- Location
- Aotearoa
Why are people voting for what could well sound like a verbal offer of our resignation?
If he agrees... I presume that's 'Quest Failed'.
If he agrees... I presume that's 'Quest Failed'.
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Warhammer Fantasy: Divided Loyalties - an Advisor's Quest
- Thread starter Boney
- Start date
- Fantasy Users' Choice!
Voted best in category in the Users' Choice awards.
- Location
- Toronto, Ontario(occasionally)
[X] Apologize. We should have had greatswords on hand during our interviews in case someone tried to kill us when discovered, and messengers that we had personally recruited who couldn't possibly be infiltrators, and shooting Berthold was just... really, appallingly stupid even as an accident. We've been making up way too much of this spymistress thing as we go along and it's his County that pays when we screw up.
-[X] We're five years younger than the next youngest Journeyman to ever leave the Grey College and he needs better. So we resolve to be better, at least partly because this is, for multiple reasons, one of the more embarrassing moments in our life thus far.
--[X] -start silently planning out a satchel that we will carry at all times, containing useful objects, including a change of clothes. Think Batman's utility belt.
--[X] start thinking about recruiting an assistant or two
slight modification on someone elses suggestion
-[X] Then give your report. Sir Berthold has no particular dirt on him, although his friends are noted as overzealous to the point of beating peasants that do not know the words of all the Hyms, or follow other gods and his Sigmarite chapter house was very obstructionist. You don't like the sound of that, but you swear that wasn't why you accidentally knocked him unconscious. Sir Jungfreud is skillful and leads from the front- at all times, even when it might be better that he doesn't. Very popular with young men. His outrider barracks was obstructionist and also bruised your nose. Otto of Nuln may be a genius, and likely took the post to practice some of his more extreme weapon designs out in the country where an explosion or two wouldn't be minded quite so much as in Altdorf. Likely to be expensive, but potentially revolutionary.
-[X] We're five years younger than the next youngest Journeyman to ever leave the Grey College and he needs better. So we resolve to be better, at least partly because this is, for multiple reasons, one of the more embarrassing moments in our life thus far.
--[X] -start silently planning out a satchel that we will carry at all times, containing useful objects, including a change of clothes. Think Batman's utility belt.
--[X] start thinking about recruiting an assistant or two
slight modification on someone elses suggestion
-[X] Then give your report. Sir Berthold has no particular dirt on him, although his friends are noted as overzealous to the point of beating peasants that do not know the words of all the Hyms, or follow other gods and his Sigmarite chapter house was very obstructionist. You don't like the sound of that, but you swear that wasn't why you accidentally knocked him unconscious. Sir Jungfreud is skillful and leads from the front- at all times, even when it might be better that he doesn't. Very popular with young men. His outrider barracks was obstructionist and also bruised your nose. Otto of Nuln may be a genius, and likely took the post to practice some of his more extreme weapon designs out in the country where an explosion or two wouldn't be minded quite so much as in Altdorf. Likely to be expensive, but potentially revolutionary.
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HanEmpire
Delicious
[X] Write in: Try to ease the awkwardness by making small talk, like telling each other what you do in your free time, and swapping stories.
-[x] Share experiences, stories, get to know each other better. How does he prepare for battle and possible death? Any ideas what fast but not tough infiltrators might be? We don't get much non-report-giving face time, so let's use it.
-[x] Tell him we plan to fight from Shadowhorseback if it becomes necessary. Prepare for Mathildeface.
-[x] Then give your report. Sir Berthold has no particular dirt on him, although his friends are noted as overzealous to the point of beating peasants that do not know the words of all the Hyms, or follow other gods and his Sigmarite chapter house was very obstructionist. You don't like the sound of that, but you swear that wasn't why you accidentally knocked him unconscious. Sir Jungfreud is skillful and leads from the front- at all times, even when it might be better that he doesn't. Very popular with young men. His outrider barracks was obstructionist and also bruised your nose. Otto of Nuln may be a genius, and likely took the post to practice some of his more extreme weapon designs out in the country where an explosion or two wouldn't be minded quite so much as in Altdorf. Likely to be expensive, but potentially revolutionary.
-[x] Adjust clothes to be comfortable as possible in preparation for a fight.
-[x] Share experiences, stories, get to know each other better. How does he prepare for battle and possible death? Any ideas what fast but not tough infiltrators might be? We don't get much non-report-giving face time, so let's use it.
-[x] Tell him we plan to fight from Shadowhorseback if it becomes necessary. Prepare for Mathildeface.
-[x] Then give your report. Sir Berthold has no particular dirt on him, although his friends are noted as overzealous to the point of beating peasants that do not know the words of all the Hyms, or follow other gods and his Sigmarite chapter house was very obstructionist. You don't like the sound of that, but you swear that wasn't why you accidentally knocked him unconscious. Sir Jungfreud is skillful and leads from the front- at all times, even when it might be better that he doesn't. Very popular with young men. His outrider barracks was obstructionist and also bruised your nose. Otto of Nuln may be a genius, and likely took the post to practice some of his more extreme weapon designs out in the country where an explosion or two wouldn't be minded quite so much as in Altdorf. Likely to be expensive, but potentially revolutionary.
-[x] Adjust clothes to be comfortable as possible in preparation for a fight.
DarkLight140
Credit to Team
- Location
- Lost in my thoughts
To explain my write-in there: Sparring or drinking are absurd stupidity for what I hope are obvious reasons. Standing awkwardly is a foolish misuse of this situation, although it could prompt Van Hal to take the initiative on a conversation which would be nice. But we probably don't want to count on that, which means talking.
The report on the martial candidates right now is possible, but out of nowhere. It's not relevant to what's going on at the moment, and the only in-character reason I can think of to bring it up is "obviously grasping around for something to talk about" (you can see someone else's read on just how awkward forcing this topic is in @Guile's write-in). Further, it's clear that we've been back in the castle for some time since returning from Altdorf. Why did we not report on them to Van Hal already immediately upon our return, aside from the rigid turn structure? The only thing I can think of that would explain it at all would be something like "he wanted to have clean first impressions of them before being biased by our intelligence", but in that case we might still not want to tell him right now.
Actually, @BoneyM, could you clarify why in-character we didn't tell him immediately upon our return, and whether that is to be taken as a serious reflection on the competence/motivations of the characters involved or as a transparent justification for game mechanics?
Anyway, so based upon the above I'm discounting literally all of the default options. So what we do we have that we can reasonably talk about? Answer: What just happened. That leaves us with any of the following conversational openers, plus any that didn't occur to me:
There are plenty of options (obviously, I listed a bunch above) but if we're looking for relationship building, continuing to give the impression of consistent honesty, and maybe Van Hal offering to mentor us for a better Intrigue score I think mine will work all right.
@Guile's point about wanting to frame the Shyish sword situation bit better is well taken and that deserves at the very least a follow-up line or two but I was kind of tossing the explaining of the details there to @BoneyM in the actual update if it won, since Van Hal is almost sure to ask about it.
The report on the martial candidates right now is possible, but out of nowhere. It's not relevant to what's going on at the moment, and the only in-character reason I can think of to bring it up is "obviously grasping around for something to talk about" (you can see someone else's read on just how awkward forcing this topic is in @Guile's write-in). Further, it's clear that we've been back in the castle for some time since returning from Altdorf. Why did we not report on them to Van Hal already immediately upon our return, aside from the rigid turn structure? The only thing I can think of that would explain it at all would be something like "he wanted to have clean first impressions of them before being biased by our intelligence", but in that case we might still not want to tell him right now.
Actually, @BoneyM, could you clarify why in-character we didn't tell him immediately upon our return, and whether that is to be taken as a serious reflection on the competence/motivations of the characters involved or as a transparent justification for game mechanics?
Anyway, so based upon the above I'm discounting literally all of the default options. So what we do we have that we can reasonably talk about? Answer: What just happened. That leaves us with any of the following conversational openers, plus any that didn't occur to me:
- Speculation on what exactly the infiltrator that just tried to kill us was (trying to be professional, businesslike, prep for immediate problems)
- Apologize for our fuck-ups thus far in this situation (trying to take responsibility for failures and become closer via giving him insight to our personality and limitations)
- Bringing up Kasmir's previous results and the fact that he didn't want to work with us (blame-shifting, probably not the best idea or that in-character for us but an option)
- Ignore all awkwardness and try to make small talk/share histories/general discussion (try to become closer via interpersonal interaction)
There are plenty of options (obviously, I listed a bunch above) but if we're looking for relationship building, continuing to give the impression of consistent honesty, and maybe Van Hal offering to mentor us for a better Intrigue score I think mine will work all right.
@Guile's point about wanting to frame the Shyish sword situation bit better is well taken and that deserves at the very least a follow-up line or two but I was kind of tossing the explaining of the details there to @BoneyM in the actual update if it won, since Van Hal is almost sure to ask about it.
We literally cannot actually offer our resignation lest we be killed, and he cannot accept even if we did for political reasons (as he was forced to accept us as spymaster), so this is a nonissue. "I'm not leaving this job even if I'm not the best for it" is implicit.
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- Location
- Aotearoa
Okay... owning our fuckups, maybe, sure. Offering to resign... I'm enjoying this quest, so please don't.
It's not nonsense. Even if Mathilde thinks she's just unburdening herself on her boss (by no means always a good idea), with that phrasing, all Van Hal has to say is "Thank you for being honest. I've always respected that trait in you and will miss it, but I am glad you recognise the security of Stirland is threatened by your inexperience. I will expect your letter of resignation should we survive the day."
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- Location
- Toronto, Ontario(occasionally)
You like my post and vote for Plan Resignation?
[/QUOTE]
Reread, I actually agree that this was a fuckup, but am copypasting the apology, and modifying the direction of action it is leading into.
edit I might change my vote if everyone bandwagons instead of creating their own plans and a non-resignation plan need the vote to win.
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DarkLight140
Credit to Team
- Location
- Lost in my thoughts
You're strawmanning and pointlessly fearmongering here. It does not offer to resign; "he deserves someone better" does not imply that he will be getting someone better. He won't, and we both know it. He cannot ask for our letter of resignation without actual proof of incompetence or malice (which we have not given) because of the political circumstances of our appointment.
Guile
Having a really great time right now
Alright, looking up at him with wet doe eyes as we admit our failings while in our victorian underwear does appeal to the filthy garbage shipper inside me, I'll switch over.
[x] Apologize. We should have had greatswords on hand during our interviews in case someone tried to kill us when discovered, and messengers that we had personally recruited who couldn't possibly be infiltrators, and shooting Berthold was just... really, appallingly stupid even as an accident. We've been making up way too much of this spymistress thing as we go along and it's his County that pays when we screw up.
-[x] We're five years younger than the next youngest Journeyman to ever leave the Grey College and he deserves someone better. Someone whose training is actually done. We almost killed ourselves with those stupid Shyish swords, too, and who knows how long it would have taken for someone to find our body.
[x] Apologize. We should have had greatswords on hand during our interviews in case someone tried to kill us when discovered, and messengers that we had personally recruited who couldn't possibly be infiltrators, and shooting Berthold was just... really, appallingly stupid even as an accident. We've been making up way too much of this spymistress thing as we go along and it's his County that pays when we screw up.
-[x] We're five years younger than the next youngest Journeyman to ever leave the Grey College and he deserves someone better. Someone whose training is actually done. We almost killed ourselves with those stupid Shyish swords, too, and who knows how long it would have taken for someone to find our body.
- Location
- Aotearoa
Yeah, apologies. I misread, went to reply, then reread, but it was sitting in my editor window when I replied to Darklight.
- Location
- Toronto, Ontario(occasionally)
I like the apology, but not the offer to resign, turn this failiure into resolve to be more careful in the future.
TimEd
Meteor maker
Ok WTF. Telling the truth abou the acciden is one thing (still disagree with that). Bu just unburdening EVERYTHING is outright stupid! Why th fick are we even tryin to apologize anyway? You guys are making Mathild ac like a love sick moron
HanEmpire
Delicious
People please include the following line, for reason.
Guile
Having a really great time right now
There... is no offer to resign in the vote though? Not even by implication.
LoganBert34
Apprentice Clerk
- Location
- Australia
[X] Deliver your report regarding the Marshal candidates (write in the report)
Really, I don't mind apologizing, just not the hard emphasizing on how badly we did it. Acknowledging we screwed up is one thing, giving him the proverbial sword with to bury us while doing so is another. Especially all the moaning about realizing we're inexperienced and underqualified to do the job.
Really, I don't mind apologizing, just not the hard emphasizing on how badly we did it. Acknowledging we screwed up is one thing, giving him the proverbial sword with to bury us while doing so is another. Especially all the moaning about realizing we're inexperienced and underqualified to do the job.
- Location
- Toronto, Ontario(occasionally)
This bit casts aspirsions on the viewpoint character's ability and creates an inducement for censure:
-[] We're five years younger than the next youngest Journeyman to ever leave the Grey College and he deserves someone better. Someone whose training is actually done. We almost killed ourselves with those stupid Shyish swords, too, and who knows how long it would have taken for someone to find our body.
I don't think the guy will actually fire her, but I'd prefer to talk about doing better rather than getting someone else who is better here.
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TimEd
Meteor maker
Thank you! Everyone is just voting for if we should just fall on our sword or have Van Hal hold the sword for us. We are just hanging ourselves here with rope WE PROVIDED OF OUR OWN DECISION
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- Location
- Toronto, Ontario(occasionally)
[X] Deliver your report regarding the Marshal candidates (write in the report)
- Location
- Germany
[X] Deliver your report regarding the Marshal candidates
-[X] 1 Overzealous, Sigmar-only guy
-[X] 2 Overly reckless, leads exclusivly from the front
-[X] 3 Inventions between genius and insanity, but not much in actual experience with soldiers
-[X] 1 Overzealous, Sigmar-only guy
-[X] 2 Overly reckless, leads exclusivly from the front
-[X] 3 Inventions between genius and insanity, but not much in actual experience with soldiers
Guile
Having a really great time right now
We're 22, and have just had a string of failures in a quest where usually we fairy-foot all over potential consequences with good rolls and by being generally likable and plucky.
Our emotions are running high after nearly getting murdered, killing our assassin, then the ensuing fuck-ups followed by getting trapped in a room with Van Hal in our underpants. We're feeling emotions, guys, and this is how young people deal with emotions: by getting emotional.
Van Hal, meanwhile, is at a 9/10 relationship with us and just shrugged off our Mathilde-ing. The narrative after our unburdening on him is him being maybe uncomfortable but building us back up with praise for our successes. Morale, and all that.
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- Location
- Aotearoa
All right. I disagree- van Hal doesn't know we can't offer, and for all he knows we lied about our experience to whoever placed us here. We are admitting to gross inexperience. Killing the last advisor even got him a choice of three... but internet arguments.
If it's phrased as 'I'm determined to do better' then I'm happy enough.
And Intrigue mentoring- unfortunately our score is (probably considerably) higher than his.
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TimEd
Meteor maker
We are at crisis mode! Unburdening bullshit can happen after someone dies. If the bandwagon passes and van hal loses faith in us we would probably LOSE rep with him and many others probably
Guile
Having a really great time right now
Crisis mode is presumably weakened by standing in a room with him for an hour with nothing happening. The human body can only pump adrenaline for so long in the absence of a threat.