This week, our session of Flowers of Algorab started to open up into the broader sandbox part of the campaign. We were without Hattie (Arda) this week, and her character was mainly played mostly by myself.
We had no technical issues during the session itself, but once I extracted the audio and transcript, Hattie spotted that for some reason or other, my channel on the audio had not recorded. This wasn't good, because she'd missed the session and the purpose of the recording etc is as a reference for us all, especially if you can't be present.
I'm not certain exactly what went wrong, but I suspect that the cause may have been when I realised my webcam was disconnected and plugged it back in, the audio feed from that may have overridden my sound settings and changed the microphone in use in the game. As Audio Hijack was set to grab a specific microphone, my channel failed to record because it wasn't generating a feed. Anyway, one to watch for the future. I was quite disappointed that this happened, as I'd put a fair bit of effort into trying to drive interaction and engagement in the session, and was looking forward to seeing how that came out.
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| The funky filter to boost the left channel. |
However, I was delayed in completing this write up and I had an issue in Episode 11 where I had massively low audio levels from my feed again. After much thought, I built a custom feed on Audio Hijack and re-recorded the sessions with my channel boost 256 times in level and de-noised, so I was able to get a balanced audio feed and a full transcript and summaries out. I need to make sure I don't get this happening again because this is a real time rescue - I have to play the stream in full to re-record it.
Our Crew
- Arda Qamar, a Guild Surveyor and Traveller who came from the Far Colonies from a Mining Combine operation. She’s the bird handler and Scout for the team. (Played by Hattie).
- Meristo Koulas, an Esoteric Coriolite Seer who grew up in the Fog of the Haze, and has ties to the Black Toad. (Played by Paul).
- Lieto Miesma, a Scholar specialised in Builder Archeology who came from deep inside the Factory City of the Turbine Halls, with a background in the Machinist's Guild. (Played by Graham)
- Fassour Faradi, a roughneck deep miner who also came from somewhere the eternal fog of the Haze, and - like Merits - has ties to the Black Toad. (Played by Simon)
- Rashid al-Masri, a scoundrel Hull Cutter who came from among the hulks and wrecks of Hull Town, and has connections to the Gardener's Guild. (Played by Andy).
- Corvus the Bird, a specter; cobalt blue, with a long beak, always observing. Usually handled by Arda.
The New Seekers (Fassour, Rashid, Meritso, Lieto and Arda & Corvus)
The Session (Spoilers for The Flowers of Algorab).
The session opened a week after the party's return from their delve below the Well of Souls, where they had found evidence of the lost ark ship Nadir, in the form of a mummified astronaut who was holding what the algebraists and scientists of the Explorer's Guild had started to refer to as a 'singularity sphere'. When Fassour Faradi, the New Seeker's Burrower, had touched the sphere to retrieve it, a powerful transmission had emitted from it, overwhelming all electronics in Ship City and beyond. Systems crashed and rebooted, lights failed, causing panic and dismay across this lonely outpost of civilisation. What's more, Fassour was certain that something had received the signal and responded, and that the Jumuah system had caught its attention. Naturally, the Guilds had kept the source of the event secret from the general populace.
The group, having recovered from previous ordeals over a tranquil week, found themselves summoned to the austere Vermilion House, an emblem of history and healing now serving as the headquarters of the Explorers Guild. Here amidst the architectural splendour, their resolve was tested by Master Moska, a figure of sagacious command and knowledge, who awaited them in her opulent study adorned with relics of the Builders and scholarly books. The team was rewarded for their service, with Master Moska passing out envelopes with details of their hazard pay from the last mission, several thousand rukh each as gesture of gratitude for their brave efforts in uncovering ancient secrets and unknown flora from their last mission.
Yet, the path forward was fraught with political intrigue as the machinations of the Guild Council loomed over their heads. Journeys speculated to trace mysterious signals across the Hammurabi arm beckoned the heroes towards potentially groundbreaking discoveries about the Nadir, the reason that the diaspora had originally set out to this lonely, lost Horizon. The New Seekers had a summons to the Astrolaab Tower, to give evidence about the discovery and their part of it. Master Moska made it clear that if they handled this well, then they would have a place in any follow up expeditions. They were encouraged to speak openly and truthfully, but always bear in mind the Explorer's Guild's interests.
Rashid al-Masri scrutinised the navigational maps shared by the guild master marking the pulsing signals from distant cosmic points like Auriga and Habanatum. Their intrigue was met with the sober consideration of their next voyage as Meristo Koulas envisaged the grand ship which would sail towards these celestial coordinates.
Lieto Miesma and his comrades deliberated the prudent allocation of their newfound wealth, envisioning acquisitions from archaeological tools to fanciful attire enhancing their diplomatic leverage. Their conversation spanned the possibilities of enhancing their expeditionary capacities, from sturdy tools to garb that would command respect and authority amidst the Special Council of Ship City.
The next morning, Rashid donned his new finery, anticipated to sway the hearts of even the most austere council members, and set out with the rest of the New Seekers to the Astrolaab Tower. There, within the vaulted chamber adorned with the relics of wood from the Old Horizon and the whispers of ancient navigators, they prepared to unveil the details of their recent explorations under the watchful eyes of the council's luminaries.
Thus, as the council gathered, the weight of history and the gleam of the unknown future reflected in their determined eyes, revealing the contours of a narrative yet unfolded. With each revelation presented and each secret judiciously guarded, the explorers stood on the precipice of the vast, illimitable expanse, their hearts thrumming with the thrill of the Nadir’s call.
Thus, guided by the diligent scrutiny of Master Moska and armed with the lore of navigational stars, Rashid, Maristo, Lieto, Fassour and Arda stood ready. Ready to chart a course across the unknown, with the secrets of the Nadir flickering like the stars in their indomitable spirits, mapping their journey not just through space, but through the storied legacy of their guild and beyond.
The Council quizzed them on the mysteries of the Nadir mummy discovered during their expedition. With the help of Rashid Al-Masri and Meristo Koulas, it was deduced that the mummy was kept alive through artificial hibernation and had died approximately 500 years ago. The council, intrigued, delved deeper into the significance of the discovery. The initial analysis from the specialists at Vermillion House confirmed the mummy belonged to the ancient spectral Nadir, known through the distinct iconography and ancient equipment found with it.
The discussion transitioned to the perplexing origin of the mummy and its implications for their understanding of the Nadir's movements in the galaxy. The thrilling proposal put forth was to journey to the Hammurabi arm of the galaxy, following the signals responding to the singularity sphere that they found. The hope was that these signals could lead to other spheres and, potentially, a triangulation that could lead to the ancient Ark ship Nadir itself, or at least evidence of its fate.
The New Seekers were asked to advise upon the make-up of the crew for this audacious expedition. They emphasised the necessity of each guild being represented, highlighting the unique combination of skills their team offered, seasoned with experience from prior missions. These earnest deliberations were punctuated by the gravitas of their mission—to decode the long-whispered secrets of the Nadir, representing a beacon of hope and a portent of greater discoveries.
The council sanctioned a expedition to follow up the signals, assigning the explorers as special advisors and emphasising the consequential impact of their findings. The explorers were to be furnished with a slipstream-capable cruiser, setting the stage for a historic expedition across the Hammurabi arm to unearth further artefacts and unravel the enigmatic signals.
With high spirits and a renewed sense of purpose, the crew left the council, custodians of a mission that might alter the destiny of their civilisation. The explorers poised themselves at the threshold of the unknown, their hearts laden with the solemn duty bestowed upon them and the fervent hope of answering the call of the Nadir.
In the verdant oasis of the Cave Gardens, Rashid, accompanied by Meristo, sought the acquaintance of Petume Sibgoli - the High Gardener's assistant, nestled amidst ancient flora. Their purpose was clear—to enlist another doctor for their impending expedition in the hopes of bolstering their medical resources, a prudent move given the usual perils that befell their medic. Upon their arrival, they were greeted not just by Petume but also by the esteemed High Gardener herself, Nefeli Bar-Ezravili. The immediate surprise of her presence was assuaged by her welcoming gesture to join her at a quaint, wooden picnic table.
As refreshments were offered, conversations unfurled like the green leaves around them. The High Gardener expressed the Gardener's Guild's dedication to locating the Nadir, a mission deemed vital for the future spread of humanity across horizons yet mastered. Rashid, with his typical diplomatic finesse, detailed their need for a secondary medic, citing the vulnerability of field medics based on harsh lessons from past experiences. This prompted a discussion on the practical needs of the expedition, ranging from extra medical personnel to possibly essential supplies.
Nefeli, intrigued by the proposition, deferred to Petume to aid in the search for a suitable medical professional, acknowledging her own potential in assisting with pharmaceutical or nutritional support for the crew. A sense of candid cooperation seemed to permeate the air as Nefeli underscored their genuine desire to support the expedition without underlying agendas, an assurance that resonated positively with Rashid and Meristo, validated through their insightful observation of the guilders’ intentions.
As the meeting wrapped with practicalities settled upon and promises of upcoming support, Rashid and Meristo felt reassured in their strengthened ties with the Gardener's Guild, their departure from the lush cave gardens marked by a renewed sense of alliance and purpose, emboldened by the High Gardener’s commitments and Petume's forthcoming aid in strengthening their collective expeditionary resolve. Their aspirations towards the unknown throbbed ever stronger, propelled by the earnest collaboration of their fellow guild members.
In the bustling hub of Ship City, as the twilight of another eventful day approached, our band of explorers found themselves entrenched in the midst of crucial preparations and unexpected negotiations. The dialogue opened with Fassour Farradi reflecting on the day's hectic pace, a sentiment echoed by his companions. Meristo Kulas, somewhat caught off guard, lamented his ignorance of a vacancy in their ranks, prompting a light-hearted debate amongst the group about the bureaucratic nuances typically involved, which they gladly bypassed this time.
The conversation took a tactical turn when Meristo pointed out their financial strategy for a new, albeit temporary, addition to their crew. Believing fervently in the value of extra hands during their precarious missions, he pragmatically justified the decision, framing it as a trial to evaluate the newcomer's loyalty and utility.
Amid these strategic deliberations, Lieto Miasma found himself unexpectedly engaged in a covert discussion with Maraka Din-Toufrak, representing the Synod of the Machinist Guild's, positioning herself as a benign interlocutor intrigued by his recent exploits. As they delved into pleasantries and the prospect of collaborative ventures, she subtly inquired about the resources needed for his impending voyage. Lieto, cautious yet courteous in his receptiveness, hinted at potential cooperation, albeit restrained by the delicate timing and sensitive nature of their mission.
The Synod representative, undeterred, explored possibilities of engagement with the mysterious Singularity Sphere, a topic that resonated with the undercurrents of their prior adventures. Lieto, diplomatic but firm, managed to convey both the fascination and potential peril wrapped within their upcoming undertakings. As the evening waned, the discussions tapered, with promises of potential alliances and exchanges of advanced technological support lingering in the air. Lieto tactfully declined further advances from the charming Synod aide, reaffirming his commitment to pragmatism amidst the enticements of Ship City's political machinations. Their meeting concluded on a high note of mutual understanding albeit shadowed with the unspoken complexities of future engagements.
The explorers, reassured yet vigilant, prepared to step into the unknown, their camaraderie strengthened through the trials of diplomacy and the ever-present thrill of the Nadir's enigmatic call.
Source - initially Tabletoprecorder.com, heavily edited for names, clarity and brevity with some parts injected to explain or catch elements missed in the summarising.
Edit: I've noticed that a key meeting involving Fassour is missing from this, and I will add it at the start of the next episode.
