The Eye of All-Seeing Wonder

Issue Six | Winter 1996

The Society of the Resurgent Octagon

David Bailey presents a fine adventure for high level characters.

Introduction

This is a scenario for between four and six reasonably advanced players. They are most likely to be soldiers who are trying for a promotion at between sixth and tenth circle. It would be possible for a scholar of war or history to join them, or even for the personal slaves of some soldiers to give it a go, with a little modification of the seating plan at dinner, I presume!

History

The Society of the Resurgent Octagon was founded in 142 by Trakonel I as part of his effort to counter the uprising of the One Other and its followers. After his victory he endowed it in perpetuity as a centre of excellence and military research. Its key aim is to preserve the Imperium from any manner of external threat. Its other functions are to be the ultimate arbiters of martial prowess, to study theories of battle and all manner of military matters, and to be independent record keepers. Over the millennia it has faded to a barely remembered outpost, but the Tsolyáni love of ceremony means that it continues. Its sole purpose, apart from a little research, is to run an annual competition. It is probable that the thing would have faded away totally if it were not for the support of the stability temples and their legions. The flame legions have been a little more curious of late; this may be as part of Mirusiya’s drive to revive old military customs, or there again it may be because a few officers would like to cultivate new friends in these times of trouble.

As is the way with these things, Emperors and politicians have found uses for the Society since it was founded. The current Emperor, Dhich’une ’Eternal Splendour’ is distinctly hostile to this establishment, for some obvious reasons. Even an apparent Militarist such Mirusiya has an ambivalent attitude, partly because the Society actually did very little to assist him after the Kolumeljalim. On one hand he has withdrawn all but the most token of guard detachments, ostensibly because they were needed to reinforce the borders. On the other hand he has rewarded champions of past competitions with valuable Imperial posts and public displays of honour—even extending honours to a couple of Thúmis molkars from the Legion of the Clan of Standing Stone who won last year.

The Fortress

The Society is based at an ancient grey stone octagonal fortress on the Eastern borders. The fort stands 25 metres tall on an island in the middle of a river, with sheer cliffs falling 30 metres all around its base. The only known way in is via a dangerous looking cage which is lowered from a balcony down to the punts that moor at a makeshift landing stage on the river.

The fortress has six levels in current use, the topmost is the roof, which has decking and a rail around the edge, albeit a rather low and old rail. The parapet is decorated with classical Tsolyáni motifs and these continue throughout the castle in all the rooms and stairs.

There are three staircases that run from top to bottom, one large central stair that is basically square in section with landings at each level, one east spiral stair (a bit slippery and worn now), and a very small west stair used by the servants that runs only from the dining room to the kitchen. There is also a dumb-waiter that can carry about 20kg that runs beside the west stair.

The fifth level, directly under the roof, is the servants’ and guards’ quarters. It is basically eight spartan rooms with pallets and bunks separated by curtains. With the lack of formal military discipline the rooms frequently resemble a clothing fight in a baggage train.

Beneath this is the grand dining hall, level 4, which is rectangular, the interstices being taken up with smaller rooms (including one holding the ’Black Arch’, of which more later)

On level 3 there are the studies and offices of the Society members, plus the four rooms of the library. Down on level 2 there are guest rooms and the quarters of the Society members. Finally, on the lowest floor there is a kitchen, various store rooms and ’reception hall’ that leads to the balcony and elevator. The fortress has its own well, sunk right down below river level, and a cunning system of chimneys and waste chutes. The major domo can chat about the drains for hours.

The Competition

Every few years the Society receives recommendations from a variety of legions for promising young officers to be made associates, with a certain degree of kudos and an undoubted fillip to their next promotion chances. The officers have to attend an award ceremony at the fortress.

The competition has run since its instigation in 1225 under Metlunel, The Builder. Legions send representatives in rotation—The Elite every year, venerable legions every two years and so on, down to every 10 years for minor legions. The competition, in its heyday would have gathered a whole semetl of officers from each legion together with entourages of noble spectators. The final parts and ceremonies were once held in Avanthar itself! Sadly the times of glory have faded, and the current situation is a very modest affair with only one or two representatives from each of the legions entitled to participate.

The customary rewards for success are the title of ’Bulwark of the Empire’, associate membership of the Society and an honorary stipend of about one hundred kaitars per year from the Palace of War. Duties of the post involve a few presentations and being on the ’call-up’ list for life.

The structure of the competition, as far as can be ascertained in advance, involves a day of tutorials and exhibitions, some ceremonies, a day of single combats and personal skills tests, a day of squad tactics and a day of theoretical legion scale battles. Any senior officer will have heard of this if asked. The last day is spent in further ceremonies and in deliberation by the judges. The whole thing has a slightly quaint and eccentric air about it. Bribery is strongly discouraged, though one could always make a donation to the library if one wished. Champions are allowed, and are encouraged for scholars! Invitees should present themselves, with a small honour guard, arms, armour, rations and whatever reference works they desire, at the fortress one week prior to the intercalary days.

The Society Members

The senior members are called the ’Eight Walls of the Octagon’. They renounce their families, wives and legions on joining; swearing all to the Empire. Each has passed through the Jade Arch after ritually casting off robes bearing the names of their past attachments embroidered into the fabric using precious threads. (The cost of these gauze ritual clothes alone makes membership an exclusive thing!). In reality each keeps in close touch with clan and legion, and the atmosphere within the Fort can become decidedly heated over such matters!

Other Characters

The eight supervisory members of the Resurgent Octagon have about twenty staff, fifteen researchers and about twelve honour guards. All but the servants are resident in the village during the contest as space is at a premium and the upper floors will be turned over to the guests’ own servants.

The staff are the usual mix of servants with a freeman of low clan as Major Domo, and a famous chef. The Major Domo is Hrinktu hi Fezamnu of Granite Lintel, originally from Usenanu, now too old to be really effective. The chef at the fortress was recruited recently from Jakálla where his skill had been reported as far as Bey Sy. The funds of Kintashmoi are probably responsible for drawing him here.

Private study at the seminary is allowed, but the journey is onerous and the main material is available in Avanthar or Bey Sy anyway. Few bother to travel here except for discussions with one of the Eight Walls. Private tuition is sometimes carried out, usually as a clan favour, but sometimes for money. Fees are high, mainly to prevent applicants overwhelming the few tutors. Currently only one student, Girikma hiZiya of Red Dawn, is resident. She is reserved, shy, keeps her eyes down and her fingers clenched whenever she is addressed. She has a reputation for working all night, and wears a motif denoting that she is mourning a close relative. She will not be drawn on the matter. Students are sent to live in the local village during the competition as rooms are severely limited, but they can travel in to observe the proceedings as part of their studies.

The local Hlaka ’flight’, of which there appear to be about 25 members, regards the top of the butte around the fort as a sacred site of sorts, and have a long standing agreement with the Tsolyánu for its use. The oral tradition has it that the butte was all that was left of a high mountain after a minor battle between the gods. In return the Hlaka are paid well for the simple task of carrying sealed messages to the nearest Tsolyánu sakbe station. This rapid postal service is essential, and helps preserve secrecy. The Hlaka smell a bit and are prone to hanging around the roof urging players to `join them for a quick flight off the walls’, a jest that causes them great hilarity.

A deal with the local farms for food and the rental of land and woods for the use of the fort is also seen as a good thing by both sides.

On Arrival

The player characters meet at the nearby village and are given rousing, if slightly lengthy, introductory speeches from two of the well respected scholar-soldiers of the Imperium, Danitolen and Ganeshma. The day is windy and overcast. There is the threat of sudden rain and squalls and the weather threatens to continue like this throughout the festival period. The other troopers, slaves, guards and competitors are quiet. Are they too overawed by the experience of being spoken to; or is it the thought that copies of their achievements might be reviewed by the Emperor himself?

The fortress, when they see it for the first time, will make a fair impact on the main players for its apparent impregnability. Few will be prepared for the lack of formality at the fortress itself. In many ways it resembles a seminary.

The players are greeted by the major domo who offers rooms on the second floor, some refreshment and free access to the excellent library (which it is said contains some ancient texts—if they can persuade old Finuela the librarian). This is a fine place to relax after the rigors of a long overland journey—the major domo makes it obvious that they should have come on a comfortable boat instead.

Dinners will be informal in style, and the social mores of reclusive academics may not mix well with the more rigid discipline of Imperial Legions. Only Danitolen hi SsúSsúnu and Vayanmasu hi Ssanmirin will set strict seating plans, inviting the players to join them. Kintashmoi will probably offend a few officers by inviting them to join him for a snack and a drink in the kitchen with the servants.

Talk each night will be concentrated on exotic tactical plans, and on the great battles of the past. Rustadz has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the reign of Hejjeka which comes in useful, as may Vrinsha’s knowledge of cartography. The players will learn much about the format of the competition.

On Day One

Players must pass the tests of martial prowess—basically a duelling competition against each other in which they must demonstrate very fine technique beyond pure brutality! Players chose their own opponents—choosing a really tough player to fight will be well regarded, as will the use of advanced techniques, such as riposte, disarm, evades, and feats of bravado. A huge variety of weapons are available in the ground floor armoury with which to duel.

The duelling square is set on the roof, has a sawdust and sand floor, padded walls, lots of banners and shields and four large pillars to run around. Observers and judges stand on a raised wooden platform. Mrikitoi acts as chief judge. He looks unfavourably on anyone who surrenders before they have taken at least a minor wound, and will offer to fight personally if anyone appears to be in need of extra tuition!

On Day Two

Tests of tactical prowess are dealt with by a question and answer session, written tests and then a brief squad level manoeuvre that evening along the river bank. The players will face no worse risks than falling in or being eaten by the local epeng-midges!. Thanotokoi is chief judge for this section, and he will deduct points for any lost ‘troops’. Vrinsha will control the opposing forces.

Don’t forget to award points, say one for every great move and five for a win. If players get carried away Vrinsha hi Ssarananu knows lots of first aid, but she will need to read a scroll to remind her of any healing spells, and this will lose the players most of a day in convalescence.

On Day Three

Tests of strategy, based on epic battles of history. There is a siege of Ke’erto to break, the city of Paya Gupa to defend, a pitched battle on the Jakállan plain and a long range sea mission to relieve a garrison on the Isle of Petris Layoda. However players answer, the tutors will have plenty to say on each case, indeed, running out of time is a real risk!

At the end of day three the judges retire to consider the results before an award ceremony to be held in the great refectory that evening.

The Awards

The players filter into the great refectory, there the servants all mill about serving refreshments and snacks. The servants appear rather surlier than usual, and one or two of them have not been seen before.

Talk is rudely interrupted by the ceremony known as the signing of the registers. They players will be summoned one by one into a side room. They have to duck under a low lintel to get in. This prevents them looking up to see the imposing black stone arch that surrounds the door, although they may be distracted by the strange glyphs carved onto the steel plate on the floor! VayamaSsú explains how the Black Arch works: "The Arch through which you will have just passed is a symbolic passage towards true glory as a servant of the Empire. Turn your thoughts to the good of Tsolyánu. Recall the great deeds of your clan and your legion. The gods will judge your intentions as you think on these things." Vayamasu and Kintashmoi stand behind the writing desk, on which is a beautiful hide book. "Come forward and record your glory" they intone. The air of incense becomes thick and there is a moment of dizziness. They read from a scroll "Each will sign his name, clan, and legion to proclaim the glory of the Empire!"

The Black Arch

The Black Arch is a highly simplified Jade Arch. It records the players’ thoughts about the Emperor and the Empire, and players will be selected for further advancement into the inner mystery based on their attitude. Maybe you should have encouraged them to talk about the Emperor before now? Roll a PR or MRF defence, secretly, and make it difficult. If they resist they will be marked in the book next to their name with a little black triangle and red bar, this can be seen by the next player through, this is the sign that their thoughts were not recorded, and will be both a blessing and a curse in later promotion.

After passage through the device, players will feel elated and inspired, they will have one or two problems explaining why to people that have not passed through.

If, by some astonishing coincidence, a player has been replaced by a pariah god demon, then it is curtains for them if they pass through the Arch.

If they baulk at passing it, they will be marked down in the book as a failure, and will be quietly forced to leave their legion at a later date, just in case they are a ’security risk’.

The return to the meal will be welcome, all are offered a little of every thing. The quail stuffed with mushrooms is a rare treat.

Within minutes, three of the noble scholar hosts go grey and stagger about: Thanotokoi hi Tungaku, Vrinsha hi Ssarananu, Ganeshma hi Qizibi, to be joined by Orun hi Kurushma of legion of the Givers of Sorrow (If you use this non-player character). It looks like bad food, perhaps the oysters or the grouse? The surprise at the ’food poisoning’ might be very little, after all the place was remote, and facilities primitive. There should be more surprise at the way in which four of the servants take out chlen daggers to attack the sick, while some run screaming for the kitchen (downstairs).

A servant rushes in to the room screaming ’The library is on fire! Girikma is trapped!’

Then the sky falls in! Well, not the sky, only the decorative lattice and paper false ceiling (so recently installed by Mrikitoi as an aesthetic gesture). The mode of entry of two identical women dressed in pale grey-green thesun gauze, the verdeigris vambraces and tattooed foreheads are unusual, as was their way of greeting the party: ’stay still, and you may live.’ With their backs to the main exit, and plenty of cover from overturned cushions and pieces of ceiling, it would be very hard to rush them, and harder still to engage them. They are armed with throwing knives and move like acrobats. Two more drop at the back of the room, closing off the stair to the kitchen and the dumb-waiter hatch.

It is about now that the fire in the library becomes so strong as to cause smoke to be seen in the corridors. It will not spread outside the library, but will be causing a lot of damage in there. Coughs and weak screams can be heard from the study, but a person would have to brave the fire to get to Girikma.

Time for Reflection

The servants start to put out the fire. The librarian begins to take stock. Healing and alleviation scrolls are dragged out of dusty old boxes and used as required, but only four are available. After about half an hour the place is calmer.

Here is how the members view events, they will expound these views to any player that talk to them in private.

The Militarists
Danitolen, Mrikitoi, and Ganeshma are really angry. To start with they appear to have lost Rustadz These three either want to run off and catch the baddies, or apologise to the Imperialists and kill all members of dark clans or temples (’it’s obvious that the girls were Hrihiyal, and the Ito sponsor trouble from Livyánu...’) Mrikitoi is especially suspicious saying that ’Kintashmoi was the one who hired the new chef’.

The Imperialists
Vayamasu and Thanotokoi say "we are consumed with guilt for the problems that this is likely to cause the Empire. We have realised that they were duped about the real purpose of the Black Arch" and have pretty well discovered the true purpose of the Militarists, of whom they have become very suspicious. Vayamasu is playing along for a while. They are not critical of the others; they add that "we are too clever to fall for such as obvious ploy as dressing assassins in green to discredit their colleague, Vrinsha—and anyway we know more about what Vrinsha was researching than the Militarists ever will".

The Others
Kintashmoi and Vrinsha would both like to spend the next several months laughing about the incompetence of the Militarists, whom they have been watching for months. Kintashmoi had all but sussed how to break the Black Arch himself, and was just waiting for moment to put a spanner in the works, now he doesn’t need to. He will tell players that "the Black Arch records enough detail to blackmail anyone who has used it. Worse, the psychic traces it retains could be used for other purposes. It is an abomination in these times."

An Interruption

Servants then report that two other servants ran off up the hill with a little parcel about ten minutes ago. They can be seen cresting a rise in the distance. A really fit person could just catch them, or even better use the eye of Aerial Excellence that the librarian suddenly remembers that he has! If the players don’t go, then Mrikitoi will go alone.

Back in the fort, all is not harmonious in the ranks of the Resurgent Octagon. Mirikitoi (if he didn’t go after the servants) apparently tried to kill Kintashmoi, first with a bucket of water and then with a sword. Mrikitoi "you blackguard, it is all your fault! You weakened the defences with your research."

Vayamasu becomes increasingly tight lipped. A pe’dedh is found attached to Rustadz, who has collapsed in a side corridor leading to the kitchen. The day is restored to normal when Danitolen takes charge. "I suggest a council of war", he says. This degenerates into a shouting match, and gives a perfect opportunity for Mrikitoi to try to kill Kintashmoi again. Mrikitoi: "I hate you! All Ito are untrustworthy. May you rot in a dark pit" Fortunately Kintashmoi had already told of his suspicions to others. Kintashmoi yells "Fool, Buffoon, Idiot! It was your masters who arranged this, can’t you see? The flame has burned away your common sense. Leave me alone! (ouch)".

The combined brains of the generals, the servants and any players may like to try to account for all of the assassins, servants and staff. `Who is missing?’ they all ask. The librarian completes his inventory—the last few books of names of people who passed through the arch are missing.

Thanotokoi then opens a panel in the floor under the steel plaque beneath the arch. He pulls out a metal rod, twists its end and places it, upright in a slot in the floor. "Now none may enter or leave" he says, "this place is sealed for a month and a day. The demon Tkel is bound to guard us for that time, and that alone. I will arrange the sacrifices." Outside the sky appears to be filled with black and red sparkles.

Down in the Kitchen

Beneath the food scraps and debris there are trails of slime that have dried to a silvery dust on the floor. They lead through to a hole in the brick floor. The hole has been smashed upwards from below. It is dark down there, and it smells awful. (Something is slithering.) In the rough space below the kitchen is a store room, and a hole has been made in this floor as well. A smell comes up through this hole from the bodies of four servants and the chef, who have been partly eaten by Pe’dedh.

Behind the second hole is a natural cave. In the middle are two alabaster coffins that glow with an inner light. They are side by side and connected by a slimy tube, which is too tough to cut except with some magical weapons. Inside the coffins is a luminous slime, the source of the trails, and of a pale light through the alabaster. The trails appear to be 8 sets of foot prints, one original in sandals, and seven bare footed. All the same size. A really good tracker would find that the sandals had just appeared from nowhere in the middle of the cave. There is a strong residue of magic!

At this point any non-player characters will leave, either to get help, or just throw up. If opened, one can see in each of the `coffins’ a wonderfully engraved verdigris-copper foil can be seen, partly unrolled.

Ganeshma orders "Everyone out of the kitchen and cellars", and ushers them up to the (now tidy) great refectory. He asks for ideas as to how to deal with the situation....

Mrikitoi suggests killing all people who have passed through the arch, in case they become subverted.

Kintashmoi suggests that "It really is about time that they all realised that more than one crime is being committed here. The Black Arch is no longer a secret. What has passed you by is the idea that the Flame radicals under Mirusiya have probably stolen it for their own benefit. The theft will throw all non-flame people into dispute (’is he affected?’ men will say of their commanders) and cause chaos in the minor legions. It will cause many to believe in a strong external enemy, and will give good grounds for a tightened state control of magic, borders, research and intelligence. I think that ’protective custody’ of important persons will be a natural consequence."

Danitolen suggests "As none could have escaped, there has been a simple error, and the records were just lost in the fire."

Rustadz is still unconscious, and dribbles a lot.

Thanotokoi is concerned that "The wardings on the fortress must have failed. I want time to research some scrolls in my study.".

Vrinsha is worried, "My study had been ransacked, although nothing appears to have gone."

Thanotokoi waits for everyone to speak, then says "The Keys to the Arch are, indeed missing." He describes these as a black octagonal gem that slotted into the Arch. He only thought to look a minute ago, and is very worried. "I thought that none new that the Arch was a potent weapon against the servants of the unnamable gods, but now this weapon is damaged, and the secret will not be kept for long."

What is going to happen next?

Only a very diligent survey of the lower store room will reveal a concealed door, which leads down. At the bottom of the steps is the discarded armour and gauze clothing of the remaining assassin. In a tiny chamber, used to store ancient records in decaying trunks, a further hole has been cut into a long, twisting, downward leading cave. The walls are igneous rock—this is a gas bubble: the breath of Vimuhla!

Around the final bend a blurry grey oval hangs, sizzling, in the air. Through it vague glimpses of a pale stone city can be seen in the distance, in the foreground a naked woman lays badly wounded, her left arm is cut off at the elbow, her legs appear to have turned to solid bone, and her right hand claws feebly at the rock. It is an overcast day. A limestone pavement stretches away to the city. There is scrubby vegetation under a bright and cloudless sky, and little else to see.

Outside the Fortress

After an hour the servant on watch spots, from the roof, several ragged looking men moving into cover along the cliffs. They are only brigands, attracted by the smoke and disordered appearance of the fort, but they can manage to put up constant arrow, sling, rock and spear fire on any party silly enough to mount a sally. They can’t pass the barrier while it is up, but they can make travel difficult.

About an hour later dozens of hlaka begin to arrive, calling and circling. This causes most people to leave the lower levels and have a look.

Hrinktu has some bad news: "Rations will only last about five days for this many troops, and not the month that the barrier will last". He goes upstairs to tell the boss

Where is the Fourth Chamber of Gold?

Diligent searching will reveal that there is a tiny hidden ledge, reached by climbing up the fallen rocks in the middle of the bubble chamber. Normally torch light casts shadows that would conceal it. It could be seen by a party returning from the nexus, as there is a pale grey light from this. One could then strip and crawl through the gap, if very small and slim and even then with only a dagger.

It leads to a dazzling chamber of pyrites—fool’s gold—crystals, in the centre lays the original, gel covered, Xantori. In her hands is the octagonal key to the Arch. She will lie still until, either all her other clones are killed, or someone finds her. She will point an eye at anyone who comes in, calling "I offer you truce, promise me safe passage, or I’ll fire this!". She says "I am noble enough to honour my side of the bargain, and I want for revenge on my sponsors".

Wrapping up

Xantori was sent as the senior acolyte from the southern temple of the Goddess of the Pale Bone in a city that the players will not have heard of, Chetro Ketl. She was under a contract to the Temple of Sárku in the City of Sárku, who provided the nexus gates and the poisons she used. All of her equipment is of unknown origin as far as any Tsolyáni is able to determine. She will track down and kill an Arsemkoi in the Temple of Sárku within a year. He will be closely associated with Dhich’une’s rise to power.

She has swapped the keys over. The real ones were left under a rock in the pyrite chamber, and a very intense search or magical survey would be needed.

The barrier will be dropped after a week, when the players will be released and offered an escort to the road. Their careers will be a little blighted for a while, at least while Dhich’une is on the throne, and they may find that they are under surveillance for a while.

The ’coffins’ are not saleable, but will attract a lot of unwelcome attention if moved outside the fort. They originally came from an island north of Lorun, if any are brave enough to follow that lead.

If any of the Society has been killed, then one of the players may be asked to replace them temporarily, a very noble post, but a little remote.

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• Out of Charges
• The Society of the Resurgent Octagon
• In the House of the Rising Thún’ru
• Joyful Sitting Amongst Friends
• On the Death of Tékumel
• On the Worship of the Most Holy Lord Sárku
• Seasoned Creepings
• A Matter of Honour
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