The Creeping Rot
So, Makar just encountered their Adversary: The Rot, the great plaguebearer, the submerged one, the fleshtaker, the unmaker of all. Currently, the Rot is lurking in the ruins of an aquatic settlement under the harbor of the trading city of Vikasha. Plague is creeping into the port, and the authorities are doing little to nothing to stop it. Makar's vessel leaves in two days. But, with the confidence and power only an Architect can know, Makar decided to put an end to this plague before it can begin....
The team met in their vessel, the Aranu, to devise a plan to put an end to the plague. Then three ship mercenaries sent by the will of Princess Maina Eramzir - Uyazi the minstrel, Yago the whaler, and Zofara the warlock - all agreed to help out, so now Makar had five allies at their disposal.
The task was daunting, so the first part of the plan needed to be information gathering. Uyazi was sent out to the corporate offices to try and schmooze his way into the upper echelons, to gather contacts and scout for any potential allies. Yago was sent out to lowtown, to barhop and gather information about the general state of the town. While those two did their recon, the core squad would sleep and do their own tasks in the morning. Uyazi did not return in the morning and still seemed busy, but Yago returned with news of a xenophobic atmosphere with particular resentment towards Zerua. The locals did seem to be welcoming of anyone who tried to fit in with the local culture, though, so anyone who adopted local dress and basic styles would be able to avoid that. Also the local water infrastructure seemed compromised, confirming that the quarantine was going to fail.
Now it was time for the main crew to hit the streets for focused recon. Dailio headed out along the docks spreading news of the plague to local merchants to create a public relations problem for the local corps. Ezia headed out to the temples to look into the local on-the-ground religious power structures. And Makar and Zofara headed to ground zero of the plague: the Eastern Dockworker District, soon to be known as the Flooded District...
It was a tough matter getting into the quarantine zone, and direct attempts at stealth failed. Makar was forced to leave Zofara behind while they entered through the sea, swimming in Cuttlefolk form into the sea-side canal that runs into the district. The canal seemed unusually infected, pulpy, and covered in fog, and Makar bumped into something that burned them on contact. The buildings surrounding the canal were no less infected, and seemed to be actively rotting and transforming into some unknown organic substance. Makar did not stick around, and quickly headed over to the main square of the Flooded District to assess the situation.
The main square was still flooded to knee-height with infected water. Buildings were scorched, showing signs of the city's attempts to control the plague with fire. The raised platforms made by the community showed evidence of use as pyres by government forces. The district was densely populated and scared. Two centers of activity immediately revealed themselves: the tavern, which was bustling and joyous, and the Kamada temple, which was full of argument and debate. Makar popped by to watch the debate and saw the two biggest community leaders fighting over if the district should rise in rebellion or try to appease the government. They gave that debate some time to play itself out, and instead headed over to investigate the tavern.
The Dancing Crab Tavern was alive with merriment and debauchery. There was no attempt at disease containment or rationing supplies, simply the hedonism of those who have accepted death. The tavern-owner, Zotula, seemed to be the only one keeping herself safe. Makar confronted Zotula about the lack of health measures, and detected that she was hiding something. Makar convinced her to show them what was going on behind the scenes, and was led through the backrooms to a hidden smuggler's basement. The basement had been fortified against flooding and was now being used as a makeshift hospital (and hiding place for the infected from the government pyres) and the site of a desperate escape attempt. Workers were desperately digging a tunnel to try and burrow out of the district. Makar saw to the sick and was taunted by the Rot through an infected person. Makar also found out that Zotula wanted to use the sick as a work force for the digging effort, as the infected were willing to obey given commands like automatons. Makar scolded them and left.
In the Temple, Makar talked to both community leaders: the young elected unofficial mayor, Tashaba, and district priest Amina. The two women were family and clearly wanted to agree, but were stuck at an impasse. Both held onto impossible hopes: Tashaba dreamed that an uprising would be joined by the other districts and that the government could be scared into conceding demands for food and medicine; Amina dreamed that good behavior would allow for the priesthood to appeal their case and get aid through official channels. Makar told them to focus on what they had, to organize their people, to quietly form a militia in a way that wouldn't provoke a government attack, and to create a proper community structure that did not rely on some external force. They agreed, and talks for how to do that began - Makar's work was done.
While talking to mayor Tashaba, Makar found out that this plague actually had people who recovered - something previously unheard of. Only three known survivors existed, two of which had been killed and their bodies incinerated during last night's government raid. One was not seen killed, though, and Tashaba told Makar that said survivor was hiding in the houses by the canal. Makar went to go visit this survivor, who was a kid by the name of Awazala.
Makar took some time entering Awazala's little refuge, as the first floor of the building was overrun by swarms of weirdly aggressive vermin. Makar found that Awazala used a camouflaged ladder to get to the second floor, and clambered up to talk to him. Awazala proved to be a polite thirteen year old boy who was trying very hard to imitate adult social conventions and speech (and also had a knack for Home Alone style traps). Awazala talked about how really strong, lucky, and well-fed and well-sheltered people (especially with medical care) have a chance of recovering, but they are permanently haunted by the Rot in their dreams and in some waking thoughts. Awazala said he could potentially work for the Rot as an agent, but chose not to because that would obviously be evil. There was a mysterious "friend" of the Rot who had been visiting the area, though, and this friend had a "pet" that prowled the area invisibly. Makar promised to get Awazala out of there, and Awazala seemed thrilled to leave this terrible place.
Makar slipped out of the Flooded District as a cat and met up with the Squad at the central docks fountain to discuss their findings. Dailio had great success stirring the pot at the docks, and had met another selkie captain who was helping him. Ezia had much less success as she had tried to investigate the largest of the local para-military religious groups, a Faithful Society by the name of The Garden of the Reborn. The Garden of the Reborn had not taken well to her snooping and had punched her out and threatened her. They gave big cult vibes and seemed responsible for some of the recent xenophobic violence towards small-time foreign merchants. Makar sent Zofara off to investigate this cult further. Dailio agreed to head back to the docks to further stir the pot. And Makar and Ezia would go to the top religious authority in the city: the Arbiter of Vikasha, a priestess named Sunaba.
The duo hiked to the Grand Temple of Vikasha, where Makar used their Zeruan aristocratic bearing to gain access to the leading priests. The two talked to the local administrator and were able to talk their way into an audience with the Arbiter (who was supposedly at a business meeting). One carriage ride later, and they found themselves at the estate of the head administrator of the Aludarzir Corporation.
They were greeted as representatives of Princess Maina Eramzir, and finally found their minstrel, Uyazi, waiting for them. Uyazi had been hyping them to the local authorities and had accumulated a number of contacts here, including the Arbiter of Vikasha. This also was not a business meeting, but a party. Uyazi seemed particularly enthralled with one contact, Zenkana, who said she was a special advisor to the Aludarzir Corporation on matters of plague. They talked, and Zenkana demonstrated herself to be something of a specialist on this particular plague - she already knew most of the details, which she said she gained from speaking to aquatic survivors. Part-way through their discussion, Zenkana suddenly stood up, appeared afraid, and whispered to the party members that they were being scryed upon by a magical assailant. (Makar also unknowingly failed a save against something here). The Arbiter ushered the group off to a safe room to discuss what was going on.
Zenkana explained that there were dark powers after her and her research, which made sense now that Makar had told her that the plague was actually being controlled by a force of total destruction. She seemed scared, as did the Arbiter, and Makar asked what they could do to fix things. Zenkana said that she could institute a number of reforms for the city (more humane but effective quarantines; closing the port; research into plague transmission and progression), but that she was not in the good graces of the Aludarzir's head administer due to her eccentricities. She and the Arbiter appeared genuine, so Makar agreed to help her get broader political powers. Zenkana also promised that she would allow Makar free access into the quarantine zone the next day if given said powers, allowing Makar to rescue Awazala without hassle. Makar and Ezia brought up their worries about the Garden of the Reborn cult, and Zenkana seemed worried about them and said that they should take out the cult's leader, Arnasha. This would probably make the city a bad place to be for anyone involved, so Makar was advised to get out of town as soon as possible once that was done.
Makar and Uyazi, to hold up their end of the bargain, went to Lady Elzela, head of the Aludarzir Corporation in Vikasha, to press their case. Through research, great skill, great luck (on the parts of Uyazi and Makar both), and the implied authority of Princess Maina of Ibaisha, they persuaded Lady Elzela to listen to Zenkada. They also got a free ride back to the docks. Success!
Back at the Aranu, Makar found that Dailio also had met great success in his ventures. Several major merchants had met and discussed a petition to the city demanding greater health measures and were threatening to spread dire news of Vikasha in every direction. Zofala had not returned though, which was troubling.
Makar went to where Ezia and Zofala had gone before to investigate the Garden of the Reborn: the trench district, a poorly lit part of lowtown where ships are, constructed, repaired, and transported between the Northern and Southern parts of the city. Disguised as a poor, traumatized worker, Makar walked in asking for food. They presented as an easy recruit and were quickly identified as such. After passing a few tests, Makar was housed and fed in a nearby apartment complex, where they would be given a job and indoctrinated. This was 100% a cult.
Makar heard through the grapevine that Zofara ("a wicked corporate assassin") had been captured and taken to whatever compound the leader (Arnasha) was hiding in. Makar then escaped the cult and headed back to the Aranu to plan. The group also talked over if they should bring Awazala (the plague survivor) on board and decided to leave him here actually (as he might still be infectious unknowingly).
The Plan
Investigating the Flooded District
Parties in Hightown
Investigating the Garden of the Reborn
Components
Goals
QUEST GOALS
- Investigate the trouble in Vikasha
- Close down Vikasha's port to prevent a pandemic
- Create a disease response in the city
- Overturn or Kill Arnasha the Thrice-Born, leader of the Garden of the Reborn
- Rescue the recovered child, Awazala
- Skip town to continue the journey
Relations
Allies
Ezia: Ezia was a neighbor and childhood friend of Makar. She is shy, bookish, and curious, always drawn to learning more about foreign lands and new things but held back by her social anxiety. Much of that anxiety melts away when she is around her friends, who she will follow to the ends of the Earth. Ezia comes from a brewing family with connections to The Circles. Knows the truth about Makar.
Dailio: Dailio is a selkie outpost child, raised in Echereko. Dailio is extroverted, polite, and open-minded, a bold and cheery business boy who hopes to one day be a merchant like his parents. Dailio is sharp of eye and has basic dueling training, but is a relentless rules-follower when not balanced out by Ezia or Makar. Knows the truth about Makar.
Zofara Nightwalker: Zofara is a mercenary Warlock hired by the crew at the urging of Princess Maina Eramzir . Zofara prioritizes their style (dark and mysterious) and was initially cold and aloof. After Makar revealed themselves, Zofara has become outright deferent. Their goal is the same as Makar's: to investigate the disturbances in Makal and protect the seas from the Adversary.
Yago of Imzira: A big friendly security hire from Ibith who has left his home on a massive quest to to inform The Khilaia that sharks are sentient. Has made many enemies despite his humble and quiet demeanor.
Uyazi Hakona: A bard. No, not the magic kind. More of a courtier that can also do music and is good at writing stories. Signed up for security onboard the Aranu when they heard Princess Maina Eramzir was sending someone to Samvara, as they want ground floor on whatever is going on.
Neutrals/Bystanders
Captain Yamoa: The selkie captain of the Aranu; merchant, pirate, and profiteer of dubious morals.
Tashaba: The de-facto mayor of the flooded district. A compassionate and idealistic woman who considers the government immoral and their quarantine ineffective. She seeks to rebel, and sees quarantine as something to be done once everyone is properly fed and safe from corporate violence.
Priestess Amina: The priest of the flooded district's temple. An older woman with a great deal of faith and hope, but who has become disillusioned with the community and revolutionary violence. She sees arming and organizing as dangerous, as it might attract government crackdowns and violence, and wants everyone to do their best to be sympathetic and to appeal to the clergy for aid.
Innkeep Zotula: Owns the "Dancing Crab Tavern" in the flooded district. A desperate woman who wants to get out of this death-trap at any cost. Has been hoarding money to bribe her way out, has been tolerating dangerous behavior in her tavern (telling herself and others that its better they die happy than miserable anyways), and is trying to escape via tunnel.
Ortrua: A healer that runs an illegal clinic under the tavern, hiding infected from the Goldeneyes (the city guard). Hates Zotula for perceived selfishness but works with her out of necessity. Desperately tries to cure all she can at any cost, and holds onto impossible hopes for a cure.
Awazala: The only survivor of the outbreak to not get executed, hiding out near the Ruined Canal. In tune with the Rot, but not obedient to it. Polite, trying to be an adult at all times to provide a sense of normalcy in his destroyed life.
Arbiter Sunaba: Once a voice for the people, Sunaba has gained a reputation as a magnet for corruption and scandal. She likes to pick fights for drama's sake, and she curates a small cult of personality that sees her as the messenger of the people's will. Hated by the commonfolk as a sellout.
Zenkana: A recent arrival in Vikasha. Was able to secure a position as a public health advisor for the Aludarzir Corporation. Became an ally of Makar and rose to prominence in city politics. Charismatic, smart, and driven.
Lady Elzela of the Aludarzir Corporation: The premier force of corporate power in the city of Vikasha. Professional, strict, and has some kind of great adoration/disdain complex for jesters and clowns. Takes authority and rank extremely seriously.
The Flooded District
The High District
Adversaries
The Rot: An apocalyptic nightmare entity theoretically capable of ending the world itself, that has recently arrived in Vikasha. Sows disease and has begun infecting the dockworkers of Vikasha with something. Seems to be planning something big.
The Mysterious Associate: An unknown figure who seems to be willingly working for the Rot
Arnasha the Thrice-Born: Leader of the Garden Reborn, a cult that has risen to prominence as the largest Faithful Society.
Plot type
QUEST
Parent Plot
Subplots
Related Organizations
Related Locations
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