Session Summary 1/28/96

The End of the Journey

The characters are joined by Messerbad, an adapoi of the heretical Loobish Clan who had been exiled by his own clan-mates for being too heretical. He had always been unusually solitary for an adapoi, and had developed the idea that by studying fire magics he could make Loobish Clan metalworkers much more efficient. The Clan elders disagreed with his ideas, and told him to leave and never come back for his pains.

Usa, being practical, ignored Messerbad's social problems and hired him on as a "more local" guide to take the caravan past the Loobish Clan, the ruins of Amagao, and to the Duchy of Seitha. He agreed to a rate of 2 challock per day, plus a bonus at the end of the journey.

The journey itself was fairly uneventful. The caravan encountered two turgosk couriers for the Abbas Family near Amagao, and was unsure of their intentions (they feared that another 30 turgosk might be hiding in the tall grasses, ready to attack). They also met and healed a bandit of Vlad's group who had taken a number of anaquel rounds; at the time they didn't realize who they were healing.

At Ubele, the caravan was besieged with stories of the awful Eyeless One, a new ally of the Eater. The most vivid of these was told by a trader from Paiden who (as far as he knew) was the only survivor of an expedition sent out by the Faiai Family. The characters listened to these stories and advised Usa to take another route around the forest, bypassing the Safe Path and taking his chances with the adapoi of the Yodai Forest. This proved to be a successful plan and brought the caravan to Paiden without encountering the Eyeless One or his Collectors. The caravan did encounter several adapoi of the Dellemoi Clan, led by the Speaker Sebenei. These adapoi were hard-pressed by the Collectors, and had become desperate enough to ask outsiders for help. This encounter paved the way for Matrix resolution of the conflict among the adapoi, the Eater, the Eyeless One and the city of Paiden.

The Matrix Game

The game was resolved according to the rules set out previously (used for the conflict between the Makers and Hegger), in two rounds with three arguments per person per round. After all arguments in a round were exhausted, two rounds of voting were made. Each participant recieved one vote per round. Resolution was done by die roll, weighted by vote and argument strength.

Two ground limits were applied to the game. First, the total elapsed time could be no more than fifty days. Second, the zone of effect of the game could be no greater than the Duchy of Seitha, the Yodai Forest and Paiden Free City.

Passing arguments are listed below in phase order. Failing arguments and argument strengths are not listed.

Round One: The Initial Conflict

1.1: The Adapoi Hunker Down

I DECLARE the Dellemoi increase their defenses against the Eyeless One and are not raided for a time.

Reasons:

  1. They are forewarned that they are a target
  2. They have purchased metal weapons through Usa
  3. They have opened relations with Paiden (giving access to human/youda trade)

1.1.1: Adapoi Casualties

YES, BUT the adapoi casualties increase as the Eater enters the fray and expands his zone of control.

Reasons:

  1. The Eater will pervert and mutate any creature he finds.
  2. The Eater has many soldiers and spies
  3. The Eater has been stockpiling mutated troops.

1.1.2: Paiden Makes Weapons

YES, AND Paiden produces more and better weapons for the adapoi. Therefore, the adapoi of the Yodai Forest become a war machine.

Reasons:

  1. Paiden wants the Dellemoi to do the fighting.
  2. Paiden's Eight Families are greedy for profit.
  3. Paiden is afraid the Eater and the Eyeless One will start looking towards them.

1.1.2.1: The Other Clans Copy the Dellemoi

YES, AND the other adapoi Clans of the forest adopt metal weaponry, seeing the Dellemoi successes.

Reasons:

  1. It works for the Dellemoi.
  2. Paiden produces and markets skillfully.
  3. The other clans also have wild jaya to trade to Paiden.

1.1.2.1.1: Plant Magics Die

YES, AND reliance on metal weapons causes the adapoi plant magics to wither and die. Therefore, though the adapoi have success in battle, their lifestyle is endangered.

Reasons:

  1. The adapoi have changed their traditional ways in a disruptive manner.
  2. The Eater corrupts relationships. The metal weapons give him the lever he needs to spoil the adapoi magics.
  3. The conflict has already made the forest fragile.

1.1.2.1.1.1: The Communicants Join the Fight

YES, AND the Communicants of Abbatine in Seitha lead troops from Ubele into a second front attack on the Eater. Therefore, the Eyeless One and the Eater must divide their forces.

Reasons:

  1. The disruption of plant magics has been noticed by Abbatine.
  2. Ubele needs its economic ties with Paiden.
  3. Ubele has many troops to spare.

1.2.1.2.1.1.1.1: The Eyeless One Bears the Brunt

YES, BUT the Communicants' assault has little effect on the Eater.

Reasons:

  1. Troops from Ubele must be withdrawn to protect Ubele against Vlad's bandits and deyrey raiders.
  2. The Eyeless One acts as a buffer against the attack.
  3. The Communicants are also interested in destroying the corrupted adapoi, diluting their effect on the conflict.

1.1.2.1.1.1.1.1: Death of the Eyeless One

YES, AND the Eyeless One is destroyed by the Communicants.

Reasons:

  1. The Eater betrays the Eyeless One as he has seen his ambitions.
  2. The forces from Ubele see the Eyeless One as part of the Eater.
  3. The Dellemoi adapoi aid the Communicants in the final assault.

Round Two: The Conclusion of the War

2.2.1.1.1: Cult of the Eyeless One

YES, AND knowledge the Collectors provide gives rise to the new secret Cult of the Eyeless One in Paiden. Therefore, a new secret elite develops, armed with magics almost as horrible as those of the Eater.

Reasons:

  1. Young Family members feel stifled by their Elders, and will do anything to improve their power.
  2. The surviving Collectors are desperate to create a stable niche for themselves; the role of priest appeals to many of them.
  3. Paiden society is already in shambles, with traditional values disintegrating.

2.3: The Plant Magic Returns

I DECLARE the Yodai Forest adapoi seek help from the Loobish Clan to restore their magics. Therefore, the adapoi of the forest remain strong and the jaya shipments to Paiden resume.

Reasons:

  1. The Loobish will help because they want to be accepted.
  2. Messerbad is available as a liaison.
  3. Paiden's metal exports are improved by adapoi trade.

2.3.1: Communicants Destroy the Eater

YES, AND the Communicants attack the Eater and destroy him now that the adapoi have regained their plant magics.

Reasons:

  1. The Communicants promised to do something about the Eater
  2. No other targets are available.
  3. The Communicants are worried about Trail.

2.3.1.2: The Yodai is Rebuilt

YES, AND the adapoi rebuild their forest. Therefore, the Yodai Forest becomes an important link between Paiden and Ubele.

Reasons:

  1. The adapoi have opened up to metal weaponry.
  2. Relations between the Yodai Forest clans and the Loobish Clan have been restored.
  3. The Yodai Forest clans have a commodity to trade.

2.3.1.2.1: Paiden Becomes Wealthy

YES, AND Paiden becomes very strong economically from the fruits of the forest and trade with other Free Cities.

Reasons:

  1. The adapoi feel they owe a debt to Paiden and continue to trade.
  2. With the death of the Eater, a major problem has been removed.
  3. No more twisted adapoi to cause trouble.

2.3.1.2.1.1: Twisted Adapoi are Cured

YES, AND the twisted adapoi return to normal after the demise of the Eater. Therefore, the Yodai Forest becomes safer now that it is not patrolled by hideous freaks.

Reasons:

  1. The corrupting influence of the Eater has been removed and more natural powers restored.
  2. Eating the godsword plant is found to restore twisted adapoi to normal (as Communicants).
  3. The adapoi clans help heal the twisted adapoi.

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