View source for Feri and the Reconciliation Summit

= Warbler Adventure: The Feri Reconciliation Summit =

== Overview ==

The crew arrives at Feri expecting a world engulfed in civil war.

Instead they find:

* A prosperous highport
* Heavy traffic
* A charity gala
* Peace negotiations
* Famous socialites
* Suspiciously active trade routes

The deeper they dig, the more they discover that many powerful interests profit from the war continuing.

The players are not expected to solve the entire conspiracy.

The goal is to expose one thread of it.

---

== Act 1: Arrival at Feri ==

=== Opening Description ===

As the ''Warbler'' emerges from jump, Feri Orbital hangs ahead.

The highport is enormous by frontier standards: a wheel-and-spindle structure several kilometers across, ringed by docking arms, repair berths, fuel depots, and hundreds of running lights.

Traffic control sounds almost annoyed.

<blockquote>
"Warbler, proceed to Holding Pattern Indigo Three. Delay approximately thirty-two minutes."
</blockquote>

For a world supposedly consumed by war, traffic is remarkably heavy.

=== Sensor Contacts ===

Roughly 30–40 vessels visible.

==== Legitimate Traffic ====

* Patrol cruiser ''Resolute Duty''
* Scout courier ''Lonesome Surveyor''
* Customs cutter
* Three Oberlindes freighters
* Tukera packet ship
* Bulk grain carrier
* Hospital transport
* Relief freighter
* Troop transport

==== Ships Worth Noticing ====

===== Reliable Venture =====

400-ton merchant.

Regular route:

* Feri
* Pixie

Manifest:

* Pharmaceuticals
* Machine parts
* Environmental equipment

Too much cargo for a population of only a few thousand.

===== Dusky Mallow =====

Far Trader.

Legal.

Perfect paperwork.

Cargo hold suspiciously empty.

===== Red Harvest =====

Subsidized merchant.

Route:

* Feri
* Pixie
* Boughene
* Kinorb

Carries unusually sophisticated sensors.

Almost like somebody searches asteroid belts for a living.

=== Early Clues ===

Any experienced spacer notices:

<blockquote>
"For a world at war, there are surprisingly few warships."
</blockquote>

The Feri Pattern

At first glance:

Random merchant traffic.

After analysis:

Every ship involved has visited at least two of:

Feri
Pixie
Boughene
Kinorb

Signals occur:

within 20 minutes of docking
within 20 minutes of departure

Always.

Never violated.

The messages are tiny.

Sometimes only 12-15 bytes.

Too small for reports.

Too regular for personal traffic.

Perfect hacker bait.


---

== Act 2: The Highport ==

=== Atmosphere ===

Nobody seems worried about the war.

People discuss:

* Shipping contracts
* Fashion
* Celebrity gossip
* Summit schedules

The war exists.

But somehow feels distant.

=== Upcoming Events ===

The port is buzzing about:

==== Feri Reconciliation Summit ====

Official peace conference.

==== Charity Gala ====

Attended by nobles, executives, celebrities.

==== Naval Commissioning Ceremony ====

Retired Admiral Sir Gurech of Pixie will appear.

Many local dignitaries attending.

---

== Act 3: Charlie Gurech ==

=== Introduction ===

The crew first encounters Charlie in a lounge overlooking the docking bays.

Immediately obvious:

She is the center of attention.

=== Charlie "The Bather" Gurech ===

Age 26.

Daughter of Sir Gurech.

Became famous after accidental publication of footage showing her bathing in a scenic lagoon years ago.

Instead of becoming scandalized:

She became famous.

Now appears in:

* Advertisements
* Luxury travel promotions
* Fashion campaigns
* Charity functions

Profession:

None.

Officially a Dilettante.

=== Appearance ===

Charlie is not exotic.

Charlie is effortlessly beautiful.

Never overdone.

Never underdone.

Always exactly right.

If Mittensby is present:

Immediate rivalry.

=== Personality ===

Unexpectedly pleasant.

Remembers names.

Remembers details.

Remembers conversations.

Collects information without trying.

=== Secret ===

Charlie may be the best gossip collector in Regina Subsector.

Not intentionally.

People tell her things.

=== Charlie's Entourage ===

==== Bembry Quast ====

Social climber.

Claims to be:

* Art dealer
* Wine importer
* Cultural consultant

Useful knowledge source.

Knows rumors.

Favorite phrase:

<blockquote>
"Now, I shouldn't be saying this..."
</blockquote>

==== Drusilla Pank ====

Stylist.

Bodyguard.

Media insider.

Can obtain:

* Guest lists
* Recordings
* Photographs

==== Nunk Veder ====

Former naval steward.

Served under Sir Gurech.

Knows military gossip.

Only person Charlie obeys.

---

== Act 4: The Gala ==

=== Purpose ===

Give the players freedom to mingle.

Introduce every major faction.

Nobody appears villainous.

=== Oberlindes Representatives ===

==== Harlowe Brint ====

Regional cargo coordinator.

Profits from wartime logistics.

==== Velma Pottick ====

Insurance executive.

Has noticed strange cargo patterns.

Growing concerned.

==== Tobin Gragg ====

Retired merchant captain.

Talkative when drinking.

Knows far more than he should.

=== Feri Political Delegates ===

==== President Olwen Drax ====

Needs war to continue economically.

==== Chancellor Merrick Bole ====

Still convinced victory is possible.

Has believed this for twelve years.

==== Minister Yselle Vint ====

Actually wants peace.

Therefore everyone distrusts her.

=== Imperial Representatives ===

==== Percy Smeed ====

Trade Commissioner.

Signs exemptions.

Accepts gifts.

Never cash.

Always gifts.

==== Dame Audra Kettleby ====

Possibly corrupt.

Possibly investigating corruption.

Nobody knows which.

==== Ganton Peel ====

Port Inspection Director.

Suddenly wealthy.

Gets nervous whenever Pixie is mentioned.

=== Vargr Intermediaries ===

==== Lucky Claws Vaerr ====

Broker.

Fixer.

Smuggler.

Always smiling.

==== Throekh Firetail ====

40th Squadron commercial representative.

Knows Jockitz Wolfram.

==== Vekhra Two-Tickets ====

Transport fixer.

Surprisingly competent.

=== Possible Meamone Cutouts ===

==== Albin Rusk ====

Antiquities investor.

Pays too much.

==== Sister Perdita Vale ====

Funds archaeological projects.

Has an uncanny interest in Ancients technology.

==== Orlo Fenwick ====

Quiet accountant.

Tracks shell companies.

Extremely dangerous.

---

== Act 5: The Auction ==

=== Purpose ===

Get artifacts into player hands.

=== Lot 17 ===

Black stone sphere.

Described as:

<blockquote>
"Pre-Imperial ceremonial object."
</blockquote>

Starting bid:

500 credits.

Potentially priceless.

=== Lot 22 ===

Metallic navigation plaque.

Covered in strange geometric symbols.

Pixie researchers would recognize them.

=== Lot 31 ===

Crystal prism.

Recovered from a battlefield.

Possibly.

=== Clues ===

==== Streetwise ====

<blockquote>
"Funny thing. Nobody can identify which battlefield supposedly produced these artifacts."
</blockquote>

==== Broker ====

Prices make no sense.

==== Social ====

Bembry casually mentions:

<blockquote>
"Lady Kettleby purchased six of those spheres last season."
</blockquote>

Nobody buys six decorative stones.

---

== Act 6: Frorn Whelper ==

=== Frorn Whelper ===

Vargr archaeologist.

Works the Pixie ruins.

Nervous.

Sleep deprived.

Obsessed.

=== What He Knows ===

Artifacts are being removed from:

* Pixie
* Nearby sites
* Restricted digs

and entering normal commercial traffic.

=== His Discovery ===

He has evidence linking:

* Pixie excavations
* Wartime shipping exemptions
* Specific merchant vessels
* Politically connected buyers

---

== Act 7: Something Goes Wrong ==

Choose one:

=== Option A ===

Frorn disappears.

=== Option B ===

Frorn is publicly discredited.

=== Option C ===

Frorn suffers an "accident."

=== Option D ===

Evidence vanishes.

---

== Act 8: The Revelation ==

The players gradually discover:

The war itself may be helping facilitate:

* Artifact smuggling
* Shipping exemptions
* Restricted access zones
* Movement of contraband

=== Beneficiaries ===

==== Part of Oberlindes ====

Not the company.

Specific individuals.

==== Several Feri Governments ====

War justifies budgets.

==== Certain Imperial Officials ====

War reduces scrutiny.

==== Vargr Middlemen ====

Profitable cross-border trade.

==== Unknown Buyers ====

Possibly connected to Meamone.

Possibly not.

---

== Act 9: Endgame ==

The crew must decide:

=== Expose the Scheme ===

Creates enemies.

=== Sell Information ===

Creates different enemies.

=== Keep an Artifact ===

Creates long-term adventure hooks.

=== Walk Away ===

The conspiracy continues.

---

== Future Hooks ==

=== Charlie ===

Remains a recurring celebrity contact.

=== Jockitz Wolfram ===

Can trace the Vargr side.

=== 40th Squadron ===

Artifacts may be reaching Uthith.

Potential connection to Mittensby's father.

=== Prison Station 17 ===

Someone imprisoned there knows more.

=== Meamone ===

May eventually emerge as a buyer several layers removed from the thefts.

---

== GM Notes ==

The conspiracy should never feel monolithic.

No single villain controls everything.

The war persists because multiple groups benefit:

* Politicians
* Smugglers
* Shipping interests
* Corrupt officials
* Artifact collectors
* Intelligence services

The players are not expected to end the war.

Success is exposing one piece of the machinery and deciding what to do with that knowledge.