Session 16: Rescue or Ruin Report
General Summary
Scene 1: Strategy & Situation
Andi and Squiffy, encouraged by Todd, attempt to sleep for a few more hours. A resonating burning remaining in Andi’s hand from the interaction with the goo-creature. The advice from Taro’s dream-scape visit seeming useless or deliberately misleading — the nature of his involvement in events is confusing. He was treating the fate of the world and even Andi with a careless sort of air. Playful even. That the idea of her death, seeming like only just an inconvenience. But… He had made Andi a promise. And, a promise from a god was a powerful thing. Somewhere inside that city was a man who if liberated, would be the key to getting a straight and truthful answer from this god of misdirection and mischief.
Although the remaining hours of attempted sleep are fitful they do not result in another repeated visit with a deity, nor nightmarish voids filled with red magic. They are tense but moderately restful. So as the sun rises above the sea to the east, Andi and Squiffy awake to the sounds of the encampment.
———
This camp has been a bit noisier than either of you are used to. But unlike the noise of a city where loud chatter and conversation were the backdrop; here the sounds were metallic clangs of training, skittish horses being settled down, and men in hushed tones communicating as if the looming danger of the fog bank over Bansa would soon advance. The new recruits had been more nervous and somber in their journey, but these seasoned enforcer troops seem less troubled by the weight of the potential fight and more to do with the unknown.
Outside Andi’s tent, Todd awaits with folded arms and a pensive look.
“They moved out two excavation teams.” He says nodding towards the distant sight of men pushing wheelbarrows. “They are also almost done with the census you requested.”
Todd hands Andi a paper where on a tally has been kept - not just of the troops you brought with you, but the battalions that had already been on location when you arrived. “Your dad made it clear to the Captain this morning that you were in charge here. So they extended to you the summery of your troops. Take a look.” Todd’s look is significant and heavy.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Enforcer Troops = 6 Battalions (3 Novice, 1 Tactical, and 2 Combination squads.)
Each battalion consists of approximately 25 men. Each tactical team consists of 8-10 highly trained men; and each combination squad consists of 50 men: (archers, casters and defenders).
Each have their own strengths and each battalion is accompanied by 1-2 commanders.
There are also 16 civilian contractors (cooks, scullery, stablemen, and messengers)
(( Andy came with 79 People, 78 Felines total in the company.))
“I know you are capable. But… this is a lot. I just want to check in with you.”
———
As you finsih reading over the specifications you spot Captain Lotte and Commander Devore walking towards you with their felines in quick step behind them. A short-haired brown marbled feline, and a slightly awkward bobbed tailed feline with rounded ears and a sandy tan coloring.
“My lady.” The Commander bows respectfully to you. The Captain gives a nod.
“Your census my lady.” Another paper is now handed to you. Upon it it lists the ranks, names and numbers of those among the troops with elemental magic.
ELEMENTAL MAGIC CENCUS:
You find 2 tactical enforcers who both have chill magic (ice) — they are responsible for creating and maintaining the ice blockades.
7 of the Combination teams have flame magic (fire)
4 Enforcers who have spark magic split 2 and 2 between the green recruits and the combination teams.
———
Andi and Squiffy look over the troops at their command. Realizing this is bigger than they thought. With battalions of men at their command, their lives in their hands. The fate of Bansa in the Balance.
Strategy is discussed briefly as they are joined by Captain Lotte, and Commander Devore.
Captain Lotte, Suggests that we consider containment solutions, or putting down those who are most heavily affected/sick individuals.
Andi suggests that an individual is captured in order to test if the cure will be of any use to the more aggressive sick individuals in the city.
Commander Devore suggests that his team can enter the city to retrieve this test subject. “We can with your permission, send in my team to retrieve an infected individual.” Andi agrees.
Captain Lotte tells Andi that they’ve started excavating the tunnels.
Andi and Squiffy inquire after the placement of the Trapped individuals. Learning that they haven’t heard from them in a couple days. Unsure if they have any idea of where to search.
Andi and Squiffy consider the words of Taro, who critically suggested an individual who needed to be Liberated, and that he would truthfully answer a question for them if they were able to do so.
Scene 2: Feline Tunnels & Rescues
Across the open field between where mounds of dirt has been piled, and the small pit where digging has been going on for the past several hours, a hole has been breached. An enforcer rushes over, giving a short bow.
Todd gestures to Andi, to indicate who they young man should talk to.
“Lady Raye, We’ve broken through to a feline tunnel.” You recognize the young man covered in a dusting of dirt and damp soil as one of the new recruits that had come with you, in fact this was one of the young men whom you had gambled with named Lewis. Judging by his appearance, he must not have slept well - his eyes sporting dark circles beneath his green eyes and brown hair
Andi gives Lewis a hard pat on the back, severely winding they young man. “Good Job Lewis!” Andy says.
He beckons you to follow. It’s as Andi follows that she realizes this is one of the four young officers who she had been gambling with two nights back.
At the dig sight is a stepped incline with three young men with shovels. They look up from their position down in the hole, where a tunnel entrance lay unburied. The manual labor seeming to invigorate the you men’s spirits. Their assembly of felines stand at the rim of the hole and wait.
“Spitfire found it.” Says the young man, reaching over and petting a red-spotted feline. “We were digging blindly for awhile till she told us where to dig.”
“Well done Recruits.” Nods Commander Devore. “Lady Raye, We can begin assembling an insurgent feline squad to enter the tunnels if you command it.”
The assembled eyes of everyone falls on Andi and Squiffy. The assembled group waiting for her instruction.
Andi and Squiffy converse with the young guards who they were gambling with, and after a short bit of discussion, they conclude that a squad should be sent inside, and Squiffy will lead them. The Felines assembled at the excavation sight volunteer.
Squiffy assesses their talents and deduces that they will serve him find in this endeavor, as they only hope to act as a rescue and recon team.
Squiffy teaches the troupe how to shield themselves from the influence of the red magic, and satisfied that they understand, they head into the tunnels.
During their trip, Andi waits nervously.
Squiffy and his team are able to evacuate a family of felines and their kittens, as well as locate another group. After returning with the first group, the mother of the feline family they had just rescued shared a mental map with Squiffy to help him locate more individuals trapped in the tunnels. After a second trip they group rescued another group of felines, and a group of humans who appear to be in various stages of sickness.
Observing the status of the city:
The fog is densest at the epicenter, and the people/creatures inside are mostly hostile, those who are not are sick.
Felines are the primarily trapped individuals
It grows increasingly difficult to pull blue magic from deep in the earth to create shielding auras against the red magic.
Andi is distraught waiting for Squiffy to return, but is thrilled when they return with the sick and the group sent inside are largely unharmed. It’s Andi’s concern that those who are sick be kept an eye on. So they are placed in a corral along with the first group of rescued felines.
Knowing that he had to leave behind some from the last group, Squiffy is determined to return to collect the two he could not get from his the tunnels, Rosy and PillBug volunteer to return once more with Squiffy. Knowing that those they left behind were in a bad way.
Spitfire and Honeycomb stay behind to tend to the rescued.
Heading back in for a third time. Squiffy’s small team makes their way back to the semi-collapsed basement and collect the remaining individuals who were the most far gone.
Getting back to the two they left behind, Squiffy manages to lift the final one onto his back with Pillbug’s help. With impressive resilience and strength they are able to find their way back.
Scene 3: Cure for the Corrupted?
Meanwhile…
During Squiffy’s second absence the second tunnel is opened, and Andi is faced with the return of Commander Devore’s team, and the captured blighted creature, a man who’s eyes burn red with magic, his face contorted in pain, his expression hard to read beyond the dripping ooze that slides from the corners of his mouth. He thrashes but they hold him firm. He has a large gash on his shoulder. He’s spattered with black goo.
The Baron Aarman following behind the tactical team as the tactical team arrives.
They take him to a tent and tie him to a post. And ask Andi how she wants to test the creature’s ability to be cured. Andi asks Commander Devore to view the man in the void. The bob-tailed feline named Archie. He reports that the man is totally flooded red magic, there isn’t a hint of a person’s energy anymore.
Andi vibe-checks them, to make sure they aren’t lying, and can’t deduce a hint of deception. They only seem genuinly concerned.
It is suggested that they put the man down to end his suffering. Andi hates to give up on them yet without testing the cure regardless. She has a guard go fetch Theo with the located case strapped to his wrist. When he arrives they discuss the administration of the cure, and how they might go about it.
Andi asks Theo to administer a very tiny amount of cure, while Commander Devore and his feline observes the reaction it has on the man/creature. Theo dilutes it in water as he was instructed by the Imbuers and with the enforcers help to hold him down, Theo drops a tiny drop in his mouth.
The man spread wide, dilated, he begins to convulse. Unlike those who were cured at the Hospital in the Capital. The creature doesn't attempt to expel the cure, he only writhes in pain… It appears to have no effect on his health.
Andi considers the man and realizes that he seems particularly alert for a mindless creature, his eyes following Andi in the commotion when she speaks. They seem too wild or too far gone… but it was after Andi had given the cure that he had locked sights on Andi.
Todd stands at Andi’s side as she exits the tent to take a moment. She converses with him, and considers if she could do more to enhance the cure’s ability with the touch of her rune-marked hand. Todd shrugs with a look of uncertainty. But unsure if that would really help… With that odd magic in her hand being too untested Andi resigns to not trying anything further. And instructs Todd to take the man somewhere more secure.
A corral constructed, now acts as a holding space. Todd ties the man to a post there by himself. Guards posted.
Scene 4: War Meeting
Upon Squiffy’s final outing to rescue the last of the felines he found, Andi orders that all the felines are healed, and asks them if they have bonds, and if so, are they still within the city? Todd helps kill off the goo that is coughed up. A couple felines were too far gone to be healed. Those who are healed are escorted to a med-tent.
With them safely healed, Andi inquires after their bonds - finding that most lament that their bonds were taken by the fog and the sickness, or many have no idea, but that their connections have been severed. That they felt the pin of whatever had happened to them till that point of connection breaking.
Those who have been removed from the city, appear in the void either the same as the sick ones in the hospital, or they are completely consumed in red.
Andi suggests that perhaps putting regular magic inside those who are infected to see what happens.
She asks Caleb and Fudge, “I need your fudge-ing help!” - coming to the corral where the three consumed/corrupted. Fudge is unsure, but obliges, but it takes him time to gather up corrupted magic, pulling it in, and peers over at one of the comatose corrupted felines; moving the magic inside them. The scream issues from the feline in a way that is unearthly way as he starts to put the energy inside them. Fudge pulls back. When he removes the energy it comes away leaving the feline dripping in and covered in black goo.
Todd approaches after this experiment and starts to suggest that it might be kinder to… but doesn’t complete his sentence. Andi grabs his hand, tearfully look up at Todd, and nod, and then leaves. He comforts her with a squeeze. (Andi thinks she’s just ordered Todd to kill them, but never actually said those words)
Todd instructs the corral to be closed as Andi leaves to go to to the Command Tent.
Andi is informed that the other collapsed feline tunnel has been opened.
Squiffy reports to the commanders about what He found in the tunnels.
Andi reports to the commanders about their failed experiments to heal the heavily inflicted have failed.
Andi says that they only option is to kill those who are fully corrupted, or heal those who aren’t too far gone.
Squiffy reports that they need a source of divine magic in order to close the rift.
The Baron has gone white, realizing that his city is basically doomed. He doesn't say anything, but his hands are up to his mouth.
Captain Lotte suggests a militant strategy of entering the city and clearing it out.
Commander Cicilli, suggests that perhaps volleying at a distance would be a good strategy.
Squiffy says that the tunnels were empty, but it’s hard to tell the status of those in the city above, as the flood of red energy makes it impossible to decern the status of those inside.
Andi’s dad, steps into the tent and makes pointed eye contact with Andi. She steps out, and tells her that Marcus has arrived. She tells him to have Marcus meet her in her tent.
Commander Pono chimes in and suggest that they let one of the ice walls down and let them deal with what comes through on a case by case basis.
“What about the shadow creatures? Do they have their minds about them?” Andi asks. Nobody has attempted to talk to those infected.
Andi and Squiffy suggest a bottle-neck situation for the gap, that it would allow time for assessment of those coming through the gap.
Captain Lotte agrees to this plan, “short of going in ourselves, I think we need to treat the city as a lost cause. Please consider that an option.”
Andi nods and says she’ll consider all options.
Scene 5: A Message Carried by Marcus
Squiffy asks that Caleb to linger behind the rest as the meeting is disbanded. Letting him know that Marcus has arrived.
Upon arrival, Marcus is sitting on Andi’s cot, with Chatterbox pacing the floor as they enter. Marcus hugs Andi and as Andi continues to hug, he keeps holding her. Ruffles her hair a bit. Sits down and pats the cot beside him. Squiffy jumps up to the spot before Andi sits. Andi joins them.
“How’s it going?”
“Not good. I need to close the rift, and I can’t cure everybody. I don’t want more people to die.”
They sit together in solidarity for a time, Afterwhich Andi asks why Marcus is here. He reaches into his pocket and hands Andi a note.
It is addressed from Congressman Varn (Theo’s Dad) Inside it specifies a a date and a time. But it doesnt give any more details. As the note is cryptic. 2 days from today at noon.
“Did he give this to you personally?”
“I was just one of many to get the note here. I think your friend Martha (Southern Rootlord Apparent & Evo’s Sister) has something to do with this…. Whatever this is.”
“Is this in response for my request for an airship?” Andi asks.
“I have no idea what this is, but it would have originated a few days back, I’m not sure that it is in response to that.”
Andi tells him about the experiment to try to cure the sick individual, and how it’s left her feeling low in her ordering them to be mercifully killed. (Andi believes that’s what she ordered).
Marcus sympathies and holds his large strong arm around Andi as she sits in silence. “Have you had more visions? How is all that going?” He whispers in a concerned tone.
“Had a dream last night. It wasn’t helpful.” She says, “There’s someone I’m supposed to save in the city, I don’t know who though.”
Marcus is quiet and thoughtful. He offers the suggestion that perhaps a Holy person might be able to help Andi with things, someone who andi can ask questions about the nature of Gods, perhaps not even someone in the church… But he doesn’t know who that would be. “I want you to stay safe, but having visions is scary, I don’t want you to stay in the dark. I promise to see if I can find someone to help who needn’t know of your visions.”
Andi sees Marcus off, who has to leave again to take the communications from Bansa back to the Capital. He laments that he can’t stay to help. They hug goodbuy. “Love ya.”
Scene 6: Entering the Tainted City of Bansa
After sleep and food, Andi and Squiffy conclude that they need t enter the city to make an attempt to discover the cause of the fog, and to hopefully find the mysterious individual they must “liberate” according to Taro in Andi’s vision.
They assemble some of her troops, taking Caleb’s team, the Tactical Team led by Commander Devore, and Todd.
Andi and Squiffy decide to approch the city on the far eastern side where they can cover more ground faster towards the epicenter of the fog.
Andi tries to throw Squiffy over the wall, instead throws him at the wall. The Chill-Aligned tactical team members create steps of ice to get the troops over the wall.
Thick fog encases the city.
The creatures in the fog do not seem to notice them as they enter the city.
Andi has the group head towards one of the last known locations of trapped humans.
The Tactical team, Andi, Squiffy, and Todd enter the city.
There are creatures in the fog, flying in the air around the rift.
Andi and her troops dispatch those who attack them along their way. Finding that there don’t appear to be any who are on service streets who aren’t corrupted.
Todd gets badly wounded protecting Andi and Squiffy amid a skirmish.
One man in the Tactical Team falls in an encounter
They discover a blocked tunnel where they can liberate a couple kids, and their felines, as well as the slightly “mad” Spurn feline who is fearlessly protecting them at his own risk. He doesn't appear to have given into the sickness, though his mind is slipping somewhat to a madness where his reality is a bit skewed.
Leaving the city, Saved 2 kids, their felines, and a crazy Sprun Feline who was protecting them.
Back at the Encampment the rescued felines and kids are escorted to the corralled space to make sure that they are safe.
Meanwhile 17 creatures have come through the funneled space and are not curable.
Upon returning they find that Todd had not dispatched the contaminated man.
Todd is healed by Squiffy when they return to camp.
Upon return it is mid-day, Bodies are being wrapped up from those who were mercifully killed.
Andi is resolved in her mind that they must return to the city as a sweep instead, since they need to empty the city and save those who have been hiding.
They order the gap to be kept open and staffed so that just in case someone who isn’t blighted tries to flee they will have a way to do so - acting on the concept and strategy that had been previously discussed.
Heading to bed.
FIN.
* ANDI and SQUIFFY HAVE BOTH TAKEN 1 FAILURE on their Con Saves in the Fog. *
Missions/Quests Completed
Rescue trapped felines in the Tunnels under Bansa.
Character(s) interacted with
Ellisende' Gertrude Copperbottom Raye
Chaotic Good Human (Northern Rootlord, Wealthy)
Bonded 6
Palidin 2
Bonded 6
Palidin 2
61 / 61 HP
STR
16
16
DEX
18
18
CON
18
18
INT
10
10
WIS
12
12
CHA
14
14
Squiffy-Bean
Chaotic Neutral Feline (Wealthy, FIN)
Bonded 6
Bonded 6
41 / 41 HP
STR
12
12
DEX
16
16
CON
12
12
INT
15
15
WIS
16
16
CHA
17
17
Report Date
03 Jan 2023
Primary Location
