From the Annals of the Oasis Kingdoms…
As they gathered for public mourning, the nobles of Kucha, reminded of the relatively recent conquest of Aksu, whispered among themselves. The rumors of foul play jostled uneasily with the preparations for the ceremony…
Except from a report by a Loulan merchant to her supplier in Khotan:
The green banners of the Middle Kingdom are a common sight here, escorting their caravans. Middle Kingdom merchants have no fear of bandits! Though some of us fear the soldiers almost as much: they are a surly, undisciplined lot, and it is better to keep your distance. But things may be improving: they have been less troublesome since supplies of vegetables from the north have been delivered to their encampments…
I’ve added a page with the current state of the game (includes spoilers for the current list of player characters), which I’ll update periodically, partially thanks to the moderator tracking suite. The game is off to an excellent start, and I’ve got a lot more of your wonderful letters to sort through.
I also added some notes to the rules regarding Conflicts and Advice, this game’s replacement for the Projects mechanic I playtested in Colony of Callisto.
Lastly, thank you for all the feedback you’ve sent me about how the game looks from your end. The questions and comments I’ve received will definitely help make this a better game.
An excerpt from The Anglo-American Cyclopaedia, volume XV:
The agriculture of Dukan was affected by its position on the salt marshes, resulting in a lack of cultivated fresh green vegetables.
An excerpt from Ban Zhao’s Histories of the Western Hinterlands:
The earthquake which occurred late in the year 114 greatly obstructed travel through the Iron Gate Pass, obliging travellers to search elsewhere for passage. The winter deterred efforts to clear the way for travel, and even in the budding of the following year travellers still found the way difficult…
An excerpt from a caravan leader’s letter to his employer:
…our delays were unavoidable, owing to the extra precautions we were obliged to take because of the many bandits on the road between Niya and Miran. Though the royal patrols assure us of our safety, they cannot even protect their own wells from these uncivilized jackals. I must ask you to send further payment…
An excerpt from a poem transcribed from memory by Cai Wenji. Originally composed by an anonymous poet, on the occasion of seeing the army patrols in the countryside south of Dukan in 115:
“Viridian fluttering below
Bright wending lines,
The waving banners
doubled in marsh-water.”
An excerpt from The Anglo-American Cyclopaedia, volume XXVIII:
Kucina was a noted source of frankincense. Local poets often employed the olibanum trees as a metaphor for the city.
All of the players should have their contact lists by now. If you have not received it, please check your spam folder (and add your contacts to your address book). If you still don’t have it, email me at towerofcallisto@gmail.com and I’ll resend it.
An excerpt from The Anglo-American Cyclopaedia, volume XLV:
Traditionally, the Oasis Kingdoms considered men unsuited to the artistic and intellectual pursuits. Though this was subject to some regional and individual variation, the members of the artistic and intellectual classes were most commonly women.