAT; or, TWO NICE FELLOWS ARE WORRIED

Mat disappeared on his favorite hunting trail, and was with Hornet at the time. Upon getting the results of the Mat location spell, Jon approached Rhy and asked if he wanted to come along to check it out. He is aware that Rhy and Mat are close.

Jon and Rhy would go to check out the location indicated by the location spell (the abduction site). They would try to comb over it pretty thoroughly, and also talk to people who might have been in the vicinity, castle staff who might have checked hunting equipment out to Mat and Hornet, grooms in the stable to see if horses are missing, and so on. (If they learn that Hornet was also taken at the same time, this would likely be how.)

Notes: While Jon is a lv 1 influence bean and probably seen around town by those who have noticed him at all as something like "I know his face, and he seems like an ok dude," Rhy is a lv 3: much better-known and more sociable, an intelligent, kind, friendly, and charming person who is currently experiencing considerable concern and distress. If there is social grease to apply here, then Rhy may be able to apply it, or someone may simply wish to help him because they know and like him.

If there is anyone requiring enroughening at this stage in the process, it is likely to be Jon's territory: he has a much hotter temper than his amiable-but-brooding demeanor suggests, and is prone to flares of sudden intense violence. Jon is also capable of hunter/ranger-type tracking and scene analysis, as mentioned in another investigation. He's decent at this, with experience since early childhood and far better than most of his peers, but he's still only 25ish, and only human, and hunting has been a hobby/pastime (this is to say, he might miss things while working with Rhy that he would not have missed with Galadriel, but they would still try their best).

[widows_kiss]

Player Name: Rynn
Character Name: Natasha
Other characters involved: Lenore

Action: Jayce sent Natasha a tip after investigating the wood shipments that had rotted in the Free Cities, letting her know the shipments from Solvunn might be suspect. He suggested finding someone with enhanced senses to investigate the grain shipments Thorne had received. She nabbed Lenore, since one of his suggestions had been a vampire, and they're going to see if they can track it down and see if its in the same state. So they'd be trying to A. track down where the grain shipments went and B. see if they get permission to inspect it for a similar sort of rot.

As a player, I'm not sure where to send them to find out about the shipments, but that's probably something Natasha would have kept an ear out for, considering Nott not getting the help it needed and the people going missing has been on her radar since she overheard things about it at the negotiations. She would use the report from Free Cities only to someone in charge or higher level because she doesn't want this to cause a panic if it turns out to be a dead end (or cast suspicion on her for having ties to FC), but if she can find one of the ones she overheard expressing frustration with Nott not getting the resources it needed from the castle or a guard she might be friendly with, she might start with that, or go to Ambrose or one of his mages as a later resort, should no one else be able to help her (but she knows she isn't well known here yet and kinda likes it that way right now, so she'd push that off unless there are no other places to prod or bribe for information on this)

Thread: Thread Starting out here. The only other relevant link is Jayce's message linked above.
Notes: Both Natasha and Lenore have considerable experience with manipulation and coercion and are likely to use whatever tools they have at their disposal, adapting their efforts depending on who they're trying to get information from.

[funbreaker]

Player Name: Court
Character Name: Thancred Waters
Other characters involved: Galadriel, Jon Snow

Action: So! Thancred is going to request another portal based on information he got from Sylvain. Basically, following the ascension ritual Sylvain is seeing visions of the mountainous area from one of the past events (this one!). Thancred and Sylvain got stuck in this area in the Horizon together (here), but now that Sylvain's getting visions of it, Thancred's wondering if there's more to it. He'd approach Thorne officials to determine if there is anywhere in Thorne that might resemble this mountainous area (he'll do his best to describe it) and would ask if he could get a portal to such a place to investigate. He'd be bringing Jon and Galadriel as backup since it's probably not going to be the easiest to navigate place, or so he would guess.
Thread: Thread of Sylvain passing on this info.

[ushiri]

Player Name: Jay, Heather
Character Name: Kyle
Other characters involved: Lucifer

Action: Lucifer and Kyle are going to request a portal near the northeast border of Thorne, the wooded area near the Singularity, the coast, and that tiny bit of mountain. A lot of the tracker info has been pointing north-ish, so they want to see if there's anything to find there. They will be looking for: strange or dying fungus, the altered Arcana symbol found earlier, creatures that are in the wrong biome, and just general signs of humanoids moving through. They'd also like to try to get a look at that little wooded island just north of the border. This would probably be around the same time people are leaving to meet up with Solvunn folks.
Thread: Thread incoming after approval!
Notes: They will absolutely ditch their guards again if they have to in order to get a better look at things, though Kyle may request at least 2-3 so they aren't leaving one dude by himself.

They will also inquire about the little island itself, and if it's considered neutral territory. If allowed, he'd ask they be let through the border wards to explore it.

[itookashot]

Player Name: Dee
Character Name: Jesper
Other characters involved: None (Julie supplied the image)

Action: Jesper will go to the military with this photo. He doesn't want to hear an art critic. He'll point out the vines for legs and the face, and the wood on the back. Julie also said "It moves on its hands and with the vines to drag it. It can be burned at least enough to make it turn tail." He asks if they've heard of anything like this beast before and insists it's important. He has a good relationship with the military post-supply run, or at least polite terms.

After that, he will see if there are non-Summoned hunters around that are willing to look at the photo as well. He will bribe them if need be but also see if he can tug at the 'hunters stick together' energy if it's possible lol.

Thread: It is inspired bythis convo.

WITNESSES

[abraxasmods]

[ushiri]

Player Name: Jay, Noa, and Rynn
Character Name: Kyle
Other characters involved: Reno and Natasha

Action: Kyle, Reno and Natasha are heading out to the Hare & Harrow in Nott to talk to folks/listen in on conversation/and put bait out for any suspicious people looking to jump a Summoned. They'll be spending the evening in the tavern drinking, and after a bit Natasha will walk out on her own, looking like an easy target for any criminal types. They're hoping for leads coming from as far back as the first strange disappearances in Nott. Possibly any gossip on Lyle Vela or the Nott council too 👀
Thread: Thread here summarizes the plan.
Notes: This will take place the day after Kyle found this symbol. He'll be showing this to Polly, the innkeeper's wife, to see if it's familiar to her. He's kept up positive CR with her for some months now and would let her know they're trying to find both native and Summoned missing.

[funbreaker]

Player Name: Court
Character Name: Thancred Waters
Other characters involved: Reno

Action: Thancred and Reno have decided to visit a seedy bar in Nott, basically in the bad side of town. The thought is that it sounds like other than the Summoned, it's people whose disappearance might not be noticed (or at least no one would care that much) who were targeted, so they might hear things/learn clues in this part of the city.

Reno specifically is also trying to investigate Mat Cauthon's disappearance, having heard of it from Dante.
Thread: Thread
Notes: We were hoping to do something where they either have to act a bit to get more info, or perhaps Thancred could have a reason to sneak somewhere in the bar while Reno serves as a distraction. Just some thoughts, though! Give us whatever would make sense.

[funbreaker]

Player Name: Court
Character Name: Thancred Waters
Other characters involved: Natasha Romanoff

Action: Thancred and Natasha are in the dock area in the seedy/rundown part of Nott, somewhere past the Hooks. (I'm not sure of the exact layout of the city, I'M DOIN' MY BEST.) They want to see if they can find any witnesses to disappearances that have occurred, especially since there was news of people vanishing along the coastline.

They're going to start with some young dockworkers / lookouts who may or may not be criminal to some degree. They'll be offering coin as a bribe if it's necessary. Nat more or less laid out the plan in the most recent tag of the linked thread.
Thread: Thread
Notes: Depending how this first interaction plays out, they may chat up some fishermen or other people too!

[londonbound]

Player Name: Lena
Character Name: Rhy Maresh
Other characters involved: Lenore

Action: Rhy and Lenore are asking around the rural areas of Nott for witnesses who may have seen or heard anything from the abductions of either Summoned or the abductions throughout the last few weeks of their own. After hearing the rumor in Luna about the people in the countryside going missing, and since he's pretty involved in that area, Rhy was trying to learn more about it before the Summoned started getting grabbed as well and will go back to anyone he's already talked to with the additional context that they've been able to hear from some of the captive Summoned and that many native Abraxans are with them as well. They're all working on trying to find everyone. Rhy knows he doesn't have the power to promise anything, so he'll be careful with his words, but he will make it clear he wants to find and rescue as many people as possible, Summoned and native alike.

Thread: Thread

Notes: One of Rhy's recent event gains is the ability to read the prevailing emotion or general desire of a person through physical contact. This would only be in broad sweeps (e.g. they say they're angry, but they're actually sad). He hasn't learned to use this skill in depth yet, but if he was able to touch an NPC's hand or shoulder while talking to them, he'd get a clearer idea of how they feel, in addition to any info they'd be sharing aloud.

INTERROGATIONS

[abraxasmods]

[widows_kiss]

Player Name: Rynn
Character Name: Natasha
Other characters involved: Lucifer

Action: Lucifer and Natasha are hoping to interrogate one of the prisoners in the dungeons. (at least this is a productive use of the devil's frustration, right?) between the two of them, they should able able to pull off a pretty convincing good cop/bad cop.
Thread: Lucifer has a starter here, but we can adjust as necessary depending on who the prisoner is and what the guards suspect they know (Nat would try to steer Lucifer's temper as much as possible, depending on who they're dealing with here)