Tribal Strife Legwork
Bolide added on Wed Jan 10 00:34:28 2018:
As the event says, our first trick is to overcome the travel of getting out to Sijaan in a timely manner. That distance is great, and it's across the continent rather than the sea. Travel through the area would be long and time consuming. That is not condusive to getting this situation solved quickly! That's where you all come in, that's where you all are important, how do you accomplish this task (whether you'll be part of the party going, or simply assisting with their task ahead of time).
Bolide added on Fri Jan 12 18:55:29 2018: I don't have any real restrictions, the sky is the limit on how to get there. Like I said, the only real factor here is time.
Chay added on Fri Jan 12 22:45:30 2018: Chay is a very new lil' dude. If he can, he'd like to meet with the Guild and ask who had come forward. Which merchant groups, and what were they selling?
Secondly, he'd like to speak with the Wards of the Invisible Path if he can. They're a group of sith-makar and hunters, priests of the Green like he is, who guard the Portal. He is now without tribe, but this would be a good opportunity for his people, who are familiar with the jungle and who ride quick mounts like swiftclaws.
Do they know a merchant-caste among the tribes? Hunters? He would present this idea to them--that they present themselves as caravan guards, familiar with jungles and who write swift jungle beasts, who could be hired in the meantime, in order to buy time.
Bolide added on Sat Jan 13 07:46:14 2018: The merchants traveling to Sijaan aren't too familiar with the Sith-makar, they have their own focus in who they deal with. Having to concentrate on those long routes, the people and laws along them, and everything else - they know little of the ways of the Sith-makar. That said, they would gladly accept the help of swift claws and hunters, but they lack any means to pay - especially with the lost caravans. If the next run or two aren't as profitable as they used to be, they'll quickly fall into debt and paying for guards would eat that up quickly.
If you'd like to try and convince your people to do it for less, you can roll diplomacy.
Chay added on Sun Jan 14 01:17:42 2018: If they can't pay, and their nation is near the Charneth--it wouldn't make sense to risk his people for less. Even if it's an opening for them. Relations with Charn are just too volatile, and if they aren't sure who is attacking, the Charn might have their hand in that as well.
I'm just going to toss this to the group! Could they send a partial caravan out with a flag of truce of some kind? If the raiders show up, that's half the work right there. If it takes too long to go OUT, to talk with the affected parties, why not cut time and have them come IN? The caravan wouldn't include trade goods; but it would include diplomacy and a lot of cheap booze, plus an invitation to a gathering to happen between tribal lands, and soon?
Bolide added on Sun Jan 14 01:45:52 2018: While perfectly possible, the problem is that there is at least one caravan, possibly more, about to head right on into whoever is raiding these shipping lines. While your plan would definitely protect the ones that are already trying to recoup losses. Or... a different way to view this --
Yes! They would love to help you and everyone would love for you to talk to those people raiding the caravans (the Tribes of people out there). The problem is that it would just take too long by caravan to get out there (or to bring them to Alexandria, especially since you don't necessarily have a means to contact them to meet half way). If you could get to the port town in Sijaan it would only be a day or two ride, from Alexandrian, it's substantially longer.
Chay added on Sun Jan 14 01:50:57 2018: Ok! So, to summarize:
- He is unable to find out which tribes are attacking, but we know the attacks are carried out by tribes
- Having the 'raid' turn into a 'diplomat caravan' via surprise! disguise! is off the table, due to timelines being that tight (He was just going to have the 'bait caravan' actually be a 'booze and diplomat' caravan)
...this leaves me to believe that the only option is going to be teleportation, or some sort of arcane message spell, if we want to bring people to the table.
Unless someone else has a different way of looking at the problem that does not involve bringing parties together?
Bolide added on Sun Jan 14 01:54:20 2018: That's a good summary! And, sorry! I forgot to mention, the tribes in question aren't Sith-makar! They're humanoid. An offshoot of Sildanyar
Chay added on Sun Jan 14 01:56:24 2018: Ok. So...given that, if they lose money in this venture--what are they saying happens? The war gets worse?
Bolide added on Sun Jan 14 02:01:27 2018: AH! Well, if the caravaners lose money, they have no reason to trade with this city out in Sijaan. In this case, it will probably have an effect on the quality of life out there, and it may cause further problems since people like their creature comforts. In the short term, it just means they have to stop trading with Sijaan until the situation is resolved which could take months or years.
Mikilos added on Mon Jan 15 06:19:45 2018: For one or two trips, I can assist with teleportation, scrying, and magical surveliance, as well as a bit of arcane protection. I'm also pefectly willing to find a new market for my magical goods as well as a source for raw supplies, rather counting as a merchant myself.
But I'm rather curious about these Sildanyar. I assume some variation of Sylvanori. I'd like to try and contact them, find out why exactly they've gone bandit. I assume they aren't just violent jerks.
Bolide added on Mon Jan 15 11:43:24 2018: The teleportation should be doable. Unfortunately the scrying might not be. The information is simply too vague out in Alexandria, just simply "tribal Sylvanori people out there" is a little too slim to go on. It might be possible to contact them from the Sijaan side but, of course, that's the point of the whole PRP so it might not be doable in the "legwork" portion of it.
That said, if you'd like to assist with the Teleportation, that's definitely doable. That gets all of you out there, as well as any of the party members that are assisting now (or during the adventure). Once you arrive, you find the port city bustling, with people of any number of race and creed selling their wares or loading their goods.
With a bit of an upbeat gait a woman approaches you all, throwing her arms wide, "Welcome! Welcome! All of you, you are from Alexandria yes? Yes. Right, we heard of your coming. Please - please - this way. I will have tea and coffee brought. We will discuss this job more in depth, yes? Or are you all in the mood to get started?"
OKAY! The first part of the Legwork is completed! Nice work. Now you have your choices. Talk to her, maybe find out some more about what's going on, or set off.
Mikilos added on Mon Jan 15 12:38:21 2018: I'm all in favor of talking and getting more information. I suppose if others prefer to take off, it's possible to split the group, though I'd favor staying together, for ease of keeping everything coherant if nothing else.
I, the player, am not too familiar with the area in question, and I'm having trouble finidng information on the wiki. I was of the vauge impression the sith-makar were native to an area not shown on the world map, but I'm quite willing to be proven wrong about that. Or are these recently native tribes?
Chay added on Mon Jan 15 18:52:12 2018: These are sylvanori tribesfolk. :D I think the 'tribal' confused some, because we'd had the Mictlan plot recently, but it is good. I am all for getting together and RPing. I'd had a thought that they might not be as aware of the Llyranesi Embassy in Alexandria. The llyranesi are all about their courts and things--maybe Mikilos could suggest them building ties? Chay'd only know enough to suggest they look into a political marriage/companionship/arrangement, not knowing if the sil did such a thing, but it's more something M would know and could suggest. The llyranesi court might like ties to a new market of sil, and a noble, even minor one, could cause wreckage if 'twer attacked, and could bring those resources to bear, you know?
I am also always up to get together for RP!
Bolide added on Mon Jan 15 19:21:41 2018: Comment removed. It tied to another legwork!
Mikilos added on Tue Jan 16 12:31:39 2018: Think my confusion came in part from Chay's earlier post suggesting the use of Sith hunters. But think I have a better understanding of what's going on. Anyway, yes, RP would be a solid next step.
Kisazilla added on Wed Jan 17 18:42:35 2018: Okay, if you all would like to take it to RP, I should have time today if you wanna do it with the NPC. Otherwise I can answer any questions you have for the NPC through the job. :D
Chay added on Fri Jan 19 02:03:06 2018: I'm available this evening--sorry about yesterday! Things were a little hectic. ^^;
Dubtle added on Fri Jan 19 04:05:59 2018: Yes, I'd love to RP about this! I haven't had time or brainspace to contribute to the legwork yet. :)
Chay added on Fri Jan 19 05:54:58 2018: Chay is totes getting hyped up on coffee. XD
Bolide added on Sat Jan 20 08:21:05 2018: OKAY! So, if you guys wanna do a scene about it, just tell me when you're available and we'll do one about it or I'll type something up here and we'll set up when the event is run. You guys /technically/ got enough done in the legwork for me to be able to run the event. :D
Kisazilla added on Sun Jan 21 18:39:09 2018: If I don't hear anything here by Tuesday, I will assume you don't want to do a scene about it or ask anything further; instead I just need to know what time and day works best for Chay, Dubtle, and Zenia to do the actual event.
The days available are Friday-Sunday. I would rather we discuss times in Pacific because that's my time zone, but so long as everyone specifies the day, time, and timezone they would like then we can figure it out.
Chay added on Sun Jan 21 18:50:08 2018: I would like to scene, but please don't hold things on my account. Friday I'm going up to Houston for some medical stuff (I hope). While I should be back that evening, I just do not know. If folks would like to pick any of those days, I will do my best to be there.
Chay added on Mon Jan 22 05:22:40 2018: So...after getting together, it looks like we'll be asking if there is a treaty or treaties that would govern these different trades. Is there? If so, who signed it?
Also, asking around at the market to learn about the culture. Basic questions like: oh, you people are so interesting. Is this all one big tribe? ...and seeing if they correct us, or offer more. We're looking to get a list of tribes, nearby leaders and so on. Perhaps our guide is willing to dish?
Mikilos added on Mon Jan 22 06:30:24 2018: May take too much time to be of use, but I'd like to head to Llyranost and see if there's any sort of offical rule over the tribes in Sijaan. I'm guesing not, but if there's some sort of offical rulings in place, may as well make use of them.
Bolide added on Tue Jan 23 18:33:06 2018: Sorry about that. Okay!
After getting there and looking around you find out a number of answers to your questions: for one, there isn't any particular trade agreement between the merchants in Alexandria and the ones in this Sijaan city. They Merchants are instead footing the bill and reaping the profits. Without profits, they don't have a reason to continue trade.
This particular city is actually one that is a mix of people from all over (there's even a few Sith here and there though they look more like escapees from Charn). The tribes that live out in the jungle beyond are a number of four tribes of people. Since the death of the diplomat all four have worsened but it's definitely the Gweriapen.
The Gweriapen were always a bit more faster to see slight, and very territorial. Your guide is more than willing to tell you all about this. It's actually what they wished to discuss with you about. The Gweriapen are located deep in the jungle about one day along the roads, two days off on the paths, or one day straight through the jungle if you find your way.
The Guide very much recommends to take a guide if you aren't sure if you can do it yourself.
It will probably take a bit too long in time and resources for you to travel to Llyranost and back, but you can guess that this is far enough way that there isn't any sort of official rule of the tribes out here. Especially since these Sylvanori probably wouldn't take too kindly to being ruled by Llyranesi - let alone ones so far away.
These Sylvanori probably fall under their own rule as they're small tribes that are a bit more "feral" than even Sylvanori can normally be when compared to the Llyranesi and are far more concerned about trespassers.