hexarchate_rpg | Chapter 3.1: The party begins

EDIT: The base is sited in the year 951, in a very odd timeline that has NO h*archate. Supplies have to be brought in via rift from other timelines. Thread here.

Ashari's new base features variable layout, which has been put to use in creating an extravagant ballroom. Tables to one side boast a variety of foods, drinks both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, and the occasional euphoric drugs. Candlevines glow blue and violet, and flower arrangements interspersed with fantastic sculptures of lace-woven wire adorn the tables. The arrangements mean various sarcastic things, if you're familiar with the Andan petal language.

Music plays softly enough not to overwhelm conversation, loudly enough to set a mood complementing the low-key lighting.

Remi is one of the first arrivals from the Cantata, shepherding the mothlings. Because he's a Nirai, he has a slate and is taking notes, although he is happy enough to talk to anyone who approaches him.

The kitchen is currently adjacent to the ballroom. Ashari's voice can be heard, raised in some kind of argument with...a caterer?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"That is Jedao, yes. The problem is what versions of him did, or will have done, in other timelines. Has anybody briefed you on Quill?"

It's a sequencing problem: Jedao is not the enemy, but to understand why not, Xiulan needs to know who the adversaries are.

[

yhlee, did Reshad manage to learn Kujen's name from Jedao at some point during the return voyage? Or is he still the nameless Nirai collaborator?]

[I saw on the wiki that Quill is involved with briefing new recruits and assigning them. Is that still the case and if so, does Xiulan know anything beyond ‘person who had me sent here’?]

[Ashari has formed an anti-Quill splinter faction of the rebellion, so Xiulan probably has not met Quill!]

[Thanks! So probably easiest to assume she hasn’t even heard of Quill, to keep it simple, unless there’s a reason to do otherwise.]

Edited 2020-01-19 04:32 (UTC)

[Trust me, I have been watching for this very question and NO ONE has gotten Kujen's name out of Jedao. In fact, no one has taken the simple step of just flat-out asking Jedao for the name (or assumed name) of his Nirai collaborator.]

“Quill.” The repeat of the name is not a question, but said half to herself as she files through memories and finally shakes her head. “No, haven’t heard of them.”

Because Ashari hoards information the way the ancient xans held wealth.

"Quill is a 'facilitator' within the rebellion, charged with integrating new recruits. She has been using that position to build a private fiefdom. In doing so, she has coordinated with enemies of the rebellion. On our most recent mission, we learned that Quill had tasked agents to assassinate Jedao, before he could win his most famous victory, or commit the massacre that made him famous. We kidnapped him to find out why."

She laughs.

If she'd had a drink in hand, she might have downed that instead. But she doesn't, so instead, a laugh: chin dropping a little, eyes crinkling, shoulders shifting with it. It's not explosive or overly loud, she just chuckles like she's heard a joke where one wasn't. When Xiulan looks over at Sasha, it's with a grin that looks more jaunty than the party-polite ones shown earlier.

"Some days seem more like a game of Bullshit wrapped up in Academy hazing than others," she offers. A pause. "It's a card game."

Dashing back a lock of hair that had fallen closer to her eye when her head dropped, she continues without missing a beat. "So Quill sounds like quite the fucking poisoned intake problem.

"The briefing I got did mention Jedao - in a rather different capacity than explained him at a party eating cake mind you, but hey, you've covered that. But I'd looked up the name." She looks across the room at the man again, says quietly, "Extensive military experience indeed. That's good. That's really good. There's a lot that can be done with that."

Pieces on a pattern stones board - she makes herself call it that even in her own head - each bit of info. It shifts the field and you shift with it. Her smile is sharper now, but somehow cheerful as she thinks through options; it suits the fine, similarly sharp features of her face. "Anyone else know about the evacuation idea yet or should I remind myself this is supposed to be a party?"

[I lost 5 minutes to pondering if Bullshit could be effectively played with jeng-zai cards. Maybe just with the Minor Arcana. Or if the players were particularly drunk.]

Sasha laughs in response. It feels so very good to be dealing with someone who will attack a problem, instead of hiding from it, or plotting some elaborate ambush. If watching Xiulan's gesture hurts, that's just the fucking price of living in the heptarchate.

"Oh, this is the best party in any of several hells. We'll be toasting soon. I asked Sulen to prepare Ashari for the idea of evacuation, and I spoke to Remi and Alaric about the underlying threat. But I haven't had a chance to make a general briefing."

[I spent rather more time than that trying to hack jeng-zai solitaire for the conversation with Ione! I settled on a Royal Marriage variant, mostly because the role of chance is obvious.]

"Given those parameters, I'm sure of it." There are so many more hells than this.

The mention of toasting is interesting mainly for being unexpected. But it loses mindshare almost immediately to something else. "Are you thinking of a specific threat it could be then?"

"I have a theory, it involves the mothlings and the science team, I would like to get the fuck out of this universe before we find out if I'm right."

“Here’s hoping.”

That neither Sasha’s worry nor Xiulan’s own prove true.

“In the meantime, I’m going to go introduce myself to Sulen and think some more about an evac plan.”

So saying, she does just that, some further note taking on her tablet bridging the gap.

Chapter 3.1: The party begins

Re: I hope you weren't planning to enjoy this party - Xiulan and Sasha - note for GM and Reshad

Re: I hope you weren't planning to enjoy this party - Xiulan and Sasha - note for GM and Reshad

Re: I hope you weren't planning to enjoy this party - Xiulan and Sasha - note for GM and Reshad

Re: I hope you weren't planning to enjoy this party - Xiulan and Sasha - note for GM and Reshad

[Nirai, Nirai]

Re: I hope you weren't planning to enjoy this party - Xiulan and Sasha - note for GM and Reshad

Re: I hope you weren't planning to enjoy this party - Xiulan and Sasha - note for GM and Reshad

Re: I hope you weren't planning to enjoy this party - Xiulan and Sasha - note for GM and Reshad

Re: I hope you weren't planning to enjoy this party - Xiulan and Sasha - note for GM and Reshad

Re: I hope you weren't planning to enjoy this party - Xiulan and Sasha - note for GM and Reshad

Re: I hope you weren't planning to enjoy this party - Xiulan and Sasha - note for GM and Reshad

Re: I hope you weren't planning to enjoy this party - Xiulan and Sasha - note for GM and Reshad