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THIS MISSION CYCLE ENDS AT 5PM MST, TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5TH 2023. YOU MAY NOT MAKE NEW THREADS AFTER THAT TIME.
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TIMELINE: LATE JUNE - MID JULY
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Before the Great War began, the last day of June was celebrated (or detested?) as being a "birthday" of sorts, for the Leviathan. It's unclear whether or not the Leviathan was actually ever born in June, or perhaps the first first Leviathan was, or perhaps the idea of a "birthday" itself is a cruel joke.
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Essentially, June 31st (sometimes, the week leading up to it) became a week or day of tribute and celebration—sometimes by Hydra, but also, importantly, by the people of Old Delphi, or those living in regions that Hydra had influenced. It became known as "the Tributary."
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Within the coven, it's considered a week of gift-giving and celebration, often exchanging presents in between the HANDLER NETWORK, and a time to give and receive gifts from your handler, or controllers. It is considered a period of gathering and light-hearted, simple fun.
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Outside the coven, there is a tradition of "paying tribute"—households across Delphi would leave "gifts" for Hydra witches to collect, ranging from grain and harvests to gold and weapons. It likely began as a means of showing obedience to Hydra and the Leviathan—a mean of escaping the wrath of a coven that claimed influence across the Western half of Delphi. But it was also often described as genuinely celebratory, as many families in the West truly did appreciate the work and protection of Hydra, and it was likely from this that the idea of the "Leviathan's birthday" came to be.
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This year, on both fronts, the Tributary has had...interesting turns.
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Inside of Hydra, the tension of the recent loss has had many upset—reconciliation, punishments, or perhaps handlers that are simply offering warmth and normalcy in times of crisis.
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Outside the coven, though, the Tributary is being voluntarily celebrated for the first time in nearly a century by non-Hydra residents of old Delphi, as a quiet but meaningful showing of support. Gifts have been left in the alleys and on doorsteps just outside supportive houses, marked by runes or alchemic circles, sometimes with notes of support.
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The tradition has raised the ears of the wolves, leading to tensions as they sometimes confront families about what they're attempting to say. (What, we can't leave packages outside our own homes?)
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There are many ways your character could be affected by this particular week of June, but it may include—
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  Finding, purchasing, or exchanging a gift for (or with) your handler/a fellow apprentice
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  Finding or purchasing a gift for one of the three heads of Hydra, including Farah, Tiur, or Lord Lorraine
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  Helping Hydra collect some of the offered "tributes" from Old Delphi residents—these could be meaningful gifts, family heirlooms, or simply small packets of grain and fruit. May involve being followed by/having to lose Cerberus trailers.
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  Dealing with or diffusing the tensions that have resulting from Cerberus's increased involvement in the Western half of Delphi