Hopetoun

[Vega]

Thread(s): Boarderin' on Hey Nonny Nonny [20th of Cylus, 721]
Participants: Vega (posting here with Darius' permission)
Brief description of thread: Having arrived earlier that trial, and gone off hunting (both still happening), Vega determines that she likes it here. Not least, it's named after Xiur's Domain of hope. So, she takes her fiddle to the main area and begins to play hopeful music on her magic fiddle and uses an ability she has. She promises Xiur that she will do this every night she's there, in his name.

FIddle

The fiddle itself is, as it seems to be, an antique and beautifully crafted instrument with a lot of history. When played by one of Xiur's blessed, however, it provokes one of three emotional responses in all those who hear it. The response is directly linked to the kind of music Vega is playing and the emotion will be the one she is trying to instil. For all three, this imparts a feeling, does not determine anyone's actions but provides a "nudge", nothing more. The responses Vega is able to provoke when she plays this fiddle are:
a) Hopefulness: with upbeat and cheery music, those who hear the fiddle being played will have a boost to their resolve and feeling of optimism - Vega can not make them feel optimistic that X or Y will happen but can instill a general feeling of being more up beat.
b) Peace and calm: with gentle and slow music, those who hear the fiddle being played will feel calmer, less inclined to violence or anger. Again, a general feeling, not one that she can target as feeling peaceful towards X.
c) Entranced: with a haunting melody, those who hear the fiddle will be focused on the music, pulled in to the emotion of it and will feel the urge to focus on that.
Vega can use this ability once a trial and so long as she keeps playing, the ability will work for up to an hour. However, she has to be playing, it has to be heard etc

Ability used

Vega has developed her ability to the point that she can use sound as a means of increasing the skills of those around her. Her devotion to Xiur and Qylios is such that she is determined to be hopeful, and to always do her best. She can play and, when she plays, it gives a boost to the skills of those who hear it. When Vega focuses on a group and actively uses this ability - she is able to inspire them to be the very best version of themselves. Any and all who are in the room / area where she plays (so not someone that hears it in passing, they have to be listening) have a +1 level bonus on a non-magic skill for the next trial (so, novice becomes competent, competent becomes expert etc). This skill will be directly linked to the focus Vega has so - if it is in a camp preparing for battle, for the soldiers it will be a combat skill - but the cook for that camp would gain a bonus to cooking for the troops. No more than one bonus per day can be given.

!	Message from: Trouble
	Accepted. As long as Vega is in Hopetoun, all NPCs can be assumed to be working one level higher in all skills that they would otherwise be capable of. This ability will end when Vega leaves.

[Vega]

Thread(s): Serenity - Creede Style [20th of Cylus, 721]
Participants: Vega, Arlo, Darius (posting here with Darius' permission)
Brief description of thread: Vega and Arlo arrive on Faldrass and spot Hopetoun as they arrive. They make their way (thread is still ongoing, but have been given permission by Darius to post in the settlement so I thought I'd just pop it here in case I forget. ) They'll be on Faldrass/ in Hopetoun for at least the remainder of the Cycle.

Details:
Arriving on their boat the Wanderlust are:
Vega
Arlo
Vega's dad, Joq'an (in my NPC list here)
Arlo's step-father, Jonas Creede (in his NPC ledger here ).
2 x horses (Storm & Peg - Arlo built them stalls on the boat in a thread a few years ago, I can dig it out if needed).
1 x dog.


Also a second boat (The Waking Dreamer - approval here)
On that are 6 x NPCs - Vega's cousins (Huw, Reese and Shon) and their wives (Fi, Lilly and Sian)
They are also in my NPC list here.

The whole gaggle of us will be arriving and helping out from the 20th, and I've been given the OK by Darius to do that.

If you need info on skills etc, give me a yell.

!	Message from: Trouble
	Thank you for the heads up, but please remember to only post threads that have both been completed and have a direct impact on the development of the settlement in this thread. Unless some of these NPCs become a permanent part of Hopetoun's population this is unnecessary.

[Vega]

Thread(s): Settin' up Camp [20th of Cylus, 721]
Participants: Vega, Kisaik (posting here with Darius' permission)
Brief description of thread: Vega goes out to do some hunting but ends up meeting Kisaik who arrives via a magic acorn. Vega uses the Font of Life ability. I've sent you this in a PM, but am putting it here since the thread is now finished.

Brightgleam Oasis

It is in the purview of the Induk of Lake Lovalus to call water and life into existence anywhere. Once per trial a Warden may summon forth a magically infused spring that will eventually form a small pool over the next five bits. The water that is summoned has healing abilities and will slowly heal anyone touched with it’s water while in a fifty foot proximity to the spring. The water will have a faint turquoise glow and will rapidly heal flesh wounds that are soaked or doused in the water within five bits. This water can also be weaponized as weapons dipped in it will be highly effective against Flameborn and any other servants of Faldrun. Arrows will sink deeper, and blades or bludgeons touched by the Brightgleam waters will burn and scald opponents that are cut or hammered by them. The Oasis can also be planted and used like a trap to lure enemies of Faldrun into, this will cause intense scalding pain and will weaken them.

Font of Life

Brightgleam Oasis may now be enhanced by the Warden by placing a drop of their own blood within it. When this is done the Oasis will expand over the next trial into a pool that is a couple feet deep and that will begin growing plants and trees around it. The healing effect of the waters will vanish once the blood is added and instead will cause the growth of plant-life nearby allowing a Warden to slowly transform a dry and lifeless area into a beautiful oasis over the course of the next thirty trials. This ability is used to restore land that has been harmed by the forces of destruction. Font of Life may be used once a trial.

!

Message from: Trouble

Accepted. As a result of this thread, Hopetoun has gained: Primary Resource: Fresh Water. Effect: Hopetoun Oasis: Hopetoun has a Brightgleam Oasis imbued with the Font of Life ability. Thanks to this magical oasis plant life around Hopetoun grows at an astonishing rate, allowing for an increased yield from agricultural resources. The wealth points gained as a result of building farms or other places that grow plants will be doubled. Tip: With the Faldrass' Favour and Hopetoun Oasis abilities, Hopetoun could stand to make a lot of money from agricultural trade.

[Kisaik]

Thread(s): Spring is in the Air!
Participants: Kisaik (Received permission from Darius to plant an orchard on the farmlands)
Brief description of thread: Kisaik uses some heavy powers of his diri to accelerate the growth of an orchard he's planting. Apples with some macadamia seeds as well. The powers are detailed in the thread itself in ooc notes. In the end, he uses his spirit cloak ability to feed the concept of the diri, to give its powers even more umph.

!	Message from: Trouble
	Accepted. As a result of this thread, Hopetoum has gained: +1% Order. The settlers are happy that they will have enough food to last for a long time.

[Darius Baer]

Thread(s): Herd Impunity
Participants: Darius Baer
Brief description of thread: On Scalvoris, Darius learns about shaggyoats and catches a few, then negotiates to keep them. They have fancy wool that is (apparently) valuable, but also crucially, it is warm...plus the Hopetounians can get milk from them, too! They will be kept enclosed in a fancy fence that Vega and Kisaik are building.

!	Message from: Trouble
	Accepted. As a result of this thread, Hopetoum has gained: +1% Order. The settlers are happy that Darius has been so proactive in acquiring new food sources for them. Please let me know when the enclosure to keep them in has been built, and what measures are being taken to prevent them from escaping.

[Vega]

Thread(s):
1. The Wild Hunt
2. Letter to Darius
3. Huntin' in Packs

Participants: Vega, Kisaik , Lars (posting here with Darius' permission)
Brief description of threads:

Thread 1. Vega and Kisaik go hunting and discover the mysterious etchwing; we bring a few back. We also find a kazan fowl and Vega has an idea or two.

Thread 2. She writes to Darius with her ideas here.
-- a) that she'll go out with a "hunting party" to teach them how to find the kazan fowl nests.
-- b) she'll also show them how to spot the etchwing.
-- c) that she and her father will start making arrows with the pretty coloured feathers. These might be sold, if we can make enough.

Thread 3. Vega and Lars go hunting. She
-- a) teaches him to spot kazan fowl nests.
-- b) Lars realises that he's not got good enough detection to spot the etchwing. But they work out a way to make it attack so they can shoot it.
-- c) On the way back, they spot a Phoenix Tree ( same link as the kazan fowl ) - which we bring back to the settlement.

There will be a Thread 4, but that will be for the fletching, and I wanted to get the 2 types of wood available to the settlement, and the feathers, in order to make them with.

!

Message from: Trouble

Accepted. As a result of this thread, Hopetoun has gained: Primary Resource: Etchwing Primary Resource: Kazan Fowl Primary Resource: Phoenix Wood Note: Thank you for waiting for these resources to be added to Hopetoun's profile before writing your fletching thread. Please keep in mind that in order for Hopetoun to gain your arrows as a secondary resource, it will need to be made clear that either: A) At least one citizen of Hopetoun is able to make and sell these arrows alone. This could be done by teaching someone how to make these arrows in your thread, just like you taught Lars how to hunt them. B) Vega is producing them on a regular basis, such as by creating a PC business. If Vega ever leaves the settlement Hopetoun would have to loose the resource in this case.

[Kisaik]

Thread(s): Spring has... Sprung
Participants: Kisaik, and Kirt (NPC) [Posting with Darius' Permission]
Brief description of thread: Kisaik helps plant some more macadamias, feeding his Diri of Growth with his spirit cloak Loshova ability using his Mortalborn lifeforce so it can use its power more and more. Kisaik helps harvest apples that have begun to grow from the trees.

!	Message from: Trouble
	Accepted. As a result of this thread, Hopetoun has gained: Primary Resource: Apples Primary Resource: Macademia Nuts

[Vega]

Thread(s):
1. Fencin' in Feelings
2. Good Fences Make Good Neighbours
3. Savoir of the Morning

Participants:
Vega, Kisaik, faceless NPCs from Hopetoun. (posting here with Darius' permission), Vega's NPCs

Brief description of threads:

• In thread 1, Vega decides that she needs to put a fence around the Oasis she's created. While she's doing that, she figures she might as well fence the orchard and the farmland. She ropes in her cousins and father (personal NPCs) and they work together. The fence they design, in the end, is three fences in one . An outer fence which is just a fence. An inner "living" fence which has alternating sections - one section grows cranberries, gooseberries, herbs in one section (in small pots - like this) and this then alternates with a section which grows beans, peppers, spinach, that kinda thing. In between them is a gabion fence, which is a held-in stone fence which collects rainwater / moss etc - and underneath that is troughs for said water.
• In thread 2, we continue the making of this. Since it's a big job, I make a point of who is doing stuff here - Vega as a master woodcrafter is doing all the small, fine-touch finishing jobs. I include mention that settlement folks are helping and building a sense of community.
• In thread 3, Sir Chip comes along and helps us. He's bringing some morning savior to the fence, too and he's helping to grow it.

Note on skills

• I made sure that jobs which Vega can't do are done by the NPCs with those skills.
• Relevant buffs:
  • The NPCs will be functioning at 1 level above as per Vega's fiddle playing etc.
  • Her Leadership Capstones will be relevant here. Specifically, I reckon Irritatin' an' Chipper and Leadin' by Example capstones will apply.

These fences should be around the oasis, the farmlands and the orchard and they made spares of the outer (normal, usual) fence for when Hopetoun starts getting livestock (since this is before the Shaggyoats date).

!	Message from: Trouble
	Accepted. As a result of this thread, Hopetoun has gained: +20 WP (the fences and other upgrades keep pests away and help the plants to grow.

[Vega]

Thread:
Freedom Song

Participants:
Vega, NPC father.

Brief description of thread:
Vega received a parcel - it's a thank you from a child she resurrected in Rharne, during the seige at storms edge. It's a flag - this thread is there to give me a story for how Vega receives her latest renown item (she just hit 1000 renown woot!). This thread is dated 1st Ashan, because that's the start of a season for NPC skill gain etc.


The item
Approved: here.

Flag of F'Liberty: A silk flag made with Weaver Silk which has exquisite embroidery crafted with lunar silk which means that the embroidery glows like metal. The background of the flag is a deep navy blue, like the sky at dusk and the embroidery is a constellation of stars which form a dragon. The colours on the embroidery seem to constantly shift and change.

In order for this item to be activated, two criteria need to be met. Firstly, the flag must be flying and secondly, Vega must be currently residing in the location. It will work on a boat or a camp or even (should she ever reside in one) in a house. The ability is able to affect an area roughly a mile from the flag itself. It creates a sense of community cohesion and a feeling of determination and hopefulness. It does more than negate fear, it promotes positivity and gives people a deepened sense of "clan" identity.

The impact on those in the area is that they have a shared sense of identity, of community, and they work together better. There is less conflict, more co-operation and people are, basically, happier, more hopeful and getting on better. This translates to a drive to get on and work and impacts PCs and NPCs thus:

NPCs: Learn and develop skills more quickly. In the case of personal NPCs, once they have met the criteria for skill improvement, rather than 10 points per season, they gain 15. City NPCs who are used in the same way (2 x threads per season) may also be improved in this way, with moderator approval.
Question: How will this (will this) impact settlement NPCs?

PCs: PCs who are working towards the goal of the clan are given more support, more help. Things happen quicker and more efficiently for that reason. PCs who are actively using skills which benefit the "clan" and are doing so with NPCs / PCs of the "clan" - may assume that the task is less difficult and by everything going smoothly and people helping, everything falls together more easily. This allows the task to be easier / a stroke of luck /teamwork to mean that the task is completed in 50% of the time OR to 2 levels higher a standard than they could otherwise achieve.

!	Message from: Trouble
	Thank you for bringing this to my attention. I would ask that the affect of this flag on the settlement be that projects are able to be completed much faster than normal as long as the flag flies within it. If we continue to stack abilties that allow NPC to operate or create things at higher levels eventually they'll all be making grandmaster thing everywhere.

[Arlo Creede]

Thread(s): Feeding the Masses
Participants: Arlo, Vega, NPC: Serena (with Darius' permission / knowledge)

Brief description of thread:
Arlo is helping Serena the settlement's cook. Vega helps out and tells him she is pregnant. Arlo commits to working alongside Serena and cooking for the settlement for the time they are there (until at least Vhalar, as Vega won't travel while pregnant). Arlo is a GM Cook (I'm still working out my capstone) so this should be a help to the settlement and will be for at least this cycle and next, and Serena should be working at a level above her usual due to Vega's fiddle-playing

!	Message from: Trouble
	Accepted. However, as nothing in this thread seems to directly lead to the settlement's development, no changes have been made. Please let me know if the capstone you gain will have an effect on the settlement.