PARTIZAN 08: Under the Boughs of the Court

Episode Description

After their initial gambit found success, the members of SBBR have put Columnar’s too-curious 301st Appraisal Unit off balance. Now, they seek to finish the deal--but to do so in such a way that will not draw more attention and ire towards the Sable Court, who has hired them. And if they can succeed, they may yet find that while the Great Stels of the Principality pay well, covens hidden in the woods offer more than simple currency in reward for loyalty.

This week on PARTIZAN: Under the Boughs of the Court

///Operation Dossier\\\

//Organizations\\


The Nobel: The people and culture from which Valence originates. They live beyond Partizan (moon), in the Scutum-Centaurus arm of the Milky Way, which a past Princept declared was not to be colonized or even explored. But years ago they suffered an attack from someone from the Divine Principality. Valence seeks to answer how, who, and why.

//People\\

Eiden Teak (he/him): Soldier and commander in the Sable Court. Wears the wounds of past fights on him with a distinct sort of pride, inherited from his time fighting as an Apostolosian soldier: He’s missing right leg under the knee, and a number of his antlers have been snapped and broken. Wears loose olive drab fatigues, marked the occult insignia and wards of the Court.

The Loess (she/her): The leader of the Sable Court stands with a the large, muscular body of a moose more than a deer, and her antlers are no different: wide and domineering, twinkling with not only the normal precious metal inlay used by members of the court, but also with shining, multi-colored gems--memoria--making them look almost more like brightly jeweled butterfly wings than antlers. Her base of operations is, on the outside, hidden by what you can only imagine is incredible advanced technology. You pass through some bushes and above you, a star chart flickers above you. Her voice, heavy, simple, but smart, welcomes you to the heart of the coven.

//Things\\


The Strand: A technology once used by the ancient Hyphan people to travel, without Portcullis technology, from system to system.
Clarified Memoria: The Sable Court has developed a process by which they “reveal” the truth of Memoria gems, which allows the already potent material to conjure and confer the miraculous.
Sable Wards: Through a combination of Memoria and control over the Perennial Wave, the Sable Court is able to create simple, seemingly-invisible wards that alert them of intruders.
Zenith-A Kathēkon: Often affectionately called “Cathies” by Apostolosian pilots, these medium sized, humanoid mechs were originally designed to be the Zenith Fund’s answer to the Troop. Specially built for Apostolosian needs (including night, underwater, and orbital combat), the Kathekon is a flexible fighting platform with fully articulating hands, advanced imaging, and jumpjets designed to allow low, fast horizontal hops. While the Troop still makes up the bulk of the Apostolosian hollow forces, you’ll often find Cathies deployed on special ops missions or by unit commanders. Their dark green color, bulbous armor, and large orange “eyes” give them an amphibious look--which is (part of) the reason behind Kesh soldiers referring to their Apostolosian foes as “frogs.”

//Additional Notes\\

The Rapid Evening’s Mission Objectives: Primary: Drive the 301st away from the the path towards the Sable Court. Secondary objective: Capture their equipment.

Rules of Engagement: Do not trigger any of the Sable Wards which have been placed.

Plot

Broun and Thisbe successfully take out Dina's Wedge, but Cobra continues fighting despite being outnumbered. He flees when Kenzi tells him to stand down. Thisbe chases after, taking him down with a tree while Mow is lacerated by his chainsaw.

The 301st leave their mechs. Valence lets Kenzi get a first aid kit for Cobra, but instead she rearms herself. After Valence negotiates and Broun treats Cobra, Kenzi agrees to report only that they encountered another Columnar squad. Broun takes some parts from their wrecked mechs but gives Cobra additional Columnar-appropriate medical supplies to help them leave the area.

SBBR returns victorious to Mourningbride, who takes them through the woods to the Sable Court, a group of Ashen veterans who have defected from Apostolos. The Loess, the leader of the Court, reveals to Thisbe that there are worlds unmarked on any map, which are unserviced by the Portcullis System and left isolated by the empire.

Valence tells Mourningbride a little about the Nobel. Considering Cymbidium's message, she informs them that someone from the Principality must have used the ancient Hyphan Strand technology to travel into the Scutum-Centaurus Arm undetected, without needing to use the Portcullis System. Each of SBBR receives a piece of clarified memoria; Valence's will let them contact the Court again. Broun convinces Eiden Teak to trade them gear.

When they return to Oxbridge, they learn Kesh is launching a new offensive into Apostolos territory to seize Fort Icebreaker.

Cast

Other Characters