We manage to get a full house, with the entire crew showing up at their own accustomed times: Chris (Peter Sangaree), Dan (Koa so k'Terr), Nick (Brother Xavier), Tim (Sir Brindal Karth) and Paul (Sean Punch). For a change, nobody seems too distraught with their character this week, so things proceed apace.
The characters start out roughly where they left off last time: trapped in the jungles near the Sulesslund Coast, surrounded by vicious monowire mines, and certain in the knowledge that a large number of very hostile people working for the slaver Patrice Cheroux are fairly close by. Their assault carrier VERTOL is no longer capable of flight, having lost it's tail to a monowire air defense weapon.
On the plus side, they also have a pair of captives, from among the group of three soldiers who attacked them after the VERTOL was shot down. The characters have already stripped them, determining that they are really quite well-equipped (the full list of loot is in the 11/21/99 summary). In addition to their more martial gear, Cheroux's troopers were also wearing Network Vision goggles and radio comlinks.
Faced with a baffling situation, the characters turn to old, familiar tactics. They lean on someone. Specifically, they interrogate their captives. The two soldiers claim that Cheroux's base is located on an old Second Republic site, but isn't using any of the original building. The complex consists of four ceramcrete blockhouses, with a surrounding minefield and lifesensors to detect living creatures within about 300 meters. The blockhouses are braced to withstand indirect fire from orbit (but not any sort of direct hit). They have ventilation ducts both within and outside the complex, probably with some kind of filter in them to keep small animals out (neither man has been involved in maintaining the ventilation system, so they don't know anything specific).
Listening to the troopers' description, Peter Sangaree realizes that while the blockhouses themselves are designed to provide good interlocking fields of fire, the complex is surrounded by underbrush. This is mostly important because it means the characters could potentially approach the place and get access to some of the ventilation ports (to dump noxious substances inside) without exposing themselves to suicidal amounts of defensive fire.
Sean Punch has no taste for roughing up captives, so he turns to investigating their goggles. He quickly discovers that the Network Vision goggles can be used for more than just spotting mines: they can be used as remote terminals on a wireless network. He can pick up several think machines nearby, but he's too far away to get a good connection. Sadly, the two gunsels don't know anything about using them for anything more sophisticated than seeing mines.
Brindal Karth calls the other characters together to plan out their strategy. He first asks them if they should try and talk to Cheroux and his people, betraying incredible generosity for a man who was shot at after surrendering, twice. He proposes that Cheroux's activities sound both illegal and immoral, and beyond that his mere presence provides the risk that he might someday try to kidnap people from the Fennen Marsh colony.
Several other characters, notably Peter and Sean, agree that talking seems like a good plan, but is complicated by the need to find a way to talk to them without getting shot at first. All agree that using the captured troopers' comlinks is the safest plan, given the tendency towards random gunfire Cheroux's people have already displayed.
Brindal Karth states that his starting negotiation position is that he wants Cheroux and all of his works gone from the Fennen Marsh fief. If Cheroux isn't willing to agree to that, he'd better be willing to pay big for the privilege of remaining.
Sean "Tech Boy" Punch thinks that he can use the captured Network Vision goggles to link into Cheroux's think machines, but he will need to get closer to the base's transceivers to get a good connection. Mad Monk Xavier instantly suggests that the two of them should infiltrate closer to the blockhouse complex. Peter Sangaree states that during their absence, he will work on a decoder to set off the monowire mines.
The two of them head out slowly and quietly, hoping to avoid running into mines on the way to the wireless network. Sadly, their journey is hardly uneventful. Some distance outside the main base (and certainly before Sean is able to reliably connect to the base think machines) they encounter a patrol of four additional guards, equipped as thoroughly as their predecessors. An interminable fight breaks out, with both sides jockeying for position and blazing away at each other with assault rifles. Given that all the combatants are shielded, this exchange accomplishes really quite little.
After everyone has been completely convinced that random gunfire isn't going to accomplish anything, both sides change tactics. The Mad Monk manages to get the better of the exchange, flanking one of the guards. The two of them duel briefly, until Xavier disarms the guard and the guard turns to flee. Xavier runs him down, tackles him, and slaughters him by cutting his throat. Sean Punch gets rather a more direct treatment as two more of the guards make a direct assault on his position. He opens fire on one of them with his laser, draining the man's shield and cutting him into pieces. He then fences with the second guard, suffering a number of stab wounds but finally killing the man with his arm blades. The fourth guard, out on the left flank, melts back into the jungle.
The characters quickly loot the fallen guards and then return to the VERTOL crash site. They manage to recover the following gear:
By the time Xavier and Sean return to the VERTOL, the other characters have managed to link into Cheroux's communications network with one of the captured comlinks. Sir Brindal Karth takes the lead role in the negotiations, introducing himself with his full title (and a few random embellishments, like ranking himself as a Baron) and rattling off a list of grievances as long as his arm. He demands to speak to Patrice Cheroux.
Brindal Karth's bluster is sufficient to get Cheroux to respond within a couple of minutes. Cheroux quickly proves to have both a strong sense of personal righteousness and a truly outrageous French accent, as he sputters out, "Zees ees unclaimed land! How zay you zat you aahre ruler of zees place?" Brindal Karth, understanding that he has finally met a worthy opponent, calls upon all of his arts and a truly impressive Savoir-Faire roll to rattle off a barrage of convoluted language describing how this is now, and has always been, Hazat land.
Faced with this outburst, Cheroux has no choice but to agree to talk. He suggests that the characters join him in his fortress for a civilized conversation, and promises them safe-conduct through the defenses. Sir Brindal Karth demurs, explaining that he isn't appropriately dressed for a foolish journey into a deathtrap, and suggests that they meet in a neutral location like the Tuam High City. Cheroux is not satisfied with Tuam, proposing the court of the Duke of Lakeview near Llanfyrth. As the characters are speculating that Cheroux must be really tight with the Duke Lakeview, the Baronet Marlwen suggests meeting at the palace of his father-in-law, the Earl Gerald Soult-Hawkwood, in the Byrrem Isles. Even Peter Sangaree (who was trying to suggest meeting in one of the eastern Vuldrok communities, like Erlwood or Lijngren) agrees that this sounds good.
After a few formal objections, Cheroux finally gives in and agrees to meet on the Earl's lands in a week.
Having decided that they are going to talk to Cheroux on a more formal basis, the characters elect to learn what they can about the man. Considering that the group is unable to return to Fennen Marsh until rescue arrives, Sean Punch has an opportunity to try and hack the base think machines again. He is spared from the need to sneak closer to the blockhouses when Peter Sangaree splices the VERTOL's radio transmitter to on of the Network Goggles, boosting it's output enough to get a good connection from the crash site.
Sean spends about eight hours working, piercing the security on two of the think machines. The first appears to hold medical records, probably of the people Cheroux has converted into shock troops. There are a total of about 5000 records, but only 200 of them remain "open" (probably indicating that there are 200 "trainees" currently in the base). None of the records includes either a name or a photograph, but all of them are traced with an ID number. The Baronet Marlwen, who claims to have had exposure to similar shock troops during his service in the Emperor Wars, recalls that each of them was tattooed with an ID number, and that none of them were referred to by name. Sean does know enough medicine to recognize that the normal course of treatment for one of Cheroux's subjects is nothing short of extreme, though he doesn't understand many of the more specialized terms (Psychology skill is needed).
The second machine he manages to enter contains armory and repair records. It includes technical specs for the monowire mines and air defense units, and details on several types of encryption that can be used with mine networks. Unfortunately, it doesn't contain information on exactly which encryption type the base is using. On the plus side, it does hold maintenance records for the outer mine belts.
The characters are returned to Fennen Marsh thanks to the Baronet's Lift Yacht, which sets down some distance away (to avoid another unfortunate shoot-down incident).
Upon the characters' return to Fennen Marsh, the muckraking machine turns into high gear as everyone sets out to find damaging information on Patrice Cheroux. Sean asks (and is granted) 200 FB to buy software to convert the library data he memorized (as video) back in the Engineers' Guildhall library into usable text. Based upon what several of the characters (notably Sir Brindal Karth, Sean Punch, and Koa so k'Terr) know, operating a starport requires all manner of permissions, most importantly from the Grand Duke of Gwynneth and from the Bishop of Llanfyrth (who much consecrate the site). Koa so k'Terr hopes that Sean will come up with enough information to demonstrate that the old Gieresport Airport has already been consecrated, which would help the characters cut the Church out of the process of reopening the place. Unfortunately, he is able to learn that the last time the port was in operation, it was consecrated by the Bishop of Gieresport, a follower of the long-dead Maffinean Heresy. Koa sighs and resigns himself to having to eventually curry favor with the Llanfyrth Orthodox establishment.
With that rather distressing piece of news added to the place, the characters turn to their old associate Morgan Hawkwood to see what he can learn about Patrice Cheroux. He spends some time looking into records and talking to his various influential friends, and sends back a message reporting that while Cheroux does not appear to have ever held any publicly-important offices, he can consistently be seen in the presence of a wide variety of important people. For example, he was seen in the Duke South Coast's private box at last year's Riessen Blossom Races. However, he also appears to be a bit unbalanced. He has been banned from the Church of the Prophet's Vision in Tuam after he stabbed a man sitting next to him during services. He has also been in several fairly well-publicized incidents in which he is responsible for some act of impetuous violence, and then promptly issues very formal written apologies and makes extensive reparations to the aggrieved parties.
Peter and his assistants Harper and Richard look into the costs for repairing the assault carrier, to provide some reasonable basis upon which to demand damages from Cheroux. They conclude that it will cost at least 2000 FB in parts to repair, plus the expense of moving it overland, on the ground, back to Fennen Marsh.
After reviewing the situation, Sir Brindal Karth states that his initial demands will be for 35,000 FB in damages, to cover back taxes, the death of the Baronet's huntsman, injuries to several people including a Pakorgo tribesman, the insult to Sir Brindal Karth, the damage to assault carrier, and trespassing. Further, he will state that Cheroux's activates constitute horrific crimes against humanity, including murder, kidnapping and abduction, and demand that Cheroux stop these activities immediately.
The negotiations are to be held at Cammerdale, the primary fief of the Earl Gerald Soult-Hawkwood, who is father of the Lady Iphegenia Soult-Arlor de Marlwen and father-in-law of the Baronet Robert Arlor de Marlwen. The estate proper is located on St. Maria, one of the larger islands in the Byrrem chain, and is surrounded by a massive plantation. The characters are forced to fly into the airfield at Port-Major on the western end of the island, and then hire a groundcar to take them to the estate at a cost of some 100 FB.
Not wishing for his would-be liege to appear ungrateful, Peter Sangaree makes certain to purchase 800 FB worth of imported cloth for the Lady Iphegenia (on the Baronet Marlwen's advice that she is fond of fine fabrics). He also brings the engraved percussion-cap pistols as a gift for the Earl, to thank him for the use of his estate.
The characters are awed by the sheer scale of the Earl's plantation. The entire area is laid out in neat, geometrically-perfect field areas growing a variety of cash crops, and divided by equally-precise areas of woodlot. The road passes by several small villages occupied by the Earl's peasants. The characters notice that though the area occupied by each village is a perfect geometric area, the division of fields, gardens and commons within each area is much less orderly. They speculate that the Earl must be very interested in "scientific" farming techniques, an interest not necessarily shared by his peasantry.
The unnatural order of the plantation starts to break down near the estate proper, giving way to an artfully-designed "unspoiled" wilderness area surrounding the palace. The palace itself is a massive edifice in good Elizabethan taste, dotted with windows and completely indefensible.
The characters are met at the main doorway by liveried servants who see to their baggage and tell them where they will be quartered. One of the servants also mentions that the chapel is in the east wing, and enquires if any of the characters would like to retire to the chapel to pray after their long, arduous journey. The referee is rendered speechless after every character (except, notably, Brother Xavier) says that they would be interested in going to the chapel.
Everyone feels spiritually refreshed after a brief prayer and some meditation. The referee remains surprised.
With everyone rested and accoutered, the characters are taken to a sitting room by one of the Earl's quiet, efficient servants, where they meet the Lady Iphegenia Soult-Arlor de Marlwen. She is every bit the noble lady, dressed in a fine gown apparently made in the latest styles from Delphi. She greets Sir Brindal Karth, and accepts his gift of imported fabrics with great decorum. Her breeding and education are quite obvious. The characters note that her attitude towards her husband the Baronet remains very formal, more like two business partners than a married couple.
After a small amount of small talk, another servant enters the room with a folded note on a silver tray. The Lady Iphegenia reads the note, then informs the characters that Patrice Cheroux has arrived. Patrice shows up in person soon afterwards, accompanied by two of his aides, whom he introduces as Operations Director Walter Coughlin (a formal-looking man with precise manners) and Brigadier Ludmilla Pakaan (who is obviously in charge of security). The Lady Iphegenia ensures that all introductions have been made, then leads everyone into a conference room for the negotiations proper.
Brindal Karth starts out in a very straightforward manner, setting out his demands, including a payment of 35,000 FB up front and an additional rental charge of 600 FB/month. He also tells Cheroux that he will not be permitted to procure any victims locally.
Cheroux reacts predictably, by shouting at Brindal Karth and the other characters. He yells at them for several minutes, covering a series of topics. One of his consistent themes is that the Fennen Marsh area was supposed to be unclaimed land, and thus Sir Brindal Karth's title to it is questionable. He further claims that he hired the Reeves of the MachtArbeiterBank on Delphi to research the question, and they told him that there was no current fief in Fennen Marsh. As his tirade continues, he verges further out of control, until Coughlin is forced to restrain him and ask Brindal Karth to go into a separate room so they can hash out some details.
While Brindal Karth, Coughlin, and Peter Sangaree (whom Brindal Karth demands to have along as a technical advisor) are out of the room, Brother Xavier tries to use his Sting of Conscience rite upon Patrice Cheroux. Considering that performing this rite requires a chanted liturgy and ritual gestures, he doesn't get an opportunity to finish before the referee quashes his hopes.
Negotiating separately with Walter Coughlin, Sir Brindal Karth eventually manages to extract an agreement to pay 30,000 FB plus a payment of 600 FB per month (over the 10 months of the Gwynneth year). Coughlin also agrees that Patrice Cheroux will provide signed apologies to both Sir Brindal Karth and the Baronet Marlwen. In return, Brindal Karth allows Cheroux to continue operating at his current site, and to maintain borders extending 2 km on the ground and 10 km in the air, within which he may keep his minefields. As a side note, Brindal Karth makes certain to adjust the proposed boundaries for the Baronet Marlwen's fief to ensure that he gets the same length of coastline as he would have before.
Coughlin agrees to provide the cash within the month, with 10,000 FB sent to the MachtArbeiterBank as an "interest payment" (though Coughlin does not know the ultimate destination of the money) and 20,000 FB in cash to be delivered to Captain Gregor Halfiron of the Sutter Kane.
Everyone departs from the Earl's estate with a minimum of confusion and negligible violence.
Koa so k'Terr makes certain to claim a suit of synthsilk armor and a (working) personal shield from the equipment the group looted in the jungles. He also asks for (and receives) 500 FB in "expenses" from Brindal Karth's purse.
Brindal Karth suggests building either a railroad or dirigibles to transport material around the colony. Peter Sangaree in his role as technical advisor suggests that dirigibles are not able to carry too much, and are vulnerable to the weather. He agrees that railroads are a good choice, especially if one of them is routed to a good port (as distinct from the current colony, which is just on the river).
Brindal Karth wants to know how much it will cost to obtain additional land around Fennen Marsh by buying it from the Grand Duke, and sets wheels in motion to try and learn this information. Brother Xavier points out that this had better be done before the spaceport gets on line, and should include the Chibren lands.
Everyone is safely back in Fennen Marsh. Each character gains 4 experience points. The group agrees that between now and the next session a substantial amount of time (possibly as much as two years) will pass, to allow the Fennen Marsh colony to develop. By the end of this time, the characters should have other people available to actually administrate the colony, freeing them for more active tasks.