Concordance OOC

Hi folks! It's the mod squad bringing you the results of the March check in!

The following characters did not check in and have been recorded as a drop:
Cloud Strife | fenrir
Tifa Lockhart | kaiserknuckle
Selphie Tilmitt | strangevisions
Squall Leonhart | tempest_lion
Rinoa Heartilly | lightsvalkyrie
Tidus | waterblade
Yuna | spherehunting
Lightning Farron | fulminous
Paddra Nsu-Yeul | etroscript

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In addition, the following items now teach new skills and will be recorded on the Skills page shortly:

Kain's Lance now teaches Gungnir

**Note if you qualified for a bonus and just hadn't gotten it in yet, please go ahead and place your requests. There's still time!

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Have a great March, everyone! Riots and Super Secret Plots are coming! Clan auctions are still live until the 20th, so there's time to bid on territories. Lots of work and hunts up for grabs too.

As promised, this is a quick timeline of things we have planned in the near future. We've got some new features coming, a use for one of the comms you've been wondering about, and super secret plotsies.

Right now, there are miners on strike in Bhujerba. Anyone looking for work is welcome to cross the picket lines. Understand, the whole point of the strike is the lack of funds to pay wages. However, there are grand promises coming from the Marquis that double pay is coming to those who work during the strike. If you believe him. (Don't listen to Ondore's lies! Basch lives!)

On March 1st, things are gonna get hopping in Concordance. The new month's jobs and hunts will be released as well as new bazaar goods. There's still time to bid on the auctions, buy bargain gear from the bazaars, sign up for work, and take up a hunt or two. Check over at the Commerce community to see what's available currently.

But that's not all! Coming on the 1st, the moogles will be rolling out the v1.0 "skyphone". What's this skyphone you ask? Well they got their hands on a few cell phones from different places, including a few that the sellers called Skyphones. Weird name, but whatever, the moogles can deal with it. They have managed to reverse engineer phones, blending outsider technology with magicite power. Starting on the first, the moogles will begin selling these phones to any sucker person willing to shell out gil for them. The v1.0 Skyphone will only have cellular service. No cameras, no video, no maps. That'll be coming down the pike. And darn, you might have to buy an upgrade. (Look the furry bastards are mercenary, ok?) Anywhere you can find a member of the Cartographer's Guild (which is pretty much everywhere) or a save crystal, you'll be able to find one very pushy salesmoogle offering the finest new gadget that makes finding your friends a snap. Please note, they won't be giving them out for free or handing them to new arrivals. A more formal post about all this will be coming on the 1st when they're live.

BUT THAT'S NOT ALL! We're also going to see the season's territory auctions for clans. There's still time to declare the formation of a clan, or to join one, before the auctions start. Why do they matter? Fame! Glory! GIL!! Really, it's all about getting special perks like more pay, less fees, better recruits, in the areas your clan has territorial claims on. If you're a member of a clan, or are wanting to form one, please pop over to the Clans page and leave a note about the clan you're in. If you're forming one, let us know the name of the Clan, where their HQ is considered to be, and any PCs who are members.

Not enough to do? March 7th things are really going to heat up in Ivalice. Not in a good way either. Remember those folks angry that Ashe hasn't laid claim to the Nabradian throne yet? Well... it's reached a boiling point for the residents of Nabudis, which is still an Archadian annex. Violent riots will be breaking out in the town. Arson, looting, bloody ugly mess. People will be needed to help quell the violence before the whole town burns to the ground. Do Gooders, this is your chance to shine. For the more mercenary types, there's always money to be made from the misfortune of others, yanno?

Then, on March 20th there is a super secret terribad plot point that's going to be had. It has the potential to rock the political foundations of Ivalice to the core. We'll tell you more when it's time. Let's just say in advance, it won't be a good time to be a Dalmascan in Archades.

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Please don't forget that the monthly check-in is also coming on the 1st and will last for one week. Be thinking about what you'll be asking for as your free gift with activity. There's still time to sneak in some activity for the month too if you've got your gift in mind.

Welcome to the CR Meme! Feel free to add your fellow players on plurk [if they have one], mingle, and enjoy yourselves!

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<b>Name:</b> <b>Preferred contact:</b> <b>Character Name:</b> <user name="username"> <b>CR You're looking for:</b> or CR you aren't looking for! Things you want or don't want. <b>What are your plans for this character:</b> If you have any. Feel free to say you don't know. <b>Anything people should know about your character:</b> <b>Quickstarters:</b> Things of interest about your character or ways to jumpstart CR with your character. <b>Anything Else:</b>

Greetings everyone! We've got a happy party post coming right up for you. (Only a few hours until it's Fete Day. We can't wait!) But just in case anyone was getting comfortable, things are going to get a little shook up.

Around midday of the 7th, some poor bloke who was hunting rats in the Waterway for his dinner came out shrieking with fright. He claims he spotted some bloated terror shuffling through and barely escaped with his life. A few minutes later, he succumbed to something poisonous. Probably those rats he was eating.

Or perhaps not.

Someone with an axe to grind with the current ruler of Dalmasca has poisoned the water supply for the city. The first signs of the taint should show in the elderly and children living in Lowtown closest to the source. Then any adults who qualify for too much of a vagabond to be admitted to the outdoor fete. For the children and elderly and anyone with a compromised immune system, there is a 80% fatality rate, with the first deaths coming in the wee hours of the morning of the 8th. Adults will show signs of sickness as well if they've been consuming the local water with a 30% fatality rate over the next few days.

tl;dr: Somebody's poisoned the water hole! (On the day of the fete. Nice, huh?)

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Q. What does this mean for you and any party goers?
A.
- If you are in Dalmasca and consuming the water in the morning? You're fine. Anytime after the noon hour, it is entirely at your discretion if your character begins to feel ill around midnight, or if they feel any of the effects at all. You may be more hearty and hale than your next neighbor, or you may have spent the last few years building up an immunity to iocane powder. Totally up to you. For the record, any of the local water will taste off, bitter and metallic with a hint of... no you really don't wanna know. This is where it's worth noting that the downtrodden poor still living in Lowtown really don't have the luxury of spitting out bad tasting water, which is why the bulk of the illness and deaths will be here.

- For partygoers, the wine that Tomaj is serving has been watered down to help it last longer. If you've been imbibing his wine, you have potentially been exposed, though again with having the alcohol to temper the amount consumed? You may not get sick at all. If you do, that's your choice and you'll start feeling it in the morning. Probably just assume it's a nasty hangover at first. (Internal party guests have the good stuff not watered down. Now ain't that fishy that the high and mighty are the only ones being spared the suffering?) There are other baristas and culinarians who will be present at the fete with food and drinks that have not been exposed to the poisoned water. If you'd like your character to dodge the poison bullet, it's just fine for them to have passed up Tomaj's booze for someone else's.


Q. Will this impact the party?
A. Nope, everyone should eat, drink, and be merry for the duration of the fete. The first signs of something gone wrong won't start until the wee hours of the 8th. And even then, it'll start in Lowtown.


Q. Can white mages/healers/etc esuna/poisona/whatever off the poison from anyone ill?
A. Indeed they can! It's a magically induced poison rather than a physical toxin being dumped, so magicks will work to heal the sick. Antidotes and remedies will also work, however after about 3 days all supplies of both will have run out entirely.


Q. How long will the taint last?
A.It'll take around a month for the waters to be cleansed of the poison by some hard working mages, clerics and alchemists. Meanwhile, all drinking water for Rabanastre will have to be collected in buckets and barrels from the rains out on the Giza Plains. Lucky that it's the rainy season, eh?

Q. Can we go hunting through the waterway to find the bad guy who did this?
A. Well, you can, but he's long gone. Or maybe he was just the imagination of a guy on his deathbed. Poor bloke was eating rats for supper. But search away! Just... don't drink the water.

Q. Do I get something for catching both of those goofy movie references in this mod post?
A. Well, um... I hear Althea makes good candies?

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Feel free to ask questions here or make plans. Or just squint at your plot mod for being evil. She really is.

Hey guys! Wanted to toss everyone a little bit of information about what's going on in Ivalice around them. This is above and beyond the little snippets you'll be getting later from the Rumors post coming out. More or less, we wanted to let folks know what's happening semi- behind the scenes to gossip or chat about. Or just to know things are in flux. Absolutely feel free to have your characters react or take action if they are of the sort to do so.

Dalmasca

The small desert nation of Dalmasca is curently in flux and for a tiny country is a hotbed of issues. There is ongoing concern that the queen still has not yet remarried. She needs heirs. There is rampant speculation that the upcoming fete will include an announcement of her intention to marry and to whom. Ongoing too is a growing movement who feels Queen Ashelia should and must claim the now empty throne of Nabradia, first as Prince Rasler's widow and second as the only living descendant of King Raithwall. The upcoming fete is also being met with divided response. There are those who find it disgusting that the queen plans to host and toast the Archadian Empire. The poor are far more excited for what promises to be one night of free food. There is still a large segment of the Rabanastran populace that remains displaced after the Occupation, with many not having the resources, financial or legal, to take back their pre-War homes. Thus, the streets of Lowtown and its warehouses still continue to be filled to the brim with impoverished and otherwise homeless citizens. Anti-Archadian sentiments still run high in Dalmasca, as signs of what they wrought are still in constant evidence.


Archadian Empire

Archadia is also not without its problems. The ongoing cry that the annexed territory of Nabradia should be relinquished is loud. Not from the Archadians but the people of the felled nation, and her sister kingdom of Dalmasca. The emperor seems to be stalling on issuing a reply to the issue which is causing more than one person to speculate that he intends to keep hold of the lands, a greedy power move to be certain. A few people from inner circles whisper that it's more due to concerns that the Dalmascan queen will take a husband from the Rozarrian royal family, which would give their military a foothold right at the Archadian doorstep. With the young emperor reaching his sixteenth year, there is also rampant speculation regarding his potential choices of a spouse. The general people want him married and soon, so there will be no room for quibbles over the line of succession... should something unfortunate happen to him as it has all the other males of his house. That and there are any number of influential people with daughters who would very much like to be related to the next empress. Among those are the deposed members of the Senate. There is a building sentiment that the Senate should be restored, to keep the right order of the nation on course, and to give the people a voice in their leadership. However, the emperor has yet to make any formal decision regarding the reinstatement of the politicians.


Balfonheim Port

While technically still an Archadian territory, Balfonheim has managed to retain a semblance of autonomy, as it had under Pirate King Reddas, now dead these four years. The changes he wrought in the port town are beginning to crumble. Pirates and sailors do not capable leadership make, no one wishes to take the reigns, and the riffraff and crime are slowly seeping back into the town. The status quo is starting to tilt to a status no, and if the decline continues, Archadia will be forced to step in and station a military presence to enforce the peace. It's something that won't be received well by a population who are accustomed to having free reign to do as they please.


Mt. Bur-Omisace

The sacred mountain of the Kiltias is in continued decline, one which was initiated with the raid on the temple grounds by the Archadian military four years ago. The seat of the Gran Kiltias remains empty, as none of the Kiltias are willing to put themselves forward for the position. Added to these troubles, the number of pilgrims coming with their alms has drastically declined over the years, as the number of refugees have swelled far beyond sustainable numbers. Moreso, there is one of their own who is teaching questionable doctrine that Faram alone should be worshiped. However, in light of more practical concerns, none are calling him to task.


Rozarrian Empire

Rozarria has most recently made a strange move by closing its borders to any and all. Official word announces it is a policy to enforce the peace and prevent any misunderstandings regarding territorial claims on her neighbors. However, such is most likely not the case. While the nation remains under the control of her military, with the royal family putting pressure on them to stay any aggressions, it's a well known fact that one of the royal sons has been seen oft in the company of the Dalmascan queen. Rozarria has no intentions to take land by force, but if they acquire some via marriage to the Dalmascan throne? So much the better. Despite public insistence that they do not intend to expand their territories, an offer has been sent to Dalmasca to provide a small battalion of troops to reinforce the safety of the Royal City of Rabanastre after an incident of someone blowing off the top of the Bahamut Memorial. Offers of help too have been issued to various territories in Jylland to protect against these ongoing rumors of rifts, monsters, and strangers claiming to be from other worlds.


Jylland

The Jylland area continues to remain just outside the territorial posturing of the main political powers in Ivalice, but only just. The Moogles of Goug are eagerly working on several "new projects" but they require further digging in the local mines for discarded ancient machinery. These forays demand mercenaries to stand guard while they work, and quite recently, Rozarria has made an offer to stand in as a gesture of goodwill, so valuable resources do not need to go to pay hired swords. Rumors of strangers appearing with monsters in their wake fill every pub. Every clanner seems to have a story of some terror that interrupted their hunting or some lunatic demanding to go back. It's very disruptive to business as usual and putting otherwise friendly groups on edge with each other. Rozarrian officials have been communicating in quiet with some of the clans holding territory claims in the region, offering support to their good neighbors. The reason given is to assure that no threats from Jylland crossover into the empire's borders, however most see this as a precursor to a Rozarrian invasion attempt. Heckles are up everywhere, and talk of the upcoming clan auctions is fueling rivalries even hotter than normal.


Dorstonis

Of anywhere in Ivalice, the Skycity of Bhujerba appears to be the most neutral and at peace. Appears. The Lhusu Mines are back into full production of magicite, none of which is being diverted to the Draklor Laboritory, which had been the largest purchaser some four years ago. Currently, orders are being filled for highest quality memstone to be delivered to Jylland. Some of the highest ranking clans are attempting to install Gate Crystals in their territories, although with the constant changes in control of the area, fulfilling these orders and collecting payment is proving a difficulty. Lack of payment for the product is making pay for the workers difficult, causing morale issues across the board and whispers calling for a strike. Aside from the internal issues of economy and commerce arising from the greatest export, there are no small number of people wishing the Marquis to lend his weight to removing the last remnants of Archadian operatives from the city. Despite the very small numbers remaining being only a diplomatic enjoy to ensure the continued good relations between the small city and the empire, many of the locals continue to see them as the Imperial thumb being held down over their heads... and they want them gone.