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Warhammer Fantasy: Divided Loyalties - an Advisor's Quest

Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
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Being a professional grey wizard, worldly as no other order, tends to do that I'd say.

She has more or less been trained in intrigue since she was a little girl, she walked the breadth of the empire with her master. She has seen some shit, or at the very least knows it exists.

That she just got into deadly combat with undead should have greatly settled her foundations.
 
[X] [Options] Plan Sanity

[X] [Execution] [Shaken] The Professor's actions might have been foolish, but surely there must have been another way than a summary execution? Was I so mistaken in hoping that he'd learned his lesson the first time around? I did the right thing by informing Van Hal, but he is dead because of it...
 
BoneyM said:
Also a side-vote for the next update to help with characterization: how does Mathilde feel about the execution of the Professor? This is a pivotal moment for her development and I feel she could go a few different ways here, so I'd like to leave it in the hands of the thread.
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Considering she knows his backstory and was the one to warn the Elector Count about it, probably a fair amount of disbelief that the man could be so damn stupid so shortly after what happened at Altdorf.
 
Heretek said:
See, I agree, but...

I have no confidence that he wont just order us to do it anyways. This is a big deal. He can't afford not to worry about it.
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Maybe something for the report, either public or private, where we admit that frankly that's above our skill level. If he still orders us to do it, well c'est la vie.


[X] [Options] Plan Sanity

[X] [Execution] The stupid son of a .... Really? He barely escapes with his head attached once, and decides to try it again, right under the noses of a Witch Hunter, the Emperor's own spymaster and, hell, me? I'll probably feel bad later, but right now the level of stupid in evidence has me practically apoplectic.

Essentially I'm picturing her channelling any guilt and shock over the professors death into anger at him. She doesn't want to feel bad herself and blaming the boss would be unproductive, so. It's a little victim blame-y, only he actually had it coming. Not that some of the anger isn't real, the fact that he thought he could pull this shit, despite being on probation, is a pretty clear indicator about what he though of the intelligence of the rest of the people in the council chambers. Then there's the fact that there are clearly threats against Mathilde's homeland afoot, and he's further undermined the already tenuous military situation.
 
Heretek said:
See, I agree, but...

I have no confidence that he wont just order us to do it anyways. This is a big deal. He can't afford not to worry about it.
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Yeah, but that doesn't sound like something that you'd expect from a Spymaster. How about a write-in?
[x] So, Drakenfang... You'll ask around if someone knows what's up with that. Your Order may share something, as well as your teacher, and you can even inquire the imperial intelligence.
 
Sanity-izers, please help me understand why you're voting for a plan in which we contradict ourselves on a point where the Count was already getting inquisitive.
 
Jaertin said:
Which point specifically are you referring to?
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Stirland League options. I don't see that as a contradiction, rather a nice set of alternatives presented to Count:
-We can dismantle the league for gold gains or use it to gather information, what do you prefer?
It's not our job to guess what is more important to Stirland right now, gold or intel.
 
vsh said:
Stirland League options. I don't see that as a contradiction, rather a nice set of alternatives presented to Count:
-We can dismantle the league for gold gains or use it to gather information, what do you prefer?
It's not our job to guess what is more important to Stirland right now, gold or intel.
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Checking back, you're right. We proposed either, and are now evidently deciding to try and take over.
BoneyM said:
You don't hesitate for a moment. "Both possible approaches for the League would be premature. If we wish to take over the League, we need to find my predecessor first and make sure he's not still controlling it from the shadows. And if we want to destroy it, it would be orders of magnitude easier with the tax records from the archive - if we can lay down a detailed record of every unpaid toll and evaded tariff, we could seize every asset the League owns without a murmur of protest from anyone."
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Now I'm not sure which would be better. How bad is the League for Stirland?
 
Jaertin said:
Which point specifically are you referring to?
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vsh said:
Stirland League options. I don't see that as a contradiction, rather a nice set of alternatives presented to Count:
-We can dismantle the league for gold gains or use it to gather information, what do you prefer?
It's not our job to guess what is more important to Stirland right now, gold or intel.
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I'm referring to the fact that previously, we didn't raise the League options at all, and our Count got inquisitive and asked why.
We answered, in-character, that it would be premature: If we want to take over we should deal with our predecessor first, and if we want to destroy it we should get the ledgers first.
Now we have gotten the ledgers, which according to Mathilde's previous statement makes conditions mature for us to destroy it, but still premature to take it over.

Plan Sanity as it currently stands is raising the option to take it over and not raising the option to destroy it. This strikes me as contradictory.
 
[X] [Options] Plan Sanity

[X] [Execution] [Shaken] The Professor's actions might have been foolish, but surely there must have been another way than a summary execution? Was I so mistaken in hoping that he'd learned his lesson the first time around? I did the right thing by informing Van Hal, but he is dead because of it...
 
Exmorri said:
I'm referring to the fact that previously, we didn't raise the League options at all, and our Count got inquisitive and asked why.
We answered, in-character, that it would be premature: If we want to take over we should deal with our predecessor first, and if we want to destroy it we should get the ledgers first.
Now we have gotten the ledgers, which according to Mathilde's previous statement makes conditions mature for us to destroy it, but still premature to take it over.

Plan Sanity as it currently stands is raising the option to take it over and not raising the option to destroy it. This strikes me as contradictory.
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Alright convinced. Changing vote.

[X] Plan Money or the Box
[X] The Stirlandian League can now be dismantled, unless milord wishes to hold in order to use it as an information resource.
[X] There is a risk of enemy agents infiltrating the castle staff - they must be watched.
[X] The disappearance of your predecessor is very concerning, especially since he's actively trying to sabotage the hunt for him. He must be found, and I've got a lead: Julbach.

Edit : Plan Name
 
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SAGrognard said:
Alright convinced. Changing vote.


[X] The Stirlandian League can now be dismantled, unless milord wishes to hold in order to use it as an information resource.
[X] There is a risk of enemy agents infiltrating the castle staff - they must be watched.
[X] The disappearance of your predecessor is very concerning, especially since he's actively trying to sabotage the hunt for him. He must be found, and I've got a lead: Julbach.
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You should probably have a plan name.
 
[X] [Options] Plan Sanity

[X] [Execution] [Shaken] The Professor's actions might have been foolish, but surely there must have been another way than a summary execution? Was I so mistaken in hoping that he'd learned his lesson the first time around? I did the right thing by informing Van Hal, but he is dead because of it...
 
I'll change I suppose, trying to take over without guaranteeing the previous spymaster is caught could likely backfire.

[ ] The Stirlandian League can now be dismantled, unless milord wishes to hold in order to use it as an information resource.
[ ] There is a risk of enemy agents infiltrating the castle staff - they must be watched.
[ ] The disappearance of your predecessor is very concerning, especially since he's actively trying to sabotage the hunt for him. He must be found, and I've got a lead: Julbach.
 
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[X] [Options] Plan Sanity

[X] [Execution] [Shaken] The Professor's actions might have been foolish, but surely there must have been another way than a summary execution? Was I so mistaken in hoping that he'd learned his lesson the first time around? I did the right thing by informing Van Hal, but he is dead because of it...
 
EDIT: changing my vote to

[X] Plan Reasonable
-[X] Report: Stick to the facts. We very discreetly acquired Petr and Maksim von Stolpe, using the Count's authority to borrow troops. We looked at the burst of magic flooding into the mound, and reasoned our way to it coming from Drakenhof. We are starting to build a network of contacts now that we don't need to focus on tracking down the ledger.
-[X] One-on-one report: We've bought a shack for carrying out the kind of business that is impractical to carry out in the Elector Count's castle. If you need to get hold of us while we're there, send a messenger to this innkeeper, one of our nearby agents. We'd advise the Count not to show up personally as it would be likely to draw attention.
(Reasoning: The Count doesn't need to know about the underground shrine beneath it, or even its exact location for that matter, but he really should know 1: that we have a separate base, 2: how to contact us when we're out of the castle.)
-[X] Possible orders:
--[X] The disappearance of yourpredecessor is very concerning, especially since he's actively trying to sabotage the hunt for him. He must be found, and I've got a lead: Julbach.
--[X] The Stirlandian League is a cancer eating at Stirland's economy, and it can be destroyed now that we have the ledgers.
---[X] ...but you could also leave it in place so we can take it over from Wilhelm von Tarshof once we track him down.
--[X] I've got the budget for a proper network of informants, now it just needs building.
--[X] Variant Writein: Drakenhof. This must be investigated... at a distance. Let me do research and make inquiries among the Grey Order and in other high places.

[X] Execution: While the Professor got what was coming to him, both for his crime and his stupidity, Mathilde is surprised by the casual manner in which van Hal carried it out. She'd expected a trial, or at least some kind of official statement before a formal execution, not just shooting him during the reports.
 
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DocMatoi said:
@BoneyM shouldnt this be higher now? we've just solved her biggest problem
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She knows you're competent, that doesn't change how much she likes you. Doing your job well impresses Van Hal, but if you want to get in Wilhelmina's good books you need to spend time with her.

Jaertin said:
Now I'm not sure which would be better. How bad is the League for Stirland?
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They're a cartel throttling trade between the northern states of the Empire and Averland, Tilea, the Border Kingdoms, and the Dwarfholds. The improvement of the economy and the increase in taxes if they were stamped out is significant, but then again, so is the amount of power and information it would give you if you seized control of them. There's solid arguments to be made either way.

There's also an element of pragmatist/idealist to the decision. The 'right' thing to do would be to stamp out the monopoly and allow the economy to flourish, but it could be considered a necessary evil.
Adhoc vote count started by BoneyM on Jan 25, 2018 at 8:53 PM, finished with 146 posts and 32 votes.
  • [X] Plan Reasonable
    -[X] Report: Stick to the facts. We very discreetly acquired Petr and Maksim von Stolpe, using the Count's authority to borrow troops. We looked at the burst of magic flooding into the mound, and reasoned our way to it coming from Drakenhof. We are starting to build a network of contacts now that we don't need to focus on tracking down the ledger.
    -[X] One-on-one report: We've bought a shack for carrying out the kind of business that is impractical to carry out in the Elector Count's castle. If you need to get hold of us while we're there, send a messenger to this innkeeper, one of our nearby agents. We'd advise the Count not to show up personally as it would be likely to draw attention.
    -[X] Possible orders:
    --[X] The disappearance of yourpredecessor is very concerning, especially since he's actively trying to sabotage the hunt for him. He must be found, and I've got a lead: Julbach.
    --[X] The Stirlandian League is a cancer eating at Stirland's economy, and it can be destroyed now that we have the ledgers.
    ---[X] ...but you could also leave it in place so we can take it over from Wilhelm von Tarshof once we track him down.
    --[X] I've got the budget for a proper network of informants, now it just needs building.
    --[X] Variant Writein: Drakenhof. This must be investigated... at a distance. Let me do research and make inquiries among the Grey Order and in other high places.
    [X] [Options] Plan Sanity
    -[X] The disappearance of your predecessor is very concerning, especially since he's actively trying to sabotage the hunt for him. He must be found, and I've got a lead: Julbach.
    -[X] The Stirlandian League is a gold mine of information, and it must be yours.
    -[X] The castle staff can be a great source of information and first line of defence - they should report to you.
    [X] [Execution] The Professor's actions were foolish in the extreme. He learnt nothing from being caught once, didn't appreciate his luck in being sent to a higher position still, and thought he could keep his presumably outrageous embezzling while working for a retired Witch Hunter. One should know the difference between acceptable, frowned upon and forbidden. And one should also have more good sense than a suicidal horse. He had it coming.
    [X] [Execution] Surprised and curious. While you had raised the issue of embezzlement and divided loyalties, the Count had also noted and accepted both. You want to know what did he actually do to cross the line, from the implications, he had sabotaged the army in some way for an outside party. Both for your own interests and for national interests, you want to know what the Count found.
    [X] Execution: While the Professor got what was coming to him, both for his crime and his stupidity, Mathilde is surprised by the casual manner in which van Hal carried it out. She'd expected a trial, or at least some kind of official statement before a formal execution, not just shooting him during the reports.
    [X] [Execution] The stupid son of a .... Really? He barely escapes with his head attached once, and decides to try it again, right under the noses of a Witch Hunter, the Emperor's own spymaster and, hell, me? I'll probably feel bad later, but right now the level of stupid in evidence has me practically apoplectic.
    [X] [Execution] [Shaken] The Professor's actions might have been foolish, but surely there must have been another way than a summary execution? Was I so mistaken in hoping that he'd learned his lesson the first time around? I did the right thing by informing Van Hal, but he is dead because of it...
    [X] The disappearance of your predecessor is very concerning, especially since he's actively trying to sabotage the hunt for him. He must be found, and I've got a lead: Julbach.
    [X] [Options] Plan Sanity
    [X] There is a risk of enemy agents infiltrating the castle staff - they must be watched.
    [X] Seriously what is up with the East Wing.
    [X] The Stirlandian League is a cancer eating at Stirland's economy, and it must be destroyed.
    [X] Drakenhof. You almost hesitate to suggest it, but... surely this must be investigated.
    [x] react to the count intterogation results ?
    [x] I need a proper information network. Please fund me wandering around making friends.
    [x] The castle staff can be a great source of information and first line of defence - they should report to you.
    [X] The Stirlandian League is a gold mine of information, and it must be yours.
    [x] So, Drakenfang... You'll ask around if someone knows what's up with that. Your Order may share something, as well as your teacher, and you can even inquire the imperial intelligence.
    [X] [Execution] While the Professor got what was coming to him, both for his crime and his stupidity, Mathilde is surprised by the casual manner in which van Hal carried it out. She'd expected a trial, or at least some kind of official statement before a formal execution, not just shooting him during the reports.
    [X] Execution: While the Professor got what was coming to him, both for his crime and his stupidity, Mathilde is surprised by the casual manner in which van Hal carried it out. She'd expected a trial, or at least some kind of official statement before a formal execution, not just shooting him during the report
    [X] Plan Reasonable
    -[X] ...with a slightly shaken partial confession? "Someone pulled strings to assign a fresh journeyman wizard here, and until now I'd thought it was either Imperial Intelligence/the Emperor or the Grey Tower. They've just asked for a report on Anton for now- possibly as he was the only holdover- but the chance is good they'll ask for more. I truely want to help my home, my people, the commoners of Stirland, and you seem to want the same thing. End the Vampire threat. Build up the province.
    [X] [Execution] The stupid son of a .... Really? He barely escapes with his head attached once, and decides to try it again, right under the noses of a Witch Hunter, the Emperor's own spymaster and, hell, me? I'll probably feel bad later, but right now the level of stupid inevidence has me practically apoplectic. ...At least I can try to focus on my indignation, not my nausea that I got him killed.
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People, I wish to reiterate that Plan Sanity is contradictory to Mathilde's previous in-character statements and will probably have the Count wondering why she did such a turnaround.

[X] Plan Reasonable
-[X] Report: Stick to the facts. We very discreetly acquired Petr and Maksim von Stolpe, using the Count's authority to borrow troops. We looked at the burst of magic flooding into the mound, and reasoned our way to it coming from Drakenhof. We are starting to build a network of contacts now that we don't need to focus on tracking down the ledger.
-[X] One-on-one report: We've bought a shack for carrying out the kind of business that is impractical to carry out in the Elector Count's castle. If you need to get hold of us while we're there, send a messenger to this innkeeper, one of our nearby agents. We'd advise the Count not to show up personally as it would be likely to draw attention.
(Reasoning: The Count doesn't need to know about the underground shrine beneath it, or even its exact location for that matter, but he really should know 1: that we have a separate base, 2: how to contact us when we're out of the castle.)
-[X] Possible orders:
--[X] The disappearance of your predecessor is very concerning, especially since he's actively trying to sabotage the hunt for him. He must be found, and I've got a lead: Julbach.
--[X] The Stirlandian League is a cancer eating at Stirland's economy, and it can be destroyed now that we have the ledgers.
---[X] ...but you could also leave it in place so we can take it over from Wilhelm von Tarshof once we track him down.
--[X] I've got the budget for a proper network of informants, now it just needs building.
--[X] Variant Writein: Drakenhof. This must be investigated... at a distance. Let me do research and make inquiries among the Grey Order and in other high places.

[X] Execution: While the Professor got what was coming to him, both for his crime and his stupidity, Mathilde is surprised by the casual manner in which van Hal carried it out. She'd expected a trial, or at least some kind of official statement before a formal execution, not just shooting him during the reports.

That "cancer eating at Stirland's economy" bit seems like something we really have a duty to offer as an option, even if we suggest the Count act otherwise. It would be neglectful of us to not even raise the possibility of improving Stirland's poor economy now that we can do so.
 
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[X] Plan Reasonable
[X] [Execution] The stupid son of a .... Really? He barely escapes with his head attached once, and decides to try it again, right under the noses of a Witch Hunter, the Emperor's own spymaster and, hell, me? I'll probably feel bad later, but right now the level of stupid in evidence has me practically apoplectic.
 
A peek under the hood, as well as conclusions Mathilde could reasonably make in hindsight: not presenting options related to the Stirlandian League aroused Van Hal's suspicions that you were going to suborn it for your own profit, and he was considering either a 'write-in' or investigating you. Your fantastic roll in response allowed you to present good, solid reasons why in a convincing manner, which immediately put his concerns to rest. This prevented any loss of relationship points as well as leading him to investigate the Professor instead of you. He doesn't just show up once every six months to listen to reports and hand out orders - he's got Personal Actions and he uses them.

Maybe he's confident enough now in your abilities and motivations that he wouldn't blink if you made a case for taking over the Stirlandian League. Maybe you'd have to do some fast talking to justify it. Maybe he'd just smile and nod, but make a mental note to keep a closer eye on you. You don't know him well enough to say.
Adhoc vote count started by BoneyM on Jan 25, 2018 at 7:22 PM, finished with 97 posts and 26 votes.
  • [X] Plan Reasonable
    -[X] Report: Stick to the facts. We very discreetly acquired Petr and Maksim von Stolpe, using the Count's authority to borrow troops. We looked at the burst of magic flooding into the mound, and reasoned our way to it coming from Drakenhof. We are starting to build a network of contacts now that we don't need to focus on tracking down the ledger.
    -[X] One-on-one report: We've bought a shack for carrying out the kind of business that is impractical to carry out in the Elector Count's castle. If you need to get hold of us while we're there, send a messenger to this innkeeper, one of our nearby agents. We'd advise the Count not to show up personally as it would be likely to draw attention.
    -[X] Possible orders:
    --[X] The disappearance of yourpredecessor is very concerning, especially since he's actively trying to sabotage the hunt for him. He must be found, and I've got a lead: Julbach.
    --[X] The Stirlandian League is a cancer eating at Stirland's economy, and it can be destroyed now that we have the ledgers.
    ---[X] ...but you could also leave it in place so we can take it over from Wilhelm von Tarshof once we track him down.
    --[X] I've got the budget for a proper network of informants, now it just needs building.
    --[X] Variant Writein: Drakenhof. This must be investigated... at a distance. Let me do research and make inquiries among the Grey Order and in other high places.
    [X] [Execution] The stupid son of a .... Really? He barely escapes with his head attached once, and decides to try it again, right under the noses of a Witch Hunter, the Emperor's own spymaster and, hell, me? I'll probably feel bad later, but right now the level of stupid in evidence has me practically apoplectic.
    [X] [Execution] The Professor's actions were foolish in the extreme. He learnt nothing from being caught once, didn't appreciate his luck in being sent to a higher position still, and thought he could keep his presumably outrageous embezzling while working for a retired Witch Hunter. One should know the difference between acceptable, frowned upon and forbidden. And one should also have more good sense than a suicidal horse. He had it coming.
    [X] [Options] Plan Sanity
    -[X] The disappearance of your predecessor is very concerning, especially since he's actively trying to sabotage the hunt for him. He must be found, and I've got a lead: Julbach.
    -[X] The Stirlandian League is a gold mine of information, and it must be yours.
    -[X] The castle staff can be a great source of information and first line of defence - they should report to you.
    [X] Execution: While the Professor got what was coming to him, both for his crime and his stupidity, Mathilde is surprised by the casual manner in which van Hal carried it out. She'd expected a trial, or at least some kind of official statement before a formal execution, not just shooting him during the reports.
    [X] [Execution] [Shaken] The Professor's actions might have been foolish, but surely there must have been another way than a summary execution? Was I so mistaken in hoping that he'd learned his lesson the first time around? I did the right thing by informing Van Hal, but he is dead because of it...
    [X] [Options] Plan Sanity
    [X] The disappearance of your predecessor is very concerning, especially since he's actively trying to sabotage the hunt for him. He must be found, and I've got a lead: Julbach.
    [X] Drakenhof. You almost hesitate to suggest it, but... surely this must be investigated.
    [X] There is a risk of enemy agents infiltrating the castle staff - they must be watched.
    [X] Seriously what is up with the East Wing.
    [X] The Stirlandian League is a cancer eating at Stirland's economy, and it must be destroyed.
    [x] react to the count intterogation results ?
    [x] I need a proper information network. Please fund me wandering around making friends.
    [x] The castle staff can be a great source of information and first line of defence - they should report to you.
    [X] The Stirlandian League is a gold mine of information, and it must be yours.
    [x] So, Drakenfang... You'll ask around if someone knows what's up with that. Your Order may share something, as well as your teacher, and you can even inquire the imperial intelligence.
    [X] [Execution] While the Professor got what was coming to him, both for his crime and his stupidity, Mathilde is surprised by the casual manner in which van Hal carried it out. She'd expected a trial, or at least some kind of official statement before a formal execution, not just shooting him during the reports.
    [X] Execution: While the Professor got what was coming to him, both for his crime and his stupidity, Mathilde is surprised by the casual manner in which van Hal carried it out. She'd expected a trial, or at least some kind of official statement before a formal execution, not just shooting him during the report
    [X] Plan Reasonable
    -[X] ...with a slightly shaken partial confession? "Someone pulled strings to assign a fresh journeyman wizard here, and until now I'd thought it was either Imperial Intelligence/the Emperor or the Grey Tower. They've just asked for a report on Anton for now- possibly as he was the only holdover- but the chance is good they'll ask for more. I truely want to help my home, my people, the commoners of Stirland, and you seem to want the same thing. End the Vampire threat. Build up the province.
    [X] [Execution] The stupid son of a .... Really? He barely escapes with his head attached once, and decides to try it again, right under the noses of a Witch Hunter, the Emperor's own spymaster and, hell, me? I'll probably feel bad later, but right now the level of stupid inevidence has me practically apoplectic. ...At least I can try to focus on my indignation, not my nausea that I got him killed.
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