Just a quick update first: I saw my regular doctor, and he agreed that I'd probably damaged my ulnar nerve. I've got an appointment with a neurologist on the 23rd, to find where the damage is, and how severe it is, and what my treatment options are. By an odd coincidence, the 23rd is the day before my birthday. :/ On to the Actions! Action 1: New Beginnings Weight: Single Description: With the new government of the United Provinces solidly established, the Council decides to send new ambassadors to nearby neighbors. New ambassadors are sent to Kaeir, Mir, Taltheran, Tanimbar, Vizinia, Zelkor, Burcancy, Parglug, Milakanur, and Aixelsydan, while consulates are to be established in several of the Free Cities. A special embassy, headed by a senior Priest of Lucia, is sent to contact the Eerith. Every major ambassador is accompanied by a cleric of Lucia; if asked directly, the embassies will acknowledge the Lucians' powers of truthsaying, but this information is not volunteered. Difficulty: Normal Factors: Player societies may react as they see fit; this action is directed more at the NP Societies out there. Action 2: Curses! Weight: Single Description: * * * "ARRGH!" Raden Ghere roared in frustration and kicked his brass wastebasket across his office. "I'm telling you, Ardin, there are days I think this project must be cursed! First, the problems with ore quality. Then the smelter collapses in an earthquake, due to shoddy materials. Then bandits strike the ore caravans. And now, the second smelter, built by a completely different contractor, collapses in a *second* earthquake. An earthquake, which I might add, caused no other damage! It's enough to make a grown man cry." Ardin Vellin, Prime Minister of Cedonia, said, "Say that again, Raden." "What, enough to make a grown man cry?" "No, about the project being cursed. I think you may be more right than you know. Do you have the original survey report from the first expedition we sent to the mines?" Raden nodded. "Yes, I think I do." He went over to a large scroll-rack/filing-cabinet and searched for a moment, before pulling out a thick sheaf of parchements and a large scroll of paper. "Here they are, Captain Kadren's report to the Council and Olphes' site survey." Returning to his desk, Raden handed the report to Dr. Vellin, then unrolled the map on his desk. "Do you think we missed something in the original survey?" Ardin began to examine the report carefully. "Maybe. I seem to remember that the report said . . . here it is. 'While the mine shafts and their contents were in excellent condition and repair, aside from some water damage to stored equipment, the buildings aboveground had largely been razed by fire. Based on prevailing winds and the pattern of damage, the fires probably began in Building A-1 or A-2, then was spread by the wind to most of the other buildings, leaving only C-13, C-14, and C-16 untouched.'" Raden turned to the map. "Well, according to the survey map key, the buildings labeled with 'C' were barracks, stores, and a mess hall. The 'B' group of buildings were ore sorting and processing. The 'D' group of buildings were the mine offices. The 'A' group . . . hmm, according to the key, the 'A' group was housing for mine clerks and management, but Building A-2 is marked 'Unknown Purpose'." He stared at the map. "You know, Building A-2 is the only one facing east, it and A-1 are set some distance apart, it was one of the largest buildings in the complex, and it's the only building with a collonade." Ardin smiled grimly. "A temple of some sort, do you think?" "It seems likely," replied Raden. "Wasn't there also something in the report about markings in front of the mine shafts, something scratched into the rock?" "Yes, there was . . . odd symbols. Not identifiable, but Captain Kadren did take a rubbing, and attached it to the report." Dr. Vellin frowned. "It says here that after they found the markings, the native guides they had hired refused to enter the mine." Raden lifted the map off his desk and rummaged under it. "I have a report here, somewhere, from the mine manager we sent last spring. He wrote recently, complained that he'd been unable to hire any local labor . . ." Raden pulled out a rather crumpled letter and glanced at it. "He writes that the Kasovians refuse to go into the mines, saying, quote, 'the darkness underground is the home of Demerhaze and her Night Children, and men disturb them at their peril,' end quote. He adds that there have been a few mysterious disappearences in the deeper shafts." Ardin sat back. "I think that Building A-2 was a temple, set up by the original miners, and I bet that the mines were probably blessed, also. When the Shanari invaded and things fell apart, one of the Kasovian mountain tribes probably decided to loot the mine complex." Raden nodded. "They would have destroyed the temple, and marked the mines as the dominion of their goddess. That leaves us with the problem of figuring out which god that temple was consecrated to." "Yes . . . Torronir, perhaps?" "No, that doesn't feel quite right somehow. Torronir is the god of craftsmen and artisans. I'd think that miners would pick a god closer to the earth." "Good point." Raden walked over to the window of his office. "Well, you know that they say you can find just about any religion in Thalcedon, brought here from the lands we conquered in the days of the Old Empire, along with loot, slaves, and ethnic cooking." Ardin laughed. "True enough. I have friends in the Comparative Religion Department at the University; I'm sure they can tell us to whom that temple belonged." "As long as they can also tell us which god is cursing us," replied Raden Ghere soberly. * * * Having becoming suspicious of the run of bad luck plaguing the metallurgy project, Cedonia's leaders decide to investigate the possibility that somewhere along the line, they offended a deity. Step One: find out which god or gods is responsible, by consulting with the many priesthoods in the city, and with the scholars at the University. If there is a curse on the project, next year they will try removing it. Difficulty: Normal (0) Factors: While Cedonia as a whole has poor religious diversity, the city of Thalcedon, as the former imperial capital, has a rather more diverse religious population. The presence of the University and its faculty and library also provide considerable help in researching the problem. Action 3: Turn up the Pressure. Weight: Double Description: After the assassination of General Zenos, most of his army dispersed. However, a solid core of his forces retreated in good order to Zenos' fortress in the southwest. The forces under the Duke of Caladyn did not immediately pursue in force, as they were still reorganizing. Now, their reorganization is complete, and the Duke orders them to besiege the remnant of Zenos' army. Difficulty: Easy Factors: The new government is now supporting the Duke's army, while the remnant of Zenos' army is short on supplies and leadership Fudge Points: 1 The strategic action is suspended for this turn while the possibility of a curse is investigated Andrew __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - File online by April 15th http://taxes.yahoo.com/filing.html ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
