1234 AD: Duel For The Nile

 1234 Adventure Oracle

Cabal Legacy—10% (2, adventure!)

Seeker—10% (97, no adventure)

Regional Produce—10% (27, no adventure)

Multiple Sites—10% (29, no adventure)

Road—10% (18, no adventure)

Tribunal Border—30% (86, no adventure)

Unsafe—10% (61, no adventure)

Regio—30% (77, no adventure)

We have rolled one adventure, which I may or may not opt into although I want to. You see, we’re also doing our very first voluntary adventure to represent this year’s tribunal, since it’s so terribly important to the way this saga evolves. For those of you who’ve played in the Rhine, this is effectively our Lotharingia potentially coming to fruition. 

Here’s how this is going to work. I am going to push up the difficulty, no matter what we roll, to at least an ease factor of 15, which will become 16 since it’s a winter adventure. This is to maximize our rewards and, from a lore perspective, represent that this is a very difficult challenge. I am also going to be using aid from Heliobus, as he is our ally, and he will likely be taking one roll per challenge. If we achieve even a partial success, I am going to use as many banked rewards as it takes, plus vis and Mythic Pounds stocks, to switch our Tribunal Border hook for something else, which will represent the formation of the new Tribunal. If there’s enough left over, I may buy a boon as well, but all of this is very expensive, and may use up everything we have in store, besides the 6 Vim and 6 Aquam (traded to Venti Rosa for Vim) for our Aegises. 

If I somehow manage to fully fail, the push for the Tribunal has failed this meeting cycle, and we will have to deal with the ramifications of the Crusader magi pushing for war. With all that being said, let’s start by rolling on our tables. If I roll Winter for Cabal Legacy, I have to opt out. Regardless of time taken, I’ll say that Tribunal will take the whole season. 1 is Cabal, 2 is Tribunal.

Difficulty—1, reroll 1, reroll 2 for a total of 12 after exploding, very hard, EF 18 (1), “botch”, which means a very easy challenge, which as I said, I’m choosing to push it to hard (2). 

Origin—37, Hermetic 1, Quaesitorial Investigation is recommended at this EF (1). For Tribunal, I’m only rolling to see if something peculiar comes up that can add to our adventure. I roll 26, a mundane official, at this EF it would be a bailiff or equivalent. I might work this in (2). 

Timing—Only one roll since we know Tribunal is happening in Winter: 8, Winter. That’s a real shame, because it means I’ll need to opt out. With such a high ease factor and given the origin of the adventure, Jabril will need to roll on the loss table for this and it will likely come back next year. On the plus side, I don’t have to roll for Cabal Legacy any more this year.

Complexity—5, complex, 2 challenges. 

Type—Because this is a voluntary adventure, I get to pick one of these challenges. I’m going for Magic for our second challenge. It feels very apropos and hopefully will lead to another cool scene like the Duel on the Nile over ten years ago. As for the other challenge, I roll a 7, giving us a Social challenge, very appropriately. 

Omens—1. God, if I botch on this, I’m truly cursed.

Let’s get going. 

Spring 1234

Another season spent practicing allowed Jabril to reach Mastery 3 with Demon’s Eternal Oblivion, giving him Adaptive Casting. This will be helpful once I can significantly improve PeVi and invent a much higher version of the spell. Thank you, Mercurian spell masteries. 

Summer 1234

Jabril spent some time studying two of the Ignem pawns he collected from the Spring of the Sun, hoping to be able to learn one of the CrIg spells in his library before winter.All the while, he sat before a great bonfire maintained by his servants. 

Study xp: Rolled 6+3+2=11 xp to Ignem, bringing it to 7.

Autumn 1234

Although his CrIg lab total was 22, enough to learn Pilum of Fire, his casting total would be quite weak, only a 16. Still, now was a good time to learn the spell, and work on improving his total later. So, under the bright sunlight, he studied the old Flambeau lab text he had brought with him. 

Winter 1234

A Case for the Pharaoh

 

The journey to Domus Pacis was unlike any Jabril had previously taken. Unlike before, he made a side-stop at the Pyramids, where the magi of Ikhmindi, Venti Rosa, and the new Criamon clutch at Bahariya Oasis were already waiting. Together, this procession of magi made their way down into the delta and across to the east towards Jerusalem and Domus Pacis. Along the way, the magi discussed their approach to the secession proposal.

 It was decided that Heliobus, as eldest magus and likely the first Praeco of the new Tribunal, would lead the delegation, with Jabril as his second, to make it clear that this was not just a push by the Pyramids. The goal was to subtly move among their Mercurian fellows first, and gain support from as many of them as possible, then lay out the case for prior precedent in the case of the Slavonic Tribunal and push hard for their case in debate. Of course, there was to be liberal spending of vis and pounds as “gifts” to the assembled magi prior to the vote. Jabril had taken the dangerous step of bringing his entire store of vis, kept close to his person in a hide bag, and most of Siwa’s store of silver as well. He was willing to spend all of his decade and more of gains on this project should need be.

Arriving at Domus Pacis, the Nile magi were met with the usual condescending politeness of the Crusader magi that called it home—as well as the two magi of True Cross, already having arrived. To their credit, the two seemed not to have leaked the details of the original secession meeting, though glancing at their terse frowns, Jabril doubted this meant a change of heart. The meeting began with the usual pomp and circumstance due a gathering of the refined Hermetic Order, then proceeded into discussion. The Nile magi had agreed that they would wait to present their motion until after the topic of the Treaty was brought up, and so they waited patiently. Unfortunately, Jabril found himself distracted by the constant chatter of his Ikhmindi friends, and had trouble feeling out the tenor of the room as the debate began. 

Nevertheless, as the tribunal began to discuss trivial matters of border and covenant establishment, Jabril took the time to move quietly among the voters, finding his friends among the Neo-Mercurians and quietly entreating them to support the secession proposal. While Heliobus was of course more senior in the cult, Jabril was well-liked for his talents as a seeker and his commitment to their aims. To his surprise, one of the firmest supporters he found was Hector, the anti-Treaty Crusader from the Sinai. Hector acknowledged that the plight of the Nile magi was difficult, and that the situation in their region was fundamentally different from the rest of the Levant, even pointing out that the Levant was content to ignore its borderlands, citing distant Urania in Alania as an example. Jabril was touched by his support, and noted that he even began to work quietly to convince others.

He was interrupted in his work by the taking of the floor of the magi of Foothold, the loudest of the Crusader covenants. The fiery Rufus de Clary of Tytalus dominated the assembly quite quickly with a powerful speech in favor of turning against the treaty and striking at the sahirs within the year. For the part of the pro-Treaty magi, the greatest defense was that of Aurora Borealis of Jerbiton, one of the eldest of the tribunal and in many ways its leading intellectual light. That being said, age was clearly affecting her and her speech was lackluster and filled with awkward pauses as she struggled to find words. The matter came to a vote shortly thereafter, and as predicted, the Anti-Treaty magi inched out a victory, with their new and slim majority. The tribunal seemed ready to dissolve into general chaos as the vote concluded, with the Crusader magi all but threatening war against their Muslim sodales as well.

Then Heliobus took the floor. The old Bonisagus was not as respected as Aurora, but he commanded a great deal of honor from his work at the Pyramids and his position within the Cult of Mercury. The din of the assembly fell as he stood and strode to the podium. Here, he calmly explained that the magi of the Nile found themselves at odds with the direction of the Levant: that their interests were not served by this assembly, and that despite having a large population, they did not feel represented here. He cited the example of the Slavonic Tribunal and the division of the West Frankish Tribunal, and spoke firmly of the need for regional tribunals to be local, focused, and sensitive to their members’ needs. And so, said he, the Levant was welcome to pursue a pointless war, so long as the Nile was free to pursue a meaningful peace, and called for a vote to separate the two areas. 

This was met by another general uproar, which was silenced by Hector, who called for order and chastised his Crusader compatriots for their lack of decorum. Reluctantly, the Tribunal went to vote, and with the unanimous support of the Nile magi, save True Cross, as well as support from the Neo-Mercurians and, surprisingly, Aurora Borealis herself, the division was approved. From the Sinai west was delineated the Nile Tribunal, and to the east was the Levant. Here, a last bout of opposition reared its head, led by the pugnacious David ex Tremere of True Cross. David challenged the legitimacy of these borders, noting that True Cross was unanimous in their support of war against the sahirs and uninterested in Nile secessionism. With a thunderous shout, he challenged Heliobus to certamen to force the new Nile tribunal to cede territory all the way to Damietta, pointing out that the exact line of territory had not been decided by the vote, and was thus eligible for challenge by certamen.

Feeling his blood rise hot and furious, Jabril rushed to the floor here, and accepted the challenge on Heliobus’ behalf, declaring that he would champion the cause of the Nile, to a general cheer from the Nilotic magi. The disputants were given two hours to prepare before their certamen, and Jabril and the Nile magi grouped up to confer. 

First challenge: Per+Folk Ken (rolled 4+0+4=8, failure), Com+Neo-Mercurian Magic (specialty, rolled 6+1+4+1=12, spent 2 confidence to succeed), Heliobus rolled Pre+Code of Hermes (rolled 9+3+4=16, barely succeeding). 2 successes, 1 failure. 

Certainly A Certamen

As his wrath began to fade a bit, Jabril began to think he had made something of a mistake here. In accepting the challenge of a Tremere of close to the same Hermetic age, he was facing a far more schooled and skillful disputant than he. Luckily, he had the other Nile magi in his corner, including the wise Heliobus. The elder magus spent the time until certamen instructing him in various tips and tricks on how to defeat far more skilled certamen masters, and also gave him what he knew of David's arts and specialties. Much like Jabril, David was skilled at Rego, and would likely favor it for his technique. This was no problem for Jabril, and as defender, he could pick the form: Heliobus was happy to inform him that David was skilled neither in Animal or Vim, which Jabril had recently become quite good at. 

 

At last came the challenge itself. Jabril and David stood across from one another in the center of the debate chamber, and a circle was drawn, outside of which the assembled magi watched with apprehension. David made clear his demands: the Nile Tribunal would cede territory from the Sinai to Damietta to the Levant, and True Cross would be considered part of the Levantine Tribunal. For his part, Jabril made clear his own: if David were defeated, he would leave Damietta, and never again challenge the legitimacy of the Nile's territory or if the Tribunal itself. The demands thus made clear, the two discussed techniques and forms. David proposed Rego, which Jabril accepted immediately. For his part, David vetoed Vim, allowing Jabril with a smile to settle on Animal, his favored form. 

 

The challenge began, and in front of the disputants, an illusion formed: the two were seated on wild horses, attempting to break them and unhorse the other. With a ferocious mien, David flooded his power into the joint illusion, attempting to pierce Jabril's Parma immediately and force him from his mount. But the Arab Beast Master had learned much of the Parma in his time at Siwa, and deftly deflected David's rush of strength, nearly knocking him from his own steed. The Nile magi cheered as he did so, and Jabril indulged in a bit of showboating, riding about the challenge circle with the easy confidence of a horsemaster.

 

Here, David saw another opportunity and pushed hard towards his foe, but Jabril was clever and expected this, and with an idle flick of the hand, channeled power into his illusionary steed, causing it to turn on David and charge him and his mount with an overpowering surge, throwing the Tremere to the ground with powerful force. As the certamen ended in Jabril's victory, he chose, in a show of good sportsmanship, not to cast a spell on his foe, instead offering him a hand and helping him stand. Nevertheless, David stormed off in defeat as the Nile magi flooded the circle and surrounded Jabril, cheering. 

 

The next day, they went back home to the Nile together, now free. Much work awaited, but for the moment, the matter was settled.  

 

Second challenge: Heliobus rolled Int+Magic Theory (rolled 1, reroll 6 for a total of 14+3+6=23, success), Sta+Parma Magica (rolled 5+2+3=10, spent 2 confidence to succeed), Int+Penetration (rolled 9+2+1=12, spent 2 confidence to succeed). 3 successes. 

Result: A nearly-complete success. Working together, Heliobus and Jabril are able to find precedence for the succession within the Peripheral Code, as well as drawing on their Neo-Mercurian allies among the assembled magi to support their case. Heliobus's advice also helps Jabril come out on top in the subsequent certamen against the True Cross magi. Jabril gains 2 rewards+2 xp for his successes, and gains a total of ten xp and ten confidence for the difficulty + number of challenges (for a total of 15 xp). Overall, the adventure takes 9 days. 5 xp goes to Parma, 5 goes to Neo-Mercurian Magic, and 5 goes to Penetration.

 

Now to the more important ramifications: it costs 45 BP to swap a major hook for another major hook. Our two rewards give us only 14 Improvement BP. We have 30 Improvement BP banked from the big multichallenge adventure in 1229, and we have 6 more from the Adventure of the Kidnapped Redcap in the same year, so I spend 31 of the total 36 to add to our 14 and switch Tribunal Border for Rival, representing our new situation. This, I will be treating as a general hook meant to represent the upcoming difficulties with Levantine Crusader Magi, both threatening Siwa but also the Nile, as Jabril is somewhat giving himself the position of Nile Champion. 

 

We have an additional 12+6+12+6=36 Improvement BP banked from adventures (not counting ones that are EF 9, given that Improvement BP=EF-9). I am going to spend 30 of this to gain a new minor hook and boon for the Tribunal: respectively, Hermetic Politics, as Jabril is now entrenched in the favors game and owes Hector and Heliobus for their continual help, and Felicitous Tribunal, representing the united front formed by the new tribunal.

 

I am going to spend all remaining 19 BP that we have banked, plus 6 pawns of Aquam, to give Jabril a new Reputation, Defender of the Nile, at 1, and spend an additional 33 pawns of Ignem/Aquam from the Spring and 17 pawns of Herbam to push that Reputation to 2, spending all of our Ignem and Aquam stocks and half of our Herbam. Roleplay-wise, these represent the heavy bribes paid to various magi for support in the vote for the Nile. 

 

With all these changes, the years ahead look bright, if difficult. Jabril returns to Siwa to rest. The next update will contain an overview of the Nile Tribunal, including its covenants and magi, as well as various important positions and issues to come. Then, it's back to our usual, although likely I will force a voluntary adventure next year as well to represent the sort of informal Tribunal meeting that establishes the basic precedence for the Nile.  

Edit: with all my excitement about the Nile, I forgot to roll for the loss for the Mercurian cult quest. I roll a 5, meaning a loss of 9 BP, given the EF we would have had. Jabril pays 9 Corpus to Hector for his aid rather than help him with a favor he had asked for. 

Edit x2: I also forgot Jabril’s aging roll, so 2-1=1, no discernible aging.