Mouse Guard SPQM source material

Planning for some Mouse Guard SPQM work; illustrations and some guard related stuff.

Rollbeskrivningar till MG: SPQM på GothCon 2013

Fausta Livius Elerius

Fausta kommer från en familj med rötterna i Sapientia och har uppfostrats att tänka och planera. Hon har blivit en duktig patrulledare som ser till vad patrullen kan göra utan att ta för mycket hänsyn till individerna. Fausta är ganska beläst och tror på att det går att klura ut en lösning på i princip allt. Hon har i Asylum övertygats om vikten av kollektivet framför individen trots sin uppväxt med demokratin i Sapientia. Faustas tro på att en plan kan lösa allt gör att hon inte räds ens ugglor, vesslor eller vargar - så länge man kan göra upp en plan för att hantera situationen.

Faustas vän Manius är också centurio och de delade många och långa stunder i arkiven både under sin tid som tiro (rekryt) och senare för att studera.

Faustas fiende Nona Sennius Bambalio är ledare för en sekt som är tveksam. Visserligen får alla möss, även i Asylum, hedra och vörda vem eller vad de vill men villkoret är att de även hedrar viktiga förfäder från Asylum. De lärda i Asylum och Sapientia vet att det inte finns några gudar eller liknande, det enda övernaturliga som finns är vägen till Efterlivet för de rättfärdiga, förfädernas själar - ibland hjälpsamma, ibland motarbetande - och en del mindre naturandar som penater. De vet också vikten av att ha sina förfäder på sin sida, därför finns en utbredd förfädersdyrkan i Sapientia och Asylum och i statlig regi hedrande av vissa hjältar. Dessa hjältar ska enligt Asylums lag hedras av de möss som önskar åtnjuta gardets beskydd. Gör de det är de fria att tro på vad som helst och hedra vad som helst. Möss som inte hedrar dessa hjältar ska inte skyddas av gardet och i Asylum är det brottsligt att inte hedra hjältarna.

För ett par år sedan möttes Fausta (med patrull) och Nona inte långt från Asylum. Nona begärde eskort av gardet men Fausta beslutade att Nona och hennes sektmedlemmar inte skulle få beskydd eftersom de inte gav några raka svar på om de hedrade hjältarna. Eftersom det inte var klart att de inte gjorde det valde Fausta att inte heller anmäla dem eller fängsla dem trots att de var på väg till Asylum. Nona blev dock förbannad för att hon nekades vad hon tyckte var en rättmätigt förtjänt tjänst.

Fausta försöker ofta att inte stöta sig med dem högre i samhället. Det ställer ofta till så det blir svårare att genomföra uppgifter och att planer måste läggas om. Hellre än att konfrontera senatorer eller gardets tribuner försöker hon förbereda sig på att hantera de eventuellt besvärliga situationer som kan uppkomma om något inte är solklart. En bra plan kan hantera det.

Om Secunda
Ogillar Secundas impulsivitet men uppskattar å andra sidan att Secunda inte ger upp.

Om Caeso
Gillar Caesos respekt för lagen (har inte insett Caesos egoism).

Om Gnaeus
Gnaeus är överskeptisk till demokratin även om de är överens om republik som bäst. Gillar att Gnaues är försiktig men sedan står på sig.

Traits
Gravitas: A sense of the importance of the matter at hand, responsibility and earnestness. This replaces Driven.

Leader: The Guard is always in need of strong leaders. Such mice have a rare quality that inspires groups of mice to listen to them, even when they speak softly or indirectly. But it is important that these leaders do not abuse their powers and remain capable of following orders themselves.

Pietas: "Dutifulness" More than religious piety; a respect for the natural order socially, politically, and religiously. Includes the ideas of patriotism and devotion to others

Favoritvapen
Stötspjut: +1D Maneuver, Attack är Versus mot Attack, Attack är Independant mot Maneuver.

Secunda Clovus Ignatus

Secunda är född och uppvuxen i Asylum, hennes släkt har bott där i alla tider. Secunda är lite av en hetsporre och ogillar starkt att ge upp. Ibland kan man dock behöva omgruppera för att sätta mer tryck bakom sin lösning, alla problem har dock en lösning - bara den har tillräcklig tyngd bakom sig.
Secunda bryter rätt mycket med sina stillsamma föräldrar och en del av hetsporren i henne kommer av detta. I ett försök att lära henne lugn och disciplin kontaktade hennes föräldrar arkivet i Asylum och fick dem att ta in Secunda under hennes två första säsonger i början av henne karriär i gardet. Detta hade inte avsedd inverkan, om något tvärtom.

Secundas vän Mamercus Camilius Erasinus träffade hon för första gången som tiro (rekryt). De fattade tycke för varandra och hjälptes åt genom hela tiden som tiro. I början av sin tid som fullvärdiga pretorianmedlemmar tyckte de det var jobbigt att vara i olika patruller men så småningom insåg de deras vänskap kunde stärka deras respektive patruller och på så vis uträtta mer genom samarbete och förståelse och på så vis bidra mer till Gardet.

Secundas fiende Caela Iulius Eborius blev mer ovän med Secunda än tvärtom. En pojke valde Secunda framför Caela vilket gjorde Caela väldigt bitter vilket dessutom späs på av att hon inbillar sig att de häftiga och tuffa gardesmössen får fördelar i Asylum och dessutom får många fler flickor och pojkar.

Om Gnaeus
Har svårt för Gnaeus försiktighet.

Om Fausta
Står inte ut med Faustas eviga planeringsmani.

Om Caeso
Kan inte med Caesos regelfascism, regler måste böjas ibland för att få något gjort.

Traits
Virtus: Valor, excellence, courage, character, and worth. This replaces Bold and Brave.

Comititas: Ease of manner, courtesy, openness, and friendliness. This replaces Open-Minded.

Curious: Curious mice can find engagement in tasks, especially new ones but can on the other hand happen to stick their noses where they shouldn't be. There's a saying in the territories, ''Curiousity killed the mouse first''.

Favoritvapen
Gladius: +1D på envald handlingstyp i Conflict.

Gnaeus Oppius Dignus

Gnaeus kommer från en familj som i alla tider levt i Asylum. Han är övertygad om kollektivets storhet och Asylums högre grad av kultur även om Sapientia får erkännas komma rätt nära. Gnaeus är dock väldigt skeptisk till de folkval som Sapientia tillämpar. Det ger för mycket makt åt okunniga. Bättre då att, som i Asylum, nyttja en begränsad form där folket kan rösta in representanter i folkförsamlingarna som sedan bestämmer vissa saker i samarbete med senaten.

Gnaeus är en duktig jägare och blev han bara lite bättre på Scout skulle han kunna bli mycket duktig även på att jaga banditer. Han har varit med om en hel del strid och banditkontakt och lärt sig en hel både om banditer och skogen men inte riktigt tagit till sig letandet och spåret eftersom det ofta sköts av någon annan som redan varit duktig på det.

Ofta är Gnaeus försiktig med att bestämma sig men har han bestämt sig så står han för det och är definitivt ingen push-over. Resonemang kan dock få honom på andra tanker men det går åt goda argument, logik och tydlighet.  Att Gnaeus alltid står på sig, tror på kollektivet före individen och är hyfsat gammal och inte har någon nära familj att förlora gör att Gnaeus är en ganska hård person med lite att förlora.

En gång i tiden var Gnaeus ganska deprimerad och övervägde på allvar att bara bege sig ut och försvinna i vintern och om inte vädret eller rovdjur dödade honom ordna det själv. Octavia som sedermera också blivit en duktig jägare, kanske till och med bättre gav honom dock en mening med livet när hon berättade om gardet (som hon redan var medlem i). De utvecklade en vänskap som dock bara är en vänskap även om de emellanåt kan ha lite vänsex (vilket en del misstänker och satt en del rykten i omlopp).

När Gnaeus var Tenderpaw tränade Gnaeus mycket med bland annat en mus vid namn Flavia Murrius Ulixes. Numesie klarade sig inte genom hela tiden som lärling och tiro och blev aldrig antagen. Gnaeus såg mycket av vad Flavia gick för och ansåg helt enkelt att gardet inte skulle gynnas av att anta Flavia, hon var helt enkelt inte tillräckligt engagerad och Gnaeus tycker tribunerna tog rätt beslut. Flavia ansåg dock att Gnaeus var nonchalant och inte stod upp för Flavia och stöttade henne och kanske till och med såg sin chans att komma före i urvalsprocessen.

Om Fausta
Uppskattar att Fausta planerar först och agerar sedan.

Om Secunda
Har svårt för Secunda och tycker Fausta är för slapphänt med regelbrott och galenskaper.

Om Caeso
Instämmer i Caesos tro på kollektivet och reglerna samhället vilar på, har inte insett Caesos egoism.

Traits
Firmitas: Strength of mind, the ability to stick to one's purpose. Replaces Determined.

Quiet: Mice are quiet by nature, but these mice are even more so. They’re quiet in everything they do— the way they speak, the way they work and the way they walk. Some sink so far into quietude, they have difficulty coming out of their shells.

Constantia: Military stamina, mental and physical endurance. This replaces Tough from MG RPG.

Favoritvapen
Stötspjut: +1D Maneuver, Attack är Versus mot Attack, Attack är Independant mot Maneuver.

Caeso Lusius Marsicus

Caeso är uppväxt i Asylum i en familj i en släkt som alltid bott i Asylum och ser framför sig hur han har framgång i gardet och bringar ära och penningstöd till sin familj och släkt och därmed även åt Gardet och i slutänden då Asylum. Caeso har klara egoistisk drag och är duktig på att se nytta för kollektivet i sådant som är bra för Caeso själv. Caeso ser medlemmar i senaten och gardet som förmer än andra möss i Asylum och möss i Asylum som förmer än andra möss. Caeso är duktig på att se moralvärden i olika beslut och handlingar men det är då moralen att det ska gynna Caeso, gardet och Asylum. Högre än alla möss är lagen och den ska ingen bryta, senator, gardesmus, nobiles, plebej eller annan. Det är lagen och ordningen som gör Asylum så framgångsrikt och att mössen utvecklat sin civilisation.

Caesos vän är en insektsherde som Caeso och dennes patrull hjälpte att klara nästan alla insekterna undan en storm som hade raserat herdens hela ekonomi och tillvaro. Caeso plockade fram sina insektskunskaper från sin ungdom och tidiga tid vid Gardet och tillsammans med hans skicklighet i att se väderförändringar kunde patrullen göra en insats och rädda herdens insekter och därmed dennes familjs tillvaro.

Caeso tog väldigt snabbt till sig reglementet för Gardet och en gång tidigt fick en gardesmus, Iona, reglementet noggrant läst för sig och omtalat att denne kände till och skulle känna till detta. Iona blev mycket förtörnad och har sedan dess sett det som en anledning till att hon inte blev befodrad till principales.

Om Fausta
Tycker Fausta är för slapp med Secundas regelbrott.

Om Secunda
Har egentligen inget problem med Secundas impulsivitet, däremot med regelbrotten som kommer av dem.

Om Gnaeus
Ser Gnaeus som lite lättmanipulerad eftersom Gnaeus ofta tar tid på sig att bestämma sig.

Traits
Iustitia : Sense of moral worth to an action.

Humanitas: Refinement, civilization, learning, and being cultured.

Jaded: Jaded mice have seen many things and don't easlily get upset or out of menatl balance but they can also become unengaged or not take serious things seriously.

Favoritvapen
Shield: +2D, -1D Recover from Fatigue.

Illerns konventskampanj i MG: SPQM så långt

This will be in swedish but it's background material for a campaign I've been running at swedish gaming conventions.

Förrförra sommaren (702 a u c) sändes patrullen på ett enkelt men viktigt uppdrag, postleverens med hemliga brev. Detta är inte den typ av uppdrag som Secunda sett fram emot i gardet utan ser det mest som en transportsträcka till ett viktigt handlingsfyllt uppdrag. Fausta däremot ser det som en god träning för de oerfarnare i patrullen för en av de viktigaste erfarenheterna är att skaffa sig rutiner och lära sig lägga upp planer. Dessutom är kommunikation och logistik kärnan i Asylums och Sapientias framgång. De levererar posten till Stameus, en stor gruvstad, och får post att leverera till Asylum. På vägen tillbaka från Stameus försöker en korp sno posten av ren nyfiken-het och på pin tjiv eftersom postväskan uppenbarligen är viktig för mössen. Korpen försvinner iväg med posten men mössen förföljer den och så småningom kommer de till dess näste där de hittar posten. Olyckligtvis dröjer de för länge och när de är på väg ned kommer korpen tillbaka och är denna gång betydligt aggressivare och det blir en strid på liv och död som patrullen håller på att förlora.

Plötsligt får de hjälp från en mycket oväntat håll, vesslor attackerar korpen och dödar den och plötsligt står den utmattade patrullen öga mot öga med lika många vesslor och det är bara en fråga om hur många av vesslorna som överlever att äta upp dem och huruvida någon av patrullmössen kommer stekas levande. Nu händer något ännu mer oväntat, tre gigantiska vesslor, och vesslor i sig är stora från början, faller de vanliga vesslorna i ryggen. Patrullmössen flyr i en inte särskilt ordnad reträtt men med postväskan i behåll. På något vis lyckas de komma undan medan vesslorna slåss med varandra.

De återvänder till Asylum med posten och rapporterar om vessleaktivitet långt inne i territorierna. Det blev ett handlingsfyllt uppdrag där Secunda fick handla snabbt och på liv och död. Även Gnaeus hårdhet och förmåga att hitta och undvika andra varelser i terrängen tillsammans med Faustas ledarskap var viktiga delar av att de klarade sig.

När en ambitiös fälla samma sommar (702 a u c) dödar en patrullmus och kunde tagit en hel civil karavan med sig så skickas patrullen ut för att undersöka den och eventuellt hitta spår efter vesslorna som förmodas ligga bakom så patruller kan söka efter dem och om inte döda dem så åtminstone driva ut dem ur territorierna.

Undersökningen visar till deras oro att det är möss som byggt fällan, möss med kunskap i gångbygge, möss som gruvmöss. Arbetet är stort och har krävt arbetsledare med teoretiska kunskaper. Patrullen söker runt och finner att mössen kommit från Stameus, en stad stor gruvdrift  inte så långt från fällan. De hittar dock inga misstänkta men uppfattar en asylumskeptisk stämning i Stameus och rapporterar vad de funnit om fällan och om stämningen i Stameus. De tycker stämningen i Stameus så pass oroande att de finner det nödvändigt att poängtera att det rent av kan förberedas uppror eller utbrott ur Alliansen i Stameus. Faktiskt så pass att det måste poängteras med eftertryck. Särskilt Caeso och Gnaeus såg beteendet i Stameus som ett allvarligt tecken på att mössen där inte samarbetar i det stora kollektivet som Musstädernas allians är, det samarbete som är själva grunden för kollektivets framgång och motståndet mot vesslorna.

 

Detta får till följd att en senator skickas till Stameus med ett ultimatum, ett ganska kort hållet sådant (optimaterna är i överläge för tillfället) och patrullen får i uppdrag att eskortera denne. Eskortuppdraget går bra ända till de på hemvägen blir inringade av vesslor. När de nästan börjat förbereda sig på att sälja sig så dyrt som möjligt och senatorn har talat med förfäderna och lånat en dolk för att kunna lämna jordelivet med den äran dyker plötsligt en jättevessla upp där de förskansat sig. Jättevesslan påstår sig vilja hjälpa dem komma undan de vanliga vesslorna. Det är förstås ingen som tänker lita på jättevessla som dessutom tittar lystet på dem hela tiden. De inser dock att de inte har något val och följer jättevesslan beredda på att få sälja sig dyrt till en jättevessla i stället. Jättevesslan leder dock mössen, vars doft försvinner i jättevesslans starka doft, bort från de andra vesslorna och försvinner. Patrullen och senatorn tar sig hem på helspänn. Optimaterna, till vilka senatorn hörde, är en gruppering i senaten som i mycket består av de rikare senatorerna och som värnar traditioner, nobiles, filosofi och Asylums överhet. Den största andra grupperingen är populisterna som tar upp folkets frågor, som värnar de bredare massorna. De är över lag inte heller lika styvnackade som optimaterna ofta är.

Under försommaren förra året (703 a u c)  får patrullen under lite hierarkiskt oklara omständigheter i uppdrag/order att eskortera en senator, en av de högsta i Asylum - en av sex praetor peregrini (utlänningsdomare) till Stameus, antagligen för att leverera nya krav och besked. Senatorn avviker under vistelsen i Stameus och visar sig möta upp med två jättevesslor. Efter att nätt och jämnt ha skapat en stand off mellan fyra möss och två jättevesslor lyckas patrullen föra med senatorn för att dömas i Asylum. Under en utfrågning lyckas senatorn finta patrullen och drar fram sin dolk och begår självmord och dör med en hälsningsfras till förfäderna. Patrullen återvänder frustrerad men med jättevesslornas kodmeddelande till pretorn vilket överlämnas till Pretoriangardets tribuner. Det blir mycket utfrågningar och hörningar i senaten men hur många som var med honom förblir okänt. På grund av senatorns hedersamma frånfälle får familjen behålla egendomarna och skickas inte i exil. 

Sluteffekten av avslöjandet av samarbetet med jättevesslorna blir en stor misstänksamhet i senaten uppblandat med möjligheter att smutskasta politiska fiender genom att associera dem till pretorn som mötte vesslorna eller att på annat vis antyda att de kanske är förrädare. Det är då inte vilket förräderi som helst utan ett brott mot högsta heligheten (bland annat självaste Asylum). För sådant kastas man ut från förrädarklippan i Asylum. 

Under tidig sensommar (703 a u c) blir patrullen utskickad som en av fem patruller som ska eskortera en handelsskeppskonvoj. Handelskonvojen som på hemvägen ska frakta, för Asylum, mycket viktig säd till vinterförråden har getts fem triremer med en gardespatrull på varje (på den gamla goda tiden innan det utarmande Vesslekriget hade varje skepp haft 5-6 patrullers bemanning utöver skeppsbesättningen). Resan norrut går bra och konvojen anländer till Lostora och deras last av förädlade varor omsätts i silver guld och framför allt säd. Det mesta av hemresan går också bra, ungefär två tredjedelar av vägen.

Konvojen attackeras av pirater. Det hade i sig inte varit ett stort problem då även piraterna lider av det, efter Vesslekriget, nedbrutna samhället. Det visar sig dock att de attackerar tillsammans med två minkar. Minkar är enorma vattenlevande vesslemonster och det är enbart Faustas patrulls oräddhet och samarbe som räddar deras trirem från undergång. Tre av de andra förstörs och kantrar och besättningarna börjar drunkna. I detta kaos bordar piraterna två handelsskepp och sänker ett tredje (triremer sjunker normalt sett inte) och försvinner i väg. Den femte triremen eskorterar de få kvarvarande handelsskeppen med överlevande söderöver medan patrullens skepp beger sig iväg i den riktning piraterna försvann.

Det finns trots allt inte hur många ställen som helst att gömma mer än fem piratskepp (biremer) och det krävs en stor befolkning för att kunna bemanna skeppen. Patrullens skepp hittar såsmåningom piraternas nattläger (vare sig biremer eller triremer är lämpade för dygnet-runtsegling) och gör strandhugg en bit bort. Patrullen smyger bort till lägret för att bekräfta misstankarna. Väl vid lägret upptäcker de att det inte bara är pirater där, minkarna är också där samt både triremer och fraktskepp från Navalia. Navalia är en av de tre dominerande städerna i Musstädernas allians (Asylum och Sapientia är de två andra) och är en övervägande handels- och flottmakt. Patrullen retirerar till sitt skepp och beger sig i gryningen söderut med så långa dagsseglingar de kan. Hela resan diskuteras och ältas frågan vad de ska göra när de kommer hem. Att piraterna ska fångas in och skickas till gruvorna är inget snack om saken. Piratledarna kommer troligen dömas till döden. Minkarna måste även de dödas för om de får avkomma och fäste i innanhavet kommer det bli katastrof. Utan ett lugnt och seglingsbart innanhav kommer Musstädernas allians bryta samman på grund av de förlorade logistikmöjligheterna. Frågan är dock vad som ska göras med informationen om att navaliaskepp är involverade.

De skulle kunna låta bli att nämna det för sammanhållningen i alliansen. En dag kommer vesslorna tillbaka och då måste de vara enade. Då kommer det också märkas om Navalia följer Asylum och Sapientia i att fånga in piraterna, bränna deras boplatser och jaga rätt på och döda minkarna. I så fall kanske det går att lita på navalia som helhet ia lla fall. Om de tvekar eller avstår så är förräderiet tydligt och ute i luften om patrullen delger sin information. å andra sidan så är lagen och mos maiorum (förfädernas sed) tydlig. Navalia har förrått aliansen och slagit sig samman med pirater och begått brott mot högsta heligheten, de har samarbetat med vesslor (minkarna). En annan trängande fråga är hur minkarna kommit in till innanhavet. Det tillsammans med de ökande förekomsterna av vesslor på senare år är mycket oroväckande. Rapporterar de allt kommer alliansen falla samman men å andra sidan så går det kanske ändå inte att lita på navalia i ett krig mot vesslorna ändå.

Medan Fausta och Secunda tvekade bestämde Caeso och Gnaeus sig för att berätta och vittna i senaten. ett sådant flagrant brott mot lagar om heligheterna och mot förfädernas sed kunde inte gömmas. ett litet tag hängde alliansen i sköra trådar och den interna politiken i asylum blev än spändare beroende på vad man trodde om vittnena men på förfrågan berättade och bekräftade även Fausta och Secunda och frågan om vad som hänt ställdes i hårda ordalag till Navalia (röster höjdes för assimilering av Navalia till Asylum och ett upphörande av deras självstyre). Navalia avrättade ett antal sjösoldater, skeppsbesättningar och befäl och frånsade sig ansvaret för vad som hänt och pratade om myteri. Delar av deras armé och flotta dekimerades även för att tilltala Asylum. Under tiden attackerade gardet piraternas tillhåll och tog befolkningen som slavar och lyckades med stor manspillan (fråmst i trirembesättningar) döda minkarna. Under förhör av pirater kom det fram att minkarna hade färdats tillsammans med vesslor som fördats i territorierna vilket fröklarade att ingen märkt något. Den myckna vessleaktiviteten hade döljt de två minkarna. Pirater påstod dock att samarbetet med Navalia var större än det verkade och sanktionerat på hög ort. det tolkades dock som försök att rädda deras skinn eller om det möjligen ignorerades för att rädda Musstädernas allians.

SPQM c1s17

The winter is closing in, time to leave to be able to get to Asylum before winter sets in and they get caught up somewhere? There will be a need for Pretorian Guards in Rustica to clear things up. Now The Guard doesn't have that kind of resources but to make the city dwellers believe that's what's gonna happen Dekia writes a letter to the city's government where she stakes out the needs the city has to fullfill the next summer when The Guard returns.

They try to get a smith to even out Dekia's shield so it at least will be useable if not as good as before. That of course wouldn't be a matter - unless weapon smithy was illegal. Even if it's for The Pretorian Guard The Milita must acknowlege it. De can't arrange a permission that fast but offer to give a basic repair along with some of their own equipment as a nice gesture but can't promise it will be ready tomorrow.

The patrol mice spend some time waiting for Nona and also to get some time off duty. They walk the streets as tourists, Gaius buy souvenires and they also decide to test something called vole booze. They find out that it's only served in the outskirts of the city and in the harbour area - and only after work day's ending. A little confused but with their curiosity awakened they visit a so called tavern in the harbour area in the evening. They try the thing, puke, get rumbling stomachs and decide to never do it again.

They leave and walk for their own inn when they suddenly get attacked by jumping spiders, a coordinated attack from three directions (Obstacle: Fight Animal versus 4D, Passed). They hear the mice letting the spiders go and managed to unsheat their weapons and fight the spiders off easy but there's no use in trying to follow the mice behind it in the dark and with their lead. They decide to carry on towards the inn. Suddenly Gaius almost get a roof brick in his head, something that would hurt him bad, maybe even killed him (Obstacle: Fighter versus 4D, Passed). This time they're not gonna let the culprit go and rush towards the closest stairs but when they get up on the roof the mouse there, knowing his ways around manged to sneak down before they came up and now have run out via some other stairs (End of GM's Turn).

When they arrive to the inn there is almost an upstirring there. The other patrol mice has also been attacked or had ''mysterious accidents'' and are in the mood for revenge, on the the responsible and the city in general. On of the ''ooops-accidents'' was a discus at the palestra who almost hit one of the mice directly in the head wich would have rendered him out of duty in one action. Some of them were attacked on the streets and so on.

Gaius decide that they shall leave the city and return to Asylum otherwise they won't make it before winter. Lucius is a little surprised by this un-Gaius-like behaviour, he expected a revenge led by Gaius himself. As they get a grip on the sistuation and hav some rest Lucius endulge in food and wine and fill his stomach and mind (Check: Resources Ob1, Passed, Condition Hungry & Thirsty is removed). Gaius is taking it uncharacteristically easy but is stil frustrated and angry although he tries to get over it and all that has happened (Check: Will Ob2, Failed). Dekia goes to bed early and manage to get a good night's rest (Check: Health Ob3, Passed, Condition Tired is removed). They sleep with a guard watching the room (End of Player's Turn).

SPQM c1s16c

The by the forefathers damned captain of the so called civil guard doesn't really seem to care about the order in the city, at least not when it's patrol mice that get attacked. The patrol mice bite their tongues and don't speak up but leave and meet up with the rest of the patrol mice (except Nona and her patrol).

There they are approached by a messenger from the duumviirs of the city who tells them that they ''ought to'' leave their weapons by the guard. After a lot of argumenting they do this but to be able to have at least a few armed mice they apply for bodyguard permission for the patrol leaders, the centurio. If acknowleged each of them will be allowed to have a bodyguard armed with knofe or dagger but it will take time to process their application. When they leave their weapons with the guard they manage to get a list of toll transaktion to find out who trades most, least and in between. Gaius patrol mice divide the lists between themselves and during the coming days they find out who are trading the most over the city borders, among others a gold and silver trader and a seed trader. When questioned the seed trader actually answers that he has noticed some changes in who buys what and in what amounts mice buy or sell. He has noticed a substantial raise in the price of seeds but no special raise in the buying of seed as traders had seen in Lostora. During these days the rest of the patrol os marching up and down the streets where they think the black mailers are working to give them a hard time.

As they are doing some progress Lucius manage to get in balance again (Check; Passed Will Ob 2, Undisciplined (Angry) is removed).

Dekia tries to provoke Vorenus, the black mailing mouse, to come forward by spreading the romour that they are gonna stay in Rustica for a long time (Check; Succeed with Condition) and manage to provoke him to do something (End of Player's Turn).

SPQM c1s16b

As the patrol returns to the inn they go by the palestra and have a long and hard nice exercising. After bathing they actually return to the inn, only to find that their spears has been broken, their wooden shields has been hacked at with axes. Dekia's round bronze shield has been severely buckled as have their helmets. Their swords and weapon belts have been peed on. One big and utterly offensive act against them and The Pretorian Guard. Although they actually threatens people at and around the inn noone has heard or seen anything. They are apparently afraid of someone. The patrols switch inn and soak up their belts in a try to get the worst smell out of them. Nona doesn't appear.

It is quite obvious that the black mailing mouse they met yesterday is responsible so they decide to pay him a visit early in the morning, all ten of them (Nona and her patrol have still not appeared). As they arrive two ''muscles'' stand guard at the gate to the stairs in the insula. The patrols take care of them and bring them to the appartment of the black mailing mouse. Nobody answers so they break in and find nothing else but a bedroll. They search for places to hide stuff but find nothing.

When they leave and enter the street they hear somebody whistle and suddenly about twenty mice appear from both ends of the street and attack them. The mice try to hurt them badly, probably to scare them off. They fight back and try to get away without getting injured (Check; Fighter versus Fighter, Passed). Gaius and his patrol walks to the inn The golden Leaf where they're supposed to find the black mailer. On the way over there they spot the city's civil guard who seems to keep the distance both to the patrol and the fight they had a short while ago. A strange behaviour for a guard one might think. At The Golden Leaf there's a captain of the guard  and when speaking to him they realize that he thinks that they provoked the mice of the city and thereby started the fight and either they handle that and take the damage or they start a process and accuse someone of something. Gaius is furious.

SPQM c1s16a

As they stay in Rustica to wait for Nona's completion of her secret mission they keep on looking for signs of The Miller or his doing. As they walk down the street they hear someone telling one of the craftsman in one of the many shops at the street level of the insula buildings ''You better pay or else...''. It's a jeweller in an obvious uncomfortable conversation with a nicely dressed mouse. Gaius interprets it as black-mailing grabs the nice-looking mouse and drags him away from the jeweller starts an animated argument with him. There is no direct connection between a witnessed threat from the mouse and he says he repressents a grup of mice keeping the bad mice away and protecting the good ones that pay them to. Gaius and Lucius follows the mouse as he walks away but Dekia stays and talks to the jeweller.

Dekia buy a thin necklace a little cheaper if she promises to show it off and tell everyone where it came from and mangae to start a little discussion about the mouse who just left and actually gets him to tell that there is something that could be called black-mailing going on (Obstacle: Persuader, Passed).

The black-mailer walks on floowed by Gaius and just behind him Lucius. Suddenly four big mice show up from different directions and try to separate Gaius from Lucius and attack Gaius. Lucius grabs the black-mailer and points at the bandits and ''happens'' to get in the way for one of them. The other three jumps Gaius and throws him to the street and kicks him and then disappear (Obstacle: Failed with a Twist). Gaius pass out for a moment from the pain but don't get seriously injured (Twist: Become Injured from the beating, Health, Passed). The four mice disappears and the street clears quickly.

Gaius gets on his feet again and with this as an excuse the all three escort the nicely dressed black-mailer so that he should get in trouble. He tries to resist but they follow him whereever he goes and is very reluctant to open when they get to his home. They make it clear that he has no other alternative than to open and go in to porve that he lives there and aren't trying to fool them. The apartment are in a quite fashionable insula and obviously he has some money. As the make him open he shouts loudly about their and The Pretorian Guards fascist methods.

Now they have a little problem. Should they tackle this obvious problem? In Navalia or Sapientia it's clear that they don't have any jurisdiction but this is one of The Free Farming Cities and they aren't really members of The League of Mice Cities?

They turn to mice of the local curia but htey don't think it's possible to accuse anyone for anything. Rather they think that it seems like the mouse is keeping the order. It's their, the patrol's, risk if they want to charge him of anything. Seems like the cities leaders either can't handle the situation or don't want to. The Guard has no rsources for it either (End of GM's Turn).

SPQM c1s15

They stay a few days in Lostora waiting for Nona to complete her mission. During these days they train. To find space for the training they go outside the city where they find an open space that's almost perfect for training. As they spend the day there a snobbish mouse with about ten mice following him appears. He claims to be the owner of the land and orders them to leave his park immediately. Gaius says that they're from The Pretorian Guard and outside the cities they are the law and they are training to do their important missions that he should be grateful for. The maybe-owner of the land doesn't back down and for a while it almost seems like Gaius will order his patrols to deal with the maybe-owner and his followers but he hold himself back and they leave the area and return to the city.

The city's palestras are cramped and in the search for somewhere to train and exercise they find out that the militia has an exercising area outside the city that's quite big. They ask and are allowed to do their training there. After a few days Gaius decides that they can't wait for Nona and they leave a message for her and march towards Rustica. The second day their camp is swarmed by mites and they have to scare them off to not catch any nasty bugs and to have their food for themselves (Obstacle: Fighter versus 4D, Passed).

They march on and they feel that they have lost time waiting for nona and when not finding that much information in Lostora. gaius have them to keep a high tempo (Obstacle; Persuader, Succeed with Condition Sick) and so they arrive to Rustica (End of GM's Turn).

Arriving in Rustica they find it hard to get somewhere to sleep for eleven patrol mice. As they search the city for a place Gaius at least get his patrol lots of food and they are all full and satisfied (Check; Resources, Passed). Lucius tries to put his hardships behind him but fail and remain undisciplined (Check; Remove Undisciplined (Angry), Failed). Gaius on the other hand feels quite satisfied that they arrived in time without anyone getting to much hurt and now their stomachs are full (Check; Remove Undisciplined (Angry), Passed). Finally they find a place where there's room if they divide themselves among one room and the dinner room. Gaius and the patrol leaders take the room and the other patrol mice get the dinner room. During the evening Dekia spend time for herself and reaches out to her forefathers to explain and to listen and manage to get back on good or at least neutral terms with them (Check; Remove On Bad terms with the Forefathers, Passed).

Gaius leads the search for information about The Miller but there's nomice called that in Rustica but seeds to get bought to a greater extent than before and the seed is transported away somewhere. Since no other goods like tools, hunting gear, weapons, and other stuff has been sold to a greater extent it's very improbable that the seed is for groups of mice. Groups of mice would need lots of other stuff too (Check; Find information about seed selling and whether The Miller is in Rustica, Passed). So The Miller is not here but someone is trying to affect the seed market in a way that will hit the southern cities most (End of Player's Turn).

SPQM c1s14b

When the trial continues the next day Dekia goes there to follow it and see if there might be any connections to the strange behaviour of the goods of seeds and meal. Meanwhile Gaius and Lucius walks to the harbour to ask about goods (that doesn't reach Asylum).

Gaius and Lucius talk with traders who say that there's no shortage but that they have gotten a better price from local buyers. It seems obvious that someone is buying seeds for something (Check; Persuader, Passed).

Decia listens to the last part of the trial and the local merchant is probably getting it. The defender of the merchant can't fight the very carefully applied accusations. The jury will gather again tomorrow to feliver their verdict; guilty or not. If guilty the judge will deliver the sentence, probably ostracisation or worse. Afterwards Dekia discusses the matter at hand with an assistent to another merchant who has nothing to add but thinks it's important to show that the city doesn't tolerate this kind of behaviour.

During the afternoon exercise, wrestling, the patrol exchange information and discuss what they know and don't know. Later all patrol gather at the inn. Noone has found anything spectacular but bread has apparently become expensive. In hte evening just as Gaius is about to explain the further plans Nona explains that she must go about with her secret mission and can't be part of the regular missions since her secret mission, as stated earlier, is more important. Gaius is frustrated, as are the rest of his patrol, but can't say anything since the secret mission is sanctioned by The Senate and The Mice People.

Suddenly Faustus remembers that one of his patrol memmbers is guarding a thief they caught that needs some flogging. Gaius is uncertain what's the correct thing to do according to the law (Check; Administrator, Fail with a Twist). In the morning they all march with the thief to the forum where they flogg him and let him go. Then they go to the temple of the city to honour the forefathers.

Later the jury finds the accussed merchant guilty. The judge delivers the sentence ostracisation, that the merchant should be denied water and fire within 400 (mice) miles for the forum of Lostora. An interesting effect of this is that the area stretches into the jurisdiction area of Asylum and the patrol feels a little insulted that the Lostora administration thinks that they can decide what should or shlould not be in Asylum. The merchant's body guard who is found guilty of contacting and training the bandits is sentenced to death but since he witnessed he gets the honourable death of decapitation instead of the very dishonourable regular strangling.

During the day Gaius engages in a lot of eating to get his strength back (Check, Buy food, Resources Ob 1, Passed, Condition Hungry & Thirsty is removed).

They continue their investigations by asking work leaders of day workers in the storage area and it seems that no more seeds are leaving hte city by the harbour than before but more caravans might be transporting seeds from the city. Seems that someone is buying discretly and maybe storing for some purpose, like feeding bandits or rebels. Dekia is asking around about The Miller but finds no information but hears that the exciting city around here is Rustica in the north. THere one can find voles, mice with just one leg in the middle and mice with their face on their belly and other strange and unusual things.

One of the other patrols has been searching the archives for records on arriving ships but hasn't found anything unusual which supports the theory that the caravans are the ones transporting the seeds away.

The troop of several patrols is suffering from each of the patrol leaders wanting to be the leader. Since the tribunes of The Pretorian Guard has made it clear that Gaius is the leader for the operation they fight over the post as second in command. Gaius convince them that rotating the second in command post each day is a good and the only solution (Check; Persuader, Passed). As the days are getting very hot and food often gets bad very quickly they get sick during the Mite Days (Twist; Health, Failed -> Condition Sick). That can't stop them though and they struggle on (End of Player's turn).

SPQM c1s14a

As their ship arrives to the Lostora harbour and the war ship part of it they see intense activity, many ships from the northern parts of the sea but also lots of ships from Navalia.

They stroll around a little but don't find anything interesting or room for 14 pretorian mice. Gaius manage to convince an inn owner to let them sleep on the floor in the dining room. Pretorian mice are trustful and they can trust them to get everything in order early in the morning before the first guests arrive (Obstacle: Persuader, Succeed with Condition Undiciplined (Angry)).

The troop invades a wine tavern and talks a lot to the staff and since the patrol mice are quite a few mice they stop much of the serving. The owner drives the staff around and instead gets caught up in conversation herself. According to the owner Rustica is an intersting place where one can find many of the things the pretorian mice has thought of as things travellers tell stupid people to seem cooler than they are. It is only by skipping some food now and then they manage to get everything in the dining room away for sleeping and back againf or the customers (Obstacle: Succeed with Condition Hungry and Thirsty).

The patrols split and go in different directions to hunt romours about the so called Miller. A t the forum there a trial going on. Gaius patrol stops to listen. It's a merchant, Voronos, that stands accused for having had his body guards training and hiring bandits to ambush competitors. The prosecutor is a mouse named Mikos and who seems quite good at his work. Most mice listening expects evidense ending the trial today (End of GM's turn).

SPQM c1s13

The patrol gets invited to Praetor Urbanus Mamercus, a simple dinner, ''simplicitas'' as he calls it. It's just three meals and frosted fruit juice as the last extra meal. When they ''happen'' to mention their work in The Pretorian Guard Mamercus stears the talk into the sadly lost Gold Age and asks if they might have the strength and character to act as if The Gold Age had returned, if it would be possible for them to carry out the new secret mission as if it was Gold Age again. He then mentions the secret mission that only Gaius should know about. Well, Mamercus is Praetor urbanus and very influential in The Senate. He probaly hears most things. He almost gives them the mission to seek out a mysterious dissident in the north cities among The Free Farming Cities and the Gaius should lead that mission although it might involve several patrols, that's why it's so special. Missions with several patrols acting together focused on the same task is a rare thing these days in a dwindling Silver Age.

The next day Gaius seek information about trade troubles that could either give clues to the slight shortage of food that has raised the prices some or give clues about someone pulling strings to accomplish this. In the short time they have before they should be ready for the secret mission he doesn't manage to do that. Dekia tries to convince one of the tribunes that it would be wise to let them not go on mission with Nona's and Faustus' patrols (Dekia's and Gaius' enemies respectively). Nona is trying to get to stay in Asylum for the summer to work on her career in The Senate and the officials. The laying suggestion is Gaius' and Volcatius' patrol (Volcatius is Lucius enemy). That on the other hand wasn't what the patrol wanted, they wanted to have four patrols but not the three patrols led by their enemies. Also Volcatius is suggested as first centurio. 

The patrol tries to convince the tribunes that they should send four patrols, one is their own and none of the three are the patrols of their enemies (Conflict, Won with Major Compromise => Four patrols but the three others are led by their enemies). In the end the mission shall be accomplished by four patrol; Gaius', Volcatius', Nona's and Faustus' patrol. Also Nona has some extra secret mission that might lake her sometimes unavailable for the mission to be carried out by Gaius and the other patrols.

Gaius is first centurio and leads the operation. The other patrol leaders are:
* Volcatius, plebeian who dislikes nobiles and especially Lucius.
* Fausus, nobiles who dislikes Gaius since their time together in the beginning of their time in The Pretorian Guard.
* Nona, nobiles who dislikes plebeians and Dekia especially and on top of everything Dekia isn't a citizen of Asylum but just a socii (a foreigner that has gained some citizen rights but for example not the right to vote of being a family head).

Just the perfect mice to cooperate on one of the biggest missions on hand for The Pretorian Guard.

The mission is to find and ''take care of'' the, so called, Miller in the Free Farming Cities. He or she is supposed to be behind the beginning food shortage that makes the food in Asylum more expensive, something that could escalate if it affects the deliverence of food to the poor in Asylum. Then unrest would be at hand. The proletarians and many plebeians would also become easily swayed by political movers. The patrol tries to convince the other patrols that this is actually a good idea and that the mission is that important that they should put their enemities aside for the duration of the mission (Obstacle: Persuader, Fail with a Twist). Nona takes the matter about her not having to join the mission but persuing her carreer in Asylum to the tribune assembly who quickly backs up the earlier decision by the single tribune (End of GM's Turn).

After this Gaius tries to get Nona cast out of The Pretorian Guard for her refusing to follow order (Check: Persuader, Fail with a Twist)

Lucius has a session with his forefathers at the alter at home and at the big temple for the forefathers in Asylum and manage to get on better terms with them again (Check: Remove On Bad Terms with the Forefathers, Passed).

Lucius, his father and Nona's mother persuade Nona to cooperate for the good of the clan. She be that egoistic, she is a part of the clan (Persuader, Passed).

Gaius patrol and the other two patrols, not Nona's, arranges for a ship to take them to Lostora (Check, Passed).

Dekia says that the weather's gonna be fine during the first part of the trip to Lostora (Check: Fail with a Twist).

The four patrols, 14 mice, then sail on a pretorian trireme to Lostora a harbour and trade city at the coast not far from the biggest city of the farming cities, Rustica (Check: Resources, Passed, to get food and other resources easily to get to Lostora as fast as possible).  Soon the weather changes and the weather of the Mite days in the Late Summer is worse than in many years (Twist: Health roll to not receive Condition Sick). They are also unlucky and don't manage to do the trip before or after Vestalia, an important ceremony for the household and their forefathers (Twist, Ceremony Master to not get Condition On Bad Terms with the Forefathers, Succeed with Condition). After one of the shorter but more interesting sailings to Lostora they arrive in the harbour where they see many ships from the northen cities and also ships from Asylum and Navalia (End of Player's Turn).

SPQM c1s12

As the families of Carnifex gets slaves for manning the workshop mamercus is setting up for Aeneas nona gets the agreed half of the slaves but fofers them to Mamercus before Lucius family is ready and thereby shows of a little. Lucius father is raviging in the atrium of their domus since not only does it out him and his son as a little worse but it do put the clan of Carnifex as a splitted clan with individually working families who compete for attention and glory rather than working for the clan. Lucius visits the slave market and together with his friends he manages to find yet one more appropriate slave and presents as many slaves as non plus one (Obstacle: Resources Ob6, Passed).

Just as Lucius father's anger is cooling down other news about Nona reaches his ears. Nona is holding a ''theoretical speech'' in the senate. ''Theoretical speeches'' are a way for young senators-to-be to hold an actual speech in the senate but wothout it having political implications since they're held outside regular meetings and the senators are supposed to leave them out of their decision making. now Nona is going to hold a theoretical speech against having plebeian military tribunes. That's one of the hot questions now and then, for example now and is not gonna be able to be kept outside the decision making - which Nona probably is fully aware of. Especially since there's not gonna be any counter-speech since it's a ''theoretical speech''.

Lucius decides to hold his own theoretical speech about the good sides of the plebeian tribunes and what they have done for The Pretorian Guard and that variations bring good to The Pretorian Guard. This is as close to a regular debate in the senate one comes without having it and should anyone bring it up, highly irregular and slightly dishonourable to fight it out outside the proper channels.

Meanwhile Dekia is burying herself in the archives to find information for Lucius to use in his ''theoretical speech'' and also the slaves are delivered to Aeneas' workshop built by Mamercus. It seems that the workshop with these slaves are fully manned except a skilled foremouse and that needs to be someone skilled in several crafts as well as administration but Mamercus promises to get one. Also, Lucius has a morning walk with Aeneas trying to befriend him and show him Asylum. Aeneas is quite snobbish though and disregards most of Asylum as ''well, we did that in Sapientia this many years before you'' no matter that most of these actually is evolved quite far away from what Sapientia did. Actually much of the Asylum versions has surpassed the Sapientia versions. Lucius bites his tongue, after all Aeneas seems to be a great inventor and as such important for the growth of Asylum and as by accident also the growth of the Carnifex clan since their were an important part of getting Aeneas here. Aeneas is somewhat impressed by the apiary though but goes on by not being the slightest interested in speaking with workers or foremice but only  masters. At the end of the walk Aeneas also admit some impression by the Asylum aqueducts, some impression.

Nona holds a theoretical speech about not letting plebeians into  the honourable office of military tribune. Nobiles are made for leadership, plebeians are not. Lucius who are a little more pragmatic realizes that The Pretorian Guard can't afford to be that picky at the moment. In The Gold Age that was possible but not in this dwindeling Silver Age. He therefore holds a theoretical speech about the need for The Pretorian Guard to be able to expand.

The informal fight goes on and they even have one speech each more and many in the senate seems to get that there is more going on, some sort of informal vendetta between the two. Also both Lucius and Nona is trying to put thoughts into the heads of the senate members. In the end Lucius is the one who manages to do that best but at the cost of the senate defining the office of legate so it will be impossible for a plebeian to get and hold it. No legislation on the matter of tribunes is done though (Obstacle: Conflict, Orator versus 4D, Won with Compromise).

Mamercus, the clever Praetor Urbanus, notes though that he has noticed the seperate deliverance of slaves from the two families, the almost same amount of slaves and the actual fight going on behind the theoretical speeches. It also seems that the senate start to get a stronger interest in limiting the People's Assemblies, for example by gaining control over the people's tribunes (End of GM's Turn).

Gaius is having an informal meeting with the tribune responsible for logistics and training of tiro and miles who also happens to be a plebeian. gaius tries to get the tribune to tell him about what the big mission everyone important seem to know about is about. He actually manage to do this but is held by his honour to not tell anyone else (Check: Persuader versus 3D, Passed).

Dekia digs on in the archive but can't find any information regarding what the mission might be about. In the meantime Lucius manage to convince Aeneas and one of the tribunes that a demonstraion of the belly shooter might be a good idea. A demonstration where the power of the belly shooter is showed off is held (Check: Persuader versus 3D, Passed). During the time up to the demonstration Lucius becomes aware of a conflict between Aeneas and the head weapon smith of the guard. Aeneas insists on ordering the giant arrows for the belly shooter with straight feathers at the back end whilst the weapon smith is convinced that any arrow flies better with slightly tilted feathers.

Dekia tries to get hold of her body and soldier on though she's sick but the stressed out life lately  make her fail that although they're back in Asylum and mostly off duty (Check: Health Ob2, Failed, Healer needed). Life goes on for a while in the city (End of Player's Turn).

Mouse Guard hack SPQM updated, v 0.6.0, PDF & ePub

A new version of MG: SPQM, Mouse Guard: Senatus Populusque Muris ver. 0.6, can be found under Stuff at www.illertass.se, link. Many sections has been filled out better.

illern (a) illertass.se

MG SPQM c1s11: Look at my family.

During the break in missions the patrol is called to a hearing about the hare incident. The hares have made a big event out of the patrol, who they don't know wich patrol it is, shot at a hare and now has temporarily ended their cooperation with Asylum which means no hare riders for The Guard and no hare contests at The Big Games. They probably won't hold that stance for long though since they need work done by the mice but for the moment it's the mice who has it worst.

It's Nona who ahs brought this up and questioned whether the patrol did the right thing and if they maybe should be punished in soem way. At the hearing is the patrol, Nona and a tribunis. The patrol defend themselves quite good although they can't get away from the fact that they're the reason that there's no hares for the hare riders and no hare contests fo The Big Games this year. In the end the tribunis concludes that they did wrong but that they can't really be held responsible for the result since they act with what information they had at the moment and at that moment the hare seemed to be a spy for someone and then not a member of the hare Asylum is cooperating with. There will be some discontent in The Guard (Obstacle, Conflict, Convince the tribunis they acted correct with the information at hand: Won with Minor Compromise). 

As a few days pass by they realize that Nona and Faustus is working hard on getting most of the cedit for bringing on half of the box to Asylum and also rescuing the other half that the patrol lost. Now that can't be let pass by without taking a stand. A rethoric fight takes place over the coming week as Nona and Faustus is spreading lies and the patrol tries to kill the rumours with the truth. Apparently Nona and Faustus don't think that Gaius' patrol should have both a merit badge for the long secret box mission and the recover of the lost half. If their rumorus get a grip in the guards's minds there will be voices raised for not giving them to merit badges. Lucius is a good speaker and together they manage to almost fight the rumours but Nona and Faustus has a lead and works hard. In the end they only is given one merit badge but also Nona and Faustus is deemed quite suspicius by many guards and lose some of their good connections with other guards (Obstacle, Conflict, Convince the guards that Faustus and Nona is not speaking the truth: Won by both sides, The patrol only gets one merit badge and Faustus and Nona loses 1 point in Circles). The division between Nona & Faustus and the patrol is just widened (End of GM's Turn).

Gaius visits a doctor to finally get rid of the sickness lingering from the long period in the wilderness (Check: Passed Circles Ob4).

As things settle down Lucius, with his family head's good will start to arrange for a feast for the patrol, Mamercus Fabius Longius and the philosophers. The feast will just be a dinner for M F Longius but Lucius presents it as a simple dinner to remind fo the hardship the patrol and the philosophers endured together. The feast goes well and Mamercus finds it nice and picturesque and leaves thinking good of Lucius family (Ceck: Arrange dinner for Mamercus in a way that makes him focus on Lucius family as partners in the affairs with the philosophers, Passed Resources Ob6). During the dinner Dekia has her own agenda, she wants to lure Aeneas to tell her what the thing in the box is. Interested and curius as Lucius is he can't stop her although there's some risk that her attempts ruin the feast. In good team work witht he rest of the patrol Mamercus is distracted and Aeneas tungue slip late in the evening and he tells Dekia that it was a Astrobium, whatever that is, but as he's gone so far his own ego makes him to shortly explain what it could be used for. Apparently the one holding it will be able to sail across the big sea instead of around it. A fact that could topple the power balance in The League of Mice Cities not a little (Check: Passed Deciever versus 3D). 

Satisfied with the course of events the patrol relax and finnally get some real rest for a while (End of GM's Turn).

illern (a) illertass.se

SPQM c1s10: Finally, the box is in Asylum!

Early Summer, 3 Weather Twists.

The patrol arrives at Asylum and immediately takes the philosophers to the barracks to leave them in the care of The Guard, report and convince the tribunis in command that there's still a chance to get to their half of the box - if they just get some extra patrols and quickly go out to comb the terrain. Dekia and Gaius leaves their report and try to convince the tribunis while Lucius keep an eye on the philosophers. Aeneas actually seems a little interested in the order of everything at the barracks although he usually seems to think that Asylum is well below Sapientia in every mean.

Dekia manages to convince the tribunis to give them three extra patrols and immediately go out and track the godmice down (Obstacle: Failed Persuader versus 3D, succeeded with Condition Angry). Immediately they escort the philosophers to Marmercus Longius Fabius, the city praetor, who will be their host in Asylum while the other patrols gather for the mission, only to find out that two of the three patrols are Faustus' and Nona's patrols. Gaius and Dekia bite their tongues, control themselves and they set out on the mission.

Now organization is a hard thing for mice but Gaius does a good job and the next day they're closing in on the godmice in double cadence and in good organized. It's almost that they for a moment feel a little breeze from The Golden Age as they fall down on the godmice who drops the box and run for their life (Obstacle: Passed Beginner's Luck Militarist).

They get the box and quickly returns to Asylum, a little surprised they could work so well together although the harsh relations and a little worried about that only a few godmice was travelling wioth the box. Without ambushes they arrive to Asylum and can give the box to a happy Aeneas (End of GM's Turn).

They now actually get two weeks of rest where they will get no new missions and they fall into some our-big-important-mission-is-finished-and-we-succeeded-coma. Later Lucius visits a Doctor and get his injuries treated (Check: Passed Contacts Ob4, Condition Injured is removed). Both Dekia and Gaius manage to, after a while, come to senses and relax now that the missions is over and they don't have to work with Nona or Faustus. Now the responsibility for the box is no longer theirs (Check: Passed Will Ob2 for both Dekia and Gaius).

The happiness is tainted with sadness though when two small mice babies, Lucius sister Prima's daughter and Gaius’ sister Prima's son, dies in some strange sickness that the patrol is supposed to have brought upon their families from their long mission in the wilderness (End of Player's Turn).

illern (a) illertass.se

SPQM c1s9b: And the box is lost...

Early Summer, 2 Weather Twists

The patrol almost manages to get to Asylum when they're attacked Again. This time it's not someone's Liberation Front. It's godmice, those ridiculous mice that say that the forefathers doesn't exist and that the emergency plot device ''god'' actually exists and that all mice have to obey his will. The patrol readies their weapons and fight bravely but there's so many of them, so many…

After a hard fight the patrol breaks apart and a godmouse manages to get the box and run (Check; Travel the last part of the journey to Asylum with the box and the philosophers: Lost Conflict with Compromise, the patrol can follow the godmice with the box). The godmice withdraw and the patrol pants but there's no rest for the pretorians. They park the philosophers at a tavern and set out to get the box back.

They hunt down the mice, tackle them and grab the box and run away but it gets snatched from their paws again (Twist: Fighter versus 6D, Failed with a Twist).

Again the patrol hunts the godmice and catches them in a glade. They stop, drops the box and threatens to stab it to pieces with their spears. During this fight of the wills a godmice sneaks away with the box and disappears and then the other godmice also runs off (Fighter versus 5D, Failed with a Twist, Unseasonably Hot).

Depressed the patrol returns to the philosophers, pick them up and in the heat returns to Asylum. On the way they pick some hope. If they could convice a tribunis to send out several patrols it might be possible to get the box after all. It's just two hours to Asylum. The patrol hurries on (End of Players Turn)

illern (a) illertass.se

SPQM c1s9a: Still got the box, still got the box...

Early summer, 2 weather twists

The hare appears again and the patrol really bothers about it and is convinced that it's following them and reporting to someone about their whereabouts. Something has to be done. They decide to try to lure into a cramped situation and hurt it but not kill it with the belly shooter. They scout out a good place and some of them take the regular route their while some take a shortcut and prepare the belly shooter. The hare appears and Lucius fires. The spear goes through the ear of the hare and it takes a jump right away and disappears (Obstacle: Passed Physicist versus Hare 7D). The patrol sighs reliefed and continue their journey.

After some travelling they suddenly spot a crow and even before it dives down towards them they know that it will try to steal the box. Ravens are tricksters and can steal for the fun of it but are on the other hand not that bent on actually stealing something. Crows on the other hand are common thieves and engaged in stealing stuff. The patrol back down and when the crow lands they form a line with the spears towards it. The crows makes an attempt but gets quite badly hurt and gives it up (Obstacle: Passed Fighter versus Crow 7D). They hurry on (End of GM's Turn).

They continue their journey and when they rest for the night at a wine tavern Lucius manage to reason his way to a stoic way to look upon the hardship they have to endure (Check: Passed Recovery Ob2, Undisciplined is removed). They still have quite a piece of a road to travel to get to Asylum, they straggle on (Check: get one third of the way to Asylum, Complex Test with two Tests). As they walk on they come to a town where the inhabitants are about to start building the bridge. They have one problem though; they have to make an offering to the spirits and the forefathers before they begin this big engineering project. That's not a problem in it self but one or two poor families has fallen to banditry and will most probably attack and steal the offerings which contain a lot of food and a little silver and a gold coin.

After a short discussion the patrol conclude that they can't just walk on, they have to help the farmers laying the ceremonial foundation for the mundane bridge foundation. So they escort the caravan toward the stream to be bridged and they are attacked by the bandits. When the bandits see the pretorians they turn around and flee and at first the patrol thinks they made the day but in the meantime one of the accompanying farmers ran off with the silver and gold (Complex Test part 1: Fighter versus 4D, Failed with a Twist).

The patrol immediately hunts after him and quickly closes in when he lets go of the loot and runs away (Twist: Passed Scout versus 2D). The patrol picks up the money and return just in time to deflect a new robbery attempt. Now the caravan can travel in peace to the stream and conduct the ceremony. The pretorians travel on.

After a week or so they run into another patrol on a mission. The patrol is escorting workers towards the scent border where they will lay out scent to strengthen the barrier against predators. After some exchanging of news the patrol leader asks for help. They have sighted a kestrel and probably it's after the civilians. Normally the patrol probably could ward it off by themselves but now it's very important that no civilians get hurt or any of the equipment gets thrashed. Again the characters can't turn down the plea for help and change route to follow the other patrol until dusk and to stay with them until after dawn.

While the other patrol prepares the encampment together with the civilians the characters put up the belly shooter. Now the kestrels gonna encounter some mouse technology.

When darkness falls the kestrel attacks and Lucius once more fire the belly shooter. The kestrel gets the spear in the tars and almost drops to the ground before it turns away to get some easier caught food (Complex Test part 2: Passed Physicist versus Kestrel 6D). The other patrol thanks them and promises to tell about them when they return to Asylum. After dawn they part ways and the characters start the last part of the journey to Asylum (Almost End of Player's Turn).

illern (a) illertass.se

SPQM c1s8 Onwards, onwards.

Early summer, 2 weather twists

As a preparation for the journey they buy some crusts so that they if needed could travel a day without foraging which would make it possible to pick up the speed significantly for that day (Obstacle, buy crusts for one day for eight people: Resources Ob 4, Succeeded). 

They have just travelled a few days when they start to notice a hare that seems to be the same hare every time and after yet a day or two it's obvious that it's following them. Already at the first encounter with a hare they suspected that it was reporting to someone and they discuss how to lure it or scare it away but don't find a way. Also the hares are allies to The Pretorian Guard so they don't want to hurt it. They have to live with it following them (Obstacle: Get away from the hare, outcome the hare is following them is accepted and not dealt with).

The keep walking worried about an ambush around every corner (End of GM's Turn)

After yet another day or two they start to get really, really worried about the hare following them and decide to try to talk to it to talk it out of following them. They even go out to find some nice food for hares to offer it but still doesn't manage. On the other hand it seems to actively avoid them (Check, Talk with the Hare: Loremaster Ob 3, Failed with a Twist). Not so surprisingly there soon comes an ambush right after they have walked through a village where all the houses have the same decoration on the doorposts. It's some plant Lucius doesn't recognize but it's obvious that it's always there even if it's sometime mixed up among other decorations. Shortly after the village they hear a cry, but a new one this time.. ''For God. By God's Word''.

The philosophers get very upset when they hear someone use the word ''word'', a word which also has the meaning of ''order'' and ''reason'', in combination with the word ''god'' in real life. To them and the patrol ''god'' is some obviously made up entity used in theatre plays to have en excuse to introduce a character or other element in the play without having to really write the play so that it leads up to that moment. You just introduce this god entity who with it's power comes down and do stuff. ''This is ridiculous!'' they shout.

The patrol form up and meet a many mice but not that experienced and they fight them off (Twist, fight off the godmice: Complex Test: Fighter versus 4D, both Tests Passed). They quickly move on.

As they move on they don't get that much opportunity to forage and Dekia buys some extra food for them (Check: Resources Ob 2 Passed, Condition Hungry & Thirsty is removed). There's not much else to do than move on and keep every eye open for more ambushes. Not surprising at all they soon again feel that they are followed and start to take small detours and keeping away from the obvious road choices and manage to avopid their stalkers. 

As they travel on meet a scared family of a weak husband, a quite go-ahead mother, a young mouse and a small baby mouse. They're quite scared and says that a flying squirrel has been lurking around throwing glances at their youngest. Dekia gives the rest of the patrol no time to decide. Of course the patrol sahll help the family and so they form up to scout the the flying squirrel, protect the family and fight off the squirrel. They have just done that when the squirrel attacks from above in a silent glide. The patrol leaps forward as the civilians throw themselves to the ground and give the squirrels some good cuts that make the squirrel go away and find easier prey. They follow the family to their village which is approximately in the right direction. They then turn toward the correct direction and walk along towards Asylum (Check, get one third of the trip back to Asylum, Complex Test, part one avoid godmice, part two help family attacked by a flying squirrel: Passed Scout versus 5D and Passed Fighter versus Flying Squirrel 6D). Two weeks later they reckon they have during some intended and some not intended detours have gotten about a third of the rest of the trip to Asylum (End of Player's Turn).

illern (a) illertass.se

SPQM c1s7c: It must be destroyed or you’re doomed...

Early summer, 2 weather twists

As Dekia thinks the thing should be delivered to Asylum at almost any price and haven't trusted Nona since the events in Asylums harbour she immediately sides against Nona. Gaius is convinced that the orders should be followed as they were intended and that means that the thing and the philosophers should be escorted to Asylum and if that comes with a price that's a risk you take when in The Guard and working for the community.

Nona is actively trying to convince the patrol that they won't survive trying to get the thing to Asylum and that the thing getting into the hands of Navalia will topple the whole balance of The League of Mice Cities, maybe even destroy it. They all know that Navalia can't fully be trusted. She looks at Lucius who isn't really participating but seems to be filled with anxiety and asks why he isn't siding up with the family and why he, if any in the patrol, doesn't see the political catastrophic effects of the thing getting lost to Navalia. Doesn't he trust her? Lucius doesn't know where to turn, patrol or family and nobiles? He is convinced that a pretorian should represent The Pretorian Guard and not his family but still he often instinctively defend the nobiles and Nona is after all both nobiles and family (Lucius sits out the first three actions of the upcoming conflict).

The discussion goes high and quickly involes insults and challenges for duels. Dekia and Gaius is also frustrated about the civilian mouse, Nona's client, who apparently knows a lot about the secret maters and who talks about being in the guard as if he know anything about it. After a while Lucius joins on the patrol's side (Check, Get all the philosophers and the thing to Stameus in it's current state: Conflict versus 4-5D, Won with Major Compromise, New Twist: The thing has to be dismantled and sent two different ways and they’re in  a hurry not to be discovered).

Nona backs off in front of their arguments and her cousin Lucius taking the other side but only if the thing is dismantled and sent with two different parties rather than with one big party. Everyone agrees on that although Aeneas himself is skeptical. Now they only have to find a trustful smith that can modify a chisel into a special one needed for dismantling the thing and all the normal tools needed. They manage to find a smith that can do it and try to pay him to not talk about what they have ordered and what they have done in his workshop (Twist, Find a skillful smith and dismantle the thing within two days: Failed Physiscist Ob3 Succeeded with Condition). 

After two days of hard work, a lot of lost money, little sleep and not that much food they look at the thing dismantled. The thing that, as Lucius trained in mechanics, is some kind of mathematical device is dismantled into it's four modules and a central piece is taken from each module and given to the wrong module. In that way, should a module get lost it will still not be functional and it will take a lot of work to reconstruct it and to guess one's way about the other modules needed. Lucius doesn’t really get the grip on the thing but a mathematical device could mean a lot of things. If one could just crank a dial and get the results of formulas then a big step would be taken for physis knowledge among mice. Lucius is still guessing a lot and he knows that Aeneas snatched a few things away from the device before he let them get at it...

illern (a) illertass.se