The Shattered Port

The Shattered Port is the season two story arc of the campaign.

## Prelude

Prior to the beginning of this arc the PC Zharagg was abducted by a mysterious faction and subjected to mysterious experiments. His absence was noticed by other P.C.'s, particularly his lover J.D. and her employee Remmy, who are also P.C.s. Attempts were made every couple of days to make a sending towards Zharagg, however the response received from him was animalistic, unintelligible and enraged.

## Timeline

### The Attack and Immediate Aftermath (Hanir 14th)

Hanir 14th

A fleet of ships invades the system and bombard Harbourside, the port of Stoneholm. A giant laser wipes out half of the Harbourside district

* A few NPCs die
	+ Hamid, an NPC connected to Schera
	+ Greta, an NPC connected to Molly
* The Faded Nova, Weatherlite Clinic and Casino are destroyed
* A majority of PCs end up travelling to Peter & Tobias’ home - CP6: Broadsword.
* A small group of PCs also group around Sweet Remedy, which also serves as a triage centre and soup kitchen

An NPC named Veton shows up at CP6: Broadsword and offers to partner with the PC faction at the church of the Judge to send them refugees for medical treatment when injured were found among the rubble

* He is a leader of the Spicer faction
	+ Spice is a drug known to give users red eyes and is addictive
* He threatened Peter, Tobias and the other clergy of the Judge stating that he would eventually have to return to kill them

### Trying to Find Footing (Hanir 15-24th)

Hanir 15th

The PCs start settling into their new home at CP6.  Peter takes the lead at organizing in consultation with the other clergy at CP6 and prominent PCs.

* NPCs Dorian and Elera are both members of the church of the Judge who have also been stationed at CP6: Broadsword and have become recurring characters in the narrative.  They are known to be a little more rigid on things like crime, law and order than Peter is.

The search for supplies begins.

* There is no current regular supply of food or water.  It does not rain in Stoneholm, there is a blockade of ships at port and Greensburg, the district where food is farmed, is the centre of a gang/faction war.
* The blockade allows a few ships through, which gives the Spicers control of a source of food
* Within the CP6: Broadsword camp food & water is provided through a combination of spell energy and a few emergency rations, leaving the adventurers stretched thin on their access to magical energy.

Meanwhile Schera makes a connection with the Spicer camp by offering medical care to their wounded.  She meets Veton.

* Several refugees are also being sheltered by the Spicers.
* She learns that spice is the blood of the Spicer’s gods, that the gods were injured in a long ago war and that when people take spice they sometimes will meet a god.  She also learns that taking the spice gives magical abilities, but is addictive.

Back at CP6: Broadsword, the NPC Veton returns with food for the refugees, painting himself as a saviour for the people.  He insults the church of the Judge again and Peter lays down a rule for mutual respect: respect our god while here and we will respect your god if we ever come to your camp. A tense conversation ensues, with a questioning of motives.  Veton asks that his followers can hand out food to the CP6 refugees.  A counter-proposal from the CP6: Broadsword factions demands that his volunteers work alongside CP6 volunteers, that there can be no talk of spice or other gods unless someone else brings it up first. Although Peter tries to maintain neutral ground, it is obvious the other clergy in the outpost are not happy about working with Veton. Tobias in particular is offended at Peter’s diplomatic response to Veton, when he saw how the man was manipulating the situation, and the fact that she didn’t listen to him.

Other significant events that took place at Broadsword that day

* Dorian & Elera suggested to Peter that the PC faction try to liaison with the Brasscoats in Forecastle
* Peter asked Elera to help her put together religious services for the church of the Judge on a daily basis to provide an alternative spiritual refuge to spice for those looking for spirituality
* Schera returns to Peter and tells her about her personal meeting with Veton.  Peter agrees to keep Schera’s involvement with the Spicer camp a secret for now
* Schera also suggests to Peter to create a council for the PC faction

Hanir 16th - 19th

* 16th: The PCs at CP6: Broadsword have a meeting and elect a leadership council
	+ Dorian is in charge of security, Peter and J.D. are in charge of people, Guide and Molly are in charge of infrastructure.  Peter is elected as head admin.

* 17th: Peter approaches Tobias about being angry at her and the two get in a fight, resulting in an enstrangement from each other.

* 18th: Peter asks Sornfein to become a liaison for the CP6: Broadsword faction to the Crown district
	+ The goal of Peter’s request is to have Sornfein find out more about what is happening among the leadership over there, to make contacts and promote CP6 interests.

* 19th: Schera takes spice, meets the goddess Cascadia in the process and becomes addicted.
	+ Cascadia tells Schera about the trapped souls. The trapped souls are people who have been killed by the laser that wiped out Harbourside on the 14th of Hanir.

Hanir 20th

JD, Louisa, Ysolde, Ashok and Beldak undertake a mission to block the Spicer faction from gaining access to a potential asset - an NPC named Helena who is a cleric of Odin and who has the gift of foresight. In investigating this situation they find themselves fighting werewolves who have been taking spice and find out that Spicers under the leadership of Lieutenant Zayn have been partnering with a lycanthrope death cult from Yggspace known as the Cult of Fenrir. A mercenary also surrenders to them during the mission and they learn that Zayn has been cursing mercenaries to force them to work for the Spicers or experience terrible pain.

* This curse can be removed with a Remove Curse spell. Mercenaries who have not taken spice may be willing to switch sides if the PC's can remove their curse.

Schera reports to Peter & Molly about her decision to take spice and her new addiction. She expresses a desire to not take more spice but also seems profoundly affected by her conversation with the goddess Cascadia and expresses a desire to retain that connection. The three PCs go to visit Veton at the Spicer camp in order to negotiate for a peaceful expansion of the CP6: Broadsword territory to a warehouse that Peter owns, in order to set the warehouse up as a clinic and refugee housing. During the visit they learn the following information:

* Schera's response to the Spice was unusually strong. It often does not lead to addiction after a single dose and it often does not bring visitation with a god after a single dose.
* Prolonged use of spice can lead to death or lobotomy. Because Schera's reaction is particularly strong, she is in particular danger of these side effects.
* The Spicer camp is organized with refugees on the outskirts surrounding a core camp of Spicer colonists. In this core Veton is building a massive pyramid as a temple to his god Abylos.
* Veton's tent has an anti-magic field.

After the talks conclude successfully, Schera’s spice addiction causes a complication when her cravings for more spice begin to grow.  Peter and Molly bring her back to CP6 and try to keep her contained in Broadsword to detox but Veton finds out about this confinement and responds by mobilizing a force of over 60 and a ballista against Broadsword.  Conflict is barely averted by Schera’s insistence that no fighting happens over her.  She agrees to stay at Broadsword for the detox period.

Following this event Dorian takes Tobias and goes to connect with the Brasscoats in Forecastle. They learn that the Brasscoats there are feasting while the common people starve and that the previous leadership has been replaced. There is one Brasscoat named Kelby who seems to care, however he seems to be connected with the god Nankane from Eretol (the same sphere the Spicers originate from). While talking to Kelby, Dorian receives a snail call from another NPC named Anaeli Dolian who offers the Broadsword faction 100 armed men to help push back against the spicers.

That evening Toby visits Peter during the middle of the night and to tell her that he doesn’t trust Anaeli Dolion.

Meanwhile, in Greensburg a new faction is formed as King, Buttons & Bombart join forces to take over a portion of farmland they call Birdbath.

* (These PC's are known OOC for being a little more chaotic/evil aligned.)

Hanir 21st

Following the events from the day before, the Council debriefs, and then Peter has a conversation with Isbin and Helena that also brings new information:

* Helena suggests to Peter to move the base from CP6: Broadsword to another more defensible location
* The unusual nature of the Spicers and Cult of Fenrir working together is noted - especially since both parties have ways to force people into their ranks
* Isbin notes the need to get Helena a form of communication like a snail
* Isbin also notes the need to challenge Veton’s narrative through a PR campaign, since Veton is making doing drugs sound like a good idea that everyone will want to do

The following events also occur this day:

* Kyali and Maszen arrive to Harborside.
* The Rat King emerges! (leader of the Scuppers faction)
* JD has a breakdown from stress as she realizes her medication is limited and Ashok tries to comfort her.
* Isbin talks to Scheherazade about Gods (Cascadia and in general), and she learns she’s not alone anymore.
* Birdbath withstands a siege from other factions.

Hanir 22nd

The PCs of CP6: Broadsword meet to discuss moving to a more defensible location.  The idea of going to Greensburg is suggested and the group decides to start looking for safe ways to transport refugees.

* The idea of using the sewers more often is proposed. Several defensive tactics are also discussed, including leaving the CP6: Broadsword outpost in the care of Dorian and Elera and the group of 100 mercenaries from Anaeli Dolion while removing the refugees from the premises. The concern is that Dolion may be more concerned with fighting the Spicer faction instead of protecting refugees and this could put people in harm's way.

Back in the Crown District, Sorfein and Remmy talk to Sorfein’s mother about the situation. And Sornfein makes the following report to Peter:

* Aelathari informs that there are rumors that the King may have bargained Stoneholm’s self-sovereignty for swift and decisive military action from the Verithian Royal Navy.

The following events also occur this day:

* Peter starts to screen refugees with Zone of Truth.
* Beldak visits Schera and they talk about the Cult of Fenrir and that they might be connected to the Spicers.
* The Palace relief ship passes through the blockade.
* Schera talks to Molly about her past and she learns she might be an Aasimar.

Hanir 24th

The dwarves Torrim and Feldin arrive to CP6 with 25 other dwarves and invite the faction to relocate and join them at Farmhand's Folly, a town situated in the heart of Greensburg. A meeting is convened between the PC's and it is agreed to do the move at the beginning of the next day.

* These dwarves represent the Brasscoat faction, the city guard of Stoneholm.

* While the dwarves are present an attempt is made to raise Feldin's daughter Greta who was an NPC who died in the attack on Harbourside due to the laser. The raise dead was unsuccessful and it was learned that souls killed by the laser cannot be brought back as they have been trapped.

Meanwhile, in another sphere, Zharagg has a moment of lucidity and combats mysterious forces to escapes wherever the hell he was. He commandeers a ship and sets course back to Stoneholm.

Other events that also took place this day:

* Schera talks to Dorian and apologizes for the problem with Veton.
* Peter informed Louisa about the intention to move the faction to Greensburg and arrangements are made for the group at Sweet Remedy to join.

### Developing Faction Lines (Hanir 25th-present)

#### Hanir 25th

Sweet Remedy and the refugees at Broadsword move together to Farmhand’s Folly and The Nova Faction is born. Dorian and Elera remain back at the CP6 outpost with the forces of Anaeli Dolia forming the official Broadsword faction.

In the meantime, PC's JD, Ashok, Elward, Elrohir, Monty and Dirnak meet up with an NPC named Angela who convinces them that it would be a good idea to sabotage a farm in Greensburg, as it would allegedly cause harm to the Spicer faction. The farm ends up getting burnt and turns out to have been under the control of the Brasscoats. All PCs except Dirnak become wanted for burning a farm, raising suspicion about his and Angela's loyalties.

Other events that took place this day:

* Conrad and Brizdril find The Nova

#### Hanir 26th-28th

Following the events of the day before, JD calls Angela to clarify about the posters. Angela seems to have lost her memories.

Peter and Torrim meet with J.D., and Ashok about the wanted posters. Torrim agrees to write the group writs to show that they are doing community service for the Brasscoats in order to pay penance for their mistakes.

Other events that took place this day:

* 26th: Elward and Swann talk about Elward’s bounty
* 26th Dolian’s men arrive at Broadsword.
* 27th: Peter and Schera talk about forgiveness, decisions, Spice, Cascadia & Erathis.

#### Hanir 29th-30th

* Khormac, Guide, Elward, Swann, Ayumi and Schera blow up Scythes laboratory.
	+ Khormac and Swann die.
	+ Elward turns themself in
	+ 30th: Khormac and Solafae are dug out

#### Samhain 1st

* Zharrag returns. Only JD and Molly know.
* Schera returns to the Spicers’ Camp.
	+ Zayn and the Cult of Fenrir
	+ Black Ship arrives with reinforcements and more civilians, refugees from Eretol.

* Shitty Bird and Skanos arrive at Birdbath.

#### Samhain 2nd

* Schera learns from Veton that Khormac is alive when he arrives hurt with an unconscious Agnès back to his room.
* Babanin challenges Veton.
	+ Veton spares Babanin thanks to Schera’s request.
	+ Veton agrees to help find Astrella.
* Pav, Vern and Nedri interact in the Crown District and decide to go meet The Nova group.
* Schera tells Peter, Molly, Guide, JD, Zharagg and Molly everything she learned from Veton.
	+ Zharagg tells the group the Spicers might be in on the attack to the port.
	+ Peter reveals a book about the Sphinx Gods and other ancient deities.
	+ Zharagg goes bonkers.

Samhain 3rd-5th

* 3rd: The Nova reclaims The Fallon Farmstead.
* 4th: Asphelt comes to Farmhand’s to meet Remmy.
* 5th: Beldak, Mialee and Buttons help the Scythes and the Triad create a neutral ground.