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MOD ANNOUNCEMENTS: AUGUST
OOC & ADMIN UPDATES
Notable Dates
Remember to put all plots and events on the 9:47 Calendar! This is to help everyone keep track of everything's chronological order and to give us a reference when we update the game's plot timeline to help everyone keep track of what's happened. Once your plot request is approved this should be your next stop. Please help us keep this up to date.
Leadership Requirements
For leadership requirement purposes, we're extending the quarter that we started in May to include August. Everyone with an IC leadership slot needs to make sure they have a war table op or thread/post during that four-month time span. If you play a Division Head, Project Leader, or other IC leadership role please make sure to complete the appropriate requirements. If you intend to satisfy that requirement with a plot or war table assignment and have not yet had one approved, please get the plot request in as soon as possible so that things don't get jammed up at the end of the month. And remember that collaboration to create joint plots/war table assignments is encouraged, as is tying them into on-going mod-plotlines! There's a lot to be done in the wake of this new invasion, and our hope is that war table assignments will help drive that forward between big mod plot events.
Riftwatch Improvements
Reminder that the initial list of Riftwatch Improvements is available here on the AC Rewards page, and a couple have already been purchased, or are close! Remember to post your reports to the rookery and then also post them here for rewards!
IC & PLOT UPDATES
Invasion Aftermath
Without enough men to directly engage the enemy force, Prince Sebastian Vael takes over trying to harry them enough to convince them to abandon the siege. He is based out of a fort at Eildon Hill, south of the city of Starkhaven (but still in Starkhaven territory). There is no word yet about when the rest of the Exalted March is expected to join him; there have been some indications that they plan to relocate, but at present remain encamped outside Val Chevin.
Tevinter's forces are not only preventing traffic in or out of the besieged city of Starkhaven, but are also stopping traffic along the Minanter. Ships attempting to pass Starkhaven in either direction will find themselves stopped, thoroughly searched, and subjected to tolls akin to those they would once have paid Starkhaven itself. Any vessels found carrying goods useful to the war effort--particularly arms and armor, but potentially also food, raw materials, or portable valuables--may find them confiscated on the argument that either they were bound for Tevinter's enemies, in which case they have the right to prevent that, or they were bound for Tevinter itself, in which case good news, they've arrived early. Merchants who agree that the goods were indeed bound for Tevinter will be compensated for them at a reasonable rate. The only exception to this practice is vessels from Antiva or Hasmal (or Tevinter or the Anderfels, though these are rare), which are stopped to have their papers checked and their tolls collected, but are otherwise permitted to pass unmolested.
Meanwhile, pirate attacks in the Waking Sea continue to occur more frequently than in the past, with Ostwick and Hercinia particular targets. Reports conflict, but there is talk that some ships have been recognized as belonging to pirates based out of Estwatch or Llomerryn, or even affiliated with the Felicissima Armada. Both Ostwick and Hercinia have increased their naval patrols around shipping lanes and smaller ports along the coast.
Finally, we should note that Flint and Yseult are obviously not dead, and will make it back to Kirkwall right about now ICly, having escaped capture shortly before a rescue attempt arrived and then run into every possible obstacle on their journey back through the Marches. So there are no job openings and Tony and Byerly are no longer in charge of everything (only some things). Good news/bad news? All bad news?
Mod Plot Plans
The most recent mod plot has ICly reached its conclusion, but backtagging is obviously encouraged for as long as anyone likes. Following our usual pattern, we're currently planning to run a smaller mod event and a major mod plot in October/November. We might also do a smaller, low-pressure event before then if things don't seem busy. We'll announce the details when it gets a little closer. We hope that this will be a good thing and allow you all some breathing room to run player plots, do war table assignments, and tug on any outstanding plot threads that interest you. Make sure you track or regularly check the OOC comm so you're alerted to sign-up posts for player plots, and keep an eye on reports on the rookery comm for things to follow up on.
Notes on Player Plots
The conclusion of the mod plot has left a hostile military force in the Free Marches, with one city occupied, another destroyed, and a third under siege. Coupled with the ongoing occupation of Val Chevin on the Waking Sea and an associated enemy naval presence, travel to and from Kirkwall is now more treacherous in pretty much every direction. Everyone is free to incorporate encounters with bands of enemy forces as part of their routine RP without needing to submit a player plot or get permission. For example, if you're tired of threads around Kirkwall, you can do things like:
- an open log that involves ambushing small units of Tevinter soldiers, or hitting a supply wagon
- helping to protect refugees from a newly-pillaged village, or
- going to talk to a minor NPC noble you made up yourself to drum up support.
What we do need player plot requests for (and are always delighted to receive) are adventures that could potentially change the status quo or have a lasting impact on the war, Riftwatch's wider reputation, or mod-owned NPCs—basically anything we or other players would need to take into account during future plots. For instance:
- taking out a whole camp of enemy soldiers, or killing a general, or cutting off a key resource
- capturing more than a couple enemy soldiers, or any enemy that might be expected to have useful information, or
- going to talk to a major noble with enough resources to make a real difference or a big enough reputation to potentially sway others.
But we're delighted whenever anyone proposes their own plot tying into major events, so please don't be shy about filling out that form! This is just meant as a guide for when we need one, not discouragement.
As always, remember to post a report for player plots! There's also a mechanism there for posting private reports just for mods, if your character gets up to something that they wouldn't officially report to the organization. If reports aren't submitted, it's almost impossible for us (or other players) to keep track of what all's been happening and take it into account in later plotting.
IC Leader Updates
No new appointments this month! A number of leadership roles are currently available. If you're interested, you can apply here. Applications are evaluated at the end of each month.
News Reminder
We have some IC news to dole out in the near future, so if making IC announcements of world events sounds like fun to you, make sure you've signed up for your favorite categories.
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