PARTIZAN 44: The Prison at the Top of the World

For generations, the Chasmata family has had an outsized place in the politics of Stel Kesh. Certainly, they were as loyal and stately as any other great house of the self-proclaimed First Stel. But their income, prestige, and reach seemed to exceed their material position in the Principality. Partly, this had to do with the dynasty's close ties to the Curtain. Like the Kesh family itself, many children of House Chasmata would go on to serve in the Principality's most secret and sacred institution. But there was something else, too. A reward, perhaps, for a most difficult service.

This week on PARTIZAN: The Prison at the Top of the World

///Operation Dossier\\\

//Organizations\\

House Chasmata: Despite not being the highest ranking house on Partizan, the Chasmata family has governed Stel Kesh's holdings on the moon for as long as Kesh has been here. But in the last century, the family seems more interested in an archeological dig in the northern ice cap than in managing its estates. This has not, unfortunately for Apostolos, limited the amount of military might that Chasmata can bring to bear in an emergency.

The Curtain of Divinity: Though Kesh is technically governed through an elaborate parliamentary democracy, the truth is that The Curtain of Divinity, a secretive organization inside of the Stel (and with agents across all of the Principality), serves as the actual power behind the throne. Knowledge of the Curtain is carefully guarded, and its membership is even further protected.

Was originally established to rein in the Principality's most tyrannical institutions and encourage growth and equity over generations, while hiding the truth of what lied beyond the Scutum-Centaurus Portcullis. Over time, their more noble aims were eroded, and only this final goal remained, along with a much more selfish goal of controlling the state.

Has recently announced its presence on Partizan and throughout the Principality. Currently in conflict with the Pact of Necessary Venture, Millennium Break, and the Organization for the Foundation of the Orion Republic.

//People\\

Xiphion, aka Zig'ell Barbos, aka The Red Roc (zig/zig's, he/him): Elect of the Divine Valour and rising star in the Apostolosian military. Zig'ell kept zig's Apostolosian name in personal use even after being chosen by Valour as its elect. He is a rising star in the Apostolosian military, famed for his talent as a pilot and commander. There is good reason for this: zig spent years serving as Cas'alear Rizah's confidant and lieutenant, before being promoted and transferred into service directly under the Divine Motion, working closely as the elect Laurel's right hand. A true believer in the Pact's mission to split the Principality up.

Corrasion (they/them): A branched sent with a research group, including Phrygian, to Partizan in order to investigate Gur Sevraq and their claims of a True Divine.

Gucci Garantine (she/her): Defector from Stel Kesh, controller of House Brightline and HORIZON's efforts on Partizan. Now a powerful member of Millennium Break's political class, heading the Party of the Masque.

The Witch in Glass (she/her): A former scion of Kesh who, after knitting a bond with the adversary Perennial, came into control of the body of the Divine Past. Now scours Partizan for the lost, injured, and unsure, recruiting them into her growing city-state. A shaky ally of Millennium Break. Haunted by an old foe.

Cas'alear Rizah (cas/cas', they/them): Leader of the Swordbreakers, sibling of the Glorious Princept. Cas has brown skin with dark green hair up in a bun, with a few strands hanging down in front of their face (which is framed with similarly colored scales covering cas' jawline and neck. Broken sword tattoos under their eyes. Reputation as being beautiful and brave by allies, unflinching and unpredictable by foes. Pilots the notorious Ataraxia. Was badly wounded in the defense against Motion and GLORY in Auspice, and now, through a combination of the Witch in Glass' gifts and ongoing rehabilitation, is working to return to fighting form.

Agon Ortlights (she/her): Aided by her servicebot companions, Agon worked hard to attain the rank of lieutenant in the Company of the Spade, where she's become a veteren mercenary, a skilled miner, and a hell of a drinking buddy.

Sloe Uplight (he/him): His business card says "Private Historian," his parlor rooms' security system says "information broker," and his grinning mouth says "no difference." A Kesh academic turned freelance fixer, turned again to Millennium Break intelligence officer.

//Places\\

Chasmata Quarry: Founded almost one thousand years ago, the Chasmata family has been digging into the ice and stone at the north pole for as long as Kesh has been on the planet. Activity in the area has increased in the last century. No information gets in or out. Every scout sent to investigate the area has been lost forever.

The Reflecting Pool: The city that has emerged inside of the Divine Past's body, led by the Witch in Glass. Its citizens come from every walk of life on Partizan, all united in the desire to leave the past behind and start a new life.

//Divines\\

The Divine Valour: A machine the size of a large Hallow, Valour can transform between a vast, roc-like bird form and a more traditional humanoid model. Soldiers claim that serving under Valour gives them a noticeable boost to their morale, but it is unclear if this is a feature of their proximity to the Divine or to its elect.

The Divine Past: Part floating city, part living library, and current home to the Reflecting Pool. The Divine Past was built tens of thousands of years before the Divine Principality was created. It stores an untold amount of information about the cultures it has observed, including the Divine Principality itself.

//Things\\

Zenith-K Project Veneer: Melee-ranged shield mechs. Internals are similar to the Zenith-A project Kosmos which SI and the Rapid Evening fought in similarly cold conditions back during the Fort Icebreaker mission. Except instead of the reverse jointed legs and the spears, these have huge tower shields with pneumatic pile bunkers.

Zenith-K Project Cornice: A cheap, mass produced version of the sniper form of the Katalepsis, which is the model name of Ver'Million Blue's hollow. These are glass cannons meant to lay down an absurd amount of long range fire.

AdArm Quiver: On first glance, you might not think this is a hollow at all. But once the low, wide three-legged firing brace starts to walk, you'd understand that these artillery machines are able to move and even leap with great force and speed, making them excellent at holding (or hammering) an unstable frontline.

"The Bitten Bullet" (referred to but not named): A large personnel transport owned by the Pact of Necessary Venture.

Curtain Ideograms: A vast collection of graphic symbols and code words used by the Curtain to communicate information clandestinely.

//Additional Notes\\

Primary Objective: Identify, and then destroy or recover "Lodestone."

Secondary Objective: Capture enemy commander.

Hosted by Austin Walker (@austin_walker)

Featuring Art Martinez-Tebbel (@atebbel), Jack de Quidt (@notquitereal), Keith J Carberry (@keithjcarberry) and Andrew Lee Swan (@swandre3000)

Produced by Ali Acampora (@ali_west)

Music by Jack de Quidt (available on bandcamp)

Text by Austin Walker

Cover Art by Craig Sheldon (@shoddyrobot)