Case 3: Briefing and Organisation

[oneiros]

Case 3: The Enigma of the Overcast Grave

During the period of the Great Contagion, a number of the directors of the Bureau of Seasons decided to use the powers of the Bureau as weapons against the Fair Folk invasion of Creation. The unprecedentedly violent outpouring of such martial weather caused significant damage and loss of life as well as destabilising the climate across Creation.

In the aftermath of the disaster, an investigation concluded that three of the directors were directly responsible for wilful destruction of property and life. For the abuse of their power and position, all three were sentenced to death, to be mined for starmetal.

It has come to my notice that this may not have been the case. There are whispers that one of these directors, Zeran-Dubuth, may yet still live, hiding in Creation. You are to investigate the truth of this and, if true, locate him. This is also likely to involve a cover-up within the Bureaucracy. I would suggest a two-pronged approach.

Zeran was an elemental dragon of air, formerly the Daimyo of the Season of Wood and Daimyo of Clouds. You are advised to proceed with caution on all fronts.

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There you go folks! Your intro to Case 3...

Expected group assignments are listed below; I don't know if you want to change having read the briefing.

Yu-Shan: Succour, Shroud, Pyramid
Creation: Icaron, Red, Ennico

Also, when do you guys want to make a start? I am happy for either group to be first, since you will all be starting on Day 1.

Similarly, did anyone have any issues with the way we ran Case 2 - anything they felt didn't work well, needs tinkering, etc?

[bravesirrobin]

I think the potential option to swap groups mid way through a case would be useful but don't know how practical. Even improving communication between the two groups would probably help...

I guess my other question would be, do we have a starting point for this investigation in creation? Obviously last time the Yu-Shan group provided a starting location for the Creation group. From this brief I wouldn't have said that there is an obvious location for our side to start in.

[Blackrat]

Improving communication difficult, though, because the two groups move at diff. speeds. There were several points in the last case where even if we'd had the ability to communicate* it wouldn't have helped because the other group was at the wrong stage.

* which, as far as I was aware, we did. I think the only issues with communication are the RL issues - I don't think there are any in-game blocks.

[oneiros]

I liked the way the other group acted on the info you gave them - however, that did have the effect of driving the timeline separation.

Suffice to say there is a lead for the Creation - an informant who will start things off for that group.

[oneiros]

IC: You all have just over a season (3 months) to occupy yourselves with other business until Case 3 starts. Starting locations are:
a) Yu-Shan - S/PI/007 Office
b) Creation - Nexus

OOC: When do you guys want to make a start on Case 3? I think most weekends are booked up until March (apart from Sun Feb 8th) so we may be looking at weekday evenings.

[Blackrat]

I could do with a little bit of time to catch up on various S:PI writings & planning, plus some other stuff. So if it could be a little way off yet, that would be helpful...

[bravesirrobin]

I'm happy to dive in some weekday in the near future...

[Learned Hand]

I know it's soon... but how's this Wednesday?

[oneiros]

BSR is busy on Weds I believe. Also I think I'd prob like a bit more time to write the scenario

I think Sunday (8th) might be feasible (for Creation group, that is) though but will need to check my diary on Monday.

[johandenerad]

Sunday 8th works for me right now.

[bravesirrobin]

ditto. and O is correct that I can't make wednesday.

[oneiros]

Just a reminder then folks for the start of Case 3...

Creation group: Sunday 8th Feb, 1pm start
Yu-Shan group: Tuesday 17th Feb, 7pm start

[oneiros]

So... when do folk want to carry on their investigations? I'd like to get at least one Yu-Shan session in before U has to disappear for a while.

As a point of note all characters are currently in Yu-Shan at the end of Day 4.

[bravesirrobin]

Meaning we could readjust grouping depending on how we felt it worked?

Thoughts? I think having Icaron in the creation group was useful, Incantation of Effective Restoration was certainly handy. Wasn't much need for a tech expert. Red and Ennico definitely built for the creation side of things I think, as they both continue to kick ass. Though I also helped with the big fight...

[johandenerad]

The tech expert thing would have been more handy last story, but I'm guessing it's likely we'll need your skills down here more in the long run. There's plenty of Celestial level crafters in Yu Shan (gods, Sids etc.), and I don't want to be walking into forgotten manses in Creation with a DB at our magitech helm. Plus, you have Efficient Secretary, which we need...

I guess my two cents is we keep the same groups. Icaron, Red and Ennico have all the bases covered between them, and for me none of the other characters could step into Icaron's place in the Creation group.