abraxasooc | EVENT #15: CONCLAVE VOTE

Event #15 - Conclave Vote

Hello, Abraxans!

The upcoming event in October will require an IC decision from characters in each faction. This decision will be done using the Conclave, similar to the execution votes during the Invocation event. The scenario will involve The Nether and dragons.

The discussion and votes will take place prior to the event both OOC and in-game. Conclave representatives will receive the formal request on OCTOBER 6. They'll have the chance to discuss it with their fellow Summoned in each faction and take the necessary diplomatic steps.

New characters are welcome to participate! Please review the details below before making a decision. A space will be provided on the State of the Game post for any discussion regarding your character's thoughts, including what they might say or argue during the meeting.

Votes close October 11th @ 11:59 ET.

The Situation

The situation delivered to the attention of Conclave representatives on OCTOBER 6 is as follows.

Letters from The Nether

Conclave representatives for each faction will receive a formal letter signed by Charis of the Nether. He introduces himself as The Overseer of the Draconae, commonly called daemons by other Abraxans. The parchment carries a touch of brimstone. The letter will explain the points below:

◎ The last two adult dragons in the Nether have fallen ill and their precious eggs are becoming petrified. The source of this mysterious illness was traced to the rifts that opened in August. Although the rifts are now closed, the dragons are struggling to recover. Dragons are a vital part of the Nether's ecosystem and their way of life.

◎ Since the dragons are ailing, the small amount of magic the Draconae have is fading - meaning they can't rely on it to help heal as usual.

◎ They are requesting assistance from the Summoned with the understanding that the Summoned possess unique powers and knowledge, are believed to have a connection with the rifts and the Singularity, and have in the past offered their help to restore or repair parts of Abraxas.

◎ They hope the Summoned can petition the ruling bodies of their respective nations to provide additional resources.

Response from the Factions

Should a representative of the Conclave or any of the Summoned approach the factions to see what they have to say, the factions will agree to the following:

◎ They will allow the Summoned 10 days in the Nether to see what they can do. Although the mysterious illness appears to only affect the dragons, officials are still concerned about contaminants if exposure goes on for too long and must protect their borders first.

◎ They can be convinced to offer resources if the Summoned are willing to negotiate on their behalf for information of value from the Nether. The pot can be sweetened by offering additional resources from their volcanic city, their unmatched blacksmithing skills, or anything that faction officials may find useful.

◎ The Summoned can give assurances of their own to the Nether during negotiations, such as promising to protect the Nether from the factions in times of conflict or anything else they feel would be acceptable. It's important to note that the Draconae have a reputation of taking betrayal very seriously.

The Decision

The Summoned of each faction do not need to agree to negotiate. Further, declining to negotiate does not mean declining to help. It only means that the Summoned in that faction have decided to reject additional resources, and have chosen to assist independent of their factions.

Conclave Vote

Each decision will carry its own set of consequences. During the meeting and the vote, the Summoned will need to consider the following:

◎ AGREEING to negotiate will grant a higher chance of saving the eggs and the dragons, which may lead to the Nether regaining its strength. In exchange, the Summoned will demonstrate that they will act on behalf of their faction's politics and may be responsible for convincing the Draconae to divulge important information to the other factions and/or otherwise make a deal.

◎ DECLINING to negotiate will risk the eggs and possibly the dragons, which may lead to weakening the Nether. In exchange, the Summoned will demonstrate that they will not act on behalf of their faction's politics. They will also prevent the factions from obtaining potentially dangerous secrets and ensure the Nether is not influenced by any deals made with the factions.

Important figures in the Nether are divided on the issue. In particular, The Warden believes that sharing some information is worth it to preserve their dragons while The Keeper is more mistrustful of outsiders and insists on retaining their secretive ways.

Due to this division, characters will not affect their relationship with the Nether regardless of choice. The Nether will hear what the Summoned have to say, but the decision to accept any terms offered will be theirs. Of course, this doesn't mean characters themselves can't feel responsible for having a hand in the final outcome.

To vote, characters can submit YEA or NAY. The outcome with the majority vote will win.

When you're ready, cast your VOTE under your faction heading.

Negotiations

A formal set of terms will be drafted and presented to officials in the Nether when the event takes place. Negotiations will take place per faction. Officials will not meet all of the Summoned together.

◎ The Conclave will be able to choose up to 2 delegates to present these terms and meet one of the Draconae. If your faction's Conclave declined, the delegates will still meet with the NPCs, but instead of presenting terms and negotiating, they may discuss why they chose to decline and other political topics. It may be possible to secure the Draconae's goodwill based on what they say.

◎ The vote will be done similar to how representatives and motions are decided, but characters must be Rank 5 influence or above to qualify. The influence must have been earned through neutral to positive actions, and not be outweighed by any negative acts. The factions will not send anyone unknown or untrusted to the negotiation tables.

◎ Rank 5+ characters who were not selected or were ineligible due to negative acts will have the benefit of speaking to other Nether officials in a more casual setting and ask questions unrelated to negotiations or diplomatic terms.

Submit your character for consideration HERE under your faction heading. One character submission per player.

To support a character, you can +1 under their submission. Each character can support up to 2 nominees rather than the usual 3 for representatives.

Important Notes

Conclave votes and decisions are per faction. If Solvunn and Thorne choose to negotiate but the Free Cities does not, Solvunn and Thorne officials will provide resources in exchange for information or other terms. The Free Cities will not provide resources but will not receive any information in return. How many factions agree to help will affect the outcome.

There will be additional activities during the event for characters who are not interested in participating in politics! This includes taking care of baby dragons and the eggs, hunting and grilling food, entering dangerous locations to gather resources, and more.

Full details and a plotting form will be provided on the formal OOC Plotting Post on October 13. This post is just to give you time to weigh your options and ask any questions before deciding what you want your character to do.

NPCs and a Settings page for the Nether will be added along with the OOC Plotting Post.

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!

Who are the Draconae?: Known primarily as daemons throughout Abraxas, the Draconae (or Draconum, singular) are folk from the Nether, a northern island next to Endsmuth that contains an active volcano. Marked by their distinctive horns, they have a reputation for being extremely secretive and are immune to telepathy or mindreading. Many warn that their cruelty is unmatched, but this is only hearsay.
Have characters seen any of the Draconae before?: Possibly! While not numerous, they have a presence in both the Free Cities and Nocwich, and appear in the black market on the fringes of Castle Thorne. Long-time Summoned might remember them asking for blood or saliva in exchange for magical trinkets during a very early event.
What happened to the other dragons?: Currently, no one knows. To most of Abraxas, the dragons are only a rumor. None have seen one before as they do not leave their volcanic home. During the event, characters will learn what happened to the dragons, the role they play in the Nether's ecosystem, and how they might be preserved.
How will negotiating work?: We'll provide full details on the OOC Plotting Post, but as a general overview, we'll ask the chosen delegates to submit a brief 2-4 point bullet list with the terms they're offering on behalf of their Conclave. The mod team will approve it or ask for revisions. Once approved, players can enter the NPC meeting thread with the OOC knowledge that the Draconae and faction officials will agree to these terms.

In-game, characters will not have this assurance. They can employ strategies such as withholding one or two of the submitted terms before presenting them to sweeten the pot. Terms are only known and finalized from the start OOCly to prevent unexpected failure or disruptions to continuity.
What if no one steps up as a delegate for the negotiations?: If your faction Conclave is struggling to find a character who would be able to participate in the meeting, let us know and we'll consider options such as lowering the Rank requirement.
My character isn't the type to volunteer themselves, but would accept the position if it's thrust upon them. Can someone else nominate my character?: Yes, nominations made on behalf of a character would be acceptable, as long as this has been agreed upon between the players involved.
Can I change my vote after the OOC Plotting Post goes up?: No, once voting closes you cannot change your vote since the outcome will inform some of the details of the event and the OOC Plotting Post.
Will chosen delegates meet the NPCs individually?: No, each meeting thread will be done per faction Conclave. If two characters are chosen to represent their Conclave at the negotiations, then both characters will enter the thread together.

EVENT #15: CONCLAVE VOTE

Questions

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