I had to laugh when I asked the Guide what he thought of the upcoming year. His rounds of politicking, parties, and trade are over, for AT LEAST a full year. After all, that's about how long it will take us to sail back up the Western coast of Qaiyore and around to the Midsea -- assuming we do no trade at all. His expression was priceless if, as they say, 'unamused'. "I will need to learn a bit more of the peoples here," he told me after I stopped laughing. "We may as well trade carvings and furs from here to Hisaria and whatever we can find up to the Eastern islands. The rest of what needs to be done can be done better by the experts. Especially if my idea makes sense. Let me tell you about what the Goddess has inspired in my head...""Well, they'll need help dealing with the catch. For some reason, these cold waters always have huge numbers of fish. Please remind Captain E'dressa that the Mirrish people probably expect something of a show from us. Feel free to tell them I'm 1700 leagues away. Going that far in just 30 days, they'll assume we flew! But please don't tell them just *where* we've gone... not even a lie. Speculation is often more effective as a tactic than misinformation. Even though they'll eventually learn where we are, any delay has to be good for us." Actions for Ka'Shari --------------------------- Actions 1 & 2: Search for the Priestess Weight: Double While the Sages at the dragons' isle work with those great beasts, the Guide's ship begins to search for Rahi, the former Sinari priestess. The Taletemke'Shylni and the Wanderers learn quickly of the Goddess's command, that this woman be found and contacted... but that the news of the search be kept quiet. "Continue searching for information about dragons," the Guide suggested, "But add a few questions about Sinari, their faith, and where their people have gone. After all, they travel where we rarely go." Difficulty: Normal(?) Factors: Wanderers are becoming well-known and gaining a reputation of relative harmlessness. (They form a network spread over much of the continent -- if rather thinly). Eagerness related to a personal appearance by the Goddess? Secrecy: -1 Fudge Points: 3 (Ideal results: We find her, or at least find clues as to where she might be) Action 3: Increase Trade (Strategic. 2 of ??) As the Guide moves North (and various other ships supplying the Sages head South or work on developing their trade situation), speak to the local leaders and populace to learn what they most need to trade. Later vessels can supply exactly that. Even though we won't be bringing a huge amount of trade goods down (we don't have the capacity), Ka'Shari ships with appropriate cargoes can start down as even before we leave a town, which should impress the landsfolk about our eagerness to bring what they need. Weight: Single Difficulty: Normal? Factors: Personal touch by the Guide (+), Super-efficient cargo deliveries (although this may merely allow us to compete on an even level with the local traders who already know what's needed), Hansari and Olozog need for trade. (Ideal results: Improved trade/income, or at least improved relations) Action 4: Magical Research (Strategic: 2 of ??) Per the Guide's suggestion, have the Taletemke'Shylni once again look into the ability of Authority to overrule Space and distance. Perhaps it means travelling into the Dreaming, but it's clearly a knowledge the Goddess believes we can understand or she wouldn't have shown it to us. Study all aspects of Authority: it's clearly something we don't know enough about, as it is. Weight: Single Difficulty: Hard Factors: Well, she did show us (+?), current Authority sophistication, possible parallels with our Essence-based communications technique which also transcends distance, although in a more limited way. (Increase Magical Sophistication) Fudge Points: 1 This message was sent through MyMail http://www.mymail.com.au ---------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe, send mail to celandra-off@phoenyx.net.
