WttSS session 15: 'Time for a Little Civility'

Written by Doctor Weather

General Summary

Rest and recuperation

The party heads to the dinner with Bakhtiyar Yazdan that was arranged for their return to Ghodar. The councillor had expressed an easgerness to meet with them.
Masruq's excellent poetry
Before leaving for Yesheriti Diri, Masruq had sent an introductory poem to Councillor Bakhtiyar Yazdan, trying to get a meeting - hoping to make an ally. It may well have been one of his best works (Manipulation: 5 successes).
The party is offered a chance to rest
An army of servants greets the party, leading them to a private suite within the Yazdan household. The 32-hour days are long on Ghodar and most of the party follow the local custom of second sleep, allowing them some rest before dinner.
Kerman takes a bath and gets respect
Kerman, hardy and used to long days, instead prefers to stay up and relax with a bath in teh suite's central room instead. So much water freely available for bathing and relaxation is possibly too difficult for a Xinghur raised on Lubau to resist. During second sleep the servants return with a change of clothes for most of the party and equipment to clean Masruq's fine robes. Once Kerman indicates they are not intruding on him they go about their business. All are friendly, offering Kerman and nod and a 'sayyid', despite his skin showing him as obviously Xinghur and undeterred by any difference in reputation or problematic politics.
New clothes extend an invite
The new clothes offered to Kerman, Khalil, Murad and Zarzur reveal that the Bakhtiyar is extending the invite to his table to all five party members. Their station is still reflected in the quality of the new clothes offered but this will not be a problem for Bakhtiyar eating with all of them at the same table.
Murad chooses not to hide his extra arms
Murad is given a choice of garments: one allowing him to comfortably reveal his four arms and one much like his own clothing that gives him the opportunity to hide them. He chooses the former, in honour of the invitation to be himself.

An ally is made in Bakhtiyar Yazdan

A tour of the facilty shows what the Yazdan household can do and its more liberal attitudes
The servants that come to collect the party for dinner take them on an unacknowledged but nonetheless obvious tour of the household on the way to dinner, revealing its involvement in artifact hunting, scientific endeavour and local farming. On the way, the servants freely discuss their work and daily concerns, despite Masruq's presence. Upon reaching the dining hall all members of the household mix and talk freely, irrespective of job and station. Bakhtiyar only doesn't join them as his table is reserved for the party. Like many places in Ghodar, the Yazdan household seems to still acknowledge a need for rank in the social order but sees little value in any associated ceremony.
Bakhtiyar finds the party isn't working for the Legion or Colonial Agency
Bakhtiyar gives the party a chance to declare its Horizon politics and Masruq declares an animosity between the party and both the Legion and Colonial Agency. Though Masruq's poetry has given his host a wonderful impression of Masruq and the party it is this politics that opens the door to a true alliance and friendly conversation starts to flow freely.
Exposition and plot revealed will be here: Conversations with Bakhtiyar and his household, handled outside of the session, so as not to get in the way of real gaming in session.
Household marmosets reveal that Khalil holds Portal Builder tech
Four of the golden marmosets that have free run of the more open roof areas of the household develop and interest in Khalil and climb down the vine-covered columns behind him. Kerman is somewhat disappointed as Zarzur notices the animals and warns Khalil. Ever fearful of losing his Portal Builder artifact to thieves, Khalil nonetheless trusts the pickpocket safeguards he uses on Coriolis Station. Though the marmosets are somehow drawn straight to the artifact they receive a slight static shock for their trouble. Gathered, fed and gently moved on their way by Murad, the monkeys retreat, happy at having done their job and been rewarded. A third of the dining hall - the scientists - twig what has happened and realise what Khalil must be hiding. Tazjeddi Adebayo, their lead scientist introduces herself to the party and offers Khalil a chance to swap science in the household laboratory sometime.
The party presets gifts to their host
Masruq spent 1,000 birr on a fine arghul to present to the party's host in respect of their invitation to dinner. Bakhtiyar is delighted by the gift and invites Masruq to entertain the hall with him in an arghul-sitar duet. Masruq plays and Kerman happily dances with the rest of the household.

A spy in the Yazdan household

Someone is watching the party conversation behind a holo-door
Still somewhat on guard, and less keen on dancing, Zarzur notices one of the holo-doors flickering as if someone were hiding slightly too close to it, watching the interaction between Bakhtiyar and his guests. Zarzur and Khalil team up and approach but the hidden watcher flees into the house's maze of coridoors.
The household guard corners the spy and her conspirator in a minaret
Directing the guards at the house's perimeter with proximity scanners the PCs manage to get the spy and a guard conspirator cornered up on a high floor of one of the house's minarets.
Kerman and Murad close on the trapped spy
Kerman keeps the trapped spies occupied and intimidated from the minaret staircase. They hide in a room of the tower, pointing guns across a landing to the staircase. Kerman allows them to lose bullets firing at the wall protecting him. This allows Murad to borrow two pistols from some of the still-loyal guard, climb out of a lower window and then up to a window of the spies' room. He waits for Kerman to flush the spies out. Kerman's words almost break the conspirator guard but the spy retains her head, declaring that "there's no point in surrender". Seeing no way out of the door she goes for the window.
Murad saves the spy from falling
Waiting, Murad holds a pistol the spy and demands she surrender but a fire within her pushes her on. She places her head against the pistol, staring Murad straight in the eye and begins to climb out. But the window ledge has battered by so many sandstorms that it gives way and Murad has to catch her to stop her falling to her death. In doing so he loses some of his grip and holds the woman dangling beneath him, precariously holding onto crumbling stonework.
Her conspirator flees further up the tower but Zarzur and Khalil team up once more
Kerman storms the room and knocks the wavering guard back. Choosing to save the hanging Murad and spy, he lets the guard flee further up the tower but manages to pull Murad and spy to safety. Fortunately, Zarzur and Khalil have already headed upstairs to see if they could offer help via a higher window. Perhaps starting to form their own impromptu-combat team they use household tools to trip the guard and send him flying.
The prisoners are taken away
A weakened guard surrenders to Bakhtiyar's commands and the two conspirators are taken away for questioning. The party's reputation is only enhanced, the Yazdan household now seen them in action saving lives and stopping spies.

Campaign

Whispers to the Star Singer (concluded)

Protagonists

Report Date

18 Nov 2020