Wild:69 Why So Reasonable

Starring: Fuelwen, Brilla, and Bo and Ko
Guest Starring:
Challenge: New Laws and Rules, Navigation and Negotiations
Location: The Astral, Tu'narath, Whale Trailer (whailer)
Date Played: 13 September 2011

Walking on the Dead

Brilla: After getting a rundown of the rule and laws of this place, we finally landed on Tu'narath. It was very busy and martial in nature; there was not a single weapon covered in the crowd. Even more important, it seemed that everyone there had a weapon. This is very much not a place I would like to start a fight.

Fuelwen: If only one could stay in the astral without time catching up with me when I depart. There is so much to learn. I could stay here centuries, but that would mean never departing. That isn't a fate that I desire. It's a nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to settle here. That said, the Githyanki have created a lovely, if somewhat ethnocentric society.

They obviously expect tourists to be fools- someone tried to sell me a Silver Sword. I informed the party and tried to keep him distracted while they alerted the authorities, but as it turns out, he was one of the authorities and it was a sting operation.

I would not mind wielding such a weapon, but I know its true cost.

Whale Spotting

Brilla: We ask around where to find the whales and come across a mostly friendly githyanki among the crowd. In conversation, Fuelwen managed to insult the gith and we were lucky to avoid conflict. We at least got far enough with our guide to reach the bazaar. There were a lot of interesting things abound, but we sadly did not have enough time to check out everything. I was able to find a very non-function suit of chainmail while there, and I picked it up on a whim. With a bit more shopping we were able to grease the wheels to find the whale station.

After a bit of scrutiny, we were confirmed to me owners of a genuine coin and were able to cash it in. What we found, though, is that we were not guaranteed to go. There are others in a lottery that are also attempting to travel via a whale. The coin just puts us in the runnings for the raffle. We also need a navigator as simply telling them where point b is is not enough. It's time to get to work on both fronts.

Fuelwen: It is not simple to get aboard a whale, even with the proper token. They are rare and exotic, and not many trips are made. As a result, a lottery is held. Having a token just guarantees your entry into the lottery until you win it. With the nearest lottery a few days away, we set out to do research and… manipulate the system.

Fixing the Odds

Brilla: While trying to figure out who was in the lottery, we were approached by a githyanki hardhead that tried to greet me with a secret handshake. I was able to fake it well enough, but it was soon evident that it was a case is mistaken identity.

After a bit of conversation, we were able find that a group of Celestines are trying to get to the Wilding via the Elsewhale. He was able to guide us to their group, one we passed and noticed earlier in the day.

It didn't take much convincing to get them to withdraw once we informed them of a portal that took them into the heart of the Milding. We warned them of the devils, but they said their faith would make them persevere. Lets hope so!

We also got to encounter Gith law soon afterward. A thief tried to steal from Fuelwen and was subsequently caught. A group was soon gathered and the facts were laid out. Bo was successful in turning the case of theft into an act of perversion by the culprit. The thief quickly admitted to theft when confronted with the punishment for perversion.

Fuelwen: I like our navigator. He's a wise scholar, and reminds me of Carn. His fee is most reasonable as well- he simply wants to travel with us. Not all of the Gith are quite so wise- one attempted to rob me. In normal practice, I would have simply killed him on the spot, but I already understood the laws of this land- I called forth a trial. Evidence was difficult, but Bo's crafty legal sense turned the case around until the culprit confessed. I sent him away with his hand- no longer attached.

More Wrinkles than Bo?!?

Brilla: A little more investigation helped us find a sage that knew the stars. He was willing to help us under the condition that he would come with us as well. We couldn't say no to this deal. As an extra boon, we were also directed to a merchant that has his name in the lottery as well.

The merchant was a pretty brash dealer, but we were able to strike a sort of deal. He was to stay in the lottery, but if his name was called he would bow out and ask for a re-draw. This at least made our odds go from 1/3 to 1/2. For the sum of 5000 GP, it was well worth it.

To Boldly Go Where no Wildian has Gone Before

Brilla: The day of the drawing came and lady luck was on our side. The merchant's coin came up first and he held to his word. On the second draw we were chosen and had to quickly gather our affairs for departure. I picked up some scrolls to help regulate the time around me for the sake of the child, and we soon after picked up the sage.

The trip was very serene as we were breathing in the ether. It must be like how Fuelwen feels in water, well, except for the inability to swim. This "spelljamming" as they call it is pretty interesting. Perhaps I'll retire to sail the stars as opposed to the seas.

Fuelwen: It's been some time since I've collected any samples in our travels, and on this trip I have collected many, including gods' blood and now phlogiston. We met some gnomish spelljammers, and they were not the most useful traders we had ever met. They left before I thought through their visit- I would have liked to see their helm.

Each prime is a crystal shard floating out here. According to our navigator, many of the constellations we see are actually arrangements of distant shards. This may make my quest a bit more difficult. I've collected a set of spears, but I despair that I may not be able to actually kill the whale.

Shopping

• Brilla: MW silver chainmail bikini and Scroll of Normalize Time x2
• Fuelwen: Harpoons and an appropriate crossbow to launch them from, along with sufficient mounting hardware.

Rewards

Wiki edit:

• Brilla: MW Silver Chainmail Bikini ["Chain Shirt"] is also +2 Bouyant Commander Glamered [must look properly slutty or trope-ish, only] at no extra cost.
• Fuelen: +1 Binding Distance Returning Harpoon (Harpoon is in AEG.)