[Seven Isles] Session 8 and 9

Session 8

The group made arrangements with a bunch of giants to take a ship they were using to try to set up a trade network of their own and were going to protect it.  The ship set out and they learned to help protect the ship.  They ran into an elemental along the way that attacked the ship.  They killed it.  Then they ran into a mirror storm and outran it.  Then they ran into a giant mirror elemental that they tried to convince that they were friends with.  It read their minds and accepted that they were not hostile but did consider the giants hostile and killed them all but spared the troupe and took them to Pharos with a promise that they would free two mirror elementals trapped in the dimension of mirrors.

Session 9

The group spent 3 days burying a LOT of giants.  They checked out a weird anvil that fell out of nowhere and killed some guy who was dressed in a suit and took some tarot cards from him.  They spent 5 days building carts and taking the trade goods from the giant ship and had Boomfist pull it.  The group was popular in the small town out of nowhere that hadnt seen a troupe in years and performed.  They got some really nice horses to give boomfist a rest.  Lex stole a cloak of the archnida from a Culturally appropriated (Pharos) store full of schlock.  The group went to a rural city and did some investigations but didn't find anything they wanted to follow up on except a lead to find Sharina Stargazer.  They bought a psychotic but friendly flying carpet from a used vehicle sales man who had an illict business on the side.  They flew to a small town at the edge of the Hub and near the Sea of Firebugs.  They met Sharina who agreed to help Morri find her family if the group would perform in the city of Amoeba to distract the warlord who ran the city.  The group agreed and went on a carvan ot the city.

[Seven Islands] News and Journals - Session 3

Summary of Game: Our heroes accepted a mission from Klandstone University to find out what had happened to 3 previous expeditions to the island of Oracle.  After doing so, they determined to go a different way than everyone else and traveled by boat to a small town on the coast.  They came to a large mesa on a disused path behind where they found six survivors of the previous parties mind controlled by a mysterious ring matter who could mind control people just by looking at them. 

Unlike previously, the group was able to sneak towards them and ambush them all doing a huge amount of damage to the ring master before the group got overwhelmed or any of them got mind controlled.  They found a lot of loot in a very large tent and the freed adventurer's were also grateful for no longer being mind controlled.  The group continued investigating the ruins.

In the ruins, they found
-A large meadhall which from midnight to 1am is filled with ancient warriors who drink mead and tell tall tales (Unexplored)
-A well that contains a large tentacled...thing (wisely avoided)
-A boxing ring which summons an enchanted boxer who offers to fight you for a friendly wager (unexplored)
-A boarded up shop that throws knives at anyone who tries to enter (unexplored)
-A giant snow globe which seems to have someone frozen inside (unexplored)
-A stairway that clearly goes somewhere unseen up into the air (unexplored)
-A hall of mirrors which distort and obfuscate one's image (unexplored)
-A Merry Go Round which has riding animals of all kinds (unexplored)
-An arch of stone that is strangely silent (Dreamed of but otherwise unemployed)
-A large tent filled with rooms (explored)
-A small four rowed hedge with a nice trimmed edge and shrubbery in the middle (quite nice) (unexplored)

News
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The Ingmelian Military Base is reaping the benefits of empowering the Offworld Refugees, or as they have started calling themselves the Council of Outworlders, along with the Canton militia has recovered the stolen military equipment on the Island of Oracle with a combination of science and psionics.  The governor overcame Inglemian prejudice against the Mental Arts allowing a combination of mental signals and trigonometry to launch an expedition to recover the equipment from a mysterious Ringmaster who had been controlling several expedition members.  Said individuals had recently been rescued by the Troupe With No Name, popular performers from Landsea.  Fortification of Krashnal began again in haste with two pirate ships trying out new long guns, bombarding the island from a far wreaking havok for a full 24 hour period before moving on to do the same thing to Ashland. 

Asland reports a large velvet cloud erupting from the volcano but the local Stone Druids report that it is not magma or steam of any kind; a few say it is a sign of change from the Great Wyrm in its depths but few know what to call it.

Oracle has begun to be a source of tension as the northern settlements have bad a lot of refugees from Ashland, Krashnal and Nimgee trying to flee the Ashlander pirates and many disagree that they should be taking on more refuees at all.  Tensions between the two groups is growing high, and the Island is starting to talk of organizing finally, both for defense and political representation on the Island Council.

Xorital is fortifying at a mad rate and the Prince is spending seemingly unlimited funds to encourage more and more people to join him in reforming the monarchy and rumor has it he is quietly considering declaring himself king.  He has formed a full court and is appointing many royal positions.  Rumor has it that many supporters in the city guard.  The Mayor, outclassed and outspent is drummingup support from the rest of the Islands by starting an independence movement for the Islands, with support from most of the islands and funds being sent to the Mayor to try and turn the Prince's tide.  Needless to say, rumor has it Inglemia and Kelp are less than pleased.  The Axis of Storms, the Giants and the Dragonlands are said to be paying attention.  Ambassadors and diplomats may or may not be sent.

The Satrapy of Iodine is not actually in rebellion, but it is in turmoil.  Recently, the Satrap has died and several of his heirs killed.  The local regent Abysmali Ord Kane has sworn to protect the Satrap in waiting with his life.  The Kelpian Empire is dubious about this and sending an Advisor to watch the Regent very closely.  Whether it is the Satrapy or the Island miraculously paying off its debt and therefore nominally spinning out of Kelp's sphere of influence is unknown.

Landsea seems an island of calm in a sea of chaos as the herbal harvest comes due next month and every harvest on the island is scrambling to match it.

The Tao of Nimgee have fallen and are being sold into slavery by the Blacklander Pirates.

Orimo-The Grand Klep, Cleric of Smells is celebrating his 80th birthday and is hiring performers to celebrate the occasion.

Rumors

The Blacklander Pirates have a powerful new weapon that can affect an entire town

One of the missing seven gods has been seen walking around Orimo.

The Troupe with No Name Stole the Military Equipment Found on Oracle not the Ringmaster and they are lead by an insidious Spider Worshiper

The rift between Inglemia and Kelp is getting worse and Inglemia or Kelp is near ending their alliance formally.

A new Psionic School is being founded in Undertown near Krashnal

[Seven Isles] News and Journals Session 2

Headlines

Major robbery in Krashnal!  While the island is desperately trying to fortify itself with the expansion of rapid roads between major parts of the island and major ramparts and training of the infantry, the supplies that the island counted on to help them fortify against the pirates have been decimated.  Many believe that the pirates have slipped agents on to the island vastly increasing paranoia.  Some in the Ingleimaian forces nearly accused the outlander militia for this, but the outlanders passed several lie detector (magical) tests professing their innocence and mutual desire to capture the culprit.  A considerable reward has been offered for the recovery of the goods or evidence leading to the capture of the culprit.

Xorital's two factions (the prince and the mayor) have outwardly allied and four of the islands seats have agreed to unify against the pirates.  The worshippers of the fly god, Nimgee and Krashnal did not vote.  The fly worshippers are pacifists, Nimgee is controled and actually represented by the pirates and Krashnal has been too busy preparing and fortifying to send anyone to represent them.  Xorital is also now worried about the theft on Krashnal, but the already high tensions between the factions has led to them accusing the other of secretly working with the pirates and quietly both are offering rich rewards for proof that the other is working for the pirates. 

Meanwhile rumors that the Abysmali appearing in vast numbers in Undertown have proven to be true, fleeing the supposed civil war of Kelp though despite the rumors of this there is no indication that this is going on.  There are whisperings (actual not rumors) of hostility between Kelp and certain Inglemian factions about their friendliness towards non humans as well as other matters such as the empowering of the Militia on the islands and not rescinding the (to inglemia) irrevocable canton charter.  Tensions are brewing.

And in other news

Orimo-The Grand Klep, Cleric of Smells is celebrating his 80th birthday and is hiring performers to celebrate the occasion.

The Tao people of Nimgee are starving and about to collapse due to the complete naval and land blockade.

Landsea is commissioning fortifications of their port town but is much slower to get around to it than the other areas and attempting to organize but not being very good at it.

Ashland is repairing ships and outfitting their fishing fleet for war to  help the Island Council.  Thehy are recruting marines.

Oracle is also fortifying their town and reports several missing persons.  Officially, the representatives from Klandsone university are not looking for a third expedition to go after the second that went missing looking for the first, having been drafted into help defend the island, but quietly they offer the same reward they originally did though have it on good assurance from a letter that someone sent them that another expedition will be coming any day now...

Rumors

The Satrapy of Iodine (The local Satrapy) thought there was a rebellion and guessed wrong and so the empire is coming to crush them.

From the journal of Morrigana Alair:

We had an interesting expedition this week. Accompanied by a small caravan of twenty people and one of the local druids we set out to try and locate the encampment of the automatons that we had been told had captured the mage who had created the life giving elixir. I’m sure certain members of the group probably hoped that we’d be able to rescue him to question him, or because of their feelings about the preciousness of life in /any/ apparent form, but I was glad to receive the proof of his death (as far as we know). There is a natural order to just about every world, and I think he was upsetting it. Upset the balance and terrible things can happen. I’ve seen that before… I need to work harder to right what was wronged.

I appreciate that my companions work well together, though I admit I don’t know how to react to some of them. And right now one in particular has my eye. I hate to admit that I don’t trust them as much as the others, not that I fully trust anyone, but when you catch the kid with their hand in the cookie jar… regardless, I don’t think they’d actively try to hurt anyone, but if l have learned anything it’s that complete trust is as much a lie as complete safety. Back to the point though, we worked well together out there in the forest and thankfully Callie was able to deescalate the situation when the automatons heard her singing to Boomfist. Also, despite what I wrote before, I’m glad that Alexander didn’t try to pull a fast one again and destroyed the vial.

I think we’re off to Oracle next, but before we do I need to get back on the trail. I know my family is somewhere out there. What’s more, I know those same bastards are also still out there. Hunting other family’s down and capturing them. *A few ink drops mark the page here followed by a quickly scribbled aside* She sent Fawkes over and he’s watching me. Creepy. *the normal writing returns* Anyways, it’s time to be off. Maybe a few stops in some of the seedier areas might turn up some information on who’s hunting or using slave labor. I just have to keep moving.

[Seven Isles] News and Journals

News

The pirates raided Ashport, the largest city on Ashlands and demanded that Inglemia do something about the pirates.  Former Governor Nigmal Cervantes did just that and personally boarded the IRS The Senate is In Session and the IRS In the Navy Now to attack the Blacklander Pirates at their base at Nimgee.  Even though Blue Water ships instead of Sky ships, the Inglemian Navy is vastly more powerful than most with their lightning cannons.

Except when they are not.

The Blacklander pirates were covered in a metal mesh as were the port gunforts that rendered the lightning cannons useless.  Further, their rate of fire has been hidden until now but the Canons fired at an ASTONISHING rate of speed utterly destroying the dreadnought the Senate Is In Session despite the Mending runes along with all her crew.  The Frigate In The Navy Now barely made it back to base but is severely damaged.

Governor Cervantes has been killed and communications from Inglemia indicate that reinforcements will be months in coming.  In the interests of organizing a resistance and stopping the pirates, Acting Governor, Commander Orale Orbshaw sought to commission a militia from the Seven Isles.   It was pointed out by the Outlander Refugees of Krashmal that under Inglemian law a militia requires a Canton; so using her emergency powers, Acting Governor Orbshaw declared Krashmal an Inglemian Military Canton of Water; and empowered the Outworld Refugees to commission a militia and defend the base there, which they are doing with great alacrity.

Rumor has it Kelp, an Inglemian ally for centuries, is not pleased with this news at all since Inglemia is a caretaker government while the Prince of Xorital is the actual government in centuries of debt to Kelp....

Speaking of which .....

On Xorital news of the news of this destruction was both poorly received and well received.  The Mayor of Xorital, long the most powerful political force on the Island Council has called an emergency meeting and worked to also fortify Xorital from the pirates, calling into question Inglema's duty to defend the islands.  Rumors swirl that Ashland is committed to independence.

The Prince, from sources unknown, paid his debt to the local Kelpian satrap with vast funds from unknown sources; nominally ending Inglemia's or Kelp's claims to the seven islands and is claiming rightful rule over the islands but with what army?  There is great tension between the City Watch and the Prince's guards, largely thought to be ceremonial but people are suddenly realizing how numerous they are.

Meanwhile....

Orimo-The Grand Klep, Cleric of Smells is celebrating his 80th birthday and is hiring performers to celebrate the occasion.

Klandstone University is looking to mount a second expedition from Krashnal to Oracle to find out what happened to the first expidition...

The Tao People of Nimgee are under siege from many of the Pirates since they rose up in revolt at Governor Cervante's request.  They are asking for reinforcements who can sneak through the pirate lines and help them defend their home.

Landsea is seeking an expedition to examine the camp of the Clockwork warriors to search the abandoned place for clues about who they were and why they were there.

Rumors

Abysmali in great numbers have been moving into Undertown (the underwater neighboorhood of Xorital)

A great challenge is occuring in Kelp for the Kelpian Throne

The Axis of Storms is attempting to consolidate their alliance with a marriage between the Blacklands and the Shard

Lex's Journal

Missing people of Landsea…

*sigh* This is… interesting… and possibly difficult situation. People are going missing and we have a personal interest in this island as one of the Troupe’s members is from there… Morri. She is a good person, talented as well.
I offered us an idea that would get us some money while we go to the Island, as being some guards for a merchant ship… it doesn’t seem to have gone over too well with most people in the Troupe. 

We found a ship going sooner than the free ones, as we believed that this would be more important to get there sooner, most of us paid for it.

The Island of Landsea.

We arrived and spoke to an Elder of the island about the missing people, and they offered us many things, should we be able to find, rescue and deal with the problem… I think we will choose the option of a small percentage of what the items make, this has potential for a lot of money if we can poke the interests of the island and possible bring more people to it, create a tourist attraction of some kind perhaps? We shall see…

The Missing People and the Village of Fourth

The Town itself was, or so we thought, empty… myself and Calli snuck towards the village, in the quiet, we watched for a moment… the woman is much quieter than I thought she would be. The place just felt… wrong, and I couldnt really place it well.
Eventually I through a ball bearing into the middle of the town, and a sound, like metallic buzzing began… I threw on closer to watch, and it still went away. Then, of course I was an idiot, and threw a bottle of Alchemist Fire, where Calli and I could see, and a swarm of metallic beetles put it out, fairly quickly…
Interesting note, we found out they are Psionic… how they came to creation, is interesting. Long story short, a Wizard somehow came to the island with the idea of making some kind of potion of animation… I still have their notes on how to create the potion, which the Troupe does not know I have… I also got caught stealing some of the material we had found… threw one of the viles I had in the fire… I think I should throw the other into a fire… but I feel it could be very useful… but still...

NOTE: Clockwork Machinations LOATH this potion and its creation…. And what it does. It is an abomination to them and will kill those seeking to create the powdered version. 

I think I am going to talk to Morri… and confess that I kept one other, but I need to hide the notes of the potion before I confront her… or the rest of the group. 

Metallic Beetles…

Holy shit… holy mother of mary shit balls… I cannot believe it. HOLY CREAP ON A CREATION!....

These are amazing, we helped them, get out of the village, for getting the villagers back of course. But they are Psionic, and have a mass of intelligence, and we befriended them. We tried to give them a few good tips and suggestions, but their intelligence is that of a child or teen at most. It is fassinating, they are fascinating, and they have already chosen a name to… a bit ominous, but they call themselves Legion, for they are many