Rider Refugees

Rider Refugees
Type	Chain Event
Reward	Rider Refugee Leader
Next	Old Guard vs Adoptees, or Adoptees Beneficial Integration

Dialogue

“	Wretched Rider people arrive seeking refuge as members of your clan. They are not from around here, but have come from a long ways to the <west/east>. “We’d heard of Berenstead, a place where Orlanthi worship Elmal the True Sun. Chaos has swallowed up our homeland. We will fight bravely and work hard, if you let us join you.” They number more than twenty adults, and about half again as many children. You count <number> horses. Adopt them. Regretfully decline. Assure your people you will protect them from the flotsam of a dying world. Rob the refugees. Kill them, seizing their possessions.	”
— Six Ages 2: Lights Going Out

Consequences

If you adopt them, you may find that their leader makes a formidable addition to the ring. Your Mood may also increase—since this allows your clan to learn more of their Rider past—and, in addition to thirty or so able-bodied pairs of hands (and hungry bellies), the refugees will come with however many horses they bring. However, if Iverlantho is alive, but not chief, he will use this opportunity to stir resentment against the refugees, and the cheftain by proxy, in which case Mood drops instead. The refugees will have the decency to cook the goats they bring with them, immediately adding to your food supply. They may also perform a horse blessing for you--giving you the Hardy Horses modifier, which is active for as long as you have high Openness. Alternatively, they may say that their presence would give good fortunes when dealing with other Riders, as long as you don't go out of your way to antagonize them.

If you adopt the Riders, you may receive the following bit of text some Seasons later:

“	The Rider refugees we adopted a while ago have reminded us how to make kumis, a drink made by fermented horse milk. The beer and wine gods are long dead, but now we can get drunk again. The people are glad.	”
— Six Ages 2: Lights Going Out

If so, Mood will improve.

If the adoptees have a difficult time fitting in, their story may continue with the Old Guard vs Adoptees event. If they integrate successfully, it will instead continue with the Adoptees Beneficial Integration event, however.

Advice

• "We turned our Rider story tent, on which our history was embroidered, into a tapestry that hangs behind the throne." - Iverlantho/Venef/Royalist
• "Have they magics to use against the <undead/risen dead>?" - Kerenna/Korestene
• "There's nothing to stop us from taking what they have." - Hanvan
• "They are weak. Do what survival demands." - Hanth
• "Local Riders don't know them, and probably don't care what happens to them." - Reda
• "Riders found spirits on their flight from the Frozen City." - Dresta/Shaman
• "No one cares what happens to them. Lend me your sword, Kerenna." - Eurmal devotee
• "I will deal death if need be, but not at a trickster's urging, <Eurmal devotee>!" - Kerenna, alternate
• "They'll add greatly to the clan." - Agimori Adoptee
• "Riders hate the Wheels as much as we do." - Wheel-hating ring member
• "We could feed them. But for how long." - Food expert
• "We could use a boost to the Beren side of our bloodline."
• "People regard our Rider roots as a forgotten curiosity."
• "More like them will come, in ever increasing numbers. We must build higher walls."
• "People fondly remember our Rider roots. They will not be pleased if we scorn these folks."
• "Show our commitment to unity!"
• "Letting them in would honor our heritage."
• "Riders say there never should be kings."
• "It never hurts to adopt <number> horses, and people skilled at tending them." - Rider Refugee Leader from a previous iteration of the event.
• "Have they magics to use against the risen dead?"
• "Every man for himself."
• "Ewww, goats!"