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A Night at the Theater

·784 words·4 mins
Matt Schwennesen
Author
Matt Schwennesen
Ph.D. Student and Tabletop Gaming Enthusiast

When we last ventured to the Great Basin…

The members of the Task Force where holed up in a safe-house provided to them by Rokkaku Nakateru, the propitiator of Rokkaku’s Ramen. Even though it was late into the night, you were all up discussing your actions for the next day. You eventually decide to use Sending to meet with Eaton at the Temple of Korina on Kerkard.

From Task Force: Meet us at the church of Kronia at 11am, We have information for you regarding LAKE. Meet empty hands in good faith.

Eaton’s response is a single word:

Acknowledged.

The next morning, Zorro, Redfern and Wil are sure to arrive at the temple early, using Wind Walk to traverse the skies and avoid being spotted around the temple until Eaton gets there. Once he arrives, a full 15 minutes early, you get down to business. They tell Eaton about discovering Vessimur Yutros’ true identity as Ambition, about Oisin’s death and that you were able to recover the sword. In response, Eaton tells you that the vote to disband the Task Force and set a bounty on you was a shocking 0 - 20, which is unheard of for the Forum. He also says that the vote was taken behind closed doors and all of the questions that he’s asked to the delegates have been dismissed by them claiming “new evidence has come to light” and refusing to elaborate further, despite the fact that Eaton runs the de facto intelligence agency of the Koncord. Before leaving, Eaton says that he will support you and asks if he should prepare anything to help with your efforts. You tell him that no specific actions are required at this time.

With a final warning that he knows the location of the safe-house, you depart and move to a room at the Lost Palm Tree, a run-down motel in a poorer part of town. The news of the Forum’s unanimous vote to outlaw you is shocking, but Meru already has a meeting scheduled with Ikoma Sakome, one of the delegates from the Niven Imperium to see a showing of Omelet by Wilfred Mountmore at a local theater, the Icosahedron, which was arranged using Sending by Jusa.

From Meru: Important news regarding new Herske - conspiracy and LAKE, defaming us. Meet at Icosahedron for Omelet tonight to discuss future - empty hands, good faith.

To which Ikoma relies:

I’ll see what I can arrange.

The play itself is mediocre; a story about a dethroned prince seeking revenge on his uncle for the murder of his father with all together too many egg puns. Eventually Meru, with Gwen under his hat in the form of an insect, finds Ikoma and sits next to her. The two exchange pleasantries and Meru offers their condolences for the death of Ikoma’s family. Just as they are moving onto the main topic, Ambition, Meru falls asleep. While asleep, they dream of a figure in black robes with deep blue runes embroider onto it. Dauntless. Who seemed amused that Meru though they were a member of the government. They told Meru that they has been sent to remove Meru from the equation, but that it would be more challenging then normal due to Meru’s resilient mind.

Meanwhile, Gwen has sprung into action, and at first attempted to get the attention of Ikoma before realizing that she was in a mental state similar to sleep-walking. Gwen then exchanged places with her familiar (to the confusion of the audience members) to warn the rest of you about the danger. Transposing back, Gwen disrupted the magical effect on Meru with Dispel Magic, Greater. This shunned they back into their body just as Dauntless was casting a spell, the effects of which unknown even to Meru’s trained eye.

Meru and Gwen quickly retreated to the Lost Palm Tree to regroup with the rest of the Task Force. Realizing the power that Ambition and LAKE holds over the rest of the Forum, you resolved to act fast and make no further contact with Delegates.

Finally, Meru explained that they believe Dauntless is an Eichen based on a vision from their first trip to Kerkard, of a figure in the sky who was looking back at Meru and clearly had a Eichen tail. Meru also realized that they knew about Bur Harcosa’s death before it happened. While processing this new information, Zorro remembered that some Eichen have stronger shape-shifting abilities then he does, but you aren’t if or how that factors into what you know about Dauntless.

We now resume on the 18th night of Whitermire, with you all gathered in a single dreary motel room on the out-skirts of the city.