I recalled that QM mentioned at the start that how we present the choices matters.
We can't just not present important choices, but we can phrase them in certain ways to lead the players of our lord liege to vote a certain way.
I started with plan reasonable, added in some of my conjectures on there being a vampire plot. And then phrased things a certain way... could the previous spymaster be related to the plot? Can we investigate the vampire infiltration on our side of the border by investigating the local nobility for potential leads? (and whatever other ideas we come up with if he goes for this). Actually thinking about it. finding, catching, and killing the vampires on our side of the border is probably good idea.
I also removed the part about telling him about our hidey hole.... he doesn't actually need to know such specifics. And having him send us messengers there is a bad idea as it reveals the location to others who are watching. As for him contacting us when we are out of the castle... we check in regularly exactly for that purpose. Also, while we claim she is merely "nearby contact". Our shrine is literally under her inn
[X] Plan Conjectures
-[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 calculated that it came from Drakenhof.
-[X] Share some conjectures: The fact that the books were stolen at night by human shaped things that actually managed to traumatize horses by being nearby. As well as the powerful necromancer in drakenhof who put the alarm trap and then raised the dead in the mound suggests that the books were actually stolen by vampires, and that there is a pretty powerful necromancer among the vampires. The fact the books were kept rather than destroyed suggests they intended to use them, probably after installing their own patsy as a stirland elector count. The series of unfortunate deaths of Van Hal's predecessors and the connection between them and the noble we captured is further cementing the idea that we have a vampire making moves on stirland via subterfuge instead of an overt and open invasion. We should probably take steps against assassination attempts by vampires, and hopefully whatever info our guest at the dungeon provide will be a useful lead in the investigation.
-[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] Capture of predecessor can lead to taking over the Stirlandian league for purpose of spying
---[x] Could he be related to the vampire plots? if so then finding him is a priority.
--[X] The Stirlandian League is a cancer eating at Stirland's economy, and it can be destroyed now that we have the ledgers.
---[x] The former spymaster has been acting against us. He probably still controls his spies in the league. Destroying it now would deprive of him of valuable resources, but may also destroy possible leads on his location
--[X] I've got the budget for a proper network of informants, now it just needs building.
--[X] Variant Writein: Drakenhof. This vampire plot to subtly take over stirland is concerning. We know there are vampires in sylvania, but who and where? And what exactly have they done in stirland so far? I could try to examine other stirland nobles for possible vampire connections, although this seems a bit of a shot in the dark. Alternatively, follow up any leads acquired from the interrogation of Stolpe.
[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.
