WAR TABLE | Silent Plains | OTA

[dissolving]

WHO: Cedric Carsus + Viktor, Hermione, OTA
WHAT: Loot division
WHEN: Don't think about it too hard.
WHERE: The Silent Plains, along the Southern Tevinter border.
NOTES: OOC Info

Riftwatch is invited to help capture an Imperial supply wagon by the People of the Silent Plains, who have some complaints about the balance of power between them and the Exalted March troops.

Their scouting has led to the discovery of the supply caravan's route and other details needed for the attack, but they lack the manpower to pull it off alone. The last time they did this, though, they got less than what they considered their fair share of the supplies, leading to a current shortage bordering on a crisis. They're counting on Riftwatch to help tilt the scale further in their favor.

On the other side of this argument, the Marchers will argue that they put up more manpower and take greater risks for these joint endeavors—they provide footsoldiers, and more of them, while the People are smaller in number and more often ranged fighters and scouts who stay out of direct danger.

Riftwatch won't have enough sway to dictate the division of the loot, but it may be able to tip the scale toward the People, convince the People to be content with a limited share, or both at once.


x. CLOAKING DEVICE REPORT
x. PEOPLE OF THE SILENT PLAINS WIKI


[ ooc note: a report about general outcomes will be turned in on the 28th. backtagging still welcome! ]

Comments

[grindset]

Are there any great days to be had in the Silent Plains? By anyone? Ever?

Viktor is having no such day himself, although he's definitely had worse. For the most part, the promise of seeing the cloaking device once again has kept his mood up. Also heartening: when he asked after the tent winches he left with the People, he found that two of three of them were still functional, if a bit crunchy due to grit. So that was nice.

Anyway, he's here now, bundled against the landscape's whims, goggles standing by on his forehead and all.

"It's not a shield, exactly... more of an illusion. But loose sand may be affected by prolonged interaction with its energy field. There was no opportunity to make those observations last time. If so, and should it have piled high enough to form a bank, such an anomalous shape could stand out to anyone with an eye for the landscape. Failing that," now he's rummaging in his satchel, "I could attempt to attune one of our thaumoscopes to its signature."

[dissolving]

"We got griffons," They have one. Agathe's busy taking apart a wagon wheel, as Powers scratches her flank. "Could scout both from above."

Barrow's sand banks, Viktor's magical... whatever that is. It'll take both to narrow in. Eryx blanches for the suggestion:

"I know the landscape on foot," He protests. It isn't that he's afraid, it's just that it's very high up there, even before lightning and dragons and the vertigo that so often rings his skull. "Not by air."

A loud crunch. Agathe tosses one snapped spoke aside, and goes for another. Cedric glances between Eryx and Barrow,

"Odds're good they're watching the skies, anyway. If we do that, oughta have cover on the ground. What d'you need to set the thaumoscope?"

squeaks another in

[grindset]

"Just this," he says,

and from the satchel pulls the rattiest hand-bound booklet of mismatched pages, all the corners of which are bent and curled and tinted with dust of a tint similar to the sand they're standing on. This thing has been beaten to hell.

"Technically, this isn't what these devices were built to do, but I think I can make it work."

[thereneverwas]

The mention of the thaumoscope has Barrow enthusiastically pointing at Viktor-- yes, do that-- even if, as it turns out, the logistics aren't quite as simple as he'd hoped.
It's still a plan, and one that doesn't require them to aimlessly wander a wasteland in (possibly) plain sight of the enemy.

"I'll cover you," he offers, "if we can get someone on crystal watching the skies as well."

handing off the thread to you two for travel reasons

[dissolving]

If he hopes to Hessarian they've got that book copied down somewhere –

"Alright. Eryx can mark a map, I'll keep an eye out here." If another argument breaks open, he's got the best shot of them for settling the March. Cedric tucks fingers into his mouth to whistle. Agathe's head shoots up, feathers tufted for a mane. "You take th'bird."

She stares a moment, eyes tracking between them, then lays her neck flat and hisses.

But eventually, she's saddled, grunting objection all the way. There are reins for Barrow, and a scribbled map for Viktor: The rough spot that storm hit. Cedric waves them on, Powers watching their ascent with such raw jealousy as to wound.

They'll have some time before Cedric reports in. Clear skies, no dracolisks circling. It's almost suspiciously clear.

That might have something to do with the quicksand. It's developed in a hurry, all about the area the readings come strongest. It's possible some of the Venatori scouts have gotten lost in it themselves, and optionally, one might still be struggling.