Editing 10/13/2024 -- Operation Farm (section)

=== Pre-Mission ===

* Radovan has sent a letter to the party, wanting to pitch his plan to them. Everyone goes, though Andreas is confused as to why he got one. Radovan has set up a table with tea, and seems to be sipping some as we enter. He gives a smile and welcomes us, telling us to have a seat. He says he believes we have opportunity.
** “Mainly, as I was… hunting… I passed by an old mine. Now, the mine is deep, and it would be unwise to journey too deeply into it alone. However, upon investigations, I believe that it is likely this mine is full of rubies, and with these rubies and perhaps a little bit of manpower provided by the Brigade, we can create a time dilation bubble. A way to accelerate time. Should be good for growing livestock. It could help keep both the Brigade, myself, and Claudia fed. What do you think?”
* Thomas asks if someone was using the mine, and Radovan says likely at some point, but as it’s filled with trash and detritus, he doesn’t think it’s in use any longer. Andreas asks what kind of livestock we’re talking about, and Radovan says that for all of us, it’d be animal. For him, human(oid). Charon asks if these humans would be sentient. He’s been considering this… With the proper tools, it’s possible to grow a being with limited brain capacity. He’d consume it, it would not know harm or suffering, and he would then go on his way. As sustainable as possible. Some members of the party are reluctant, but everyone agrees to go.
* Angel goes to let Karina know they survived (though she’s already aware), and thanks her. She says she hopes they can move on now. Thomas goes to speak to Corania, and says he has a question and a possible request, if she has a moment. He asks if the room is warded., and she says yes – warded enough to stop any devil or entity within the camp from spying.
* Thomas asks if she knows how to safely remove a Torvian, and she says she does. He says there’s a deal that’s going to end soon, where Bob gets to come for his – he can’t be allowed to have it. If the conditions of the deal haven’t been fulfilled by then, he would like to remove it and hide it away.
** “That would be doable, although I hope you understand the target you would paint on your back. It’s not only the rogue Broker, but all of Hell that would be after you. Perhaps even after me.”
* Thomas says he’s fairly certain he has a target – or several. Corania says she would probably agree, and says she would try to remove the Torvian, though it would likely be an in-depth process, and as they’d be trying to skirt an upcoming deal, the devil’s magics would work to stop them.
** “Thank you. I will not be responsible for giving him any more power.”
** “What do you want to be responsible for?”
** “At this point, I don’t know. I… I’ve lost everything and I don’t know if I can get it back. And it’s all my fault.”
* Corania walks forward, and pats his shoulder with her non-prosthetic hand. She then backhands him across the face.
** “You’ve lost everything? Is that what you have to say? There are many more who have lost quite a deal. But you? Hah. You have power enough to shatter a ring, you have two sons out amongst the cosmic stack, you have friends and allies, people who believe in you, and you dare to sit there and say that you’ve lost everything?”
** “A son who’s been corrupted. Maybe we’ll make a cure. And a son who was taken by Bob, a devil who hates me.”
* Corania says that many have had people taken from them, in far worse situations. They’ve had his son locked down, the order waiting to be given. Her heart does go out to him, but it only goes so far – if he wishes help, she’ll certainly provide it, but he must pick himself up off of the dirt.
** “If you believe that all is lost, then it really is. Sometimes I think back to all those people who, in Tpres, had their entire lives destroyed, reduced to nothingness. Many of them truly did have nothing, no power, no family, no future to think of. They weren’t even aether souls, and yet some still continue to fight with this Brigade to this day. And all the fallen, they fought to their final breath. This Brigade has endured. Tell me, if your world is gone, if it has truly ended, why would I remove your Torvian?”
* He says they can’t let Bob have it, and she asks why they can’t let Bob have a Torvian. He says he asked because he cannot keep it from Bob if he comes for it.
** “Thomas Blithe, you cracked a ring in half. You have survived some of the deadliest battles ever seen in the Rings of Meropis, felled infamous impure, fought blossomed. There will come a day when we will have to stand against Ishin, Zolona, the forces of the Impure themselves. There will come a day when we are on the precipice of victory, when our backs are against the wall and there’s nowhere else to go, where the world will seem so against us that victory will appear impossible. What will you do then? Will you say it is impossible? That others must save you? If so, I’ll take your Torvian now.”
** “No. Even if it was impossible, I wouldn’t stop.”
** “Then why have you stopped now?”
* Corania takes a few papers, and tosses them at Thomas – they show the Black Horn is within Gehenna, the spirit river. He’s not with the others, and we’re very close to a cure.
** “Don’t stand here and say that you’ve lost everything, when we are at the precipice of gaining all that we’ve ever wanted.”
* Thomas gives a small smile, the first he’s had in a while, and thanks her – he needed someone to smack some sense into him. She walks over, tapping his forehead with a finger, and tells him to remember to get out of his own head; there’s more out there. She wishes him luck, and he thanks her again, giving her a short bow. He gets a hero point.
* Charon goes to Corania next, asking if she has time to show it some sewing stuff – she gives Charon a wry smile, and says of course she can, she does love to sew. Charon flushes, and says she also wanted to tell Corania what we saw on the most recent floor. She gives Corania a rundown of Delve 4, and says she thinks the tech down there would’ve been up Corania’s alley. Corania says she’s already begun documenting some of what’s been taken out of the Sanctum. Charon thanks her, saying it’ll see her later, and quickly – awkwardly – leaves.
* Corania turns back to her work, and Fidelis enters, politely knocking on the doorframe.
** “Oh, what is it, Char– Oh. What is it, Talisman?”
** She sounds noticeably less enthused upon realizing it’s Fidelis.
* Fidelis says he was hoping to continue their lessons when she had a free second, and she asks which lesson. Fidelis says he recently realized that he’s been so afraid of doing the wrong thing that he hasn’t done much of anything at all, and is now trying to go around and help. He wants to reexamine something basic, something that seems like a given but isn’t.
** “I was thinking maybe a good place to start would be something with earth, or the ground around us? It’s something that’s always there. I haven’t thought of it too deeply, but I went and helped Journeyman on his farm, and was very up close and personal with all the plants he has, instead of taking the ground as something for granted. Breaking down the concept and reproducing it… something like that, I think.”
** “I see… right… hm. Well, while you do make an interesting case, I don’t think you’re ready for anything today. Thank you.”
* She turns back to her work, and he asks why – she slowly turns and gives him a smile.
** “You, I suppose, either do not care about my orders or have completely forgotten basic tenets. If I were to teach you something as powerful as an earth rune, I fear what could be done with it, especially since you have not followed protocol.” 
** “Protocol, ma’am?”
** “Protocol.”
* Fidelis asks to do something from his actual list, and she says maybe, but not today. He leaves.
* Seth trains Damon, and sends him on a mission to find another wolf. Andreas gets a Heavy II spear. Charon, Andreas, and Thomas train.
* The mercenary upgrade is taken, and all spies are switched to emeralds – we gain +5 emeralds. Widow’s Home is rebuilt, and the last build goes into starting the time acceleration room. We’re given the choice between gaining morale or community, and choose to get +1 community. We spend -1 scrap for +1 supply.

==== Spymaster Questions ====

* How does the leadership feel about this mission?
** Mace Crane thinks it’s pretty pragmatic, especially if it can both increase food supply for regular citizens and make sure Radovan doesn’t turn rabid.
** Karina is hesitant… this could either bring the Brigade closer or spread discord.
** Corania is keeping a close eye on the situation and is ready to step in if necessary.
** Magion is keeping more to the prison and doesn’t know much about the operation.
* Are there signs of previously seen enemies on this mission?
** There are Arnyr drones in the area.
* What is the main weakness of the enemy’s position on this mission?
** We don’t know of an enemy’s position. There’s a mine. (Ask another question)
* (Instead) What rumors are circulating in Widowstone Keep?
** The Brigade came upon a genie in the Sanctum and wished for a bunch of shit. Everyone wants a genie wish.
** Widow’s Home hasn’t been fully fixed because a lot of the higher-level members of the Brigade are basically feral and like to sleep outside, so the leadership has made a bit of a concession. Everyone’s chill about it, though; we’re ''their'' feral higher-ups.
* Where are Enola and Cordell?
** They appear to be in Hell.
* Are they dead?
** They appear to be very much alive.
* (Spymaster) Where is Balek/Zetian?
** Calamis.