Session 18 Downtime Documents

The knowledge gained by members of Lumière Éternelle in Session 18 of the ongoing campaign.

Clan Karann's Insider Information

A mess of notes, graph papers, and opinion pieces from various political analysts have been neatly summarized and compiled into a single parchment paper, with analysis and handwriting performed by an expert forger with commentary. The important points of this document is as follows:

The Current Race between Candidates: Updates and Notable Developments (With Commentary)

Human
Race is tight between the Nomadic A. P. and Aristocratic C. R. Both garnering support from the Folklorique and the Aristocrats but with little overlap, respectively. Sleeper candidate A. D. also to watch out for, if recent actions in the Mystic sector pan out. Not unexpected. Humans are loyal to a fault.

Elven
Unresolved internal conflict involving a successional crisis in Châlons d'Guerriere clan may mean candidate Z. V. position weakened. Current favorite is D. S., assuming ties with Mystics and Artisans hold strong. Surprisingly useful, yet worrying information. Clan Châlons d'Guerriere, the warrior clan of elves, usually nip these problems in the bud.

Halfling
For now, R. F. holds comfortable lead over all other candidates. However, former nuisance candidate M. V. is strengthening position, poised to take over if R. F. remains idle. See below for Profile on M. V. Some Outcast guilds in the Coastal District are eyeing R. F.'s every move. Wouldn't be surprised if this M. V. becomes the clear favorite. Always love me an underdog story.

Dwarf
M. S.'s Combatant reputation continues to rise, but F. B. is remaining steadfast with popular support from dwarves. Crucial years to garner support will be within the next few years. Ugh, Stone preserve me. This race. We have a tendency to value craftsmen rather than other achievers, but by the gods, the old guard of dwarves really like their tradition. City dwarves like me know what's important.

Gnome
J. W.'s Outcast ties are making U. U. sweat. By no means a favorite, we'll have to see if J. W. can build a name worthy to challenge U. U. J. W.'s a brave gnome (no pun intended) for going after a more popular candidate, especially since he's the rotten sort. Let's see if he can handle a race without Outcast support.

Dragonborn
F. G. support is falling in light of recent conflicts with more contemporary dragonborn clans. Unclear candidate moving forward, even from our stock. For such a storied and famous clan, clan Flavius loves being bogged down with generational battles. Dominus dragonborn. Let go of the war already; it ended centuries ago. Incidentally, if you're feeling lucky, do some insider trading and see if you get rich on the dragonborn bet or lose your house. It's that uncertain.

Tiefling
Up in the air. V. is a supposed practitioner of witchcraft. A. supposedly seducing their way to a popular position, possibly Melusine bloodline. B. performances are wowing Aristocrats but putting Folklorique to sleep. I... don't think I need to comment on this one, plenty of speculation here already. Though I will say, Outcasts are split on which one to support. Make your own opinion.

Profile of M. V.

Race: Halfling, Gaulish heritage

Candidacy: Applied and accepted 971. Considered nuisance due to age, but is now a legitimate candidate for the halfling seat.

Platform: Campaign predicated on the belief that guilds should harmonize, not compete against each other. Incidentally, is shown to have no strong guild ties backing her up, contributing to her underdog status. On Verdane, believes that Verdane should return to a more open, cooperative city for all to prosper, rather than engaging in a race for power. Interestingly, has not made public speeches advocating her position, choosing instead to lurk in the shadows.

Allies: Possesses a network of allies who support her away from their normal work. While her right has yet to be identified, her left is noted diplomat Ylladi Zannar, herself having a long contact list. Is rumored to be recruiting from guilds all over Verdane to her cause.

Speculation:

• Makes strong moves in the dark, which may propel her to a top position if left unchecked. Underdog reputation is helping her thrive unimpeded. Must watch. (Analyst 1)
• Nuisance. Prospect of her contributing her policies to the Council roundtable is inconceivable. Would take an upheaval of the candidates for that to happen. (Analyst 2)
• Thoroughly evasive and hard to pin down. She makes connections and seeks allies that aren't in the lens of analysts. Moves are hard to predict from such a private figure. Public support is unknown, but private support could be overwhelming. I recommend bringing her into light, to see how the bets would change, if it would. (Analyst 3)

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The Aquitani's Teachings (K'aamni)

A month's work of book-learning from the libraries of the Zhur-Taa District, as well as the teachings and imparting of wisdom by the peaceful leonin monk, Paxor.

Aqutani History, from the Perspective of Aquitani: The Beginning

The Aquitani were not the first to settle Muhtamal (Potential in Common, Providence to the Verdanians), as the Loxodon, Kobolds, Aasimar, and most notably, the Taliyans (who were at the time the dominant species of the land) came before them. However, they were the first to expand from their meager beginnings. The Aquitani cut through the, as of their beginning, the largely-unexplored land of Muhtamal and began making homes for their burgeoning population. The capstone of Aquitani expansion came in the form of Dayatan, the Beginning.

The Taliyans did not approve of the Aquitani encroaching on their territory, and began retaliating violently when one of their sacred lands was trampled underfoot and made a home. This began a years-long war between the Aquitani and the Taliyans of Muhtamal, with the taliyans striking the first blow.

• The taliyans would attack the homes of the Aquitani, never discriminating between soldier and civilian, as with a majority of their people, there was no distinction between the two. For the taliyans, their civilians were also their soldiers.
• The Aquitani would retaliate in self-defense, preventing potential attacks by razing outposts of the taliyans, leaving no prisoners, no survivors in their wake. This would leave the lands inhospitable to taliyan, and in some cases, all life.
• Both were on a path to mutually-assured destruction that could spell massive destruction for the lands they warred upon.

The turning point of the war occurred at the outpost known as Tirakh, where a massing of taliyan forces and some of their great warriors was besieged with the Aquitani's superior technology and the might of their military commanders. The Siege of Tirakh lasted several days, and ended with many taliyans in the ancient fortress either slain or on the verge of death. This even would've resulted in the exodus of most of the taliyan people from Muhtamar, were it not for the mercy shown by the loxodon. In negotiating a peace between the people, the taliyans would never again bare their fangs against the Aquitani without suffering consequences.

With the center of their empire at Dayatan, the Aquitani would enjoy several millennia of dominance of Muhtamar, allowing the peaceful loxodon, kobolds, and aasimar to coexist, while also greatly limiting taliyan presence, never allowing themselves to be driven away from their new home.

Aqutani History, from the Perspective of Aquitani: The Fall

The arrival of the Marseillians would herald the beginning the end of Aquitani dominance. As the strangers from afar arrived on the shore of Muhtamar, they observed the technological advancements of these multiracial peoples. Before long, they would gain their first foothold on the region, and in believing that they were alone, would continue to expand further.

So, the Aquitani made use of their tabaxi negotiators and their taliyan vassals to negotiate peace. The negotiations succeeded, and the Marseillians understood that they were not to expand beyond the line of demarcation that marked peaceful separation between the lands bequeathed to them and their empire. But ten years later, the Marseillians' numbers boomed beyond the point of sustainability. They would soon expand beyond their territory, and the Aquitani did not anticipate the rate of their progress and expansion.

Tensions had already simmered at the 20th year of the Marseillians' settlement of Muhtamar, but they would explode by the 24th year, as the Marseillians conquered and settled the fortress of Tirakh, breaking the agreement between their two peoples. The great minotaur battlemaster, Ordruun, would lay siege on the fortress as the Aquitani had once did before against the taliyans, and a tense series of negotiations followed. But the negotiations would break down, and the Marseillians launched a counteroffensive that routed Ordruun's warband, sending him running for his continued survival. This was the beginning of a half-century war that would topple the Aquitani empire, known simply as The Fall.

The Marseillians' superior technology was negated by the Aquitani's overwhelming numbers' advantage. In fact, for most of the duration of the war, the Aquitani were crushing the Marseillians at every battle. However, for all their victories, every attempt to raid the base of the Marseillians would result in failure, as their homes were defended as if it were their only home. Repeated failures would prove to be the difference-maker in the war, as it allowed...

Hakim Tanyn's Fall at Ascalon. The sacred neutral ground of Ascalon would be the staging ground of the decisive battle that resulted in the loss of the Aquitani. The chaos of the war attracted the attention of an ancient red dragon, who after great Aquitani warriors offered their lives in servitude, gained its allegiance to their cause. This dragon, titled Hakim Tanyn, would serve as Ascalon's guardian, if in case the Marseillians decided to violate the neutrality of Ascalon. However, due to betrayal and deception in the ranks of the Aquitani guard, an opening was allowed wherein against all odds, heroes of the Marseillian people had slain Hakim Tanyn at the top of Ascalon's fort. This was the moment where the war against the Marseillians was lost, and the Aquitani no longer held dominance as the conquerors of Muhtamar.

Most of the Aquitani engaged in battle surrendered after news of this defeat reached their ears, and some escaped into the deepest reaches of Providence, in the hope that the Marseillians would never reach them. Dayatan eventually fell, and the Marseillians conquered Muhtamar for their own selves, building their new empire named after their hero: the empire of Verdane.

Paxor's Teachings on the Hira

The hira, in the native tongue of the Aquitani, translates roughly to "kinslayer-traitor". It is believed that this term emerged from the fall of Hakim Tanyn at Ascalon, as it was rumored that traitors in the ranks of the Aquitani guard secured safe passage for Verdane Baldwin and his Ten Companions into the neutral city in exchange for safety in the ranks of the Marseillians. The true nature of this betrayal is unknown, but the most common theory was that these traitors had stabbed their kin in the back as they conspired with the Marseillians.

From the hira, their descendants, known as aahira, represent the lives that these traitors had gained in exchange for their betrayal of their fellow Aquitani. The most well-known of the aahira are the Boros Minotaurs, so named because of the law passed in favor of those Aquitani who rebelled against their own kind. When the great and venerated warlord Ordruun and his warband attacked villages belonging to Verdane, it was the descendants of the survivors from the very same warband that repelled Ordruun and his pillagers. To the "true" Aquitani, this represented the final straw, as it firmly divided the Aquitani between those who accepted Verdanian rule and dominance over their lives, and those who fought to earn their freedom away from their oppressors.

Now, hira who choose to cross the line have their names and their family records struck from the archives at the Zhur-Taa District in Verdane, and they will forever be identified by their betrayal of their people. The aahira born out of the union between oppressor and oppressed are treated with suspicion by the true Aquitani, at the very least, and outright aggression at worst.

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Learnings from Vis Occan (Faessi)

A summary of the teachings that have been imparted upon you by the elders of Vis Occan, particularly Elder Lailah, by conversation with its citizens, and of living alongside them for the month's visits.

Vis Occan

Roughly meaning "Ocean Dream" in the Common language, Vis Occan was an outpost founded by Elders from Cales Sijin, in order to have an environment to raise the amfibiu taliyans among their ranks. Its river access leading to the outskirts of Verdane, as well as its "off the beaten path" location are conductive to the more passive amfibiu taliyans.

The Population consists of mostly snake, salamander, frog, and other amphibious species of taliyans, but a number among them are terran taliyans who worship their gods and defend the frail amfibiu taliyans.

The leaders of Gitano (Tribe) Vis Occan include:

• Vânător (Master Hunter): Caidh
• Hatari (Shaman of Rituals): Lailah
• Phoenicis (Druid of Communities): Aamar Mireli (heron)
• Diondair-Fjarăformă (Defender of Taliyans): Horvath (lion)

The way of life of Gitano Vis Occan is to serve as scouts and diplomats to Cales Sijin. They keep their position hidden by removing paths and using illusory magic to obfuscate potential invaders. Once unknowns breach a certain perimeter, whether intentionally or by accident, scouts and defenders are sent in order to intercept these intruders and ascertain their intentions, before diverting them to the other Gitano that are more worthy of their attention, only leaving the most important of messages or threats to Cales Sijin.

• When in need of outside help, the people of Vis Occan are the fastest at leaving the walls of Verdane, swimming downstream before asking for aid from other Cales (communities), before escorting the aid past the watchers of the walls through their secret entrances and exits.
• Magical learning is often in the realm of divination and abjuration, as Vis Occan is considered the least martially powerful but the most magically gifted of the Gitano under Cales Sijin.

Elder Lailah, and her teachings as Oracle of Ananke

Ananke
Aspect of divination to the snake god Quetzalcoatl. Ananke is the god of futures and fates; all that the future holds, it is in Ananke's hands to shape and mold.

Oracles and disciples to Ananke commune with him to draw upon his power, interpreting his visions so that others may act according to his will.

However, while Ananke is benevolent to his people, he is also a wrathful god. Those who defy his will and attempt to shape their futures against him or his people will find themselves cursed by him. While bearers of the Curse of Ananke gain a semblance of his power to change fate, they are cursed to a terrible, unavoidable fate.

Unlike other gods, Ananke does not manifest in an incorporeal form when contacted through rituals, choosing instead to show himself through visions and phenomena that are mysterious in nature.

Viaţă
Viaţă is the way of religion of the taliyan people, where overt worship of the gods is not practiced, but rather daily devotion through simple rituals and recognition of their power.

Spirits exist everywhere in the world, and taliyans are uniquely capable of harnessing upon their power in whatever they do. Taliyans call upon nature spirits to guide their senses, spirits of the wind to guide their arrows and spells, and even the spirit of an individual to make them more open to suggestion.

Rituals are central to the practice of Viaţă. Simple rituals involve speaking to spirits, arranging items in a ritualistic manner, and casting spells. More involved rituals involve shamans and spellcasters, as well as ritual sacrifice in order to perform miracles such as contacting gods, reviving their people, and other such great acts.

Ancestors are exalted in taliyan religion. Great ancestors are worshipped as if they were minor deities, and they are even contacted beyond death through rituals and ceremonies. It is such an ingrained part of taliyan religion that resurrection of a great taliyan is a pagan act, as if denying them their due glory.

Formshifting
Formshifting is essential to the taliyan identity. Taliyans are man and beast in one, known as Beorc and Laguz, respectively. It is in the constant, active expression of one's identity in either form is what forms the core identity of the taliyan: freedom.

Formshifting is a gift imparted upon birth by a ritual to the gods, manifesting in the form of one's unique Focusing Stone. At a young age, children are taught to perform rituals that will allow them to draw upon the essence of their Focusing Stones to Formshift between beorc and laguz.

• This also contributes to the tribal, familial culture of the taliyans: each and every adult in a Gitano/Cales are essential to the proper growth and education of the young, so that they stand above man and beast in their expressions of their dual forms.

If a Focusing Stone is lost or destroyed in any way, the Hatari of one's tribe must perform a ritual to replace the lost stone. This becomes problematic in the case of lost tribes and fallen communities, where it becomes possible that a taliyan may forever lose their ability to formshift between two forms. In this case, they must submit to a calling from their god, whether they are known or not, and test themselves through trials of a god's choosing. Failure and/or hereticism will forever sever a taliyan from their heritage, becoming no more than their fellow men and fellow beasts.