AAR: [6M] Keen on Ke'shof (2020-07-22 2200 GMT)

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bronzemountain
Posts:606
Joined:Fri Feb 21, 2020 10:02 pm
AAR: [6M] Keen on Ke'shof (2020-07-22 2200 GMT)

Post by bronzemountain » Mon Jul 20, 2020 2:41 pm

LFG: Keen on Ke'shof
Time: 2020-07-22 22:00 GMT
GM: Dvarim
Circle: 6
Difficulty: Medium

Rumor: Join Icarus Wolf-Swift for some river-running adventure as he seeks to further his improbable romantic prospects with Ke'shof, whom he met one time in a fight.

Requested by: Icarus
Reward: Completes the Deed for Anointed Rings

Notes:
- Adventure runs at 6:00pm EDT on Wednesday, July 22nd
- As always, I run groups of 5 players.

Sign up format:

Code: Select all

[b]Name:[/b] Character name
[b]Date of Last Game Played:[/b]
[b]Circle:[/b] Circle of your character
[b]Discipline:[/b] Your character's Discipline(s)
[b]Unique:[/b] What your character is bringing to the table.
[b]Downtime:[/b] Talents and Skills that other characters can use over downtime: [Talent] [Step including +Karma Step if appropriate] ([Rank]) ([Further Details])
Last edited by bronzemountain on Thu Jul 23, 2020 2:26 am, edited 2 times in total.

Icarus-Wolfswift
Posts:82
Joined:Fri May 08, 2020 6:15 pm

Re: LFG: [6M] Keen on Ke'shof

Post by Icarus-Wolfswift » Mon Jul 20, 2020 2:46 pm

Name: Icarus Wolf-Swift

Date of Last Game Played: 2020/12/07

Circle: 6
Discipline: Air Sailor

Unique: Wine, fine wine, and finer wine

Downtime:

Xzandrate
Posts:382
Joined:Tue Apr 07, 2020 8:28 pm

Re: LFG: [6M] Keen on Ke'shof

Post by Xzandrate » Mon Jul 20, 2020 4:21 pm

Name: Moe'uhane
Date of Last Game Played: 2020-07-20
ECR: 7
Discipline: Illusionist(6)/Messenger (6)
Unique: Enhanced matrix, buffs, some socials, Pretend fireballs
Downtime: Research - step 10
Craft Spell Matrix Objects:(7/19) Standard - 6 days -1000 SP; Enhanced 7 days - 2000 SP

sigfriedmcwild
Posts:335
Joined:Wed Nov 13, 2019 6:59 am

Re: LFG: [6M] Keen on Ke'shof

Post by sigfriedmcwild » Tue Jul 21, 2020 5:49 pm

Name: Norg
Last played on: 2020-07-17
ECR: 7 (112245lp)
Discipline: Gauntlet 7 / Air Sailor 3
Quote/Unique: Endure, in enduring grow strong
Notable Abilities: PUNCH! JUMP! some awareness, some navigation, some wilderness survival, the worst physician this side of the mountains
Downtime: none

Brian L
Posts:93
Joined:Tue Apr 28, 2020 11:53 pm

Re: LFG: [6M] Keen on Ke'shof

Post by Brian L » Wed Jul 22, 2020 1:27 am

Name: Reyis Poriv
Date of Last Game Played: July 12
Circle: ECR-6
Discipline: Shaman (5)/Monk (4)
Unique: Spells-Buffs to Awareness, Stealth, Healing, Poison, other things.
Downtime: Animal Training (5) Step 15; Research (4) Step 20; Item History (4) Step 20; Large supply of acid and acid like ingredients.
Plays well with others and shares toys.

bronzemountain
Posts:606
Joined:Fri Feb 21, 2020 10:02 pm

AAR: [6M] Keen on Ke'shof (2020-07-22 2200 GMT)

Post by bronzemountain » Thu Jul 23, 2020 2:22 am

Keen on Ke'shof 2020-07-22 @2200 GMT
GM: Dvarim
Circle: 6
Difficulty: Medium

Player Rewards:
Icarus: 7,500LP 650SP 3 TIP Anointed Ring Deed Done
Norg: 7500lp, 650sp, 3TIP
Moe'uhane: 7500 LP 650 SP 3 TIP
Reyis: 7500 LP, 650 SP, 3 TIPs

GM Reward:
Juniper: 200 LP, 150 SP, 3 TIPs

Downtime Actions Available:
Reyis: Animal Training 15, Research 20, Item History 20
Moe'Uhane: Research 10, Craft Spell Matrix Objects:(7/19) Standard - 6 days -1000 SP; Enhanced 7 days - 2000 SP

Further Information: Ke'shof has accepted the gift of an anointed ring and has accompanied Icarus Wolf-Swift, fan of Chuck Tingle books, to Aropagoi Thro'al. Adepts have reason to wonder about the secretive T'skrang they found on the north reach of the Serpent.

Xzandrate
Posts:382
Joined:Tue Apr 07, 2020 8:28 pm

Re: AAR: [6M] Keen on Ke'shof (2020-07-22 2200 GMT)

Post by Xzandrate » Thu Jul 23, 2020 7:15 pm

From the writings of Moe'uhane, T'skrang Illusionist, 6th Circle, Messenger Rank 6

Icarus had approached me about helping him to track down the pirate Ke'shof again. He seemed to have a much straighter state of thought, and said we would be heading west of Sosanopa. I agreed and met him, Norg, and Reyis to head to Sosanopa. We did some leg work to try and find out if anyone had caught sight of her. Reyis found some valuable information from a Syrtis captain, the river west of Sosanopa had started to show the life of Namegivers, thus information flowed along the river again. In addition we tried to hire passage up the Serpent. We found a captain by the name of Bartol, a human with a ship. He had fallen on hard times, as his natural sailing abilities were not those of the t'skrang. We took what information and began to head up river to explore the new settlements.

Indeed we encountered a number of Namegivers plying the river for fish, reeds, and clay. They say life always finds a way, and that way will always flow with the great serpent. Each person had heard little of Ke'shof, or the Nixu niall, but directed us up the river to the next set of people. We came across a number of small burgeoning villages. The first was a recently opened kaer that consisted primarily of elves, humans, and dwarves. They had heard of Ke'shof and pointed to small tributary where her ship may be moored in a small lagoon. We thanked them and continued further to another recently emerged settlement of hearty Trolls and Orks. They had seen a number of t'skrang scouting the shores not much further up the river. Finally we came across a small homestead, they hadn't heard of Ke'shof, but one of the dwarves, Old Durney had seen a group of raiders off in the distance while fishing. We thanked everyone for their information and assessed what we knew. Icarus felt that the river would be the best bet, so we headed to the lagoon we had been advised of.

Bartol demonstrated why he was loosing business to the t'skrang, being scared of the river he did not want to navigate up an unknown tributary. So we went ashore and walked the remainder of the way. We came to a small waterfall behind a series of rock pillars with rope bridges crossing between them. We could see the remnants of a camp atop one of the pillars, I started up towards it over the surprisingly dark and deep water. A pair of bolt headed newts shot from the water snapping at me, luckily I was just high enough for them to miss. However, Icarus was a bit overzealous because of our quest. He leapt into the air and fell upon one of the kharefya . . . right in the middle of the lagoon . . . knowing nothing of the beasts. He quickly learned that like many amphibians, they secreted a paralytic slime that coated the water. Reyis tried to help increase Icarus's combat effectiveness to get him out of trouble. I move above them and let loose magic. The beasts were not of sufficient intelligence to comprehend the dangers around them, so the Phantom Fireball didn't even phase them. Norg tried to gingerly jump across the narrowest part of the tributary. It ended about how you would expect a troll in head to troll crystal attempting to do anything gingerly would. Luckily he regained his balance and made it to solid enough land to take a swing at one of the beasts. Making doubly sure his footing was solid, he studied the beasts movements and turned with a force that seemed to channel the earth beneath his feet. The beast turned at exactly the wrong time and Norg's fist passed straight through. The other kharefya latched onto Icarus, and the struggling pair began to sink beneath the surface of the water. Icarus attempted to dislodge Icarus with little effect. Apparently even the spirits of felines do not like to get wet. Since the mind of this thing was so weak, I unleashed a true bolt of ephereal upon it. The beast jerked in pain, but did not loose Icarus from it's grasp. With more sturdy footing, Norg leapt into the air and crashed down upon the beast, a flying elbow breaking it's back. Norg surfaced quickly, and we could see Icarus struggling to maintain his buoyancy. Norg quickly grabbed him and swam ashore. While we rested, I examined the abandoned camp. Most interestingly, we found that the beasts had kernels of true water under their tongue. It seems they naturally refine the substance. This could be a lucrative opportunity. Based upon the remnants of supper choices, it was obvious atleast one t'skrang had sheltered here, but it had been a number of weeks ago.

We made our way back to Bartol, and towards the next destination, where the t'skrang had been spotted scouting the shores. We set ashore again, and began investigating the area. Reyis noticed some tracks and we began to stalk our prey. I wrapped us in a cloak of illusion to give us the opportunity of surprise. This proved to be a fortuitous choice. We came across a small crew of T'skrang, while they noticed my comrades, they failed to perceive my presence. I decided it was time to test the power of the shadows I had seen Azurea put to such good use. As I listened to Icarus parlay with the captain of the small crew, I began to weave threads to the result of my newest studies. The pirates had weapons trained upon our group, and negotiations were going quite poorly, tipped further by the mention of Ke'shof. It seems these were some sort of Ishkarat bounty hunters looking for her, labelling her a traitor. Icarus attempted a diplomatic resolution, but they were determined to place him in shackles. Swords came out at this point, the precise moment I tied the last thread to my shadowy new friend. The pirates took swings at Icarus, and were promptly distracted by the giant shadowy black dragon that swooped down from amongst the light of the midday sun. This caused the hidden scout to run for the river, and the archer to fall back. Arrows flying wide of the great illusory beast. Steel and tongue clashed, one of the larger pirates laid into Icarus as well and roared at Norg. He seemed rather disoriented by the amount of things overwhelming his senses. Sensing a shift in the tide of battle, the captain directed her crew to incapacitate Icarus and deal with the rest of us. She noticed me at this point and spouted some nonsense my way. Turning on Reyis, as his spirits had torn into her lieutenant previously. The large t'skrang then continued to push and bash at Norg, knocking him down. Fluffy gathered the attention of the captain, allowing Reyis to knock her down from behind. Control of the dragon took some practice, but it's flailing form on the field provided the worry and distraction that we needed. The captain and the archer decided to try and subdue Norg next, hoping the rest of us would be easily pickings. Sword and arrow clashed against the crystal shell, with the large one again knocking Norg back, this time into the water. The captain called for a retreat. The archer and the scout were quick to vanish. Fluffy took advantage of the distracted raider lieutenant, and tore into his sides. With a comfort coming into me I spat demoralizing insults at the fleeing captain, and commanded the dragon to swat her, only staggering her thanks to the balance a tail provides. Norg finally gained enough focus channel his rage into the strike at the captain, and that rage was made manifest with a shot that knocked her jaw off as her head snapped around. The remaining raider reconsidered his own rage and fled as well. We revived Icarus and rested again. We examined the captain and gathered a house marking earring, and the obsidian dagger marking her part of the house. In addition there was a journal, this was the journal of the late Captain Favali Tiken Ishkarat. It appeared to be a scouting journal, assessing the strengths and value of the various encampments and settlements along the river. This was obviously going to be used for expansion and bakshevas. Luckily it also indicated some likely locations to find Ke'shof, and it looked like they had been on their way to the one location that didn't match with our own investigation.

We made our way there just in time to see Ke'shof finish the last of a set of thorned toads, with her collapsing to her knees and her crew face down around her. Icarus went to her and offered to help her up. She was taken a back at first, not understanding who he was or why he was there. He formally introduced himself and reminded her of their last encounter. She struggled to understand why Icarus was there after such a short chance encounter. He returned her signet and her hat, and explained that the vibrance of her soul sung to him and he could do nothing but hunt her down as the eel stalks the minnow, although I'm paraphrasing a bit. He needed to ask her for a drink to learn more about her and he detailed it's importance. He explained his adventures to learn the t'skrang language, the encounters with the River King, and the bounty hunters on her trail. He presented the obsidian dagger to her, and then asked her to return to Throal for a drink. She was tempted to simply take the dagger and sneak back into her society, shirking the label of traitor. But she was labelled a traitor because of her explorer's spirit and sense of adventure. Returning to her niall would stifle those traits, while before her stood a human looking to swell them. We tended to the crew that was still alive and met up with Bartol and made our way back to Throal. Bartol seemed less enthused with Ke'shof's critique on his skills that he was with my own. But it did encourage him to make excellent time back to Sosanopa.
Last edited by Xzandrate on Thu Jul 23, 2020 8:31 pm, edited 1 time in total.

Xzandrate
Posts:382
Joined:Tue Apr 07, 2020 8:28 pm

Re: AAR: [6M] Keen on Ke'shof (2020-07-22 2200 GMT)

Post by Xzandrate » Thu Jul 23, 2020 7:17 pm

**As the magic flows across the page the words come into view**

A message of importance needed to be delivered to the pirate Ke'shof Nixu Ishkarat. A contingent was set to explore the Serpent River west of Sosanopa to locate her.

Faction: Sosanopa
Brief: Port town on Serpent, primary port between Throal and Syrtis
Status: Rapid Expansion
Notable Actors:
Bartol, river captain, competent

Faction:Mathonwy
Brief: River village of recently opened Kaer - primarily Elven, with Dwarven and Human secondary population.
Status: Seven Months out of Kaer, growing

Faction: Foss
Brief: River village of recently opened Kaer - Primarily Troll and Ork population
Status: 9 months out of Kaer, will attempt to send envoy to Throal

Faction: House Ishkarat
Brief: T'skrang house known to inhabit the norther reaches of Serpent
Status: Look to be planning for expansion and possible extortion of populace along the river
Notable Actors:
Favali Tiken Ishkarat, Captain, Bounty Hunter (deceased)
Ke'shof Nixu Ishkarat, Traitor, possibly sypathizer

After Action Report: Investigation into Ke'shof led team along north western reaches of the Serpent. Small settlements appear to grown in frequency and are all in need of assistance and information. Regular trade caravans could cultivate valuable information network, this may become important as encounter with Ishkarat scouting and bounty hunting party provided detailed intel on capabilities and wealth of various settlements on the river. Looks to be moving towards either expansion or extortion of the populace to gain dominance over that area of the river. This will need to be dissuaded, or devalued with a more beneficial opportunity. Ke'shof has been labelled as a traitor, indicated that the Ishkarat are very secular and was punished for exploration.

Recommended actions:
-Establish trade along north western Serpent, broker deals with Ishkarat to allow further expansion to determine the situation of Iopos, Shosara, and any other large settlements to north west.
-House Ke'shof and cultivate her sympathies to adventure and expansion. Attempt to recruit if the passions for adventure and expansion override those for piracy and killing.


Reporting Senior Agent:
Bearded Dragon

**The words vanish as the magic dissipates**

sigfriedmcwild
Posts:335
Joined:Wed Nov 13, 2019 6:59 am

Re: AAR: [6M] Keen on Ke'shof (2020-07-22 2200 GMT)

Post by sigfriedmcwild » Thu Jul 30, 2020 11:34 pm

From "The Skies of Barsaive", as penned by Norg, Brother of Earth and Sky, Corsair of Throal

Icarus came by asking for help with tracking down a lady named Ke'shof Nixu Ishkarat he was sweet on. She was a t'skrang pirate he had crossed blades and wits before. I admit that the main reasons I joined him on this caper was for the entertainment value and to meet her companion named C'honk, a troll sized t'skrang

Our leads were fairly limited, Icarus knew she sailed up and down the Serpent north of Throal but little else, so we made our way to Sosanopa where the first task was to hire a boat. Icarus took care of that while Reys and Moe took off to see if they could find any more information. What they found was that some people had heard of her and her piracy and she wasn't much liked.

The next day we started upriver, ably sailed by a human named Bartol, the banks of the Serpent were dotted with villages starting to build up again and we stopped at several to gather more information. We learnt of some possible hideouts and of some t'skrangs scouting the area, we also learn that freshly caught fish is delicious.

It was good to see so many settlements sprouting up in the last year or so as more kaers open and their people rejoin barsaive, we did our best to let them know of Throal and that they should consider making contact.

The first location we explored was a small pool on a tributary of the Serpent. A very nice spot for hiding a boat, or a summer house. A rock in the middle of the pool held the remains of a camp and Moe used his flying carpet to get there, not swimming proved to be an excellent, if not very t'skrang idea, as a kharefya shot out of the water trying to get a bite. The kharefya are dangerous to fight in the water as they secrete a paralytic mucus and they have a tendency to hold on after bite which can lead to drowning as Icarus learnt. They also have a glass jaw as I demonstrated when I took care of the one trying to eat Moe. My recent training in swimming came in handy as I had to drag Icarus out of the water. As final note on the fight, jumping into the water headfirst with the intent of headbutting a swimming creature can be made to work.

The camp turned out to be about 3 weeks old and severely lacking in clues

The next day we went looking for the t'skrang scouts, who we found around midday. We managed to have a fairly civil discussion with them until they started insisting to put Icarus in chains, at which point we switched to Crystal Raider diplomacy. I am ashamed to say that I let the t'skrang captain words get under my skin and I ended up being batted around by the big one for a while. In the meantime Icarus got cut up and Moe summoned a dragon. Once I got hold of myself again, I squished the captain and the others wisely decided to leave.

Looking through her belongings we found a journal with details about the settlements on the Serpent. Moe believed the info suggested plans to assert control over the villages and extract tribute from them. There were also some notes about potential locations for Ke'shof, who apparently got herself exiled from house Ishkrat. We also found the obsidian dagger that is the mark of belonging to house Iskhrat

One of the locations is nearby so we went directly there, where we found Ke'shof finishing off a horned toad. We approached and Icarus started talking with her, eliciting some laughs and eventually convincing her to come with us to Throal. I offered my medical skills to patch her up and managed to revive one of her crew.

To my disappointment she'd parted ways with C'honk already so I did not get to see this giant t'skrang, but at least Moe managed to get his lady.

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