At the top of my actions for this turns I've listed some additional
events. Events are primarily information, things which don't require an
action. They can be holdovers from previous turns; births, marriages, or
deaths; or anything else which is interesting enough to report, but not
deserving of an actual action.
A formatted version of this action can be found at:
http://www.picotech.net/~jeff_wilson63/rpg/Exq_1446.html
------
Events:
Description: Converts join the order, increasing population by 10%.
Description: The High Priest announces that the church has expanded
to the point that he can no longer singly perform the duties of head of
the church. Therefore, next year there will be a Grand Conclave to elect
a Bishop and create several new High Priests. The Grand Conclave will be
held in the city of Cormenaera around high summer.
------
Action 1: Rally
Weight: Single
Description:
Ria stalked through the fair. She would have much rather been training,
or even dealing with the paperwork of her position, but the Archmage's
orders had been quite clear. "Show yourself at the Midterm Fair. Make
yourself approachable and don't scare anyone off." She was politician
enough to understand the Archmage's motives, but the order made her feel
more like a performing bear than a Warlord.
Centuries ago the Midterm Fair had been founded as a chance for
relatives to visit students at the Academy of Sorcery. Since then it had
expanded into a three-day event complete with competitions among the
students, special displays of magic by the masters, entertainments,
food, and every opportunity for the students and other participants to
play pranks and otherwise enjoy themselves. From the grounds of the
Academy proper it had spread out to into the surrounding streets. Ria
knew quite well that the Fair offered valuable relief for students after
the demands of their studies, but she hadn't liked the Fair much as a
student, and liked it even less today.
Still, orders were orders, and she tried to enjoy herself.
Taking a deep breath, her attention was caught by a fair barker. "See
the Exotic Magical Mysteries of Exquaestio! Cast an Exquaestio spell --
No talent required! Wonder at Images of the Dreaming! Southwest Sanraeth
Park -- No Admission Fee!"
"Cast a spell without talent?" Ria thought, and turned toward Sanraeth
Park. Most likely the claim was simple fraud; but to make it out in
public made it something that should be looked into. She frowned
slightly at another barker, this one touting Exquaestio as hiring
teachers, mages, and craftsmen. "And if it isn't fraud," she thought,
"it's even more imperative that the Council know about it as soon as
possible."
In order to get more people familiar with Exquaestio, the church rallies
its supporters in Mir and puts on a show during a preexisting Fair. The
rally includes demonstrations of Exquaestio magic, the opportunity to
participate in Exquaestio group magic, songs and stories about
Exquaestio, childcare, and a display of ideas for the Pantheon.
Exquaestio also acts to hire those with skills that are needed in
Exquaestio communities and who are willing to move and accept the
limited wages. (Refreshments not provided by Exquaestio.)
Difficulty: Normal (0)
Factors: Mirrish Religious Tolerance & Church Relations (+1),
Exquaestio Resources (-2), Crafts: Performance & Organization (+1).
Fudge-Points: 0
Results:
* Performance
* Popularity
* Religious Reaction
* Future Recognition
------
Action 2: Academic Chair
Weight: Single
Description: Exquaestio approaches the Sorcerer's Academy in Mir
about funding a chair in Exquaestio Magic.
Difficulty: Easy (+1)
Factors: Mirrish Magical & Scholastics Diversity (+), Academy Resources
(-), Relations with Mirrish Church (+), Unique Magic (+), Only available from
Exquaestio (0).
Fudge-Points: 0
Results: - = Unwilling to fund a chair; 0 = no agreement reached,
try again; + = chair funded.
* Chairholder
* Stipend
* Term
* Duties
------
Action 3: Junder Independence
Weight: Single
Description: Exquaestio approaches various key individuals in the
Junder Region, and key Free City governments about establishing Junder
as an independent nation under a single rule. This is not an attempt to
actually make Junder independent, just an attempt to see what it would
take.
Difficulty: Normal? (0)
Factors: too many to work with
Fudge-Points: 0
Results: The more -, the more it will take to establish an
independent Junder.
* Free City Rivalries
* Local Nobility
* Type of Government
* Other Opposition
------
Action 4: Contact Religious Reformers
Weight: Single
Description: Exquaestio attempts to contact reformers within the
Temples of the Lord of the Sea with a view to opening relations.
Difficulty: Normal (0)
Factors: Religious Tolerance of the Temples of the Lord of the
Sea (0). Reformers need for aide (+), Temple attitude towards
independence (-), Exquaestio attitudes (+), Exquaestio diplomatic craft
(+).
Fudge-Points: 0
Results: Half result as new relations with this group.
* Need for reform
* Willingness to look outside religion
* Fear of Existing power structure
* Attitude toward Exquaestio
------
Action 5: The Pantheon (1 of 6)
Weight: Extra
Description:
The storm had blown for three days, with the fishing boat fleeing
northwest for the entire time. Two days sailing south had brought the
boat back to the coast, but nowhere the captain recognized. As the boat
beat its way eastward, not a settlement had been seen, and now he was
faced with what was obviously a river. Should he sail up it or continue
to the east? Which would allow him to make some needed repairs more
quickly?
"What do you think Washo?"
"It's gotta be the Prren, Cap'n. I've heard stories about monsters in
the Delta, better to head t'wards the east and home."
The captain had also heard about tales about monsters, but he also knew
that the same sorts of tales had been told generations ago of areas that
were thriving Free City settlements today. He also knew what the west
coast of Junder was like, with hidden rocks just waiting to rip a ship's
bottom out. He shook his head.
"No. I think the monsters will give us better odds than the west Junder
shoals. Set sail upriver."
The main channel proved to be much easier to navigate than the captain
had expected. Though the spring flood had certainly raised the main
channel, the captain thought that even in high summer it wouldn't be
difficult to navigate. The fish were plentiful, and even dolphins
gathered 'round, hopefully bringing their luck.
"The main problem," the captain thought, "is that the high water has
submerged the sandbars and beaches leaving us no place to beach the
boat."
"Cap'n! Dolphin's act'n strange-like."
Moving toward the bow the captain saw what the lookout meant. Time after
time a dolphin would stick its head out of the water, chirp, and then
swim off toward a side channel. Not any channel, though, the captain
realized, a particular channel. There was a bit of a scramble as his
bellowed commands caught the small crew by surprise, but it wasn't long
before the fishing boat was headed up that same channel.
As the dolphins proceeded to guide the boat up the channel, the crew had
a chance to look at them more closely and wonder at what they found.
Some of them were wearing harnesses of some sort of fiber, but the thing
that really amazed was the nature of their forefins. The crew saw the
overlarge fins fold out into something remarkable like arms. Though a
couple of crewmen argued that this was a sign of evil and that they
should sail as far away as possible, the majority of the crew agreed
that dolphins, even dolphins with arms, were good luck, and they
wouldn't come to harm by following them. Those few who had earlier fed
the dolphins from the fish the boat had caught preened themselves and
said that without their actions the dolphins wouldn't be leading the
boat anywhere.
It wasn't long before the captain noticed an overlarge hill pushing its
way out of the delta. He wasn't surprised when the dolphins led them to
it, but he was surprised by grassy clearing set into its side. Nearby
trees provided a perfect place to set winches and boat was quickly
emptied and winched into the clearing for repairs.
By the time repairs were finished, the crew had explored the hill
thoroughly. Fish, greens, and spring roots were abundant, and brambles
would grow berries in their season. The water around the hill flowed
fresh, clean, and clear. The freshwater dolphins were helpful and some
of the crew even thought they talked! The captain had climbed to the top
of the hill and seen that the delta was dotted with others like it.
Floods would be a problem, and swamp air likely carried disease in
summer, but the captain would suggest an expedition out here in the
summer. The home village was getting crowded.
Heading home, well repaired, the captain thanked the river dolphins by
dropping a midsize net and a number of fishing lines to them. Perhaps
they could use them. "And if they couldn't," he thought chuckling,
"they're just a sacrifice to the Lord of the Sea."
(Creating the pantheon breaks down into six elements: Site Selection,
Site Survey, Planning Construction, Obtaining Funds, Gathering and
Purchasing Materials, and the Construction itself.)
Difficulty: Normal (0) (-1 Extra)
Factors: Resources (-2), Crafts (+1), Knowledge of other
religions (+), Religious Tolerance (+), Scholastics (0).
Fudge-Points: 0
Results:
* Communication & Trade Routes
* Local Attitudes
* Available Resources
* Foreign Interest
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