[1] overview
[2] new players and characters
[3] plotline // network // mer
[4] plotline // other



[1] overview

It's been Too Long^TM again, but things are largely linear this time, which makes the recap less physically painful.

For those of you who'd rather a summary of the summary of Mer:

Our characters are all screwed.



[2] new players and characters

Since the last newsletter, we've had three new sign-ups, though only one of them has stuck around:

Tatters from reddit unfortunately didn't come back too often and has since vanished from the IRC landscape. pinkgothic'll miss her because she was really neat.

Drak has been lurking in #dataclaw for a while and created the character Eugene Jager. pinkgothic has been a bit of a douche and still hasn't chatted them up, chiefly because she's been ill and thus secretly a cranky lil' bitch. Sorry about that.

Finally, there's Ikoif, but their screenname seems to be the only thing they've disclosed, so it doesn't look like anything will come of that particular sign-up.

In other news:

Reh has finally created a proper profile for Joukahainen, which, while not character creation in the truest sense, is certainly worth noting. He's been an NPC all the time so far.

Kheldar has decided to retcon Chi Van Quy // Tui Chi out of existence, mostly because she'd like to get back into Wildcard with her, but from scratch. As it wasn't too big a deal to remove her retroactively, that wish's been granted, so consider Tui Chi all polished and shined and new!



[3] plotline // network // mer

Anchored at the shore of the island holding the tenth Treasure, tragedy befell the quest as Rhea, whom our heroes had fished out of the ocean en route to Myragon, stole the Compass and all Treasures but one [interlude: Revelations], murdering the 'Guardian of the Compass' (Firfrey) on her way out [interlude: Mistakes], Hakumele trying her best to stop the errant Puppet [#300]. Azur initially blames himself for his gross error in judgement (preferring to trust his fellow Merians over the Citizens), but is quick to realise that he's not the only one beating himself up over the loss [#302].

Desperate for more than a single beacon of potential hope, the group tries to retrieve the tenth Treasure without the Compass. While they manage to retrieve it, they lose Archleone to Dark Water [#303]. Adrethyrian, a cog in the series of unfortunate events that caused the death, is later approached by Azur who tries to explain the concept of responsibility to him via Joukahainen [#304].

After a few days of travel, Rhea reaches her home, Nado, turning down all aid from Ezadir in favour of getting the Treasures and Compass passed on, stubbornly concluding her mission before allowing herself any luxuries [interlude: Reunion]. She reveals that two of the Treasures were found beneath the ocean, something of mythological relevance, which prompts Ezadir to question the fundamentals of his belief [interlude: Conduit]. He sets out with most of Nado soon after, leaving the island almost empty as Sawdust and Israel, sent to scout it, arrive, hoping to find the Treasures [#306].

Meanwhile, our heroes are looking for a safe haven in light of their trackability (Nado having the Compass and them two Treasures), which causes Azur to lead them to Banjamar, an island fortress surrounding by floating rocks [#307]. He and Joukahainen swim onto the island by diving under them with some help from the local wildlife, and try to negotiate help [#309]. It's around that time that Sawdust and Israel return, Sawdust reporting that they haven't found the Treasures but that Nado is deserted [#308].

The Banjamarians are fortunately swayed to help and reveal themselves as deeply hospitable given the involvement of the travellers in the Legend of Rule. Once everyone's arrived safely, they're given places to stay, and Azur and Sirena find themselves grouped into one apartment - something that initially threatens to be awkward but works out in the end [#317]. The next day, Azur negotiates patrols of the Banjamarian border with the fliers [#310], though to best the border, some Banjamarian help is needed, as it's impossible to pass above it without some magical aid.

Ezadir meanwhile explores the lesser known nooks of Merian mythology, hoping for some guidance from a neutral party but despite earnest attempts finding only thinly veiled rejection [#312]. On returning to his crew, he briefly complains about how there hadn't even been an attempt to manipulate him [#313]. He's left to make up his own mind.

As some time passes and nothing threatening happens, the Citizens begin to ponder their options, Azur trying to press for pattern-finding exercises in the distribution of Treasures to determine where the remaining ones were. A different option crops up as they're poring over maps: If Nado sent them a spy, perhaps they could reciprocate? Corinthian enthusiastically offers himself, and the idea of using a Treasure to bait Nado to get a spy to them catches on [#314], much to Azur's chagrin, who can't quite bear the thought of losing another anything to Nado [#315], though he sensibly keeps his objections chiefly to himself.

Sirena and Hakumele bond a bit while all this happens, and more insights into Hakumele's nature are had [#318].

Sawdust chats up Corinthian about specifics soon after the initial discussion [#316] and they set off, baiting the Treasure on an island named Katan and waiting for Nado to stumble across it. While it takes a few days, they don't have to wait too long, and Corinthian makes his way onto the ship [#319]. Almost immediately, he learns about the location of one of the Treasures that the Nado cultists know about, but blows his chance to return to Sawdust and tell the others, instead discovered and intercepted [#320]. Ezadir takes him to Samanya to ask for her opinion on his fate, finding that she'd like to keep him as a pet. Agreeing, he mangles one of Corinthian's wings to prevent his escape [#321].

Thoroughly tired of the virtual world, Corinthian considers helping the Nado cultists simply to bring the arduous sim to conclusion, in part prompted by Samanya (who is a Citizen, herself). He reveals the code Sawdust and him agreed on to find each other, and the Pandawan is caught and similarly rendered flightless [#322].

The Citizens back on Banjamar don't know of the mission's total failure yet.



[4] plotline // other

Back in the real world, Demona finds herself mourning over the loss of her sister in her own way, visiting her grave for a token guidance that her sister can no longer grant her [interlude: Conversations with Dead People]. Some time later, online in DemonWorks, she thinks it a good idea to introduce Andrew (who's art has been sneaking into her Puppet designs) to Marcus and Jaenelle. It... doesn't go so rosy, especially as Jaenelle reveals in roundabout ways that she's found out about Andrew and Demona's drunk marriage [#311].

Meanwhile, in World Times, all hell breaks lose as Jaenelle pleasantly hunts her way through the departments and paperwork to meet up with NewsHound - and stumbles across Marcus, who is incredibly wary of her motives. Trying to figure out what's going on leads Marcus to realise that NewsHound has been off on his own accord... and not at all 'benignly' (at least in the eyes of the Citizens) [#305].

Oh, and it turns out that Dread is still around [#301]. No surprise there.